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MONDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11042 December 24, 2018 Rabia II 17, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

That’s entertainment! Qatar real estate sector likely to be aff ordable,

Performers greet onlookers during a parade taken out as part of Doha’s Souq Waqif Spring Festival yesterday. Running until January 4, the festivities off er a wide range of entertainment activities. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam competitive in ’19

By Pratap John to trade up. Some central areas in Doha areas of Doha are expected to stabilise. Chief Business Reporter saw stabilisation of rents, while sec- In the offi ce sector, rents are expect- In brief ondary locations outside of Doha saw ed to decline in Lusail, as 80% of the yearly rent and capital value reductions projected supply for 2019 will be fo- New rules for telecom atar’s real estate sector may of up to 20%. cused there. This is expected to also af- see “rising aff ordability and New offi ce stock was seen in ar- fect rents in secondary offi ce locations. Qcompetitiveness” next year, a eas such as Lusail, C-Ring Road (Al Two free zones: Umm Al Houl (34sq tariff s, services come much-needed stimulus in the market, Muntazah, Al Hilal and Rawdhat Al km) and Ras Bufantas (4.01sq km) are ex- QATAR | Offi cial a new report has shown. Khail), Salwa Road (Fereej Abdul Aziz) pected to start receiving foreign and local Amir congratulates According to research and consul- and B-Ring Road (Fereej Bin Dirham), investors in the industrial sector. This is into eff ect on January 1 tancy fi rm ValuStrat, a “downward Al Sadd and Old Salata. Increasing expected to continue to put downward emperor of Japan trajectory” is expected in all sectors in supply and vacancy, forced landlords pressure on rents in relatively older in- His Highness the Amir Sheikh the real estate market in 2019, but with to reduce rents, especially in secondary dustrial areas, ValuStrat said. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His he Communications Regulato- encourage the competition in the tel- “slowing decline rates.” locations. Hospitality sector to see an addition Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh ry Authority (CRA) has issued ecommunications market. Increased supply in apartments was Offi ces in Al Sadd, C-Ring Road and of six properties (5/4-star): Al Messila Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent Ta decision to promulgate the “The CRA is keen to promote sus- seen in central areas of Doha such as Al Salwa Road experienced steep falls in Resort, Mandarin Hotel, Zulal Wellness yesterday cables of congratulations new Retail Tariff Instruction (RTI) tainable competition and ensure the Sadd, Fereej Bin Mahmoud, Al Man- rents ranging from 15-25% compared to Resort, M Gallery Boutique Hotel, Pan- to Emperor Akihito of Japan on his for telecommunications services to provision of a broad range of high- soura and Al Muntazah and prime areas 2017, ValuStrat said. orama Residences and Suites and Plaza country’s National Day. HE the Prime improve consumer experience and quality and innovative services in the such as Lusail and The Pearl, ValuStrat ValuStrat Qatar general manager Rayhaan. Mid-market hotel segment Minister and Minister of Interior ensure sustainable competition and telecommunications market. The new said. Pawel Banach said: “During 2018, the might continue to show improvement Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin development of the telecommunica- Retail Tariff Instruction is developed Simultaneously, villa supply con- Qatar real estate market was transi- in occupancy. Khalifa al-Thani also sent a similar tions market in Qatar. to encourage service providers to off er centrated in suburban areas of Doha tioning to a new equilibrium as public By the end of 2019, the population cable to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. All service providers in Qatar must higher quality services at lower prices such as Al Wakrah, Umm Salal Ali, and private sectors started adapting to of Qatar is expected to reach 2.7mn. comply with the decision issued by and tariff s tailored to customers’ spe- Umm Salal Mohammad, Al Maamoura regional geopolitical challenges. By Oc- Assuming all projects are delivered on AMERICA | Politics CRA president Mohamed Ali al- cifi c needs. This will in turn benefi t both and Ain Khalid. tober real estate transactions reached time, Qatar will comprise of 30,000 Mannai eff ective January 1, 2019, the the service providers and consumers, Due to oversupply in some areas, 3,480 with a total value of QR19.7bn. hotel keys and hotel apartments, US girds for lengthy CRA said in a statement yesterday. and will lead to the development of the landlords reduced rents to maxim- Despite, an increase in transactional 300,000 residential units and an offi ce government shutdown The new RTI will provide service sector in Qatar,” al-Mannai said. ise occupancy. Citywide rental values volume and activity in the non-hydro- supply of 4.8sq m GLA, ValuStrat said. The United States yesterday entered providers with more fl exibility as it The new RTI aims to increase the decreased by 12.4% and the ValuStrat carbon sector, the infl ux of supply con- ValuStrat Qatar market research day two of a government shutdown will allow the introduction of new transparency of the tariff s avail- Price Index (VPI) indicated falling cap- tributed to softening rents and prices.” analyst Anum Hasan noted: “For 2019, gridlocking Washington that the tariff s and promotions targeting spe- able in the markets, and to avoid the ital values by about 11%. Nearly 75% of the upcoming resi- we expect downward trajectory to con- White House budget director said cifi c sectors or customer segments. introduction of illegal tariff s. The An emerging fl ight to quality was dential supply will be concentrated tinue in all sectors but with slowing could persist into the new year and Service providers will be required service providers have four months evident as decreasing rental and capi- in The Pearl and Lusail, which might decline rates. This has translated in the next Congress. A budget deal to to publish these tariff s and promo- from January 1, 2019 to regularise il- tal values appeared steeper in second- negatively impact the market rent in rising aff ordability and competitive- end the partial shutdown — which tions on their respective websites. legal tariff s in the market and to move ary locations as compared to high-end the area once projects are handed over. ness, a much-needed stimulus in Qatar forced several key US agencies to This approach has been chosen by their customers to the tariff s that are neighbourhoods, encouraging tenants On the contrary, rental rates in central market.” cease operations at 12:01am (0501 CRA as a regulatory best practice to in compliant with the new RTI. GMT) on Saturday — appears a distant prospect. Page 10 Doctors in Sudan plan to join bread protest BRITAIN | Airport Hotel occupancy rates higher than last year A Sudanese doctors association At least nine people have died since Pair freed in Gatwick yesterday declared that they would protests began last week in eastern drones probe begin an indefinite strike in solidarity cities after price hikes that saw the s of October 2018, Qatar had (Revenue per Available Room) declined QR260 to QR420 per sq m,” ValuStrat A man and a woman arrested over with protesters who are demonstrating cost of a loaf of bread triple. as many as 26,290 hotel rooms by 10%, ValuStrat said. noted. the drone disruption that brought over rising bread and fuel prices. The protests have since spread to other Aand hotel apartments within 125 With the completion of Palms The International Monetary Fund flights to a standstill at London’s Doctors would stop working today parts of the country. establishments, ValuStrat said in a re- Mall and Katara Plaza, organised re- adjusted the GDP growth projections Gatwick Airport were released and only make an exception for The Sudanese government declared port. tail supply totalled 1.8mn sq m GLA to 3.1% for 2019 from 2.4% in 2018. without charge yesterday, police emergencies, the Central Committee of a state of emergency on Wednesday A total of 1.48mn international (Gross Leasable Area) this year, it This is attributed to the recovery of oil said. A 47-year-old man and a Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said. in two eastern provinces due to the guests (compared to 1.94mn last year) said. prices, robust non-oil sector growth 54-year-old woman from the town “The moral duty of all people of ongoing protests. stayed an average of 3.9 nights per stay “To maintain healthy occupancy, and prudent fi scal policy. of Crawley, near Britain’s second- conscience is to reject violence and we The oil-rich country’s economy was and spent an Average Daily Rate (ADR) landlords in newer shopping malls in- The current account surplus is pre- busiest airport, were arrested on have seen with our eyes in hospitals negatively aff ected when it split with of QR384. troduced incentives by absorbing op- dicted to reach QR4.3bn driven by 21% Saturday. The police swooped after how live bullets were used in the South Sudan in 2011. The fi rst 10 months saw occupancy erational expenses and lowering serv- expected growth in revenues (oil price three days of disruption, aff ecting streets and the killing of unarmed Due to high infl ation, many lost rates averaging at 61% which is 3% ice charges. The median monthly rent assumed at $55 per barrel compared to 140,000 passengers. Page 12 people,” the statement said. their buying power. Page 8 higher than last year, though, RevPAR for line shops within malls ranged from $45 per barrel in 2018).

Lack of early warning system made Indonesian tragedy worse

Agencies suddenly on Saturday evening about Amir condoles with small islands in Sunda Strait might be Jakarta 9.30pm reached 222 people dead, 843 Indonesian president the most aff ected by the tsunami. Am- injured and 28 missing. bulance personnel are still searching for Tsunamis triggered by volcanic His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim missing people among the rubble. he Indonesian government said eruptions are relatively rare, caused by bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness Dramatic video posted on social me- it has no early warning system the sudden displacement of water or the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin dia showed a wall of water suddenly Tfor a non-earthquake tsunami “slope failure,” according to the Inter- Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime crashing into a concert by pop group after parts of the country were ex- national Tsunami Information Centre. Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh “Seventeen” – hurling band members posed to the destructive ocean waves Unlike those caused by earthquakes, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani off the stage and then fl ooding into the caused by the eruption of Mount Anak which trigger alert systems, these tsu- sent yesterday cables of condolences to audience. Krakatao volcano in the Sunda Strait. namis give authorities very little time to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on In a tearful Instagram post, frontman National Disaster Management warn residents of the impending threat. the victims of the tsunami that struck Riefi an Fajarsyah said the band’s bassist Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nu- The offi cial explained that the water coastal areas between the islands of and road manager had been killed and groho said there was no tsunami warn- washed away hundreds of buildings on Sumatra and Java, wishing the injured a his wife was missing. ing in the Sunda Strait since Indonesia the southern coast of the island of Su- speedy recovery. Anak Krakatoa, which forms a small had yet to set up any early warning matra and west of the island of Java, island in the Sunda Strait between Java mechanism for a tsunami caused by and he expected further increase in the and Sumatra, emerged around 1928 in the landslides or volcanoes at sea. number of victims, especially in the Oxfam International, a non-gov- crater left by Krakatoa, whose massive He pointed out that the number of absence of accurate information on all ernmental organisation that mobilised eruption in 1883 killed at least 36,000 Rescue team members search for victims among debris after a tsunami hit at victims of the tsunami, which struck areas aff ected by the disaster. help, revealed that the residents of the people. Page 11 Rajabasa district in South Lampung, Indonesia, yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Monday, December 24, 2018 QATAR Online registration of rental contracts launched

he Ministry of Munici- continuous eff orts to develop been simplifi ed with the launch ties of the agreement; instant According to law No 19 for 2017 annual rental value of the unit, Guidebook pality and Environment’s and upgrade its services and of the fi rst version of the on- follow-up of the application; amending some provisions of whether residential, commer- T(MME) Information make them easily accessible for line registration service, which online payment; and following law No 4 for 2008 regarding cial, or any other as indicated in The Ministry of Municipality and Systems Department has an- the public while being accom- targets the contracts related to up the status of the application property leasing, the lessor shall the building permit. Environment’s Plant Protection nounced the launch of online plished in record time at a high one unit only, where the second through a smartphone applica- register the rental contract at the The minimum fees to be and Quarantine Department has registration and authentication quality. She pointed out that the version would cover all types of tion. To apply for this service, real-estate registration offi ce charged for the registration issued a guidebook for the work of real-estate rental contracts demand for the registration of real-estate rental contracts. the applicant should submit a concerned within two months of process is QR250 and the maxi- of agriculture engineers. The through its website www.mme. real-estate rental contracts has The offi cial also pointed out copy each of the rental contract making the contract. Failure to mum QR2,500. This procedure guidebook explains the neces- gov.qa. always been high and the rel- that the new online registra- in Arabic, the authorisation to do so shall result in a maximum is mandatory for all the service sary procedures and measures Hamdah Adbulaziz al-Maa- evant procedures required the tion service has a number of register the contract, the main fi ne of QR10,000. providing entities in the coun- that should be followed for deed, director of the Infor- applicant to visit the registra- other advantages. These include rental contract in case of sub- The real-estate registra- try, as they would not supply agriculture quarantine at the mation Systems Department, tion offi ce at the municipalities printing the authentication and leasing, water and electricity tion offi ce shall collect a fee for their services to the rented units various ports of the country, stressed that the launch of this concerned with the needed doc- registration certifi cate of the number, and fi ll in the informa- each registration application unless there is a registered rental whether it is sea, land or air. e-service is part of the MME’s uments. Now, the process has rental contracts by the two par- tion of the ownership document. amounting to 0.5% of the total contract.

QRCS contributes to vaccination of 1.4mn Syrian kids

Qatar Red Crescent Society the campaign covered 1.4mn vaccinations to children. (QRCS) announced that it has children of the 5-15 age group at QRCS has already monitored recently completed the external all schools, health centres, and several polio, measles, and monitoring of the measles and permanent vaccination hubs in rubella vaccination campaigns rubella vaccination of children the northern governorates of inside Syria, in cooperation with in Syria, in partnership with Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. It was UN agencies, local charities, and the World Health Organisation an opportunity to eradicate global humanitarian providers. (WHO) and the United Nations measles and rubella, by reaching These drives served millions Children’s Fund (Unicef). A trained out to those uncovered under of children in Aleppo, Idlib, QRCS team accompanied the previous campaigns. As an Latakia, Hama, and other Syrian inoculators, who are members of external observer, QRCS governorates. In October, QRCS Syria Immunisation Task Force, to contributed 100 supervisors to monitored a polio vaccination monitor the vaccination process inspect the preparedness of the campaign, in partnership with the and ensure compliance with centres, validity of injections and Unicef and WHO, with a total of Over 16 consecutive days, the campaign covered 1.4mn children of the 5-15 age group at all schools, health centres, and permanent vaccination international standards. vaccinations, performance of 38,300 under-5 beneficiaries in hubs in the northern governorates of Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. Over 16 consecutive days, vaccinators, and safe delivery of Afrin City.— QNA Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 3 QATAR

Commerce minister honours employees

HE the Minister of Commerce and He pointed out that the graduates the framework of the Ministry of Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari encourage other employees who Commerce and Industry’s keen- yesterday honoured a number have the desire to complete their ness to develop employee loyalty Enhanced road connectivity of staff ers who completed their higher education, hoping that by encouraging them to attend university studies after being they will continue to persevere all types of scholarships, whether employed in the ministry. and earnestly serve the country. internal or external, special leave On this occasion, HE al-Kuwari The minister also thanked or special expenses, in line with congratulated the graduates, employees working in all depart- the needs of the ministry. eases vehicular movement praising their achievements in the ments for their outstanding role On their part, the candidates educational and vocational fields, in working to improve the output thanked HE the Minister of thus contributing to the vision of the ministry through their Commerce and Industry for this ith road connectiv- and mission of the ministry and continuous eff orts to adopt the generous gesture, stressing that ity showing massive contributing positively to achiev- highest standards in education this honour is a motivation and Wimprovement on Qa- ing its objectives in developing its and training. incentive for them to further excel tar’s southern side in recent employees. The ceremony comes within in their work. months, especially over the last few weeks, more residents are now utilising their weekends to familiarise themselves with the new roads, it is learnt. Many residents, especially Visitors throng souqs for bachelor and ‘singles’ groups, are out during weekend morn- ings in areas surrounding ex- tended neighbourhoods of entertainment, shopping Mesaimeer, through which the Orbital Highway and G-Ring Expressway have been laid. By Ramesh Mathew More connections have been Staff Reporter added to the new main roads over the past one month, with the opening of the new links, he arrival of winter along originating from the fl yover with the beginning of built in Mesaimeer, said to be the A view of a newly laid road stretch leading to the tunnel built on the northern side of Al Wakrah town. Tfestivals at various tra- tallest in the country. PICTURE: Ram Chand ditional souqs in and around “It is nothing short of amaz- Doha have brought hordes of ing to see the spurt in road de- and commercial developments of the Industrial Area and devel- Logistical Village and the Port, visitors to those destinations in velopments and the look of like Barwa City are echoing sim- opments like Hamad Port and inquiries found. Goods-laden the evenings. the areas concerned have also ilar views. Mesaieed Industrial city have trucks running from either end The launch of the Spring changed considerably,” a resi- The vehicular movement be- become smoother than ever be- experience no congestion at all Festival at Doha’s Souq Waqif dent said. tween southern and western fore. and considerable time is saved on Friday has proved to be a Those living close to the Or- areas, especially between the Similar movement is also and remarkably good saving can crowd-puller. Mainly families bital Highway in such residential locations in the neighbourhoods possible for trucks between the be made on fuel also, it is learnt. enjoyed the activities during the weekend. The festivities will continue A scene from a parade taken out yesterday through Doha’s Souq Qatar University foundation programme enriches professional skills until January 4. Waqif as part of the Spring Festival which continues until January 4. Thanks to the active sup- PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam port extended by the local The foundation programme, under the English language course are activating and strengthening the students was enriched with the tourism officials, a consider- operators of restaurants, espe- Though Doha’s Souq Waqif is the Deanship of General Studies in participating in this event, which co-operation between QU and the experiences of personal experts ably large number of enter- cially those facing the beach in already an extensively familiar co-operation with the Professional is presented by the foundation society in its various vital sectors, that contributed positively to the tainment activities are hosted Al Wakrah. The visitors are also location to the country’s revel- Services Center of Qatar University programme as part of the gen- which enriches the community excitement to learn in general at souqs. Troupes from across seen spending considerable lers, Souq Al Wakrah has also (QU), organised the second edition eral requirements course series. participation. This is a goal of the and to excel in English in specific. the region are performing on a time at the outlets at the tradi- become popular and started re- of the skills programme required Fourteen specialists from various strategy of Qatar 2018-2022 to These interviews lasted until noon daily basis. tional souq where many goods, ceiving people in good numbers for future professions. The event sectors of the country were invited achieve the common benefit of and the programme concluded Many eateries in the tradi- equipment and accessories are these days. aims to create a realistic profes- and the participants were Nakilat, the university and the community. with a tribute to the participants tional souqs in Doha and Wak- sold. “Since the beginning of the sional environment for students Boeing, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar It is noteworthy that this event and the taking of the commemora- rah are reportedly doing good Besides those dealing in Qatar National Day celebra- that allows them to practise General Electricity and Water allows students enrolled in the tive photographs. business, especially on the ethnic Arab and Qatari cos- tions, there has been a spurt in English without any assessment Corporation (Kahramaa) and foundation programme to experi- The purpose of the foundation weekends when there is a big tumes, shops selling Qatari the numbers of visitors,” said a pressures to promote the idea of ExxonMobil, as well as a number of ence the personal interviews, programme is to prepare students rise in the number of visitors. handicrafts, music instruments restaurateur at Souq Al Wakrah. learning about various skills re- faculty members and employees. where those questions varied as to succeed in their academic jour- It is understood that a sizeable and traditional goods such as Growing road connectivity lated to the labour market as well Director of the foundation they were about the qualifications, ney at QU by providing them with number of visitors are regulars swords, apparels and dates are towards the southern side has as preparing them for personal programme at QU, Dr Hezam al- experience, skills and personal English language and mathemat- and this has boosted the morale all attracting quite a number of also helped in boosting the visi- interviews when looking for work. Awah, said that this programme is characteristics required in each ics skills that they need in diff erent of the organisers as well as the visitors. tors numbers, it is learnt. Approximately 402 students from important and has a major role in job. And the experience of the scientific disciplines. — QNA Gulf Times 4 Monday, December 24, 2018 QATAR

Indian violin maestro to perform in Doha

ward winning Indian He has played for over violin maestro Dr 8,650 songs in fi lms and AMani Bharathi and over 1,700 fi lms in many re- his troupe will perform on gional languages. He has ac- December 26 at the Al Falak companied K V Mahadevan, ball room of Crowne Plaza Keeravani, Rajan Nagen- hotel, event organisers an- dra, M Ranga Rao garu and nounced yesterday. Maestro Rajeswara Rao. “The instrumental fusion Bharathi is currently Qatar’s ambassador to Indonesia Ahmed bin Jassim al-Hamar is seen with orphans and their mothers during the QND celebration. featuring violin, keyboards, Dr Mani Bharathi playing for Mani Sharma, tabla and drums will be a Devi Sri Prasad and Tham- rare treat for music lovers in cert and to date Bharathi man in many movies. He Qatar,” the organisers said in has given more than 9,500 has performed 68 times in a statement. concerts. He has played for Malayasia, 38 times in Sin- Bharathi debuted as a fi lm TV shows with legendary gapore, 10 times in South playback singer at the age of singers like K J Yesudas, T M Africa as well as one time QC’s orphans worldwide fi ve under his uncle Kalaima- Soundarajan, Dr Seergazhi each in the US and Dubai. mani K Veeramani of Pal- Govindarajan and worked Bharathi will be accom- likkattu Sabarimalaikku fame. under 600 music directors. panied by Yuvaraj on key- He started learning violin Bharathi has played for board, Andrew Rajendran from the age of seven and later well-known music direc- on guitar, Theagarajan Na- played for super hit dramas tors likes Ilayaraja, A R Rah- tarajan on tabla and Suresh celebrate National Day and some TV shows on the na- man, M S Viswanathan, Muthuswami on drums. tional television Doordarshan. Gangai Amaran, Deva, Har- The event is organised by From 1980 he started rys Jayaraj, Jatin Lalith and Mediaplus and tickets are atar Charity (QC) offi ces in playing for his uncle’s con- Lakshmikanth Pyarelal. available from Q tickets. Sudan, Kenya, Albania, In- Qdonesia and Kosovo organ- ised several activities for orphans and their mothers to mark the Qatar National Day (QND). Such activities, attended by a number of Qatari diplomats in these countries, included cultural, sports and recreational competitions which refl ected the love and appre- ciation of the participants for QC’s programmes and Qatar. The diplomats thanked Qatar for its contributions in the fi eld of humanitarian work and its role in bringing the joy and pleasure to the needy worldwide. In Kosovo, more than 300 or- phans and 100 mothers participated in the QND celebration, which was attended by Qatar’s ambassador QC sponsors more than 15,000 orphans in all the states of Sudan. and local government offi cials who hailed the outstanding services pro- vided by QC to the people of Kosovo. QC’s office in Burkina Faso or- ganised a visit for the sponsored orphans to the Burkinabe Parlia- ment, where Bala Saka Nada, the speaker of the parliament, com- mended the projects implemented by the Qatari institution, saying these projects achieved great suc- cess in contributing to the provi- sion of a decent living for many families. QC’s offi ce in Sudan held a cer- emony in the capital Khartoum to mark QND, which was attended by around 250 orphans, along with their mothers. QC sponsors more than 15,000 orphans in all the states of Sudan. The QND celebration in Indone- sia witnessed some 300 orphans, along with their mothers, partici- Hundreds of orphans and their mothers participated in the event in Kenya. pating. It was attended by Qatar’s ambassador to Indonesia Ahmed In Kenya, hundreds of orphans tar for its signifi cant role in the Shahwani, mayors and a number of bin Jassim al-Hamar, Indonesian and their mothers participated fi eld of humanitarian relief around public fi gures. minister of energy and a number of in the celebration, which was at- the world, including Kenya, where The event included an art exhibi- representatives of local institutions. tended by the representative of the many important projects have been tion about Qatari monuments and a “QC sponsors 4,400 orphans Qatar ambassador Fahad Rashid implemented. documentary fi lm on QC’s achieve- and implemented hundreds of wa- al-Nuaimi, who applauded the In Albania, QC organised a QND ments in 2018. ter, sanitation and housing projects humanitarian role played by QC in celebration for sponsored persons QC, through its “Rofaqa” ini- during this year at a cost of $11mn,” the country. in the presence of a representative tiative, sponsors more than 157,200 the envoy said. Local offi cials also lauded Qa- of Qatari ambassador Rashid al- people worldwide.

