QATAR | Page 7 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar’s Olympic wait continues INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2 – 11, 32 COMMENT 30, 31 14 outlets fi ned REGION 12 BUSINESS 1 – 6, 12 – 16 aft er loss to 16,136.35 8,748.62 31.30 ARAB WORLD 13 CLASSIFIED 7 – 11 for fl outing law on +251.13 -100.24 +0.96 INTERNATIONAL 14 – 29 SPORTS 1 – 12 South Korea +1.58% -1.13% +3.16% discount sale price Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9980 January 27, 2016 Rabia II 17, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Graduation ceremony HMC to In brief

QATAR | Weather hold CPR Strong wind to continue Strong wind has been forecast for the third consecutive day in Qatar today in addition to a weak chance of light rain at places. The maximum temperature of 20C is training expected in Doha and at Mesaieed, Wakrah and Abu Samra, followed by 19C at Al Khor, Ruwais and Dukhan. The minimum temperature of 15C is forecast at Mesaieed, Wakrah and Abu Samra, followed by 16C in Doha and at Al Khor and campaign Dukhan, and 17C at Ruwais. CPR is a basic life support only CPR technique at these locations. technique that can be used if an More than 400 mannequins will be REGION | Sport individual’s breathing and heart used in the events to help the public Qatar in Asian suddenly stop learn hands-only CPR, and 50 stations handball fi nal will be set up along the Doha Corniche By Joseph Varghese to demonstrate and teach the technique. Qatar’s unbeaten run in the 17th Staff Reporter “The rate of bystander CPR per- Asian Handball Championship in formed by members of the public varies Bahrain continued yesterday when internationally from 10% to 70% but in they beat Saudi Arabia 22-13 to enter n a fi rst for the region, Hamad Med- Qatar the rate is less than 10%,” stated the final. In today’s title-decider, ical Corporation (HMC), along with HITC director Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Qatar will face Bahrain who defeated Ithe Supreme Council of Health, will Saifeldeen. Japan in the other semi-final. host an awareness campaign on Cardi- “It is crucial that we all work togeth- opulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) tech- er to improve this rate. Many people do nique on Friday and Saturday. not realise that CPR is a simple tech- ARAB WORLD | Peace CPR is a basic life support tech- nique that they can learn quickly and UN invites warring nique that can be used if an individual’s use if they need to. breathing and heart suddenly stop. “It is just two simple steps that peo- parties to Syria talks Chest compressions keep blood and ple can learn very fast. We know that The UN yesterday invited Syria’s oxygen circulating in the body, and if cardiac diseases are on the rise. Most government and opposition to administered quickly, could prove life- cardiac arrests happen outside the hos- peace talks in Geneva yesterday. saving. pital environment and the role of the Page 13 In addition to performing CPR, peo- public is very important in saving such HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday presided over the graduation ceremony of the third batch of ple can call 999 immediately to seek lives,” he said. students of Al Zaeem (leader) Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Atiyyah Air College at Al Udeid Air Base. The ceremony was medical assistance. Research shows “Even in the most capable response attended by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, a number of that starting CPR can immediately system, ambulances take seven to ministers and senior armed forces and interior ministry off icers. The Emir honoured outstanding graduates of the third double a person’s chance of survival. eight minutes to reach the spot. Every batch. Page 2 Held under the patronage of HE the minute after a cardiac arrest, there is Minister of Public Health Abdullah bin 10% reduction in survival possibility,” Khalid al-Qahtani, the campaign will the offi cial highlighted. take place on the Doha Corniche, the The main event will be on the Doha Wakrah Corniche, Katara - Cultural Vil- Corniche. “We will set up 50 stations at lage, City Center Doha, Landmark Mall, the Doha Corniche seafront for about The Gate Mall and Gulf Mall between 2km from Sheraton Park. Every station Ooredoo fi bre customers 3pm and 9pm on Friday. On Saturday, the will have simple mannequin and mat- campaign will be held only in the malls. tress and the volunteers will have no An awareness video on CPR, released medical uniform to highlight the idea by HMC, has become a huge hit on Gulf that it can be done by anyone in the Times Facebook page with more than pubic. We expect thousands of people receive speed upgrade 60,000 people being reached. to witness and benefi t from this event. Teams from Hamad International This is the fi rst of many more initia- oredoo has launched a ma- truly world-class network for all of and their digital lifestyles,” he add- Training Centre (HITC) and about 250 tives to come later.” jor speed upgrade for fibre Qatar and will continue to deliver ed. healthcare volunteers from Qatar Red The offi cial also pointed out that Ocustomers, boosting its top- incredible home fibre upgrades for The Ooredoo fibre network is Crescent Society, Primary Health Care since the launch of HITC some 15 years level packages to deliver the fastest our customers.” available across Qatar, with more Corporation, Medical Services Depart- ago, the centre has formally certifi ed fibre speeds in Qatar for free. With a 300Mbps speed, cus- than 258,000 homes and businesses ment at the Ministry of Interior, Medical more than 200,000 people for CPR The speed increase, which will tomers can download a two-hour, currently benefiting from super- Services Corps of the Qatar Army and and this campaign aims to increase the be rolled-out in the coming weeks, standard-definition movie (1.5 giga- fast Internet and next generation the Medical Unit at Qatar Petroleum, will number and increase the awareness of will see Ooredoo fibre customers on bytes) in less than 40 seconds; and a services. conduct demonstrations on the hands- such an important lifesaving skill. the 50Mbps and 100Mbps plans see two-hour, high-definition movie (5 Since its launch in 2011, the fibre their packages upgraded, signifi- GB) in 2.2 minutes. network has not only transformed cantly enhancing speeds and per- The speed upgrade is free and per- the broadband Internet market but formance. manent for home fibre broadband also the digital entertainment in- With the upgrade, all 50Mbps and Next Generation Mozaic TV dustry in Qatar, enabling customers plans will receive a double speed customers who are connected to the to enjoy Next Generation Mozaic TV increase to 100Mbps, while exist- Ooredoo Fibre network. with high-definition programming ing 100Mbps plans will be boosted “Alongside the need for a standard and a range of advanced features. to 300Mbps – the fastest home fixed home connection, more and more of Prospective customers can view line connection ever offered – free our customers are streaming videos, the fibre availability map on Oore- of charge. playing online games and connect- doo’s website. The map allows Ooredoo Qatar CEO Waleed al- ing their smart phones, tablets, and customers to check if they are in a Sayed said: “We have promised to connected TVs to the Wi-Fi in their fibre-ready “Green” area and shows continually enhance all aspects of homes,” said al-Sayed. customers how to apply for a fibre the Ooredoo Supernet, and this lat- “To reflect this change in daily upgrade. est speed improvement gives our data consumption, we have deliv- Full details of all plans, pricing customers the fastest home fibre ered a speed upgrade that will truly and offers is available at www.oore- Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen, flanked by other HMC off icials, announcing the CPR speeds in Qatar. We are building a enhance the customer experience doo.qa, on the “At Home” section. campaign. Qatar launches fast-track customs clearance initiative

he General Authority of Cus- ance agencies and shipping agents. nomic development of the country and latest systems and technology to sup- The Customs Authority in Qatar plays Qatar into an eff ective partner in fa- toms (GAC) in Qatar has The launch of Al Nadeeb is consid- support the economic diversifi cation port this progress.” a pivotal role in contributing to these cilitating global trade by providing Tlaunched a major marketing ered a milestone in the modernisation policy of the Qatari government. Al-Mohannadi recalled that Al Na- developments,” he pointed out. customs services characterised by campaign to help build awareness for of customs processes as it delivers top- GAC director Ahmed bin Ali al- deeb was developed after extensive Al Nadeeb already serves more than complete transparency, full security its single-window customs clearance of-the-line clearance services to the Mohannadi said: “Al Nadeeb provides studies into the requirements of vari- 130,000 users including 15,000 ma- and safety through an advanced risk system called Al Nadeeb. trade community in Qatar. our customers with the world’s most ous economic sectors in the country jor trading companies, 827 customs management system. The GAC has also launched Al Na- The launch of the smartphone app effi cient, reliable and trustworthy cus- with the primary objective of deliver- clearance agencies and 200 shipping Al Nadeeb is fully integrated into all deeb smartphone application to facili- further enhances the services of Al toms clearance services through the ing effi ciency, fl exibility and transpar- agents. Al Nadeeb also integrates with ports as well as customs facilities in tate easy access to the online customs Nadeeb. With 24 hour access, the app continued development of cutting- ency in their dealings with the Cus- numerous ministries and government the country and off ers a wide range of clearance system. guarantees swift and easy customs edge systems, customer service and toms Authority. agencies helping to organise and sim- services to both the private and pub- The objective of the campaign is to transactions to all users by making the human capital. “The development of a country and plify customs procedures and thus lic sector. The system is a web-based create awareness for the advanced fea- services available on any mobile de- “As Qatar witnesses an economic its people is measured by its ability to meet regional and international cus- customs service designed specifi cally tures and benefi ts off ered by Al Nadeeb vice. boom and diversifi cation in accord- respond to global changes and tech- toms standards. to digitise and streamline the customs to public and private sector companies, Al Nadeeb will also strengthen the ance with the goals of its 2030 Vision, nological developments and adopt Al Nadeeb is one of the important clearance processes in the State of Qa- institutions, traders, customs clear- role of the private sector in the eco- the Customs Authority is adopting the them for the use of its own citizens. next steps in converting the State of tar. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 QATAR

Emir to visit Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will head today to Italy for a three-day off icial visit, followed by an off icial visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Emir will hold talks with the leaders of the two countries on ways to boost and develop bilateral relations in various fields, as well as a number of issues of mutual interest besides regional and international issues. The Emir will be accompanied during the visit by an off icial delegation. HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, accompanied by other dignitaries, inspects a parade presented by the students of Al Zaeem Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Atiyyah Air College at Al Udeid Air Base yesterday. Emir to attend military college graduation event

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will attend Emir presides over Al Zaeem today morning the graduation ceremony of the 11th batch of candidate off icers of the Qatari Armed Forces and the Ministry of Interior at Ahmed bin Mohamed Military College. Air College graduation event Defence Minister meets Malaysian QNA fore the graduates performed the Commander of the Air College, Doha military parade. Brigadier Salim Hamad al-Nabit counterpart The Emir then honoured the delivered a speech during the outstanding graduates of the third ceremony. He said that the acad- H the Emir Sheikh batch - namely the fi rst in the to- emy’s training and learning poli- HE the Minister of State for Tamim bin Hamad al- tal grades Saeed Hamad Saeed cies were inspired by the coun- Defence Aff airs Major General HThani presided over the al-Aswad, the second in the to- try’s national strategy of creating Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah met graduation ceremony of the tal grades Ismael Ibrahim Ismael the appropriate environment for Malaysia’s Defence Minister third batch of students of Al Za- Saeed Faraj, the third in the total Qatari citizens to excel. Hishammuddin Hussein in Doha eem (leader) Mohamed bin Ab- grades Abdullah Nasser Moham- He underlined that Al Zaeem yesterday. They exchanged views dullah Al Atiyyah Air College at ed bin Alsheikh al-Mutawaa, the Air College has made great strides, on matters of common interest. Al Udeid Air Base yesterday. fi rst in air exercises (fi xed wing) by developing plans and specialist The ceremony was attended Saeed Hamad Saeed al-Marri, the programmes, in training the mili- National Day by HE the Prime Minister and fi rst in air exercises (helicopter) tary students to be pilot offi cers Interior Minister Sheikh Abdul- Nasser Mohamed Hamd Aqeel al- with full skills in aviation science greetings lah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- Nabet, the fi rst in physical fi tness to fl y the latest aircraft. Thani and a number ministers as Abdulrahman Ali Abdulrahman Al-Nabit added that the col- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin well as ranking armed forces and al-Sheikh al-Kuwari, the fi rst in lege was honoured to graduate Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy interior ministry offi cers. aviation competence Nayef Kha- the second batch of helicopter Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Upon Emir’s arrival on the lifa Abdullah Mohamed al-Man- pilots, adding that the gradua- al-Thani and HE the Prime main podium, the national an- sory, and Abdullah Mohamed Ali tion of the fi ghter pilots’ batch is Minister and Interior Minister them was played and then the Rashid al-Kuwari, the command- a milestone in the history of Qa- Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin commander of the parade came er of the parade. tar armed forces. Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday forward to request HH the Emir The third batch then handed On the occasion the Emir cables of congratulations to the to review the graduates’ parade. over the fl ag to the fourth batch. An watched an airshow staged by Governor-General of Australia The ceremony began with order for promotions was read out the Emiri Air Forces and Al Za- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani touring the Al Zaeem Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Atiyyah Peter Cosgrove on his country’s recitation of the Holy Qur’an be- and the graduates took the oath. eem Air College aircraft. Air College at Al Udeid Air Base yesterday. National Day. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 3 QATAR QTA unveils Farewell ceremony for ambassadors new hotel rating system atar Tourism Authority “Uniquely, this new system Among the system’s unique (QTA) has introduced a holds developers, owners, man- features is a built-in ‘guest ex- Qnew hotel grading and agement and operators equally perience index’ which analyses classifi cation system to ensure accountable for the property’s ratings and reviews on 130 hotel ratings are more fair and trans- classifi cation. Changes will take review websites including Tri- parent. time, but gradually we are pav- pAdvisor and Booking.com for The system is being released ing the way for a more sustain- incorporation into the hotel’s fi - after two months of testing in able, environmentally-friendly, nal grading report. collaboration with the local in- and diverse hospitality sector,” The system allows hotel in- dustry, hoteliers and interna- QTA noted. spectors to record photographic tional experts. evidence and monthly guest “Hotels and hotel apartments “This new system holds experience feedback, as well as will soon be graded together on developers, owners, keeping track of all interactions the same ‘star-rating’ system management and operators between QTA and the hotels, based on sets of criteria that equally accountable for the such as commitments to certain HE the Assistant Foreign Minister for Foreign Aff airs Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi held a farewell ceremony at the Diplomatic evaluate their public areas, guest property’s classifi cation” improvements, re-inspection Institute in honour of the outgoing ambassadors of Indonesia and Comoros to Qatar, Deddy Saiful Hadi and Haji Abdulla Abdulahamid. rooms, guest bathrooms, qual- agreements and related dead- Heads of diplomatic missions and off ices accredited to the country attended the ceremony along with Foreign Ministry off icials. ity of service, staff development, Hotels will be starting the as- lines. food and beverage and even room sessment process through a dig- Hotels that need to make amenities,” QTA announced in a ital ‘self-assessment’ module extensive structural changes, statement. online. Once completed, a for- which involve working on more For the fi rst time in Qatar, ho- mal inspection is arranged with than 40% of their infrastructure, tels will also be evaluated based QTA, which dispatches members will be given until December 31, on their environmental sustain- of its inspection team to verify 2020 to complete the changes ability management. the results. before they are regraded. Temporary partial closure near Duhail QTA will guide hoteliers The move is to ensure hotels QTA has also reached out to through the process of imple- have either made the changes developers of hotels that are in menting required changes need- required of them or have put into the pipeline for 2016 to ensure temporary partial closure will The traffi c from Al Duhail Street ed for their hotels to maintain place an agreed schedule for the that standards are in place before be in place from tomorrow and heading towards the Arab League their star ratings. rectifi cation of any defi cits in fa- they open. A(January 28) at Jeryan Ne- Street Northbound, will have to con- The government agency will cilities and services. QTA works with partners and jaima roundabout in the directions tinue straight to Al Jelaiha Street, also be “working collaboratively Hotels that do not make the stakeholders to ensure that tour- to Jelaiha Street and Al Duhail Street make a U-turn at the traffi c signal with hotels to ensure they make needed improvements, or chose ism and hotel establishments (as shown on the attached map). The across from the Qatar University en- the improvements at a reason- not to, will then be re-graded – operate at the highest standards closure which starts at 10am will last trance for girls, and turn right onto able pace and with minimum this could involve them losing a while promoting and perpetuat- until until 5am on January 31 (Sun- the Arab League Street (as shown in disruption to their business.” star, QTA added. ing Qatari culture and heritage. day). the attached map). During the period, the traffi c from The closure is eff ected to facilitate Al Jelaiha Street towards the Arab the partial opening of the Jeryan Ne- League Street Southbound will have jaima intersection at the beginning of Awqaf Minister meets Indonesian ulema council chief to continue straight to Al Duhail next week. This comes as part of the Street, make a U-turn at the rounda- works to convert a number of round- HE the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Aff airs Dr Amin, and his accompanying delegation who are on bout where Al Duhail and Environ- abouts into signalised intersections Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari met the Chairman a visit to Qatar. The meeting addressed a number of ment streets meet, then turn right to in order to enhance the traffi c fl ow in of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) Dr Marouf issues of common concern. the Arab League Street. the area.

Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 QATAR Empty Quarter explorers near Doha at end of 50-day desert trek

AFP Doha

team of intrepid walkers and their camels wea- Arily marched towards the Qatari capital Doha yester- day, the last leg of a 50-day trek across the world’s largest sand desert. They are on the verge of suc- cessfully retracing the historic 1,300-km route taken in 1930 by British civil servant and Arabist Bertram Thomas. The three-man team walked from Salalah in southern Oman, through Saudi Arabia, to Doha, across a vast stretch of uninhab- ited land in the southern Arabian peninsula known as the Empty Quarter. Yesterday they set off at around 4GMT from a moon- Mark Evans greets a camel in the desert, south of Doha, before the start of the last leg of a 50-day trek scape-like desert south of Doha across the world’s largest sand desert. Below: Sheikh Mubarak Saleh Mohamed Salah bin Kalut, 30, poses to complete the fi nal 30km or so in the desert, south of Doha. of their epic journey. A team of trekkers led by Oman-based British explorer Mark Evans (centre) warm up around a fire before Despite the threat of warring taking the start of the last leg of a 50-day trek across the world’s largest sand desert that will end in the tribes and a constant struggle desert, south of Doha. to fi nd enough water, Thomas completed the journey in 57 journey with Thomas. Arabia, searing day tempera- They have also completed days. “Because it is my great, tures and cold nights and sleep- a psychological questionnaire The modern-day trekkers led great grandfather, I wanted to ing without a tent under the each evening for a study in “ex- by Oman-based British explorer recreate it,” said Sheikh Mu- stars each evening. ercise environment psychology” Mark Evans are hoping to com- barak Saleh Mohamed Salah “We look like an Egyptian sar- being carried out at a British plete the journey in fewer days. bin Kalut. “I am proud that cophagus each morning when university, said Evans. Evans, 54, said he was in awe he was part of the original we wake up, covered in sand,” The team received help from of the achievement made by team.” said Evans, a fellow of the Ex- all three countries they have Thomas and his team 85 years Unlike Thomas, Evans and his plorers Club of New York, and trekked across from assistance at ago. fellow walkers have been able The Royal Geographical Society border crossings, to camels be- “I would say how humble we to use GPS and smartphones to in London. ing supplied by the Qatari royal are about what those people communicate with the outside As well as recreating the steps family. achieved,” he said. world, while two vehicles car- of explorers from the 1930, there These have proved the hardi- “They were completely on rying water and provisions ac- is also a scientifi c element to the est as Evans admits that mod- their own,” said Evans. companied them during their journey. ern-day camels, like humans, His team includes the great, voyage. The team has found tools “have got a bit soft”. great grandson of Sheikh Salih But like Thomas, they have and discovered ancient Ara- The journey is set to end close bin Kalut al-Rashidi al-Kathiri also endured walking across bian script in Oman up to to the Al Rayyan fort on the who completed the original enormous sand dunes in Saudi 3,000-years-old. western fringes of Doha. Longines inaugurates fi rst monobrand boutique in Qatar

he Swiss watch Longines carries a pres- The Rivoli Group offi cial land since 1832. Its watch- brand Longines offi - tigious legacy of watch- pointed out that the Swiss making expertise refl ects Tcially inaugurated its making expertise while re- watchmaker and the Qataris a strong devotion to tra- fi rst monobrand boutique fl ecting a strong devotion share a common passion: dition, elegance and per- in Qatar, in City Center to tradition, elegance and equestrian sport. Longines is formance. Doha. performance. moreover committed to many Longines has genera- Swiss ambassador Etienne With its clean lines and competitions taking place in tions of experience as of- Thévoz and The Rivoli Group dark mahogany display the area, such as the Longines fi cial timekeeper of world managing partner Ramesh cabinets, the new Longines Global Champions Tour. championships and as Prabhakar jointly opened the boutique welcomes visitors “The customers in this partner of international new outlet. into a warm and elegant en- market are connoisseurs sports federation. Known “As a company we are vironment which enhances who understand and value for the elegance of its continuously looking to el- the models on display. the traditional legacy of timepieces, Longines is evate the customer’s shop- The specially trained staff Longines’ elegant designs, a member of the Swatch ping experience and our provides expert advice on and this boutique is an ad- Group Ltd, the World’s association with Longines the brand’s comprehensive dition to the brand’s grow- leading manufacturer of for the launch of this new range of watches and gives ing network of boutiques horological products. With boutique is a testament to clients a fi rst-hand experi- around the world,” he main- the winged hourglass as our commitment towards ence of the brand’s history tained. its emblem, the brand has our clientele in Qatar,” Pra- on tradition, performance Longines has been based outlets in over 140 coun- bhakar said. and elegance. at Saint-Imier in Switzer- tries.

Swiss ambassador Etienne Thévoz (centre) and The Rivoli Group managing partner Ramesh Prabhakar (left) open the Longines boutique as another off icial looks on. PICTURE: Thajudheen Qatar participates in Cairo book fair

QNA Heritage, is participating in important event is through cover intellectual, heritage Doha the 47th edition of Cairo In- its special pavilion to in- and literary fi elds as well as ternational Book Fair, which troduce the audience of the books translated from other begins today and continues expo to Qatari books, as well languages. Some 34 Arab atar, represented till February 10. as to showcase the minis- and foreign countries and by the Ministry of The Ministry of Culture’s try’s publications in various 850 publishers are taking QCulture, Arts and annual participation in this areas of creative works that part in the book fair. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 7 QATAR

An inspector checking prices before and after discount. 14 outlets fi ned for fl outing law on discount sale price

he Ministry of Econ- three shopping outlets and percentage. Consumers are sumer protection law and omy and Commerce fi ned them each QR5,000 also advised to request de- will refer violators of laws T(MEC) has conducted for failing to separate dis- tailed invoices indicating and ministerial decrees to an inspection campaign counted and non-discount- original and reduced prices. the competent authori- on commercial outlets at ed items, failure to display ties, whom in turn will take various shopping malls and price tags and off ering dis- The Ministry revoked appropriate legal action fi ned 14 outlets. counts on less than 80% of the discount permits of against perpetrators in or- The violations ranged the shopping outlet’s prod- three shopping outlets der to protect the rights of from charging customers ucts, which is in violation of and fi ned them each consumers. higher prices than adver- the provisions of ministerial QR5,000 The Ministry has urged tised, failure to use Arabic decree No 5 of 1984 on sales all consumers to report in ads and product descrip- via discounts. The Ministry stressed any violations, complaints tions as well as breaching The MEC has urged all that all shops are obliged or suggestions via the fol- discount terms and condi- consumers to verify the to off er real discounts and lowing communication tions. prices of items before and should refrain from mis- channels: Hotline: 16001, Violators of consumer pro- during discount periods. leading practices that are e-mail: [email protected], tection law No 8 of 2008 are Customers are entitled ac- in violation of consumer Twitter: MEC_QATAR, In- subject to administrative clo- cess to the store’s goods rights. stagram: MEC_QATAR, and sure and a minimum fi ne of statement which reveals the The MEC added that it the smartphone applica- QR3,000 and up to QR1mn. prices of goods prior to and will intensify its inspection tions available on iPhone The Ministry revoked following discounts as well campaigns to crack down and Android devices MEC_ the discount permits of as the approved discount on all violations of the con- QATAR. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 QATAR PHCC planning QM unveils new art database for breast and bowel installations at HIA cancer screening atar Museums (QM) has bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud. he Primary Health Care cer screening procedures,” unveiled a number of He noted that these newest Corporation (PHCC) said Dr Mariam Ali Abdul- Qnew public art installa- works in HIA signify the latest Tis planning to set up malik, managing director, tions by both Qatari and inter- chapter of “QM’s vision to con- a national database to invite PHCC. “In doing so, we nationally-acclaimed artists at tinue bringing world-class art to nationals and residents and have, together with our part- the Hamad International Airport our people.” schedule them for breast and ners from the private sec- (HIA). Quinn’s artwork “The Nurs- bowel screening based on age tor, set up a patient-friendly Under the patronage of QM eries of El Dorado” is a repre- criteria. process that will enable us chairperson HE Sheikha Al Ma- sentation of an almost mythical The breast and bowel cancer to eff ectively provide cancer yassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al- world. Comprising of a number screening programme, con- screening procedures as well Thani and HIA, QM has installed of bronze sculptures, Quinn cre- ducted by PHCC, is already as the required referrals and two new permanent pieces: ates a series of hybrid plants by underway at the Wakra Health treatment as needed.” “Arctic Nurseries of El Dorado” taking elements from diff erent Centre. “In order to accommodate by British artist Marc Quinn vegetation and carefully piecing PHCC has called on both all patients and have them and “Untitled” by Italian artist them together, before casting men and women aged 50 and come to our cancer screen- Rudolf Stingel. them in bronze. above to undergo bowel can- ing centres at a time and date An unconventional sculpture Stingel’s work refl ects on the cer screening as well as wom- that is most convenient for of the iconic desert horse by ac- passage of time. His artwork en aged 45 for breast cancer them, we will be proactively claimed Qatari artist Ali Hassan at HIA is a sample of one of his screening. reaching out to them. We en- is set to be installed at HIA in the famous large-scale interactive PHCC has requested pa- courage them as well to call fi rst quarter of this year, Has- pieces. tients, within the specifi ed age our 800 1112 Call Centre and san’s third piece to go on show at Stingel covered three surfaces range, to set up an appoint- set up an appointment,” she the airport. with refl ective, aluminium- ment by calling the cancer added. The new pieces will join the faced insulation panels, before screening call centre 800 1112. For breast cancer screening, growing collection of sculptures inviting members of the con- British artist Marc Quinn’s artwork “The Nurseries of El Dorado” installed at HIA is a representation of an The PHCC-led initiative is a appointments will be given and images by Qatari and inter- struction team at HIA to draw on almost mythical world. population-based screening for mammography screen- national artists at the airport. the soft walls at the time of the conducted through a call and ing at the Breast and Bowel These include works by four Qa- airport’s construction. are exposed to a diverse set of recall system. Accordingly, Screening Centre and patients tari artists - Amal al-Raban, Ali The walls were then cast in artistic media including paint- calls will be made to the target are advised to arrive 30 min- Hassan, Mubarak al-Malik and copper and electroplated with ings, sculpture, electronic and group and appointments will utes prior to their scheduled Salman al-Malik, in the Oryx gold, before a number of pieces interactive installations. be scheduled. appointment. and Al Maha lounges. were selected for permanent “Our airport terminal is a Data from the Supreme For bowel cancer screen- A number of artworks are display at HIA. public space that welcomes mil- Council of Health (SCH) in- ing, an appointment will be also planned for installation at Hassan’s sculptural artwork lions of people every year and is dicates that breast and bowel scheduled by the call centre. the airport in the coming weeks at HIA will be an unconvention- therefore an ideal space to inter- were among the top malignant At the centre, an initial as- and months. This makes HIA a al interpretation of the iconic act with art. The exposure that primary sites of cancer in Qa- sessment will be conducted space where art and architecture desert horse, represented by dif- such a venue gives artists, espe- tar. Women aged 45 and above by a trained medical staff combine to create an immersive ferent forms of the Arabic letter cially budding Qatari artists, is showed the highest incidence and the patient will be given n”). Hassan used a range of exceptional,” al-Meer noted. of breast cancer while the age a fi t kit to take home with“) ”ن“ -visual environment, which pro vides a unique experience for the intricate sculpting techniques to QM has worked with local, re- group of 50 and more showed the proper instruction. The passengers and visitors at HIA. create the magnifi cent 8m x 6m gional and international artists the highest incidence of bow- fi t kit with sample specimen “The art at HIA inspires mil- sculpture. for more than fi ve years to com- el cancer in both men and should be returned as soon lions of visitors, residents and HIA COO Badr Mohammed mission and acquire artworks for “Untitled” by Italian artist Rudolf Stingel. women. as possible to the breast and transfer passengers who fl y al-Meer said art is an integral key locations in and around HIA. “PHCC aims to effi cient- bowel screening centre or to through the airport each year, part of HIA, having been de- The art comprises a mix of lation, “Lamp Bear” by Swiss series of sculptures of the Oryx, ly implement its mandate any of the listed health cen- and it proves that art can be signed to house permanent and site-specifi c creations as well as artist Urs Fischer, was installed an antelope native to the Ara- of promoting the health tres. Results will be provided enjoyed far beyond the con- temporary exhibitions. pieces which have been carefully in a prominent location in the bian Peninsula, which appear as and well-being of the citi- by a physician and, if neces- fi nes of an art gallery,” said Echoing the statement of al- selected for the airport. centre of the airport, and Dutch a herd in the arrivals hall of the zens and residents of Qatar sary, a referral to HMC for QM’s acting CEO Mansoor Mahmoud, he said passengers The fi rst international instal- artist Tom Claassen produced a airport. through our life-saving can- colonoscopy examination. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 9 QATAR Turkish, Russian fi lmmakers named ‘Qumra Masters’ urkish fi lmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Once Upon a Time in TAnatolia, Winter Sleep) and Russian fi lmmaker Aleksandr Sokurov (Faust, Russian Ark) have been con- fi rmed as “Masters” for the Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) second edition of “Qumra,” which is set to take place from March 4 to 9. Following the huge success of its inaugural edition, the two acclaimed fi lmmakers join previously announced “Qumra Masters” Naomi Kawase and Lucrecia Martel for the second edi- tion of the new initiative, which de- buted in March 2015 to support the development of emerging fi lmmakers from Qatar, the region, and around the Aleksandr Sokurov Nuri Bilge Ceylan world. Ceylan and Sokurov are both mas- Doha audiences during the event. interest and will receive a confi rmation ters in world cinema whose works Qumra is presented by the DFI of accreditation after February 21. have received the highest accolades and was developed with the guid- Capacity is limited and applications at prestigious international fi lm festi- ance of artistic adviser, Elia Suleiman, will be processed on a fi rst-come, vals, including the Berlin Film Festival, who participated as a Master in the fi rst-served basis. Cannes Film Festival, and the Venice inaugural edition. Ceylan was born in Istanbul and af- Film Festival. In addition to representatives from ter graduating from the Department Fatma al-Remaihi, CEO, Doha Film the 30 projects from Qatar, the Mena of Electrical Engineering at Istanbul’s Institute, said: “We are proud to wel- region and around the world whose Boaziçi University, he studied cinema come Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Aleksandr projects are mentored through the at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Sokurov to Qumra. They have each initiative, members of the local and for two years. created a distinctive body of work and regional creative industries are also Sokurov was born in 1951 in the a cinematic legacy for generations to invited to participate in Qumra, where former USSR. While a student of his- come. They are an inspiration, not only they will have the opportunity to at- tory at Gorky University, he began to the emerging fi lmmakers whose tend a series of networking events, working in television and, at the age of work will be mentored through Qumra, Qumra Master classes, and daily 19, he produced several fi lms and live but to us all.” screenings of fi lms by the Qumra Mas- television programmes. In their role as Qumra Masters, ters and recipients of funding from the In 1975, he began studies at VGIK in Ceylan and Sokurov will partici- Institute, followed by question-and- Moscow and at the time of his gradu- pate in a series of masterclasses, and answer sessions. ation, Andrei Tarkovsky, impressed one-on-one advisory sessions with Online accreditation is now open for by Sokurov’s fi rst feature, The Lonely participating Qumra projects and in- local fi lm industry delegates to reg- Voice of a Man (1977; released 1987) dustry professionals from around ister for Qumra 2016. Film and media lent the younger director his sup- the world, with a selection of the industry professionals can visit www. port and the two went on to become Masters’ fi lms being screened for dohafi lminstitute.com to register their lifelong friends. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 QATAR WCM-Q project named

