BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 ‘We won’t change our style US not looking to grant against further Iran oil sales N Korea’ waivers, says offi cial published in since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11062 January 13, 2019 Jumada I 7, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Deputy PM meets Omani FM In brief Arab wounds need ARAB WORLD | Charity QC campaign to help Syria blizzard victims to be healed fi rst, Qatar Charity has launched a QR20mn campaign to provide aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon’s Arsal says former PM and other areas who suff ered from blizzards and rain. The campaign aims to alleviate their suff ering. The campaign comes ahead of z Restoring of confidence among GCC another expected blizzard next week. Qatar Charity was one of the states may take many years, Sheikh Hamad first humanitarian organisations that managed to reach the aff ected HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met in bin Jassim tells Russia Today channel refugee camps. yesterday with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, in the presence of Secretary-General of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani. During the meeting, they exchanged views on the GCC’s rab leaders have to fi nd ways and the intransigence of the par- ARAB WORLD | Protest march and other issues of common concern. to heal wounds and put the ties,” he said. AArab world in its rightful place, “Qatar is fi ne despite the siege and Sudan death toll rises former prime minister and foreign is overcoming the fabricated crisis; to 24, says offi cial minister of Qatar HE Sheikh Hamad the countries of the blockade have not Anti-government protests that have bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani has said. come up with any evidence so far of the rocked Sudan since last month He also said the Arab world needs accusation that Qatar supports terror- have left 24 people dead, an off icial to reconsider its current policies and ism.” said yesterday, without specifying disagreements. The former Qatari premier stressed how they died. Demonstrations In an interview with Russia Today the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) that erupted in the provinces on Qatari-US talks to channel, he termed the Arab League as “has been destroyed and restoring December 19 after the government ‘non-existent”. confi dence needs many years”. tripled the price of bread have “The Arab summit needs to discuss He pointed out that the crisis was escalated into nationwide anti- one item: to heal Arab wounds and put unfounded, and those who fabricated it government rallies. “The total the Arab world in its rightful place,” did not understand politics. number of people who have died in Sheikh Hamad said. “The Gulf resolutions do not take incidents from December 19 until tackle Gulf crisis, Asked about the Gulf crisis, he said into consideration the Gulf citizen and now is 24,” Page 4 it is intended at the present “to remain the interest of the nation,” he said, not- without escalation and without solu- ing that the crisis has made the enmity BRITAIN | Austerity tion”. tribal and historical. “Gulf dreams have “The failure of the mediator to also collapsed.” Demonstrators call for solve the Gulf crisis is due to the According to him, the Saudi Crown new general election bolster relations conflicting positions in Washington Prince deserves to have advisers at a Thousands of protesters gathered high level, alerting him to the serious- in London yesterday to protest the ness of the decisions he has taken. British government, calling for an z Strategic Dialogue to be held in Doha today On the murder of Saudi journalist end to austerity measures and a Jamal Khashoggi, he said: “Khashog- new general election in light of the gi’s case will not be forgotten and needs impending departure of Britain from he Second US-Qatari Strate- relations; enhancing co-operation in cal, economic, defence and cultural justice and conscience.” the European Union. Politicians gic Dialogue to be held in Doha the fi elds of energy, ports and banks. spheres and will witness the signing Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi and union leaders from across Ttoday will tackle the latest de- The Dialogue is also expected to of a number of memorandums of un- consulate in Istanbul last October. the country came to attend The velopments in the Gulf crisis and the lead to continued co-ordination and derstanding (MoUs) that enhance co- “Khashoggi’s case is appalling and People’s Assembly Against Austerity, international eff orts to solve them and political consultation on various re- operation in the interests of the Qatari requires a strong decision to show who which drew 5,000 to 10,000 the repercussions of the blockade of gional and international issues, ex- and US peoples. is responsible and who has given in- demonstrators, according to the Qatar. change of experiences to secure major The first Strategic Dialogue, held structions to carry out that heinous organisers’ initial estimates. Page 11 The Dialogue is co-chaired by HE sporting events in preparation for the in January 2018 in the US, was at- operation. the Deputy Prime Minister and Min- Qatar 2022 World Cup and to meet the tended by HE the Deputy Prime “We wait for justice in Khashoggi’s AMERICA | Impasse ister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mo- challenges of cybersecurity and cyber Minister and Minister of Foreign Af- case and will be black- hamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and piracy. fairs, HE the Deputy Prime Minister mailed in this case,” he said. Govt shutdown breaks US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In remarks to Qatar News Agency and Minister of State for Defence Sheikh Hamad called for an immedi- record; no end in sight According to information posted (QNA) last week, HE the spokesper- Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al- ate end to the Yemen war, which he de- A partial US government shutdown on the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs son for the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Attiyah, along with their excellen- HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani scribed as a “grave mistake”. over President Donald Trump’s Twitter page, the Dialogue will focus Lolwah AlKhater said the Strategic cies ministers of energy, commerce demand for $5.7bn to build a wall on strengthening relationships and Dialogue aims to strengthen co-op- and finance of both countries. along the US-Mexico border entered partnerships in the defence, security, eration with the US, an important ally. The inaugural Strategic Dialogue its 22nd day yesterday, making it economy and trading sectors. Qatari-US relations are strong and played a key role in further bolstering Serie A urged to cancel Jeddah match the longest shuttering of federal Among the expected results of the built on common values and mutual the solid Qatar-US partnership across Eleven Sports Network, a licensee of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. agencies in US history, with no meeting are: strengthening the es- respect, she said. many sectors. The two sides signed a Serie A in a number of territories and This follows beIN Media Group’s letter end in sight. Trump, holed up in tablished partnership between the Senior offi cials from both sides will number of agreements, MoUs and let- a major investor in Italian football to Serie A urging them to change the the White House with Congress two countries in combating terror- participate in the talks. ters of intent in the fi elds of trade, in- has sent out a letter to Serie A Chief venue of next week’s Italian Super Cup adjourned for the weekend, warned ism; opening new markets for Qatari AlKhater said the Qatari-US Stra- vestment, technology, energy and co- Executive Off icer demanding that Final match as Saudi Arabia has been of a much lengthier impasse and investments in the United States; tegic Dialogue will include high-level operation in sport, education, health, the Italian Super Cup game between actively supporting a plague of piracy blamed the Democrats. Page 6 consolidation of military and defence discussions on a number of politi- arts and culture. Juventus and AC Milan not be held in against world sport. Page 20

Ashghal opens Qatar’s longest, deepest tunnel on Rayyan Road

By Peter Alagos of the road and tunnel will reduce trav- Business Reporter el time between Bu Erayen and Street and and by up to 65%, because of increased lane he Public Works Authority (Ash- capacity and removal of the existing ghal) yesterday opened Qatar’s diversions, and will reduce traffi c con- Tlongest and deepest bi-direc- gestion on 22 February Street. tional tunnel as part of the construc- Al-Bader said the construction of tion of the Road Upgrade A view of the tunnel. the new tunnel faced many challenges, Project Phase 2. which were all addressed. He said it was The tunnel forms part of the newly- of four lanes in each direction will be de- necessary to establish multiple traffi c upgraded 2.1km stretch between Bu livered, accommodating 8,000 vehicles diversions and the construction of two Erayen and Lebday Street, said Yousef per hour in each direction. temporary signallised intersections to al-Emadi, manager of Highway Projects The tunnel forms part of the complex facilitate the progress of works. Department, during a briefi ng held in the three-level Al Mokafaha interchange. Excavating 25m below ground level presence of Brigadier General Mohamed At-grade (ground level) is a signal- meant that the project team had to Maarafi ya, manager of Ministry of Inte- lised junction, which facilitates traffi c manage extremely large quantities of rior’s Traffi c Safety Department, and a movements in all directions, including groundwater, he said. number of offi cials and project engineers. Al Waab, and Doha. He explained that the tunnel is fi tted The new tunnel is a major link be- Beneath this is an underpass that with all the safety and security facilities tween Bu Erayen and Lebday Streets, allows road users to travel seamlessly and that a dedicated building was con- spanning the Al Mokafaha and Lebday between Doha and Bani Hajer. The tun- structed to serve as the central control Interchange. The tunnel is 1.5km long nel is beneath the underpass, both of room for monitoring and controlling all and sits 25m below ground level, making which replace the old roundabout. operating system. This built-in system it the longest and deepest bi-directional Project manager Jumah al-Bader will allow the safe operation of the tun- tunnel in Qatar. At this initial stage, two noted that the newly-opened section nel, according to al-Bader. Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Sunday, January 13, 2019 QATAR Al Rayyan Road Upgrade Project now 88% complete, says Ashghal

By Peter Alagos Business Reporter

he Al Rayyan Road Upgrade Project is 88% over and is Tset to be completed in the fi rst quarter of the year, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) an- nounced yesterday following the opening of Qatar’s longest and deepest bidirectional tunnel. In a statement, Ashghal said the Al Rayyan Road Upgrade Project Phase 2 is “a critical” in- ner city project that will enhance Off icials mark the opening of the tunnel. 5.5km of Al Rayyan Road and Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street to the west of Olympic Intersection. Aside from increasing the lane capacity of the main carriageway to four lanes in each direction, the project will deliver four main interchanges and upgrade of a fl yover, including the tunnel. The project will also provide upgraded service roads to benefi t businesses and residential areas, as well as dedicated pedestrian and cycle paths. Ashghal noted that the project scope includes the upgrade of utility infrastruc- tutions, such as Qatar Founda- Street, on the other hand, is a terchange, which includes one ture, such as treated sewage ef- tion and , as well two-level interchange, which tunnel and one signalised junc- fl uent lines, storm water drain- as good connectivity to three includes one underpass and one tion, and provides connectivity age network, potable water line, local metro stations: signalised junction, and pro- towards Old Al Rayyan, Educa- and foul water networks, as well Station, Al Rayyan Al Qadeem vides connectivity towards Edu- tion City, Al Waab, and Al Luqta, as landscaping and beautifi ca- Station, and Station. cation City, Old Al Rayyan, As- Ashghal said. tion works. Ashghal said project deliverables pire Zone, and Al Gharafa. The Al Rayyan Flyover, which On key benefi ts to residential include Khalid bin Abdullah Al At- Similarly, the Al Mokafaha In- connects Al Rayyan Road and 22nd areas, Ashghal said the project tiyah Interchange along Al Rayyan terchange along Al Rayyan Al February Road, is a fl yover con- caters to several residential ar- Al Jadeed Street and Al Furousiya Jadeed Street and Al Bustan Street structed within an existing four eas throughout the entire stretch Street, a three-level interchange, is a three-level interchange, which level Al Rayyan Interchange and from Doha to Bani Hajer, includ- which includes one underpass, includes one tunnel, one under- provides connectivity towards ing Al Rayyan, Muraykh, Lebday, one signalised junction, and one pass, and one signalised junction, New Al Rayyan and Bani Hajer. , Al Waab, Al Messila, Al bridge. It provides connectivity and provides connectivity to- Also, the Al Messila Under- Luqta, and Al Hetmi Al Jadeed. and Al Shaqab Horse Racing serves a number of key busi- Food Centre, and Al Rawabi Food towards Bani Hajer, Doha, Aspire wards Bani Hajer, Doha, Al Bus- pass, which connects Al Rayyan Travelling on Al Rayyan Road Academy, off ering further ben- ness districts, such as Al Shafi Centre. Zone, and Al Gharafa. tan, Al Waab, and Al Luqta. Al Jadeed Road and Jasim bin Ha- Upgrade Project Phase Two will efi ts to those availing sports fa- Street commercial area in New The project will provide easy The Sheikh Khalid bin Ha- Lebday Interchange located mad Street, provides connectiv- provide improved access to Al cilities in the area. Al Rayyan, and creating easy ac- access to leisure facilities like Al mad Al Thani Interchange along at Old Al Rayyan Street and Al ity towards Madinat Khalifa, Bani Furousiya Equestrian Complex Ashghal said the project cess to Jarir Bookstore, Family Rayyan Park, educational insti- Old Al Rayyan Street and Huwar Bustan Street is a two-level in- Hajer, and Doha, Ashghal said. Katara signs agreement with International Amber Association

zFirst Katara Exhibition for Kahraman concludes

n a major initiative to pro- mote the amber industry in IQatar and worldwide, Katara - the Cultural Village yesterday signed an agreement with Po- land-based International Amber Association (IAA) for co-oper- A moment from the party. PICTURE: Jayan Orma ation in various fi elds related to the industry. The letter of intent was signed by Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Su- laiti, general manager of Katara, Ecuador envoy celebrates New Year and Mariusz Grzegorz Gliwinski, deputy president of the associa- tion, at the fi rst Katara Exhibi- with community members in Doha tion for Kahraman beads that concluded yesterday. Khalid al-Sayed, head of the vonne A Baki, Ecuador’s am- the same purpose, to share ide- be held more frequently during exhibition, and other Katara of- bassador to Qatar, attended a as, feelings and to enhance our her stay in Qatar. After she deliv- fi cials were also present at the INew Year celebration party unity and share happiness away ered her short message, a dinner signing ceremony. Signing of the agreement. on Friday along with members from our home country. Qatar featuring Ecuadorian delicacies The IAA is a platform for amber of the Ecuadorian community in is our second home,” the envoy was served, with special activi- merchants and manufacturers, Qatar. said. ties for children being hosted as artistes making amber artworks The party brought Ecuado- The objective of the gathering well. and collectors of natural amber rian families together and was was to unite all Ecuadorian com- The ambassador also seized and historic amber artifacts as a chance to share inspirational munity members in Qatar and the opportunity to encourage well as researchers in this fi eld. stories about their stay in Qatar, the event was attended by more the community to be in continu- “The agreement will help Ka- as well as to enhance networking than 70 Ecuadorians living in the ous interaction with each other tara benefi t from the experience among them. country and working in diff erent and to register themselves at and expertise of the association “I think everybody is good sectors. the embassy to avail of consular and its member organisations internally, everybody wants to The ambassador expressed services off ered by the mission in various fi elds, particularly in do good for himself, his country gratitude to everyone and to the community and be ac- technical aspects related to the and his family. We are all here for stressed that such events should quainted with upcoming events. amber industry. The agreement will be especially benefi cial in es- tablishing a dedicated centre for Kahraman amber at Katara as well as in holding future exhibitions and other related events,” said al- QFMA to hold training programme Sayed. Under the terms of the agree- ment, both sides will co-operate on combating fi nancial crimes in exchange of materials in edu- cation and research, publica- tions and information on amber, he Qatar Financial Markets across the entire spectrum of as- The programme’s scope is technical assistance in amber Authority (QFMA), in co- sociated activities. suitable for professionals work- laboratory issues and exchange Toperation with the Union The training programme is ing within the fi nancial services of employees, expertise and re- of Arab Securities Authorities expected to discuss the role of industry including compliance search scholars and promotion Dignitaries at the exhibition. (UASA), will hold a training pro- the private sector in combating offi cers, money laundering re- of amber culture, history and gramme on “Combating Finan- such crimes, and aiming to en- porting offi cers, as well as those contemporary design. and high-level forums related to artistes and experts from seven and perspectives in manufactur- cial Crimes” on 4-5 February. able participants with the tools involved in regulation, law en- The parties will discuss the the industry. countries - Qatar, Turkey, Ku- ing Kahraman amber beads and The programme’s topics cover to examine them, forcement, trade and commerce. opportunities and challenges The three-day exhibition at wait, Lebanon, Russia, Poland and ornaments, from authentic ma- specifi c issues related to com- The programme has been de- Participants will be given of- presented and would enter into Katara drew thousands of amber Lithuania- took part in the exhibi- terial, through a number of semi- bating fi nancial crimes such signed to be highly interactive, fi cial certifi cates issued by the specifi c agreements in future. enthusiasts, who had an oppor- tion, featuring about 80 stalls with nars and workshops. as money laundering, terrorist and participants will be invited UASA. They can also obtain a Both sides will serve as a tunity to see and buy the wide a rich variety of amber products. The exhibition, the fi rst of its fi nancing, bribery, corruption to discuss a number of real-life professional qualifi cation from bridge for co-operation between range of authentic Kahraman Most stalls also showcased rare kind in Qatar and one of the big- and fraud, along with the prac- cases and practical experiences the Chartered Institute for Secu- diff erent organisations involved amber beads, ornaments and and natural pieces of fossilised gest in the region, is expected to tical defences, and the manner in order to gain an objective and rities and Investment “CISI” af- in the amber industry. The par- historic artefacts on display, Ka- amber of diff erent colour, size give major boost to the Kahra- in which laws, regulations and practical understanding of the ter passing the appropriate exam. ties will also co-operate in or- tara said in a statement. and quality. The exhibition also man amber industry in Qatar, best practice continue to evolve nature of fi nancial crimes. – QNA ganising exhibitions, seminars Amber merchants, traders, introduced the diff erent styles the Gulf and worldwide. Gulf Times Sunday, January 13, 2019 3 QATAR Qatar to outperform on economic growth, govt spending: Fitch

By Pratap John cluding Oman are “pursuing more fiscally “We expect a more gradual improvement Chief Business Reporter expansive and growth-supportive” policies in risks scores over the coming quarters as in order to continue driving economic di- the security situation on the ground im- versification and job creation. proves, with potential for significant in- uoyed by “healthy” economic growth This will include government investment creases over the long term on currently HE Sheikha Hind’s participation in the ‘Off The Record’ event formed part of a four-day visit to the US, and “continued” fiscal support for in large-scale infrastructure projects such low scores of 1.9 out of 100 for Yemen, 5.3 which concluded on January 11. Binfrastructure from the government, as the Oman’s $6 .4bn Liwa Plastics Indus- for Libya and 15.6 for Iraq. Greater stabil- Qatar will remain an “outperformer”, both tries Complex. ity will also benefit the region more wide- regionally and globally, Fitch Solutions has “We expect Qatar, Oman and others to ly, with Jordan in particular likely to see a said in a report. continue leading the regional rankings on boost in investment and economic growth Qatar ranks very high in Fitch Solutions industry rewards, where all currently score as the Syrian conflict exerts less of a nega- Sheikha Hind attends US discussion Infrastructure Risk/Reward Index, which above 75 out of 100.” tive influence on the country.” according to the researcher, was due to An “improving” security situation in Fitch Solutions believe that Iraq in par- “strong government support” for con- regional conflict zones will also benefit ticular has the potential for the greatest on education and women’s rights struction and packed project pipelines. infrastructure risk and reward scores for improvement in its RRI score over coming Positive growth outlook and sustained Mena countries, Fitch Solutions noted. quarters. government fiscal support for infrastruc- A reduction in violence in countries in- “With IS having now lost its territorial E Sheikha Hind bint ture is keeping rewards scores elevated in cluding Yemen, Libya, Iraq and Syria is an- presence in the country, the security situa- Hamad al-Thani, Vice markets in the Mena region, and among other of Fitch Solutions 2019 key themes tion is stabilising and allowing reconstruc- HChairperson and CEO GCC countries in particular. chosen by its Mena Country Risk Team, tion efforts to get underway. Iraq’s con- of (QF), has Fitch Solutions Mena Country Risk team which it expects to benefit the construc- struction sector, it said, will benefit from participated in the latest ‘Off has highlighted that economic growth will tion industry and support an improvement aid assistance from multilateral lending The Record’ discussion in New largely hold up across the region. This is in RRI scores in these countries and their institutions as well as Chinese financing York City, US. one of its key themes for 2019. neighbours. and greater public funding for reconstruc- The talk, titled ‘A Discussion “This will create opportunities for in- While construction activity in Yemen tion, supporting growth and opportunities of Education, Women’s Rights vestment and encourage government will remain in contraction in 2019, Fitch in infrastructure. and the Blockade’, was mod- spending on infrastructure, supporting Solutions is forecasting an acceleration in “We are forecasting a growth of 10% in erated by journalist Magalie strong rewards scores across the region,” growth in Iraq and Libya as violence dies the construction sector in 2019, driving a Laguerre-Wilkinson from US the report said. down and reconstruction efforts get un- high industry rewards score of 74 .1 out of news programme 60 Minutes. Qatar and some other GCC countries in- derway. 100,” Fitch Solutions said. Speaking about her partici- pation in the event, HE Sheikha Hind said: “This discussion has provided a valuable opportu- nity to outline and promote HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani during the discussion. the vision and mission of Qatar Foundation to the world, on an young people with the skills of the organisation’s leadership Volvo XC40 claims ‘2018 Women’s impactful international plat- that enable them to address is female. form that focuses on address- national and global challenges Sheikha Hind’s participation ing global and international and make a positive impact on in the ‘Off The Record’ event challenges in education and the world.” formed part of a four-day visit World Car of the Year’ accolade other areas through collabora- QF’s commitment to em- to the US, which concluded on tion. powering women in education January 11. “Innovation in education is is refl ected by the fact that the As part of the trip, she met he XC40 from Volvo Cars appeal. The award reaffi rms Vol- one of the key elements of QF’s number of female students en- with senior offi cials from the was recently honoured vo’s dedication to put in place a mission. Our participation in rolled in engineering courses home campuses of QF’s inter- Tas the Supreme Winner high-class car that suits women this event has illustrated how at Texas A&M University at national partner universities, as of the 2018 Women’s World Car and the entire family with the we are an exemplar of high- Qatar, a QF partner university, well as infl uential thought lead- of the Year (WWCOTY) award, right combination of design, quality education provision, has reached an all-time high ers, innovative think tanks and adding to the list of awards won connectivity and safety.” and how we have created a of almost 50% in the current leading policy-makers in edu- by the SUV. Safety and driver assistance multidisciplinary, cross-cul- academic year, while overall cation and research, and toured This recognition is the only features on the XC40 include tural educational and research female enrolment at Carnegie Weill Cornell Medicine, part of car award in the world entirely Volvo Cars’ Pilot Assist system, environment. This environ- Mellon University in Qatar – Cornell University, to meet stu- voted by women motoring writ- City Safety, Run-off Road pro- ment is built on equality of also a QF partner university – dents and learn more about its ers. Thirty-four jurors from 27 tection and mitigation, Cross opportunity, and equipping stands at 63%. Across QF, 40% innovative research initiatives. countries selected Volvo’s fi rst Traffi c alert with brake support compact SUV as the best new and the 360° Camera that helps car of the year for women. In drivers manoeuvre their car into two anonymous rounds of votes, tight parking spaces, according the XC40 prevailed against fi ve The Volvo XC40. to a press statement issued in competing models. Doha by Domasco. Health ministry in vaccination drive The world’s only automobile is measured by safety, price per- drive a new XC40 by visiting The XC40 also off ers ingen- award dedicated to women re- formance, appearance, storage the Volvo showroom on Khalifa ious interior design and stor- fl ects the growing importance of space, child-friendliness, com- Street near the National Mosque age ideas with more functional he Ministry of Public istry of Education and Higher lic schools will have their vac- women as an independent cus- fort and environmental foot- and TV Intersection. storage space in the doors and Health launched yester- Education, and with the Pri- cinations from February 17-26. tomer group as well as their pur- print, as well as colour options Faisal Sharif, managing direc- under the seats, a special space Tday its annual vaccina- mary Healthcare Corporation. The ministry organised a work- chasing power. Automakers are and desirability. tor of Domasco, said: “Since its for phones including induc- tion campaign against Tdap, The fi rst day of the campaign shop for nurses that provided considering criteria important Doha Marketing Services launch, the XC40 has been rec- tive charging, a foldout hook focusing on students in year 10. will begin today in private and them with the necessary training to women when buying a car, Company (Domasco) is the ex- ognised with well-known acco- for small bags, plus a removable The campaign is being done expat schools, and will continue that would guarantee the suc- shown in the WWCOTY deci- clusive distributor of Volvo Cars lades internationally and in the waste bin in the tunnel console, in co-operation with the Min- to February 24. Students of pub- cess of the campaign. sion making process. The award in Qatar and customers can test region, highlighting its universal the statement added. QIIB conducts evacuation drill at Grand Hamad Street branch