AR campaign a huge hit with customers, says Ooredoo

oredoo’s recent Augmented Reality O(AR) campaign was a huge hit with customers, AR merges both real and who reacted enthusiastical- virtual worlds to create a still ly to the opportunity to ex- real, but enhanced real world. perience the new technolo- Manar Khalifa al-Mu- gy for the fi rst time in Qatar, raihki, director PR and it was announced yesterday. Corporate Communica- The telecommunications tions at Ooredoo, said of the leader launched its AR tech- campaign: “We are over the nology via the Ooredoo app in moon that our customers celebration of Qatar National reacted so positively to this Day, to off er celebratory gifts new, interactive experience to its customers through AR- during such a special occa- compatible advertisements sion as Qatar National Day, both around town and on all and delighted that so many social media platforms. of them embraced it imme- In just a few days, hundreds diately. We are always proud of thousands of customers to stay at the forefront of scanned the advertisements telecommunications tech- and redeemed a variety of gifts nology, making sure our through the app, the company customers get to experience said in a statement. and use it fi rst, and we look AR has allowed Ooredoo forward to continuing to do to provide a new, interactive so in this highly technologi- way for customers to engage cally advanced era.” with its products and serv- Ooredoo customers can ices. AR aff ords the ability to expect to see many more enrich what customers see, such campaigns in the near hear and feel on the Ooredoo future as the telecom leader app by adding digital media continues to use advanced elements such as computer- technology such as AR to generated 3D animation to enhance customer experi- real-world elements. ences, the statement added. BMW X5 model of 2018 recalled The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with Alfardan Automobiles, has announced the recall of BMW X5 model of 2018 because of the weak insulation rubber at the bottom of the car due to natural factors. The recall campaign comes within the framework of eff orts to protect consumers and to ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs, the ministry said. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 5 QATAR Doha readies to Promotions galore at LuLu Hypermarket outlets host conference uLu Hypermarket outlets have launched an innova- Ltive ‘Win 1,500 Free Trol- leys with LuLu’ promotion, it was announced yesterday. Customers shopping at the on healthcare supermarket outlets will have an opportunity to win the full trolley of items totally free. The entirely computer- controlled promotion gener- ates winners every day and will improvement run until January 4, 2019, at all LuLu Hypermarkets. he next Middle East Fo- Also, the LuLu Winter Sale rum on Quality and Safety has begun at LuLu outlets Tin Healthcare, themed and will continue until Janu- ‘Patient Safety First’, will be ary 11, 2019. Prices have been held from March 22-24, 2019, in slashed by up to 50% on gar- Doha, the Hamad Medical Cor- ments, including menswear, poration (HMC) announced. children’s wear, ladies’ wear, Winners of the ‘Win 1,500 Free Trolleys with LuLu’ promotion receive their prizes. This will be the seventh year saris, churidar, churidar ma- in a row that the premier qual- terials, footwear, toys and la- ity improvement conference for dies’ bags. healthcare professionals in the Almost all leading world- Arab world is being held in col- Nasser al-Naimi Dr Abdullatif al-Khal class brands like Hush Pup- laboration with the Institute for pies, Crocs, Reebok, Skechers, Healthcare Improvement (IHI). to develop measurable and sus- opportunity to learn and col- Woodlands, Louis Philippe, IHI is an independent not- tainable highly safe clinical care laborate on a large scale. Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Arrow, for-profi t organisation working environments at both inpatient More than 50 lectures and Wrangler, Killer and Lee, Tom with healthcare professionals and outpatient levels,” Dr Ab- workshop sessions will be de- Smith, Eten, John Louis, Arez- and healthcare systems to pro- dullatif al-Khal, deputy chief livered by local and leading in- zo, De Backers, Marco Donateli, mote quality and patient safety medical offi cer and a co-chair of ternational experts with many Cortigani, Sero, Oxemberg, enhancement eff orts using the the forum, said. years of experience in applying Francajel, Josef Seibel, and Sap- latest and best models for im- “With this forum, we wanted the model for improvement. atoterapia, among others are provement. to shine a spotlight on the im- The forum will include ple- included in the sale promotion. The HMC noted that the an- portance of focusing on patient naries by renowned quality and Many other promotions in nual forum has become a widely safety and acknowledging that safety experts addressing the other sections are also avail- recognised and highly sought despite good intentions, patient latest innovations in the fi eld. able. after platform for healthcare im- harm can occur as we try to de- Organisers said those who have Similar to last year, LuLu has provement learning and knowl- liver care,” he added. attended previous forums and launched ‘Toy Carnival’, which edge exchange, with the active “The forum will cover key ar- those who are attending for the will run until January 5, 2019. participation of renowned im- eas such as patient safety; qual- fi rst time will fi nd the conference Customers who buy toys and provement science experts from ity improvement; population very interesting and engaging. bicycles worth QR150 will get a worth QR25,000’ promotion. Those who buy any of the By launching worthy promo- around the world. health; workplace eff ectiveness; “The educational confer- gift voucher worth QR50. The promotion will identify participating brands of choco- tions, the management of LuLu “While healthcare organisa- and value, and fl ow and access,” ence is now in its seventh year Leading suppliers like P&G 12 winners in a mega raffl e draw, lates worth QR50 will get a stores said it strongly believes tions across the globe have made Dr al-Khal said. and each year we build upon the and Nestle, among others, have which is scheduled for January chance to participate in the e- such off ers are benefi cial to the great strides in gaining a better Under each of the fi ve areas, a strengths and successes from also come up with lucrative of- 31, 2019, at LuLu Hypermarket raffl e draw scheduled on Janu- shoppers and it will also pro- understanding of the science of series of sessions and tracks ad- previous years,” said deputy fers on their products. D-Ring Road Branch. ary 14, 2019. vide an exciting shopping ex- improvement, including patient dressing their diff erent aspects chief quality offi cer Nasser al- P&G, in co-ordination with Nestle has organised a pro- The winners will be entitled perience. safety enhancements, there is will take place. Naimi, who is also the director LuLu outlets, has launched the motion with LuLu on leading to a total of eight ounces of gold Customers also benefi t more still a signifi cant amount of work The forum provides doctors, of Hamad Healthcare Quality ‘Buy P&G Product worth QR25 chocolate brands like Kitkat, coins. by adding another savings if that healthcare professionals nurses, allied health profession- Institute, and the Middle East and get a chance to win 2 Toyota Milkybar, Smarties, Lion, and The promotion will run until they opt to do their purchase on and healthcare systems must do als, and students with a unique forum co-chair. Rush cars and LuLu Gift cards Aero, among others. January 5, 2019. LuLu-Doha Bank credit card. Gulf Times 6 Monday, December 24, 2018 QATAR KidZania Doha launches its mobile unit ‘KidZania Go’

“KidZania Go” will be installed at diff erent iconic spots in Qatar such as KidZania Doha’s mobile unit gives children a chance to role-play activities. Souq Waqif.

idZania Doha, prior to its with the chance to do role-play at diff erent iconic spots in Qatar, which is expected to open its team work, honesty, integrity and offi cial opening in 2019, activities through several excit- such as Souq Waqif and Aspire doors in 2019, will be located giving back to society. Kis introducing its mobile ing tasks free of charge, accord- Park. at Aspire Zone. It will provide a KidZania is the world’s fast- themed unit, “KidZania Go,” de- ing to a statement issued yester- “KidZania Go” series of activa- unique educational and enter- est growing family entertainment signed to complement children’s day. tions are carried out by KidZania tainment experience, offering 42 brand, with KidZania Doha ex- out-of-classroom activities by These include TV Station, Ra- Doha supervisors, who know how establishments where children pecting to welcome over 300,000 promoting values and developing dio Station, toddler’s area, and to handle a child in diff erent situ- aged between four and 14 can visitors year-on-year. their creative skills. 360 VR tour where children can ations and have undergone inten- role play ‘adult jobs’ in up to 60 The establishment can accom- Such unique educational and experience KidZania Doha as if sive and extensive training to con- pretend roles. modate up to 1,000 children with entertainment concept serves as they are in the city. duct various activities. Children will also learn a variety approximately 250 employees at a platform that provides children The mobile unit will be installed The 5,500sq m KidZania Doha, of values, including self-reliance, any one time.

Vegetable prices drop as supplies fl ood market

he prices of al- than doubling compared to most all varieties of the previous weeks due to a Tfresh vegetables at sharp fall in supply of both the central market at Abu local and imported varie- Hamour area have dropped ties. A nearly 5kg box of lo- considerably recently, local cally produced tomatoes, Arabic daily Arrayah re- that used to sell for around ported yesterday. QR25 a few weeks ago, was The main reason for sold for up to QR50 or more such a drop in prices is recently. the supply of substantial A number of consumers quantities of locally-pro- stressed that Qatari farms duced vegetables at the should be encouraged and market, traders told. given more support to in- For instance 6kg boxes of crease production of their eggplants are sold for QR8, quality products as this cucumber QR12, zucchini refl ects positively on the QR10, sweet pepper QR18, overall market. okra QR15 and a 7kg box of Prices of vegetables of- mushroom is for QR20. ten vary day by day based Tomatoes were the only on the supply and de- exception with prices more mand, the paper added.

QND celebration venues cleaned in record time ll the venues of Na- tional Day celebra- Ations, especially Doha Corniche, Darb Al Saai and public parks, were cleaned in a record time of within four hours, said Sa- far Mubarak al-Shafi , di- rector of Public Cleaning Safar Mubarak al-Shafi Department at the Min- istry of Municipality and proper co-ordination,” he Environment (MME). explained. All the necessary equip- The cleaning work ment and work teams were started after the conclu- adequately supplied by sion of the National Day way of special programmes celebrations and contin- and plans put in place es- ued until the early hours of pecially for the occasion. Wednesday with around “Though the work in- 720 staff members includ- volved some challenges ing workers, drivers, and such as the crowd and supervisors, in addition to traffi c delays, everything 40 specialised equipment, was accomplished with and 62 vehicles.

Indian embassy Community House to be held on Dec 27

The Indian embassy will hold the monthly Community House on December 27 between 3pm and 4pm, it was announced yesterday. The Indian ambassador and other embassy off icials will listen to/redress urgent labour and consular issues of the Indian nationals in Qatar. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 7 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD QIB’s Industrial Area Tamuq conducts educational branch relocates to ‘Barwa Commercial Avenue’ activities to mark National Day

atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has announced the relocation of its In- exas A&M University at dustrial Area branch to a new location at Barwa Commercial Qatar (Tamuq) partici- QAvenue. Tpated in Qatar National The new location was chosen for its proximity to a wide range of Day celebrations this year by governmental, private, and retail institutions. hosting educational activities at The branch will serve customers from Sunday to Thursday from Qatar Foundation’s tent at Darb 7.30am to 1pm. The new branch incorporates QIB’s design philosophy, Al Saai. which is being implemented in all key branches. “Tamuq hosted four engaging The design melds together a palette of natural tones for a modern and interactive activities show- interpretation of the traditional Islamic values of purity, simplicity, casing engineering and tech- and transparency. Additionally, the branch is equipped with 24/7 ATM nology for thousands of school and cash and cheque deposit machine, allowing customers to perform children and other visitors from the majority of their daily banking needs at their own convenience. December 12 to 20,” according to QIB Personal Banking Group general manager D Anand said, “We a statement yesterday. are delighted to welcome customers into our newest home at Barwa One such activity included Commercial Avenue. The new branch is a signifi cant addition to our teaching visitors, paper folding physical network as it sits at a strategic location that is densely popu- techniques and then letting them lated.” In keeping with QIB’s customer-centric approach, the branch build bridges with those skills. will off er customers a full range of QIB products and services to meet Students in the Qatari Student both every day and specialised fi nancial needs. Association at Tamuq served as Customers can open bank accounts, apply for a suite of fi nancing offi cial volunteers and even more products and credit cards, and receive expert and personalised advice faculty, staff and students vol- about Takaful services and other Islamic banking services. unteered to greet visitors and to encourage children to play. “Par- ticipating again at QF’s tent is an opportunity to demonstrate how Texas A&M at Qatar is working to help Qatar achieve its vision while also having a positive im- pact in the wider community. “Tamuq’s involvement at Darb Al Saai featured various activi- ties designed to honour Qatar National Day and promote local culture, preserve Qatar’s rich tra- ditions and demonstrate national QIB’s new Industrial Area Branch along Barwa Commercial Avenue. pride,” the statement added. Tamuq’s interactive activities engaged thousands of visitors at Qatar Foundation’s tent at Darb Al Saai. UN team in Hodeidah to monitor ceasefi re

Agencies UN

he head of the United Nations team tasked Twith monitoring a frag- ile ceasefi re arrived in Yemen’s embattled port city of Hodeidah yesterday, a UN source said. Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert is heading a joint committee including mem- bers of the government and the Houthi rebels, in charge of mon- itoring a truce in the vital Red Sea city and its surroundings. Cammaert arrived in Hodei- dah from the rebel-held capital Sanaa after meeting with gov- ernment offi cials in Aden. He is expected today to tour Hodeidah’s lifeline port, which serves as the entry point for the majority of imports to war-torn Yemen, before starting meetings with the committee on Wednes- day. Yemen’s warring sides agreed on a ceasefi re to halt a devas- tating off ensive by government forces and an allied Saudi-led coalition against rebel-held Ho- deidah at peace talks in Sweden Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert (centre), who heads a United Nations team tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between the Houthi group and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen’s Hodeidah, greets this month. off icials upon his arrival in the capital Sanaa, yesterday. Right: People load the wing of a drone the Houthis say they brought down near the northwestern city of Saada, yesterday. The UN Security Council unanimously approved a reso- urged Yemeni leaders and the Sanaa. tion that intervened in 2015 and tense diplomatic eff orts led by city. The text approved by the Around 10,000 people have lution authorising the deploy- Saudi-led coalition to uphold Both the government and the imposed a blockade on Yemeni the UN which culminated in the Security Council “insists on the been killed since the Saudi-led ment of observers to Hodeidah the ceasefi re at talks in Aden on rebels have backed Friday’s UN waters and airports. truce agreed at the peace talks full respect by all parties of the intervention began, according to monitor the truce that came Saturday. resolution to deploy observers to The internationally-rec- in Sweden. The ceasefi re has ceasefi re agreed” for Hodeidah. to the World Health Organisa- into eff ect on Tuesday. Cammaert also sought gov- Hodeidah. ognised government, in turn, remained shaky, however, with It authorises the United Na- tion, although rights groups say In Sanaa, Cammaert was met ernment loyalists’ “commit- Rebel negotiator Mohamed reaffi rmed in a statement its both sides accusing each other of tions to “establish and deploy, the death toll could be fi ve times by the head of the Houthi del- ment and co-operation to secure Abdelsalam said it marked “an “commitment (to respect) the violations in Hodeidah province. for an initial period of 30 days higher. egation, Ali al-Mushki, as he ar- the unhindered fl ow of humani- important step towards stop- agreement” reached in Sweden The UN monitoring team aims from the adoption of this reso- The confl ict has unleashed a rived there earlier on Sunday. tarian aid”, the UN said, adding ping the aggression and lifting and endorsed by the UN resolu- to secure the functioning of Ho- lution, an advance team to begin major humanitarian crisis and The visit to the rebel bastion that he was conveying “simi- the blockade”. He was referring tion. The halt to fi ghting in the deidah port and supervise the monitoring” the ceasefi re, under pushed 14mn Yemenis to the came after the UN lead monitor lar messages” to the Houthis in to the Saudi-led military coali- strategic port city follows in- withdrawal of fi ghters from the Cammaert’s leadership. brink of famine.

Turkey bolsters military on Syrian Macron says ‘an ally Arab League border as US readies pullout must be reliable’ slams blasts AFP has said it will maintain its QNA Reuters military and diplomatic co-or- would enter the town if the crossed into Syria via the dis- N’Djamena participation in the coalition Cairo Istanbul dination to prevent an authority United States does not remove trict of Elbeyli situated some fi ghting IS in Syria. vacuum from developing as the the Kurdish militants. 45km northwest of Manbij, “To be an ally is to fi ght shoul- United States withdraws. The YPG has been a main US Demiroren News Agency (DHA) rench President Em- der to shoulder,” Macron said he Arab League con- urkey began reinforc- Earlier in the day, footage ally in the fi ght against Islamic reported. manuel Macron yester- in Chad’s capital N’Djamena demned the two terrorist ing its positions on both from broadcaster TRT World State. Ankara says the militia Reuters could not independ- Fday criticised US Presi- with his Chadian counterpart Tbombings on Saturday in Tsides of its border with showed some Turkish convoys is a terrorist organisation and ently verify the reason for the dent Donald Trump’s decision Idriss Deby, adding that France the vicinity of the presiden- Syria yesterday, a Reuters wit- entering Syria via the Turk- an extension of the Kurdistan reinforcements and Turkish to withdraw American forces was doing just that in the fi ght tial palace in the Somali capital ness said, as Ankara and Wash- ish border town of Karkamis, Workers Party (PKK), which has offi cials were not immediately from Syria, saying “an ally against jihadist groups in Chad. Mogadishu, killing and injuring ington agreed to co-ordinate a which is located some 35km waged an insurgency in Turkey available for comment. must be reliable”. The US troop pullout in Syria dozens of security personnel and US withdrawal from Syria. north of the northern Syrian since the 1980s. Turkey, with support from In a sign of the growing dip- will leave thousands of Kurd- civilians. The heightened military town of Manbij. A Reuters witness saw hun- the FSA, carried out two cross- lomatic rift between the two ish fi ghters in northern Syria — In a statement yesterday, activity comes two days af- The convoys are cross- dreds of vehicles head to the border operations in north- leaders, Macron said “I deeply which the Pentagon spent years the Arab League affi rmed its ter President Tayyip Erdogan ing into an area controlled by southern border province of ern Syria, dubbed “Euphrates regret the decision” by Trump training and arming against IS full solidarity with the Somali said Turkey would postpone the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a Kilis after leaving Hatay, an- Shield” and “Olive Branch”, to pullout US troops. Trump — vulnerable to Turkish attack. leadership and its people in its a planned military operation Turkish ally, and are heading to other border province, around against the YPG and Islamic last week ordered a complete Turkey, which fears the sepa- war against terrorism and in on Kurdish YPG militia east of the frontlines of Manbij, TRT 0030 GMT yesterday, as citi- State. troop pullout from Syria, as- ratist ambitions of Kurds in its all measures taken to consoli- the Euphrates river in northern World said. zens sounded their horns to The military off ensives were serting that the Islamic State own country, has threatened to date security and stability in the Syria following the US decision Manbij has been a major celebrate. focused on areas to the west of group had been defeated, as launch another off ensive against country. to pull out. fl ashpoint between Ankara and The convoy included tanks, the Euphrates and Turkey has well as a signifi cant withdraw- Kurdish groups in Syria that An- It expressed its readiness to He also said Turkey would Washington. howitzers, machine guns and not gone east of the river, partly al from Afghanistan. kara accuse of being “terrorists”. continue its support for the ef- take over the fi ght against Is- In June, the Nato allies buses carrying commandos, the to avoid direct confrontation Analysts said the momen- On Saturday, a senior Kurdish forts of the Somali government lamic State militants. reached an agreement that witness said. with US forces. tous reversal of years of US offi cial called on the US to pre- to rebuild its military and se- The Turkish presidency said would see the YPG ousted from Part of the military equip- The operations carved out de foreign policy will leave the vent a potential Turkish off en- curity institutions, and to root Erdogan and US President the town but Turkey has com- ment and personnel are to facto buff er zones, which are war-torn regions at risk of sive, calling it America’s “duty out the threat posed by terrorist Donald Trump in a phone call plained the roadmap has been be positioned in posts along currently under the control of continued and potentially to prevent any attack and to put groups to the security and sta- yesterday agreed to establish delayed and said Turkish forces the border while some had Turkey and the FSA. Page 8 heightened bloodshed. France an end to Turkish threats”. bility of the country. Gulf Times 8 Monday, December 24, 2018 ARAB WORLD

Hamas rejects Hundreds take to Beirut plan to dissolve streets over corruption parliament AFP AFP Beirut Gaza City

undreds of Lebanese amas yesterday de- took to the streets nounced Palestinian Hyesterday in Beirut to HPresident Mahmoud Ab- protest rampant corruption bas’ plan to dissolve the largely and poor living conditions, defunct Palestinian parliament as anger mounts over politi- that it controls. cal deadlock that has left the Abbas said Saturday he in- country without a government tended to dissolve the Palestin- since May. ian Legislative Council after a People marched to the prime court decision that ordered the minister’s office in central move and elections to be held Beirut to demonstrate against within six months. Lebanon’s fractious political The ruling was made by the class, widespread graft and Palestinian Constitutional failing public services. Court in Ramallah, and Hamas Some protesters sported the said in a statement it rejected iconic yellow vests worn by the decision by a court created anti-government protesters by Abbas “to legitimise his arbi- in France, adorned with a ce- trary decisions”. dar tree — Lebanon’s national “Abbas should have extended symbol. “There is corrup- his hands to (Hamas leader Is- tion and theft of state funds,” mail) Haniya’s invitation to hold 43-year-old Hana said. a joint meeting, thereby ending “We are governed by a po- the Palestinian division,” the litical class of corrupt thieves statement said. who rule with sectarian fanat- It called on Egypt, which has icism,” she said. been seeking to reconcile Hamas Parliamentary polls in May and Abbas’ Fatah, to block the gave Saad Hariri a new term measure. as prime minister, but seven Though the parliament has months on, debate still drags not met since 2007, when Hamas on over ministerial portfolios. seized control of the Gaza Strip, Demonstrators demanded Palestinian law allows for its what they called their “most speaker to act as interim presi- basic rights”, including a re- dent should 83-year-old Abbas introduction of housing loans die in offi ce. stalled for nearly a year and Hamas won the last parlia- more access to healthcare, wa- Anti-government protesters inspired by the French movement “Yellow Vests” hold Lebanese flags and chant slogans in front of the government building, in central Beirut, yesterday. mentary elections in 2006 in a ter and electricity. landslide, resulting in an elec- They were met by security Dozens also demonstrated The protests came after Communist Party last Sunday. France warned this month aid programme agreed in Paris toral dispute with Fatah. forces who erected a cordon in in the northern city of Tripoli hundreds took part in dem- Lebanon’s economy is on that the country could soon earlier this year if the political A range of issues have kept the the city centre. and in Nabatiyeh in the south. onstrations led by Lebanon’s the brink of collapse and miss out on a much-needed deadlock continues. two sides apart.