among top 10 researches One of the features of Katara’s new app. esearch, involving Weill conducted in the laboratory has stand out as being signifi cant. The Cornell Medicine-Qatar the potential for direct and posi- researcher would then identify R(WCM-Q) into how the tive impact on the lives of patients genes that include or are close to body metabolises fat and choles- by providing new strategies to that SNP. terol, has been named as one of the combat abnormal cholesterol and But Dr Najafi saw that along- Katara unveils top 10 most signifi cant advances fat levels in the body. side the protein-coding genes that in heart disease of 2015 by the Dr Najafi said: “What one may were listed, there were also small American Heart Association. think of as relatively insignifi cant non-protein coding genes known new website, The research, which identi- can actually be of huge importance as microRNAs embedded within fi ed tiny particles of previously to the body and the way it reacts. the vicinity of the SNPs. Micro- overlooked genetic material that This research is testament to the RNAs are known as novel inhibi- can aff ect how the body deals fact that although we are making tors of gene expression with an mobile app with cholesterol and other fats, huge advances in basic genetic re- emerging role in human metabolic had already been published in the search each year, we still have an diseases. Dr Najafi and his col- journal Nature Medicine. The lat- awful lot to learn about its impact leagues asked if the miRNAs could atara-The Cultural tara’s vast audience, with est accolade from the American on medicine.” be playing a role and contributing Village has launched features representative Heart Association demonstrates In collaboration with research Dr Hani Najafi, assistant professor, WCM-Q. to lipid abnormality. Kits new website and of all age groups who fre- how signifi cant the research is, centres such as Massachusetts Dr Najafi added: “We found that mobile application in both quent the Cultural Village. potentially off ering doctors new General Hospital, Harvard Medi- tain diseases. These studies have gle-nucleotide polymorphisms). overall 69 miRNAs were in close Arabic and English as part “This in turn enhances avenues for treating patients with cal School and Weill Cornell identifi ed genes that potentially These are variations that happen proximity to the signature SNPs of a new initiative aimed at the online positioning of abnormal cholesterol levels. Medicine in New York, Dr Najafi contribute to the characteristics of within the gene sequence and associated with abnormal lipid showcasing the accelera- Katara due to the ease pro- Dr Hani Najafi , assistant pro- examined the enormous amount conditions like high cholesterol/ some of these variations can aff ect levels. More surprisingly, we saw tion of cultural, innovative, vided for getting in touch fessor of cell and developmental of data that has been generated lipid levels, severe obesity, and the function of the gene. If there that more than 30 diff erent genes and intellectual activities with an increasing number biology at WCM-Q, initiated the from the genome-wide associa- other metabolic diseases. is a strong association between that have a role in lipid metabo- at Katara. of people interested in is- research project fi ve years ago. He tion studies that seek to identify The studies take the gene se- an SNP and a particular charac- lism are potential targets of the The online initiative will sues related to culture, lit- said it was gratifying that research and link specifi c genes with cer- quence and look for SNPs (sin- teristic or disease, that SNP will identifi ed miRNAs.” shed more light on the con- erature, and the arts. The stant outpouring of pro- website will satisfy the grammes on off er across the needs of Katara’s visitors Cultural Village, while pro- by providing them with in- viding an online platform formation, news, images, which interested parties and videos of Katara and Ministry recalls can use to remain abreast its many events,” he said. WCM-Q students’ study ‘could of cultural activities within In addition to hosting both Qatar and abroad. information related to cul- Honda models The website was launched tural events, as well as the during a press conference facilities and amenities overseen by Katara general found at Katara, the new aff ect diabetes drug prescription’ he Ministry of Economy and manager Dr Khaled bin Ib- website bears a modern Commerce, in collaboration with rahim al-Sulaiti. design that is compatible TDomasco, dealer of Honda vehi- “Katara’s new website with all social media plat- esearch conducted by three Weill cles in Qatar, has announced the recall was designed and devel- forms and smart phone Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) of Honda Accord (2001-2007), Pilot oped with only the most operating systems. The in- Rmedical students may have implica- (2003-2008), Civic (2005) and Odys- cutting-edge technology, terface of the new website tions for diabetics and drugs that doctors sey (2002-2004) models due to faulty off ering new user-friendly was programmed accord- select when treating the disease. driver airbag. communication services to ing to the navigation expe- Mu Ji Hwang, of the Class of 2018, and The Ministry said the recall campaign Katara’s guests. These in- rience of its users. Haidar Kubba and Ahmed Mushannen of the comes within the framework of its on- dividuals can access the fa- A daily newsletter is an Class of 2017 helped demonstrate that the going eff orts to protect consumers and cilities and events in Katara additional feature present diabetes drug Metformin also helps protect ensure that car dealers follow up on vehi- through a helpful Google with the new website in the endothelial cells of the body’s vascula- cles’ defects and repair them. Map-guided system. which details about up- ture – the network of blood vessels – from The Ministry will co-ordinate with the “The website also off ers coming events found at the eff ects of high blood glucose levels. dealer to follow up on the maintenance its users more interactive Katara will be published. The information is so signifi cant that a and repair works and communicate with features that provide every This permanent news sec- research paper is now going to be published customers to ensure that the necessary utility necessary, making tion within the website has by the high-impact journal Biochemical repairs are carried out. clear that the restructur- been designed in an at- Pharmacology. The Ministry has urged all customers ing of the website’s inter- tractive way based on the The students were supported by WCM- to report any violations to its Consumer face was based entirely on display of images related Q’s Dr Hong Ding, assistant research pro- Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud making it even more user- to each event featured. fessor of pharmacology; Dr Chris Triggle, Department through the following chan- friendly,” said al-Sulaiti. Yet another remarkable professor of pharmacology; Arun Laksh- nels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@mec. He said Katara’s new component of the new web- manan, postdoctoral associate in pharma- gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Insta- website was designed to site is the ability it will pro- cology; and Suparna Ghosh, research spe- gram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for refl ect the wide spectrum vide to process transactions cialist, in co-authoring the paper, entitled The students along with Dr Hong Ding and Dr Chris Triggle. Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar of taste present within Ka- from all over the world. ‘Metformin improves endothelial function in aortic tissue and microvascular endothe- formin data to convincingly demonstrate its are many alternative recently introduced lial cells subjected to diabetic hyperglycae- protective qualities on the vasculature. This drugs that can be used. However, because mic conditions’. could have signifi cant implications when of the importance of demonstrating a car- Dr Ding, who was the corresponding doctors are selecting drugs with which to diovascular protective action for drugs used author of the paper, said that the students treat diabetic patients. for type 2 diabetes these newly introduced had already been placed second in the oral Dr Ding said: “Metformin is the fi rst drugs should be compared to Metformin to CMC stresses need for presentation category of the Undergradu- line drug used for the treatment of type 2 determine whether they have comparable ate Research Experience Programme for the diabetes and is used daily by approximate- benefi cial eff ects. research, but additional funding from the ly 125mn people worldwide. Our results “Such data will prove very valuable in de- National Priorities Research Programme are of particular signifi cance as although termining the most benefi cial therapeutic extra fl oor permission had allowed them, with the support of Dr Metformin remains the fi rst choice drug approaches to reducing the impact of dia- Triggle’s laboratory, to extend the met- for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, there betes on cardiovascular disease.” By Ayman Adly Qataris to cope with high cost, the Ministry of Municipality and Staff Reporter in particular when looking for Urban Planning (MMUP) should houses for sons to marry and consider relocating the tanks to start a new home. avoid any potential risks. entral Municipal Council CMC member Saeed Mubarak It also called upon Qatar QA celebrates Australia Day with fare discount (CMC) members yesterday al-Rashdi said that the issue has Fuel Company (Woqod) to en- Cstressed the need to al- its various social implications, and sure that all safety and security atar Airways is celebrat- Customers can take advan- Australia with fares starting West Midlands easier access to low Qataris to build three-storey allowing the additional fl oor will measures are in place at the site. ing Australia Day with a tage of the long travel validity from just £590 while enjoying the Australian gateways connect- houses in addition to penthouse. refl ect positively on the local com- The council asked the MMUP Qpromotion off ering on during the promotional off er the Qatar Airways’ award win- ing via the airline’s hub, the Ha- Discussing the rising con- munity, encouraging the young to study the possibility of en- airfares to four Australian cit- and book their tickets for travel ning in-fl ight hospitality and mad International Airport (HIA). struction cost of new houses people to marry and start a family. hancing co-operation between ies in its network: Perth, Mel- from February 1 to December 15. service,” he noted. Qatar Airways will operate and its implications on the lo- The suggestion was approved the private sector and munici- bourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. “With these fabulous fares Qatar Airways’ exception- the Airbus A350 on the Ad- cal community, the CMC mem- by all CMC members and re- palities to support the service Available on bookings un- our customers will be able to al airfares are available from elaide route, for which it is the bers argued that in view of high ferred to legal and services and projects in their respective areas, til January 31, United Kingdom celebrate Australia Day today London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Global Launch Customer. The land and construction cost, utility committees to prepare a in particular, green areas, family (UK) customers can travel to the by embarking on their own Manchester, and Birmingham, new-generation aircraft oper- maximum use of land should be detailed report. At the bi-weekly parks, and public gardens. airline’s four Australian gate- Australian adventure,” said Qa- the airline’s fourth destination ates advanced air condition- allowed to off set the prices. session the CMC also discussed The council also urged the ways with the launch of fl ights to tar Airways country manager, in the UK commencing service ing technology and LED mood CMC member Mohamed bin the risks being faced by Abu MMUP and the Ministry of Envi- Sydney on March 1 and Adelaide UK and Ireland Richard Oliver. on March 30. lighting to enhance the comfort Saleh al-Khayarin said that au- Hamour residents from the fuel ronment to fi nd a quick alternative on May 2, raising the Australian “Whether it is for business The new Birmingham route of passengers while reducing thorities concerned should con- storage tanks in the area. for local farms, closed due to the network to 28 fl ights a week. or leisure, guests can travel to will provide customers in the fatigue after a long fl ight. sider the diffi culties faced by The council recommended that new municipal planning designs.

The training programme in session. Training for customs clearance officers Qatar Chamber (QC) has as customs procedures treaties, and the local launched the third edition and exemptions, types regulations of customs. of the training programmes of customs charges, and The trainees, including a for customs clearance certificate of origin, in considerable number of off icers in co-operation with addition to other practical women for the first time, the General Authority of issues. would be qualified to sit Customs (GAC). The programme gives for a final exam held by the The 13-day programme special focus to the customs GAC to get a professional comprise 77 training hours. terminology, international certification as custom It covers various topics such customs agreements and clearance off icers. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 11 QATAR

Qatar Media Corporation chief meets Sudanese minister

QNA dia relations between the two countries and Managing oil price crisis is Doha means of promoting them. Ankara talks: Turkish minister of la- bour and social security Suleyman Soylu he chairman Qatar Media Corporation met Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey Salem Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani bin Mubarak al-Shafi in Ankara recently. critical issue, says al-Attiyah Tmet yesterday with Sudanese minister The meeting reviewed ties between the two of state at the ministry of information Yaser friendly countries and means of developing Yusuf Ibrahim. The meeting discussed me- them. he dramatic fall in oil prices is not the fi rst Petroleum a normal procedure. HE al-Attiyah is in history and will not be the last. For GCC also a former energy and industry minister. Tcountries high oil prices or low prices “It is normal that the budget falls when the should not be a problem but how to deal with it, revenues fall by 70%. In addition, the govern- pointed out HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, ment should reconsider its priorities... and pre- chairman of Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah pare for solutions to deal with the crisis of falling Foundation for Energy & Sustainable Develop- oil prices,” he pointed out, stressing that such ment. issues should be dealt with calm and without In an interview, HE al-Attiyah told the editor overreaction. in chief of local Arabic daily Arrayah, Saleh bin On constantly increasing real estate prices, Afsan al-Kuwari, that a slide in oil prices often he was of the view that these are not based on has a negative psychological impact. Rumours HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah: Chairman of ground realities. “I am shocked when I hear that spread fast among people and a gloomy and neg- Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah Foundation for the price of a square foot of land in Doha is in the ative image of the economic situation is drawn. Energy & Sustainable Development. range of QR5,000 - 7,000.” He said land prices “However, the situation in reality would not and rental rates normally refl ect on the local be so bad. Yes, there is a real crisis with the rapid “Accordingly, I call upon all not to exaggerate economy. fall in oil prices, and we cannot escape from such the actual situation or draw a gloomy image of He expected that the high prices would fall, a crisis. The most important thing is how we the economy. Qatar is still achieving economic hoping that the rates would reach the pre-2006 manage this crisis and apply adequate solutions. development and such development will go on levels, “as reasonable prices of real estate and For Qatar, thank God, our situation is better and for the upcoming years,” he said. rental rates are good for investors, real estate non-petroleum activities represent half of our Regarding the government budget for 2016, owners, consumers, and the economic stability GDP. Further, we have clear strategies and plans he said that it was normal to see some cuts due of the country”. in place until 2030 and these are being imple- to falling oil revenues, but the cuts are compara- He said that it was not reasonable for com- mented with success and determination. Also, tively simple, when compared with previous panies to pay their expatriate employees higher the government continues to implement its de- years. “Also the recently eff ected hike in gasoline housing allowances than their basic salaries. velopment projects, in particular regarding edu- prices is a normal procedure to reduce budget “We hear that the rent of some shops is in the cation and health and infrastructure. We are also defi cit. Still the new prices are relatively lower range of QR50,000-80,000. Such rates are not keeping pace with the projects for World FIFA than those in some neighbouring countries.” He logical. Such high costs will be transferred by the Cup 2022. also considered the recent downsizing at Qatar trader to the consumer ,” he pointed out.

Domasco holds customer appreciation event

oha Marketing Services value of being a customer-centric Company (Domasco), the company.” Dauthorised distributor for During event, a general presen- the CMC brand in Qatar, hosted a tation about the CMC product line special customer appreciation event highlighted diverse products, serv- for CMC Veryca customers at the ices, and latest off ers. brand’s showroom. Mohamed Majeed, sales and Domasco invited its Veryca cus- marketing manager of Commer- tomers and prospective clientele to cial Vehicles at Domasco, said: join them for an evening and show “CMC customers can now enjoy the company’s continued appre- the benefit of warranty upgrade ciation of its valued relationships from three years per 60,000kms across the industry. Domasco off icials during the company’s appreciation event. to five year per 100,000kms on “This is a way of expressing grati- our entire range of commercial tude to our valued customers for their for having being able to build a strong He added: “In a time when many vehicles that are an essential part continued trust in CMC’s products network,” said Domasco managing large businesses are focused on of the food and hospitality in- and services. We feel truly blessed director Faisal Sharif. profi ts, we remain true to our core dustry.” Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 REGION Many juveniles languishing on Iran death row: Amnesty

AFP hanged - “though in some cases London juvenile off enders have spent over a decade on death row”. “The report paints a deeply ran is the world’s most pro- distressing picture of juvenile lifi c executioner of off enders off enders languishing on death Iconvicted while juveniles, row, robbed of valuable years Amnesty International said yes- of their lives - often after being terday, accusing the Islamic Re- sentenced to death following un- public of using torture and ill- fair trials, including those based treatment to extract confessions on forced confessions extracted from minors. through torture and other ill- The rights group said Iran treatment,” Boumedouha said. “tops the grim global table of ex- Although Iran has signed in- ecutioners of juvenile off enders” ternational conventions on child with 73 recorded executions be- rights and in recent years intro- tween 2005 and 2015, including duced special child courts, Am- at least four last year. nesty urged it to stop sentencing “Iran is one of the few countries minors to death. that continues to execute juve- “Instead of introducing half- Iran President Hassan Rouhani walks with Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday. nile off enders in blatant violation hearted reforms that fall woe- of the absolute legal prohibition fully short, Iran’s authorities on the use of the death penalty must accept that what they really against people under the age of 18 need to do is commute the death years at the time of the crime,” said sentences of all juvenile off end- Amnesty’s Middle East deputy di- ers, and end the use of the death rector Said Boumedouha. penalty against juvenile off end- London-based Amnesty said ers in Iran once and for all,” Bou- most of the known such execu- medouha said. Pope urges Iran to back tions in Iran were for murder, International rights group Re- rape, drug-related off ences and a prieve also issued a statement national security-related off ence yesterday to coincide with Presi- known as “enmity against God”. dent Hassan Rouhani’s trip to Iranian judiciary chief Ayatol- Italy and later France. lah Sadegh Larijani said in 2014 “Concerns have been raised that “we have no execution of that new co-operation agree- Middle East peace eff orts people under the age of 18”. ments between Europe and Iran Amnesty said Iran never offi - could contribute to a surge in Francis urges Rouhani to use the Iranian leader to use Iran’s versions of Francis’s extended stable country in the entire re- and even the Western fringes of cially announces when a person drug-related executions - in- his nation’s important role to important role to promote, to- essay on the environmental gion,” Rouhani said. China. convicted while juvenile is ex- cluding of juvenile off enders,” promote political solutions gether with other countries, challenges faced by the world. “Everyone understood that “Do not regard us as just one ecuted. Reprieve said. to the problems aff licting the “adequate political solutions” Laudato Si (Praise Be) has not the nuclear negotiations repre- country but as a country at the UN fi gures released in 2014 Tehran this month fi nalised a region to the problems affl icting the re- been translated into Farsi. sented a win-win situation for centre of a much larger market,” showed at least 160 people under landmark deal with world pow- gion and to help combat terror- It was the fi rst offi cial visit to both sides. Rouhani said, citing the example 18 on death row in Iran. ers over its disputed nuclear AFP ism and arms traffi cking. the Vatican by an Iranian presi- “Now we have created the of the port of Chabahar on Iran’s Amnesty’s 110-page report programme in an accord many Rome “I thank you for your visit and dent since Mohamed Khatami conditions for investment and southern coast. gives the names and locations of observers say could help end its I hope for peace,” Francis told his was hosted by John Paul II in for the transfer of know-how. Iran is seeking international in- 49 juvenile off enders currently isolation from the West. guest at the end of their meet- 1999. Khatami also attended the There has to be an advantage for vestment to help complete a port facing execution. But it remains accused of seri- ope Francis yesterday ing, when journalists were brief- Polish Pope’s funeral in 2005. both sides: we invite you to in- which will provide a gateway for But it said it believes the real ous rights violations. urged Iran to back peace ly allowed to listen in. Rouhani is on a fi ve-day trip vest and we will provide stabil- Indian companies seeking to do number to be higher than the UN Amnesty alleged that Iran was Peff orts in the Middle East A smiling Rouhani, who pre- to Italy and France looking to ity and ensure that you can make business in Afghanistan and Cen- fi gure as “information about the carrying out unfair and improper as the Islamic Republic’s emer- sented the Pope with a hand- drum up trade and investment adequate returns.” tral Asia, as well as in Iran. use of the death penalty in Iran is trials of minors accused of capi- gence from international iso- made carpet from the ancient to modernise Iran’s economy, He emphasised that all sec- Rouhani also pledged that Te- often shrouded in secrecy”. tal off ences, and using incom- lation took a signifi cant step city of Qom, replied with one of partly by pitching the country tions of Iran’s often-divided po- hran would do nothing to jeop- The group also accused Iran municado detention, solitary forward with President Hassan Francis’s catchphrases. as a beacon of stability in a con- litical class, right up to Supreme ardise its stability and said eco- of breaking international law by confi nement and torture. Rouhani’s fi rst visit to the Vati- “I ask you to pray for me,” he fl ict-wracked region. Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nomic growth could help beat failing to close a penal loophole It documented a “disturb- can. said. “It was a pleasure to meet Speaking to an audience of were fi rmly behind the post- terrorism in the region. allowing a judge to decide that ing escalation” in the number of Fresh from securing the lift- you and I wish you well in your Italian and Iranian business sanctions drive to secure the “We have no intention of at- girls as young as nine and boys as overall death sentences in Iran ing of international sanctions work.” leaders earlier in the day, Rou- trade and investment needed to tacking or invading any other young as 15 bear full criminal re- last year, with at least 830 people imposed over Iran’s nuclear pro- In return for his gift, Rouhani hani also portrayed Iran as the create new roads, rail links, air- country. We have no intention sponsibility - potentially expos- executed between January 1 and gramme, Rouhani spent 40 min- was given a medal depicting St ideal base for companies seeking ports and other infrastructure. of interfering in the aff airs of any ing them to capital punishment. November 1, 2015. utes at the Vatican talking pri- Martin cutting his cloak in half a foothold in a region of 300mn Rouhani outlined a vision of other country,” he said. It said the report shows that Iran is behind only China in vately to Pope Francis, a strong to give to a poorly clothed beg- people, reassuring would-be in- Iran being transformed into a “A lack of development cre- young people condemned to the total number of annual exe- backer of the deal with Tehran. gar. vestors their contracts would be hub for intra-regional economic ates the conditions for extrem- death in Iran spend seven years on cutions it carries out, the watch- In a statement afterwards, the The Iranian leader also went honoured. development, linking the Middle ism, unemployment recruits death row on average before being dog said. Vatican said Francis had urged away with English and Arabic “Iran is the safest, the most East to South and Central Asia soldiers for terrorism.”

UAE man on trial ‘IS leader’ Khomeini grandson excluded from polls A United Arab Emirates man accused of seeking to carry out attacks on targets including Abu AFP standing for the assembly, which Khomeini is the grandson of name would have been returned (Monday)” that his father had the exam,” he wrote. Dhabi’s Formula 1 circuit claimed Tehran monitors the work of Iran’s Su- Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader to politics. not been classed as “mojtahed”, The Assembly of Experts is to be the local leader of the preme Leader, Ayatollah Ali of the 1979 Islamic revolution At 43, Khomeini is signifi- or suffi ciently learned in Islam, comprised solely of clerics. A fi - Islamic State group, newspapers Khamenei. that ended the reign of US- cantly younger than most of to take a place on the assembly, nal list of candidates is expected reported yesterday. The man ran has excluded Hassan With an eight-year term of backed Shah Mohamed Reza the current members of As- he wrote. on February 9. “appointed himself as the chief” of Khomeini, grandson of the offi ce, its 88 members may also Pahlavi. sembly. A member of the Guardian Around 800 candidates an- the group, which controls swathes Ifounder of the Islamic Re- be responsible for picking the The elder Khomeini, a fi re- But he was not verifi ed as hav- Council said on January 5 that nounced bids in December to of Iraq and Syria, The National public and a cleric with ties to 76-year-old’s eventual succes- brand conservative who railed ing suffi cient religious compe- Khomeini had failed to attend a join the assembly, opening the daily cited a witness as telling a reformist politicians, from con- sor. against pervasive Western infl u- tence to contest the ballot, his qualifying exam. door to the verification proc- court during his trial. He was mar- testing elections to the country’s The rejected candidates have ence, died in 1989. son said on his Instagram ac- But in his post Khomeini’s ess. ried to Alaa Bader al-Hashemi, an powerful Assembly of Experts. until Saturday to appeal. He remains revered - his im- count, which has 199,000 fol- 18-year-old son cast doubt on A spokesman for the Central Emirati woman executed in July The decision, revealed by Voting for the assembly will age present in every public of- lowers. that being the grounds for his fa- Elections Supervising Com- for the militant-inspired murder Khomeini’s son yesterday, was take place on February 26, the fi ce, on Iranian banknotes and In a post including a picture ther’s exclusion. mittee, the vetting arm of the of US school teacher Ibolya Ryan, taken by the Guardian Council, same day as parliamentary polls. on countless murals in Tehran of his father studying religious “In my opinion the reason Guardian Council, said 166 47, in the washroom of an Abu a conservative-dominated com- Following Iran’s recent nucle- and other cities. texts, Ahmad Khomeini said the for non-verification is clear to candidates had been approved Dhabi shopping mall in December mittee that decides who can run ar deal with world powers led by His grandson’s candidacy for Guardian Council verdict came everyone, especially given that for the Assembly election, 111 2014. The couple had performed a for public offi ce. the US, both elections are seen as the assembly would have been despite “testimony from dozens some others’ ijtehad (“knowl- were not authorised, 207 were “symbolic ceremony to pledge al- Khomeini was among hun- crucial to shaping the country’s the fi rst time since the late lead- of religious authorities”. edge” in Farsi) has been veri- disqualified and 158 had with- legiance” to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, dreds of candidates ruled out of future direction. er’s death that the famous family “It became defi nite last night fied without them sitting for drawn. the IS leader, the witness said. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 13 ARAB WORLD Winter storm adds to Gazans’ misery Warring parties get invitation to Syria peace talks

Reuters says has lost legitimacy and Amman, Geneva must leave power. But the opposition has been increas- ingly critical of US policy. he UN has invited Hijab said earlier this month Syria’s government the US had backtracked on Tand opposition to its position over Syria, sof- peace talks in Geneva on tening its stance to accom- Friday. modate Russia. The UN Special Envoy Diplomacy has repeatedly for Syria, Staff an de Mis- failed to resolve the confl ict tura, sent out invitations to Staff an de Mistura: the UN that has killed 250,000 peo- the delayed talks yesterday, special Envoy for Syria ple and forced millions from without saying who had their homes, spawning a been invited or how many and other allies including refugee crisis in neighbour- A Palestinian youth sitting on a street outside his damaged house during a winter storm in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip yesterday. His home groups might participate. Iranian fi ghters, has already ing states and Europe. was damaged during the 50-day war waged by Israel in the summer of 2014. Earlier, the opposition said it will attend. De Mistura is the third in- cast doubt on whether it The HNC has however ternational envoy for Syria. would go to Geneva, ac- repeatedly said the govern- His two predecessors - Kofi cusing the US of adopting ment and its allies must Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi unacceptable Iranian and halt bombardments and lift - both quit. Russian ideas on solving the blockades of besieged areas Preparations for the talks confl ict. before it will join talks. have been beset by problems A decision by the opposi- Opposition offi cial Asaad including a dispute over who tion’s recently formed High al-Zoubi, who is due to head should represent the oppo- Negotiations Committee the HNC delegation, told sition. (HNC) on whether to attend Reuters that without the Russia has sought to ex- would be taken at a meet- implementation of goodwill pand the opposition delega- UN chief slams ing in Riyadh but partici- steps including the release tion to include a powerful pants appeared not to have of detainees “there will be Kurdish faction that con- reached a common position no negotiations”. trols wide areas of northern late yesterday. Refl ecting opposition Syria. The main opposition A Western diplomat said misgivings about the proc- says the Kurdish PYD party the Geneva talks could not ess, he told Arabic news should be part of the gov- be convened if the HNC channel Al-Hadath that ernment delegation. Israeli settlements were to stay away, and de US Secretary of State John Turkey said it would not Mistura would have to fi nd Kerry had tabled Iranian and attend if the PYD was in- a face-saving way to avoid Russian ideas about Syria at vited. Israel confirmed on Thursday the complete collapse of a recent meeting with oppo- The PYD, which is fi ght- that it would appropriate a the process, perhaps by an- sition leader Riad Hijab. ing Islamic State and has large tract of fertile land in the nouncing a further delay. “It was not comfort- enjoyed military support occupied West Bank The main Syrian Kurd- able for us for America ... from the US, is a terrorist ish party said it had not to adopt what came in the group and has no place with Reuters been invited, a move some Iranian and Russian initia- the opposition at the nego- New York interpreted as intended to tives,” Zoubi said. tiating table, Turkish For- keep Turkey, which regards The US special envoy for eign Minister Mevlut Cavu- Syria’s Kurdish fi ghters as Syria, Michael Ratney, urged soglu said. N Secretary-General Ban Ki- terrorists, engaged in the the opposition to attend. PYD leader Saleh Mus- moon yesterday slammed Is- process. “Our advice to the Syr- lim, who earlier told Reuters Urael’s settlement activities as De Mistura has said the ian opposition is to take ad- he expected his party to be “provocative acts” that raise ques- Geneva meeting will fi rst vantage of this opportunity asked to Geneva, said he tions about the nation’s commit- seek a ceasefi re and later to put the intentions of the not received an invitation ment to a two-state solution amid work towards a political set- regime to the test and to and was not aware that any growing Palestinian frustration over tlement. The talks are ex- expose in front of interna- Kurdish representatives had nearly 50 years of occupation. pected to last for six months, tional public opinion which been asked to come. The Palestinians want an inde- with diplomats shuttling are the parties serious in Russian Foreign Minis- pendent state in the West Bank, Gaza between rival delegations in reaching a political settle- ter Sergei Lavrov said ear- and East Jerusalem, areas Israel oc- separate rooms. ment in Syria and which are lier it would be impossible to cupied in a 1967 war. The last round The Syrian government, not,” he said. reach a peace agreement in of peace talks broke down in April which is clawing back terri- The US has supported the Syria without inviting Kurds 2014, and Israeli-Palestinian vio- Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressing a Security Council meeting on the Middle East at UN headquarters in tory from the rebels with the opposition to Syrian Presi- to join the negotiating proc- lence has surged in recent months. New York yesterday. help of Russian air strikes dent Bashar al-Assad, who it ess. Israel confi rmed on Thursday that it would appropriate a large tract of He said frustration was growing states and go beyond not rendering Freedom of Information Act request, Russia strikes have helped ‘turn around’ situation, says Lavrov fertile land in the occupied West among Palestinians. aid or assistance to holding Israel the group said the housing ministry Bank. The land is near Jordan in an Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin accountable for its actions,” Man- was seeking to build 55,548 units in Air strikes by the Russian military in support ports that Russia’s late military intelligence chief area where Israel already has many Netanyahu dismissed Ban’s remarks. sour said. the West Bank - including two new of forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have Igor Sergun had travelled to Syria to ask Assad settlement farms built on land Pal- US ambassador to the UN Saman- On Monday, a spokeswoman for settlements - of which more than helped turn the tide in Syria, Russian Foreign to resign. “No one asked for political asylum and estinians seek for a state. tha Power said Washington strongly the Israeli settlements watchdog 8,300 homes would be in E1. Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow yesterday. no one off ered anything of the kind.” Ban said he was “deeply troubled” opposed settlement activity. Peace Now said that Israel had ap- E1 and the adjacent Maaleh Adu- Lavrov said that the Russian air force’s strikes Russia has staunchly supported Assad’s by reports that the Israeli govern- “Steps aimed at advancing the proved plans to build 153 new settler mim settlement form an Israeli had “really helped to turn around the situation beleaguered regime and said that his removal ment had approved plans for more Israeli settlement programme ... are homes in the occupied West Bank, buff er east of Jerusalem that the Pal- in the country, helped towards reducing the could not be a prerequisite for a deal to end than 150 new homes in “illegal set- fundamentally incompatible with Hagit Ofran said the plans involved estinians say would divide the West territory controlled by terrorists” since Moscow the conflict, which has left more than 260,000 tlements in the occupied West Bank”. the two-state solution and raise le- small settlements in the Ariel area in Bank and badly hurt the possibility launched a bombing campaign at Assad’s people dead and millions displaced. “These provocative acts are bound gitimate questions about Israel’s the northern West Bank, the Carmel of a contiguous Palestinian state. request on September 30. The West has accused Russia - whose jets to increase the growth of settler long-term intentions,” Power told settlement in the Hebron area and the “The area of Maale Adumim and Russia’s top diplomat also denied reports that carried out more than 5,000 combat sorties in populations, further heighten ten- the council. Gush Etzion settlement bloc. E1 is one of the most sensitive areas Russia had asked long-time ally Assad to step Syria last year - of mainly targeting moderate sions and undermine any prospects About 550,000 Jewish settlers live According to the NGO, the move in terms of the chances for two state down and off ered him political asylum. rebels fighting the Assad regime as well as for a political road ahead,” Ban told a in the West Bank and East Jerusa- marks the end of an informal con- solution,” Peace Now wrote. “This is not true,” Lavrov said of media re- inflicting civilian casualties. UN Security Council meeting on the lem, according to Israeli government struction freeze in the Palestinian “For these reasons, whenever an Middle East. and think-tank statistics. About territory that lasted 18 months. Israeli leader tries to promote the “Continued settlement activi- 350,000 Palestinians live in East Je- Peace Now said on December 28 plans in E1, the international com- ties are an aff ront to the Palestin- rusalem and 2.7mn in West Bank. that Israel was working to revive and munity strongly condemns them.” ian people and to the international Riyad Mansour, the chief Pales- extend plans for new Jewish settler The United States, the United Na- community,” he said. “They rightly tinian delegate at the UN, called on homes in the contentious area of the tions and the European Union op- raise fundamental questions about the Security Council take action occupied West Bank known as E1. pose all Israeli settlement building Israel’s commitment to a two-state against Israeli settlements. In a report it said was based on but have voiced particular concern solution.” “It must involve measures by all government data obtained under a about plans for E1. Mass grave of IS Israeli court to rule victims found on fasting journalist

AFP tants succeeded in overrunning Ramadi the city. AFP He has been refusing food since Doctor Shakir Ahmed al-Hajj Ramallah November 25 in protest against the said that medical staff were work- “torture and ill treatment that he ecurity forces found a mass ing to disinter the victims and that was subjected to during interro- grave in the Iraqi city of Ra- “dozens” of bodies had been re- srael’s top court will this week gation”, according to Addameer, a Smadi containing the remains moved from the grave so far, while rule on whether to release a hun- Palestinian human rights organi- of at least 18 people killed by the the work was still ongoing. Iger-striking Palestinian journal- sation. Islamic State (IS) group, police said And Sabah Karhout, the head of ist who is described as being close to Shin Bet, the Israeli domestic se- yesterday. the Anbar provincial council, con- death, his lawyer said yesterday. curity service, claimed Qiq was ar- Ramadi was recaptured at the fi rmed that the grave was discov- Jawad Boulus said the Supreme rested for “terror activity”. end of last month from IS, which ered and said the victims had either Court in Jerusalem will meet today Qiq’s wife Faihaa told AFP at their overran large parts of Iraq in 2014 been shot or beheaded. to decide whether to scrap Mohamed home in Dura yesterday that her hus- and has repeatedly carried out mass Militants had held shifting parts al-Qiq’s detention. band had been wrongfully detained. killings and other atrocities in areas of Anbar capital Ramadi since early The lawyer added that Qiq’s or- “He is suff ering from many com- it controls. 2014, but IS only succeeded in over- gans are on the verge of failing after plications, he couldn’t talk and “So far, we have removed 18 bod- running the entirety of the city last 62 days without food, and that he couldn’t identify his lawyer or even ies including fi ve members of the May. would be too ill to attend Wednes- see him,” she said. police, and work is continuing to re- Iraqi forces recaptured Ramadi day’s hearing. “Mohamed is a Palestinian jour- move the remaining victims,” police after months of fi ghting during Qiq, a 33-year-old father of two nalist who was only covering the sit- Major Tareq Abdulkarim told AFP. which surrounding areas were re- and a correspondent for Saudi Ara- uation in the West Bank and he was The mass grave in the Al-Jamiya taken from the militants, setting up bia’s Almajd TV network, was ar- arrested because of it,” she added. area of central Ramadi, which was the fi nal push into the city centre. rested on November 21 at his home Qiq was jailed for a month in 2003 found on Monday, is “expected to IS has suff ered major losses since in the West Bank city of Ramallah. and then for 13 months in 2004 for contain the bodies of 40 victims”, the height of its territorial control He is being held under Israel’s Hamas-related activities. Abdulkarim said. in 2014, but still controls signifi cant controversial administrative deten- In 2008, he was sentenced to 16 He added that the victims were areas of Anbar and Nineveh prov- tion law, which allows the police months on charges linked to his ac- from Ramadi and were executed ince to its north, as well as in neigh- to hold suspects for renewable six- tivities on the student council at the by IS in May 2015, when the mili- bouring Syria. month periods without trial. West Bank’s Birzeit University. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 AFRICA Senegal quizzes 900 in Raising awareness anti-terror operation