ithin the framework It also refl ects the active and ef- of its emergency re- fective co-operation among the Wsponse plan and as a bank’s staff at all levels, whether reinforcement of its safety and among the security and safety security standards, QIIB has team or employees themselves conducted an emergency evacu- and the various departments and ation drill at its main branch on sections concerned. Grand Hamad Street, enacting a “Such emergency drills are an QFBA and QFC off icials with the high-level delegation from Somalia. virtual fi re scenario in the pres- important part of our risk man- ence of the Civil Defence and agement process. We are happy Emergency Medical Service per- to say that all drills conducted in sonnel. terms of risk management prove The drill simulated all proce- our advancement and keenness dures that should be followed to achieve more in this fi eld. QFBA hosts diplomatic during fi res, including the ac- “In addition to the training tivation of fi re alarms for the and information we provide and evacuation of employees work- The drill simulated all procedures that should be followed during the various drills that we con- ing in the building as per QIIB- fires, including the activation of fire alarms for the evacuation of duct in all QIIB buildings, we are delegation from Somalia approved safety and security employees working in the building as per QIIB-approved safety keen to provide all security and protocols. and security protocols. safety equipment to prepare for QIIB’s emergency response and prevent any dangers or sud- he Qatar Finance and specifi c needs of the relevant QFC Product Development team implemented the security den events. The bank’s buildings Business Academy organisations to design a prod- manager Leila al-Jufairi said: and safety procedures, including are equipped with fi re alarms, T(QFBA) recently hosted, uct that they deem fi t for their “Qatar boasts one of the the instructions that they were emergency exits, fi re extinguish- in co-ordination with Ministry organisational growth. strongest and fastest grow- trained to perform. ers, and signage in all the corri- of Foreign Aff airs, a high-level “QFBA has a wide range ing economies in the Mena They supervised the evacua- dors to indicate the closest exits diplomatic delegation from of courses, including short region, and the Qatar Finan- tion operations inside the build- of the building, in line with the Somalia. courses and those that pre- cial Centre’s unique platform ing by guiding employees to the best international standards.” The 12-member delegation pare students for interna- continues to facilitate ease in emergency exit, making sure Al-Tamimi also thanked the visited the country to learn more tional professional tests, as business set-up for entities they used the allocated routes, members of the Civil Defence about Qatar Financial Centre well as four-year university wishing to expand to Qatar stopping elevators, and directing and Emergency Medical Service (QFC) and its subsidiaries. programmes. These under- and beyond. employees to predetermined as- personnel who participated in QBA head of Sales and Mar- graduates come under North- “The QFC operates in line sembly points for emergencies, the drill. keting Dr Mohamed al-Emadi, umbria University, though we with international best prac- as well as ensuring the evacua- He also thanked QIIB security who received the delegation, issue our own certificates for tice and standards off ering tion of all personnel from their and safety team and all employ- said: “QFBA off ers training for our training programmes. We word class regulation, a fair and offi ces and departments after ees who were present at the bank the entire professional segment also have various custom- transparent tax regime, and an sounding the fi re alarms. and carried out the evacuation of the fi nancing sector, includ- designed courses for on-job English common law frame- Ibrahim al-Tamimi, QIIB head cedure that we are keen to carry “This drill proves that our staff procedures. This, al-Tamimi ing staff from the most junior training as well as experiential work. The value of our unbeat- (Administrative Services), said: out periodically to ensure our members are very well aware of said, confi rms the bank’s readi- to the most executive level. We training.” able framework is recognised “It was a useful drill and an es- readiness for emergencies in the dangers, as they showed a ness to deal with potential emer- identify the needs within the During a presentation be- by regulated fi nancial services sential security and safety pro- case of occurrence. quick and organised response. gencies. economy in general and the fore the visiting delegation, institutions worldwide.” Gulf Times 4 Sunday, January 13, 2019 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

UNREST Death toll from Sudan protests rises to 24: official Anti-government protests that have rocked ished agricultural town, had passed away, Sudan since last month have left 24 people taking the overall death toll to 24. He did not Yemeni refi nery fi re spreads dead, an official said yesterday, without give details on the cause of the protesters’ specifying how they died. Demonstrations deaths. Rights groups have put the overall that erupted in the provinces on December death toll much higher, with Human Rights 19 after the government tripled the price of Watch saying that at least 40 people have bread have escalated into nationwide anti- been killed in clashes during the demon- to second storage tank government rallies, with protesters calling strations, including children and medical for President Omar al-Bashir to resign. “The staff. Protesters have staged hundreds of total number of people who have died in demonstrations so far but riot police and Reuters incidents from December 19 until now is security agents have broken up their rallies Aden 24,” Amer Ibrahim, head of a panel set up with volleys of tear gas. Rights groups and by the prosecutor’s office to investigate the the European Union have said that security violence during these rallies told reporters. forces used “live ammunition” on protest- fi re at a refi nery in Yemen’s Authorities had earlier said that 22 peo- ers. The European Union said Friday that southern port city of Aden ple, including two security personnel, had the “use of force by security forces against Aspread to a second storage tank been killed in the unrest. Ibrahim said that civilians — including the use of live ammuni- yesterday, injuring six people, sources two additional protesters who were being tion — has led to further casualties over the at the refi nery said. treated in hospital in Gadaraf, an impover- last few days”. They told Reuters that civil defence forces had failed to contain the fi re sparked by an explosion on Friday. CONFLICT The cause of the blast is still un- Turkey hails Pompeo comments over Syria situation known. Aden is under the control of the internationally recognised gov- Turkey yesterday welcomed the latest in Abu Dhabi as part of a regional tour, and ernment, which is backed by a Sau- statement made by Washington’s top they discussed “the steps that need to be di-led and Western-backed coali- diplomat over Ankara’s right to defend itself taken” in Syria, he said. The latest com- tion and which is battling the Houthi from “terrorists” after the US withdraws ments follow tensions between the US and movement that seized the capital from Syria. “We find correct his statement Turkey over the fate of Washington’s Syrian Sanaa in 2014. about the removal of the elements that Kurdish allies in the fight against Islamic The United Nations launched concern Turkey,” Foreign Minister Mevlut State group militants. Pompeo had earlier peace talks last month to try to end Cavusoglu said in a speech in the southern said Washington recognised “the Turkish the nearly four-year-old war that has Firefighters try to cool down oil storage tanks adjacent to a tank engulfed by fire at the Aden oil refinery one day Turkish province of Antalya. Cavusoglu people’s right and (Turkish President Recep killed tens of thousands of people, after an explosion in the refinery in Aden, yesterday. spoke on the phone yesterday with US Tayyip) Erdogan’s right to defend their devastated the economy and left mil- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was country from terrorists”. lions facing severe hunger. But tensions have resurged since Clashes erupt between rebels and government forces in Hodeidah despite truce then. A Houthi drone attack on Thursday Clashes erupted between Houthi rebels and gov- supported by Saudi Arabia and its allies launched an on a government military parade in ernment forces in Yemen’s flashpoint port city of offensive to capture it in June. Lahaj, a province next to Aden, killed Hodeidah yesterday, dealing a new blow to a fragile But last month the warring parties agreed a ceasefire several people. truce, an AFP correspondent reported. Artillery and for Hodeida during UN-sponsored talks in Sweden. Saudi state television said on Friday machine-gun ex changes rocked the southern part of The United Nations has said the truce has largely held the coalition destroyed a base used by Hodeidah in early morning before tapering off later in since it came into force on December 18 but there Houthis to direct their unmanned air- day, the correspondent said. The rebel-held port city, have been delays in the agreed pullback of rebel craft. which is a lifeline for the delivery of desperately need- and government forces. The Houthis control most of The Houthis deny receiving help ed humanitarian aid, was for months the main front Hodeidah while government forces are deployed on from Tehran and say they are fi ghting line in the Yemeni conflict after government forces its southern and eastern outskirts. against corruption.

Presidential runner-up asks court to cancel result

AFP most observers predicted a result Kinshasa rigged in favour of Shadary.But the shock result declared Tshisekedi the victor with 38.57%, while Fayulu he runner-up in DR Congo’s came second with 34.8%. presidential election, Martin The court now has eight days to TFayulu, has appealed to the consider the request. “I got more Constitutional Court to annul the than 61% of the vote compared with provisional result which awarded the others, who each got 18%,” Fay- victory to his opposition rival Felix ulu said. Tshisekedi, his lawyer said yester- “Between them, they didn’t get day. more than 40 percent.” The request was fi led on Friday At stake is political stewardship ahead of a 48-hour deadline for any of the notoriously unstable central appeals against the shock result to African nation, which has never replace long-term President Joseph known a peaceful transition of pow- Kabila. er since independence from Belgium “The request seeks the annul- in 1960. ment of the result declaring Felix Democratic Republic of Congo opposition presidential candidate Martin Fayulu has denounced the result Tshisekedi president,” Toussaint Fayulu (second right), files an appeal with his legal team at the as an “electoral coup” engineered by Ekombe told reporters outside the Constitutional Court in Kinshasa, yesterday, challenging the results of Kabila in which Tshisekedi was “to- court. the presidential election. tally complicit”. The move came as the pro-Kabila Explaining the appeal, the FCC coalition announced it had won seats went to opposition lawmak- On December 30, after repeated 62-year-old said election chief Cor- a majority in legislative elections, ers, he said. The developments were delays, voters fi nally went to the neille Nangaa had “broken electoral which took place at the same time as the latest twist in a long-running polls in an election pitting two op- law” and that only a recount would last month’s presidential poll. political crisis which erupted two position candidates, Fayulu and establish the truth of what hap- Supporters of the outgoing presi- years ago when Kabila refused to Tshisekedi, against Kabila’s hand- pened at the ballot box. dent won nearly 350 seats in the step down at the end of his constitu- picked successor, Emmanuel Rama- On Friday, the former oil execu- 500-seat National Assembly, ac- tional term in offi ce, sparking mas- zani Shadary. tive said he didn’t expect the result cording to Communications Min- sive protests which were brutally Opinion polls had indicated Fay- to be annulled but that the court ister Lambert Mende. About 130 repressed. ulu was the clear favourite, although would approve a recount.

TRAGEDY At least eight dead in tanker blast

At least eight people were killed in Nigeria when a petrol tank- er veered off the road, caught fire and exploded as people tried to recover fuel, the emergency services said yesterday. The vehicle crashed in the Odukpani area of the southeastern state of Cross River, just north of the state capital, Calabar, at about 5:00pm (1600 GMT) on Friday. Local residents rushed to collect the leaking fuel before it caught fire, triggering the tanker blast. The sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Cross River, Chidiebere Benjamin Nkwonta, said: “We met eight charred bodies on arrival at the scene. “Fifteen other people were severely burnt and in a life-threatening situation. They were taken to the hospital before we got there. I was also informed that out of the 15, some of them later died but I do not have the exact figures of the number that died.” Nkwonta, how- ever, dismissed local reports that up to 60 people were killed as “grossly over-exaggerated”.Cross River state police spokes- woman Irene Ugbo said earlier she could not confirm the exact death toll but added: “The casualties are high.” The blast could have been sparked by the clashing of steel containers used to scoop up the petrol, she added. One local resident, Akpan Imon, said at least 18 people were killed. “I counted 18 bodies including women and children burnt beyond recognition,” he said.

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, January 13, 2019 AMERICAS

Saudi teen welcomed as ‘brave new Canadian’

Reuters and donning a blue UNHCR cap. Toronto Freeland, who received Qunun at the Govt shutdown airport, told reporters that al-Qunun is “a very brave new Canadian”. n 18-year-old Saudi who fl ed “Rahaf wanted Canadians to see her family this week, saying that she has arrived at her new home,” Athat she feared for her life, ar- Freeland told reporters. “But she had rived in Toronto’s international air- a very long and tiring journey and so port yesterday after Canada granted would prefer not to take questions to- is now longest her asylum, where Foreign Minister day. Chrystia Freeland welcomed her as a “And she is now going to go to her brave new Canadian. new home.” Rahaf Mohamed al-Qunun grabbed Al-Qunun smiles as she is introduced Al-Qunun, who had initially in- international attention this week after to the media at Toronto Pearson tended to seek asylum in Australia, she barricaded herself in a Bangkok International Airport, alongside chose Canada instead because Aus- airport hotel room to resist being sent Freeland. tralia took too long assessing whether in US history home to her family, which denies any to grant her asylum. abuse. She arrived at Toronto’s Pearson “(Australia) takes too long. That’s Trump says shutdown could be ceive paycheques on Friday. The stand-off has turned into a Al-Qunun refused to meet her father International Airport yesterday morn- why I went to Canada,” she told Reu- resolved ‘in 15 minutes’ The shutdown became the longest test of political ego, particularly for and brother, who arrived in Bangkok to ing, smiling and wearing a hoodie em- ters in a direct message before board- on record at midnight on Friday (0500 Trump, who came into offi ce boasting try take her back to Saudi Arabia. blazoned with the word Canada in red, ing her fl ight to Toronto. AFP GMT yesterday), when it overtook a of his deal-making powers and making Washington 21-day stretch in 1995-1996 under an aggressive border policy the key- president Bill Clinton. stone of his nationalist agenda. On Friday, however, Trump backed In two of his tweets yesterday, he partial US government shut- off a series of previous threats to end Trump pushed back on a media report down entered a record 22nd day the deadlock by declaring a national that his White House was “chaotic” Tyesterday, as President Donald emergency and attempting to secure with no plan or strategy to end the Trump remains steadfast in his de- the funds without congressional ap- shutdown. mand for $5.7bn to build a Mexico bor- proval. “The Fakes always like talking Cha- der wall and Democrats in Congress “I’m not going to do it so fast,” he os, there is NONE...” he tweeted. “I do determined to refuse the funds. said at a White House meeting. have a plan on the shutdown.” The president issued a series of Trump described an emergency “But to understand that plan you tweets yesterday in an eff ort to defend declaration as the “easy way out” and would have to understand the fact that his stance and goad Democrats to re- said that Congress had to step up to the I won the election, and I promised... a turn to Washington and end what he responsibility of approving the $5.7bn Wall at the Southern Border. Elections called “the massive humanitarian cri- he says is needed. have consequences!” sis at our Southern Border”. “If they can’t do it ... I will declare Democrats, meanwhile, seem deter- “Democrats could solve the shut- a national emergency. I have the abso- mined at all costs to prevent the presi- down in 15 minutes!” he said in one lute right,” he said. dent from getting the wall he has often tweet, adding in another: “We will be Until Friday, Trump had suggested promised in his campaign-style rallies. out for a long time unless the Demo- numerous times that he was getting Both Democrats and Republicans crats come back from their ‘vacations’ closer to taking the controversial deci- agree that the US-Mexican border and get back to work. I am in the White sion. presents major challenges, ranging House ready to sign!” One powerful Republican ally, Sen- from the violent Mexican drug trade However, most lawmakers left town ator Lindsey Graham, tweeted after to the plight of asylum-seekers and on Friday and will not return before talks with Trump: “Mr. President, De- poor migrants seeking new lives in the tomorrow, leaving little chance for any clare a national emergency NOW.” world’s richest country. solution to the stalemate before then. But the president himself acknowl- But Trump has turned his single- The impasse has paralysed Wash- edged in the White House meeting that minded push for more walls into a po- ington – its impact felt increasingly an attempt to claim emergency powers litical crusade that opponents say is a around the country – with the presi- would likely end up in legal battles go- stunt to stoke xenophobia in his right- dent retaliating by refusing to sign off ing all the way to the Supreme Court wing voter base while willfully ignor- on budgets for swaths of government – as other Republicans and some of ing the border’s complex realities. departments unrelated to the dispute. his advisers have reportedly cautioned Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader As a result, more than 800,000 fed- him. in the House of Representatives, said eral employees – workers as diverse as Opponents say that a unilateral money should be spent on border se- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) presidential move would be constitu- curity but not on walls. agents, air traffi c controllers, and mu- tional overreach and set a dangerous “We need to look at the facts,” she seum and park personnel – did not re- precedent in similar controversies. said. Gulf Times Sunday, January 13, 2019 7 AMERICA Trump raps FBI probe triggered by Comey fi ring

AFP Washington

resident Donald Trump blasted the FBI yesterday, insisting that Pit acted “for no reason & with no proof” when it opened an investigation into whether he was acting on Russia’s behalf after he fi red the agency’s direc- tor, James Comey, in May 2017. The New York Times reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched the previously undis- closed counterintelligence investi- gation to determine whether Trump Trump: has repeatedly criticised the Mueller investigation as a ‘witch hunt’. posed a national security threat, at the same time that it opened a criminal send some government e-mails. ens of indictments and steadily chalked probe into possible obstruction of jus- “My fi ring of James Comey was a up convictions of some of the presi- tice by the president. great day for America,” Trump claimed, dent’s close associates – including his The FBI investigation was subse- describing the former FBI director as “a former national security adviser, his quently folded into the broader probe Crooked Cop who is being totally pro- former personal lawyer, and his ex- by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into tected by his best friend, Bob Mueller”. campaign chief. Russia’s meddling in the 2016 elec- The Times said that the FBI had been The ex-national security adviser, tion and possible collaboration by the suspicious of Trump’s ties to Russia Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying Trump campaign. during the 2016 campaign. to investigators about his Moscow ties. No evidence has publicly emerged However, it held off on opening an The lawyer, Michael Cohen, has been that Trump was secretly in contact investigation until the president sacked sentenced to three years in prison for with or took direction from Russian of- Comey, who refused to pledge alle- multiple crimes, including felony vio- fi cials, the Times said. giance to Trump and roll back the nas- lations of campaign fi nance laws that “Wow, just learned in the Failing New cent Russia investigation. prosecutors allege were carried out un- York Times that the corrupt former Trump has repeatedly criticised the der Trump’s direction. leaders of the FBI, almost all fi red or Mueller investigation as a “witch hunt” And Trump’s former presidential forced to leave the agency for some and views it as an attempt to besmirch campaign chair, Paul Manafort, has very bad reasons, opened up an inves- the legitimacy of his presidency. been convicted in one case brought by tigation on me, for no reason & with no His press secretary, Sarah Huckabee- Mueller and pleaded guilty in another, proof, after I fi red Lyin’ James Comey, a Sanders, said in a statement yesterday over fi nancial crimes related to his work total sleaze!” Trump tweeted. that the latest charges are “absurd”, in Ukraine before the 2016 campaign, According to Trump, “the FBI was adding: “James Comey was fi red be- and for witness tampering. in complete turmoil... because of cause he’s a disgraced partisan hack Mueller’s grand jury investigation, Comey’s poor leadership” and the way ... (and) President Trump has actually meanwhile, has been extended by a he handled the investigation into Hil- been tough on Russia.” judge beyond its original 18-month lary Clinton’s use of a private server to Mueller, meanwhile, has issued doz- mandate. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, January 13, 2019 ASIA

