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Al-Sulaiti excels in Industry development Superstock off ers ‘opportunities 600 to Qataris, residents’ published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11027 December 9, 2018 Rabia II 2, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief

REGION | Confl ict 20mn Yemenis food GCC Summit today as unjust insecure due to war Around 20mn Yemenis are food insecure, UN agencies said yesterday, adding the conflict ravaging the impoverished country was the key driver behind rising hunger levels. “As many as 20mn Yemenis are blockade of Qatar continues food insecure in the world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” a joint statement he 39th GCC Summit takes sation, Riyadh politicised Umrah “It is very regrettable that the con- by the UN’s Food and Agriculture place today in Riyadh amid an and Haj, depriving Qatari nationals tinuation of the Gulf crisis exposed Organisation (FAO), the children’s fund Tongoing blockade on Qatar im- from performing one of the main the failure of the Gulf Co-operation Unicef and the World Food Programme posed in June 2017 by Saudi Arabia, obligations of Islam. On the other Council ... which has weakened its (WFP) said. Page 15 Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and hand Haj visas were used as a po- ability to face challenges and threats Egypt. litical tool to intimidate poor coun- and marginalised its role in the region,” ASIA | Diplomacy Without even giving the slightest tries in Africa to declare their loy- he added. hint, Saudi Arabia closed the Salwa alty to Saudi Arabia. Experts say it remains unclear how China summons Canada border, Qatar’s only land crossing, When nothing worked and Qatar today’s summit will aff ect the ongo- envoy over Huawei exec cutting off a vital link for food and continued to grow from strength to ing dispute, as the “largely-symbolic” China yesterday summoned the medical supplies, on June 5 last year. strength, the card of tribal affi liations body has for years abandoned its func- Canadian ambassador over the The blockading countries, three of was played to divide the people of the tional role of building closer ties be- “unconscionable and vile” detention of them Gulf Co-operation Council region but that too to no avail. tween member states. telecom giant Huawei’s chief financial (GCC) members, cut of all diplomatic All the while, the campaign against With the GCC unable to resolve the off icer in Vancouver, in Beijing’s latest ties and banned Qatari citizens from Qatar went unabated, both at the re- crisis, analysts say the organisation it- angry response to the hot-button case. their territories. gional and international levels. ‘Pro- self has proven to be futile, both politi- Meng Wanzhou has been held since The ban aff ected Qatari students testers’ and ‘panellists’ were paid to cally and to an extent, economically. December 1 in Canada on an American pursuing their studies in the siege participate in anti-Qatar events or- This year’s meeting also comes amid extradition request and faces US fraud countries and Qatari citizens and resi- ganised by hired fi rms abroad. pressure from the West, as the United charges related to sanctions-breaking dents who have invested huge sums In the face of such serious provoca- States - a GCC ally - and Europe say business dealings with Iran. China’s in real estate and business ventures in tions, Qatar has continued to keep de- the council is vital for keeping the re- Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng the blockading countries. As their own corum and maintained that the crisis gion secure. said Meng’s detention was a “severe nationals were asked to return to their has to be solved through talks. While the agenda of this year’s sum- violation” of her rights and interests as home countries, thousands of Gulf His Highness the Amir Sheikh mit has not been made public, experts a Chinese citizen. Page 18 family members were stranded or sep- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani recently predict that the Gulf crisis will not be a arated in one stroke of unjust, political said he regrets the continuation of the top priority. EUROPE | Accident one-upmanship. confl ict with other Arab states, but This year’s summit also comes amid The crisis did not even spare animals added that “crises will pass”. the diplomatic crisis over Saudi jour- Six dead, dozens hurt in - thousands of camels that used to Addressing Qatar’s Shura (Advi- nalist Jamal Khashoggi’s assassina- Italy nightclub stampede graze in the vast Saudi deserts - were sory) Council last month, the Amir tion, which has put Riyadh in the dock. Six people, including five teenagers, rushed across the border. Many of the said the country would continue to Since the crisis began, Qatar has died and 120 were injured in a animals perished in the ensuing stam- develop its oil and gas industries as secured new strategic alliances, most stampede when panic broke out pede and as a result of lack of feed or Not being satisfi ed with these unjust They used hate speech to spread it is keen to preserve its status as the notably with Turkey. during a rap concert at a packed water. measures, the blockading countries, hatred among the people of the GCC world’s top liquefied natural gas ex- The GCC, a political and economic Italian nightclub early yesterday. The The blockading countries even launched a vicious anti-Qatar media member states and did not hesitate porter. alliance of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, suspected use of a pepper spray-like closed their airspace for Qatari aircraft campaign that employed an army of even to use religious platforms against “History teaches us that crises pass, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, was substance is thought to have sparked in their eff orts to heap further trouble social media ‘infl uencers’ who spread Qatar. but if they are handled badly then this established in 1981 to foster socio- the chaos at the venue in the town of on their neighbour who they called a fake news about Qatar in an eff ort to In one of the most ignominious may leave traces which last for a long economic co-ordination, security, and Corinaldo, near Ancona in central Italy, brother until the previous day. sully its fair name. and unprecedented acts of victimi- time,” the Amir said. cultural co-operation. the fire service said. Page 20

AMERICA | Politics Trump announces new top US offi cials Summit has to address US President Donald Trump announced Barricades burn as ‘yellow vest’ yesterday that he would nominate four- star Army General Mark Milley to be the rights violations: NHRC next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Milley, currently the Army chief of staff , protesters clash with police would take over as the top US military QNA He reiterated the conviction of the commander from Marine General Joseph Vienna NHRC that any result or decision Dunford at a date to be determined. AFP that might emerge from the GCC Trump is also talking to Nick Ayers, an Paris summit in Riyadh cannot succeed aide to Vice President Mike Pence about he Chairman of the Nation- unless the repercussions of the un- serving as replacement for out-going al Human Rights Committee just siege imposed on Qatar and the White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. rench “yellow vest” dem- T(NHRC) HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh violations suffered by thousands of Page 17 onstrators clashed with riot al-Marri has met with offi cials of the citizens and residents of Qatar, and Fpolice in Paris yesterday in Austrian Ombudsman Council, a na- even the people of the siege coun- CANADA | Politics the latest round of protests against tional human rights institution in Aus- tries, would be at the forefront of President Emmanuel Macron, but tria. the concerns and discussions of the Clashes over Canada the city appeared to have escaped The meeting discussed means of GCC leaders. immigration the large-scale destruction of a week enhancing co-operation between the Al-Marri said the GCC was es- Right-wing protesters opposed to earlier due to heavy security. two sides in exchanging expertise and tablished as a basis for asserting the Canada joining a UN pact for better Protesters nonetheless set fi re to cars, training, and promoting the culture of unity of the Gulf people. However, regulating worldwide migration burned barricades and smashed win- human rights. the discriminatory and arbitrary clashed yesterday with pro- dows in pockets of violence across the Protesters wearing “yellow vests” (gilets jaunes) send back teargas canisters In a press statement after the meet- measures imposed by the blockad- immigration groups in the biting cold city centre, clad in their emblematic during clashes with riot police (unseen) during a protest against rising costs of ing, the NHRC chief called on civ- ing countries on Qatar have caused outside parliament in Ottawa. An luminous safety jackets, as armoured living in the Champs-Elysees in Paris yesterday. il society organisations in the Gulf a deep blow to the social fabric of estimated 200 members of far-right vehicles rolled through the streets. Co-operation Council (GCC) countries to the Gulf. He pointed out that with groups and 100 counter-protesters “Dozens of shopkeepers have fall- Bordeaux, Lyon and Toulouse, dur- thousands massed on the Champs- hold a series of consultations and meet- every additional day, the rift and gap lobbed insults at each other on the en victim to hooligans,” Paris Mayor ing a fourth weekend of nationwide Elysees avenue. ings to develop the human rights system between the Gulf countries are in- snow-covered lawn, resulting in one Anne Hidalgo tweeted. “Once again, protests against rising living costs Thick plumes of black smoke from in the Gulf, pointing out that a year and a creasing, and the sufferings of the arrest. Scuff les erupted just as the this is deplorable.” and Macron in general. fi res rose high into the sky. half of the siege of Qatar has exposed the people, who have paid the biggest event got underway, but riot police Clashes also broke out at protests In Paris, shouts of “Macron, Numerous shops and a Starbucks limited human rights and confl ict resolu- price for this unjust siege, is increas- quickly separated the two sides. in other cities including Marseille, resign” mingled with teargas as cafe were ransacked. To Page 20 tion system in the GCC states. ing. To Page 12

QP signs exploration deal marking fi rst entry into Mozambique

atar Petroleum has entered of each of ExxonMobil (operator) participate in exploring these fron- partners in these blocks for their total area of about 10,200sq km with into an agreement with an with a 50% participating interest, tier offshore basins in the Republic of support. water depths ranging from about QExxonMobil affiliate to ac- Empresa Nacional de Hidrocar- Mozambique. This is a milestone for “This signature is very much in line 200 to 2,000 metres, while the An- quire a 10% participating interest in bonetos (ENH) with a 20% partici- Qatar Petroleum as it marks its first with our growth strategy in Qatar Pe- goche basin block has an area of three offshore exploration blocks in pating interest, Rosneft with a 20% foray into Mozambique’s promising troleum with a new country entry to about 6,450sq km with water depths the Angoche and Zambezi basins in participating interest, and Qatar offshore basins”. prospective frontier basins with sig- ranging from about 1,800 to 2,500 Mozambique. Petroleum with a 10% participating Al-Kaabi said: “We hope that the nificant hydrocarbon resource poten- metres. The agreement is subject to cus- interest. exploration efforts, which will com- tial,” al-Kaabi added. “In line with its growth strategy, tomary regulatory approvals by the HE the Minister of State for En- mence soon, will be successful, and The offshore blocks are A5-B, this opportunity provides Qatar government of Mozambique, QP said ergy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida al- we look forward to collaborating which lies in the Angoche basin, and Petroleum with a new country en- yesterday. Kaabi, who is also President and CEO with ExxonMobil, Rosneft and ENH Z5-C and Z5-D, which lie in the Zam- try to prospective frontier basins Following such approval, the vari- of Qatar Petroleum, said: “We are on this opportunity. I would like to bezi basin. Both basins are frontier with significant hydrocarbon re- ous partners comprising the con- pleased to sign this agreement, with take this opportunity to thank the and underexplored. source potential,” a QP statement sortium will be made up of affiliates our long-time partner ExxonMobil to Mozambican authorities and our The two Zambezi blocks have a HE Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi said.

Gulf Times 4 Sunday, December 9, 2018 QATAR

Qatar Sustainability Week 2018 a big draw

atar Green Building Council (QGBC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), announced that its Qatar Sustainability Week 2018 attracted a “record-breaking number of visitors” at an appreciation event held for the participating organisations Qrecently. According to QGBC’s data, 214 events were organised under the banner of Qatar Sustainability Week 2018 by 123 partner organisations, attracting more than 30,000 visitors – an increase of 50% from last year’s event. QGBC estimates that the wider impact of the publicity around the initiative saw messages of how to live more sustainably reach a further 700,000 people. Qatar Sustainability Week 2018, which took place from October 27 to November 3, was designed to promote a culture of sustainability in Qatar in line with the global sustainability goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. At the appreciation event, QGBC also announced that Qatar Sustainability Week 2019 will take place from Oc- tober 26-November 2, 2019. As in previous years, the week will kick off with the Qatar Green Building Conference 2019 from October 27-29, with the Qatar Sustainability Awards taking place on Octo- ber 27. Over 100 public and private sector partners that hosted sustainability-related events registered with Qatar Sustain- ability Week 2018 attended QGBC’s appreciation event. Addressing guests at the event, Meshal al-Shammari, director of QGBC, said, “This was the third edition of Qatar Sustainability Week, which is getting bigger and better each year. I believe that we are at an important point in Qatar right now, with a critical mass of people wanting to make a posi- tive change to live more sus- tainably thanks to initiatives like Qatar Sustainability Week.” Key sponsors of Qatar Sustainability Week 2018 in- cluded Msheireb Properties (Platinum Sponsor); Redco Construction Almana (Gold Sponsor); Tadmur Holding (Awards Sponsor); Ashghal (Strategic Sponsor); Oore- doo (Telecommunications Sponsor); ENGIE’s Cofely Besix Facility Management and QAFAM as Qatar Green Building Conference spon- sors; and Contactless (Tech- nology Sponsor). Ali al-Kuwari, acting CEO of Msheireb Properties, the Platinum Sponsor of Qatar Sustainability Week 2018, said: “Sustainability Week 2018 exemplifi es our com- mitment to collaboration in advocating green issues”.

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, December 9, 2018 QATAR Sidra Medicine opens annual functional genomics symposium idra Medicine opened the fourth annual Functional SGenomics Symposium yesterday with an update on data collected from the 12,000 genomes sequenced as part of the Qatar Genome Programme (QGP). Following the analysis of 6,000 of these genomes, Sidra Medicine announced that it identifi ed over 30mn new vari- ants, giving a much deeper un- derstanding of the Qatari and Arab genome. New insights into risk factors and protective vari- Sidra Medicine CEO Peter Morris Sidra Medicine’s chief research ants will support the develop- speaking at the event. off icer Dr Christof Von Kalle ment of neonatal and premarital screening procedures, as well QGP, along with other entities Sharing early fi ndings, profes- as support eventual discover of such as Hamad Medical Corpo- sor Xavier Estivill, chair of Sidra cures for certain diseases in- ration, Weill Cornell Medicine in Medicine’s Genetics and Genom- cluding diabetes and cardiovas- Qatar, Qatar National Research ics programme, said: “Typically, cular diseases. Fund, has been instrumental genome mapping projects have Over 400 attendees joined in establishing foundations for largely focused on European, Sidra Medicine for the fi rst day personalised medicine in Qatar Asian and African populations – of the Symposium, which is on- and the set-up of the ambitious the unique features of the region Group photo of speakers participating in the event. going until December 10 at Qatar strategy of Qatar Precision Med- and Arab populations therefore National Convention Centre. icine. The challenge now will be have been underrepresented or well as allergy, asthma and others. in comparison to the size of the pital by Her Highness Sheikha many levels and promote the de- The event is hosting over 100 to materialise many of the eff orts altogether absent in the available The same level of understanding population.” Moza bint Nasser. livery of new ways of treatment local and international experts that Qatar has made in biomedi- human genome data. This clearly and data now can be developed The symposium also repre- The Qatar Precision Medi- and care for patients aff ected by in functional genomics and big cine into this national initia- impacts our ability to understand, with respect to Arab populations. sents a further step along Qatar’s cine Strategy is set to transform these disorders. It also has broad data, and introducing the Wom- tive,” explained Sidra Medicine diagnose and treat disease types Given the country’s size, the cur- path to establishing the strat- medical care in Qatar. It will sup- applicability to Arab populations en in Science Workshop today. chief research offi cer professor that are particularly prevalent rent sample of 12,000 whole ge- egy of Qatar Precision Medicine, port the discovery of the causes around the world, not only in the “Sidra Medicine’s partnership Christof Von Kalle, speaking on amongst Arab populations – dia- nomes sequenced is one of the fi rst announced at the grand of disease in Qatar, facilitate over 400mn inhabitants of the with the Qatar Biobank and the the sidelines of the symposium. betes, cardiovascular, cancer, as most representative of its kind opening of Sidra Medicine hos- the development of research at Middle East region. HBKU participates as academic partner

amad Bin Khalifa advancing our research in this University (HBKU) area, while mutually benefi t- His participating as ing from the wealth of exper- an academic partner at Sidra tise that surrounds us.” Medicine’s fourth annual Dr Albagha said, “Many Functional Genomics 2018 disease-related traits such Symposium, being held un- as blood pressure and blood der the theme of Big Data to glucose levels are geneti- Clinic at the Qatar National cally determined. The Qa- Convention Centre until to- tar Genome programme is morrow. a great resource for inves- HBKU is represented tigating the genetic basis of through the participation of these disease traits. Unrav- three of its science-focused elling the genetic contri- entities, which are the Col- Sara al-Khawaga butions of these traits will lege of Science and Engi- participating in the Dr Edward Stuenkel (left) is co-chairing a session on Day 2 of also pave the way for preci- neering (CSE), College of symposium. the symposium. sion medicine in Qatar. Our Health and Life Sciences research team (in collabo- (CHLS) and Qatar Bio- QBRI and professor of ge- Spectrum, and Molecular participation of Dr Henning ration with Weill Cornell medical Research Institute netics at CHLS, participated Mechanisms of Permanent Horn, assistant professor at Medicine-Qatar) is cur- (QBRI). with a cross-disciplinary Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus CHLS, in a session titled The rently investigating genetic The symposium, which host of speakers to address in Qatar. LINC Complex is Essential contributions to more than began yesterday, provides a various aspects of genome On Day 2, Dr Edward for Gametogenesis, which 60 disease-related traits. platform for experts to dis- variability and function, Stuenkel, dean of CHLS, is will discuss the characteri- We will provide some in- cuss cutting-edge advances with a specifi c focus on the co-chairing a session on Ex- sation of recently discovered sights into this project at in genetics, genomics and genetics of disorders af- ploring the Consequences of mutations that are linked to the Functional Genomics “big data” in the fi eld of fecting children. Dr Alba- Mutation in Model Systems. male infertility. 2018 Symposium.” medicine. The interdisci- gha’s discussion on Genetic He will aim to list the ad- Throughout the sympo- Dr Dena al-Thani, as- plinary international com- Architecture of Health and vantages of utilising animal sium, CSE will be exhibit- sistant professor at CSE, munity of attendees aims to Disease-related Traits in models for gene discovery; ing at the HBKU booth and said: “CSE is pioneering assess how best to use big the Qatari Population high- describe the impact of non- engaging with visitors with a data analytics in health genetic and clinical datasets lighted the contribution of self mutations in human the aim of promoting the management degree – a to provide novel insights common genetic variations disease; and explain what college’s ongoing work and programme that was spe- into the biology of disease. to health and disease traits, spatial transcriptomics can programmes. cifi cally launched to tie Scientifi c challenges includ- as well as the country’s reveal about biology. Commenting on CHLS’ into Qatar’s ambitions for ing implementation, scala- progress towards the utilisa- Kholoud al-Shafai, a PhD participation, Dr Stuenkel capacity building. By par- ble data infrastructures, and tion of precision medicine. student at CHLS, will be said: “Sidra Medicine’s an- ticipating at the Functional developing novel therapeu- Sara al-Khawaga, who is co-moderating a Women in nual symposium provides a Genomics Symposium, we tics, are some of the topics enrolled in CHLS’ PhD in Science workshop to dem- crucial platform to evaluate aim to showcase CSE’s po- that are being explored. Biological and Biomedical onstrate the achievements advancements in the fi eld tential and impact, as well On Day 1 of the confer- Sciences programme, also of women in the fi eld as they of genomics. We are looking as engage in meaningful ence, Dr Omar Albagha, conducted a session to dis- assume top positions. forward to useful contribu- discussions with our coun- principal investigator at cuss the Incidence, Clinical Day 3 will also witness the tions at the symposium and to terparts.”

Difi to host expert group meeting on role of families

he Doha Internation- family’s role in supporting the able. They face high levels of more important than ever pert Group Meeting on the al Family Institute transition of young people economic and social uncer- before, and it requires as- Role of Families and Family T(Difi ), a member of from school to work, through tainty and risk. And all too sistance from the rest of so- Policy in Supporting Youth Qatar Foundation, in collab- addressing youth employ- often their full potential is cial actors. The future of our Transitions. The expert oration with the Division for ment challenges, and help not developed because they societies depends on it.” meeting aims to explore how Inclusive Social Develop- countries to improve youth have no access to productive Renata Kaczmarska, Fo- family policies can contrib- ment of the United Nations outcomes towards achieving and decent jobs. cal Point on the Family, UN ute to helping youth in their Department of Economic youth-related SDGs. Experts “That is why the crucial DESA, said, “The UN DESA transitions from education and Social aff airs (UN DESA) in the fi elds of youth policy, infl uence of parents and is pleased to partner with to employment and family and the International Fed- family policy, social policy, families in their lives is now Difi in convening the Ex- formation.” eration for Family Develop- social integration, and eco- ment (IFFD), is organising nomics will participate and an Expert Group Meeting give their opinions and rec- on ‘The Role of Families and ommendations. Family Policy in Support- Difi ’s focus on helping ing Youth Transitions’ to be young people navigate the held on December 11 and 12 transition to adulthood – at Hilton Doha. particularly in the context of The meeting will include moving from school or uni- panel discussions that bring versity into the workforce together international ex- – refl ects its recognition perts to discuss the role of that the process is often a families in supporting youth challenging one. The insti- transitions from school to tute believes that a delayed work and, ultimately, youth transition from school to employment outcomes in or- work prevents young peo- der to achieve the Sustainable ple from gaining a sense of Development Goals (SDGs). It independence and aff ects aims to address the infl uence other pathways to adult- of families and factors such hood, including marriage, as parental occupation, edu- family formation, and civic cation, and poverty on youth participation. employment and career de- Dr Ignacio Socias, director velopment. of communications, IFFD, It will also assess how poli- said, “Young people these cies can help to reinforce the days are extremely vulner-

Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 9 QATAR

Al-Kaabi meets US energy secretary HE the Minister of State Commerce ministry launches for Energy Aff airs, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, held talks in Doha yesterday with visiting US Energy Secretary fi rst National Day Trade Festival Rick Perry. Discussions between the two energy s part of the Qatar with the opportunity to of- tality and retail sectors.” ministers covered National Day cel- fer outstanding promotions, Through the festival, bilateral ties and Aebrations, the Minis- thus enabling citizens and the Ministry of Commerce co-operation in the try of Commerce and Indus- residents to benefi t from and Industry aims to sup- energy field. The try (MoCI), in co-operation great discounts throughout port the private sector and talks also focused on with the National Tourism this period.” boost demand across the strengthening existing Council, has announced the Mashal Shahbik of the Na- retail sector. The festival energy partnerships launch of the fi rst National tional Tourism Council said, will stimulate trade across between Qatar and Day Trade Festival slated “We are proud to co-operate local markets, contribute the United States. The from December 15 to 20. with the Ministry of Com- to the country’s economy, meeting was attended By organising the large, merce and Industry to launch stimulate internal and ex- by senior off icials fi rst-of-its-kind festival, the the National Day Trade Festi- ternal tourism, and create accompanying ministry off ers shop owners, val, which is intended to cele- an environment conducive Secretary Perry. retail sector professionals, and brate these precious national to the continued growth of private sector companies and days for all those who live in the trade sector. organisations the opportunity the land of Qatar .The Na- The fi rst edition of the to share with Qatar’s citizens tional Festival is a strong start National Day Trade Festival and residents the joy of cel- to the Qatar Winter Shows, is expected to bring signifi - ebrating National Day through entertainment centres. initiative comes within the which will be completed with cant revenues. the launch of large and un- The front windows of framework of the ministry’s the launch of the Qatar Shop- Over 14 shopping malls precedented discounts. participating outlets and eff orts to organise events ping Festival soon, off ering across Qatar, as well as other The private sector com- companies will bear the that refl ect pride in Na- discounts, special off ers, and shops and retail outlets, are panies and organisations National Day Trade Festival tional Day celebrations, and cultural and artistic events participating in the festival. participating in the festival logo label that was designed contribute to cementing the that will last for one month. Companies wishing to include all trade and serv- specifi cally for the event, values of loyalty and a sense “We are working with all participate can register by ice sectors such as shopping and will be distributed to of belonging to our country public and private partners to visiting the Ministry of Com- malls, restaurants, retail out- participants free of charge. and its wise leadership. diversify the local events cal- merce and Industry’s Quality lets, beauty salons, hospital- Mohamed Ahmed al- “The ministry also endar and entertainment op- License and Market Control ity service providers, hotels, Ansari, media offi cer at sought to bolster trade ac- tions, as part of our strategy Department, located on the sport clubs, health and beau- the Ministry of Commerce tivity across all markets to enhance visitors’ experi- third Floor of the ministry’s ty centres and institutes, and and Industry, said: “This by providing retail outlets ence and support the hospi- headquarters in Lusail. Darfur peace process based on Doha Document: Sudan offi cial

QNA He stressed that the Suda- Khartoum nese government and people appreciate what Qatar was doing for the country and he international com- its keenness on security and munity has unani- stability. Tmously agreed that As for the consultations the Doha Peace Document is held in the German capital, the basis of the peace proc- Berlin between the Suda- ess in Darfur and that any nese government and the steps taken for armed move- Sudan Liberation Move- ments to join the Doha docu- ment led by Minni Arko ment are carried out because Minawi and justice and it has received recognition equality led by Khalil Ib- and global support along rahim which reached an with the popular approval agreement on Thursday, he by the people of Darfur, said said that it aimed to arrange Magdy Khalafallah, Minister the agenda for the start of of State, Head of the Darfur formal negotiations with Peace Offi ce. them through the basic ne- Khalafallah pointed to the gotiating platform in Doha achievements of the Doha and in accordance with the Peace Document, which Doha Peace Document. transformed the interna- The negotiations are ex- tional community’s view of pected to begin in January Darfur from a state of war and will be decided accord- and confl ict to a permanent ing to the agreed agenda and state of stability supported reach its end through the by large national develop- mechanisms that are pro- ment projects that changed posed to implement any fi - the region’s features and nal agreement with them in provided a model for the Doha. world in the new face of He said that with the peace in Sudan. holding of the Doha negotia- This came in statements tions with the movements of yesterday to Qatar News Manawi and Khalil Ibrahim, Agency (QNA), in which he more than 90% of the armed reiterated the Sudanese gov- movements have joined the ernment’s strict adherence Darfur peace and agreed to the Doha platform as the that the Doha document as basis for negotiations and the basis for peace, stress- the fi nal signing of any peace ing that the door to join the agreement with the armed Doha peace document is still movements. open to all and that the gov- He pointed out that the ernment is still more careful current political atmosphere to negotiate with the sup- in the country of successes porters and opponents and achieved in Darfur in the ar- armed movements to re- eas of national dialogue and turn to embrace the home- progress in the disarmament land and contribute to the processes and security in construction and make the Darfur and its transition to most of the opportunities sustainable development is available to them to adjust one of the most signifi cant their situation and abandon gains achieved by the Doha intransigence, which is use- Document on the ground. less.

Qatar attends Morocco forum on migration and development

A delegation from the Ministries of Foreign Aff airs, Interior, Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs and the Planning and Statistics Authority participated in the Migration and Development Forum, which has concluded ended in Marrakech, Morocco. During the forum, Qatar’s experience in reforming the safe and orderly movement of labour and providing a flexible and stimulating labour market for the private sector was highlighted. Qatar’s labour market strategy 2018-2022 aims at enhancing the protection of the rights and interests of all producers and workers, and provides skilled labour and high productivity, in addition to labour market governance to ensure the provision of current and future needs. The three-day forum discussed migration and development issues under the chairmanship of Morocco and Germany, in the presence and participation of senior off icials and representatives of more than 100 countries, as well as civil society organisations, the private sector and international organisations concerned with migration and development issues. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, December 9, 2018 QATAR Offi cers Training Institute holds graduation event

QNA Doha

he Offi cers Training Insti- tute of the Armed Forces TCollege and Institutes celebrated the graduation of 135 offi cers and members of various branches of the armed forces and other military authorities in Qatar and friendly countries, as part of the conclusion of the ba- sic courses for the fi rst half of the 2018/2019 training year. The ceremony, which was held under the patronage of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, was attended by the Chairman of the Colleges and Institutes Authority Major Gen- eral Hamad bin Ahmed al-Nuai- mi, Kuwaiti Military Attache Brigadier General Huwaidi Sahn al-Hajri, as well as a number of senior offi cers of the Qatar Armed Forces. The graduates included offi c- ers and personnel from Qatar, Faisal Mohamed al-Ouja, the the offi cers during the courses Colonel Jaber Rashid al-Khay- is concerned with training the of- commanding the forces in various environments and exercise com- Kuwait and Sudan. Commander of the Offi cers received training and theory to arin, Director of Exercise, stressed fi cers of the courses on the proce- tactical operations. mand and control of the forces in On the occasion, Brigadier Training Institute, revealed that practical education. that the exercise - Saqr Al-Jazira - dures of combat, opening up and It aims to adapt to the diff erent battle procedures.