AFP Kenya troops abandon camp to Shebaab Dakar Kenyan soldiers have abandoned a 100 soldiers in the attack. The camp in the southern Somali town militants are seeking to drive the AU enegal said yesterday it had of El Adde following an attack by force out of Somalia. interrogated some 900 peo- Shebaab, a military spokesman Kenyan off icials have not yet Sple over a three-day period as said, and the Islamist militants said revealed the death toll but newspa- part of eff orts to prevent attacks by yesterday they had taken full control per pictures of coff ins draped with Islamist militants following a series of the base. Kenyan flags bringing back dead of strikes in the region. The Kenyan troops, part of an soldiers has increased pressure on The former French colony has a African Union (AU) force in Somalia President Uhuru Kenyatta and his reputation for stability in an other- (AMISOM), took heavy losses when military chiefs. wise turbulent region, having never Shebaab launched a dawn raid on Shebaab has inflated casualty fig- suff ered a major attack, despite the camp near the Kenyan border on ures in the past, while other off icial sharing a border with Mali where January 15. estimates often play down numbers. Al Qaeda-linked fi ghters have been David Obonyo, spokesman for In a statement, Shebaab spokes- active in desert areas for years. the Kenya Defence Forces, said the man Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, But two high-profi le attacks tar- troops had vacated the camp, and said the group was now in control of geting foreigners in the capitals of were now stationed nearby. the town. Mali and Burkina Faso since No- Shebaab, which has links to Al “This morning we peacefully vember have added to signs that an Qaeda and seeks to overthrow captured El Adde,” he told Reuters, Islamist insurgency is spreading, Somalia’s Western-backed govern- in a claim that was echoed by local Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma is featured on an Ebola’s information board in a street of Freetown. prompting Senegal to boost security. ment, said it had killed more than residents. “Nearly 900 people were called in for questioning in the context of the security campaign led by with a range of crimes not related to Dakar and Abidjan, both major hubs national police amid the terror- militant activity, such as drunken- for Westerners working in the aid, ist threat,” said police spokesman ness and traffi c off ences, he added. diplomacy and fi nancial sectors. Henry Boumy Ciss, referring to a Seydi Gassama, executive di- “We want to avoid an unneces- weekend campaign in the capital rector for Amnesty International sary psychosis among both Ameri- Dakar and the nearby city of Thies. in Senegal, said that police were cans and Ivorians,” the US embassy A second security source con- authorised to conduct such opera- in Abidjan said on Sunday, urging fi rmed the information, adding tions provided there were govern- citizens to remain prudent. Kenya to destroy that 925 people had been ques- ment instructions. But everywhere there are signs of tioned. However, the group will close- heightened security. Ciss said those interrogated were ly watch for any potential rights Police offi cers stop and search not targeted because they were ter- abuses in the heightened security vehicles near Dakar’s beachside rorism suspects, but as part of a context, given a history of police restaurants while armed guards are general vigilance campaign. excesses, he said. conducting patrols through West- Most were subsequently released Diplomats have denied rumours ern style shopping centres in both ivory stockpile but some were held and charged of a specifi c threat to capitals of capitals. AFP South Africa bans leopard hunting for one year Nairobi Tanzania threatens South Africa has imposed a year-long ban ing the species given that the size of the on leopard hunting in 2016 in a decision population is unknown. to deport migrants enya said yesterday it will torch its hailed by conservation activists. “Until we know population numbers from Ethiopia Uganda marks Museveni’s vast stockpile of ivory at a star- “Provincial conservation authorities and carrying capacity we should not hunt Kstudded summit to include Holly- were informed that leopard hunts should them,” said Andrew Muir of the Wilderness anzanian authorities have wood celebrities, presidents and business not be authorised in 2016,” the Department Foundation. threatened to deport hun- 30-year rule ahead of poll leaders against “poaching and illegal trade of Environmental Aff airs said, adding that Kelly Marnewick, carnivore conserva- Tdreds of Ethiopian migrants in ivory.” the ban would be reviewed at the end of tion manager at the Environmental Wildlife who have crossed into the country The fi re will be eight times the size of the year. Trust, added: “It’s important to ensure that illegally while trying to make their AFP tion candidates being infl uential any ivory stockpile destroyed so far. The department said it was acting on any wildlife trade we do is sustainable. If we way to South Africa. Kampala former members of the ruling “Kenya plans to use the occasion to recommendations from South Africa’s can’t do that, it’s highly problematical. We The east African country is a party, critics say they struggle to torch as many as 120 tonnes of ivory, the Scientific Authority, which had suggested need a trade ban until we can get to that.” major transit route for migrants, off er a convincing alternative or largest stockpile of ivory ever destroyed an intervention to ensure the survival of the The mismanagement of trophy hunting used by smugglers to ferry Ethio- ganda yesterday held cel- to eff ectively criticise a system by any country, as proof of our commit- leopard population. and the illegal trade in leopard fur are the pians and Somalis to South Africa ebrations to mark 30 years they created and benefi tted from. ment to zero tolerance for poaching and Under the Convention on International main threats to South Africa’s population of and Europe. Uin power of President “Since independence, Ugan- illegal ivory trade, “ presidential spokes- Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna the big cat, according to the government. Charles Kitwanga, Tanzania’s Yoweri Museveni, as the veteran dans have never experienced a man Manoah Esipisu told reporters. and Flora (CITES), South Africa can allocate Dignitaries from South Africa’s Zulu com- home aff airs minister, said the leader campaigns for a fourth turnover of power through the Kenya said “several” heads of state were 150 permits each year for the trophy-hunt- munity traditionally wear animal skins for government had launched a spe- decade in power. ballot box, and many question expected to attend, along with Hollywood ing of leopards destined for export. ceremonies, particularly leopard fur. cial operation to arrest and prose- Museveni is widely expected why February’s poll will be any actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole The size of South Africa’s leopard popula- South Africa earns substantial revenues cute Ethiopians and other foreign- to win another fi ve-year term at diff erent,” wrote Gabrielle Lynch Kidman, and business tycoons George tion remains a mystery. from selling permits to wealthy foreign- ers living or working illegally in the the head of the ruling ex-rebel from Britain’s University of War- Soros, Paul Allen, Howard Buff et and “We just don’t know how leopards are ers willing to pay thousands or even tens country. National Resistance Movement wick, for the regional Nation Me- Michael Bloomberg. faring in South Africa,” said Guy Balme of of thousands of dollars to hunt one of the Last month, police detained (NRM) party. dia group. Others Kenya expects to attend include environmental group Panthera. “They’re “big five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or more than 40 Ethiopian migrants, Uganda’s Daily Monitor news- “Museveni and the NRM are conservation icon and BBC legend David secretive, mainly nocturnal, solitary and buff alo). reportedly abandoned by their paper marked the day with an ar- spending a lot of money on their Attenborough, British musician Elton range over huge areas.” Hunting generates some 6.2mn rand agent who had promised to smug- ticle pointing out global changes campaigns - with many arguing John, as well as former basketball star Conservation groups hailed the year- ($375mn) for South Africa every year, ac- gle them to South Africa. They since Museveni took power in that expenditure is even higher Yao Ming, who has led campaigns in his long ban, saying it was crucial to protect- cording to the environment ministry. were crammed in a two-roomed 1986, after Milton Obote and Tito than 2011 when excess spending homeland of China to raise awareness of house in a suburb of Dar es Salaam. Okello were toppled. helped fuel infl ation and deplete the damage elephant poaching causes. “There are too many foreigners The state-owned New Vision state coff ers,” Lynch added. President Uhuru Kenyatta set fi re in Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has cham- decorative objects and much of it is smug- who live in our country illegally, newspaper praised the ruling Political candidates on all sides March 2015 to a giant pile of 15 tonnes pioned the destruction of seized ivory. gled to China, where many increasingly we will not hesitate to arrest and NRM’s economic advances. The have raised fears of violence, with of elephant ivory, which conservation- Leakey said the average weight of an wealthy shoppers are buying ivory trin- deport them,” Kitwanga told the day is a public holiday, National accusations of police brutality ists said then was the largest ever burned elephant’s pair of tusks was around 36 ki- kets as a sign of fi nancial success. Thomson Reuters Foundation. Liberation Day. and claims opposition groups are in Africa. Then, the pile of tusks burned los, meaning the stockpile represents the Kenya’s stockpile, if illegally sold on the Ethiopia is experiencing its Seven opposition candidates organising militia forces. made a dramatic 3m tall pyre of tusks with death of around 4,000 animals. black market at current prices, could be worst drought in 50 years, with are vying to end Museveni’s rule Rights groups have warned huge fl ames, burning for several days until But other conservationists put a tusk’s worth some $270mn, but conservation- more than 10mn people unable in the February 18 poll, but few that volunteer police recruited the ivory turned to ash. weight to be now far lower, meaning the ists say sale of ivory only serves to fuel to feed themselves because their expect Museveni to lose. in the run-up to polls should be At the time, Kenyatta said he set fi re to stockpile could represent the deaths of further poaching. crops and animals have died. Museveni will face his stiff est suspended, accusing them of ivory as a message because he wanted “fu- even double that number. It is estimated that more than 30,000 The Ethiopian migrants who opposition from Kizza Besigye, brutal assaults and extortion. ture generations of Kenyans, Africans and The ivory includes tusks seized from elephants are killed for their tusks every pass through Tanzania travel a three-time loser for the Forum Museveni is one of Africa’s the entire world to experience the majesty poachers and from animals who died nat- year. thousands of kilometres packed for Democratic Change (FDC), longest ruling presidents, behind and beauty of these magnifi cent beasts.” urally. The international ivory trade was into trucks. In June 2012, some 45 and Amama Mbabazi, a former Equatorial Guinea’s President The promised destruction of the re- The campaign is being organised by bil- banned in 1989 but one-off sales of ivory Ethiopian migrants were found prime minister and ruling party Theodore Obiang Nguema, Ango- maining stockpile is now slated for April lionaire Russian publisher Evgeny Leb- stockpiles have since been permitted and dead after they suff ocated in a stalwart now running for the new la’s Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, Zim- 29 and 30. edev, owner of Britain’s Independent and trade in old ivory is also allowed, giving container truck transporting them Go-Forward party. babwe’s President Robert Mugabe Veteran conservationist Richard Evening Standard newspapers. criminal smugglers cover for their illegal in central Tanzania. But with the two main opposi- and Cameroon’s Paul Biya. Leakey, chairman of the government’s Ivory is sought out for jewellery and trade. Gbagbo in the dock 5 years after deadly unrest

AFP Charles Ble Goude, Gbagbo, 70, up as a beacon of democracy. ting unspeakable abuses including The Hague now faces four charges of crimes Gbagbo and his support- gang rapes, torture, and murder,” against humanity, accused of ers - some 1,500 of whom plan added Parampreet Singh, senior devising and implementing a to protest outside the modern counsel at Human Rights Watch. ormer Ivory Coast presi- plan to extend his 10-year rule glass-fronted ICC building - in During a trial likely to last dent Laurent Gbagbo will through a brutal campaign of turn accused Paris of plotting to three to four years, prosecutors Ftomorrow becomes the fi rst murders and rapes. oust him and charged Ouattara’s intend to present 5,300 elements ex-head of state to stand trial at Both men will be asked how they camp with retributions dubbed of proof including videos, as well the world’s only permanent war plead at the start of their joint trial “victor’s justice”. as 138 potential witnesses. crimes court, fi ve years after Thursday in the new ICC premises Since being transferred to The The charges focus on four triggering political unrest which nestled in the sand dunes of the Hague in 2011, Gbagbo has vowed events, including an attack on left 3,000 dead. Dutch city of The Hague. to unveil the truth behind the December 2010 on Ouattara Gbagbo’s highly-anticipated Prosecutors allege that with 2010-2011 events. supporters when 33 people were appearance in the dock at the the police and army as well as Lawyers for Ble Goude told killed during a march to an Ivo- International Criminal Court young supporters formed into a AFP he would plead “not guilty” rian television station. (ICC) is the culmination of the militia dubbed the “Young Pa- as he was “determined to estab- Another incident was the shell- upheaval which wracked the west triots”, Gbagbo and members of lish the truth about all the charg- ing of the Abobo market quarter African nation when he refused his inner circle such as Ble Goude es levelled against him.” in March 2011 in northern Abidjan to stand down after losing elec- fought to stay in power. “Quite simply the facts show in which 40 people died. tions in November 2010 to bitter Those killed or injured were that Charles Ble Goude is not a After the pleas, ICC prosecutor rival Alassane Ouattara. “victims of attacks by public criminal as they would have us Fatou Bensouda will lay out the The political standoff triggered forces or organised groups, act- believe,” said his lawyer Claver case, followed by representatives an international crisis, with the Eu- ing under the control of a certain N’Dry. of 726 victims, and then the de- ropean Union, the US and former hierarchy,” Richard Nsanzaba- After years of delays partly due fence lawyers. colonial power France all recognis- ganwa, from the ICC prosecutor’s to Gbagbo’s claims of ill-health, Gbagbo’s wife Simone is also ing Ouattara as the winner. offi ce, told AFP. “These were not human rights lawyers say the wanted for crimes against hu- Weeks of tensions dragged into improvised attacks.” trial will provide “redress that manity by the ICC, but the gov- a bloody fi ve-month stalemate But the defence denies there is long overdue, and shed light ernment refuses to hand her over. with Gbagbo holed up in the was an organised plan and in- on the power structure that led In October, Ouattara was re- fortress-like presidential palace, Gbagbo … day in court sists Gbagbo was a champion of to mass abuses during the post- elected in a landslide victory with until he was eventually arrested democracy in his nation - the election crisis.” almost 84% of the vote in the na- by Ouattara’s troops aided by UN Gbagbo’s notorious wife Lady”, was sentenced to 20 years for her role in the events. world’s top cocoa producer and “Pro-Gbagbo forces wreaked tion’s fi rst peaceful vote in more and French forces. Simone, known as “the Iron jail last year at a trial in Abidjan Alongside his former ally, a regional powerhouse once held havoc in Cote d’Ivoire, commit- than a decade. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 15 AMERICAS Washington digs its way out after massive blizzard Government services are the US offi ce of personnel man- erating on a reduced schedule. shire. “Cape May County area steadily returning to normal agement said late on Monday. Residents of New Jersey’s was the least fl ooded area during Federal offi ces closed at noon on southern shorefront towns on Hurricane Sandy and had almost Reuters Friday ahead of the storm. Monday cleaned up homes and no damage in that area.” Washington District of Columbia mayor businesses fl ooded by a storm No immediate estimate of Muriel Bowser told reporters that surge during the weekend’s mas- the fi nancial toll of the fl ooding public schools would stay closed sive blizzard and rued what they damage was available but rein- he snowbound Washing- until today but city offi ces would described as Governor Chris surance broker Aon Benfi eld said ton area was resuming open as normal. Christie’s dismissive treatment that total insured losses along the Tpartial business yester- Many school districts in the of the damage. East Coast will run into the bil- day as trains and buses restarted Baltimore area, which received a The storm that walloped lions of dollars. near-normal service, while fed- record 29.2 inches of snow, and Washington and New York hit Hand had no patience for eral offi ces remained closed fol- in the Washington region were coastal Cape May County in New Christie’s words, saying, “It lowing a massive blizzard that set to be closed, according to lo- Jersey with tides higher than shows you how out of touch he is hammered the US east coast. cal media websites. those measured during 2012’s with what’s going on in his state.” District of Columbia city gov- Washington metropolitan area Superstorm Sandy, sending salt Angry comments from New ernment and most local govern- transit authority general man- water into properties and forcing Jersey residents immediately ments in the Washington and ager Paul Wiedefeld told report- hundreds of people to evacuate. fl ashed across Twitter and raged Baltimore region are set to reopen ers that all rail services except the Jim Hand voiced exasperation into Monday, some showing im- after round-the-clock cleanup Silver Line in Virginia would run as he surveyed the damage at ages of street fl ooding and tagged from the weekend snowstorm on a modifi ed weekday schedule. Fred’s Tavern in Stone Harbor, a to Christie with comments like that killed at least 35 people in 10 Bus services would expand bar and liquor store about 56km “nothing to see here”. states and the US capital. to a “severe snow” schedule, down the coast from Atlantic Christie spokesman Brian New York was largely back to he said. The transit system had City. Hand, a member of the Murray said that the governor’s normal on Monday despite near- shut down on Friday ahead of the third generation of his family to words had been taken out of con- record snowfall, with public storm and resumed limited serv- own the shop, said that the prop- text. schools and the New York Stock ice on Sunday with free travel. erty’s kitchen, electrical wiring “Cape May County and lower Exchange open. The Federal Aviation Admin- and fl oors would all need to be Atlantic County did not sustain But Washington and its istration said airlines were ex- replaced.to the direct hit from Sandy suf- sprawling Maryland and Vir- pected to increase traffi c slowly .”We’re doing the same thing fered by more northern parts of ginia suburbs were mostly at a in Boston, the New York area, today we did after Sandy,” said the Jersey Shore. But the gov- standstill from the blizzard that Philadelphia and the Washington Hand, 61. ernor did not say they were not dumped more than 2 feet in the region. He was one of a handful of lo- impacted by Sandy,” Murray said. The sun begins to rise over the Washington Monument yesterday. area. About 500 US fl ights were cal business owners to criticise “He only cautioned news report- Hundreds of thousands of fed- cancelled yesterday, less than a comments by Christie, a Repub- ers to use some context when ing nearly $50bn in damage. er Maggie Day sprayed an anti- the 2012 storm and was working eral workers stayed at home on third of the number called off on lican White House contender pointing to Saturday’s fl ooding in Christie said in a statement on bacterial mix over her ruined with a “water excavator” to get a Monday as the subway system, Monday, according to Flighta- who told CNN on Sunday that he Cape May and saying it’s ‘Worse Monday that he had sent teams merchandise as she surveyed handle on the latest damage. the second-busiest in the United ware.com, an air travel website. had “no concerns” about fl ood- than Sandy.’” to the storm-hit areas to deter- the damage to her shop in Stone “It’s not even help that I’m States, and roads were cleared. The house of representatives ing as a result of the storm. Sandy was directly responsi- mine whether the damage was Harbor in Cape May County. asking for,” Day said. “It’s just Federal offi ces were likely to has called off all votes until next “Keep this in perspective,” ble for 147 deaths in the United severe enough to seek federal as- “I did walk away from Sandy a little bit of compassion with a remain closed, but emergency week as the snow hampered law- Christie told CNN during a one- States, destroying more than sistance, a process that he said with a lot of damage,” said Day, 39, public leader on TV. You can’t and telework employees should makers from returning from their day return to the state from the 650,000 homes around the could take days. who had to replace fl ooring, walls, pooh-pooh it publicly when adhere to their agencies’ policies, home districts. The senate is op- campaign trail in New Hamp- greater New York area and caus- Children’s clothing store own- insulation and merchandise after you’re a leader.” Obama bans solitary for ‘Boutique’ NY offi cer reckless igloo built in shooting of black juveniles in federal jails in N York man: prosecutor

Reuters confi nement has been linked to depression, AFP Washington alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to New Yorker Reuters anyone. The trial’s fi rst wit- interact with others and the potential for vio- New York ness, building resident Melissa lent behavior. Lopez, described relaying in- S president Barack Obama in an opin- He said states that have worked to cut back n enterprising New structions from a dispatcher to ion piece published in the Washington their use of the technique have seen drops in Yorker sought to turn a s Akai Gurley bled to Gurley’s friend, who was des- UPost on Monday announced that he assaults on staff and more prisoners engage in Awalloping snowfall into death in a New York perately trying to revive him. is banning solitary confi nement for juveniles rehabilitation programmes. a money spinner by building an Astairwell, the police of- “He’s not breathing!” in federal prisons, citing concerns about its Obama said he hoped the changes he has igloo in his backyard and adver- fi cer who fi red the fatal bullet the friend, Melissa Butler, harmful psychological eff ects. ordered in the treatment of federal prisoners tising it as a boutique getaway was upstairs arguing with his screamed during a recording of The move comes amid a national move- would serve as a model for reforms by state for two on Airbnb for $200 a partner about whether to call the 911 tape played in court. ment demanding criminal justice reform, and local corrections systems. night. in the incident, prosecutors Lopez said Liang stood by which was sparked by numerous high-profi le “There are as many as 100,000 people held But freelance art director said at the start of the offi cer’s “doing nothing the whole time.” police killings in recent years. in solitary confi nement in US prisons - in- Patrick Horton said his icy list- trial on Monday. A police offi cer has been In the opinion piece, Obama also said soli- cluding juveniles and people with mental ill- ing lasted on the property-shar- New York Police Department indicted on a misdemeanor tary confi nement could no longer be used as nesses,” Obama said. “As many as 25,000 in- ing website just six hours before Offi cer Peter Liang is charged charge for using a Taser on a a punishment for low-level infractions. He mates are serving months, even years of their he was informed that it was be- with manslaughter and other councilman in Prairie View, the said the package of changes would include an President Obama steps off Marine One upon sentences alone in a tiny cell, with almost no ing removed for not meeting oc- crimes in the November 20, city where a black woman died expansion of treatment for mentally ill pris- arrival at the White House in Washington. human contact.” cupancy standards. 2014, shooting inside a Brook- in custody in a case that raised oners and an increase in the amount of time Just last month, New York state agreed to Horton said he and two room- lyn public housing project. questions about racial bias in inmates in solitary can spend outside of their fi nement in New York City’s Rikers Island jail end its “overreliance” on solitary confi ne- mates spent six hours building “Akai Gurley is dead today policing, authorities said on cells. before his release in 2013 and eventual suicide ment as a means to discipline inmates in its Brooklyn’s answer to a tradi- because he crossed paths with Monday. He said the changes would aff ect some two years later. prisons, as part of a settlement to a lawsuit tional Arctic home. Peter Liang,” Brooklyn as- Michael Kelley, an offi cer 10,000 federal prisoners and stemmed from a Solitary confi nement, Obama wrote, is brought against the state by the New York He then advertised the “Bou- sistant district attorney Marc in Prairie View, was indicted review of the practice he directed the US Jus- “increasingly overused on people such as Civil Liberties Union. tique Winter Igloo for 2” on Air- Fliedner told jurors in his by a grand jury last week on a tice Department to conduct last summer. Kalief, with heartbreaking results — which is California last September also agreed to bnb in hip neighborhood Green- opening statement. charge of offi cial oppression, Obama cited the story of Kalief Browder, a why my administration is taking steps to ad- sharply cut its use of solitary confi nement point. Defence lawyer Rae Koshetz which can bring up to a year in black 16-year-old who was arrested in 2010 dress this problem.” as part of a sweeping settlement to a lawsuit Despite Airbnb giving him the said Liang fi red his gun ac- prison, the Waller County dis- and spent almost two years in solitary con- Obama said research suggests solitary brought by prisoners. cold shoulder Horton says he got cidentally and that he had no trict attorney’s offi ce said. fi ve enquiries while the listing idea the bullet had ricocheted In the cellphone video, offi c- was live. off a wall into Gurley’s chest in ers responding to a disturbance “Interestingly enough, Air- the “pitch-black” stairwell. in October could be seen asking bnb actually allows igloos to be “This was a million-to-one councilman Jonathan Miller, rented,” he told AFP. “There are possibility,” she said. who is black, numerous times igloos on their site but for some The death of the 28-year- to place his hands behind his reason ours did not meet the old Gurley, an unarmed black back. A Taser is then used on Canada govt ‘discriminated qualifi cations.” man, added to nationwide ten- Miller, who is on his knees, and Airbnb did not immediately sions over police use of force he falls face fi rst to the ground. respond to an AFP request to against minorities. Liang, 28, One of the offi cers involved comment. is Chinese-American. Koshetz in the incident was also present Horton says he is thinking told jurors the case was “not a during the arrest of Sandra against aboriginal children’ about advertising it on Craigslist, referendum on policing in the Bland, who was found hanged despite a second day of warmer United States”. The 12-member in her cell on July 13, three days Reuters erty and a lower life expectancy than other tunity to remain together or to be reunited in temperatures and sunny weather jury is almost entirely white. after she was taken into custody Ottawa Canadians, and are more often the victims of a timely manner,” the decision said. that has seen some of New York’s Liang drew his weapon as he following a minor traffi c infrac- violent crime, addiction and incarceration. The new Liberal government said it ac- enormous snowfall melt. and his partner, Shaun Landau, tion in Waller County, about 50 The crisis on isolated reserves was high- cepted the ruling and would make changes as “As long as it’s cold enough entered the stairwell on patrol miles northwest of Houston. he government of Canada discrimi- lighted last week by a school shooting in soon as possible. Relations between aborigi- we’re going to keep it up and fi nd late at night. Gurley and a friend The incident with the Taser nated against aboriginal children by northern Saskatchewan. A 17-year-old boy nals and the previous 10-year-old Conserva- another site to take it and try to were walking one fl oor below on occurred outside of Miller’s Tunderfunding welfare services on re- has been charged in the deaths of four people. tive government had been strained. rent it from there,” he said. their way out of the building. home. Police were questioning serves, a human rights tribunal ruled yester- The First Nations Child and Family Caring “Frankly, my job is to go forward and fi x The storm slammed the east- Prosecutors have not ac- friends of Miller, when he came day, a decision that could aff ect how Ottawa Society and the Assembly of First Nations, an these things and I am absolutely committed ern United States at the week- cused Liang of intending to out to see what was going on, funds education, healthcare and housing for umbrella group for Canada’s largest indig- to doing it,” Carolyn Bennett, minister of in- end, forcing New York to shut shoot anyone. But they said he police said. indigenous Canadians. enous group, charged that Ottawa was un- digenous and northern aff airs, told reporters. down on Saturday under a acted recklessly in unholster- Bland, 28, was pulled over in The ruling comes nearly nine years after derfunding child welfare services on reserves A review previously commissioned by Ot- sweeping travel ban. ing his weapon and then fail- her car on July 10 by trooper, aboriginal groups opened a human rights compared with what is spent on non-native tawa found a child welfare funding shortfall New York’s Central Park re- ing to check whether the bullet Brian Encinia, for failing to complaint against Ottawa over its funding children or aboriginals living off reserve. on indigenous reserves of about 22%. corded 26.8 inches of snow, the hit anyone because he was too signal a lane change in Prai- formula for child welfare on reserves. In its decision, the panel said Ottawa need- Ottawa is responsible for funding child second-highest accumulation worried about losing his job. rie View. A confrontation fol- prime minister Justin Trudeau, who took ed to make changes not only to its funding, welfare services for aboriginal children on in the city since records began Liang also did not adminis- lowed, leading to her arrest. offi ce in November, has pledged to repair re- but to the child welfare program itself “to re- reserves, including costs related to care of in 1869, beaten only by 0.1 inch ter fi rst aid, prosecutors said. Encinia was indicted by a lations with Canada’s 1.4mn indigenous peo- spect human rights principles and sound so- children removed from their parents’ cus- more in February 2006. But Koshetz said Liang was grand jury in Waller County in ple, who make up 5% of the population but cial work practice.” tody. Individual provinces fund child welfare Williamsburg, which neigh- in a “state of shock” follow- January and then fi red from his represent about half of Canadian children “The panel acknowledges the suff ering of services for non-native children and native bors Greenpoint in Brooklyn, ing the shooting, eventually job at the Texas department of aged 14 and under who live in foster care. those First Nations children and families who children who do not live on reserves, creating recorded 29 inches, the National requiring his own ambulance, public safety for misconduct in Aboriginals also have higher levels of pov- are or have been denied an equitable oppor- a two-tiered funding system. Weather Service said. and was in no condition to help the incident. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 AMERICAS Lawyers wary Brooklyn vista of Flint water scandal case Lawyers are wary of Michigan’s pipes into the water that people drank the levels of lead in the blood of chil- laws that protect off icials and washed in. dren from the city. Those suits were fi led against the The crisis has led to the resigna- Flint state, city, and various state employ- tions of several offi cials, federal and Reuters ees by a group of Michigan lawyers state investigations, and widespread who are pushing relatively novel concerns that a potential health crisis theories designed to circumvent im- in a largely poor, majority African- he water scandal in Flint, Mich- munity. The fi nancially troubled city American city had been ignored. Of- A barge passes under the Brooklyn Bridge as the sun sets on lower Manhattan and the East River in New York. igan has many of the ingredi- was governed by a state-appointed fi cials had insisted the water was safe Tents for a mass, class-action emergency manager at the time of the for many months despite concerns ex- lawsuit: danger signs that may have change to the river water. pressed by residents and activists after been ignored, many thousands of po- A spokeswoman for Michigan at- the change in the source of the supply. tential victims, the possibility of life- torney general Bill Schuette declined Sovereign immunity does not ap- long health problems, and the alleged to comment on the lawsuits. The Flint ply if the government or an employee systemic failure of people in charge. City attorney’s offi ce did not return infringes on the US constitution, as Even consumer activist Erin Brocko- calls seeking comment. in, for example, cases where police vich, the main subject of a 2000 movie The legal scene couldn’t be more have allegedly violated someone’s Monitoring of Canada’s named after her, has drawn attention diff erent in Southern California, civil rights. It also may not apply if to Flint’s plight on her Facebook page where several big, national law fi rms the plaintiff can show there was gross and in public appearances. But big- are behind some of more than 25 suits negligence. Michigan law, however, name, national plaintiff s’ fi rms have fi led over a disastrous natural gas shields the state’s topmost offi cials - yet to jump into the fray in Flint, which leak near Los Angeles that has forced including the governor, agency heads pipelines ‘is shoddy’ has a population of about 100,000. thousands of residents from their and Flint’s emergency manager - even What’s holding them back, several homes since October. in cases of gross negligence. lawyers said, is not the facts or the The targets of those suits are the There are other exceptions to immu- Reuters to revamp the NEB, which is respon- to derail major Canadian projects pro- victims, but the prospective targets: utility Southern California Gas Co and nity, such as injuries involving govern- Ottawa sible for approving federally regulated posed by TransCanada Corp, Kinder The State of Michigan, the city of its parent company Sempra Energy, the ment-owned vehicles or buildings, but projects and then monitoring them. Morgan Inc and Enbridge Inc. Flint, and offi cials at various levels of non-government operators of the leak- they are typically spelled out in state Critics complain the body is too focused The energy industry says new pipe- government. Special legal protections ing gas storage facility. A state court in and federal laws and not applicable to anada’s energy regulator is doing on the needs of the energy industry and lines are needed to ship crude to the make it diffi cult to hold governments Los Angeles is currently considering a the water crisis, lawyers said. a poor job of monitoring pipeline does not pay enough attention to envi- seacoast, where it can attract higher liable for damages, they said. motion to coordinate the cases. Undaunted by the high bar, a coalition Cfi rms, an offi cial watchdog said ronmental concerns. prices. Federal and state governments and Frank Petosa, head of complex en- of Michigan lawyers is pursuing crea- yesterday in a report that could bolster The NEB oversees 73,000km of oil In a bid to alleviate safety and envi- employees engaged in their offi cial vironmental litigation at Florida’s tive arguments on behalf of what one support for government plans to reform and gas pipelines and around 100 com- ronmental concerns, the NEB some- duties are shielded from most private Morgan & Morgan, which is represent- of them, William Goodman of Detroit’s how major oil and gas projects are ap- panies. times attaches specifi c conditions to lawsuits by a legal doctrine known as ing residents in the California case in Goodman & Hurwitz, said could be as proved. “Our audit concluded that the Board projects. Gelfand said the board did not sovereign immunity. The doctrine, multiple lawsuits, said the fi rm decided many as 30,000 to 90,000 residents. Environment commissioner Julie did not adequately track companies’ do a thorough enough job of checking enshrined in the laws of many coun- against litigating in Flint for now. “We’re zigging and zagging around Gelfand said the National Energy Board implementation of pipeline approval whether these conditions had been met, tries, stems from the centuries-old “The concern is the sovereign im- government immunity,” said another (NEB) did not properly check whether conditions, and that it was not consist- in part because it had an outdated infor- principle that the government itself munity,” Petosa said. of the lawyers, Michael Pitt, of Royal companies were sticking to the approval ently following up on company defi - mation tracking system. cannot commit a legal wrong, though Robin Greenwald of New York Oak, Michigan’s Pitt McGehee Palmer conditions for projects and did not con- ciencies,” Gelfand said. In a written response, the NEB said it exceptions have evolved. plaintiff s’ fi rm Weitz & Luxenberg, & Rivers. sistently check that problems had been An increasingly heated public debate would overhaul its systems by Decem- While cities in the US are not tech- which is also representing plaintiff s in One of the Flint lawsuits, fi led in cleared up. over pipeline safety, the environment ber 2016 to improve compliance moni- nically considered to have sovereign California, agreed that immunity was November against the state and local The new Liberal government plans and the role of the NEB is threatening toring. status, they are similarly protected by an obstacle in Flint. But she did not governments and various offi cials in state and federal laws. rule out getting involved in some way. US district court in Ann Arbor, makes As of Friday, only a few lawsuits had “I really believe there must be a federal constitutional argument. It been fi led in the wake of the crisis that something to do here,” she said. contends that the decision to switch began when the city began in April 2014 “There must be an opportunity for the water source denied residents their to use river water, which was more cor- that community to be compensated. civil rights to bodily integrity and to rosive than its previous supply source They poisoned kids.” be free from state-created danger. The and caused lead to leach from ageing Tests have shown an alarming rise in state’s response is due next month.

