Volume 22 | Number 7396 | 2 RiyalsThursday 4 January 2018 | 17 Rabia II I 1439 www.thepeninsula.qa

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2014 hero Afif to lead Qatar charge at AFC U-23 in China

Qatar Re announces acquisition of

insurance firms

BUSINESS | 21 SPORT | 31

increase in serious ATV-related injuries

increase in the number of children affected

increase in the number of females injured

Emir meets Adviser to Turkmenistan President

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met yesterday at Emiri Diwan with Oil and Gas Adviser to Turkmenistan President, Kakayev Yagshygeldi, and his accompanying delegation, who called on the Emir to greet him on the occasion of their visit to Qatar.

Installation work of Metro stationWorkers install structures of south entrance shelter at Hamad Hospital Metro station, yesterday.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: All-terrain vehicle (ATVs) users are urged to take protective measures, as the number of children and females injured while using ATVs is on the rise, according to a new report released by the Hamad Trauma Center’s Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP).

The report highlighted a 42 percent increase in serious ATV-related injuries, with a 92 percent increase in the number

of children affected and a 154 percent increase in the number of females injured.

According to the report, children as young as 16 months of age have been treated by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for injuries sustained because of ATV crashes, while young males under 22 years of age are identified as being at most risk for severe injury.

The report details the results of an analysis of 616 patients treated at Hamad General

Hospital between 2008 and 2016 for injuries sustained while using or riding ATVs. According to the report, more than 75 percent of all injuries happened between the months of December and March and fourteen of the 616 patients treated succumbed to their injuries.

“The month of December is when Hamad Trauma Center begins to see more patients who are injured while riding ATVs. Most of the victims are youth, between the ages of 12 and 29

years. While many of the patients injured during the nine-year study period were male, including many below the age of 12 years, we are seeing an increasing number of female victims,” said Dr Rafael Consunji, Director of the HIPP, which is the community outreach arm of the Hamad Trauma Center.

Dr Consunji said that ATVs are designed for one passenger and that safely operating the vehicles requires the driver to manage the passenger’s weight.

He said the driver must have enough strength, training, and experience to drive the ATV safely.

“Safety laws regarding ATV use are in force throughout much of the world and not only place an age limit on the operation of these vehicles but also require the use of protective equipment such as helmets. Families must see to it that young children do not drive or ride ATVs,” he said.

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Serious injuries among ATV users on the rise

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: A draft law aiming to attract foreign capital and investments was approved yesterday by the Cabinet in its regular meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The draft law which is set to replace Law No. 13 of 2000 on the same issue regulating non-Qatari investments in the economy and the Cabinet has agreed to refer it to the Advisory Council.

The draft law was submitted by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on regulating the investment of non-Qatari capital in economic activity. The draft law defines in its first Article foreign investors and non-Qatari capital.

The draft law allows non-Qataris to invest in the fields of banks and insurance companies upon approval from the Cabinet while prohibiting them from investing in commercial agencies and buying real estate. The draft law also indicated that non-Qataris can also invest in any other fields in accordance to a decision from the Cabinet in this regard.

According to the draft law, non-Qatari companies engaged

in implementation of business contracts in the country have been obligated with several requirements, including meeting all requirements of government entities.

The draft law regulating foreign investment came in line with the directives of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to attract foreign capital by 100% in all activities and eco-nomic and commercial sectors, said the Minister of Economy H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, while commenting on the draft law.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce prepared the draft law in line with the best international and regional prac-tices in this regard to encourage flow of foreign capital and drive

the pace of economic devel-opment, and raise the index of confidence and security of investment in the country.

The draft law on the regu-lation of foreign investment offers many investment incen-tives including allocation of land to non-Qatari investors to establish investment through the use or rent in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations.

The non-Qatari investors can import what he/she needs for the investment, in addition to exempting the project from income tax in accordance with the procedures and regulation stipulated in the Income Tax Law.

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MOHAMMAD SHOEB THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The integration of RasGas with Qatargas will enable the world’s largest LNG exporter to save QR2bn a year, Qatar Petroleum (QP), the state-owned energy giant, announced yesterday.

The integration process, which started nearly a year ago (in December 2016), has completed successfully, and the new ‘Qatargas’ has officially started operations as the only company to export Qatari LNG.

Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, President & CEO of QP made the announcement yesterday at a press conference at QP headquarters in the presence of representatives of Exx-onMobil, Total, ConocoPhillips, and Shell — the main international shareholders in both companies. Al Kaabi said: “Our aim

was to integrate the two companies’ resources and capabilities to create a truly unique global energy operator in terms of size, service and reliability. We also aimed to create higher value for our stakeholders, and enhance the compet-itive position of the Qatari gas industry.”

“As of the first of January 2018, all the ventures that were operated by Qatargas and RasGas are now operated by the new ‘Qatargas’, which is the result of the inte-gration of two great energy centers of excellence,” he said.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that we have accomplished our objective with great success, and on time. Qatargas will be the single entity exporting Qatari LNG to the world, under a ONE shared vision, ONE management system, and ONE work culture. It also gives me great

pleasure to announce the appointment of the current Qatargas CEO Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani as the CEO for the new Qatargas,” he added.

Al Kaabi extended sincere thanks and appreciation to all the buyers of Qatari gas around the world for their trust and confi-dence in QP and in Qatar, assuring them that Qatar will do its utmost to ensure the con-tinued safe and reliable LNG delivery to their friendly countries. He also took the oppor-tunity to thank all management teams from Qatar Petroleum, its international partners, Qatargas, and RasGas, for their contribu-tions in creation of the new Qatargas.

The integration process will continue to focus on providing enhanced service, reliability, efficiency and effectiveness, as well as strengthening operations groups.

Merger of RasGas with Qatargas to save QR2bn annually, says QP

QNA

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended part of the matches of Qatar ExxonMobil Open, organised by Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF)

held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday evening.

The Emir watched part of the matches between Spain’s Fernando Verdasco and Russian Andrey Rublev which ended in the victory of the Russian player

in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The match was attended by a number of Their Excellencies sheikhs, dignitaries, guests of the tournament and fans.

→SEE ALSO PAGE 29

Cabinet okays draft law on non-Qatari investments

Emir attends Qatar ExxonMobil Open match

The draft law allows non-Qataris to invest in the fields of banks and insurance companies upon approval from the Cabinet while prohibiting them from investing in commercial agencies and buying real estate.

The draft law also indicated that non-Qataris can also invest in any other fields in accordance to a decision from the Cabinet in this regard.

42%

92%

154%

02 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018HOME

PM meets UK Transport Secretary

Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met with UK Secretary of State for Transport and Member of Parliament, Chris Grayling, and his accompanying delegation, who are currently visiting the country. The meeting reviewed cooperation in different fields between both countries and ways to boost and develop them.

Cabinet ratifies eight agreements and MoUsTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: The cabinet yesterday approved the draft law regulating non-Qatari investments in the economy and ratified eight agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

The Cabinet regular meeting was chaired by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The meeting was held at its headquarters at the Emiri Diwan.

After the meeting, Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Dr. Hassan Lahdan Saqr Al Hassan Al Mohannadi said that the Cabinet discussed a number of subjects placed on its schedule this week. The first was approving a draft law that regulates non-Qatari invest-ments in the economy and agreed to refer it to the Advisory Council. The draft law is set to replace law no. 13 of 2000 on the same issue.

The second subject on the Cabi-net’s agenda was approving a propo-sition by the Ministry of Finance on tax avoidance. The proposition was to adopt the international standards agreed by the Organisation for Eco-nomic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on preventing the corrosion of taxes and on the transfer of profits.

The goal of those standards was to combat tax avoidance on the part of multinational entities.

The third subject on the agenda involved ratifying eight agreements

and Memorandums of Understanding. The first ratified MoU was signed between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey on legal assistance in criminal affairs.

The second was a MoU in the central banking field between Qatar Central Bank (QCB) and Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.

The third was a MoU on cooper-ation in the field of tourism between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey. The fourth was a MoU in the field of legal and judicial training signed between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of

the Republic of Turkey. The fifth was a MoU in the field of

food products’ safety, signed between the government of the State of Qatar and that of the Republic of Turkey.

The sixth was a MoU signed between Qatar Media Corporation and The Turkish Radio and Television Cor-poration (TRT).

The seventh was a MoU signed between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of the Republic of Turkey in the field of humanitarian aid and assistance.

The eighth was an agreement between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on the suppression of visas for holders of diplomatic and special passports. The fourth subject on the agenda was reviewing a report by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority’s complaints committee for the first half of 2017 and took the appropriate measures based on the report.

The committee is responsible for giving a ruling on complaints made against the authority’s decisions. It is chaired by a judge from the court of appeals. Its members are two judges from the court of appeals and two other members who have experience in the field of financial securities.

The report presented today included the number of complaints made to the committee and the reasons for them, as well as the decision taken by the committee regarding those complaints.

The second subject on the Cabinet’s agenda was approving a proposition by the Ministry of Finance on tax avoidance. The proposition was to adopt the international standards agreed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on preventing the corrosion of taxes and on the transfer of profits.

The third subject on the agenda involved ratifying eight agreements and MoUs. The first ratified MoU was signed between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey on legal assistance in criminal affairs.

The fourth subject on the agenda was reviewing a report by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority’s complaints committee for the first half of 2017 and took the appropriate measures based on the report. The committee is responsible for giving a ruling on complaints made against the authority’s decisions. It is chaired by a judge from the court of appeals.

Cabinet okays draft law on non-Qatari investments

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Moreover, the draft law stipulated

that the non-Qatari investment projects shall be exempted from customs duties on their imports of machinery and nec-essary equipment they import for their establishments.

In the field of industry, raw materials and semi-manufactured items for produc-tion which are not available in the local markets will be exempted from custom duties on their imports.

The draft law mentioned that the cabi-net may, upon the proposal of the Minister of Economy and Commerce, grant invest-ment projects incentives and benefits in addition to what have been provided by this law.

Non-Qatari investments, whether directly or indirectly, will not be subject

to expropriation or other similar action unless it is taken for public benefit where then fair and appropriate compensation in accordance rules and procedures.

Non-Qatari investors are free to trans-fer their investments to Qatar or abroad without delay, as well to transfer the ownership.

The draft law stipulated that with the exception of labour disputes, a non-Qatari investor may agree on any dispute between him and third parties through arbitration or any other means of settle-ment of disputes.

The draft law defines general provi-sions which obligate non-Qatari investors to protect environment from pollution and compliance with laws, regulations and instructions relating to security and public health.

03THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 HOME

Speaker of Advisory Council meets Iranian & Bosnian envoys

Speaker of the Advisory Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud received a message from Speaker of The Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Dr Ali Larijani. It includes invitation to participate in the conference of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to be held in Tehran this month. The message was delivered by Mohammad Ali Subhani, Iranian Ambassador to Qatar, during the meeting with him. The meeting also reviewed the relations between the two countries and means of enhancing them. The Speaker of the Advisory Council also met with Ambassador of Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the state of Qatar, Tarik Sadovic. During the meeting, they reviewed the relations between the two brotherly countries and means of supporting them.

Conflict has no winners: MinisterTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Interior and Minister of Planning Development and Reform, Ahsan Iqbal Chaud-hary, recently visited George-town University in Qatar (GU-Q) to talk about his coun-try’s strategy for economic development.

In a talk titled ‘Pakistan’s New Economic Corridor and Beyond’ the Minister explored the challenges and opportuni-ties facing the country, and the role China is playing in its growth.

Chaudhary’s lecture, which was attended by GU-Q students, staff, faculty, and invited guests, focused on the interconnected nature of the world today, where events in one country can quickly affect an entire region. In his presentation, the minister explained that this is creating a shared destiny for all, with it becoming increasingly difficult for one nation to act alone.

“Today, we are living in very interesting times,” said Chaudhary. “Our world today is experiencing new challenges. The role of leadership is to make as smooth a transition as possible by following a collab-orative path.”

As part of these shared efforts, Chaudhary explained how Pakistan is working with China in areas ranging from infrastructure development to marine trade, energy genera-tion, and industrial production. This will create a new economic corridor from South West China to Pakistan, linking the two nations by road and sea.

The minister explained how

this regional link will contribute to the emergence of Asia as an important global hub, and create new markets and con-nectivity between the countries. However, for this strategy to be effective, Chaudhary stressed the importance of creating the stable, peaceful environment that is needed for the region to flourish.

“Conflict has no winners,” he said. “Everyone is a loser in conflict. Fortunately, the shadows of peace are becoming longer.”

The visit to GU-Q was not Chaudhary’s first interaction with Georgetown; the minister has also participated in the Georgetown Leadership Sem-inar, an invitation-only execu-tive education program hosted by the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown Main Campus in Washington, D.C.

Firm closed for storing expired foodstuffTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has shut down a food company in Abu Hamour and its affiliated warehouse in Al-Sailiya area for a one-month period over the display, sale and storage of expired food products.

The campaign comes within the frame-work of the Ministry of Economy and Com-merce’s efforts to monitor markets and eco-nomic activity across the country in a bid to crack down on price manipulation, viola-tions, counterfeit goods and substandard products.

The company and its warehouse were closed for a one-month period for violating article (6) of Law No. 8 of 2008 on Consumer Protection. The law prohibits the sale, dis-play and promotion of substandard, coun-terfeit and fraudulent products. A product is considered fraudulent if it fails to meet

standards or has expired.The administrative closure declaration

shall be published at the expense of the com-pany that committed the violation in accord-ance with Article (18) of Law No. 8 on Con-sumer Protection. The law stipulates that the closure decision shall be published on the Ministry’s website and in two daily newspa-pers at the expense of the company.

The Ministry stressed that it will not tol-erate any violations of Consumer Protection Law and its regulations and will intensify its inspection campaigns to crackdown on vio-lations. The ministry said it will refer those who violate laws and ministerial decrees to competent authorities, who will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.

The Ministry urges all consumers to report violations or submit complaints and suggestions to its consumer protection and anti-commercial fraud department.

FAZEENA SALEEM THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The new Women’s Well-ness and Research Center (WWRC) of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), being a specialist hub for women’s health services, will also offer care for gynaecologic disor-ders and diseases, says a senior official.

It will focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gynae-cologic disorders, besides obstet-rics services, said Dr Moayyad Younis, Head of Minimal Invasive Surgery in Gynaecology at the WWRC. “WWRC will focus on dis-eases as well. Our focus is to be the place of excellence in gynaecologic services not only in Qatar but in the region,” Dr Younis told The Peninsula.

Advanced facilities and serv-ices at the WWRC are aimed at providing the best care for any type of gynecologic disorders and diseases. The WWRC will offer

women a variety of gynecology clinics in the Outpatient Depart-ment to manage a wide range of female health issues. Equipped with dedicated operating theaters to conduct elective gynecology surgeries, the facility will also offer

major surgery such as endoscopic, laparoscopic (keyhole) and robotic surgery, preventing women from having to travel abroad for their care.

The new facility has different units to treat disorders such as

gynecologic oncology, uro gyne-cology, fibroids, endometriosis, cervical disorders and other related diseases, says Dr Younis.

The WWRC Gynaecology-Oncology clinics are also dedi-cated to managing cancers of the female reproductive system, including cancer of the uterus, cancer of the ovaries and cervical cancer. In addition, WWRC will offer a colposcopy clinic for the screening, diagnosis, treatment and education of women with abnormal Pap smear tests and other related pre-cancer disorders.

