www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Special Lease Offer MEDINAMEDIINA CCENTRALEENTRALE BUSINESS | 17 SPORT | 24 Special Lease Offer PORTOPORTO ARABIAARABIA 4409 5155 Nakilat wins CIO Nasser the man 4409 5155 100 award for to beat at second year Qatar Rally

Wednesday 1 February 2017 | 4 Jumada I 1438 Volume 21 | Number 7059 | 2 Riyals

Azerbaijan President meets Qatar's Foreign Minister Qatar condemns Mobile apps Houthi attack on Saudi frigate

'no threat' to QNA & Agencies

QATAR strongly condemned the attack that targeted a telecom firms Saudi frigate while on a sur- veillance patrol west of the port of Hodeida, killing two Sanaullah Ataullah members of the ship crew and The Peninsula Mobile apps are injuring three others. Although the Saudi war- ree mobile apps are not a threat to ship "dealt with the boats", no more a threat to telecom companies. one "collided with the back telecom operators, Instead, they create of the ship and exploded and rather they are a trig- caused a fire" which the crew ger for growth, a opportunities to brought under control, the Fsenior official of Ooredoo has upgrade their coalition said. said. In a statement, Ministry of Waleed Al Sayed, Deputy services,” said Waleed Foreign Affairs said that the CEO of Ooredoo Group and Al Sayed, Deputy CEO Houthi militias' continuous CEO of Ooredoo Qatar, hinted of Ooredoo Group and systematic targeting represents the company does not propose a blatant attack that would CEO of Ooredoo Qatar. President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, yesterday met Qatar's Foreign Minister H E blocking free apps that take a Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and his delegation, in Baku. The Minister undermine efforts to reach a share of the business of telecom conveyed greetings of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Azeri political solution, and would companies. impact the international nav- President as well as his wishes of progress and growth to the Azeri people. Aliyev “Mobile apps are no more use of various applications. igation and the flow of entrusted the Minister with his greetings and wishes of health and happiness to the a challenge for telecom com- “More than 60 percent rev- humanitarian and medical panies. It was a matter of enue of telecom companies Emir and progress and prosperity to Qatari people. The meeting reviewed bilateral assistance to the Yemeni citi- concern in the past. We have operating in Qatar comes from relations and means of boosting and developing them in all fronts, in addition to issues zens. It affirmed Qatar's overcome that. I think mobile mobile data,” said Al Sayed. of mutual interest. → See also page 3 solidarity with the Kingdom apps are not a threat to telecom However, telecom compa- of Saudi Arabia in its efforts companies. Instead, they cre- nies in other countries generate and actions to maintain secu- ate opportunities to upgrade 20 to 30 percent of their reve- rity and stability. their services,” said Al Sayed, nue from mobile data sale, he The Ministry reiterated in an interactive programme on added. And this ratio will Qatar's support for all Inter- Qatar TV. increase in future with the pop- Ministry expands building licence services national and regional efforts “Telecom operators can ularity of mobile apps like being exerted in order to switch from providing tradi- whatsapp and instagram that The Peninsula municipalities. among the new services. implement the Security tional call based services to require high speed internet. The new services include The details about new serv- Council resolution 2216. The provider of mobile data and “In short, the services he Ministry of Municipal- advertisement permit for ices were given by Tariq Juma statement expressed sincere compete in increasing its speed. should be in the reach of every ity and Environment said building licences as the proce- Al Tamimi, Director of building condolences to the Saudi gov- Therefore, we do not consider segment of the society includ- Tyesterday it will launch dures required for licensing complex in the first ernment and people and the apps as a risk for telecom com- ing families and individuals. several new services under its advertisement permit is being workshop for consultancy firms families of the martyrs who panies but as opportunities,” he Therefore, Ooreedoo has made single window system for build- integrated with the procedures on single window system for died in the heinous crime. added. its services and products in dif- ing licence. of building licences. building licenses. Since it began air strikes Al Sayed said Ooreedoo ferent packages to serve all The ministry said it will Permit for preparing sites The workshop, organised in March 2015, the Saudi-led expected its revenue from data sections of the community,” unify and integrate all serv- and electricity and water meters by the Ministry was attended coalition has imposed an air services to rise in the coming said Al Sayed. ices provided by the technical and service for issuing permit by the representatives of con- and sea blockade of rebel- years helped by an increase in → Continued on page 4 → affairs departments of the for temporary offices are also sultancy firms and officials. held areas.

Diplomats defy White House Pet birds become dearer after import ban warning; criticise travel ban

Huda N V WASHINGTON: Hundreds of American diplomats defied a White The Peninsula However, the ban has House warning yesterday, sending a memo to the State Depart- ment's leadership that criticizes President Donald Trump's rices of pet birds have seen helped many local temporary travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority a sharp rise in Qatar fol- breeders, with birds countries. It is believed to be one of the most popularly supported Plowing the recent import being sold at double statements of dissent in the department's history. ban. The Ministry of Municipal- and triple the normal A State Department official said the cable was received just a ity and Environment has banned day after White House spokesman Sean Spicer suggested those import of all kinds of live birds rates. disagreeing with Trump's new policy should resign. The official due to bird flu outbreaks in some did not have an exact number of signatories, but said more than countries. 800 indicated they would sign after drafts of the cable circulated The ban enforced some two weather. Expatriate families are over the weekend. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the months ago has hit business of more keen on having small matter publicly and demanded anonymity. many pet animal dealers, who birds, while larger and expen- The document argues that the executive order Trump signed usually see a hike in sales dur- sive ones are more popular last week runs counter to American values and will fuel anti-Amer- ing the winter months,according among the citizens. ican sentiment around the world. to an expert. “The market prices of most "A policy which closes our doors to over 200 million legiti- “Our business has been hit birds have gone up drastically. mate travelers in the hopes of preventing a small number of by more than 40 to 50 percent, Breeding in Qatar is expensive A pet shop at Souq Waqif. travelers who intend to harm Americans from using the visa sys- with the ban imposed during due to the high costs, and now tem to enter the United States will not achieve its aim of making the peak season. It is usually with the ban on imports, the our country safer," the diplomats wrote in the so-called "dissent during these five cooler months sellers here have increased the ket, according to sources. special breed chickens, pheas- cable." → See also page 15 that we have most sales in prices. Also those who imported The ministry had banned ants and also peacocks mostly birds and poultry,” said Moha- prior to the ban are selling at import of live birds due to avian from Belgium, based on demand. mad El Mokdad , an importer higher rates as there are enough flu break outs reported in dif- Now with the ban we have and manager of Al Areen for takers,” he said. ferent parts of the world. The stopped all imports,” El Mokdad OIC hails Morocco’s return to AU Birds. Love birds which were ear- precautionary move is aimed at said. Avian influenza (bird flu) However, the ban has helped lier sold at prices between preventing spread of bird flu in is an infectious disease that ISTANBUL: Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary- many local breeders, with birds QR50 and QR150 per pair are the country. cause a wide spectrum of symp- General Yusuf Bin Ahmed Al Othaimeen hailed Morocco’s return being sold at double and triple now sold at rates going up to “Import of water birds like toms in birds, ranging from mild to the African Union (AU) following a 33-year absence, according the normal rates. Pet sellers are QR300 based on the type. ducks and goose have been illness to a rapidly fatal disease to a statement. Al-Othaimeen expressed hope that the move would cashing in on the surge in the Canary birds which cost QR100 banned in the country since that can cause severe enhance the AU’s weight on the international level, thereby mak- number of families visiting the earlier are being sold for long. We were importing birds epidemics. ing it easier to find solutions to the continent’s myriad challenges. shops due to favourable QR250 and QR350 in the mar- like canaries, small indoor birds, → Continued on page 5 The OIC chief also congratulated Chadian Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahmat for his election as new AU Commission chairman. 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017

ROTA volunteers renovate Yemeni President leaves Doha house in Al Gharafa

The Peninsula Reach into Qatar my support capacity as a vol- unteer on future projects,” ifty Reach Out To Asia ‘Reach into Qatar’ Fatima Al Khater, a ROTA (ROTA) youth volun- initiative aims to volunteer. teers recently transform the living The ‘Reach into Qatar’ initi- renovated a house in conditions of ative aims to transform the Al Gharafa as part of underprivileged living conditions of underpriv- Fits ‘Reach into Qatar’ campaign, families. ileged families while offering which extends social develop- youth volunteers the opportu- ment assistance to families in Volunteers restore nity to provide engaging need across the country. community service support. three bedrooms, a As part of the community Essa Al Mannai, Executive majlis, a dining room, development project funded by Director, ROTA, said: “This ini- Da’am, the Social and Sports an entrance hall, and tiative provides our volunteers Activities Support Fund, the vol- two bathrooms. with invaluable skills and life unteers assisted in a full experience by fostering a sense makeover of the family home. of citizenship and belonging President of the Republic of Yemen, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, left Doha yesterday after Volunteers restored three clearance; and installing new through innovation, compas- a two-day visit. The President and his accompanying delegation were seen off at Doha bedrooms, a majlis, a dining furnishings including carpets sion, and creativity.” International Airport by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al room, an entrance hall, and two and curtains. “The programme directly Muraikhi, Ambassador of Qatar to Yemen Mohammed bin Hamad Al Hajri and Charge bathrooms. The renovation “It was an honour to be addresses our goal to educate, D'affaires of Yemen's Embassy in Doha Dr Mohammed Abdulla Al Zubairi. tasks assigned to volunteers involved in this project which engage, and encourage all seg- included interior and exterior granted me the opportunity to ments of the community to painting; walls, windows and make a positive contribution adopt the spirit of volunteer- plumbing repairs; installation of to my local community. I ism and get involved in electrical appliances including believe the skills and experi- community work, both inside fridge, freezer, cooker, A/C units, ence gained through my and outside of Qatar,” Al Man- Ooredoo supports Al Galayel Championship TV, DVD player; rubbish participation will also enhance nai added. The Peninsula hunting teams from all over the important part of Qatari culture, region, and plays a key role in and we wish all the teams the oredoo announced yeter- conservation. best of luck in 2017.” day that it will once again Preapproved animals are Khalid bin Mohammed Al Osupport the annual Al- marked by the tournament’s Maadeed, Chairman of the Al- Galayel Championship, as the organising committee to distin- Galayel Championship, said: traditional event is set to kick guish from those animals that “We’re proud to be supported off in Qatar this weekend. are protected in the nature res- by Ooredoo, and thank the com- The Al-Galayel Champion- ervation, and the event pany for helping us carry on ship is a regional hunting contributes to the preservation Qatar’s traditions. tournament where 17 teams of the local ecosystem. This year’s tournament is set compete in the southern nature Waleed Al-Sayed, said: to the biggest yet, with teams reserves of Qatar in a range of “We’re proud to once again sup- from across the region travel- contests that showcase tradi- port one of our strongest ling to take part.” tional skills. traditions and one of the most Ooredoo’s sponsorship of This is the fourth year that important tournaments in Qatar. the event is part of the compa- Ooredoo will support the event, Al-Galayel is not just about ny’s wider work in promoting and the Al-Galayel Champion- hunting, but about sportsman- Qatar’s history and national ship is set to run from 3 February ship, nature and educating our identity. Last month it also spon- until 3 March, 2017. young on hunting methods sored the Hejen Racing Festival, Youth volunteers help out in renovating a house in Al Gharafa as part of ROTA's ‘Reach into The sporting event wel- which have been passed down held at the Al Shahaniya Camel Qatar’ campaign comes a broad cross-section of for generations. This is an Racetrack. WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 HOME 03 Qatar-Germany Year of Culture kicks off tonight

The Peninsula Culture, which builds on our suc- monic Orchestra. Germany Year of Culture” we from its collection that provide Exciting events cess to date in connecting people “Alongside our partners in want to broaden the knowledge an overview of the development he Qatar-Germany Events start with through a wide range of cultural Germany, such as the Goethe- about the societies of Germany of German art – and thus also of 2017 Year of Culture concert by Qatar activities,” said Mohammed Al Institut, we are working to and Qatar and share our ideas the history of the country – from officially launches Othman, Public and Interna- connect societies through cul- about opportunities and chal- the 1960s up to the present day. Philharmonic tonight with a concert tional Relations Director at Qatar tural and educational actions. lenges for our global future. The first-rate selection of clas- Orchestra also by the Qatar Philhar- Museums (QM). In this spirit, we are looking Culture and the arts provide a sics ranges from Joseph Beuys, Tmonic Orchestra featuring a featuring German The success of last year’s forward to being Qatar’s part- fruitful platform to better get to Gerhard Richter and Sigmar performance by renowned Ger- piano soloist Oppitz. Qatar China Year of Culture ner in the 2017 Year of Culture know each other, to connect Polke to current artists includ- man piano soloist Gerhard paved the way to this year’s initiative. The 2017 Qatar Ger- people and exchange similar and ing Neo Rauch, Katharina Grosse Oppitz. Exciting events will exciting programme which will many Year of Culture offers us different views in the framework and Annette Kelm. The concert to be held at at be presented by celebrate the similarities and the a unique opportunity to engage of an international cultural dia- Literary and art workshops, Katara Opera House will be institutions in both differences between both coun- with the Qatari society in active logue,” said Johannes Ebert, film screenings and discussions, directed by German conductor Qatar and Germany. tries, he added. exchange through culture and Secretary General of the concerts and performances, David Niemann. The Qatar Germany 2017 education and to present Ger- Goethe-Institut. sport competitions and trade Throughout tthis year, an Year of Culture is organized by many in its cultural, economic Together with Volkswagen shows will be organized by the exciting programme of events QM in partnership with the and societal entirety,” said Dr. AG and Deutsche Bank AG, QM various German and Qatari part- will be presented by institutions between Qatar and Germany. Goethe-Institut Gulf Region and Andreas Görgen, Director Gen- will host two exhibitions this ner institutions in Doha in both Qatar and Germany, “Culture is one of the most the German Embassy Doha. The eral for Culture and autumn at Al Riwaq Gallery and throughout 2017. Qatar Airways aimed at strengthening ties effective tools for bringing peo- broad and varied programme Communication at the German at the Fire Station: Artist in Res- is the official airline of the Years between both countries through ple closer together, encouraging involves a number of high pro- Federal Foreign Office. idence. Volkswagen AG is of Culture initiative. mutual exchange of arts, culture, dialogue, and deepening under- file organisations in Qatar “The Goethe-Institut is the presenting an exhibition on Ger- There will be a repeat con- and sport, as well as promoting standing between people. We are including the Qatar National cultural institute of the Federal man design from 1950 to the cert tomorrow at 7.30pm. Tickets dialogue, mutual understanding, proud to be partnering with Ger- Library, Doha Film Institute, Republic of Germany with a glo- present and future. Deutsche can be purchased on: http:// recognition and appreciation many for the 2017 Year of Katara, and the Qatar Philhar- bal reach. With the “2017 Qatar Bank will show masterpieces qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org/