Anti-abortion activists indicted in Texas for Planned Parenthood video

ReutersView photo fi ce said in a statement. human fetal tissue may be used for Austin, Texas Planned Parenthood has denied the research, but profi ting from its sale is accusation and called the probe politi- prohibited. cally motivated. “These people broke the law to wo anti-abortion activists be- David Daleiden and Sandra Mer- spread malicious lies about Planned hind the fi lming of videos on ritt were indicted by the grand jury Parenthood in order to advance their Tfetal tissue procurement by for tampering with a governmental extreme anti-abortion political agen- Planned Parenthood were indicted by record, said prosecutors for the county da,” said Eric Ferrero, vice president of a Texas grand jury on Monday, while in which Houston is located. The fel- communications for Planned Parent- clearing the women’s health group of ony charge is punishable by up to 20 hood Federation of America. any wrong-doing. years in prison. It is unclear what triggered the sur- ONE SMOKER. The videos released last summer The two were involved in covert prise indictments during the grand led Texas and other Republican-con- videos last year in which a Planned jury’s closed-door proceedings, said trolled states to try to halt funding for Parenthood offi cial discussed the pro- David Sklansky, faculty co-director of local Planned Parenthood operations, curement of fetal tissue. the Stanford Criminal Justice Cent- with Republicans in the US congress Daleiden, leader of the Center for er and a professor at Stanford Law TWO PATIENTS. also pushing for a funding cut. Medical Progress that released the School. The grand jury reviewed the case for videos, was also charged with violat- “It would be quite unusual for the more than two months and its deci- ing a prohibition on the purchase and grand jury to change direction without sion was a result of a probe launched sale of human organs, a misdemeanor, the cooperation and approval of the last year under Texas governor Greg the Harris County District Attorney prosecutor,” Sklansky said. “But pretty Abbott, a Republican, who accused said. much everything associated with this Planned Parenthood of the “gruesome There were no details released on case seems unusual.” harvesting of baby body parts.” the allegations against them. Republican presidential candidate “After a lengthy and thorough in- “I respect their decision on this dif- Mike Huckabee weighed in, saying in a vestigation by the Harris County fi cult case,” Harris County district statement: “It’s a sick day in America District Attorney’s Offi ce, the Texas attorney Devon Anderson said of the when our government punishes those TOBACCO KILLS Rangers, and the Houston Police De- grand jury. who expose evil with a smartphone - partment, a Harris County grand The videos purported to show while accommodating those who per- jury took no action Monday against Planned Parenthood offi cials trying form it with a scalpel.” Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast,” the to negotiate prices for aborted fetal Texas leaders said they would not Harris County district attorney’s of- tissue. Under federal law, donated back down on their probe.

Prof who sought reporter’s removal charged

Reuters Schierbecker, 22, a senior majoring in history and Ger- Missouri man who plans to pursue a career in journalism, said Click’s actions refl ect a broader problem facing students and jour- nalists on college campuses. University of Missouri communications professor “I don’t want anyone to assume that because the city is who called for “some muscle” to get a student jour- dealing with her criminal behavior, that this problem goes Analist to back off during campus protests in Novem- away,” Schierbecker said in a statement. “I am urging the ber was charged on Monday with misdemeanor assault, university to enact reasonable protections that ensure jour- prosecutors said. nalists can gather news without being strong-armed.” The student journalist, whose video of the incident dur- Interim chancellor Hank Foley told a news conference the ing anti-racism protests went viral, had fi led a complaint university would let the criminal court process play out, Click against Melissa Click with university police. would not teach classes this week and school offi cials and faculty Click, an assistant professor in the university’s commu- leaders would determine if she is to return to the classroom. nication department, could not be reached for comment. Foley also said he was confi dent she did not pose a danger. In the video shot by student Mark Schierbecker, Click can be “I think she had a moment of heated anger,” Foley said. “I seen calling on protesters to remove Schierbecker and a student doubt very much that she would do anything like that again.” photographer from a spot in the school quad where protesters Foley said the assault charge likely would be a factor in had set up an encampment which they claimed was private space. whether to grant Click tenure along with a review of her Click’s hand can be seen blocking the video image at least scholarly works, teaching ability, service to the school and Issued in Public Interest by twice. She issued an apology for her actions. other details, he said. GULF TIMES

Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 ASEAN

Thai junta chief vows 2017 elections even if charter rejected

AFP elected government after months of elections would only be held once the twelfth successful army takeover since panel’ to take over from any govern- courts. The junta says its new charter Bangkok street protests by demonstrators who new constitution was approved by a the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, ment at will, an addition at which even holds the key to bridging the divide to lobbied for a coup. public referendum. Prayut promised to return power to ci- some junta supporters balked. ensure future prosperity. He justifi ed the takeover as a nec- Analysts said the pledge appeared to vilians within 18 months. For years the kingdom has been split But critics have pilloried the docu- hailand’s junta chief yesterday essary evil to end Thailand’s decade- be a delaying tactic by the military to But that date has repeatedly slipped. between pro-democracy supporters of ment as divisive, anti-democratic and vowed to hold a general election long political confl ict. hang onto power. Last year the military’s own advi- ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and aimed at prolonging military rule. Tin the summer of 2017 even if a The former army chief says a new But yesterday Prayut appeared to re- sory council rejected a constitution his parties and a conservative, royalist Thailand’s constitution has been re- new constitution penned by regime constitution is the only way to dilute verse his position. draft after nine months of labour on it, elite backed by the military and judici- written 20 times since 1932, the equiv- appointees is rejected in a public ref- the power of elected politicians and “Even if the charter does not pass a pushing elections back to the summer ary. alent of once every four years. erendum. curtail corruption from civilian ad- referendum I insist that there will be an of 2017 at the earliest. Shinawatra-backed parties have If Prayut is still prime minister come Prime Minister General Prayut ministrations. election,” he told reporters, adding that That document included a last won every election since 2001 but have election time he will have spent more Chan-O-Cha seized power in a May According to the junta’s previously a vote would take place in July 2017. minute provision that would have al- been ousted by two coups and seen the time in power than any other military 2014 coup, toppling a democratically trumpeted “roadmap to democracy”, Immediately after his coup, the lowed a military-dominated ‘crisis removal of three prime ministers by the government in Thailand since 1969.

Vietnam Malaysian PM cleared of graft party retains key advisers

Reuters after funds declared a gift Hanoi Probe finds no crime or a form of graft or bribery,” he “Now that the matter has been ietnam’s Communist Par- corruption, and $620mn said. “There was no reason giv- comprehensively put to rest, it ty re-elected to its central returned; Opposition leader en as to why the donation was is time for us to unite and move Vcommittee key policy- says findings suggest made to PM Najib, that is be- on,” Najib said. makers and ministers of the cur- conflict of interest tween him and the Saudi fam- The scandal has shaken inves- rent government yesterday, sig- ily,” he said. tors in Southeast Asia’s third- nalling wholesale changes may Reuters The involvement of the Saudi biggest economy and rocked not ensue after Prime Minister Kuala Lumpur royal family is an unexpected confi dence in the coalition led Nguyen Tan Dung’s political exit. twist in the saga over the funds by UMNO, which has held power The party congress vote also transfer and the troubles of since independence in 1957. saw re-election to the commit- alaysia’s attorney- 1MDB, whose advisory board The ringgit slumped by tee of several politicians consid- general cleared Prime Najib chairs. more than 20% in 2015 and has ered by experts as allies of Dung, MMinister Najib Ra- The Malaysian Anti-Corrup- continued its slide this year, maintaining the possibility of zak of any criminal off ences tion Commission (MACC) had weighed down by global oil roles in running a fast-growing or corruption yesterday, clos- earlier said only that the funds prices and political uncertainty. country that has committed to ing investigations into a murky were a political donation from “The attorney-general is sat- major trade pacts and economic multimillion-dollar funding an unidentifi ed Middle Eastern isfi ed with the fi ndings, but it reforms. scandal that his opponents had benefactor. remains to be seen whether the Their inclusion in the new hoped would bring him down. Apandi said $620mn was re- public is satisfi ed and will put 200-member central committee Najib was buff eted last year turned to the donor in August the 1MDB scandal to rest,” said is no guarantee of cabinet posts, by allegations of graft and mis- 2013, about fi ve months after Hak Bin Chua, Asean econo- however, which would be decid- management at the debt-laden the transfer, because it had not mist at Bank of America Merrill ed later this year. Ministers have state fund 1Malaysia Develop- been utilised. Lynch. traditionally come from within ment Berhad (1MDB) and by a He did not clarify what hap- After the scandal broke in the central committee and po- revelation that about $681mn pened to the remaining $61mn mid-2015, then attorney-gen- litburo. was deposited into his personal that was not returned or explain eral Abdul Gani Patail — who Congress allowed Dung to de- bank account. why it had taken so long for had led investigations of 1MDB cline his nomination to the com- But Attorney-General Mo- news of the return of the funds — was replaced by Apandi, a mittee on Monday, ending spec- hamed Apandi Ali said the to be released. Najib, the son of former judge with strong ties to ulation of him contesting a party transfer was a gift from Saudi a former prime minister, en- UMNO. leadership that has only one can- Arabia’s royal family, adding joys the backing of most of the “The attorney-general should didate, incumbent Nguyen Phu that no further action needed to Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak reacts as he walks towards his car after attending a parliament powerful division chiefs in the not have been involved in the Trong. be taken on the matter. session in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. ruling United Malays National decision aff ecting the PM be- Dung was popular among Najib, who denied any Organisation (UMNO) party. cause he was appointed by the businessmen and known for his wrongdoing and said he did not a statement. Opposition party “The AG’s statement today sceptical and critical of the gov- Even his fi ercest internal crit- PM,” said Lim Kit Siang, parlia- decisive approach and his depar- take any money for personal leaders denounced the fi nding, pretty much allows the gov- ernment, he said. ics, such as infl uential former mentary leader of the opposition ture has raised questions about gain, welcomed the attorney saying the appointment of the ernment to move on ... As far Apandi told a news confer- Prime Minister Mahathir Mo- Democratic Action Party. reform momentum. general’s statement. attorney-general by the prime as things are legally concerned, ence no criminal off ence had hamed, accept that he cannot Two of the anti-corruption Analysts say Dung’s ambi- “The fi ndings followed a minister in the midst of the crisis the prime minister is in the been committed by Najib in be unseated. Najib, who needs commission papers that Apandi tion may have been his undoing thorough investigation by the suggested a confl ict of interest. clear,” said Ibrahim Suffi an, di- relation to three investigations to build support ahead of the reviewed related to SRC In- and his omission from the polit- relevant institutions, and he has But analysts said it was a vic- rector of independent opinion submitted by Malaysia’s anti- 2018 election, after scraping to ternational, a former 1MDB buro’s nominations for four key confi rmed what I have main- tory for Najib that would allow polling fi rm Merdeka Centre. graft agency. only a narrow victory in the last subsidiary that is being inves- leadership posts refl ected con- tained all along: that no crime him to focus on winning the Although there were still a “I am satisfi ed with the fi nd- polls, said the scandal had been tigated for an alleged misappro- cern among the party’s old guard was committed,” Najib said in next election in 2018. lot of people who would still be ings that the funds were not “an unnecessary distraction”. priation of funds. about his growing infl uence. His opponents, say experts, accuse his administration of graft and mismanaging state- run fi rms, including a massive debt default by shipbuilder Vi- Myanmar president pushes to expand army-run ministry nashin in 2010. The economy is now in better shape and grew 6.7% in 2015, the AFP before the incumbent military-domi- aff airs” and had written to parliament Home aff airs is already a ministerial as crucial to ensuring the delicate po- fastest in fi ve years, with record Yangon nated parliament hands over to a leg- asking for its approval. juggernaut, with control over the po- litical handover stays on track as the fi gures for foreign investment islature led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s Na- It is expected to be discussed in the lice and huge swathes of the bureauc- new parliament prepares to select a infl ows and mergers and acquisi- tional League for Democracy party, as legislature today. racy. Suu Kyi and army chief Min Aung president to replace Thein Sein in late tions. Sixteen of the 28 incum- yanmar’s outgoing army- the balance of power begins to tilt par- If approved, the proposal would sig- Hlaing held closed-door discussions March. bent ministers, including Dung, backed president asked par- tially away from the army for the fi rst nifi cantly add to the military’s power in the capital Naypyidaw on Monday, Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian govern- were not re-elected, and all but Mliament yesterday to extend time in generations. even under an NLD government. the second such talks between the pair ment replaced outright army rule in one were over 60, the stand- the powers of the military-controlled President’s Offi ce director Zaw Htay That is because the junta-drafted since the NLD won a huge victory in 2011 and has spearheaded dramatic ard retirement age. Dung’s son, home aff airs ministry by giving it con- said that Thein Sein had decided “to constitution puts the three major min- landmark November elections. political and economic reforms, open- Nguyen Thanh Nghi, 39, retained trol over immigration, offi cials said. combine the ministry of immigration istries of home aff airs, border aff airs Observers see a rapprochement be- ing the long-cloistered nation to the his committee seat, moving from The surprise move comes just days and population and ministry of home and defence under army control. tween Suu Kyi, 70, and the military world. an alternate to a full member.

AVIATION TRAGEDY Govt confirms 13 Indonesians Thailand debris is Cambodia urged to give drown after not from MH370 ‘Angel doll’ vendors boat capsizes Malaysia confirmed yesterday space for political debate Thirteen people drowned that debris found on the coast of yesterday when a boat carrying southern Thailand was not from AFP sticking points in “candid” Indonesian illegal immigrants Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Phnom Penh talks with Hun Sen. raided in tax bust capsized after being struck by laying to rest one question but Cambodia acts as a political strong waves off Malaysia, state leaving the fate of the missing air- windshield to China within the news agency Bernama reported, liner still shrouded in mystery. The S Secretary of State Association of Southeast Asian AFP quoting local police. discovery of the metal panel on John Kerry yesterday Nations, an alliance that has at Bangkok The boat was believed to be the shores of the Gulf of Thailand Uurged Cambodia’s times caused strain within the taking the Indonesians back on Saturday ignited intense specu- leader Hun Sen to allow “vig- bloc in the face of increasingly to their home country when lation over whether a fresh clue orous but peaceful” political aggressive Chinese claims in craze in Thailand for pampering lifelike it overturned off the southern had been found in the MH370 debate, following accusations the South China Sea. dolls to bring good fortune doesn’t seem Malaysian state of Johor. Police enigma, whose bizarre disappear- that he silences opponents in US president, Barack Ato have done the trick for some vendors, Chief Superintendant Rahmat ance continues to haunt the avia- a bid to extend his three-dec- Obama, has assiduously who yesterday were raided by police on charges Othman of the Malaysian town tion world. After taking off from ade grip on power. courted Asean as part of a dip- of tax avoidance. of Kota Tinggi was quoted by Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing Hun Sen, who has ruled for lomatic ‘pivot’ east aiming to Known in Thai as “luuk thep” (child angels), Bernama as saying police had on March 8, 2014 with 239 people 31 years through a mix of hard off set China’s trade and diplo- the pricey dolls, which can cost up to $600, were launched a search for survivors on board, the Boeing 777 inexpli- power and political guile, has matic might in Southeast Asia. fi rst popularised by celebrities who claimed A Thai policeman shows a “luuk thep” (child angel) and any more victims. cably veered off course over the tied-up a resurgent opposi- Economic gains are also being dressing up and feeding the dolls had brought doll after more than a hundred of them were The dead included nine women South China Sea — near the Gulf tion in legal charges over re- off set by the threat posed to them professional success. seized in separate raids, at the Economic Crime and four men, whose bodies of Thailand — and vanished. cent months and ramped up Cambodia’s fragile democracy. Doll-mania has since taken off across deeply Suppression Division in Bangkok yesterday. washed up on beaches in the But Malaysia’s transport ministry prosecutions of online critics. Sam Rainsy, the leader superstitious Thailand, with adults bringing the area, the report said. Malaysia said a team of experts from the Kerry, who arrived in of the opposition Cambo- fi gures to Buddhist ceremonies, restaurants and Smile airline was off ering ticketed seats and is Southeast Asia’s third-largest government and Malaysia Airlines Phnom Penh from neighbour- dian National Rescue Party, even on planes, where they have reportedly been meals to the dolls, accommodating owners who economy and a magnet for had examined the debris in Thai- ing Laos, hailed Cambodia for is facing arrest and is now in issued seats and served mid-fl ight refreshments. did not want to stow them as carry-on luggage. migrant workers from its poorer land and confirmed there was no rebooting its economy after self-exile, casting doubt over But after Thailand’s police chief warned this Thai media published a leaked airline memo neighbours, with the vast major- link. “Based on these identifying the fanatical rule of the Mao- whether the party will be able week the fad was going too far, offi cers yester- that defi ned the “child angels” as “a doll that is ity coming from Indonesia. details, the team has confirmed ist Khmer Rouge, which left to freely contest the next elec- day confi scated more than 100 dolls and arrested alive”. The memo said the dolls should be placed About 2mn Indonesians, many the debris does not belong to... up to a quarter of the popula- tion slated for 2018. three vendors in Bangkok for allegedly failing to in window seats so as not to disturb other pas- of them working illegally, are MH370,” a ministry statement said. tion dead before its defeat in Speaking to reporters at the pay import taxes. “Mostly they imported (the sengers and that seatbelts should be worn during now in Malaysia doing a range of A day earlier, Japanese firm Mit- the mid-1970s. end of his half-day visit to the dolls) from China,” Colonel Kriangsak Kanraya- take off and landing, according to reports. generally low-paid jobs. Deadly subishi Heavy Industries said the Cambodia has become one Cambodian capital, Kerry ex- wattanajaroen, deputy commander of the Eco- Thai Smile declined to comment when con- accidents in the strait are not metal panel was probably from a of Southeast Asia’s fastest- pressed hope that the country nomic Crime Suppression Division, said. tacted by AFP. A state-owned bus operator, uncommon, with travellers typi- rocket it manufactured to launch growing economies. But would “realise the full benefi ts He added that the vendors had avoided paying Transport Co, is charging half-priced tickets for cally attempting the crossing in satellites into space, but was yet to America’s top diplomat said of a thriving multiparty de- more than 100,000 baht ($2,750). the dolls, who will “receive full service, including rickety vessels and often at night confirm that. he did not shy away from the mocracy”. The bust followed reports this week that Thai food and drink,” a PR representative said. to avoid detection. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 19 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Frozen landscape Star of Cove says he’s a political prisoner

Reuters of year, is a tradition in an area Tokyo where whales and dolphins have been hunted for years and they say the opposition is un- US activist featured fair. in the Oscar-winning O’Barry was arrested in Taiji Adocumentary The Cove, last year and detained for not about a gory Japanese dolphin carrying his passport. hunt, has been detained in Ja- He has refused to leave the pan and said yesterday he was country voluntarily after an a political prisoner for his ef- appeal was struck down last forts to save dolphins. week, with the next step a for- Ric O’Barry has been held cible deportation order. Im- since being denied entry to migration offi cials declined to Japan on January 18 and faces comment. deportation. Conditions at the detention His work to help dolphins centre, which he described as was highlighted in the 2009 crowded and noisy, along with fi lm about an annual cull in the hours of questioning, had tak- western city of Taiji, in which en a toll, he said. Ice and snow cover trees and rooftops in Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province. hundreds of dolphins are driv- en to shore and killed. The Taiji hunt has become “I’m a political prisoner. I an international cause think there are higher-ups in celebre since The Cove government who are crack- showed it in all its bloody ing down on those who speak detail out against their war on dol- phins,” O’Barry told Reuters in He said he got at most two a telephone interview from an hours of sleep a night and was immigration lock-up near To- taken to hospital on Tuesday kyo’s Narita airport. for checks after suff ering chest O’Barry and his lawyer pains. Suburbs take a hit as said he is accused of lying to Lawyer Takashi Takano officials about his activities said O’Barry would comply on a previous trip to Japan. with a deportation order and But the 76-year-old denied then consider other options, that, saying he entered the such as filing a suit from country as a tourist as he had overseas. before. “Throwing a person like this “Never once have I broken out of the country gives the China cuts pollution the law, never once have I lied world the impression that Ja- to immigration,” he said. pan is not a free country,” he Reuters Around Beijing, company closures are virtually no manufacturing businesses The Taiji hunt has become said. Chaomidian, China just one of many tactics adopted to make left. “We now rent out the land of the fac- an international cause celebre Leaving Japan would be the city’s air less noxious. Others include tories to car dealerships and rely on that since The Cove showed it in heartbreaking, O’Barry said, closing or relocating coal-fi red power income,” he said. all its bloody detail. Caroline but eff orts to stop the hunt n the outskirts of Beijing, the dis- plants, many of which are operated by While Ding Kai Yuan’s Han says she has Kennedy, US ambassador to would not stop. used factories of Chaomidian show large state-owned businesses, forcing old yet to see any compensation, others have Japan, expressed concern. “It’s not about me. There Othe impact of China’s drive to shut cars off roads and limiting outdoor con- been benefi ciaries, but say it is insuffi - Many Japanese say the hunt, are others and others will go down thousands of small fi rms causing big struction. cient. which takes place at this time there,” he said. pollution. Amid scrapheaps and idle ma- Critics say Beijing will have to move Away from Chaomidian, managers at chinery, the community has clean air these beyond small factory shutdowns and rely two other Beijing small factories forced days - and no jobs. more on coordination with its neighbours, to close - Beijing Haiming Casting and After a three-year campaign, China’s along with fair enforcement of the envi- Beijing Hui Shang Wood Furniture - told push to cut smog appears to be paying off , ronmental law, to truly tackle the pollution Reuters the compensation has not been whatever the localised cost, just as eco- problem. enough to make up for their losses. nomic growth weakens to its slowest pace Bricks and abandoned equipment at a “No matter what measures Beijing takes In Tongzhou district, Haiming Cast- in 25 years. Chinese cities saw an average village with several closed brick factories inside its own city, it cannot eff ectively ing shifted into the construction materi- Amari to 10% drop in key pollutants last year, ac- on the outskirts of Beijing. eliminate its own pollution, as a huge als industry, but profi ts are not as good as cording to Greenpeace. source of it comes from coal-fuel and in- the original business, a company manager While a World Health Organisation re- lage,” said Han Fengge. “Right now, I don’t dustrial emissions outside of Beijing,” said surnamed Li said. port in 2014 found 13 of the world’s 20 have the ability to re-start such a big in- Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public Meanwhile, Hui Shang Wood Furni- dirtiest cities were in India, a still smog- vestment from scratch, so all I can do is and Environmental Aff airs. ture simply packed up and moved from meet press bound Beijing issued its fi rst pollution wait,” said Han. Most of the companies that have been, Beijing’s Changping district to the inland “red alerts” last month. Soon after, the The city has promised compensation and will be closed, are comparatively province of Anhui, cleaning up its produc- capital said it would shut down 2,500 more to fi rms closed on pollution grounds. Na- small, and metropolitan Beijing’s econo- tion process as it went, said manager Hong small fi rms this year, leaving communities tionwide, China has earmarked 17tn yuan my as a whole won’t be seriously squeezed. Guosheng. like Chaomidian, in the southwest suburb ($2.6tn) for investment in overall environ- Yet small and medium-sized enterprises For Beijing and the surrounding area on graft of Fangshan, in the fi ring line. mental protection between 2016 and 2020, account for about 60% of China’s GDP, - including the steelmaking heartland Beijing doesn’t issue comprehensive Xinhua, the state news agency, reported in leaving questions over how closures will of Hebei province and Tianjin’s port and lists of the fi rms it has shut down to com- December. aff ect future growth potential. manufacturing hub - the government has bat pollution, but Reuters research shows Asked why Han might not have received At Ding Kai Yuan, the clean air drive has set an aggressive target for 2020 of reduc- those already closed include Ding Kai compensation yet, an offi cial at the Bei- meant a total shutdown, with the com- ing pollution by 40% from 2013 levels. charges Yuan Co among others in Chaomidian, jing Municipal Commission of Economy pany suff ering losses of more than 17mn That means more closures are inevita- home to about 2,000 people. The coal- and Information Technology, who wasn’t yuan ($2.58mn), said manager Han. Since ble. Reuters burning brick works was shut in late 2014, aware of Ding Kai Yuan’s case, said, “There 2013, most of Chaomidian’s brick and For Ding Kai Yuan’s Han, burdened by Tokyo 170 workers were laid off , and the manager could have been a problem at a certain link plastics factories have been shut down, debt and with no way to start anew, the left behind to watch over the ghost factory in the process. It’s possible the fi rm didn’t and with them the jobs that fuelled the lo- options are limited. says she is still waiting for nearly half a meet requirements in a certain area,” said cal economy. “All I can do is hope the government apan’s economy minister million dollars in compensation. the offi cial, who gave only her surname, Yang Jun, the Communist Party leader keeps its word,” Han said. “The sooner it Akira Amari is expected “I’m 53 years old, I grew up in this vil- Gao. of Chaomidian, said the community has gives us a subsidy, the better.” Jto hold a news conference tomorrow to off er an explana- tion over accusations he had Lawmaker Yoshimasa Hayashi Aussie man taken bribes, a top government who is considered a possible spokesman said, suggesting replacement for Akira Amari. charged for a decision on whether he will terror manual stay on at the post is imminent. complicate Abe’s economic ‘Lantern capital’ spreads Amari, a core member of agenda at a time of global fi - An Australian man arrested in premier Shinzo Abe’s econom- nancial market turmoil, and an anti-terrorism sting allegedly ic policy team, is under fi re could destabilise the cabinet possessed bomb-making over a media report that he and ahead of a national election instructions and an Al Qaeda his aides had accepted money later this year. the Lunar New Year glow document detailing how to from a construction company “Overseas investors are al- carry out a terrorist attack, in exchange for helping the ready questioning the eff ects police said yesterday. Sameh fi rm receive compensation for of Abenomics. If Amari is AFP ness in Chinese culture, and the lanterns are Bayda, 18, from Guildford disputes over land ownership forced to step down, that could Beijing omnipresent throughout towns and country- in western Sydney, was and waste removal at a public be seen as symbolic,” said Ay- side, trotted out at most important occasions: charged with three counts of works site. ako Sera, market strategist at marriages, business openings, and most of all collecting documents likely to Amari said last week he has Sumitomo Trust and Banking. arefully steadying the gleaming red the Lunar New Year, which generally falls in facilitate terrorist acts. Bayda done nothing illegal and that “His resignation could be lantern between her knees, a worker late January or early to mid February. allegedly had one document, he was told by Abe to fulfi l his seen as causing further delays Capplied the Chinese character for “Outside of the peak holiday season, we in English, published by al duty as minister. But it is un- in growth strategy and reforms “wealth” in golden glitter — one of the mil- also receive special requests: giant models, Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula certain whether he will stay ... and could push down Tokyo lions that will illuminate the forthcoming Lu- for example, or orders to decorate the Forbid- instructing how to carry out on, as opposition parties step stocks,” she said. nar New Year. den City in Beijing,” explained Bai. a terrorist attack, broadcaster up calls for him to resign, some Some government offi cials A high wooden arch at the entrance to the Large traditional lanterns at a commercial “Tens of millions of lanterns are produced ABC reported citing court analysts say. say if Amari were to resign, snowy village of Tuntou, in Hebei province building in Beijing. each year and all or almost all of them are documents. Another document, “My understanding is that the balance of political power southwest of Beijing, proclaims it the “lan- sold. A portion is exported to Southeast Asia, published in Arabic, contained (Amari will off er an explana- could shift from those in the tern capital” of the People’s Republic. midnight on the eve of the new year. the US or Japan. It’s become an economic pil- instructions on how to make a tion) on January 28,” chief administration who favour Bai Liwei, the village’s Communist Party Tuntou village has specialised in artisanal lar for the village.” bomb, the report said. A third cabinet secretary Yoshihide more spending to stimulate leader, told AFP proudly: “80 to 90% of the lantern-making for nearly 40 years. It is not Traditionally, positive Chinese characters document explained how to Suga told a news conference growth to those who prioritise lanterns used in China come from here.” the site of enormous factories, instead the in- such as “happiness”, “peace”, and “family” carry out a stabbing attack. yesterday. fi scal discipline to rein in bal- For the past two months, the town has been dustry is driven by a number of private work- are painted on their sides. Bayda’s bail was refused, Amari played a central role looning public debt. churning out the pumpkin-shaped lamps in shops in which families concentrate on the But in recent years their inscriptions have the police statement said. in negotiating the 12-nation Amari has spear-headed preparation for the biggest holiday of the year production of a single lantern element — their become increasingly political. Police also seized a number Trans-Pacifi c Partnership the administration’s pro- in the world’s most populous country. spindly metal frames, the exterior “skin” of “The majority of these lanterns are deco- of items on January 13, when (TPP) free trade agreement, growth policies and called for Known as the “Spring Festival” in Chi- fabric or silk, the decorative inscriptions. rated with one of the twelve ‘socialist core the man was served a firearm and has been the point-person increased spending on items na, the holiday, which falls on February 8 At the back of one assembly unit, high values’ promoted by President Xi Jinping,” prohibition order, which overseeing the growth strate- such as more child-care fa- on this occasion, compares in importance piles of nearly completed lanterns awaited said Bai. prevents him owning or using gies that make up Abe’s “Abe- cilities. to Christmas in the West, and marks a time processing, while workers wielded wooden In Chinese homes across the country, this a gun. The man will remain in nomics” stimulus policies. “There’s no doubt the pro- when for far-flung family members re- canes to lift others high off the ground to dan- new year will be ushered in by concepts in- police custody until he appears Any political funding scan- growth policies of Abenomics turn home for merriment and meals — ac- gle delicately from the ceiling. cluding “democracy”, “freedom”, “equality”, next week in court, where he is dal with potential criminal will be hit” if Amari resigns, cording to tradition, they must be back by The colour red symbolises luck and happi- “rule of law”, and “patriotism”. expected to apply for bail. implications has potential to one of the offi cials said. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 BRITAIN

MYSTERY APPEAL POLITICS DECISION OFFBEAT 1949 plane crash ‘may hold Charities call for action LibDems vow to Scotland to lobby Osborne Parents told to ditch clue to dead man’s identity’ on homelessness to fight welfare reform on tax cuts for oil firms school run pyjamas

The mysterious death of a pensioner who was Most Londoners are “appalled” at the level of Peers are to launch a bid to block a welfare The Scottish government is seeking an urgent A primary school headteacher has written to found on a hillside in the Pennines, 24 hours after rough sleeping in the capital and want the next reform which they claim could cause hundreds of meeting with the finance minister to urge him to parents requesting they take time to get dressed catching a train from Ealing Broadway, may be mayor to better use powers to tackle the problem, thousands of families to lose an average of more lower taxes on energy companies after Scotland in the morning and stop dropping their children linked to a plane crash 67 years ago. The man a report found yesterday. A group of 21 charities, than £1,000 a year. Liberal Democrat leader Tim suff ered heavy job losses due to persistently low oil off in their pyjamas. Kate Chisholm, headteacher at in his seventies was found dead last month on including Crisis, St Mungo’s and Centrepoint, called Farron branded the changes to universal credit as prices. The government made a series of tax cuts Skerne Park Academy, Darlington, made the appeal Saddleworth moor. On August 19, 1949, a British for a drive to end the growing homelessness “tax credits mark two” as he threatened to force a and off ered other incentives last March, helping after she had noticed an increase in the amount of European Airways twin-engine Douglas Dakota on London’s streets. The Lead London Home vote to scupper them. He claimed the plans would an industry dealing with tumbling oil prices. parents wearing nightwear to the school gates. It came down on the hillside. Local police are looking campaign said the average homeless person dies mean that if a single parent found a new partner Since then, crude prices have continued to slide also included wearing them to school assemblies into whether the man had family who died in the aged just 47 — 30 years younger than the national it would cost them an average of £1,080 a year. and Scotland has lost around 10,000 jobs. “The and meetings. She said her aim was to help set crash. Detectives have traced his movements average — and is 13 times more likely to be a victim Analysis by the LibDems suggested that up to half Scottish government is taking action to support a good example for the children Phil Naylor, a to London, where he caught an Ealing train on of violence. More than 7,500 people slept rough a million claimants could be aff ected, based on the industry, but this needs to be matched by a parent who has children at the school, said: “We December 11. He bought a one-way ticket to Euston in London last year, including 880 under-25s, and figures showing that around half of single parents commitment from the UK government to address all support the school and I hope this helps get the and caught another train to Manchester. Next day research by Crisis shows the figure has almost find a new partner within five years of breaking up the fiscal regime in which the industry operates,” message across to parents. We should be guiding he was found dead on the slope of Indian’s Head. doubled in six years. with a previous partner. said Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. our children not giving them bad habits.” Secure training Two-in-one kiosk centre director resigns amid abuse claims

Agencies geted bullying of vulnerable boys London by a small number of staff in ad- dition to the conditioning of new staff ”. he director of a G4S-run In a report published yesterday, facility for young inmates Hardwick recommended a com- Twhich is at the centre of missioner be immediately estab- abuse and mistreatment allega- lished to provide extra oversight at tions is stepping down following the centre. high-level criticism of its man- Body-worn cameras should agement. also be used across all institutions Ralph Marchant is standing holding children, with staff ex- down with immediate eff ect at pected to record all incidents in- Medway Secure Training Centre volving the use of force, he added. in Rochester, Kent, but will re- The troubling claims at Med- main employed by the private se- way come after Ofsted inspectors curity fi rm, the Press Association had praised the centre following Every second is precious for the busy Londoner on their morning commute. So now they can save valuable time by completing two essential tasks — grabbing a coff ee revealed. an inspection in September 2014. and dropping off dry cleaning — at one kiosk. The Dry Cleaning & Coff ee Shop next to Angel station opens at 6.30am every weekday. Clothes left before 9am are It is understood there are no al- Its report noted: “The overall guaranteed to be ready by the time customers return from work and before closing at 7.30pm, the owners say. legations relating to the conduct of eff ectiveness of Medway Secure Marchant, who is being replaced Training Centre to meet the needs on an interim basis by Ben Saun- of young people is judged good ders - the director of the immigra- with outstanding features.” tion removal centres at Gatwick. In the latest inspection, carried The development came after out on January 11, a small number chief inspector of prisons, Nick of young inmates described some Hardwick, said managerial over- staff using “insulting, aggressive sight had failed to protect young or racist language”, inspectors people at the centre for inmates found. aged 12 to 17. And staff failed at times to chal- Shame the tax ‘cheat’ Inspectors have “signifi cant lenge poor behaviour, with some concerns” about the facility fol- youngsters reporting feeling un- lowing allegations of abuse and safe in areas not covered by CCTV mistreatment of youngsters aired cameras. on the BBC’s Panorama pro- Hardwick said: “Managerial gramme this month. oversight failed to protect young An undercover reporter cap- people from harm. fi rms, Osborne urged tured footage showing staff mis- “Eff ective oversight is key to treating and abusing inmates, and creating a positive culture that London Evening Standard It was published as he came forced to publicly declare where ter, it seems, might empower confi dentiality excuse does not boasting about using inappropri- prevents poor practice happening London under fi re over an alleged they pay their taxes. Eighty-fi ve consumers themselves to force wash with me.” ate techniques to restrain young- and ensuring it is reported when “sweetheart” deal with Google percent urged the chancellor to fi rms to play fair.” Gauke warned that ditching sters. it does.” for it to pay £130mn in tax after set up a public register showing Making companies be more the confi dentiality arrange- Other allegations included Some of the concerns raised ritons yesterday de- an investigation by Revenue and whether the fi rms are paying open about their tax aff airs is ments could make Britain a less claims that staff tried to hide their in the report were not confi ned manded that George Os- Customs into a 10-year period. their taxes here. backed by some Tory and La- attractive place for fi rms to do actions by ensuring they were be- to Medway or the secure training Bborne publicly shame A public register would lay People aged over 54 appeared bour MPs. Conservative Nigel business. neath CCTV cameras or in areas centre model, Hardwick went on. corporate giants seen by many bare which companies, includ- the most angered by the tax Mills urged Treasury Minister Starbucks, together with not covered by them. A high turnover of staff was as cheating the country out of ing some brazenly trading on conduct of big business. More David Gauke in the Commons Amazon and Google, were Justice Secretary Michael Gove a feature at Medway, reportedly millions in tax. their Britishness, are not pay- than 90% called for the fi rms to to make them publish their tax taken to task by the Commons announced the appointment of an in the region of 50% of the basic More than 80% of adults ing UK corporation tax. Shed- publicly reveal if they pay taxes returns “so that we can all see public accounts committee in independent improvement board grade custody staff . called on the chancellor to set ding such light on their tax af- in the UK and also backed a reg- how much tax they are declar- November 2012 over their tax to provide “increased oversight” Hardwick said appropriate up a public register showing fairs would allow consumers ister. ing and how they got from their payments in the UK. All three at Medway. staffi ng levels are now in place and whether multinational fi rms are to decide whether to buy their “The fi ndings set a new low cash profi t to that tax bill”. fi rms denied any wrongdoing G4S has also been ordered to extra independent oversight has paying UK taxes. products — or boycott them if in terms of trust between Brit- Gauke insisted that the UK’s and insisted they were meeting put in place an improvement plan, been provided by the Youth Justice The overwhelming fi nding in they appear to be diverting tax ons and multinationals,” said position on taxpayer confi den- their UK tax obligations. which the board will oversee, Gove Board and Barnardo’s advocates. an exclusive poll for the Evening liabilities to countries such as Michael Turner, research di- tiality was the “mainstream However, the following added in a written ministerial Other recommendations were Standard piled pressure on Os- Luxembourg to lower their bills. rector at BMG Research. “It approach” adopted by many month the coff ee shop giant statement. for new inspections of all secure borne to take tougher action The survey by BMG Research also appears that they don’t countries. agreed to pay around £20mn Inspectors who visited the training centres to see whether against companies accused of found that 84% of Britons be- trust government enough to Labour MP Andrew Gwynne more in tax after facing a cus- centre after the programme was the concerns raised at Medway are not paying their fair share of tax lieve multi-national fi rms op- get a grip with the corporate responded: “These are com- tomers’ boycott sparked by the broadcast found evidence of “tar- widespread. in Britain. erating in the UK should be tax-avoiders. A public regis- panies, not individuals, so the controversy.