Also the other clinics include team of experts to diagnose and treat patients. “With the opening of the new WWRC, we have new clinics and the number of theatres have increased. So we can accom-modate high number of gynaeco-logic cases and provide them with the best care,” said Dr Younis.

All gynaecology related serv-ices at the WWRC are supported

by other departments such as the radiology unit.

WWRC is part of Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City, a purpose built campus providing a range of specialized healthcare services in the heart of Doha. Medical City demonstrates HMC’s commitment to improving the lives of our patients by providing timely access to world class specialist care deliv-ered in state of the art facilities.

As the largest women’s tertiary hospital in the country, the WWRC is equipped with a large

emergency department with an expanded visitor waiting area, seven operating theatres, 26 delivery rooms, 240 private inpa-tient rooms with bathrooms and a number of specialized outpatient clinics for obstetrics and gynae-cology. In addition, the WWRC has 112 NICU cots for the care of crit-ically ill newborns.

The facility is also staffed with over 2,000 highly trained clini-cians who have extensive experi-ence in gynaecology, obstetrics, and newborn care.

WWRC to provide care for gynaecologic disorders and diseases

Traffic change beneath Al Mazrooah InterchangeTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Public Works Authority, ‘Ashghal’, will put in place a minor traffic change beneath Al Mazrooah Inter-change on North Road carriageway from tomorrow to last for six months.

The shift will enable the con-struction of a multi-level inter-change on the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route project. During the detour, designed in collaboration with the General Directorate of Traffic, road users travelling south from Al Shamal towards Doha will be shifted onto the northbound carriageway for 1km before returning to the normal road alignment. Ashghal advises that the number of lanes in each direction on Al Shamal Road will be reduced from four lanes to three lanes.

The new multi-level inter-change will be opened for public use in 2018 and will increase the

existing road capacity from three lanes to five lanes in each

direction while simultaneously enhancing travel efficiency to Al

Shamal, Al Ruwais, Lusail and Salwa Road.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Interior and Minister of Planning Development and Reform, Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, in a talk titled ‘Pakistan’s New Economic Corridor and Beyond’, explored the challenges and opportunities facing the country, and the role China is playing in its growth.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Interior and Minister of Planning Development and Reform, Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, addressing a gathering at Georgetown University in Qatar.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce official pastes notice on the company.

The new Women’s Wellness and Research Center of HMC.

WWRC will focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gynaecologic disorders, besides obstetrics services.

Dr Moayyad Younis, Head of Minimal Invasive

Surgery in Gynaecology

04 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018HOME

QNL lines up many activities this monthTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar National Library (QNL), a member of Qatar Foun-dation (QF), is organising a diverse range of activities this month. The packed schedule of events has been specially designed to further acquaint members of the community with the library’s wealth of learning resources and initiatives, and prepare residents for the year ahead.

On January 15, a focused hands-on workshop will be held to help students, researchers, and other members of the commu-nity to better familiarise them-selves with QNL’s various collec-tions. The workshop will be repeated several times during the month to ensure all those inter-ested are given the chance to attend. In addition, an introduc-tory workshop focusing on the library’s children’s databases will take place on January 23.

QNL, in collaboration with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, also a member of QF, will stage a performance titled ‘Philharmonic at the Library: Maias Alyamani’s To Doha With Love’, on January 18 at 6pm, pro-viding the local community with an opportunity to enjoy music for free. In line with its overarching approach to providing learning opportunities, QNL will also host an innovative workshop titled ‘Introduction to Music Studio’, on January 22, inviting music enthu-siasts to learn through a series of practical activities.

Dr. Nouf Khashman, Out-reach and Community Engage-ment Manager, QNL, said, “We are delighted to announce another full schedule of events this month that is strategically designed in a way to prepare stu-dents, researchers, and others for the year ahead. The main and online collections are at the core of the library, and we believe it is always helpful to provide hands-on workshops for the users to learn best practices on

understanding and searching the collections and online resources. We welcome everyone to attend these informative and fun activities.”

Teenagers can showcase their creativity in an arts and crafts workshop on January 16, and test their public speaking skills in an interactive event with QNL’s experts on January 26. Additionally, mothers needing a break are welcome to attend the ‘Mother’s Team Time’ gathering on January 27 at the library to network and share thoughts on parenting and early childhood literacy.

Members of the community can refine their presentation skills in a special workshop titled ‘Designing Effective Presenta-tions’ on January 6. Similarly, researchers and university stu-dents are encouraged to attend a focused event on designing research posters on January 21.

Abeer Saad Al Kuwari, Director of Research and Learning, QNL, said, “Our events are designed in a unique way to address the trending needs of our members and other members of the community. We continuously get their feedback through our website and the user services desk to help us identify their needs and, subsequently, devise our events.”

QNL hosts a diverse range of events throughout the year, ensuring that there is something on offer for people of all ages and interests.

The packed schedule of events has been specially designed to further acquaint members of the community with the library’s wealth of learning resources and initiatives, and prepare residents for the year ahead.

Officials at the partnership announcement event.

Alfardan Automobiles & QTF mark 11 years of partnershipTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Alfardan Automobiles has partnered with the Qatar Tennis Federation to sponsor the 26th edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, the first ATP World Tour tournament of 2018.

The six-day tournament, taking place till January 6, will be the eleventh edition to be sponsored by Alfardan Automo-biles and will showcase a fleet of luxurious BMW models, including the all new BMW X3, all new BMW 6 Series GT and BMW 5 Series, along with 45 chauffeur driven BMW vehciles that will serve the transporta-tion needs of all the participating players and attending officials.

With some of the biggest names men’s tennis, including Former world No. 1 Novak Djok-ovic, World No. 6 Dominic Thiem, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, Richard Gasquet and Fernando Verdasco as well as Pablo Carreno Busta.

Commenting on the long-standing relationship, Ma’n Al Hamawi, Chief Operating Officer at Alfardan Group-Automotive operations, said: “The

decade-long partnership between Alfardan Automobiles and the Qatar Tennis Federation accentuates the strong synergy we share. The Qatar ExxonMobil Open is a display of remarkable prowess – both in terms of ath-lete performance and event exe-cution – and through its focus on excellence and evolution, it has emerged as an integral part of the ATP World Tour. As one of the event’s long-standing part-ners, we are proud of its success and look forward to its growth over the next years as it con-tinues to be a mainstay of the tennis circuit.”

Talking about the impor-tance of the tournament to the region, Karim Alami, Tourna-ment Director, said: “We are

excited to welcome the world once again to Doha. Qatar is the hub of global sport and we are passionate about tennis. I’ve no doubt that the 2018 Qatar Exxon Mobil Open will surpass the pre-vious editions. Qatar Exxon-Mobil Open is a symbol of the strategic and enduring partner-ships between many prominent organisations in the country, including Al Fardan Automo-biles and QTF, taking the sport to new heights and bringing the finest display of tennis and entertainment to the local community.”

Tennis fans can capture the top seeds arriving in a fleet of chauffeur driven cars and check out a diverse line-up of BMW models that includes BMW 7 Series, BMW 5 Series , BMW X6, BMW X5 and BMW X1.

Under the direction of the Qatar Olympic Committee, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open has become one of the most exciting and prestigious tournaments on the ATP Tour circuit. Now in its 26th year, the star studded event is expected to have 32 players in the singles competition and 16 doubles teams.

Official transport partner Alfardan Automobiles to provide 45 chauffeur-driven BMW vehicles for the year’s first ATP World Tour Tournament.

Mercedes Benz G-Class models of 2015-2017 recalledDOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collabora-tion with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes Benz G-Class models of 2015-2017 due to the possibility of a fault in the work of the vehicle anti-slip control unit (ESP – Electronic Stability Program). The Ministry said the recall campaign falls within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.

The Ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.

Malabar Gold distributes winter kit for labourersTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one of the largest jewellery retailers distributed winter kit to the labourers in remote areas and deserted camps in Umm Bab area to those who cannot afford winter clothing.

This initiative is as a part of their corporate social responsi-bility (CSR) activities with the support of Youth Forum Qatar that made its mark among the expatriates with its novelty.

This is the third time Malabar Gold & Diamonds put their efforts to distribute the winter kits in association with Youth

Forum Qatar. In all, 100 such kits will be distributed to the less privileged people in Qatar this year.

CSR activities are a funda-mental part of Malabar Group’s culture, and the organisation ensures that a certain percentage of its net profit is used for CSR activities every year.

Commenting on this latest initiative, Santhosh T V, Regional Head, and Malabar Gold & Dia-monds - Qatar, said, “We strive for the betterment of the lives of people in the areas of our oper-ation. With the support of like-minded organisations like Youth Forum Qatar, we are confident that we will succeed in bringing a significant difference to the underprivileged strata of the society”.

SA Firose, the president of youth forum stated while inau-gurating the distribution that “We are very proud of partici-pating and supporting the event

as a voluntary group inspiring the expatriate youth to build a better future with a strong sense of responsibility to their fami-lies and society.”

“We have always succeeded in confidently directing the energy of the youth for the service of the Indian expatriates, especially for the development of the underprivileged majority of the community. Over the last two decades, we have estab-lished a credible presence in the expat public of Qatar with our philanthropic and socio-cultural

activities,” he said. “Youth Forum, with a vibrant

vision for future, can claim a wide reach in to the expat youth audience from all walks of life,” Firose added.

The group supports many philanthropic activities and is always ready to take initiatives to help the deprived section in the society.

The key focus areas of the corporate social responsibility initiatives of Malabar Group are in the areas of Health, Educa-tion, Women Empowerment, Housing and Environment.

The group, which currently has showrooms across GCC, India, Malaysia and Singapore undertakes several welfare activities with the association of like-minded organisations in the respective regions.

Indian Embassy issued 19 air tickets for repatriationTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Indian Embassy issued 64 Emergency Certif-icates (ECs) and 19 air tickets to Indian nationals to ensure their repatriat ion in December, 2017.

The Embassy also organ-ised five consular camps at Salwa, Mesaieed, Al-Khor and Dukhan & Zikreet and Al Shamal areas and rendered 154 consular services to the Indian nationals last month.

In 2017, 12 Open Houses were held, including the one on December 28. A total of 66 complaints were received and out of these, 56 complaints have been resolved, 10 are under active follow up.

An Embassy team vis-ited the Central Prison and Deportation Centre last week to enquire about the welfare of detainees from India. The total number of Indian nationals in the Central Prison and the Deportation Centre currently is 196 and 82, respectively.

The grievances brought to the notice orelated to issues of delayed payment of wages and violations of contract terms and conditions.

Ambassador P Kuma-ran, Third Secretary (Labour& Community Welfare) Dr. M Aleem and other officials met all the complainants, discussed their problems in detail and assured them of the Embassy’s active follow up of their cases with the concerned authorities in the Government of Qatar.

Devis Edakulathur, Pres-ident and Mahesh Gowda, General Secretary, Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), the apex community association working under the aegis of the Embassy, along with some other members of the ICBF Management Com-mittee also participated in the Open House.

This initiative is a part of the corporate social responsibility activities with the support of Youth Forum Qatar

05THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 HOME

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Joint Special Forces celebrated yesterday the grad-uation of the 13th batch from Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College’s members of the para-chute jumping course number eight which lasted for four weeks.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah

and in the presence of Brigadier General Hamad bin Abdullah Al Fetais Al Marri, commander of the joint special forces.

This course is part of the training season of the year 2017, with 154 paratrooper operations graduates who were able to overcome all positions and ground exercises of the tactical landing with efficiency and competence.

On this occasion, the com-mander of the joint special forces congratulated the Qatari Armed

Forces for the distinctive level of the graduates, which indicates the high capabilities enjoyed by the next generation of members of the brave armed forces.

The ceremony was attended by Commander of the Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College Brigadier Abdullah Abdul-rahman Al Kaabi, Military Attache of the State of Kuwait to the State Brigadier General Huwaidi Al Hajri and a number of senior officers in the armed forces.

Mahaseel Souq reopens today at KataraTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Mahaseel Souq, located in the southern part of Katara, reopens today. The souq is open on Thursday to Saturday, from 9am to 10pm until end of March.

The market features Qatari farms

selling various types of fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants and local companies offering food products related to livestock, in addition to natural honey produced by the Qatari farms and the best varieties of local dates. Twenty-two Qatari farms and six major national companies spe-cialised in producing and selling sheep meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products and natural juices are participating at the souq.

The resumption of Mahaseel Souq comes in the framework of Katara’s efforts to support the agriculture and livestock sector and encourage the Qatari farms’ owners, in addition to promote high quality local products, by providing a marketing platform.

The second Mahaseel Festival, whose activities concluded last Sat-urday, was a big success offering diverse workshops, competitions and exhibits to many visitors.

Officials and graduates at the graduation of the 13th batch from Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College’s members of the parachute jumping course.

Joint Special Forces celebrate graduation of 13th batch

A file picture of visitors at the Mahaseel Souq in Katara.

06 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018HOME

Two total lunar eclipses this year: QCHTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: According to accurate astronomical calculations, the world will witness two total lunar eclipses and three partial solar eclipses during 2018, Qatar Calendar House (QCH) said.

The first lunar eclipse will be on January 31, 2018 and it will be occurring during the full moon of Hijra month “Jumada I”, which will be “total lunar eclipse”. This eclipse will be visible throughout Asia, Southeast Europe, Southeast Africa and South America. Qatar resident will be able to see partial lunar eclipse phase only after sunset on this day, expert astronomer at QCH Dr Beshir Marzouk, said.

The second lunar eclipse will be on July 27, 2018, which will be occurring during the full moon of Hijra month “Dhul- Qa’da”, and it will be “total lunar eclipse”. eclipse will be visible throughout almost of Asia, almost of

Europe, Africa and eastern side of South America. Qatar resident and Arabic region will have chance to see all phases of this lunar eclipse.

The first solar eclipse of the year will be on February 15, 2018, which will be a “Partial Solar Eclipse”, and will be occurring with con-junction for new crescent of Hijra month “Jumada II”, the Moon will be cover 60 per-cent of solar disk at peak of this partial solar eclipse. This will not be seen in Qatar and Arabic regions, Dr Beshir Marzouk added.

The second solar eclipse will be on July 13, 2018, which will be a “Partial Solar Eclipse”, and it will be occurring in conjunction with new crescent of Hijra month “Dhul- Qa’da”. The Moon will be cover 34 percent of solar disk at peak of this eclipse. This eclipse will not be seen in Qatar and Arabic regions.

Final solar eclipse of the year will be on August 11, 2018, its type will be “Partial Solar

Eclipse”, and it will be occurring in conjunc-tion with new crescent of Hijra month “Dhul- Hijja”. The Moon will cover 74 percent of solar disk at peak of this eclipse. This will not be seen in Qatar and Arabic regions.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Social Development Center ‘NAMA’ (an affiliated center of Qatar Foundation for Social Work) is exhibiting seven projects that have been enriched by its incubator services, in the market being held on the side-lines of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2018.

The projects that represent ventures of young Qataris into small and micro enterprises are being promoted at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Al Dafna, from 4.30pm to 10pm, until January 6.

Pointing out the significance of the event, Maryam bint Abdul-latif Al Mannai, Acting Executive Manager of NAMA Center, said: “Through its outstanding partic-ipation in this market, NAMA Center seeks to support and pro-mote sustainable development efforts by endorsing small and micro enterprises, encouraging the community to move forward in entrepreneurship, and paving the way for creative entrepre-neurs to successfully launch their businesses and achieve their desired goals.