Qatar and WISE opens nominations Azerbaijan for 2017 education prize to boost Fazeena Saleem improvement to education and The Peninsula made a lasting impact on a sig- cooperation nificant scale. A self-nomination he World Innovation will not be accepted. QNA Summit for Education Nominations for the WISE T(WISE) has opened nom- Prize will be screened by an atar's Minister of For- inations for the 2017 WISE Prize expert Committee which will eign Affairs H E Sheikh for Education. The global call make a pre-selection of no QMohammed bin Abdul- for nominations is open until more than 15 candidates whose rahman Al Thani met March 31. Nominations could identities will not be made pub- yesterday with Azerbaijan's be made via WISE online appli- lic. A distinguished international Minister of Foreign Affairs cation system available on Jury will then consider the Elmar Mammadyarov. wise-qatar.org. nominees and select the Lau- During the meeting, they The WISE Prize for Educa- reate who will be announced at reviewed relations and means tion recognizes an individual, WISE 2017 to be held between of developing them, in addi- or a team of up to six, for an November 14 and 16 in Doha. tion to issues of mutual outstanding contribution to Established in 2011 by HH interest. The Minister said at education. The achievements Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the a press conference Qatar of the nominated individual or WISE Prize for Education is the Students participating in a competition on the biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) aspires to more partnerships team should have had a signif- first distinction of its kind to with Azerbaijan. organized by Qatar Charity in Al Khor. icant and lasting impact upon recognize an individual or a He added that he discussed education at any level and team of up to six people for an with Mammadyarov cooper- should demonstrate an inspir- outstanding, world-class con- ation between both countries QC community centre concludes ing and visionary approach. tribution to education. in various fields, especially To nominate for the WISE The WISE Prize for Educa- political and economic areas, Prize one should create an tion Laureate is usually in addition to cooperating in account and complete the offi- announced at the Opening Ple- global forums and fighting ter- competitions on Prophet cial nomination form available nary Session of the global rorism and extremism. on the WISE online application biennial summit, and receives Qatar is satisfied with the The Peninsula announcing the results and hon- commencement. We all should system. This form should be the gold WISE Prize for Educa- increase of Qatari visitors to oring the winning schools. promote the work according to completed in English. It should tion medal and $500,000 (US). Baku, hoping to receive C Community Develop- The competition aims at humanitarian standards of Qatar demonstrate how the individ- The WISE Prize for Educa- Azerbaijani tourists in Doha, ment Centre – Al Khor studying the biography of the Vision 2030 to nurture talents. ual or the team has brought tion Laureates are inspiring role the foreign minister noted. QBranch for Women – con- Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Our presence today enhances about substantial change and models. Mammadyarov said that his cluded the events and activities setting development pro- the work to achieve Qatar country is keen to develop of “Ashraqat Bi-Siratuh” com- grammes and plans to build vision, and improves the learn- relations with Qatar and looks petition which aimed at effective persons in the Qatari ing environment to our students forward to strengthening the introducing female students to society and promoting the by organizing such competitions Envoy submits credentials ties. Meanwhile, the Qatar - the biography of the Prophet spirit of innovation among to inculcate the Islamic values Azerbaijan joint Muhammad (PBUH). schoolgirls, providing them among them. Bucharest Romania. Romania's Foreign intergovernmental trade-eco- Impressive shows were pre- with life skills and opportuni- Almohanadi added that stu- QNA Minister wished the Qatari nomic and technical sented during the competition ties of excellence to submit dents’ talents in singing, acting Ambassador success during his commission held its first ses- and great performances done their works. and performance are great inister of Foreign Affairs mission and the bilateral rela- sion in Baku yesterday, in a by female students who showed In her speech on this occa- opportunities for educational of the Republic of tions further development and friendly atmosphere domi- their talents in singing, public sion, Mariam Almohanadi, interaction as to move from the MRomania Teodor progress. nated by a spirit of mutual speaking and acting. There was Director of QC Community theoretical aspect to the practi- Melescanu has received a copy For his part, HE the Qatari cooperation and the desire to a good use of modern technol- Development Centre – Al Khor cal one through holding of credentials of Abdullah bin Ambassador expressed desire develop the bilateral relations ogy in the final presentation, Branch for Women, said that competitions that will help apply Nasser Al Humaidi as Extraor- to work on developing rela- within the framework of the which included the participa- QC’s journey of excellence the Islamic values of Prophet dinary and Plenipotentiary tions between Qatar and agreement on setting up of tion of 13 schools and started by the time of its Muhammad (PBUH). Ambassador of Qatar to Romania. economic, trade and technical commission between the Gov- ernment of Qatar and the Government of Azerbaijan, which was signed in Baku on Agriculture Research Centre New underpass March 8, 2016. The Qatari side was chaired by the Minister of to get new building Foreign Affairs while the Azerbaijani side was chaired by Minister of Emergency Sit- Sidi Mohamed specialized labs including the uation Kamaladdin The Peninsula Thermal Resistance Laboratory, Heydarov. Pathology Laboratory and Tis- Heydarov welcomed the new building for the sue Cultivation Laboratory. The Foreign Minister and the Agricultural Research building will also have accom- accompanying delegation for A Centre will be con- modations for experts, visiting Azerbaijan, confirm- structed next year in three researchers and guests, among ing the positive results of the phases and will be completed other facilities. visit of the Emir H H Sheikh by 2020, an official of the Min- The design phase has been Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani istry of Municipality and completed and will be approved to Azerbaijan in March 2016, Environment said. before mid-2017. The project which resulted in the signing Masoud Jarallah Al-Murri, will start in early 2018 and will of eight agreements. Director of Agricultural end by 2020. He also said that He also extended thanks Research Department at the the Department has taken over to the Foreign Minister for the Ministry, said that the building the Livestock Production success of his recent visit to will be constructed on an area Research Station in Al- Qatar on October 31, 2016. of 270,000 square metres at a Shaihaniya, which was The Foreign Minister cost of QR300m. established at a cost of QR29m, thanked the Republic of It consists of a main dome, pointing out that the station, Azerbaijan for the warm wel- an administrative integrated which includes a number of come, generous hospitality building, a theatre to host important facilities, will be The newly opened pedestrian underpass connecting the renovated Souq Najada and Souq and good organization of the events, exhibitions and lectures opened during the first quarter Waqif. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula commission's session. in addition to about nine of this year. 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 Broadway musical Turkish theme at Al Liwan Restaurant ‘Cats’ opens tonight

Raynald C Rivera Lagoona Mall Piazza. There will The Peninsula The show promises be a red carpet event at 7pm prior to the show which will fea- he original production of to take the audience ture a live string quartet acclaimed Broadway musi- in a magical journey performance. Entry to the fash- Tcal ‘Cats’, one of the main through spectacular ion show is free of charge features of Shop Qatar festival in set designs, stunning however, children under the age its final week, opens tonight at of 12 will not be allowed at the the Qatar National Convention costumes and breath- event. Center (QNCC) Theatre. taking choreography. The Doha Comedy Festival The show promises to take will begin tomorrow with come- the audience in a magical jour- dians from the Arab world. It will ney through spectacular set across the country. There is much be followed by Khaliji Night on designs, stunning costumes and on offer and I encourage people Friday featuring the Gulf’s top breath-taking choreography to make the most of Shop Qatar’s comedians, and an International which have mesmerised more final weekend, whether at per- Night on Saturday with The Daily than 73 million people in over formance venues, malls or at the Show host Trevor Noah. While Ahmet Demirok, Turkish Ambassador to Qatar, and Wael Maatouk, General Manager of 300 cities around the world. Hotel Park. In addition to all tickets to the final show have sold There are six shows from these exciting events, residents out, those for the first two shows Sharq Village and Spa, during the opening of the Turkish theme at Al Liwan Restaurant tonight till Saturday and in cel- and visitors can still enjoy dis- are still on sale through Virgin at Sharq Village and Spa, yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula ebration of the festival, the counted shopping offers and Megastores. organisers are offering a buy 1 enter the final mega-raffle for a Weekend outdoor activities get 1 promotion on select ticket chance to win QR1 million,” said will be held again nightly start- categories . To avail of the offer, Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Market- ing tomorrow until Saturday. buyers can use the promo code ing and Promotion Officer at Courtesy of Katara Hospitality, Teach For Qatar’s Fellows honoured (CatsDoha2for1) when purchas- Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). the Hotel Park by the Corniche ing tickets in Virgin Megastores, Free live make-up tutorials is hosting family-friendly activ- whether in-store or online. by beauty experts from Guerlain ities, including four daily The Peninsula East, which caters for the con- education challenges that stu- Apart from ‘Cats’, a diverse also kicks off today at 11am and screenings of Siraj, Qatar Foun- struction, improvement and dents in Qatar face.” lineup of events are scheduled 6pm at the Guerlain counter in dation’s new 3D animation G Middle East recently maintenance of landscaping and The luncheon was also in the last seven days of Shop Salam Showroom at The Gate ‘edutainment’ TV series (6.30pm, held a luncheon for Teach irrigation projects in Qatar, said: attended by distinguished golfer Qatar including make-up tuto- Mall. The free demos will also be 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm), AFor Qatar’s Fellows at the “We, at AG Middle East, fully Jose Maria Olazabal, winner of rials, fashion show, fun outdoor held same time tomorrow and and a fireworks display at 8pm five-star Banana Island Resort believe in the importance of over 30 worldwide professional activities, and the Doha Comedy at 4pm on Friday. in addition to Arda dance, paint- Doha, showcasing its support for supporting local education golf tournaments. Olazabal is Festival. Fashion aficionados will be ers comedy show and musical the NGO’s ‘Summer Institute’ organisations that aim to co-founder of the Olazabal & “With every festival we treated to a diverse collection of parades. A variety of local deli- program. empower future generations in Nadal Invitational, a charitable organize we aim to enrich 100 designs by 15 designers, most cacies and snacks will be sold by The ‘Summer Institute’ is an Qatar.” foundation that aims to combat Qatar’s tourism offering and of whom are Qataris, in a fash- members of the Bedaya Center integral component of Teach For “We were delighted to host social exclusion, with tennis drive footfall to various venues ion show tomorrow night at the and food trucks at the venue. Qatar’s training program. The this event as it gave us the champion Rafael Nadal. eight-week intensive course opportunity to meet with some Teach For Qatar is a local serves as a foundation for the of Qatar’s most passionate lead- NGO working to provide solu- Prices of services increase two-year Leadership Journey, ers. Speaking with the Fellows, tions to education challenges in which provides passionate lead- we learned about how they plan Qatar. It aims to introduce with jump in operation costs ers with the opportunity to to positively impact students in exceptionally talented young positively impact Qatar’s stu- Qatar. It was hugely inspiring,” leaders to the independent Continued from page 1 dents by nurturing teaching and said Kamal. school system in Qatar by pro- On blocking apps that steal the business of tel- leadership skills and by prepar- Nasser Al Jaber, CEO of viding graduates and young ecom companies, Al Sayed said: “This issue is related ing Fellows for their placements Teach For Qatar, added: “We are professionals — whether nation- to the telecom regulator of the country, I cannot say at independent schools. extremely grateful to AG Middle als or residents – with the anything on it. In Qatar we enjoy freedom and the The luncheon was part of AG East. Their contributions have opportunity to inspire students country provides services to all citizens and expa- Middle East’s year-round cor- helped us provide rigorous through a two-year Fellowship. triates. It is not possible to fight against new porate social responsibility training for our Fellows who Applications for the Teach For developments in the world. Websites of such apps program. Suhaib Kamal, Oper- have chosen to become part of Qatar 2017 Fellowship are now could be blocked for some time, but how long? Once ation Manager of AG Middle the solution to some of the open. day we will be forced to lift the restrictions. We had similar experiences in the past about satellite dish,” said Al Sayed. “The most important thing is that the telecom companies should change their thinking and diver- Workz Group launches Z-OTA sify their sources of income to avoid possible risks,” he added. There are several factors which play important The Peninsula value-added service (VAS). Dynamic SIM Tool Kit. roles in determining the prices of services. They The advanced solution ena- Remote File Management include size of investment, taxes, frequency charges orkz Group, the tele- bles mobile network operators (RFM) helps operators update and number of customers, among others. All these coms subscriber to remotely update their sub- the SIM services such as service contribute to operation costs. The prices of services Wproducts manufac- scribers’ SIMs in the market and provider name, preferred roam- increase with increase in operation costs, said Al turer and serialised software introduce new services without ing carriers, SMS service centre Sayed. specialists has officially having to physically configure number, etc. Remote Applet launched Z-OTA, a competitive the card itself, said a press Management (RAM) allows and highly flexible Over-The- release. operators to manage the appli- Air (OTA) platform and With the proliferation of LTE cations on the SIM card such as and introduction of 5G, oper- the backup of contact informa- ators now have the tion. Push notifications enable opportunity to offer more an operator or third-party advanced services on the advertising messages to be sent subscribers’ SIM card. OTA to the user’s phone, and the services allow operators to Dynamic SIM Tool Kit allows take advantage of this poten- remote management of content tial, however, not many for information-on-demand operators use the service or services such as news, ringtones, have one with LTE capabil- etc. ity due to the capital The early adopters of Workz’ expenditure involved in Z-OTA service are multi- installing or upgrading an national mobile brands from the OTA system. Middle East and Africa. These To address this, Workz operators are employing solu- has introduced flexible pay- tions such as customising as-you-go and per campaign preferred network name on the or SIM payment plans mak- screen to a specific plan or even ing OTA services more a user’s personal name. Z-OTA accessible to operators. The can also be used for promotional nonproprietary or open sys- activities wherein retailers can tem will give greater provide discounts based on sub- flexibility to the operator scribers’ location through when selecting SIM card well-timed push messages. vendors and provide easy Commenting on the launch hosting solutions that of the Z-OTA platform Workz include cloud, dedicated CEO Brad Taylor said: “As part secure server, and self-host- of our long-term IoT strategy ing options with the choice we’ve invested in our Z-OTA of self-management or a platform. With the explosion of managed service. connected devices, we’re con- The Z-OTA platform tinuously investing in our offers a range of applications remote provisioning and rout- that allow the remote man- ing to help operators, device agement of value-added manufacturers and service pro- services on the SIM which viders remotely update their include Remote File Man- devices. We’re in a good posi- agement, Remote Applet tion to take advantage of IoT Management, push notifica- developments by offering the tions and management of a strongest, most innovative and WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 HOME 05 Souq Al Haraj still draws Romania's FM receives Qatari ambassador's credentials crowds despite low sales

Amna Pervaiz Rao of Al-Gharib second-hand store The Peninsula Souq Al Haraj told The Peninsula. He further said: “Due to espite the down- The souq stands sluggish sales, our sponsor does swing in business today as a market full not give us an opportunity to and the popularity of shops and staff but bring our family to Doha. Living of social network- without customers without family and struggling is ing sites providing and huge amount of not an easy job but we do it.” Dalternative platforms for sales products. Muhammad Ilyas, a cus- of secondhand goods, the 'flea tomer at the second-hand market' Souq Al Haraj is still The usual bustle is furniture shop said : “I usually attracting a good number of missing thanks to come here on Fridays and Sat- customers. social networking urdays. The flea markets help Being a one-stop-Souq for sites and social media us buying clothes and household anything and everything, it’s items at cheap cost. The rent of which are claiming divided into different sections our accommodation does not most of their roughly clustered together. allow us to buy brand new elec- There’s an area of clothing shops business. tronics, furniture and clothes.” then another lane of little huts The vendors at the market Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Romania Teodor Melescanu (right) filled mainly with piles of tex- say that the name “secondhand receiving a copy of credentials of Abdullah bin Nasser Al Humaidi as Extraordinary and tiles and curtain rods. pay my salesmen monthly. The market” given by the public for Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Qatar to Romania. Romania's Foreign Minister wished The usual bustle, which was rent of the shop increases 10% Souq Haraj will vanish shortly. the Qatari Ambassador success during his mission and the bilateral relations further witnessed at the market only a every year. Due to slump in sales “Sales worth QR3,000 per development and progress. For his part, the ambassador expressed his desire to work few years ago for the presence we face difficulties at the end of day does not help us even pay on developing relations between Qatar and Romania. of a large number of customers, the month but we still manage the rent of our shop. Our local is missing thanks to social net- to prevail along these difficul- old customers buy sofa and cur- working sites and social media ties. In 2014, customers would tains from our shop. We have which are claiming most of their throng the shop all the day long. experienced most dull market business. The souq stands today With the advent of social media, in 2016 in past 15 years,” said as a market full of shops and we have lost all our regular cus- owner of Al Thamar Trading MEC recalls Nissan Tida & Navara staff but without customers and tomers,” Khurshed Alam, owner Store. huge amount of products. If a customer by chance enters the models over airbag defect market, the staffers of the shops rush to him luring him to buy their products in every possible The Peninsula vehicles in Qatar, has and Commerce said that it will way and leaving him confused announced the recall of Nissan coordinate with the dealer to in turn. he Ministry of Economy Tida models of 2007-2013 and follow up on the maintenance However, it was not like that and Commerce announces Nissan Navara models of 2007- and repair works and will com- some years ago. The market Trecall of Nissan Tida 2007- 2008 over a potential defect in municate with customers to located in the heart of the city 2013 models and Nissan Navara the driver’s air bag inflator. ensure that the necessary and being an ideal destination 2007-2008 models over poten- The ministry said the recall repairs are carried out. for “cheap shopping” would wit- tial defect in driver’s airbag campaign comes within the The Ministry has urged all ness intense activity of buyers inflator. framework of its ongoing efforts customers to report any viola- and sellers throughout the day. The Ministry of Economy to protect consumers and ensure tions to its Consumer Protection “I pay QR11,000 rent for this and Commerce, in collaboration that car dealers follow up on and Anti-Commercial Fraud shop. Accommodation rent is with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana vehicle defects and repairs. Department through the follow- also touching sky. Moreover I Customers at the Souq Al Haraj. Company, dealer of Nissan The Ministry of Economy ing channels:

Blood tests to GU-Q alumni extend helping hand to children in Pakistan check birds