Tube strike averted Hundreds look to Probes into 58 Iraq claim lottery jackpot killing claims dropped AFP couple from Scotland, and or- London ganisers Camelot may take sev- eral months to identify the sec- Guardian News and Media measures to curb the use of “no gations : “It’s an intolerable burden ond winner. London win, no fee” arrangements and the for people who have served their undreds of Britons Hinte said she bought her requirement that legal aid claim- country well to face this knowing have attempted to ticket on January 9 at a newsa- ants must have lived in the UK for they’re innocent.” Hclaim a £33mn lottery gent’s shop in Worcester, central ffi cials have decided to 12 months. However, the army’s former payout, saying their tickets England, where Camelot said drop investigations into The prime minister’s determi- chief legal adviser in Iraq has have been damaged or lost in- the winning ticket was sold. Oalmost 60 claims of un- nation comes after the law fi rm criticised the crackdown on legal cluding one woman who said Her estranged husband lawful killings by soldiers who Leigh Day was referred to the so- claims against Iraq veterans. she put hers in the washing voiced some doubts about her served in Iraq. licitors disciplinary tribunal over Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas machine. claim but told The Sun that he The Iraq historic allegations complaints about its handling of Mercer, now an Anglican priest, More than a fortnight after would be only too happy to be team (Ihat) - set up by the govern- legal claims brought by Iraqi de- said the prime minister was wrong the winning numbers of the proved wrong. ment to examine claims of murder, tainees against the MoD. to characterise those raising con- January 9 National Lottery draw “I have to say it sounds too abuse and torture during the Iraq The claims, which crumbled cerns about military abuse as were announced, the endur- good to be true,” Nick, a roofer, war - has decided not to proceed when it emerged that some of “money-grabbing lawyers”. ing mystery was headline news told the tabloid, adding: “I’m in 57 cases, the ministry of defence the Iraqis were members of the Mercer said the claims were not yesterday in the tabloids, which hoping and praying she’s the has confi rmed. A further case was rebel Mahdi army, centred on al- false and raised issues of “very have homed in on 48-year-old winner”. stopped by the military’s service legations that detainees had been high importance”, including the grandmother Suzanne Hinte. “We never divorced so tech- prosecuting authority. abused and murdered by British abuse of detainees in Iraq and Af- The woman said the bar code, nically I could put a claim in Earlier this month, nearly 300 soldiers. The chairman of the Al- ghanistan and the beating to death serial number and part of the for half. But she’s already told Britons who served in Iraq were Sweady inquiry, which was set up by soldiers of the Iraqi hotel worker date on the ticket were smudged me she’ll look after me and the contacted by investigators look- to look into the claims, called the Baha Mousa. away because it was in the pock- kids,” he said. ing into allegations of war crimes, most serious of them “deliberate Mercer pointed out that the et of a pair of jeans she washed. Hinte, who is apparently with some being interrogated on lies, reckless speculation and in- government has paid out £20mn “I wouldn’t make it up, why known as “German Sue” due their doorsteps, offi cials said. grained hostility”. for 326 cases. would I?” she was quoted as to her German origins, has en- Last week, David Cameron or- Conservative MP Richard “Anyone who has fought the People wait as a tube train arrives at Westminster station saying, claiming her right to couraged many more claimants dered ministers to clamp down on Benyon, a member of the Com- MoD knows they don’t pay out for in London. The threat of travel chaos in London this week half of the £66mn jackpot - the to come forward with similar lawyers pursuing claims against mons defence select committee, nothing. So there are 326 substan- was lifted when the RMT rail union said it had suspended biggest in the history of the Na- stories. Iraq veterans. said innocent veterans were en- tiated claims at a cost of £20mn, a 24-hour strike due to start yesterday evening as part of a tional Lottery. “We have received hundreds The national security coun- during an “intolerable burden”. and almost no criminal proceed- long-running dispute over pay and the introduction of night The other ticket with the of claims of this nature,” Camel- cil was told to draw up options to He told the Sun, which reported ings to accompany it. You have to services. winning numbers has already ot was quoted by the Daily Mir- end “spurious claims”, including the decision to drop the 58 investi- ask why,” he told the BBC. been claimed by a 54-year-old ror as saying. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 21 BRITAIN Hunt apologises to baby’s parents over NHS failings

Agencies Mead, who died in December 2014 Hunt told MPs: “Whilst any worst possible way through seri- He said the recommendations ther, how to recognise a complex teriorating. On the day before his London following a string of NHS failings. health system will inevitably suf- ous failings in the NHS care of- relating to 111 should be “treated call and when to call in clinical death, Melissa called 111 for advice GPs, out-of-hours services fer some tragedies, the issues in fered, and I would like to apologise as a national and not a local issue”. advice earlier. “It also highlights and also spoke to an out-of-hours and a 111 call handler failed to spot this case have signifi cant impli- to them on behalf of the govern- Call handlers on 111 are not limited sensitivity in the algo- GP who did not have access to any eremy Hunt has apologised to William had sepsis caused by an cations for the rest of the NHS ment and the NHS for what hap- medically trained and follow a set rithms used by call handlers in the of her son’s medical records. the parents of a baby who died, underlying chest infection and that I’m determined we should pened.” series of questions to identify pa- signs relating to sepsis.” The 111 call handler failed to Jsaying they were “let down in pneumonia. learn from. “I have met William’s Hunt described the four areas tients who need further help. According to the report by NHS explore further some of Melissa’s the worst possible way” by the A report into the 12-month- mother, Melissa, who has spoken of “missed opportunity” by health Hunt said: “(111) advisers are England, Melissa spoke to medics comments about William’s con- NHS. old’s death found opportunities incredibly movingly about the loss services where “a diff erent course trained not to deviate from their at least nine times in the 11 weeks dition, including that his temper- In a statement to MPs, the were missed to save the little boy’s of her son. of action should have been taken”, script, but the report says they leading up to William’s death. He ature had gone from a high 40C health secretary off ered his con- life after his parents were repeat- “Quite simply we let her, her which would have led to William’s need to be trained to appreciate was seen by several GPs who failed (104F) to a low 35C (95F) - a sign dolences to the family of William edly told he just had a cough. family and William down in the survival. when there is a need to probe fur- to spot that his condition was de- of sepsis.

Regulator Windy day criticises London rents Tesco over supplier treatment too high even

AFP London for bankers, upermarket giant Tesco was in “serious” breach of indus- Stry regulations in the run-up to an accounting scandal that has rocked Britain’s biggest retailer, the sector’s ombudsman ruled yesterday. reveals data The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), publishing a long-awaited Reuters “It’s undoubtedly a problem But London rents are challeng- report on Tesco’s retail practices London for all young professionals in ing to all pocketbooks. after the scandal erupted in 2014, London,” said James Ferguson, Research by lettings agency concluded that the company had a partner at fi nancial consulting Stirling Ackroyd showed London “intentionally delayed” paying ents in London have risen fi rm Deloitte. tenants need to live at least 10km suppliers—and had implemented so sharply that the one “Having aff ordable housing from London’s Charles I statue in “unilateral” price reductions. Rgroup of young workers and bringing in a new breed of Charing Cross, traditionally con- The adjudicator, Christine usually immune to worries about professionals to London is im- sidered the ‘centre’ of the capital, Tacon, added that Tesco had keeping a roof over their heads portant. If we want London to in order to pay less than £1,000 in breached the legally binding code are starting to feel the pinch. thrive for professional and fi - monthly rent. which is aimed at protecting sup- The average fi nancial sector nancial services we have to create Just 24 out of 179 postcode dis- pliers of groceries. salary is about 30% higher than housing.” tricts within 10 miles of central Tacon did not however impose the average wage in Britain but it The challenge comes as Brit- London record average monthly a fi nancial penalty because the in- is still failing to keep pace with ain’s membership in the Euro- rents of less than £1,000, with vestigation was launched in 2015 – rent rises in the overcrowded pean Union is under threat from average monthly rents of £1,567 before she was granted the power capital, government wage sta- a referendum due by the end in E14, the code close to the fi - to fi ne companies. tistics, salary research and rental of 2017 to opt out of the union, nancial heartland of Canary “I found that Tesco knowingly data shows. another uncertainty for young Wharf. Research conducted by delayed paying money to suppliers The trend casts a cloud over the fi nancial professionals look- KPMG alongside housing charity in order to improve its own fi nan- capital’s role as a global fi nancial ing for a welcoming place to live Shelter showed that more than cial position,” the adjudicator said centre as young bankers join their and work. It also has real conse- half of all 20- to 34-year-olds in her report. fellow Londoners in weighing quences for the government. The could be living with their parents “The length of delays, their whether to pay ever-larger sums fi nancial services industry con- by 2040 and housing prices could widespread nature and the range to live in the dynamic city centre tributed £66bn in tax in 2013-14, quadruple in the next 20 years. of Tesco’s unreasonable practices or commute from outside, and more than any other UK industry, Some fi rms are doing some- and behaviours towards suppliers may even push them into leaving data published by trade body Cit- thing about it. Deloitte’s Fer- concerned me. for other industries or banking yUK showed. guson has started a scheme to “I was also troubled to see Tesco hubs overseas. “The lesson learned is: fi nd a reserve East London fl ats for at times prioritising its own fi - According to government data better job or move out of Lon- the company’s entry-level em- nances over treating suppliers tracking England’s private rental don,” said one 22-year-old fi - ployees. Financial services and fairly,” she added. market in 2014-15, the median nancial services professional accounting fi rm KPMG, which The investigation was launched monthly rent in London is now based in London’s Whitechapel employs over 7,000 people in after Tesco revealed in September £1,400, almost three times high- neighbourhood, who declined to London, has teamed up with 2014 that it had overstated profi ts er than in northeast England. be named in line with his fi rm’s Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks by £263mn as a result of account- London residential rents have policy on talking to the media. to help junior staff get access to ing errors stretching back to before risen by an average 5.3% each year The starting salary for a post preferential mortgage rates. 2013. The company now faces a since 2011, data accurate to De- with London’s Metropolitan Po- “We know from our staff en- four-week deadline to explain how cember 2015 from lettings agency lice is £29,331, for a newly quali- gagement that getting a foot on it plans to implement the adjudi- Your Move & Reeds Rains shows. fi ed teacher is £27,819 and for a the property ladder is one of the cator’s recommendations. The median salary including foundation year trainee doctor is biggest personal fi nance chal- Tesco chief executive Dave bonuses for entry-level bank- £36,063, websites run by the Met lenges they face,” Simon Collins, Lewis apologised in a separate ers, typically the most lucrative Police, department of educa- UK chairman of KPMG, said statement, adding the group ac- fi rst role in fi nancial services, tion and National Health Service While KPMG and Deloitte cepted the fi ndings. went in the other direction dur- show. are thinking up ways of giving “In 2014 we undertook our own ing the same period, down 4.2% Banking, by contrast, is rela- their London employees a help- review into certain historic prac- since 2011, according to research tively well-paid: Emolument ing hand, some large banks have tices, which were both unsustain- from Emolument, a website that research shows an entry-level come up with another solution: able and harmful to our suppliers,” A pedestrian crosses the Millennium Bridge during a windy day in London yesterday. benchmarks salaries across the banker earned around £50,000, moving jobs out of the city or Lewis said. industry. before taxes, in 2015. even out of the country. Coal plant closure plan Artwork Lost Beatrix Potter ‘could hit power supplies’ story to be published AFP script and then had it typeset London and started to lay it out in a proof dummy,” Hanks told BBC radio. Reuters According to the report from SSE, Drax, E.ON, EDF En- The next stage would have been to London the engineers institute, if the coal ergy, RWE and Engie all chose newly discovered story illustrate it. plant closures are combined with this month to put some of their written more than a cen- “Then World War I began, she the shuttering of ageing nuclear coal plants into a government Atury ago by the cherished got married and she was very in- ritain’s plan to close coal- plants there could be a supply scheme which means they could British children’s author Beatrix tent on building her farming busi- fi red power plants by 2025 gap of 40%-55%, based on cur- be modifi ed in due course to meet Potter will be published in Sep- ness. Those interruptions took Bhas come under scrutiny rent typical supply. emissions targets under the EU’s tember, Penguin Random House over and meant she never went from engineers who yesterday “If we get to 2023-24 and Industrial Emissions Directive announced yesterday. back to the tale,” said Hanks. warned it could contribute to the lights are fl ickering then of (IED). The Tale of Kitty-In-Boots, a “I think it’s the best of Beatrix electricity supply shortages. course you would expect the gov- Plants that have not been ear- story about a black cat that leads Potter. There’s humour, there’s Under a business as usual sce- ernment to step in and say plants marked for possible changes a double life, was found two years rebellious characters. During the nario, the country’s electricity can stay open,” said Peter Ather- must be closed by 2023 at the lat- ago by Penguin Random House story we meet a couple of interest- supplies “can only be secured by ton, energy analyst at investment est. publisher Jo Hanks. ing villains.” An older Peter Rab- granting an extension to exist- bank Jeff eries. “The decisions by the op- Potter is best known for The bit makes an appearance, while ing coal-fi red power stations,” a The report said Britain would erators raise the possibility that Tale of Peter Rabbit, which has sold old favourite Mrs Tiggywinkle the report by the Institution of Me- need to build about 30 new gas some of these plants could still 45mn copies and been translated hedgehog also turns up. chanical Engineers said. plants in less than 10 years to be running in 2023 and beyond into 36 languages. The publication The book will be illustrated by In a bid to meet its carbon plug the gap, and that looks un- in confl ict with the government’s of the newly-uncovered tale forms Quentin Blake, best known for his emission targets, the government realistic given current weak elec- plans,” said Ali Lloyd, senior part of this year’s celebrations work on Roald Dahl’s children’s announced plans in November to tricity prices. principal consultant at the con- marking the 150th anniversary of books. Blake said: “It seemed al- close polluting coal-fi red power Even before the government’s sulting and engineering fi rm her birth. most incredible when, early in plants and replace them with gas announcement in November, Poyry. Hanks found a reference to the 2015, I was sent the manuscript plants by 2025. many older coal plants were ex- “The government will need story in an out-of-print literary of a story by Beatrix Potter, one Coal plants provided more pected to close by the middle of some kind of legislation which Turkish Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk poses with his history of the author. which had lain unpublished for a than a quarter of Britain’s elec- next decade. But the operators eff ectively bans coal in order to work of art entitled ‘Floating Objects’ as part of his Hanks delved into the Potter hundred years and which, with the tricity in the fi rst nine months of of seven plants capable of gen- make them close,” he said. exhibition ‘The Museum of Innocence’ at Somerset House archives held at the Victoria and exception of a single drawing, she 2015, government data showed, erating a combined 13 gigawatts A spokesman for the depart- in London yesterday. Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Albert Museum in London and had never illustrated.” and experts warn that new plants (GW) - or four times the planned ment for energy and climate Pamuk presented a new version of his collection The discovered the 1914 manuscript. The Royal Mint is producing are not being built fast enough to Hinkley C nuclear project - have change said it would carry out a Museum of Innocence, the physical manifestation of his “Potter fully intended to pub- a special 50 pence coin this year compensate for the planned clo- left the door open to keeping consultation this spring on its novel of the same name, at Somerset House. lish it. She’d written it twice, marking the 150th anniversary of sures. them running longer. proposals to shut the coal plants. rewritten it, polished the manu- Potter’s birth. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 EUROPE EU mulls Long walk two-year Schengen suspension AFP years under exceptional circumstances. Amsterdam In the last few months, Austria, Germany, Den- mark, Sweden and non-EU member Norway have all introduced temporary controls over the mi- he European Commission said yesterday it grant crisis, but with a limit of six months. may eventually allow member states of the The member states are required to inform the Migrants and refugees wait in line for a security check after crossing the Macedonian border into Serbia, near the village of Miratovac. Tpassport-free Schengen zone to reintro- commission, which reviews whether they meet duce border checks for up to two years to cope the criteria for reintroducing controls. with the migration crisis. “We know the migratory fl ows are not going to At a meeting in Amsterdam on Monday night, be subsiding soon and as the weather changes are EU interior ministers had asked the Commission - even likely to increase again,” Bertaud said. the executive arm of the 28-nation European Un- The introduction of the temporary controls has ion - about the possibility of extending the checks. raised fears that the Schengen zone - a symbol of Family-run businesses ready to hire refugees “We want to be prepared for all eventualities European unity, freedom and prosperity - could but we are not at the activation stage yet,” Nata- collapse. But Commission spokesman Margaritis sha Bertaud, the Commission’s spokeswoman on Schinas said: “We are saving Schengen by apply- AFP prises, - which are mostly fam- a shortfall in annual revenues of Last month, the German cen- migration, told reporters in Brussels. ing Schengen.” Berlin ily-owned and -run and make 45.9bn euros ($50bn). tral bank, or Bundesbank, said “If the situation does not change and there An extension of border controls has also up the backbone of the German More than half, or 55%, of the many of the new arrivals could could indeed be justifi cations under public order sparked concerns that Greece - the landing point economy - regard the shortage of companies polled predicted that initially fi nd it diffi cult to get a and security reasons to maintain internal controls for around 80% of all migrants arriving in Europe ore than half of small qualifi ed employees as their most the arriving refugees would help job because of their young age at internal Schengen borders,” Bertaud added. - could be eff ectively frozen out of Schengen. and medium-sized pressing problem. alleviate the shortage and 85% of and lack of qualifi cations. “We want to be prepared so we are pursuing the “If we do not manage to secure Europe’s exter- Mcompanies in Germany Two out of every three fi rms them said they were prepared to According to the EY survey, options that could be available to us under article nal border, this is the Greek-Turkish border, the believe the mass migrant infl ux say they are fi nding it diffi cult hire a refugee. the SMEs fi nding it hardest to 26 if and when we need to activate them.” European external border will move towards cen- can help alleviate the country’s to recruit qualifi ed workers and Experts believe the infl ux will recruit qualifi ed workers were Article 26 of the Schengen code allows mem- tral Europe,” Austrian Interior Minister Johanna shortage of qualifi ed labour and 49% of the SMEs surveyed esti- help boost domestic demand in those in the construction and en- bers of the 26-country zone, which includes most Mikl-Leitner said Monday. most are willing to hire refugees, mated that the shortage was hit- the short-term, but the long- ergy sectors and those in eastern European Union countries, to reintroduce inter- Last week Mikl-Leitner warned Athens could a survey revealed yesterday. ting revenues. term economic consequences Germany. nal border controls for a maximum of up to two face “temporary exclusion” from Schengen. According to the survey con- Nationwide, the companies depend on how quickly and ef- The biggest obstacle for hiring ducted by Ernst & Young, the calculated they had a shortage fectively the refugees are inte- refugees was the lack of German small and medium-sized enter- of 326,000 workers, leading to grated into the labour market. language skills, EY found.

Migrant policy ‘ritual suicide’ Five migrants drown off Turkey Five migrants were killed in November to stem the ‘Russia will not take back yesterday when their boat flow of refugees heading AFP Central Europe summit in Prague sank in the Aegean Sea to Europe, in return for Prague while trying to cross from 3bn euros in financial as- The Czech Republic has invited fellow EU mem- refugees from Norway’ Turkey’s western coast sistance. bers Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to a special to EU member Greece, But the deal and the he European Union is committing a “ritual summit on migration next month as the bloc grap- reports said. onset of winter do not suicide” with its migration policy, Slovak ples with a record migrant crisis, the Czech prime Reuters ately stated false data about the pur- Sixteen more people appear to have deterred TPrime Minister Robert Fico said yesterday, minister said yesterday on Twitter. Moscow pose of their visit to the Russian Fed- were rescued by air and the migrants, with boats urging the 28-member bloc to stop the infl ow of “The Czech Republic will call an extraordinary eration. This is why we do not want to by sea in a search and still arriving on the Greek migrants fast. summit of the Visegrad-four countries for Febru- admit these people back to Russia.” rescue operation by the islands daily. “I feel that we in the EU are now commit- ary 15,” Premier Bohuslav Sobotka said, specifying oscow does not want to take Norway said it had contacted Rus- Turkish coastguard, the According to a state- ting ritual suicide and we’re just looking on,” the that the migrant crisis would top the agenda. back refugees who crossed sia’s Foreign Ministry after Lavrov’s Dogan news agency said. ment yesterday from the 51-year-old leftwinger known for his anti-immi- His spokesman was not immediately available Minto Norway from Russia, comments and secured assurances The migrants had ear- International Organisation grant rhetoric told Czech newspaper Pravo. to give details. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Moscow was still open to taking lier set off from the district for Migration (IOM), 45,361 Fico, whose party is expected to win a general The Czech Republic holds the rotating presiden- said yesterday in a dispute over 5,400 back at least some of 5,400 asylum Didim in Aydin province migrants have arrived in election in March, said the EU should fi rst of all cy of the so-called Visegrad group, which brings migrants that Oslo wants to deport. seekers who crossed last year, many in an apparent bid to Greece by sea so far this stop the infl ux of “illegal migrants”. together four central European ex-communist Norway’s right-wing government from Syria. reach the Greek island of year, 31 times more than “If it takes until late 2016 or 2017 for Europe to set countries. All four have rejected the EU’s plan for toughened policies for asylum seekers “Russia has always said they are not Farmakonisi. for all of January 2015. up its planned border and coastguard force, the EU quotas to distribute migrants across the continent. in December and wants to send back interested in taking back most of the Turkey, which is home Some 90% of the new will have killed itself,” Fico said, adding that Slova- those who crossed the Arctic border 5,400 refugees,” ministry spokesman to at least 2.2mn refugees arrivals are from Syria, Iraq kia had 300 police offi cers ready to deploy at the ex- from Russia, saying Russia is safe for Rune Bjaastad said. from Syria’s civil war, and Afghanistan, it added. ternal borders of the passport-free Schengen area. Fico said the system had turned out “a com- them. “But we have an understanding has become a hub for The IOM said it has “We often stew in our own juices, tackling quo- plete fi asco” and that thousands of migrants dis- “The talk is about people who ar- with Russia that we can send back migrants seeking to reach recorded 158 deaths in the tas which are nonsense... and in the meantime tributed according to quotas were impossible to rived in Russia with a purpose of ei- those who have a valid visa and resi- Europe, many of whom eastern Mediterranean several thousand migrants arrive in Europe every integrate in Slovakia. ther to work in Russia or to visit rela- dency in Russia,” he said. pay people smugglers this year, along with 19 day,” the premier said. “If, based on temporary or permanent quotas, tives,” Lavrov told an annual news Norway sent a bus to Russia last thousands of dollars for more in the central Medi- Slovakia, a eurozone member of 5.4mn people, someone forces us to import 50,000 people with conference. “They had not declared week carrying 13 people from Syria, the risky crossing. terranean, bringing the has fi led a lawsuit against the EU-proposed quota completely diff erent habits and religions - and their (true) purpose of visit as transit Afghanistan, Yemen and Pakistan. Ankara reached an total number of deaths in system for distributing migrants across the conti- these are mostly young men - I can’t imagine how to Norway.” About 31,000 migrants arrived in agreement with the EU 2016 to 177. nent, just like neighbouring Hungary. we could integrate them. We can’t,” he said. “This means that they had deliber- Norway last year across all borders. Danish parliament okays controversial migrant bill

AFP Social Democrat Dan Jor- the move by arguing that Danes of the countries that receive by Copenhagen gensen addressed opponents of who want to qualify for social far the most asylum seekers.” the bill, demanding: “To those benefi ts may also have to sell Home to 5.6mn people, Den- saying what we are doing is their valuables. However, they mark registered 21,000 asylum enmark’s parliament yes- wrong, my question is: What is are not subjected to the kind of applications in 2015, making it terday adopted reforms your alternative? searches proposed in the new one of the top EU destinations Daimed at dissuading mi- “The alternative is that we asylum law. per capita. grants from seeking asylum by continue to be (one of) the most Once a champion of refugee Criticism had mounted ahead delaying family reunifi cations attractive countries in Europe to rights, the Scandinavian coun- of yesterday’s vote, with the UN and allowing authorities to seize come to, and then we end up like try’s goal is now to become “sig- refugee agency UNHCR claiming their valuables, under legisla- Sweden.” nifi cantly less attractive for asy- the bill violated several conven- tion that has sparked widespread Copenhagen has often referred lum-seekers”, Stojberg said. tions on rights and refugees. condemnation. to neighbouring Sweden as a bad “The tone in the public debate In a January 15 letter to Sto- The government insists the example, where 163,000 asylum about refugees and immigrants jberg, the Council of Europe’s law is needed to stem the fl ow applications were submitted last has undoubtedly become tough- commissioner for human rights, of refugees even though Den- year - fi ve times more than in er,” Kashif Ahmad, the leader of Nils Muiznieks, said the fam- mark and Sweden recently tight- Denmark relative to their popu- the National Party, which hopes ily reunifi cations proposal raises ened their borders, a move that lation size. to enter parliament by targeting “issues of compatibility” with prompted Germany and Austria Denmark’s minority govern- the immigrant vote, told AFP. the European Convention on Hu- to turn back new arrivals heading ment eventually backtracked on Amnesty International has man Rights. for Scandinavia. parts of the plan to confi scate called the three-year waiting Rasmussen, whose party won a The bill presented by the right- migrants’ valuables in order to period for family reunifi cations June election after promising an wing minority government of secure backing for the bill from “cruel”, saying it could “have a “immediate slowdown” of Den- Prime Minister Lars Lokke Ras- two small right-wing parties and devastating impact on families”. mark’s refugee infl ux, has been mussen was approved by a huge the opposition Social Democrats. But Marcus Knuth, Venstre’s unfazed, arguing that the UN majority of 81 of the 109 law- Asylum seekers will now have spokesman on integration issues, Refugee Convention may need makers present, as members of Jakob Ellemann-Jensen from the Danish Liberal Party speaks during the debate in the Danish Parliament to hand over cash exceeding said the criticism was unfair. to be changed if refugees keep the opposition Social Democrats in Copenhagen yesterday. 10,000 kroner ($1,450) and any “Denmark continues to be pouring into Europe. backed the measures. individual items valued at more one of the most welcoming and Stojberg and Foreign Minister “There’s no simple answer for The legislation stirred great in asylum centres, while rights Jews by the Nazis during the Hol- than that amount, up from the caring places that you can seek Kristian Jensen have defended a single country, but until the controversy, with Rasmussen de- activists have blasted a proposed ocaust. initial 3,000 kroner proposed. asylum in. So the criticism that the new law before the UN and world comes together on a joint fending it as “the most misunder- three-year delay for family reuni- Rasmussen has shrugged off After thorny negotiations with all of a sudden we were doing the European Parliament in the solution (to the migrant crisis), stood bill in Denmark’s history.” fi cations which they say breaches the criticism, seemingly more the other parties, Integration Min- something wrong we fi nd highly, past week. Denmark needs to act,” MP Jakob International outrage has fo- international conventions. concerned with opinion polls ister Inger Stojberg agreed to make highly unfair,” he told AFP. The bill is scheduled to be Ellemann-Jensen of Rasmussen’s cused on plans to allow police Some have likened the Dan- showing that 70% of Danes rank wedding rings and other items of “We simply wish to be put signed into law by Denmark’s Venstre party said during the de- to seize cash and valuables from ish proposals to the confi scation immigration as their top political sentimental value exempt. more at par with other European Queen Margrethe within a few bate. refugees to help pay for their stay of gold and other valuables from concern. The government has defended countries so that we are not one days. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 23 EUROPE