“We thank the Qatar Tennis Federation for their continued support of the Center’s strategic

directions, and for providing us with free spaces for the promo-tion of these projects. We also call upon all members and enti-ties of our society to support such projects, so we can all contribute towards the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Through its participation in such events, NAMA Center seeks to support projects that benefit from its entrepreneurial services, and enable owners to carry out successful business activities by making the best use of the serv-ices, as well as monitor strengths and weaknesses in order to improve these projects.

It also aims to improve per-formance and quality, and enhance local production in Qatar through direct interac-tion with the public. Such

activities contribute towards the larger goal of developing human capital, thus promoting the development, prosperity and sustainability of the Qatari economy.

A young entrepreneur, whose participation in the market was related to per-fumes, creams, and natural mixtures, expressed her grati-tude to NAMA Center for incu-bating her project.

“NAMA Center has been extremely supportive and encouraging of my project. Whenever an event is held in Doha, NAMA Centre invites me to participate, and also follows up to provide me with the sup-port I need to help improve my business,” she said.

Testimony to NAMA Center’s

commitment towards helping the incubator initiative, are the varied products offered by the projects at the market, including food, souvenirs, artwork, pho-tography, perfumes, and incense, among others.

NAMA Center has made it a priority to participate in several events this year, including the upcoming Qatar Total Open 2018, the women’s tennis tour-nament starting February 12. At this event, NAMA Center aims to display and promote the prod-ucts of a number of innovative incubator projects, shed more

light on the reality of entrepre-neurship in Qatar, and introduce its unique entrepreneurial serv-ices to the broadest possible community.

NAMA Center was estab-lished in 1996 by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser with a vision of achieving human and social development in the State of Qatar.

The Center aims to provide a stimulating environment that contributes to realising the potential and creativity of the nation’s youth, by investing in their aspirations and helping

them explore the best opportu-nities available, leading to the renaissance of local communities.

“By youth and with youth, we shape our stances toward Qatar”

The Center has been working under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation for Social Work (QFSW) since 2013. NAMA Center is a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Arab Network for NGOs and the World Family Organisation (WFO).

NAMA Center displays incubation projects

Some of the products manufactured by the startups displayed at the exhibition stall.

Maryam bint Abdullatif Al Mannai, Acting Executive Manager of NAMA Center, said: “We thank the Qatar Tennis Federation for their continued support of the Center’s strategic directions, and for providing us with free spaces for the promotion of these projects. We also call upon all members and entities of our society to support such projects, so we can all contribute towards the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Serious ATV-related injuries on the rise, says HMC reportContinued from page 1

Dr Rafael Consunji, Director of the HIPP, which is the community outreach arm of the Hamad Trauma Center, added that during the period studied, only 2.6 percent of the patients treated were wearing a helmet or harness and more than 80 percent of the victims who died from their injuries did so because of a trau-matic brain injury. According to the report, head injuries were the most common followed by arm and leg

fractures.While there are no regulations

requiring the use of personal protec-tive equipment while operating ATVs in Qatar, Dr Consunji recommends it. Helmets with fastened chinstraps and safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield, have been shown to reduce the severity of injuries when crashes do occur. Over-the-ankle boots, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants are also recommended to pro-tect knees and elbows from cuts and

scratches. It is also recommended to select ATVs with full-driver restraint systems, such as a 5- or 7-point har-ness (like those worn by Formula 1 drivers), anchored at the crotch and shoulders. These restraints have been shown to prevent ejection from the ATV. It is also recommended to choose an ATV with a roll bar, that protects the driver from the full weight of the ATV and the direct impact of the ground if a rollover should occur.

1. ATVs are not toys. The size, power, and weight of an ATV requires complex decision-making, impulse con-trol, and strength, which are not present in young chil-dren. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons states that children, younger than 12 years old, should not operate ATV’s.

2. ATV’s are designed for only one user. To drive an ATV safely, one must be able to adjust his or her position and shift their weight in response to sudden changes in direction, speed, and terrain. Riding with or as a passenger increases the chance that weight imbalance and instability will occur. Weight imbal-ance and instability are common causes of crashes and rollovers.

3. Do not operate an ATV while impaired. Any sub-stance that impairs reaction time and judgment, or even being sleepy or drowsy, makes for unsafe ATV use.

4. Do not operate an ATV at night or on public roads. Most ATV’s do not have headlights and the inability to see the terrain clearly and to be seen by others makes

night ATV trips riskier. Most ATVs have fixed rear axles which do not allow the inner rear wheel to rotate freely when turning. This can cause the sudden release of torque which, on firm surfaces, promotes lurching and loss of control.

5. Leave the stunt driving to professionals. Most inju-ries are the result of collisions and rollovers. Collisions may be with fixed objects [suddenly appearing walls, posts, etc.], another ATV, or with other vehicles. Chil-dren are more likely to be injured in collisions or in lat-eral rollovers while adults are more commonly injured in backward rollovers, a common mechanism when ascending hills or dunes or doing ‘wheelies’’ or stunts.

6. Get trained and certified in ATV safety. An ATV is a complex motor vehicle that requires formal instruc-tions and/or training before one can safely operate the vehicle. Some countries require a distinct ATV license for all ATV drivers. These licenses are issued based on demonstrated competence in handling the vehicle and knowledge of the safety hazards.

Recommendations for safe operation of ATVs

CIS addresses sociopolitical challenges in Islamic worldTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Hosting a series of public lectures on critical social, political and humani-tarian challenges affecting Muslims around the world, Hamad Bin Khalifa Universi-ty’s (HBKU) College of Islamic Studies (CIS) will bring the findings and perspectives of resident and visiting scholars to the forefront of public deliberation early this year.

Describing the importance of sup-porting the development of strong civic knowledge on current affairs, Dr Muhammad Khalifa, Director of Al Qaradawi Center for Islamic Moderation and Renewal and professor of compar-ative religion at CIS said: “At CIS, we rou-tinely reach out to local and international scholars and request them to share the benefit of their research and subject matter expertise. By opening these lec-tures to the public, we raise the scales of general awareness on trending topics that are of theological, political, social and cultural significance, thereby effectively promoting thought, discourse and informed action on themes that com-monly affect the Islamic world.”

On January 14, Dr Kambiz Ghanea Bas-siri (pictured), professor of religion and humanities at Reed College will deliver a public lecture on Religion and the State in Muslim America. The lecture will discuss how Islam has played an increasingly prominent role in how the relation between state and religion are negotiated in US

politics since the end of the Cold War. The lecture will place con-temporary polemics around Islam within the larger historical context of the politics of religion in US. history.

In Qatar’s New Humanitarian Para-digm: Lessons Learned and Pros-pects, scheduled on

January 15, CIS will bring Dr. Laurent A. Lambert to its dais in collaboration with the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) at Qatar University. In his address, QU’s senior policy analyst and pro-fessor will shed light on Qatar’s experience in humanitarian aid and support. By ana-lyzing historical and contemporary aspects and the dynamics of Qatar’s humanitarian engagements, the event will yield valuable insights for academics, policy makers, ana-lysts, and students.

The following month, on February 7, CIS is scheduled to host the director of Bridge Initiative at Georgetown Univer-sity, Dr. John L. Esposito. His address during a public lecture titled The Future of Islam and Muslim-West Relations will focus on the challenges of coexisting and the price of clashes between the non-Islamic and Islamic worlds.

These upcoming public lectures are the latest to be announced in a series of year-round CIS events. All events are cur-rently open for registration to the public and will be hosted at Education City.

07THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 HOME / MIDDLE EAST

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Young Qatari painter Abdulla Al Kuwari has success-fully completed a three-month residency programme at the renowned Citéinternationale des Arts, Paris, one of the biggest and most important art residencies in the world.

Held under the patronage of Qatar Museums (QM) Chair-person, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Paris Residency is an exten-sion of QM’s Fire Station: Artist in Residence programme in Doha.

To celebrate his accomplish-ments, Abdulla hosted an open studio at the Citéinternationale des Arts from December 19 – 20 2017. Members of the public were invited to meet him, exchange cultural and artistic views and learn about his expe-

rience and latest projects.Khalifa Al Obaidly, Director of

the Fire Station, said: “I’m proud of the success of Abdulla’s resi-dency and the creative outputs from his time in Paris. This initia-tive is one that is dear to me as it truly creates a platform for local artists to flourish in a wonderful creative hub. It is great to see how this residency pushed Abdulla to take his passion to the next level, and to witness how his collabora-tion with fellow creatives from around the world helped develop his artistic craft.”

Abdulla is the third Qatari artist

to have a chance to work in Paris through QM’s residency initiative, following two spectacular showings from Ebtisam Al Saffar and Nasser Al Attiya who also hosted open stu-dios at the Citéinternationale des Arts earlier this year.

Abdulla’s work explores spaces of ambiguity and fantasy, shifting between the real and the imagined. He is mainly inspired by nature, memories and pop culture. Abdulla received his BFA in Painting and Printmaking in 2014 from Virginia Common-wealth University in Doha, grad-uating with the Highest Honors.

He has participated in exhibi-tions and art events in the Middle East, including Middle East Film & Comic Con 2016.

Following his residency at the Citéinternationale des Arts, Paris, Abdulla will return to Doha to host a public talk at the

Fire Station cinema, where he will share insights from his journey and experience as a res-ident in Paris. Accompanying the talk, an exhibition at the Fire Station will showcase the art-works created during his time in Paris.

The Qatari Art Residency Programme is a recurring three-month residency open to all Qatari artists, and provides one talented individualwith studio accommodation space and the chance to be fully immersed in Paris’ art and culture scene.

Artist completes Paris Residency programme

To celebrate his accomplishments, Abdulla hosted an open studio at the Citéinternationale des Arts from December 19 – 20 2017. Members of the public were invited to meet him, exchange cultural and artistic views and learn about his experience and latest projects.

Qatari painter Abdulla Al Kuwari during his open studio at the Citéinternationale des Arts in Paris.

Qatar Charity honours outstanding orphan students in KenyaTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar Charity held an event to honour its outstanding orphan students and their mothers in Kenya.

High achieving orphan students gathered with their families and teaching stuff to celebrate success and to receive awards at a special ceremony held by Qatar Charity in Kenya. This tradition has been always a prominent aspect of Qatar Charity’s sponsorship strategy to encourage brilliant orphans for their academic achievements.

Acknowledging their efforts raising these orphans, Qatar Charity also awarded the mothers for their continuous support to their kids despite their bad economic situations.

Celebrating orphans’ success, Qatar Charity has awarded 100 orphans along with their mothers for the academic year 2016-2017

On this occasion, Mohamed Hussein, Qatar Charity’s Regional director in Kenya, addressed the students and encouraged them to put more efforts to maintain this academic excellence. He also thanked and praised their mothers for the role they play supporting their children.

At the honorary reception, bright orphan students and their mothers received awards and excellence certificates for the aca-demic year 2016-2017.

During the ceremony, Roqyaa Ibrahim Ismail, one of the awarded students, said: “No words are enough to express how I feel. I would like to thank our sponsors in Qatar and praise their unwavering faith in our cause. I would also like to thank Qatar Charity for its pivotal role in promoting education and sponsoring orphans’ advocacy”

In a parallel ceremony, Qatar

Charity awarded 50 mothers, cel-ebrating their dedication and hard work raising their orphan children. Hawa Harbi, on behalf of the attending mothers, delivered a speech saying: “We deem the Qatari people as brothers and sis-ters who spare no efforts in advo-cating our cause and standing for our children” Harbi also praised Qatar Charity’s dedication and support in promoting educational projects in the regions of Kenya.

As part of its social care mis-sion, Qatar Charity has recently sponsored 655 poor families, 165 Quran Teachers, 127 persons with special needs. Therefore, the total number of Qatar Char-ity’s sponsorships in Somalia has reached 1500 individual.

Through sponsorships and con-tributions in Somalia, Qatar Charity works to fight the devastating drought that has engulfed the African coun-tries over the past years.Students and mothers during the ceremony.

Wildlife Protection Department detected 480 violations last year

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Ministry of Munic-ipality and Environment repre-sented by the Wildlife Protec-tion Department caught 480 violations of environment last year.

The Ministry intensified efforts to curb the environment related violations and to protect the environment and natural resources of land and sea.

“The patrolling team of sea and land caught several viola-tions in 2017,” said Umar Salem Al Nuaimi, Director of Wildlife Protection Department.

He said that the violations occurred on land include

grazing ban as per the decision of the Minister of Municipality and Environment No. 277 of 2017, throwing waste on undes-ignated places, dredging soil, releasing drainage and other type of water in open area, unsafe transport of diesel and petrol, using bird calling whis-tles and distorting greeneries among others.

“The sea violations include over-fishing, possessing banned fishing nets, destroying coral reefs, the natural habitat for fish breeding, digging beach sand with heavy machines,” said Al Naumi.

Regarding the winter camping season, Al Naumi said

that a total of 2,600 camps have been set up across the country where the inspectors of the department are waging inspection campaign at the camps to ensure they are com-plying to the winter camping rules.

Necessary legal actions are being taken against violators of environmental rules and they are being referred to the pros-ecution concerned for further legal procedures, he added.

Al Naumi urged citizens and expatriates to cooperate with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment by calling on 998 if they come cross any violation.

A pick-up van dumping construction waste in an undesignated area.

Sudan VP hails Qatar’s supportive stance

QNA

KHARTOUM: Sudanese Vice-President Hassabo Mohammed Abdul Rahman hailed the role the State of Qatar has played in supporting Sudan in achieving sustainable stability and tack-ling challenges on all fronts.

Speaking to the media yes-terday, the Sudanese vice-pres-ident pointed to the Qatari achievements in Darfur through the reconstruction of villages and the establishment of mega development projects, while entrenching the peace agree-ment that completed the peace process in the region.

He added that the State of

Qatar played major roles globally in favour of Sudan, notably in working to lift the sanctions and offering support so as to continue the comprehensive develop-mental renaissance. He noted that his country looks forward to a bigger Qatari role in the coming period by boosting the grants and loans and enhancing and expanding the developmental contributions in order to address Sudan’s negative repercussions from the economic sanctions that lasted 20 years.

Abdul Rahman reiterated his country’s supportive stance for the Kuwaiti initiative to solve the Gulf crisis, noting that Khartoum builds its foreign relations on openness and promoting the mutual interests without entering into any coalitions. He stressed that Sudan does not work with or against any state but rather within a balanced and positive vision in line with checks and balances with the world.

The Sudanese vice-presi-dent said his country has entered a new phase and the current government consists of unpresented political partner-ships that are expandable and can involve new concepts so as to accommodate everyone.

Syrians flee to Idlib amid attacks by Daesh, regimeANATOLIA

IDLIB: Thousands of Syrian families have been fleeing towards northern parts of the Idlib province amid ongoing attacks by the Russia-backed Assad regime and the Daesh terrorist group.

The attacks have report-edly occurred in the area between the northern and eastern countryside of Syria’s Hama province and in Idlib’s southern countryside.

The violence has prompted some 12,000 fam-ilies to seek refuge in camps in Idlib and near the Turkish border.

Displaced families have erected makeshift tents and are burning waste for heating.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Muhammed Jafa, the coordinator of local relief agencies, said that 12,000 recently displaced families were congregating at 137 sep-arate meeting points in Idlib.

“Relief agencies weren’t ready to meet these families’ needs,” he said. “The aid avail-able isn’t enough, especially in terms of food and shelter.”

Children, he said, had been the most affected by the poor conditions and now face the threat of starvation due to the lack of food.