Nepal and Thai security forces kill two India review progress in relations linked to school shooting IANS New Delhi AFP attackers struck just before edly put the schoolchildren, the Bangkok lunchtime with students mere teachers and school personnel metres away. in harm’s way. It has put chil- ecent developments in Pattani provincial police dren at grave risk of injury or India-Nepal ties across wo insurgents believed commander Piyawat Chal- death,” he said. Rvarious sectors came up to be tied to a motorcy- ermsri said that two people “Such violence could also for discussion during a meet- Tcle drive-by shooting at a with alleged ties to the school aff ect parents’ willingness to ing between Indian External Af- school in Thailand’s south were violence were killed in a shoot- send their children to school - fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj shot dead yesterday, police said, out yesterday morning. potentially to the detriment of and Nepalese Foreign Minister as Unicef warned of trauma for Though he did not give infor- many children’s learning and Pradeep Kumar Gyawali in New children near the scene of the mation about their identities or future development.” Delhi. lunchtime violence. affi liation, he said he was “con- The 15-year insurgency has “The two ministers reviewed Since 2004 clashes between fi dent that they are the same seen scores of teachers killed, recent developments in bilateral Malay-Muslim rebels and the group who carried out the at- slain for their perceived col- ties across diverse sectors, in- Buddhist-majority Thai state tack Thursday” by driving by on laboration with the Thai state, cluding progress achieved on the that annexed the area over 100 motorbikes. which led to the use of armed three transformative initiatives years ago have killed nearly Authorities have also de- guards at schools. launched in 2018 in the areas of 7,000 people, mostly civilians tained one suspect and are The death toll in the confl ict agriculture, railways and inland of both faiths. questioning fi ve others, while dropped to a record low last year waterways as well as pace of im- The confl ict rarely makes a military source said an eight- as Thailand’s junta tightened its plementation of ongoing bilater- global headlines but is a re- year-old had been grazed by a security operations. al development and connectivity ality for residents of border bullet but not seriously injured. But recent weeks have projects,” the Indian external af- provinces where security forc- Unicef Thailand representa- seen an uptick in violence, as fairs ministry said in a statement. es maintain a large footprint, tive Thomas Davin said Friday rebels show they remain able A girl plays with a weapon on the top of an army vehicle during Children’s Day celebration at a military “They expressed satisfaction aided by poorly paid defence that one child at the Bukoh to carry out more pinpointed facility in Bangkok yesterday. at the signifi cant progress made “volunteers” drawn from local school attack was reportedly operations. in diff erent sectors of coopera- communities. injured by debris and some In a rare statement dated to help or support the state. will make progress soon. that he “wants to fi nd a solution tion as a result of intensifi ed bi- The four men killed in Thurs- who may have witnessed the January 4 the main rebel group But Thai authorities as well Former 4th Army command- to exit from the violence” and lateral exchanges at all levels in day’s shooting were all Mus- attack could face long term - the Barisan Revolusi Nasional as the Malaysian facilita- er Udomchai Thammasarorat he has urged the southern army recent months,” it said. lims and were guarding a school psychological trauma. (BRN) - swore to “keep fi ght- tor of the talks have recently said at the Foreign Correspond- commander to try and ensure According to the statement, in Pattani province when the “This attack has undoubt- ing” while warning people not expressed confidence they ents Club in Thailand on Friday public safety. the two leaders reiterated their commitment to maintain the new momentum and to further strengthen the traditionally close and friendly ties between the two countries. Grab appeals Vietnamese court India reset its ties with Nepal EU holding country last year through a visit by Prime Minister Modi, his fi rst after K ruling in taxi company dispute P Sharma Oli became the prime minister. During the visit, both sides ‘hostage’ with tariff Reuters “Grab requested the Ho Chi tions because it operates as a agreed to boost trade and eco- Hanoi Minh City People’s Court to taxi company, and not just as a nomic links, connectivity via reverse the fi rst instance judg- technology fi rm. air, land and water, people-to- ment and dismiss the case,” Grab said yesterday, how- people ties, with Modi declaring ide-hailing company Grab said in an e-mailed ever, it does not carry out a that India will work like a Sherpa threats: Cambodia PM Grab said yesterday statement. transportation business and in the Himalayan nation’s devel- Rit had fi led an appeal Late last month, the court does not violate local laws. opment endeavours. against a Vietnamese court ordered Singapore-headquar- “VinaSun could not prove This happened after there was AFP hostage of the so-called EBA.” ruling last month that ordered tered Grab to pay the sum to Vi- its actual damages and/or the a chill in India-Nepal ties during Phnom Penh Hun Sen’s spokesman con- it to pay 4.8bn dong (about etnam Sun Corp, better known causal link between any of Oli’s earlier stint between Octo- veyed the remarks to report- $207,000) in compensation to as VinaSun, which had sought Grab’s alleged violations and ber 2015 and August 2016 when a ers. They were also posted on a local taxi operator. 41.2bn dong in compensation VinaSun’s alleged damages,” border blockade blamed on New ambodian Prime Minis- the leader’s offi cial Facebook The 18-month-long legal bat- for what it said were Grab’s un- Grab said in the statement. Delhi crippled Nepal’s economy. ter Hun Sen blasted the page and quickly picked up by tle between the two companies is a fair business practices. VinaSun did not immedi- There were also perceptions CEuropean Union yes- state-friendly media. rare case of a taxi fi rm suing a ride- The court found that Grab ately respond to a request by that Oli was leaning more to- terday for holding the coun- He asked Kenny to pass hailing rival over lost revenue. violated Vietnamese regula- Reuters for comment. wards China than India. try “hostage” with threats to Cambodian Prime Minister along his message to the EU. axe trade preferences after it Hun Sen: “Using EBA as a Hun Sen is known for fi ery held elections with no credible threat to sanction speeches that toss aside dip- opposition. Cambodia ... and take lomatic niceties, but he usu- The EU threatened in Oc- about 16mn Cambodians as ally avoids calling out the trade tober to withdrawal the du- hostage of the so-called EBA.” scheme by name. Protesting garment workers ransack factories ty-free Everything But Arms Last month he rapped West- scheme (EBA), which benefi ts Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian ern governments for push- IANS Against this backdrop, scores exports from Cambodia’s gar- People’s Party. ing “democracy and human Dhaka of factories in Dhaka and in the ment and footwear sector, the The moves were seen as rights” on the country in com- apparel hubs on the outskirts of largest formal employer. concessions to avoid any loss ments believed to be tied to the the capital city suspended their The multi-billion dollar of the trade preferences but EU threat. orkers in Bangladesh production. sector employs hundreds Hun Sen has baulked at the Removing the preferences is yesterday staged dem- Dozens of people including of thousands of labour- idea of his hand being forced, a long, drawn out process that Wonstrations and ran- workers and law enforcers were ers and is seen as one of the and said so in his most direct would take several months. sacked nearly a dozen factories injured in incidents of violence 66-year-old’s few vulner- comments on the issue yet in The ruling party swept all in protests over disparity in their yesterday as police charged ba- able positions in a coun- a meeting with former Irish seats in the July vote turning new wage structure. tons and used water cannon to try he has run for nearly 34 prime minister Enda Kenny in Cambodia into a one-party In Tongi, one of the key ap- disperse the protesters in places. years by building up vast Phnom Penh. state. parel industrial hubs on the A tripartite committee with patronage networks. After bringing up several The Southeast Asian coun- outskirts of capital Dhaka, at representatives from the govern- In recent months he has re- historical grievances with try enjoys the economic sup- least nine factories were report- ment, union leaders and factory quested pardons for activists the bloc he said it was mak- port of China, which in turn edly vandalised by the protesting owners has already been formed and eased up on the crippled ing another mistake by “us- relies on its smaller ally to sup- workers. to resolve the ongoing unrest. opposition, which was banned ing EBA as a threat to sanc- port it in regional disputes over Equipped with sticks, workers Tens of thousands garment in a Supreme Court ruling tion Cambodia ... and take control of the potentially re- also vandalised two more facto- workers have been staging Police off icers tell the garment workers who protest for higher wages ahead of the July vote swept by about 16mn Cambodians as source-rich South China Sea. ries in Dhaka’s Mirpur area. demonstration since Sunday. to go to their workplace in Dhaka yesterday. Gulf Times Sunday, January 13, 2019 9 QATAR Qatar Charity sets up four sewing workshops in Sudan atar Charity (QC), with the support of benefactors in Qatar, has managed to set up four sewing workshops to train the mothers of orphans and underprivileged Qwomen, promote their products and provide them with 89 sewing machines. The sewing workshops were set up as part of 164 income-generating projects, which were implemented by Qatar Charity through its office in Sudan during 2018 at a total cost of more than QR1mn, benefiting hundreds of families in need. The four workshops, implemented at a cost of QR338.9, aim at rehabilitating and training the beneficiaries in sewing and embroidery arts for one year, then giving them sewing and embroidery machines along with necessary operating accessories. Through its economic empowerment projects, Qatar Charity seeks to alleviate the suffering of poor families by providing a decent job that provides them with a stable income. Such projects will help lift them out of poverty and preserve their human dignity. A workshop was set up at the Sheikha Aisha bint Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah Model Orphans City in the River Nile State, where the workshop included 31 different sewing machines along with accessories and 20 pieces of cloths, benefiting mothers of orphans living in the city. Another workshop set up in the White Nile State included 17 sewing machines along with accessories in addition to two workshops in the Khartoum State, which included 33 sewing machines along with accessories, benefiting more than 150 families. Rabab Hussein, director of the Khartoum workshop, said the sewing workshop was set up in a densely populated area, where most of the people are poor, who need such projects that help them live a decent life, adding that the workshop aims at training women in producing. The trainees expressed their pleasure and thanked the benefactors in Qatar for their generous donation, which contributed to providing a source of income for their families. Hocine Kermache, director of QC’s office in Sudan, said this project was considered as one of the important income-generating projects implemented by Qatar Charity in Sudan, as this project involves training women and teaching them the methods to market and promote their products, in addition to giving them sewing machines. He also pointed out that the beneficiaries were previously given normal sewing machines individually, while they now get electric sewing and embroidery machines Compared to 2017, economic empowerment projects witnessed an increase in These projects consisted of four sewing workshops, 27 grain mills in different areas and overlock machine in addition to accessories. the number of completed projects in 2018, reaching 164 projects, while 64 income- of the White Nile State, and 17 sheep and dairy cows farming projects in addition to generating projects were implemented in 2017. transportation vehicles, cameras and other projects. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, January 13, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Huawei fi res staff er held in Poland on spying charges

AFP question has brought Huawei into expects to see a 21% rise in rev- Beijing disrepute,” it said. enue for 2018 despite what it “Huawei complies with all ap- called “unfair treatment” around plicable laws and regulations in the world, as several countries uawei said yesterday it has the countries where it operates, banned its telecommunications fi red a Chinese employee and we require every employee to technology. Hwho was arrested in Po- abide by the laws and regulations Last month, Britain’s largest land on espionage allegations, as in the countries where they are mobile provider BT said that it China’s telecom giant distanced based.” would remove Huawei equipment itself from the case amid West- A Polish man was also arrested from its cellular network after the ern concerns that it could act for alleged espionage along with foreign intelligence service called as a proxy for Chinese security Wang on Tuesday. Both men are The Huawei logo is pictured at one of their units. the company a security risk. services. suspected of having “worked for Australia and New Zealand have This week’s detention of Wang Chinese services and to the detri- According to the LinkedIn pro- States, which has accused her of also enacted similar bans, leav- Weijing follows the December arrest ment of Poland,” said Polish spe- fi le of “Stanislaw Wang” – Wang’s fraud related to violations of Iran ing Canada the only country in of Huawei’s chief fi nancial offi cer cial services spokesman Stanislaw Polish name, according to Polish sanctions. the “Five Eyes” intelligence net- in Canada and US eff orts to black- Zaryn. media TVP – the detained Hua- Meng is the daughter of Huawei work not to take steps against the list the company internationally He said their apartments and wei employee worked at the Chi- founder Ren Zhengfei, a former Chinese fi rm. over security concerns. workplaces were searched, adding nese consulate in Gdansk, Poland Chinese People’s Liberation Army Last month, a senior EU offi - While China’s government that the Polish suspect had worked prior to his tenure at the Chinese engineer. cial warned that the bloc should has vociferously defended Hua- “for several state institutions”. tech fi rm. Following her arrest two Cana- be “worried” about Huawei and wei chief fi nancial offi cer (CFO) The Chinese foreign ministry At Huawei, Wang worked as a dians were detained in China on other Chinese fi rms. Meng Wanzhou and demand- said on Friday it was “highly con- public relations director for more grounds of endangering national Huawei has rejected Western ed her release, the fi rm swiftly cerned” about the case and later than fi ve years before moving into security, in what has largely been concerns, saying there was “no sacked Wang, who works at its said it was seeking to arrange a his current role as sales director seen as retaliation. evidence” that it poses a threat representative offi ce in Poland. consular visit for Wang as soon as in 2017. Meng’s arrest sparked a surge of to the national security of any “His alleged actions have no possible. He is a graduate of the Beijing patriotism in China with compa- country. relation to the company,” Huawei The Chinese embassy in Poland University of Foreign Studies. nies encouraging staff to buy Hua- Huawei’s business is thriving in said in a statement yesterday. has also asked Warsaw to “eff ec- His case is the latest setback for wei smartphones – and several many places. Last year the com- “In accordance with the terms tively ensure the legitimate rights Huawei. companies even off ering employ- pany said it had signed memo- and conditions of Huawei’s la- and interests, and humanitarian Its CFO Meng Wanzhou was ees subsidies to buy phones from randums of understanding for 5G bour contract, we have made this and safe treatment of the person arrested in Vancouver on Decem- the home-grown company. equipment with 45 operators in decision because the incident in involved.” ber 1 on request from the United Huawei in December said it Asia, Europe and North America. Malaysian state chooses new sultan

AFP a new king on January 24. Kuala Lumpur Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a unique arrange- ment where the national throne Malaysian state announced changes hands every fi ve years be- it had a new sultan yes- tween rulers of the country’s nine Aterday, who is expected to states. Pahang state is due to pro- be elected king after the former vide the next ruler. monarch abdicated following his The country was thrown into reported marriage to a Russian shock on Sunday when reigning former beauty queen. king Sultan Muhamed V abdicated Tengku Abdullah Shah has re- unexpectedly after just two years Tengku Abdullah Shah, centre, walking after a meeting in Kuala Lumpur. placed his father, Sultan Ahmad of rule, following reports that he Shah as the ruler of Pahang state, married an ex-beauty queen in or said what condition prompted While their role is ceremonial, Ma- is also the symbolic head of Islam the offi cial Bernama news agency Russia in November during a pur- the former king to take the leave. laysia’s royalty command great respect, in the nation, as well as the nomi- said, citing a senior palace offi cial. ported two-month medical leave. Sultan Abdullah Shah, 59, is a especially from Malaysia’s predomi- nal chief of the military. Local reports said the move The abdication was the fi rst for popular fi gure in the sports scene nantly Muslim Malays, and criticising Malaysia’s sultans trace a lineage was designed to pave the way for the country since its independ- and is currently president of the them is regarded as off ensive. back to the Malay sultanates of the Sultan Abdullah to be chosen as ence from British rule in 1957. Asian Hockey Federation and a Portraits of the king and queen 15th century. The king is referred to the next king of Malaysia by the Royal offi cials have not com- council member of football’s world adorn government buildings as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or “He Council of Rulers, who will chose mented on the reported wedding, governing body, FIFA. throughout the country. The king Who Is Made Lord”.

20 trapped in Volcanic eruption China mine

DPA Beijing

wenty people were trapped under- ground in northwest China after Tthe roof of a coal mine collapsed, state media reported. Xinhua news agency said the accident occurred in Shenmu, Shanxi province, around 6pm (1000 GMT). The news agency did not report any casualties but said rescuers had been dis- patched to the scene. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal and its mines are regarded as some of the most dangerous in the world. Xinhua reported 217 mine accidents in 2017 with 375 fatalities, in the latest avail- able data. This handout picture taken and released yesterday by the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB) shows Ibu mount spewing volcanic ash into the sky in West Halmahera, in North Maluku province of Indonesia. 1mn cigarettes found under tea imported to Australia

More than a million smuggled cigarettes have been found under loose tea imported Australia denies mass immigrant hunger strike to Melbourne, police said yesterday. Australian Federal Police said in a AFP ing conditions, the Australian was now in its fourth day. my time for that crime.” statement that two men had been charged Sydney Border Force said there was no Detainees launched the pro- The border force defended over the alleged cigarette smuggling “mass hunger strike” at Mel- test over complaints of pris- conditions inside the centre, operation. bourne Immigration Transit on-like conditions and limited saying “the detention popula- The containers were falsely labelled Black ustralia has denied that Accommodation. privacy. tion has changed considerably Tea from the . hundreds of immi- “While some detainees are Thirty-year-old New Zea- in recent years.” The illegal tobacco imports were Agrants have gone on a refusing to attend regular meal lander John Vaofusi, who lost It added “a signifi cant worth more than A$10mn ($7.2mn), mass hunger strike at a facility times as part of a protest, they automatic residency rights af- number” of the detained popu- police said. in Melbourne, while insisting continue to eat and drink in ter being convicted for assault, lation had “their visa cancelled “This seizure and the disruption of this conditions at the facility are not other parts of the facility,” the earlier told AFP said he would on character grounds, based on syndicate will have a significant impact “inhumane or brutal.” border force said in a statement. continue the hunger strike criminal convictions and links on the supply of illicit tobacco supply Days after detainees and But activist Ian Rentoul of “until we see some change.” to criminal associations such in Melbourne,” said Border Force acting activists declared a hunger the Refugee Action Coalition “I feel like I’m in jail as outlaw motorcycle gangs or commander Colin Drysdale. (DPA) strike in a protest against liv- said the “hunger strike protest” again,” he said. “I’ve done organised crime.” Gulf Times Sunday, January 13, 2019 11 BRITAIN/IRELAND ‘Yellow vest’ protesters demonstrate in London

By Joe Jackson, AFP London Yellow vest protesters take part in an anti-austerity demonstration in London yesterday. undreds of demonstra- tors wearing yellow vests increase in fuel duties, and soon on causes ranging from refugees government very urgently,” he rested one of the organisers on Htook to the streets of turned violent. to racism. added. suspicion of a public order of- London yesterday, in the largest The leaderless movement ap- Addressing the crowd in Tra- “The UK is falling apart — fence. protest yet in Britain copying the peared to be petering out at the falgar Square, Labour’s shadow nothing works anymore.” It reportedly related to a con- “yellow vest” protests rocking end of 2018 but has since re- fi nance minister John McDon- Delia Hazrati, a health worker troversial incident outside par- France. gained momentum, with weekly nell said eight years of austerity in her 50s who had travelled from liament last Monday, when a Protesters opposed to the gov- clashes seen in Paris and other under the ruling Conservatives Kent in southeast England in a group harangued pro-EU fi gures, ernment’s austerity programme French cities. was “tearing apart the very social yellow vest, told AFP the left in including chanting “Nazi” at and demanding a general elec- Britain has seen several small fabric” of Britain. Britain needed to “reclaim” the prominent Remain supporting tion marched through the centre protests by Brexit supporters “We need a general election movement there. MP Anna Soubry during live TV of the capital before rallying in wearing yellow vests since No- now to bring about the fairer, “It’s a movement against aus- interviews. Trafalgar Square. vember, but other activists have more equal society we all want to terity laws — that’s what it’s Ahead of yesterday’s protests They included two French ac- been slow to adopt the symbolic live in,” he said. about,” she added, noting right- Nick Lowles, CEO of the anti- tivists involved in the demon- Protesters wearing yellow vests wait to participate in an anti-Brexit attire and movement. Retired teacher Stephen wingers had been “opportunis- racism group “Hope Not Hate” strations sweeping France since demonstration march in central London yesterday. Yesteday’s event, organised Hamer, 59, clad in a yellow vest, tic” in adopting it. accused Britain’s far-right of mid-November who were invited by the left-wing “People’s As- said the London protest would A separate demonstration “attempting to copy the French by the organisers of the British “I think that the yellow vest poverty, injustice and social and sembly” group, saw main- likely have occurred without the by dozens of Brexit supporters ‘yellow vests’ protests in order event. movement in France is the same fi nancial injustice.” stream opposition lawmakers movement in France, but it had wearing yellow vests also took to stir up trouble and harass, “We are here in support,” said as the one that is growing in The French protests began in join forces with several unions “helped things along”. place in central London. threaten and attack their politi- Erick Simon, 61, one of the duo. England...people are fed up with mid-November over a proposed and other organisations focused “I think we need a change in At the outset, police ar- cal opponents.”