Joint Special Forces celebrate graduation of new trainees

QNA cluded: the internal secu- Doha rity course for officers, which was launched on September 25 and lasted 6 weeks, and he Joint Special Forces the counterterrorism course, celebrated the graduation which was launched on Sep- Tof three training courses tember 13 and continued for on internal security, counter- 12 weeks, and the commando terrorism and commando tac- course, which was launched tics, in the presence of HE the on November 1 and lasted 5 Commander of the Joint Special weeks, the Directorate of De- Forces, Major General Hamad fence Communication said in bin Abdullah al-Fetais al-Marri. a statement yesterday. The ceremony, which was The internal security course held in the Zakrit area, included for offi cers saw the participation a fi nal exercise in which all the of the internal security forces participants of the three courses (Lekhwiya) in training course No took part. 58, along with 10 offi cers from The three courses in- Kuwait. Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 11 QATAR ExxonMobil’s environmental campaign focuses on dugongs

xxonMobil Qatar has Union for Conservation of Na- The second competition on launched an “exciting and ture (IUCN)-listed as vulnerable, social media is a trivia one. Every Ecreative” environmen- which suggests that they are facing week between December 10 and tal campaign, focusing on dug- a high risk of extinction in the wild January 5, ExxonMobil Qatar will ongs, which will run as part of in the medium-term future. Many post dugong facts on ExxonMo- its activities for the 2019 Qatar of them get caught up in fi shing bil Qatar Instagram and Twitter ExxonMobil Open. nets and ropes and drown. “This is accounts and at the end of each The campaign, which was why it is critical that the people of week, followers will be asked a launched on November 27, started Qatar are educated about dugongs question, the answers of which in government schools where stu- and the importance of conserving are in the weekly posts. Once they dents were given a chance to help this native species with the help fi nd the answer, they will need to name the campaign’s mascot and of platforms like the social media repost it using the hashtag #Dug- other characters. campaign that includes fun yet ong_facts. They will then enter The mascot will be featured educational competitions,” the a raffl e for the chance to win one at three stands in diff erent loca- statement notes. of three prizes every week, with tions around Doha, and will help As part of its overall social me- a total of 12 prizes. educate the general public on Qa- dia campaign for the tournament, In addition to the social me- tar’s dugongs and engage the local ExxonMobil Qatar has planned dia competitions, ExxonMobil community in preservation ef- three competitions under the en- Qatar has planned entertain- forts, ExxonMobil Qatar has said vironmental awareness campaign ing activities for people visit- in a statement. for its followers on Twitter and ing the stands around Doha, as Dugongs are marine mam- Instagram. The fi rst competition well as its stand at the tourna- mals that are commonly known invites followers to put on scuba ment’s Public Village that will as “sea cows”. They can grow diving gear and take a selfi e with be held from December 31 until to about 3m in length, weigh as the campaign mascot at an Exx- January 5, 2019. These activi- much as 400kg and live to over onMobil Qatar stand located in ties will engage as many peo- the age of 70 years. Qatari dug- Doha Festival City from tomorrow ple as possible to help them ongs are part of a larger group until December 15, Villagio Mall understand the importance of found in the Arabian Gulf – Dugong is marine mammal that is commonly known as “sea cow”. from December 16 to 31, and Souq protecting Qatar’s dugongs. which is believed to be around Waqif from December 20 to Janu- EMRQ was established at the 6,000 to 7,000 individuals – study Qatar’s dugong popula- maintain healthy seagrass mead- ary 5, and then post it on Twitter Qatar Science & Technology Park and the second largest group in tion and better understand how ows - they help ensure vegetative or Instagram using the hashtag in 2009 to conduct research in the world after Australia. to help protect it with the col- balance and play an important role #Dugongs_matter. areas of common interest to Qa- ExxonMobil Qatar’s research laboration and support of the in maintaining a healthy ecosys- Three weekly participants will tar and ExxonMobil, including centre – ExxonMobil Research Ministry of Municipality and tem. They also add to the marine be selected through a raffl e draw to environmental management, wa- Qatar (EMRQ) has worked Environment. biodiversity of the region. win a prize, with a total of 12 lucky ter reuse, LNG safety and coastal closely with Qatar University to Dugongs play a role in helping Dugongs are International winners. geology. Ahlibank honours employees Ooredoo announces at National Day celebration ‘amazing off ers’ hlibank celebrated senior management and we convey our gratitude to contributed to Ahlibank’s on app’s use Qatar National Day employees of the bank, rec- this great nation guided by growth and ongoing success. Aand hosted its Long ognised a total of 71 long- its wise leadership. We are Saad al-Kaabi, head of Hu- oredoo has an- Service Award celebratory serving employees who have proud to celebrate this day man Resources at Ahlibank, nounced that dinner, recognising long- been with Ahlibank for 5, 10, with our long serving col- expressed pride in recognis- Ocustomers will serving employees for their 15, 20, 25 and 30 years leagues, who are the bank’s ing the long-serving em- be able to enjoy “amazing off ers”, using aug- loyalty, commitment and Mahmoud Malkawi, act- main asset.” ployees and thanked them mented reality via its app, making the customer dedication to the bank’s ing CEO of Ahlibank, said: Malkawi expressed his ap- for their devotion. “At Ahl- experience “even more exciting and rewarding”. success. “We all take pride in cel- preciation for the employees ibank, we are always striving Unlike virtual reality, where the user is im- The annual event, at- ebrating Qatar National Day, for their loyalty and continu- to be at the heart of the Qatar mersed in an entirely made-up world, augmented tended by the executive and a glorious occasion on which ous dedication, which has community.” reality is an interactive experience of a real-world environment enhanced, or augmented, with computer-generated perceptual information. This perceptual information is superimposed, or overlaid, on the world the user actually sees. Perhaps the most commonly known applica- tions of augmented reality today are Google Glass and heads-up displays in car windshields, but the technology is being rolled out across a number of industries including telecommunications. Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, director PR and Cor- porate Communications at Ooredoo, said of the ar- rival: “We’re delighted to be able to off er customers yet another technological advance in our products and an additional way for them to enjoy the In- ternet even more, and we look forward to showing them what augmented reality can do. In the near future, our customers can expect to see it used for special off ers and deals, and much more.” Customers who do not yet have the Oore- doo app can download it from the Apple Store for iPhones and the Android store for Android Ahlibank off icials with long-serving employees at the event. phones. All-new Hyundai Kona displayed at Burger Festival in Katara

kyline Automotive took part fender cladding, helping cement lights, guaranteeing a signature in the second annual Burger its place as a one-of-a-kind arriv- front display look. It also includes SFestival this year, displaying al to the streets of Qatar. The Ko- full-LED headlamps, which have its all-new Kona from December na’s exterior design, including the Satis Bending Light and Smart 4 until yesterday at Katara – the two-tone roof and mirrors, allows High Beam, creating a stress-free, Cultural Village. the driver to dare to be diff erent safe journey. It was a chance for customers on the road and its sporty silver The all-new Kona off ers the to learn more about the all-new side sill portrays a stylish design driver a choice between two high- Kona and meet members of the at its core. tech and effi cient turbocharged Skyline Automotive team, the The all-new Kona’s interior petrol powertrains. Skyline Au- company said in a statement. even has plenty of room for pas- tomotive has a choice of two en- Skyline Automotive, a Jaidah sengers and cargo; the wide- gine options for customers: 2.0L Group company and offi cial dis- opening rear hatch and low load or 1.6L Turbo. tribution partner of Hyundai height makes for a hassle-free “The all-new Kona is an alto- Motor Company in Qatar, chose ride. Additionally, the trunk ca- gether dependable car, helping the all-new Kona as a standalone pacity is simple to adjust and with drivers navigate the road sim- highlight at the Burger Festival one click away, the rear seats can pler and safer. An on-demand “because of its uniqueness and be folded down in no time. Inte- all-wheel drive system is another individual appeal”. rior features are complemented feature that is available in the “The all-new Kona’s confi - with a high-quality sound sys- all-new Kona, ensuring improved dent design sets it apart from tem from Krell, which redefi nes performance and safety through- every other SUV in its class, mak- the passenger’s journey as well as out. Advanced high strength steel, ing its mark at the festival,” the an eight-inch touch screen dis- as well as high-impact energy statement noted. play for ease in accessibility and absorption, is one of the all-new Johan Madarasz, marketing convenience. Kona’s main features as it protects manager at Skyline Automotive, Moreover, a high-mounted passengers in the event of a colli- said: “Skyline Automotive was The all-new Hyundai Kona. fl oating touchscreen shows in- sion. Advanced Traction Corner- looking to present the all-new novative technology at its fi n- ing Control incorporated in the Kona during an event that would rivals. We chose the Burger Festi- our customers’ feedback.” est, creating better visibility and all-new Kona improves stability allow the general public to have val because of the event’s strong The Kona’s aesthetic appeal is practicality. behind the wheel, actively distrib- the opportunity to establish a presence in Qatar. It was indeed accentuated by its 18-inch alloy The new and improved 2019 uting torque, even when there’s strong connection with one of a memorable and successful dis- wheels, cascading grille and mus- Kona features a twin headlight acceleration in curved sections on Skyline Automotive’s latest ar- play and we look forward to seeing cular surfaces with high-contrast design with LED daytime running the road,” the statement adds. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, December 9, 2018 QATAR Mowasalat fetes drivers and QIB’s rewards programme support staff at annual fest Absher exceeds owasalat (Karwa) re- cently organised its Mannual End of Year Festival for drivers and support 100mn points staff , for the eighth year in a row. The two-day event con- sisted of an array of cultural, bsher, Qatar Islam- recreational and awareness ic Bank’s (QIB) re- programmes. A number of raf- Awards programme, has fl e draws were also held to give awarded 100mn Absher points away gifts to the participants. to QIB customers, it was an- Among the highlights of this nounced in a statement yes- year’s festival was the Mow- terday. asalat Chairman Cup 2018 The Absher rewards pro- closing ceremony, where the gramme, which was launched champions of team and in- in July, enables customers to dividual sports competitions collect Absher points when were awarded trophies and they transfer their salaries, medals, along with the referees open a fi xed deposit account, and members of the organising use their QIB debit and credit committee. cards, or when using QIB mo- For several years, Mowasalat bile App and Internet Banking. has been organising recreational All QIB customers earn Ab- programmes for its drivers and sher points as an appreciation support staff to provide a cheer- Mowasalat off icials with employees during the distribution of awards. for their banking relationship ful environment that supports with QIB. them in line with its objective to Mowasalat holds friendly presence of Mowasalat chair- Al-Hail said, “Holding the work and achieving the best pro- “We are delighted to cel- ic, and household items from create suitable conditions and gatherings associated with man Nasser bin Mohamed al- recreational festival is in line ductivity. ebrate Absher’s fi rst 100mn leading brands. Products are a healthy work environment, their countries and cultures Malki, managing director and with Mowasalat’s national duty “This comes with the objec- points’ milestone. It gives us delivered to customers’ homes considering that their families and also creates an opportu- CEO Khalid Nasser al-Hail and and social responsibility to- tive of alleviating work pressure, great pleasure to see our cus- regardless of their location in are back in their home coun- nity for the staff to meet peo- other members of the com- wards the employees. Mowasalat motivating employees and help- tomers benefi ting from the Qatar. tries, the ple from diverse cultures, the pany’s management, who mo- adopts best motivation methods ing achieve the company’s de- Absher rewards programme, For newly-joined Private company has said in a state- statement notes. tivated the drivers and support and development plans through sired objectives and sustainable as we always thrive to reward Banking customers, they will ment. The festival witnessed the staff . its wise policies in managing development.” them for their loyalty. Our receive an Absher joining bo- strategy continues to remain nus of 10,000 (one time to customer-centric focused on primary holders) points, while meeting and exceeding our recently-joined Tamayuz QF opens registration for customers’ expectations,” banking customers will re- Founder’s vision outlined at QNL lecture said D Anand, QIB’s Personal ceive 5,000 points (one time Education City winter camp Banking Group general man- to primary holders) joining ager. bonus. Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Pre- aff airs’ executive director, Absher points are instantly QIB Absher Rewards pro- University Education (PUE) PUE, QF, said: “I want to thank redeemable through QIB Ab- gramme does not have any has opened registration for all the organisations taking sher online portal (https:// blackout dates or restrictions. its Education City Winter part in this year’s Education absher.qib.com.qa) where In turn, QIB customers can re- Camp 2018, which will be held City Winter Camp, while customers can choose to book deem their points and enjoy all at Awsaj Academy – part of encouraging other entities fl ight tickets from over 900 the benefi ts at their preferred PUE – from December 23 to to take part in the future. We airlines, book a room from season and time. January 3. hope that this program will over 450,000 hotels, and rent All QIB customers are auto- The camp is open to children continue for many years to a car from more than 150,000 matically enrolled in the Ab- aged 6-10 and, through a come.” car rental offi ces in 150 cities sher programme and they are series of programmes and Grade 11 students from worldwide. collecting points every time creative activities, aims to QF schools are also being Additionally, customers they acquire or use selected promote character-building given the opportunity to have access to the online shop- products. In order to check qualities, while allowing earn additional creative, ping store ‘Giiftshop’ special- or redeem points, customers students to explore various active, service hours – an IB ised in redeeming points with need to activate their Absher talents and further different curriculum requirement – by thousands of products across account by logging to the Ab- A lecture outlining the vision of Qatar’s founder, skills. volunteering at the Education diff erent categories, ranging sher portal and follow a simple Sheikh Jassim al-Thani, has been held at Qatar The Education City Winter City Winter Camp. from books, sports, electron- activation process. National Library (QNL). Titled ‘The Vision of the Camp 2018 will feature a Jameel al-Shammari, Leader: Founder of Qatar’, the lecture was organised range of activities, including project manager of PUE, QF, to mark Qatar National Day, a collective fun, hands-on scientific added: “These volunteering celebration of the nation’s forefathers’ achievements. experiments; horse-riding opportunities have been In his lecture, HE Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani, author lessons at Al Shaqab; and created to engage and of the book Jassim the Leader: Founder of Qatar, a football programme that involve students from Qatar outlined the historical factors that have influenced emphasises the benefits Foundation schools, as well Qatar’s economic, social and cultural development of teamwork, which will be as other academic institutes over the past decades. The library is holding a delivered by the Supreme in Qatar, and are designed month-long celebration of Qatar National Day. Committee for Delivery & to improve communication Legacy. skills and promote Abeer al-Khalifa, academic teamwork.” QU participates in Doha International Book Fair

atar University (QU) partic- members in various scientifi c, liter- ipated in the 29th Doha In- ary, social and cultural disciplines. NHRC Chairman HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri meeting with an Qternational Book Fair, which We have seen a signifi cant increase off icial of the Austrian Ombudsman Council, a national human was held from November 29 until in these publications recently, which rights institution in Austria. yesterday at the Doha Exhibition we are very proud of, and they refl ect and Convention Centre (DECC). the increase of scientifi c, intellectual QU’s booth was characterised this and cultural mobility in our leading year by the launch of several books academic institution.” authored by faculty, staff and stu- The QU booth off ered a “great GCC summit has dents. It also featured an array of opportunity to enhance commu- cultural seminars, workshops and nication with the local community creative sessions. Kids were wel- An assortment of creative activities and to introduce our scholars, in- come at the booth where they en- was on off er at QU’s booth. tellectuals, writers and creators, to address rights joyed a customized entertainment who are a vital part of the educa- corner and participated in compe- cultural or intellectual in nature”. tional landscape”, he added. titions such as a photo contest and Nasser Rashid al-Marri, director The nine colleges of QU all had a violations caused Qatar University’s booth at the book fair. drawing activities. of Communications & Public Af- role in the QU booth and presented In a press statement, QU stressed fairs, said of QU’s presence at the to audiences in over 100 issues. that it “participates in this annual fair: “We at Qatar University are keen QU’s Social and Economic Survey by siege: NHRC exhibition under the framework of to be present at the fair every year, Research Institute also presented a strengthening its leadership role as it is one of the most prominent number of their studies. in society and its keenness to be a cultural events in the country. With Through the booth, QU sought to From Page 1 the governments. He stressed present fi gure in important events these periodic participations, we raise awareness of the services it of- the importance of GCC lead- in the nation, be it conferences, seek to refl ect the support and inter- fered to the community, within and He stressed that the unity of ers taking advantage of the exhibitions or relevant community est the university has in publishing outside the university, particularly the GCC begins with preserv- summit to heal the Gulf rift as events, particularly those that are new publications authored by our its network of electronic databases. ing the unity of its people and well as their agreement on new the cohesion of the Gulf social procedures and mechanisms fabric, and that other failures in the council’s rules of proce- of the council in the fi eld of dure to ensure respect for the Book fair concludes human rights and confl ict res- principle of non-use of people olution cannot be allowed. as a tool to address political In response to reporters’ diff erences in the future. questions about the impor- He said the NHRC will not tance of decisions that could stop its eff orts in this direction emerge from the Riyadh sum- until the victims are redressed, mit, Dr Ali bin Smaikh al- calling for the leaders to seize Marri said: “No decisions in the opportunity of the summit. the security, economic and According to the NHRC social fi elds can be meaningful chief, the failure of the hu- or respond to the aspirations man rights system in the GCC of the Gulf people unless the countries is partly responsible next summit declares mecha- for the current human rights nisms to redress the victims situation in the Gulf coun- of the crisis and to ensure that tries. He called on civil soci- the human tragedy would not ety organisations and national be repeated again.” human rights institutions to The 29th Doha International Book Fair concluded at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday. The He said it is impossible to hold a series of consultations event was attended by some 427 publishers from 30 countries. Off ering a wide variety of books and diff erent ignore the fact that the siege and meetings to develop an ef- activities, the event drew a large number of visitors since its opening on November 29. PICTURE: Nasar T K imposed on Qatar harmed the fective human rights system in people more than it harmed the GCC states. Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 13 QATAR QC, UNHCR launch initiative for refugees atar Charity (QC) and The initiative is the culmination port emergencies worldwide On this occasion, al-Kuwari the United Nations High of a strategic co-operation agree- and carry out consultations and expressed delight at the grow- QCommissioner for Refu- ment signed between the two par- joint action in order to enhance ing co-operation and partner- gees (UNHCR) have launched ties in October 2017 in Geneva, QC humanitarian response and fi eld ship between QC and UNHCR the QC4HCR initiative to co- has said in a statement. co-operation between both par- in recent years, considering ordinate partnership and co-op- The agreement aims at the ties, develop long-term joint them as eff ective means to ease eration in order to achieve their establishment of a specialised campaigns and common ac- the suff ering of displaced peo- common humanitarian goals, mechanism within Qatar Char- tivities for capacity-building of ple and refugees, help them face primarily the protection of dis- ity to institutionalise the part- refugees and displaced persons, their challenges, and fi nance UNHCR, QC off icials shaking hands after signing an agreement. placed persons and refugees and nership between QC and UN- host an annual high-level fun- and implement programmes to the provision of a decent life HCR, manage the fi les of mutual draising event and highlight the strengthen their capacities. presence in the fi eld of co-op- of expanding its relationship with needs and saving lives.” for them in their countries or interest and follow up details by plight of refugees and displaced He also expressed pleasure eration to serve humanitarian Qatar Charity and highly appre- UNHCR and QC have a long countries of asylum. the employees of both parties. It persons, the statement explains. over the fact that Qatar Charity issues, especially with the in- ciates its commitment to support track record of co-operation for The initiative was signed at also aims at seeking support to Under the initiative, the char- is at the top of the list of UN- creasing number of displaced global humanitarian needs. the benefi t of refugees and dis- QC’s headquarters in Doha by provide about $30mn annually ity will become an active partner HCR’s NGO funding partners, people and refugees throughout “The world has been facing placed persons, which began in Khalid Khalifa, regional repre- for the humanitarian projects of UNHCR in raising aware- stressing his desire to maintain the world in recent years due to unprecedented forced displace- 2000. QC has funded 14 projects sentative of UNHCR to the GCC of UNHCR through various ness on issues faced by refugees this ranking within the frame- the high frequency of confl icts in ment since World War II, and of UNHCR with a total value of states, and Yousif bin Ahmed al- funding channels in Qatar. across the world, in Qatar and work of activating this initiative. many areas. the support we receive from our more than $33mn in Syria, Yem- Kuwari, chief executive offi cer of The initiative strives to bring involving millions of people in He hoped that the initiative On his part, Khalifa said, “UN- partners plays a crucial role in re- en, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Iraq, Qatar Charity. about a leading model to sup- their support. would further enhance QC’s HCR recognises the importance sponding to global humanitarian Somalia, Jordan and Lebanon. QFBA Northumbria takes part in University Expo Qatar

atar Finance and Busi- patronage of HE the Minister of ing high school students with ness Academy (QFBA) Education and Higher Educa- leading education providers QNorthumbria Univer- tion Dr Mohamed Abdul Wa- from around the world and this sity participated in University hed Ali al-Hammadi, off ered platform has served us in creat- Expo Qatar held last month at QFBA Northumbria a platform ing awareness about our latest the Qatar National Convention to create awareness about its off erings and our future plans Centre (QNCC). bachelor degrees to a wider in place. University Expo Qatar was audience. “Further, we plan to under- a comprehensive two-day ex- Dr Khalid al-Horr, chief ex- go several road shows in high hibition attended by students ecutive offi cer, QFBA, said, schools of the country starting aged 16 and above who, along “We are elated to have partici- January next year to showcase with their parents and teachers, pated in University Expo Qatar the bachelor degrees being of- are considering their higher as it off ered a greater avenue fered by QFBA Northumbria Nakilat off icials and students in a group photo. education options. to reach out to our prospec- University.” The event hosted more than tive students across the Middle QFBA’s partnership with 50 regional and international East and Qatar. Based on our Northumbria University opens universities, colleges, and vo- discussion with these young a new gateway to a career in cational training centres, two minds, we got an understand- Accounting, Finance, and In- live seminar rooms, and a lively ing about their requirements, ternational Banking for the social area. Institutes partici- which help us in further tar- people in Qatar. In September, Nakilat organises ‘Plant a QFBA Northumbria University pating at the fair had a greater geting our business degrees access to meet and engage with portfolio as per their needs and started its Academic Year 2018- their prospective intake of stu- buoyant market conditions. 2019. Around 53 students from dents from Qatar and the wider “We would like to thank the 12 diff erent countries have been Middle East. organisers for taking this in- enrolled for the fi rst academic Tree’ initiative with schools year. The event, held under the credible initiative of connect-

atari LNG transport an interest in and appreciation company Nakilat collab- for their natural environment, Qorated with the Ministry which goes a long way towards of Municipality and Environ- creating a sustainable future”, ment to organise a ‘Plant a Tree’ the statement noted. initiative with two local schools. Nakilat chief administration The initiative was aimed at offi cer Rashid al-Marri said, “As raising awareness of the impor- a responsible corporate citizen, tance of environmental protec- we recognise the importance in tion and preservation among the giving back to society and pro- students from an early age, the tecting the environment we op- company said in a statement. erate in. We carry out targeted During the event, the stu- and impactful initiatives year- dents were guided and assisted round by partnering with local by volunteers from Nakilat who institutions to improve the lives also took part in the planting of local community and the nat- activities. ural environment, thereby ful- In addition to “cultivating a fi lling our role as a responsible green culture, the initiative al- global leader in energy transpor- The event provided QFBA Northumbria a platform to create awareness about its bachelor degrees to Students planting saplings. lowed the students to develop tation and maritime services.” a wider audience. Domasco diamond sponsor GU-Q workshop focuses on of Midwinter Celebration of Sweden’s National Day regional security research recent public workshop at Georgetown Uni- oha Marketing Services A versity in Qatar (GU- Company (Domasco), Q) launched a new research Dexclusive distributor of initiative and book series that Volvo tucks and buses in Qa- brought together leading schol- tar, was one of the diamond ars working in the areas of in- sponsors at the Midwinter Cel- telligence and security research ebration of the National Day of focused on Africa and the Sweden. Middle East. Volvo’s fl agship XC90 car and The launch of the Cambridge FMX 440 truck were on display University Press Book Series on at the event held recently at The Intelligence and National Se- St Regis Doha. curity in Africa and the Middle “One of the world’s leading East was the result of a collabo- manufacturers of trucks, buses, ration between GU-Q profes- construction equipment and sors Rory Miller and Harry Ver- drive systems for marine and hoeven and Prof Clive Jones of industrial applications, Volvo Durham University in the UK. Group is based on the three “As the editors of this re- core values of quality, safety, search initiative and book se- and environmental care. With Faisal Shariff , managing director, Domasco. ries, we believe that the area of The workshop was attended by leading scholars. a mission to drive prosperity security studies with an African through transport solutions, cess to skilled service technicians vides complete transport solu- or Middle East focus is current- Security: The Regional Per- themes within an intelligence and world-class research into Volvo Group off ers drivers wherever they are, the statement tions to customers. We are ex- ly underserved,” said co-editor spective,” and “National Secu- and security research frame- issues that are at the forefront and passengers comfortable points out, adding that products tremely proud to be among the Miller, adding, “This work- rity and State Consolidation: work, including topics in in- of global and regional poli- transport solutions and high from Volvo Group are built with main partners celebrating the shop kicked off our eff orts to Contemporary Challenges,” ternational relations, history, tics,” explained co-editor Harry levels of safety standards,” a genuine parts giving customers National Day of Sweden. Volvo’s recruit authors of high quality featuring experts from GU-Q, sociology, anthropology, poli- Verhoeven. “The speaking at- statement noted. more time to focus on their core Trucks and Buses are the pin- scholarship, and to make a ma- Qatar University, Durham Uni- tics, ethics, philosophy, com- tendees are some of the most Volvo Group off ers a wide business. nacle of large-scale engineering jor contribution to the body of versity in the UK, the University munication studies, as well as knowledgeable, experienced range of city and intercity buses, Commenting on the celebra- and each vehicle not only meets knowledge on Intelligence and of Pretoria, South Africa, King’s comparative studies across and and innovative scholars in the medium- to heavy-duty trucks tion, Faisal Shariff , managing di- the highest standards of safety National Security in two key College London, National De- between various disciplines. fi eld of intelligence and secu- as well as fi nancing and service rector of Domasco, said: “Volvo and reliability but the products regions in the process.” fence Academy, Austria, and “The book series highlights rity studies and they brought a solutions to customers. An ex- Group has played a pivotal role are also strongly positioned to The workshop included two Sciences Po, Paris, France. the growing importance of range of theoretical, empirical tensive network of workshops in the growth of Qatar’s public meet the growing mobility needs presentation panels titled, Workshop participants re- Georgetown as a key centre for and historical perspectives to ensures that customers have ac- transportation sector and pro- of the country.” “National Security and Regime fl ected on a range of broad the production of knowledge the series and to the event.” Gulf Times 14 Sunday, December 9, 2018 QATAR ‘Scent’ focus of Msheireb Museums exhibition sheireb Museums re- and Mohamed Bin Jassim House, heart of Doha such as the four cently hosted ‘Rwaiha’, part of Msheireb Museums in the houses of Msheireb Museums. Ma perfumes, incense, heart of Msheireb Downtown “We are keen on raising aware- fl owers and coff ee exhibition that Doha. ness around our heritage and us- celebrated Qatar’s cultural and Highlighting the relevance of ing it as an inspiration for the de- entrepreneurial spirit. the event, Msheireb Museums velopment of our Qatari identity The event that concluded on director Hafi z Ali said: “I am very that combines the authenticity The exhibition was held in the open-air courtyard of two historical houses – the Company House and Mohamed Bin Jassim House. Monday was organised by Tart- happy with this collaboration and traditions of the past with eeb, a Qatari lifestyle and events with Tarteeb, as we always wel- the modernity and fl exibility of ern ingenuity, the exhibition pa- was the perfect location to host Rwaiha, Jaber al-Hajri, owner for their impeccable execution.” company. come the opportunity to work the future.” vilions created a lovely contrast the exhibition, complement- of La Princesse Coffee, said: The exhibition “created an Msheireb Museums is the with local artists and curators to Rwaiha witnessed the par- against the traditional back- ing our idea and reinforcing a “It was indeed an excellent enchanting historical ambience leading cultural and tourist des- host events such as Rwaiha. Fairs, ticipation of more than 50 lo- ground of the old Qatari houses,” sense of identity and tradition. It commercial and marketing op- with traditional music, poetry tination in Msheireb Downtown exhibitions and community ini- cal and regional entrepreneurs it noted. was a very rewarding endeavour portunity for our brand. I was recitals, cultural shows, compe- Doha. tiatives are vital to support the who showcased various unique Sharifa al-Sai, executive di- and we look forward to working impressed by the concept, the titions and prizes”, the statement Rwaiha, a Qatari word for entrepreneurial spirit of young blends of fragrances, aromas, in- rector of Tarteeb, said: “Incense, with Msheireb Museums again theme and the choice of loca- added. The event also provided scent, was held in the open- people, but most importantly, cense, coff ee and roses, accord- perfumes and coff ee are an es- to bring more cultural events to tion. We thank Msheireb Muse- training workshops for those in- air courtyard of two historical they help us attract Qatari youth ing to a press statement. sential part of our Qatari heritage Doha in the future.” ums for hosting us in this won- terested in perfumeries, coff ee houses – the Company House to historical cultural hubs in the “Characterised by their mod- and history. Msheireb Museums Being the official sponsor of derful heritage site and Tarteeb and fl ower formations. WCM-Q event explores medical humanities