The Peninsula low-performing schools in three through cartoons, we also use Continued from page 1 → districts across Pakistan and storytelling to impart lessons of wo Georgetown University found that all the districts empathy, kindness, and emo- There have been in Qatar (GU-Q) alumni are showed improved test scores. tional well-being.” instances of certain highly Tmaking a difference by One district’s results even Because of a crowd funding pathogenic strains causing educating hundreds of children increased by 58 percent due to campaign last year, Orenda was severe respiratory disease in in Pakistan. Their startup, their engagement with the able to expand to reach over 540 humans. Orenda, uses cartoons and dig- programme. students in the country and sur- There is also concern that ital streaming technology to After classrooms were passed their goal of 500 students. the virus could mutate to bring school curriculums to four destroyed as part of the Pakistani They also grew their team from become more easily trans- and five year old children living government’s slum demolition five to 13 members, and pro- missible between humans, in some of the country’s most at- and relocation project over a duced and distributed around raising the possibility of an risk areas. year ago, the entrepreneurs 3,000 Taleemabad text books. influenza pandemic. “The Using relatable cartoon char- switched to a digital curriculum. The books, which were designed government’s move is laud- acters living in an imaginary With the proliferation of mobile to work in conjunction with the able, as the flu is airborne and place called ‘Taleemabad’ (Urdu Internet and smart devices like cartoons, were given to nursery can spread easily. Now with for ‘Education City’) and com- cellphones, students can follow school students in underprivi- the migratory season, birds plementary work books, along at home to avoid falling leged areas to aid their are moving from country to co-founders Haroon Yasin (SFS behind on lessons. learning. country and the flu is also ’15) and Ahwaz Akhtar (SFS ’16) “This curriculum is hosted Building on the success of going with them. Restricting are working to make learning online, from where it can be their work last year, a new cam- import of birds from affected fun and engaging for children either downloaded for offline paign seeks to help the project countries is the only way to who are at risk of dropping out use, or streamed live. This ena- reach students who have no check the spread of the dis- of school. bles us to sidestep the need for access to formal education. ease,” he said. Using data monitoring tech- physical brick-and-mortar These students either dropped Students in Pakistan with the books that accompany Orenda's However, a blood check nology, the Orenda team is able schools, in situations where they out of school early or never of birds at the ports could educational Taleemabad cartoon programme. to observe the performance of cannot be built,” said Yasin. enrolled, and many have been help detect the presence of its students in real time and “Right now, we are teaching displaced due to floods, earth- virus in consignments. “Blood gauge their impact on dropout English, Urdu, mathematics and quakes and war. to schools, and hence are at the designed our digital learning sys- test facility is available in rates. Recently, they launched general knowledge,” he said. “When children are dis- high risk of becoming a lost gen- tem in such a way that any child most ports in the region their programme in eight “Since these subjects are taught placed, they do not have access eration,” said Yasin. “We have can study anywhere.” except in Qatar,” he said. Wathnan Mall celebrates 6th anniversary along with Masskar & Zarabi

The Peninsula while ensuring their children are hav- deal offers which will be announced ing unlimited fun, Masskar has come every day evening, across various sec- athnan Mall, the one and only up with an excellent offer for the first tions from fresh food to electronics, family shopping mall in time in Qatar. In this one of a kind pro- Masskar and Zarabi aim to provide WQatar is celebrating its 6th motion, for every purchase worth world class products at unbelievable anniversary along with Masskar QR500 from Masskar, the customer prices. This is in addition to the month hypermarket & Zarabi department will get a gift voucher worth QR100 end promotions which are running the store. which can be redeemed at Zarabi Masskar & Zarabi. The celebrations which will start Department Stores and a Gift card The management representatives today will extend up to February 6. As worth QR 50 which can be used for also mentioned that significance of a part of the celebration, the manage- games and rides in Wathnan Fun city. retailers like Masskar and Zarabi who ment has planned are various It is for the first time in Qatar that a offer superior quality products with interesting promotions and offers. The hypermarket has offered this kind of reasonable prices are more relevant celebrations will be inaugurated at promotion. now when customers are giving more 7pm on today. As a part of the cele- This is in addition to the “Buy 1 Get importance to wise spending. bration there will exciting Crazy deals 1 Offer” which is running in the Gar- Most of the other shops in the mall Thaha Muhammed, General Manager of Masskar Hypermarket, Ashraf V P, for family customers from 6pm to 10 ments section of Zarabi Department will also join the celebrations by giv- Managing Director of Masskar Hypermarket, and Shamlan Nasser Al Awadhi, pm every day till February 6. Stores. ing exciting offers to their To serve the family customers shop In addition to this, through best customers. Wathnan Mall Executive Manager, at a meet yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017

Damage repair Weapons seized Palestine civic from Gambia ex-leader's home polls on May 13 BANJUL: The west African force deployed in The Gam- bia to secure the nation's presidential transition said Jerusalem No polls after 2006 Monday it had recovered AFP weapons from the former The rival parties leader's home, and arrested a he Palestinian Fatah and Hamas high-ranking Gambian gen- Authority said yester- have not contested eral. Senegalese General day that local Francois Ndiaye, who leads an election since elections delayed last military forces sent by the Eco- 2006 parliamentary October after a spat nomic Community of West Tbetween political factions will polls, which the latter African States (ECOWAS), said now take place in the West won — sparking a the arms and ammunition were Bank and Gaza on May 13. conflict that led to found at ex-president Yahya The Islamist Hamas move- near civil war in Gaza Jammeh's private residence in ment which controls the Gaza the following year. his home village of Kanilai. Strip has been at odds with Jammeh left the country after president Mahmud Abbas' refusing for weeks to recognise Fatah party over the organisa- The delay was sparked by his electoral defeat to Adama tion of their first competitive the disqualification of a number Workers repair the damage in front of Aleppo's historic citadel, as posters depicting Syria's Barrow, who returned to The polls in a decade. of Fatah candidates in Gaza by President Bashar Al Assad are erected in the Old City of Aleppo, yesterday. Gambia as president from Sen- "Today, at a regular meet- the courts there. egal this week. ing, the council of ministers Shortly afterwards rival "All the weapons and ammu- decided to hold elections on courts in the West Bank labelled nitions are now under May 13, to be held in the West the ruling unlawful, and said the ECOWAS custody. So nothing Bank and Gaza," local govern- elections would go ahead only in Turkey arrests two pro-Kurd will happen there," Ndiaye said. ment minister Hussein Al Araj the West Bank -- prompting the "The situation is under con- said. government to postpone them. trol." He added that since the The rival parties have not Fatah and Hamas traded blame party MPs in crackdown Kanilai residence is private, contested an election since over the delay. "There shouldn't be any mil- 2006 parliamentary polls, Salem Barahmeh, a Pales- itary there. which Hamas won — spark- tinian commentator, said if Istanbul The state-run Anadolu news you cannot turn down the vol- ing a conflict that led to near Hamas wanted to the group AFP agency reported that he was ume of 'NO,'" the HDP wrote on civil war in Gaza the follow- could prevent the elections arrested on charges of "mem- its Twitter account. Congo crew die ing year. from taking place in Gaza. urkey arrested two MPs bership in an armed terror The arrests raised the Reconciliation attempts The 2012 municipal elec- from the main pro-Kurd- organisation." number of HDP MPs behind bars after rebel torture have repeatedly failed, and tions were held only in the West Tish party yesterday, Another prominent HDP law- on terror charges to 12, includ- Hamas boycotted the most Bank. including its chief spokesman, maker, its legal expert Meral ing the party's co-chairs KINSHASA: The Congolese recent municipal elections in "For elections to happen in the latest move in a crackdown Danis Bestas, was also placed Selahattin Demirtas and Figen army said armed fighters 2012. Hamas rejected the both Gaza and the West Bank on the group ahead of a vote on under arrest after being detained Yuksekdag. The party holds 59 belonging to the former M23 announcement. Spokesman needs the approval of both changing the constitution. at her home in Diyarbakir. But the of the 550 seats in parliament. rebel group had captured four Fawzy Barhoum said in a state- Fatah and Hamas," Barahmeh Ayhan Bilgen -- spokesman party said Bilgen's arrest was Bilgen had become the pub- crew members of a military ment it "strengthens divisions said. Hamas, labelled a terror- for the Peoples' Democratic meant to prevent the HDP from lic face of the party in the helicopter which crashed in and serves Fatah politically." ist organisation by the United Party (HDP) and an MP repre- campaigning against constitu- absence of the co-leaders. Turk- eastern Democratic Repub- "Any upcoming elections States and European Union, senting the eastern province of tional changes that would ish prosecutors are demanding lic of Congo last week, and must be part of a reconcilia- said before the elections were Kars -- was remanded in cus- dramatically expand President up to 142 years in prison for that three died after being tion," he added. delayed it would not submit tody ahead of trial after he was Recep Tayyip Erdogan's pow- Demirtas on charges of links to tortured. The crew members The elections will choose candidates itself, instead sup- detained by police at an Ankara ers in a referendum set for April. the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' had been seized alive and municipal councils in some 416 porting lists of hopefuls not airport on Sunday and taken to "The arrest of our party Party (PKK), which has waged a handed over to the M23 cities and towns in Gaza and the officially linked to the the Kurdish-majority city of spokesman Ayhan Bilgen is to bloody insurgency against the movement’s military chief, Israeli-occupied West Bank. movement. Diyarbakir in the southeast. block our referendum work but Turkish state since 1984. Sultani Makenga, the army’s General Leon Mushale told reporters in the eastern city of Goma. A representative of M23’s political wing based in Israeli Jews born in US travel ban countries exempted Uganda denied its fighters were in Congo. Jerusalem Iran and 53,000 from Iraq, Pistorius prosecutor AFP according to official statistics. Iraq will not retaliate against visa ban: PM The majority are now over Gerrie Nel resigns sraeli Jews born in the seven the age of 65. Their Israeli pass- countries included under US ports say where they were born Baghdad Iraqi parliament’s vote in favour US troops are deployed in Iraq. IPresident Donald Trump's but most do not still have the Reuters of retaliation, Abadi said: “We However, Abadi said that JOHANNESBURG: South travel restrictions will not be nationality of their country of will not do anything of the sort.” Trump's travel ban that pre- African prosecutor Gerrie Nel, banned from America, the coun- birth. The Israeli government IRAQ will not retaliate to US “We are studying (possible) vents Iraqis from entering the who came to worldwide try's embassy in Tel Aviv said had been seeking clarification as President Donald Trump’s travel decisions but we are in a battle United States punishes people attention for securing the yesterday. to whether they were included ban against Iraqi nationals and we don’t want to harm the who are "fighting terrorism. murder conviction of Oscar The executive order signed in the ban. because it does not want to lose national interest,” he added. "You come to the victim to Pistorius, has resigned to join on Friday banned nationals of "If you have a currently valid Washington’s cooperation in the The United States provides hold him accountable, to the a lobby group. Nel's forensic seven mainly Muslim countries US visa in your Israeli passport war on Islamic State, Prime Min- critical air and ground support people who are sacrificing, who questioning and ferocious from the Middle East and Africa and were born in Iraq, Iran, ister Haider Al Abadi said. to Iraqi troops fighting the mil- are fighting terrorism, to pun- style attracted global interest for 90 days but has sparked Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or When asked at a news con- itants who overran a third of ish them," the Iraqi leader said, as the so-called "blade run- confusion in its interpretation. Yemen, and do not have a valid ference if he would act on the Iraq in 2014. More than 5,000 in his first reaction to the ban. ner" trial was broadcast Israel is home to around 140,000 passport from one of these coun- around the world after dou- people born in the seven coun- tries, your visa was not cancelled ble amputee Pistorius shot tries covered by the decree, and remains valid," a US continue to process visa appli- those countries, so long as passport from one of those dead his girlfriend Reeva including about 45,000 from embassy statement said. "We cations for applicants born in they do not have a valid countries," it added. Steenkamp.

IS claims killing and wounding 20 Iran warns US against creating tensions over missiles Egyptian troops Tehran United Nations resolutions because they CAIRO: The Islamic State (IS) AFP are for defence purposes and not designed group in Egypt claimed yester- to carry nuclear warheads. day that its fighters killed and ran yesterday warned the United States "We have always declared that we will wounded 20 Egyptian soldiers against fuelling tensions over its bal- never use our weapons against others in four days of clashes in north- Ilistic missile tests as the UN Security except in our defence," Zarif added. ern Sinai. Council prepared for urgent talks on the And he slammed the new US admin- In a statement posted on a issue at Washington's request. istration's "shameful act of denying entry pro-IS website, the Egyptian The row comes against a backdrop of to people holding legal visas" for the affiliate of the militant group already-strained relations over US Pres- United States. Speaking at the same news said the fighting took place ident Donald Trump's travel ban on conference, Ayrault said France had made south of the coastal city of Al citizens from Iran and six other Muslim- clear its disquiet over the missile tests. Arish and that the militants also majority countries. The European Union, "France has expressed its concern at destroyed two tanks, a Humvee which helped broker a landmark nuclear Iran's continuation of its ballistic missile and two other military vehicles. deal between major powers and Iran, tests on several occasions," he said. There was no immediate appealed to Tehran to refrain from activ- He said the continued tests are "con- comment from the Egyptian ities such as the missile tests "which trary to the spirit" of the Security Council government on the claim, and deepen mistrust". resolution on the nuclear deal struck in the restive area of the Sinai But the diplomatic push by the West Iranian President Hassan Rowhani with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc 2015 in the Austrian capital, and "ham- Peninsula is off limits to the quickly ran into trouble as Russia said a Ayrault in Tehran, yesterday. per the process of restoring the media. Security forces have missile test would not breach a UN reso- confidence established by the Vienna been battling IS-led militants lution on Iran's nuclear programme. Syria. Trump has sharply criticised the new US administration... as a pretext to agreement." in Sinai for years, but the insur- Moscow, which is fighting alongside nuclear deal that led to a lifting of inter- create new tensions," Iran's Foreign Min- Washington called for the emergency gency has grown deadlier and Tehran's forces in Syria, said the demand national sanctions against Iran, which ister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a UN meeting after a request by Israel which more widespread since the for emergency talks at the Security Coun- used the occasion of a visit by France's news conference with Jean-Marc Ayrault. said the missile test violated UN resolu- 2013 ouster by the military of cil was aimed at "heating up the situation". foreign minister to express its discontent Tehran has neither confirmed nor tions that bar Iran from launching ballistic former president, Mohammed Diplomats said the Security Council talks with Washington. "We hope that Iran's denied firing any missiles at the week- missiles that could have a nuclear Mursi. on Iran would be held after a meeting on defence programme is not used by the end. Iran says its missiles do not breach capability. WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 ASIA 07 Thai official US & South Korea agree to deploy THAAD quits over Anti-missile system Seoul Min-Koo reaffirmed the plan in The two ministers also capabilities and has slapped a painting theft AFP a phone conversation, Seoul's warned that the North may stage series of measures seen by Seoul US and South Korea defence ministry said, days armed provocations at times of as economic retaliation. defence chiefs outh Korea's defence before Mattis visits Asia. power transitions in the South It also sparked angry pro- Bangkok agreed on "a need... chief and his new US How the incoming adminis- and the US. tests from residents of the area AFP to push ahead with counterpart vowed yes- tration of President Donald Their conversation came chosen to host the powerful mis- the deployment of terday to push ahead Trump will approach the region after Trump and South Korea's sile system, with several South A THAI official caught on the THAAD as with a plan to deploy a has raised worries in South acting president Hwang Kyo- Korean presidential hopefuls camera drunkenly stealing planned". SUS anti-missile system this year, Korea and Japan, both of them Ahn agreed to strengthen their vowing to scrap the plan if paintings from a Japanese Seoul's military said, despite longstanding US allies. joint defence capabilities, but elected. hotel said he will resign, after angry protests by China. During his campaign, Trump with the White House's official Mattis, during his first over- causing intense diplomatic The THAAD plan has The two allies last year threatened to withdraw US statement making no specific seas tour since taking office this embarrassment for Bangkok. infuriated China, announced the plan to deploy forces from the two countries if reference to THAAD. month, visits South Korea from News of the sticky-fin- which fears it will the Terminal High Altitude Area they did not step up their finan- The North's leader Kim Jong- tomorrow to Friday before fly- gered bureaucrat's failed heist undermine its own Defense (THAAD) system follow- cial support for their defence. Un boasted early this month that ing to Japan. first emerged last week when ballistic capabilities ing a series of atomic and missile Mattis and Han voiced grave the country was in the "final He is expected to meet with Japanese media reported that and has slapped a tests by nuclear-armed North concern over growing threats stages" of developing an inter- Han as well as Hwang, who has the official had been arrested series of measures Korea. from North and agreed on "a continental ballistic missile. been serving as acting head of trying to lift three paintings seen by Seoul as New US Defence Secretary need...to push ahead with the The THAAD plan has infuri- state since parliament from a hotel in Kyoto. economic retaliation. James Mattis and his South deployment of the THAAD as ated China, which fears it will impeached President Park Hotel staff noticed the Korean counterpart Han planned", the ministry said. undermine its own ballistic Geun-Hye last month. paintings -- worth around $125 -- were missing, checked the building's CCTV and swiftly identified the culprit, Suphat Saguandeekul, a 60-year-old Colourful performance official with Thailand's Com- Japan 'space junk' merce Ministry. Suphat -- who is deputy director of the Department of collector in trouble Intellectual Property, tasked with trying to roll back Thai- Tokyo Space exploration land's reputation as a AFP counterfeit hub -- was JAXA is not sure if promptly arrested and n experimental 'space the tether, made charged with theft. junk' collector from thin wires of "After I finished my mis- Adesigned to pull rub- stainless steel and sion in Japan I met with some bish from the Earth's orbit has aluminium, university friends. We were run into trouble, Japanese sci- successfully drunk and I unconsciously entists said yesterday, deployed or not. and unintentionally commit- potentially a new embarrass- ted an inappropriate act," he ment for Tokyo's high-tech said in his resignation letter. programme. national Space Station. Suphat, who had Over 100 million pieces But JAXA says it is not extended his stay in Japan of garbage are thought to be sure if the tether, made from after a government trip to whizzing around the planet, thin wires of stainless steel Osaka, added he was "pro- including cast-off equipment and aluminium, successfully foundly sorry" in the letter from old satellites and bits of deployed or not. sent to media. rocket, which experts say JAXA will continue trying In his return home the pose a growing threat to to remedy the situation Commerce Ministry initially Performers take part in a lion dance show as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations future space exploration. before the cargo ship is announced he would be Scientists at the Japan expected to reenter the of the Year of the Rooster, in Hong Kong, yesterday. "transferred" to a new role Aerospace Exploration atmosphere on Saturday, the pending an investigation. Agency (JAXA) are testing an agency added. electrodynamic 'tether' to The trouble comes just slow the junk down and bring two weeks after JAXA had to it into a lower orbit. abort a mission intended to The hope was that the use a mini-rocket to send a Over 100 refugees in Bangkok cut off by Trump clutter -- built up after more satellite into orbit after the than five decades of human spacecraft stopped sending Bangkok unleashed chaos and confusion Bangkok, the capital of a coun- "We have a couple hundred space exploration -- would data to ground control shortly AFP across the globe after it abruptly try whose porous borders and refugees who were supposed to enter the Earth's atmosphere after liftoff. suspended all refugee arrivals for air links draw refugees from go the US" over the next 120 and burn up harmlessly long A pricey ultra-high-tech ore than 100 refugees, 120 days, with Syrian refugees around the globe yet does not days," Jennifer Bose of UN refu- before it has a chance to crash satellite launched in Febru- including a teenager barred indefinitely. recognise the right to asylum. gee agency in Thailand said to the planet. ary last year to search for Mwho had been on the The United Nations' refugee Thailand does not differen- yesterday. About 700 metres in X-rays emanating from verge of reuniting with his agency UNHCR estimates that tiate between illegal immigrants They hail from strife-torn length, the tether was due to black holes and galaxy clus- mother, have been left in limbo more than 20,000 people and refugees, leaving asylum- countries around the globe and be extended out from a ters but was ultimately in Bangkok by US President worldwide were slated to be seekers vulnerable to arrest and include a teenage boy who is cargo ship launched in abandoned after research- Donald Trump's refugee reset- resettled in the US during that deportation as they endure being held in a detention cell and December carrying supplies ers said contact with it had tlement freeze, a UN official said. window. years-long vetting processes for was set to join his mother and for astronauts at the Inter- been lost. The widely condemned order Among them are more than resettlement in third party relatives in the US in the com- signed by Trump on Friday 100 living in the shadows in countries. ing weeks.