MoD planners deployed over Jail terms of 6 months or less may be scrapped post-Brexit border concerns AFP that short jail terms were “long Re-off ending rates there have The country’s prisons are con- London enough to damage you and not since fallen to their lowest levels sidered in a state of crisis, with long enough to heal you. for nearly two decades, and the violence and drug use on the rise. Guardian News and Media ed in the Border Force, which is secretary, was preparing to re- “You bring somebody in for Scottish government is consider- Stewart made the eye-catch- London facing the challenge of keeping quest the help of a military plan- he British government is three or four weeks, they lose ing extending it to less than a year. ingly bold pledge last August to passengers and goods fl owing to ner to help ensure food supplies considering scrapping jail their house, their job, their fam- Peter Dawson, director of the resign if he was not able to reform and from Britain should no EU were not disrupted. However, Tsentences of six months or ily, their reputation. Prison Reform Trust, told the its 10 worst jails within a year. ilitary planners have agreement be signed. details passed to the Observer less for most crimes in a bid to re- “They come (into prison), they Telegraph that government min- A Ministry of Justice spokes- been deployed to the De- Three are operating in the For- suggest he has not yet done so. duce reoff ending and ease pres- meet a lot of interesting charac- isters in London “should be con- man confi rmed that it was “ex- Mpartment for Transport, eign Offi ce, while six are working Speaking in the Commons last sure on the system, the prisons ters and then you whap them on gratulated for having the political ploring potential alternatives” to the Home Offi ce and the Foreign from the Cabinet Offi ce. week, Liberal Democrat leader minister said yesterday. to the streets again,” he said. courage to start the debate”. prisons for some crimes. Offi ce as offi cials desperately try The departments involved re- Vince Cable said he had been told The move could see tens of “The public are safer if we have England and Wales’s prison “As we have said previously, to avoid backlogs and chaos at the fused to comment on why they had by civil servants of contingency thousands of people convicted a good community sentence... population has doubled since the short sentences are too often in- border in the event of a no-deal requested a military planner, or plans to slaughter a third of all Brit- of non-violent or non-sexual and it will relieve a lot of pressure early 1990s to now stand at more eff ective, provide little opportu- Brexit, the Observer can disclose. what projects they were assisting. ish sheep in the event of no deal. crimes, such as burglary and on prisons.” than 80,000 inmates, offi cial fi g- nity to rehabilitate off enders and Details released under the A Defence ministry spokes- World Trade Organisation shoplifting, spared jail under the The change would mirror 2010 ures show. lead to unacceptably high rates of Freedom of Information Act re- man said: “The MoD routinely tariff s would hit exports so hard plan, Rory Stewart told The Daily reforms in Scotland, where judg- Meanwhile more than half of the reoff ending,” he said. veal that 14 military planners works with other government that there would be too many Telegraph. es are now guided by a legal pre- 86,275 off enders sentenced to im- “But this work is ongoing and have been dispatched by the departments on planning for a sheep, causing domestic prices In an interview with the sumption against custodial sen- mediate custody in 2017 were giv- we have reached no conclusions Ministry of Defence to key min- range of contingency scenarios.” to plummet, he said. newspaper’s magazine, he said tences of less than three months. en sentences of six months or less. at this time.” istries, which also include the Insiders said some depart- “We have the problem that Cabinet Offi ce, the hub of the ments had asked for assistance if we leave the European Union government’s Brexit planning, in on no-deal planning, “recognis- with no deal, on WTO terms, the a sign of concerns inside White- ing the unique skills and opera- European Union’s tariff s on dairy hall at the prospect of Britain tional planning experience the products, lamb and various other Anti-bullying anniversary crashing out of the EU with no military can off er”. items, which are quite high, im- People with red hair agreement in place. Exercise planning and overall mediately kick in,” Cable said. celebrate ‘Kiss a Ginger In a ramping up of no-deal “command and control” advice are “The problem with that, as we Day’ on the 10-year preparations in recent weeks, understood to be their main duties. discovered when we had the foot anniversary of yesterday’s one planner is in place at Chris Cabinet ministers were in open and mouth epidemic, is that if we anti-bullying day, in Grayling’s beleaguered DfT, disagreement last week over the cannot export, prices crash. The Dublin, Ireland. which has already been criticised consequences of leaving the bloc only logical response from the farm- for awarding a £14mn contract with no deal in place, with business ing industry, in order to maintain to run ferries in the event of a secretary Greg Clark saying such the value of the stock, is to slaughter no-deal Brexit to a company that an outcome would be disastrous, large herds. This will happen. does not have any ships. but defence secretary Gavin Wil- Fraught no-deal planning is The transport secretary has liamson insisting that Britain could also taking place in the corporate also been criticised for a live succeed under any Brexit scenario. world, with wildly diff erent prob- rehearsal of emergency traffi c Contingency no-deal prepara- lems facing diff erent sectors. measures that will be put in place tion has been taking place under Brexit consultants said the to prevent logjams around Dover the codename Operation Yellow- food and textile sectors would in such a scenario. hammer, with plans being drawn face the highest increase in po- Some drivers taking part in the up on the assumption that criti- tential customs duty. Several event described it as a waste of cal trade between Calais and Do- companies are said to be looking time, while haulage campaigners ver will face disruption. at potentially paying tens of mil- said it was “too little, too late”. It has been suggested that lions extra in duties and admin- Four planners have been post- Michael Gove, the environment istrative costs each year. Immigration curbs after Brexit will ‘pull rug’ from the Highlands

By Libby Brooks cians who spend much of their ment — is MSP for the sprawling the hospitality industry, they are has not been weaponised to the delivered a full speech in the lan- to defend Gaelic because it’s so Guardian News and Media working lives in a city so densely constituency of Skye, Lochaber (earning) considerably under the same extent here.” guage during a Holyrood debate easily dismissed as a nationalist populated that they cannot fath- and Badenoch, which includes £30k mark. The whole idea of a Forbes won the “one to watch” earlier this year, while MSPs lis- cause, which is ridiculous.” om there are areas of the country some of the most rugged and hierarchy of skills is completely category at the Scottish politi- tened to a simultaneous transla- Ashamed is a strong word to he UK government’s where that is not the case. beautiful swathes of the High- contrary to what businesses tell cian of the year awards in No- tion on headphones. use, but Forbes explains it as be- stance on immigration Her comments come ahead of lands. me they are crying out for: wait- vember, her second year nomi- Forbes welcomes the recent ing tied to the older generation’s T“completely pulls the rug a debate on depopulation in the But the area is facing a demo- ers, chefs, labourers.” nated after becoming an MSP in increase in children enrolling in sense of Gaelic as “an uneducat- from under the feet of businesses Scottish parliament on Wednes- graphic timebomb, which Brexit The SNP government, in which May 2016. Gaelic-medium education, de- ed language”. and communities in the High- day. will compound, with latest es- Forbes is now a junior minister, She quickly came to notice spite criticisms that mainly mid- “They would, as my grand- lands”, according to the Scottish “You could push it further, to timates suggesting it could lose was calling for the devolution as an able advocate for her con- dle-class parents in cities are at- mother did, have used it when National party’s Kate Forbes, one people who are so far removed more than a quarter of its popu- of migration policy long before stituents the Brain family, an tracted by the pupil-teacher ratios they didn’t want their kids to of the area’s most prominent and from reality that they pooh-pooh lation by 2046 if current trends Brexit concentrated other minds Australian couple and their son rather than the language itself. understand it and they’d be ter- vocal representatives in the Ho- the fact that the average wage are left unchecked. on the issue. who had settled in the Highlands But she insists that education rifi ed of reading and writing it lyrood parliament. in this country is in the lower “For the UK government to “There are no UK-based poli- but faced deportation following a alone is not enough to revitalise because they weren’t taught it. It As the Scottish government £20,000s,” says Forbes. consider limiting immigration ticians who are willing to make visa dispute. the language, currently spoken was a language of home and not warned last Thursday that pro- One of the most controver- fl ies in the face of the challenges the positive case for immigra- In June 2018, Forbes was ap- by around 1% of Scots. school. And in school you’d use posals in the UK Conservative sial aspects of the government’s that currently face the High- tion. (The SNP) have been, and pointed minister for public fi - “It has to be the language of it in the classroom but any kid party’s recently published white post-Brexit immigration strategy lands, and that have faced the nobody really cares,” she says, nance and digital economy in a people’s hearts and daily us- that tried to speak it in the play- paper on immigration will cut the is the £30,000 salary cap, report- Highlands for decades, if not laughing wryly. wide-ranging cabinet reshuffl e in age in communities. We are still ground was accused of not being number of workers from Europe ed to be strongly favoured by the centuries,” says Forbes. “While I don’t accept that which Nicola Sturgeon promoted slightly nervous and feel slightly cool, because English was the eligible to work in Scotland by up prime minister herself. “If you look at the areas where Scotland is especially better and a number of fresh faces from the ashamed of using it, and it’s so language of TV programmes and to 85%, Forbes identifi ed a “fail- Forbes — considered one of the there is the greatest pressure on more liberal when it comes to 2016 intake. quickly hijacked by politics. I feel pop songs, and that continues to ure of imagination” from politi- rising stars of the Scottish parlia- recruitment, particularly around immigration, I do think the issue A fl uent Gaelic speaker, Forbes as an SNP MSP it’s harder for me this day.” Gulf Times 12 Sunday, January 13, 2019 EUROPE Three killed in Paris gas blast Reuters/AFP dramatic explosion took place,” Just hours after the blast, blast and glass and rubble was Paris Interior Minister Christophe thousands of yellow vest protest- strewn across large swathes of Castaner said, adding that one of ers marched noisily but peaceful- the street after the explosion gut- the fi refi ghters had been buried ly through the Grands Boulevards ted the lower part of the building. wo French fi refi ghters and under debris for several hours. shopping district of northern More than 200 fi refi ghters a Spanish citizen were Castaner said on his Twit- Paris, just a few hundred metres joined the rescue operation and Tkilled, and nearly 50 peo- ter feed that two fi refi ghters had from the scene of the explosion. two helicopters landed on the ple injured, in a gas explosion died and 10 people, including one In recent years, France has suf- nearby Place de l’Opera to evacu- that gutted the ground fl oor of a other fi refi ghter, had serious in- fered a string of deadly militant ate victims. building in a central Paris shop- juries. attacks in Paris, Nice, Marseille Ambulances struggled to ac- ping district yesterday, authori- Another 37 people had lighter and elsewhere but authorities cess the blast area because of ties said. injuries, he said. quickly ruled out foul play. police barriers set up to contain A woman is evacuated by firefighters after the explosion of a bakery on the corner of the streets The accident occurred with Spanish Foreign Minister Josep “A this stage we can say it (the any violence by yellow vest pro- Saint-Cecile and Rue de Trevise in central Paris. central Paris under security lock- Borrell wrote on his Twitter feed gas blast) is clearly an accident,” testers. down for a ninth consecutive that a Spanish woman had also Paris prosecutor Remi Heitz told An eyewitness at a hotel near- the scene, a woman was crying es, I had to walk on the door to heard the noise, it sounded like Saturday of “yellow vest” pro- died in the blast. reporters. by said he saw fl ames envelop for help from the fi rst fl oor of a leave the room, all the kids were an earthquake,” a teenager who tests (see report below). French authorities did not A police source said the explo- the ground fl oor of the building building: “Help us, help us, we panicking, they couldn’t get out lives on a nearby street told AFP. Large parts of the capital were immediately confi rm the third sion tore apart a bakery on the blown out by the blast. have a child”. of their room.” “We came downstairs and we blocked off by riot police, al- death. Rue de Trevise, and witnesses “There was broken glass eve- “I was sleeping and was woken “Firefi ghters advised us to saw a building on fi re,” her broth- though the protests have reduced Spanish newspaper El Confi - said the force of the blast shat- rywhere, storefronts were blown up by the blast wave,” Claire Sal- leave but the elevator shaft had er said. in scale compared with Novem- dencial reported that the wom- tered nearby storefronts and out and windows were shattered lavuard, who lives on the Rue de been blown out, there was no Many homes and buildings ber. an was a tourist visiting Paris rocked buildings hundreds of up to the third and fourth fl oors,” Trevise, told AFP. “All the win- railing, nothing, and there was in Paris use gas for heating and “As fi refi ghters were looking with her husband, who was un- metres away. said 38-year-old David Bangura. dows in the apartment exploded, too much smoke,” she said. cooking, though explosions due for a gas leak in the building, a harmed. Cars were overturned by the He said that as he approached doors were blown off their hing- “We were sleeping when we to leaks are relatively rare.

Clashes erupt as French ‘yellow vests’ stage fresh protests Avalanche,

AFP storm Paris warnings rotesters skirmished with police in Paris and other Pcities yesterday as thou- in Alps sands turned out for new rallies against French President Em- manuel Macron, with dozens DPA arrested as offi cials vowed a Vienna crackdown on the violence that has marred the demonstrations since November. fter stormy winds brought The “yellow vest” marches snowdrifts to parts of began calmly amid a heavy police AAustria overnight, alpine deployment of some 80,000 of- avalanche risk monitors issued fi cers nationwide, with protest- fresh warnings yesterday. ers singing the “Marseillaise” Heavy snow looks likely once national anthem and holding again this weekend in the Alps, signs including “Insecurity is ending the brief respite provided not a job”. by a Friday with relatively little However scores of protesters snowfall. later clashed with riot police af- As a result, snow on meadow ter arriving at the Arc de Triom- slopes and in forests could sud- phe in Paris, prompting volleys denly start to slide even below of tear gas and water cannon as an altitude of 2,000m above sea security forces prevented them level. from reaching the Champs- Avalanches could break loose Elysees. on steep rocky terrain, the ava- Nearly 60 people had been ar- Police spray a water cannon during an anti-government demonstration called yesterday by the ‘yellow vest’ (Gilets Jaunes) movement on the Place de l’Etoile, in Paris. lanche warning service for the rested in the capital, police said, state of Styria in southeast Aus- alongside dozens more else- Elysees and elsewhere across the 18 people had been detained. and more violent protests than week in Toulon, accusing the axed the planned fuel tax hike. tria reported. where including the central city city, which have taken a heavy In the well-heeled racehors- last week, when demonstrators police of excessive use of force. But the public consultations Across the Alps, safety agen- of Bourges, the site of another toll on businesses. ing town of Chantilly just north rammed a forklift truck through The yellow vest movement, risk being hobbled by record cies kept the avalanche threat major rally. “We’ve come to Paris to make of Paris, 1,000 or so protest- the main doors of a government which began as protests over levels of distrust towards politi- level on high, though it was The interior ministry said ourselves heard, and we want- ers marched through the centre ministry in Paris. high fuel taxes, has snowballed cians and representatives of the downgraded yesterday to lower there were 32,000 protesters na- ed to see for ourselves at least before descending on the hip- “Those who are calling to into a wholesale rejection of Ma- state. levels in some spots, including in tionwide as of 2pm (1300 GMT), once what’s going on here,” said podrome where they delayed the demonstrate tomorrow know cron and his policies, which are A poll by the Cevipof politi- Germany’s Berchtesgaden. including 8,000 in Paris. Patrick, 37, who told AFP he had start of a race, local media said. there will be violence, and there- seen as favouring the wealthy at cal sciences institute released on In the central Austrian Ybb- That was above the 26,000 travelled from the Savoie region. Sporadic skirmishes were also fore they are in part responsi- the expense of rural and small- Friday showed 77% of respond- stal Alps, some 20cm of new counted at the same time last A few hundred protesters also reported in the southern town ble,” Interior Minister Christo- town France. ents thought politicians inspired snow was expected at 1,500m in week. clashed with police in the his- of Nimes involving some 1,000 phe Castaner said in a Facebook Macron has called for a na- “distrust”, “disgust” or “bore- elevation, with temperatures at Many of the central districts toric centre of Bourges, where protesters. interview on Friday with Brut, tional debate starting next week dom”. -5° Celsius. of the capital were on lockdown nearly 5,000 people gathered as The demonstrations also spilt a digital news site favoured by to hear voters’ grievances, hop- And Macron may not have The German weather service for the ninth straight Saturday organisers sought to draw more over the border into eastern Bel- many yellow vests. ing to sate demands for more of a done himself any favours on Fri- DWD also issued a warning over of protests, which have picked participants from areas far from gium late on Friday, where one of But many demonstrators say in national law-making and day, when he told a gathering at expected heavy snowfall. up steam after a holiday lull. Paris. around 25 protesters manning a pointed to social media foot- tamp down the protesters’ anger. the Elysee Palace that “too many In Upper Bavaria and Swabia, Dozens of banks, jewellery Signs reading “Macron re- blockade died after being hit by age of a police offi cer repeatedly He has already unveiled a of our citizens think they can get a storm warning was sent out: stores and other shops were sign!” and “France is angry” a truck, Belgian media reported. striking an unarmed man on €10bn ($11.5bn) fi nancial relief something without making the above 1,000m in elevation, up to boarded up on the Champs- were held aloft, while police said Offi cials had warned of bigger the ground during a protest last package for low earners, and necessary eff ort”. 1m of fresh snow is expected be- tween the weekend and Tuesday. In the German Alps and the Danish premier at funeral for Dane slain in Morocco Swiss shipping line starts clean-up after container spill Bavarian Forest region, between 20cm and 50cm of snow is antic- Hundreds of mourners, including Danish Prime two camped overnight at an isolated hiking spot Swiss shipping line MSC has started cleaning up located, but there are still parts missing.” ipated at 600m above sea level. Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, packed a church south of Marrakesh while on vacation. Dutch sea waters, 10 days after it lost nearly 300 On January 2, 291 containers, some holding In the foothills of the Alps, yesterday for the funeral of a hiker murdered in Moroccan authorities have said they were containers from one of its cargo vessels in a storm. hazardous chemicals, fell off one of the world’s gusty winds of up to 70kph are Morocco’s Atlas Mountains in December. beheaded and are calling the crime a “terrorist” act. “The clean-up will likely take months”, Dutch largest container ships, the MSC Zoe, in German expected, while in the Bavar- Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, was killed together Ueland’s funeral is to be held in Norway on January water authorities spokesman Edwin de Feijter said waters near the island of Borkum during a North ian Forest speeds could reach with 28-year-old Maren Ueland from Norway, as the 21. yesterday. “The largest part of the debris has been Sea storm. 100kph. Gulf Times Sunday, January 13, 2019 13 INDIA UP equation Aiming high not a setback for us: Rahul

IANS will surprise Prime Minister Gandhi also emphasised that Dubai Narendra Modi who “will not the equation in Uttar Pradesh understand what has happened”. will not aff ect alliances in others However, Gandhi refused to states. ongress president Rahul open up on possibility of a post- “The situations are diff erent Gandhi said yesterday poll alliance with the two domi- in diff erent states. In Maharash- Cthe Samajwadi Party (SP) nant parties in Uttar Pradesh. tra, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Bi- and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Notably, the SP-BSP alliance har and others states, alliances leaving the Congress out of the will not fi eld its candidates on are being sealed smoothly one alliance in Uttar Pradesh was the Lok Sabha seats of Amethi after another. So I don’t think it not a “setback” for his party, and Rae Bareli, the constituen- should be any problem,” he said. and stressed that the poll results cies of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi Asked what will be his priori- “would surprise people”. respectively. ties if his party comes to power, “The SP and BSP have every “I have tremendous respect for Gandhi said the Congress gov- right to have an alliance. It’s their Mayawati ji, Mulayam Singh ji and ernment would take “rational political decision. They might Akhilesh. The BSP and SP have economic decisions” and would have taken it after due consid- said a few wrong things about us, restructure the Goods and Serv- eration. I won’t call it a setback but we accept it. That’s our way of ices Tax (GST). because the BJP is anyway not doing things,” Rahul Gandhi said. He accused the Modi govern- going to win any seats in Uttar He said the Congress “might ment of vitiating the atmosphere Pradesh,” Gandhi said at a press give a surprise or two to the peo- of the country, undermining conference here. ple” about what it was capable of “every single constitutional in- “The Congress party has tre- doing in Uttar Pradesh. stitution” of the country and mendous amount to off er to the Uttar Pradesh is considered taking rash economic decisions people of Uttar Pradesh, so we the most crucial as it has 80 in such as demonetisation and will do our best. We will fi ght the Lok Sabha seats, the maxi- multi-layered GST which ward- with full aggression for our ide- mum for any state. ed off big business from India. ology. And the result will sur- Political pundits hold that He said unlike Modi, he would prise people,” he added. the road to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, fulfi l all his commitments made Gandhi said the results of the the Prime Minister’s offi ce, goes to the people and restore the A camel performs during the first day of the Bikaner Camel Festival in Bikaner yesterday. coming parliamentary elections from Uttar Pradesh. credibility of institutions.

Former envoy to Doha gets new charge Former Indian ambassador to (US), from November 2008 to July Qatar Sanjiv Arora has been ap- 2012, according to information pointed as secretary — Consular, available on the website, www. No corruption, major terror attack Passport, Visa & Overseas Indian indianbureaucracy.com. Aff airs, with eff ect from February 1. His first posting was in He will take charge from (1985-88), where he learnt , Dnyaneshwar Mulay, according to and has since served in various under Modi-rule: Sitharaman a notification issued recently by countries, including Germany, Sri the Department of Personnel and Lanka and the Czech Republic. Training, Ministry of Personnel, Arora served as the Indian He was head of the United IANS a whisper of corruption in this government,” She said the government was able to im- Public Grievances and Pensions, envoy to Qatar from August 2012 Nations (Political division) at the New Delhi Sitharaman said. plement various social welfare schemes be- India. to October 2016. Ministry of External Aff airs from She said that from small to large reforms, cause it was able to maintain peace, which Arora, a 1984-batch off icer His Highness the Deputy Amir, 2005 to 2008. Prime Minister Modi had paid attention to was its top priority. of the Indian Foreign Service, is Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- He was also involved in the allying BJP workers ahead of the up- good governance. “Pakistan is today isolated in the world currently India’s ambassador to Thani, had presented Arora with Indian government’s initiative that coming Lok Sabha polls, Defence “If we have to continue on the road of arena due to prime minister’s diplomacy Lebanon. the Sash of Merit in recognition led to the United Nations General RMinister Nirmala Sitharaman yester- ‘sabka saath, sabka vikaas’ (development for and his ability to maintain relations with The announcement on his new of his role in enhancing relations Assembly adopting a resolution day asked them to create awareness about all), we can’t aff ord to lose momentum. It’s all countries. He has built relations with role comes following approval between India and Qatar. to observe Mahatma Gandhi’s the government’s achievements, especially only under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s the leaders of the world. Pakistan is feeling from the Appointments Commit- Before that, he served as birthday (October 2) as the Inter- that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pro- leadership that the country can foresee a the heat today and unoffi cial (terror) groups tee of the Cabinet. consul-general in Houston, Texas national Day of Non-Violence. vided “corruption-free” fi ve years and that bright future,” she said. supported by Pakistan wreaking havoc in no major terror attack has taken place dur- The defence minister said the country the country are being stopped right at the ing this period. presented a very sorry picture in 2014 before border,” she said. Speaking on the party’s political resolu- this government came to power. Sitharaman added that under Modi’s tion on the last day of the two-day Bharatiya “India lived in hopelessness as the gov- leadership, “the defence forces conducted Janata Party (BJP) National Convention ernment was not responsive, it did not know surgical strikes across the border and in- here, she also accused the Congress of seek- what the poor needed, there was complete stead of commending them, the opposition Reinstate Verma as CBI chief: Cong ing help from Pakistan to remove Modi as policy paralysis, corruption was rampant wanted proof”. the prime minister and said it was possible and terrorists used to play havoc in the “We showed them the proof. And it was only under Modi’s leadership that the coun- country,” she said. the same opposition — some leaders of the he Congress yesterday Singhvi referred to the statement gent, it is very important be- try could foresee a bright future. She said the fi rst thing that Modi said af- Congress — who went to Pakistan seeking demanded reinstatement given to a newspaper by retired cause ultimately the issues are “BJP workers should highlight two things. ter taking charge was that his government help to remove Prime Minister Narendra Tof CBI chief Alok Verma, Supreme Court Justice A K Pat- the same, the issues have not First, that there has been no major terror- would be committed to the welfare of the Modi. This is the kind of dirty politics that terming his ouster from the in- naik, who supervised the selection changed. This government is ist attack after 2014. All attempts to wreak poor. the Congress plays.” vestigating agency by the prime committee meetings, to accuse the running scared...I think, it is very havoc in the country have been eliminated “If one counts the number of pro-poor de- She said India was at a “historically im- minister-led selection commit- ruling party of removing Verma clear...that there is much to hide, at the border itself and this government has cisions Prime Minister Modi has taken, they portant juncture” and the BJP workers tee, a negation of “natural jus- from the CBI post in “haste and it is not a cupboard full of skel- ensured that there are no opportunities for would fi nd that there has been on an average should create awareness about reforms be- tice” and a decision taken to de- anxiety” and with a view to “hide etons, it is only skeletons, there terrorists to disturb peace. one decision every day over the last almost ing undertaken by the government and work rail the Rafale probe. matters of public interest”. is no cupboard,” Singhvi said in a “And second, that we have had corrup- fi ve years. This has led to the transformative in that direction till Lok Sabha election re- Congress leader Abhishek Manu “This is very serious, it is ur- press conference. tion-free fi ve years. There has not been even change that India is witnessing today.” sults are declared.