Captain, French cabbies block roads insurer liable for Prestige on day of multiple strikes oil spill AFP Paris AFP Madrid ngry French taxi drivers yes- terday blocked key roads with Aburning tyres and hundreds of he Spanish Supreme fl ights were cancelled as air traffi c con- Court said yesterday it trollers joined civil servants, hospital Thad found the captain, workers and teachers for a “Black Tues- British insurer and owner of day” of strikes. an oil tanker that broke up off At Orly airport, one protester was northwestern Spain in 2002 li- injured in the leg when a shuttle bus, able for one of Europe’s worst whose driver said he “panicked”, forced environmental disasters. its way through a blockade. Police said Reversing an earlier deci- the bus driver was arrested. sion acquitting the ship’s cap- Some 300 taxi drivers, furious over tain, Apostolos Mangouras, the upstart competitors such as Uber, court sentenced the skipper to also blocked the capital’s ring road at two years’ jail and also found a a key intersection in the west of the mutual insurance company The city, lighting fi res and throwing smoke London P&I Club liable for the bombs. disaster, as well as ship owner One Uber driver’s car was splattered Mare Shipping. with eggs and kicked by protesters, an The Prestige tanker ran into AFP journalist reported. trouble in rough seas in Novem- “Today our survival is at stake, we are ber 2002. Six days later, dam- fed up of meetings and negotiations,” aged and adrift, it broke in two said Ibrahima Sylla, spokesman of the and sank off the coast of Galicia. Taxis de France collective. The accident saw 63,000 tonnes Some 20 protesters were arrested of oil spill into the sea and blacken out of a total of 1,200 drivers on strike 2,980km of shoreline in Spain, around the capital, police said. France and Portugal with sludge. “There is a right to protest... even The spill caused huge damage during a state of emergency,” said Prime to wildlife and the environment, Minister Manuel Valls, referring to as well as to the region’s fi shing measures imposed after the November industry, polluting more than a militant attacks in Paris. “But violence thousand beaches and leading to is unacceptable.” an international clean-up eff ort. Adding to the chaos, one in fi ve fl ights A Spanish court in 2013 ac- in and out of Paris - aff ecting both Orly quitted Mangouras and the and Charles de Gaulle airports - were ship’s chief engineer, both of cancelled because of a strike by air traf- them Greek, as well as a senior fi c controllers over pay and conditions. Spanish offi cial, of environmen- Air France said it would operate all its tal crimes over the wreck, argu- long-haul fl ights and more than 80% ing they did not act intentionally of its short and medium-haul fl ights in French policemen look on as taxi drivers set tyres on fire during a demonstration in Paris yesterday. or with serious negligence. France and elsewhere in Europe. But the Supreme Court re- Budget airline Ryanair said it had ing with regular taxi drivers who “must forms that have already seen 7bn euros on what the daily Le Parisien dubbed we want”, demanding that wages keep voked the acquittal for Man- cancelled more than 200 fl ights, and be able to make a decent living”. ($7.6bn) in austerity cuts. “black Tuesday” - also claimed they up with infl ation as well as “signifi cant gouras, accusing him of “gross easyJet had cut 35 fl ights, mostly within Uber fl outed the UberPOP ban for Kindergarten and primary school were protesting against job losses total- measures aimed at recovering the losses negligence” for having sailed at a France but also aff ecting Italy, Switzer- several months, triggering a spate of teachers were striking for higher pay, ling some 150,000 since 2007 and said since 2010”. time when bad weather was pos- land and Spain. violent protests in June. with about a third, or 100,000, expect- the hospital sector was especially in Farmers upset over falling prices also sible, knowing that the ship was France banned Uber’s low-cost Uber- The San Francisco-based company ed to take part, according to their union, need of new jobs. blocked roads with tractors in several old and that the automatic pilot POP service - which used unlicensed fi nally shut down the low-cost service which predicted a stay-away rate of up Civil Service Minister Marylise Le- rural areas and dumped manure outside no longer worked, for instance. drivers - a year ago, but the professional in July after two of its French bosses to 45% in Paris. branchu said negotiations in February some tax offi ces. The 2013 acquittal of the version of Uber continues to operate were arrested and charged with “mis- The leftist FO union said pay freezes could not be expected to lead to a “big Their unions are demanding that dis- captain had caused an uproar. legally and taxi dispatchers in Paris say leading commercial practices (and) and infl ation had led to an eff ective rise (in the salary index) because we are tributors and major food companies pay Greenpeace had said that the de- business has shrunk by 20% to 30%. complicity in the illegal exercise of the eight% pay cut for civil servants since in a diffi cult situation”. more for produce and livestock. cision provided “a carte blanche “Uberisation... is not just a Paris taxi profession”. 2010. Jean-Marc Canon of the hardline The government responded by pledg- to the oil industry to threaten the problem but a world problem,” said Meanwhile some 5.6mn civil servants The striking unions - which led up CGT union had said on Monday any in- ing an extra 290mn euros in support for environment and citizens”. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, sympathis- were called to down tools to protest re- to 120 demonstrations across France crease would be “light years from what farmers aff ected by the crisis. And Spain’s State Prosecu- tor Luis Navajas, who asked the Supreme Court to overturn the Election or Kalashnikov to get rid of prime minister acquittal in September, called the decision “fl awed” and “no- Czech President Milos Zeman yes- only one democratic way and that is a toriously wrong.” Kremlin mum on Putin ex-wife’s remarriage terday outraged government and free election, which will take place in a “The prestige of Spain as a opposition politicians alike by joking year,” Zeman said. state that defends its coasts and that only an election or Kalashnikov “And then there is an undemo- its economic wealth was called AFP launched a rare speculative discussion of birth as Lyudmila but the rare sur- assault rifle could be used to get rid of cratic path that is called Kalashnikov,” into question by this decision,” Moscow of Putin’s personal life. name Ocheretnaya is registered as own- Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, his he said with a smile. The audience he argued. “After these reports, in the blogo- ing her sister’s former apartment since long-time political adversary. laughed and applauded. Among the evidence he said sphere suggestions appeared that possi- September last year. It said Ocheretnaya The remark was the last in a string Zeman, 71, often diverges from the had been overlooked were notes he Kremlin yesterday refused bly now we should await an announce- received a passport with that surname of incendiary comments from Zeman, EU and Nato member country’s foreign from the Prestige’s former cap- to comment on a report that ment of Putin’s wedding, too,” it said. in February 2015. whose statements targeting oppo- policy line, professing anti-immigration tain, Stratos Kostazos, who had TVladimir Putin’s ex-wife has re- Carefully controlled state media The report linked Ocheretnaya to a nents and migrants have drawn fire views and echoing Russian off icial complained that the tanker was married, as state media speculated it would be unlikely to reference reports man called Artur Ocheretny, a 37-year- from the government as well as the views on the conflict in Ukraine. in bad shape and who had re- could pave the way for the president that were untrue and denied by the old who runs a centre that trains people UN human rights chief. The Czech government’s stance on fused to sail in it. himself to wed again. Kremlin. The television website also in communications skills. He did not Zeman, whose popularity has shot migration has been far away from Ger- The Supreme Court said Questioned during a daily phone posted a video of Putin’s 2014 phone-in answer written questions from Sobes- up in the past months on sharp com- many’s welcoming approach but much yesterday that two major en- briefi ng, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry session with the nation when he said: ednik. ments against accepting Muslim immi- less controversial than Zeman’s. ergy companies - Spain’s Repsol Peskov was coy on whether Lyudmila, “I fi rst need to give away my ex-wife The apartment was owned by Putin grants, does not have much day-to-day The centre-left prime minister and Britain’s BP - had advised 58, has indeed remarried, as a Russian Lyudmila Alexandrovna in marriage, from 1995 to 1997 and then by his moth- executive power but is an important rejected Zeman’s comments. against using the Prestige tanker, weekly magazine reported last week. then I’ll think about myself.” er-in-law. Located in his hometown of opinion maker in the country. “We are with the highest probability a 26-year-old vessel with a car- “You know that Vladimir Vladimi- Persistent rumours have romanti- Saint Petersburg, it is tiny for a highly When asked at a public debate in a the only country in a civilised world rying capacity of 81,000 tonnes. rovich and Lyudmila Alexandrovna are cally linked Putin, 63, to former Olym- placed offi cial at 139sq m. southeastern Czech town on Monday where the president publicly calls Mangouras’ seamanship was divorced, and therefore in this case I pic rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva, Putin married Lyudmila, a former night what to do about a prime minister for killing the prime minister,” news not only dangerous, “he also don’t have the powers to say anything 31 years his junior, although both have airline stewardess, in 1983 and they have whose attitude to migrants is seen as agency CTK quoted him as saying. created a serious risk, particu- about Lyudmila Alexandrovna and her angrily denied a relationship. two daughters. They announced they more moderate than his, Zeman said: Politicians from both government larly with regards to the high- personal life,” Peskov told journalists. A report by news weekly Sobesednik were separating in 2013. “If you want to get rid of any politi- and opposition parties joined Sobotka ly-polluting nature of the sub- But the website of state televi- published last week found that a woman Lyudmila has not been seen in public cian, including the president, there is in denouncing the president’s rhetoric. stance he was transporting,” the sion’s rolling news channel Rossiya 24 with the same name and date and place since 2014, Sobesednik reported. court concluded.

Resentment simmers as Greece launches pension reform debate

Reuters junior governing coalition part- this week to start the bailout review. a pension which will be cut by Athens ner. “This government will solve Euro zone and IMF offi cials about 25 to 30%,” said Michalis the pension issue, others merely have said the planned reform is Yiannakos, 55, a nurse. paid lip service to it.” ambitious but the numbers do “We will fi ght until the prime armers vowed to step up Farmers who have been block- not add up. They oppose plug- minister withdraws this abomi- protests, nurses took to the ing motorways across the coun- ging the funding gap partly by nation,” he told Reuters. Fstreets and sailors prepared try sporadically for days in pro- raising employer and employee Ship workers were also preparing to strike as anger simmered yes- test at plans to cut tax breaks for contributions, as Tsipras pro- for a 48 hour strike starting today terday in Greece over further farming as well as pensions said poses, arguing that would harm morning, keeping ferries and ships pension cutbacks that are a con- they would escalate action and economic recovery and discour- docked in the seafaring nation. dition for the indebted country to bring the country to a standstill age legal employment. Government offi cials say for- receive more international aid. unless Tsipras backed down. Without pension reform, Ath- mal parliamentary deliberation Amid rallies and protests “We will step up action by ens cannot conclude the fi rst re- on the pension reform bill is ex- across the country, Greece’s pol- blocking roads, ports and cus- view of its compliance to terms of pected in February, but lawmak- iticians were scheduled to launch toms offi ces for more hours,” said a bailout worth up to 86bn euros ers were to have a fi rst debate discussions in parliament on re- Vagelis Boutas, head of a national agreed last August, and move on yesterday. That will test both the forms seeking to cut 1.8bn euros committee coordinating the with talks on potential debt re- cohesion of Tsipras’ radical coa- from its annual pensions bill. farmer protests. lief, which Tsipras sees as a vital lition and the reform credentials Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Government offi cials say the prize. of new conservative opposition a leftist who swept to power a pension system, which costs But that cuts little ice with mil- leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis. year ago, is walking a political about 28.5bn euros a year, is in lions of people, farmers included, Approval of the bill, likely to tightrope to keep lenders onside need of a total overhaul before it who will see contributions jump come to a vote early next month to complete an overdue review of faces collapse. to about 20% of monthly earn- according to government of- reforms, without alienating his Mission chiefs from the Euro- ings to prop up the new pension fi cials, is far from certain, with electorate altogether. pean Commission, the European system. wavering leftist lawmakers from “This issue must be resolved,” Central Bank, the euro zone rescue “We are taking a 20% cut in farming regions threatening to said Defence Minister Panos fund and the International Mon- earnings, and this will force us cancel out Tsipras’s three-seat Workers at state hospitals shout slogans during a demonstration outside the Finance ministry in Athens. Kammenos, head of ANEL, the etary Fund are due in Athens later to work 15 to 17 years more to get majority. Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 INDIA

AVIATION POLITICS POLICY PEOPLE FAREWELL Smoke in cabin forces Congress names Punjab Telangana ‘a global Parrikar accepts Actress Kalpana Air India flight to turn back by-election candidate investment destination’ ‘Z’ security: police given state funeral

An Air India plane with 160 passengers was The Congress yesterday named former legislator Telangana has conceived a unique Information Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has accepted Popular Malayalam actress Kalpana, who died on forced to return to New Delhi almost 30 Ramanjit Singh Sikki as its candidate for a by- and Communication Technology (ICT) policy to ‘Z’ category police security in view of specific Monday in Hyderabad following cardiac arrest, was minutes into a Milan-bound flight after smoke election to the Punjab legislative assembly from make the state the most preferred technology security concerns, Goa Director General of Police given a state funeral in Kochi yesterday evening. She was detected in the cabin yesterday, the airline Khadoor Sahib constituency. “Congress president investment destination in the country, Governor E T N Mohan said yesterday. Parrikar had earlier was 51. Her body was earlier flown from Hyderabad said. “It was a precautionary landing after the Sonia Gandhi has approved the proposal for S L Narasimhan said yesterday. In his address at the refused to accept the ‘Z’ category security. But and taken to her home in Kochi where thousands of cabin crew was alerted about minor smoke the candidature of Ramanjit Singh Sikki, an ex- main Republic Day celebrations at Parade Grounds he has now agreed due to the security scenario her admirers paid their last respects. Kalpana, who in the cabin almost half-an-hour after the legislator, to contest the by-election,” the party in Hyderabad, Narasimhan said the youngest state and a specific death threat earlier this month began her career as a child artiste in 1983, was hugely plane left New Delhi airport today afternoon,” said in a statement. The seat fell vacant after Sikki of India is seen as a global investment destination conveyed through a post card signed off as IS, popular on and off the screen due to her jovial nature Air India spokesman G P Rao said. “All 160 quit in October last year to protest against the given its progressive policies in infrastructure Mohan said. The former Goa chief minister “has and had acted in more than 300 films, including passengers are safe and have been transferred deteriorating law and order in the state. Sikki had and power. Narasimhan, who is also the governor accepted the Z category security cover,” he other south Indian languages. She won a National to another flight. The cause of the smoke in said he was upset over the desecration of the of Andhra Pradesh, rushed to Hyderabad after said. Police had briefed Parrikar after the post Award for the Best Supporting Actress in Thanichalla the grounded plane will now be investigated.” Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib, which led to unfurling the national flag and reviewing the card threatening to kill him and Prime Minister Njan in 2012. Those who paid homage to the actress Last month a London-bound Air India flight was protests and violence in Punjab. He accused the parade at the main celebrations at Vijayawada. Narendra Modi was posted to the Goa Secretariat. included Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his forced to return to Mumbai over a suspected rat Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government lf Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his cabinet “There was a threat element... We are taking cabinet colleagues, and artistes Prithviraj, Siddique sighting in the cabin. “failing to maintain law and order in the state.” colleagues and top off icials attended the ceremony. precautions,” Mohan said. and Ranji, among others. Police prevent women trying to defy ban on

A Congress delegation of Mallikarjun Kharge, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal and others meet President Pranab Mukherjee to submit a memorandum in protest against federal rule in Arunachal Pradesh. temple entry

Women condemn police from going to a temple which is a by the patriarchal male temple action place of worship. The country is administration,” it said in a state- celebrating the Republic Day, for ment. President approves central us it’s a ‘black day,’ but we will go “We condemn the discrimina- IANS Ahmednagar, Maharashtra to the temple,” Desai told report- tive arrangement at the temple ers. and urge the temple trustees to Anticipating trouble, the tem- correct their stand in line with the ension mounted in a Ma- ple trust had deployed 250 vol- principles of gender justice en- rule in Arunachal Pradesh harashtra village yesterday unteers including 60 women and shrined in the constitution.” Tafter police barred women another 250 police personnel, Andolan co-founders Zakia IANS said the ruling party in the state vated”, involving the Bharatiya ment),” Kejriwal said. from going towards the famous besides 40-odd private secu- Soman and Noorjehan Safi a Niaz New Delhi has lost the constitutional au- Janata Party, its president Amit “We need the central govern- Shani Shingnapur Temple to of- rity guards to secure the temple said they were shocked at the thority to remain in power. Shah and the Rashtriya Swayam- ment’s co-operation for proper fer prayers, defying a centuries’ and prevent the women’s brigade imposition of Section 144 by the Also on Monday, Home Minis- sevak Sangh. development and functioning. old tradition that does not allow from entering. district administration to bar the resident Pranab Mukher- ter Rajnath Singh met Mukherjee “A taped conversation is tes- With its co-operation, the de- women to enter the shrine. A three-level steel barricade women from proceeding peace- jee yesterday approved the and discussed the situation. timony to the fact. We have velopment would be ten-fold,” Around 1,500 women activists - much like the rings of planet fully to the temple. Pcabinet recommendation “We have submitted a memo- submitted the tape to the court. he said. led by Bhumata Ranragini Brigade Saturn, of which Lord Shani is a The unique open temple has to impose central rule in Aru- randum to the president and They have hatched a conspiracy Rajkhowa by his December 9, president Trupti Desai, joined by manifestation - was erected by no walls or roof. A self-emerged nachal Pradesh, offi cial sources requested him to look into the to destabilise the border state 2015, message had advanced the a few men, en route to the temple, the temple, while the police had (svayambhu) 5ft-high black stone said. matter. We briefed the president so that their government can be date of the convening of the as- were stopped by police near Supa, set up barricades at strategic in- stands on a platform and is wor- “It’s done,” an offi cial of the about it. Whatever questions he formed there,” Sibal said. sembly session. The move was after they entered Ahmednagar tervals on all the approach roads shipped as Lord Shanidev. Rashtrapati Bhawan said, when had, we replied to him as well,” “They even tried to bypass the criticised by the Congress. district in a convoy of 50 vehicles to the village. The temple platform stands asked about whether the presi- Congress leader Kapil Sibal said court on this issue,” he said. On January 18, the Supreme yesterday afternoon. The situation was tense in the in the centre of the small village, dent has given his nod to central after a party delegation met the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Court said it would examine After a brief argument and jos- village since Monday night as the also known as Sonai and attracts rule in Arunachal Pradesh. president and submitted a mem- Kejriwal slammed the central whether Rajkhowa’s decision of tling with police, many women Bhumata Ranragini Brigade had millions of tourists and devo- The cabinet had on Sunday orandum. government and said the move advancing the assembly session squatted or lay on the road shout- warned of hiring a helicopter and tees from across the country and recommended imposition of The Congress leader also ac- was “against the Constitution”. to take up the resolution for the ing slogans condemning the po- climbing down in ropes if they abroad. President’s Rule in the north- cused Governor Rajkhowa of “The Constitution doesn’t al- removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia lice action and calling it a ‘Black were stopped, but late Monday However, except the tem- eastern state. violating the Constitution. low you to suspend an elected was valid. Day’ on the occasion of India’s night the Pune collector declined ple priests, none is permitted to On Monday the Congress “A governor who creates the government and enforce Presi- Rebia was removed as speaker Republic Day when the Constitu- permission for the chopper. climb the nine steps up to the ac- urged the president to look into crisis himself says there should dent’s Rule in any state. It is by 14 rebel Congress legislators tion granted equal rights to men Meanwhile, a Muslim women’s tual stone idol that represents the the matter, accusing Governor be President’s Rule in the state,” against the Constitution,” the backed by the BJP lawmakers on and women. group came out in support of deity. Devotees must only off er Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa of violat- he said. AAP chief said. December 16 in an assembly ses- Later, the police detained a few women’s entry into the Shing- prayers from below the platform, ing the Constitution and also “On one hand, you are respon- Kejriwal earlier termed the sion held in a community hall in of the activists, including De- napur temple. said a temple trustee Prafull N challenged the move in the Su- sible for creating such a situation cabinet’s recommendation as Itanagar that was presided over sai while the others vowed they The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Surpuriya. preme Court. in the state, and on the other, you “murder of Constitution on the by the deputy speaker. would not leave the place without Andolan said it supports demands Shani Shingnapur is globally Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi request the union government eve of Republic Day”. The 14 rebel Congress law- off ering prayers at the open-to- by Hindu women to be allowed to known as the only village where Party also termed the cabinet’s to impose President’s Rule. Both “The central government is makers were earlier disqualifi ed sky temple’s sanctum sanctorum. enter the sanctum sanctorum at houses do not have doors and recommendation as “against the cannot go hand in hand,” Sibal like an elder brother, whereas by Rebia. “The manner in which the po- the temple. locks, and the village remains Constitution”. added. state governments are younger The deputy speaker, before lice behaved with us is objection- “We salute the women activists theft-free. However, the BJP charged the The Congress leader said the brothers. He (central govern- moving the motion removing able... We were going peacefully for their democratic protest and Even the nationalised UCO Congress with having failed to recent happenings in Arunachal ment) should not trouble a Rebia as speaker, restored the to exercise our right of off ering assertion of their right to wor- Bank’s branch in the village does protect the Constitution, and Pradesh were “politically moti- younger brother (state govern- membership of the 14 legislators. prayers... They are stopping us ship in the face of all odds placed not have locks on its doors. ‘Babus’ riding roughshod over political masters n one of the rare interac- accepted practice has been for the vironment ministry for permis- But after presenting his case on It’s possible that the ‘babus’ were tions he had with journalists, prime minister to refer matters to sion. The inter-ministerial com- the fl oods Mehrishi excused him- used to inviting more people than INarendra Modi, in his third his ministers who, in turn, would mittee was seized of the matter. self much to the chagrin of the were necessary as many of those term as chief minister of Gujarat, direct them to their secretar- Delhi Diary But before the committee could MPs. invited usually wouldn’t turn up said he often found himself with ies and from there it goes down come to any decision, the envi- “It is an established practice and empty seats would not please little work. He said he had del- the line. “Protocol” is the offi - By A K B Krishnan ronment ministry has given the that when offi cers are called to a someone like the prime minister. egated most of the work to vari- cial word for it and Modi’s pred- go-ahead. meeting they stay till the end… They probably didn’t realise that ous departments and had told his ecessor, Manmohan Singh, was a Gulf Times Correspondent This has now led to a war of he should have cancelled his other times have changed. secretaries that he was available strict observer of it. words between Uma Bharti and engagements for the Parliamen- Modi announced a three-year to them for anything at any time. Modi may be in a hurry to get the environment ministry. What tary Standing Committee meet- tax holiday for start-ups. But the Modi had then said something things going and, therefore, ready greater accountability in the sys- and costly projects is to clean the should and could have been sort- ing. We can even hold the PM devil was in the detail that only a to the eff ect that his secretaries to break protocol. But there is a tem,” the statement said adding, river Ganges, which over the years ed out at the ministerial level has accountable,” one senior MP was bureaucrat could have contrived. “don’t bother me with much, so I downside to this; the bureau- “wherever the ministries face any and decades had become a cess- been complicated by overzealous quoted as saying. The commit- “A start-up shall be eligible for tax have all the time to go for inaugu- crats begin to get too big for their diffi culties, the Cabinet Secretar- pool of toxic effl uents. In fact, bureaucrats who wanted to show tee includes such senior leaders benefi ts only after it has obtained rations, speeches, etc.” boots because they often fi nd iat and the Prime Minister’s Offi ce Modi has got Water Resources who actually called the shots. The like Mallikarjun Kharge, Sitaram certifi cation from the inter-min- During his prime ministerial themselves being preferred by the will facilitate the decision making Minister Uma Bharti to create a river deserves better is all one can Yechuri and D Raja. isterial board set up for the pur- campaign and thereafter Modi, prime minister over their respec- process.” Modi had virtually taken separate department entirely de- say for now! The much-hyped “Start-Up pose,” says one of the guidelines. as also his party leaders, had tive bosses. In the process minis- the powers out of his ministers voted to the job. As can be expect- Another instance of bureau- India” event was said to be a great Going by what happened to the often highlighted the “Gujarat ters, especially those who are not and put them straight in the hands ed, Shashi Shekhar , Secretary, cratic overreach was reported success but it also exposed many inter-ministerial committee of model” of governance and how very knowledgeable about their of the bureaucracy. Water Resources, is heading the when Home Secretary Rajiv Me- chinks in organisation thanks to the Ganges cleaning plan, you can that will be transposed to Delhi portfolios, often get side-lined. All of a sudden the ‘babus’, as department. In keeping with his hrishi left a meeting of top law- the bureaucracy’s single-point well imagine what is in store for a for pan-India governance. Of Last June Modi’s offi ce an- bureaucrats are somewhat deri- abiding faith in offi cialdom, Modi makers midway as he had “other agenda of pleasing the prime young start-up entrepreneur. course, the main thrust of that nounced that the practice of sively known in local parlance, had also installed an inter-minis- engagements”. minister and nobody else. Delhi’s The so-called ‘honeymoon’ argument was the economic re- forming ‘Group of Ministers’ have been bestowed with near- terial committee, also headed by The Parliamentary Standing Vigyan Bhavan was the scene period for this government has surgence that Gujarat witnessed (GoMs) and ‘Empowered Group infi nite power. I say near-infi nite Shekhar, to iron out issues raised Committee on Home Aff airs is the where Modi was to unveil the long been over. Modi had travelled under Modi. Side by side at least of Ministers’ (EGoMs) have been because power in the hands of by other ministries. highest body of lawmakers that government’s roadmap for start- the world and brought the spot- some commentators had warned done away with. During the Man- the bureaucracy usually means Several committees had been looks into the working of the min- ups. The prime minister did look light on India in an unprecedented of the bureaucracy getting ahead mohan Singh regime there were power without responsibility. The formed over the years entrusted istry and reports to parliament. mightily pleased to see the energy manner. The mood of the nation of the political leadership, the nine EGoMs and as many as 21 politician at least has to go to the with the task of cleaning the The agenda for last week’s meet- of a full house of entrepreneurs. had changed dramatically in the prime minister perhaps being the GoMs. These groups were to act people once in fi ve years. The bu- Ganges. Almost all of them were ing was the recent fl oods in Chen- But what he apparently did not get months that followed May 2014. sole exception. as some sort of “single-window reaucrat has no such compulsions of the view that uninterrupted nai and the government’s relief to see was the disappointment of There was a sense of hope, an op- Every now and then during clearance” points on issues that and once the minister himself is fl ow of the river was most basic eff orts. At such meetings mem- several hundred equally enthusi- timism emanating from a whiff of the past 18 months reports had get mired in inter-ministerial turf “neutralised”, so to say, then life is to clean the Ganges. What this bers also raise other important is- astic entrepreneurs who could not opportunity. “Big bang” reforms emerged - and almost always to war. a breeze for the ‘babu’ in the cor- means is construction of dams/ sues of the day and this time sev- get into the venue. were the call of the hour. The last be denied by the government - of The statement from the PMO ridors of power. hydel projects upstream was eral had come prepared to ask the Vigyan Bhavan can seat about two budgets delivered by Finance how Modi was going over the head had said issues pending before the At least three glaring instances a strict ‘no-no’. But the power home secretary about the Arvind 1,300 people. But the minions Minister Arun Jaitley produced of many of his ministers and was EGoMs and GoMs would hence- of the ‘babu’ riding roughshod, as ministry wanted to build at least Kejriwal government’s constant of Commerce Ministry had sent nothing more than a whimper. directly talking to the secretar- forth be processed by the min- it were, over the political masters six hydel projects in the upper criticism of Modi as well as the out more than 3,000 invitations. The euphoria of 2014 is fast turn- ies of those ministries. As prime istries and departments. “This were in evidence over the past reaches of the river to augment case pertaining to alleged serving Some had fl own from as far as San ing into the despair of 2016. Mo- minister he has the authority to would expedite the process of week. power requirements in the hilly of beef at the offi cial guest house Francisco. But they were stopped di’s bureaucracy does not seem to do such things, but the generally decision-making and usher in One of Modi’s most ambitious areas. It had approached the en- of the Kerala government in Delhi. at the gates of Vigyan Bhavan. help matters either. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 25 INDIA

A French army contingent marches past during Republic Day parade yesterday. French President Francois Hollande waves next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they arrive to attend the parade. India celebrates R-Day with majestic parade French soldiers take part in An estimated 10,000 specta- a wreath in honour of countless event, the first time foreign tors braved thick smog and air Indian soldiers who have died in troops have ever taken part quality levels classifi ed as haz- battles since World War I. in the celebrations ardous on the US embassy web- Modi then drove up to the sa- site to watch the display, the luting base to receive Presidentg Agencies highlight of annual celebrations Pranab Mukherjee and Hol- New Delhi of the birth of modern India. lande. Delhi is the world’s most pol- The President’s Bodyguard luted capital and levels of PM2.5 presented the national salute, housands gathered in - the tiny particles that can en- the tricolour was unfurled and New Delhi amid tight se- ter the bloodstream - frequently the national anthem was played Tcurity yesterday for In- reach 10 times the World Health to set the tone for a rather poign- dia’s annual Republic Day pa- Organisation’s safe limit. ant moment - the posthumous rade, a pomp-fi lled spectacle of But the skies remained dry, presentation of the Ashok military might featuring camels unlike last year when chief guest Chakra, the country’s highest and daredevil stunt riders, with US President Barack Obama was gallantry award in peacetime. French President Francois Hol- forced to shelter under an um- It was presented this year to the lande the chief guest. brella throughout. widow of Lance Naik Mohan A contingent of French infan- The two-hour showcase of Nath Goswami of the Parachute try in India for joint military ex- military might and cultural di- Regiment, who laid down his life ercises led the march down the versity included everything while fi ghting terrorists in the capital’s central Rajpath avenue, from tanks and state-of-the-art Kashmir Valley last September. the fi rst time foreign troops have weaponry to camels and tradi- India launched a nationwide ever taken part in the parade. tional dancers. security crackdown in the lead- Members of the Border Security Force’s Daredevils perform during Prime Minister Narendra The mounted camels of the up to the celebrations, which the parade. Modi invited Hollande in a show Border Security Force - an an- mark the adoption of the coun- A member of the band of the Border Security Force contingent plays of solidarity with France after nual highlight - put in an early try’s constitution on January 26, a saxophone on his camel during the parade. BELOW: Women terrorists in Paris last Novem- showing, decorated in brightly 1950. wearing traditional clothes from Rajasthan ride a float. ber killed 130 - recalling a 2008 coloured caparisons. Counter-terror police arrest- assault on Mumbai that killed Traditional dancers repre- ed a group of suspected militants 166. senting some of India’s diverse and seized bomb-making ma- The two countries signed on regional cultures performed terial in a series of nationwide Monday a pact to buy 36 French- on colourfully decorated fl oats raids last week, and some 50,000 built Rafale fi ghter planes, but showcasing selected states. police, army and paramilitary the two leaders said there was A dog squad drawn from the forces were deployed across the still work to do to fi nalise fi nan- Army’s Remount Veterinary capital yesterday. cial terms after months of talks. Corps returned to the parade af- It was the fi fth time a French They also agreed to deepen ter a gap of 26 years to perform a president has been chief guest, co-operation on counter-ter- march past wearing striped coats the greatest honour India can rorism in the wake of the Paris in their unit’s colours. bestow on a foreign leader. attacks and a deadly siege this They were followed by motor- Hollande left Delhi later in month on an Indian Air Force bike stunt riders performing a the day at the end of a three-day base near the Pakistan border. human pyramid, another annual offi cial visit that began in the The mood yesterday was more tradition, before the grand fi nale northern city of Chandigarh. celebratory, with Modi - sport- of the event, a fl y-past by fi ghter Across the country too, gov- ing a gold turban that rivalled the jets. ernors and chief ministers un- spectacular military headgear on The celebrations began with furled the national fl ag and took display - and Hollande chatting Modi driving to the Amar Jawan salute from military and police as they sat side by side in a bul- Jyoti memorial to the Unknown units. The celebrations went off Indian Army’s T-90 Bhishma tanks seen during the Republic Day parade. letproof glass enclosure. Soldier at India Gate and laying peacefully everywhere.

Pawar amused by rumours of ‘death’ Nationalist Congress Party French fi rm signs deal president Sharad Pawar, Fear is the last thing on the presently in hospital for a routine medical test, was amused about rumours of his “death” doing the minds of young bravehearts to build 6 nuclear plants rounds on social media networks here yesterday. So persistent were the gossip and grapevine IANS Rakeshbhai Shanabhai Patel, rescue him but they too started Reuters nalise the economic and fi nan- With the 1984 Bhopal gas that the NCP released a brief New Delhi 13, Nilesh Revaram Bhil, 9, Joe- drowning. Sahastrabuddhe Paris cial conditions. tragedy in mind, India’s par- video clip of the party supremo na Chakraborty, 10, Bhimsen then jumped into the lake and The six 1650 megawatt EPR liament passed a law six years seated on a bed in Ruby Hospital, alias Sonu, 10, Kashish Dha- saved them one by one but he reactors with a combined ca- ago that makes equipment sporting a blue patient gown and hey are young, energetic, nani, 10, Vaibhav Rameshwar, himself got so tired in the proc- rench utility EDF said pacity of nearly 10,000 MW suppliers responsible for an chatting away with his daughter brave and are even will- 9, Dishant Mehndiratta, 12, ess that he could not save him- yesterday it had signed would make Jaitapur one of the accident. Supriya Sule, family members, Ting to risk their lives to Chongtham Kuber Meitei, 12, self and died. Fa preliminary agreement world’s biggest nuclear sites Strong local opposition party workers and journalists. save that of others. Angelica Tynsong, 13, Mohit Similarly, Shivansh Singh with Nuclear Power Corpora- and the contract, if fi nalised, to the project, haggling over Appearing hale and hearty, They are the special 25 brave Mahendra Dalvi, 14, Nithin died while trying to save his tion of India Ltd (NPCIL) to one of the largest in the history price, massive delays and cost Pawar, 76, was seen laughing and sons and daughters of India, Philip Mathew, 13, Sarwa- friend Vivek, who fell in the build six nuclear reactors at Ja- of the nuclear industry. overruns at EPRs under con- enjoying the “death” rumours who saved several lives while nand Saha, 15, Beedhhovan, Saryu river while bathing. itapur in Maharashtra. struction in France and Finland about him over the past two putting themselves in life- 14, Anandu Dileep, 14, Maurice Vivek was in deep water EDF is taking over the long- The six 1650 megawatt and the takeover of Areva’s re- days, with some even speculating threatening situations and not Yengkhom, 14, Abhijith K V, 15, and was drowning when Shiv- delayed project, which could EPR reactors with a actor arm by EDF are also de- that it was being kept a “secret” worrying about their own well- Sai Krishna Akhil Kilambi, 14, ansh Singh reached there to become the world’s biggest combined capacity of laying the huge project. on account of Republic Day being. Hailing from diff er- Mohamed Shamnad, 14, Abi- help him. He tried his best and nuclear contract, from fel- nearly 10,000 MW would French President Francois celebrations and the sad news ent parts of the country, they nash Mishra, 17 and Shivansh brought Vivek near the shore. low French state-controlled make Jaitapur one of the Hollande, making a state visit would be revealed today. received the National Bravery Singh, 13 are the courageous However, Vivek had died by group Areva, which will sell world’s biggest nuclear to India, said on Monday that Pawar countered this by relating Awards for 2015 from Presi- children who saved the lives of that time and Shivansh Singh its reactor arm to EDF later sites and the contract, an agreement to build the six some famous incidents from dent Pranab Mukherjee at the others without fearing for their also died after a while as he got this year. if fi nalised, one of the nuclear reactors should be the past when prominent Rashtrapathi Bhavan on Friday own. very tried in the process. The Jaitapur project is at the largest in the history of the concluded within a year. personalities were reported evening for showing exemplary Two of them - Gaurav Kaw- Their mothers received the preliminary technical studies nuclear industry Hollande and Prime Minister “dead” but they lived for many courage without expecting an- duji Sahastrabuddhe of Mahar- awards from the president. stage after getting initial envi- Narendra Modi said in a joint more years - including the ything in return. ashtra and Shivansh Singh of The bravehearts, who looked ronmental clearance in 2010, But Indian legislation on statement they had agreed to “death” announcement of Yesterday, these bravehearts Uttar Pradesh - were honoured cheerful after receiving their EDF said in a statement. A con- manufacturer’s liability has hasten the nuclear talks and Loknayak Jayprakash Narain were part of the Republic Day posthumously as they died awards, had one sentiment in tract for pre-engineering stud- long blocked French, US and aim for construction to begin made prematurely by then parade on the magnifi cent Raj- while helping others in trouble. common that they would serve ies was signed by Areva and Russian nuclear projects in the in early 2017. prime minister Morarji Desai path, with the president taking Sahastrabuddhe died on June the country or would continue NPCIL last April. country. EDF also said its EDF Ener- in parliament. “Such rumours the salute and his French coun- 3, 2014 while trying to save four helping people in need as they EDF said that in the next few General Electric chairman gies Nouvelles unit had agreed actually increase the life-span of terpart Francois Hollande the boys from drowning in a lake. grow up. months it would continue work Jeff Immelt said in September to a partnership with India’s the person concerned,” Supriya, a chief guest. They were playing near Am- “I would like to serve the na- started by Areva and NPCIL that GE will not invest in atom- SITAC to build four onshore member of parliament, was seen Gaurav Kawduji Sahas- bazari lake in Nagpur when one tion as I grow up,” Rakeshbhai to secure certifi cation for the ic energy in India until accident wind farms by the end of 2016 saying in a lighter vein in the trabuddhe,15, Shivampet Ru- of them slipped and fell into it. Shanabhai Patel said, adding: European Pressurised Reactor liability laws are brought in line with a total capacity of 142 MW video uploaded by NCP executive chitha, 8, Arjun Singh, 16, On seeing this, the other “We all should help each other (EPR) reactor in India and to fi - with global practice. in Gujarat. president Jitendra Awhad. Aromal S , 12, Ramdinthara, 15, three dived into the water to in whatever way we can.” Gulf Times 26 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 LATIN AMERICA Haiti edges towards interim govt after election collapse