CONFLICT Erdogan slams ‘oppressor’ Fresh bread price Netanyahu Libya’s UN-backed government Turkish President Recep Tayyip protests hit two cities Erdogan yesterday lambasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an “oppressor” head, Italy PM hold meeting AFP Sudan since Wednesday after after he accused Turkey of Khartoum the government hiked the price “massacres” against Kurds in of a loaf of bread from one Su- a new war of words. Netan- DPA to people-smuggling from the danese pound to three (from yahu hit back in a speech later, Tripoli Libyan coast across the Mediter- resh protests against about two to six US cents). calling Erdogan as obsessed ranean, hosted a two-day con- bread price hikes in Su- Clashes with riot police with Israel.” Relations between ference in an eff ort to reconcile Fdan hit two cities yes- killed at least eight people – two Turkey and Israel have been he head of Libya’s UN- Libya’s rival factions. terday, as riot police ensured in Atbara and six in Al-Qadarif tense this year over multiple backed Government of Na- Libya, an oil-rich nation, has an uneasy calm in the capital to the southeast of the capital, issues including a controversial Ttional Accord (GNA), Fayez been in turmoil since the Nato- Khartoum fi ve days into dem- according to offi cial fi gures. law passed by the Israeli parlia- al-Serraj, yesterday met visiting backed ouster of its long-time onstrations that have claimed A higher death toll of 22 has ment in July which defined the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe autocrat, Muammar Gaddafi , in at least eight lives. been given by Sudan’s main country as the nation state of Conte in Tripoli. 2011. Residents in Um Rawaba, opposition leader Sadiq al- the Jewish people. “You are The two sides had talks on the The country has at least two ri- 200 kilometres southwest of Mahdi, who blamed “armed an oppressor, cruel and at the latest developments in Libya, the val administrations: one based in Khartoum, said that some 600 repression” for the casualties. head of state terror,” Erdogan Tripoli-based government’s me- the capital Tripoli, recognised by people gathered in the market There was a tense calm in said of Netanyahu. In a dia offi ce said. the United Nations, and another chanting slogans. the streets of Khartoum yes- televised speech in Istanbul, Serraj briefed Conte on eco- in the eastern city of Tobruk. Protesters burnt tyres and terday as schools and univer- the president also accused nomic and security reform meas- There are also dozens of clash- branches in the streets and sities were shuttered and riot Israel of “occupying Palestine” ures taken by his government, the ing militia groups vying for power attempted to storm a govern- police equipped with batons as well as committing “sins, statement added, while Conte and state wealth. General Khalifa ment building before being and tear gas guarded buildings. crimes against human- reiterated Italy’s support for the Haftar, whose self-styled Libyan rebuff ed by security offi cials, “We were asked to leave this ity, massacres”. The latest GNA, national reconciliation and National Army (LNA) controls witnesses said. In Atabara, 300 morning,” said a university stu- diplomatic row began after economic reforms in the North eastern Libya, is allied with the kilometres northeast of the dent from northern Khartoum. Erdogan warned young Turks African country. eastern-based government and capital, riot police and plain- Frustrated Sudanese queued on Saturday: “Do not kick In November, Italy, the former its parliament. clothed operatives deployed outside bakeries in the city, the enemy you have brought colonial power which has large The Italian premier is also ex- Prime Minister of Libya Fayez al-Serraj meets his Italian tear gas against hundreds of where vendors were refusing down to the ground. You are oil and gas interests in Libya and pected to meet with Haftar who is counterpart, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the headquarters protesters, a witness said. to sell more than 20 loaves of not a Jew in Israel.” has been seeking to bring an end based in Benghazi. of the prime minister in Tripoli. A wave of unrest has rocked bread per person. In areas backed by Turkey, many welcome US withdrawal

AFP nist in Syria’s multi-fronted now control less than 10% of the sponsored operation in 2016 in Azaz, Syria confl ict. For pharmacist Omar country’s territory. Jarabulus and Al-Bab. Kazila, also 20, territory under For Ahmad Faruh, a resident Turkish President Recep Ankara’s control will increase of Azaz, the American with- Tayyip Erdogan vowed this week esidents and fi ghters in signifi cantly “if Turkey seizes drawal risks being exploited by to eliminate both IS and Kurd- territory held by pro- these regions and replaces the IS, allowing it to stage a come- ish militias in northern Syria, on RTurkish rebels in north- American forces”. back in Syria. Friday saying an off ensive would ern Syria cautiously welcomed Not everyone in the Turkish- The extremist group has seen start in the coming months. Washington’s decision to pull backed rebel zone sees the US its territory shrink to a few pock- Sporadic clashes have erupt- out troops, viewing it as a chance withdrawal as an unadulterated ets, its once vast self-declared ed on frontlines separating the to push further into Kurdish ter- positive. “caliphate” squeezed by sepa- Turkish-backed rebels and the ritory. Some residents believe the rate off ensives by the Washing- SDF north of Aleppo. “The withdrawal is positive”, void left by the planned US de- ton-backed Kurds and Syria’s On Saturday, an AFP corre- said Mustafa Hamush, a resi- parture could see Syria’s mili- Moscow-aligned regime. “The spondent saw a cloud of smoke dent of Azaz, a city at the heart tary reclaim yet more ground, US withdrawal and the absence rising near the village of Ka- of a Turkish zone of infl uence in rather than the Turks extend- of coalition planes could rein- ljabrin after an exchange of fi re Syria’s bewilderingly complex ing their own sphere of influ- force IS and (enable it) to control between the two camps. civil war. ence. new regions,” the 20-year-old For Raad Najjar, another Al- “When the US withdraws its Kurdish authorities could student cautioned. Jabha al-Shamiya fighter, “the forces, the Kurdish authorities mend fences with Damascus, On the frontline, these fears of US withdrawal will be in our will automatically be weakened,” joining forces to better protect a militant resurgence are shared favour because we wanted to said the 20-year-old fashion de- themselves against a possible by some Turkish-backed fi ght- lead an operation against the signer, adding that Turkey and off ensive by Ankara, with the ers. Kurds, but we couldn’t do it” its Syrian rebel allies could seize Kurds maintaining a degree of But the forces on the ground while American troops were Kurdish-held regions east of the autonomy. are up to the challenge, asserted present. Euphrates River. A Turkish-backed Syrian fighter holds a position in the village of Tal Malid, about 12 kilometres east of The Syrian regime has re- Mahmud Abu Abdullah, a fi ghter His brother in arms, 24-year- Even before US President the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) held Tal Rifaat, in the north of Aleppo province. gained signifi cant ground since with rebel group Al-Jabha al- old Ibrahim Nehme, agreed. Donald Trump shocked allies Russia intervened on its side in Shamiya. Hopefully “the factions will by announcing the pullout on Early this year, Ankara dis- hold in a US-backed federation ers in an anti-militant coali- 2015. He said the Ankara-backed wage a war against Minbej, Wednesday, Turkey had already lodged the Kurdish-dominated that accounts for around 30% of tion have supported the Kurds Opposition groups — includ- rebel factions in Syria are ready Raqqa and all the regions” cur- upped its threats of a new off en- Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Syria’s territory. as a bulwark against the Islamic ing Turkish-backed forces and to take the fi ght to IS again, as rently under the control of Kurd- sive against Syria’s Kurds. from Afrin, seizing a key strong- Washington and other pow- State group — another protago- a former branch of Al Qaeda — they did in a major Turkish- ish forces. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 9 AFRICA Zimbabwe’s economic crisis wipes out Christmas cheer

AFP Instead, shortages of bread, rambe said that for the fi rst time such as Coca-Cola and the local lurched into fresh economic nounced a 2% tax on all elec- Doctors at state hospitals Chinamhora, Zimbabwe cooking oil and fuel have wors- in many years she could not buy Mazoe juice have also become trouble after July that failed to tronic transactions to increase have been on strike for the past ened in recent months, ban- her two daughters new clothes hard to fi nd. encourage foreign investors or to revenue. three weeks demanding sala- knotes become even scarcer and for Christmas day. “I haven’t seen Coca-Cola in unleash a fl ood of aid. Zimbabweans rely on elec- ries in US dollars while a group t Solomon Chakauya’s shop shelves have often been left “I don’t consider it Christmas the last two months,” Chingara- “The challenges have damp- tronic payments in US dol- of teachers completed a 200km grocery store in Zimba- bare. at all,” said Chingarambe whose mbe said. ened the festive mood,” Prosper lars, which are in short sup- walk from the eastern city of Abwe’s Chinamhora dis- “In previous years, people husband works part-time as a Zimbabwe’s economy has Chitambara, economist at the ply and function as the main Mutare to Harare to demand trict outside Harare, there’s no would stream in to buy things labourer tilling fi elds. been in dire straits since hyper- think-tank Labour and Eco- currency. better pay. sign of the seasonal Christmas like rice, oil, biscuits, sweets, “There is no bread in the infl ation wiped out savings be- nomic Research Institute, told The local “bond note” cur- At the ruling ZANU-PF party rush that he needs to keep his soup powder and drinks. It was shops. We can’t aff ord fl our and tween 2007 and 2009 and the AFP. rency is little trusted. last week, Mnangagwa admit- business afl oat. so busy I would be on my feet groceries we usually buy for Zimbabwean dollar was aban- “It does not look like there Many shops and pharmacies ted the economy “was charac- Even in the country’s tough- all day,” Chakauya, 29, told Christmas.” doned. is going to be an immediate have closed down in the capital, terised by fuel shortages, high est times, sales rocketed in the AFP. Shortages have fuelled a fero- Under Mugabe, farms were end to the queues and short- Harare. cost of drugs, medicines (and) days before Christmas, but this “Things are tough and most cious climb in prices and long seized, agriculture collapsed and ages. Next year, there is going Those still operating charge wide range of basic commodi- year few people are able to buy people have no money.” queues. investors fl ed as the country be- to be lots of pressure on the much more when customers pay ties.” anything. But over this holiday season, In Chinamhora, a litre of came internationally isolated. government to increase sala- electronically or in bond notes He offered little immediate It is a far cry from the revived Chakauya has sometimes had cooking oil was around $3.50 in Mugabe’s fall last year saw ries which will put pressure on than in US dollars. relief, instead blaming “glut- economy that President Emmer- only four customers a day, leav- early September and is now sell- Mnangagwa - his former depu- expenditure.” In one shop, a bottle of para- tonous” businesses for price son Mnangagwa promised more ing him to kill time sitting in the ing for $10. ty - claim that he represented a The latest downturn erupted cetamol syrup is $3 in cash, $15 in rises that “resulted in untold than a year ago when he took over shade in front of his store. Infl ation is offi cially 20%. fresh start. two months ago when Finance bond notes - and $17 when using suffering to the majority of our from the ousted Robert Mugabe. Local villager Emilda Chinga- Once ubiquitous soft drinks But the country has only Minister Mthuli Ncube an- a bank card. people.” Death toll UN hopes Congolese can from Somali bombings ‘freely’ vote after delay AFP United Nations rises to 20 he United Nations Se- curity Council yesterday AFP The fi rst explosion hap- Tsaid it hoped a week-long Mogadishu pened at a checkpoint outside delay in DR Congo’s election the national theatre, some will allow Congolese “to express 500m from the palace on Sat- themselves freely” during the he death toll from a urday morning. ballot. double car-bomb attack The second blast, more Presidential, legislative and Tnear the presidential powerful according to wit- provincial elections had been palace in Somalia rose to 20 nesses, came minutes later at a scheduled for Sunday in the vast, yesterday, police said. nearby crossroads. volatile African country, defus- Police on Saturday had Mohamed Abdullahi, a ing a two-year crisis over the fu- said seven people were killed senior local offi cial who was ture of President Joseph Kabila. following the two blasts slightly wounded in the fi rst But on Thursday the In- in Mogadishu, which were blast, said members of his se- dependent National Election claimed by the Shebaab mili- curity team were among the Commission (CENI) ordered the tant group. dead. postponement, saying a ware- “The number of victims “Seven of my security es- house fi re had destroyed voting who were killed in the blasts cort and a driver were among materials. increased to 20 and more than those killed in the blast, but “The members of the Security 40 others have been wound- such attacks will encourage Council expressed their hope Congolese attend a prayer session at a church in Kinshasa yesterday, seven days ahead of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s ed,” said a Somali police offi - our eff orts to redouble the war that this delay will permit the delayed elections. cial, Ibrahim Mohamed. against terrorists”, he said in a creation of favourable condi- He said the toll had risen af- statement. tions for the Congolese people “to provide support if request- French, it has four indigenous active in Kivu - divided into Organisation (WHO) said last ter some of those wounded on A Shebaab statement on to express themselves freely” on ed.” national and 200 vernacular North and South provinces - month. Saturday died in hospital. Saturday said the group’s December 30, the 15-member Kinshasa has several times languages, hampering the forg- which continues to suff er mas- Last year, the country had Both civilians and members “martyrdom operation” had Council said in a statement. said it wants to organise the ing of a national identity since sacres, widespread rape and 55,000 cases of cholera, result- from the security forces were targeted “a security check- It also “called on all parties to elections without fi nancial aid independence in 1960. other atrocities. ing in 1,190 fatalities. among the casualties, the of- point that used to protect the engage peacefully and construc- or logistical support from the Regional war Central Kasai province is an- Cobalt, copper, coltan fi cial said. presidential palace.” tively in the electoral process,” European Union or the UN. The fi rst democratically elect- other violence hotspot, with The DRC has the potential Somalia’s London-based The group was largely driven to ensure “a transfer of power in Africa’s second largest coun- ed prime minister, independence around 3,000 people killed in to be one of Africa’s wealthiest Universal TV said on Satur- out of the capital in 2011 and accordance with the Congolese try is rich in raw materials and hero Patrice Lumumba, was as- less than a year of unrest that countries “if it can overcome its day that three of its staff were has lost many of its strong- Constitution and the 31 Decem- minerals but cursed by deadly sassinated in 1961. erupted after soldiers killed a political instability,” the World among the fatalities, naming holds. ber 2016 Agreement.” violence, insurgencies, graft and Army strongman Mobutu Sese tribal chief in 2016. Bank says. one as Somali and British dual But it retains control of large Kabila, 47, was due to step poverty. Seko grabbed power in a coup in Disease and rape It is the world’s leading pro- national Awil Dahir. rural swathes of the country down at the end of 2016 after Here are some facts about the 1965, imposed the name Zaire Aid agencies have accused all ducer of cobalt, a key ingredient Somali President Mohamed and continues to wage a guer- reaching the end of his consti- country. and set up a dictatorial kleptoc- sides in DRC confl icts of using in top-range batteries including Abdullahi Mohamed con- rilla war against the authori- tutionally-limited two terms in Vast country racy that lasted 32 years. rape as a weapon of war to ter- for smartphones and electric demned the “cowardly at- ties. offi ce. But he stayed on, invoking Eighty times the size of its Rebel Laurent-Desire Kabila rorise local populations. cars, and a top supplier of coltan, tacks”. The group has vowed to top- a caretaker clause in the consti- former colonial master Belgium, launched an armed campaign to South Kivu-based gynae- another mineral used for elec- “We will continue defeating ple the internationally-backed tution. the DRC covers 2.3mn sq km in overthrow Mobutu that drew in cologist Denis Mukwege won tronic products. terrorists in order to lead the government. Elections were postponed the middle of Africa, behind only neighbouring countries. the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for It is also Africa’s top producer Somali people to stability and The worst carnage to date in until the end of 2017 under a Algeria in area on the continent. He seized power in 1997, re- his work with women who have of copper and sits on hydrocar- prosperity,” he said in a state- Somalia occurred on October deal brokered by the powerful The majority of its population naming the country after the been victims of sexual abuse. bons, tropical timber, gold, dia- ment. 14 last year when 512 people Catholic church - and then again of 81.3mn people (World Bank, mighty Congo river. The country also suff ers from monds and other minerals. Prime Minister Hassan Ali were killed in Hodan, a busy until 2018, when Kabila eventu- 2017) is Catholic. Kabila expelled the forces of Ebola, the haemorrhagic fever But competition for the Khaire visited the wounded in commercial district in the ally confi rmed he would not run As well as having access to his Rwandan and Ugandan allies, named after a river in the north wealth has bred confl ict, graft, hospital. capital. again. the Atlantic Ocean it shares its sparking a confl ict in the Kivu of the country, and cholera. smuggling and mismanagement. The delay sparked protests borders with nine other coun- border region in which several Af- Its tenth outbreak of Ebola It is ranked 176 out of 188 for that were bloodily suppressed tries: Angola, Burundi, Central rican countries became involved. since 1976 was declared on Au- its human development (UN Hu- and sparked an outcry from African Republic, Congo-Braz- The 1998-2003 confl ict gust 1 and has claimed at least 285 man Development Programme) Western nations and the UN. zaville, Rwanda, South Sudan, caused millions of deaths from lives, according to a health minis- and 161 out of 180 for corruption In its statement, the Security Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. violence, disease and starvation, try update in early December. (Transparency International). Burundi opposes Council reiterated the readiness It is a nation plagued by con- called by some Africa’s “Great A cholera epidemic has In 2017 its economy grew of MONUSCO, the UN peace- fl ict and disunity. War”. claimed 857 lives since the start 3.7%, according to the World Somali pullout plan keeping mission in DR Congo, While the offi cial language is Many militia groups remain of the year, the World Health Bank.

AFP baab militants blamed for Nairobi scores of bloody attacks. The African Union request, made through a diplomatic Macron meets French troops in Chad he Burundi army yes- document called a note ver- terday said it opposed a bale, came amid recent tension Trequest by the African between Burundi and the AU. DPA Union that it withdraw 1,000 The AU has called on Bu- N’Djamena, Chad soldiers serving in an African rundi - criticised abroad for peacekeeping force in Somalia its record on human rights - to by February 28. ease its hardline stance on dis- resident Emmanuel Macron yesterday met Burundi army spokesman sent and talk with its exiled with French troops in Chad, praising the suc- Colonel Floribert Biyereke said opposition. Pcess of the regional anti-terrorism mission in a statement that the mili- A key consequence of an they are conducting. tary would ask the government eventual troop drawdown is France has around 4,500 troops taking part in to argue for a proportionate fi nancial. Operation Barkhane, which is combating mili- number of troops be with- Participation in AMISOM tants in Chad, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso and drawn from each AU member is a valuable source of hard Niger. country, rather than solely Bu- currency, and the scaleback is Macron addressed some 1,000 soldiers in the capi- rundian soldiers. likely to have a big impact on tal N’Djamena, telling them to work on the establish- Burundi is the second Burundi - every quarter, the ment of a regional anti-terrorism force made up of biggest contributor to the AU pays it around $18mn. the so-called G5 countries. 21,500-strong peacekeeping That represents a major “The coming months will be decisive,” he said. force with 5,400 soldiers, be- source of foreign currency for Macron also praised the “exemplary co-operation” hind Uganda with 6,200 but Burundi, which has seen fund- between France and the United States, and with some ahead of Djibouti, Kenya and ing from the European Union of his country’s allies also active in the region - Brit- Ethiopia. suspended over human rights ain, Spain, Germany and Estonia. The African Union is gradu- issues. At an earlier meeting with Burkina Faso President ally scaling back its AMISOM Burundi soldiers also earn Roch Marc Christian Kabore in Paris, Macron reaf- force as Somalia’s nascent much less once they return fi rmed his support for the Sahel countries. armed forces are trained and from serving with AMISOM, “We will remain active alongside the Sahel nations, deployed to replace them. and an AU offi cial who asked until the victory is complete,” Macron said. AMISOM was fi rst deployed not to be named said they were Chad is engaged in fi ghts against terrorism on sev- in 2007 to support Somalia’s poorly equipped, and thus eral fronts. fragile internationally-backed logical candidates for the fi rst French President Emmanuel Macron looks on during a meeting with 400 Chad women at the Women Palace in The Boko Haram terror group is active around Lake government and fi ght Al She- phase of departures. N’Djamena yesterday. Chad, near the country’s border with Nigeria. Gulf Times 10 Monday, December 24, 2018 AMERICA President ‘asked’ Trump boots Mattis about sacking Fed chairman

term in February, replacing AFP Janet Yellen. out two months early Washington On Tuesday the president warned the Fed not to make By Martin Pengelly “yet another mistake” by rais- Guardian News & Media resident Donald Trump ing interest rates, the second has privately asked consecutive day that he had Pcabinet members if he gone after the central bank on efence Secretary Jim Mat- has the authority to fi re Fed- Twitter. tis will step down as of eral Reserve Chairman Jerome Trump has ignored the DJanuary 1, Donald Trump Powell after interest rates were US presidency’s traditional said yesterday, bringing for- increased and the stock market respect for the Fed’s inde- ward his departure by nearly two plummeted, US media report- pendence, calling the agency months. ed on Saturday. “crazy”, “out of control” and a Trump tweeted: “I am pleased CNN and Bloomberg, citing greater economic threat than to announce that our very talent- unnamed people familiar with China. ed Deputy Secretary of Defence, the matter, said that Trump In October, Trump said he Patrick Shanahan, will assume was furious when the Fed had no intention of fi ring Pow- the title of Acting Secretary of raised the key borrowing rate ell, but in November declared Defence starting 1 January 2019. on Wednesday and signalled it that he was “not even a little Patrick has a long list of accom- will continue to hike rates next bit happy” with the Fed chair- plishments while serving as Dep- year. man. uty, & previously Boeing. He will Treasury Secretary Steven It was unclear if Trump has be great!” Mnuchin, however, quoted the authority to fi re him, ac- Mattis announced his resigna- Trump as denying any plan to cording to US media. tion on Thursday, in protest at This picture taken on May 9 shows Trump with Shanahan at a cabinet remove Powell. A Fed spokesperson was the president’s decision to with- meeting at the White House in Washington. “I never suggested fi ring not immediately available for draw US troops from Syria. Chairman Jay Powell, nor do comment when contacted by He said he would leave on Feb- He is also reported to have said sudden decision to acquiesce to I believe I have the right to do AFP. ruary 28. that in foreign aff airs, Trump Turkish President Recep Tayy- so,” Trump said, according to On Saturday it became known shows the understanding of a 10- ip Erdogan, and announce the comments relayed on Twitter that the US envoy to the coalition or 11-year-old child. withdrawal from Syria, against by Mnuchin. against the Islamic State (IS), Mattis denied Woodward’s US policy and the advice of his An attempt to end Powell’s Brett McGurk, had also resigned claims. closest staff . term early would be a direct over the Syria decision. The Washington Post writer Speaking to the Guard- attack on the independence of The New York Times report- stood by his reporting. ian on Saturday, Tamara Cof- the powerful Fed, which plays ed yesterday that Trump was Trump was initially surround- man Wittes, a former deputy as- a major role in the world’s larg- enraged by media coverage of ed by generals, including now sistant secretary of state now at est economy. Mattis’s resignation, which por- outgoing chief of staff John Kelly the Brookings Institution, said: It would also likely create trayed it as a rebuke to him, and This picture taken on May 19 shows Mattis (right) and McGurk and his fi rst two national security “With adversaries, Trump’s un- havoc in the stock market. had thus determined to push him listening to questions from reporters during a Pentagon briefing in advisers, Michael Flynn, who re- derlying unpredictability and Trump’s aggressive trade out earlier than planned. Washington, DC. signed, and HR McMaster, who lack of understanding of how to policies combined with the On Saturday night, Trump was forced out. use the tools of American power strong US dollar have already wrote of the internationally- not treat American allies cor- Mattis was widely seen as a The president’s closest na- will now be exacerbated by the created fears of slowing US respected retired Marine Corps rectly – Kurdish forces in Syria voice of reason in the Trump ad- tional security aides are now lack of much in the way of ex- and global growth, and caused general: “When President Obama now threatened with being left ministration and one of few re- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo perienced and judicious foreign markets to retreat. ingloriously fi red Jim Mattis, I at the mercy of Turkey – Trump maining fi gures able to restrain and adviser John Bolton, both policy advice and implementa- On Friday Wall Street suf- gave him a second chance. Some wrote: “Allies are very important the president’s wilder impulses. more aligned with Trump’s world tion. fered its third straight rout, thought I shouldn’t, I thought I – but not when they take advan- In the veteran reporter Bob view. “So I think there’s added room ending its worst week since should. Interesting relationship tage of US.” Woodward’s bestselling book Among US allies in Europe and for the kind of misjudgment and late 2008 at the start of the – but I also gave all of the re- He also tweeted dismiss- Fear, Mattis is depicted quietly elsewhere, Mattis’s resignation misinterpretation (on both sides) global fi nancial crisis. sources that he never really had.” ively about the highly-regarded blocking a suggestion that the prompted widespread alarm. that leads small incidents to es- Powell, chosen by Trump for Mnuchin: quoted Trump as Answering the charge in Mat- McGurk, calling him a “grand- US should assassinate the Syrian It was reportedly prompted by calate into major international the job, took over as head of the denying any plan to remove tis’s resignation letter that he did stander”. president, Bashar al-Assad. the general’s anger over Trump’s crisis.” US central bank for a four-year Powell. Salmonella outbreak US girds for lengthy govt shutdown leaves hundreds sick AFP/Reuters that Trump’s adamance on the Corker, speaking in his fi nal days Washington wall played a role. before stepping down from Con- Reuters including ground turkey, tur- “This is what Washington gress. “This is a made-up fi ght so Washington key patties, live turkeys and looks like when you have a presi- that the president can look like raw turkey pet food, indicat- he United States entered dent who refuses to sort of go he’s fi ghting.” ing it may be widespread in the yesterday the second day along to get along,” he said. He said that a deal is easily ore than 200 peo- turkey industry. Tof a government shutdown It is the third partial govern- within reach if the two sides were ple from across the No single supplier has been gridlocking Washington that the ment shutdown of the year, even prepared to compromise, partic- MUS have fallen ill, 84 identifi ed. White House budget director though Trump’s own Republi- ularly on Democrats’ demand to of them hospitalised, from an Minnesota-based Jennie- said could persist into the new can Party still controls both the protect the status of the “Dream- ongoing salmonella outbreak O Turkey Store Sales LLC on year and the next Congress. House of Representatives and the ers” – Latinos who, as children, linked to raw turkey products Friday voluntarily recalled A budget deal to end the partial Senate. arrived illegally in the United that prompted a second vol- more than 164,000 pounds of shutdown – which forced several Democrats will take control of States with their parents. untary recall on Friday, the US ground turkey products. key US agencies to cease opera- the House on January 3. Mulvaney said that Trump was government said. The company had recalled tions at 12.01am (0501 GMT) on Trump, who cancelled his “willing to discuss a larger immi- The latest food-safety advi- more than 91,000 pounds in Saturday – appears a distant holiday vacation to Florida due gration solution”, but he seemed sory from the US Centres for mid-November over the same prospect as Congress adjourned to the budget wrangling, has cool to the possibility of off ering Disease Control and Preven- outbreak. for the weekend ahead of Christ- dug in on his demand for $5bn to citizenship to the “Dreamers”, tion (CDC) in Atlanta came as With the exception of the re- mas. build the border wall, a signature saying that it was not a popular millions of Americans planned called Jennie-O brand ground “It’s very possible that this campaign promise and part of his idea among many Republicans. their Christmas holiday men- turkey, the CDC said it was not shutdown will go beyond the eff ort to reduce illegal immigra- The year-end holidays have us, updating a notice for con- advising consumers to avoid 28th and into the new Congress,” tion. made the shutdown’s visible ef- taminated turkey issued in eating properly cooked turkey White House budget director “The only way to stop drugs, fects slow to appear but they will early November. products or for retailers to stop Mulvaney told Fox News Sunday gangs, human traffi cking, crimi- gradually spread. Since then, 52 more people selling raw turkey products. of the impasse over funding for nal elements and much else from Visitors to the capital’s park- in 26 states and the District of Anyone can become sick President Donald Trump’s wall coming into our Country is with like National Mall, home to at- Columbia have become sick from salmonella bacteria, but on the US-Mexico border. a Wall or Barrier,” he tweeted tractions including war memori- from salmonella-tainted tur- young children, the elderly or He said that the White House yesterday. “Drones and all of the als and the towering Washington key, bringing the total number people with weakened immune made a “counter-off er” to Dem- rest are wonderful and lots of Monument, were among the fi rst of documented cases to 216 in systems are at a higher risk of ocrats on funding for border fun, but it is only a good old fash- to feel it. 38 states and the district. serious illness. security that fell between the ioned Wall that works!” Several criticised the shut- One death from the out- Symptoms, which typically Democratic off er of $1.3bn and He had tweeted on Saturday down, which added to an air of break, which began in October, appear 12 to 72 hours after in- Trump’s demand for $5bn. that he was in the White House chaos in a capital still reeling was reported in California, the gesting the bacteria, include As part of those talks on Satur- “working hard” to fi nd a solution from Defence Secretary Jim Mat- CDC said. diarrhoea, fever and stomach day, Vice-President Mike Pence but that “it could be a long stay”. tis’s resignation last week over The Public Health Agency cramps. off ered to drop the demand for However, Democrats remain Trump policies. of Canada has reported an Most people recover within $5bn for a border wall, substitut- staunchly opposed, and in the Jeff rey Grignon, a Wisconsin additional 22 turkey-related a week. ing instead $2.1bn, ABC News re- absence of a deal, federal funds healthcare worker, said politi- salmonella infections in four Infection can best be pre- ported citing unnamed sources. for dozens of agencies lapsed. cians of both parties “need to provinces – British Columbia, vented by thorough washing Mulvaney sought to shift Nearly 400,000 workers have stop acting like children”. Alberta, Manitoba and New hands after handling poultry, blame for the partial shutdown been sent home while an addi- But another visitor, Howard Brunswick – believed to be by cooking turkey to an inter- to Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic tional 420,000 whose jobs were Vander Griend of Tennessee, linked to the US outbreak. nal temperature of 165° Fahr- nominee for speaker of the US deemed essential – including predicted that Trump will come The common strain of sal- enheit, and by thawing frozen House of Representatives, say- Border Patrol offi cers and airport out a winner: “I think he will get monella associated with the turkeys in the refrigerator rath- ing that she might hold up nego- security workers – are remaining what he wants and I think that’s a illnesses has been identifi ed in er than at room temperature, tiations to ensure she secures the on the job without pay. good thing.” various raw turkey products, the CDC said. position. There were few signs yesterday Tourists could still visit open- “I think she’s in that unfortu- of any forward movement and, air sites on the Mall but found nate position of being beholden with most lawmakers home for public restrooms locked. SpaceX launches space mission to her left wing to where she can- the holidays, some indications The White House Visitor Cen- not be seen as agreeing with the that a solution was as far away as tre and the National Archives – A SpaceX rocket carrying a US military navigation satellite blasted president on anything until after ever. home to the US Constitution and off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral yesterday, marking the company’s she is speaker,” Mulvaney said. “The Democrats off ered us other historic documents – were first national security space mission for the United States. “If that’s the case, again, there’s a $1.6bn a couple weeks ago,” Mul- also closed. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying a roughly $500mn GPS satellite built chance we go into the next Con- vaney said on ABC. “Then they Some national parks have by Lockheed Martin lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 8.51am local gress.” off ered the president $1.3bn this shuttered completely, but New time (1351 GMT). Pelosi spokesman Drew Ham- week.” York’s governor provided fund- Four previous scheduled launches in the last week, including one on mill disputed that account, “That’s a negotiation that ing to allow the Statue of Liberty Saturday, were cancelled due to weather and technical issues. saying in a statement: “As Mr seems like it’s going in the wrong The National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC is closed to the public monument to remain open. The successful launch is a significant victory for billionaire Elon Mulvaney well knows, House direction,” said the current due to a partial shutdown of the federal government. Most critical US security func- Musk’s privately held rocket company, which has spent years trying Democrats are united in their budget director set to become tions remain operational. to break into the lucrative market for military space launches opposition to the President’s im- Trump’s acting chief of staff next pen the government if he would border security, they’ve said About three-quarters of the dominated by Lockheed and Boeing. moral, expensive and ineff ective week. “abandon the wall”. that” if a broader deal could be government, including the SpaceX sued the US Air Force in 2014 over the military’s award of a wall.” Senator Chuck Schumer, the Even some Republicans ex- reached, Republican Senator Bob military and the Department of multibillion-dollar, non-compete contract for 36 rocket launches to The White House should “stop minority leader, blamed the pressed consternation over what Corker said on CNN. Health and Human Services, is United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Boeing and Lockheed. the posturing and start serious shutdown on a “remarkable two- they dubbed an avoidable crisis. “This is something that is un- fully funded until the end of Sep- It dropped the lawsuit in 2015 after the Air Force agreed to open up bipartisan talks”, Hammill said. week temper tantrum” by the “The Democrats easily would necessary. It’s a spectacle and, tember 2019, leaving 25% un- competition. Mulvaney did acknowledge president, who he said could reo- support more border funding, candidly, it’s juvenile,” said funded. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 11 ASIA