he role of the medical hu- culture and its impact on the for dealing with grief, the role of manities in improving un- clinic. storytelling in trauma therapy, Tderstanding of both dis- Academics and professionals the impact of fl uorescent lighting ease and wellness was explored at were in attendance from insti- on Attention Defi cit Hyperactiv- a two-day conference organised tutions that included WCM-Q, ity Disorder and the challenges of by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar Hamad Medical Corporation, integrating the humanities into The Entrepreneurship Day was held for all participants of the HEC Paris Executive MBA (EMBA) Class of 2019. (WCM-Q). Qatargas, Boston University medical curricula. The Medical Humanities in the School of Medicine, King’s Col- Dr Mohamud Verjee, associ- Middle East Programme brought lege London, the American Uni- ate professor of family medicine senior academics in the fi elds of versity of Beirut, University Col- in clinical medicine/assistant medicine and the humanities lege London and others. dean for medical student aff airs, from Europe, the Middle East, Dr Alan Weber, professor of WCM-Q, gave a presentation Industry experts take part in HEC Asia and North America together English at WCM-Q and a mem- and submitted an abstract exam- in Doha to discuss the impact on ber of the organising committee of ining the importance and nature perceptions of health and disease the event, said: “The medical hu- of the listening skills deployed of a broad spectrum of humani- manities have emerged as impor- by physicians when conducting Paris Entrepreneurship Day ties subjects, including litera- tant and useful tools for helping consultations with patients. Dr ture, history, politics, religion, medical practitioners, academics Verjee was also a member of the art and art therapy, and medical and students reconcile the press- organising committee along with EC Paris, one of the their knowledge and expertise held at the Doha Marriott Ho- Sheikha Alanoud bint Ha- ethics, among others. ing sociological, economic, philo- Jamie Gray, director of the Dis- world’s leading provid- with the participants and dis- tel, included a session, led by mad al-Thani, managing The conference began with a sophical and ethical issues that tributed eLibrary at WCM-Q. Hers of Executive Educa- cussed the initiatives they have Adel Boseli, head of incubation director, Business Develop- keynote speech by Dr Mohamed arise in the practice of medicine. The conference also saw re- tion, recently held an Entrepre- in place to support local entre- at QBIC, on how to adopt a lean ment, Qatar Financial Centre, Ghaly of the College of Islamic This conference brought together search posters presented by Dr neurship Day for all participants preneurs. start-up approach as well as said: “Entrepreneurship acts Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa experts from all over the world Linda Miller of Imperial College of the HEC Paris Executive MBA Dr Nils Plambeck, dean and customer discovery, validation as a stimulating component University on Islamic perspec- to discuss these issues, with the London on ‘Graphic medicine (EMBA) Class of 2019. CEO of HEC Paris in Qatar, said: and creation. Participants were of healthy economic land- tives on ethical issues relating ultimate goal of discovering how as a reflective tool for self-ef- The Entrepreneurship Day, “Entrepreneurship is deeply also given fi nancing tips and scapes by boosting overall to genomics. This was followed far and in what ways humanistic ficacy and motivation’ and Dr linked to the Entrepreneurial rooted in the Qatari business crucial information on how to business growth and promot- by a series of presentations by approaches to medicine and the Tsai Pi-hua of Mackay Medical Mindset module of the EMBA, culture and HEC Paris in Qa- start a venture with QBIC. ing job creation. By encour- expert speakers arranged in five teaching of medicine can improve College in Taipei, Taiwan, on welcomed leading fi gures from tar is proud to contribute by Dhoha al-Buhendi, Digital In- aging the development of the sessions addressing the arts and patient outcomes.” ‘Preparing medical students for Qatar Foundation (QF), Qatar training and educating the local cubation Centre manager from private sector, the Qatar Fi- healing, humanities and litera- The event featured presenta- the writing of history of present Business Incubation Centre professionals in bringing new DIC at MoTC, spoke of the role nancial Centre is committed ture, sociological and historical tions of abstracts of 24 research illness: Marching from short (QBIC), the Digital Incubation ideas as well as helping Qatar of the Digital Incubation Centre to supporting Qatar’s current approaches to understanding projects on topics such as the use story reading and the practice Centre (DIC) of the Ministry to achieve the National Vision to boost ICT innovation in Qatar, and aspiring entrepreneurs by healthcare, medical ethics and of art therapy in medical settings of visual art’. of Transport and Communica- 2030. By hosting this event, we while Hayfa al-Abdulla, innova- providing a seamless set up tions (MoTC), Qatar Science & wanted to off er a launch pad to tion director at QSTP, showcased process.” Technology Park (QSTP) and our budding entrepreneurs who the range of programmes it off ers The day ended with alumni Qatar Financial Centre Author- wanted to get fi rst-hand in- to support technology develop- presenting their projects where ity (QFCA). sights and information.” ment, innovation and entrepre- intriguing business ideas were The industry experts shared The Entrepreneurship Day, neurship in Qatar. shared with the audience. New edition of Qatar e-Nature schools contest launched The Ministry of Education and Taking place between December will cover various topics such as society needs to be aware of the Higher Education, Sasol and and April, the contest consists of flora, birds, insects, reptiles, mam- importance of the country’s na- the Friends of the Environment four main stages. The first is the mals, fish and nature reserves in ture. From day one, we believed Centre (FEC) have announced the preparation stage, during which Qatar based on information in the in Qatar e-Nature’s ability to pro- launch of the sixth edition of the schools hold internal contests to Qatar e-Nature application and its mote this message and entrench Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest. form teams. This is followed by bilingual website. environmental values.” The objective is to encourage the quarter-finals, the semi-finals Fatima al-Obaidli, head of pro- Qatar e-Nature is the first students to discover Qatar’s rich and the finals. Four winning teams grammes and activities at the smartphone application of its nature, learn more about the will be honoured in an award Ministry of Education and Higher kind, highlighting the country’s environmental diversity in the ceremony, where they will receive Education, said: “The aim of the rich environmental diversity and country, and gain knowledge in a special trophies and vouchers, with Qatar e-Nature contest is in line off ering detailed information fun, interactive way. the vouchers for the first winners with the objectives of the ministry about the country’s flora, birds, The contest covers all primary reaching up to QR9,000. and the state vision; namely, to insects, mammals, reptiles, marine schools across Qatar, with each During the various stages of the educate the youth and use tech- life and nature reserves. Sasol co- participating school contesting competition, students will answer nology in the education process.” operated with FEC to develop this through a three-member team live questions to gain points in a Frahood al-Hajiri, FEC director, application in Arabic and English formed from primary 4, primary 5 competitive, entertaining and ed- said: “Qatar’s environment has a with a view to promoting sustain- and primary 6. ucational atmosphere. Questions lot to off er and preserve, and the able development. Participants from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America convened at the WCM-Q conference. Environment violation won’t be tolerated, says ministry

and patrols from the Min- ment is our future, save it,” the ment, in co-operation with the resolved through reconciliation istry of Municipality and ministry stressed. General Cleanliness Department, after the payment of fi nes. The LEnvironment’s Environ- The MME also said that Al has carried out a comprehensive total amount of fi nes collected mental Protection Reserves & Rayyan Municipality is con- cleanup campaign on Al Kharrara during the period was QR41,280. Wildlife Department in Umm tinuing with its rodent and pest Main Road and adjoining areas. Two shops that were found vi- Salal have detected a truck control campaign. Teams tasked The MME also said Al Shee- olating the rules were also closed. dumping solid waste in an un- with the job sprayed designated haniya Municipality’s Municipal Also, the MME has carried out designated area. areas such as North Muaither, Control Department conducted an extensive cleanup campaign. Legal procedures were taken Al Manaseer, Aba Al Hayran, Al 890 inspection tours in October. This included three places in against the off ender, the MME Sayliyah, Gharafa and West Al These resulted in the removal the northern part of the country A truck found dumping solid said in a tweet. Murrah. of 92 abandoned portacabins and where garbage dumped randomly waste in an undesignated area “Environmental violation will Also Al Wakrah Municipal- vehicles and issuance of 22 vio- was collected and disposed of was seized by the ministry. Workers engaged in a cleaning campaign in Al Wakrah Municipality. not be tolerated. Our environ- ity’s Municipal Services Depart- lation reports. Nine cases were safely, the MME tweeted. Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 15 REGION/ARAB WORLD

20mn Yemenis food insecure due to war Around 20mn Yemenis are food insecure, UN agencies said yesterday, adding the conflict ravaging the impoverished coun- Yemen FM pushes Aden try was the key driver behind rising hunger levels. “As many as 20mn Yemenis are food insecure in the world’s worst humanitar- ian crisis,” a joint statement by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the children’s as main airport at UN talks fund Unicef and the World Food Programme (WFP) said. AFP “Already 15.9mn people wake up Rimbo, Sweden hungry” in Yemen, it said, citing an analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classifica- emen’s foreign minister tion (IPC), a food security survey. yesterday said the gov- According to the IPC – whose Yernment-controlled city analysis is necessary to decide of Aden could be home to the whether to declare famine in country’s main airport, amid countries – the 20mn people talks to reopen the rebel-held facing “severe acute food inse- international airport in the cap- curity” represent 67% of Yemen’s ital Sanaa. population. “What the IPC tells “We are ready to reopen us is alarming,” said Lise Grande, Sanaa international airport to- UN humanitarian coordinator for day...but we have a vision that Yemen. WFP head David Beasley Aden will be the sovereign air- said the analysis “is an alarm bell port of Yemen,” Khaled al-Ya- that shows hunger is rising”. mani said. “We need a massive increase in “If the other side accepts... aid and sustained access to all fl ights could land in Aden and areas in Yemen in order to rescue leave to Sanaa, Hodeidah, other millions of Yemenis. If we don’t, airports.” we will lose an entire generation Yamani spoke on the sidelines of children to hunger,” he warned. of UN-brokered talks in the ru- A WFP spokesman said the ral village of Rimbo, where war- organisation aims to scale up its ring Yemeni parties are gathered support programme in Yemen under the auspices of the UN. from the current level of 7-8mn Government representatives, people to reach 10mn by the end rebel spokesmen and UN Yemen of December and 12mn by end envoy Martin Griffi ths have all January. said the talks are not intended to Abdul Malik al-Hajry and Abdul Majid Hanash, representatives of the Houthi rebel delegation, talk to the Abdulaziz Jabari, member of a Yemeni government delegation, “This scale-up is an ambitious reach a political solution to the press during the ongoing peace talks on Yemen held at Johannesberg Castle, in Rimbo, 50km north of speaks to journalists during the ongoing peace talks at undertaking for WFP, which confl ict, which gained renewed Stockholm, yesterday. Johannesberg Castle, in Rimbo, Sweden. will demand massive resources attention in the uproar over the both logistical and financial,” said killing of Saudi Arabian journal- last round of talks in 2016 broke by Houthi rebels since 2014, been severely restricted by the verely damaged in air raids by “As concerns the port...We Herve Verhoosel. ist Jamal Khashoggi. down after three months. when the insurgents drove the coalition. the coalition, which controls accept that it works under the “WFP has enough food stocks The murder of Khashoggi in While the days leading up government out and seized a Houthi fi ghters are now em- Yemeni airspace. administration that ran the port in country for now but will need the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to the gathering saw the gov- string of ports. bedded in residential neigh- A government proposal to al- in 2014, and we are ready to co- $152mn a month to sustain its sparked international criti- ernment and rebels agree on a The government of Abd- bourhoods to fi ght off govern- low fl ights to and from Sanaa ordinate with the UN on super- scale-up into next year.” cism over Saudi Arabia’s poli- prisoner swap and the evacu- Rabbu Mansour Hadi has since ment forces. was categorically rejected by the vision and the reinforcement of The world’s worst humanitarian cies in Yemen, where it leads a ation of wounded insurgents, been based in the southern port The Houthi delegation held rebels on Friday. port operations,” said Yamani. crisis spiralled in Yemen after a pro-government military coa- both parties have publicly city of Aden and has fought to fi rm to its demand that the Among the conditions set by “But the port must remain Saudi-led coalition launched an lition. traded threats and accusations drive back the rebels, supported rebel-held Sanaa airport be the government are mandatory sovereign, part of the work of off ensive to support the govern- Among the issues under dis- in Sweden. since 2015 by the military coali- reopened, as airport employees transit points in Aden and Say- the Yemeni transport ministry ment against Houthi rebels in cussion in Sweden are poten- After yesterday’s third day of tion led by Riyadh. rallied in the Yemeni capital in oun, another government-held which is in charge of Yemeni March 2015. It has killed at least tial humanitarian corridors, a talks, the delegations have yet to The coalition accuses the support. city, for aircraft inspections. borders and ports.” 10,000 people, according to the prisoner swap, the reopening of meet face to face. Houthis of smuggling arms Houthi representative Ab- Foreign Minister Yamani said The confl ict has triggered World Health Organisation. the defunct Sanaa internation- A UN offi cial, however, said, from Iran through Sanaa as well dulmalik al-Hajri told reporters a government demand for a full what the UN calls the world’s The latest report comes as al airport, and Hodeidah, the there was a “diff erence between as Hodeidah, the rebel-held his delegation would propose a rebel withdrawal from Hodei- worst humanitarian crisis, with Yemeni government representa- rebel-held port city at the heart private and public discourse”.In Red Sea city and Yemen’s most “comprehensive vision for the dah city and port were non-ne- 14mn people now on the brink tives and a rebel delegation were of a government off ensive. a statement to the press yester- valuable port. Iran denies the opening of Sanaa airport” to- gotiable. of famine. Nearly 10,000 people holding UN-brokered peace talks The Sweden sessions mark day, Griffi ths said talks had been charge. day. Revenues from the once- have been killed in under four in Sweden. the fi rst meeting between the “serious and constructive”. Shipments to Hodeidah, in- Sanaa international has been lucrative port should go to the years, according to conservative two sides in two years since the Yemen’s capital has been held cluding humanitarian aid, have out of operation for years, se- Hadi government, he said. estimates.

RELIGION Catholic Church Egypt police kill beatifies 19 slain Iran seeks regional front against US clerics in Algeria

AFP militancy. “When they put pres- gunmen behind The Catholic Church yesterday Tehran sure on China’s trade, we are all beatified in Algeria seven French harmed...By punishing Turkey, monks and 12 other clergy killed we are all punished. Any time attack on Christians during the country’s civil war, the ran’s President Hassan Rou- they threaten Russia, we too first ceremony of its kind in the hani said US sanctions were consider our security to be en- nation. Papal envoy Cardinal Angelo I“economic terrorism”, as he dangered,” Rouhani said. Reuters said in a statement. Becciu read the off icial decree stat- sought to foster a united front “When they impose sanctions Cairo They were in possession ing that the 19 men and women from visiting regional offi cials on Iran, they deprive all of us of three automatic rifl es, one would “from now on be called bless- yesterday. of the benefi ts of international shotgun and an unspecifi ed ed” at an event in the coastal city of Addressing parliament speak- trade, energy security and sus- gyptian police killed amount of ammunition. Oran. Some 1,200 people, including ers from Afghanistan, China, tainable development. two gunmen who car- Security forces also found pilgrims, relatives and friends of the Pakistan, Russia and Turkey, And in fact, they impose sanc- Eried out last month’s one of the vehicles used in the beatified, filled the Chapel of our Rouhani said they had all suf- tions on everyone. “We are here attack on a bus carrying the Nov 2 attack, which killed Lady of Santa Cruz as the service fered economic pressure from to say that we don’t intend to Christians in Minya gover- at least seven Christians who was held under tight security. The the US. tolerate such insolence.” norate to the south of Cairo, were returning from baptising 19 Roman Catholic clergy were “We are facing an all-out as- Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani (left) speaks while seated next Rouhani warned Europe — the interior ministry said a child at a Coptic monastery killed between 1994 and 1996 as sault which is not only threaten- to President Hassan Rouhani, during the second Speaker’s which has strongly objected to yesterday. in central Egypt. The mobile Algeria was in the grips of a decade- ing our independence and iden- Conference, which includes delegations from Afghanistan, China, the US withdrawal from the nu- Police, helped by the mili- phone of one of the victims long civil war between government tity but also is bent on breaking Pakistan, Turkey, and Russia and focuses on terrorism and regional clear deal — that much is at stake tary, found the gunmen in of the attack, Kamal Yousef forces and hardliners that left up to our longstanding ties,” he said. co-operation, in the capital Tehran, yesterday. in its eff orts to bypass US sanc- Assiut governorate, which Shehata, was also found, the 200,000 people dead. Those beati- Washington has reimposed an tions and maintain trade with lies to the south of Minya, it ministry said. fied included seven French Trappist oil embargo and other damaging The conference in Tehran of Chinese telecom giant Hua- Iran. “They should know that monks, who were murdered after sanctions on Iran since with- was a second annual meeting wei’s chief fi nancial offi cer, who by sanctioning Iran, they would being kidnapped by gunmen from drawing in May from a landmark of parliament speakers focused was detained in Canada to face harm our ability to fi ght drugs UNREST the Notre Dame de l’Atlas monas- 2015 nuclear deal between Te- on terrorism and regional co- fraud charges in the US. and terrorism,” Rouhani said, Protest to stop output at Libya oilfield tery in Tibhirine in 1996. The Armed hran and major powers. operation. The fi rst was held last Washington has continued referring to Iran’s eff orts to com- Islamic Group of Algeria claimed at “America’s unjust and illegal December in Islamabad. to pile fresh sanctions on Rus- bat smuggling, particularly from Libyan tribesmen staged a protest yesterday at the giant El Sharara the time that it had slit their throats, sanctions against the honour- Most participating countries sia that began over its military Afghanistan. oilfield aiming to shut down the facility, engineers and a tribal but responsibility for the murders able nation of Iran have targeted have faced harsh sanctions and intervention in Ukraine, while The European Union is work- spokesman said yesterday, although it was not immediately clear if has never been conclusively estab- our nation in a clear instance of other economic pressure as part Turkey also faced penalties this ing on a payment system, known output had been halted. A field engineer said crude was still flowing, lished. Only the heads of the men, terrorism,” Rouhani said. of the Trump administration’s year over the detention of an as the “special purpose vehi- while two other engineers said the field was apparently being shut aged between 45 and 82, were ever “Economic terrorism is de- use of trade as a diplomatic American pastor. cle”, to keep money fl owing into down. A spokesman for the tribesmen, who were protesting to demand found. Also beatified was former signed to create panic in the weapon. Trump has also cancelled Iran, but has struggled to fi nd a more development for their communities, said they had closed the field Bishop of Oran Pierre Claverie, who economy of a country and fear in A brief truce in Trump’s trade hundreds of millions of dol- host since many countries fear located in south Libya. “El Sharara is closed. We had given authorities a was killed with his driver on August other countries in order to pre- war with China was again in lars in aid to Pakistan, accusing repercussions from the Trump deadline but we got no response,” said Mohamed Maighal, spokesman 1, 1996 when a remote-controlled vent investment.” doubt this week after the arrest it of failing to crack down on administration. for the group that calls itself the Fezzan Anger Movement. bomb exploded at his residence. US accuses Russia of lying on Syria attack

AFP Idlib, the latest major strong- Palladino said in a statement. from which Russia and the re- to chemical attacks by Assad’s raised as Russia and Syria im- Negotiators from Russia and Washington hold of rebels and militants bat- “We caution Russia and the gime sought to take advantage,” forces. mediately put out similar offi cial fellow Assad ally Iran met last tling President Bashar al-Assad, regime against tampering with a Foreign Offi ce spokesperson A sarin gas attack in April 2017 media accounts and quickly car- week with opposition supporter throwing into question a truce the suspected attack site and said, also backing an investiga- in the town of Khan Sheikhun ried out strikes. Turkey in Kazakhstan’s capi- he United States and reached in mid-September. urge them to secure the safety tion by the OPCW, the interna- killed 83 people, according to the The offi cial, speaking on con- tal Astana, making no apparent Britain accused Russia The United States said it had of impartial, independent in- tional chemical weapons watch- United Nations. dition of anonymity, said that headway in a UN-backed goal of Ton Friday of fabricating a “credible information” that the spectors so that those responsi- dog. US President Donald Trump witnesses did not report the setting up a constitutional com- story about chemical weapons chlorine account was false and ble can be held accountable,” he Russia’s embassy in Washing- replied by ordering 59 cruise odour of chlorine that is charac- mittee by the end of the year. use by Syrian rebels and warned that Russian and Syrian forces said. ton hit back on Facebook. “The missiles to strike a Syrian air teristic of such attacks. But Russia and Turkey agreed Moscow against undermining a instead had fi red tear gas. He said that Russia and Syria Russian Defence Ministry does base, a reversal from his pred- “Technical analysis of videos to keep working to preserve the shaky truce. “The United States is deeply were “using it as an opportunity not rule out that the US Depart- ecessor Barack Obama’s con- and images of munition rem- U-shaped buff er zone around Russia’s defence ministry said concerned that pro-regime of- to undermine confi dence in the ment of State’s allegations about troversial reluctance to respond nants indicate the mortars por- Idlib, which is keeping pro-gov- rebels fi red weapons contain- fi cials have maintained control ceasefi re in Idlib.” the recent toxic chemicals at- militarily. trayed in Russian media are not ernment forces out of the region. ing chlorine on November 24 on of the attack site in its immedi- In a similar statement, Britain tack in Syria’s Aleppo are aimed Russia, the top international suitable for delivering chlorine,” Jan Egeland, in a press confer- the regime-held city of Aleppo, ate aftermath, allowing them said it was “highly unlikely” that at distracting the public atten- backer of Assad, and the Syrian the offi cial said. ence last week before he stepped with Syrian state media report- to potentially fabricate samples chlorine or the opposition were tion from the crimes of the US government both denied the in- Russia’s allegations over the down as the head of the UN ing that around 100 Syrians were and contaminate the site before involved in the incident. aviation in the east of the Middle cident, saying footage of suff er- latest incident come amid elu- Humanitarian Task Force for hospitalised for breathing dif- a proper investigation of it by the “It is likely that this was either Eastern country,” the post said. ing victims including children sive eff orts to fi nd a political so- Syria, warned that the fl are-up fi culties. Organisation for the Prohibition a staged incident intended to Western powers, the Unit- was staged. lution to Syria’s civil war, which amounted to “a gigantic powder Russia responded to the pur- of Chemical Weapons,” State frame the opposition, or an op- ed Nations and human rights In the latest incident, a US of- has killed more than 360,000 keg in the middle of 3mn civil- ported attack with air raids on Department spokesman Robert eration which went wrong and groups have repeatedly pointed fi cial said that suspicions were people and displaced millions. ians.” Gulf Times 16 Sunday, December 9, 2018 AFRICA Opposition supporters clash with security forces in Togo