Reuters Haiti was due to choose Martel- The US’ Haiti special co- a new elected president. Our fear “There are people who are for, kind of interim administration been unable to build a stable Port-au-Prince ly’s replacement last Sunday, but ordinator Kenneth Merten said is that we go into a situation that and people who are against, but he will govern until a new president democracy since the overthrow the two-man race was postponed Washington wanted to see new is open ended. is determined to leave,” said Paul, is elected. One option is that the of the 1957-86 dictatorship of indefi nitely after opposition can- elections quickly and opposed “In our analysis that is a dan- a former opposition member who prime minister take over. the Duvalier family and ensuing resident Michel Martelly didate Jude Celestin refused to a long transitional period, but gerous place to go,” Merten said. joined Martelly’s government in Some in the opposition have coups and election fraud. is determined to leave of- participate over alleged fraud that acknowledged Martelly was un- Opposition parties want 2014. Martelly, a former pop-star called for an unelected transi- A few hundred people turned Pfi ce on the fi rst day of sparked protests and violence. likely to place the presidential Martelly to leave on February 7, known as Sweet Micky, had a tional government to take Mar- out for an opposition rally in the Haiti’s carnival in two weeks even “It is clear that we won’t have sash on his successor. as mandated by the constitu- dream to sing on a carnival fl oat on telly’s place for a longer period, capital on Monday, sporadically though he has no replacement, elections before the departure “Realistically speaking,” tion, although some in his party the day he leaves offi ce, Paul told harking back to a violent two- clashing with police who used the prime minister said, making it of President Michel Martelly Merten said, “we may be looking would like him to remain in offi ce Venezuelan TV station Telesur. year period after a coup in 2004. tear gas to disperse the crowd, likely an interim government will scheduled for February 7,” Prime at some sort of temporary solu- to oversee the elections until his The government and opposi- Haiti, the poorest country in after fi ve days of larger, and guide the country to elections. Minister Evans Paul said. tion until there is a handover to fi ve-year term ends in May. tion leaders are discussing what the Western hemisphere, has sometimes violent, protests. UN mission Selling dreams to monitor Colombia-Farc peace deal

AFP Diplomats said the mandate Bogota and operational details of the deployment of observers - to be recruited from members of the he United Nations has Community of Latin American agreed to monitor the and Caribbean States (CELAC) Texpected end of a half- - were to be dealt with by a sec- century confl ict between the ond resolution, which could be Colombian government and Farc adopted in February when Ven- rebels, in a move hailed as an im- ezuela holds the council’s rotat- portant step towards peace. ing presidency. The UN Security Council Colombian Foreign Minister unanimously adopted a resolu- Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar at- tion that, at the request of the tended the Security Council ses- two sides, establishes a “politi- sion and expressed her gratitude. cal mission” with unarmed in- “I would like to convey to the ternational observers. members of the council that The mission will be in place for their willingness to work with at least 12 months to supervise Colombia on this matter is es- A vendor talks on her mobile phone at a stall displaying Star Wars characters during the “Alasitas” fair in La Paz, Bolivia. During the “Alasitas” fair Bolivians buy miniature and check the laying down of sential for the success of the versions of goods they would like to own at the fair, with the hope of acquiring them in real life during the year. arms, and be part of a tripartite process,” she said in a speech. body to “monitor and verify the “We see our future with hope defi nitive bilateral ceasefi re and in our capacity for reconcilia- cessation of hostilities” between tion, essential in renewing our Bogota and the Revolutionary society.” Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) Peace talks between Bogota and rebels, the resolution said. the Marxist Farc, held in the Cu- “The Security Council’s de- ban capital Havana, have made cision means we are no longer several key advances in recent going alone, but hand in hand months, and the two sides have with the UN, the entire world, set a deadline of March 23 to sign a US further eases curbs towards the end of this war,” Co- fi nal accord - though the Farc have lombian President Juan Manuel warned that “substantial” obsta- Santos said in televised remarks. cles could get in the way. Britain’s envoy to the United They have signed deals on four Nations, whose country submit- of the six agenda items at the ted the measure, also hailed the talks: justice for victims, land resolution’s adoption. reform, political participation on Cuban travel, trade “It is an important step to- for ex-rebels and fi ghting the wards peace in Colombia, we are drug traffi cking that has fuelled Agencies cording to a statement from the part on action the Cuban gov- 1959 revolution. The two coun- merce department’s bureau of delighted of such strong sup- the confl ict in the world’s largest Washington treasury and commerce depart- ernment may take to liberalise tries restored diplomatic ties industry and security, which port,” Ambassador Matthew Ry- cocaine-producing country. ments. its economy, US offi cials said. and reopened embassies last oversees export controls. The croft told reporters. The unsettled issues are dis- The changes will facili- “The impact of those will summer. regulations also loosen limits on “It’s the fi rst time for I don’t armament and the mechanism he US yesterday an- tate travel to Cuba by allowing depend to a great extent on the “The amendments to the Cu- travel between the US and Cuba know how long... since a coun- by which the fi nal accord will be nounced changes to its blocked space, code-sharing, steps that the Cuban govern- ban Assets Control Regulations and make it simpler to re-es- try chose to come to the Security ratifi ed. Tsanctions on Cuba, lifting and leasing arrangements with ment takes,” said an Obama ad- build on successive actions over tablish direct fl ights under civil Council of its own volition and US Ambassador Samantha export payment and fi nancing Cuban airlines, it said. ministration offi cial who asked the last year and send a clear aviation agreement reached late have a UN authorisation around Power pledged US support in restrictions and facilitating air- They will authorise addi- not to be identifi ed. The offi cial message to the world: the US is last year. important parts of a peace deal.” the fi nal stretch to the peace deal line travel in Washington’s latest tional transactions dealing with said US companies had raised committed to empowering and Penny Pritzker, the com- The resolution requests that and beyond, noting much more move to ease the US embargo on professional meetings, disaster issues including Cuban cur- enabling economic advance- merce secretary, said “looking UN Secretary General Ban Ki- still needed to be done. the Communist-ruled island. preparedness, information and rency reform and allowing for- ments for the Cuban people,” ahead, we will continue to sup- moon begin preparations for “The US remains at your side, The amendments, which informational materials, con- eign companies to hire Cubans Treasury Secretary Jack Lew port greater economic inde- such a mission now and submit ready to assist in the hard work take eff ect today, “will remove cerning transactions incident directly. said in the statement. pendence and increased pros- details on its size, operational ahead - in the lead-up to the fi - restrictions on payment and to professional media or artistic The latest changes come as The regulations were jointly perity for the Cuban people, aspects and mandate for Secu- nal peace agreement, and then fi nancing terms for authorised productions in Cuba, it said. Washington and Havana move released by the treasury depart- as we take another step toward rity Council consideration and in the challenging process of im- exports and re-exports to Cuba The practical impact of the closer toward normal relations ment’s offi ce of foreign assets building a more open and mu- approval within 30 days of the plementation that will follow,” of items other than agricultural latest round of US sanctions re- after more than half a century control, which imposes and en- tually benefi cial relationship signing of a peace agreement. she said. items or commodities,” ac- lief for Cuba will depend in large of hostility that followed Cuba’s forces sanctions, and the com- between our two nations.” Brazil army to go ‘house El Salvador anti-graft to house’ in Zika fi ght project launched Reuters ordinate El Salvador’s eff ort, San Salvador which was agreed by the govern- AFP has prompted the US and other ver and the chikungunya virus, ment and the United Nations Of- Brasilia governments to warn pregnant was gaining momentum. fi ce on Drugs and Crime. women against travelling to the Meanwhile Rio de Janeiro sent he UN has announced a US- She said the project will not region - an alarming prospect fumigators yesterday into the fi nanced pilot programme investigate cases itself but will razil is mobilising more for Brazil as it gears up to wel- city’s carnival stadium, which Tto help fi ght corruption in work with existing institutions than 200,000 troops to go come the Olympics to Rio de Ja- will also be used for Olympic El Salvador, a Central American and provide technical tools to B“house to house” in the bat- neiro in August. archery in August, to combat an country so torn by drugs and gang support their work. tle against Zika-carrying mosqui- Unlike some other interna- outbreak of the Zika virus. warfare that it ranks among the The US last autumn tried and toes, blamed for causing horrifi c tional health scares, the Zika vi- The sight of men in protective most violent in the world. failed to convince El Salvador to birth defects in a major regional rus is not spread person to per- overalls and goggles spraying the The three-year programme, set up a commission similar to health scare, a report said. son. And for most people who get famous Sambodrome facility with an unknown price tag, will the one in Guatemala. Instead, Soldiers will fan out to homes infected, the fl u-like symptoms was a grim confi rmation of just support the government of left- the government agreed to a less across Brazil distributing leafl ets will clear up in about a week. how worried Brazil is becoming ist President Salvador Sanchez powerful $25mn anti-corruption and dispensing advice, Health But the specifi c threat to preg- that the virus scare will tarnish Ceren but lacks the broad in- programme from the US Agency Minister Marcelo Castro was nant women and their fetuses, both the carnival and upcoming vestigative powers of the UN- for International Development. quoted as saying by the newspa- and the seeming impossibility of Summer Olympics. backed International Com- The USAID programme is sepa- per O Globo, signalling a major avoiding mosquitoes in tropical The Sambodrome will host mission against Impunity in rate from the one now announced. ramping up of eff orts against the countries, has given this crisis Rio’s elaborate annual parades on Guatemala (CICIG). A commitment to fi ghting Zika virus. extra bite. February 7 and 8, and also the ar- The CICIG was instrumental corruption is likely to infl uence Castro said that the govern- Brazil has recorded at least chery contest during the Games. in gathering evidence that Gua- how much aid money Washing- ment, under growing pressure 3,893 microcephaly cases since “The concern is very great in temalan President Otto Perez was ton off ers to help revitalise Cen- to deal with the crisis, will also an unusual spike in the rare con- all of Rio because it’s a city for part of a customs racket, leading tral America - one of the world’s hand out repellent to at least dition was noticed in the coun- mega events. During the carnival to his resignation and eventual poorest and most violent regions 400,000 pregnant women on try’s northeast in October. Pre- there’ll be crowds of people from arrest last year. - and stem the fl ood of child mi- social welfare. viously an annual average of 160 diff erent parts of the world and His fall triggered calls for simi- grants from the region. Zika is linked to serious birth cases was the norm. Brazil, which will help the virus lar anti-corruption units in other Violence has risen steadily in defects, including microcephaly, And short of not getting preg- get in,” said Marcos Vinicius Fer- Central American nations, but El Salvador since a 2012 truce in which babies born to women nant, there is no foolproof meth- reira, spokesman for Rio’s health the prospect of facing the same between the country’s two main infected during pregnancy have od for avoiding risk. department. fate as Perez has made neigh- gangs began to fall apart in 2014. abnormally small heads. Castro said last week that the “The main thing is to get rid bouring governments wary. Last year was the most violent A surge in incidents across Aedes aegypti mosquito, which of mosquito breeding sites,” he Municipal workers prepare to spray insecticide at Sambodrome “This is not CICIG,” said on record, with a 70% increase in Latin America, notably in Brazil, carries Zika and also dengue fe- said. in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. Monica Mendoza, who will co- murders over the previous year. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 27 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

ANTI-POLIO DRIVE OBITUARY CRIME CRACKDOWN CUSTOMS DAY Pakistan’s former FM Ten Afghan policemen shot Pakistan bans online Sahabzada Yaqub dead dead in insider attack pornography

Pakistan’s former foreign minister Sahabzada A rogue policeman collaborating with insurgents Hundreds of thousands of websites and links to Yaqub Ali Khan died on Monday night at the age in southern Afghanistan shot dead 10 colleagues pornography were being removed in Pakistan of 95, according to private TV channel reports. yesterday after first poisoning their food, an yesterday following a decision by regulators. Sahabzada Yaqub Khan was a high-profile figure off icial said. The latest in a long series of so- “Around half a million links will be taken down,” and high-ranking general who held the most called insider attacks took place at a checkpoint said Khurram Mehran, a spokesman for the senior and prestigious military and government in the Chenartu district of the volatile southern Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) assignments in the Pakistan government, and province of Uruzgan, district chief Faiz Mohmed said, describing the sites as containing “virtual was also the primary international face of said. He said security forces were looking for obscenity.” The Supreme Court directed the PTA An Afghan policeman stands guard as a health Pakistan for three decades. He first served as the policemen and the presumed Taliban allies to ban all links to pornography in an order two worker administers polio drops to a child during foreign minister in the military government of who joined him in shooting his colleagues in the weeks ago following a court case, Mehran said. a polio vaccination campaign on the outskirts president General Zia-ul-Haq from 1982 to 1991 early hours yesterday. “After the shooting, the The sale of pornographic materials and hosting Pakistani customs off icials use a steamroller to of Jalalabad yesterday. Polio, once a worldwide until the dying days of Cold War, and then also policeman and Taliban stole their weapons and porn sites was already prohibited but poor crush bottles of liquor during a ceremony on the scourge, is endemic in just three countries served as the caretaker foreign minister from burnt the checkpoint and a police vehicle,” Faiz enforcement meant that watching it online was occasion of International Customs Day in Lahore now - Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. 1996 to 1997. Mohmed said. still possible. yesterday. University to stay shut as Registration of NGOs, teachers demand security seminaries Agencies Lahore suspended he Pakistani university attacked by Taliban mili- Ttants in a deadly assault Internews would be issued notices. last week will remain closed Islamabad The source said laws would indefi nitely until security is be enacted to regulate reli- beefed up, staff said yesterday, gious seminaries and other as some teachers demanded the he Gilgit divisional ad- charity organisations in the government issue them with ministration has sus- region, adding syllabus of weapons. Tpended registration of some private schools in Gilgit, Four Pakistani Taliban gun- 320 NGOs, including a Chi- their source of funding, and men killed 21 people at Bacha nese entity, and 30 seminar- details of teachers and man- Khan University in Charsadda ies operating in the division, agement would also be scru- in the country’s northwest on for failing to provide details of tinised. Wednesday after scaling its rear their funding sources and ac- The source said a request walls, battling security guards tivities. had been made to the director, and then fi ring into packed According to a list provid- immigration Islamabad for classrooms and hostels. ed to the media by Assistant provision of data of all the GB Commissioner, Gilgit, Rana residents studying abroad. “The meteorological offi ce, Waqas yesterday, 320 local Meanwhile, Abdul Reh- too, told the government NGOs and 30 seminaries’ reg- man Bukhari, a former sec- that the wave of extreme istration had been suspended retary general of the Chinese cold would continue for and their bank accounts fro- Overseas Development and another three to four days. zen. Welfare Organisation, Gilgit- We took all stakeholders The decision was made in Baltistan, whose registration in confi dence and made light of the directives of the has also been suspended, the decision to announce GB Apex Committee meeting said that Chinese migrant holidays” held in December, last year. residents had formed the Waqas, who oversees the organisation some six years University staff and students registration process of such ago. met on Monday, after briefl y entities in the Gilgit division, He said about 100 Chinese reopening the campus, to review gave until February 8 to the migrant families were cur- security as at least 200 students suspended NGOs and semi- rently living in Gilgit, most of protested outside to demand the naries to submit their audit whom belonged to Xinjiang government protect them. reports, detailing their sources province who migrated to “We decided to keep the uni- Children ride on a motorcycle with their parent while heading to their school after it reopened in Rawalpindi, Punjab province, Pakistan, in this of income and operations. GB in 1949 after the Chinese versity closed for some time January 12, 2015 file photo. A source said that in pur- Communist revolution. so we can repair the damaged suance of the Apex commit- Bukhari said the organisa- building and further improve the last week’s attack. were behind the Bacha Khan as- (39.2°F) in the capital, Lahore, were shut because of militant tee directives, a committee tion was meant to ensure de- security situation,” Fazal Rahim Authorities say last week’s sault released a video last week and a severe shortage of gas left threats, despite recent warnings comprising local heads of in- velopment and education of Marwat, a professor at the uni- assault was planned and car- vowing more attacks on schools. schools unable to heat them- that militants were planning to telligence agencies had been the Chinese migrants in the versity, said. ried out by Pakistani Taliban Meanwhile, Pakistan’s most selves. attack educational institutions. formed to scrutinise NGOs region. He said some teachers had militants based in neighbouring populous province has ordered “Two days ago, parents com- Schools in the northwest had and streamline their opera- He said the Chinese gov- demanded licensed weapons for Afghanistan. Five suspects have schools shut for fi ve days and plained about the harshness of closed the previous weekend, tions. ernment was also fi nancially self-defence, a suggestion that is been arrested in Pakistan for told 22.5mn students to stay at weather and diseases to chil- before the raid, after warnings of “If the committee fi nds supporting the organisation. rejected by other teaching mem- acting as “facilitators”. home - not because of security dren,” Khan said. an attack. any NGO fake, dubious, non- He alleged that present offi ce- bers and has reignited a debate Pakistan has launched a ma- fears after gunmen attacked a “The meteorological offi ce, Punjab shut its schools for two existent or involved in illegal bearers of the organisation about arming school staff . jor crackdown against militants university but because of cold too, told the government that months after the Taliban massa- activities, legal action would had committed fi nancial cor- Educational institutions have holed up along its porous border weather, an offi cial said yester- the wave of extreme cold would cred 134 children at an army-run be taken against it,” he said. ruption, saying audit reports become an increasingly common with Afghanistan, but the uni- day. continue for another three to school in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The source said that the of the body had not been sub- target for the militants waging versity attack shows they retain Punjab province Education four days. We took all stakehold- in December 2014. Apex body had directed the mitted with the registration war against the Pakistani state. the capacity to launch deadly Minister Rana Mashhood Ah- ers in confi dence and made the Northern Pakistan’s winter can GB home department to ob- authority for last six years. In December 2014, gunmen raids, particularly against targets mad Khan said a large number decision to announce holidays.” be particularly tough as the coun- tain list of International NGOs Bukhari alleged that funds killed 134 children at an army- where security is relatively weak. of children were catching fl u and Khan denied that the prov- try’s chronic shortage of energy working in the region. He said meant for betterment of Chi- run school in the city of Pesha- The Pakistani Taliban com- pneumonia as temperatures fell ince’s more than 100,000 gov- often leaves homes and schools NGOs facilitating travel of nese migrants were being em- war, about 30km from the site of mander who says his fi ghters to as low as four degrees Celsius ernment and private schools without electricity and gas. foreigners to GB without NOC bezzled. Pakistani women unleash ‘Billion Tree tsunami’

Reuters to fi ll with mud and manure, fol- a small-scale nursery of 25,000 and educated girls in remote ar- Haripur, Pakistan lowed by seeds and training on plants are selected by Village De- eas to play an active part in soci- how to sow them and tend to the velopment Committees. ety by setting up nurseries. trees. The provincial government “Most of the families in the obina Gul has swapped her “I am now getting over 12,000 guarantees to buy the saplings rural part of the province are needle for a trowel. Until rupees per month (from the sub- they grow, according to Malik conservative,” she said. “Here Rrecently, the villager from sidy), just by looking after the Amin Aslam, adviser to Khan comes the role of the female for- northern Pakistan got by mak- saplings in my home,” Gul said. and global vice president of the est offi cials in reaching women ing clothes for family weddings “I have also acquired the skills International Union for Conser- in their homes and informing and religious festivals, but now I need to grow diff erent seed- vation of Nature. them about the project.” she is encouraging other women lings, and this will help me earn “The government provides Local men appear happy with to set up tree nurseries like hers enough even after the project is seeds and all relevant technical eff orts to include women in the that can earn them a handsome wound up.” assistance to the benefi ciaries, scheme because it allows them monthly income. The provincial government is and then buys back one-year- to bring in money without hav- Gul is growing some 25,000 planning to spend Rs21bn from old saplings at a fi xed price of six ing to go out to work. saplings of 13 diff erent species its budget through to May 2018, rupees per seedling,” he said. Over 500 women are directly crammed into the small court- when its term ends, on a project So far, there are 1,747 private involved in the project, giving yard of her two-room house in called the “Billion Tree Tsuna- and 280 government-run nurs- them pride in their work estab- Najaf Pur, a village of around mi”. The goal is to plant 1 billion eries in the province, with a lishing the nurseries and serv- 8,000 people in the Haripur trees in degraded forest areas planting stock of 45mn and 165 ing as custodians of the forests district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and on private land. million saplings respectively, he around their villages, the offi cer province. The project is part of the Green said. They will all be transplant- said. “It gives me immense pleasure Growth Initiative launched in ed onto the land in March and Inspired by these women, to look after the saplings as this February 2014 in Peshawar by April, he added. around 150 more across the has changed my whole life,” said former international cricket star “These nurseries are not only province have registered with Gul, 35. “It has become a hobby Imran Khan, who is chairman of providing the planting stock community development of- for me and a source of income the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for the ‘Billion Tree’ drive but fi cers to start nurseries in the too.” party, which governs the prov- are also generating tremendous upcoming season, starting from She set up the nursery at her ince. The forests of Pakistan are a main source of lumber, paper, fuelwood, latex, medicine as well as human economic activity throughout March. home in March last year under The initiative aims to boost and animal food. the province,” he said. “I am going to become part an agreement with the pro- local economic development in Aslam said the government of Imran Khan’s vision and the vincial forest department. The a way that uses natural resources people. This provides the gov- Other measures include hiring the highest in the world. had planted 115mn saplings so ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’ project,” government provides around a sustainably, with a focus on in- ernment with saplings to plant, local people to guard forests and The forestry sector contribut- far and sown seeds for 300mn said Farwa Ambreen, a recent quarter of the start-up cost for creasing clean energy uptake and as well as green jobs for the com- banning wood transportation. ed $1.3bn to Pakistan’s economy more at a cost of Rs1.5bn, with a graduate from the University of poor households to set up a tree forest cover. munity. According to government in 2011, or around 0.6% of GDP, survival rate of over 80% for the Peshawar. nursery, with a subsidy amount- The government has turned At the same time, illegal log- data, Pakistan has forest cover on while employing some 53,000 young trees planted out in Au- “I believe this is going to help ing to Rs150,000 ($1,429.93) forest restoration into a business ging has been almost eliminated 4.4mn hectares (10.87mn acres) people directly, according to gust and September. not only Pakistan but also the each over a year. model by outsourcing nurseries in the province following strict or 5% of its land area, while the Global Forest Watch. Zobia Gul, a community de- whole world in boosting the They fi rst get black polythene to the private sector, including disciplinary action against some current rate of deforestation is In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in- velopment offi cer in the forest green economy and tackling cli- bags from the forest department widows, poor women and young offi cials who were involved. 27,000 hectares per year, one of dividuals interested in setting up department, mobilises women mate change,” she said. Gulf Times 28 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 PHILIPPINES Verdict in mayor’s case may doom Poe

Manila Times cussed the case with fellow Manila magistrates as a “precedent” to disqualify Poe. The only diff erence in the n a decision that may have cases is that Poe is a found- implications on pending ling, thus some groups insist Idisqualifi cation cases fi led that she is not a natural-born against Senator Grace Poe, the Filipino. Supreme Court (SC) has de- In his decision, del Castillo nied with fi nality, an appeal of upheld a ruling of the Com- a former American who reac- mission on Elections disquali- quired his Filipino citizenship fying Arnado from running in but whose continued use of the May 13, 2013 polls. his US passport led to his dis- The decision also set aside qualifi cation as a mayoral can- his proclamation as elected didate. mayor of Kauswagan. The High Court ended with Arnado was twice disquali- fi nality the disqualifi cation fi ed by the Comelec–fi rst in case against Rommel Arnado, the May 10, 2010 elections who was ousted as mayor of and again in the May 13, 2013 Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, elections.“Arnado’s use of his in what observers read as a US passport in 2009 invalidat- signal sent to Poe. ed his oath of renunciation re- With 10-4 vote, the tribunal sulting in his disqualifi cation junked Arnado’s motion for to run for mayor of Kauswagan reconsideration by ruling that in the 2010 election,” the SC he is not a natural-born Fili- ruled. pino citizen. “Since then and up to the Arnado’s case was the fi rst time he fi led his COC (certifi - that involved a public offi cial cate of candidacy) for the 2013 who was disqualifi ed to run elections, Arnado had not Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife, Empress Michiko listen to national anthems along with Philippine President Benigno Aquino following the arrival of the Royal couple at the for an elective post because he cured the defect in his qualifi - international airport in Manila yesterday. was an American citizen. cation,” the court said. In a two-page resolution “In other words, when Ar- dated December 1, 2015, but nado fi led his COC on Octo- was released only recently, the ber 1, 2012, he was not totally 15-man tribunal said basic is- unaware that the use of his US sues were already passed upon passport after he had executed by the court and there was rea- the Affi davit of Renunciation son to disturb its earlier ruling. might have an impact on his Japan emperor to honour The tribunal said it will no qualifi cation and candidacy,” longer entertain any appeal or it added. pleading from the petitioner. The ruling was concurred Arnado was disqualifi ed by by Sereno, Justices Antonio the SC on April 16, 2013. Carpio, Presbitero Velasco Jr, He ran for mayor of Kauswa- Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, gan in the May 10, 2010 elec- Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Ber- war dead in historic visit tions. samin and Estela Perlas-Bern- Arnado’s candidacy, how- abe.Justices Arturo Brion, Jose AFP Akihito specifi cally noted the have previously journeyed to Akihito was 11 years old when Akihito’s trip is being held to ever, was questioned by Perez, Jose Mendoza and Mar- Manila battle for the liberation of Ma- other Pacifi c battle sites where the war ended with the oblit- celebrate 60 years of diplomatic his opponent, who claimed vic Leonen dissented. nila in 1945, where an estimated Japanese troops and civilians eration of Hiroshima and Na- relations. that the former still used his Justice Francis Jardeleza 100,000 people were killed. made desperate last stands in the gasaki. The two nations have also American passport even after took no part because he han- apan’s Emperor Akihito “We’d like to conduct our visit name of wartime emperor Hiro- In the Philippines the couple drawn closer in recent years as he had renounced his US citi- dled the case when he was the pledged yesterday to hon- by always keeping this in mind,” hito, Akihito’s father. will pay their respects at sepa- they have struggled to deal with zenship. solicitor general. Jour those who died in one of he said. On visits to Saipan in 2005 rate memorials for Filipino and similar territorial rivalries with The resolution and the de- The SC, in its ruling, said World War II’s deadliest battles, As soon as Akihito stepped and Palau last year they prayed Japanese WWII casualties. China. cision in the Arnado case was “only natural-born Filipinos as he began a historic visit to the out of the plane at Manila’s air- not just for the Japanese sol- They will also visit a Japanese However not everyone in the penned by Associate Justice who owe total and undivided Philippines. port, he off ered a slight bow. diers and civilians who per- language training centre and the Philippines has welcomed the Mariano del Castillo, who allegiance to the Republic of Akihito, 82, and his wife, Em- He was then welcomed on the ished, but also colonial subjects International Rice Research In- closer ties. happens to be the same po- the Philippines could run for press Michiko, 81, will visit two tarmac by President Benigno and troops from its wartime en- stitute. Filipina women who were nente in the disqualifi cation and hold elective public of- war memorials during the fi ve- Aquino and many of his cabinet emy, the US. Japan’s brutal three-year oc- forced into sexual slavery by the cases fi led against Poe. fi ce.” day trip, the fi rst by a reigning secretaries. In remarks at a memorial cupation of the Philippines end- Japanese military have vowed to According to well-placed The court ruled that the Japanese emperor to the South- The Philippines is the lat- marking the 70th anniversary of ed in 1945 after the Americans hold protests in Manila during sources of Manila Times in the use of a foreign passport af- east Asian nation. est stop in the soft-spoken Japan’s 1945 surrender, Akihito liberated their former colony in a Akihito’s visit. SC en banc, the justices of the ter renouncing one’s foreign “In the Philippines, many emperor’s pacifist pilgrimage, expressed “profound remorse” daring sea battle. They believe the Japanese High Court consider Arnado citizenship “is a positive and lives of Filipinos, Americans and which has appeared to contra- for the war fought in his father’s The two nations have steadily government has never made a as “almost similarly situated” voluntary act of representa- Japanese were lost during the dict his government’s nation- name, reportedly the fi rst time built closer ties, with Japan the sincere apology or off ered ad- with Poe. tion as to one’s nationality and war,” Akihito said at a ceremony alist bent. he used those words at the an- Philippines’ biggest source of equate compensation for the war One senior justice even dis- citizenship.” before leaving Tokyo. The emperor and empress nual event. foreign investment and aid. crimes.

Most Filipinos ‘optimistic Philippines’ comfort women demand justice of better life this year’ AFP A Filipino spy working for the Manila Japanese helped her escape, she For many Filipinos, better days said. are yet to come. The latest Social Dy, who later married and Weather Stations (SWS) survey inety-year-old Hi- had two children, blames her showed that optimism among laria Bustamante casts weak hearing on having her face the populace is high with four Na tearful gaze at a wall banged on a table by a Japanese in 10 Filipinos saying they see plastered with photos of de- solider who then raped her. an improvement in their lives parted fellow sex slaves, vowing Dy, who worked as a rice in the next 12 months. Only to demand justice during a his- cake and soda vendor, said she five% believed that there will be toric visit to the Philippines by was lucky her family accepted no change in their status. The Japan’s emperor which started her fate. Many others, she said, survey held from December 5-8, yesterday. were condemned and driven out 2015 showed a net optimism Unbowed despite painful ar- of their homes by conservative rating of “very high” +40 (the dif- thritis, the oldest known living parents. ference between “optimists” and Filipina “comfort woman” said At Lila Pilipina’s rundown “pessimists”), a record high. The she would join street protests to offi ce in Manila’s suburbs, the number breaks the record set in continue an unsuccessful cam- former sex slaves came to de- March last year when the reading paign that has lasted more than pend on the refuge where they was a “very high” +37. In the third 70 years. found comfort in shared suff er- quarter, the result was a “very “Many of us have died with- ing. high” +33. Optimists outweighed out seeing justice, but we will The now-faded walls are pessimists when it came to the fi ght until our last breath,” Bus- painted purple, the colour of the Philippine economy as the poll tamante said in a voice trem- local feminist movement. results showed that three in 10 bling with anger at a shelter The women there aff ection- Filipinos or 39% believed that in Manila for the now elderly Hilaria Bustamante, 90, gestures in Manila as she recalls her experience as a sex slave for the Japanese Imperial army. Right: Estelita Dy ately call each other “lola”, the the economy will improve in the women, run by advocacy group Filipino word for grandmother. next 12 months against 8% who Lila Pilipina. offi cials have over the decades South Korean comfort women. Japan is the Philippines’ big- and buying food in a market “Calling each other ‘lola’ said it will deteriorate, yielding “We want to tell Emperor off ered apologies and com- A similar deal for the Filipina gest source of foreign invest- after a long day of digging at a shows that they are bonded by a “very high” +30 net optimism Akihito: pay your debts. We are pensation money to the Fili- victims is not on the agenda. ment and aid. The Philippines construction site when a truck- the same struggle,” said Rechil- score. This is 12 points above the holding you accountable for the pina victims, albeit deliberately Despite intense lobbying has in recent years also increas- load of Japanese soldiers started da Extremadura, who runs Lila +18 in September last year and suff erings of the comfort wom- sourced from the private sector from the women, the Philippine ingly looked to Japan for mili- rounding up suspected spies. Pilipina. “They come here to cry matches the +30 seen in Novem- en during the war.” rather than the government. government has not initiated tary help to counter Chinese ex- Dy said she tried to run their hearts out. They yearn for ber 2010.With respondents who Up to 200,000 women in The women have deemed similar negotiations with Japan. pansion in the South China Sea. away but tripped and fell to the familiar touch of someone said they lived better lives in the Asia, many of them South Ko- these eff orts insincere, de- Philippine foreign aff airs But for the comfort women, the ground. A Japanese soldier who understands exactly what past year (gainers) outnumber- reans but also from China, the manding instead an apology spokesman Charles Jose said glossing over the war crimes is grabbed her by the hair and they’re going through.” ing those who said they are Philippines and what is now In- that comes with reparations the matter would not be raised impossible. threw her to the back of the Bustamante, one of only worse off (losers), the SWS survey donesia, are estimated to have directly from the Japanese gov- during Akihito’s visit, the fi rst “It’s a nightmare that nev- truck, she said. 10 Filipina comfort women yielded a “high” net gainers score been forced to provide sex to ernment, as well as inclusion of ever by a reigning Japanese em- er ends. We walk with heavy Dy said she stayed in the physically able to join the ral- of +5, marking a fourth consecu- Japanese soldiers during World the comfort women’s plight in peror. hearts and we don’t know who brothel for three weeks. lies planned for this week, said tive quarter of gains. War II. its offi cial history books. The Philippines and Japan to turn to for help,” Estelita Dy, “Every time I was raped. I her fellow women gave her the Still, that’s a point below the Only 70 known Filipina vic- Seoul struck a landmark deal have become close allies since 85, said, as she tearfully recalled would just close my eyes, cry strength to continue fi ghting similarly “high” +4 (29% gainers tims are still alive, according to with Tokyo last month for a the war, and Akihito’s fi ve-day the day she was brought to a and pray that it will be all over for justice. minus 25% losers) recorded in Lila Pilipina. 1bn-yen ($8.3mn) payment and visit is to celebrate 60 years of military brothel. soon,” she said, fi dgeting with “This is an uncertain fi ght, September. Japanese leaders and senior a “heartfelt apology” for the renewed diplomatic relations. Dy said she was aged just 14 her fi ngers to relieve anxiety. but we will not stop,” she said. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 29 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Nepal PM casts doubt on India visit