Rescuers look for survivors along the coast in South Lampung on South Sumatra yesterday after the area was hit by a tsunami following an eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano on Saturday. Rescuers remove a body of a victim along the coast in South Lampung on South Sumatra. Tsunami kills over 200 in Indonesia

Reuters „Hundreds of buildings Indonesia regularly Pandeglang heavily damaged hit by earthquakes tsunami killed at least 222 „Tsunami sweeps band 2004: A massive 9.1-magnitude people and injured hun- quake on the western coast of Adreds on the Indonesian members from stage Indonesia’s Aceh province in islands of Java and Sumatra fol- northern Sumatra on Dec 26 lowing an underwater landslide „Disaster 14 years after Boxing triggered a tsunami that struck believed to have been caused by 14 countries, killing 226,000 the erupting Anak Krakatau vol- Day tsunami killed 226,000 people along the Indian Ocean cano, offi cials said yesterday. coastline, more than half of Hundreds of homes and other ing siren went off in some areas. jured”. Vice President Jusuf Kalla them in Aceh. buildings were “heavily dam- The timing of the tsunami, told a news conference the death 2005: A series of strong quakes aged” when the tsunami struck, over the Christmas holiday sea- toll would “likely increase”. The hit the western coast of Sumat- almost without warning, along son, evoked memories of the In- western coast of Banten province ra in late March and early April. the rim of the Sunda Strait late dian Ocean tsunami triggered by in Java, Indonesia’s most popu- Hundreds died in Nias Island, off on Saturday, Sutopo Purwo Nu- an earthquake on Dec 26 in 2004, lated island, was the worst-hit the coast of Sumatra. A car is seen among ruins after a tsunami hit Carita beach in Pandeglang, Banten province, Indonesia. groho, spokesman for the disas- which killed 226,000 people in 14 area, Nugroho told reporters in 2006: A 6.8-magnitude quake ter mitigation agency, said. countries, including more than Yogyakarta. hit south of Java, Indonesia’s Thousands of residents were 120,000 in Indonesia. Oystein He also said at least 35 people most populated island, trigger- forced to evacuate to higher Lund Andersen, a Norwegian were reported dead in Lampung ing a tsunami that smashed ground. By 5:40pm, the disaster holidaymaker, was in Anyer town in southern Sumatra. into the southern coast, killing agency had raised the death toll with his family when Saturday’s The Red Cross send out equip- nearly 700 people. to 222, with 843 injured and 28 tsunami struck. ment and aid from its regional 2009: A 7.6-magnitude quake missing. “I had to run, as the wave warehouse in Banten including struck near the city of Padang, It has been a torrid year for passed the beach and landed 15- water, tarpaulins, shovels and capital of West Sumatra prov- the vast archipelago that sits on 20m inland. Next wave entered axes, as well as hygiene kits, it ince. More than 1,100 people the Pacifi c Ring of Fire. Succes- the hotel area where I was stay- said in a statement. were killed. sive earthquakes fl attened parts ing and downed cars on the road Television footage showed 2010: A 7.5-magnitude quake of the tourist island of Lombok behind it,” he said on Facebook. the seconds when the tsunami hit one of the Mentawai islands, in July and August, and a double “Managed to evacuate with my washed away an outdoor stage off Sumatra, triggering a tsuna- quake-and-tsunami killed more family to higher ground through where a local rock band was per- mi of up to 10m that destroyed than 2,000 people on Sulawesi forest paths and villages, where forming for hundreds of guests dozens of villages and killed island in September. we are taken care of by the locals.” at an end-of-year party for state around 300 people. As night fell yesterday, rescue Authorities warned resi- utility company PLN. 2018: Major quakes hit Indone- eff orts continued but workers dents and tourists in coastal ar- Four of the musicians from sia’s tourist island of Lombok, and ambulances were fi nding it eas around the Sunda Strait to the band, Seventeen, were killed, killing more than 500 people, diffi cult to reach aff ected areas stay away from beaches and a along with 29 PLN employees mostly on the northern side of because some roads were blocked high-tide warning remained in and relatives. “The water washed the island. by debris from damaged houses, place through until Dec 25 as of- away the stage which was located 2018: More than 2,000 people overturned cars and fallen trees. fi cials tried to determine the ex- very close to the sea,” the band were killed by a powerful earth- TV images showed the seconds act cause of the disaster. “Those said in a statement. “The water quake and tsunami that hit the when the tsunami hit the beach who have evacuated, please do rose and dragged away every- city of Palu, on the west coast of Rescuers remove a body of a victim along the coast in South Lampung on South Sumatra. and residential areas in Pande- not return yet,” said Rahmat Tri- one at the location. We have lost Sulawesi island. glang on Java island, dragging yono, an offi cial at the Meteorol- loved ones, including our bassist Java and Sumatra, has been collapse” of Anak Krakatau. “In- previously known as Krakatoa, with it victims, debris, and large ogy, Climatology and Geophysics and manager ... and others are spewing ash and lava for months. stability of the slope of an active in 1883 killed more than 36,000 chunks of wood and metal. Agency (BMKG). missing.” caused by “an undersea landslide It erupted again just after 9pm on volcano can create a rock slide people in a series of tsunamis. Coastal residents reported not President Joko Widodo, who Police offi cers rescued a young resulting from volcanic activ- Saturday and the tsunami struck that moves a large volume of wa- Anak Krakatau, which means seeing or feeling any warning is running for re-election in boy who was trapped in a car bur- ity on Anak Krakatau” and was at around 9.30pm, according ter, creating local tsunami waves child of Krakatau, is the island signs on Saturday night, such as April, said on Twitter that he ied under fallen trees and rubble exacerbated by abnormally high to BMKG. Ben van der Pluijm, that can be very powerful. This is that emerged from the area once receding water or an earthquake, had “ordered all relevant govern- for nearly 12 hours, according to tide because of the full moon, an earthquake geologist and a like suddenly dropping a bag of occupied by Krakatau, which before waves of 2-3 metres (6-10 ment agencies to immediately a video of his rescue posted on Nugroho said. professor in the University of sand in a tub fi lled with water,” was destroyed in 1883. It fi rst feet) washed ashore, according to take emergency response steps, Twitter by the Indonesian Na- Anak Krakatau, an active vol- Michigan, said the tsunami may he said. appeared in 1927 and has been media. Authorities said a warn- fi nd victims and care for the in- tional Police. The tsunami was cano roughly halfway between have been caused by a “partial The eruption of Krakatau, growing ever since.

Thai junta-linked party descends on Shinawatra turf

A political party tied to Thailand’s party held a meeting in the politically motivated convictions. Japan emperor draws huge birthday junta took its message of northern city of Chiang Mai Speaking at a provincial sports stability and development to intended to reveal the names of stadium, off icials from Palang the backyard of the ousted candidates running for off ice. Pracharat, which was started by Shinawatra clan yesterday, as Thailand’s rural northern members of the junta cabinet, crowd before abdication next year leaders dash to connect with heartland has long been a presented the party as a new voters ahead of an election in bastion of support for Yingluck option to bridge Thailand’s February. and her brother Thaksin – who divides. “We cannot let the Reuters and heatwaves killed hundreds The junta this month lifted a was himself ousted in 2006 – country walk in the old footsteps. Tokyo of people, destroyed homes and ban on political campaigning thanks to welfare schemes and We need to become the third disrupted supply chains, cloud- that had been in place since farming subsidies. choice who can change politics,” ing the outlook for Japan’s ex- 2014, when the army kicked out Chiang Mai is even more said party secretary general and ore than 82,000 well- port-reliant economy. the administration of Yingluck symbolic as it is the hometown current minister of commerce wishers paid their re- Along with Empress Michiko, Shinawatra, and the race is of the brother-sister political Sontirat Sontijirawong in a Mspects to Emperor Aki- Akihito has spent much of his now on to shore up votes. The duo, both of whom live in self- meeting streamed live on hito who turned 85 yesterday, reign addressing the legacy of military-backed Palang Pracharat exile to avoid what they say are Facebook. his last birthday celebration at World War II, which was fought Tokyo’s Imperial Palace before in the name of his father, Hiro- stepping down next year. hito, and consoling victims of Myanmar says policeman found dead in border area The birthday of the emperor, natural disasters. whose position is ceremonial “I would like to thank him for The body of a missing Myanmar leg,” the newspaper said, killings, rape and arson carried with no political power, is tra- standing by us, the Japanese peo- policeman was found on the adding that another policeman out with “genocidal intent” ditionally marked by a national ple, and would like him to rest country’s troubled border with was wounded in the incident. against the wider Rohingya holiday and an address at the and enjoy his time from now on,” Bangladesh, state media and The newspaper said the clash population. palace, which opens to the public said 46-year-old Kazuyo Toya- off icials said yesterday after a occurred in a rugged section Major Mohamad Iqbal of the on the day. Well-wishers holding Japan flags wait for Japan’s Emperor Akihito’s ma from Nagoya. clash with unknown gunmen of the border in Maungdaw Bangladesh border guards said The crowd of 82,850, accord- birthday public appearance at Imperial Palace in Tokyo yesterday. Akihito, who has had heart last week. Private Aung Kyaw township, the epicentre of his men were not involved in ing to the Imperial Household surgery and treatment for pros- Thet had been missing since violence in August 2017 that the Dec 17 incident, but they had Agency, was the largest birth- members of the imperial family or those close to them, or have tate cancer, is scheduled to his patrol was fired on from drove more than 730,000 heard the exchange of gunfire day attendance during Akihito’s on a balcony — addressed well- suffered damage and whose step down on April 30, passing the Bangladesh side of the Rohingya Muslims out of on the border. three-decade reign, known as wishers waving small Japanese lives are currently impaired,” the Chrysanthemum Throne border on Dec 17, according to Myanmar and into Bangladesh. Bangladeshi guards joined the “Heisei” era, which means fl ags and holding up smart- he said, referring to the natural to 58-year-old Crown Prince the state-run Global New Light Myanmar’s military had a patrol with their Myanmar “achieving peace” in Japanese. phones. disasters that hit Japan in the Naruhito. of Myanmar. His body was responded to attacks with a counterparts to investigate, he Akihito — fl anked by his wife, “My thoughts go out to those past year. The last time a Japanese em- found on Friday with “gunshot campaign that UN-mandated said, adding that Aung Kyaw eldest son Naruhito and other who have lost family members Earthquakes, severe storms peror abdicated was in 1817. wounds in his face, arm and investigators said involved Thet’s body was found on Friday. Gulf Times 12 Monday, December 24, 2018 BRITAIN Ministers are ‘pushing May to quit by next summer’

Guardian News and Media place towards the middle of next believe there needs to be a new those terms herself,” the Cabinet While the timing of the review at the government’s discretion, isters seek to take the country out London year and will establish the gov- party leader before the spending member said. depends on the outcome of Brexit but in the past has covered the of the European Union without a ernment’s spending priorities. review – otherwise trying to set Ministers have previously had negotiations, offi cials will want length of the parliament. deal. Ministers believe a new leader the future direction of the gov- to use the Budget to unpick some guarantees that May will not de- The last spending review three The justice secretary said he heresa May should step will have to be in place before ernment is just a ‘fantasy’. of former chancellor George Os- cide spending based on her own years ago set funding allocation would fi nd it ‘very diffi cult’ to down before the govern- then to help set this new course. The government has promised borne’s welfare reforms, which domestic agenda. for the expected fi ve-year term remain in government if Britain Tment reviews its spending Following a confi dence vote the ‘full spending review’ as part were set by the last review. Chancellor Philip Hammond of the Parliament, up until 2020. was on course to crash out. next year, Cabinet ministers have earlier this month, May said she of a pledge to end austerity. The A minister said: “We have to get has said further detail about the While May survived the confi - Asked if he could stay in the privately suggested. will not lead the party into the last one was held in 2015. the new leader in place before the date of the review will be an- dence vote earlier this month, 117 Cabinet if that became the gov- They believe a new prime min- next election, which is due in But the senior fi gure warned next spending review because that nounced next spring, but it is of her Tory colleagues – a third of ernment’s policy, he told the ister will need to be in place to 2022. However, she has not set that May would struggle to get will set the course for the next elec- likely to fall in the middle of next the party – voted against her. BBC: “It would be very diffi cult determine how departments are out a timetable for her departure the plan signed off if she was still tion. Otherwise we’re going to be year. The period of time covered And in further signs of unrest, for me. The best way of stopping funded up until the next election. beyond this. One minister has Tory leader and prime minister. unpicking the next one in the same by the review has also not yet David Gauke on Friday threat- no deal is to back the prime min- The review is likely to take now privately made clear they “She cannot be allowed to set way we’ve had to unpick the last.” been confi rmed. This can be set ened to quit the Cabinet if min- ister’s deal.” Tories terrifi ed of an election, claims Osborne

Guardian News and Media he said. “That is not what was London off ered and that is now what is happening.” He also accused Theresa May, eorge Osborne has said who sacked him from the Cabi- a general election is “an net after she succeeded Cameron Gunder-reported likeli- as prime minister, of mistakenly hood for 2019” as the govern- using the 52-48 referendum re- ment grapples with delivering on sult as a mandate for a “100% its promise to take the country Brexit”. The Conservative party out of the EU. could face a prolonged period of The former chancellor, who opposition if it failed to adapt to has moved on to several lucra- modern Britain, he said. tive private sector jobs since the “That was essentially a mas- Brexit referendum, including ed- sive mistake by the Conserva- itor of London’s Evening Stand- tive administration, which it ard, said he believed the Cabinet was punished for at the general could even be considering a sec- election because the Conserva- ond referendum. tive party decided to embrace the “I think we are heading to- Brexit result in such a way as to wards a confrontation between essentially dismiss the views of leaving the European Union those who voted remain, treat without a deal and either a delay them as saboteurs or traitors, and or a return to the public on the run against urban Britain.” A man and a woman are seen entering a home after being released without charge in an inquiry into the illegal use of drones at London’s Gatwick Airport, in Crawley, yesterday. question on Brexit, and that re- Osborne resigned as MP for turn to the public can either be Tatton after May sacked him as a referendum or a general elec- chancellor. As well as editing tion,” Osborne said. London’s biggest circulation dai- “In my view, a general elec- ly paper, he has a £650,000-a- tion is at the moment an under- year role working one day a week reported likelihood for 2019, for the investment fund Black- because in the British system the rock, and is chairman of a panel Pair freed without charge simplest way to resolve political of advisers to Exor, an Italian impasses has been to return to holding company worth $24bn. the public at a general election. He has also taken on academic “There is a way, of course, for posts, and earned hundreds of the government to avoid that – thousands making speeches to the Conservative government is fi nanciers. of course terrifi ed of an election Tackled over his political lega- in airport drones probe – they can themselves embrace cy, Osborne denied that his aus- a referendum, and that’s clearly terity policies were behind a rise AFP and I am satisfi ed that they are “Our inquiry continues at a custody, we have a number of run a full schedule over the week- under discussion in Downing in homelessness and poverty, London no longer suspects in the drone pace to locate those responsible lines of inquiry and persons of end. Passengers were warned to Street even though it’s denied.” insisting that people were more incidents at Gatwick,” Sussex for the drone incursions, and we interest. expect some delays and cancel- In a wide-ranging interview likely to stop him in the street Police detective chief superin- continue to actively follow lines “We are still progressing lations as their airport tried to re- with David Dimbleby, who was to take issue with hikes to VAT man and a woman ar- tendent Jason Tingley said in a of investigation,” said Tingley. those lines of inquiry, includ- cover its operations. guest-editing BBC Radio 4’s To- and stamp duty and getting rid rested over the drone statement. “We ask for the public’s con- ing house-to-house inquir- “Safety is Gatwick’s top pri- day programme, Osborne said of tax breaks for “non-domicile” Adisruption that brought A damaged drone has been tinued support by reporting an- ies around the sightings of the ority and we are grateful for pas- the British political system was residents – before quickly adding Christmas getaway fl ights to a found near the airfi eld perim- ything suspicious, contacting us drone.” sengers’ continued patience as trying to act as a check on “what that that was what he “got from standstill at London’s Gatwick eter, he added. with any information in relation Under recently-introduced we work to get them to their fi nal is essentially a reckless decision” people in wealthy Kensington”, Airport were released without Drones were sighted buzzing to the drone incidents at Gat- laws in Britain, drones cannot destination in time for Christ- to threaten to leave Europe with- where the Evening Standard’s charge yesterday, police said. around the airfi eld more than 50 wick.” The airport has off ered a be fl own near aircraft or within a mas,” the airport said. out a deal. offi ces are located. A 47-year-old man and a times, forcing the government £50,000 reward for information kilometre of an airport, or at an The main opposition Labour He said he had warned David “The tax rises that I either in- 54-year-old woman from the to bring in specialist military leading to the arrest and convic- altitude of over 400feet. Party has called for an inde- Cameron against holding the troduced or attempted to intro- town of Crawley, near Britain’s resources to help counter the tion of those responsible for the Violators face up to fi ve years pendent inquiry after accusing referendum in the fi rst place and duce turned out to be the most second-busiest airport, were threat. disruption. in prison for endangering an air- the government of failing to act attacked the “reckless decision controversial,” he said. “The arrested on Saturday. The dangers posed by drones Tingley said a damaged drone craft. on the risks posed by drones. of hard Brexiteers” to pursue a public expenditure savings were The police swooped after include the possibility of a de- was found on Saturday close to Gatwick, around 50kms south But a department for trans- no-deal scenario. “I don’t think a necessary part of the package three days of disruption from vice smashing into a passenger the airport perimeter. “That is, of the British capital, is the port spokesman dismissed the country voted to mobilise the of getting this country back on Wednesday to Friday, aff ecting plane or being sucked up into an of course, a signifi cant line of in- eighth-busiest airport in Eu- claims of missed opportunities army, stockpile medicine, hoard its feet.” The rise in homeless- 140,000 passengers. engine where its highly fl amma- quiry,” he told the BBC. “We are rope. to prevent the Gatwick incident food and go around the world ness was a consequence of bad “Both people have fully co- ble lithium battery could cause a not back to square one. Whilst On its website, Gatwick said its as “a combination of nonsense buying every fridge available,” policy, he said. operated with our enquiries catastrophe. these two people have been in runway was open and it aimed to and gross misrepresentation”. Ex-LibDem chief Home ownership among families rises