AFP Agoes suburb, youths set up barricades and burned Lome tyres. Security forces reacted by fi ring teargas and chased protesters. Stuff ed animals are seen in Belgium’s Africa Museum before its reopening to the public, yesterday. young child was killed as opposition sup- In the northern cities of Sokode and Bafi lo, 350 porters clashed with security forces in To- kilometres north of Lome, opposition supporters Ago’s capital, Lome, yesterday, the security attempted to assemble for a demonstration. minister said, after the government banned pro- But they, too, were dispersed with teargas. tests about upcoming elections. Sokode is a stronghold of the Pan-African Na- “A child was shot dead by individuals travelling tional Party (PNP) of Tikpi Atchadam, who was in a 4x4 without a number plate. A search is under behind the fi rst countrywide street protests but Belgium’s brutality in Africa way to fi nd the vehicle and its occupants,” General is now thought to be in exile in Ghana for his own Yark Damehane said. safety. Damehane added that the child was aged about The coalition wants constitutional reform to re- eight, although on social networks the victim was introduce a limit of two terms of offi ce for presi- said to be about 11. dents, as well as an overhaul of the independent haunts refurbished museum The minister said there had been reports of an- national electoral commission. other death but there was no offi cial confi rmation.”A Togo has been hit by a wave of protests since AFP The activists doubt the mu- statement on the latest situation will be published September last year, calling for the resignation of Tervuren, Belgium seum’s sincerity and have urged this evening,” he added. President Faure Gnassingbe, who has been in pow- it, in Polanco’s words, to form a A coalition of 14 opposition political parties this er since 2005. committee to “objectively and week announced a series of 10 new protests in the Before that, his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, was elgium’s notorious Africa materially” determine the origin run-up to parliamentary elections planned for De- president for 38 years. Museum reopened yes- of the works. cember 20. Earlier this week, evangelical, Presbyterian and Bterday after a fi ve-year So divisive is the debate that The opposition is boycotting the polls because Methodist churches in Togo called for the election restoration that curators hope Belgium’s current king, Philippe, of alleged irregularities in its organisation but this to be delayed for several months because of concern will bury its reputation as a co- has declined an invitation to the week the government banned the marches on secu- about its organisation. lonialist holdover. weekend’s ceremony. rity grounds. On Friday night, senior Muslim leaders also Treasures looted from the For Gryseels, the political In several areas of the capital, in particular the called for a delay. continent have been repack- backdrop is part of a broader aged in the hope of contributing Belgian conversation about race to a more healthy debate about that goes beyond the rights and Belgium’s brutal past and mul- wrongs of the ownership of his ticultural future. museum’s exhibits. But there is an elephant in the “It’s not only our museum. It’s 15 dead in Nations agree on room — and not just the giant the overall Belgian society which taxidermic pachyderm looming is still very much a white society,” over visitors to the remodelled A journalist visits Belgium’s Africa Museum before its reopening Gryseels said, insisting that eve- ethnic conservation of Landscapes and Biodiversity to the public. ryone wants to see a more racially gallery. integrated future. The former Royal Museum to Congo.” But now, in Ceup- “I agree with President Ma- While France, Britain and attack on migratory water birds for Central Africa reopens in pens’ words, the permanent cron when he says it’s not normal the Netherlands, he said, saw the Tervuren Palace outside collection is no longer “an that 80% of African art objects large-scale arrivals from former Brussels amid a renewed Eu- exhibition of dead objects in are in Europe,” he told reporters colonies earlier, Belgium’s Mali village DPA from illness and the eff ects of ropean debate about returning an Africa without history and this week. 250,000-strong African popula- Nairobi climate change and pollution. stolen artefacts. without human beings.” “Obviously it’s their history, tion came in the last 20 years. Jacques Trouvilliez, the AEWA’s The museum’s research team Instead, with the help of it’s their culture, it’s their iden- And although the museum Reuters executive secretary, said that insists the exhibits will now multimedia displays and de- tity. We’re willing to consider has been redesigned, statues Bamako ozens of countries birds in the Sahel region and in take a much more critical ap- tailed captions, visitors will claims for restitution, but obvi- and street names still hon- agreed yesterday to eastern Africa would be par- proach to the depredations of be encouraged to take a criti- ously there’s a lot more discus- our Leopold, who personally Dcommit to the conserva- ticularly aff ected by climate King Leopold II and his agents cal view and to see colonialism sion to be done.” enriched himself through the ifteen civilians from the tion of migratory water birds in change in the coming years. in Congo. through African eyes. The Belgian colonies, run as a forced labour of the Congolese Fulani community were the face of climate change and It would be “a catastrophe” if But should Belgium still be The museum’s academic ex- private royal estate by Leopold during a period in which an es- Fkilled last week when pollution. they fail to fi nd adequate bod- holding its African prizes at perts say there is no attempt to II, covered lands now included timated half of the local popula- armed men from a rival ethnic At a UN conference in the ies of water while they migrate, all and can it better integrate cover up the past, but rather to in independent Rwanda, Burundi tion — up to 10mn people — were group attacked their village in South African city of Durban, Trouvilliez said. its growing African minority use the collection of 125,000 and the Democratic Republic of wiped out by overwork, violence central Mali, a regional governor delegates from countries in The white-winged crake and without fi rst coming to terms ethnographic objects more edu- Congo. and disease. said yesterday. Europe, Africa and central Asia that stiff -tailed duck were also with its past? cationally. These countries had a turbu- “Personally speaking, I think Communal violence in the agreed on plans to better pro- highlighted as types of birds Several former imperial pow- You can still see a witch doc- lent modern history and for Eu- that indeed someone who is re- West African country has killed tect birds including the lesser that will require protection due ers are confronting the issue, tor in a leopard-skin cowl that ropean experts, in DR Congo’s sponsible for mass murder is not hundreds of civilians and dis- fl amingo and the lesser white- to climate change and pollution. and last month French Presi- resembles the villain in another case at least, lack premises to to be put literally upon a pedes- placed thousands this year, fronted goose. Seventy-seven countries and dent Emmanuel Macron ad- notorious Belgian colonial arte- properly house a national history tal,” Ceuppens said. compounding a dire security The so-called Africa-Eur- the European Union signed the mitted that in principle Africa’s fact, the comic book “Tintin in collection. Other statues should not be situation in the north, where asian Migratory Waterbirds agreement at the conference, treasures should return. the Congo”. Activists plan to protest at the hidden, she argues, but used by attacks by militant groups are Agreement (AEWA) includes a which takes place every three But Belgium stands out from But the caricature is now in museum’s reopening, demand- the museum and educational- common. Mali’s central Mopti 10-year plan to protect the birds years. its neighbours, in part because an underground side-gallery of ing a proper memorial to seven ists as they explain Belgium and region has suff ered the worst of institutions like the Tervuren statues arranged to demonstrate Congolese who died in 1897 after Congo’s intertwined histories. the ethnic clashes, according to Museum have been relatively how colonialist art exploited and being brought to Belgium as liv- And, by better understanding the United Nations. slow to adapt to the post-colo- fetishised African subjects. ing exhibits. the past, Belgium may be better Mopti Governor Sidi Alassane Blast injures three in northeast Kenya: offi cial nial era. Above, however, main halls of Paula Polanco said that her able to integrate Belgian-born Toure said the latest attack was “The permanent exhibition the palace are lined with African group, Intal-Congo, would come Africans into a more diverse fu- on Wednesday. Three people were injured by an explosion on a highway in north- had barely changed since 1958, objects that were in many cases to their graves near the Tervuren ture. Toure told state radio a disar- east Kenya yesterday, an off icial told Reuters, without saying who two years before Congo became plundered by military exhibi- estate to demand they be recog- “As recently as two months mament programme launched was responsible for the incident. “There was an IED (improvised independent,” says the collec- tions or collected by curious mis- nised as “victims of a colonialist ago our prime minister gave a last month in northern regions explosive device) incident...involving a civilian truck ferrying tion’s curator and anthropolo- sionaries. crime.” presentation here for all the top would be expanded to curb vio- merchandise,” Joseph Kanyiri, a government administrator in the gist Bambi Ceuppens. The director of the museum Meanwhile, DR Congo’s Presi- CEOs of Belgium and all the top lence. “It will be launched in area said, adding the explosion occurred on a remote stretch of Before it closed for refur- and the research institute it dent Joseph Kabila has now said ministers,” Gryseels said. the coming days, and we dare road. “Three civilians crew members riding on the lorry suff ered bishment in 2013, visitors were houses, Guido Gryseels, says he plans to formally request the “And the whole audience here to hope that all the bearers of injuries from the explosion. The injured were evacuated for medical greeted by a statue uncritically he respects calls for these items return of art and records be- was full: 220 white people...Ten arms will lay down their arms,” attention,” Kanyiri said, without providing further details. depicting white European mis- to be returned to their African fore his country’s own museum years from now the situation will he said. sionaries “bringing civilisation homelands. opens next year. be very diff erent.” Grave dilemma: SA cities short of cemetery space

AFP 50 years. “Burial space is fast di- takers covered the remains of her what some people associate with creasing land demands of the Johannesburg minishing. This is caused by the mother.”We thought it would it: the fi res of hell. living could mean that crema- fact that Joburg is currently ex- be easier for us to re-open and “They say,’Why would I send tion and grave recycling become periencing high migration,” said it’s cheaper than digging a new my loved one to hell?’” said mandatory, offi cials warn. n the middle of the vast Aval- Reggie Moloi, the city’s cem- grave.” Moloi. “There is going to come a time on cemetery in Johannes- eteries and crematoria manager. Sipamla had made her feelings Others opposed to cremation when the people of Johannes- Iburg’s Soweto township, two Johannesburg is not the only known on the matter, said her believe a bodily form is required burg will not have a choice but gravediggers shovelled soil out of city in South Africa battling the granddaughter Zoleka Sipamla, to reach the afterlife — not ashes. to go to the crematoria or reuse a an old grave containing remains shortage. 23.”She was pretty clear — no “Cremation is culturally pro- grave,” warned Moloi. buried years ago. The southeastern coastal city cremation.” hibitive for people...bodies mat- “We cannot be having land re- They were preparing the grave of Durban raised the alarm more Reverend Harold Ginya of the ter, human bodies have power served for cemeteries.” to be reused as towns across than a decade ago. Church of the Nazarene encour- and they have value,” said Uni- The situation could be eased South Africa are fast running out The city had an unusually high ages his worshippers to reuse versity of New Hampshire an- by a controversial constitutional of space to bury the dead. death rate in the 1980s, having graves — but discourages crema- thropologist, Casey Golomski. amendment proposed by the Population growth, migration been particularly hard hit by po- tion. Few black Africans are cre- government, which would allow to urban areas and an infl ux of litical violence and HIV/AIDS, “We are promoting this kind mated in Durban, with just one the forcible transfer of land to foreigners has put huge pressure say offi cials. File photo shows an Avalon Cemetery worker dig a grave on the of thing. No one will complain a week on average compared to redress the inequalities of apart- on land in urban areas. “We noticed that cemeteries graveyard section in Soweto in Johannesburg, South Africa. that you are on top of me,” he dozens of burials. heid and colonialism. Adding to the problem is a then fi lled up in a shortest period said. During a recent campaign to “We believe that expropria- cultural resistance to the prac- of time and that quite soon...(we to the eye it seems there is suf- mation still faces signifi cant re- While many older people raise awareness of the crisis, it tion of land without compensa- tice of cremation. were) going to run out of burial fi cient (space),” said Denis Ing, sistance from African commu- are opposed to cremation, the became clear that some tradi- tion will assist us in addressing Between 45 and 60 graves are space,” Thembinkosi Ngcobo, deputy chairman of the South nities, which see it as unnatural younger generation may prove tionalists in the port city were these challenges,” the mayor of reopened each week on average the head of parks in eThekwini, African Cemeteries Association. and against tradition. more open. even sceptical of shared graves, eThekwini Zandile Gumede said to allow for second burials in Jo- which includes Durban, said. The public did not grasp the At Roodepoort near Sowe- “It would be helpful if people said Ngcobo. earlier this year. hannesburg, the country’s larg- People seeking burial space scale of the problem, he said. to, the Sipamla family buried understood why people need to One elderly man told offi cials Until then, desperate times est city and economic hub. could soon be turned away, he The crisis has pushed offi cials 87-year-old mother and grand- be cremated — because there is he had never shared a bed with are calling for desperate meas- Authorities warn that if no warned.”We are facing a very se- to think creatively about how mother Caroline Sipamla in the a problem of land,” said Zoleka his daughter-in-law. “How do ures, including the possible box- action is taken to change how the rious problem.” best to dispose of the dead. same grave as her son. Sipamla, a law student. you expect me to share a graves- ing and storage of remains older dead are laid to rest, urban areas “The situation is dire and not While recycling graves has “Graveyards are very full,” But the limited appeal of the ite with her?” he asked. “That than 30 years in the corner of will run out of room in as little as readily understood...because helped ease the situation, cre- said Puleng Sipamla as under- crematorium has a lot to do with is totally unacceptable”. The in- existing graves. Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 17 AMERICA Tillerson ‘dumb Trump’s chief of staff as a rock’, ‘lazy’

Reuters ing reports ... doesn’t like to Washington get into the details of a lot of things”. Asked how his relationship S President Don- with Trump had gone off the ald Trump has called rails, Tillerson said it might leaving at year’s end Uformer secretary of have been the result of his tell- state Rex Tillerson “dumb as ing the president that he could US president chooses new his leadership,” said Dunford’s a rock” and “lazy as hell” a not do certain things because Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, spokesman, Colonel Patrick Ry- day after the former diplomat they were illegal or would vio- against Mattis’s wishes der. said he had warned the presi- late US treaties. Milley must be confi rmed by dent against doing things that “I’d have to say to him, well AFP/Reuters the US Senate. would violate the law. Mr President, I understand Washington He would take the position for “Mike Pompeo is doing a what you want to do, but you a four-year term, after a new law great job, I am very proud of can’t do it that way. It violates was passed last year doubling the him. His predecessor, Rex Till- the law, it violates treaty,” Till- S President Donald term length to better ensure con- erson, didn’t have the mental erson said. “You know, he got Trump has announced tinuity. capacity needed. He was dumb really frustrated.” Uthat his chief of staff Trump said the transition date as a rock and I couldn’t get rid An aide to Tillerson, who John Kelly would be leaving the was “to be determined”, in a sign of him fast enough. He was served as secretary of state administration at the end of the that Dunford might go sooner lazy as hell. Now it is a whole from February 1, 2017 to March year – the latest in a series of rather than later, but Ryder not- new ballgame, great spirit at 31, 2018, did not respond to a moves by the Republican leader ed: “All indications are that Gen- State!” Trump wrote on Twit- request for comment. to change his inner circle of aides. eral Dunford will serve his full ter. When he selected Tillerson Kelly, a retired Marine Corps term.” Trump fi red Tillerson in to serve as the 69th secretary general, was long rumoured to be Trump announced his picks March after a series of public of state, Trump praised him on the way out, amid reports that for a new attorney general and a rifts over North Korea, Russia lavishly, saying: “His tenac- his relationship with the volatile new United Nations ambassador and Iran policy, dismissing the ity, broad experience and deep Trump had deteriorated to such on Friday. former Exxon Mobil Corp chief understanding of geopolitics an extent they were no longer on After meeting with both Mil- executive in a tweet. make him an excellent choice speaking terms. ley and Goldfein, it seems that In addition to policy dis- for Secretary of State.” “John Kelly will be leaving Trump preferred the army gener- putes, relations were strained However, Tillerson led a de- at the end of the year,” Trump al, who was more outgoing than by reports that Tillerson pri- moralised State Department said before heading to Philadel- the cerebral Air Force chief, and vately called Trump a “moron”. which saw its role vastly di- phia for the Army-Navy football laced his discussions with hu- In an interview with CBS minished, with several high- game, adding that a replacement This file photo taken on February 2, shows Kelly watching as Trump meets North Korean defectors in the mour and historical references. News political contributor profi le posts unoccupied and would be named “over the next Oval Off ice. The Pentagon’s reaction to the Bob Schieff er on Thursday, many allies questioning the ef- day or two”. announcement was somewhat Tillerson described Trump as fi cacy of dealing with a diplo- Kelly’s replacement might be still working on the specifi c terms viser – a new slap in the face for went against the wishes of Mat- frosty. “pretty undisciplined, doesn’t mat they suspected never had an interim chief of staff , until a of him taking over,” the White Pentagon chief Jim Mattis. tis, who reportedly favoured Air “We are aware of the presi- like to read, doesn’t read brief- Trump’s ear. permanent successor is found, House offi cial told Reuters. Milley, a four-star general Force General David Goldfein. dent’s nomination and share the Republican president said. Although Kelly is credited with who has served in Iraq and Af- That choice would have been his confi dence for General Mark “He’s been with me almost bringing some discipline to the ghanistan, would replace General in keeping with a tradition of ro- Milley,” Pentagon spokesman, two years now, between two po- Oval Offi ce, his tenure was hardly Joseph Dunford as the military’s tating the post among the serv- Lieutenant Colonel Mike An- sitions,” Trump told reporters. smooth sailing. next chairman of the Joint Chiefs ices. drews, said in a brief statement. “I appreciate his service very Kelly was serving as secretary of Staff . Dunford is a Marine Corps “The Department of Defence re- much.” of the Department of Homeland Dunford is scheduled to retire general. mains fully focused on defending A White House offi cial said Security when he was brought in in October 2019 at the end of his There has not been an Air our nation.” yesterday that Trump is talking on July 31, 2017 to replace Reince second two-year term. Force offi cer in the chairman’s Mattis was once a favourite to an aide to Vice-President Mike Priebus as White House chief of “I am thankful to both of these post since 2005. of Trump, but the two men have Pence about serving as replace- staff . incredible men for their service The Joint Chiefs of Staff is had increasing diffi culties in re- ment for Kelly. Kelly took over a White House to our Country!” Trump said on made up of the heads of the Air cent months. The offi cial said that the presi- plagued by political intrigue and Twitter in making the announce- Force, the Army, the Marine They haven’t seen eye to eye dent and Pence aide Nick Ayers under a cloud because of allega- ment. “Mark is a great gentle- Corps, the Navy, and the Nation- over the Iran nuclear deal, which are still working on terms, adding tions of election collusion with man, great soldier. I look forward al Guard. Trump withdrew from over Mat- that Trump wants him to do the Russia. to that.” Dunford quickly off ered his tis’s objections; over the creation job for two years but Ayers is un- Trump also announced yes- In choosing the 60-year-old congratulations to Milley. of a Space Force, which Mattis able to make that time commit- terday that he was nominating Milley, a graduate of Princeton “He has served with General did not want; and, over the crisis ment because of his family. Army chief of staff General Mark University known for his com- Milley in peacetime and in com- at the US-Mexico border, and the Tillerson: served as secretary of state from February 1, 2017 to “The president and Nick are Milley as his next top military ad- bat command experience, Trump bat and has the highest regard for deployment of troops there. March 31 this year.

Trump renews call to Neo-Nazi convicted end Mueller probe over Charlottesville Reuters critics fear that newly-ap- Washington pointed acting Attorney Gen- eral Matthew Whitaker, a vehicle rampage Trump loyalist, could fi re Mu- S President Donald eller or undermine the investi- Trump has renewed gation by cutting off its fund- AFP Some relatives of the victims, Uhis call to end a fed- ing. Washington who had taken their seats behind eral probe into Russian elec- Prominent Republicans in the prosecution on the right hand tion meddling, describing the Congress insist that there is no side of the Charlottesville Cir- investigation as a “witch hunt” danger of interference. n American neo-Nazi was cuit Court throughout the trial, a day after US prosecutors de- Trump said on Friday that found guilty of murder on sobbed quietly as the verdict was tailed a previously unknown he would nominate former at- AFriday for killing a woman read out. attempt by a Russian to help torney general William Barr to when ramming his car into coun- “I am feeling the best I have his 2016 presidential election the nation’s top law enforce- ter-protesters at a 2017 white su- felt in almost a year and a half,” campaign. ment job. premacist rally that made Char- Wednesday “Al” Bowie, one of “Time for the Witch Hunt to But with the current session lottesville a byword for racial the survivors of the attack whose END!” Trump said in a mes- of Congress set to end soon, violence under President Donald pelvis was shattered in six places, sage on Twitter. Barr may have to wait until well Trump. told AFP. “This trial has been a His tweet also quoted tel- into 2019 to be confi rmed by In addition to fi rst-degree healing process. It’s also been In this file photo taken on August 12, mourners embrace before the make-shift memorial to Heather Heyer evision host Geraldo Rivera, a the Senate. murder, which carries a possible tearing open some old wounds.” in Charlottesville, on the one year anniversary of her death at the hands of a white supremacist in a Trump friend, dismissing any In his court fi ling on Friday, life sentence, James Alex Fields Sentencing will begin from speeding car. claim of collusion between the Mueller said Cohen told them Jr, 21, was found guilty of fi ve tomorrow, with jurors given the Trump campaign and Russia as he was approached in Novem- counts of aggravated malicious option to recommend between Dressed in a white polo shirt Heather Heyer up in the air and bers and their opponents, some “collusion illusion”. ber 2015 by an unnamed Rus- wounding, three of malicious 20 years and life for the murder and khaki pants, the uniform of remember thinking to myself, from the far-left Antifa, had It was the president’s second sian claiming to be a “’trusted wounding, and one hit-and-run conviction. the white supremacists, he took ‘That’s what someone’s eyes look come armed with guns. tweet of the day about Special person’ in the Russian Federa- count. While the fact that Fields had part in racist, anti-Semitic and like when they are dead’.” Among the witnesses they Counsel Mueller’s investiga- tion”. A jury of seven women and fi ve struck the protesters in his Dodge homophobic chants, according In order to build their case of a called was Dwayne Dixon, a tion into Russian interference The fi ling said the contact men reached their verdict near Challenger was not contested, to footage played in the court- pre-meditated attack, prosecu- University of North Carolina at in the 2016 presidential elec- occurred during discussions the end of the fi rst day of delib- his lawyers and prosecutors had room. tors presented a text Fields sent Chapel Hill professor. tion and whether Trump’s about a possible hotel bearing erations of a trial that lasted a lit- off ered contrasting narratives The prosecution played videos to his mother before departing According to a report in local campaign colluded with Rus- Trump’s name in Moscow. tle under two weeks. over his state of mind and inten- that showed Fields stop his car for the rally after she had asked media, Dixon admitted to writ- sia. Cohen is to be sentenced The August 12, 2017 vio- tions on that day. and reverse up a hill before com- him to be careful ing a now-deleted Facebook post Russia denies meddling al- next week for campaign fi nance lence, which claimed the life of The defence said in their open- mencing his deadly assault on a “We’re not the one (sic) who in January saying he “shooed” legations. violations, fi nancial crimes 32-year-old paralegal Heather ing statements that Fields had crowd of counter-protesters who need to be careful,” he replied, away Fields while holding a ri- “After two years and mil- and lying to Congress about Heyer and injured dozens more, been “scared for his life” – hop- were singing and celebrating af- alongside a photo of Nazi leader fl e sometime before the fatal car lions of pages of documents Trump’s business dealings in turned the bucolic university city ing, according to observers, if ter city offi cials had ordered the Adolf Hitler, whom he has long ramming. (and a cost of over $30 million) Russia. in Virginia into a symbol of the not for an outright acquittal, that far right to leave. admired. They presented one of their no collusion!” Trump tweeted Prosecutors are seeking a growing audacity of the far right the jury might fi nd him guilty of Jeanne “Star” Peterson told They also showed the jury two most prized pieces of evidence earlier yesterday. substantial prison sentence. under Trump. a lesser charge such as second- the court that she used to be fast Instagram posts Fields uploaded on Tuesday: a videotape of Fields He repeated that contention Trump’s current lawyer, The president drew broad crit- degree murder. on her feet until her right leg was in May last year that depicted a sobbing and breaking down to a later as he left the White House former New York mayor Rudy icism in the aftermath when he Fields had driven overnight shattered by Fields’ car, and only car ramming into a group of pro- police offi cer shortly after his ar- for the annual Army-Navy Giuliani, also took aim at Co- spoke of “blame on both sides”, from his hometown Maumee, recently learned to walk again testers, arguing that he ultimate- rest, as he asked: “Are they OK?” game in Philadelphia, saying: hen in a tweet yesterday, saying appearing to establish a moral Ohio, to support the “Unite the unassisted. ly chose to live out that fantasy However, prosecutor Nina An- “We’re very happy with what that federal prosecutors in New equivalence between the white Right” rally to protest the re- “I just heard three bumps,” when the opportunity arose three tony countered that taped phone we are reading, because there York are seeking a prison sen- supremacists who came to pro- moval of a statue of Robert E Lee, Peterson said – realising only months later. calls from jail showed that Fields was no collusion whatsoever.” tence for Cohen “because as we test the removal of a Confederate the top general of the pro-slavery later that two were his vehicle The defence for its part de- lacked empathy with his victims, US prosecutors, however, have said he’s still lying”. statue, and those who opposed Confederacy during the 1861- running over her right leg, and scribed a chaotic day in which calling Heyer’s mother Susan Bro did not address in several fed- Mueller said the Russian na- them. 1865 American Civil War. one reversing back over it. “I saw several “Unite the Right” mem- an “anti-white communist”. eral court fi lings on Friday the tional who approached Cohen question of whether they have off ered “synergy on a govern- found collusion between the ment level” with the Trump Foie gras off Amazon.com’s menu in California Sinatra auction fetches $9.2mn in New York Trump campaign and Russia. campaign in pushing for a Moreover, Mueller said in meeting between Trump and Amazon.com has agreed not to sell foie A judge approved the settlement on It was definitely All rather than Nothing at 22-year marriage as well as scripts and one fi ling that Trump’s former Russian President Vladimir gras in California from birds that have been Thursday between Amazon and the three All at a Frank Sinatra auction in New York, screenplays. lawyer, Michael Cohen, had Putin, adding that Cohen said force fed and pay $100,000 in penalties prosecutors, Los Angeles County District where items owned by the late icon and his The top lot was Barbara Sinatra’s 20-carat provided his offi ce with “use- he did not follow up. and costs as part of a lawsuit settlement, a Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement. fourth wife fetched $9.2mn, Sotheby’s said diamond engagement ring, which went for ful information concerning Mueller said that the discus- prosecutor said on Friday. Amazon declined comment. on Friday. $1.7mn. certain discrete Russia-related sions about a potential Trump The lawsuit filed by prosecutors in Los To produce foie gras, ducks and geese are And 99% of the lots, spread out this week in Many of the items fetched substantially matters core to its investiga- hotel in Moscow were relevant Angeles, Monterey and Santa Clara force-fed over a period of days by having the US financial and entertainment capital, more than their pre-sale estimates. tion that he obtained by virtue to his investigation, because counties accused the world’s largest metal pipes pushed down their throats and online, were snapped up, attracting They included a Norman Rockwell portrait of his regular contact” with they occurred “at a time of sus- online retailer of violating a 2004 state law so grain and fat can be pumped into their 300 bidders from more than 30 countries, of Sinatra, which the singer commissioned, Trump’s real estate company tained eff orts by the Russian banning sales of the fatty duck and goose stomachs. the auction house announced. sold for $687,000 and a script for From during the 2016 campaign. government to interfere with liver if it was produced by force-feeding Prosecutors said the process was cruel and Up for grabs were furniture, art and Here to Eternity, the movie for which he Democrats and other Trump the US presidential election”. poultry. painful. personal eff ects dating back to the couple’s won an Oscar, went for $35,000. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, December 9, 2018 ASIA China calls on Canada to free Huawei CFO