Mohamed al-Ateyya, 34, had to leave the town of Sinjar for the village of Qah in northern Idlib near the Turkish border.

The Sudanese vice-president pointed to the Qatari achievements in Darfur through the reconstruction of villages and the establishment of mega development projects, while entrenching the peace agreement that completed the peace process in the region.

The State of Qatar played major roles globally in favour of Sudan, notably in working to lift the sanctions and offering support so as to continue the comprehensive developmental renaissance.

08 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018MIDDLE EAST

ANKARA: Foreign Minis-

ter Mevlut Cavusoglu has

said Israel and the US are

the only countries support-

ing ongoing protests in Iran.

In remarks made during a

meeting with media repre-

sentatives in capital Ankara

yesterday, Cavusoglu spoke

about the world leaders back-

ing Iranian protests. He drew

attention to two people openly

supporting the unrest in Iran.

“One of them is Israeli Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

and the other is the US Pres-

ident Donald Trump.”

Saudi envoy to Lebanon presents credentialsBEIRUT: Saudi Arabia’s

ambassador to Lebanon

has assumed office after pre-

senting his credentials to the

president, ending a diplomatic

tussle between the two coun-

tries. Ambassador Walid Al

Yaacoubi and his Lebanese

counterpart in Saudi Arabia

were caught in an apparent

dispute over representation,

with each country delaying

accreditation of the other’s

diplomat, though both were

named months ago.

NEWS BYTESIsrael, US back Iran protests: Turkey

ANATOLIA

JERUSALEM: Jerusalem is “not for sale”, Palestinian officials said yesterday after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut financial aid to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) if it did not resume peace talks with Israel.

“Jerusalem is not for sale, neither for gold nor silver,” Palestinian Presidential Spokes-man Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement carried by Palestine’s

official Wafa news agency. “If the US has any concern

for its interests in the Middle East, it must abide by the princi-ples and references of the UN Security Council and General Assembly,” Abu Rudeineh said.

“Otherwise, the US will end up pushing the region into an abyss,” he added.

Abu Rudeineh said that the Palestinian leadership was not opposed to returning to the nego-tiating table, but that “real negotia-tions must be based on Arab and international legitimacy and the 2002 Saudi-backed Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for the estab-lishment of an independent Pales-tinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, meanwhile, described Trump’s threats as “cheap political coercion.”

“These threats reflect the barbaric and immoral behaviour of the US in its dealings with the Palestinian cause and the rights

of the Palestinian people,” Barhoum said in a statement.

“Countering this US pressure requires stepped-up efforts to achieve Palestinian unity,” he added. The Hamas spokesman went on to stress the need to unify “Arab, Islamic and inter-national positions in support of Palestinian rights against US and Israeli practices.”

Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian intellectual and member of the Palestine Liberation Organiza-tion (PLO)’s Executive Commit-tee, for her part, echoed the assertion that Palestinian rights were “not for sale.”

“By recognising occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Trump has not only violated international law, but has also destroyed the peace process while condoning Israel’s illegal annexation of our capital,” Ashrawi said in a statement.

“We will not be coerced,” she added. “Trump has sabotaged

our sought-for peace, justice and freedom and now threatens to punish us for the consequences of his own reckless policy.”

On December 6, Trump announced his decision to rec-ognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, drawing widespread protest and condemnation from

across the Arab and Muslim world. Since then, at least 15 Palestinians have been martyred — and thousands more injured — in fierce clashes with Israeli security forces. On Tuesday, the US president threatened to cut financial aid to the Ramallah-based PA. “We pay the

Palestinians hundreds of millions of dollars a year and get no appre-ciation or respect,” Trump tweeted.

“They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel,” he said. “We have taken Jerusalem, the tough-est part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more.”

“But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?” he asked. The last round of Israel-Palestine peace talks broke down in 2014 over Israel’s refusal to release a group of Palestinian prisoners despite earlier pledges to do so.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem — occupied by Israel since 1967 — might even-tually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.

Jerusalem is not for sale, Palestinians tell US

AFP

JERUSALEM: Israel’s parliament yesterday gave preliminary approval to a bill making it easier for “terrorists” to be sentenced to death after a push by right-wing politicians for the deeply controversial legislation.

The bill, approved 52-49, would make it easier for military courts to sentence those convicted of “terrorist” crimes to death. Israel has not carried out any executions since 1962. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted in favour of the legislation. It requires three more votes in parliament to become law.

Israeli lawmakers advance bill on death penalty for ‘terrorists’

Palestinians slammed US President Donald Trump’s threat to cut financial aid to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) if it did not resume peace talks with Israel.

BLOOMBERG

TEHRAN: Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps declared an end to the anti-establishment unrest that has roiled the Islamic Republic and left about 20 people dead over the past week.

The “sedition” has ended, the state-run Islamic Students News Agency (Isna) reported, citing Guard commander Mohammad Ali Jafari. “The enemies should know that threats against Iran’s defence and security no longer work.”

Hundreds of people have been detained in the clampdown on the unrest, which started on Thursday with a protest in the holy city of Mashhad against the economic policies of President Hassan Rowhani, a moderate who favours closer ties with the West. Hardline clerics in the city expressed their support for the protesters.

But as the unrest spread to other cities, crowds started to target the broader religious and political establishment, and even Iran’s ultimate authority,

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, largely seen as above criticism.

The turmoil, always thought unlikely to become an existen-tial threat, comes at a critical time for Iran. The nuclear accord that Rowhani’s government struck with world powers in 2015 as a way out of economic decline is being assailed by President Donald Trump, who accuses Iran of using its regional military clout to support terror-ism and counter US interests. European signatories have so far remained united in their support of the deal and Rowhani — but a dramatic security crackdown on protesters would have made that harder.

There were no reports of fresh protests in Tehran yester-day, amid a heavy police pres-ence. Pro-government demonstrations took place in other Iranian cities, even as a senior official struck a concili-atory tone over protesters’ demands. “There a sense that the situation may be settling down, though it doesn’t neces-sarily mean a return to

normality,” said Vincent Eiffling, an Iran researcher at the Bel-gium-based Centre d’Etudes des Crises et des Conflits Interna-tionaux. “The establishment is busy taking back the streets with t h e p r o - g o v e r n m e n t demonstrations.”

Local officials and clerics joined demonstrators to “con-demn the riots” of the past few days, the official Islamic Repub-lic News Agency said. The counter rallies were held in Ahvaz, Bushehr, Qom, Kerman-shah and Gorgan, Press TV reported.

Data suggest the economy is gradually recovering since the nuclear deal lifted a host of crippling sanctions. The Inter-national Monetary Funds expects non-oil gross domestic product to maintain growth of about 3.7 percent this year, a rate higher than in the majority of energy-rich countries in the Middle East.

The improvement, however, has been slowed by Trump’s policy shift and the reluctance of many European companies to invest while the US is adding

Anti-government protests are over: Iran’s elite guards

sanctions. Unemployment remains high. Some banks and other credit institutions need urgent restructuring, the IMF says.

“We had an election which saw very high participation levels and most of the people who turned out voted for Rowhani,” Saeed Leylaz, a pro-Rowhani economist, said in an interview in Tehran. “Their support doesn’t

suddenly collapse after six or seven months.”

Still, some people taking part in the pro-government demon-strations “may share some of the grievances of the protesters,” said Eiffling. The difference is that they “don’t agree with some of the violent methods used as they are afraid it may destabilise the country.”

Earlier, Iran’s labor minister

struck a conciliatory tone, pledg-ing to listen to the demands of protesters.

“We are all responsible when it comes to recent events,” Min-ister of Labor and Social Affairs Ali Rabei said, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. “The government and authorities will listen to people’s demands and will make every effort to materialise them.”

REUTERS

OSLO: Norway has suspended exports of weapons and ammuni-tion to the United Arab Emirates over concerns they could be used in the war in Yemen, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition formed in 2015 to fight the Iran-aligned Houthi group that controls most of northern Yemen and the capital Sanaa, in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than 3 million.

While there is currently no evidence that Norwegian-made ammunition has been used in Yemen, there was a rising risk related to the UAE’s military involvement there, the ministry said. “The decision reflects the strict precautionary approach taken by Norway,” it added.

Existing export permits had been temporarily revoked and no new licences would be issued under the current circumstances. The decision was made on December 19, but was not made public until Wednesday.

In 2016, Norwegian exports of weapons and ammunition to the UAE rose to 79m Norwegian crowns ($9.7m) from 41 million in 2015, Statistics Norway data showed. Human rights groups and

several members of Norway’s parliament have for months cam-paigned for a halt in arms exports to the UAE.

“It is fantastic that the govern-ment finally has taken responsibil-ity to end weapons exports to a country which is active in the bombing of schools and hospitals in Yemen,” said Line Hegna, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian branch of rights group Save the Children.

“Furthermore, we are hopeful that the decision taken by the Norwegian government can act as an example for other exporting nations to act responsibly in the face of repeated violations of international humanitarian law,” she added.

The sale of arms to Saudi Arabia and other coalition members has also stirred debate in other Euro-pean countries, including Britain. Last July, London’s High Court rejected a claim by campaigners that billions of dollars’ worth of arms sales to Saudi Arabia should be halted because they were being used in Yemen in violation of international humanitarian law.

A spokesperson for the Depart-ment for International Trade said yesterday that the British govern-ment “operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world”.

AP

BEIRUT: Lebanese security forces have removed road-blocks and barriers surround-ing Beirut’s downtown commercial district, which for years had been choked by security measures.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri ordered the roads

leading to the Parliament Square open days after the square witnessed its largest New Year’s Eve celebration, with thousands of revellers, as part of a government initia-tive to revive the area.

Berri urged business own-ers, restaurants, hotels and offices in the area to reopen after many of them had closed

down, having given up on the area attracting visitors again. The downtown area is home to Lebanon’s parliament and government building and has in the past often been the scene of anti-government protests, prompting security forces to close down the premises to pedestrians with concrete bar-riers and barbed wire.

Norway suspends arms sale to UAE over Yemen

Iranian pro-government supporters march during the funeral of a young member of the Revolutionary Guards, Sajjad Shahsanai, in the city of Najafabad, west of Isfahan, yesterday.

Beirut lifts security cordon in boost for battered business quarter

Lebanese soldiers hold a barb wire in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday.

09THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 AFRICA

AFP

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s leader promised yesterday to release “politicians” from jail and shut down a detention centre where human rights groups allege torture is routine.

Prime Minister Haile-mariam Desalegn made the undertaking in comments to reporters in the capital Addis Ababa, although he did not pro-vide details.

“In order to improve the national consensus and widen the democratic platform, a decision has been made to acquit politicians of their charges and free them from prison,” Hailemariam said, according to the media network Fana Broadcasting Corporate.

Hailemariam said jailed

politicians would be pardoned while those awaiting trial would have charges against them dropped.

But he gave no indication of how many prisoners would be affected by the declaration nor whether it would apply to the many thousands regarded as political prisoners by human rights groups and opposition activists.

Hailemariam also said the Maekelawi interrogation centre -- a notorious facility in oper-ation since the brutal Derg regime of the 1970s and ‘80s -- would be closed and turned into a museum. A 2013 report by Human Rights Watch alleged “all manner of abuses, including torture” were carried out by police at the centre, a charge denied by the government.

AFP

MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA: The West African state of Equatorial Guinea said yesterday it had thwarted “a coup” against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema (pictured), Afri-ca’s longest-serving leader, that had allegedly been mounted by foreign mercenaries recruited by his political opponents.

Sources said that the coun-try’s ambassador to Chad had been arrested and was being held in a military camp.

In a statement read on public radio, Security Minister Nicolas Obama Nchama said an attempted coup took place on December 24.

“A group of Chadian, Suda-nese and Centrafricans [citizens of the Central African Republic] infiltrated Kye Ossi, Ebibeyin, Mongomo, Bata and Malabo to attack the head of state, who was in the Koete Mongomo presiden-tial palace for the year-end hol-

iday,” he said.The “mercenaries... were

recruited by Equatorial Guinean militants from certain radical opposition parties with the sup-port of certain powers,” the min-ister said.

The plot had been prevented thanks to an operation carried out “in collaboration with the Cameroon security services”, he

said. Formerly a Spanish colony, Equatorial Guinea is one of sub-Sahara’s biggest oil producers but a large proportion of its 1.2 million population lives in poverty.

Obiang, in power for more than 38 years, is accused by critics of brutal repression of opponents, electoral fraud and corruption.

Wednesday’s announcement came after Cameroon on December 27 arrested 38 heav-ily-armed men on the border with the tiny state.

Two days later, Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador to France,

Miguel Oyono Ndong Mifumu, referred to the incident as an “invasion and destabilisation attempt”. The suspects, taken into custody in a bus on the border, had rocket launchers, rifles and a stockpile of ammu-nition, according to his office.

The 75-year-old Obiang said “a war” was being prepared against his regime, “because they say I have spent a lot of time in power”.

The same day, the country’s ambassador to Chad, Enrique Nsue Anguesom, was arrested in the district of Ebibeyin, on Equa-torial Guinea’s border with Cam-eroon, one of his cousins and a senior police officer told AFP on Wednesday, speaking on condi-tion of anonymity.

He is being held in a military camp in Bata, Equatorial Guin-ea’s economic capital, “in con-nection with the investigation concerning the arrests” on December 27, said one of the sources.

Concurring sources said Equatorial Guinea’s borders with Gabon and Cameroon were closed on December 27. Other sources said military reinforce-ments had been sent to the fronter with Cameroon. Officials could not be reached to confirm these accounts.

Obiang took power in a coup on August 3, 1979, ousting his own uncle, Francisco Macias Nguema, who was shot by firing squad. He was re-elected to a fifth seven-year term in 2016, gaining more than 90 percent of the vote, according to the offi-cial results. Legislative elections on November 12 last year saw the ruling party win 92 percent of the vote, a result condemned as fraudulent by dissidents.

The Citizens for Innovation (CI) opposition group, which secured one out of the 100 seats in the legislature, later reported that at least 50 of its members were detained after the ballot.

Its leader, Gabriel Nse

Obiang, denied Wednesday that the CI had played any part in the attempted coup.

“I have no idea what they’re talking about,” Nse Obiang said, reached by phone from the cap-ital Malabo. “The authorities are unable to come up with any proof.” “Is the real problem that we are a serious opposition party who does not want to play along with the regime?” he asked.

In 2004, mercenaries attempted to overthrow Obiang in a coup thought to be largely funded by British financiers.

Mark Thatcher, son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was reportedly involved in the funding and was convicted and fined in South Africa.

In October last year, a French court handed down a three-year suspended jail term to Obiang’s son, Teodorin, who is also vice president, after convicting him of siphoning off public money to fund a jet-set lifestyle in Paris.

REUTERS

ABUJA: Nigerian President M u h a m m a d u B u h a r i ’ s supporters got a boost yesterday when a key ally of the elderly leader announced he would head a group campaigning for him to seek re-election next year.

Buhari, 75, has not publicly said whether he will take part in the February 2019 election. Political insiders have privately questioned Buhari’s willingness, or ability, to keep the top job after he spent much of the past year in Britain being treated for an undisclosed ailment that left

him visibly weakened. But Ade-bayo Shittu, Nigeria’s minister of communications who played a prominent role in Buhari’s 2015 campaign, said he would chair a group to support the re-elec-tion of the president and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Campaigning for the re-elec-tion of a president in Nigeria has often started with such support groups before the incumbent declares his intention to run again. “We, his ardent supporters who appreciate his worth on behalf of millions of Nigerians, would urge him to recontest,” Shittu told reporters in the cap-ital Abuja after informing Buhari

of his plans to head the group.“I know he has not made up

his mind but I can say that some of us can assist him in making up his mind,” he added.