Ashdown dies at 77 Daily Mail decades of falling home owner- London ship, recent conditions in the housing market are fi nally help- AFP Current LibDem leader Vince his mind yet always open to the ing more young families buy a London Cable said it was a “hugely sad views of others.” ome ownership among home. But the long term drivers day” in British politics and paid Blair’s successor Gordon young families is on the of lower ownership rates, includ- tribute to Ashdown’s talents be- Brown said Ashdown was “one of Hrise for the fi rst time in ing high house prices and deposit addy Ashdown, the former yond the political arena, includ- the towering political fi gures of 30 years as housebuyers take ad- requirements, are here to stay.” leader of the Liberal Dem- ing as an author, a marine and in our generation who spoke always vantage of stagnant prices and Far fewer families own their Pocrats who served as the the diplomatic service. as a strong European, a commit- rock-bottom mortgage rates. property today than in the 1980s, international high representa- Conservative Prime Minister ted internationalist and a dedi- Around 28% of couples aged when rates were well above 50%. tive for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Theresa May said she learned of cated constitutional reformer”. between 25 and 34 and who have Since then, a long property died Saturday at the age of 77, his his death with “great sadness” and Conservative former prime children now own a home, accord- boom has pushed prices beyond party announced. praised his service to Britain and minister John Major, in offi ce from ing to the Resolution Foundation the reach of many people. The He made an “immeasurable the international community. 1990 to 1997, hailed Ashdown as think-tank. That is up 3% from the number of young families who contribution to furthering the “He dedicated his life to pub- “a man of duty, passion, and devo- all-time low of 25% in 2016, and rent their homes has risen from cause of liberalism” and will be lic service and he will be sorely tion to the country he loved”. equivalent to another 190,000 fam- 9% to 34% over the past 30 years. “desperately missed”, the Lib- missed,” she said. “In government, Paddy Ash- ilies on the property ladder. If home ownership rates had Dems said in a statement. Former Labour prime minis- down was my opponent. In life, he Analysts said that sluggish stayed where they were in the Ashdown, a former special ter Tony Blair said Ashdown was was a much-valued friend,” said house price growth has helped 1980s, 1.4mn more young fami- forces offi cer, led the centrist Lib- a “political visionary” who was Major. “Even when he knew he was fi rst time buyers. Prices rose by lies would own their own house eral Democrats in opposition from “motivated by values of com- gravely ill, Paddy’s concern for the just 2.7% this year, according claimed the think tank. 1988 until 1999, reviving their for- passion, decency and a profound future of our country continued to to Land Registry fi gures, their It is hardest to get on the prop- tunes after years in the wilderness. commitment to make the world a dominate his thinking.” lowest increase since July 2013. erty ladder in big cities. Fewer He served as the international better place”. Former deputy prime minis- The average UK property is now than one in fi ve young families in high representative for Bosnia and “He was one of the most tal- ter Nick Clegg, who led the Lib- worth £231,095. London, Manchester, Liverpool, Herzegovina from 2002 to 2006. ented politicians never to hold Dems into a coalition govern- Meanwhile, banks are off ering Brighton and Birmingham own He revealed in November that high offi ce, but as leader of the ment with former prime minister two-year fi xed rate mortgages their home. But in rural areas, he was being treated for bladder Liberal Democrats he nonethe- David Cameron’s Conservatives with an average interest rate of where prices tend to be lower, cancer. “I have the best of people less had a major impact on Brit- in 2010, said Ashdown was the just 3.54% for customers with ownership is much higher – with and the best of friends to fi ght ish political life,” said Blair, who reason he became a liberal and a 5% deposit, according to data almost half of those in the age this with, which makes me, as so was in power from 1997 to 2007. entered politics, and had been from Moneyfacts. bracket owning in South Hamp- often in my life, very lucky,” Ash- “He had courage, personal a “lifelong mentor, friend and Daniel Tomlinson, of the Res- shire, central Bedfordshire and down said. and political, unafraid to speak guide”. Paddy Ashdown: ‘political visionary’ olution Foundation, said: “After South Lanarkshire in Scotland. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 13 EUROPE Spanish PM aims to see out parliamentary term

AFP Spanish voters go to the polls want to fi ght for it to be approved Catalonia, Quim Torra, last week parties to pass legislation. Madrid on May 26, 2019 for municipal, during the fi rst quarter of the pledged fresh dialogue to try to Sanchez came to power in regional and European elections year,” he told Catalan newspaper resolve a dispute over the north- June after a no-confi dence vote and there has been specula- La Vanguardia. eastern region’s status within against his predecessor, with the pain’s prime minister, tion that Prime Minister Pedro “When the elections are called Spain, raising hopes that Catalan support of Catalan parties. whose minority govern- Sanchez could call a snap general it will not be in the interests of separatist parties will back the However, those parties have Sment has struggled to pass election for the same day, ahead the party, but for the public in- government’s 2019 budget. refused to back the budget after a budget since taking offi ce in of the 2020 scheduled date – es- terest. And my goal is to see out With only 84 Socialist depu- public prosecutors in November June, said in an interview pub- pecially if he fails to approve a the legislature,” he added. ties to help steer legislation called for stiff penalties for 18 lished yesterday that he intends budget for next year. His comments come after through a 350-seat parliament, Catalan leaders facing trial over Sanchez with Torra after a meeting last week at Barcelona’s Palau to stay in power until the current “Obviously the budget is very Sanchez and the head of the sep- Sanchez’s government relies on their role in Catalonia’s failed in- Reial de Pedralbes. parliamentary term ends in 2020. important for any government. I aratist regional government of the support of Catalan separatist dependence bid last year.

Spiegel to fi le complaint Macron slams ‘yellow against reporter vest’ attack on offi cers AFP AFP In Paris, the scene of fi erce and be punished by the law,” were fast-tracked through par- Berlin Paris clashes and widespread de- Philippe tweeted. liament in 12 days, marked a struction in previous weeks, the The number of demonstrators stunning climbdown for a leader protests were mainly peaceful. has been trending downwards who had staked his reputation nfl uential German news rench President Em- But as evening fell, violence since 282,000 people turned on not being swayed by protest- weekly Der Spiegel said yes- manuel Macron has called broke out again on the iconic out for the fi rst Saturday protest ers. Iterday that it would fi le a Ffor “order” after a sixth Champs-Elysees avenue. against planned anti-pollution Yesterday he told a press con- criminal complaint against weekend of “yellow vest” anti- In one incident that caused fuel tax hikes on November 17. ference with his Chadian coun- a disgraced reporter after it government protests marked by widespread outrage, a group of From there the protests quick- terpart Idriss Deby that the emerged he may have embezzled dwindling participation and a three police offi cers on motor- ly morphed into a full-scale measures were a response to the donations intended for Syrian violent attack on police in Paris. bike were forced to make a hasty revolt against Macron’s poli- “righteous anger of the French street children. Speaking during a visit to the escape after coming under at- cies, aloof, top-down governing people”. Claas Relotius, 33, resigned central African state of Chad tack near the Champs-Elysees style, and the political class as a During an earlier meeting this month after admitting to where he was visiting French from a group of demonstrators, whole. with a group of Chadian women, making up stories and invent- troops serving in a counter- who threw electric scooters, Last week, Macron sought the he said that he had “sometimes ing protagonists in more than a terrorism force, Macron said: paving stones and other objects defuse the crisis by announcing been mistaken” in trying to im- dozen articles in the magazine’s “There must be order now, at them. a €10bn ($11.4bn) package of plement a one-size-fi ts-all ap- print and online editions. calm and harmony. Our country A video of the incident, which measures to help pensioners and proach to greening the economy Spiegel said it now had infor- needs it.” was widely shared on social me- low-paid workers. and said it was “more intelligent mation that Relotius allegedly “It needs harmony, unity, sin- dia, showed one offi cer pulling This image taken from video, taken on December 22, on the Since then the “yellow vests” to draw on local initiatives”. launched a campaign for readers cere commitment to strong col- his gun and pointing it at the ad- Champs-Elysees in Paris, shows a police off icer drawing his firearm have been split between moder- The protests have dealt a blow to give money to help subjects of lective causes and we must heal vancing protesters. as he and other off icers were assaulted by ‘yellow vest’ protesters. ates willing to engage in dialogue to the French economy, particu- an article that he wrote but that the divisions,” said the 41-year- He and his two colleagues – The demonstrators had knocked down one of off icers’ motorbikes with the government and radi- larly the retail trade, ahead of the bank details he gave directed old centrist, who has struggled one of whom had his motorbike and thrown cobblestones at the police. cals intent on remaining at the Christmas. the funds to his own account. to tamp down the anger of the knocked to the ground – then barricades. Junior economy minister “Der Spiegel will give all the working poor in smalltown and made their getaway. Prime Minister Edouard those who decapitated an effi gy Around 2,000 people dem- Agnes Pannier-Runacher said information it collects to public rural France over falling spend- The video showed that, sec- Philippe for his part denounced of the president in the western onstrated in Paris on Saturday, French stores reported an av- prosecutors as part of a criminal ing power and policies seen as onds before the attack, the po- the “incredible violence towards Charente region – two other compared to 4,000 a week pre- erage drop-off of 25% in sales complaint,” it said on its website. tilted towards the rich. lice had lobbed stun grenades at the police”. incidents seen as evidence of viously, police said. compared with the same period Spiegel said concerned read- A total of 38,600 people took a group of protesters, who were He also took aim at protest- growing radicalisation and the A total of 142 people were de- a year earlier. ers had in recent days reported part in a sixth round of nation- some distance away. ers who sang a song by contro- presence of extremists within tained and 19 taken into police Ten people have died in inci- Relotius’s call for donations wide protests on Saturday, ac- Speaking to BFMTV channel versial comedian Dieudonne the movement. custody in the capital, including dents linked to the demonstra- purportedly for orphaned Syrian cording to the interior ministry Macron said those responsible M’Bala M’Bala, a convicted “There can be no trivialis- one of leaders of the movement, tions, mostly in accidents at children living on the streets of – around half the number that for the violence would face “the anti-Semite, outside Sacre- ing of such gestures which must Eric Drouet. roadblocks set up by the pro- Turkey. demonstrated a week earlier. most severe” legal punishment. Coeur church in Paris as well as draw unanimous condemnation Macron’s concessions, which testers. It said it had been unaware of the campaign and that it was not immediately clear how much money was raised from the ap- peal, apparently made by e-mail to readers who contacted him about the story. Rescue ship issues Spiegel published the arti- cle by Relotius in July 2016 but a Turkish photographer who worked with him on the piece has since noted signifi cant inac- appeal for port to curacies. The magazine said it now be- lieves Relotius may have simply made up one of the main pro- tagonists, whom the article de- accept migrants scribed as young siblings. Relotius described his at- tempts to help the children in a AFP The Italian coast guard did The rescued migrants include subsequent collection of arti- Rome rescue one 14-year-old from people from Nigeria, Libya and cles, including a months-long Somalia, evacuating him to the Ivory Coast. eff ort to bring the children to Italian island of Lampedusa A Spanish civilian rescue ship Germany to be adopted by a civilian ship with 33 mi- because he had a serious skin with more than 300 migrants family. grants aboard rescued off infection, the Proactiva Open also rescued off Libya was on Spiegel said this also appeared Athe Libyan coast appealed Arms NGO said on Twitter. Saturday authorised to sail to to be a lie. yesterday for a European port to Requests to receive the Spain after Malta and Italy de- In its most recent edition, the take them to before the weather Dutch-fl agged Sea Watch 3 have clined to let it come to port. magazine said the scam was the turns at Christmas. been made to several countries, A newborn baby and his A migrant woman holds her newborn baby after being rescued on Friday by the Proactiva Open Arms “worst thing that can happen to German NGO ship Sea Watch he said, and Italy and Malta have mother were helicoptered from organisation, along with nearly 300 other migrants, off the coast of Libya. an editorial team”. 3 rescued the migrants, includ- refused. the ship operated by Proactiva Acknowledging the damage ing four women and six children, Their governments say that Open Arms to safety in Malta. Aid groups have been sending ingly unwilling to host rescue illicit activities, leaving migrants to faith in its own work and the when they were in diffi culty at- they have to bear an unfair bur- Sea Watch said that they had rescue vessels into these waters vessels. and refugees “at the mercy of media in general, it apologised tempting the perilous journey den of migrants arriving from attempted to contact the Libyan despite vocal opposition from A United Nations report on countless predators who view promised to “do everything to across the Mediterranean on Africa. search and rescue co-ordination some leaders including Italy’s Thursday said that migrants and them as commodities to be ex- boost our credibility again”. Saturday. “We will try everything to get centre but with no response. far-right Interior Minister Mat- refugees are subjected to “unim- ploited and extorted”, the report “We have requested a port a port of safety before Christ- More than 1,300 migrants teo Salvini. aginable horrors” from the mo- said. of safety to disembark those mas, because on the 25th the have perished trying to reach Accusing the groups of acting ment they enter Libya, headed The overwhelming majority of Interest in East people,” Sea Watch spokesman weather is worsening, so we urge Italy or Malta since the begin- as a “taxi service” for migrants, for the Mediterranean and Eu- women and older teenage girls Ruben Neugebauer told AFP. European states to fi nd a solu- ning of the year, according to the he has denied them access to rope. report having been gang raped German Stasi “There is no country willing so tion within the next 24 hours,” International Organisation for Italy’s ports. The climate of lawlessness in by smugglers or traffi ckers, the personal files high far to off er the people safe port.” Neugebauer said. Migration. Malta too has been increas- Libya provides fertile ground for report said. Tens of thousands of Germans have sought access this year to their personal files kept by the secret police in former Communist East Germany, nearly Polish president hails last survivor of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 30 years after the Berlin Wall fell. Some 42,700 applications were submitted in the first 11 months of DPA/AFP up after invading Poland. sourceful young fi ghter,” Shalev “But to this very day I keep 2018, Roland Jahn, who heads the Warsaw/Tel Aviv/Jerusalem The insurgents preferred to die said. thinking whether we had the Stasi Records Agency, told DPA. fi ghting instead of in a gas cham- After Rotem’s death was an- right to make the decision to start There were 49,000 in 2017. ber at the Treblinka death camp nounced on Saturday, Israel’s the uprising and by the same to- While interest has been greater olish President Andrzej where the Nazis had already President Reuven Rivlin and ken to shorten the lives of many than what was expected when Duda has praised Simcha sent more than 300,000 Warsaw Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- people by a week, a day or two,” the agency was formed in P“Kazik” Rotem, the last Jews. yahu both paid tribute, with Rotem said. October 1990, applications for survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto During the revolt, Rotem Netanyahu writing on Twitter Thousands of Jews died in Eu- copies of the security files are set Uprising, who died at the age of fought and served as a negotiator that he had “fought the Nazis, rope’s fi rst urban anti-Nazi re- to wane over the longer term. 94 in Jerusalem. between the ghetto residents and saved Jews ... and told his story of volt, most of them burned alive, Some 3.2mn people have Rotem took part in the 1943 act the so-called Aryan side. heroism to many Israelis”. and nearly all the rest were then requested their files over the of Jewish resistance, which took Duda’s offi ce tweeted that Ro- Speaking at a 2013 ceremony sent to Treblinka. decades. place in Nazi-occupied Poland tem was a “Hero of two nations: in Poland to mark the 70th an- Rotem survived by master- The files are available to anyone in opposition to the Germans’ fi - the Polish and the Israeli one. niversary of the uprising, Rotem minding an escape through the in the general public seeking to nal eff ort to transport the ghetto May his memory live on!” recalled that by April 1943 most drain system with dozens of look at their own dossiers and so population to concentration “This is the loss of a special of the ghetto’s Jews had died and comrades. possibly ascertain who had been camps. fi gure, because ‘Kazik’ was a real the 50,000 who remained ex- Polish sewer workers guided informing on them. Hundreds of Jewish fi ght- warrior in the full sense of the pected the same fate. them to the surface. By the time the Berlin Wall was ers began their fi ght on April 19, word,” said Avner Shalev, the Rotem said he and his com- He went on to participate in toppled in November 1989, the This file photo taken on April 18, 2013, shows Rotem being 1943, after the Nazis began de- chairman of Israel’s Yad Vashem rades launched the uprising to the 1944 Warsaw Uprising led by Stasi had collected files on some welcomed as he revisits the sewer through he and dozens of porting the surviving residents Holocaust museum “choose the kind of death” they Polish resistance fi ghters against 6mn people. comrades escaped the Nazis 70 years ago. of the Jewish ghetto they had set “He was a courageous and re- wanted. the Nazis. Gulf Times 14 Monday, December 24, 2018 INDIA Grand alliance a club of ‘rich dynasties’, says Modi

IANS alliance or the ‘Mahagathband- and deceived several key lead- “Lohia always said the Con- arrested and tortured during the leader Mulayam Singh Yadav in targeted. In 1980, his elected New Delhi han’. Let me tell you that this ers from diff erent political par- gress is a compromise party Emergency. disproportionate assets cases, he government was dismissed. alliance is for personal sur- ties who are now talking about a which had made compromises “Sadly, today these parties said: “Have these parties done Fresh elections were held and vival, not ideological support. ‘grand alliance’. on many ideological issues and and the Congress have become justice to the ideals of Lohia? MGR won. Indira Gandhi never rime Minister Narendra This alliance is for power, not “Several of these parties and issues of national interest. He oxygen for each other. But peo- The answer is a resounding no.” forgave MGR for that,” he said, Modi yesterday called the for the people. This alliance is their leaders claim to be inspired said the Congress was respon- ple know very well the real na- Hitting out at the opposition, referring to the slain prime min- P‘grand alliance’ a club of for personal ambitions and not by Ram Manohar Lohia, who sible for caste inequality in In- ture of these parties. Whenever Modi said the Congress and its ister. “rich dynasties”, and said the for people’s aspirations,” Modi was deeply opposed to the Con- dia. Lohia was pained that the they get power, be it in Uttar ecosystem spared no one, in- Recalling the Congress’ stand eff orts of the opposition par- said during his interaction with gress and its ideology and the Congress after 1947 was not the Pradesh or in Bihar, there is a cluding late chief ministers M G on the Jain Commission, Modi ties were for personal survival Bharatiya Janata Party workers way Congress did politics. What Congress of Mahatma Gandhi,” complete breakdown of law and Ramachandran) and N T Rama- said the Congress at that time and ambitions and the country from Chennai, Madurai, Tiruch- sort of tribute are they paying to Modi said. order. Corrupt and criminal ele- rao of Tamil Nadu and Andhra had said that “either it is DMK or would never accept such an in- irappalli and Tiruvallur through Lohia by forming an unholy and The prime minister said the ments are supreme when these Pradesh. it is us”, but today they want to coherent coalition. video conference. opportunist alliance with the top leaders of several parties parties govern,” he said. “Even the great MGR, the be together. “Various political leaders to- He described several instances Congress,” he asked. who are now aiming for a seat Recalling how the Congress stalwart who worked for the “If not opportunism, what ex- day are talking about a grand where the Congress had insulted Lohia was a socialist leader. in the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ were had harassed Samajwadi Party poor and the downtrodden, was plains their alliance?” he said. Dire need for unifi cation of regional parties: Telangana CM

IANS farmers and other social wel- Bhubaneswar fare schemes. Meanwhile, Hours after the BJP-led National Democratic elangana Rashtra Alliance announced seat- Samithi president and sharing in Bihar in Delhi, an TTelangana Chief Min- emerging backward caste lead- ister K Chandrashekar Rao er Mukesh Sahni, popularly yesterday said there was a known as ‘son of mallah (fi sh- need for unifying regional ermen and boatmen)’ joined parties in the country, as he the ‘grand alliance’ of opposi- met Biju Janata Dal president tion parties to contest the 2019 and Odisha Chief Minister Lok Sabha polls. Naveen Patnaik. Mukesh Sahni, who is also The two leaders met to build president of newly-formed a consensus on brining region- Vikassheel Insaan Party, said al parties together. the party has decided to join “There is a dire need for the the ‘grand alliance’ under the unifi cation of regional parties leadership of Rashtriya Janata Police escort women as they return after they were stopped by Hindu activists from going to Sabarimala temple, in Pamba, Kerala, yesterday. in the country. We strongly Dal chief Lalu Prasad and his believe that there has to be an younger son Tejashwi Yadav, alternative to the BJP and Con- who is the Bihar opposition gress,” said Rao. leader. He said they have just begun “We hope that grand alli- the dialogue. ance will win all the 40 Lok “It is certain that the coun- Sabha seats in Bihar in 2019 try needs a change, qualitative by defeating the NDA,” Sahni Protesters block women change for which the dialogue said. has begun. We are making our zThe BJP yesterday came up eff orts. However, nothing has trumps and touched the 100- come out concrete now,” said seat mark in the 182-member the TRS president. Gujarat Assembly by capturing going to Sabarimala temple “We need to talk with more the Jasdan seat in the Saurash- leaders. We just started the tra region from the Congress in dialogue and we will meet a by-election. Agencies cluding women, noisily blocked men, young girls and elderly been so blatant in their utter dis- Vijayan of stage-managing yes- again to discuss how to take For Kunwarji Bavalia it was a Thiruvananthapuram the path. women normally trek to the regard for the age-old traditions terday’s unfortunate incidents. things forward. There is a cakewalk. He retained the seat “The women are adamant temple during the festival sea- and customs of Sabarimala,” “The offi ce of Vijayan played need to talk to some more which he had won in 2017 as they won’t withdraw until they son. Sasikumar Varma from the Pan- a key role in bringing the Tamil people,” said Rao. a Congress candidate. But he undreds of people yes- have seen the deity at the Sabar- But Sabarimala has become dalam Royal family and closely group and it was done to de- On allegations that he is the quit the Congress earlier this terday blocked a path imala temple,” said Selvi, a lead- a major battleground between associated with the temple, said. stroy the Sabarimala temple, B-team of the Bharatiya Janata year leading to the by-election. H leading to Sabarimala er of the women. devotees and gender activ- “They just want to create for which the police also played Party, the TRS president said it Bavalia won by almost temple in Kerala to stop a But after police failed to ne- ists since the Supreme Court’s trouble for genuine devotees,” he their role. We demand that the was the biggest joke. 20,000 votes defeating Con- group of women making a new gotiate an end to the showdown revocation of the ban on women added. Kerala government carry out a “(Prime Minister) Naren- gress’ Avsar Nakia, once his attempt to reach the land- – and with the numbers of angry between 10 and 50, which has The Kerala unit of the BJP probe,” said Pillai. dra Modi said in Hyderabad campaign manager. mark. protesters swelling – they es- sparked waves of protests and said what happened yesterday But state CPM secretary Kodi- I am the B-team of Congress Bavaliya quit the Congress Women activists have been corted the women back to a base shutdowns across Kerala. was a Communist Party of India yeri Balakrishnan said the party while Sonia and Rahul (Gan- after he was denied the leader trying to enter the temple com- about 20km away. The Supreme Court is to hear (Marxist)-sponsored event and had no interest in a woman en- dhi) dubbed me as the B-team of the opposition post, which is plex since a September ruling by Eyewitnesses said the women challenges to its decision to that the state government should tering the temple. of the BJP,” said the Telangana an equivalent to a cabinet min- the Supreme Court overturned a were heckled as they moved overturn the ban from January order a probe to fi nd out who was “The Kerala government is chief minister. ister, and the ruling BJP made longstanding ban on women of back. 22. behind the “conspiracy.” only abiding by the apex court Patnaik said: “We dis- him a cabinet minister hours childbearing age from entering “The police were not able Many Hindu groups and “We will give our lives to pro- verdict. I don’t think anyone cussed several things including after he joined it. the shrine. to give us security (to go to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tect the customs and traditions would doubt me if I say that friendship among like-minded The Jasdan election became Tensions peaked again af- temple). Hopefully now we are Bharatiya Janata Party oppose of the Sabarimala temple. Un- we and our feeder organisa- parties.” a prestige fi ght for both the BJP ter 11 women from Tamil Nadu getting away from this place,” the court ruling. der no circumstances will these tions have thousands of women Rao said he supports the and Congress, particularly af- reached the village of Pamba one unnamed member of the Devotees clashed with police women be allowed to go up the members. So if we were keen move by Patnaik on 33% res- ter the ruling party’s rout in the at the foot of the hill with the women’s group told reporters. in October around Sabarimala hill,” an angry devotee said, as that a woman should pray ervation for women in parlia- recently concluded elections Sabarimala shrine at the top. “Another group of women leading to the arrests of more hundreds of others echoed the at the temple, it can be eas- ment and state assemblies. to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh People have to walk four hours are trying to get to Pamba,” she than 2,000 people. sentiment. ily accomplished, but we do not He also praised Patnaik for and Chhattisgarh assembly from Pamba to reach the shrine added. “If these women were actual State BJP president P SSreed- have any such intention,” said his recent KALIA scheme for elections. but hundreds of protesters, in- Hundreds of thousands of devotees, they would not have haran Pillai accused the offi ce of Balakrishnan.