Assam Accord Clause 6 crisis: Think logically, not emotionally, BJP urges expert panel

IANS protect the rights and culture of the “The Clause 6 committee is itage of the indigenous Assamese New Delhi state’s indigenous people. cabinet-constituted committee people. Seven eminent persons from As- and not a bill. So, once the govern- However, with the Lok Sabha sam were named for the commit- ment changes at the Centre, the passing the Citizenship (Amend- ith at least three members tee — M P Bezbaruah (chairman) recommendation of the commit- ment) Bill, questions have arisen named to a committee and Subhhash Das, both former tee will not mean anything. Earlier, about the viability of implementing Wformed by the govern- IAS offi cer; The Sentinel newspa- I thought I will participate in the Clause 6 since this will aff ect Clause ment to implement Clause 6 of the per founder-editor Dhirendra Nath committee and give some recom- 5 of the Accord. Assam Accord refusing to serve in Bezboruah; two former Axom Xa- mendations for the protection of According to Clause 5, only those the face of the controversy over the hitya Xabha presidents Nagen Saikia the indigenous people,” Saikia said people who came to Assam till Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, and Rongbong Terang; educationist last week. March 24, 1971, will be accepted as the BJP yesterday asked them to re- Mukunda Rajbonghsi and Assam “I think by keeping this commit- Indian citizens. consider their decision logically. Advocate General Ramesh Borpa- tee in front, the government wants Clause 5 states: “Foreigners who “The BJP would like to request trogohain. the Citizenship Bill to be passed,” he came to Assam on or after March 25, these eminent members to recon- said. 1971, shall continue to be detected, sider their decision not to be part of Clause 6 seeks to provide “When AASU, which was a signa- deleted and expelled in accordance the committee logically, rather than constitutional, legislative and tory to the Assam Accord, has re- with law. Immediate and practical emotionally,” Assam BJP spokes- administrative measures to protect, fused to be a part of the committee, steps shall be taken to expel such person Rupam Goswami told IANS preserve and promote the cultural, there is no question that I should be foreigners.” here. social, linguistic identity and a part,” said Terang. This means all illegal migrants “Clause 6 is a necessity for pro- heritage of Assam’s indigenous Following this, M P Bezbaruah has irrespective of religion will be de- tecting the rights of the indigenous communities. It means reservation, written to the Home Ministry stat- tected, deleted from the voters list people of Assam,” Goswami said. political rights, rights to natural ing that he does not want to chair a and expelled. Goswami stressed that while the resources and protection of culture committee that is “defunct” follow- However, the Citizenship Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is ef- and heritage of the indigenous ing the refusal of three members to (Amendment) Bill seeks to make an fective nationally, the Assam Accord Assamese people join it. exception to this by bringing in reli- is confi ned only to Assam, which is The high-powered committee Clause 6 of the Assam Accord gion to give refuge to illegal infi ltra- why implementing its Clause 6 is also included a joint secretary from seeks to provide constitutional, leg- tors. necessary. the federal Home Ministry and a islative and administrative measures According to the Bill, people be- A day before the Joint Parlia- representative from the All Assam to protect, preserve and promote the longing to six minority communities mentary Committee (JPC) tabled its Students Union (AASU). cultural, social, linguistic identity — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, report on the Citizenship (Amend- However, Saikia, Rajbongshi and and heritage of Assam’s indigenous Parsis and Christians — from Af- ment) Bill on January 7, the govern- Terang, as also the AASU represent- communities. ghanistan, Bangladesh and Paki- ment announced the formation of ative, have declined to be part of the Basically, it means reservation stan, facing religious persecution, a high-powered committee as ap- committee in view of the Lok Sabha of electoral seats, land and political will be given citizenship in India. proved by the federal Cabinet for passing the Citizenship (Amend- rights, rights to natural resources Muslim refugees are not covered implementing Clause 6 that seeks to ment) Bill on Tuesday. and protection of culture and her- by the Bill. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, January 13, 2019 INDIA

CHARTER CHANGE NUMBER CRUNCH TRAGEDY POLITICS SEASONAL CHEER 10% upper caste quota bill Kerala is top tourist 2 elephants die after being Shutdown cripples life in gets president’s nod destination in India electrocuted in Bengal Tripura tribal areas

President Ram Nath Kovind yesterday approved Booking.com, one of the world’s leading Two elephants died yesterday from A 12-hour shutdown, called by six tribal parties in a constitutional amendment that provides 10% digital travel platforms, yesterday revealed electrocution after coming in contact with the tribal areas of Tripura to protest police firing reservation to economically weaker general that Kerala topped the list with five out of 10 a high-voltage cable in West Bengal’s West earlier this week injuring six youths agitating category people in education and government most welcoming tourist destinations in India. Midnapore district. The local administration against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, crippled jobs. The Constitution (One Hundred and Third According to its 2018 Guest Review Awards alleged that non-rectification of sagging lines life yesterday, police said. “Except two minor Amendment) Act, 2019 amends Articles 15 and 16 survey data, the five destinations were Varkala, over a vast field in West Midnapore district’s incidents, the shutdown was peaceful in the of the Constitution to provide quota to general Kochi, Thekkady, Alleppey and Munnar. For the Gurguripal area caused the tragedy. “The entire TTAADC (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous category people with a family income of up to seventh annual edition of the awards, a total of bodies of two full-seized elephants were found District Council) areas. Bandh supporters Rs800,000 per anum. “Nothing in this Article 6,125 accommodation providers from India were lying in the paddy field at Nepura village under attacked a passenger vehicle and a two-wheeler shall prevent the State from making any provision recognised. “No matter the type, size or location Gurguripal police station area today morning. at Bishramganj areas in western Tripura,” Police for the reservation of appointments or posts of the property, what we see from our customers It seems they died from electrocution,” said. Most of government and semi-government Women clad in traditional Punjabi dress in favour of any economically weaker sections is that they value human connection when they Rabindranath Saha, Divisional Forest Off icer as well as private off ices, educational institutions, perform a ‘giddha’ folk dance during of citizens other than the classes mentioned in travel,” said Ritu Mehrotra, country manager said. “Some of the high-voltage cables are shops and business establishments were closed celebrations on the eve of the Lohri festival at clause (4),” the Amendment of Article 16 read. India, Sri Lanka and Maldives at Booking.com. sagging dangerously low in the area,” he said. due to the strike, the police said. Shahzada Nand College in Amritsar yesterday.

Modi insists choice BSP-SP alliance for LS polls is between majboot and majboor sarkar snubs Congress, targets BJP “These days a campaign has IANS New Delhi been going on to promote ma- IANS hagathbandhan which is a failed Lucknow experiment of Indian political itching himself as the sole history. The parties, which were leader against a motley born protesting against the Con- rch-rivals for over 25 years, the Pgroup of individuals on the gress, its working culture and its Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and rival side, Prime Minister Naren- corrupt practices, are now unit- ASamajwadi Party SP yesterday an- dra Modi yesterday dismissed ing,” Modi said in a direct attack nounced that they will contest the com- the opposition grand alliance as on most of the regional parties ing Lok Sabha polls together in Uttar a “failed experiment” and said which are forging a grand alli- Pradesh, sharing 38 seats each of the 80 that parties are coming together ance with the Congress. in the state, while leaving Rae Bareli and to defeat “one man” to form a He told over 12,000 delegates Amethi for Congress, which has been majboor” (helpless) government including from top brass to dis- kept out of the alliance. while the country wants a maj- trict-level offi ce bearers that “The Bahujan Samaj Party and Sa- boot (strong) government. these political parties were sur- majwadi Party will each contest 38 seats He also launched a scathing rendering to the Congress at a while two seats have been left for one or attack on the Congress saying time when the grand old party two parties. We have also decided to leave it had pushed the country into was at its “lowest ebb” and its Amethi and Rae Bareli seats for Congress darkness, bled banks and had leaders were out on bail in cor- though we do not have alliance with it,” created road blocks to an early ruption cases. Mayawati said at a joint conference here judicial solution to the Ayodhya “These parties (the regional with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. dispute. parties), which had emerged as Answering questions, Mayawati called In his valedictory remarks options against the Congress, the alliance a “permanent phenomenon” winding up the two-day BJP Na- have betrayed the people’s man- that would not only sound the “end of the tional Convention at the Ram- date and trust,” he said. dictatorial, arrogant and anti-people the lila Maidan here, he set the tone Modi said that when such al- BJP” but one that would last beyond the for the BJP’s bid to come back liances take shape, the govern- 2019 general election and also go in the to power again, stating that his ments in those states work under 2022 state Assembly polls. government’s track record was political compulsions and cited The two parties will keep their personal “spotless”, it worked with hon- the examples of the recent devel- diff erences aside to end “the monstrous esty for all sections, ended de- opments in Karnataka, Madhya rule” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), spondency, raised people’s con- Pradesh and Rajasthan. she said. fi dence, accelerated the pace of “The chief minister of Kar- Akhilesh Yadav hinted at supporting development and enhanced In- nataka (H D Kumaraswamy) is Mayawati as a prime ministerial candi- dia’s stature. saying that he was working like date. Speaking on the legislation a clerk and not as a chief min- “Uttar Pradesh has produced numer- giving 10% cent reservation for ister. In Rajasthan and Madhya ous prime ministers in the past. You know the economically weaker sec- Pradesh, the governments are whom I will support. I will be happy if tions among the general cat- being threatened (by allies) to another prime minister comes from the egory, he said this was not only take back cases or face the con- state.” Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati address a press conference in Lucknow yesterday. reservations but will give a new sequences,” he said calling these Mayawati described the alliance also as dimension to the youth of the incidents as “trailers” of the a “new political revolution” taken in na- etisation, rolling out of the GST, agrarian were not in our favour because of this targeting Akhilesh Yadav, whose name country. grand alliance. tional interest to stop the BJP from com- distress, marginalisation of the poor, Dal- very reason.” cropped up in the media in the alleged Accusing rivals of spreading Modi said that politics is done on ing to power again. its, downtrodden and farmers, Mayawati The coming together of the two parties, mining scam. rumours and hatching conspira- the basis of ideologies and alliances The four-time Uttar Pradesh chief said that the alliance was set to knock which were swept away by the Modi wave “The BJP should know that after this cies that the new quota will be at are made on visions but for the fi rst minister started her address by saying out the BJP as they successfully did in the in the 2014 Lok Sabha and the subsequent the alliance has got further strength- the cost of the existing reserva- time it is happening “when all are that what she was about to say and an- 1993 state Assembly polls when the late Assembly polls in 2017, has been viewed ened,” she said and appealed to people not tions for SC-STs and OBCs, he uniting against one man”. nounce would give anxious and sleep- Kanshiram and Mulayam Singh Yadav by analysts as a possible game changer. to waste their votes on outfi ts like Shivpal said “we have to foil their de- Modi said that 10 years of the less moments to the “guru-chela” duo of came together to form the government. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav’s estranged uncle, signs”. UPA government were lost in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP She went on to bracket the BJP and the won 71 seats on its own while its ally Apna on whom “the BJP is spending money like Cautioning party workers scams and allegations of corrup- national president Amit Shah. Congress on the same page, saying their Dal picked up two. water”. against any complacency, he said tion. She also said that the BJP was rattled “ideology and the working style” was The BSP drew nil, while the SP won fi ve She suggested that as part of this strat- the election will be won on the “Last four years have taught at the fact that the two regional parties similar. and Congress two — all family pocket- egy, parties may be fl oated to attract BJP’s tried and tested method of us that nothing is impossible. We had buried a long-standing animosity The BSP supremo also alleged that boroughs. Muslim votes. “mera booth, sabse majboot” and have made it possible. When we and that it was letting loose government while the people did not profi t in govern- Mayawati said the seat-sharing be- Akhilesh Yadav said that he decided to not by his speeches alone. took over, we inherited a weak agencies to thwart the alliance. ments of both the Congress and BJP, even tween two parties was decided at a meet- have an alliance with the BSP ever since The convention adopted a foundation. Today our founda- “But here we are formally coming to- defence scams took place under their ing in Delhi on January 4 and the distribu- the BJP leaders “drunk with power” political resolution, which de- tion is getting stronger. Imagine gether, to ensure that at all costs, the watch. tion of seats has also been broadly worked abused her. scribed the mahagathbandhan as what will happen if we get an- BJP is not allowed to return to power but “If Bofors was responsible for the out. It will be made public through a press In future, any insult to Mayawati will a “comical alliance” and said the other fi ve-year term,” he said. also to give relief to the teeming millions ouster of the Congress government at the release. be his personal insult, he said appeal- choice before the people was be- BJP president Amit Shah, who who were suff ering at the hands of the centre in the 90’s, the BJP will go down She said Amethi, which is represented ing to SP workers to work in the spirit of tween “stability and instability, spoke before Modi, said the 2019 faulty and anti-people policies of the BJP soon due to the Rafale jet fi ghter scam” by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and brotherhood with BSP cadre. between an honest and coura- battle was very crucial for the government at the Centre and in many she said. Rae Barelli, represented by UPA chairper- The Dalit leader also compared the geous leader and a leaderless op- party and if it wins “it will be in states”, the Dalit leader announced. Explaining the reason for keeping the son Sonia Gandhi, have been left for Con- current situation in the country to that portunistic alliance — a majboot power for a long time from pan- Making it clear that the deep diff erenc- Congress out of the alliance, Mayawati gress as they do not want BJP to “compli- in 1977 and said while the Congress had government and a majboor gov- chayats to parliament.” es and simmering hostility between the said it was because of past experiences cate” matters. imposed the Emergency then, now it is a ernment.” He also accepted the chal- BSP-SP were “now things of the past”, and electoral history showed that while Mayawati said ever since reports of state of “undeclared emergency”. Modi came down heavily on lenge of a grand alliance in Uttar Mayawati also said that in “larger public the vote of the BSP and SP shifted to the the tie up between the two parties had Mayawati however parried questions the opposition parties, saying Pradesh and other states. interest she had even decided to overlook Congress in toto, it did never happen vice appeared, the BJP got “scared” and con- on whether she would contest the Lok they were aligning for their “self “Parties can come together the infamous June 1995 murderous attack versa. spired to weaken the alliance as part of its Sabha polls or not. interest” while the BJP-led NDA for power and self-interest. The on her by SP workers”. “Both the BSP (1997) and SP (2017) strategy. “In due time, you will be informed of government was fi ghting for the workers of the BJP under Modiji Listing a host of problems like demon- tied up with the Congress, but the results It was “misusing” state machinery and this also,” she said smiling. nation’s interest. are prepared for the fi ght.”

NRI tycoon gifts half his group’s shares to staff CEC pushes training for offi cials By Ashraf Padanna panies in Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Thiruvananthapuram the UAE, , Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, China, India, Singapore, handling EVMs and VVPATs Malaysia, US, UK, Russia and Italy. Aries group head Sohan Roy, whom “This gives a feeling of owner- the Forbes Middle East had last ship to them. People tend to re- IANS polls, which pointed out mishandling of the ma- year listed among the 100 top member such gratitude for a very New Delhi chines as one of the primary reasons. Indian business owners in the Mid- long time,” it quotes Roy, a marine Addressing the CEOs, Arora emphasised the dle East, will share 50% of his stake engineer, as saying. fact that the electoral roll that is currently under with his employees. The group has also initiated a head of the Lok Sabha polls, Chief Elec- the process of revision and fi nalisation will be He announced the unique busi- Parent Pension scheme for em- tion Commissioner Sunil Arora has di- used in the coming elections. Hence, care must ness model in a press release here ployees and pension to retirees, Arected the chief electoral offi cers of all the be taken to ensure the purity of the roll. yesterday, making the company as considering the entire company as states and Union Territories to ensure proper He said every eff ort must be made to register a society with employee participa- a family. training of the polling staff who are going to all voters well in time. He directed all the state tion. Parents get a lifelong pension handle EVMs and VVPAT machines. CEOs to put in place support systems for the He hopes the initiative to make for their eff orts to mould their Arora directed the chief electoral offi ces election helpline 1950 as early as possible. the employees of his multinational child as a professional to serve the (CEO) to do “meticulous assessment” of all Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa said conglomerate more “responsible, company. the resources required for the conduct of elec- that the entire election machinery must now be committed, valued and many “It has become a model manage- tions, including the electronic voting machines geared up in order to deliver a fl awless election. more.” ment principle with better hu- (EVMs) and voter verifi able paper audit trail He said that in order to accomplish this, a de- “The common factor which paves manitarian values. Aries is perhaps (VVPAT) machines. He asked the offi cials to tailed planning process and a leadership role has the way to the success of every or- the only company in the world to ensure adherence to the deadlines specifi ed for to be assumed by the CEO at the state level and ganisation is engaged and focused initiate such a pioneering concept,” completion of the machines’ fi rst level checking. the District Election Offi cers at the district level. on employees,” the release said. he said. The CEC’s directions came during a two-day He also emphasised upon co-ordination with “While strategies are key to suc- Few of his initiatives include conference of the CEOs that concluded here bordering states as well as with other agencies in cess, a real win for any organisation relief work in the flood-aff ected yesterday. The directive came in the background order to give more teeth to the expenditure moni- lies in the execution of the strategy remote areas in Chennai and Nepal of a large number of EVMs and VVPAT machines toring mechanisms operational in the states. such that the revenue goals are rescue operations, production of malfunctioning during the Lok Sabha and as- The focus of the conference was on the in- achieved. And this is met by the world’s first charity movies Aicka- sembly by-polls in May last year. tegrity of the electoral roll, meticulous planning employees.” rakkonathe Bhishaguaranmaar and The EC had to constitute a committee to look for elections, EVM and VVPAT assessment and The group operates 48 com- Jalam. Roy ... innovating business model into the reason for malfunctioning of an unu- training and extensive voter outreach, said an sually high number of machines during the by- EC offi cial. Gulf Times Sunday, January 13, 2019 15 LATIN AMERICA Assembly calls for protest to oust Maduro

AFP ready for him - as Maduro dis- dismissed Maduro’s election as Caracas missed the opposition as “little illegitimate, but the body has boys.” been sidelined by the president’s “I hope you quickly name your power grab. enezuela’s sidelined cabinet to know who is going to Having lost control of the opposition-controlled accompany you,” Varela said. legislature in 2016, Maduro last Vlegislature is calling for a But Guaido’s announcement year created a rival Constituent mass protest against President was welcomed outside of Ven- Assembly fi lled with loyalists. Nicolas Maduro in a bid to oust ezuela. And all decisions taken by the the socialist leader in favour of US National Security Adviser National Assembly are consid- “a transitional government.” John Bolton said the admin- ered null and void by Venezue- Maduro, 56, was sworn in for istration of President Donald la’s Supreme Court, the pro- a second term on Thursday, hav- Trump “resolutely supports the government Supreme Justice ing won a controversial election Venezuelan National Assem- Tribunal. in May that was boycotted by bly, the only legitimate branch Maduro’s swearing in cer- Juan Guaido, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly and lawmaker of the opposition party Popular Will (Voluntad Popular), speaks the opposition and branded a of government duly elected by emony was even held at the Su- during a gathering in Caracas yesterday. fraud by the United States, Eu- the Venezuelan people,” and preme Justice Tribunal. ropean Union and Organisation especially supports “the coura- The hand-picked successor of American States. geous decision” by Guaido to to late strongman Hugo Chavez The president of the Na- “declare that Maduro does not also has the backing of the mili- tional Assembly, Juan Guaido, legitimately hold the country’s tary high command, which reit- Venezuela claims win in diplomatic dispute said on Friday that the consti- presidency.” erated its “loyalty” to the presi- tution gives the legislature the In Washington, OAS Sec- dent on both Wednesday and Reuters right to assume transitional retary-General Luis Almagro Thursday. Caracas because Venezuela’s 2018 countries” to reconsider the was widely boycotted by the power after declaring Maduro recognised Guaido as head of But as part of his call for the election was not free or fair. border issue, Arreaza said. “Di- opposition and condemned as a “usurper,” but said it would state, as the person at the top military to sever ties with Ma- The statement, signed by na- plomacy has ensured the rule rigged by governments around need military backing and for of Venezuela’s only legitimate duro, Guaido announced that enezuela’s government tions including Brazil, Argentina of law.” the world. Maduro insists it was people to take to the streets to governing body. the legislature would pass an claimed victory yesterday and Colombia, also expressed He said he hoped that the oth- fair and that opposition leaders demand change. “We welcome the assumption amnesty law for military mem- Vin a diplomatic quarrel concern that Venezuela had vio- er two countries - Paraguay and did not take part because they “Is it enough to lean on the of @jguaido as interim President bers imprisoned on conspiracy with Latin American countries lated Guyana’s sovereignty by Canada - would follow the ex- knew they would lose. constitution in a dictatorship? of Venezuela,” Almagro tweeted. charges. over a border dispute with Guy- stopping a ship doing off shore oil ample of the bloc’s other mem- Congress has been stripped No. It needs to be the people, Brazil’s far-right government Mass protests demanding ana, while ignoring an avalanche exploration on behalf of Exxon bers. Paraguay cut diplomatic of powers by the Supreme the military and the interna- welcomed Guaido’s readiness Maduro’s exit also erupted in of criticism over President Nico- Mobil Corp. ties with Venezuela on Thursday. Court and a pro-Maduro legis- tional community that lead us to “constitutionally assume the 2014 and 2017, leaving around las Maduro’s second term in Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza Arreaza did not address the lature known as the Constitu- to take over,” said the 35 year-old Venezuelan presidency.” 200 dead and hundreds arrested. offi ce. said at a news conference yes- Group’s broader point about the ent Assembly, and the impact Guaido, speaking to a crowd of Guaido called for a mass pro- Maduro is widely blamed for Maduro had warned mem- terday that 10 of the 12 govern- legitimacy of Maduro, who was of Guaido’s remarks was not around 1,000 opposition sup- test on January 23 - the day the country’s economic crisis, bers of the so-called Lima ments that signed the statement sworn in on Thursday, except to immediately clear. Brazil’s gov- porters in Caracas. in 1958 on which the military with basic food and medicine Group of “diplomatic meas- had since clarifi ed their position denounce the bloc’s Jan 4 state- ernment said yesterday that In response, Prisons Minister dictatorship of Marcos Perez scarce and hyperinfl ation esti- ures” after they said on Janu- on the Guyana dispute. ment as “vulgar” interference in it recognised the opposition Iris Varela threatened Guaido Jimenez fell. mated to reach 10mn percent in ary 4 that they would not “We believe that regional di- Venezuelan internal aff airs. lawmaker as the legitimate on Twitter, saying she had a cell The National Assembly has 2019, according to the IMF. recognise his second term plomacy has convinced these The Opec nation’s 2018 vote president of Venezuela.