Reuters and counter-arguments, and of her lawful rights, Le said. dealing with a country like China.” Beijing/Ottawa the hearing was adjourned until The move “ignored the law, Meng’s arrest was on the same Monday. was unreasonable” and was in its day that US President Donald In a short statement, China’s very nature “extremely nasty,” Trump met in Argentina with hina warned Canada yes- foreign ministry said that Vice he added. China’s Xi Jinping to look for terday that there would Foreign Minister Le Yucheng “China strongly urges the ways to resolve an escalating Cbe severe consequences had issued the warning to release Canadian side to immediately trade war between the world’s if it did not immediately release Meng to Canada’s ambassador release the detained person, two largest economies. Huawei Technologies Co’s chief in Beijing, summoning him to and earnestly protect their law- The news of her arrest has fi nancial offi cer, calling the case lodge a “strong protest.” ful, legitimate rights, other- roiled stock markets and drawn “extremely nasty.” There was no immediate re- wise Canada must accept full condemnation from Chinese au- Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s action from the offi ce of Cana- responsibility for the serious thorities, although Trump and global chief fi nancial offi cer dian Foreign Minister Chrystia consequences caused.” his top economic advisers have (CFO), was arrested in Canada Freeland yesterday. When asked The statement did not elaborate. played down its importance to on December 1 and faces ex- Meng Wanzhou about the possible Chinese “There will probably be a trade talks after the two leaders tradition to the United States, backlash after the arrest of Hua- deep freeze with the Chinese in agreed to a truce. Miss Mexico Vanessa Ponce de Leon, 26, celebrates after which alleges that she covered of conspiracy to defraud multi- wei’s CFO, Prime Minister Justin high-level visits and exchanges,” A Huawei spokesman said the winning the Miss World 2018 title in Sanya, Hainan island, up her company’s links to a fi rm ple fi nancial institutions, a Ca- Trudeau told reporters on Fri- David Mulroney, former Cana- company has “every confi dence China, yesterday. that tried to sell equipment to nadian court heard on Friday, day that Canada has a very good dian ambassador to China, said that the Canadian and US le- Iran despite sanctions. with a maximum sentence of 30 relationship with Beijing. on Friday. gal systems will reach the right The executive is the daughter years for each charge. Canada’s arrest of Meng at “The ability to talk about free conclusion.” The company has of the founder of Huawei. No decision was reached at the request of the United States trade will be put in the ice box for said it complies with all applica- If extradited to the United the extradition hearing after while she was changing plane in a while. But we’re going to have to ble export control and sanctions Mexican volunteer States, Meng would face charges nearly six hours of arguments Vancouver was a serious breach live with that. That’s the price of laws and other regulations. crowned Miss World NZ police quiz man over missing AFP India, in the coastal city of British woman Jubilant Malays rally after Malaysia Sanya, China Sanya. The colourful ceremony in- Police searching for a 22-year-old cluded US group Sister Sledge British woman missing in New Mexican model and performing their 1979 disco Zealand have launched a murder refuses UN racial equality pledge volunteer was crowned anthem “We Are Family.” investigation and a 26-year- AMiss World at a glitzy First runner-up was Thai- old man is being questioned, event on the tropical Chinese land’s Nicolene Pichapa investigators said yesterday. Reuters island of Hainan yesterday. Limsnukan, a 20-year- Grace Millane, who was travelling Kuala Lumpur Miss Mexico Vanessa Ponce old studying business the world after finishing de Leon, 26, has a degree in administration. university, went missing a week international business, vol- Miss Belarus Maria Vasi- ago. She had arrived in New ens of thousands of Ma- unteers for “Migrantes en el levich, Miss Jamaica Kadijah Zealand on November 20 and lay Muslims rallied in Camino” and is on the board Robinson and Miss Uganda was last seen in the evening of TKuala Lumpur yester- of directors of a rehab centre Quiin Abenakyo were also December 1 in central Auckland. day to celebrate the Malaysian for girls, according to the Miss among the fi nal fi ve. “Our investigation has government’s refusal to ratify World website. It is the eighth time the Miss determined that Grace is no a UN convention against racial She was crowned as the World fi nal has been held in longer alive and this is a murder discrimination. 68th Miss World by last year’s Sanya, which fi rst hosted the investigation,” Detective After weeks of pressure by winner, Manushi Chhillar of pageant in 2003. Inspector Scott Beard told a pro-Malay groups, Prime Min- televised press conference. ister Mahathir Mohamad’s Beard added that the 26-year- multi-ethnic government de- old man, who had been seen cided last month that it would with Millane at several places, not ratify the convention, is “currently speaking to us in without giving a reason why Aussie schoolchildren relation to the murder of Grace it was going back on an earlier Millane”. commitment to sign. Millane’s father told the media Groups representing Malays, lead coal mine protests on Friday after arriving in New who account for around 60% of Zealand that his daughter’s year- Malaysia’s multi-ethnic popu- long trip began in Peru and she lation, raised fears that signing AFP vowed last month to press would contact the family on daily the UN pledge could have un- Sydney ahead with the construction basis. In Auckland, she stayed at a dermined Malay privileges and People take part in an Anti-ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial of a controversial coal mine backpacker hostel and the family threatened Islam’s status as Discrimination) mass rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. in Queensland state, although last had contact with her on the Malaysia’s offi cial religion. ustralian schoolchil- the project will be dramati- day she vanished. (Reuters) Badly beaten in an election Islam Se-Malaysia, PAS, all rights as Malays,” said Faridah Malays advantages including dren led thousands of cally scaled back from earlier earlier this year, Malay opposi- attended the rally. Harun, a 59-year-old mother of university quotas, housing dis- Ademonstrators nation- plans. tion parties seized on the issue, Their supporters, wearing seven, who travelled down from counts, government guaran- wide yesterday calling for a Work on the Carmichael Man jailed for along with activists, to organise white, converged on the capi- the northern state of Perak to teed savings plans, and equity halt on plans for Indian min- mine could get underway the rally, as race is a sensitive tal’s Merdeka Square follow- join the rally with her husband. ownership quotas. ing fi rm Adani to construct a within weeks. brutal killing of matter for the Southeast Asian ing afternoon prayers. Some “We have ruled this country Whereas Mahathir’s coali- controversial coal mine in the Protestors called on both kangaroo nation of 32mn people. Seek- chanted “God is Great” and very well for a very long time, but tion enjoyed overwhelming country’s northeast. the government and the op- ing to rebuild support, Najib slogans against the UN conven- now there are people who want support among voters from the The rallies across major position to put a halt to the A 28-year-old Australian man will Razak, Malaysia’s scandal- tion, while holding up placards to take over and do things like minority ethnic Chinese and cities followed a protest last project. spend five months in prison for plagued former prime minis- calling for the defence of Malay shut down MARA,” she said, re- Indian communities, who to- month that saw thousands “The leaders of Australia brutally killing a kangaroo in an attack ter, and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, rights and dignity. ferring to a trust fund for Malays gether account for 30% of the of Australian students defy need to start acting,” 12-year- filmed and posted on social media, who replaced him as head of the Citing police estimates, me- and indigenous people. population, it remains locked in Prime Minister Scott Morri- old Sammy Lightfoot said. ABC News reported late on Friday. former ruling party, the United dia put the size of the rally at Affi rmative action policies a battle to win over Malays who son and skip school to demand The prime minister last Ricky Ian Swan was one of four Malays National Organisation around 50,000 people. introduced after deadly race have remained loyal to UMNO the government take action on month said “kids should go men charged in September with (UMNO), and the leader of Parti “We are here to defend our riots in the late 1960s gave and PAS. climate change. to school” when asked about using weapons to torture and kill Schoolchildren invit- children missing a day in the two kangaroos. Swan chased one ed adults along to yester- classroom to protest. of the kangaroos inflicting more day’s event, helping to boost Students yesterday crea- than 20 stab wounds and kicking numbers. tively rebuked the prime min- the dying animal in the head. “We are taking a stand that ister, who goes by the nick- “You subjected this particular US scraps UN meet on N Korea human rights our leaders are far too afraid to name ScoMo, taking selfi es animal to a savage and brutal take themselves,” 14-year-old with a giant ScoMo puppet, attack,” ABC cited Magistrate AFP The decision to scrap the ing that shines a spotlight on ry Coast refusing to bow to student Jean Hinchcliff e told carrying a school grade card Deen Potter as saying. United Nations meeting held every year since Pyongyang’s dismal record. pressure to lend its backing. demonstrators. for climate science labelled Potter also said that Swan’s actions 2014 also comes as the United The US has, every year since China, which has strong ex- “We are the people that “FAIL” in red writing. amounted to cruelty to an animal States is seeking a second sum- 2014, garnered the nine votes panding ties in Africa, has ar- have been fi ghting and will “Schoolkids are the next and included torture, mutilation he United States has mit between President Don- needed at the council to hold gued that the Security Council keep fi ghting for a brighter generation of Australia,” and malicious behaviour. dropped a bid to hold ald Trump and North Korean the meeting, despite opposition is not the venue to discuss hu- future - not just for ourselves, Lightfoot added. “I don’t know what came over Ta UN Security Council leader Kim Jong-un. from China. man rights as a threat to inter- but for our children and our “They are potentially the me,” ABC cited Swan’s remarks meeting on North Korea’s hu- North Korea had writ- But diplomats said that only national peace and security. children’s children, and all fu- future leaders, so I think they from one of his sentencing man rights record after failing ten to council members last eight countries supported Beijing says it should be ture generations,” she added to should have the biggest voice reports. “It’s disgusting. That to garner enough support for month to urge them to block the US request this year, with raised in the Geneva-based a rapturous applause. and the biggest say in what person in the video is not me.” the talks, diplomats have said. the US request for the meet- non-permanent member Ivo- Human Rights Council. Indian mining fi rm Adani their country does.”

China launches rover for Japan enacts controversial law far side of moon landing to accept foreign workers AFP many as 345,000 foreign work- The law allows foreign na- AFP of the moon for the Chang’e-4 and off ers many fl at areas to Tokyo ers in construction, food serv- tionals with skills in sec- Beijing mission, expected to land touch down on, the far side is ices, nursing and other desig- tors facing particularly severe around the New Year to carry mountainous and rugged. nated sectors for fi ve years. shortages to obtain fi ve-year out experiments and survey the It was not until 1959 that the apanese Prime Minis- “We aim at starting it in April visas, which would not allow hina launched a rover untrodden terrain. Soviet Union captured the fi rst ter Shinzo Abe’s ruling next year because we need to them to bring their families. early yesterday destined “Chang’e-4 is humanity’s images of the heavily cratered Jcoalition early yesterday swiftly launch the new system Foreign workers in those Cto land on the far side fi rst probe to land on and explore surface, uncloaking some of the rammed through legislation to in order to deal with the cur- fi elds who hold stronger quali- of the moon, a global fi rst that the far side of the moon,” said mystery of the moon’s “dark side”. bring more blue-collar foreign rent labour shortage,” Abe told fi cations and pass a more diffi - would boost Beijing’s ambitions the mission’s chief commander No lander or rover has ever workers into the country, in a parliament on Thursday. cult Japanese language test will to become a space superpower, He Rongwei of China Aerospace touched the surface there, posi- controversial move to address But opposition parties be able to obtain a visa that can state media said. Science and Technology Corp, tioning China as the fi rst nation chronic labour shortages. claimed that the law fails to ad- be extended indefi nitely, even- The Chang’e-4 lunar probe the main state-owned space to explore the area. The bill was enacted after dress the potential impact on tually leading to residency, and mission – named after the moon contractor. “China over the past 10 or 20 the upper house gave approval Japanese society of new foreign will be able to bring over family. goddess in Chinese mythology “This mission is also the most years has been systematically despite a raft of criticism by labour, and does not protect But there have been ques- – launched on a Long March 3B meaningful deep space explo- ticking off the various fi rsts that opposition parties following foreign workers’ rights. tions about whether an infl ux rocket from the southwestern ration research project in the America and the Soviet Union its passage through the lower In a bid to block its passage, of foreign workers will depress Xichang launch centre at 2:23am world in 2018,” He said, accord- did in the 1960s and 1970s in A Long March 3B rocket lifts off house in late November. Both opposition parties submitted wages, how the workers will be (1823 GMT), according to the of- ing to state-run Global Times. space exploration,” said Jonath- from the Xichang launch centre chambers are controlled by censure motions against Abe incorporated into Japan’s social fi cial Xinhua news agency. Unlike the near side of the an McDowell, an astronomer in Xichang in China’s south- Abe’s ruling camp. and Justice Minister Takashi security system, and worries The blast-off marked the start moon that is “tidally locked” at the Harvard-Smithsonian western Sichuan province early Under the new system, the Yamashita, but they were easily about exploitation of migrant of a long journey to the far side and always faces the earth, Center for Astrophysics. yesterday. government plans to bring in as rejected by the ruling bloc. labour. Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 19 BRITAIN

Corbyn: no-deal Brexit Rudd fl oats should ‘be avoided’ Brexit ‘Plan B’ DPA Lisbon

ritish opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has ur- Bgently warned against a before key vote no-deal Brexit at a social demo- cratic conference in the Portu- Reuters reject her deal, which envisages failed, was the “Norway Plus” Some pro-EU lawmakers have guese capital. London continued close ties with the EU, model, adding that it “seems also expressed support for a sec- “It must be avoided at all costs in a move that would pitch the plausible not just in terms of the ond referendum on EU member- by all sides,” the Labour Party world’s fi fth-largest economy country but in terms of where ship, or “a people’s vote”. Rudd: The best deal we have is the one the prime minister’s put leader said on Friday evening in close ally of British Prime into even deeper uncertainty. the MPs are”. The Times reported yester- forward. Lisbon. Minister Theresa May has While agreeing with May that Norway is not an EU member day that plans were being made He again rejected the EU exit Abecame the fi rst cabinet her deal provides the best option but is in the bloc’s single market, across party lines to vote against servatives and the Democratic “I believe that if (May’s) re- treaty negotiated by the British minister to fl oat a possible Plan for exiting the EU, Amber Rudd, which allows for free movement May’s leadership if the premier Unionist Party, the small North- sponse is ‘we’ve lost but we will government led by Prime Minis- B if, as expected, parliament the work and pensions minister, of goods, capital, services and loses the vote on Tuesday. ern Irish party which props up do this all over again’, it will be- ter Theresa May. next week rejects her proposal to said that a Norway-style rela- people. The Daily Telegraph quoted May’s minority government, to come a leadership issue,” he was A few days before a crucial leave the European Union. tionship with the bloc might “Norway plus” envisages a senior Conservative lawmak- call a vote of no-confi dence in quoted as saying. vote on the deal in the Brit- With her own future in the also off er a way out of the cur- Britain staying in the customs er as saying that she might be the prime minister. The newspaper also said three ish parliament scheduled for balance, May insists that her rent deadlock. union, which Norway is not in. forced to resign. That vote would not be bind- ministers were considering re- Tuesday, he campaigned for an deal, laboriously negotiated “If it (May’s plan) doesn’t get Senior offi cials on both sides Rudd said she believed May ing but would place enormous signing in opposition to her deal, alternative plan that would tie with the EU over many months, through anything could happen: of the EU-UK negotiations on should stay on as prime minis- pressure on May to resign, it without citing sources. Britain much more closely to the is the only one on the table and people’s vote, Norway plus, any May’s deal have voiced scepti- ter even if parliament rejects her added. If the Brexit deal is rejected, European Union after leaving the that the alternatives are a pain- of these options could come for- cism to Reuters about the “Nor- Brexit deal. Conservative lawmaker and ministers have 21 days to state bloc. ful “no-deal” exit from the EU or ward,” she told BBC radio yes- way pivot” idea, saying that it “There is no question of her former leader Iain Duncan Smith how they intend to proceed. The plan would include a possibly no Brexit at all. terday. seems far removed from British going,” Rudd told the BBC. was quoted in the Telegraph as The government has previ- comprehensive customs union However, members of parlia- Rudd told The Times newspa- demands for more control over The Times said the main op- saying that her leadership could ously said that if the agreement with the EU, in which London ment, including from May’s own per in an interview that her own rules and could need lengthy position Labour Party was seek- come into question if she lost is rejected, Britain will leave the may be involved in future trade Conservative Party, look set to preferred option, if May’s deal new talks. ing an alliance with rebel Con- Tuesday’s vote. EU without a deal. agreements, Corbyn said at the Congress of European Social Democrats. Added to this was a new, strong relationship with the in- SantaCon ternal market that would enable Human smooth trade. It should be possible to have a migration policy that meets the leg found needs of Britain’s economy, he said. Previous EU standards for in river is employment, the environment and consumer protection should remain as the basis of new regu- missing lations, he said. Corbyn said he is confi dent that Labour’s alternative plan woman’s, could gain a majority in the Brit- ish parliament, bring the coun- try together and resolve the say police blockade in the negotiations on the future relations with the Eu- ropean Union. By Simon Murphy Guardian News & Media Man dies after human leg found in a river being hit by cab has been confi rmed to be Athe limb of a woman who A man has died after being hit by went missing a year ago. a black cab shortly after he was Police were called to a report arrested and fined by police. of suspected human remains The man, in his 60s, was struck seen in a stretch of the River Ir- by the vehicle in the early hours well running through Pendleton, of yesterday morning on an Salford, on November 28. A-road in Manchester. DNA testing confi rmed the Only hours earlier he had leg belonged to Marie Scott, who been arrested on suspicion was 57 when she was reported of committing a public order missing from her home in Hale off ence and was released with a on 18 December last year, Great- fixed-penalty notice. er Manchester police said. The male cab driver, in his 70s, Scott, a mother of two, van- stopped and assisted off icers at ished after leaving the fam- the scene on the southbound ily home in the village of Hale, carriageway of Stockport Road, Greater Manchester, and her in Longsight, about three miles family had been clinging to the south of Manchester city centre. hope that she might still be alive. Greater Manchester police said But in what Greater Manches- no arrests have been made in ter police called a “heartbreak- relation to the incident, which Revellers dressed as Santa Claus gather in their hundreds during the annual SantaCon event in central London. ing development”, the force con- took place about 2.10am. fi rmed that the limb, which was spotted in a river in Salford last month, belonged to Scott. Police said there were not be- lieved to be any suspicious cir- cumstances. Labour vows right to strike in support of overseas workers In June, Scott’s son, Stuart, revealed the family’s torment at the sudden disappearance. By Mattha Busby lective action and acts of soli- sympathy action on the basis of Rolls-Royce workers at East Kil- ing the party’s plan to introduce iday pay and protection against “We still believe that she is Guardian News & Media darity”. supporting fellow workers inter- bride was a momentous act of sectoral collective bargaining to unfair dismissal.” alive. There is just something This would mean “workers nationally,” said McDonnell. solidarity by Scottish workers in raise wages and conditions and McDonnell’s speech came as that we feel,” he told the Man- can revive the spirit of the Rolls- The action, recently com- the aftermath of Chilean junta’s saying a new ministry of labour the party lays out a number of chester Evening News. abour would abolish Royce workers in East Kilbride” memorated in the fi lm Nae overthrow of a democratically would “give workers a voice in policies committing it to what “All our lives are destroyed Thatcher-era laws pre- who “struck a blow against the Pasaran!, was a “fantastic ex- elected government and the tor- parliament”. would be the biggest overhaul of without her being with us. We Lventing workers from tak- brutal Pinochet dictatorship” in ample of the operation of trade turing and killing of civilians and “Our programme of work- workplace rights in 80 years. miss her smile, the time she ing industrial action in solidarity Chile in the 1970s, he said. union rights”, McDonnell said. those who opposed it,” he said. place reform will restore the Among a number of radical shared with us, her love and her with their counterparts in other The Hunter Hawker planes “It was an eff ective blow “Such collective action and acts balance between employer and proposals, private companies kindness. She is in our thoughts countries, the shadow chancel- used by the Chilean air force against the Pinochet regime and of solidarity have been attacked worker, and it will do so by in- employing more than 250 peo- every minute of every day and we lor has announced. were powered by engines built in its brutality against its own peo- and undermined by restrictive stalling basic trade union rights ple under a Labour government just want to know she is safe and At an event in Airdrie, John South Lanarkshire but workers ple,” he said, praising the East anti-union laws started in the in law again,” he said. would have to give workers fi - well.” McDonnell pledged that a La- there refused to repair them. Kilbride workers for carrying out 1980s under Thatcher’s Tory “A Labour government will nancial stakes through “own- Scott, who ran her own iron- bour government would restore “When we go back into gov- a “courageous and humane act government.” transform the world of work, ership funds” that could see ing business and had been mar- trade union rights by repealing ernment we will restore trade against the horrors of the Pino- In his speech, McDonnell went providing security, decent pay employees’ pay topped up by ried to her husband, Jim, for 41 legislation that undermines the union rights, and that will en- chet years”. on to commit Labour to enhanc- and equal rights for people from dividends from their company’s years, left her home on Decem- ability of workers to take “col- able workers to take similar “The action taken by the ing democracy at work, restat- day one, including sick pay, hol- profi ts. ber 18 last year. Death in prison of man with Asperger’s ‘raises serious concerns’

By Steven Morris in 2009 after a bungled attempt emotionally unstable personality before he was transferred to pris- However, Maganty said it learned of her son’s actions at out the attempted attack after Guardian News & Media to set off a homemade bomb in a disorder. on after he attacked ward staff in would be diffi cult for Reilly to the Giraff e restaurant in Exeter in downloading videos on bomb- Devon restaurant. Giving evidence at Heywood a row over a ban on communal understand the concept of death May 2008. making and martyrdom from Reilly, 30, a Muslim convert, coroner’s court, his mother, Kim Muslim prayers in July 2015. and he had “serious doubts” She said she was not satis- YouTube and he also received coroner has expressed was discovered dead at HMP Reilly, said that her son “did not The jury was told by consult- whether he had the capacity to fi ed the prison service’s central encouragement in an Internet concern over the care Manchester in October 2016. fi t into society”, was a target for ant forensic psychiatrist Dinesh form an intent to end his life. management group for Reilly had chatroom from two people with Agiven in prison to a man Following a two-week hearing bullying at school and had self- Maganty that Reilly’s combina- On Friday, Joanne Kearsley, a clear plan and oversight of his Arabic names. serving a sentence for a botched a jury concluded it was “more harmed from a young age. tion of Asperger’s and the per- senior coroner for Manchester needs and queried why he was He pleaded guilty to attempt- terrorism attack who was found likely than not” that Reilly did He continued to self-harm sonality disorder were “very North, said it was a “truly tragic not under a care programme ap- ed murder and preparing an act hanged in his cell. not intend to end his life and he while being treated at high-secu- challenging and unique” and he case” and she could not imag- proach in which care co-ordina- of terrorism and was ordered Mohamed Saeed Alim, who “acted impulsively” as a result rity psychiatric hospital Broad- was at “chronic risk” of dying ine how diffi cult Kim Reilly’s life tors are allocated to prisoners. to serve a minimum term of 18 was born Nicky Reilly, was jailed of Asperger syndrome and an moor between 2009 and 2014 from self-harm. had been from the moment she Reilly, from Plymouth, carried years. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, December 9, 2018 EUROPE Six killed in Italian

nightclub stampede Kramp-Karrenbauer: a renowned bridge-builder. AFP ment on who is responsible, but Corinaldo, Italy I would just like to ask everyone to stop and think how dangerous and stupid it can be to use pep- Merkel protégé seeks ix people, including fi ve per spray in a nightclub,” he said, teenagers, died and 120 cancelling all his upcoming pro- Swere injured in a stampede motional events. to unite party after when panic broke out during a Pope Francis said during yes- rap concert at a packed Italian terday’s Angelus prayers that he nightclub early yesterday. would pray for “the children and leadership battle The suspected use of a pepper the mother who died last night ... spray-like substance is thought as well as for the injured”. to have sparked the chaos at the The accident happened around Reuters Ziemiak is a step forward by venue in the town of Corinaldo, 1am (0000 GMT). Hamburg Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, near Ancona in central Italy, the “Usually there’s no noise, one trying to unite the diff erent fi re service said in a statement on hardly hears the music, just the camps which the endorsed the Twitter. laughter of the youths when they nnegret Kramp-Kar- three diff erent candidates,” he However, Carabinieri police arrive or leave” the club, said Ines renbauer, the new added. spokesman Cristian Carrozza Patrignani, who lives in an ad- Aleader of Chancel- However, the move quickly later said they were still “try- joining house. lor Angela Merkel’s Christian drew criticism from some. ing to ascertain what had caused “But this morning, I was wok- Democrats, sought to bind the “I am not going to hide that the youths to rush out”, adding: en by the sounds of cries and party together after a divisive I would have liked a secretary “There are three exits and one of sobbing,” the 86-year-old said. leadership battle by promoting general from the east,” Ingo these was used.” The injured were taken to hos- a rival’s ally to a key post yes- Senftleben, Brandenburg CDU The victims include three girls pital in the nearby town of Seni- terday. chief, told the NBR media and two boys aged between 14 gallia and the most serious on to Delegates from the Chris- group. and 16, and a 39-year-old woman Ancona. tian Democratic Union (CDU) He said that Kramp-Karren- who accompanied her daughter Gabriele Santini said his elected Kramp-Karrenbauer, bauer must fulfi l her promise to to the club. 15-year-old granddaughter was 56, on Friday to replace Merkel pay attention to the east before Some 10 people are in a critical still in shock. as party leader, a decision that three state elections there next condition, doctors said, with at “When I arrived she looked moves her into pole position to year. least 120 injured in total. like a zombie. The moment she succeed Europe’s most infl u- Merkel needs Kramp-Kar- “Around 1,400 tickets were This handout picture taken and released by Vigili del Fuoco, the Italian fire and rescue service, yesterday started speaking about what ential leader as chancellor. renbauer to unite the CDU to sold for the concert and the place shows emergency personnel treating victims after the stampede at a nightclub in Cornaldo. happened, she burst into tears,” Kramp-Karrenbauer, the help steady her ruling coali- could only accommodate 870 he said. continuity candidate favoured tion with the centre-left So- people,” said Monica Garulli from of people tumbling down. pushing, adding: “It was a dom- one unnamed woman cried as she Italy’s far-right Interior Min- by the party elite, won a nar- cial Democratic Party (SPD) the Ancona prosecutor’s offi ce. Ironically, those who stayed in ino eff ect, some fell on me and I knelt by her son’s body, the paper ister Matteo Salvini, promised row victory over the more con- – an awkward alliance that has The exit used led to a small the nightclub were unharmed. fell on others and my legs were said. to “fi nd those responsible for servative Friedrich Merz in a come close to collapse several bridge and the car park. “We were dancing and wait- squashed.” The crowd at the Lanterna Az- these six broken lives, those who run-off . times since being formed in The force of the fl eeing crowd ing for the concert to start when A pile of abandoned shoes tes- zurra (Blue Lantern) club was at- through wickedness, stupidity Health Minister Jens Spahn, March. made a railing collapse and doz- we smelt this pungent odour,” a tifi ed to the chaos, with survivors tending a performance by Italian or greed turned a festive evening also a more conservative can- After a series of electoral ens of people fell, crushing those 16-year-old boy who was taken and the bereaved weeping out- rapper Sfera Ebbasta, known as into a tragedy”. didate, was knocked out in a setbacks, Kramp-Karrenbauer at the bottom of the pile, accord- to hospital told the media. “We side the nightclub as emergency “the king of the trap” for his style In 2017, a woman died and fi rst round. must use her ability to reach ing to a preliminary investiga- ran to one of the emergency ex- vehicles tended to the injured, of Hip Hop. 1,500 were injured in a crush dur- Yesterday Kramp-Karren- beyond party lines to shore up tion. its but we found it blocked, the newspaper Ancona Today re- “I’m deeply saddened by what ing the outdoor broadcast in Tu- bauer proposed Paul Ziemiak, the CDU. Grainy mobile phone footage bouncers told us to go back.” ported. happened,” Ebbasta said on In- rin of a Champions League foot- head of the Junge Union, the The party bled support to appeared to show part of a walk- Eighteen-year-old Giulia Buc- “It can’t be! You can’t die like stagram. ball match fi nal when rumours of conservatives’ youth wing, to the far-right Alternative for way collapsing, sending dozens ci said those trying to fl ee started that. Wake up Mattia, I beg you,” “I don’t want to pass judg- a bombing sparked panic. replace her as CDU secretary Germany (AfD) in last Sep- general – a role in which he tember’s federal election and will organise the party, election is also losing support to the campaigns and congresses, and Greens, who are now running support her. second in national polls behind Party delegates duly elect- the Christian Democrats. ed Ziemiak, 33, but with just In October, the CDU lost 62.8% of the votes cast – a over 10 percentage points in a Surging in the polls, state election in Hesse. far narrower margin than the overwhelming 98.9% support Merkel announced she with which Kramp-Karren- would stand down as party bauer was elected to the sec- leader after that damaging re- retary general post in February. sult. Salvini stages rally Kramp-Karrenbauer is a After the bruising leadership election, Ziemiak and other renowned bridge-builder – a Reuters security, pensions and work to League voters from around the leading CDU offi cials sought to skill set that helped win her Rome millions of Italians, then I tell you country fl owed into the huge Pi- rally the party. the party leadership, and in her we will not be turning back.” azza del Popolo (People’s Square) “Now the task is to renew home state of Saarland, where Bearded and stocky, the plain- under a warm winter sun, their the party with a clear course she led an experimental three- talian Deputy Prime Minis- speaking Salvini took charge of fl ags sporting the names of cities and clear communication,” way coalition with the pro- ter Matteo Salvini fi lled one the League in 2013 when it was a from the south, such as Bari and Ziemiak said. “Let’s believe to- business Free Democrats and Iof Rome’s main squares with small, scandal-plagued regional Naples, and to the north, such as gether and let’s win together!” the Greens. tens of thousands of fl ag-waving party scoring around 3% in the Venice and Milan. The tight nature of Ziemi- Merkel’s decision to stand supporters in a rally yesterday polls. In its separatist past, the ak’s victory refl ected the divi- down as CDU leader is part of that underscored the growing Under his leadership, and League’s rallying cry used to sions in the CDU after a robust her slow, stage-managed exit predominance of his rightist fuelled by anti-migrant rhetoric, be “Roma Ladrona” (Thieving campaign for the leadership. from politics. League party. the League has become a nation- Rome), but such slogans have Kramp-Karrenbauer’s fi rst She wants to remain chan- Locked in battle with Brussels al force that won 17% of the vote now been replaced with calls for Salvini acknowledges supporters at the Piazza del Popolo in Rome. job as new party leader is to try cellor until the next federal over the government’s budget in a parliamentary election in national unity. to unite the CDU ahead of Eu- election, due by October 2021 plans, Salvini told the cheering March, enabling it to form a coa- “Italy lift up your head,” said a Salvini vowed that the gov- ion should focus on fostering ropean and regional elections and should be able to work crowds that he would honour lition with the anti-establish- huge banner on the main stage. erning coalition would survive a growth rather than be obsessed in 2019. comfortably with Kramp-Kar- promises to boost state spend- ment 5-Star Movement (M5S). “We need to overcome our old full fi ve-year term, though it is by “decimal places” and reiter- “Paul Ziemiak is from the renbauer. ing, warning that austerity would Since taking offi ce, Salvini has divisions. We are one country proving less popular in Brussels, ated a pledge to lower retirement home region of Friedrich Merz. However, some commenta- only fuel the sort of violence that made good on promises to slow and Salvini is the only man who where the European Commission ages and cut taxes. He’s a close friend, from the tors have suggested that with has rocked neighbouring France. drastically the arrival of mainly can save us,” said Ivana Di Betta, has rejected its 2019 budget. “Someone has betrayed the Junge Union, of Jens Spahn,” her preferred candidate in “Those who sow poverty reap African migrants into Italy, and 62, a resident of the northern city The EU executive says the European dream, but we will put David McAllister, a member of charge of the party, Merkel may protests,” the politician said. “If has seen support for the League of Udine, who caught one of 200 budget will not lower Italy’s large blood and strength back into the the CDU’s executive commit- decide she could step down you call into question our right surge to around 34%, making it especially chartered buses to at- public debt as the rules require. veins of a new European commu- tee, told Reuters. early and leave Germany in her and duty to restore dignity, pride, the largest party in Italy. tend the rally. Salvini said the European Un- nity,” he said. “So this move to choose Paul hands.