Foggy weather Major general Adityanath unveils statue faces dismissal of former PM Charan Singh IANS Chandigarh

IANS sponsible for their safety. The chief minister assured Ghaziabad Observed as Kisan Divas in the farmers that he would look senior army offi cer was Patla, the birth anniversary after their interests. yesterday ordered to be celebrations were attended Meanwhile, as Uttar Pradesh Adismissed by general ttar Pradesh Chief Min- by Minister of State for Agri- celebrated Charan Singh’s court martial (GCM) following ister Yogi Adityanath culture and Farmers’ Welfare birth anniversary, hundreds of allegations of sexual harassment Upaid tributes and un- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and displaced farmers continued of a young woman offi cer. veiled a statue of late prime Ghaziabad MP and Minister of their sit-in for the 82nd day at The incident dates back to minister Chaudhary Charan State for External Aff airs V K Chalesar, close to the Yamuna 2016 when Major General M S Singh on his 116th birth anni- Singh. Expressway intersection, about Jaswal was posted in Nagaland versary in Patla town yesterday. Adityanath also inaugurated 10km from Agra. with the Assam Rifl es as an In- Addressing farmers, the 20 developmental projects The agitating farmers are op- spector General. chief minister said he was a worth Rs3bn, including a de- posing land acquisition by the The GCM verdict came early true follower of Charan Singh, gree college in Sara village in state government for the Jaypee yesterday. The court was held known as the ‘champion of Modinagar for which a grant of group for the expressway. The at Ambala, around 45km from farmers’ cause,’ and after com- Rs1.76bn has been sanctioned. farmers said fi ve land parcels, here, under the jurisdiction of ing to power in Uttar Prasdesh, Meanwhile, Minister of State 500 acres each, for townships the Western Command. he had waived off farm loans of for Human Resource Develop- by the Japee group, had been The verdict of the GCM has to Rs36bn. ment Satyapal Singh, who is planned for which agricultural be confi rmed by the Chief of the The Uttar Pradesh govern- from Baghpat, requested Adi- land was acquired. Army Staff , sources said. ment had given recognition tyanath to take action against “The farmers were forci- The offi cer, who has denied to selected farmers for their Modi Sugar Mill owner Umesh bly evicted and land records the charges and has claimed that achievements relating to crop Kumar Modi for not paying the changed,” said Manoj Sharma, he has been made a victim of the production, Adityanath added. previous year’s dues to sugar- a protester. army’s factional feud at the top The chief minister said that cane farmers. The protesters are joined level, has the right to appeal. under Bharatiya Janata Party’s Farmers’ groups presented a by their family members and The Major General was charged rule, criminals have fl ed the memorandum to the chief min- children too. “Leaders of all under Section 69 of the Army Act state and all communities were ister in which they urged him to parties have come, sympa- read with Section 354 (outraging feeling safe. mount pressure on Modi Sugar thised and promised early modesty of a woman by criminal He declared that no com- Mill to clear the dues, running action, but we see no light at A railways employee carries out repair works along a track as a train passes by amidst dense fog force or assault) of the Indian Pe- munity should be worried as into several hundreds of mil- the end of the tunnel,” said in Amritsar, Punjab yesterday. nal Code (IPC) for conduct unbe- his government was wholly re- lions of rupees. Sharma. coming of an offi cer. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 15 LATIN AMERICA

CRACKDOWN OBITUARY LEGAL SETBACK ACHIEVEMENT Nicaragua strips Ex-Honduras president Judge overturns injunction El Salvador’s attorney Cuba says unable to pay off TV station of licence Cordova dies aged 91 on Embraer-Boeing deal general denied second term debt commitments in 2019

The Nicaraguan government has stripped one Roberto Suazo Cordova, president of Honduras A Brazilian judge overturned a decision that put the El Salvador’s legislative assembly denied at- Cuba’s government has admitted it won’t be able of the country’s only remaining independent during the US-financed “Contra” war against Nica- brakes on planemaker Embraer’s proposed sale of torney general Douglas Melendez a second to pay all its debt commitments in 2019, blaming television stations of its licence, as authoritarian ragua of the 1980s, has died, off icials said. Suazo, 80% of its commercial aviation division to Boeing term, after he pursued tough anti-corruption Hurricane Irma and US sanctions for its woes. “In President Daniel Ortega continues his crackdown who was president from 1982 to 1986, was being Co, as the judicial back-and-forth surrounding the investigations and put a former president in 2019, we’ll have less credit than the amount of on dissent. Police raided the headquarters of treated at a military hospital near Tegucigalpa deal continued. According to public news agency prison. In less than three years, career prosecutor debt we’re planning to pay,” said Finance Minister 100% Noticias and arrested director Miguel Mora, for cardiac issues when he died, the Honduran Agencia Estado, Federal Judge Therezinha Cazerta Melendez also jailed his predecessor, a judge and Alejandro Gil. “There will be a level of debt that we the broadcaster wrote on its homepage. Mora has armed forces spokesman said. He was 91. Suazo suspended a decision which had suspended the sale a top businessman, among others, and faced won’t be able to pay next year and this will aff ect been accused of terrorism and inciting hatred, became president after the US pressured the earlier in the week. Her decision came in response death threats for his work. But after several days the performance of the economy. There is a high Jose Miguel Vivanco, the head of Human Rights Honduran military to leave after two decades to a request from Brazil’s solicitor general, known as of backroom negotiations, El Salvador’s main level of debt in the economy that creates daily Watch in the Americas, wrote on Twitter on Satur- in power, part of a broader eff ort to counter the the AGU, which argued that the injunction would hurt political parties decided not to reinstate him. tensions. We’ve been looking for specific solutions day, posting a photo of Mora in a courtroom. “This advances of leftist movements in Central America. the economy and the previous decision represented They instead chose Raul Melara, a doctor of law but it’s aff ecting the performance of the economy.” is another outrage committed against freedom A medical doctor by training, Suazo took off ice government overreach into the free market. Legal who ran the conservative National Association Gil insisted Cuba’s new loans would be marginally of expression by the dictatorship,” he wrote. Well promising jobs in a country where today 70% of challenges to the deal have been plentiful and are of Private Enterprise (ANEP) and was a substitute lower than the existing debts it will pay off , mean- known journalist Lucia Pineda was also arrested. its 9mn inhabitants live in poverty. common in Brazilian dealmaking in general. Supreme Court judge. ing that “we won’t be increasing our level of debt.” Cuba lawmakers Havana street flooded approve new constitution

Reuters groups that typically do not mo- Havana bilise many people, are already campaigning against the consti- tution online using the hashtag uban lawmakers unani- #yovotono (“I vote no”).One of mously approved a re- the articles revised regards the Cvised draft of a new con- accumulation of property. stitution that retains the island’s Whereas the fi rst draft origi- one-party socialist system but nally banned this, the revised refl ects its socio-economic constitution simply stipulates opening since the fall of the So- that the state must regulate it, viet Union. according to state-run media. The draft new constitution, However the latest draft also which has 229 articles and will reinserts the aim of “advancing replace a Cold War era one, will towards communism” that was maintain the Communist Party taken out of the fi rst draft. as the country’s guiding force One controversial revision is and the state’s dominance of the the elimination of an article that economy, according to state-run recognised matrimony as the media. union of two persons as opposed A copy has not yet been dis- to the union between a man and tributed to the public. a woman as in the 1976 constitu- The document, however also, tion. legitimises private business that The new draft removes the has blossomed over the last dec- defi nition of marriage altogether ade, acknowledges the importance thus still opening the door to of foreign investment and opens same-sex union albeit not giv- Members of the Red Cross help people cross a flooded street in Havana. Strong winds between 75km-111km per hour caused huge waves that flooded areas of Havana. No the door to same sex marriage, ac- ing it the same symbolic level of casualties have been reported. cording to state-run media. backing. It imposes age and term limits The government has said in- on the presidency, after late revo- stead it will update the family lutionary leader Fidel Castro and code and put it to a referendum his younger brother Raul Castro in the next two years. ruled the country for nearly six “There is no setback,” wrote decades, and introduces the role Mariela Castro, the daughter of of a prime minister. Raul Castro, who has champi- The current draft incorporates oned LGBT rights in Cuba in re- into an original one published in cent years, on Facebook. July hundreds of mainly small “The fi ght continues, let’s Venezuela ‘intercepts oil changes proposed by citizens give a ‘yes’ to the constitution during a three-month pub- and then close ranks to achieve lic consultation at community a family code as advanced as the meetings nationwide. new constitutional text.” It will go to a referendum next She asked for permission to February 24. briefly interrupt the assem- “This process is a genuine bly meet to hug her father in ship in Guyanese waters’ and exceptional demonstra- an unusual public display of tion of the practice of power affection within the Castro Reuters tumbled to its lowest levels in and “violates the sovereignty was operating in Guyana’s ex- The United Nations earlier by the people and therefore of family, thanking him for his Georgetown/Caracas nearly 70 years amid an eco- and territorial integrity of our clusive economic zone. this year referred the dispute to the markedly participative and example “as a parent and as a nomic crisis. country.” Venezuela’s information min- the International Court of Jus- democratic nature of our po- revolutionary”, sparking ap- The Ramform Tethys vessel, The ministry added that it istry did not immediately re- tice, a move welcomed by Geor- litical system,” President Miguel plause. enezuela’s navy “inter- which belongs to Norwegian would report the incident to the spond to a request for comment. getown but criticised by Cara- Diaz-Canel told the national Still, the decision to put the cepted” a ship explor- company Petroleum Geo-Serv- United Nations and send formal Venezuela’s socialist Presi- cas. assembly in a speech closing its family code to a referendum has Ving for oil on behalf of ices (PGS) and was conducting communication to Venezuela’s dent Nicolas Maduro has previ- The dispute has heated up in week-long, twice-yearly ses- angered Cuban intellectuals who Exxon Mobil Corporation in seismic survey work on behalf government. ously criticised Guyana’s deci- recent years as Exxon has an- sion. say fundamental human rights Guyanese waters, neighbour- of Exxon, stopped exploration It said it would inform the sion to allow oil exploration to nounced the discovery of more The 58-year-old took offi ce should not be put up for vote. ing Guyana’s foreign ministry and turned east after being ap- governments of the various go ahead in the waters off the than 4bn barrels of oil off the from his mentor Raul Castro in Other laws have not been put said in a statement, in the lat- proached by the Venezuelan homelands of the 70 crew mem- shore of the Essequibo region, shore of Guyana, an English- April although the latter remains to a referendum. est incident in a century-old navy, PGS spokesman Bard bers aboard the vessel, fl agged a sparsely populated and dense speaking nation of 750,000 head of the Communist Party “Equal rights to marriage in border dispute. Stenberg said in a statement. by the Bahamas, of the “threat jungle area equivalent to around with no history of oil produc- until 2021. Cuba should be a presidential A series of off shore oil discov- “Guyana rejects this illegal, to their safety.” two-thirds of Guyanese terri- tion. Critics say the fundamentals decree, not a referendum that eries in recent years have given aggressive and hostile act,” Guy- An Exxon spokeswoman said tory that Venezuela also claims. The latest incident comes of Cuba’s system were never up exonerates the state from re- Guyana the potential to become ana’s foreign ministry said in a seismic explorations in the Guyana says Caracas agreed to less than a day after Guyana’s for discussion and the govern- sponsibility and opens the door one of Latin America’s largest statement, adding that the move western portion of Guyana’s relinquish the area after a ruling parliament toppled the current ment only included suggestions to conservative homophobia,” producers. “demonstrates the real threat Stabroek Block “have been by an international tribunal in government in a no-confi dence it wanted to. said Harold Cardenas, a profes- In Opec member Venezuela, to Guyana’s economic develop- paused until they can be safely 1899, but Venezuela later back- vote, paving the way for elec- Some, including opposition sor of Marxism and blogger. by contrast, crude output has ment by its western neighbour” continued,” and that the vessel tracked on that decision. tions in three months. Allow Assange to leave Poll campaign Brazil to ‘actively’ boost farm exports

Ecuador embassy: UN move to export hope and freedom,” Reuters Brasilia he said. “The fact we are an agri- Reuters the Sweden allegations, saying has already paid a high price for cultural power doesn’t stop us hav- Geneva the charge was a ploy that would peacefully exercising his rights to ing ideas and fi ghting for them.” eventually take him to the US freedom of opinion, expression razil is to throw its diplo- Araujo was a mid-ranking public where prosecutors are preparing and information, and to promote matic muscle behind a push worker in Brazil’s foreign ministry N rights experts have to pursue a criminal case against the right to truth in the public Bto “actively and system- when far-right president-elect Jair called on British authori- him. interest, recovers his freedom,” atically” increase exports from Bolsonaro tapped him to become Uties to allow WikiLeaks Britain says Assange will be they said. its huge farm sector, the country’s the country’s top diplomat. founder Julian Assange to leave arrested for skipping bail if he Lawyers for Assange and next foreign minister said. The 51-year-old, who never the Ecuador embassy in London leaves the embassy, but that any others have said his work with “Agriculture’s strength will held the post of ambassador, em- without fear of arrest or extradi- sentence would not exceed six WikiLeaks was critical to a free be part of the project to increase bodies Bolsonaro’s stance of en- tion. months, if convicted. press and was protected speech. Brazil’s power. At the same time, couraging business and foreign The UN Working Group on It had no immediate com- The experts voiced concern projecting the image of a country investment while downplaying Arbitrary Detention reiterated ment on the experts’ call, but that his “deprivation of liberty” that is confi dent, big and strong the need to fi ght climate change its finding published in Feb- in June, foreign office minis- was undermining his health and will further serve agriculture’s or protect the environment. ruary 2016 that Assange had ter Alan Duncan said Assange could “endanger his life” given interests,” Ernesto Araujo said in The foreign policy inexperience been de facto unlawfully held would be treated humanely and the disproportionate amount of a series of tweets. of Bolsonaro and his team has been without charge in the embassy, properly. anxiety that has entailed. Araujo promised to inject a evident in rash rhetoric against where he has now been holed up “The only ground remaining Ecuador in October imposed good dose of ideology into trade China — Brazil’s biggest trading for more than six years. He ini- for Assange’s continued depriva- new rules requiring him to re- and Brazil’s dealings with other partner — and the president-elect’s tially took asylum to avoid be- tion of liberty is a bail violation ceive routine medical exams, countries, while railing against promise — hastily backpedalled. ing extradited to Sweden, where in the UK, which is, objectively, following concern he was not the foreign policies of leftist Bolsonaro has repeatedly said authorities wanted to question a minor off ence that cannot post getting the medical attention he leaders who ruled the country that China “is buying Brazil.” him as part of a sexual assault facto justify the more than six needed. between 2003 and 2010. But his country is doing very investigation. years confi nement that he has The rules also ordered him to He also said a new agribusi- well in terms of increased soya That investigation was been subjected to since he sought pay medical and phone bills and ness department would be cre- exports to China after Beijing dropped. asylum in the embassy of Ec- clean up after his cat. Presidential candidate Nayib Bukele of the Great National ated in his ministry. imposed a 25% tariff on US soy- Assange, whose website pub- uador,” the UN experts said in a Assange has sued Ecuador, Alliance (GANA) participates in a campaign rally in Nuevo “New foreign policy: Brazil beans in retaliation for tariff s on lished thousands of classifi ed US statement. arguing the rules violate his Cuscatlan, El Salvador. won’t stop exporting chicken and Chinese goods ordered by US government documents, denied “It is time that Assange, who rights. soya, beef and sugar, but will also President Donald Trump. Gulf Times 16 Monday, December 24, 2018 PAKISTAN

Army says border fence Pakistan calls US troop fi nished by end 2019

Internews pullout a ‘step forward’ Karachi AFP/Internews more than happy, they realised made. There will be a signifi cant either with the Nato mission Bajwa said: “The new gov- he Pakistan army has an- Islamabad/Karachi/Kabul the truth. We are expecting more withdrawal,” the American of- to support Afghan forces or in ernment has extended a hand nounced that work on good news.” fi cial told AFP on condition of separate counter-terrorism op- of peace and friendship towards Tfencing along the bor- The Taliban already control anonymity on Thursday. erations. India with utmost sincerity but der with Afghanistan was going akistan has welcomed vast amounts of territory and are Tuesday was also the day The Wall Street Journal and it should not be taken as our apace and that the project would President Donald Trump’s causing signifi cant Afghan troop Trump told the Pentagon that he the New York Times reported weakness, peace benefi ts every- complete by next December. Pdecision, announced on casualties. wanted to pull all US forces out that more than 7,000 troops body. Pakistan and Afghanistan Tuesday, to slash US troop num- The talks in Abu Dhabi ear- of Syria. would be returning from Af- “It is time to fi ght against share a long porous border and bers in Afghanistan, calling it a lier this week, with peace envoy Defence Secretary Jim Mat- ghanistan. hunger, disease and illiteracy, Islamabad believes it could help step towards peace in the war- Zalmay Khalilzad leading the US tis resigned on Thursday, say- The Taliban was toppled from then to fi ght against each other.” contain terrorist activities on torn nation. side, were also attended by Saudi ing that his views were no longer power by a US-led invasion in The army chief said that wars this side of the mountainous The decision to pull around Arabia, Pakistan and the United reconcilable with Trump’s. 2001 following the 9/11 attacks bring death, destruction and border – running from tribal ar- half of the 14,000 Ameri- Arab Emirates. Critics suggest the president’s masterminded by Al Qaeda lead- misery for the people. eas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to can troops in Afghanistan has The UAE’s state-run WAM twin foreign policy decisions on er Osama bin Laden, who had Ultimately, all issues are re- borderlands in Baluchistan – if stunned and dismayed diplo- Qureshi: We expect that things news agency has said that a Syria and Afghanistan could un- been harboured by Afghanistan. solved on the table through ne- cross-border movement of mili- mats and offi cials in Kabul, and will move further. new round would be held in spool a series of cascading and The war is now America’s gotiations. tant elements is checked. comes amid a renewed push for Abu Dhabi “to complete the Af- unpredictable events across the longest, with more than 2,200 Bajwa said that the relative In May, Chief of the Army talks with the Taliban to end the stan had released some Taliban ghanistan reconciliation proc- Middle East and in Afghanistan. US military personnel killed peace present in the country Staff General Qamar Javed Ba- 17-year war. detainees to help facilitate the ess”, without providing further Afghan forces have been tak- since the start of 2001, including today has been achieved after jwa inaugurated the work for Foreign Minister Shah Me- peace talks and to “create an details. ing what experts describe as 13 this year. tremendous sacrifi ces to restore erecting fences along the Afghan hmood Qureshi said that the enabling environment”. “If you’re the Taliban, Christ- “unsustainable” casualties On Saturday Chief of Army peace and order. border near the Panjpai area of move is “a step forward” in the Taliban spokesman Zabiullah mas has come early,” a senior since the North Atlantic Treaty Staff General Qamar Javed Ba- “It is now our duty to honour Baluchistan. peace eff ort. Mujahid would not comment foreign offi cial in the Afghan Organisation (Nato) pulled its jwa said that Pakistan supports their sacrifi ce through display The director general of the “The US reviewed its (Af- about the troop withdrawal capital told AFP on the condi- combat forces from the country Afghan-led peace plan to help of Unity, Faith and Discipline in Inter-Services Public Relations ghanistan) policy and then talks when contacted by AFP. tion of anonymity. “Would you in 2014. bring lasting peace in the neigh- everything that we do. (ISPR), the army’s public af- were held in Abu Dhabi, then However, a senior Taliban be thinking of a ceasefi re if your Afghan President Ashraf bouring state, the Inter-Services “Let us all start the transi- fairs wing, released the details there was progress in the talks commander welcomed the deci- main opponent has just with- Ghani said last month that near- Public Relations (ISPR) report- tion from confl ict to progress, of the progress on the construc- and things are moving ahead,” sion. drawn half their troops?” ly 30,000 Afghan security forces ed. through commitment to the ide- tion of fencing and posts: “Work Qureshi told reporters in the “Frankly speaking we weren’t It is not clear if US peace en- had been killed since the start of The army chief was speak- als of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e- on forts and fence continues on central city of Multan. “We ex- expecting that immediate US voy Khalilzad or the Afghan 2015, a fi gure higher than any- ing at the passing out Parade Azam.” Pak-Afg Bdr. Total length 2611 pect that things will move fur- response,” the offi cial told AFP government had been warned of thing previously acknowledged. of 110th Midshipmen and 19th He added: “This is the mini- KM. Work on 233 of 843 forts ther.” from an unknown location in Trump’s plans in advance. The US has about 14,000 Short Service Course held at Ka- mum that we can do for our and 802 of 1200 KM pri 1 ar- Qureshi added that Paki- northwest Pakistan. “We are “That decision has been troops in Afghanistan working rachi’s Naval Academy. beautiful country.” eas completed. Aiming speedy completion in pri 1 areas, overall completion [is expected] by Dec 2019 IA [InshaAllah]. Shall ben- efi t peaceful people of Pak and Afg while restricting terrorists.” Prime Minister Imran Khan, Christmas festivities set to begin nationwide during his fi rst visit to North and South Waziristan tribal districts on November 26, witnessed the Internews country’s prosperity and safety. been working shoulder to shoul- ongoing work on border fencing. Lahore Talking to Express News, der with us for betterment.” Accompanied by the army Christian leader Father Na- Keeping up with its tradition, chief, the premier while ad- deem France said that this day this year the Albayrak Waste dressing a jirga on the occasion s Christmas is just a strengthens the resolve to en- Management is carrying out said that Pakistan believes in couple of days away, the courage peace, fraternity, love, special clean-up operations in peace beyond borders and would AChristian community and interfaith harmony. and around churches and Chris- play its role in the Afghan peace has started thronging shopping “We need to end hatred, dif- tian graveyards. process. malls in order to buy new clothes ferences and unite for the pros- It is carrying out this work Khan witnessed the fencing and gifts for their relatives. perity, peace, safety, and the de- with the help of sanitary staff work in the Ghulam Khan border The community is also busy velopment of Pakistan.” and heavy machinery prior to area. decorating their houses with Dean of Cathedral Father Sha- the Christmas Eve. Christmas trees, while events hid Mairaj said that Christmas is Mechanical sweeping and related to the occasion have been the day to commemorate the ar- washing is being carried out in Increase in water organised at various locations. rival of the “prince of peace”. the surroundings of the church- In Lahore, Christmas prepa- He added the day is marked to es and adjacent localities. charges, property rations in 97 churches of the share happiness and accept each These fi eld operations are be- tax in Islamabad provincial capital have been other wholeheartedly. ing supervised by the operations completed. Lahore Capital City Police Of- department of Albayrak to facil- The Metropolitan Corporation These include Catholic, Prot- fi cer BA Nasir said that Christ- itate the Christian Community. Islamabad (MCI) has issued a estant and other missionary mas promotes the message of Albayrak has made sanitary notification on the increase in churches. love, peace, and brotherhood. staff , machinery and additional water charges and property taxes In the provincial capital, the He was speaking at a cake- resources available at Christ- for residents and businessmen of biggest ceremony for the Catho- cutting ceremony organised in mas bazaars in Lahore to provide the capital. lic school of thought will be held connection with Christmas cel- cleaner surroundings to the citi- In another notification issued on at Sacred Heart Cathedral on ebrations at Police Lines Qilla zens. Friday, Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz Lawrence Road. Gujjar Singh. Moreover, during the Christ- was given powers equivalent to Meanwhile, the largest event Offi cers and offi cials of the mas holidays, waste-related those of the Capital Development for Protestants will be organised Lahore Police from the Christian complaints would be resolved on Authority (CDA) chairman, while at the Cathedral Church on Mall community are playing their role a priority basis. the chief metropolitan off icer will Road. in maintaining law and order A man dressed as Santa Claus distributes gifts at Lahore’s Sacred Heart Cathedral. To celebrate and to share the enjoy powers equivalent to those Similarly, Christmas events and eradicating crime in the city, joy of Christmas with the Chris- of CDA board members. will be organised at St Anthony’s he said. ing celebrations at churches and participating in the Christmas playing a pivotal role in the de- tian community, Albayrak is also The new rates, which were Church, Naulakha Church and He said the Lahore police will other public places. celebrations. velopment of the country. They arranging special cake-cutting approved by an MCI session, will others, where Christian leaders provide “foolproof” security to Nasir added that members of “The Christian community, have been outstanding in diff er- ceremonies in the schools and be take eff ect in the next financial will hold prayer sessions for the the Christian community dur- the Muslim community are also along with other minorities, is ent sections of society and have diff erent union councils. year starting July 1, 2019.