Cambodian PM demands $1m from exiled leader NEWS BYTES

Phnom Penh Malaysia arrests 3 over terror link AFP KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities have arrested three men for suspected links with the Islamic State militant group, ambodian prime minister police said yesterday. Hun Sen yesterday threat- Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the Cened to seize the property suspects were detained in three separate raids from Janu- of opposition leader Sam Rainsy ary 27 to 29. Police also confiscated a shotgun and an air rifle. and sell the party's headquar- Khalid did not identify the suspects but said one of them, a ters if he wins a defamation case 38-year-old Malaysian, had posted a plan to carry out a bomb against the exiled politician. attack in Kuala Lumpur, on his Facebook page. The $1m lawsuit is the latest in a string of legal cases target- ing Cambodian opposition Seoul unveils history textbooks leaders trying to break Hun Sen's 32-year grip on power. SEOUL: South Korea's government yesterday unveiled the Rights groups say the strong- final version of state-issued school history textbooks despite man is trying to keep his criticism that they are a throwback to the authoritarian past. opponents under pressure ahead The education ministry published middle and high school of local elections this year and a history textbooks even as parliament is moving to ban their use. general election in 2018. Legislators say they glorify the dictatorship of Park Chung-Hee. Hun Sen filed the latest def- "We need to establish a historical perception that will amation case against top foe encourage positive views about our own history," vice edu- Rainsy after he accused the pre- cation minister Lee Young said. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks during parliament at the National Assembly mier of bribery in a speech building, in Phnom Penh, yesterday. several weeks ago. "I am waiting for the verdict Chinese tycoon abducted in HK to be finalised. This time, I will "frozen... and sold". Yesterday, Hun Sen also Responding on Twitter, take money...I am demanding The money would be used proposed amending a political Rainsy sought to brand Hun HONG KONG: A Chinese billionaire has been abducted in $1m," the premier said during a to build houses for handicapped party law to bar convicts from Sen's threats as signs that he was Hong Kong by mainland agents, according to reports Tyester- parliamentary session. people, he added. serving as party leaders -- a "panicking" ahead of looming day, triggering more concerns over security in the city after "I heard the party's head- Rainsy, who currently lives clear dig at Rainsy and his Cam- elections. the disappearance of five booksellers. quarters is registered under the in France and faces several law- bodia National Rescue Party "Hun Sen can no longer Financier Xiao Jianhua, founder of Beijing-based Tomor- name of Sam Rainsy, so the par- suits, was sentenced to five years (CNRP). appeal to electorate, so person- row Group, was staying long-term at Hong Kong's luxury Four ty's headquarters will be in prison in December over a The premier's ruling party ally hounds me, as symbol of Seasons hotel, according to reports. auctioned," he told the assem- post on his Facebook page, a also voted to strip the CNRP's resistance to autocratic, corrupt Xiao was led away from an apartment at the hotel by Chi- bly, adding that the politician's conviction that makes his return acting head Kem Sokha of his power," the opposition leader nese security agents, the Financial Times reported. personal property would also be from self-imposed exile unlikely. title of minority leader. wrote. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

EDITORIAL

Quebec shooting he attack at a Quebec City mosque in Canada during evening prayers is another chilling reminder that terrorism can raise its ugly head at the most unexpected of places. On Sunday night, a man dressed in People versus foreign policies — Tblack, with his face covered, burst into the Islamic cultural centre when people were praying and began shooting. Six people were confirmed dead with many others injured, including five in critical condition. Canada was in shock. The entire nation condemned policy standoff in the US the dastardly attack. There were outpourings of grief and expressions of solidarity with the victims in a country which is known for its harmony and peace. message to president Trump regarding embolden a new global civil activism Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27-year-old student in his intentions to reverse certain gains recently established and is sure to Thembisa Fakude the social sciences faculty at Laval University, was regarding women’s rights in the US and invite protests wherever he travels Al Jazeera arrested and charged with six counts of first degree around the world. around the world. murder and also faces five charges of attempted Secondly the impromptu demonstra- Contrary to Trumps promise of murder.Bissonnette was described as a staunch tions over the weekend at different “making America great again”, it has supporter of US President Donald Trump, and had airports across the US regarding the been the ordinary Americans, those that denigrated refugees and expressed support for ver the years the US has been detention of certain travellers also have taken to the streets that are making Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right Front complicit and indicted in creating revealed a different America. The deten- America great again. National. The timing of the attack adds to the current global political chaos, the US has tion of travellers came after the signing The solidarity marches that have atmosphere of tension because it came when Trump been implicated in the assassina- of the Extreme Vetting executive order taken place so far have exposed the is stoking anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim feelings tions of political leaders and by Donald Trump of citizens and pass- other side of the US. American are refus- Osponsoring coups against democratically port holders of 7 Muslim majority ing to have their destiny and image by imposing a travel ban on people from seven Muslim countries. elected governments in various countries. countries from entering the US. The determined by unguided foreign policies Canada is one of the few countries in the western Over the years the US has been com- countries concerned are Syria, Sudan, which have over the years represented world where the scourge of racism and divisions on plicit and indicted in creating global political Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Somalia. Americans abroad. chaos, the US has been implicated in the Donald Trump’s swift executive The protests will hopefully help the basis of colour, assassinations of political leaders and spon- orders have triggered a new form of civil bridge the gap between those adversely ethnicity or religion soring coups against democratically elected activism in the US. Trump seems set to affected by Trump’s executive orders haven’t raised their head, governments in various countries. implement what he promised his sup- and the ordinary Americans who want to and where social The death of Patrick Lumumba, the porters during the presidential maintain a positive image of their The Quebec cohesion, unity and mosque shooting former Prime Minister of Zaire was attributed campaign. He has disappointed many homeland. harmony, helped by a to the US. Robert Johnson who was a minute who thought his inflammatory rhetoric Most importantly, the current soli- is an attack on lack of discrimination, taker of the US National Security Council during the presidential darity protests could create a special all Canadians, have made it nearly revealed in 2000 during an interview that US campaign was a mere bond and a new forms of solidarity and the nation impossible for terrorists President Eisenhower had said to the Central empty talk. between the Americans and the people to spread their tentacles. is united against Agency Intelligence (CIA) Chief Allen Dulles However his of the world particularly those in the “An attack on any something to the effect that Lumumba should actions as the presi- Middle East. Those who have been vehe- terrorism. Canadian, simply for be eliminated. It has also been established as dent are most likely to mently against the controversial orders exercising their a matter of fact that the US invaded Iraq of Donald Trump have been ordinary constitutional right to live based on shaky intelligence, driven by “greed Americans. according to the dictates and hatred”. Contrary to Trumps It is hoped that their actions will of their conscience, or The invasion of Iraq is arguably the source be replicated by others around the because they trace their ancestry to one part of the of the current political chaos in the Middle promise of “making world and subsequently form a new world and not another, is an attack on all East. There are many other examples which America great again”, it global movement against, bigotry, Canadians,” wrote The Globe and Mail. feed into the criticisms of the US foreign pol- has been the ordinary racism, xenophobia and religious This terrorism comes from the other side, once icy. The one-sided view and “blind support of Americans, those that intolerance. again proving that terrorism has no religion or faith. Israel “ and the invasion of Afghanistan has Finally it is hoped that the new The world must realise that more than any specific also added to the criticisms and weariness of have taken to the streets movement will foster human solidarity faith or religion pushing its adherents to kill others, the US and its foreign policy. that are making America and emphasise the point that it is the it’s always the fanaticism and hatred inherent in a Consequently the US foreign policy fea- great again. The solidarity people who should influence their for- person that prods him to kill, in the process leaning ture prominently in many conspiracy marches that have taken eign policy and that elections are not the theories. This has led to heightened hatred of end of civic duty. on a religion or ideology to justify the murderous place so far have exposed acts. Americans and to their legitimisation as tar- The brazen attack has left the Muslim community gets by many terrorist organisations around the other side of the US. The writer is a Researcher at Al Jazeera in Canada reeling, but the support which the the world. The US foreign policy has managed Center for Studies. community has received from the government and to camouflage the true views of the Ameri- fellow Canadians is heartening. Justin Trudeau is a cans on matters of civil liberties and their prime minister who has won hearts for standing up detestation of destructive foreign policies for the rights of immigrants and minorities. He even executed by their government. This has been offered temporary residency to those affected by furthered by the lack of condemnation by the Americans of destructive foreign policy pur- Trump’s Muslim travel ban. sued on their behalf by their government over Fanatics like Bissonnette have no place in the years. Canada. His murderous attack will only unite The election of Donald Trump has brought Canadians against terrorism. bigotry, racism, and xenophobia into main- stream in the US. This advent will test the democratic shock absorbers of the US. The democratic institutions do need to be tested QUOTE OF THE DAY now and then. The stability which have been brought by various administrations has introduced an element of complacency in the US until Germany is a country recently. There have been a number of reports which suggest that the recent orders that has always called by Trump particularly on migration might for the European Central alienate the Americans abroad. However Bank to pursue an what has happened has been the opposite, independent policy, just Trump’s actions have triggered a backlash which has revealed an America which is as the Bundesbank did rarely seen around the world. There has been that before the euro protests around the US. existed. The women march in Washington and in other major cities across the US on January 21, a day after the inauguration of President Don- People participate in a protest against President Donald Trump’s travel ban at Angela Merkel ald Trump were the first revelation. Women German Chancellor from all walks of life had a very strong Columbia University in New York City. WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 OPINION 09 Taking west Mosul: A bridge too far?

the river. The ISF could redeploy to Tallha Abdulrazaq areas around Tal Afar, about 60km Al Jazeera west of Mosul, and press on to the city from there. This would force ISIL to contemplate an assault coming from across the Tigris, as well as a land assault from the he battle for Mosul has now entered its 15th west. week. The Iraqi Security Forces are still This, however, would involve consolidating their gains made on the east- close coordination with the Popular ern bank of the River Tigris that divides the Mobilisation Forces, a predomi- city, now the Islamic State of Iraq and the nantly Shia paramilitary force TLevant (ISIL) group’s last major urban stronghold in accused by groups such as Amnesty Iraq. Pockets of resistance still exist in areas closest International of perpetrating war to the northeastern bank, such as in Rashidiya and crimes against the Sunni Arab pop- Shraikhan, but Iraqi forces are now certainly looking ulation. The political implications to begin pushing ISIL out of west Mosul. But what will of their use in Sunni Arab-domi- be the cost? nated Mosul could be dire, In many ways, the urban fighting for Iraq’s sec- especially considering their docu- ond largest city resembles an operation that a mented human rights abuses. different Iraqi army undertook almost four decades However, Iraqi forces breach ago. In the opening days of the Iran-Iraq war, the western Mosul, it will largely be an Iraqi army was ordered to take the city of Muham- infantry fight. The old city of Mosul mara, known as Khorramshahr to the Iranians. is filled with narrow streets that The operation, known as the battle of Muham- prevent extensive use of armour mara in Iraq, was eventually successful, but it had and limit their manoeuvrability, such bloody street-to-street fighting that it deci- which will probably result in heavy mated the Iraqi special forces, taking them years to casualties by the time operations recover. conclude sometime in the spring. Iraqi children gather to receive aid in Rashidiya, north of Mosul. Though Muhammara — a smaller city than Mosul ISIL has been preparing for this - took the Iraqi army only a month and a half to cap- fight for years, and has turned ture, the similarities between that battle and the senior US military commanders, however, reveal This then leads us to the question of how Iraq Mosul into a death-trap. Squeezing ongoing operation in Mosul are stark. that the CTS have been badly mauled over the past intends to capture western Mosul, believed to be it out of Mosul and ending its bar- In the battle for Mosul, Iraq has been heavily reli- three months, with its veteran battalions “suffering even more heavily defended than the eastern side, barous self-declared caliphate will ant on its most elite unit, the Counter Terrorism upwards of 50 percent casualties”. which is also still not completely under Iraqi control. not come cheaply, and will perhaps Service (CTS), which has been trained and equipped Similarly, authorities in Baghdad have refused to Reaching the Tigris should not be seen as a “halfway be the most defining battle in Iraq by the United States. CTS units spearheaded the release casualty figures, and even lashed out at the mark”, as war is rarely a linear affair, and retaking following the US-led invasion in operation and were the first to breach the boundaries United Nations for releasing figures that seemed to the western half could be even harder than the east- 2003. of east Mosul. Recent reports and interviews with confirm ISIL’s own estimates for the first month of ern bank. combat. According to ISIL, the Iraqi military, which To prevent ISIL reinforcements from moving Tallha Abdulrazaq is a researcher at has amassed 100,000 men in this US-backed opera- between the western and eastern banks of the Tigris, the University of Exeter’s Strategy and tion, could have suffered losses close to 6,500 men US warplanes bombed Mosul’s five bridges, taking Security Institute and winner of the ISIL has been preparing by now. them all out of action. This means that ISF sappers 2015 Al Jazeera Young Researcher for this fight for years, and There is, of course, no way to fully verify ISIL’s would have to build temporary bridges to facilitate Award. claims that are probably exaggerated for propaganda the movement of men and materiel across the river. has turned Mosul into a purposes. However, and in conjunction with the To do this, they would have to contend with ISIL death-trap. Squeezing it statements of US commanders as well as the UN’s artillery fire, snipers and assaults against any troops out of Mosul and ending own figures, it is for certain that the Iraqi Security attempting to land on the eastern bank of the river. its barbarous self-declared Forces, or ISF, have suffered devastating losses Any bridging attempts would thus involve push- against a well-entrenched, determined and wily ing as many men across to overwhelm ISIL’s ability caliphate will not come adversary. to counter, which would be extremely costly in lives. D-RING ROAD cheaply, and will perhaps As such, it is perhaps understandable that the The ISF could also secure bridgeheads by sending POST BOX: 3488 be the most defining battle Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi failed to realise marines across by boat, or dropping paratroopers in his promise of recapturing Mosul from ISIL by the by air to disrupt ISIL defences as the troops cross, but DOHA - QATAR in Iraq following the US-led end of 2016, and has now stated that this may not both these methods would also be costly. [email protected] invasion in 2003. happen until the spring of this year. A further option would be to squeeze ISIL, also Iraq’s military options known as ISIS, between the city’s western edges and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 FAX: +974 4455 7758 Trump is recklessly reversing US progress in Iraq MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4462 7505