Activists ‘denied access’ to Poland for New ‘yellow vest’ protests hit Paris

From Page 1 Police reinforcements were mitted to hospital, mostly with UN climate talks, green groups say boosted to 8,000 across the minor injuries. “The weather is crap and so city, with armoured vehicles Among the police, 17 were is this government,” a handful deployed in Paris for the fi rst hurt, Castaner said. Reuters streets demanding stronger ef- they did not meet requirements May Boeve, executive direc- of protesters chanted as light time. The movement has spread Katowice, Poland forts to tackle climate change. or were on a list preventing them tor of 350.org, told the Thomson rain began to fall. More than 650 protesters beyond France’s borders, with “It is important that all the from entering Europe’s border Reuters Foundation that activists It turned to downpours by were detained in the capital, around 400 arrested at a “yel- rules are being respected in a control-free Schengen Area. who wanted to come to Poland to mid-evening, scattering many many of them stopped as they low vest” protest in Brussels oland’s deputy environ- very constructive way,” he told A Polish border guard spokes- help create solutions to climate of the remaining demonstra- arrived at train stations or yesterday and peaceful demon- ment minister, Michal journalists. woman said 161 people had been change were being intimidated, tors. meeting points carrying ham- strations taking place in Dutch PKurtyka, said yesterday He did not confi rm the reports forbidden entry to Poland on Fri- detracting from the talks’ main The outbreaks of violence mers, petanque balls and other towns. that he was in contact with the about activists issued on Friday day for many reasons, including purpose of stepping up ambition were on a smaller scale than potential missiles. People began blockading authorities over reports from evening by international cam- a lack of correct documents and to tackle global warming. the destruction and looting of Shops along the Champs- French roads on November 17 campaign groups that at least 12 paign groups 350.org and Climate being on security lists. She urged the United Nations a week earlier, when some 200 Elysees and central department over rising fuel prices — partly to 14 activists were refused entry Action Network International. She could not immediately say to put in place conditions at the cars were torched in the worst stores stayed shut with their due to taxes aimed at helping to the country or deported while UN climate chief Patricia Es- whether there was any connec- talks “where activists can come rioting in Paris in decades. windows boarded up to avoid the country transition to a low- on their way to a UN climate pinosa said her offi ce was trying tion to the climate talks in Kato- and be safe and do their work, The government had vowed looting. er-carbon economy. change conference in Katowice. to clarify information about the wice. and ... civil society can push “zero tolerance” for anarchist, The Eiff el Tower, major mu- But the demonstrations Human rights experts said cases. Earlier this year, Poland came government to do what we really far-right or other trouble- seums and many metro stations have since swollen into a broad the reported barring of activ- Green groups said those barred under international pressure to need around climate”. makers seeking to wreak fur- were also closed as parts of Par- movement against ex-banker ists contradicted the spirit of the from Poland included people allow activists to demonstrate Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, UN Spe- ther havoc at protests that have is went on eff ective lockdown. Macron, whom the protesters 2015 Paris Agreement on global from Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyr- freely at the UN climate change cial Rapporteur on the Rights of sparked the deepest crisis of “I have two children. I’m accuse of favouring the rich. warming, which entrenches the gyzstan. talks, and to protect participants’ Indigenous People, said the situ- Macron’s presidency. fi ghting for them and just to Nationwide, 89,000 police principle of public participation “We are hopeful and grateful privacy, after new legislation ation was “a total undermining of Prime Minister Edouard be able to live a decent life,” offi cers were on duty in towns, in action to combat global warm- for eff orts by the Polish authori- passed in January sparked fears the Paris Agreement”, which calls Philippe congratulated police said Tony Vella, a 32-year-old cities and on numerous mo- ing. ties to address this situation and over civil rights. for public participation to be en- for the operation, and promised builder from the Paris suburbs. torways which caused havoc “There is a commitment to ensure we can continue into the That legislation forbids spon- hanced and supported. Macron would address the pro- Offi cials estimated that a on France’s road network, in- allow everybody who wishes to next week in the most inclusive taneous protests in Katowice But the problem was wider, testers’ concerns. total 125,000 “yellow vests” cluding a blockade of a border engage constructively in this atmosphere,” Espinosa said. during the talks, and allows po- and included diffi culties in ena- “The dialogue has begun turned out nationwide crossing with Spain. discussion, to be part of it,” said A spokeswoman for the Polish lice to collect personal data on bling citizens around the world and it must continue,” Philippe throughout the day, down from Nearly 1,400 people were de- Kurtyka, who is presiding over presidency of the talks told Reu- delegates without their con- to take part in developing their said. “The president will speak, 136,000 last week. tained across France, according the negotiations, as demonstra- ters that some activists had been sent, according to Human Rights countries’ climate action plans, and will propose measures that In Paris, health authorities to Interior Minister Christophe tors marched through the city denied entry to Poland because Watch. she said. will feed this dialogue.” said 126 people had been ad- Castaner Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 21 INDIA

Rare trove of 2,200 fi lms, documentaries of early era discovered

IANS The celluloid collection com- Roy Kinikar in colour, depicting music and used 16mm format to Phade, whose birth centenary is undertaken during the fi rst two produced by Projection of India Pune, Maharashtra prises short fi lms/ documenta- G V Mavlankar, the fi rst speaker score the sound tracks, which was being celebrated this year. Five-Year Plans - which laid the Pictures, shot and edited by R ries on history, music, science, of Lok Sabha, and then cen- an innovative concept in that era. Two biopics on the great phi- foundations of India’s develop- Sundaram; another fi lm directed education, culture, development tral commerce minister Narhar Incidentally, 2018 is the birth losopher, freedom fi ghter and ment - shot in Pune, Solapur, by the veteran Kamalakar Torne ome very rare short fi lms and even an international col- Vishnu alias Kakasaheb Gadgil, centenary of fi lm producer P R yoga master Sri Aurobindo, pro- Ahmednagar, Satara, Sangli and with the lead pair of Suryakant and documentaries shot lection of a bygone era, many of besides the then Pune commis- Bhide who produced another duced by Tarachand Barjatya Kolhapur. and Mai Bhide, along with Mas- Sin 16mm featuring top which will see the light of day for sioner S G Barve, visiting the landmark fi lm Vande Mataram, and directed by Phani Majumdar These fi lms contain unseen ter Vitthal and comedian Ganpat politicians, artistes, singers the fi rst time. museum along with the Kelkar along with the legendary couple under the Auro Films banner in visuals of various initiatives in Patil. and other prominent person- “Given the large volume, we family. P L Deshpande and his wife Su- the 1970s, depict various activi- education, sports, agriculture, An educational fi lm on road alities have been discovered in a are previewing these fi lms in a One fi lm has sound tracks of nita in lead roles. ties of the Aurobindo Ashram in co-operation movement, adult safety, Savdhan, by Geeta Films 2,200-strong collection acquired phased manner. There could be the legendary Hindustani classi- Magdum said another 15-minute Pondicherry, and its co-founder, education, health, etc; in these and directed by the renowned by the National Film Archives of some very important fi lms, but cal singer Hirabai Barodekar and fi lm found is Kavincha Kavi Kes- Mirra Alfassa, referred to as The six districts, besides archival Ram Gabale contains street vis- India (NFAI), a top offi cial said. many of them are in a critical her sister Saraswati Rane, along havsut, a tribute to the renowned Mother. footage of major local landmarks uals of old Mumbai and Pune. Acquired from the State Insti- condition. We will make all ef- with a Pakhwaj recital of Pan- poet K K Damle on his birth cente- There is V Shantaram’s rare and of the legendary Balasaheb Writers & Poets of Gujarat tute for Audio-Visual Education, forts to save and preserve them,” dit Govindbuva Burhanpurkar, nary celebrations in 1966. fi lm Sangeet Bharat chronicling Vikhe-Patil, who founded Asia’s (1978) are twin fi lms in the col- many of the fi lms are in a sorry Magdum said. which were used in an experi- It was written by another various cultural songs and danc- fi rst co-operative sugar mill in lection featuring top Gujarati lit- state, but eff orts are being made One of the rare 30-minute mental fi lm, Lalat (1947) by di- great, P K Atre and directed by es popular in Maharashtra, said Loni, Ahmednagar, and served erary fi gures like Umakant Joshi, to restore and preserve them for documentary fi lms is on the rector Raja Nene. Balkrishna Kulkarni and com- Magdum. as a central minister. Pannalal Patel and Balmukund posterity, NFAI director Prakash Raja Kelkar Museum in Pune, In a radical experiment, Nene prises some rare songs composed A couple of fi lms are dedi- There are documentaries on Dave, and were directed by Vas- Magdum said. made in the 1950s, directed by attempted to picture melody and sung by the late Sudhir cated to developmental works Tanjore - The Cultural Capital, ant Joshi. Bulandshahr Selfie moment police chief transferred after violence

Agencies in Uttar Pradesh, what happened Lucknow in Bulandshahr is an accident,” he said. Meanwhile, authorities were district police chief and investigating reports that an two other policemen were off -duty soldier could have shot Atransferred after an of- dead the police offi cer during the fi cer and a civilian were killed in violence. mob violence over alleged cow Four people have been so far slaughter in Bulandshahr, Uttar arrested in the case. Pradesh, offi cials said. Inspector General of Police S Inspector Subodh Kumar K Bhagat said Jeetu Fauji, said to Singh was killed when villag- be working with the Border Se- ers, many of them activists from curity Force (BSF), is posted in hardline Hindu groups, clashed the Kargil sector. with police in Bulandshahr dis- A team of police has left for trict on Monday. Jammu to arrest him, the offi cer They were protesting against said while also clarifying that his Relatives take selfies with a new recruit after he graduated as an Indian Army soldier during a passing out parade at an army base on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday. the alleged inability of police exact role and complicity in the A group of 230 young men from Jammu and Kashmir were formally inducted into the Jammu Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment (JKLIR) after 11 months of rigorous to stop cow slaughter, claiming mob violence will be clear after training. that carcasses of animals in- the probe by the Special Investi- cluding cows were found in the gation Team (SIT). region. Also yesterday the Samajwadi An 18-year-old also died in Party (SP) called Adityanath the the rioting. Cows slaughter is “most incompetent chief minis- banned in most states. ter” and accused him of only try- There have been a string of at- ing to fan communal passions in tacks by right-wing Hindus over Uttar Pradesh. cattle slaughter and beef con- Referring to Adityanath’s sumption in the country. statement that Bulandshahr vi- The Uttar Pradesh home de- olence was an “accident”, party ED questions Vadra’s partment transferred Buland- spokesman Abdul Hafi z Gandhi shahr police chief K B Singh and said it showed how callous the two more policemen after an in- chief minister has been in treat- ternal probe admitted lapses and ing the incident. indicated police inaction had led “The chief minister is bla- to the escalation in violence, the tantly polarising the polity in the offi cials said. state ahead of Lok Sabha 2019 staff , Congress worker The probe report found the elections,” the SP leader said. police had failed to respond in He also pointed out how nei- IANS Delhi, National Capital Region search, the I-T department re- questioned had received money dirty tricks and malicious tac- time or sending adequate re- ther the government nor the New Delhi and Bengaluru. portedly recovered photocopies in their bank accounts from de- tics.” inforcements after the animal police were interested in arrest- While being taken by the ED of classifi ed documents of the fence suppliers. Targeting the Bharatiya Ja- carcasses were found. The state ing the main conspirator, Yogesh offi cials, Jagdish Sharma told Ministry of Defence. Khaitan claimed that the ED nata Party (BJP)-led central government has named Prab- Raj. he Enforcement Directo- reporters: “Robert Vadra is be- The department also recov- offi cials raided “close associ- government, he said Prime hakar Chowdhary as the new “The message is clear from rate (ED) yesterday ques- ing framed. The government ered e-mails from Bhandari’s ates” and business partners of Minister Narendra Modi’s mask district police chief of Buland- the top that no harm would Ttioned four people, in- wants to trap him. Searches are computers that allegedly re- Vadra without even showing of anti-corruption crusader lies shahr. come to the BJP cadres, its af- cluding a Congress worker and on at my residence. What will vealed his links to Vadra, with any search warrants. in shambles with successive The action was taken after a fi liates and its ideological men- two employees of Robert Vadra, they get when there is nothing? cryptic references to a London Vadra had earlier this week scams getting uncovered over high-level meeting was presided tor the Rashtriya Swayamsewak brother-in-law of Congress They are taking me to ED offi ce property. But Vadra’s lawyers alleged that the corruption the last 54 months and zero ac- over by the Director General of Sangh (RSS) even if they take president Rahul Gandhi, in con- for questioning.” later denied any “direct or indi- probe against him was the re- tion against fraudsters. Police (DGP) O P Singh, who had law into their own hands,” he nection with defence deals, of- According to the ED, the rect” link with the property. sult of a political witch-hunt “Instead, the only tool which handed over the report to Chief added. fi cials said. suspects are linked to the The ED’s move came after aimed at “besmirching his dig- is being employed by the Modi Minister Yogi Adityanath on his The state government is under An ED team raided at the res- firms of Vadra and are alleged Vadra was summoned a second nity and reputation”. The Con- government to hide its massive arrival from New Delhi. attack for its failure to arrest Raj, idence of the Congress worker to have received commissions time by the agency for ques- gress, meanwhile, termed the failures are mudslinging, muck- Adityanath, though, has al- a leader of the the Bajrang Dal. and Vadra’s close aide Jagdish in defence deals. The agency tioning in connection with the ED searches as “blind vendetta” raking and hatchet jobs by the ready termed the Bulandshahr According to data analyt- Sharma in the morning and took refused to share the details of Bikaner land deal case. Vadra to settle political scores. dirty tricks department – the incident an “accident”. ics site India Spend, almost 80 him to its offi ce for questioning. the deals. was told to appear in person be- Addressing a press confer- Central Bureau of Investiga- He had earlier said the in- cases of cow-related violence Besides the Congress worker, Sources said the deals have fore the ED in the fi rst week of ence at the party headquar- tion or ED, to smear opposition cident was the result of a “big were reported between 2012 and the ED questioned Manoj Arora, links to a 2016 case registered December. ters in New Delhi, Congress leaders,” he said. conspiracy” but at a media event 2017. Ramesh Sharma and another under the Offi cial Secrets Act Vadra’s lawyer Suman Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi said the illegal raids in Delhi on Friday he said that Ninety-seven percent of these man, whose identity was not when offi cials of the Income Tax Khaitan called the ED’s action Manu Singhvi said: “Facing was another episode of these the incident was actually an ac- occurred after the Bharatiya disclosed. The ED had on Fri- department searched defence a “foul play” while the agency a complete rout in assembly “concerted conspiracies, blind cident. Janata Party came to power in day also questioned the three consultant Sanjay Bhandari’s offi cials claimed they have elections in the five states, the vendetta acts and web of lies” to “No mob lynching happened 2014. men and raided their houses in house in New Delhi. During the “evidence” that those being Modi government is back to its target the Congress.

13 killed in bus crash Both Congress, BJP No GST on sale of fl ats with sure of poll victory Exit polls have given a clear edge to the Congress in the Rajasthan assembly election, completion certifi cate: govt but the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says it is confident of retaining power in the state. IANS thority,” the Ministry of Finance builder or developer in most cas- Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje New Delhi said in a statement. es will not be required to pay GST told reporters yesterday: “The The GST is applicable on in cash as the builder would have BJP shall form its government the sale of under-construction enough ITC (input tax credit) in in the state and no party he government yesterday properties or ready-to-move-in his account books to pay the out- worker should be worried on said that people will not fl ats where completion certifi - put GST,” the statement said. this count.” Federal minister Thave to pay Goods and cates have not been issued at the For projects other than in the Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Services Tax (GST) if they buy time of sale, the statement said. aff ordable segment, the govern- who is also a convener of the fully constructed properties af- The ministry also said that ment said it is expected that the BJP’s Election Management ter the issue of completion cer- housing projects in the aff ordable cost of the complex/buildings/ Committee in the state, was tifi cates. segment such as Jawaharlal Ne- fl ats would not have gone up due equally confident. However, “It is brought to the notice of hru National Urban Renewal Mis- to implementation of GST. former chief minister Ashok buyers of constructed property sion, Rajiv Awas Yojana, Pradhan “Builders are also required to Gehlot said he was sure the that there is no GST on sale of Mantri Awas Yojana or any other pass on the benefi ts of lower tax People gather at the scene of an accident in which 13 people were killed when a bus fell into Congress would unseat the BJP complex/building and ready-to- housing scheme of state govern- burden to the buyers of property a gorge in the mountains of Poonch, some 200km of Srinagar, yesterday. The passenger bus by gaining a “complete majority. move-in fl ats where sale takes ments will attract GST of 8%. by way of reduced prices/instal- carrying 26 people fell 70m down a gorge, police said. The accident occurred as the bus was Another Congress veteran, place after issue of completion “For such projects, after off - ments, where the eff ective tax negotiating a sharp turn on a narrow road. Sachin Pilot, also felt his party certifi cate by the competent au- setting input tax credit, the rate has been down,” it said. was on the winning track. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, December 9, 2018 INDIA

POLITICS DEMONETISATION APOLOGY CRIME PUNISHMENT Anything can happen CIC seeks information on Sharad regrets remark Maharashtra man AIR employee found guilty in Goa, says Congress Rs2,000 and Rs500 notes on Vasundhara Raje kills son-in-law of sexual harassment

The Congress Party yesterday said “anything could The Central Information Commission (CIC) has Former Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Enraged after his daughter was severely beaten, a An All India Radio (AIR) off icial accused of happen” in politically sensitive Goa in the coming asked authorities to reveal how many Rs2,000 Yadav yesterday expressed regret for making man killed his son-in-law in a village in Maharashtra sexual harassment by nine women employees days, with former chief minister Digambar Kamat and Rs500 notes were printed daily after personal comments on Rajasthan Chief Minister yesterday, police said. According to an off icial has been demoted and his salary cut after he hinting that the coastal state could be heading demonetisation till November 30, 2016, an RTI Vasundhara Raje. “Yes, I have seen her statement. of the Kupwad MIDC Police Station, the incident was found guilty, the National Commission for for mid-term assembly elections, along with the activist said yesterday. Gurugram-based Right To I have family relations with her. If my words have occurred at around midnight when Geetanjali Women (NCW) said on Friday. “The disciplinary Lok Sabha polls in 2019. Kamat said the party was Information (RTI) activist Harinder Dhingra had hurt her, I express regret. I will also write a letter and her husband Dnyaneshwar Bamne had come authority accepted the recommendations also in the process of starting a state-wide drive sought the information about the number of notes to her expressing my regret,” Yadav told reporters from Basargi village to attend a carnival coinciding and the authority imposed a major penalty of to sign up members, seek donations, as well as printed daily from November 9, 2016 to November in Ranchi where he met jailed ailing Rashtriya with some religious festivities. Suddenly, a quarrel reduction to a lower pay scale,” the NCW said in create public awareness about the corruption 30, 2016. The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Sharad Yadav ensued between the couple, following which a statement. “After the expiration of one year, the and absence of governance in the state, due to earlier refused to share the information, Dhingra also condemned the killing of a police inspector Bamne started brutally assaulting Geetanjali. Her reduction period will have eff ects on subsequent infighting between the ruling coalition allies and told IANS. The second appeal was filed on August 16, and a civilian at Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh father Anna Shinde intervened, caught hold of increments,” the Commission added. Earlier on the prolonged illness of Chief Minister Manohar 2017. Dhingra said after a hearing on November 30, during violence blamed on cow vigilantes. Bamne, tied him to a pole and started kicking, November 9, Women and Child Development Parrikar, who is battling advanced pancreatic 2018, Information Commissioner Sudhir Bhargava “The Bulandshahr incident is very unfortunate. punching and assaulting him with a stick. Unable Minister Maneka Gandhi wrote to Information cancer. “Nobody knows what will happen in on December 5, 2018 issued an order to provide the A policeman being lynched by a mob is very to defend himself, Bamne collapsed and died, and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh the coming days. We are gearing up for the two information. The new notes were printed after the then unfortunate,” he said. “In the last four-and-a-half while Geetanjali was rushed to hospital in a critical Rathore to ensure that a “sensitive and fair by-elections, Lok Sabha elections and the state existing Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes were banned from years, not a single promise (made by the Bharatiya condition, the police off icial said. Shinde will be system” is put in place at the state-owned AIR to assembly polls,” Kamat said. the midnight of November 8, 2016. Janata Party) has been fulfilled,” he said. produced before a court for remand. address sexual harassment complaints. With new data, India to fi ght child labour in mica mines

Reuters that those working to free the of knowledge among traders and Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton poses with Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, and his wife Nita Ambani after New Delhi children were forced to approach the local community, that com- her arrival in Udaipur to attend pre-wedding celebrations of their daughter Isha Ambani. the job somewhat haphazardly. pounds the issue,” said Ribhu. “There was always a question Eight companies joined RMI government survey will mark on the extent of the prob- this year, bringing the total to 47, reveal for the fi rst time lem,” Ribhu said. according to executive director Athe extent of child labour Earlier this year, the children’s Fanny Fremont. in deadly mica mines in eastern commission and the Jharkhand Five of them are India-based VIPs arrive at pre-wedding India, and campaigners plan to government recruited teachers processing companies rather use the results to pressure com- and childcare workers to deter- than multinational buyers of panies to end the practice in mine how many children were out mica. their supply chains. of school and working in mines. The RMI is “seeking a more A Thomson Reuters Founda- “This data will help to create strong and active support from bash for Ambani’s daughter tion investigation in 2016 found a pathway and an action plan to automotive and electronics (big- children dying in crumbling, il- eliminate child labour in actual gest purchaser of mica in 2015 at Agencies and have met several times both in Udaipur are Aamir Khan The pre-wedding bash is legal mines for the mineral that terms,” said Priyank Kanoongo, 26%) industries, which are the Udaipur in India and abroad, according and wife Kiran Rao; Abhishek to be followed by mehndi and puts the sparkle in make-up and head of the commission. most signifi cant users of mica,” to media reports. Bachchan with mother Jaya, sangeet ceremonies that are car paint - but their deaths were Campaigners say the survey she said by e-mail. Then president Bill Clinton wife Aishwarya and daughter also expected to take place in covered up. results will provide evidence of While cosmetics fi rms such ozens of chartered held meetings in India with the Aaradhya; Karan Johar; Salman Udaipur. Now, the National Commis- child labour, which should put as Estee Lauder, L’Oréal and planes carrying celebri- Ambanis, including deceased Khan; Parineeti Chopra; Anil The couple’s sangeet cere- sion for Protection of Child pressure on multinational cor- Chanel are RMI members, the Dties, including former founder and Mukesh’s father Kapoor and wife Sunita; Boney mony would have performances Rights has completed a survey porations that source mica from organisation has no automotive US secretary of state Hillary Dhirubhai Ambani, just before Kapoor with daughters Janhvi of Priyanka Chopra, Shah Rukh of children working in mines India to clean up their supply brands and only one - Philips - Clinton, fl ew into a sleepy air- and after he left the presidency and Khushi; Siddharth Roy Ka- Khan, and A R Rahman among throughout Jharkhand and parts chains. from the electronics industry, port in Rajasthan for the lavish in 2000-2001. pur with wife Vidya Balan; John others, according to reports. of Bihar states, although offi cials The revelation in 2016 that Fremont said. pre-wedding festivities for the In March this year, when Abraham with wife Priya Run- On Friday, the families start- said the results are not ready to children were dying prompted India is one of the world’s daughter of India’s richest man. Hillary Clinton visited India chal; Ronnie Screwvala with ed the pre-wedding functions be made public. some companies to pledge ac- largest producers of the silver- Isha Ambani, 27, daughter of to deliver a keynote speech at wife Zarine; Karisma Kapoor; with a special four-day ‘Anna “Admitting an issue is the fi rst tion to end the practice. coloured mineral found in a list Reliance Industries chairman a conference in Mumbai, she Varun Dhawan; Karan Tacker Seva’ to feed 5,100 people, a step toward tackling it,” said But children are still working of consumer goods from make- Mukesh Ambani, will marry dined with the Ambanis at their and designer Tamara Ralph majority with special abilities, Bhuwan Ribhu of the Kailash and dying, according to KSCF, up and car paint, to electronics Anand Piramal, 33, in the fi - 27-fl oor Antilia residence - one from Ralph and Russo. in Udaipur. Satyarthi Children’s Foundation which documented two deaths and construction materials. nancial capital of Mumbai next of the world’s most expensive Former head of advertising These people will be served (KSCF), which has partnered this year. Once boasting over 700 mines Wednesday, but the celebra- homes, according to local me- giant WPP, Martin Sorrell, BP food three times daily until with the Jharkhand state gov- Campaigners say deaths are with over 20,000 workers, the tions began this weekend in the dia. Group CEO Bob Dudley, Huff - tomorrow as part of the other ernment to end child labour in probably even more numerous industry was hit by a 1980 legis- desert city of Udaipur, with Many other top industrial- ington Post founder Arianna wedding related ceremonies. mines. as bodies are often not recov- lation to limit deforestation and feasts, singing and dancing, and ists, politicians, sports and Huffi ngton, 21st Century Fox A specially curated exhibi- “Multinationals are aware of ered from the rubble, or they are the discovery of substitutes for other pre-wedding rituals. Bollywood stars descended in CEO James Murdoch and Saudi tion called ‘Swadesh Bazaar’ child labour in mica mines, but quickly cremated by mine opera- natural mica, forcing most mines Security was beefed up as the Udaipur yesterday to join what Energy Minister Khalid Al-Fal- has also been set up to showcase once this data is out, we will tors. to close due to cost and stringent high-profi le guests started ar- has been dubbed locally “the ih are also invited. 108 traditional Indian crafts push the companies to act,” he Much hope lies with the Paris- environmental rules. riving at Udaipur’s airport, said big, fat Indian wedding.” Guests for the celebrations, and arts from all parts of India. added. based Responsible Mica Initia- But renewed interest in mica, a source at the scene, who asked Steel magnate Lakshmi Mit- which will bring together two Many in India have closely His charity has rescued nearly tive (RMI), which was set up in spurred by China’s economic not to be identifi ed. tal, Maharashtra Chief Minis- of India’s most infl uential fami- followed the preparations, in- 3,400 children from the mines 2016 to eliminate child labour boom and a global craze for “nat- Outside, they were awaited ter Devendra Fadnavis, cricket lies, have access to an app map- cluding the Ivy League-grad- since 2005 and placed them in and improve working conditions ural” cosmetics, saw illegal opera- by luxury sedans driven by legend Sachin Tendulkar and ping out the activities, which uate couple’s engagement at schools. in Indian mica mines within fi ve tors scurry to abandoned mines, chauff ers wearing white uni- newly-weds, actress Priyanka include a private concert by the luxury Villa D’Este hotel on It estimated in 2016 that years. creating a lucrative black market. forms and colourful Rajasthani Chopra and singer Nick Jonas Beyonce. Italy’s Lake Como, attended by 20,000 children were work- But campaigners say progress In one of the poorest regions turbans. were among the guests joining The celebrations are being more than 600 guests, and fea- ing in the mica mining regions has been slow, with too few cor- of India, children as young as The Clintons and the Am- the bash. held at two venues in Udaipur turing a private performance by of Jharkhand and neighbouring porations signing on. fi ve are part of an opaque supply banis have an association that Among the other Bolly- - Oberoi Udaivilas and City singer John Legend. Bihar. “It is an unwillingness on the chain, their small hands ideal to goes back more than 18 years wood stars who have arrived Palace. But inadequate data meant part of the corporates and lack pick and sort the valued mineral.