The fact that Shittu discussed campaign arrangements with Buhari and then told reporters is a sign that the president may have given his approval.

On January 20 an office for the organisation of the campaign will be set up in Nigeria’s south-west, Shittu said.

The southwest is a key region in Nigerian elections, home to the sprawling megacity of Lagos, where widespread sup-port for Buhari in 2015 is

credited with helping him defeat the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.

But while Buhari in 2015 rode a wave of resentment against Jonathan over endemic government corruption, a strug-gling economy and a failure to defeat the Islamist Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, much of public opinion has now turned against Nigeria’s incum-bent leader.

Many Nigerians complain that Buhari’s government is also corrupt, pointing to the presi-dent’s sacking of his top civil servant and the head of the National Intelligence Agency in

October after highly-public graft scandals.

Others dispute how well the economy, Africa’s largest, has recovered. Nigeria exited its first recession in 25 years in the second quarter of 2017, but growth remains sluggish and the country continues to depend on oil, while unemployment and underemployment have increased.

Boko Haram’s deadly attacks also continue to plague the mil-itary and civilians in the north-east almost daily, despite the Buhari administration’s insist-ence over the past two years that the insurgency has been beaten.

REUTERS

MOGADISHU: The US mili-tary said yesterday it had killed two militants in Somalia in an air strike targeting al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda-linked Islamist group that is fighting to topple the U.N.-backed government.

The military’s Africa Command said the strike took place around 50 kilo-metres (30 miles) west of the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, and that a “vehicle-borne improvised explosive device” had also been destroyed in the early morning attack.

Last month Washington warned of a threat to its dip-lomatic staff in Mogadishu and directed all non-essen-tial staff to leave the city.

Al Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011 and has lost control of most of Somalia’s major towns. But the group retains a strong presence in the south and centre and can still carry out major attacks.

It was blamed for twin bomb blasts in Mogadishu in October that killed more than 500 people.

The militants aim to topple Somalia’s govern-ment, to drive out African Union peacekeeping troops and to impose the group’s own strict interpretation of Islamic law.

REUTERS

ABUJA: A suicide bomber killed 11 people yesterday in an attack on a mosque in northeast Nigeria, the epicentre of the conflict with Islamist insurgency Boko Haram, military officials and an aid worker said.

The bomber hit the mosque in the town of Gamboru in Borno state, near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, during dawn prayers, said Ali Mustapha, an aid worker.

“I was on my way to dawn prayer, then I heard the sound of a loud bomb explosion inside the mosque,” Mustapha told Reuters.

“The mosque was destroyed and burnt,” he said. “After some hours, when we came to evac-uation of the people, we saw 11 corpses, with the suicide bomber making (the total number of dead) 12.” Pictures of the after-math of the blast showed the bodies of the dead uncovered

and lined up on the ground. A building had been reduced to rubble, with only a few sections of wall left standing.

Nobody claimed responsi-bility for the attack, but it bears the hallmarks of Boko Haram, a jihadist group which frequently uses suicide bombers, often women and girls, to attack crowded public spaces such as mosques and markets.

Despite repeated govern-ment and military assertions that the insurgency has been defeated, Boko Haram continues to carry out lethal attacks on the military and civilians.

Last week four civilians were killed in an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants on Maid-uguri, the Nigerian city at the centre of the conflict with the Islamists. In November a suicide bomber killed at least 50 people in an attack on a mosque, in one of the deadliest bombings of recent years.

AFP

LUSAKA: Zambian foreign affairs minister Harry Kalaba has resigned citing “swelling” corruption in government and criticising President Edgar Lungu, officials confirmed yesterday.

Kalaba, who was appointed in 2014, wrote a scathing mes-sage on social media on Tuesday, lashing out at the state of the ruling Patriotic Front party.

“We cannot proceed to manage national affairs with cold indifference when the levels of corruption are swelling and being perpetrated by those who are expected to be the solution,” Kalaba wrote.

“It would appear that the poor Zambians have ceased to be the reason we are holding power.” Kalaba is seen as a suc-cessor to Lungu, but Lungu is planning to run again for office in 2021 in a bid that his critics say is unconstitutional as he has already served two terms -- the maximum permitted by law.

Lungu became president in 2015 after the death of president Michael Sata and was reelected in 2016.

Kalaba said that he had sub-mitted his resignation letter, but the presidential spokesman said that it not officially been received. “We have not seen his letter. He has not brought it here,” Amos Chanda said. Kalaba

was not available to comment, but foreign ministry officials confirmed to AFP that he had resigned. Transparency Interna-tional’s Zambian representative Reuben Lifuka said that public anger over alleged graft was growing.

“The resignation of Harry Kalaba vindicates many people who have expressed concern about the levels of corruption,” he said. “It’s time we see real action from President Lungu.”

Recent allegations of corrup-tion have focused on the state’s procurement of 42 fire trucks for $1 million (830,000 euros) each, a $1.2-billion road project and the purchase of 50 ambulances for $228m.

E Guinea thwarts ‘coup’ attempt

11 dead in Nigeria suicide bomb attack

The 75-year-old Obiang said “a war” was being prepared against his regime, “because they say I have spent a lot of time in power”.

People stand on the rubble damage after an attack on a mosque in the town of Gamboru in Borno state, Nigeria, yesterday.

Ethiopia to release jailed ‘politicians’

Two militants dead in Somalia air strike: US

Zambia foreign minister resigns

Buhari re-election movement gathers pace

In this file picture foreign minister of Zambia Harry Kalaba addressing the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations in New York.

The phrase, “Where there is a will, there is a way”, is no idle observation. Without a strong will and perseverance, no country – not even an individual for that matter – can succeed

and achieve what it aims at. But the wise leaders tread a step further and replace the word ‘will’ with ‘vision’ and the wisest ones follow it up with a ‘mission’ and accomplish what others could only dream of.

This is exactly what we are witnessing in Qatar right now. The General Secretariat for Development Planning launched the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV) in October 2008 under the directive of Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who was the Emir at that time. The QNV 2030 aims to transform Qatar into an advanced society capable of achieving sustainable development by 2030. The plan is propped up on four central pillars such as economic, social, human and environmental development. It is a real roadmap for Qatar’s future.

Despite the unjust siege imposed by the blockading countries, Qatar is making great strides on the path of comprehensive development under the glorious leadership of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The first preference and concern of the country’s leadership has always been its people and their wellbeing and prosperity.

Qatar passed another milestone in this journey toward sustainable development when the Prime

Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani inaugurated the outcomes of the comprehensive urban plan of the State of Qatar.

“The outcomes of the master plan resulted in the national development framework document, spatial development plans for municipalities and the creation of urban development centres based on public transport, which would contribute to supporting the state economy and directing investors towards the best of

places for development,” said Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi during the ceremony.

The plan envisages a clear-cut development policy and a clear vision on space usage in each municipality resulting in a balanced progress while embracing and protecting the local culture, geography and places of historical importance. Instead of going into an unbalanced urbanization, the vision aims at achieving a comprehensive development without disturbing the environment and human population.

The National Vision aims at transforming Qatar into an advanced country by 2030, capable of sustaining its own development and providing a high standard of living for its people for generations to come.

The Emir is carrying forward a vision of the Father Emir with a mission to transform the country and take it to the fore of the comity of nations as the most advanced, safest and most peaceful country in the world.

The National Vision aims at transforming Qatar into an advanced country by 2030, capable of sustaining its own development and providing a high standard of living for its people for generations to come.

CHAIRMANSHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFIeditorinchief@pen.com.qa

ACTING MANAGING EDITORMOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMEDm.salim@pen.com.qa

10 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018VIEWS

EDITORIAL

A vision with a mission

QUOTE OF THE DAY

It is always a positive development to have a dialogue between the

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea.

Farhan Haq UN Spokesman

Why did protests erupt in Iran?

AHMAD SADRI AL JAZEERA

THE Islamic Republic of Iran is the platypus of humanity’s political evolution.

Episodic Iranian unrest, from the focused, reformist uprising of 2009 (led by middle-class protesters of Tehran) to the current, wildly rejectionist riots (spearheaded by the underclass and the unemployed in the poor neighbourhoods of provincial towns) cannot be understood in isolation from that melange of procedural democracy and obscurantist theocracy that was crammed into the constitution of revolutionary Iran, four decades ago.

Deep within Iran’s authoritarian system there is a tiny democratic heart, complete with elective, presidential and parliamentary chambers, desperately beating against an unyielding, theocratic exoskeleton. That palpitating democratic heart has prolonged the life of the system — despite massive mismanagement of the domestic and international affairs by the revolutionary elites.

But it has failed to soften the authoritarian carapace. The reform movement has failed in its mission because the constitution grants three quarters of the political power to the office of the “Supreme Leader”: an unelected, permanent appointment whereby a “religious jurist” gains enormous powers, including command of the armed forces and foreign policy, veto power over presidential cabinets and parliamentary initiatives, and the world’s most formidable Pretorian Guard (IRGC), with military, paramilitary, intelligence, judicial and extrajudicial powers to enforce the will of its master.

The democratically-elected president and parliament (let alone the media and ordinary citizens) have no prayer of checking the powers of the Supreme Leader. As a result, the system has remained opaque, blind to its own flaws, resistant to growth and incapable of adaptation to its evolving internal and external environments.

These uprisings express the frustration of the people with that obdurate rigidity.

It took a decade after the revolution of 1978-1979 for the democracy movement to gain self-consciousness, in the mind of a segment of the cadre elite of the revolution, at the disappointing end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988.

It took another decade for this sentiment to gestate before it took political shape in the wave that carried President Mohammed Khatami to power in 1997. The empowered reformists aimed to strengthen the democratic component of the Republic

while softening its theocratic and authoritarian casing.

They failed in this mission because the ruling theocrats would not brook the slightest diminishment of their power. They fought Khatami tooth and nail and sabotaged his plans. They created, in the words of the first reformist president, a “crisis every nine days” to break him.

The failure of the reformers resulted in a popular malaise. As hopes of reforming the Islamic Republic were frustrated, many stayed away from the polls in 2005 elections. This allowed the rise of a neo-conservative counter elite headed by the firebrand, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The ensuing international isolation and precipitous devaluation of the currency sobered the people enough to send them back to the polls in 2009, to depose the dangerous lunatic who had climbed to the office of presidency. When Ahmadinejad was declared the winner, the perception of a stolen election led to immense street demonstrations that came to be known as the Green Uprising.

Unlike the present riots, the 2009 movement had a well-defined political vision and a seasoned leadership which was quickly arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned. Street demonstrations were brutally suppressed.

Ahmadinejad’s second term was even more disastrous than his first. The near economic collapse under the UN-imposed sanctions, and rampant profiteering due to the ubiquitous black market in everything from cancer drugs to selling oil in international markets, persuaded people to once again return to the polls.

In the 2013 elections, people elected Hassan Rowhani, a moderate cleric who promised international normalisation and economic prosperity, but not hardcore reform or liberalisation. The reformers extended an olive branch to the autocratic right-wing establishment to let the bygones of 2009 be bygones.

But the Supreme Leader arrogantly rejected the gesture. Far from being ashamed of what they had done, the ruling theocrats had decided to transform the suppression of the Green Uprising into a foundational myth for their neo-fundamentalist cult. Not even the emerging regional threats by a new Arab/Israeli alliance and the election of a blatantly anti-Iran president in the United States persuaded the right wing to put aside their “anti-reformist” sentiments.

In his first term, Rouhani managed to check the hyperinflation and the runaway unemployment while concluding a historic agreement with Iran’s iconic adversary, the US. But his second term did not start auspiciously.

First, Rouhani appeared to buckle under right-wing pressures when he appointed a relatively conservative cabinet: A disappointing pattern people had already seen in President Khatami’s second term. To make

matters worse, the Americans under Trump (or, as he is known in Iran, the American Ahmadinejad) started to renege on the promises of the nuclear deal. Hopes for a quick recovery had now been dashed.

Further fuel was added to the volatile mix as a series of mammoth corruption schemes came to the light. Then, under pressure from the right wing, President Rowhani decided to justify raising taxes on gasoline by revealing the massive, entitlement budget for religious foundations that was imposed on him by powers that be. It is hard to overestimate the anger this profligacy inspired in people.

The straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back was a mere rise in the price of eggs. The right-wing powerful duo of the city of Mashad, Ebrahim Raisi (the embittered rival of Rowhani in the recent elections) and his famously simple-minded father-in-law, Ahmad Alamolhoda, struck the first match by staging a small anti-Rowhani demonstration, blaming the high price of consumer goods on the Rowhani government.

This was the proximate cause of the current unrest, which must be seen only as a trigger, rather than its driving force. The sudden spread of these riots has led to the speculation that they are instigated by extraterritorial enemies such as the Saudi-Israeli-US alliance. But, as there is nothing new about that sort of anti-regime agitation, it is unlikely that they were causally significant.

As long as Iran does not radically modify its institution of the office of the Supreme Leader, and as long as the democratic element of that system remains marginalised and powerless to express the wishes of the people and reduce tensions through legal representation, riots and uprisings will be an immanent and permanent feature of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Maybe, under a benevolent despot, all these powers would be put to effective use. But Iran and its neighbours on all sides are no exception to British historian Lord Acton’s rule: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”

The writer is Professor of Sociology and James P Gorter Chair of Islamic World Studies at Lake Forest College.

Unlike the present riots, the 2009 movement had a well-defined political vision and a seasoned leadership which was quickly arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned.

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With 128 nations voting against America, and only eight governments supporting it, Americans could not but help notice how Trump had effectively shot himself in the foot.

ONLY a few days after President Donald Trump delivered his national security

speech, in which he highlighted his “America First” mantra, a UN General Assembly vote over the sovereignty of Jerusalem showed that America was not really “first,” but rather alone and isolated.

With 128 nations voting against America, and only eight governments supporting it, Americans could not but help notice how Trump had effectively shot himself in the foot.

Perhaps his poor knowledge and lack of foreign policy experience made Trump commit his faux pas. After all, the sovereignty over Jerusalem

was not a “pressing issue,” until Trump made it so in his ambiguous speech, in which he recognised Jerusalem — without specifying whether he meant East, West, or undivided — as the capital of Israel.

In his Jerusalem speech, Trump sounded so amateurish that he said that his administration would be looking for contractors, engineers, and architects to execute the move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. While engineers and architects might seem important if you were in the real estate business, they mean little in international politics. Only Trump does not seem to realise that his speech on Jerusalem was all fluff and no substance.

It seems, however, that Trump miscalculated his move on Jerusalem. He might have reasoned that an ambiguous speech might win him favor with the Christian right and American Jews, a favor that he seeks for his reelection bid in 2020. But Trump did not seem aware that words count in international relations.

Trump did not learn from the international backlash against his Jerusalem speech. He went further by threatening to cut US aid to governments that vote for the UN General Assembly’s resolution, which kept Jerusalem a disputed territory, rather than recognise it as the capital of Israel. The US president was seemingly unaware that — should his threat fail — it would show him and America weak, an image that Trump hates.

Those who read Trump’s two speeches carefully, the one on Jerusalem and the one on US national security, could have predicted America’s astounding diplomatic defeat at an international organisation that the US hosts and funds to a large extent.