400 inmates graduated last year in Punjab prisons, apex court told According to a report submitted to the Supreme Court The report further said the secretariat has also started by the federal ombudsman’s senior legal adviser Hafiz working on prisoners’ welfare and payment of fines to PM House university might Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar, 400 prisoners had passed those convicts who have completed their sentences, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) examination in Punjab last psychological counselling, education and vocational year. training, and to integrate the prisoners after their The report, submitted to apprise the top court on the release from jails, especially women and children in status regarding the implementation of its recommen- co-ordination of education institutions and philanthro- not have degree programmes dations to improve conditions of prisons, suggested pists. that there is a need to link biometric system in jails “A work plan has also been prepared at Wafaqi Mo- with courts for maintaining the record of prisoners. htasib (federal ombudsman) Secretariat for Central Internews One of the participants of the The conference on Emerging was of great importance as it pro- On the recommendation, all provincial prison depart- Jail Haripur, Central Jail Quetta and Mach, Central Islamabad launch conference said that the challenges and opportunities for vided a discourse about knowl- ments have already initiated the process of automa- Jail Lahore, and Borstal Institute and Juvenile Jail government was in no mood to Pakistan was attended by a large edge, learning and policy. tion to ensure development of an interface among Faisalabad, and Central Jail Karachi, with the help of try and launch a degree pro- number of fi eld experts from She said knowledge and evi- jails, courts and the National Database and Registra- international organisations to address the issues of he Islamabad National gramme at the university; rather, across Pakistan as well as ex- dence had a critical role in driv- tion Authority (NADRA) for monitoring and verification women, juveniles and UTPs (under trial prisoners) with University (INU), which is the proposed think-tank would patriate Pakistanis and foreign ing decision making process of a of the prisoners’ record. the objective to provide legal assistance, availability of Tbeing set up at the Prime work under the name of Institute academicians. country. It maintained that eff orts were being made to improve correctional psychiatry facility and medical examina- Minister House, will apparently for Advanced Studies (IAS). According to the HEC, the uni- Nishtar said the conference educational and skill training programme in prisons. tion and improving infrastructure, furniture and other not off er degree programmes; The sources said that the versity is envisioned as an apex started the launch of the new The Inspector General of Prisons has been requested utilities relating to prisoners and to provide trainings rather, it will work like a think- think-tank would focus on four institution designed to support university tasked with analytical to issue instructions to all prison superintendents to to prison staff to enhance their capacity in carrying out tank to provide policy advice to areas: governance, development, research-based policy formula- thinking and foresight to identify encourage prisoners to participate in education and their professional duties.” the government. technology, and climate change, tion. and help address challenges. “A skill development programmes, in consultation with It is also submitted that the Higher Education Commis- Some of the participants of the and would also act as a knowl- It will initially consist of the forward-looking academia will government and non-government organisations, and sion (HEC) has been advised to submit a comprehen- two-day university launch con- edge management hub. Institute for Advanced Studies provide evidence-based research to submit report to the federal ombudsman secre- sive programme of education and skill training to pris- ference clarifi ed that there is no They said the institute would (IAS), which will be tasked with solutions for policy formulation.” tariat. oners in co-ordination with distinguished universities. plan to off er degree programmes prepare policy advice for the providing a science-based an- She said that decision making at the university. cabinet and research advice for nual report to the government on in the public sector used to be They said that at a later stage, the HEC. emerging challenges confronting guided by the Millennium Devel- Economics, said that in all the fi ciency, security and devolution. tremendous applications of the university may off er PhD “The idea behind the univer- Pakistan and the world and op- opment Goals (MDGs). sessions the experts reviewed the Improved governance was technology in diff erent sectors courses, but that was subject to sity/institute is very good. In tions for addressing them. It has turned out to be a world- quantity and quality of knowl- viewed as a precondition for the and hence can provide solutions approval of the university’s char- Western countries, think-tanks The participants of the con- wide consensus that it is im- edge already developed and ap- successful implementation of to major problems Pakistan was ter by parliament. and research institutes help gov- ference were informed that the perative to analyse threats and plied to policy innovation and socioeconomic development facing in areas including health, Based on the number of its ernments in making better poli- president of Pakistan would at- opportunities and develop own implementation, and identifi ed agenda. energy, agriculture, and environ- seats in parliament, the Pakistan cies,” said the participant who tend the concluding ceremony. capacities. the persistent gaps in knowledge The discussion under the de- ment. Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) can get requested not to be named. Later, they were told that the HEC executive director Lieu- development, exchange and ap- velopment focused on address- The climate theme covered the bill of the university through He said that initially the uni- fi nance minister or any other tenant General (retired) Mo- plication. ing issues related to expansion discussions on impact of climate the National Assembly, but the versity/institute would start federal minister would be the hamed Asghar said that the The participants emphasised and provision of social serv- on water and food security, gla- ruling party will face a challenge working in an annex of the Prime chief guest. commission would take tangible the need to create capacities to ices such as aff ordable housing, ciers, energy and managing cli- in the Senate, where it is short of Minister House as an institute for However, in the end, Dr Sania measures to fulfi l the tasks as- capitalise on various opportu- quality education and improved mate change-induced disasters. the required numbers. advanced studies. Nishtar, chairperson of the Bena- signed to it. nities, and accelerate eff orts for healthcare facilities. The participants identifi ed “Without getting the charter In a press release, the HEC said zir Income Support Programme, Earlier, when presenting knowledge creation through ap- These have to be ensured several challenges emanating (approved), the university cannot the conference encompassed who attended the event as an ex- recommendations of the con- plied research and its sharing. through improved urban plan- from climate change and called off er degree programmes,” said a four thematic areas – govern- pert, addressed the event as the ference, Dr Mohamed Aslam The deliberations under the ning and economic management. for more research and knowledge source in the Higher Education ance, development, climate and chief guest. Chaudhry, professor at the Uni- governance theme focused on In the thematic area, the par- both on the prediction side and Commission (HEC). technology. She said that the conference versity of Utah’s Department of transparency, administrative ef- ticipants noted that there were on the adaptation front. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 17 PHILIPPINES Palace dismisses Sound and light show report on nation as ‘worst place’ for journalists

Agencies declining” and noted that 185 Manila journalists had been killed since the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution. alacanang has played Under the Duterte admin- down a report by an istration, 12 journalists have Minternational media been killed so far, the IFJ said. group, which claimed that the In its report, the IFJ scored Philippines is among seven the Philippines’ impunity scale countries in the region deemed at 7.5, with 10 being the high- as worst places for journalists. est, while the country’s justice Presidential spokesperson system got a score of 7.5. Salvador Panelo on Friday President Rodrigo Duterte dismissed the Southeast Asia has been vocal against media Media Freedom report, which outfi ts critical of his adminis- took note of the threat of im- tration. punity, safety and censorship Journalists in the country in the country, Philippine Daily also face threats ranging from Inquirer reported. murder, online harassment “The worst? Well for one, and surveillance, among oth- the deaths of journalists in this ers. country appear not to be con- But Malacanang insisted nected with their job,” Panelo that harassment cases faced by said at a press briefi ng, refer- some journalists had nothing ring to the report, published by to do with freedom of expres- the International Federation of sion. Journalists (IFJ). Panelo cited the case of A girl raises her arms as she enjoys a Christmas lights and sounds show in Makati City, Metro Manila. Panelo said the reports he Rappler chief executive Maria received about those who were Ressa, who is facing a tax eva- killed had nothing to do with sion case. their work as journalists. “For instance, they say Res- “They were related to their sa was charged in court, but personal lives. Nothing to do that has nothing to do with with journalism, except for freedom of expression. You one or two,” he said. violate the law, you cannot be The IFJ warned that media immune from prosecution. freedom in the Philippines And she was even given due was “worsening to seriously process,” he said. Duterte urges troops Police arrest gun smugglers in Pasig to ‘destroy’ rebels

Manila Times The Communist Party of the So perhaps, our soldiers on the Manila Times Bulacan and Rizal and adjacent Manila Philippines (CPP) announced ground believed there’s a truce Manila areas. Prior to the police sting, previously that it would observe so they did not anticipate those the EPD received information a ceasefi re with the government attacks,” Panelo said. from a confi dential inform- resident Rodrigo Duterte forces during the holiday season “And now, it seems to me now hree gunrunners tagged ant that the three were alleg- has refused to reciprocate to “freely enjoy” the celebration that they are using the truce to in numerous gun-re- edly members of the notorious Pthe unilateral ceasefi re de- of its 50th founding anniversary. have our soldiers on the ground Tlated violence in several “Bandal” criminal gang, where clared by the New People’s Army The communists’ truce will off guard. They’re taking advan- cities were arrested in Pasig the leader was Suarez. (NPA), ordering the military to take eff ect at 12:01am of Decem- tage of that truce,” he said. City, the Eastern Police Dis- A body search on the sus- “destroy” the communist rebels. ber 24 to 11:59pm of December Meanwhile, Panelo said the trict (EPD) said. pects yielded nine sachets of In his speech during the 26. Another ceasefi re is sched- state forces should always be During the buy bust op- shabu, a colt calibre .38 re- Christmas gift-giving at Camp uled from 12:01am of December prepared for the communist eration by the Eastern Metro volver loaded with six live am- General Manuel T Yan, Mawab, 31 to 11:59pm of January 1, 2019. rebels’ possible off ensives, Criminal Investigation and munition, a calibre 22 loaded Compostela Valley, Duterte said Defence Secretary Delfi n whom he likened to a “thief Detection Group (CIDG), with three live ammunition the Philippines would never Lorenzana however said, that in the night” who are ready to John Ryan Suarez, Amado and six calibre 45 ammunition improve unless the government the military did not recommend “come and assault” any govern- Gaspar and Kim Marollano, and P2,000 drug money from destroyed the communist rebels. a holiday truce with the com- ment troop. all of whom were identifi ed Suarez. “We do not subscribe to their munists. “Defi nitely it’s not prudent. as members of a criminal and Gaspar was frisked with a ceasefi re. We are ready for any- Palace spokesman Salvador They made a mistake so look drug syndicate, were arrested Llama Caliber 380 and with thing. Do not fi ght them, destroy Panelo, in a statement on Friday, what happened to them. So at 3:30 am at Mulawin St. in an ammunition cartridge with them,” the president said. accused the communist rebels of that should be a lesson for all of Barangay Pinagbuhatan on seven live ammunition. “Law and order means you declaring a holiday truce to catch them,” Panelo said. Saturday. Police also seized a Mitsubi- have to destroy — not really Duterte: keen to eliminate rebels the military off guard when they “They should always be like The EPD said the suspects shi Montero used by the three fi ght, but destroy the Commu- attack. boy scouts, be prepared because were involved in several arms to deliver the arms for trans- nist Party of the Philippines, in- Duterte’s statement comes af- del Sur on December 19, ab- “That’s the problem, they they’re like a thief in the night. running activities and robber- action. Also found were three cluding its legal fronts and infra- ter the NPA attacked a military ducting two soldiers and carting (communists) have been declar- They will come to you and as- ies in Pasig City, provinces of heat-sealed sachets of shabu. structure,” he said. detachment in Sibagat, Agusan away several fi rearms. ing they will have this truce. sault you,” he added. Panelo says Congress must University mulls action after parents probe budget irregularities of bullying victim register complaint

By Catherine S Valente By Aric J Sy Cua & Roy Narra Esquivel told Manila Times. This comes after people in dress the bullying will be of Manila Times Manila Times Esquivel did not give further social media spread videos and great help to all involved,” CHR details due to the sensitivity of photos of the kid beating up his added. the case. schoolmates and posted edited Taekwondo Olympian and alacanang is leav- he Ateneo de Manila Uni- The Philippine National Po- photos of his family, including Makati representative Manuel ing it up to Congress versity (ADMU) will hand lice (PNP) said it was willing to his younger sister, for humour- Monsour del Rosario, in an ap- Mto scrutinise alleged Tdown “soonest” its deci- intervene and investigate the ing and condemnation. parent swipe at the boy’s par- irregularities in the govern- sion on the bullying incidents incident but was waiting for Some videos also showed the ents said: “Your son is a failed ment’s national budget. involving a junior high school the involved parties to come victimised kids’ faces. representation of our beautiful Palace spokesman Salvador student as parents of one of his forward. sport,” said del Rosario. Panelo made the statement victims fi led a police report. The Commission on Human “It is imperative that Del Rosario said the parents after Senator Panfi lo Lacson In a memo released, Fr Jose Rights (CHR) asked the public the right to privacy and were to share in the responsi- revealed that over half a tril- Villarin, ADMU president said to be mindful in protecting the confidentiality of all bility of the “hideous and un- lion pesos worth of funds in the that the Junior High School right to privacy and confiden- children involved must acceptable” incident. 2017 national budget had been Committee on Discipline “met tiality of minors. always be protected, “Every aspect of the viral “wasted” due to discontinued and heard both parties in- “It is imperative that the not only by the school video was hideous, weak, and or shelved projects. volved.” right to privacy and confiden- administrations, the unacceptable,” said Del Rosa- “It’s the job of Congress to “The case shall be decided tiality of all children involved parents, other parties rio, the only non-Korean who scrutinise the budget. And so, if Salvador Panelo: seeking probe by Congress soonest, and this decision must always be protected, not concerned, the media, made it to the Taekwondo Hall there is any irregularity on that, shared with the community,” only by the school administra- as well as users of of Fame. they have to correct it. That’s he added. On Thursday, Lac- “The projects were stopped, Villarin said after one of three tions, the parents, other parties social networks” “None of us are perfect. their job. Ours is just to prepare son disclosed that P583.5bn or because there is a legal issue viral videos early this week concerned, the media, as well We’ve all made our mistakes a budget for their approval,” 17.4% of the 2017 budget had involved. Maybe someone fi led showed a junior high school as users of social networks,” it On Saturday, the CHR also and should not judge people Panelo said in an interview. been wasted because of dis- a case, like a losing bidder. That student, a taekwondo gold said in a statement. published certain provisions of loosely. But to the parents of Panelo said that while Presi- continued projects found to be is probably why these projects medallist, throwing punches The agency said bullying was the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, the bully, let’s be very clear dent Rodrigo Duterte has trust irregular or were under litiga- were stopped. and kicks at another student a complex issue between par- which mandates schools to here. This is as firm a judge- in his appointees, he would tion. But it doesn’t mean that it who ended up with a bloodied ties involved, including the adopt Anti-Bullying policies to ment as you will ever get from make government offi cials ac- Lacson urged the Commis- was wasted. These projects nose. bully himself, pointing out that address the existence of bully- me,” said the 1988 Seoul Olym- countable if anomalies occur. sion on Audit (CoA) to disclose were just suspended,” he said. Villarin vowed to investi- school officials and parents ing in campus. pics veteran. “It’s always the president’s “who has the biggest disal- The Palace will not con- gate the incident and said that should be able to intervene. The agency added that Del Rosario then urged all style to let his men work. But lowances and suspensions” so duct its own investigation. “It the university did not condone “Bullying is not a simple is- schools, being the primary in- parents who allowed or en- if a problem arises, they will that the public will know which doesn’t have to do that. Be- such behaviour. sue that only the child victim stitutions directed by the law couraged their children to learn be made accountable,” Panelo agencies are “failing” on the cause precisely if CoA fi nds Netizens called on the and his family have to face. to protect and educate children martial arts to take in a few les- said. proper utilisation of funds. something irregular, then it’s ADMU administration to expel Intervention of school offi- about bullying, should enforce sons about the incident. “Budget Secretary (Ben- Panelo said it was the duty of their duty to recommend fi ling the student. cials, especially if the bully- properly the law’s provision to “Raise your children better. jamin) Diokno told me before the CoA and the Department of of charges and is also the duty The victim’s parents accom- ing incident transpire in the prevent bullying cases among Let’s all raise our children to that a lot of line agencies are Justice (DoJ) to recommend and of DoJ to do the same, fi le it. In panied their child to the Que- school premises, is needed to students. be better. Let’s raise our sons, underspending. handle the fi ling of charges on short, it has been investigated. zon City Anonas Police Station adequately address and if pos- “Coming up with a defi- particularly those training in That is why they are be- alleged irregularities in budget So, what is there to investi- where they filed a report on the sible, to eliminate the same,” nite and clear procedures and martial arts, to be good men,” ing told to use their budget,” utilisation. gate?” he said. incident, Chief Supt. Joselito the CHR said. mechanisms on how to ad- he said. Gulf Times 18 Monday, December 24, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Britain’s latest immigration Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko policy is a cruel veto on love P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] By John Harris less than that £18,600 a year, meaning on the economy. Immigration policy, income will dictate their immigration 44350478 (News), London thousands of relationships are in a after all, goes straight to the heart of status (before it sets a fi nal fi gure the heartbreaking limbo. millions of everyday lives, and simple government will apparently “consider 44466404 (Sport), Because of the gender pay gap, the matters of love and family that the cold wider evidence of the impact on the 44466636 (Home delivery) icture the scene: a restaurant rules disproportionately aff ect women. imperatives of Brexit will inevitably fail economy, and take into account current in Paris, Madrid, Warsaw or Mandy, for example, lives in Somerset; to accommodate. pay levels”). And if they attempt to 44350474 Prague. At one of the tables is a her partner, George, is 4,500 miles As with so many modern morality come here as a spouse or partner, the facebook.com/gulftimes Pcouple – one person is British, away in Mombasa, Kenya. They are the tales, this story goes back to Theresa £18,600 fi gure will defi nitely apply one is not. They are newly married, parents of a toddler called Eric, who has May’s time at the Home Offi ce. Until to their other half – so either way, twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar and full of plans, but there is one snag. met his father only once, because his 2012, any British national who wanted settling in Britain with the person you Up until now, they would have been mother earns only £12,000 a year and to live in the UK with a husband or love will become an option available able to settle together in the UK with is thereby deemed by the Home Offi ce wife from outside the EU had only to only to the relatively comfortably off , minimum offi cial fuss. But thanks to the to be insuffi ciently “independent” to prove that their other half would have and accessible only by manoeuvring government’s plans for Brexit, all that is secure George the relevant visa. no recourse to public funds. But in the through a mess of bureaucracy. GULF TIMES about to change. The other day Mandy sent me an midst of the government’s drive to Even then, caveats abound. The For the following part of the story, e-mail. “I really do not see a light at somehow cut net immigration to the relevant visas are subject to renewal turn to page 66 of the Home Offi ce’s the end of this barbaric tunnel that is tens of thousands, May introduced every two-and-half years, and it can immigration white paper, and its stopping us from being a family,” she what offi cialspeak calls a minimum take up to 10 to be granted indefi nite supremely unromantic description of said. “So our son will not have his father income requirement. Living with a leave to remain. And as stories of delays Drones fl ying in what might happen next. “As a couple, with him for his third Christmas, and non-EU spouse in the UK now hinged and lost paperwork prove, the system they decide that they want to continue I’m struggling to celebrate anything at on earning at least £18,600 a year (as is already dysfunctional, unreliable their family life in the UK,” it reads. the moment.” the theoretical income level at which and full of unforeseen trapdoors, so “The EU citizen considers various Laura lives in Rugby, while her people do not need any benefi ts) rising increasing its caseload will deepen the face of airports work and study options to enter and partner, Biniyam, is in Ethiopia; to £22,400 if they wanted to bring a those problems. Self-evidently, the remain in the UK in their own right, their son, Elijah, has not seen his dad child with them, and an extra £2,400 world is interconnected and getting but chooses to enter as a dependent since October 2017. She is now trying for every child thereafter. ever smaller. People travel and work spouse/partner. The EU citizen makes to secure Biniyam a visa by citing Savings of £62,500 or more allow the abroad, and their networks of friends across the world an application with their British citizen “exceptional circumstances”, and requirement to be waived. The presence and closest relationships refl ect this. partner acting as sponsor, subject spending a great deal of money on legal of Meghan Markle in whichever country To restrict who can live with whom to meeting the necessary criteria, fees. When I met her, back in April, she pile she will be celebrating Christmas on the basis of an income threshold The massive fl ights disruption for two days at London’s including fi nancial independence.” explained the grim tension between highlights the fact that if you’re rich is cruel. The fact that the policy’s Gatwick Airport last week due to a mysterious drone The defi nition of what “fi nancial working as many hours as possible to and connected, you have nothing to extension will fall disproportionately spotted repeatedly in the area is an unprecedented issue. independence” means is in brackets, meet the £18,600 threshold, as well fear. The people whose lives have been on the generations for whom precarious but this is the most important bit. as her legal costs, and trying to ensure ruined, by contrast, are now known jobs and erratic incomes are a common The perpetrator(s) behind the drone attack chose one After either the end of the Brexit she spent as much time with her son as Skype families. My experience of experience is just one more element of of the worst possible times of the year to inconvenience transition period or in the event of the as possible: the system, she explained, reporting this story suggests that in any Brexit’s inbuilt war on the young. more than 100,000 travellers as the weekend before UK crashing out of Europe in March, has already denied him contact with his British town of a reasonable size there To the wider world, it sends out Christmas is one of the year’s busiest times to travel. if someone from an EU country wants father, so cutting down his time with will be at least one of them, struggling an increasingly familiar signal: that to apply for a visa as a UK national’s his mum seems unthinkable. to maintain an approximation of Britain is a crabby little island, led About 1,000 fl ights were cancelled or diverted. partner or spouse, everything will Around 15,000 children are reckoned intimacy via the Internet, and trying to by politicians whose desire to fl atter Though fl ights resumed at Gatwick after a full day of depend on whether their other half to be living without a parent because keep a loving relationship going when the most malignant strands of public cancellations and the British authorities have repeatedly – or “sponsor” – is “earning at least of a system that should be binned but the government machine seems set on opinion too often makes them look like warned that those behind the interruption could face up £18,600 per year” – even if the EU is now to be extended to people from destroying it. fools. How strange to see a party that national has a job waiting for them EU countries – something lost in this Their numbers will now surely professes to loathe the big state and to life in prison, there is the possibility of the sabotage in Britain. The same demand already week’s media noise about whether the multiply. Even if an EU national who to champion freedom want aff airs of recurring, given the long range of drones, enabling the applies to couples where one partner government intends to stick to its net is married to, or romantically involved the heart subjected to the targets and off ender(s) to play cat-and-mouse with police snipers comes from outside the EU, and it has migration target. This move highlights with, a British citizen does what the thresholds of bureaucrats. – Guardian shaped an array of human stories by the fact that ending so-called freedom white paper suggests and decides to News & Media and the army. Flying drones near an airport is illegal virtue of one inescapable fact: 40% of movement will have consequences try to settle in Britain “in their own because fl ights are unable to take off and land due to of the UK’s working population earns way beyond its much-discussed eff ects right”, the text makes it clear that their zJohn Harris is a Guardian columnist possible collisions. The British military was even called out to search for the drone operator, but they still have no idea who’s behind this deliberate disruption of a major transportation hub. Gatwick’s drone nightmare is thought to be the most disruptive yet at a major airport and indicates a new vulnerability that will be scrutinised by security forces and airport operators across the world. After a boom in drone sales, unmanned aerial vehicles have become a growing menace at airports across the world. In Britain, the number of near misses between private Airports must drones and aircraft more than tripled deploy specialist between 2015 and technology to 2017, with 92 incidents recorded last year. It’s detect unmanned still unclear what kind fl ying vehicles of drone or drones may be the problem, though the local police announced that the “devices used are of an industrial specifi cation.” But drone experts said airports needed to deploy specialist radar reinforced by thermal imaging technology to detect such unmanned fl ying vehicles. Other ways to tackle them is typically by frequency jamming that can disable or disrupt control signals and the GPS signals that allow the drones to navigate. Over the past couple of years drones have become immensely popular across the world Illustration: R Fresson (Courtesy: Guardian News & Media) and continue to stay on top of holiday gift wish lists and purchases. Mostly used for photography and videography purposes, drones can also be bought for commercial uses, such as package delivery. Starting from a few hundred dollars, the prices can go all the way up to tens Congo named most neglected crisis of 2018 of thousands of dollars, depending on the specifi cations and purposes. Based on the capabilities, drones can climb By Emma Batha Six of 21 agencies polled named and churches, while attacks on aid State have left 11mn needing help, was to altitudes ranging from a few hundred feet to as high as London Congo as the most neglected workers have impacted a “chronically also set to worsen next year. more than 3,200ft and stay in air up to 30 minutes on a crisis, including WFP, Norwegian underfunded” humanitarian response, Action Against Hunger said millions Refugee Council, Oxfam, ActionAid, they said. caught up in the “almost invisible” single charge, covering up to 30 hectares. This extensive ith an Ebola epidemic International Rescue Committee, and UN children’s agency Unicef said crisis — aff ecting Nigeria, Niger, Chad, range is precisely the main stumbling block for law raging and millions Christian Aid. thousands of children had been trapped and Cameroon — faced poverty, hunger, enforcement agencies in tracing the origins of a drone, caught in a forgotten ActionAid’s humanitarian in armed groups or subjected to sexual sexual violence and child kidnapping. unless intensive aerial surveillance is launched, ideally W“catastrophe” of confl ict adviser Rachid Boumnijel urged the violence. The International Federation of and hunger, Democratic Republic of international community to redouble “The crisis is growing increasingly Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies involving higher spec drones that could stay up longer. Congo (DRC) was the most neglected eff orts to end years of confl ict desperate and resources are at breaking (IFRC), the world’s biggest relief The pilot’s union tweeted that it “remains extremely crisis of 2018, according to an annual characterised by sexual brutality. point,” added Unicef emergencies network, said hunger and disease concerned at the risk of a drone collision. It is possible Thomson Reuters Foundation poll of “It’s been a catastrophe for the director Manuel Fontaine. following major fl ooding across Nigeria that the rogue drones may go undetected around the aid agencies. country, and for women and girls UN appeals for both DRC and CAR threatened to create a second protracted This year’s survey was unusual for particularly,” Boumnijel said. are less than 50% funded. crisis in the country. perimeter or could obstruct the fl ight paths outside the the high number of “most forgotten Christian Aid’s head of humanitarian “Central African Republic is in a “I’m shocked by how little attention immediate detection zone.” As Gatwick’s chief executive crises”, with experts also listing the programmes Maurice Onyango said death spiral,” said Caritas Secretary- (this) has received. The fi gures are Chris Woodroofe said after fl ights resumed, “This is an Central African Republic, Lake Chad the violence had caused “large-scale General Michel Roy. “While staggering,” said IFRC Secretary- Basin, Yemen, Afghanistan, South trauma”, with children witnessing governments and the world’s media General Elhadj As Sy, adding that nearly unprecedented issue. This isn’t a Gatwick Airport issue. Sudan, Burundi, Nigeria and, for the parents and siblings being murdered. have turned their backs, we must not. 2mn people were impacted, more than It’s not even a UK issue. It’s an international issue.” fi rst time, Venezuela. An upsurge of fi ghting in the east It’s the only hope CAR has left.” 200,000 uprooted and swathes of But Congo’s “mega-crisis” barely of the mineral-rich country has also Plan International said the media cropland destroyed. made headlines, they said, even as the exacerbated the spread of the world’s neglected complex crises like CAR “This massive disaster has gone To Advertise country gears up for landmark elections second largest Ebola outbreak, agencies and DRC because they lacked the largely unnoticed by many donors and today which some fear could stoke said. shock factor of a sudden disaster journalists,” he added. [email protected] further unrest. The Central African Republic, where like Indonesia’s huge earthquake in This year was the fi rst time Venezuela Display “The brutality of the confl ict armed groups control much of the September. featured in the poll. is shocking, the national and country and 60% of the population Yemen, at risk of the world’s worst About 3.3mn people have fl ed 44466621 44418811 international neglect outrageous,” said needs assistance, came a close second famine in 100 years, was highlighted by political turmoil and economic Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian in the poll. Muslim Hands and World Vision. meltdown in the Latin American Classified Refugee Council. Listed as the most neglected by “With three quarters of the country — many driven by hunger or 44466609 44418811 “I visited Congo this year and have OCHA, Unicef, MercyCorps, Plan population needing assistance, I violence — and another 2mn could seldom witnessed such a gap between International, and Caritas, the country can’t see how Yemen isn’t at the top follow next year, according to UN Subscription needs and assistance.” has been racked by violence since of everyone’s list,” said World Vision estimates. Congo, where 13mn people in a mainly Muslim rebels ousted the emergencies chief Mark Smith. The United Nations has launched a [email protected] population of 82mn need help, also president in 2013, provoking a backlash International Medical Corps warned $738mn appeal to help nearby countries topped the annual Thomson Reuters from Christian militias. the disaster in Lake Chad basin, cope with what one UN offi cial called Foundation poll in 2017, but agencies Armed groups are increasingly where climate change and a prolonged a “humanitarian earthquake”. — © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved said the situation had deteriorated. targeting schools, hospitals, mosques insurgency by Boko Haram and Islamic Thomson Reuters Foundation Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 19 COMMENT An online battle rages as India braces for election