Politician, TV actress held for Lifetime achievement diamond trader’s murder award for Tharoor IANS nonfi ction. He’s also one of the New Delhi most recognised writers from IANS Udani, 57, had been reported Police investigations and India, among the global diaspo- Mumbai missing by his family from his call data records have revealed ra, holding his own against the offi ce from November 28. The that Udani was a regular cus- he Crossword Book Award best. His contribution to mak- police had registered a missing tomer at some bars and in announced yesterday that ing ‘Indian writing in English’, a n a shocking development, a case and launched a search for touch with several women, Tits jury has unanimously global force is acknowledged by politician has been arrested him. His mobile was tracked in including from the glamour nominated Shashi Tharoor, who all,” said Maulik Desai, head of Iand a prominent model and Rabale, Navi Mumbai, before it and entertainment industry, is at the peak of his literary ca- Crossword Bookstores. television actress interrogated lost signal. through Pawar, a former aide reer and is easily among the most Tharoor is a bestselling au- and detained by police following After nearly a week, on De- to Maharashtra minister Pra- read and debated authors in con- thor of 18 books and has a proven the mysterious murder of a dia- cember 4, since he remained kash Mehta. temporary India, for the Lifetime track-record of producing liter- mond businessman in Mumbai, untraced and the family sus- Mehta on Friday said that Pa- Achievement Award for his stel- ary works, both in fi ction and offi cials said yesterday. pected something amiss, the war was with him from 2004 to lar contribution to literature. non-fi ction, that have lasting rel- The politician, Sachin Pawar, police registered a kidnapping 2009, but had severed links with Crossword Book Award intro- evance. But his literary ventures was said to be closely acquainted case. him. duced the award in 2016, which began long before the publication with the victim Rajeshwar Uda- His driver told the police that He claimed that Pawar was was conferred upon author of Reasons of State as Tharoor’s ni. Pawar was earlier with the Udani asked him to be dropped sacked from the BJP after he Ruskin Bond by Gulzar. In 2017, extraordinary talent and ability of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). near the Pant Nagar market contested a municipal election Sudha Murty was conferred the toying with words found utter- Earlier, actress Debolina where another car came to pick as an independent. award by leading cardiac surgeon ance at a relatively younger age. Bhattacharya was grilled for sev- him up. Police have questioned at least Dr Ramakanta Panda. His fi rst publication, a short eral hours by police in Ghatko- His highly decomposed body, 25 people and are on the look- Crossword, in the past, has story, came at the age of 10 in par three days after the body of without any apparent injuries, out for the car which picked up also awarded stalwarts such as Bharat Jyoti, a Sunday sup- missing Udani was recovered in was found late on December the victim on the night he went Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth, plement in Free Press Journal the forests of adjoining Raigad 5. He was identifi ed by his son missing. Amitav Ghosh and Kiran Desai, newspaper. While he was still at district. from the clothes and shoes he Dancer-model Bhattach- raising the bar for its esteem and school, the writer-in-making However, offi cials remain was wearing. arya, 28, is also an award- reverence. had already been accustomed tight-lipped over her role in the Investigators suspect Udani’s winning actress seen in sev- “Through his expressive writ- to seeing his name in print as case but hinted that some more kidnappers may have killed him eral TV serials - notably as ing, Dr Shashi Tharoor has ex- his contributions in the form women from the entertainment at some other location before Gopi Bahu in the popular plored the diversity of culture of short stories and essays ap- industry may be summoned for dumping the body in the Panvel Saath Nibhana Sathiya be- in India. Notably, he has pro- peared in leading Indian news- questioning. forests. sides reality shows. Tharoor: expressive writing duced both works of fi ction and papers and magazines. Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 23 LATIN AMERICA

Cuba president says policy changes address people’s concerns

Reuters of new restrictions on free en- backs nor to confuse them with government for making such big of Havana’s centuries-old port. toric legitimacy of Castro, Until now, that change in style Havana terprise and promised to revise weakness when one is listen- changes so late. “It’s a relief.” who fought alongside his older had not translated into substan- regulations accompanying a law ing to the people,” Diaz-Canel, Some restaurants had already On Thursday, the government brother Fidel Castro for the tive policy changes, nor had he on the cultural sector to address who succeeded Raul Castro in shrunk capacity and fi red staff , also said it was consulting with 1959 revolution. openly met with private entre- uban President Miguel artists’ concerns. April, tweeted. “None of us can while many entrepreneurs had artists on regulations on cultural He took power as the ailing preneurs or more critical actors Diaz-Canel said his gov- The changes to policies pub- do as much as we all can to- divested licenses or started the activities to ease fears about in- economy faced dwindling aid of civil society. Cernment’s last-minute lished in July came the same gether.” lengthy bureaucratic process of creased censorship. from key ally Venezuela and a “Hopefully this is the start changes to policies that went week as Cuba fi nally launched The government said on transferring them to others. Ted Henken, a professor of tighter US trade embargo. of a change of course,” Ricardo into eff ect on Friday following mobile Internet, a long-await- Wednesday it was lifting a cap of Overall they welcomed the black and Latino studies at To date, Diaz-Canel has ap- Torres, an economist at a Cuban widespread criticism showed it ed service that many had been 50 seats for private restaurants move. Baruch College in New York, peared to seek legitimacy state-run think tank, wrote in a listens to the people and were sceptical would ever arrive in and a ban on Cubans holding “I think it’s the fi rst time said Cuba’s unusual volte-face through greater public interac- public post on Facebook, “where not a setback. one of the world’s least connect- more than one business licence. they’ve really listened to the suggested it was becoming more tion with Cuban citizens, com- the rights and interests of the is- The Communist government ed countries. Private sector workers, who private sector,” said Mickey Mo- open to feedback or less able to panies and institutions than his land’s inhabitants are adequately this week watered down the “There is no reason to be- make up around 13% of the is- rales, the owner of a 150-seat withstand growing discontent. reclusive predecessor, analysts taken into account in the politics most heavily criticised elements lieve the rectifications are set- land’s labour force, criticised the restaurant with panoramic views Diaz-Canel lacks the his- say. of the Cuban state.” Peru calls on region to sever Venezuela ties

Reuters Maduro has accused the Lima border area in recent months, Lima/Sao Paulo Group of being part of a U.S.-led seeking refuge from poverty international conspiracy to top- and hunger in the neighbouring ple him and take control of Ven- country. eru wants about a dozen ezuela’s oil resources. The thousands of refugees are countries in the region to Venezuela’s embassy in Peru straining public services and the Pbreak diplomatic relations did not immediately respond to state’s fi nances. with Venezuela in the hope of requests for comment outside On Thursday, police offi cers Workers paint the border wall between Mexico and US in Tijuana, Mexico, on Friday. pressuring President Nicolas regular business hours. and agents in Roraima’s prisons Maduro and bringing down his Popolizio reiterated that Peru called for a strike protesting de- government, Peru’s foreign min- and the Lima Group was op- lays in salary payments. ister said on Friday. posed to military intervention to “The situation in Roraima is The measure would be the remove Maduro. becoming worse. We have tried sharpest rebuke of Maduro so far Peru will propose cutting ways to rescue the state with re- Many US-bound caravan migrants from the so-called Lima Group diplomatic ties with Caracas in sources, but couldn’t fi nd a legal since it was formed in August upcoming Lima Group meet- way to do so,” President Temer 2017 to push for democratic re- ings, including a foreign min- told journalists after the meet- forms in Venezuela. isters’ meeting in January and a ing with the governor and other disperse as asylum process stalls Members include Canada, lower-level gathering will take government offi cials. Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Co- place this month, Popolizio “That’s why I told the gov- lombia, Chile and Paraguay. said. ernor that one way to solve the Reuters co’s civil protection agency David vowed to issue more work vi- problems with this system. Peru might not be able to get Meanwhile, Brazil’s President problems for now, particularly Tijuana, Mexico Leon told local media. sas and on Friday pledged to do For instance, they have said, all 14 Lima Group nations on Michel Temer said on Friday he the salary situation, would be A further 1,000 have accept- more to improve conditions at some people on the list could board with its proposal. had reached an agreement with the federal intervention,” Temer ed voluntary deportation, he the Barretal shelter. be Mexicans fl eeing the federal But Peruvian Foreign Min- Roraima state Governor Suely said. housands of Central said, while others are living on His government is in talks government. ister Nestor Popolizio said it Campos for a federal “interven- According to local TV broad- American migrants spent the street outside the municipal with Washington about an im- Some migrants expressed might help embolden the op- tion” in the state that borders caster Globo, Governor-elect Tweeks travelling north sports centre where they fi rst migration plan, including a US distrust of the list. position. Venezuela. Antonio Denarium, who is from through Mexico in caravans, arrived, or in smaller shelters. proposal to make asylum Honduran Anabell Pineda, “What we aspire is for there to Temer said via Twitter that the same party of President- walking and hitching rides The director of the Barretal seekers stay in Mexico until 26, said she thought the proc- be important international pres- he and the governor came to the elect Jair Bolsonaro, the PSL, when possible, only for many camp, Mario Medina, said he their claim is decided, a process ess was not for her as she left sure to prompt the mobilisation conclusion that a negotiated in- would be named by Temer to to give up hope and turn back expected hundreds more to ar- that can take years. behind a daughter in Honduras. of the opposition to establish a tervention would be the best so- lead the intervention, which when they met resistance at the rive within days. Some believe that would de- “They say, though I don’t transition mechanism and end lution to “pacify” the situation would end on Dec 31. US border. US President Donald Trump ter people from seeking refuge. know, that asylum is for people Maduro’s regime,” Popolizio told in Roraima. Denarium, and all other gov- Others hopped the border has sought to make it harder to Despite the wait, more peo- that don’t want to go back to a news conference with interna- Waves of Venezuelan mi- ernors, as well as Bolsonaro, take fence, often directly into the get asylum, but a federal court ple are adding their names to their country, and I do want to tional media. grants have been entering the offi ce on Jan 1. hands of immigration authori- last month placed a temporary the semi-formal asylum list. go back,” she said. ties on the US side, while still restraining order on his policy Created a couple of years Pineda, travelling with her others dug in at temporary that only permitted asylum ago around the time an infl ux son, said that once she gets her lodgings in Tijuana for the long claims made at offi cial ports of of Haitians arrived in Tijuana paperwork, she plans fi nd a job process of seeking asylum from entry. seeking to enter the United in Mexico City. a reluctant US government. Under former President States, it has been challenged in Pineda has applied for a hu- As rain poured down on a Barack Obama a system dubbed a US lawsuit that claims it de- manitarian visa that will get her Former Colombian president former music venue in Tijuana “metering” began, which limits liberately delays asylum seek- a work permit in Mexico, a bet- that holds a diminished crowd how many can ask for asylum ers. ter bet than trying to get to the of 2,500 migrants, Jessica, 18, each day in Tijuana. Migrants put their names in United States, she said. Belisario Betancur dies at 95 grabbed her feverish one-year- Lawyers say Trump is using a black-and-white ledger, con- “It’s really difficult to old daughter and took her in- the system more aggressively trolled by around eight migrant cross, because of what hap- side to a friend while she fi gured to stem the fl ow at the port of volunteers. pened last time. I don’t want AFP message on Twitter. from public fi gures. out what to do with her broken entry. Those on the list are given a to put my children in danger,” Bogota “His legacy in politics, in our The conservative Betan- tent. A US Customs and Border number and must wait months she said, referring to distur- history, in our culture, is an ex- cur was president when leftist Jessica had travelled from El Protection (CBP) spokeswom- to pass through for an inter- bances in which US officials ample for all future generations.” M-19 guerrillas seized control Salvador, and said she and her an said the agency works with view. launched tear gas at migrants ormer Colombian presi- Betancur was being treated in of Bogota’s Palace of Justice in husband were waiting in the Mexico and charities to manage The list contains thousands last month. dent Belisario Betancur, a Bogota clinic for a kidney con- November 1985 — a dramatic Barretal camp for the right mo- the fl ow, but denied that peo- of names from around the At a jobs fair set up by the Fwho steered his country dition. foretaste of the violence that was ment to try to cross the border ple were being prevented from world. federal Labour Ministry, coor- through one of its most turbu- The Santa Fe Foundation clin- to mark Colombia over the next illegally. making asylum claims. Each day, CBP offi cials com- dinator Nayla Rangel said more lent periods in the 1980s, died ic said in a statement that the ex- decades. “Getting asylum is really dif- Mexico’s National Immigra- municate with Mexican immi- than 3,000 migrants, mainly on Friday aged 95, doctors an- president passed away at 2:32pm He was the fi rst president to fi cult,” she said. “They ask you tion Institute, which did not re- gration offi cials who then tell from the caravan, had job inter- nounced. (2032 GMT). summon the rebel groups that for a lot of evidence and it’s im- spond to requests for comment, the migrants how many can go views. President Ivan Duque led trib- Marta Lucia Ramirez, the emerged in the 1960s to a dia- possible. has said in the past it protects through, according to volun- Rangel said there were more utes for the former conservative country’s vice president, had logue with the government, as- It’s not like they say it is.” migrants rights, while respect- teers, who spoke on the condi- than 10,000 jobs open in the leader, who was president of the prematurely announced Betan- suring them he would work to Other migrants face the same ing other countries’ immigra- tion of anonymity. state of Baja California, with South American country from cur’s death in a tweet the day achieve peace. dilemma. tion policies. They said between 40 and salaries around 1500 pesos 1982 to 1986. before. The main rebel group, the Of 6,000 who arrived in Ti- Looking after the large 100 per day are usually sent. ($74) per week. “I deeply regret the death of She corrected the mistake Farc, fi nally signed a peace juana in the caravans last month, groups of Central Americans is At the end of each day, Mexi- For many migrants hoping to a great friend, a great Colom- within minutes, but not before it agreement with the liberal gov- 1,000 have scrambled over bor- a challenge for Mexico. can immigration offi cials guard send money to families in Cen- bian, former president Belisa- was picked up by national media, ernment of Juan Manuel Santos der fences, and most of those New President Andres the ledger. tral America, that likely would rio Betancur,” Duque wrote in a leading to a fl ood of reactions more than 30 years later, in 2016. were detained, the head of Mexi- Manuel Lopez Obrador has Lawyers have cited multiple not be enough. Brazil denies Total licence to drill near Amazon mouth

AFP “extreme environmental peril” in blocks near the mouth of the Ama- barrels of oil a day, according to the Brasília recommending against the grant- zon. US Energy Information Administra- ing of the drilling license earlier this But they had yet to win permission tion. year, saying that: “the only way to to search. Petrobras has seen sharply higher razil’s environmental regula- guarantee avoiding environmental Petrobras is the jewel in Brazil’s profi ts this year: $2.7bn in the sec- tor on Friday denied French oil damage to the area is to deny the li- crown: Latin America’s most valu- ond quarter, stronger than expected. Bgiant Total a licence to drill for cence.” able enterprise, a $100-billion oil Brazil, Latin America’s most pop- crude in fi ve blocks near the mouth Environmental campaigners and gas group whose crude output ulous country with 208mn inhabit- of the Amazon river. Greenpeace meanwhile warned that puts the country in the top 10 league ants, suff ered its worst-ever reces- Regulatory agency Ibama said the a previously discovered coral reef globally, rivalling that of many Opec sion between 2014 and 2016. licence was denied “due to a set of had been found to extend right into members. Last year it returned to growth, technical problems” identifi ed dur- where Total plans to drill. Yet it is also the most indebted oil but only timidly. ing the application process. The fi nding, made during a re- company in the world. The number of people living in It explained that the decision was search expedition, invalidated To- And it is at the heart of the biggest poverty in Brazil grew by 2mn last based “on the deep uncertainties” tal’s environmental impact assess- corruption scandal to rock Brazil: a year. detected in an emergency plan pre- ment, which was based on the reefs graft probe that has claimed numer- Unemployment rose from 6.9% to sented, “aggravated by the possibil- being located at least fi ve miles (eight ous political scalps, not least that of 12.5% between 2014 and 2016. ity of an oil spill that may aff ect the kilometres) from drilling, Green- former leftist president Luiz Inacio The latest fi gures, dating from Oc- In this file photo taken on September 22, 2018 a Greenpeace activist stands in a fountain coral reef present in the region and peace said. Lula da Silva. tober this year, show it has declined with a sign which reads “ Defend the Amazon reef “during a protest in Nantes, western by extension marine biodiversity.” In 2013, Total joined BP and Bra- Today, Brazil has proven reserves to 11.7%, government data show. France, against the drilling of oils wells by the French company Total in the Amazon Reef. A Brazilian prosecutor warned of zil’s Petrobras to buy the exploration of 13bn barrels and produces 2.5mn Gulf Times 24 Sunday, December 9, 2018 PAKISTAN

Top judge planning Bahria Town workers a visit to Thar

Internews stage highway protest Islamabad Lights go off in Bahria Town It is feared that more than are part of the protests, as are sale and purchase of property in to the fi nancial crisis faced by ing the Supreme Court decision, Karachi as financial crisis 45,000 employees of Bahria family members of overseas Pa- Bahria Town Karachi. the real estate developer. leading to all its projects being hief Justice of Pakistan deepens Town, a private housing soci- kistanis who have invested in the In May this year, the apex More than 55 industries con- suspended. Saqib Nisar has an- ety, may face delays in receiving development. court barred Bahria Town from nected with the construction Many overseas Pakistanis Cnounced that he will visit Internews their salaries. The protesters have appealed selling or allotting land in the sector, including cement, brick, have invested in Bahria Town Thar on Wednesday (December Karachi Contractors are also not get- to Chief Justice of Pakistan Sa- Bahria Town Karachi project, as tiles and wood factories, are real estate, amounting to ap- 12), and directed the Sindh gov- ting paid, and various contracts qib Nisar and Prime Minister it struck down the shady allot- closing down. proximately $20bn. ernment to make the necessary worth millions of rupees have Imran Khan to resolve the issue. ment of land to the company by Millions of labourers em- Around 165,000 members of arrangements. raffi c was blocked on the been cancelled. Bahria Town employees and the Sindh government through ployed in these factories may the Bahria Town fear losing their A bench headed by Nisar and “superhighway” between Traffi c has been blocked on contractors also staged a rally the Malir Development Author- lose their jobs. life-long savings. comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan TKarachi-Hyderabad as both sides of the superhighway in Tauheed Commercial area in ity (MDA). The developer’s promise of In addition, millions of peo- heard a suo motu notice over Bahria Town staff and contrac- due to the protests. Defence. In a 2-1 verdict, the bench creating 100,000 jobs may also ple who receive free meals from child deaths due to malnutrition tors staged protests yesterday The protesters have also Bahria Town, a privately- hearing the case directed the not be realised. the dastarkhwans operated by in Thar. over non-payment of dues. blocked the link road to the Na- owned real estate development National Accountability Bureau All restoration and develop- Bahria Town. As the hearing was under way, They ended the protest after tional Highway from Kathore, company which operates across to fi le references against those ment work has come to a halt. Thousands of people who the chief justice said: “I am go- six hours following negotiations Gadap. the country, is facing a severe fi - responsible for legal violations. For work to continue, Bahria cannot aff ord expensive medical ing to Thar on December 12. The with police and provincial au- Bahria Town residents, con- nancial crisis after the Supreme On Friday night lights at Town desperately needs funds, treatment also receive free care Sindh government should make thorities. tractors, builders and employees Court’s verdict regarding the Bahria Town were turned off due which have been stalled follow- at Bahria International Hospital. arrangements.” “Newborn children are dying in Thar and there are also issues pertaining to the supply and dis- tribution of water over there. I All in a day’s work don’t want to tour only the good 95% of vital election areas, but also ones where pov- erty and issues are prevalent,” the top judge remarked. forms not signed by The Sindh advocate general then informed the court that during the last hearing, the court polling agents: Fafen had sought a report from the sessions judge. “Food has been distributed to Internews requirement, which was also those aff ected,” the Sindh advo- Islamabad part of the previous Repre- cate general said. sentation of Peoples Act 1976 The chief justice said: “I will (Section 38, Subsection 13), see this matter myself when I go he fi rst-ever compre- Fafen documented the scale of there on December 12. It will be hensive audit of Form- enforcement of the provision. better to hear the case then.” T45 has revealed that 95% The network says that the Further during the hearing, of the total 78,467 such forms, consistent weak enforcement member of the National As- tabulating results of the count of this provision points to the sembly (MNA) Ramesh Kumar prepared for the elections in need for parliamentary ac- Vankwani said: “The prime min- 249 constituencies of the Na- tion for legislative amendment ister’s housing scheme should be tional Assembly (NA), had to ensure that this procedure brought to Thar.” not been signed by the polling is implemented in letter and “There are no doctors in Mithi agents of political parties and spirit to bolster political par- for mothers or children, and candidates. ties and public confi dence in there is also a need for vets in The audit carried out by the election results. Thar,” the lawmaker asserted. Free and Fair Election Network When contacted, senior The court then asked court (Fafen), a group of non-gov- Fafen representative Mudassir adviser Faisal Siddiqui to com- ernmental organisations work- Rizvi said that the implemen- ment on the Sindh government’s ing to reform electoral proc- tation of Section 90 (12) of the appeal. esses, also disclosed that in as Elections Act was nearly im- Following this, Siddiqui said: many as 48 NA constituencies, possible for the simple reason “An eff ective system for ac- not even a single form had been that this legal provision was countability and overview is signed by the polling agents. subject to the presence of poll- needed in Thar, and thus a ju- The number could be higher ing agents at the time of fi nali- dicial commission should be when data of the remaining 23 sation of Form-45 at a polling formed.” constituencies is available. station. He continued: “There is a big The elections were held in “In case a political party issue of bank loans in Thar, and 270 of the 272 NA constituen- contends that its polling agent people are committing suicide cies, while the Election Com- was not asked by the presid- because of their debts.” mission of Pakistan (ECP) ing offi cer of a certain polling Chief Justice Nisar then stat- uploaded the data of 249 con- station to sign Form-45, it will ed: “I am going to Karachi from stituencies on its offi cial web- have to prove the charge in an December 11 to 12, we will make site. election tribunal by providing a commission under the chair- According to Fafen, the pro- adequate evidence admissible A technician works on porcelain insulators on a power transmission tower in Karachi. manship of a retired Supreme portion of un-signed Forms-45 under Pakistan’s law of evi- Court judge.” was as high as 98% in Balu- dence. chistan, where only 49 of the “In case of general election 2,437 such forms had been 2018, political parties will have signed by the polling agents. to individually prove more than It stood at 97% in Sindh, 70,000 such instances in elec- where only 573 of the 17,493 tion tribunals, which is impos- ‘#MeToo takes gender equality fi ght to new heights’ forms bore signatures of the sible. This is because the law polling agents. itself is weak,” he remarked. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, A senior ECP offi cial, when AFP “It’s moving from the time 634 of the 13,790 forms had contacted, rejected Fafen’s Islamabad when the word ‘consent’ did not been signed, which means 95% claim that 95% of Form-45 did even exist as a legal trend, when were unsigned. not bear signatures of the poll- domestic violence was not even The proportion of unsigned ing agents, and said the com- he global #MeToo cam- a crime, when sexual harassment forms was 94% in Punjab, mission would shortly release paign has taken the bat- did not even have a face,” Mlam- where 2,705 of the 43,971 forms its own “authentic data”. Ttle for women’s rights to bo-Ngcuka said. “The struggles had been signed. He said that Fafen’s data was “where we have never been be- of women who have fought for The situation was compara- based merely on the fi rst page fore”, the head of the UN’s agency decades and decades have made tively better in the federal capi- of Form-45, whereas more for gender equality told AFP dur- this possible and Me Too has tal where 195 (25%) of the 786 than one form had been used at ing her fi rst offi cial visit to Paki- been able to take this to the high- forms had been signed. various polling stations. stan on Friday. est stage.” Overall, 4,156 out of the He said a second form had “The challenge for you and But, she warned, “we are not 78,467 forms had been signed to be used where the number me now is to keep it going,” Dr there yet, the pendulum might by the polling agents. of candidates was more than Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, ex- still swing backward, so that’s Under Section 90 (12) of the eight and another form if the ecutive director of UN Women, why we have to work even hard- Elections Act 2017, the presid- number exceeded 16. said, calling the movement a er”. ing offi cer at each polling sta- Moreover, in many cases “stage in the ongoing journey to The UN is promoting the tion is duty-bound to obtain polling agents had affi xed sig- fi ght for gender equality”. hashtag #HearMeToo as a part of on Form-45 and Form-46 the natures on back of the forms Mlambo-Ngcuka was visiting that push, to give voice to women signatures of polling agents which had not been uploaded Pakistan as part of her travels to far away from Hollywood or po- who are present at the time of on the ECP website, he added. mark the United Nations’ 16 Days sitions of power, in rural areas in- fi nalisation of election results The offi cial said that another of Activism against Gender- cluding in Pakistan, she said. at the polling station. problem was that candidates Based Violence, which ends to- Though Pakistan has seen In case of refusal by any had engaged inexperienced morrow (December 10). some high-profi le #MeToo cas- polling agent to sign the form, polling agents who were in The #MeToo movement began es, the campaign has not had the the Presiding Offi cers are duty- many cases “hired” for their in the United States more than a same impact as in other coun- bound to record a note on the daylong services. year ago in response to accusa- tries, and women continue to respective forms. Pakistan Peoples Party elec- tions of sexual abuse and harass- struggle for their rights. Although a legal require- tion cell chief, former senator ment by powerful men in the en- Prime Minister Imran Khan Mlambo-Ngcuka poses for a ‘we-fie’ with guests after a dialogue on harassment faced by women with ment, neither Form-45 nor Taj Haider, said the Fafen data tertainment industry and other caused controversy during his disabilities in Pakistan, during her visit to Islamabad on Friday. Form-46 has any specifi c sec- fully vindicated the party’s be- sectors. election campaign this summer tion for the signature of polling lief that not getting Form-45 It soon became a global move- for saying that feminism has de- trate on what Khan and his ad- access to family planning. of the things that they have been agents. signed by polling agents is a ment as women shared their graded motherhood. ministration are doing: seeking “I want to encourage the gov- talking about,” she said. “We are Notwithstanding the opera- violation of Section 90(12) of stories of harassment or gender- However Mlambo-Ngcuka to take on child marriage, “hon- ernment under the leadership of working with them, hand-in- tional weaknesses of the legal the Elections Act. based discrimination. said that she wanted to concen- our” murders, and giving women this prime minister to do more hand.”