And in a way, that has become the signature of Trump and his administration, the US president said things at the same time that his subordinates said the opposite. Even after Trump’s “recognition” of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the classification of East Jerusalem and the West Bank remained “disputed territory”, as per the US State Department.

Similarly, a day after governments that are recipients of US aid voted against America at the UN, the State Department said Washington has no plans to suspend any foreign aid to these countries, in effect showing that Trump’s statements were just what they were: meaningless words with no effect on real life.

Ever since he announced his candidacy, and with the assistance of “economic populist” and his former chief strategic Steve Bannon, Trump

has endorsed a rhetoric that is more imaginative than real. Even worse, Bannon and Trump’s idea of “America First” breaks with the traditional Republican perspective on America and its role in the world.

America’s founders, many of them members of Masonic and other similar fraternities, prided themselves on being the descendants of a long line of masons who had built past empires, such as Egyptians and Israelis. America’s founding fathers envisioned America as the last in a long line of empires, and a source of enlightenment and civilisation for the whole world. This thinking culminated in Republican President Ronald Reagan uttering his famous description of America as a “shining city on a hill.”

Reagan enjoys a deity-like status with almost all Republicans, including Trump, who fashioned his electoral campaign along the lines of his predecessor. It was the Reagan campaign that came up with its electoral slogan “Let’s Make America Great Again,” a motto that Trump borrowed for his own campaign. So far, Trump has even emulated Reagan’s platform: By lowering taxes in such a drastic way that parallels 1986, Trump is effectively carving for himself an image of being another Reagan.

But the unlearned man that he is, Trump’s emulation of Reagan is only superficial. The liberalization of world economy and championing of free trade was one of the main pillars of the Reagan-Thatcher economic boom. Trump, however, has been preaching against free

trade, arguing instead for protections and tariffs.

Another point over which Trump — perhaps unwittingly — parts ways with Reagan, is foreign policy. Reagan made sure that America’s alliances around the world remained rock solid. Reagan’s relations with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher were the best between any two sovereigns in recent history.

Reagan courted other allies. When he deployed the Marines to Beirut to oversee the relocation of the fighters of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) to Tunisia, he made sure that US allies — the French and the Italians — would also be sending troops to Lebanon for the same purpose. When Reagan planned to defeat the Soviet Union in Afghanistan through supporting the Mujahideen, he did so in close coordination with Saudi Arabia.

Trump seems too misinformed to realise the importance of building alliances on the international stage, even for countries with unparalleled power like the US. Instead, Trump has resorted to bullying allies and bluster rhetoric. So far, Trump’s style has been all words, and nothing else.

Trump believes that he can restore the US to the glory it once enjoyed under Reagan. To do so, he has adopted Bannon’s motto “America First.” But because of their inexperience, Trump and Bannon have so far made America lonely and isolated on the world stage, rather than making it “first” again.

DEMAND is surging again for oil, minerals and grains—the basic goods to which Latin America’s fortunes have long

been tethered. After a year of graft scandals and political whiplash, you can just about hear the sighs of collective relief.

Or is that just a giant sucking sound?Since the voyages of discovery, raw

materials and farm goods have been Latin America’s blessing and its trap, filling official coffers but too often despoiling the environment and condemning economies to boom and bust. Through last decade’s swoon, hopes ran high that China’s demand would help clients climb the value chain and become developed nations. Yet Latin America still relies on grains, minerals and raw energy for half its export revenues, the same

share as three decades ago.Will a new spike in foreign appetites

portend anything different? Quite possibly yes, but not in a good way: think falling forests, strained watersheds and more climate-cooking carbon gas.

True, Latin Americans are more zealous about their environment than ever, and less inclined to swallow the official cant that smog and charred stumps are just the collateral damage of progress.

Yet those who want to avoid the commodities curse have their work cut out for them, especially as demand for agricultural commodities collides with the impact of climate change. Hotter climates and erratic rainfalls are punishing developing nations and proscribing the output of tropical farmland. “Rising commodities prices mean the trend for reliance on agriculture will continue,” Walter Vergara, a forests and climate specialist at the World Resources Institute, told me. “With increasing temperatures and more erratic weather, business as usual will

put even more pressure on natural capital, such as water, topsoils and vegetation, and eventually affect the productivity of these areas.”

Consider coffee, the most popular drink in rich countries and the most traded commodity after oil. With consumption expected to rise steadily worldwide, pressure on growing areas will increase, even as climate change is taking prime land out of production. Latin American agriculture and food industries “consume double or triple the water volumes that their counterparts in the United States and China do,” the McKinsey Global Institute recently reported.

The problem is especially dramatic in Brazil, home to the world’s largest tropical rainforest, where logging, settlements, highways, mining and cattle ranching have leveled about 18 percent of the Brazilian rainforest in just the last four decades.

Even if big-ticket developments tread lightly on the land, breaking ground on a highway or a mine looses what James Cook University biologist William Laurance called the Pandora’s box effect, hastening a devastating wave of migrants and opportunity-seekers to the frontier. Scientists from the University of Vermont’s Gund Institute for the Environment recently calculated that the knock-on effects of Amazonian mining extend well beyond the pits, claiming some 11,670 square kilometers of rainforest—an area larger than Jamaica—in the decade to 2015. That’s 12 times the damage wreaked within the mining leases themselves.

Brazil is no stranger to the rewards, and the perils, of the gung-ho frontier spirit. The country’s enterprising farmers have turned vast tracts of weak, acidic soils under a punishing sun into a breadbasket, whose protein, grains, coffee and sugar can feed a hungry world.

Its policymakers also have spent the last two decades designing a system to punish scofflaws while encouraging farmers and ranchers to increase their yields without trashing the environment. By requiring rural landowners to register their properties on a satellite grid, authorities can track forest cutting and swoop in to fine violators. More than 90 percent of Amazonian farms are now listed.

In addition, tighter restrictions and private-sector agreements to boycott beef and soybeans from illegally cleared land have slowed the expansion of

pastures and reduced sale of beef from hotspots. Policy carrots also have helped, including incentives for restoring degraded land and promoting advanced technology—such as no-till planting, mixing forests with crops, and rotating herds to preserve pastures—so that farmers can boost yield without gobbling up new land and spewing yet more carbon into the atmosphere.

“If farmers and ranchers have access to credit and technology, and Brazil improves environmental governance, you can conciliate higher productivity with reduced deforestation,” Judson Valentim, a tropical agriculture expert at Brazil’s research center Embrapa, explained. Valentim noted that while the rate of clear-cutting is still alarming, the amount of recovering forest in the Amazon is already more than 30 times greater than the annual total of newly felled forests.

Such advances are crucial and, along with cutting-edge research, have helped bust some environmental myths, starting with the trope that economic growth is the death knell for forest. “The market is not the enemy of the Amazon. Companies will generally be good stewards of the environment,” Adalberto Verissimo, a tropical forest expert at the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment, explained.

What’s worrying, Verissimo added, are outlaws who invade unpoliced public land ahead of development projects, like paved highways, grain ports and riverways. “There’s a Texas-sized tract of government land with little oversight. If Brazil relaxes enforcement, rising property values will be an incentive to more forest cutting,” he said. In that light, President Michel Temer’s moves to sack the country’s top deforestation expert and roll back protections on wilderness preserves (scrapped after a celebrity-studded public outcry), were less than auspicious.

The world’s renewed appetite for natural riches will put Latin America once more to the test. Brazil, for one, has shown it can help to feed and fuel the world. But only zealous governance, a guiding hand for struggling farmers, and citizens willing to hold officials to account can stop the next boom from becoming an ecological bonfire.

The author writes about Latin America for Bloomberg View. He was a reporter for Newsweek and is the author of “The Last New World: The Conquest of the Amazon Frontier.”

America first or America alone?

A new commodity boom doesn’t mean ecological doom

MAC MARGOLIS BLOOMBERG

11THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 OPINION

The world’s renewed appetite for natural riches will put Latin America once more to the test. Brazil, for one, has shown it can help to feed and fuel the world.

HUSSAIN ABDUL HUSSAIN ANATOLIA

12 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018ASIA

Student dies in Maharashtra violenceIANS

MUMBAI: A minor boy was killed in Nanded and several people were injured in Mumbai in sporadic incidents of violence which paralysed large parts of Maharashtra during a 10-hour shutdown called by Dalit parties yesterday.

The ‘Maharashtra Bandh’ call was given by Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh and other parties, ironically, to protest against Monday’s riots leading to the death of a youth from Nanded in Koregaon-Bhima in Pune district.

District Superintendent of Police Chandrakishore Mina said the victim’s body has been sent for autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of the death.

The family of the deceased alleged that the youth — Yogesh Prahlad Jadhav — was seriously injured during police caning to clear a road block.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said all the incidents of violence across the state shall be probed and appropriate action will be taken against the offenders.

Dalit activists squatted on rail tracks, shouting slogans and waving flags to block train serv-ices in the city and suburbs of Mumbai, Thane and Palghar. Security forces ejected them.

Despite the hiccups, the Western Railway, Central Railway and Harbour Line man-aged to operate services and cleared the rush of stranded

commuters. Long-distance trains were not affected.

The Central Railway axed 110 services and Western Railway 60.

Soon after the shutdown call was withdrawn by BRM Presi-dent Prakash Ambedkar at 4pm, suburban train services limped back to normalcy and helped clear the evening peak hour crowds.

Mumbai Police confirmed that all the roads were cleared of protestors and blockades and normal traffic movement has resumed.

Flight operations at Chhat-rapati Shivaji Maharaj Interna-tional Airport were affected with eight departures and seven arrivals cancelled till this evening while several hundred incoming passengers were stranded in the absence of transportation out-side. A few hundred missed catching flight as they could not reach the airport.

The airport made arrange-ments for free tea, snacks and water bottles till evening when the city normalised.

Hundreds of Dalits thronged

Dahisar checkpost, the critical entry point to Mumbai, and staged a road blockade, pre-venting traffic movement in both directions.

Stones were pelted at vehi-cles in parts of Goregaon, Jogeshwari, Powai, Bhandup, Chembur, Govandi and Andheri East in Mumbai and parts of Navi Mumbai.

Schools and colleges remained open in Mumbai and other parts of the state but most students remained absent. The famed dabbawalas cancelled their services for the day.

Aurangabad University rescheduled exams as candidates could not make it to the centres. The University of Mumbai can-celled nine scheduled examinations.

Although many taxi and auto-rickshaw unions supported the shutdown, Mumbai’s sub-urban trains and BEST (Bombay Electric Supply and Transport) bus services plied with disruptions.

Meanwhile, 48 BEST buses were damaged in stone-pelting incidents in parts of Mumbai and four drivers and conductors injured.

Many shops, eateries and business establishments which opened in the city and suburbs later downed shutters after some restaurants were stoned or vandalised.

The shutdown evoked greater response in mofussil areas compared to urban pockets of Thane, Nagpur, Pune and

other cities.The coastal Konkan region

reported a near total shutdown as did the Dalit strongholds of Marathwada like Beed, Latur, Solapur, Jalgaon, Dhule, Ahmed-nagar, Nashik and Palghar.

The busy Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Goa and Mumbai-Nashik highways were blocked for varying periods, leading to massive traffic snarls.

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corp (MSRTC) sus-pended services in sensitive dis-tricts after 187 buses were damaged.

The Bharipa Bahujan Mahas-angh, a Dalit party headed by Prakash Ambedkar — the grandson of B.R. Ambedkar —termed the shutdown as “successful”.

“We are satisfied with the judicial probe announced by the government and hope the truth will emerge. The government must book the perpetrators of the Koregaon-Bhim riots and the death of a youth for murder charges,” Ambedkar told mediapersons.

Ambedkar named Shivjagar Pratisthan President Sambhaji

Bhide Guruji and Hindu Janjag-ruti Samiti President Milind Ekbote, against whom com-plaints have been lodged by Pune Police.

“They should be arrested and face the same punishment as Yakub Memon (who was accused in the March 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts and subsequently hanged),” Ambedkar demanded.

The shutdown was a fallout of Monday’s riots in Koregaon-Bhima during the 200th anni-versary celebrations of the Anglo-Maratha War of January 1, 1818.

Activists shout slogans as they block traffic on the Eastern Expressway during a protest in Mumbai yesterday.

IANS

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) yesterday cleared the Rs6,808.69 crore strategic Zojila Tunnel project to provide all-weather connectivity to Kargil and Leh which remain cut off from the rest of the country during the winter season.

Once operational, the tunnel would cut the travel time by over three hours while also bringing about all-round economic and socio-cultural integration of the region, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gad-kari said at a press conference.

Gadkari said that talks about constructing this tunnel had started some 20 years ago. “And yet, it is this gov-ernment under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has decided to start work on it in one of the harshest weather locations in the world where temperature dips to minus 45 degrees Cel-sius,” he said.

NEW DELHI: The CBI yesterday questioned the three accused in connection with its ongoing probe for trafficking 23 teenaged students to France in 2016 for “a rugby training camp”.

An agency official said that Lalit David Dean, Sanjeev Raj and Varun Chaudhary were questioned for several hours at its headquarters in south Delhi’s Lodhi Road area.

On Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked them under charges of criminal con-spiracy, cheating, trafficking of persons and forgery under the Indian Penal Code.

Joyalukkas group Chairman Joy Alukkas handing over cheque worth Rs10m to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Joyalukkas donates Rs20m to Kerala Ockhi victims’ relief fundsTHE PENINSULA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Joyalukkas group donated Rs20m to the relief funds for the victims of Ockhi cyclone that severely affected the coastal areas of southern Kerala. The group donated Rs10m each to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and the Welfare Fund instituted by the Thiruvananthapuram Archbishop. In separate func-tions held in Thiruvanan-

thapuram, Joy Alukkas, Chairman, Joyalukkas group, handed over the cheques to Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, and Archbishop Dr M Soosa Pakiam. The gesture has been the outcome of the visits by the representatives of Joyalukks Foundation in the affected areas as instructed by Joy Alukkas. The Foundation has also decided to help the victims further if needed.

Joyalukas Foundation is the

CSR arm of Joyalukkas group. The Foundation has been executing various social responsibility projects across India including constructing houses for 36 fam-ilies affected by Endsosulphan in Kasargod. The prime area of focus for the Foundation is in health-care sector, which includes con-ducting mega medical camps in the various districts of Kerala. The Foundation also donates more than 1,000 dialysis kits every month.

AAP Rajya Sabha picks trigger criticismIANS

NEW DELHI: The Aam Admi Party (AAP) yesterday named veteran leader Sanjay Singh, businessman Sushil Gupta and chartered accountant Narain Dass Gupta as its debutants for the Rajya Sabha, sparking criticism from founding member Kumar Vishwas and other political parties.

The decision was finalised at a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), the AAP’s highest decision making body, at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. The meeting was attended by an overwhelming majority of Aam Aadmi Party MLAs.

Three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi will fall vacant by the end of this month when the tenure of Congress members Janardhan Dwivedi, Parvez Hashmi and Karan Singh end.

It would be for the first time that the AAP, which officially has 66 members in the 70-member Delhi Assembly including some dissidents, will elect members to the upper house. The Congress has no presence in the House.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, announcing the names of the three nominees, said party convenor Kejriwal wanted a “mix” of people from outside and those already associated with the party.

He said Kejriwal wanted to nominate people who have contributed in the field of media, economics, law and academics and thus “18 such big names were considered”.