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Then comes the executive order itself. TEL: 4455 7769 John Allen & Michael O’Hanlone Trump’s travel ban was responded to over the The Washington Post weekend by the Iraqi parliament, many of its members already upset by Trump’s proposed LOCAL NEWS SECTION shift of the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv TEL: 4455 7743 hough he campaigned with the to Jerusalem. The presence of our 6,000 troops urgent goal of defeating the helping Iraqi forces in the fight against the BUSINESS NEWS SECTION Islamic State and reasserting Islamic State could be imperiled. US officials TEL: 4462 7535 American greatness, President report that Trump’s travel ban and his call for Donald Trump has embarked on seizing the oil fields have severely undercut the SPORT NEWS SECTION Ta policy that could in fact lead to the loss of credibility of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al TEL: 4455 7745 US influence in Iraq and the worsening of Abadi and could cause his government to fall. the Sunni-Shiite divide there. There is no telling what could come after ONLINE SECTION Whatever happens in the short term in Abadi, but with the critical Mosul battle TEL: 4462 7501 the fight to liberate Mosul and other parts reaching the final furlong, Iraqi Shiite leaders [email protected] of the country from the Islamic State, this may decide they can clear all that remains of policy could lay the groundwork for the the Islamic State from Iraq without US help, PUBLIC RELATIONS emergence of another similar Salafist leaning instead on Iran and Russia — as they’ve group there. seen occur in Syria. This may not work. Even if TEL: 4455 7613 Trump would have taken us backward, it does, it is exactly what many of the Shiite [email protected] not forward, in the fight against terrorism US soldiers monitor as they train Iraq’s 72nd Brigade in a Iraqi nationalists have wanted all along. A and seriously eroded our role in a key live-fire exercise. tactical success against the Islamic State could, ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Arab state that so many Americans gave so as noted, immediately begin to sow the ground TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 much to free and then to help stabilise for the return of a future extremist, Salafist FAX: 4455 7870 under two presidents. campaign, and Flynn’s book, are widely known. They help to create a force given the likely resentment among Sunnis [email protected] The immediate cause of our concern is highly combustible atmosphere in which new decisions such as last that would ensue. It does not end there. Iran the executive order Friday that prevented week’s executive order will be interpreted. This bell cannot be also says it will retaliate against the United CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT the movement of most Iraqis to the United unrung without determined outreach by the White House to Muslims States for the travel ban. At a practical level, TEL: 4455 7857 States — including some who served and in the United States and around the world. this could easily play out in Iran simply [email protected] sacrificed alongside US forces in the war Second was Trump resurfacing his position last week that the unleashing the extremist Shiite militias to there — along with citizens of six other United States should seize Iraqi oil because it underwrote the Islamic attack Americans in Iraq. SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION nations in the region. But in fact the State’s war-making capabilities. He is apparently tone-deaf to the At the very moment that Trump has sought TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 problem is broader and deeper. global reaction to this kind of “to the victor goes the spoils” talk, to up the game against the Islamic State, his FAX: 44557819 First, there were the frequent whiffs of much less the Iraqi reaction. words and actions treat Iraq and Iraqis as Islamophobia from the Trump campaign Moreover, on the specifics of the argument, Trump is incorrect. though they’re irrelevant to the defeat of this [email protected] and national security adviser Michael Iraqi oil fields contributed almost nothing to the Islamic State’s organisation. Indeed, the worst blows Flynn’s harsh critiques of Islam. Both revenue stream, as the vast majority of oil-related funds have come potentially preventing the defeat of the Islamic Trump and Flynn are using more from Syrian fields, and in particular sales of oil back to the regime of State have been landed by Trump himself and All thoughts and views moderate rhetoric now — and the more Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Moreover, pillage (this is the legal could lead to the end of the US mission and expressed in these columns moderate words may in fact reflect their term for it) of Iraqi oil is simply illegal under international law. Last American influence there. true attitudes. week, Iraqis were furious over this repeated call by Trump, with For all the ups and downs in Iraq over the are those of the writers, not Certainly, in working with Flynn over some even girding themselves to fight to defend their sovereign past 14 years, we do currently have a friendly of the newspaper. the years, neither of us saw Islamophobia natural resource. If Trump decided to literally seize the oil, the US government of national unity (more or less) in in his thinking when he was in uniform. troop requirements would be more akin to the large Iraq and Iraq right now, and it is controlling most of its All correspondence Indeed, his measured analysis of the Afghanistan operations of years past than the much more sustainable own territory against various extremist forces regarding Views and Salafist threat made important troop levels that characterise our Mideast presence today. One thing while gradually restoring stability to the nation. Opinion pages should be contributions to the defeat of Al Qaeda in such a mission would likely manage to do, beyond utterly inflaming All of that is now at new acute risk not from the Iraq and in our operations against the the region, is unite Iraqis in a common cause heretofore elusive: Islamic State, Syria or Moscow, but from mailed to the Taliban. But the harsher words from the We’d be fighting Sunnis, Shias and Kurds all at once. Washington. [email protected] 10 ASIA WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 Pakistan backs peace Palestinian Embassy opens in Islamabad bid in Afghanistan

Karachi Peace and stability government, and the Taliban in Anatolia Islamabad in July 2015, but the We fully support the process broke down after Tali- akistan yesterday reit- Afghan-led ban announced the death of erated its support for reconciliation process their long-term leader Mullah peace in neighboring aimed at bringing Omer triggering a bitter power Afghanistan saying peace and tranquility struggle within the militia. this was also in Islam- to Afghanistan, which Chance for resumption of the Pabad's interest. equally suits and stalled process went further dim "We fully support the Afghan- benefits Pakistan: following the death of Mullah led reconciliation process aimed Official. Omer’s successor, Mullah Mansur at bringing peace and tranquility last year on Pakistan’s side near to Afghanistan, which equally border with Afghanistan. suits and benefits Pakistan," Major Pakistan also wanted General Ghafoor also com- General Asif Ghafoor, the newly the longstanding mented on the relations with appointed spokesman for Paki- Kashmir dispute with India, saying Islamabad would stani army said. India to be solved never initiate war with its long- Rejecting claims from some according to UN time rival, however it would Afghan officials accusing Islam- resolutions. fully respond to any "misadven- abad of exporting terrorism to ture" from New Delhi. Afghanistan, Ghafoor talked "Our wish for peace should about "a handful of elements country," he said, adding his not be taken as a weakness. who do not want good relations country wished peace and sta- Pakistan’s armed forces are fully between the two countries." bility in Afghanistan so that over geared to respond to any aggres- "That’s why they have been 1.3 million Afghan refugees sion by India," he said adding engaged in a blame-game." could return to homeland. that his country wanted the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (centre) and Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz "I once again assure that Pakistan brokered the land- longstanding Kashmir dispute Sharif cut a ribbon at the opening of the Palestinian Embassy in Islamabad, yesterday. Pakistan will never allow any- mark first round of direct talks with India to be solved accord- one to use its soil against any between the fragile Afghan ing to UN resolutions. Philippines seeks China Duterte pulls police off war on drugs

help over sea kidnappings Manila said during a speech to present AFP military awards at the presi- President's appeal needed," he said, an apparent dential palace. reference to warships. hilippine President Rod- "No policemen in this coun- I also asked China if "I said even coast guard rigo Duterte said try anywhere is allowed to they can patrol the cutters would do, just to patrol, Pyesterday he had ordered enforce laws related to the drug international waters like what they did in all police to stop prosecuting his campaign." without necessarily Somalia." deadly war on drugs as he Duterte said then he intruding into the Manila has said militant sought to cleanse the force of planned to "cleanse" the police territorial waters of groups are trying to establish widespread corruption. force before allowing it to countries: Duterte. an Islamic State-backed However, the crackdown, return to the drug war front- caliphate in Southeast Asia that which has seen more than lines, while in the meantime the would include the Philippines' 6,000 people killed in seven drug enforcement agency Manila southern island of Mindanao. months, was set to continue, would take the lead with the AFP Duterte pointedly made his with Duterte ordering the mil- support of the military. appeal for help to China rather itary and a drug enforcement Amnesty International said resident Rodrigo Duterte than the United States, which agency under his office to carry it expected the killings to con- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during the oathtaking said yesterday he has has traditionally been the coun- on. tinue regardless of Duterte's Pasked China to send sea try's main defence ally. ceremony for newly appointed generals of the Armed Forces of "I have ordered the police decision to pull police off the patrols to help stop Islamist Since his election last year, the Philippines at the Presidential Palace in Manila, yesterday. to stop all operations," Duterte drug war. militants abducting sailors and Duterte has responded to US attacking vessels off the south- criticism of his deadly war on ern Philippines. crime by pivoting away from Duterte said he would like America and moving closer to Afghan forces Beijing to dispatch a fleet like it China, despite ongoing territo- did in 2009 when it sent a naval rial disputes between the two. Six dead in Melbourne car rampage convoy to the Gulf of Aden to Abu Sayyaf, one of the in heavy fighting protect Chinese ships from groups seeking to set up a Sydney been treated in hospital and 20 January," a police statement Somali pirates. caliphate, began kidnapping AFP one person remains in a criti- said. with Taliban "I also asked China if they sailors in waters between cal condition since a man "A 33-year-old Blackburn can patrol the international Malaysia, Indonesia and the 33-year-old woman has drove a car at high speed into South woman died in hospital in Helmand waters without necessarily Philippines last year, taking become the sixth person shoppers nearly two weeks just before 7.30pm this evening intruding into the territorial several dozen hostages and A to die after a car mowed ago. (Monday)." Lashkar Gah waters of countries," Duterte attacking cargo ships. down pedestrians in Mel- "A sixth person has died A 26-year-old man from Reuters said yesterday in a speech to Indonesia has warned the bourne's busiest mall, police following the incident that took Melbourne has been charged newly promoted Filipino region could become the "next said. place in the Melbourne CBD with five counts of murder and AFGHAN forces said they were generals. Somalia" and the three later Thirty-six people have (Central Business District) on more charges are expected. holding off a Taliban offensive "Grey ships are not really pledged coordinated patrols. in Helmand province yester- day, as reinforcements and air support arrived. Both sides reported heavy fighting as Taliban militants Islamabad launches first attacked government posi- Australians exempt from US ban tions in Sangin district, an area where insurgents have Sydney Turnbull the US would honour 'executive' passport office made major gains in the past Reuters its agreement to resettle an two years. unspecified number of refugees Islamabad passport under the normal "There is heavy fighting ustralian dual-nationals held in Australian processing Internews delivery programme at a regu- still ongoing between the Tal- will not be affected by US centres on remote Pacific lar passport office would cost iban and our forces but those APresident Donald islands in Papua New Guinea f waiting in line for hours on you Rs3,000, at the executive places that were captured by Trump's executive order block- and Nauru. end to have your passport centre it would set you back Taliban yesterday have been ing visitors from seven Under Australian rules, any- Imade is not something that Rs6,000. Similarly, a passport taken back," said Omar Zwak, Muslim-majority nations, Aus- one intercepted while trying to you are keen on, then there is under the urgent scheme would a spokesman for the gover- tralian Prime Minister Malcolm reach the country by boat is sent good news for you. cost Rs8, 000. nor ofsouthern province. Turnbull (pictured) said for processing to camps in the Interior Minister of Pakistan According to an official at Among the reinforce- yesterday. tiny nation of Nauru and at Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan yes- the new passport centre, ments sent to the embattled Trump's executive order Manus Island, in PNG. They are terday inaugurated Islamabad’s though, the public can expect district were new commando placed a 90-day bar on citizens never eligible to be resettled in first ‘executive’ passport office to receive their passports a lit- units, he said. from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, passport, they will be welcome Australia. where the public can ‘skip’ tle earlier than when they A regional Taliban Sudan, Syria and Yemen from in the United States." But questions remain over those long queues provided would apply at a regular pass- spokesman, Qari Yousuf entering the United States, ignit- Australia joins Canada and how many refugees will be they are ready to pay that much port office. Ahmadi, said fighters cap- ing chaotic scenes over the the United Kingdom in winning resettled in the United States, extra for their ease. Moreover, customers can tured at least 25 government weekend as border and customs exemptions for their dual citi- with humanitarian organisa- Located on Fazal-e-Haq also choose to have their pass- checkpoints and killed more officials struggled to put the zens, while New Zealand Prime tions fearing that many of the Road, opposite Polyclinic Hos- ports delivered to their homes than 100 soldiers and police. order into practice. Minister Bill English said on 1,100 refugees in offshore deten- pital, adjacent to a NADRA instead of ensuring their pres- The Taliban used tunnels "Australian passport hold- Tuesday he expected to secure tion will not be accepted, leaving office, the new executive pass- ence along with their respective dug from houses to attack the ers will be able to travel to the a similar arrangement. them in limbo. port office would offer a tokens at the pick-up centres government's front-line United States in the same way Trump's executive order "The people on Nauru and one-window facility and prom- to receive their new passports. checkpoints, General Wali they were able to prior to the also placed a 120-day hold on Manus Island have suffered ises speedy delivery of the However, they would have to Mohammad Ahmadzai, com- executive order," said allowing refugees into the coun- enough at the hands of Austral- passports. pay extra for delivery. mander of the 215th Army Turnbull. try and an indefinite ban on ia's deliberately cruel policies," Though, to avail this serv- Nisar had directed the con- Corps, said on Monday. "Regardless of their place of refugees from Syria. Graham Thom, refugee coordi- ice, a customer would have to cerned officials to review the Army officials said they birth or whether they are dual- Despite the restrictions on nator for Amnesty International pay Rs3, 000 extra. rates prescribed for services at had killed at least 19 Taliban nationals or they hold another refugees, Trump on Sunday told Australia, said in a statement. Hence, while a five-year the executive office. and wounded 25. WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 ASIA 11 Indian economic survey advocates lower taxes

New Delhi Budget session having moderated to around 3.4 IANS percent at December-end. The Survey has "Core inflation has, however, day ahead of the sharply cut the GDP been more stable, hovering tabling of India's growth for 2016-17 around 4.5 percent to 5 percent budget for next fiscal, to 6.5 percent, from for the year so far," the Survey the latest edition of 7.6 percent last said. Economic Survey has "The outlook for the year as financial year. calledA for lowering tax rates and a whole is for CPI inflation to be stamp duties, quick adoption of below the RBI's target of 5 per- goods and services tax and a cent, a trend likely to be assisted check on over-zealous tax "Demonetisation has by demonetisation," it added. administration to restore higher had short-term costs The Survey has sharply cut growth. but holds the the GDP growth for 2016-17 to The survey also advocated a potential for 6.5 percent, from 7.6 percent last Universal Basic Income (UBI) longterm benefits," financial year. scheme as an alternative scheme said the survey Elaborating on the rationale for poverty reduction in place of tabled in Parliament behind its GDP growth estimate various ongoing social welfare by Finance Minister for the next fiscal, the Survey said programmes, even as the Niti Arun Jaitley. demonetised cash will be replen- Aayog has already said India does ished by end March 2017 and the not have the necessary financial economy would revert to the resources for the project. bringing land and real estate into normal thereafter. "Demonetisation has had GST, reducing tax rates and Though it provides a detailed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra short-term costs but holds the stamp duties, and acting to allay table on the impact of the ban on potential for longterm benefits," the anxieties on over-zealous tax Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes, the Mahajan and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari walking inside the parliament premises said the survey tabled in Parlia- administration. Survey, however, gives no fig- as they arrive to attend the first day of the budget session, in New Delhi, yesterday. ment by Finance Minister Arun "These actions would allow ures on the increase in deposits Jaitley, calling for follow-up growth to return to trend in by way of old currency. much was the deposit increase about the private sector and gathering gloom about globali- actions to minimize the costs and 2017-18, following a temporary "It says that bank deposits The survey also called for property rights, and improving sation, articulating and maximise the benefits. decline in 2016-17," said the sur- increased sharply through end- societal shifts in narratives to but still-challenged state embracing those ideational shifts Areas listed include fast, vey, while predicting the GDP to December, that they will decline overcome three long-standing capacity. will be critical to ensuring that demand-driven remonetisation, expand by 6.75-7.5 percent in the and probably settle at a slightly meta-challenges: Inefficient "In the aftermath of demon- India's sweet spot is enduring not further tax reforms, including next fiscal, with inflation already higher level, it doesn't say how redistribution, ambivalence etisation, and at a time of evanescent," it said.