17 die in fire at Ecuador drug rehab clinic Rallies across Colombia demand At least 17 people died and 12 others were injured in resignation of attorney general a fire on Friday at a drug rehabilitation clinic in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest DPA Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga a Colombian judge via video city, authorities said. Bogota and other cities, broadcaster conference from Brazil, apolo- The fire started when patients Caracol reported. gising for corruption cases un- set mattresses ablaze to try to “The behaviour of prosecu- der investigation, according to escape from the clinic, which olombians yesterday tor Martinez is destroying trust Caracol and other media. lacked the necessary permits, staged protest rallies in state institutions,” said Pedro The apology was one of the according to Tania Varela, the Caround the country, de- Pablo Salaz, one of the organis- conditions on which prosecutors chief of police in the poor area of manding the resignation of At- ers of a demonstration in Tunja had agreed not to sue them. the city where the incident took torney General Nestor Humber- in the north. Demonstrators said they place. to Martinez. Odebrecht is under inves- wanted Martinez to follow Such makeshift treatment Martinez has been accused of tigation by the attorney gen- the example of Peru’s attor- centres are common in the not investigating graft cases he eral’s offi ce for allegedly of- ney general Pedro Chavarry, Andean country. was aware of. fering bribes in exchange for who stepped down earlier this “We regret the loss of 17 He formerly worked as a legal contracts, as the company has month amid allegations that he human lives in this tragedy, adviser for one of the Colom- admitted to doing across Latin tried to prevent an investiga- and we reject the negligence bian partners of the Brazilian America. tion into links between Odebre- of the owners,” the Guayaquil construction company Odebre- Suspicions of a cover-up cht and some of the country’s fire department said in a cht which is widely implicated mounted after two key witnesses politicians. statement. in a far-reaching corruption in the case died in suspicious The Brazilian giant has admit- Police are seeking the arrest of scandal. circumstances. ted to paying bribes worth nearly the owners and operators of the Demonstrators demand the resignation of Colombian Attorney General Nestor Humberto Martinez in Demonstrators marched to Three former Odebrecht ex- $800mn in 12 countries, 10 of clinic. (Reuters) Medellin, Colombia, yesterday. prosecutors’ offi ces in Bogota, ecutives on Friday addressed them in Latin America. Recession and austerity measures Ecuador dismisses Assange’s embassy hamper re-election bid of Macri condition claims AFP ber inadvertently revealed the AFP tackling the enormous task of It’s “a fi ght between minori- Macri, though, has been be- Quito existence of a sealed indict- Buenos Aires turning the corner on 70 years of ties. The biggest group is the set by circumstances out of his ment against Assange, ac- taking shortcuts,” wrote Macri in undecided,” said sociologist control. cording to WikiLeaks, but it a New Year’s message. Ricardo Rouvier. An unusually tough drought cuador has denied media was not known what the ac- ollowing a painful 2018 His aim is to slow down infl a- “Whoever wins will have a last year severely hit Argentina’s reports that WikiLeaks tual charges were. The pos- that left Argentina in re- tion to arrive at October’s elec- minority and will have to negoti- main export: grain. And invest- Efounder Julian Assange sible indictment suggested Fcession and forced into tions with a brighter outlook. ate with some other force.” ment in bonds suff ered from two had been made to sleep on the that Washington will seek As- unpopular austerity measures, But “Macri needs to improve There is still time for another dramatic currency drops that fl oor and denied heating at the sange’s extradition if he leaves President Mauricio Macri faces a lot of things and sort out many option to gain momentum before saw the peso lose more than half country’s London embassy. the embassy. an uphill battle in his bid for re- things,” said Pablo Knopoff , di- August’s primaries. of its value against the dollar. In a statement, the presi- Last month, Ecuador said election in October. rector at Isonomia consultancy. “Cristina Kirchner will be Macri’s solution was to se- dency’s communication sec- conditions had been met for But while the statistics from Something that might work an important defi ning factor,” cure a $56bn loan from the In- retary dismissed the claims as the embassy’s increasingly his “annus horribilis” make grim in his favour is a divided Per- says Knopoff , who believes her ternational Monetary Fund, an “TOTALLY FALSE,” and said unwelcome guest to leave, reading - infl ation initially cal- onist opposition, which covers standing would benefi t Macri. organisation widely hated by the embassy’s heating system as Britain had guaranteed it culated at 10% fi nished the year the entire left-to-right spec- Rouvier believes Kirchner Argentines, who have since been “is working normally.” wouldn’t extradite him to any at 48% while an economy ex- trum, making it diffi cult to unite could top the fi rst round of vot- subjected to austerity measures “No furniture has been re- country where his life would pected to grow by 3.5% shrunk behind a single candidate. ing ahead of Macri, but her re- demanded by the global fi nanc- moved from his room, which be in danger. by 2.7%, according to the World Its most popular politician jection rating is so high that she ing institution in order to secure is accessed by an electronic That could be an issue in the Bank - if he manages to stabilize is the centre-left former presi- would struggle to claim victory those funds. key for his exclusive use,” the case of the United States be- the economy, he has a chance. dent Cristina Kirchner, but she’s in the subsequent second round But while the exchange rate statement added. cause it has the death penalty. Macri has a lot of ground to facing several court cases over run-off . has stabilised, Argentina, and Argentine President Mauricio Assange, 47, has been living Meanwhile in Britain, he make up: his approval rating corruption. Rouvier says that Macri and indeed Macri, isn’t out of the Macri in the embassy since seeking also faces prosecution for fail- crashed from 66% in October Nine months out from the his Cambiemos (“Let’s Change”) woods yet, because “in an elec- refuge there in 2012 to avoid ing to meet his bail conditions 2017 to just 35% last month, election, there is no dominant alliance “don’t have anything tion year, there is usually a dol- Another currency fall would extradition to Sweden, where after fl eeing to the embassy. according to a poll by the San front-runner and opinion polls to off er in economic and social larisation of assets,” said Loren- dump Argentina “into a criti- he faced sexual assault charges In October, Assange sued Andres University. suggest that whoever wins will terms so they will run on other zo Sigaut, from consultants cal situation, because you can’t that have since expired. Ecuador for violating his A lot of people will need con- have to form alliances with po- issues: security and the fi ght Ecolatina. go back to the IMF” begging for But he still refuses to leave “fundamental rights” by lim- vincing that he could bring sta- litical opponents to prop up their against corruption.” “There’s huge uncertainty more money. the embassy to avoid extradi- iting his access to the outside bility, and even prosperity, if af- government. That will strike at Kirchner’s surrounding the exchange mar- With consumption and pub- tion to the United States to world after blocking his inter- forded a second term in offi ce. A poll published by Opinaia solar plexus as the 65-year-old ket,” he said, adding that Argen- lic investment expected to drop, face charges over his website net and mobile phone access “I think Argentines will last week gave Macri 27% of leader from 2007-15 is the sub- tines view the dollar “as a safety “stagnation is the best case sce- publishing huge caches of back in March. choose the most extensive path: voter intentions compared to ject of seven judicial investi- net,” which was exactly the at- nario for this year,” said Sigaut. hacked State Department and But the Australian’s the one of eff orts, truth, the long Kirchner’s 26 and 11 for her fel- gations - six of which are for titude that provoked the peso’s And that spells trouble for Pentagon fi les in 2010. case was thrown out by an term, joint construction. We’re low Peronist Sergio Massa. corruption. 2018 problems. Macri’s re-election hopes. US prosecutors in Novem- Ecuadoran court. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, January 13, 2019 PAKISTAN Mineral water fi rms to pay towards building of dams

Internews ment issued this week also re- that the funds so collected would tal protection agencies (EPAs) The apex court directed the tree plantation programmes to meeting all the objectives spelt Islamabad quires the provincial govern- not be diverted in any circum- and others, to devise a mecha- federal and provincial govern- fulfi l their corporate social re- out in the order and will furnish ments and the Islamabad Capital stances to any other purpose nism for calculation, collection ments to ensure installation of sponsibility. monthly compliance/progress Territory administration to set other than the construction of and monitoring of the recovery foolproof metering mechanism “We expect each company to reports with the implementation he Supreme Court of Pa- up separate and distinct accounts dams and water-related activi- of water charges from all major at every extraction unit within a plant/arrange the plantation of bench being constituted under kistan has ordered mineral to receive the amounts collected ties. industries consuming surface or period of 30 days. 10,000 trees per annum,” the the judgment for its perusal and Twater companies to pay under the water charges. However, once the dams are groundwater. Close-circuit cameras will court said, adding that a compre- appropriate orders. partially towards the building of The amounts will then be de- constructed, the provincial gov- The industries include the en- also be installed at the respec- hensive programme would also “The respective food authori- dams in the country. posited in the court-created ernments, subject to the order of ergy sector, pulp and paper, ce- tive premises of the companies be put in place to gradually phase ties and the special committee The apex court has imposed a dams fund. the apex court, will be at a liberty ment, sugar, ethanol refi neries, involved in the extraction of out plastic bottles. also enjoy the authority to con- levy on companies selling miner- The judgment was issued on to utilise the funds collected in textiles, garments, tanneries, pe- groundwater or utilisation of In the meantime, it said, it duct surprise inspections at any al water and beverages at a rate of a suo motu case pertaining to the accounts, the judgment said. troleum refi neries, petrochemi- surface water for their business. would be ensured that the plastic time of the factory premises and Rs1 for every litre of surface water selling by the companies of wa- The apex court also constitut- cal industries and fertilisers. Extraction will be monitored used for making bottles is certi- water bottling/beverage facili- extracted by them. ter extracted from underground ed a special committee, headed A similar levy has already been closely by the respective EPA on a fi ed by competent laboratories ties to ensure strict and faithful The revenue so collected will sources without any charge as by Professor Dr Ahsan Siddiqui imposed on the cement industry. daily basis, the verdict said. as being fi t for human consump- compliance of this order,” the go to the funds for Diamer-Bha- well as the quality and fi tness of and comprising representatives The committee after consulta- In order to counter environ- tion. Supreme Court said. sha Dam and Mohmand Dams. the same for human consump- of the provincial chief secretar- tions will suggest imposing wa- mental impact, the Supreme The bottled water companies The implementation bench Authored by Chief Justice of tion. ies, director generals of the fed- ter tariff on these industries, the Court ordered the mineral water are also required to provide a will take up the matter on Janu- Pakistan Saqib Nisar, the judg- The apex court made it clear eral and provincial environmen- court order said. and beverage companies to start chart highlighting milestones for ary 31.

PM’s bureaucratic reform bid blocked Provinces brace for by his own ministers

Internews Islamabad cut in revenue share n his promise to depo- liticise civil bureauc- Internews 10th member as the offi cial ex- brought in Musharraf Rasool 42.5% of the divisible pool, while change in the NFC formula. Oracy and the police, Islamabad pert. Cyan in place of Professor Ibra- the provinces receive the rest. However, during an interac- which has been the top slogan The 9th NFC had been consti- him Khan. Under the 7th NFC award, an- tion with the IMF in November of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-In- tuted in April 2015 to fi nalise the Baluchistan has replaced Dr nounced in 2010, the provincial last year, the provincial fi nance saf (PTI) party for years, Prime resident Dr Arif Alvi has 8th NFC Award. Qaisar Bengali with Mehfooz Ali. share had been raised to 57.5% of ministers urged the IMF to ask Minister Imran Khan has not reconstituted the 9th Na- The 9th Commission was fi rst The NFC is required to be set the total divisible pool. Islamabad improve the perform- found the required support Ptional Finance Commis- reconstituted in February 2016 up at intervals not exceeding fi ve Former fi nance minister Ishaq ance of the Federal Board of Rev- from his cabinet ministers and sion (NFC) to work out a new when Punjab changed its techni- years as required under Clause (1) Dar and former caretaker fi nance enue (FBR) instead of blaming party leaders. Imran Khan: was prepared to resource distribution formula cal member. of Article 160 of the Constitu- minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar the federating units. Quoting offi cial sources in cut his own powers to eff ect between the federal and provin- It is the second reconstitu- tion. had proposed cutting the prov- Some economists are of the the ruling PTI government’s change. cial governments amid Prime tion in the last four years, as all The fi nance minister and pro- inces’ share in the range of 6% to view that the federal government civil service, The News daily Minister Imran Khan’s desire to the four provincial governments vincial fi nance ministers are 8.2% to meet extraordinary se- can still redefi ne the size of the disclosed that the setback is secretaries and that a secretary slash provincial shares without have decided to change their statutory members of the NFC. curity expenditure and fulfi l the federal divisible pool by adding despite Khan being willing to could only be prematurely re- amending the Constitution. non-statutory members. Each provincial government requirements of the Azad Jammu or deleting any tax in the pool. surrender his own discretion- moved for some sound reasons The fi nance ministry has is- Punjab has replaced Naveed also has the right to include one and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan “At any time before an Order ary authority in the appoint- to be recorded in the fi le. sued an offi cial notifi cation of the Ahsan with Dr Salman Shah, non-statutory member. and the former Federally Admin- under Clause (4) is made, the ment of federal secretaries. The source lamented that new 10-member commission. who previously served as adviser The 9th NFC has held few istrated Tribal Areas (Fata). President may, by Order, make However, many of his min- despite Prime Minister Khan’s Finance Minister Asad Umar to the prime minister on fi nance meetings during the last tenure During staff -level talks, the such amendments or modifi ca- isters want to keep their role in readiness to surrender his will chair the NFC, which will during the General Pervez Mush- before they reached a deadlock International Monetary Fund tions in the law relating to the the appointment and removal own authority for the sake of comprise the four provincial arraf regime. over the Centre’s demand to set (IMF) had also pressed Pakistan distribution of revenues between of federal secretaries. depoliticisation of the civil fi nance ministers and their re- Sindh has nominated Asad aside 6% of the federal divisible to cut provincial share under the the federal government and the The sources admit that bureaucracy, his ministers op- spective technical members, ac- Sayed in place of Senator Saleem pool for incurring expenditures NFC. provincial governments as he without any political interfer- posed the move and wanted cording to the notifi cation. Mandviwala, who is now deputy on security and federally admin- The offi cials said the provinces may deem necessary or expedi- ence, merit-based institution- their hold in their secretaries. The Centre has included the chairman of the Senate. istered regions. have taken a unanimous position ent,” says Article 160 (6) of the alised appointments and secu- The ministers’ argument, federal fi nance secretary as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has Currently, the Centre gets that they would not support any Constitution. rity of tenure for bureaucrats it is explained, was primarily are key conditions for the de- based on two points. politicisation of civil bureauc- First, how the ministers Mobile phone calls racy, for which Imran Khan is could be held accountable for Testing time ready but his ministers are not. their performance when they set to become It is said that the prime min- would not have the secretary more expensive ister accepted the proposal and the team of their own when he was told that his dis- choice. With possibility of seeking cretionary power to appoint or Second, the bureaucracy assistance from the International remove any offi cer as secretary which is already not in the Monetary Fund (IMF) to overhaul in any ministry or division will control of political govern- Pakistan’s dilapidated taxation be done away with. ment would become totally out system, taxes on mobile phone The premier was told that of control if given security of calls are set to go up. in order to appoint the right tenure. The Federal Board of Revenue person for the right job and to According to a bureaucrat (FBR) is contemplating various check the arbitrary use of the source, in the PTI’s election options for slapping rates of prime minister’s discretionary manifesto, Khan had commit- 5% to 10% Federal Excise Duty power, a three-member com- ted that his government’s min- (FED) on usage of cellular phone mittee of senior bureaucrats isters would be the “agents of through upcoming mini-budget will be constituted to suggest a change”, but now they are ap- to increase tax collection. panel of three offi cers for each pearing as “agents of the status An IMF team visited the FBR post of the secretary. quo” and “promoters of bad headquarters last week and In the proposed scheme, governance”. continued lengthy deliberations. Khan was told that the premier Those who in the govern- The sources said that diff erent would have the authority to ment understand the reasons tax proposals for upcoming mini appoint any offi cer as secretary for politicisation of bureauc- budget was also discussed. from the suggested panel, but racy, argue that if the typi- One top off icial said that the he could not appoint or remove cal mindset of “controlling government is considering any offi cer arbitrarily as is is the bureaucrats” and “having diff erent proposals to increase the practice now. choice offi cers” prevails, there dwindling tax revenues, as the The source said that the pre- is no hope for improvement in FBR is facing massive shortfall of mier was also supportive of the the bureaucracy, even during over Rs160bn in first six months security of tenure of federal Imran Khan’s government. of the current fiscal year. Without additional measures, the FBR cannot achieve the tax target High Court to take up Sharif’s appeal of Rs4.39tn. Now the government is planning The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up former prime minister to increase the tax target to Nawaz Sharif’s appeal against his conviction, as well as a petition Rs4.45tn for end June 2019. seeking the suspension of his sentence in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal The Supreme Court of Pakistan Establishment reference, on January 21. had suspended collection of A division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice withholding tax from mobile Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will hear the appeal and the petition. subscribers, causing huge losses Pakistani and foreign religious students take part yesterday in their second term exam at an Islamic Jamia Binoria seminary in Karachi. Sharif was convicted by an accountability court on December 24. to both the FBR at federal level More than 5,000 students took their examinations at the seminary. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs1.5bn and and provincial revenue collection $25mn. authorities at provincial levels.

China to establish cybersecurity research centre US demands on Pakistan proved unsuccessful: ex-envoy

With the world moving towards Internews “I cannot say whether they but we have already done every- Asked what he believes is pre- spective diplomats and histori- a strong political dimension in advanced “cyber-weaponry” Washington recognise that it was an un- thing we can. venting US-Pakistan relations cal issues are discussed and we their system, which ensured that in a world of fifth generation fair demand – that Pakistan “We used every ounce of se- from taking off , Siddiqui said clear and put the last 20 years of the direction that the US presi- warfare, Pakistani and Chinese had done a lot at a great cost to curity and diplomatic goodwill it is the lack of “clarity on both history behind us.” dent wanted was where the sys- universities have joined hands to he US has ultimately seen herself. But it is clear that the we had to get all parties on the sides”. He disagreed with the com- tem went. set up a modern cybersecurity that its demand for Pa- US South Asia strategy was not table.” He noted that Pakistan had mon perception that the US and “So, both sides have an un- research centre (CSRC). Tkistan to “do more” was successful,” said Siddiqui, when Referring to Pakistan’s eff orts not had broad-based strategic Pakistan sides fail to understand derstanding of each other and of In the partnership between the unsuccessful, says former envoy asked how did America’s de- to persuade the Taliban to hold dialogue with the US for a long each other and instead of talking their own historical positions. National University of Sciences to Washington Ali Jehangir Sid- mand for Pakistan to “do more” direct talks with the Americans, time, and that held things back. to each other, they talk across “It is true that both sides and Technology (NUST) and diqui. aff ect bilateral ties. he said the outcome of these “But when we did have the each other. don’t spend enough time un- the Beihang University (BUAA) Siddiqui, who served in Wash- “I think that Pakistan has talks would be determined by strategic dialogue in the Obama “I don’t think this perception derstanding where the other is of China, one of China’s top 15 ington from May to Dec 2018 – a gained from standing its ground. the Americans and the Afghan years, that was precisely when is correct. The bureaucracies coming from, and frequently universities, the cyber-security period when Pak-US ties went Of course, in the interim there people, not Pakistan. the relationship was worsening on both sides are sophisticated. miss the considerations and centre will be set up at the NUST from cold to frigid – was speak- was a lot of pressure on the re- “The Americans understand rapidly. So, the problem is deep- But the US political system has pressures the other side has to School of Electrical Engineering ing in an interview with Dawn lationship but we sustained it,” that, and we are facilitating the er than a structured engage- much more infl uence in its bu- manage,” he said. and Computer Science (SEECS). newspaper about the complexi- he added. process as best we can, because ment,” he said. reaucracy compared to ours,” he Siddiqui said that since Pa- To formalise the partnership, ties in relations between the Asked if Pakistan can help not only is peace in Afghanistan “There is mistrust on both said. kistan was often busy dealing the dean of the BUAA School of two countries, the challenges he create a semblance of normality a noble goal, but Pakistan has sides that needs to be unwound, Siddiqui noted that many with short-term issues and cri- Cyber Science and Technology, faced as an envoy, and whether in Afghanistan as the Americans been the second worst suff erer and that will take an eff ort where US bureaucrats at the assistant ses, there was limited long-term Professor Liu Jian-wei, visited the Pakistan can contribute to nor- demand, Siddiqui said: “There is in this confl ict … and we want a the leadership on both sides secretary and higher levels were policy planning at least vis-a- NUST this week. mality in Afghanistan. a lot of focus on Pakistan here, peaceful Afghanistan,” he said. need to be engaged by the re- political appointees, providing vis the US. Gulf Times Sunday, January 13, 2019 17 PHILIPPINES Troops thwart bomb attempt in Kudarat