“Sanjay Singh has not only been working for the party since the very beginning but has also had a contribution in the fight against corruption,” he said.

The selection of the nominees, particularly businessman Sushil Gupta, did not well with Vishwas, who expressed his disappointment over not being considered for the Upper House of Parliament and said he was being “punished” for speaking the truth.

“I congratulate (Sushil) Gupta for working with Sisodia for the last 40 years, with Kejriwal for 12 years, with party workers for seven years and for party legislators for the last five years,

“For the last one-and-a-half years, be it the PAC or my elder brother Arvind’s decision on issues like surgical strike, taking a soft stand on terrorists, his silence on ticket distribution and JNU...whatever truth I spoke, I have been punished today,” he said.

Vishwas’ supporters had picketed the party office demanding that he be sent to Parliament.

BJP forces Rajya Sabha adjournment over instant divorce billIANS

NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP yesterday forced an unprece-dented adjournment in the Rajya Sabha as the opposition pressed for the triple talaq bill to be sent to a Select Committee of the House for closer scrutiny.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, known as the triple talaq bill, in the House amid protests from the opposi-tion which sought a discussion

over the anti-Dalit violence in K o r e g a o n - B h i m a i n Maharashtra.

Both Prasad and Finance Min-ister Arun Jaitley accused the opposition of creating ruckus to avoid tabling the triple talaq bill, a charge vehemently denied by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad.

As soon as the Bill was moved, Trinamool Congress’ Sukhendu Sekhar Roy brought Rule 125 to the Chair’s notice that confers the MPs with power to recommend refer-ring a Bill to a Select Committee.

The opposition tried to pre-vent Prasad from giving a state-ment on the proposed legisla-tion which has provisions to jail Muslim men who give instant divorce by uttering ‘talaq’ thrice.

Congress leader Anand Sharma moved an amendment that read: “This House being strongly committed to women empowerment and women’s rights refers the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 as passed by the Lok Sabha to a Select Committee of the

Rajya Sabha for parliamentary scrutiny and to ensure complete justice to women and safe-guarding their interest and wel-fare.” He said the Committee would submit its report in the first week of the Budget session.

Sharma proposed 17 names of members from different oppo-sition parties including the Con-gress, AIADMK, TMC, SP, DMK, BSP, NCP, CPI-M, TDP, BJD, CPI, RJD, IUML and JMM apart from that of nominated member KTS Tulsi, adding that the govern-

ment could give its names.Jaitley objected to the motion

saying the opposition had “sprung a surprise” by suddenly moving this amendment without giving a proper notice at least 24 hours in advance as required by the rules.

Jaitley said: “The Supreme Court declared the practice of triple talaq as unconstitutional. Two of the (five) judges sus-pended the practice of triple talaq for six months, beseeching the political parties to make a law to bar triple talaq.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said all the incidents of violence across the state shall be probed and appropriate action will be taken against the offenders.

Cabinet panel approves Zojila Tunnel project

CBI quizzes 3 accused intrafficking

AP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s famous cricket star turned opposition leader Imran Khan yesterday criticised President Donald Trump as “ignorant and ungrateful” after the US leader accused Islam-abad of harbouring terrorists.

Khan also taunted the Trump administration by challenging the American president to explain how “a couple of thousand or so (Taliban-allied) Haqqanis allegedly in Pakistan are supposed to be the cause of why the most well-equipped military force in history ... cannot succeed” in Afghanistan.

Khan’s rambling tweets also criticised Pakistan’s participa-tion in the US-led war on terror, in which Islamabad is a US ally. He said he opposed the war on terror from its outset.

“The lesson to be learned by us is never to be used by others for short term paltry financial benefits ever again,” tweeted Khan, a legendary cricketer, with a reputation internationally as a playboy and in Pakistan as an Islamic conservative, who has ambi-tions to be Pakistan’s next prime minister.

Khan’s denunciation came on the heels of top Islamabad offi-cials firing back on Tuesday in response to Trump’s New Year’s Day tweet against Pakistan.

“Pakistan has now suffered the ultimate insult (by) being made the scapegoat for US failures in Afghanistan,” Khan tweeted.

At a top security meeting on Tuesday, Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership said Trump’s tweet ran counter to meetings held with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Sec-retary Jim Mattis following the August announcement of Trump’s Afghan policy. A statement after the meeting described talks with Tillerson and Mattis as “robust and forward-looking.”

13THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 ASIA

Collecting firewood Men cut a tree for firewood in Charsadda, district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in Pakistan yesterday.

ANATOLIA

ANKARA: A Turkish aid agency has built more than 600 water wells across Paki-stan as part of a water-puri-fication project.

The Netherlands Interna-tional Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHHNL) built the wells in several provinces including the second-largest province Punjab.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ayhan Aslantas, a board member of the foun-dation, said: “Access to clean water is a big problem in Pakistan.”

More than 120,000 people have received access to clean water through the project, he said.

“We built 226 water wells in 2017. We are planning to increase the number to 1,000 this year.”

Since 2005, the founda-tion has given 3.5 million Turkish liras ($928,000) in aid to Pakistan.

INTERNEWS

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in Pakistan reacted sharply to the US president’s provocative New Year’s Day tweet yesterday, with most calling for a review of Paki-stan’s relationship with Wash-ington in the wake of Donald Trump’s remarks.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah demanded that the government convene a joint sitting of parliament to give Pres-ident Donald Trump “a unified response” to his recent statement against Pakistan.

Saying that this was not a partisan issue, but a matter of concern for all parties, he demanded that Pakistan review its policy towards the US.

“The US president’s remarks about $33 billion in aid reflect his immaturity and narrow-mind-edness; the entire nation should demonstrate that we stand united to foil any designs against

Pakistan,” he said.He termed the US president’s

statement “quite disappointing”, and said that contrary to the alle-gation, Pakistan had paid a heavy price for allying itself with the US since 1979.

“It is impossible to compen-sate the losses we have suffered,” he said, adding that Pakistan had been unable to disentangle itself from the quagmire of America’s wars in Afghanistan.

The opposition leader said Pakistan had always facilitated the US in the past, but since 9/11, all it got in return were exhorta-tions to “do more”.

He held the current govern-ment responsible for the failure of the country’s foreign policy, saying that all of this was hap-pening because the ruling Paki-stan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had not appointed a full-fledged foreign minister for four years. Jamaat-i-Islami Emir SirajulHaq also urged the gov-ernment to frame its foreign

policy in a way that safeguards national interests, and echoed the call for convening special sessions of the Senate and the National Assembly to discuss the US president’s statement.

Maintaining that Pakistan is a sovereign nation that will not yield to US pressure, he said that the armed forces and ordinary citizens had rendered immense sacrifices in the battle against terrorism, which had led to the restoration of peace in the country.

When asked about plans to convene a joint session of

parliament to discuss Trump’s tweet, PM’s spokesperson Mus-sadiq Malik said he had no idea how the government would respond to the opposition’s demand. “I will have to check with the quarters concerned,” he said, declining further com-ment. President Trump said that the US had provided over $33bn in funds to Pakistan over 15 years, and alleged that Islam-abad had only fed Washington “lies and deceit” while facili-tating terrorists who are fighting against coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Call for review of Pakistan-US tiesImran Khan slams Trump as ‘ignorant’

Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif addresses a press conference in Islamabad, yesterday. He criticised Trump’s twitter tirade.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah demanded that the government convene a joint sitting of parliament to give President Donald Trump “a unified response” to his recent statement against Pakistan.

Turkish agency builds over 600 wells

INTERNEWS

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minis-ter’s National Health Programme of Pakistan that is being implemented in 23 districts of the country will be extended to another 15 districts within a month after which nearly 1.5 million more individ-uals will be able to benefit from the free health facilities.

This was announced by Min-ister for National Health Serv-ices (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar while chairing a meeting held yesterday to review the

programme’s progress. The meeting was informed that cur-rently 10m people had access to the programme’s facilities and treatment.

The programe was launched by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on December 31, 2015, for Islamabad and was described as the first step towards turning Pakistan into a welfare state.

The scheme was supposed to be extended to Punjab, Balo-chistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas as the governments

of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa declined to become part of the programme. However, in January last year, Sharif announced the decision to extend the programme across the country.

The new districts, in which scheme will be launched, include Muzaffargarh, Vehari, Lodhran, Multan, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Khushab, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad (Punjab), NaushahroFeroz (Sindh), Qilla Abdullah and Khuzdar (Balochistan).

PM’s health programme in more districts

INTERNEWS

ISLAMABAD: Women taxi drivers are gaining popularity among women commuters in the federal capital.

Some transport companies have introduced women cab drivers exclusively for women. The idea received positive response from both the drivers and the commuters.

The women cab drivers operating in Islamabad highly appreciated the companies for providing them an earning opportunity in transport sector.

A cab driver, Kausar Ahmed, said she was working for a local transport company for the last six months. Sharing her experience as a cab driver, Kausar said she was confused at first, but as she gained trac-tion in the trade she found it was wonderful. “Most people respect me, though it is some-thing new for them to see a woman driving a taxi in federal capital,” she said.Kausar said the respect the commuters show to her and her colleagues was encouraging for her and other women cab drivers. Zun-aira Khan, a passenger said that she recently hired a ride and was surprised to see a woman behind the wheel.

It felt great, she said refer-ring to the feeling that women were breaking more and more taboos about what profession

they may choose. It was really a great experience and very fantastic journey with a woman cab driver who had the bravado to challenge the archaic norms.

Another commuter Faiza Hassan said, “I had a wonderful experience by going to office daily with a women cab driver. The fear of harassment is not there, communication is easy and a little chit-chat does not create any doubts.”

Employment is another factor. In todays saturated job market, even people with mas-ters degrees were willing to take the wheel.

A mother of two and a mas-ters degree holder, Fareen Ahmed said she was earning more than many other women having equal qualification.

“My advice to all those ladies who were qualified enough but do not have a job is to become a cab driver. It is a respectable job,” he said.

Some people take cabbies as under educated working class people, rather, with the rate of unemployment some highly qualified professionals are also seen working with ride sharing firms. A commuter, Saba Erum, shared her experi-ence with women cab driver. “It was really comfortable having to travel with the same gender. The immediate serv-ices and affordable fare was icing on the cake.”

Women taxi drivers getting popular in Islamabad

REUTERS

MANILA: The Philippines has barred a branch of an American call centre firm from expanding in the country following a pre-Christmas fire that killed dozens of its employees, a senior govern-ment official said yesterday.

Charito Plaza, Director-Gen-eral of the government’s Philip-pine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), said the agency had sus-pended the operations of Amer-ican firm Research Now SSI, as well as the shopping mall hosting it, for failing to meet certain safety requirements since 2013.

“They can operate again once

they get a clearance from the Bureau of Fire and the local gov-ernment,” Plaza said.

The authority’s suspension took effect on December 29, but it only covers SSI’s branch in the southern city of Davao where the December 23 blaze broke out at a furniture and fabric store on a lower floor of the New City Com-mercial Center (NCCC) mall before engulfing the call centre’s offices.

Thirty-eight people were killed. SSI’s office in Cebu, in the central Philippines, would not be affected as it has been complying with PEZA rules, Plaza said.

Investigators looking into fire said there were indications safety

lapses may have contributed to the tragedy.

“Violations were more of the non-compliance of annual emer-gency drills to test the fire safety equipment, response and rescue capability, sprinklers and emer-gency exits,” Plaza said. SSI and

the mall were registered with PEZA in 2008, as a business process outsourcing firm and an economic zone developer, respec-tively. PEZA did not issue fire inspection and safety certificates to NCCC and SSI from 2013 to 2017, Plaza said.

But the companies were able to renew their business permits with the city government of Davao after passing fire safety inspection by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Plaza said.

How SSI and NCCC secured fire safety inspection certificates from the bureau is one of the things an inter-agency task force looking into the blaze is

investigating. Four fire officials being questioned over the blaze have been relieved of their duties after initial findings showed they have “some liabilities”, a govern-ment investigator said on Monday.

Davao planning chief Ivan Cortez said the city gives business permits to companies after they get a fire safety and inspection certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection. “The agency focusing on fire is the Bureau of Fire. The local government will not release a permit without the approval of the Bureau of Fire. They are the last office. When they approve, that is the time we release the business permit,” Cortez said.

Philippines bars US firm from expanding after fire

INTERNEWS

ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 8,286 new companies last year, showing a growth of 34 percent as compared to the registration of the last finan-cial year.

According to the annual report 2017 released by the commission, this has raised the total number of registered companies to 80,700.

The trend witnessed in formation of companies was that approximately 86 per cent companies were regis-tered as private limited com-panies, 11 per cent as single-member companies and, three per cent were registered as public unlisted, associa-tion’s not-for-profit, trade organisations and foreign companies. The services sector took a lead with the incorporation of 1,303 com-panies, followed by trading 1,100, construction 936 and information technology 773.

8,286 new companies registered in 2017

Violations were more of the non-compliance of annual emergency drills to test the fire safety equipment, response and rescue capability, sprinklers and emergency exits.

14 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018ASIA

Sri Lanka’s Daily News turns 100 Chairman of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, Krishantha Cooray, poses for a picture with Chief Editor Lalith Allahakkoon (right) while holding the volume marking 100 years of their flagship Daily News edition in Colombo yesterday.

AFP

BAC NINH, VIETNAM: A baby boy and a five-year-old girl were killed and several people injured yesterday when a cache of bullets illegally stored at a scrap metal warehouse exploded east of Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, destroying several houses and leaving a massive crater.

A scrap merchant was later held for “illegally stockpiling and buying weapons”, the state-run Bao Giao Thong web-site said, explaining he had stored seven tonnes of old bul-lets in his garden in Bac Ninh province since 2016 to be dis-mantled for the metal.

The blast occurred at 4:30 am, demolishing buildings while residents slept, sending debris flying through the air and gouging a huge hole in the earth.

The explosion reduced four homes to rubble and shattered the windows of surrounding buildings.

A one-year-old boy and a girl were killed, according to a report from the provincial health department seen by AFP.

At least eight others were injured by the blast, district

authorities said in a statement.

Resident Nguyen Thi Tap told AFP her house was badly damaged by the explosion, which jolted her from her sleep early in the morning.

“We were so scared. I thought thunder had struck my roof... I hugged my daughter and the doors crashed down on us,” she said.

According to a local official, who requested anonymity, the explosion took place in an area “where there are many fami-lies involved in collecting scrap (metal).”

Salvage of metal from the tonnes of Vietnam War-era bombs that still blanket the country often ends in tragedy.

In August, six people were killed, including three children, when a war-era bomb exploded in Kanh Hoa province. Reports at the time suggested it deto-nated as scrap workers cut it open.

Since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, more than 42,000 people have been killed and over 62,100 injured by unexploded ordnance dropped by US aircraft, according to government figures.

REUTERS

SINGAPORE: Singapore has banned a film festival from screening a documentary later this week that features a teenage Palestinian female activist whose arrest last month has made her a symbol of resistance to Israeli mili-tary occupation in the West Bank.

Justifying the ban, author-ities in the Southeast Asian city state said the film “Radi-ance of Resistance” was “skewed” and potentially divisive for Singapore’s multi-ethnic population.

The documentary, which looks at the Palestine-Israeli conflict through the eyes of 16-year-old Ahed Tamimi and another young female activist, lacked “counterbal-ance”, the Info-communica-tions Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) said on its website

AFP

BEIJING: Air quality in China’s notoriously smog-ridden capital in 2017 was the best since pollution control measures were implemented five years ago, the Beijing government announced yesterday.