Raising a question mark over Protesters face tough choice his visit to India next month, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli yesterday said it will not be appropriate for him to visit New Delhi as long as a blockade of the Nepal-India border continues. — quit or march on Kathmandu An India visit by Oli, the first foreign tour by him after assuming the off ice, is likely to Reuters fl aws in Indian Prime Minister take place in late February with Birgunj Narendra Modi’s “neighbour- preparations apace, according to hood fi rst” policy. Indian mis- reports in the Nepali media. readings of Nepali sensibilities But the leftist premier, who has epal’s constitutional cri- have eroded goodwill gained assumed an ultra-nationalist sis has entered a new and when Modi visited Kathmandu posture and shown unwillingness Npotentially dangerous after winning power in 2014, to meet the grievances of the stage as protesters, exhausted and from India’s swift re- Madhesi protesters, has often by a fi ve-month blockade that sponse to last year’s devastating declared his resolve not to visit has paralysed most of the bor- earthquakes. New Delhi till the agitation in the der with India, weigh whether to Many in Nepal accuse their Terai was over. change tactics and march on the giant neighbour of imposing a In an interaction with senior capital. blockade to pressure Kathman- editors at his residence yesterday, Talks to accommodate the de- du into giving in to the demands Oli expressed the hope that the mands of southern lowlanders of the Madhesis, whose largest blockade at key Nepal-India in the Himalayan nation broke protests in border towns have entry points will be lifted within a down last week. In renewed drawn crowds of up to 10,000, couple of days. clashes, police shot dead three media have reported. He also reiterated that he will not demonstrators, stoking fears India denies those claims and visit India until the situation in the of an escalation of violence in has stepped up coordination Nepali Terai normalises. which more than 50 people have with Nepali customs to divert “I believe in friendship between died. imports away from the fulcrum friends, political honesty among Protesters from the minor- of the protests, the border town friends and upon my confidence... ity Madhesi community, many of Birgunj. I am hopeful that the embargo at with close ties to Indians across This has relieved pressure on border points will be lifted,” Oli the border, now face a tough Kathmandu, but failed to keep declared. Nepal is falling severely choice: either accept that pro- Madhesi leaders at the negotiat- short of fuel, essential supplies, vincial borders may be drawn ing table. medicines and other stuff due that would divide them, or People use backroads from to the prolonged blockading of raise the stakes, by gathering the border in Nepal’s east- the border customs points by in force in Kathmandu to wrest ern districts of Jhapa, Morang Madhesi protesters. a unifi ed homeland from the and Dhanusha to bring in pet- India has been urging government. rol and cooking oil. Such jour- Kathmandu to reach out to the “Look at the youths who have neys have become routine as discontented sections in the been protesting, at how many supplies remain scarce and Nepal Terai as soon as possible. have been killed by bullets to expensive. Unnerved by the prolonged the head or chest,” said Uday “People are tired,” Ram Chan- Madhesi agitation, the ruling Kant Mishra, a member of the dra Sharma, a physics teacher in Madhesi protesters shout slogans during a protest at Miteri Bridge on India-Nepal border. major-Left coalition as also Federal Socialist Forum, one the city of Biratnagar, just over the main opposition Nepali of the groups in the Madhesi the border from India’s eastern and around the city. lising up to 100,000 supporters port disruptions to reach the again trickle north to Kath- Congress last week approved Front that is spearheading the state of Bihar, said. “People have Laxman Lal Karna, a senior in Kathmandu, where anger at capital. mandu. two amendments to the four- agitation. got to think about how they are leader of the Sadbhavana Party, Prime Minister K P Oli’s govern- The number of protest- “We know the blockade is month-old constitution partly “The rulers are showing us going to eat.” another member of the Madhesi ment is growing over shortages ers sleeping at the Friendship aff ecting people’s lives,” said meeting the demands of the that this is a state that has no Protesters are still camped out Front, said the groups were dis- of food and fuel. Bridge has meanwhile dropped to Jagat Narayan Prasad Yadav, a agitating Madhesis. Also last concern for the Madhesi com- on the Friendship Bridge that cussing how best to ramp up the A decision was likely within a around 30, because of sharpen- Madhesi Front leader. “But un- week, the government launched munity,” he said, adding that runs through no-man’s land agitation. week or two, he added. ing winter cold. less we can put pressure on the an ambitious Rs5bn border area some Madhesis “may decide to from Birgunj to India, stopping Leaders were considering re- But it was unclear if such In the bustling city centre leaders in Kathmandu, we will development programme (BADP) pick up a gun and fi ght back”. goods from entering Nepal and occupying major border cross- large numbers of people could of Birgunj, most shops were never achieve full rights for our in the southeastern Nepali The protests have exposed sporadically battling police in ings, Karna said, besides mobi- surmount Nepal’s severe trans- open, as jeeps and buses once community.” Mahottari district. Lanka destroys giant illegal ivory haul

AFP tusks which would have come peaked in 2011, according to Colombo from baby elephants,” Colombo CITES, with about 30,000 customs director Udayantha animals slaughtered. Liyanage told reporters. However, he said many Afri- ri Lanka’s government “We are trying to demon- can nations were cracking down yesterday destroyed its strate that there is no value on the illegal trade and that as Sbiggest ever illegal ivory for blood ivory... It is horribly a result, blood ivory was be- haul in the fi rst public crushing cruel and the elephants suff er coming a low-profi t, high-risk of poached tusks in South Asia, for about a week before they venture for smugglers. intended to send a stark message die,” he said. The organisers observed a to smugglers. Blood ivory is a term used by two-minute silence for the slain The international trade in activists to describe tusks that elephants before Buddhist, Hin- ivory has been banned in most are obtained illegally by slaugh- du, Christian and Muslim lead- of the world since 1989, but il- tering elephants. ers performed funeral rites for legal smuggling persists in many The ivory came from northern the animals. parts of Asia where ivory is Mozambique and Tanzania and Customs director Liyanage highly prized for medicinal and transited through Kenya to Sri detected the container, holding decorative uses. Lanka on the way to the United 359 pieces of ivory in May 2012, Sri Lanka said it was sending Arab Emirates, said secretary while it was in transit at the Co- a strong message by destroying general of the Convention on lombo port. The container had the haul, more than 350 tusks International Trade in Endan- been falsely labelled as storing weighing about 1.5 tonnes that gered Species (CITES), John E plastic waste. were displayed at the Galle Scanlon. Offi cials confi scated the ivory Face promenade in the capital Scanlon, who was present for in line with CITES regulations, before being fed into a crush- the destruction, said Sri Lanka’s which have prohibited the trans- CITES secretary general John E Scanlon holds part of a cache of ‘blood ivory’ before it was destroyed in Colombo yesterday. er to be sent to an industrial action demonstrated it will not port of and trade in ivory since furnace. tolerate the illegal trade. 1989, Liyanage said. tusks as a symbol of prosperity. African elephants is driven by mals are venerated and protected kill about 50 people each year. The haul, which came from “This shows the eff ectiveness Sri Lanka’s Finance Min- “I congratulate the wildlife Asian and Middle Eastern de- by law. Sri Lanka’s elephant popu- African elephants slaughtered of Sri Lankan customs in detect- ister Ravi Karunanayake said minister (Gamini Jayawickrama mand for their tusks, which However, nearly 200 el- lation has reduced to just over for their tusks, was seized at Co- ing this contraband in transit,” the government had resisted Perera) for resisting this pressure are used in ornaments and ephants are killed each year 7,000, according to a census fi ve lombo’s port nearly four years he said. pressure to hand over at least and going ahead with the ivory medicines. by villagers after accidentally years ago, down from a popula- ago en route to Dubai. The number of African el- part of the contraband to Bud- crushing,” Karunanayake said. Most Sri Lankan elephants straying onto farmland, while tion of over 12,000 at the start of “There are some very small ephants killed for their tusks dhist temples, which display The illegal trade in ivory from do not have tusks and the ani- the animals themselves also the 20th century. Special unit soon Sedition case against Zia 7 missing to tackle terrorism, a dangerous plot: BNP after ferry capsizes By Mizan Rahman “The Awami League has hedi fi led the case with a Dhaka militancy: Hasina Sheikh Hasina Dhaka proved through fi ling the se- court urging it to issue an arrest dition case that it fears our warrant against the BNP chair- t least seven people went ment and welfare of the police leader (Khaleda). Having person for her remarks about missing after a ferry By Mizan Rahman strengthen the police force, the force, the PM said the police he Bangladesh Nation- failed to face her politically, it the number of martyrs during Acapsized in the Meghna Dhaka prime minister said plans are strength has topped 150,000 alist Party (BNP) yes- resorts to fi ling false cases to the 1971 Liberation War. river in Bangladesh’s Chandpur under consideration to create thanks to timely steps of her Tterday alleged that the harass her and keep her away On December 21, Khaleda district yesterday. 50,000 new posts in the po- administration. government has fi led a sedi- from politics. We strongly questioned the actual number The boat, carrying 50 passen- angladesh Prime Minister lice force so that they remain “We created 32,031 posts in tion case against its chairper- protest and condemn the fi l- of Liberation War martyrs gers sank after being hit by an Sheikh Hasina yesterday prepared to face any situation. police organogram including 739 son Khaleda Zia as part of its ing of this false case,” said saying, “There’re controver- oil-laden vessel around 11am (lo- Bdisclosed that formation “We want to impart training to cadre posts over the last seven ‘dangerous plot’ to annihilate BNP acting secretary general sies over how many freedom cal time) due to dense fog, Xin- of a specialised unit of police is police personnel in the way they years. However, the manpower is the opposition and re-estab- Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. fi ghters were martyred in the hua quoted a senior police offi cer underway to combat terrorism remain equipped for any situa- still not proportionate to popu- lish a one-party rule having He added, “This case was Liberation War. There’re also as saying. and militancy in the country. tion,” she said. lation ... considering this, we failed to politically face her. fi led with a heinous motive to many books and documents Many passengers swam “A process is underway to Calling terrorism a globe phe- have decided to create 50,000 The party also claimed make narrow political gains ... on the controversies.” to shore but seven remained constitute a specialised unit to nomenon, she said “terrorism more posts,” she said. that the treason charge was as the ruling party has become Fakhrul demanded of the missing, he said. increase the capability of police and militancy could not raise The prime minister said re- brought against Khaleda by politically bankrupt; it has been government to immediately Ferry and boat disasters are to combat terrorism and militan- their ugly head in Bangladesh as cruitment for 13,558 posts, in- distorting a small part of her indulging in a dangerous con- withdraw the ‘false’ treason common in Bangladesh, which is cy,” she said while inaugurating the law enforcement agencies cluding 277 cadre posts, has comment about the number of spiracy to eliminate the oppo- charge against Khaleda and re- criss-crossed by about 250 rivers. Police Week-2016 in Dhaka. remain alert to this end”. already been completed. “The 1971 Liberation War martyrs, sition and re-establish a one- lease all the opposition leaders Ferry is still a key means of Reiterating the govern- Elaborating her government’s process for recruiting more man- though there is no seditious party rule.” On Monday, lawyer and activists after withdrawing transport in the country, most of ment’s commitment to further various steps for develop- power would be completed soon.” element in her comments. Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Me- ‘false cases’ fi led against them. them are often over-crowded. Gulf Times 30 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Blame the ‘Troika eff ect’ for Production Editor: C P Ravindran

P.O.Box 2888 Greece’s downturn in 2015 Doha, Qatar [email protected] An analyst must at least state became insolvent in early 2010. Telephone 44350478 (news), make an eff ort to establish From May 2010, this insolvency was 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) addressed by means of sequential Fax 44350474 whether the observed extend-and-pretend loans on correlation points conditions that were guaranteed to shrink national income, investment, to a causal link and credit. A case of insolvency was made increasingly worse by By Yanis Varoufakis continuing to pretend that it was a Athens mere liquidity problem. GULF TIMES Was the Greek economy on the mend in late 2014? Of course n his end-of-2015 missive, Holger not. Nominal GDP never stopped Schmieding of the Hamburg shrinking, public and private debt investment bank Berenberg continued to become less and less The world should be Iwarned his fi rm’s clients that sustainable, and all along investment what they should be worrying about and credit remained comatose. now is political risk. Without debt restructuring, a low To illustrate, he posted the diagram target for the primary budget surplus concerned about (right), showing how business (net of debt payments), a “bad bank” confi dence collapsed in Greece during to deal with non-performing loans, the late spring of 2015, and picked up and a comprehensive reform agenda again only after my resignation from that tackles the worst cases of rent Trump for president the fi nance ministry. Schmieding O’Neill and everything to do with Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer in seeking, Greece is condemned to chose to call this the “Varoufakis fears about global security. The the United Kingdom, Harvard’s Larry permanent depression. eff ect”. correlation with O’Neill’s tenure was Summers, and James K Galbraith of Alas, the Troika was in politically Republican front-runner Donald Trump has broken There is no doubt that investors irrelevant. the University of Texas) – that were motivated denial and deeply just about every rule of conventional US presidential should be worried – very worried Similarly, in the case of Greece, responsible? Or was it the Troika’s uninterested in our policy proposals. – about political risk nowadays, the collapse in business confi dence explicit threat of bank closures (which Time and again, they simply campaigning. Short on a long-term political vision to including the capacity of politicians happened under my watch. But were actually imposed when we dared demanded capitulation. help shape the destiny of the nation, he has gleefully and bureaucrats to do untold damage the cause was that our creditors, to put our creditors’ ultimatum to To be sure, we could have handled insulted Muslims, Mexicans, women and virtually all to an economy. But they must also the so-called Troika (the European the Greek people in a referendum that confrontation better. But for an of his opponents. be wary of analysts who are either Commission, the European Central last July)? In other words, was it the analyst to blame the victim of such incapable of, or uninterested in, Bank and the International Monetary “Varoufakis eff ect” or the “Troika financial violence is not only morally A Trump-in-the-White-House scenario poses distinguishing between causality and Fund), made clear that they would eff ect”? reprehensible, but also constitutes high stakes for the Gulf region. Gulf Arabs could pull correlation, and between insolvency close down our banking system to To answer this question in ways terrible service to his clients (who, billion in investment money from the US if Trump, and illiquidity. In other words, force our government to accept a fresh that are helpful to investors, an for example, may be lulled into a they must be wary of analysts like extend-and-pretend loan agreement. analyst must at least make an eff ort false sense that Greece is on the who triggered a global outrage when he advocated Schmieding. Before these threats were issued, to establish whether the observed mend now that Varoufakis has been a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the US, Business confi dence in Greece did business confi dence was actually correlation points to a causal link. forced out). wins the presidency later this year, prominent UAE indeed plummet a few months after picking up in Greece. Indeed, the Reading our policy proposals and Thankfully, there are diligent I became fi nance minister. And it did day after I presented my reform and comparing them to the Troika’s analysts, like Mohamed El-Erian, to businessman Khalaf al-Habtoor said. Saudi billionaire pick up a month after my resignation. fi scal proposals to the City of London programme would have helped. whom sensible investors can turn. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who has a substantial The correlation is palpable. But is the investor community, stocks rallied Unfortunately, this would have And their verdict is clear: Greece’s portfolio of US holdings including Citigroup, Twitter causality? impressively. (Indeed, during my required work that some analysts downturn in 2015 was due to the Consider the following example. tenure in the fi nance ministry, real prefer not to do. “Troika eff ect”. and News Corp, has called Trump a “disgrace” in a Business confidence fell in GDP grew more than it had done The relevant question is whether Yes, political risk in Europe is clear Twitter spat. September 2001 (following the during the last two quarters of 2014, we were right to confront the Troika and present. But it emanates from the If other Gulf investors take a similar view, billions terror attacks on New York and which Schmieding identifi es as a – a central plank in our January 2015 Troika’s unwillingness to reform itself of dollars of Gulf money slated for investment in the Washington, DC), while Paul O’Neill period of increasing confi dence.) electoral platform – or whether we and to rethink its failed policies. - was US treasury secretary. Would So, what caused the huge drop should have signed up to our creditors’ Project Syndicate US could be at risk. The UAE was America’s largest Schmieding label a chart showing in business confi dence during my “Greek programme.” My view is that trading partner in the Middle East in 2014, with $25bn that decline the “O’Neill Effect”? tenure? Was it my policy proposals – we had no alternative but to resist the zYanis Varoufakis, a former fi nance in bilateral trade. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund plans Of course not: the drop in business jointly authored with Jeff Sachs (with Troika’s plan. minister of Greece, is professor of The reason is simple: the Greek economics at the University of Athens. to invest $35bn in the US over the next fi ve years. confidence had nothing to do with input from Norman Lamont, a former Hitting to local galleries, Trump has railed at the loss of US jobs to overseas competitors and said as president he would “get Apple to start building their damn computers and things” in the Hitting to local US, instead of China. galleries, Trump A possible hostile takeover of the White has railed at House by protectionist the loss of US Trump is sending shockwaves through jobs to overseas the fi nancial world. competitors Trump is already proving a divisive character in the US political theatre. Prominent actors, writers and thinkers have joined a “Stop Hate Dump Trump” campaign to denounce the populist. Calling him “astoundingly ignorant,” conservatives have also asked the Republicans not to support his candidacy. On the face of it, the US constitution lays out just three requirements to be eligible to become president: You must be at least 35 years old; have lived in the US for at least 14 years and be a natural-born citizen. But it’s much more complex than it seems to be. Americans have the longest (2-year), most expensive (the 2012 race had a price tag of more than $2.6bn) and arguably the most complex system (in 2000, Vice President Al Gore gained a half million more popular votes than Texas Governor George W Bush, but Gore lost to Bush at the Electoral College) of choosing a head of state in the world. In a wider sense, the rise of Trump also turns the spotlight on the defi ning impact of money on US politics and public policy. A health ministry worker fumigates a street to kill mosquitoes during a campaign to prevent the entry of Zika virus in Managua, Nicaragua, yesterday. Trump might go on to win the nomination and even make it to the White House. To be sure, it’s entirely up to the American electorate to decide who the US Zika pregnancy panic hits Latin America president be. But here’s the billion dollar question: Can a ruthless “If I hadn’t already been pregnant Colombia, where 11,613 people Salvadoran authorities have since corporate honcho, who would balk at nothing to sell By Carlos Mario Marquez San Salvador when the information spread, I would have been confi rmed as infected limited their recommendations to his short-term, profi t-driven corporate goals, be have defi nitely postponed it so I with Zika and some 100 babies born telling schoolgirls to wear pants trusted with arguably the most powerful job in the wouldn’t have to go through all this with microcephaly, issued the same instead of skirts to avoid mosquito on’t get pregnant for the stress,” said Manuela Mehl, who is 16 recommendation as El Salvador, but bites. world? next two years. weeks’ pregnant, in Rio de Janeiro. for a period of six months. El Salvador Criticism has also erupted in Stake are high not just for a sharply divided nation, That is the warning El has 5,397 cases of Zika. Colombia, which off ered no concrete but for the whole world. DSalvador’s government There has Ecuador warned women in “at- advise on how to avoid pregnancy. has issued women as Zika, a tropical risk” areas against getting pregnant For women who are already virus blamed for causing severe birth been a surge in indefinitely. Jamaica, which has pregnant, there are few options in the defects, sweeps Latin America and the not detected any cases of the virus aff ected countries. To Advertise Caribbean. Microcephaly cases but warns it could be next, advised Abortion is legal in Colombia and Since Zika, a mosquito-borne, fl u- putting off pregnancy for six to 12 Ecuador only if the mother’s life is [email protected] like disease that originated in Africa, in Brazil months. in danger - the case for many Latin Display arrived in Latin America last year, The advise has been mocked in American countries. Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 there has been a rampant increase in “Obviously, you’ll take care of your some quarters and in others criticised El Salvador’s laws are more babies born with microcephaly, or baby as best you can, but raising a as out-of-touch for a region plagued restrictive: Abortion is outlawed in all Classified abnormally small heads, a birth defect child with neurological problems by high rates of violence against instances and punishable by up to 40 Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 that can cause brain damage and requires a lot of attention and women, where many countries outlaw years in prison. death. dedication on the parents’ part... It’s a abortion. “The threat Zika poses during Subscription Brazil has been hit hardest: very diffi cult situation. It’s diffi cult to After controversy erupted over pregnancy creates a complex [email protected] microcephaly cases in the country even think about.” the pregnancy warnings, Salvadoran problem: The number of clandestine surged from 163 per year on average to Fearing a generation marred by high Health Minister Violeta Menjivar abortions is going to increase, but 3,893 after the Zika outbreak began. rates of severe disability, several health toned down her ministry’s message, also the number of women jailed for 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Forty-nine of those babies have ministries in the region have called on saying the “government doesn’t aborting,” said Salvadoran activist died. women to postpone pregnancy. regulate births”. Angela Rivas. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 27, 2016 31 COMMENT Lenin watches on over indiff erent Russians

For the younger generation, the head of independent pollster who have grown up outside Levada Centre, told AFP. “Lenin does not represent anything the Soviet system, the to the young generations, who only presence of Lenin is often have a vague idea that he was the founder of the Soviet state.” little more than a historical In a poll conducted by the Levada oddity centre about views of Lenin in 2015 only fi ve% of people said they thought By Nicolas Miletitch his ideas will infl uence people in the AFP/Moscow future. In the heady days of the early nineties during the collapse of o reach the gigantic statue the Soviet Union, some of the key of Vladimir Lenin that symbolic statues of Soviet leaders - overlooks Moscow’s October most famously secret police founder TSquare, pedestrians can Felix Dzerzhinsky outside the KGB stroll down streets named after the headquarters - were toppled. Bolshevik revolutionary’s wife or But as the new country plunged into mother, or cross Lenin Avenue that chaos, Russia’s fi rst president Boris intersects with a road named after his Yeltsin - often keen not to alienate brother. the large chunk of the population that More than a quarter of a century has looked back on the Soviet era with passed since the fall of Communism fondness - left most of the Lenin but reminders of the Soviet Union’s statues untouched. founding father Lenin - who died on President Vladimir Putin, a former January 21, 1924 - are still easy to fi nd. KGB agent, followed in Yeltsin’s Yet the man himself seems footsteps and just let Lenin be. increasingly to mean little to many That includes leaving the embalmed people in Russia, the cradle of his remains of the leader on display revolution. outside the Kremlin, despite polls Lenin monuments, busts and showing that the majority of people eponymous streets commemorating are in favour of fi nally saying goodbye the leader of the 1917 October Lenin and burying his body. Revolution still dot cityscapes across But that does not mean that Putin, the country and his body still lies who has surrounded himself with embalmed for tourists to visit in the ex-Soviet security agents and been mausoleum on the capital’s iconic Red accused of playing down the crimes of Square. Stalinism, is harking back to the ideals “On July 19, 1918, Vladimir Ilyich Subway passengers walking past a huge portrait of the Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin in a vestibule of the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina metro station in Moscow. of Lenin. Lenin met in this building with the “Allowing your rule to be guided party members from factories of the system - which carries an average hoardings and shopping malls of their But while some who are old enough have grown up outside the Soviet by ideas is right, but only when that Zamoskvorechye neighbourhood,” of 7mn passengers every day - also consumerist society appears to stir to remember the Soviet epoch view system, the presence of Lenin is idea leads to the right results, not like reads a plaque in the centre of the offi cially bears Lenin’s name. mixed opinions - or more often just these vestiges of another era with often little more than a historical it did with Vladimir Ilich,” Putin said Russian capital. In some other former Soviet indiff erence. nostalgia, others look on them with oddity. in a rare reference to Lenin on the Down the street, another republics, most prominently Ukraine, Every year on the key Communist resentment. “During the Soviet era, all these anniversary of his death. plaque reminds passersby that the many statues of Lenin have been holidays such as May 1 or the “These monuments bother me,” monuments had an ideological role “In the end that idea led to the fall of Communist leader addressed workers dismantled, toppled or vandalised anniversary of the revolution on said 60-year-old Muscovite Viktor but now they are just relics from our the Soviet Union,” he added. from the Yaroslavl and Vladimir since the fall of Communism. November 7 dwindling groups Dzyadko, whose hostility toward the history,” said Alexander Polyakovsky, a “They planted an atomic bomb regions from a balcony above their But for ordinary Russians the of ageing supporters gather with Soviet revolutionary is tangible. “They 20-year-old student. under the building called Russia and heads. lingering presence of the Communist portraits of Lenin at monuments to should all be sent to some museum.” “We are witnessing growing it later exploded. We did not need a And Moscow’s sprawling subway leader among the advertising him across the country. For the younger generation, who indiff erence,” sociologist Lev Gudkov, global revolution.” Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Indian schools school owners/managements to make operate as non-profi t organisations. in bad light wherever they get a High: 20 C more profi ts and it will not benefi t the chance. So Qatar has to be very careful Low : 16 C shouldn’t raise fees teachers at all. HAK and should do its best not to give any Strong wind and high seas Some schools are even operating (Full name and address supplied) reason for its critics to run a negative Dear Sir, additional classes after normal hours campaign against it. charging extra fees, making more Meanwhile, march on Qatar! THURSDAY I completely disagree with the letter money. Strides in sports High: 21 C “Indian schools should raise fees” I feel that the following points need development Khurshid Alam Low : 12 C (Gulf Times, January 26) because to be studied and debated to improve The Scholars’ International Cloudy the present fee structure has been the standards of teaching in Indian School approved by the Supreme Education schools: Dear Sir, Doha Council (SEC) for each school zA vast majority of teachers FRIDAY individually, based on the facilities recruited by the schools are Qatar is marching ahead in sports. High: 17 C available within each of them. housewives who don’t have any The state boasts a number of state- Please send us Low : 11 C If the schools operating in Qatar experience in teaching. of-the-art stadiums, highlighting the Cloudy don’t make profi ts, why are most z Schools don’t provide training to government’s commitment to sports your letters of them going ahead with opening their teachers and their continuous development. additional schools/campuses? It development. Qatar has already hosted many By e-mail Fishermen’s forecast proves that the schools are making z Recruitment is not done international sports events, including [email protected] Fax 44350474 OFFSHORE DOHA money. professionally. the 2006 Asian Games and is preparing Wind: NW 20-28 KT In fact, Indian school fees are not z Getting Indian visas for teachers hard to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Or Post Waves: 7-10 Feet so low. Also, many of the Indian could be made easier. which is considered the second biggest Letters to the Editor INSHORE DOHA Gulf Times Wind: NW-N 15-25/35 KT parents in the middle-income bracket z Teachers are not allowed to take sports event after Olympics. Waves: 1-3/4 Feet will be unable to pay if the fees go tuition privately. But some of the Qatar is not only making its mark P O Box 2888 up. Only those parents who work for schools ask teachers to hold special as an excellent host of international Doha, Qatar Around the region government organisations and some classes for weaker students in the events but is also showing its prowess Weather Weather national and international companies evening and their managements as an active participant of various All letters, which are subject today Max/min tomorrow Max/min get children’s education allowance. generate money out of it as well. sports activities. Success in AFC U23 to editing, should have the Abu Dhabi M Sunny 27/18 P Cloudy 24/14 Most expatriates in Qatar work for But the teachers are not adequately Championship is just an example. name of the writer, address Baghdad Sunny 10/00 M Sunny 10/00 Dubai the private sector which doesn’t rewarded for this. But some quarters in the world and phone number. The P Cloudy 25/19 P Cloudy 24/16 Kuwait City Cloudy 14/07 P Cloudy 13/04 give any educational allowance to Finally, I feel that schools should don’t seem very happy with Qatar’s writer’s name and address Manama P Cloudy 20/16 Cloudy 17/12 its employees. Under this situation, not be run as commercial enterprises success and advances in the sports may be withheld by request. Muscat Sunny 29/20 Sunny 27/19 increasing the fees would only help at all and if possible, they should sector. They try to portray the country Riyadh Sunny 19/04 Sunny 15/01 Tehran P Cloudy 06/-2 P Cloudy 04/-4 Live issues When to see an eye doctor

Mayo Clinic News Network Infections may cause light TNS sensitivity as well, but not as severe as an abrasion. Kids typically won’t keep their eyes closed when exposed to hen a child has a red bright lights. eye, it can be hard When should you bring your child to tell the difference in to see a healthcare provider? An Wbetween a scratch on abrasion will typically heal itself in the eye (abrasion) and an infection one day. If the affl iction persists longer like pink eye. Both can cause a than 24 hours, seeing a healthcare Around the world pinkish-red colour to the white part professional is important in order to Weather Weather of the eye and excessive tearing. If prevent the abrasion from turning into today Max/min tomorrow Max/min the child is not old enough to tell you an ulcer. Athens M Sunny 13/08 Sunny 17/08 what is going on, they may just cry An ulcer is a severe infection in the Beirut Sunny 11/06 M Sunny 12/08 Sunny 33/23 and rub their eyes. eye that can lead to permanent vision Bangkok 30/20 Sunny Berlin Showers 10/08 Showers 09/01 Mayo Clinic Health System loss if not treated promptly. Cairo Cloudy 13/05 M Sunny 16/06 ophthalmologist Naomie Warner Classic pink eye is caused by a Cape Town P Cloudy 24/19 P Cloudy 27/19 explains key diff erences between the virus and will run its course in two Colombo Sunny 33/22 P Cloudy 32/22 two: weeks with or without treatment, Dhaka Sunny 24/14 P Cloudy 24/14 Hong Kong Rain 16/14 Rain 19/17 An abrasion is typically one eye When a child has a red eye, it can be hard to tell the diff erence between a scratch but it’s essential to see a healthcare Istanbul P Cloudy 05/03 P Cloudy 08/06 only. Abrasions can happen even if on the eye (abrasion) and an infection like pink eye. professional to ensure it’s not Jakarta T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 32/24 you don’t realise you were scratched a bacterial infection that needs Karachi P Cloudy 28/18 Sunny 28/18 with something. Often, if you get Pain from an abrasion is some of start in one eye and spread to the other antibiotics. This especially is true if London Rain 13/02 M Sunny 11/07 P Cloudy P Cloudy 32/23 something in your eye or have a the most severe discomfort you can within a few days. Usually, the second the eye has any discharge or mucus Manila 31/23 Moscow Snow 01/-2 Showers 03/02 scratch on the eye, you may not feel experience. The pain remains when eye is not as irritated as the fi rst. that you need to wipe away with a New Delhi Sunny 22/09 Sunny 23/12 it for the fi rst few hours, and the pain your eyes are closed. The excessive Infections are itchy, and you will fi nd tissue. New York P Cloudy 06/-2 Sunny 04/-2 starts later. tearing you have with an abrasion is children trying to rub their eyes. This, “As with any health condition, no Paris Showers 12/09 P Cloudy 09/03 Abrasions are painful and cause quite bothersome and will constantly in turn, can cause the virus to spread matter if it is an abrasion or pink eye, Sao Paulo T Storms 28/21 S T Storms 28/21 Seoul P Cloudy 04/-7 P Cloudy 04/-4 extreme light sensitivity. It’s not run down your cheek if you don’t wipe to others as tears get on hands and are proper hand-washing techniques Singapore T Storms 31/26 T Storms 31/26 uncommon for a person with an the tears away. An eye abrasion may subsequently transferred to doorknobs are absolutely necessary to prevent Sydney S Showers 25/19 S Showers 26/19 abrasion to want to cover their eye or also cause a runny nose. or counter tops - where they can live further infection or spread of disease,” Tokyo ClearClear 1 2 /0 0 Clear 13/01 not open it unless the room is dark. An infection, on the other hand, can for weeks. says Warner. Gulf Times 32 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 QATAR Indian expatriates mark Republic Day By Ramesh Mathew Staff Reporter

ndian expatriates in Qa- tar turned up in strength Ito make their nation’s 67th Republic Day, a memorable ex- perience, at a function hosted by their embassy yesterday. The occasion commemorated India becoming a republic on January 26, 1950 and the Consti- tution coming into eff ect. Indian ambassador Sanjiv Arora hoisted the tricolour, with the accompa- niment of an impeccable rendi- tion of the national anthem by school children. A unique feature of this year’s gathering was the presence of several uniformed sailors of the Indian Coast Guard Security HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, Ministry of Foreign Aff airs director of protocol Ibrahim Fakhroo and Qatar Airways Group (ICGS) vessel Sankalp, which is chief executive Akbar al-Baker join Indian ambassador Sanjiv Arora to cut a cake at the Republic Day reception yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma on a fi ve-day goodwill visit to Doha. helped maintain external sector Pradhan Mantri Faisal Bima Yo- While thanking the sailors, stability and control domestic jana, Make in India and Start Up the envoy said their presence at prices. The industrial perform- India programme, the benefi ts the Republic Day celebrations ance has been encouraging de- of each of which reached several in Doha, which is thousands of spite occasional setbacks, it was millions of the country’s popu- miles away from their homeland mentioned. lation. made this year’s event in Qatar, Recalling that there were too The address also highlight- a remarkably memorable expe- many challenges at diff erent ed the necessity of peace and rience for the country’s Indian levels across the world last year, impeccable law and order in expatriates. it was revealed that no nation achieving progress. Indian ambassador Sanjiv Arora hoisting the Indian national flag at the While reading out the message could remain an oasis of growth Before winding up the ad- Republic Day celebrations yesterday. delivered by the President of In- in such circumstances. dress, the importance and inevi- dia Pranab Mukherjee on the eve It was also mentioned in the tability of innovative solutions of the celebrations, Arora re- address, that weak investor sen- in answering such critical issues Qatar leaders greet president minded the gathering of the ob- timents led to the withdrawal of as pollution, climate change, stacles ahead, on account of the massive funds from emerging clean energy and above all the HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday sent a cable extended but unexpected down- markets, including India, which Prominent Qatari entrepreneur Hussain Alfardan with Indian ambassador mindset of human beings were of congratulations to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on the occa- turn in the global economic or- eventually also aff ected exports Sanjiv Arora and his wife Chhaya Arora at the reception. also highlighted. sion of his country’s Republic Day. HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh der. “However, expectations are from several nations, including In the evening, a cake-cutting Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior that India is estimated to record India. severe drought while the other achievements India made in the ceremony was held at the Grand Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent similar a 7.3% growth this year,” he add- Weather conditions, too, were faced devastating fl oods, said last few years, Arora specially Hyatt Hotel where a number of cables to the president. ed, while pointing out that the not conducive last year. Some the ambassador. mentioned such initiatives as Qatari offi cials and ambassadors the contraction of oil prices has parts of India were aff ected by While disclosing some of the Aadhaar, Digital India, The were present.