By Roy Narra been tracking the suspects since the 55th Infantry Battalion (IB). Manila Times November 2018,” he added. Lt Col Ian Ignes, 55th IB com- The 33rd Infantry Battalion, mander, said the duo got tired 4th Special Action Battalion, of running and evading govern- terrorist attack in urban Criminal Investigation and De- ment troops. centres in Sultan Kudarat tection Group-Autonomous Re- The two also surrendered a Awas foiled by security gion in Muslim Mindanao and KG9 sub-machine gun and one forces after they seized impro- Maguindanao Provincial Police caliber .45 pistol. A policeman stops a bike rider at a checkpoint in Taguig City, Metro Manila. vised bombs and triggering de- Offi ce swooped down on the ter- Maj Gen Roseller Murillo, 1st vices in Paglat, Maguindanao, rorists’ lair in Damakling around IB and Joint Task Force Zampe- yesterday morning. 3 am. lan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Members of the Philippine They arrested fi ve people but Lanao Provinces) commander, Army and the Philippine Na- Saligan and Makakena escaped commended the eff orts of gov- tional Police seized four impro- by jumping into the murky wa- ernment troops that led to Abu vised bombs and three pistols in ters of Liguasan Marsh upon Dar’s people surrendering to Security alert as poll fever the village of Damakling around sensing the presence of the se- them. 5am. curity forces. “Our campaign against ter- The counter-terrorist op- Authorities handed over the rorists will be continuous in or- eration was conducted after the fi ve unidentifi ed suspects to vil- der to attain a just and lasting state forces learned of the pres- lage offi cials. peace in our area of operation,” heats up across nation ence of bombs in the village, ac- Two weeks ago, Cotabato City he said. cording to Lt Col Harold Cabu- was shaken by a bomb attack on Col. Romeo Brawner, 103rd IB By Roy Narra Beginning today, the carry- ment of the services of secu- candidates for members of the noc, the commanding offi cer of New Year’s Eve that led to the commander, vowed to continue Manila Times ing of fi rearms is prohibited, rity personnel or body guards, House of Representatives and the 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) death of two people. combat operations against the according to the Comelec. “whether or not such security regional, provincial, city and Battalion. One of the alleged suspects, remaining forces of the Maute Also prohibited during the personnel or bodyguards are municipal offi cials will be from Cabunoc said they have been Salipudin Lauban Pasandalan, is group. he Philippine National 150-day election period is the regular members or offi cers of March 30 to May 11. monitoring terrorist bomb- in the custody of Police Regional “Our combat operation will be Police (PNP) has set up transfer or detail of offi cers and the Philippine National Police, The substitution of an offi cial ers, identifi ed as Ustadsz Yasser Offi ce-12 after he surrendered relentless and continuous so as Tcheckpoints in strategic employees in the civil service the Armed Forces of the Philip- candidate of a political party Saligan and his cohort, Sheik on January 6. not to hamper the recovery, re- locations across the country to including public school teach- pines, other law enforcement or coalition who died or was Makakena alias Abu Jihan, who His cohort, identifi ed as Alias construction, and rehabilitation prevent poll-related violence, ers; organisation and main- agency of the government or disqualifi ed can be done until was also spotted in the area. Saed Nur Kasim, is at large. of Marawi,” he said. as the election period kicks off tenance of reaction forces, from a private security service midday of election day or May “Our informant showed us Meanwhile, two members Abu Dar, who is also known today. strike forces or similar forces; provider, unless authorised by 13, provided that the substitute the pictures of terrorist bomb- of the Maute Group under Abu as Owayda Benito Marohomb- PNP chief Oscar Albayalde and suspension of any elective the Commission.” candidate and the substituted ers Ustadz Yasser Saligan and his Dar surrendered to government sar, emerged as the leader of the instructed police regional di- provincial, city, municipal or The transport and delivery of candidate have the same sur- cohort, Sheik Makakena aka Abu troops in Pagayawan, Lanao del Maute after Omar Maute was rectors to start checkpoint op- Barangay offi cers. fi rearms and/or its parts, am- name. Jihan as they detonated a bomb Sur on Friday. killed by government troops erations in cities and munici- “The start of the election munition and explosives is also The Metropolitan Manila De- to test (if it was lethal). We had The two gave themselves up to during the Marawi siege. palities to intercept guns and period is also the offi cial start not allowed. velopment Authority (MMDA) explosives and go after armed of election fever,” Comelec Up for grabs in the May 2019 warned motorists to prepare for groups that may sow violence spokesman James Jimenez said elections are 12 positions for traffi c gridlocks at the Ellipti- that could aff ect the credibil- in a news briefi ng on Friday. senators, 60 party-list seats at cal Road in Quezon City today ity of the midterm elections in Pursuant to Comelec Reso- the House of Representatives, because of the Unity Walk for a May. lution 10446, qualifi ed persons 243 district congressmen, 81 fair 2019 elections to be held by Weather forecasters look The Commission on Elec- and entities may seek exemp- governors, 81 vice governors , various groups. tions (Comelec) had declared tion to the gun ban and other 780 members of the Sanggu- MMDA General Manager Jose that the election period would prohibited acts by applying for nian Panlalawigan, 1,634 city/ Arturo Garcia Jr yesterday said start on January 13 and end on the appropriate Certifi cate of municipal mayors, 1,634 city/ portions of the Elliptical Road for signs of El Nino dry spell June 12. Authority (CA) at the Comelec. municipal vice mayors,13, 544 would be temporarily closed The PNP had listed 18 cities “No person shall bear, carry members of city/municipal as 5,000 participants were ex- in Ilocos Region and the Au- or transport fi rearms or deadly council and a governor and a pected to join the walk. By Francis Earl Cueto conditions before we can declare the El Nino,” Or- tonomous Region in Muslim weapons outside his residence vice governor for the Autono- The agency said members Manila Times dinario said.Pagasa’s climate outlook earlier stated Mindanao, particularly Basi- or place of business, and in all mous Region in Muslim Mind- of religious groups and several that there was a probable occurrence of the El Nino lan and Lanao area, as election public places, including any anao (ARMM) and 24 ARMM civic organisations would start phenomenon during the fi rst quarter of 2019, stat- hotspots. building, street, park, and in assemblymen. assembling at the Quezon City tate weather forecasters continue to monitor ing that it might aff ect 47 provinces. It also proposed that Cota- private vehicles or public con- The campaign period for Hall compound at 4am. At 7am, variables, including the occurrence of a dry Ordinario said there would fi rst be a drought that bato City and Daraga in Albay veyances, even if he is licensed candidates for senator and they would march to the Que- Sspell, before they declare the onset of the El would persist for three consecutive months, where should be placed under the or authorised to possess or car- party-list is from February 12 zon Memorial Circle. “Let’s Nino phenomenon that may aff ect majority of Lu- the rainfall was way below normal rainfall (60% re- control of the Comelec in light ry the same, unless authorised to May 11. Campaigning is pro- avoid passing (by the Ellipti- zon and the Visayas. duction from average) or fi ve consecutive months of of the bombing and the assas- by the Commission,” Jimenez hibited on March 28, 2019 (Holy cal Road) because the Quezon The El Nino phenomenon, which usually ac- below normal rainfall condition (21% to 60% reduc- sination of AKO Bicol repre- said. Thursday) and March 29, 2019 City government and police counts for hotter days, is a climate pattern that tion from average). According to Pagasa, a “dry spell” sentative Rodel Batocabe, re- Also prohibited are the em- (Good Friday). estimate that at least 5,000 will describes the unusual warming of surface waters in is defi ned as three consecutive months of below nor- spectively. ployment, availment or engage- The campaign period for take part,” he told reporters. the eastern tropical Pacifi c Ocean. mal rainfall (21% to 60% reduction from average) or In an interview over ABS-CBN’s morning show two months of consecutive way below normal rainfall Umagang Kay Ganda, weather forecaster Raymong (more than 60% reduction from average). Ordinario said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geo- State weather forecasters said the majority of the physical and Astronomical Services Administra- villages in the town of M’lang in North Cotabato tion (Pagasa) was looking at the various conditions province were experiencing the mild eff ect of drought New eased adoption measures planned that might be set before the phenomenon could be as severe temperatures since mid-December had declared. “We are monitoring it. It should meet all dried up their irrigation canals. By Javier J Ismael would be signed into law by the canang for the President’s sig- born to a person who is not the Manila Times president in time for the week- nature. child’s biological mother. long adoption consciousness Under the measure, prospec- Republic Act 8552, also celebration from February 10 tive parents need not undergo known as the Domestic Adop- s the country celebrates to 18. the lengthy judicial process tion Act, “penalises any person Adoption Conscious- Records from the Depart- in the adoption of a child that who shall cause the fi ctitious Aness Week in February, ment of Social Welfare and usually takes more than six registration of the birth of a President Rodrigo Duterte is Development (DSWD) showed months to complete. child under the name (s) of a expected to sign into law a har- that about 6,500 children have The proposal also “grants person(s) who is not his/her monised version of Senate Bill been declared available for amnesty and allow the recti- biological parent (s).” (SB) 2081 and House Bill (HB) adoption. fi cation of the simulated birth This provision makes the 5675 or the “Simulated Birth Almost 4,000 of them are of a child where simulation was adoption process “tedious and Rectifi cation Act of 2018,” a under the care of government made for the best interest of the excessively costly for ordinary measure which would do away and non-government residen- child, and that such child has Filipinos,” Senator Grace Poe, with lengthy court proceedings tial care facilities. been consistently considered principal author of the bill, said. in the adoption of “unwanted” The House of Representa- and treated by the person.” “This leaves a lot of adoptees children. tives has been tasked to en- “Birth simulation” refers to under assumed fi liation and The Senate and the House of rol the harmonised version of the tampering of the civil reg- unduly deprived of the benefi ts Representatives have ratifi ed SB 2081 and HB 5675 before it istry to make it appear in the of legitimacy and succession,” A farmer walks on a dry rice field in Baliaug, Bulacan. the measure, and hopefully it could be transmitted to Mala- record of birth that a child was Poe added. Self-rated poverty declines

By Catherine S Valente points to 52% in September. It selves “food-poor” also fell to pulled themselves out of pov- Manila Times subsided by two points to 50% in 34% (7.9mn families) from 36% erty. The SWS said the median December,” the polling fi rm said. in September. self-rated poverty threshold — “Nevertheless, the resulting It decreased by eight points in the monthly budget that a poor he number of Filipino average self-rated poverty rate of Mindanao (38%) and fi ve points household needs for home ex- families who rated them- 48% for 2018 is two points above in Visayas (44%), while it went penses in order not to consider Tselves “mahirap” or poor the average 46% in 2017, and up by one point in Metro Manila itself poor in general — was fell in the last quarter of 2018, four points above record-low (22%) and remained unchanged P10,000. according to the latest survey average of 44% in 2016. This is in Balance Luzon (31%). The median self-rated pov- of the Social Weather Stations the second consecutive increase According to the SWS, self- erty gap — the amount poor (SWS). in the annual self-rated poverty rated food poverty measures families lack in monthly home The poll, conducted from De- rate since 2016,” it added. the proportion of respondents expenses relative to their stated cember 16 to 19, showed The SWS attributed the de- rating the food their family eats threshold — was unchanged at 50% of 1,440 adults respond- crease in self-rated poverty na- as poor. P5,000, or half of the self-rated ents, or an estimated 11.6mn tionwide to a sharp 16-point de- Of the 50% self-rated poor poverty threshold, it added. families, rating themselves poor. cline in Mindanao families, 37% said they were The fourth quarter poll, This is two points below last (49%) and a six-point de- “always poor,” while the re- conducted using face-to-face quarter’s 52%, ending the crease in the Visayas (61%). maining 13% slipped into pov- interviews of 1,440 adults (18 10-point rise throughout the Self-rated poverty, however, erty. Of the other half of the years old and above) nation- year. increased by four points both in respondents who did not con- wide, had sampling error mar- “The proportion of self-rat- Balance Luzon (51%) and Metro sider themselves poor, 27% gins of + or - 2.6% for national ed poor families was at 42% in Manila (30%). said they had never experi- percentages, and + or – 5% March 2018. It rose by six points Meanwhile, the number of enced poverty. each for Balance Luzon, Metro to 48% in June, and by four families who consider them- The remaining 15% said they Manila, Visayas and Mindanao. A woman begs as her children play at an overpass in Cubao, Quezon City. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, January 13, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Will government shutdown derail US-China talks? The United States and China have agreed to go ahead with a further set of trade negotiations at the end of January, although there are fears the talks could be delayed because of the ongoing shutdown of the US government. The proposed talks in Washington, DC, if materialise, may see more senior offi cials from both sides participating, according to market analysts. It remains to be seen whether the partial shutdown of the US government over funding for President Donald Trump’s proposed wall on the southern US border would derail the talks. Dark clouds over the The president has insisted on more than $5bn in funding for his long-promised wall at the US-Mexico border. The ongoing partial government shutdown entered its 22nd day yesterday, breaking the record to become the longest government shutdown in US history. An estimated 800,000 federal workers have been aff ected white cliff s of Dover by the lapse in funding -- either by having to work without pay while it lasts or by being furloughed. By Silvia Kusidlo The English Channel, no more than In Folkestone, some 10km to the The Road Haulage Association (RHA) If the government shutdown continues any longer, it will Dover 40km wide at this point, forms the west of Dover, trains enter the Channel said plans for a no-deal Brexit were most important link between Britain Tunnel, also known as the Eurotunnel, “dire” and that it would take eight constitute the longest-ever lapse in federal funding, taking the and the European mainland with its carrying trucks laden with containers hours to clear an average truck carrying nation — and the stock market — into uncharted territory. s parliament in London Dover-Calais ferries and the Channel under the sea fl oor to France. food from Calais to Dover. The world’s two biggest economies are separately remains deeply divided on Tunnel, particularly for goods that need Perishable goods could deteriorate if London estimates that only 12 to 25% struggling to come in for unparalleled, simultaneous soft the nature of the Brexit deal, rapid delivery to their destination. time-consuming checks are imposed of current capacity could be carried ominous clouds are gathering In the event of a “no deal,” customs with their resultant queues. between the two ports in the event of landings, an eff ort complicated by the trade war they’re A over the southern port of Dover. checks would have to be imposed Warehouses are already bursting at Britain crashing out of the EU without waging at the same time, Bloomberg said in a dispatch. Around 10,000 trucks could be stuck from one day to the next, and the the seams in Britain in anticipation. a deal, with trucks stuck in tailbacks It is hard enough for the US or China to pull fi scal and in tailbacks on the roads leading to the entire region would turn into a huge “The amount of storage space needed stretching for 50km. monetary levers to manage a step-down in growth alone. famous white cliff s, forced to wait for bottleneck, remaining jammed for is simply not there,” says Ulrich Hoppe, Kent County Council’s Paul Carter hours on sections of motorway set aside up to six months, according to the head of the German-British Chambers of has urged the national government to A misstep would also for the purpose. predictions. Industry and Commerce (IHK), in London. provide more information on how they turn what’s supposed to Air quality will decline as a result of Dover residents are in a state of “This is an issue particularly with fresh intend to work with the council in the The ongoing be a controlled touchdown the transport chaos, government offi ces frustration at the lack of information. goods, such as food,” Hoppe says. future. of their economies into will be forced to close with staff unable “We simply don’t know how things will Around 90% of the medical supplies But confi dence in the government has partial to get to work, and rubbish could pile up go on,” a worker in the local tourism that are imported into Britain arrive via been repeatedly shaken. something much worse – a in the streets as refuse trucks become offi ce says. “The politicians tell us Dover. Former Brexit minister Dominic government worldwide recession. While stuck in the traffi c. nothing,” she adds. Health Minister Matt Hancock has Raab admitted to the BBC in most economists say that’s Children may be unable to get to While the manager of a chemist’s has called on pharmaceutical companies November that he “hadn’t quite shutdown is the unlikely, they acknowledge school, and fresh goods will spoil during few concerns on stocking her range, she and the National Health Service (NHS) understood” the significance of transport in the lengthening truck is worried about her brother. to have six weeks’ worth of supplies in the Dover-Calais crossing for the longest in US that it can’t be ruled out, convoys. “He’s an electrician, and he doesn’t stock. country’s goods trade. especially if the temporary These gloomy predictions are not know how his business will be able to There are plans to bring emergency He resigned a week later. history trade truce between the from a disaster movie, but from a study continue after Brexit,” she says. “If supplies in by air. Government plans to alleviate the two countries breaks down commissioned by Kent County Council. uncertainty leads to people ceasing to Last month, Hancock told the bottlenecks with additional ferry They could become reality should build houses, he won’t have work any BBC that the British government had services in the event of a no-deal or if equities keep sliding. Britain crash out of the European Union more.” become the world’s largest buyer of also came in for scorn after the BBC Despite a recent stock market rally that has seen the without a deal on March 29. The British government authorities fridges to store the medications. uncovered the fact that one of the Dow Jones Industrial Average rally back toward 24,000, This scenario is becoming are scarcely ready for the looming chaos Roads blocked for months will aff ect contracts had gone to a shipping economists are warning that the partial government increasingly likely in the face of the in Dover, Eric Schweitzer, the head of many areas. company that had not yet started deadlocked situation in parliament, the German Chambers of Industry and Routes to school and hospital will operating. shutdown and other factors have put the United States where debate on Brexit has resumed Commerce (DIHK), has warned. “Just- have to be secured, as will transporting Transport Minister Chris Grayling economy at its greatest risk of plunging into a recession in after the Christmas and New Year in-time production and supply chains the dead to morgues. defended the contract with the more than half a decade. holidays. are at risk,” Schweitzer says. In an attempt to alleviate the road “company with no ships” worth the According to a new survey conducted by Bloomberg, A vote on the highly contested deal In 2017, the ferries carried more traffi c situation, as many administrative equivalent of some 17.5mn dollars as that Prime Minister Theresa May has than 2.6mn trucks across the Channel, workers as possible are to be encouraged promoting a start-up, saying he would economic analysts believe there is a median 25% chance hammered out with Brussels has been packed with car parts, medicines and to work from home for three to six “make no apologies for supporting a that the US will enter a recession within the next 12 set down for Tuesday. other goods. months. new British business.” - DPA months, ending an era of economic growth that began in 2009 and is just months away from becoming the longest on record. Indeed, both the ongoing US-China trade war and the partial government shutdown have already shaken the markets to various degrees, and while both could be resolved within the near future, their impacts could linger for far longer, even in a best-case scenario. Both countries have been hurt by the trade war, with the US stock market dropping in the fourth quarter and China publishing data that suggests its economic growth has begun to slow down. The Trump administration, for its part, has alleged that China’s weakening economy proves the US is winning the trade war. However, in an increasingly globalised economy, a weaker China will make itself known on the balance sheets of US companies.

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Lorries near Dover taking part in the Department for Transport trial. A live rehearsal of an emergency traff ic system was conducted recently to prevent congestion in © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Dover in the event of a no-deal Brexit. PICTURE: Sean Smith/Guardian Gulf Times Sunday, January 13, 2019 19 COMMENT Fully fi lling the Global Fund

By Jeffrey D Sachs, Guido Schmidt- from their peak in the early 2000s). continued to kill and to spread Traub, and Vanessa Fajans-Turner The recent uptick in infections and unnecessarily. New York deaths is a worrying sign that the This time, the entire shortfall must world is again underinvesting in the be covered. The Global Fund will soon fight. issue its own assessment of fi nancing he single most important For TB, the challenge continues needs, but the numbers are unlikely to public health measure of to be early diagnosis and effective change much: around $30bn over three 2019 is the replenishment treatment, with special attention years, or $10bn per year. Tof the Global Fund to Fight to multidrug-resistant TB. The TB This is a remarkably small price to Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. mortality rate has declined by around pay to save millions of lives. Consider These three diseases, which currently 42% since 2000. With sufficient what $10bn per year really means. For kill around 2.5mn people per year, coverage of effective monitoring and the 1.2bn people in the high-income could be fully contained by 2030, treatment, the remaining deaths countries, it means $8 per person with deaths reduced to nearly zero. could be largely ended as well. per year. For the Pentagon, it means The Global Fund is the primary The relatively low costs and roughly five days of spending. And instrument for success, and it needs enormous benefits of these for the world’s 2,208 billionaires, it to raise $10bn per year to accomplish interventions mean that high- means just 0.1% of their combined its mission. income and upper-middle-income net worth (some $9.1tn). The Global Fund, established countries should prioritize their Here, then, is a basic proposal: in 2001 by Kofi Annan, has been health programs and national The Global Fund should pledge its credited with saving 27mn lives and budgets accordingly. Shockingly, eff orts to raise $30bn for the next controlling the three epidemics to the in the United States, only around three years. Half of the $30bn could point that they can realistically be half of HIV-positive individuals are come from donor governments. The ended by 2030. receiving treatment, owing to the US should continue its tradition of Although none of the three federal government’s neglect. bipartisan support. China, a past diseases can be completely eradicated For low-income and many lower- Global Fund benefi ciary, should now by then, almost all deaths and new middle-income developing countries, become a donor. The other half of the infections can be stopped, because however, national budgets are not funding should come from the world’s diagnostics, prevention, and sufficient. Recent calculations by the richest people, whose wealth has treatment have improved markedly International Monetary Fund show soared in recent years. Gates has set and become far less costly over the that these countries lack the means the standard, and, under the Giving past 25 years. to ensure universal health coverage Pledge that he and Warren Buff ett have In the case of Aids, treatment and other basic services called for by launched, hundreds of the super-rich of the HIV virus not only keeps the Sustainable Development Goals. could easily pledge $5bn per year for infected individuals healthy, but This was one of two reasons for the period 2020-2022. also reduces the virus load so much creating the Global Fund in the first In a world divided by conflict and that they are unlikely to infect place: to bolster poorer countries’ greed, the Global Fund’s fight against others. In this sense, “treatment is ability to control the epidemics. The the three epidemic diseases is a prevention”: treating a sufficiently other reason was to bring top global matter of enlightened self-interest. high proportion of HIV-positive science and rigorous management to It is also a reminder of how much individuals will largely end the bear on the three epidemics. Thanks humanity can accomplish when we The Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria needs to raise $10bn per year to accomplish its mission. transmission of the virus. to its unique business model, the cooperate to save lives. – Project Similarly, advances in diagnostics Global Fund does both: it generates Syndicate (a simple pin-prick blood test), and disseminates the knowledge similar cross-party support in other what is needed and what is funded. three-year financing need of around prevention (long-lasting insecticide- needed to fight the three diseases, countries. President George W Bush That gap needs to be closed in $98bn, of which all but around $30bn z Jeffrey Sachs is Director of treated bed nets, among other and it rigorously monitors the was the Global Fund’s strongest October 2019, when the Global Fund could be met by domestic budgets the UN Sustainable Development tools), and treatment (low-cost implementation of the projects that backer among world leaders, and Bill is to be replenished for the years and other sources. Yet, instead of Solutions Network (SDSN). Guido artemisinin-based combination it funds. Gates was its leading philanthropist. 2020-22 at a conference in Lyon filling the $30bn gap (roughly $10bn Schmidt-Traub is Executive Director drugs) make it possible to eliminate The Global Fund got off to a great But the Global Fund budget levelled hosted by the French government. In per year), the donors gave the Global of the SDSN. Vanessa Fajans-Turner almost all malaria deaths (which start in the early 2000s, with strong off following the 2008 financial the previous replenishment round, Fund just $13bn. The lack of adequate is Director of SDG Costing and are already down by roughly 60% bipartisan support in the US and crisis, and a gap opened between the Global Fund identified a total funding meant that all three diseases Financing for SDSN.