By Aditya Kalra general election. party’s Rajasthan state IT unit, Mayank ceiling was fi xed at fi ve. Jaipur/Tonk “It will be no-holds barred on social Jain, said it ran similar social media The company blocked “hundreds media given that the opposition smells operations from two city apartments. of thousands” of accounts in Brazil blood and the ruling party has its back “Congress understands social during the election period, and the hen India votes in a against the wall.” media a bit now, but they do not have same was expected ahead of India general election next Both the main parties accuse each the volunteer manpower,” Jain said in polls, a source aware of the company’s year, it will be the world’s other of propagating fake news while an interview, showing dozens of BJP thinking said this month. Wlargest democratic denying they do so themselves. WhatsApp groups on his phone, one of “We have engaged with political exercise, and the biggest ever test of Nevertheless, the battlelines which was named “BJP RAJASTHAN’S organisers to inform them that we the role of social media in an election. between them are clearly drawn. Warriors”. will take action against accounts that As the ruling Bharatiya Janata Congress has attacked Prime While Twitter and Facebook were are sending automated unwanted Party (BJP) readies for battle with the Minister Narendra Modi’s economic embraced by Indian politicians — messages,” Carl Woog, WhatsApp’s newly energised Congress party-led policies and his party’s Hindu mainly in the BJP — in 2014, it’s head of communications, told Reuters opposition in the election that must nationalist ideology, while the BJP WhatsApp that has now become the in a statement. be held by May, the role of Facebook, dismisses the Congress as incompetent social media tool of choice. He did not name any parties. Twitter and WhatsApp could be liberals out of touch with the people. In Jaipur city and the nearby rural A Facebook spokeswoman said crucial in deciding who wins. This month, Congress won elections town of Tonk, where traditional the company was “committed to India already has close to 900mn in three major states that have been the methods like public speeches and maintaining elections integrity” and eligible voters, and an estimated half- bastion of the BJP, setting the stage for poster campaigns were widely used making eff orts to “weed out false a-billion have access to the Internet. a tight contest in 2019. during the state poll, Congress and news”. Twitter said it had made eff orts The country has 300mn Facebook Helping the opposition party was a BJP party workers showed a Reuters to protect the electoral process and users and 200mn on Facebook’s revamped social media strategy. reporter dozens of WhatsApp groups better detect and stop malicious WhatsApp messaging service — more At the last election in 2014, Congress they were part of and used for activity. than any other democracy. was crushed by the techno-savvy Modi campaigning. During the Rajasthan election, police Millions use Twitter. and his array of social media weapons, Congress said its volunteers ran a 10-man social media monitoring “Social media and data analytics will including a fl urry of Tweets from his managed 90,000 WhatsApp groups unit, tracking tweets and Facebook be the main actors in the upcoming personal account, a BJP campaign on in Rajasthan, while the BJP said it posts related to the state polls. India elections. Their use would be Facebook and holographic displays of controlled 15,000 WhatsApp groups Inside the monitoring room, the unprecedented as both parties now use Modi in remote villages. directly, with its workers campaigning posts were shown on wall-mounted social media,” said Usha M Rodrigues, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi got a through roughly another 100,000 screens and automatically fi ltered into a communications professor at Deakin Twitter account only in 2015. groups. neutral, positive or negative sections. University in Melbourne, Australia, But the opposition party is catching But WhatsApp has been at the The negative posts received special whose research has focused on social up and the playing fi eld has gotten a lot centre of controversy. attention — they were manually media and Indian politics. bigger. After the false child kidnap messages checked and, sometimes fl agged The potential for abuse is also India now has 450mn smartphone were spread on the platform in India, to senior police offi cers for further immense, with incendiary news and owners against 155mn at the last it was fl ooded with falsehoods and investigation and action. videos capable of fanning violence election in 2014, according to conspiracy theories ahead of the The sole aim, members of the in the sprawling multi-religious and Counterpoint Research. Volunteers of India’s main opposition Congress party monitor TV news channels October election in Brazil. monitoring team said, was to ensure multi-ethnic nation. That’s more than the entire and social media inside their war room which was setup for a state assembly elec- WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption that no online post spilled into Fake news and messages circulated population of the United States, the tion, in Jaipur in the desert state of Rajasthan, on December 3. allows groups of hundreds of users violence. on social media have led to more than crucible for election campaigns on to exchange texts, photos and video One of the posts fl agged by police 30 deaths since last year, data portal social media. video and graphic experts designed Still, fi ghting Modi online isn’t easy. beyond the purview of authorities, when Reuters visited was a video from IndiaSpend says, mostly rumours Reuters visited one of the hubs campaign material that was posted to With 43mn followers on Facebook independent fact checkers or even the a Congress leader’s rally where people about child kidnapping gangs. of Congress’s online operations in public websites, while other volunteers and 45mn on Twitter globally, he is platform itself. appeared to be shouting slogans in Political diff erences have in the past Rajasthan, one of the three states used WhatsApp to send instructions to among the world’s most followed “WhatsApp is the biggest challenge favour of Pakistan, India’s old enemy. been no less deadly. it won this month — a drab three- party workers. politicians. for us right now on the social media Congress’ nearby war room had “Social media discourse, already bedroom apartment up a dimly lit “We were kids back then, but we are Congress’s Gandhi still only has front,” said Nitin Deep Blaggan, a already debunked the video they said bitter, will turn bilious,” Milan staircase in the city of Jaipur. going to outmanoeuvre them now,” 8.1mn followers on Twitter and 2.2mn senior police offi cer in charge of was doctored. Vaishnav, a senior research fellow Inside, party workers tracked news said Manish Sood, 45, who runs his on Facebook. monitoring online content in Jaipur. Within hours, party workers posted at the Carnegie Endowment for channels and social media posts on a own social media marketing business A request by Reuters to visit the WhatsApp has limited the number what they said was an “original” video, International Peace in Washington, wall of television screens. and was managing the Congress BJP’s social media centre in Jaipur of messages a user can forward in one that showed that nobody shouted such said of the coming campaign for the A three-member team of audio, volunteers at the Jaipur war room. was declined, but a member of the go to 20 but in India specifi cally the slogans at the rally. Trump making Americans more immigrant-friendly Three-day forecast By Francis Wilkinson slowed. “The big-picture summary TODAY Bloomberg News from my data,” he wrote, “is one of remarkable stability since Trump took Maximum Temperature : 230c offi ce.” Minimum Temperature : 160c resident Donald Trump may That’s largely what Republican TUESDAY ultimately be a unifying pollster David Winston sees as well. Maximum Temperature : 230c force on one of the most In a detailed report on the 2018 Minimum Temperature : 160c Pdivisive issues in US politics: midterms, Winston concluded that WEDNESDAY immigration. the immigration debate did hurt Maximum Temperature : 230c That’s not Trump’s intent, Republican candidates. “The focus on Minimum Temperature : 150c the immigration/caravan issue instead of course. Having launched his Fisherman's forecast presidential campaign in 2015 with of the positive jobs report in the last days a demagogic assault on immigrants, of the campaign had a net result of late WARNING Trump has been a reliable fount of deciders breaking for Democrats by 12 Inshore : Nil calumny ever since. His policies, from points,” Winston wrote. Offshore : Strong wind and high brutalising children at the border – a But Winston doesn’t think Democrats sea 7-year-old girl died in US custody are necessarily gaining ground. The WEATHER Inshore : Moderate temperature last week – to terminating Temporary basic values debate between the daytime and slight dust Protected Status for refugees, appear parties, Winston said in a telephone at places with scattered designed to convince his MAGAnauts Donald Trump interview, is that the US is a “country clouds, cold by night. Offshore : Scattered clouds at that he can, and somehow will, of laws” (Republican) versus a “country times forestall the further browning of 2005 until September 2018, there expert at the Cato Institute, in an of immigrants” (Democratic). “The America. is a 49-point swing in favour of analysis of the electoral consequences. public believes in both of these values,” WIND Inshore : Northwesterly 08-18/22 In public opinion, immigration is immigration “helps.” By contrast, during the same period Winston said. The job of politicians, he KT an imperfect substitute for “race.” Likewise, in June this year, Republicans in Texas continued to said, is to fi gure out how to make those However, Trump has succeeded in Gallup recorded a new high of 75% be competitive with Hispanic voters values work together. Offshrore : Northwesterly-12-22/32 making it a more meaningful one. As of Americans saying they believe and in Florida, then-Governor Jeb Making things work is not Trump’s KT numerous political science analyses immigration is a “good thing.” Bush claimed to have won 60% of the strong suit. Consequently, there is a Visibility : 5-8 KM have determined, Trump’s racial In the 2018 midterm elections, Hispanic vote in his 2002 re-election. high probability that the immigration animus is the sticky goo that binds Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg I asked veteran Democratic issue will fester until a new president Offshore : 3-7/12 FT is sworn in. But even if Trump doesn’t him to his most enthusiastic followers. wrote, Democrats ran as a “self- consultant Bill Carrick, adviser to Around the region That goo may be a potent political confi dent multicultural party” against California Senator Dianne Feinstein, drive still more Americans into Weather force, but it’s not a boundless one. a GOP running as an “anti-immigrant whether he sees Trump cultivating the pro-immigrant camp, the next Weather tomorrow Max/min Trump appears to have found its party.” The results were not good for a California-style backlash. “Trump president appears poised to have a today Max/min Sunny 16/06 limits. the anti-immigrant side. is doing for immigration nationwide stronger pro-immigrant constituency Baghdad P Cloudy 17/06 Sunny 20/10 The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll The greatest risk for Republicans what Pete Wilson did in 1994,” than Barack Obama had at any point Kuwait CitySunny 19/10 Cloudy 22/17 has been asking survey respondents is that Trump’s racial malice will Carrick e-mailed. “The more we during his presidency. Manama Sunny 21/17 Sunny 24/18 since 2005 whether “immigration energise nonwhite voters to be debate the immigration issue, the “There is a Trump eff ect,” said Muscat P Cloudy 24/19 Sunny 11/02 helps the United States more than it more politically engaged while also more supportive voters become of immigration advocate Frank Sharry, Tehran M Sunny 10/01 hurts it.” In December 2005, 37% said alienating them, long-term, from the immigration reform.” via email. “When it comes to the immigration helps more, while 53% GOP. Political scientist Dan Hopkins of public’s view of immigrants and pro- said it hurts. That’s what may have happened the University of Pennsylvania wrote immigration policies, Trump has made That anti-immigrant sentiment, in California after the state GOP’s in 2017 that “Americans became more them more popular than ever.” regularly measured by the poll, largely anti-immigrant turn under Republican liberal on immigration at exactly the prevailed until 2012, when opinions Governor Pete Wilson, who won time that Trump and the Republicans zFrancis Wilkinson writes editorials started gradually to shift. In the most election in 1994 with a sharp anti- turned more hard-line.” on politics and US domestic policy recent poll, taken in September, immigrant campaign. “The California However, in an e-mail last week, for Bloomberg Opinion. He was the pro-immigration “helps” line GOP went from virtually splitting Hopkins said that his research, using a executive editor of the Week. He was reached a peak of 61 while the anti- the Hispanic vote in 1990 to only survey group that has been stable over previously a writer for Rolling Stone, immigration “hurts” side hit a new capturing 17 percent of it in 1998,” several years, suggests that the pro- a communications consultant and a low at 28. Measured from December wrote Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration immigrant drift in the electorate has political media strategist.

Around the world Weather Weather Live issues today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens Sunny 17/11 Rain 12/05 Beirut Showers 18/14 P Cloudy 19/15 Shampoo, toothpaste and soap may be linked to early puberty Bangkok P Cloudy 34/24 P Cloudy 34/23 Berlin Cloudy 03/01 Cloudy 06/04 Cairo P Cloudy 22/12 P Cloudy 22/12 By Karen D’Souza “We know that some of the things adolescence to reveal how early including a heightened tendency Cape Town P Cloudy 23/17 P Cloudy 22/19 The Mercury News we put on our bodies are getting into environmental exposures may towards risky behaviour, explains Colombo S T Storms 30/23 S T Storms 30/23 our bodies, either because they pass impact childhood development. Harley. Dhaka Sunny 26/15 Sunny 26/14 through the skin or we breathe them in Over the past 20 years, research has The chemicals in question – Hong Kong Cloudy 18/16 M Cloudy 20/18 any parents already worry or we inadvertently ingest them,” said shown that girls, and possibly also phthalates, parabens and phenols Istanbul P Cloudy 14/07 Rain 08/03 about the chemicals in the Kim Harley, lead author of the study boys, have been going through puberty – are known as endocrine disruptors, Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 31/24 personal care products and associate adjunct professor in the earlier and earlier. This is troubling which may mimic hormones and Karachi Sunny 26/12 Sunny 25/14 Mthat their kids use but School of Public Health at Berkeley, in news because scientists have linked lead children to mature well before London P Cloudy 07/02 Fog 08/05 now a new study takes that fear to the the UC newsletter. “We need to know the early onset of puberty with greater their natural time. As the study Manila S T Storms 29/24 P Cloudy 31/24 next level: the exposure starts even how these chemicals are aff ecting our risk of mental illness, breast and noted, exposure to these chemicals is Moscow Snow -7/-9 S Showers -8/-12 before a child is born. health.” ovarian cancer in girls and testicular widespread, which is why it’s crucial New Delhi Fog 22/07 Fog 21/06 Girls exposed to chemicals Published in the journal Human cancer in boys. parents be made aware of the fi ndings. New York S Showers 07/0 M Sunny 06/0 commonly found in shampoo, Reproduction, this new report Early puberty, also known as “While more research is needed, Paris Showers 10/0 M Sunny 06/-3 toothpaste and soap may hit puberty comes from data collected as precocious puberty, is defi ned as people should be aware that there are Sao Paulo T Storm 24/19 S Showers 23/18 earlier, even if their only exposure is part of the Center for the Health developing breasts and starting chemicals in personal care products Seoul Sunny 02/-6 M Cloudy 06/-6 through the products their moms used Assessment of Mothers and periods before the age of eight. The that may be disrupting the hormones Singapore I T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 31/26 while they were pregnant, according Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) average age for girls is 11. Starting in our bodies,” Harley said, as the UC Sydney Sunny 24/16 Sunny 27/18 to a new longitudinal study led by study. That project followed 338 before the age of eight also causes newsletter noted. – Tribune News Tokyo Clear 11/07 Clear 09/02 researchers at UC Berkeley. children from before birth into social trouble for young girls, Service Gulf Times 20 Monday, December 24, 2018 QATAR Qatargas hosts annual CEO Forum

Staff Reporter Qatargas’ chief executive Kha- at Qatargas (Technician Certifi - Doha lid bin Khalifa al-Thani. cation Programme, Scholarship The forum focused on the and Internship programmes) as development of Qatargas’ na- well as raising Qatargas’ profi le atargas recently held tional graduates and trainees, as ‘The Employer of Choice’. CEO Forum for national and provided updates on the Atef al-Mohsen, off shore Qgraduates and nation- company’s Qatarisation pro- production manager shared his al trainees under the theme gramme. It also provided par- success story with the national ‘Commitment to Premier Na- ticipants the opportunity to graduates; and two national tional Development’. share their positive experiences employees Nasser Hamad al- The CEO forum is an annual and highlight challenges faced Marri (panel operator) and Ab- event during which nation- during their development and dulla Essa al-Abdulla (senior als, who are part of Qatargas’ training. mechanical technician) shared training and development pro- The feedback and sugges- their career journeys in Qatar- gramme, meet with the chief tions received are incorporated gas with national trainees. executive, and participate in to further improve the training The chief executive present- discussions regarding their in- and development programmes ed awards to national graduates dividual development and the on off er. on development plans, schol- company’s Qatarisation drive. The initiatives presented for arship students who excelled “Qatargas is committed to Qatarisation and national de- in their academic studies and maintaining its status as the velopment this year were: the coaches who excelled in train- world’s premier liquefi ed natu- migration of 232 development ing and mentoring their na- ral gas company. At Qatargas, plans into the individual devel- tional graduates and COO-HC we value our national work- opment plan (IDP) system; vis- presented awards to national force and provide you with iting 17 local independent high trainees on development and guidance as well as the neces- schools and raising the stu- coaches of national trainees for sary means and tools to grow dents’ awareness on the various their outstanding performance in your professional life,” said programmes and opportunities in 2018. Participants with the top off icials of Qatargas at the CEO forum.

Katara opens Green City photo exhibition

atara – the Cul- tural Village, in Kco-operation with the embassy of Poland in Qatar, opened the The Green City photo gallery, featuring 21 images which refl ect the greenery in Doha. The photographs also showcase the natu- ral landscapes in the city, highlighting the eff orts of the Qatar government to contribute in combating climate change. Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al- Al Jazeera Media Network’s staff renewed their call yesterday for the release of their colleague Mahmoud Sulaiti, along with Polish Hussein and all detained journalists. ambassador Janusz Janke, inaugurated the exhibi- tion and lauded the crea- tive initiative by the em- bassy. He stressed that The Al Jazeera calls for release Green City is one of the many cultural co-oper- ation between Qatar and Poland. Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and Polish ambassador Janusz Janke at the opening of journalist held in Egypt “Poland hosted the cli- of The Green City photo gallery. mate summit earlier this l Jazeera Media Network’s maximum period for pre-trial media freedom, human rights or month (December) and staff in Doha and around detention. even its own constitution.” Qatar is a great stake- Athe world renewed their Al Jazeera Media Network’s “Hussein worked for Al holder in this climate call yesterday for the release of acting director general, Dr Jazeera in various journalistic change protection action, their colleague Mahmoud Hus- Mostefa Souag, said: “It is de- roles from Cairo and later joined so we decided to make sein and all detained journal- plorable that Mahmoud is com- Al Jazeera at its headquarters in this event in the country,” ists. “Hussein completed two pleting two years of detention Doha. His outstanding coverage Janke said. years in Egyptian prison with- for no crime other than being an of the developments in Egypt He noted that the photo out charges, trial or conviction,” Al Jazeera journalist travelling between 2011-2013 refl ected his gallery will be a good ini- according to a statement issued to his home country to visit his professionalism and courageous tiative for an educational in Doha. family and loved ones. reporting. and cultural event to mark Hussein’s detention is now “The length of his detention “Hussein always aspired to the climate summit and to in violation of both Egyptian is a further testimony that Egypt cover all sides of the story to raise awareness about cli- and international law, with the has turned into lawless country refl ect developments on the mate change among the former setting 24 months as the with no respect for journalists, ground,” the statement added. youth. “The best way to pro- mote the necessity to stop All set for African Festival at Katara climate change is through modern art and we have chosen photography be- Katara – the Cultural Village will Zneiber. In a press statement, be very effective to introduce cause it is available with launch the African Festival in Katara, in its efforts to bridge the rich African culture which everyone through smart early 2019, featuring an array of between nations and cultures, had a great impact on human phones, especially the cultural activities and folkloric said residents and visitors civilisation,” Katara general students”, the envoy ex- shows, it was announced. will have the opportunity to manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim plained. The event is being organised in witness numerous activities and al-Sulaiti said. According to Katara, co-operation with the Moroccan folkloric shows from 20 African Katara organised the first 21 out of 100 submitted embassy which heads all countries. “Through our mission African Festival in 2013 which photos have been selected African diplomatic missions in to introduce more cultures was participated by 15 African from participating stu- Doha, and under the patronage and link nations around the countries – an event that saw dents in local schools and of Moroccan ambassador Nabil world, we think this festival will “great success”. universities in Qatar. The gallery features 21 images which reflect the greenery in Doha.

Qatar Chamber organises Food Safety Summit

Qatar Chamber has hosted a Food Safety Summit, organised recently by ACT Masters, Training and Development Centre, with the participation of 60 employees in the fields of food safety and security in hotels and restaurants, public health, agriculture, dairy products, and food services. The summit aims to meet the needs of workers in the food sector by providing a comprehensive programme by a number of trainers and experts working in food safety in hotels and restaurants. It also discussed a number of topics related to food safety, the most important of which are the methods of improving food safety programmes, ways of addressing food safety issues in the market as a result of the increasing business development, and the opportunities for professional development of workers in this field. Qatar Chamber said the summit was an ideal opportunity to share ideas and inspire participants to find solutions to the challenges they face in food safety.