Alvi admits paying Rs50,000 bribe Five ambassadors leave Special coin for anti-graft day President House opens to public

President Dr Arif Alvi has made a startling confession, Five ambassadors appointed during the Pakistan Muslim The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has said that it will issue a The President House in Islamabad opened its door to the revealing that he had to pay a Rs50,000 bribe to have an League – Nawaz (PML-N)’s tenure left charge of their posts commemorative coin of Rs50 from tomorrow (December 10), general public yesterday, from 9am to 4pm. analog telephone installed in the 1970s. yesterday. to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day. Visitors could enter the Aiwan-e-Sadr by showing their “When I became a dentist, I got a telephone installed. You The diplomats had been given the deadline of December 7 On October 31, 2003, the United Nations General Assembly National Identity Card at the entrance. will be astonished to hear that in those days, this was in (Friday). adopted the convention against corruption and designated On September 30 the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor the 1970s, Rs50,000 went in as a bribe for the telephone According to sources, Pakistani high commissioner in Canada December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day to raise House opened its doors for the public. installation,” Alvi told the audience at a ceremony in Islamabad Tariq Azeem Khan and Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia public awareness. Earlier, the Punjab Governor House Punjab and the Governor in connection with National Voters Day. Khan Husham bin Siddique have left charge of their missions. The government has now authorised the SBP to issue the House in Murree were opened to the public after receiving Speaking at the ceremony, the president emphasised on the Further, ambassadors in Morocco, Cuba, and Serbia have Rs50 commemorative coin, which will be available through Prime Minister Imran Khan’s directives on the matter. need to promote the use of e-voting to ensure transparency in handed over charge of their missions to their second-in- exchange counters of all the field off ices of the SBP Banking On September 7, the Sindh Governor House opened its door elections. command. Services Corporation from December 10. for citizens. Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 25 PHILIPPINES Duterte wants martial law for another year in Mindanao

By Catherine S Valente law in Mindanao,” Executive law) extension,” he said. Manila Times Secretary Salvador Medialdea The AFP had recommended told Manila Times. to the president the extension Defence Secretary Delfi n of martial law in Mindanao for resident Rodrigo Duterte Lorenzana confi rmed that Du- another year, citing persisting has requested Congress terte supported the military and threats of terrorism despite one Pto extend for another year police’s recommendation on the year of implementation of mili- Supporters of Filipino actor and former Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr hold signs with his image ahead of the verdict on his plunder case the declaration of martial law in martial law extension. tary rule. at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in Quezon City, east of Manila. Mindanao, heeding the recom- “Yes, the CPNP (chief of the The House of Representa- mendation of the police and the Philippine National Police) and tives and the Senate are ex- military. CSAFP (chief of staff of the pected to hold a joint session “The president has sent a let- Armed Forces of the Philip- next week to discuss Duterte’s ter request to both Houses for a pines) have submitted a joint request to extend martial law in one-year extension of martial letter requesting… ML (martial Mindanao. Revilla’s acquittal over plunder Duterte fi rst placed the entire Mindanao under martial law on May 23, 2017 after the Maute Group, which is inspired by the Islamic State (IS), laid siege to hailed as ‘best Christmas gift’ Marawi City, Iligan del Sur. Con- gress twice extended the military rule in Mindanao, at Duterte’s By Ma. Reina L Tolentino his brother’s acquittal was the request, in a bid to quell rebel- Manila Times “best Christmas gift.” lion in the war-torn region. “Our family is thankful that The first extension ended on Senator Bong will fi nally be Dec 31, 2017, while the second fter four years of incar- free, and this is our best Christ- will expire at the end of 2018. ceration, former senator mas gift. We thank our God, On Wednesday, Duterte ad- ARamon “Bong” Revilla the people of Cavite, and our mitted that his administra- walked out of the Philippine supporters for this wonderful tion was battling in “so many National Police Custodial present,” he said. fronts,” which include pro-IS Center in Quezon City on Fri- The lawmaker said it was groups whose main objective day a free man, hours after he a great relief for the family to was to “kill and destroy.” was acquitted of plunder by the welcome home Revilla who was Last week, the president or- Sandiganbayan. “incarcerated and denied jus- dered the deployment of addi- Shortly after the anti-graft tice for years.” tional troops to Samar, Negros court issued its verdict, Revilla “We thank them (justices) for Oriental, Negros Occidental, posted bail of P480,000 for his being fair,” Strike said. and the Bicol Region to respond temporary liberty. Although he Meanwhile, the Lakas- Rodrigo Duterte: seeking martial law extension in Mindanao to “sporadic acts of violence.” was found not guilty of plunder, Christian Muslims Democrats Revilla still faces graft charges (CMD) party said the decision at the Sandiganbayan. would boost Revilla’s senato- Voting 3-2, the anti-graft rial bid. ‘Return of Balangiga court’s Special First Division Revilla is the chairman of the bells’ serves as acquitted the former lawmaker party. closure of bitter past China delaying of plunder, saying there was no Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla: relief The trial of the plunder case strong evidence to show that he fi led against Revilla started in The return of the three Balangiga pocketed Division, and Associate Justice money or saw anyone handing/ June 2017. The prosecution fi n- bells will serve as a closure of the sea code: Lorenzana P224mn in kickbacks by re- Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez- delivering money to Revilla as ished presenting its evidence in bitter past between the US and the leasing his Priority Develop- Estoesta dissented. commission/kickback,” it said. October. Philippines, Defence Secretary Delf- ment Assistance Fund (PDAF) The justices gave weight to Revilla is one of three former Sen. Panfi lo Lacson on Friday, in Lorenzana said, Manila Times Manila Times ance that we will do something or pork barrel to non-govern- Revilla’s claim that his signa- senators charged with plunder a crusader against pork barrel, reported. In an interview with re- Manila in accordance with the con- ment organisations owned by ture in the endorsment papers and graft in connection with expressed mixed emotions upon porters, Lorenzana said the return duct and then, there will be no Janet Lim Napoles. was forged. the pork barrel scam. The other learning of Revilla’s acquittal. of the bells will end the decades- misunderstanding and miscal- “For failure of the prosecu- “The consequence of this two, Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose Lacson said that as a former long pleading of the Philippines efence Secretary Delfi n culations,” Lorenzana said. tion to establish beyond rea- factual fi nding that the pur- “Jinggoy” Estrada, are out on colleague and friend, he was to the US to return the war booty. Lorenzana has ex- He added that he prefers to sonable doubt that accused ported signature of accused Re- bail. happy for Revilla. “As a strong The first request to bring back the Dpressed hope that the have the code fi nished by next Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr re- villa is a forgery constitutes as a Enrile, Estrada and Revilla advocate against the pork bar- bells was made in 1935 by Eugenio Association of Southeast year since the issue not only ceived, directly or indirectly great blow to the prosecution. It are running for senator in next rel system, I feel weak and de- Daza, the leader of those who at- Asian Nations (Asean) and involves the Philippines and the rebates, commission, and could not be assumed anymore year’s mid-term elections. feated.” tacked the Americans.“During the China would be able to fi nalise China but other Asean coun- kickbacks from his PDAF, the that Revilla acknowledged the Estrada and his wife were at “As a legislator who knows time of President (Fidel) Ramos, he in three years a binding Code tries. Court cannot hold him liable signatures appearing on the the Sandiganbayan when the the justice system, I respect the made a pitch to give them back,” of Conduct to address tensions The Code of Conduct was for the crime of plunder. Ac- endorsement letters to the IAs verdict was read. decision of the Sandiganbayan, Lorenzana said. The Defence in the West Philippine Sea discussed during the Asean cordingly, he is acquitted,” the (Implementing Agencies) to be “His legal victory is somehow for they, more than anyone chief added that they “have been (South China Sea). meeting in Singapore in Oc- court said in its 186-page deci- his own or that of his author- also my victory. We have been have better appreciation of the working for the return but nothing Lorenzana was one of the tober. Gregory Poling, director sion. ised representative. Besides, wrongly accused and incarcer- evidence,” he said in a text mes- happened because there was no speakers at the Albert del Ro- of the US think-tank Center The court however found the purported signatures found ated for years for something we sage. involvement from the US govern- sario Institute Stratbase fo- for Strategic and International Napoles and Revilla’s former on the endorsement letters ad- did not do,” Estrada said. Sen. Francis Pangilinan said ment.” rum held at the Manila Penin- Studies, meanwhile, said that aide Richard Cambe guilty and dressed to the IAs appear to be “Thankfully, the courts have he could not “comprehend” the He explained that the veterans sula Hotel in Makati City on the administration of former sentenced them to life impris- pointedly diff erent from the decided in our favour. I have anti-graft court’s decision. in Wyoming did not want to Thursday. US president Barrack Obama onment. It ordered the confi ne- standard signatures of Revilla,” been granted bail because the “How can the one who bribed give up the bells. The Balangiga “I hope China fulfi ls its failed to use the mutual de- ment of Napoles at the Correc- the court said. evidence against me is weak. is declared guilty and the one Bells, which were used to warn promise because it is actu- fence treaty with the Philip- tional Institution for Women in The court also found that And now Senator Bong has been bribed was not guilty? It’s quite residents in Balangiga town in ally China trying to delay this pines in addressing disputes in Mandaluyong City and Cambe none of the prosecution wit- acquitted,” he added. diffi cult to understand the deci- Samar province of an imminent for the past six years already,” the South China Sea. at the New Bilibid Prison in nesses, including Benhur Luy, Also present during the sion of the court,” he said. attack from American troops, was Lorenzana told reporters in a He said the Obama adminis- Muntinlupa City. Merlina Sunas, Marina Sula and promulgation were Revilla’s Senate President Vicente confiscated by US soldiers in 1901 chance interview. tration “failed” to clarify that Associate Justices Geraldine Mary Arlene Baltazar, admitted wife, Bacoor City Mayor Lani Sotto 3rd and Sen. Ralph Recto after they killed hundreds of men, In November this year, Chi- the mutual defence treaty be- Faith Econg, Edgardo Caldona depositing money representing Mercado-Revilla, and their also said they were happy for women, and children in an inci- nese Premier Li Keqiang said tween Manila and Washington and Georgina Hidalgo voted for commissions to Revilla’s ac- children, including Cavite Vice Revilla and his family. dent dubbed as the “Balangiga China expects results in 2021. should be applied in case the Revilla’s acquittal. Associate counts. Governor Jolo Revilla. “I will most probably see him Massacre.” “If we have this Code of Philippines is attacked by Justice Efren de la Cruz, who “Not one of them testifi ed Cavite 2nd District repre- back in the Senate next year.” Conduct, then we have assur- anyone. leads the Sandiganbayan’s First that they personally handed sentative Strike Revilla said Sotto said. 99 lawmakers to get huge ‘district fund allocations’

Manila Times lawmaker was set to receive a whop- “We did not ask for these inser- as “pork” but rather, legal proposals Manila ping P8bn for his congressional dis- tions but they were approved by the for their congressional districts. trict. plenary. We are dealing with institu- He said they intend to comply “We are talking, we are dealing tions. Likewise, we also have to deal with a decision of the Supreme ouse Majority Leader Ro- with institutions here…I cannot an- with the Senate through Finance Court, which outlawed the pork bar- lando Andaya Jr has revealed swer that right now. But to me, we Committee chairman Sen. Loren Le- rel or the Priority Development As- Hthat 99 lawmakers are set just want to clarify the situation,” he garda. So it will be up to the bicam to sistance Fund or PDAF. to get even bigger allocations than said. discuss what will happen,” he added. On Friday, Lacson urged Arroyo his congressional district in Cama- The clarifi cation came two days The majority leader previously and Andaya to show good faith by rines Sur and that of Speaker Gloria after Sen. Panfi lo Lacson alleged said the appropriations for Cama- declining their P4.3bn pork barrel Macapagal-Arroyo in Pampanga. that a certain congressman received rines Sur were for a road project, allocations in the national budget Andaya, who represents the 1st an additional P1.9bn and a con- which was requested by the regional for 2019. District of Camarines Sur, said he gresswoman had received P2.4bn for director of the Department of Public “Since Andaya claims that the only ranked 186th in terms of allo- their districts. Works and Highways (DPWH). huge earmarks for his and Arroyo’s cation while Arroyo, who represents Lacson did not reveal in his inter- Acting House Appropriations districts are a case of ‘misplaced the Second District of Pampanga, pellation who the lawmakers were Committee Chairman Carmen gesture of generosity,’ maybe they ranked 100th. but had implied in an interview that Zamora previously said Arroyo’s dis- can display a ‘genuine gesture of “Just to clarify, the allocation of the districts were those of Andaya trict only had an additional P500mn, good faith’ by deleting or reducing our Speaker, she actually ranked and Arroyo, respectively. equating to a total of P1.9bn funds those humongous allocations,” Lac- about 100th. There are around 99 Andaya said it would be up to the for farm-to-market road projects son said on his Twitter account. congressmen with bigger allocations bicameral conference committee to based on realignments submitted by The senator maintained that if for their districts. For my district, I discuss possible amendments deal- the DPWH for Pampanga. the appropriations committee diso- only ranked 186th,” he told report- ing with insertions, which have been Andaya previously told Manila beyed orders from the House leader- ers. distributed out of “misplaced gener- Times that the amount for lawmak- ship, the benefi ciaries should return Rolando Andaya Jr Andaya bared that an anonymous osity.” ers’ pet projects could not be tagged the amounts. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, December 9, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Opec pullout to help Qatar stay focused on gas production

Qatar’s decision to pull out of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) is part of the country’s strategy to stay focused on core business and enhance its international standing as the world’s leading natural gas producer. Qatar will withdraw from the Vienna-based Opec on January 1, 2019, some 57 years after the country joined the bloc, which currently has 15 members. Qatar was the fi rst country to join Opec after the fi ve founding nations – Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia Putting the public back and Venezuela – formed the group in 1960. It’s the fi rst Middle Eastern nation to leave the group. While many see Qatar’s Opec withdrawal as a political decision, the country has clearly stated that it is a “strategic decision”. “I assure you this purely was a decision on what’s right in public health for Qatar, long term. It’s a strategy decision. Qatar has worked diligently during the past few years to develop a future strategy in the oil and gas sector based on By Mariana Mazzucato And, worldwide, the public pays for can aff ord, and with health innovation rather than on all stakeholders. Between London an estimated two-thirds of all upfront not addressing public health needs, 2007 and 2016, the 19 pharmaceutical growth and expansion, both in its activities in Qatar and costs for pharmaceutical research and the status quo is not sustainable. But companies in the S&P 500 as of January internationally,” said HE the Minister of State for Energy development. to restore public purpose to healthcare 2017 spent $297bn repurchasing their Aff airs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi. he United Kingdom’s National High drug prices can have ripple provision and innovation will require own shares to boost their stock price, Qatar’s strategy has driven the expansion of its Health Service marked its eff ects beyond public health around the the kind of transformation that the and thus the value of their executives’ international upstream footprint to reach countries like 70th birthday this year, so whole world. It creates a huge barrier NHS’s founders ushered in 70 years ago. stock options. That is 61% of their To that end, the fi rst step is to combined R&D expenditures over the Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Cyprus, Congo, South Africa, Tthis is a good time to refl ect to access to medicines for two billion on the NHS’s past and consider its people and pushes 100mn people into acknowledge governments’ vital role same period. and the Sultanate of Oman, among other nations. future. The NHS has long been a source extreme poverty every year. Beyond in the development of new treatments As long as this business model In the next few months, al-Kaabi said Qatar will be of inspiration in healthcare debates the human suff ering, this imposes high and drugs. Rather than simply funding prevails, price gouging will continue. As announcing several around the world. But if it is not put economic costs. The lost human capital innovation, governments need to happened recently with one antibiotic, major international on a more sustainable footing, it could includes not only those who are forced start directing it with the same level CEOs will say that they are serving “Qatar would become a cautionary tale. out of the taxable workforce by personal of involvement that they bring to shareholders by letting prices rise to partnerships. When the NHS was founded in 1948, illness, but also those who must drop defence spending. That means aligning whatever the market will bear and make a big splash “Our objective in this its mission, to provide universal high- out to care for them. upstream research funding with abusing intellectual-property rights strategy was to remain quality healthcare, was daringly radical. Most crucially, it is increasingly downstream applications and public to extract monopoly rents. Patents in the oil and gas focused on our core In time, though, it came to represent diffi cult to balance the goals of objectives. have become too diffi cult to license, business and activities a fundamental pillar of the modern ensuring patient access to eff ective The pharmaceutical industry will and they are too often acquired for business soon” welfare state, alongside education and medicines, managing rising health- no doubt argue that government strategic reasons than for novelty, as in Qatar, and to enhance public provision for old age. care expenditure, and incentivising engagement stifl es innovation. But was originally intended. Qatar’s international Today, however, the NHS faces innovation. Even if access to it was a state-led, mission-oriented To bring healthcare back into line standing as the world’s leading natural gas producer.” mounting challenges, owing to the years healthcare were assured, and pricing approach that put a man on the moon, with the public interest, we can still fi nd He also noted Qatar Petroleum’s plans to raise its of “austerity” after the 2008 fi nancial well managed, there would still be a created the Internet, and paved the inspiration in the NHS. Its founders’ production capability from 4.8mn barrels oil equivalent a crisis, as well as to larger changes in problem with the current direction of way for self-driving cars. Governments mission was to create a system that the pharmaceutical industry’s business health innovation. Diseases that do and the societies they serve should serves everyone, is free at the point day to 6.5mn barrels oil equivalent a day during the next model. With corporate governance not create potential growth markets be ambitious, while always asking of delivery, and caters to patients’ decade. increasingly oriented around narrow are largely ignored. Between 2000 and themselves a practical question: What needs, not their ability to pay. Today’s Through QP, Qatar is developing and increasing its LNG fi nancial indicators such as quarterly 2011, only 4% of newly approved drugs are we trying to achieve? policymakers should reaffi rm that basic production from 77mn tonnes per year to 110mn tonnes earnings, drug companies have hiked were for neglected diseases that aff ect Once we know that, legislation and mission. Only by aligning innovation (by 2024). up medicine prices, and the NHS is predominantly lower- and middle- regulatory measures can be brought with the priorities of a civilised society bearing the costs. Making matters income countries. Meanwhile, in the to bear to advance our collective can we fi nally take healthcare to the The new capacity increase will further strengthen worse, many drugs would not even US, 78% of new medicine patents goals, and to encourage bottom- next frontier. - Project Syndicate Qatar’s leading position as the world’s largest LNG exist if not for public investment. Last between 2005 and 2015 were related to up experimentation. For example, producer and exporter, and will further boost QP’s year, the NHS in England spent £1bn drugs that are already on the market. prizes might be better than prices for zMariana Mazzucato is professor of strategic growth plan. This production addition will have ($1.28bn) purchasing medicines that And in Europe between 2000 and stimulating private investment. And the economics of Innovation and public a great impact on Qatar’s economic growth and will help have received investments from the UK 2014, 51% of newly approved drugs government procurement processes value and director of the UCL Institute Medical Research Council and other were modifi ed versions of existing could surely be better aligned to steer for Innovation & Public Purpose stimulate the country’s local economy. public bodies. In the United States, the medicines, and thus off ered no the direction of innovation. (IIPP). She is the author of The Value of Qatar would “make a big splash in the oil and gas National Institutes of Health (NIH) additional health benefi ts. Even more to the point, policymakers Everything: Making and Taking in the business soon,” minister al-Kaabi said adding Doha spends more than $37bn on biomedical With health-care systems often need to address the fi nancialisation of Global Economy, which was shortlisted would also build the Middle East’s biggest ethane cracker, research every year, particularly in areas failing to provide patients with the the pharmaceutical industry, which is for the Financial Times-McKinsey an industrial facility, which converts gas to by-products that are too risky for the private sector. treatment they need at a price they focused solely on shareholder value, Business Book of the Year Award. such as adhesives and ethylene for plastics. Qatar will continue to produce oil and seek deals in countries including Latin America’s top oil producer Brazil, the minister said. “We are not saying we are going to get out of the oil business, but gas production would remain Qatar’s top priority,” al-Kaabi said. But the amount of oil Qatar produced has steadily declined from about 728,000 barrels per day in 2013 to about 607,000 barrels per day in 2017, or just under 2% of Opec’s total output. Qatar can certainly take pride in its international standing at the forefront of natural gas producers, and as the biggest exporter of LNG - the cleanest fossil fuel, which has given the country a strong and resilient economy.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved File picture of thousands of people marching through London to mark 70 years of the NHS in London, on 30 June 2018. Gulf Times Sunday, December 9, 2018 27 COMMENT Huawei reveals real trade war with China

By Noah Smith fi rst). This marks a change for China, administration hopes to preserve US Bloomberg News whose companies have long been technological dominance, at least for a stuck doing low-value assembly little while longer. while companies in rich countries Notably, the European Union f you only scan the headlines, you do the high-value design, marketing is also moving to restrict Chinese could be forgiven for thinking and component manufacturing. US investments. The fact that Europe, that the US-China trade war is moves against Huawei and ZTE may which has opposed Trump’s tariff s, Imainly about tariff s. After all, the be intended to force China to remain a is copying American investment president and trade-warrior-in-chief cheap supplier instead of a threatening restrictions, should be a signal that the has called himself “Tariff Man.” competitor. less-publicised high-tech trade war is And the tentative trade deal between The subtle, far-sighted nature of this actually the important one. US President Donald Trump and approach suggests that the impetus The high-tech trade war shows that Chinese President Xi Jinping was for the high-tech trade war goes far for all the hoopla over manufacturing mainly about tariff s, especially on beyond what Trump, with his focus jobs, steel, autos and tariff s, the items like automobiles. on tariff s and old-line manufacturing real competition is in the tech But the startling arrest in Canada industries, would think of. It seems sector. Losing the lead in the global of a Chinese telecom company likely that US tech companies, as technology race means lower profi ts executive should wake people up well as the military intelligence and a disappearing military advantage. to the fact that there’s a second communities, are infl uencing policy But it also means losing the powerful US-China trade war going on – a here as well. knowledge-industry clustering much more stealthy conflict, fought In fact, more systematic efforts eff ects that have been an engine of with weapons much subtler and to block Chinese access to US US economic growth in the post- more devastating than tariffs. And components are in the works. manufacturing age. Bluntly put, the US the prize in that other struggle is The Export Control Reform Act, can aff ord to lose its lead in furniture domination of the information- passed this summer, increased manufacturing; it can’t aff ord to lose technology industry. regulatory oversight of US exports its dominance in the tech sector. The arrested executive, Meng of “emerging” and “foundational” The question is whether the high- Wanzhou, is the chief fi nancial offi cer technologies deemed to have tech trade war will succeed in keeping of telecom-equipment manufacturer national-security importance. China in second place. China has long Huawei Technologies Company (and Although national security is wanted to catch up in semiconductor its founder’s daughter). certainly a concern, it’s generally manufacturing, but export controls The offi cial reason for her arrest is hard to separate high-tech industrial will make that goal a necessity rather that Huawei is suspected of selling and corporate dominance from than an aspiration. And investment technology to Iran, in violation of US military dominance, so this too restrictions may spur China to upgrade sanctions. should be seen as part of the trade its own homegrown research and It’s the second big Chinese tech war. development capacity. company to be accused of breaching A second weapon in the high-tech In other words, in the age when those sanctions – the fi rst was ZTE trade war is investment restrictions. China and the US were economically Corporation in 2017. The US punished The Trump administration has co-dependent, China might have been ZTE by forbidding it from buying greatly expanded its power to block content to accept lower profi t margins American components – most Chinese investments in US technology and keep copying American technology importantly, telecom chips made by companies, through the Committee instead of developing its own. But US-based Qualcomm Inc. on Foreign Investment in the United with the coming of the high-tech trade Those purchasing restrictions were States. CFIUS has already cancelled a war, that co-dependency is coming eventually lifted after ZTE agreed bunch of Chinese deals: to an end. Perhaps that was always to pay a fi ne, and it seems certain The goal of investment restrictions inevitable, as China pressed forward on that Huawei will also eventually is to prevent Chinese companies from the technological frontier. In any case, escape severe punishment. But these copying or stealing American ideas the Trump administration’s recent episodes highlight Chinese companies’ and technologies. Chinese companies moves against Chinese tech – and dependence on critical US technology. can buy American companies and some similar moves by the EU – should The US still makes – or at least, File picture of Meng Wanzhou, Chief Financial Off icer of Huawei, attending the VTB Capital’s ‘RUSSIA CALLING’ investment forum transfer their intellectual property be seen as the fi rst shots in a long war. designs – the best computer chips in in Moscow, Russia, on October 2, 2014 (reissued December 6, 2018). Meng Wanzhou has been arrested in Canada at the request of overseas, or have their employees train – Tribune News Service the world. China assembles lots of US authorities. According to US media reports, Meng Wanzhou was detained for potential US sanction violations. their Chinese replacements. Even electronics, but without those crucial minority stakes can allow a Chinese zNoah Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion inputs of US technology, products Export restrictions, and threats about making life harder for the main become the world’s second-largest investor access to industrial secrets columnist. He was an assistant made by companies such as Huawei of restrictions, are thus probably competitors of US tech companies. smartphone maker by market share that would otherwise be off -limits. By professor of fi nance at Stony Brook would be of much lower-quality. not just about sanctions – they’re Huawei just passed Apple Inc. to (Samsung Electronics Company is blocking these investors, the Trump University, and he blogs at Noahpinion.

Live issues

Three-day forecast Implants TODAY Maximum Temperature : 260c Minimum Temperature : 200c might help MONDAY Maximum Temperature : 260c Minimum Temperature : 210c paralysed TUESDAY Maximum Temperature : 250c Minimum Temperature : 190c patients Fisherman's forecast

WARNING By Lisa Rapaport Reuters Health Inshore : Nil Offshore : Expected strong wind and high sea to the north aralysed people might WEATHER one day be able to operate Inshore : Mild daytime with smartphones and tablets some clouds, relatively just by thinking about the cold by night P Offshore : Some clouds actions they want to perform, with help from sensors implanted in WIND their brains, a recent experiment Inshore : Northwesterly-North- suggests. easterly 05-15 KT Dr Jaimie Henderson of the Offshrore : Northwesterly-North Stanford University School of 08-18/22 KT Medicine in California said by Visibility : 4-8 KM e-mail: “We are still likely a number Offshore : 3-5/7 FT of years away from having a fully implantable, FDA-approved Around the region device that would be available for widespread use.” Weather Weather “However, I’m convinced that today Max/min tomorrow Max/min most of the technological hurdles Baghdad P Cloudy 19/10 P Cloudy 19/08 have been solved and that we will Kuwait CityP Cloudy 22/16 S Showers 22/14 one day in the near future see Manama Sunny 26/21 M Sunny 25/20 assistive devices that allow people Muscat Sunny 29/23 Sunny 27/22 with paralysis to control a computer Tehran P Cloudy 13/03 M Sunny 12/03 using only their thoughts.” The current experiment included just three patients. Two of them had weakness or loss of movement of their arms and legs due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease; a third patient was paralysed from a spinal cord injury. For the experiment, scientists implanted devices the size of a baby aspirin into the motor cortex, the area of the brain involved in planning and executing voluntary movements. Around the world The implant was designed Weather Weather to detect signals associated today Max/min tomorrow Max/min with intended movements and Athens Sunny 18/12 P Cloudy 17/08 then transmit these signals to a Beirut P Cloudy 19/16 S Showers 19/17 Bluetooth interface configured Bangkok S T Storms 31/24 P Cloudy 32/25 to work like a wireless mouse. Berlin Showers 08/03 S Showers 06/03 The virtual mouse was paired to Cairo M Sunny 20/11 M Sunny 22/13 an off-the-shelf Google Nexus 9 Cape Town P Cloudy 21/15 Cloudy 23/14 tablet. Colombo S T Storms 31/24 S T Storms 30/24 With the sensor and the wireless Dhaka Sunny 28/16 Sunny 28/16 “mouse,” participants were able Hong Kong M Cloudy 20/15 S Showers 18/15 to navigate through commonly Istanbul M Sunny 09/06 S Showers 12/09 used tablet programmes, including Jakarta T Storm 32/25 S T Storms 32/26 e-mail, chat, music-streaming and Karachi Sunny 28/18 M Sunny 27/19 video-sharing apps. London Cloudy 13/08 P Cloudy 11/05 They also messaged with family, Manila P Cloudy 32/25 M Sunny 33/24 friends, members of the research Moscow Cloudy -6/-8 Snow -4/-4 team and their fellow participants. New Delhi Fog 24/09 Fog 24/09 And, they surfed the web, checked the weather and shopped online. Gulf Times 28 Sunday, December 9, 2018 QATAR German International School Doha marks its 10th anniversary

By Joseph Varghese land, and several other guests. students are attending German whose continued generous sup- Staff Reporter A cake was cut by the digni- schools and the German School port makes it possible to bring taries to mark the occasion. in Doha is one of the most impor- German quality education to German International School tant one among them. It is one of Qatar,” the envoy said. erman International Doha has more than 310 students the arms of Germany to reach out “I am very proud that Ger- School Doha celebrated and over 30 teachers. The school to the international community man International School Doha Gits 10th anniversary at a has grown steadily over the years with regard to culture,” the Ger- has just been awarded the qual- special function yesterday on catering quality education to not man ambassador said. ity seal, ‘Excellent German the school premises. only German expatriate students “The 10th anniversary of Ger- Overseas School’, by the Ger- Rawda al-Zaidan, director but also to wider community man International School Doha man government for providing Dignitaries at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on the occasion. Supplied picture of Private Schools Aff airs at members. is one of the most prominent an outstanding German school the Ministry of Education and “German International School examples of the very successful education from Kindergarten to only full expansion but also the the International Diploma Pro- the students to a German higher Higher Education, was present Doha has come a long way with partnership in the fi eld of edu- Grade 12,” he added. capacity of 314 pupils from 28 gramme of the school, all stu- education entrance qualifi cation on the occasion along with the great support of Qatar. Cul- cation between Germany and School principal Dirk Dillsch- diff erent nationalities. In every dents attained their certifi cate.” and beyond to an international Hans-Udo Muzel, ambassador ture and education bring people Qatar. We are very grateful for neider said: “Ten years of Ger- year of its existence, all stu- The German school is a lan- university entrance qualifi cation. of Germany; Willy Kempel, am- together and Qatar has taken a the extraordinary co-operation man International School Doha dents have successfully gradu- guage-oriented educational in- The school off ers German, Eng- bassador of Austria; and Edgar great initiative in this regard. All of the Ministry of Education are 10 years of a model of suc- ated from the school. Last school stitution with German qualities, lish, Arabic and French languages Dörig, ambassador of Switzer- over the world, around 80,000 and Higher Education of Qatar, cess. The school has reached not year, the fi rst graduation year of values, and traditions which lead in addition to other subjects.

Dignitaries attending the event. PICTURE: Jayan Orma The school community presents a song on the occasion. PICTURE: Jayan Orma