SC refuses to Bangladesh treats 'tree girl' syndrome NEWS BYTES stay Tamil Nadu India puts 1.8 million on notice Dhaka and plastic surgery unit. than those in the more advanced bill on Jallikattu AFP "We believe she is the first stages. The hospital has been woman," Sen said. Her father, a treating one man with a serious for potential tax evasion Shanghai young Bangladeshi girl poor labourer from Bangladesh's case of the disease for the better AFP with bark-like warts rural north, said he didn't worry part of a year, conducting 16 sur- NEW DELHI: India has put 1.8 million citizens on notice for Agrowing on her face could too much when the first warts gical procedures to remove giant potential tax evasion, officials said yesterday, as it begins he Supreme Court yes- be the first female ever afflicted appeared on his daughter's face warts from his hands and legs. scrutinising suspect cash deposits in the wake of a sudden terday refused to stay by so-called "tree man syn- about four months ago. But as the Huge growths weighing five ban on high-value banknotes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tthe Tamil Nadu govern- drome", doctors studying the growths spread rapidly he grew kilogrammes (11 pounds) each announced in November that all 500 and 1,000 rupee notes ment amendment permitting rare condition said yesterday. concerned and brought Khatun had consumed the hands of would be removed from circulation, rendering 86 percent of Jallikattu, while telling the the Ten-year-old Sahana Kha- from their village to the capital 27-year-old Abul Bajandar, the India's currency void in an instant. The shock decision was state government that it was tun has the tell-tale gnarled Dhaka for treatment. first recorded Bangladeshi to be presented as a blitz on corruption and undeclared income, or its primary responsibility to growths sprouting from her "We are very poor. My suffering from the disease. 'black money', hoarded by tax evaders. But so-called demon- maintain law and order. chin, ear and nose, but doctors daughter lost her mother when His plight has captured etisation resulted in long queues outside banks and painful The court allowed the at Dhaka's Medical College Hos- she was only six. I really hope national attention and the inter- cash shortages for hundreds of millions of people reliant on Union government's plea to pital are still conducting tests to that the doctors will remove the est of Prime Minister Sheikh hard currency. The tax department said yesterday the first withdraw January 7, 2016 establish if she has the unusual barks from my beautiful daugh- Hasina, who promised the phase of "operation clean money" had flagged 1.8 million notification that permitted the skin disorder. ter's face," her father patient would receive treatment account holders whose large cash deposits were suspect. Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and Less than half a dozen peo- Mohammad Shahjahan said. free of charge. Doctors said last bullock cart race in some ple worldwide have Another of Khatun's doctors month that for the first time in E Ahmed collapses in Parliament States. epidermodysplasia verruci- said the young patient was dis- a decade, Bajandar had been The operation of said noti- formis but none so far have been playing a milder form of the able to touch his wife and NEW DELHI: IUML Chief and former union minister E fication was stayed by the top women, said Samanta Lal Sen, disease, and it was hoped she daughter, and was almost ready Ahmed yesterday suffered a heart attack and collapsed in court on January 12, 2016. the head of the hospital's burn would make a quicker recovery to leave the ward. Parliament's Central Hall. His condition is extremely crit- Issuing notice on a plea ical and he has been put on life support system, doctors at seeking stay on the amend- RML hospital said. "Ahamed is extremely critical and has ment permitting the popular been put on life support system. He has been shifted to the bull-taming sport, the bench Nepal to develop Trauma Centre ICU and is currently under close observa- comprising Justice Dipak tion of doctors," a senior doctor at the Ram Manohar Lohia Misra and Justice Rohinton airport disaster (RML) Hospital said. Life support is popularly known as ven- Fali Nariman took exception tilator, which is a machine that helps someone breathe. A to the manner in which the response plan team of three doctors, consisting head of cardiology Neeraj Supreme Court verdict ban- Pandit, head of anaesthesia Rajesh Sood and In-charge of ning Jallikattu was sought to Kathmandu Nursing facility R S Tonk, has been constituted to monitor be openly defied. IANS Ahamed's condition. The 78-year-old Ahamed has served "We are only concerned as Minister of State for External Affairs in the UPA govern- with the court's honour, which epal has geared up to ment and has been a Lok Sabha member from Malappuram we all share," the bench told develop a strong dis- in Kerala since 1991. the senior counsel appearing Naster response plan for for Tamil Nadu government. major airports following the "To say that we changed devastating earthquake in the India-Russia joint action plan the law peacefully is one thing. country on April 2015. To come out openly to defy Su Thet Khine holding a photograph of her husband Ne Win, Considering possible dis- NEW DELHI: India and Russia yesterday agreed to have a the supreme court is another. who was shot dead outside Yangon airport while trying to asters in future, more than 30 joint action plan to counter the global scourge of terrorism, We are only concerned with stop the gunman, at his funeral in Yangon, yesterday. officials from government the External Affairs Ministry said. The decision was taken court's honour... which we all agencies and airports, mili- at a high-level meeting here where the Indian side was led share," said Justice Nariman. tary and humanitarian by Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry, Preeti Taking exception to the partners and international Saran, while the Russian delegation was led by Deputy For- failure of Tamil Nadu govern- Myanmar hails taxi experts were discussing the eign Minister Oleg V Syromolotov. "Both sides agreed to a ment in maintain the law and action plan at a four-day joint action plan which seeks to focus on enhancing capacity order, Justice Misra told the workshop which kicked off building, frequent expert-level meetings, sharing of insights, three senior counsel driver as national hero here yesterday, Xinhua news exchange of best practices in countering radicalisation and (K.Prasaran, C A Vaidyanathan agency reported. curbing terrorism," said the External Affairs Ministry state- and Rakesh Dwivedi): "Please The event plans to assess ment. It said both sides shared views and assessment on the tell your State executive Yangon already hard-pressed Muslim and strengthen post-disaster threats posed by the scourge of terrorism, including state- (Tamil Nadu government) that AFP community and Suu Kyi's preparedness and arrange- sponsored cross-border terrorism, the statement said. the law and order has a pri- National League for Democracy ments at two of Nepal's most macy in a civil society. A Myanmar taxi driver (NLD) party. strategic airports, the Tribhu- Please tell them ... convey was hailed as a national There were emotional wan International Airport Nepal political standoff continues to them when the highest Ahero at his funeral yes- scenes yesterday as hundreds (TIA) here and the one at court is seized of a matter terday, two days after he was of mourners crammed into a Nepalgunj in the western part KATHMANDU: Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal there has to be an absolute killed trying to stop a gunman Yangon cemetery to bury Ne of the country. Dahal 'Prachanda' held another round of inconclusive talks silence...." who murdered a prominent Win, whose coffin was draped Addressing the inaugural with the Nepali Congress and the Madhesi Morcha yesterday "We are concerned with Muslim lawyer. in the NLD's famous fighting session, Tourism Secretary as the Morcha said a firm no to local body polls before broad- rule of law, this kind of things Father-of-three Ne Win peacock flag. Shankar Prasad Adhikari said based constitutional amendments. The Morcha alleges that should not occur," he said ask- was shot dead outside Yangon His bereaved wife was the disaster response capac- the Prime Minister has repeatedly failed to keep his prom- ing K.Prasaran: "Are you airport as he chased a man who swamped as mourners, monks ity of TIA was not sufficient ises made to them while assuming office in August last year. supporting this action. If you moments earlier had slain Ko and NLD figures crowded during the earthquake. "It has been almost six months that he has been in power, but can't answer, we will not ask Ni, an adviser to Aung San Suu around the open coffin that "We have to focus on fur- he has not been able to amend the Constitution to address you." Kyi, in what her party said was bore his body. ther developing our airports' the demands of various groups and communities, including The court also wanted to a political assassination. "He tried to catch an evil capacities," he said. those based on federal demarcation, language and citizenship, know how many people lost The daylight murders, in a man without thinking for his Being a landlocked coun- among others, to make the constitution more broad-based," a their lives during recent bull- country where political killings own life," the elderly patron of try, Nepal relies heavily on air Morcha leader charged. Madhesis in Nepal, who are mostly of taming sports that took place are rare, sent shockwaves the NLD, Tin Oo, told routes to transport aid sup- Indian origin, also held a six-month-long agitation last year. after law was amended. through both Myanmar's mourners. plies during emergency. 12 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017

Queen Maxima visits windfarm Investigators British MPs take first seize House documents in step to starting Brexit Fillon probe London At just 143 words, the Euro- AFP Talks begin pean Union Notification of PARIS: French investigators MPs will hold their Withdrawal Bill has been tightly seized documents in parlia- ritain takes a key step first discussion on drafted, making it difficult to ment yesterday as part of a towards leaving the amend either to delay the gov- probe into allegations that legislation giving the European Union yes- ernment's plans or to tie its conservative presidential government the terday as lawmakers hands in the talks. hopeful Francois Fillon paid begin debating power to trigger Opposition Labour leader his wife for a fictitious par- Bwhether to empower Prime Article 50 of the EU's Jeremy Corbyn has promised liamentary job. Minister Theresa May to embark Lisbon Treaty, not to block the bill, but his party The investigators on the historic divorce. opening two years of — like the wider country — is searched Fillon's office for MPs will hold their first dis- negotiations on deeply divided over Brexit and information on payments cussion on legislation giving the leaving the bloc. a large minority of his MPs are totalling around €500,000 government the power to trig- expected to rebel. ($535,000) received by his ger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon May has urged them to respect Dozens of May's Conserva- Welsh-born wife Penelope Treaty, opening two years of the result of the June referen- tive MPs are also opposed to her from public funds available negotiations on leaving the bloc. dum, when 52 percent of Britons plan to pull Britain out of the to MPs, several parliamentary While the bill is expected to voted to end the country's four- single market when it leaves the sources said. Sources close to pass the House of Commons, it decade membership of the EU. EU, fearing the damage to one the investigation said, how- could be delayed in the upper "I hope that when people of the bloc's biggest ever, that Fillon's staff were House of Lords as May's Con- come to look at the Article 50 economies. voluntarily handing over the servative Party does not have a bill they will recognise it is a But most have promised to documents. majority there. very simple decision: do they back the government, as long as The legal woes of Fillon, The government had sought support the will of the British ministers keep parliament who had led the presidential to exclude parliament, insisting people or not?" she told report- informed on their strategy and race for weeks, is the latest it had the power to trigger Arti- ers on Monday. the course of the negotiations. twist in a rollercoaster elec- Dutch Queen Maxima steps down stairs past a wind cle 50 on its own, but the May is under intense pres- "It is not a bill about whether tion that has seen voters Supreme Court last week ruled sure to push the bill through or not the UK should leave the turbine as she visits the windfarm Nijmegen-Betuwe in hungry for change dump sev- it must consult lawmakers. quickly, having promised EU EU, or how it should do so," Nijmegen, yesterday. Wind farm Nijmegen-Betuwe is the eral political heavyweights. A majority of both houses of leaders that she will trigger Arti- Brexit secretary David Davis property of residents of the region. Former prime minister parliament opposed Brexit, but cle 50 by the end of March. said ahead of the debate. Fillon swept past scandal- tainted ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and ex-premier Alain Juppe in November's Repub- licans primary, campaigning on his reputation for integ- Travel ban cruel & prejudiced: London Mayor rity. Conservatives were also won over by his promise to London foreign dignitaries, including US May to cancel a planned state the invitation had been issued so slash 500,000 public servant Reuters chargé d'affaires Lewis Lukens visit to London until he lifts the early into Trump's presidency, jobs, cut benefits and increase and ambassadors from most of ban that he signed into force last and that it would have been pos- working time. But he goes he mayor of London, Sadiq the countries affected by the ban, Friday. sible to invite him without the into the last three months of Khan, (pictured) will tell the mayor's office said. More than 1.6 million UK res- ceremonials of a full state visit. the race damaged by allega- Tthe top US diplomat in Brit- "Targeting people for no rea- idents who have signed an online "My concern is the queen will tions that he paid his wife for ain on Tuesday that President son other than their faith or their petition against the visit. have acted on the government's years for a fake job as his par- Donald Trump's travel ban on country of birth is cruel, preju- May has said the visit, which advice as she always does. liamentary aide. people from a list of Muslim diced and counterproductive," would include a banquet hosted Clearly there is now a lot of con- While lawmakers are nations is prejudiced and will he will say, according to excerpts by Queen Elizabeth, will go troversy around that," Ricketts entitled to employ family hurt rather than improve US released to the media. ahead, and 90,000 people have told BBC Radio. members, the Canard security. Khan, a member of the signed a counter-petition sup- "If the current level of pro- Enchaine weekly behind the Khan, Britain's most promi- opposition Labour party who porting it. Peter Ricketts, a test and opposition goes on then revelations said it could find nent Muslim politician, will make was elected mayor last year, has former head of Britain's foreign I do think the queen is put in a no witnesses to Penelope's his comments at a meeting of called on Prime Minister Theresa ministry, said he was surprised difficult position." work.

Cabinet meeting Ex-owner of Hitler house sues Austria

Vienna The government said it had been nearly a century the yellow corner house AFP necessary to force a decision on the issue where the future Nazi dictator was born to stop the building from becoming a on April 20, 1889. he former owner of the house neo-Nazi shrine. But Pommer has now Although Hitler only spent a short where Adolf Hitler was born has launched proceedings against the expro- time at the property, it continues to draw Tlaunched a legal battle against the priation legislation, Austria's Nazi sympathisers from around the Austrian government for expropriating constitutional court confirmed yester- world. the building, a court official said day. "The court will verify whether the The 8,600-feet building has been yesterday. law is valid," spokesman Wolfgang Sab- empty since the rental agreement The state seized the dilapidated latnig said, adding the procedure was between Austria and Pommer fell apart building in the northern town of Brau- likely to last several months. in 2011. Until then, the government had nau in December after MPs approved an Pommer's lawyer threatened to take been renting the premises for around expropriation law specifically aimed at the case to the European Court of Human €4,800 a month and used it as a centre the controversial property. Rights in Strasbourg if Austrian judges for people with disabilities. The move came after years of bitter found in favour of the government. The deal however came to an abrupt wrangling with owner Gerlinde Pom- "To put it bluntly, the standard legal end six years ago when Pommer refused British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and Britain's International mer who had been renting the premises requirements for an expropriation are a much-needed upgrade. Even before Development Secretary Priti Patel leave the weekly meeting of the to the interior ministry since the 1970s missing," Gerhard Lebitsch told Austrian her new legal challenge, it was not clear cabinet at 10 Downing Street in central London yesterday. and refused to sell them or carry out newspaper Kurier. what the government planned to do with essential renovation works. Pommer's family had owned for the property. Scottish island pays fiery tribute to Viking past

Lerwick norse word for "chief". 800 outgoing Scandinavians, who we AFP Lyall Gair, 37, from the nearby now call the Vikings, left in search of town of Quarff, is Guizer Jarl for 15 land, treasure and adventure. n a remote Scottish island, a years. "Everything is pretty personal, "The first place they reached was longship was being prepared from the suit design to the way you Shetland and the island became an Oyesterday for immolation by a want your galley finished," he said. entirely Scandinavian society. squad of Vikings in one of the most "It all ties into a saga and the his- "In 1469 Shetland was pawned by dramatic fire festivals in the world. tory of the Vikings," he said. the Kingdom of Denmark to Scotland "Up Hella Aa" takes place every A team of volunteers has been in lieu of payment for a dowry for a January in Lerwick on the Shetland working on the construction of the dynastic marriage, but when Denmark Islands, which lie in the middle of the wooden, dragon-shaped longship finally raised the money Scotland North Sea around 400 miles from since October. "We work two nights reneged on the deal," Tait explained. Edinburgh. The Shetlands are closer a week, averaging about four hours a "After a few centuries Denmark Norway than mainland Scotland and week, and on Up Hella Aa it is sent to gave up its claim and Shetland became their residents are fiercely proud of Valhalla," Gair said in reference to the part of Britain." their Norse heritage. vast hall ruled by the god Odin, where Following the Napoleonic wars, Some 60 Vikings paraded through slain fighters were said in Norse rowdy veterans returned to Shetland Lerwick, Shetland's biggest settle- mythology to travel upon their death. and began holding all-night parties ment, trailed by around 1,000 "Obviously it's a little bit emotional, around bonfires of burning tar bar- torchbearers known as "guizers" — but it's the end of a journey." rels. In the late 19th century Shetland dressed in eclectic costumes, from The tradition of Up Hella Aa is only authorities formalised the event, tak- superheroes to pop bands . Every year, around a century old, but its roots ing inspiration from the Scandinavian an experienced Viking is appointed stretch back much further. mythology and sagas which were pop- to lead the parade and becomes Dr Ian Tait, curator of the Shet- ular throughout northern Europe at Participants dressed as Vikings pose by a long boat in the annual Up Helly Aa known as Guizer Jarl, from the old land Museum, said: "Around the year the time. festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, yesterday. WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 EUROPE 13 EU chief sees Trump announcements as threats