Letters Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 230c Minimum Temperature : 160c Fondly remembering the ‘Major’ MONDAY Maximum Temperature : 240c Minimum Temperature : 190c

Dear Sir, and took over as principal of Cadet was renamed Langlands School and TUESDAY College Razmak in North Waziristan College. Maximum Temperature : 260c Geoffrey Douglas Langlands, who and served until September 1989. The school grew steadily under his Minimum Temperature : 190c During this period he was guidance and leadership. died in Lahore after a brief illness Fisherman's forecast aged 101 earlier this month, was kidnapped by tribesmen and was The strength of students increased popularly known to Pakistanis as the kept hostage for six days. from 80 to 800, about one third of “Major”. Revealing this incident Langlands which consisted of girls. WARNING The “Major”, realising the described the kidnappers as polite, Students remember him as a Inshore : Nil enormous difficulties a newly born decent and respectful to him when cheerful friend, a passionate story state would face, opted to join they found out that he was 71 and a teller and a great humanitarian. Offshore : Nil Pakistan Army after the partition of principal. For his selfl ess commitment, love WEATHER the sub-continent in 1947. One of his former students, and meritorious services to education Inshore : Moderate temperature He developed love and affection speaking of his kidnapping said: Major Geoff rey Douglas Langlands daytime with some clouds, cold by night for Pakistan on the day of its “Langlands used to tell us how he was awarded the Sitara-i-lmtiaz, inception. walked faster than the kidnappers HiIilal-i-Imtiaz, Order of St Michael Offshore : Partly cloudy at times When he was about to leave for up the mountainous area. They were and St George, Order of British WIND a lavish lifestyle and comforts not able to catch up, this is how Empire, OBE by the Queen of England. of England after completing his energetic and full of life he was.” Generations of Pakistanis owe Inshore : Southeasterly 04-10 KT contract he was requested to stay The kidnappers even requested their education to the “Major.” Offshrore : Northwesterly 05-15 KT as an educator in Pakistan by none for photographs with him before He was a staunch believer in what Visibility : 4-8 KM other than General Ayub Khan. releasing him honourably. William Shedd had said, “A ship is Offshore : 1-3/4 FT He accepted the offer and was Geoff rey Douglas Langlands In late 1989, Langlands took safe in harbour, but that’s not what appointed Algebra teacher in the charge of a small private school in ships are built for”. M Khalid Kamal Aitchison College Lahore. science and mathematics to second Chitral that was first of its kind in Around the region He then devoted his 25 years to grade students in Croydon, England. that area. V- 20, Pink Villas, St-220, Weather the ‘Eton of Pakistan’ teaching When World War II began in 1939, In recognition of his devotion and Ain Khalid Weather tomorrow Max/min mathematics to upper class young after hearing the call of his prime enthusiasm for education, the school Doha today Max/min Sunny 17/07 Pakistanis and rose to become the minister Churchill he volunteered Baghdad Cloudy 16/11 S Showers 21/13 college’s dean. and joined the British Army as an Kuwait CityCloudy 21/16 P Cloudy 24/18 He taught English and enlisted soldier. Manama P Cloudy 22/18 Please send us your letters P Cloudy 26/19 mathematics for more than six In the military service he found Muscat Sunny 25/19 Tehran Rain 09/06 Rain 09/03 decades in Pakistan, and lived long himself on a teaching job, but By e-mail enough to see one of his students, his devotion and strong desire to [email protected] Imran Khan, become the prime fight for his country made him a Fax 44350474 minister. commando in 1942. Or Post Geoffrey Douglas Langlands lost In 1944 he was sent to British Letters to the Editor both his parents at a very early age – India where he was promoted to Gulf Times father to the worldwide flu epidemic second lieutenant. P O Box 2888 when Geoffrey was just one-year- His passion to educate Pakistanis Doha, Qatar old and mother to cancer when he never stopped and in 1979, on the was only 13. invitation of the chief minister of the All letters, which are subject to editing, should have the name of the writer, After completing A Level Northwest Frontier Province (now address and phone number. The writer’s name and address may be withheld education at the age of 18, he started Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Langlands by request. his teaching career and taught gave up his comfortable job in Lahore

Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens M Sunny 10/04 M Cloudy 13/06 Beirut Rain 17/13 Rain 15/13 Live issues Bangkok P Cloudy 34/26 M Sunny 34/25 Berlin Showers 06/04 Rain 08/02 Cairo Sunny 22/09 Cloudy 18/11 Cape Town Sunny 20/17 P Cloudy 22/16 High-fi bre diets help prevent cancers, heart disease Colombo S T Storms 31/23 S T Storms 31/23 Dhaka Sunny 27/14 Sunny 28/14 Hong Kong P Cloudy 19/16 P Cloudy 17/15 QNA colon cancer plummet by 16 to 24%, Otago in New Zealand. reported their work, which was Istanbul Cloudy 04/01 P Cloudy 08/04 London investigators reported. “What really surprised us was the commissioned by the World Health Jakarta T Storm 31/24 S T Storms 31/24 The team also concluded that more range of conditions that higher intakes Organisation (WHO), published in Karachi P Cloudy 26/13 Sunny 24/11 is defi nitely more: For every additional of dietary fi bre seemed to improve,” online edition of The Lancet. London Cloudy 12/06 P Cloudy 09/04 8 grams of dietary fi bre a person Reynolds added. “Heart disease, type The research team noted that Manila P Cloudy 31/23 M Sunny 31/22 large, new analysis helps consumes, the risk for each of those 2 diabetes and colon cancers are some worldwide most people eat less than Moscow Cloudy -4/-5 Snow -2/-3 confi rm that eating lots of illnesses was found to fall by another of the most detrimental diseases of 20 grams of fi bre each day, a fi gure that New Delhi Fog 22/08 Fog 19/06 grains, vegetables and fruit 5 to 27%. our time.” dips to just 15 grams per day among New York M Cloudy 01/-4 P Cloudy 03/-3 Alowers your risk of dying “The health benefi ts of fi bre are The conclusions follow a deep-dive Americans. Paris Cloudy 11/06 M Cloudy 09/04 early from cancer or heart disease. supported by over 100 years of into the results of 185 observational For examples of foods: 1 slice of Sao Paulo S T Storms 32/20 S T Storms 32/21 When compared with those who research into its chemistry, physical studies conducted over the last four whole wheat bread has 2 grams of Seoul Sunny 07/-4 M Sunny 07/-4 consume very little fi bre, people at the properties, physiology and eff ects decades, alongside the fi ndings of fi bre; 1 cup of boiled broccoli has 5 Singapore S T Storms 32/25 T Storm 31/25 high end of the fi bre-eating spectrum on metabolism,” said study author another 58 clinical trials involving grams; 1 medium orange has 3 grams, Sydney P Cloudy 25/20 P Cloudy 26/21 saw their risk for dying from heart Andrew Reynolds, a postdoctoral more than 4,600 participants. and 1 cup of cooked black beans has 15 Tokyo Clear 10/03 Clear 10/02 disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and/or research fellow at the University of Reynolds and his colleagues grams. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, January 13, 2019 QATAR Shop Qatar announces winners of third raffl e

he third of Shop Qatar’s four raffl e draws was held Tat Mall of Qatar on Thurs- day and nine winners walked away with two Jaguar cars and QR200,000 in cash prizes. At the time of the raffl e draw, there was also a ‘Wheel of For- tune’ where 15 shoppers won prizes courtesy of the mall’s shops. The fi ve winners of the QR10,000 cash prizes in the third week’s raffl e draw are Cas- tillo (148038), Yusuf (010851), Mohamed Ibrahim (142684), Ni- yaz (144157) and Milvin De Arce (132183). The winner of QR50,000 is Gabriel (145880), while the big- gest cash prize of QR100,000 went to Ziad Ali (125086). Two shoppers — Asif Aslam (214772) and Rasy (148214) — get to update their ride this year with brand-new Jaguar E-Pace and The third raff le draw being conducted on Thursday. The ‘Wheel of Fortune’. Jaguar XJ, respectively. Stuart Elder, Mall of Qatar’s partners or at The Pearl-Qatar. in four easy steps: keep the re- With more than 200 songs in Avenue — will be performing live tails/6723/stage-2551-presents- international and local designers, CEO, said: “As proud supporters For every QR200 spent at ceipts after shopping at stores in just fi ve years, including hits like in Doha during the Shop Qatar bazzi-and-boyce-avenue. beauty products and services and of Qatar National Tourism Coun- any of the participating retail- the participating malls; go to the Tum hi ho from Aashiqui 2 and festival on Thursday, January 17, Yesterday marked the end of other custom-made and person- cil (QNTC)’s Shop Qatar festival, ers or restaurants, shoppers can Shop Qatar info kiosk in the mall Channa Meriya from Ae Dil Hay from 7pm – 11pm. eight days of fashion-forward alised products. Mall of Qatar is thrilled to host enter the fi nal raffl e draw with and show the receipts; for every Mushkil, Arijit Singh has enjoyed Nominated for MTV Video activities at the Shop Qatar De- In addition, the visitors en- the third raffl e draw on our iconic three cars — the Jaguar E-Pace, QR200 spent, receive one vouch- an immense fan following thanks Music Awards’ Best New Art- sign District, the fi rst of its kind joyed daily live entertainment Ooredoo Oasis stage. The cash Range Rover Evoque 2019 and er; and drop the voucher(s) in the to his soulful voice and talent. ist, Bazzi is one of 2018’s break- in the festival. and a variety of food stalls and and car prizes are a great way to Land Rover Discovery Sport Shop Qatar raffl e box. Tickets range from QR100 to out stars with hit singles such as It featured 17 fashion shows cafes inside the district and in the support our retailers and a fan- 2019 — along with seven cash In addition to the shopping QR2,500 with VIP Box packages Beautiful and Mine. from globally renowned and lo- outdoor entertainment area. tastic incentive to encourage our prizes ranging from QR10,000 to experiences, Bollywood mu- of QR10,000 (eight seats) and Boyce Avenue’s familiar cally acclaimed designers, 11 To fi nd out more, one can customers to shop more in order QR100,000 to be won at the end sic buff s can listen to the most QR12,000 (11 seats), and are on acoustic sound has gained them masterclasses and workshops by download the Shop Qatar mo- to increase their chances in the of the festival on January 20. sought-after music sensation, sale at https://www.wanasatime. over 4bn views on YouTube and famous beauty experts and eight bile app from both the Android prize draw.” The next and fi nal Shop Qa- Arijit Singh, perform his superhit com/night-life/ArjitSingh2019. more than 12mn subscribers. interactive sessions at the Fash- and iOS app stores or visit www. Visitors and residents still have tar Raffl e Draw will be held at songs live on January 18 at Lusail There is also great news for Tickets are available on Qtick- ion Speakers Corner organised by shopqatar.qa and follow the ded- a chance to win in the fourth and 7.30pm on January 20 at the Doha Sports Arena. Gates will open at American pop/rock music fans, ets at QR275 (General) and QR550 Fashion Trust Arabia. icated Shop Qatar social media fi nal draw by shopping or din- Festival City mall. 5pm and the concert will end at as not one but two international (Premium) — https://www.q- Fashion enthusiasts shopped accounts on Instagram, Twitter ing at any of the festival’s 13 mall One can enter the raffl e draws 11pm. sensations — Bazzi and Boyce tickets.com/Events/EventsDe- at 85 popup shops showcasing and Facebook. Alfardan Premier Motors ‘adds fl avours of Eleven Sports urges Serie elegance and luxury’ to Design District Week A to cancel Jeddah match lfardan Premier Motors Co, the offi cial retailer Aof Jaguar Land Rover in leven Sports Network, the reported plans to stage the Eleven Sports. Such activity Qatar, has shown its support a licensee of Serie A in a Juventus v AC Milan Italian Su- causes irreparable harm to Elev- and keenness to contribute Enumber of territories and per Cup match in Jeddah, Saudi en Sports, as well as to other le- and participate in all national a major investor in Italian foot- Arabia, on 16th January 2019. As gitimate broadcasters around events, especially Qatar’s third ball has sent out a letter to Serie you are aware Eleven Sports is a the world such as the beIN Me- shopping festival — Shop Qatar. A Chief Executive Offi cer de- licensee of Serie A in a number of dia Group, who are each faced As the offi cial automotive manding that the Italian Super territories and a major investor with unauthorised, and illegal partner, Alfardan Premier Mo- Cup game between Juventus and in Italian football. The decision competition to their rights. tors provided a fl eet of Jaguar AC Milan not be held in Jeddah, to stage such a signifi cant match “The staging of this match and Land Rover vehicles to Saudi Arabia. in Saudi Arabia has considerable in Saudi Arabia serves only to bring a sense of luxury and el- This follows beIN Media implications for Eleven Sports reward a country that has done egance to the Design District Group’s letter to Serie A urging and for the longer term value of nothing to combat the contin- Week held from January 5 until them to change the venue of next Italian football rights. ued presence and operation of yesterday. week’s Italian Super Cup Final “As has been widely report- the beoutQ service from within It provided “an atmosphere match as Saudi Arabia has been ed, the pirate service ‘beoutQ’ its borders. The message this of stylishness to the experience actively supporting a plague of operates its streaming services sends to the authorities in Saudi of guests attending the event Alfardan Premier Motors provided a fleet of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. piracy against world sport. out of Saudi Arabia, in the full Arabia, to the pirate services — from artists, designers and While Serie A have recently knowledge of the Saudi Ara- operating from the territory and fashion celebrities who have tre, is part of Shop Qatar that which has been highly recog- jor events and happenings in said that the match in Jeddah bian authorities. This service is to all those legitimate broad- come specially to participate in continues until January 20 and nised for its wide variety of the country, which confi rms will promote ‘Made in Italy’ available throughout the Middle casters dealing with this daily the shopping festival from all seeks to shed light on Qatari experiences. As the offi cial au- our commitment to be a key and its values, the match in fact East region and is now increas- assault on their rights, is that over the world”, the company and international brands spe- tomotive partner for the event, partner in all major activities serves merely as a promotion of ingly available throughout Af- Serie A is unconcerned by such said in a statement. cialising in this fi eld, in addi- we have provided a fl eet of Jag- taking place in Qatar. Our par- ‘Stolen by Saudi Arabia’ and the rica and even within Europe and activity and even seems happy “Alfardan Premier Motors tion to fashion shows, related uar and Land Rover vehicles ticipation comes in line with endorsement of a fl agrant daily the USA, where Eleven Sports to reward it. This decision will strongly believes in the impor- workshops, makeup art training to add the touch of luxury and our keenness to enhance co- breach of international norms operates a number of its own, drastically damage the ongoing tant role played by Qatar’s Na- sessions and design art panel elegance while chauff euring the operation between the public and the rule of law, an analyst legitimate services. beoutQ eff orts of the entire sports in- tional Tourism Council to pro- discussions. artists and fashion celebrities and private sectors, which is said. transmits Serie A content, along dustry to combat and end this mote the local tourism sector,” Samer Bou Dargham, general attending the Design District refl ected in the participation in In the letter addressed to Se- with numerous other premium hugely disruptive, illegal and the statement noted. manager of Alfardan Premier Week. such events aimed to providing rie A Chief Executive Offi cer sports rights such as La Liga, damaging piracy. We strongly The Design District Week, Motors, said: “We are delight- “The name of Alfardan Pre- a pioneering tourism experi- Marco Brunelli, Eleven Sports UEFA, Ligue 1, Bundesliga to urge you to reconsider the deci- which took place at Doha Ex- ed to be a part of Qatar’s third mier Motors has been closely ence that suits all members of Network said: “We have become name but a few, and many of sion to stage this match in Saudi hibition and Convention Cen- shopping festival, Shop Qatar, associated with various ma- the society.” aware, with deep concern, of these rights are licensed by Arabia.”

Qatar Museums announces ‘Year of Culture’ photography competition ‘A Focus on Italian Heritage’ photo exhibition at Katara fter offi cially announcing been an integral part of the Year India as its 2019 Year of of Culture program. Every year ACulture partner country, we look to photographers to use he Italian embassy in Doha and Ka- Qatar Museums (QM) has offi cial- their imagery to introduce audi- tara – the Cultural Village Founda- ly launched the fi rst initiative of ences to the cultural elements Ttion have announced the inaugu- what is set to be a year fi lled with of both Qatar and partner coun- ration of a photo exhibition, ‘A Focus on cultural and artistic exchange. tries, thus fostering mutual ap- Italian Heritage’, on January 15, 6.30pm at The competition, titled ‘Crick- preciation and understanding Building 19, Gallery 1. et Contemporary Photography’, between our people. The exhibition, curated by Italian con- invites Qatar-based photogra- “Cricket has long been a sport temporary art gallery Spazio Nuovo – phers to submit photographs and that ignites passion among its en- Roma, will run until January 30. videos about cricket for a chance thusiasts and we look forward how Italian ambassador Pasquale Salzano to a prize from Qatar Museums. participants can bring that to life.” said: “We are very proud to open the Said to have originated in Under the leadership of HE Italian embassy’s cultural programme in Lucius Verus by Olivier Roller. 16th century southeast England, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Ha- 2019 with this very special exhibition, a cricket went on to become one of mad bin Khalifa al-Thani, QM unique collection of 16 art pictures, cre- “The artists’ approach embodies the the most popular sport in India. spearheads the Years of Culture ated and made by a group of three artists, great contribution of contemporary pho- Photographs and videos sub- initiative — an annual series of Riccardo Ajossa (Italy), Camilla Borghese tography to ‘cultural diplomacy’ – it cer- mitted for review may depict any bilateral, cultural exchange pro- (Italy) and Olivier Roller (France), using tainly captures moments but also helps location in Qatar where the com- grammes with a partner country. photography to reinterpret the immense defi ning the past, building the present, munity plays cricket, including It is designed to deepen un- Italian artistic heritage.” and shaping our vision for the future. professional or friendly matches derstanding between nations Every art piece is a visual and emotion- Photography is a powerful tool to share that portray themes such as and their people through mutual al journey through the renowned Italian cultural heritage as well as stimulate peo- competition, sportsmanship, exchanges of arts, culture and heritage of classical architecture, paint- ple’s feelings and ideas. Riccardo Ajossa, from Antonello da Messina I (Reflections Series) 2018. passion, loss, and triumph. heritage. ing, and sculpture, which have made over “In this regard, Italy and Qatar has the Commenting on the competi- The deadline for submissions the centuries and still make Italy a great same vision. Both our countries are com- ture of ancient Rome, and Ajossa re-ex- On the other hand, they become aware tion launch, Fuad al-Mudahka, is March 31. More information source of inspiration and beauty highly- mitted to preserve, promote, and make amines fragments of Italian Renaissance of how much the Western civilisation acting director of 3-2-1 Qatar about requirements in available admired around the world. their respective cultural heritage as much paintings, mirroring them in the soft un- owes its way of life, identity and progress Olympic and Sports Museum, online at https://form.jotform. The three artists share the same bound accessible as possible to encourage the dulations of the sea to amplify and high- to its predecessors. said: “Photography has always me/83150400514442. of devotion to the photographic medium inclusive development and dialogue be- light their chromatic allure. “I am particularly proud that the in- and to the sublime Greco-Roman art as a tween communities and generations, as Central to the three artists’ work is the creasing people-to-people contacts subject of personal interest. it is also highlighted in the Qatar National mythic world — seemingly fl eeting — of achieved through art and the more intense However, what visually links their Vision 2030,” Salzano said. ages long gone such as the ancient Greek cultural exchanges have largely contrib- compositions is their aptness at high- What distinguishes the works of Roll- and Roman periods, which so deeply uted to strengthen the bonds of friendship lighting and unveiling certain key ele- er, Borghese and Ajossa, are their artistic marked and continue to mark Western between Italy and Qatar. The exhibition ments of specifi c masterpieces of the subjects, respectively sculpture, archi- civilisation. falls within this broader context of fruit- ancient times, so as to reveal an intrinsic tecture, and painting. The “enlargement” technique adopted ful co-operation and dialogue where I meaning that would have otherwise elud- Roller investigates the anatomic de- by these artists is doubly revealing. believe our ambitions, expectations, and ed comprehension at a fi rst glance. tails of Classical Roman statues to reveal On the one hand, visitors are invited to ideas can have no boundaries. I hope that Their common sense of composition, the most intimate and human aspects of observe the ability that marked the pro- all our friends here in Doha will enjoy the better known in the world of photography power, while Borghese concentrates on duction of a world apparently primitive at exhibition and I wish to all the visitors an as “focus”, refl ects the intrinsic abilities the wondrous perspective and the divine fi rst sight, but very complex in its devel- engaging journey through our unique and ‘Cricket photography’ by Abdelhamid Serghini. to simultaneously archive and innovate. proportions of the monumental architec- opments. beloved Italian heritage,” Salzano said.