Brussels American friends of their own temporary halt to all refugee AP Falling equations motto: United we stand, divided admissions, as well as immigra- In a letter to 27 EU we fall," Tusk said in the letter and tion from seven Muslim-majority he leader of the Euro- leaders before the also told a news conference in nations. Trump's decision "only pean Union put Malta summit, EU Tallinn, Estonia, after meeting aims to exacerbate tensions, cre- longtime ally the President Donald Tusk with the three Baltic prime min- ate potential conflicts with in the United States in a isters before the Malta summit. end the greatest inefficiency said the Trump "threat" category yes- Britain wasn't part of the let- regarding results in the fight administration as part Tterday, insisting that President ter since it is poised to leave the against terrorism," French Prime Donald Trump is contributing to of an external "threat" EU and is only scheduled to Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the "highly unpredictable" out- together with China, attend part of the leaders' meet- in France's lower house of par- look for the bloc. Russia, radical Islam, ing in La Valletta. The decision to liament. He said that the ban "is In a letter to 27 EU leaders war and terror. leave was the biggest setback for useless because it ostracises some before Friday's summit in Malta, the EU in decades, and Trump countries, it makes it impossible EU President Donald Tusk men- Echoing statements didn't endear himself with many to welcome people who are per- tioned the Trump administration from many European EU leaders by saying that Brexit secuted in their country and need as part of an external "threat" capitals, Tusk said that "will be a tremendous asset and protection from free nations." together with China, Russia, rad- those global not a tremendous liability." In the Netherlands, Foreign ical Islam, war and terror. challenges, "as well as Tusk wrote to the leaders that Minister Bert Koenders hit back, Echoing statements from worrying declarations "in politics, the argument of dig- saying, "If you want to fight ter- many European capitals, he said by the new American nity must not be overused," ror, then the worst thing you can that those global challenges, "as administration, all before adding that "today we do is trample human rights." well as worrying declarations by make our future highly must stand up very clearly for our Like Belgium, the Dutch gov- the new American administra- unpredictable." dignity, the dignity of a united ernment has updated its travel tion, all make our future highly Europe — regardless of whether advisory for the US to warn of the unpredictable." we are talking to Russia, China, effects of Trump's new policy on He said that "particularly the the enduring trans-Atlantic bond the US or Turkey." citizens who have dual national- change in Washington puts the with Europe. Tensions have risen And Tusk further insisted that ity with one of the seven nations European Union in a difficult sit- though since Trump was elected any disintegration wouldn't be affected. And even royalty got uation; with the new US president. Trump has ques- beneficial to the restored nation involved. During the very ornate administration seeming to put tioned the Nato alliance linking states, but instead lead to "their speech to the authorities of the into question the last 70 years of North America and Europe, and real and factual dependence on country, King Philippe had American foreign policy." hopes for a major trans-Atlantic the great superpowers: the United unkind words for both the US and EU President Donald Tusk (right) and Prime Minister Juri This year marks the centen- trade deal have already taken a States, Russia and China." Britain. The monarch said that by Ratas of Estonia after signing a trilateral agreement on nial of the US entry in World War deep dive amid worries of US In France, Belgium and the looking inward, it "countered implementation of the Rail Baltic project through the three I, and it marked the beginning of protectionism. Netherlands, leaders weighed in, their own tradition of openness the American century as well as "We should remind our criticising Trump's decision to and generosity." Baltic states in Tallinn. Kiev and Kremlin Ex-Italy rail boss & others sentenced trade blame over over 2009 disaster

Lucca surge in fighting AFP auro Moretti, the former head of KIEV/MOSCOW Ukraine's foreign ministry said Italian railways, was yesterday Reuters in a statement. Mamong a string of executives The peace deal was agreed convicted over a 2009 freight train dis- kraine and Russia in February 2015, but interna- aster that killed 29 people. Moretti, blamed each other yes- tional security monitors report currently boss of engineering giant Leon- Uterday for a surge in ceasefire violations on a daily ardo, was sentenced to seven years in fighting in eastern Ukraine over basis, including regular gun and prison. recent days that has led to the mortar fire. But, like the others convicted, he will highest casualty toll in weeks The latest clashes mark the not serve any of it before at least the first and cut off power and water to first significant escalation in of two possible appeals have been heard, thousands of civilians on the Ukraine since the inauguration which could take years. front line. of US President Donald Trump, Moretti was one of 33 people charged The Ukrainian military and whose call for better relations with manslaughter, causing a disaster Russian-backed separatists with Moscow has alarmed Kiev and other charges in connection with accuse each other of launching while the conflict remains The committee of victims set tee-shirts showing portraits of relatives on the chairs the derailment and explosion of a freight offensives in the government- unresolved. in the courtroom before the hearing the sentence in the trial of the rail disaster of train carrying liquid petroleum gas in held industrial town of Ukrainian authorities said Viareggio that killed 32 people in 2009 after the derailment and explosion of a freight the Tuscan coastal town of Viareggio on Avdiyivka and firing heavy they were prepared for a pos- train carrying liquid petroleum gas, in Lucca, yesterday. June 29, 2009. artillery in defiance of the two- sible evacuation of Avdiyivka's year-old Minsk ceasefire deal. 16,000 residents, many of Eight Ukrainian troops have whom have little or no access been killed and 26 wounded to electricity or water after since fighting intensified on shelling from the separatist side Hackers target Czech ministry's email system Sunday — the heaviest losses hit supply infrastructure. for the military since mid- Meanwhile, Kremlin December, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Prague partly successful as the hackers "It must have been carried Last October, Czech police government figures. "The cur- Ukrainian government troops AFP managed to penetrate the email out from the outside, by another arrested a Russian hacker in rent escalation in Donbass is a had launched a deadly attack system of the ministry," Lubomir country. The way it was done Prague in cooperation with the clear indication of Russia's con- on pro-Russian rebels across he Czech foreign minister Zaoralek told reporters. bears a very strong resemblance FBI and accused him of staging tinued blatant disregard of its the Avdiyivka front line on said his office had fallen He added however that no to the attacks on the US Demo- cyber attacks on the United commitments under the Minsk Monday. Tprey to hackers who classified information was com- cratic Party's internet system," States. The hacker is in custody agreements with a view of pre- "Such aggressive actions, worked their way into the email promised as hackers failed to get said the foreign minister. in the Czech Republic pending venting the stabilisation of the supported by the armed forces accounts of dozens of employ- into the ministry's inner system. In July 2016, the Democratic extradition to the United States situation and achieving any of Ukraine, undermine the aims ees including himself. "The data leak was considera- National Committee faced a leak or Russia as both countries have progress in the security and and the task of realising the "Since early January we have ble. The attack was very of e-mails that Hillary Clinton's asked Prague to hand over the humanitarian spheres," Minsk accords," he said. known one of the attacks was sophisticated," Zaoralek said. campaign blamed on Russia. suspect.

Protest against pollution Divisions in Italy's ruling party may crimp chances of early vote

ROME his proposals for constitution Monday said the PD would win Reuters reform in a referendum, has 29 percent of the vote. But it been pushing for a vote by June, would slump to 20 percent if idening divisions in around a year ahead of sched- D'Alema and fellow traditional- Italy's ruling Demo- ule. Italy's main opposition ist Pier Luigi Bersani formed an Wcratic Party (PD) may parties also want a snap vote. alternative left-wing movement, reduce the chance of the early But a sizeable minority of which would take 14 percent. elections its leader Matteo Renzi Renzi's critics in the PD, who say The poll said the anti-sys- has been calling for since he was he has moved the party too far tem 5-Star Movement is Italy's toppled as prime minister last to the right, want to challenge his most popular party, on 30.5 per- month. Rivals in the PD threaten leadership before any return to cent. 5-Star's appeal to Italians to break away and two opinion the polls. Massimo D'Alema, a tired of corruption and eco- polls this week suggest they former prime minister and one nomic stagnation shows no sign would take lots of votes with of Renzi's fiercest critics, said if of diminishing despite the diffi- them, sharply reducing Renzi's early elections were called he culties plaguing Rome's Mayor Greenpeace activists climb the Golden Victoria monument on top of the Victory Column and chances of returning to power. and his followers would "con- Virginia Raggi, who holds one install a banner "Breathless through the city" to protest against air pollution in Berlin yesterday. Renzi, who stepped down as sider ourselves free" and split off. of the party's most high-profile premier when Italians threw out A poll published by Tecne on public roles. 14 AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 Maduro Student charged in Quebec mosque attack broadens Quebec City Terrorist attack AFP powers of Alexandre Canadian political Bissonnette, who science student made a brief court deputy known to have appearance after nationalist sympa- surrendering to Caracas thies was charged authorities, was withA six counts of murder over AFP charged with six a shooting spree at a Quebec counts of premedit- mosque — one of the worst enezuela’s leader Nico- attacks ever to target Muslims in ated murder and five las Maduro broadened a western country. of attempted murder, Vthe powers of his hard- Prime Minister Justin Tru- police said. line number two in a decree deau condemned as a “terrorist yesterday that analysts said attack” on Sunday night’s assault showed he may be grooming on the Islamic Cultural Center in So far, authorities him to take over as a busy district of Quebec City, have shed no light on president. which sent terrified worshippers what may have Maduro has cracked down fleeing barefoot in the snow. prompted the attack. this year on his center-right Eight people were also wounded opponents who are trying to in the crossfire, and five of them remove him from office over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking as he attends a vigil held in honour of the remained in critical condition in be able to lay terrorism and a volatile economic crisis that hospital. national security charges,” she victims of a shooting in a mosque in Quebec City. has caused food shortages. The Alexandre Bissonnette, who said. decree published in the offi- made a brief court appearance So far, authorities have shed had initially described two arrested, that two people had Guineans. Quebec has tradition- cial journal gives his after surrendering to authorities, no light on what may have masked men opening fire inside participated.” ally attracted Muslim immigrants vice-president Tareck El Ais- was charged with six counts of prompted the attack. Local the mosque, where worshippers After investigating, they said: from North Africa. Bissonnette, sami authority to seize premeditated murder and five media said Bissonnette is a Que- were gathered for evening “We reached the conclusion that who is a student at Laval Uni- property and approve minis- of attempted murder, police said. bec nationalist and anti-feminist prayer. But authorities said that we should focus on one single versity, surrendered 20km ters’ budgets, among other More indictments are expected who recently “liked” US Presi- a second person detained had suspect. And there was no rea- outside the city after calling an powers. later, police added. dent Donald Trump’s page on only been questioned as a son to believe that the other emergency services hotline an The text of the decree says “There are search warrants Facebook. witness. individual had participated.” hour after the attack to reveal his it aims to ensure “the effi- under way,” a spokeswoman for He also has reportedly Explaining how one suspect Some 50 people were in the location. ciency and effectiveness of the Royal Canadian Mounted expressed support for French was eventually let go, the RCMP mosque at the time of the attack. “It is a domestic investiga- the public administration.” Police told a press conference. far-right politician Marine Le said: “This morning and last The dead are all dual Canadian tion at this time,” Royal Canadian “It gives him more power, “We hope to obtain the evidence Pen. evening we had reason to believe nationals: One Moroccan, two Mounted Police Inspector Mar- but not in strategic areas, to reach the point where we will Both police and witnesses that two individuals should be Algerians, one Tunisian and two tin Plante said. which are still reserved for the military,” political scientist Francine Jacome told AFP. “These new attributes are To save Obamacare ones he can take advantage US right to abortion still of for their media impact. They prepare him for a pos- sible presidential candidacy.” strong, but under threat Under constitutional rules, if Maduro’s opponents do suc- Washington more liberal-on-abortion jus- ceed in voting to remove him AFP tices should retire between now before his current term ends and the end of Trump’s time in next year, he would be S anti-abortion advo- office (whether that be four replaced by his vice cates have long dreamed years or eight years from now), president. Uof defeating their sworn then there would likely be five Maduro has quashed all enemy Roe v. Wade, the votes to overrule Roe v. Wade.” attempts to hold such a vote Supreme Court decision that Under such a scenario, over the past year. enshrines a woman’s right to states would be free to restrict the procedure across all 50 the right to abortion and a states. Republican Congress could pass No major But even with Trump’s national anti-abortion expected nomination yesterday legislation. irregularities of an anti-abortion justice to the On Friday, Vice President Supreme Court, abortion oppo- Mike Pence hailed the new in Haiti vote nents will have inched closer to political era as a “historic” time victory but not yet arrived at a for the anti-abortion Port-au-Prince Demonstrators that include mostly medical students protesting a proposed repeal of the cause for celebration. movement. AFP Affordable Care Act in New York. The nomination of a con- The Roe v. Wade decision servative to replace deceased was handed down on January lection observers said justice Antonin Scalia would tilt 22, 1973, with seven justices on Monday that Haiti’s the court, which is currently backing it and two dissenting. Elocal and legislative Farc rebels start ‘El Chapo’ wants his day in US court divided evenly between four Now firmly rooted in legal polls over the weekend took conservative and four liberal precedent by four decades of place without major irregu- demobilisation New York Guzman “objects” and requests justices. doctrine, the ruling will be chal- larities, despite a process AFP to “be physically present in the But with conservative jus- lenging to completely disappointing turnout. courtroom” on Friday and at tice Anthony Kennedy overthrow. Sunday marked the exican drug lord other future hearings. sometimes joining the progres- It is “unlikely that the fourth voting day in the Car- Bogota Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, accused of run- sives when it comes to abortion Supreme Court would overturn ibbean country over the past AFP MGuzman, one of the ning one of the world’s biggest issues, Trump will have no iron- Roe v. Wade altogether. But the year and a half, an agonizing world’s most notorious crimi- drug empires, was extradited clad assurance on the matter. constitutional right to an abor- electoral marathon finally olombian FARC rebels nals, is demanding to appear in to the United States on January Only with the death or res- tion would be cut back coming to an end after a polit- gathered in demobili- person at his next US court 19 and appeared without hand- ignation of one more justice significantly,” said abortion ical crisis was triggered in Czation zones yesterday hearing and not by video link. cuffs and without incident to might Trump be able to stack expert Michael Dell. October 2015 when presiden- to start a historic disarma- Judge Brian Cogan last plead not guilty to a raft of fire- the court against abortion. In a study published this tial election results were ment process to end Latin week ordered that 59-year-old arms, drug trafficking and “There is now a serious risk month by the Pew Institute, annulled due to massive America’s last major armed Guzman, who spectacularly conspiracy charges during a to women’s right to abortion, seven out of 10 Americans are fraud. conflict, authorities said. escaped from prison twice in brief hearing on January 20. given what Trump has said opposed to canceling Roe v It took until November The Revolutionary Armed Mexico, appear by video link for Since then, he has been held about his intentions and the Wade. 2016 to hold another presi- Forces of Colombia (FARC) the brief procedural hearing to in solitary confinement at the likelihood that there will be at And according to a Quin- dential election, with voter are due to disband with UN “minimize disruption from Metropolitan Correctional least one retirement on the high nipiac survey published Friday, turnout at a dismal 21 percent. supervision under a peace physical transportation.” Center in Manhattan, unable to court in the next four years,” 64 percent of Americans believe The Sunday vote included deal with the government But in a five-page letter make telephone calls or com- Sherry Colb, a professor at Cor- that abortion should remain partial legislative elections— after 52 years of conflict. dated Monday, his American municate directly with his nell Law School, said. legal, while 31 percent believe for one seat in the lower Meanwhile, the country’s public defenders told Cogan that family or lawyers in Mexico. “If one or more of the five the opposite. chamber of congress. last active rebel group, the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN), was taking the final steps towards its own peace talks with the Republic of Curitiba shakes corrupt Brazilian politics government. The government’s top delegate for the peace proc- Curitiba Brazil of powerful politicians and busi- uncovered an incredible web of is Eduardo Cunha, who was comes from one of the wiretaps, ess, Sergio Jaramillo, said a AFP nessmen and seems likely to claim pay-to-play contracts at state speaker of the lower house of which along with plea bargains, total of 6,300 Farc fighters more victims. owned Petrobras, with bribes Congress and the key figure in have been key weapons in Moro’s were due to reach the disar- he sign outside Brazil’s The unprecedented assault pouring into the pockets of pow- pushing through the impeach- war on the elite. An angry, frus- mament zones by today, and southern city of Curitiba on business as usual in Brazil has erful individuals and also a swath ment of president Dilma Rousseff trated Lula was recorded talking thousands had already Tsays it all: “Here we apply elevated Moro to hero status for of Brazil’s political parties. until he was jailed on bribe-tak- to his ally and then president arrived. “What is happening the law.” most Brazilians—and provincial Already Moro has charged or ing charges. Moro’s face is now Dilma Rousseff, who succeeded is really most extraordinary. Brasilia may be the country’s Curitiba, with a population of succeeded in convicting the likes a standard feature on banners at him in 2011, about the rampag- This is the peace process in capital but it’s here in what’s jok- about two million, to a byword of ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula anti-corruption rallies around ing prosecutors who have action,” he told a news con- ingly dubbed the “Republic of for tough justice. da Silva, senior senators, and the country, and street vendor doggedly accused him of taking ference. He said there had Curitiba” that a crusading anti- “Curitiba is revolted by this Marcelo Odebrecht, the former Wanderley Santos is one of his bribes from Petrobras, including been no major incidents in corruption judge hopes to decide corruption. When they hand out head of the Odebrecht construc- many fans. in the form of property. what the government has Brazil’s fate. Sergio Moro heads the prison sentences to deputies, tion giant which actually “Soon this will be considered “Personally I’m horrified by called the FARC’s “last march.” giant Operation Car Wash probe senators, goodness—it’s party operated a special department a historic site,” said Santos, 64, this republic of Curitiba,” the ex- Fighters traveled by boat, into top-level embezzlement and time!” said lawyer Daniela to organize its bribes to who sells shirts that read “I live president is heard saying in the canoe, bus, truck and on foot bribery around oil company Varela, 29, near Moro’s offices. politicians. in the Republic of Curitiba.” leaked telephone conversation as they headed to 26 zones. Petrobras that has downed a string Operation Car Wash has Another high-profile name The “republic” moniker last year. WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 AMERICAS 15 McCain emerges as Trump’s top Republican nemesis in Congress

Washington McCain, 80, cruised to a sixth signed by the president on Fri- from coming to the United States determined Moscow meddled in lack of good faith and effort on AP Senate term in November, day, temporarily suspends all for training so they can join the the campaign to help Trump win. the US side, but because Putin defeating a Democratic chal- immigration for citizens of seven fight against the Islamic State. But McCain has little interest wants to be our enemy. He needs enator John McCain has lenger who hounded the senator majority-Muslim countries for “Right now, those Iraqis can’t in detente with a country that has us as his enemy.” emerged as President Don- for standing by Trump even after 90 days. McCain, along with his come to Arizona to train to be invaded Ukraine, annexed Cri- McCain has been bucking his Sald Trump’s top Republican the billionaire businessman close friend and Senate colleague F-16 pilots to defend Americans,” mea, threatened America’s Nato own party for years. In the mid- nemesis on Capitol Hill. Since insulted him as a “loser.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said McCain said. “That’s wrong.” allies, and backed Syrian Presi- 1990s, he worked with then-Sen. Trump’s inauguration, McCain Trump, who received several they feared Trump’s immigra- As chairman of the Senate dent Bashar Assad’s “murderous” John Kerry, a Massachusetts has broken with the president on draft deferments during the Viet- tion order could “become a Armed Services Committee, regime. Democrat, to help President Bill his immigration order, warned nam era, also said there was self-inflicted wound in the fight McCain is one of the leading Ahead of a telephone call on Clinton restore full diplomatic him against any rapprochement nothing heroic about McCain’s against terrorism.” Republican voices in Congress Saturday between the two lead- relations with Vietnam. McCain with Moscow, lectured him on military record after he was shot “This executive order sends on national security matters. Re- ers, McCain issued a blistering also teamed up with Sen Ted the illegality of torture, and sup- down during the Vietnam War a signal, intended or not, that elected last year to another six statement in which he called Kennedy, D-Mass., and, more plied only a tepid endorsement and spent 5 ½ years as a prisoner America does not want Muslims years in office, he is free to chal- Putin a “murderer and a thug” recently, Sen Chuck Schumer, of Rex Tillerson, Trump’s secre- of war. coming into our country. That lenge the president without fear who will never be an ally of the D-N.Y, to craft bipartisan legis- tary of state nominee. McCain dropped his support is why we fear this executive of retribution from voters. United States. He cautioned lation aimed at repairing the Oh, and McCain also ham- for Trump in early October after order may do more to help ter- And perhaps on no issue has Trump against lifting US sanc- nation’s flawed immigration mered Trump for backing away a 2005 recording surfaced in rorist recruitment than improve McCain been more unequivocal tions against Russia and voiced system. from — instead of embracing — which Trump boasted about our security,” McCain and Gra- than of Trump’s desire for a bet- his support for legislation that McCain served in the US international free trade groping women. The move led ham wrote. ter relationship with Moscow. would broaden the punishments House and then was elected to agreements. As Trump presses to an outcry from conservative That elicited an angry tweet Trump’s praise for Russian and even codify them in law. the Senate in 1986, succeeding ahead with an ambitious and voters firmly behind Trump. But from Trump, who accused the President Vladimir Putin before “Each of our last three pres- conservative Barry Goldwater. contentious agenda at home and McCain overcame the backlash two of “looking to start World and after the election signaled idents had high hopes for He will be 86 when his new term abroad, McCain is pushing back, in what may have been his final War III.” that US-Russia relations could building a partnership with the ends, making him one of the old- using his seniority in Congress election. He hasn’t looked back. McCain said on Monday that be getting a makeover — even Russian government,” McCain est - and longest-serving and his characteristic bluntness. Trump’s immigration order, Trump’s order bans Iraqi pilots after US intelligence agencies said. “Each attempt failed, not for members of the Senate. Trump fires top lawyer for defying travel ban

Washington directive as “unconstitutional” AFP Rare step and vowed to fight it. Trump has replaced Trump’s furious response n embattled Donald Sally Yates with may have lasting political reper- Trump fired his gov- cussions, not least complicating Federal prosecutor ernment’s chief Sessions’s confirmation. He Dana Boente as he lawyer for refusing faces a vote on the Senate Judi- to defend his con- awaits the Senate ciary Committee, and then has troversialA immigration orders confirmation of to be confirmed by the full Sen- late on Monday, deepening a Sessions. ate before taking up the post. political crisis engulfing his Congress’s top Democrat, presidency. In a separate Senator Chuck Schumer said In a caustic statement, decision announced Yates’s firing underscored how Trump’s White House said act- without explanation important “it is to have an Attor- ing attorney general Sally Yates by Homeland ney General who’ll stand up to “betrayed” the Department of the White House when they vio- Security Secretary Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Justice in defying the president late the law.” John Kelly, Trump lead members of Congress during a protest on the steps of the US Supreme Court in Washington, and had been relieved of her also replaced acting The firing came as Trump duties with immediate effect. said he would announce his pick DC. Members of Congress joined refugees, immigrants and members of the Washington DC Immigration and Yates — a career prosecutor to fill a Supreme Court opening. community in protesting the Trump administration's recent executive order banning immigration Customs promoted by president Barack The unveiling was originally from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Obama and held over by Trump Enforcement director scheduled for tomorrow. pending confirmation of his own Daniel Ragsdale. Democratic lawmakers have Rex Tillerson nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions vociferously opposed Trump’s Democrats boycott votes on — had refused to defend only a few more hours. The immigration order and Repub- clears Senate Trump’s ban on immigration White House snapped back, licans are privately seething Treasury and health picks from seven Muslim nations. accusing Yates of being “weak over the way his White House hurdle In a memo to Department on borders and very weak on has handled the issue. of Justice staff, she expressed illegal immigration.” In a separate decision Washington Trump’s aggressive first week in he US Senate on Mon- doubts about the legality and Trump has replaced Yates announced without explanation AFP office, appear to have dug in their day advanced the morality of Trump’s decree. “My with Federal prosecutor Dana by Homeland Security Secretary heels. Tnomination of Rex Till- responsibility is to ensure that Boente as he awaits the Senate John Kelly, Trump also replaced S Senate Democrats yes- “The litany of ethics revela- erson to be President Donald the position of the Department confirmation of Sessions. Boente acting Immigration and Customs terday blocked committee tions regarding Tom Price are Trump’s secretary of state, of Justice is not only legally said he would defend Trump’s Enforcement director Daniel Uvotes on two of Donald strong evidence that he cannot be setting up a final confirma- defensible, but is informed by directive, stating that it was Ragsdale. Trump’s nominations for key allowed to have control of Medi- tion vote for later this week. our best view of what the law “both lawful on its face and The two dismissals in one posts, heightening tensions over care,” Wyden said. He was The new president has is,” Yates wrote. properly drafted.” night has echoes of President the new president’s cabinet picks referring to contentious accusa- pressed hard to get his cabi- “I am not convinced that the Trump’s executive order Richard Nixon’s 1973 “Saturday as he blasts the opposition party tions by Democrats that Price net in place as he begins the defense of the executive order suspends the arrival of all refu- night massacre” during the for obstruction. invested in a medical company that complex task of governing. is consistent with these respon- gees for a minimum of 120 days, Watergate scandal. “Today Senate Finance Dem- would have benefited from legis- The White House has accused sibilities nor am I convinced that Syrian refugees indefinitely and Then, Nixon fired the spe- ocrats refused to move forward lation that Price, a congressman Senate Democrats of obstruc- the executive order is lawful,” bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, cial prosecutor investigating with nominations of Mnuchin & from Georgia, co-sponsored. tion and delay. she added. Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and him, prompting the departures Price,” Senator Ron Wyden, top “Mr. Mnuchin continued to The nomination of Tiller- “For as long as I am the act- Yemen for 90 days. of his attorney general and dep- Democrat on the finance com- fail to come clean on shady fore- son, the former chief ing attorney general, the Several federal judges have uty attorney general. The events mittee, said on Twitter, referring closure practices that hurt executive of ExxonMobil who Department of Justice will not since filed temporary stays catalyzed Nixon’s impeachment. to Treasury secretary nominee Americans,” Wyden added. has never served in govern- present arguments in defense against the decree’s implemen- House Democrat John Conyers, Steven Mnuchin and Tom Price, Mnuchin, a Wall Street ment, advanced by a vote of of the executive order, unless tation. On Sunday, attorneys Jr. said that Trump’s conduct “is Trump’s pick for health secretary. banker and Hollywood financier, 56 to 43, with four Democrats and until I become convinced general from 16 US states, Nixonian in its design and exe- Democrats, alarmed by what they was accused during his confir- joining all 52 Republicans in that it is appropriate to do so.” including California and New cution,” and threatens the justice see as extreme picks for a raft of mation hearing of failing to support. In the end, her tenure lasted York, condemned Trump’s department’s independence. key posts and angered by disclose offshore holdings. “He has the type of inter- national work experience that will serve him well as the next secretary of state,” Republi- Lawyers in action at airports can Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said before New York lawyers were still inquiring after new the vote. AFP arrivals and fielding concerns from wor- Senate Republicans have ried travelers by telephone. sought to speed up confirma- awyers armed with laptops, smart- About 20 more are working at tion of Trump’s other phones and legal papers have since other terminals in the airport, said nominees, with just three of LSaturday transformed an airport Camille Mackler, a lawyer for a non- Trump’s cabinet members in diner into a headquarters of resistance profit group that advocates for place so far—Secretary of to Donald Trump’s controversial travel immigrants and who has been help- Defense James Mattis, Home- ban. They have worked around the clock ing to coordinate the work since land Security Secretary John from the space of 20 odd tables at the Saturday. Kelly and CIA chief Mike restaurant in the arrivals hall at John F. “I think more than anything it Pompeo, plus cabinet-rank Kennedy International Airport’s Termi- sends the absolutely wrong message US ambassador to the United nal 4 to free travelers stopped or to Americans and to the rest of the Nations Nikki Haley. detained by the decree. world,” the 37-year-old. Tillerson received a major Work stations have been earmarked Friday’s order unleashed chaos for boost earlier this month when by small white signs—a corner for Ara- refugees and visa holders already in three Republican senators bic language interpreters, another transit and unaware that American who had expressed doubts saying “habeas corpus” for lawyers fil- borders had suddenly closed to those about him—John McCain, ing requests for people’s release and from seven Muslim countries. Marco Rubio and Lindsey tables set aside for new volunteers. “But I’m also so proud of the law- Graham, announced they Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's Even on Monday, by which time yers, of all people, the butt of so many would support Tillerson for ban of travellers from seven countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside most of those stopped had been bad jokes—who have just sort of stood the post despite their released, more than 20 volunteer up and helped,” said Mackler. the US Supreme Court in Washington. reservations. 16 MORNING BREAK WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS Martial arts training FAJR 04.59 am SHOROOK 06.17 am

ZUHR 11.47 am MAGHRIB 05.20 pm ASR 02.56 pm ISHA 06.50 pm

WEATHER TODAY

17oC 25oC Minimum Maximum

Afghan members of a Wushu martial arts group led by trainer Sima Azimi (centre), 20, at the Shahrak Haji Nabi hilltop overlooking Kabul. Afghanistan's first female Wushu trainer, Azimi, is training 20 girls aged between 14 and 20 at a Wushu club in Kabul, after learning the sport while living as a refugee in Iran.

Expected poor visibility at places at first. Hazy to misty/foggy at places at first becomes mild daytime with Drone-racing champion flying high scattered clouds by evening.

HIGH TIDE 07:45 - 20:00 LOW TIDE 00:45 - 14:45 Ramsbury made his name in Dubai,” Vincent Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department AFP Sergere, from the French specialist website Course-de-drone.fr, said, It’s like you’re a bird,” says describing Bannister’s flying technique 16-year-old drone-racing as minimalistic. champion Luke Bannister as he “He has a very direct style as a whizzes his quadcopter through pilot. You get the impression that he the air with astonishing preci- doesn’t ask himself many questions, “sion. As drone use proliferates around that he really gets straight to the point. the world, first-person view (FPV) rac- “The most difficult thing will be to keep ing is really taking off — rather than his place” in a rapidly-growing sport, watching the craft from the ground, he said. Still at school, Bannister lives the pilot puts on a headset and navi- an unusual daily life, dividing his free gates with a real-time view from the time between practice, competitions camera mounted on board. and working on his drones. Drones are playing a growing part He is cultivating a presence on in everyday life, from parcel deliver- social media and maintains a YouTube ies to video shoots, farming and channel where he shows off his aero- security, so perhaps it was only a mat- batic skills. “I want to.. enjoy myself, ter of time before they made their have fun with my friends, mess around, Drone-racing champion Luke Bannister poses for a photograph as he debut in the world of sport. have some good racing, and fly to the FPV competitions pit pilots against flies his first-person view (FPV) drone in Wiltshire, western England. best of my ability,” he says. each other on race tracks, each com- But there is also schoolwork to be peting as if they were physically sat in Each drone typically costs between he built his own planes and became done, something this lively, ambitious a cockpit. $250-$375 with the headset another their youngest pilot. A few years later, teenager is careful not to neglect. With his goggles in place, Bannis- $320-£435. “When you put the gog- he discovered the joys of FPV racing. “I have to balance my schoolwork ter, a British schoolboy who goes by gles on it’s like you’re in the drone,” And things really took off when he and my drone racing,” he admits after the pseudonym “BanniUK”, is practis- says the youngster, wearing a track- won the glitzy World Drone Prix in a practice session while walking back ing his skills at a park in Ramsbury, a suit and body-warmer. “It’s an Dubai in March last year, the world’s to his workshop which is filled with picturesque village in Wiltshire in rural amazing experience,” he said. biggest drone race. Set against the rotors, batteries and wires. “I spend southwest England. “It could be compared to flying Dubai skyline, the futuristic-looking the majority of my time on school- With a characteristic waspish buzz, super-low and super-fast in a fighter racetrack is full of neon lights and has work” to get the best possible marks. the small polycarbonate drone whiz- jet. It’s really exciting, and sort of like many features in common with motor All with one goal in mind: to fly, zes around a series of gates and an extension of your body.” Bannister racing: hairpin bends, pit stops — for one day, for real. “The sport is expand- obstacles that Bannister has set up. first got into aerial acrobatics at the changing batteries, live onboard foot- ing at a rapid rate right now, but it’s a Most racing models are quadcopters, age of 10, using a radio-controlled pol- age and commentators. bubble so it could burst or it could keep which have four propellers and are ystyrene biplane. Wearing the colours of his XBlades expanding,” he says. “So we’ll see capable of reaching speeds topping Then, at 11, he became the darling Racing team, Bannister scooped the where it goes, but I’d like to go to uni- 100km per hour. of his local model aircraft club, where $250,000 (¤235,000) top prize. “He versity and become a pilot after that.”

Berlin film fest kicks off on Feb 9 Snow slide

Berlin Olafur Eliasson and Mexican actor and AFP director Diego Luna (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”). enelope Cruz, Hugh Jackman, Cather- Berlinale chief Dieter Kosslick told ine Deneuve, Richard Gere and Robert reporters that the event, known as the most PPattinson are among the high-wattage politically minded of Europe’s top festivals, stars due on the red carpet at February’s Ber- would shine a light on what he called dark lin film festival, organisers said yesterday as times in the West. “The programme we have they unveiled the line-up. put together features films that deal with The 67th Berlinale is the first major cin- themes of courage and confidence and do ema showcase in Europe each year and it with a whole lot of humour,” he said. presents nearly 400 productions from “You never know what is going to be around the world. happening in the world when you start The 11-day event will kick off in the Ger- assembling the line-up but it’s as if the film- man capital February 9 with the world makers were able to look into the future premiere of the French biopic “Django” and see current developments. But despite about Gypsy-jazz great Django Reinhardt all the turmoil in the world, it’s an upbeat and his family’s persecution in Nazi-occu- programme.” pied Paris. Eighteen films will vie for the In keeping with its long post-war tra- Golden Bear top prize, which last year went dition, the festival will mix arthouse cinema to harrowing Italian refugee documentary from European veterans including Poland’s “Fire at Sea” from a jury led by Meryl Streep. Agnieszka Holland (“Europa Europa”), Brit- This year Dutch director Paul Verho- ain’s Sally Potter, Germany’s Volker even (“Basic Instinct”, “Elle”) will lead the Schloendorff, previous Golden Bear win- People on a tube ride a slide covered with snow during seven-member jury including US actress ner Calin Peter Netzer of Romania and Aki the Ice and Snow carnival at Taoranting park in Beijing. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Danish-Icelandic artist Kaurismaki of Finland with popcorn fare.