The city met its targets with year-on-year “improvement of regional air quality and overall favourable meteorological conditions”, a statement posted on the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protec-tion Bureau’s website, said.

According to the bureau, the average PM2.5 level in 2017 was 58 micrograms per cubic meter — down 20.5 percent from the year before.

PM2.5 is a measure of the density of hazardous particulate in the air. The World Health Organization recommends an annual PM2.5 level of 10 micrograms per cubic metre.

Beijing also recorded improvements in the density of other major pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and PM10, the latter also 20 percent lower than in 2016. And while the number of heavy pollution days decreased from 58 in 2013 to 23, Beijing also enjoyed 226

“good air” days last year -- 28 more than in 2016, the bureau said.

Li Xiang, a bureau employee, told the official Xinhua news agency that “demo-lition of coal-fired boilers, phasing out vehicles with high emission and upgrading of industrial structure” have all contrib-uted to smog reduction.

In the last five years, she said, Beijing has shut down six cement plants and closed or upgraded nearly 2,000 compa-nies in printing, casting, furniture manu-facturing and other sectors.

The capital has experienced an unu-sual streak of clear air this winter, a season that is historically the worst for smog. In November, PM2.5 levels dropped 54 percent year-on-year.

Notably there has been absence of coal in at least three million homes

surrounding Beijing, with many towns and cities newly equipped with gas or electric heaters. However, some residents have

complained of inconsistent or unafford-able heating in designated “no coal” zones in northern Hebei province.

AFP

JAKARTA: Indonesia launched a new cyber secu-rity agency yesterday as the world’s biggest Muslim majority country moves to tackle online religious extremism and a flood of fake news on social media.

Millions of Indonesians are going online for the first time just as concern about Internet hoaxes reaches a fevered pitch.

One of the most high-pro-file cases in recent times was a false claim circulating on social media in December that Beijing was seeking to wage biological warfare against Indonesia.

The viral hoax prompted the Chinese embassy to issue a statement saying that the reports were “misleading”.

On Wednesday, Indone-sian president Joko Widodo named Major General Djoko Setiadi, former chairman of the country’s encryption agency, to lead the new body.

Setiadi’s Herculean task will include cracking down on terrorist networks which communicate online.

REUTERS

SEOUL: North Korea reopened a long-closed border hotline with South Korea yesterday, hours after US President Donald Trump appeared to mock the North’s leader by saying he has a “bigger and more powerful” nuclear button than he does.

The North’s decision to open the border phone line came a day after South Korea proposed high-level discussions amid a tense standoff over North Korea’s mis-sile and nuclear programmes.

That followed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s New Year address in which he said he was open to speaking with the South and would consider sending a delegation to the Winter Olym-pics to be held just across the border in Pyeongchang in February.

US officials said Washington would not take any talks between North and South Korea

seriously if they did not con-tribute to denuclearising North Korea. A State Department spokeswoman said North Korea “might be trying to drive a wedge of some sort”.

Kim ordered the reopening of the hotline at the truce village of Panmunjom at 0630 GMT on Wednesday, when South Korean officials at the border received a call from the North, the South’s unification ministry said in a text message. Officials on both sides

were checking the line and con-ducting a conversation for about 20 minutes, the contents of which were not disclosed by the ministry.

That gesture came only hours after Trump, who has mocked Kim as “Little Rocket Man”, again ridiculed the North Korean leader on Twitter.

“Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more pow-erful one than his, and my Button works!” Trump tweeted.

Trump and Kim have exchanged a series of bellicose comments in recent months, raising alarm across the world, with Trump at times dismissing the prospect of a diplomatic solu-tion to a crisis in which North Korea has threatened to destroy the United States.

While appearing to open the door to discussing taking part in

the Winter Olympics, Kim also warned that he would push ahead with “mass producing” nuclear warheads in defiance of U.N. sanctions.

His New Year’s Day speech came after a steep increase in missile launches in 2017, as well as the North’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test. Kim, who

has vowed to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States, said he had a nuclear button on his desk. The hotline with the South was shut down by North Korea in February 2016 in retaliation against the closing of a border factory town that was jointly operated by the two Koreas.

The talks would aim to estab-lish formal dialogue about sending a North Korean delega-tion to the Olympics, Ri said.

South Korean presidential spokesman Yoon Young-chan said the North’s decision to open the hotline had “significant meaning” because it could lead to constant communication.

N Korea reopens border hotline

South Korean soldiers patrol near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, yesterday.

The North’s decision to open the border phone line came a day after South Korea proposed high-level discussions amid a tense standoff over North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes.

Two children die as cache of old bullets explodes in Vietnam

Beijing records best air quality in five years in 2017

AFP

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s former finance minister should face bribery charges, the president said yesterday, following a government investigation into a multi-billion rupee insider trading scandal at the island nation’s central bank.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who ordered the probe early last year, recommended

that ex-minister Ravi Karuna-nayake be criminally prosecuted for graft and purgery amid alle-gations he received a luxury apartment from a controversial bond dealer.

The investigation found that bond dealer Arjun Aloysius, the son-in-law of then central bank governor Arjuna Mahendran, made undue profits in the market. It recommended a forensic audit of the central

bank to quantify the exact losses to the state, while noting that Aloysius’ profits were at least 11.14bn rupees during a five month period between 2015 and 2016.

It held Mahendran respon-sible for leaking sensitive infor-mation and said it wanted the state losses recovered from Aloysius and several other public officials it identified as being involved in the scam.

Probe finds former Sri Lankan minister guilty

Singapore bans film focused on Palestinian teen activist

Indonesia launches cyber agency

A worker rides a bicycle along a street in Beijing.

According to the bureau, the average PM2.5 level in 2017 was 58 micrograms per cubic metre — down 20.5 percent from the year before.

15THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 EUROPE

Court hearing postponedFormer Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili (right) waits for the start of his appeal hearing at a courthouse, in Kiev, yesterday. The court, which was to consider the appeal of the prosecutor’s office against the decision of the Kiev district court to release Saakashvili from custody, postponed the hearing to January 11.

Poland & Hungary show united frontAFP

BUDAPEST: Poland and Hungary are winning the battle against the EU over immigration, the two countries’ premiers said yesterday, with Hungary’s Viktor Orban predicting “a year of great confrontations” with Brussels.

“The dial is turning in our direction,” Poland’s Prime Min-ister Mateusz Morawiecki said in Budapest, showing a united front with Orban in his first bilateral trip since being appointed last month.

The European Union is taking Hungary, Poland and also the Czech Republic to court over their refusal to accept EU man-datory quotas for asylum-seekers decided by a majority of member states in 2015.

“Member states must decide who they what to let in,” Moraw-iecki said, adding that there were signs in recent elections in Europe that immigration is becoming “an even hotter potato”.

The vote in October in

neighbouring Austria, that brought in a rightwing govern-ment hostile to immigration to power, showed that “Europe is a democratic continent”, agreed Orban.

“People that don’t want immigration elected a govern-ment that doesn’t want immigra-tion either,” he said, referring to the win by Austria’s new Chan-cellor Sebastian Kurz.

“This will happen (else-where) in Europe, it is only a matter of time... You can call it populism but what people want should happen,” he said.

Some countries in western Europe are entering “post-Chris-tian, post-national” eras, but it was “impossible” that Hungary would be “forced by anyone into that direction”, Orban said.

But Brussels’s relations with Hungary and Poland’s nation-alist governments have soured dramatically in other areas too, and Morawiecki’s visit was seen as confirmation of their growing solidarity.

On December 20, the Euro-pean Commission launched unprecedented disciplinary pro-ceedings against Poland over judicial reforms which Brussels says threaten the rule of law.

Poland’s government says the reforms are needed to combat corruption and overhaul the judicial system still haunted by the communist era.

Never before used against an EU member state, the proceed-ings could lead to the “nuclear option” of the suspension of Poland’s voting rights within the bloc.

However, any possible

sanctions would need unanimous support of all EU members—apart from Poland—and Orban’s gov-ernment has said Budapest will use its veto.

Last month, Orban said during a Hungarian radio inter-view that “if someone attacks Poland, they attack the whole of Central Europe”.

Brussels is however hoping the start of proceedings will have

significant symbolic power.The EU is also suing Hungary

over Budapest’s crackdown on universities and civil society groups that receive foreign funding.

The legislation is seen as tar-geting Hungarian-born financier and philanthropist George Soros, who funds non-governmental organisations throughout cen-tral and eastern Europe.

In power with a sweeping majority since 2010, 54-year-old Orban is tipped to easily win a third consecutive term in office at a general election expected in April.

In a campaign letter to sup-porters on Tuesday he said the vote would decide whether Hun-gary would remain “a country of Hungarians...or a country of immigration”.

Woman arrested after ‘dead babies’ found in freezerAP

BERLIN: Police say they have detained a woman after they found two dead babies in her apartment in eastern Germany.

They said in a statement yesterday the two infants died “quite a while ago,” and that criminal acts could not be ruled out.

Police said they were tipped off Tuesday night about one dead baby, but when they searched the apartment in Benndorf in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, they found another dead infant. The bodies will undergo an autopsy.

Police declined to say where they found the bodies, but several local media reported that the babies were inside a freezer and that an ex-partner of the woman tipped off police about the gruesome find.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (centre right) and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban (centre left) inspecting a military guard of honour during the welcoming ceremony in front of the Hungarian Parliament, in Budapest, yesterday.

Poland’s overtime deal sparks outcry

AP

WARSAW: A protest by thou-sands of doctors in Poland who refuse to work overtime disrupted services yesterday at some hospitals, including chil-dren’s wards.

Some hospitals, including those for children in Bialystok and in Gizycko, have been forced to postpone non-life-saving procedures or close night emergency service.

The Health Ministry said yesterday that some 3,500 of about 88,000 hospital doctors have refused to sign up to con-tracts allowing for work weeks of more than 48 hours.

The protesters say the number was closer to 5,000. They are calling for talks with Health Minister Konstanty Radziwill to ask for a speedy, substantial increase of health care funds.

Poland’s state-funded health care is chronically strapped, understaffed and poorly organised.

In some regions, the wait

for free procedures can take many years. Low earnings are forcing doctors to work over-time, to take additional jobs at private clinics or to emigrate. Last year there were reports of doctors collapsing after days of non-stop work.

Radziwill was due to meet with a parliamentary commis-sion later yesterday to discuss the situation in health care.

Radziwill called the protest “mutiny” intended to disrupt the hospitals. He said the situ-ation was “under control” as hospital managers can reor-ganize work schedules.

Last year, underpaid young doctors held weeks of hunger strikes to demand higher pay. The protest dissolved after Radziwill announced legislation to significantly raise spending on health care from the current 4 percent of the annual eco-nomic growth to more than 6 percent of the GDP in 2025.

Wage increases took effect on Monday.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said recently that improving the ossified health care system is a major challenge for his government.

Many critics blame the sit-uation on funds-consuming National Health Fund, an administrative body that assigns state many to individual hospi-tals, but often enters into con-flict with hospital managers over the costs of procedures, delaying refunds.

REUTERS

EDINBURGH: A polar bear cub has been born in Britain for the first time in 25 years, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said yesterday.

Mother polar bear Victoria is believed to have given birth at the Highland Wildlife Park in northeastern Scotland after staff heard high pitched cries in late December.

“We first heard promising noises in the week before Christmas and these have now continued into the new year,” said Una Richardson, the park’s head keeper. “Because we don’t have sight inside her cubbing

box we can’t be sure if Victoria has had more than one cub but we can confirm the birth.”

Polar bears are known for their need for privacy and new-borns are extremely delicate, so the maternity den is closed to vis-itors at the zoo. The breeding season began in March last year.

“While we are absolutely thrilled, we are not celebrating prematurely as polar bear cubs have a high mortality rate in the first weeks of life due to their undeveloped immune system and the mother’s exaggerated need for privacy, with any dis-turbance risking the cub being killed or abandoned,” Rich-ardson said.

Refugees blamed for high crime rate in GermanyREUTERS

BERLIN: Young male refugees in Germany got the blame yesterday for most of a two-year increase in violent crime, adding fuel to the country’s political debate over migrants.

Violent crime rose by about 10 percent in 2015 and 2016, a study showed. It attributed more than 90 percent of that to young male refugees.

It noted, however, that migrants settling from war-torn countries such as Syria were much less likely to commit vio-lent crimes that those from other places who were unlikely to be given asylum.

Migration will be a key issue in forthcoming coalition talks between Chancellor Angela

Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). The arrival of more than a million migrants since mid-2015 hurt both parties in last September’s election.

The government-sponsored study showed a jump in violent crime committed by male migrants aged 14 to 30.

Christian Pfeiffer, a crimi-nology expert and one of the study researchers, told

Deutschlandfunk radio there were huge differences between various refugee groups depending on where they came from and how high their chances were of staying and gaining legal status in Germany.

Asylum seekers who are regarded as war refugees who have relatively good chances of staying in Germany tend to avoid trouble more, the study found.

Around 17 percent of violent crimes in Lower Saxony that were attributed to refugees, for example, were suspected of being committed by North African asylum seekers who made up less than 1 percent of the state’s registered refugee population. North African asylum seekers have relatively slim chances of obtaining legal

status in Germany.“The situation is completely

different for those who find out as soon as they arrive that they are totally undesirable here. No chance of working, of staying here,” Pfeiffer said.

The study said reuniting ref-ugees with their families by allowing them to come to Ger-many too could help to reduce violence.

Such reunions look set to be a particularly contentious issue in talks about a new coalition government.

The predominantly young male majority of refugees live in Germany without partners, mothers, sisters or other females whom the study sees as a “vio-lence-preventing, civilising force.”

Macron stresses rapid changes in FranceAP

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) has urged his ministers to rapidly push on with measures to reform the country’s economy, security apparatus and immigration framework.

Following the first meeting

of Macron’s cabinet this year, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the government has “a lot on our plate.”

Top of the agenda in the first half of the year is a bill to address France’s high unemployment through better training of job-less workers and sanctions.

Macron’s government is also

planning a strategic review of the French military, a bill to get a better handle on what’s going on with immigration into the country and measures to combat violence against women.

Macron is set to give a speech to journalists later that day outlining his government’s agenda.

Violent crime rose by about 10 percent in 2015 and 2016, a study showed. It attributed more than 90 percent of that to young male refugees.

UK’s first polar bear cub in 25 years born

The Health Ministry said that some 3,500 of about 88,000 hospital doctors have refused to sign up to contracts allowing for work weeks of more than 48 hours.

The EU is taking Hungary, Poland and also the Czech Republic to court over their refusal to accept EU mandatory quotas for asylum-seekers decided by a majority of member states in 2015.

16 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018EUROPE

Showing sympathyProtesters hold placards and flags of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) during a demonstration in support of the Iranian people amid a wave of protests spreading throughout Iran, yesterday, in Brussels.

Severe storm batters western Europe

AP

LONDON: A violent storm packing winds of up to 100 miles per hour battered many parts of western Europe yesterday, wreaking havoc on transport and leaving hundreds of thousands of homes across France, Swit-zerland, Britain and Ireland without power.

In Switzerland, the storm canceled flights at Zurich and Basel airports and toppled a truck on a Swiss highway. Thou-sands of households at Lake Zurich were left without power, and firefighters were called to help with toppled trees blocking streets and flooding due to heavy rains.

In England, the storm brought hail and lightning and closed some bridges and road. Extremely high tides caused the partial collapse of a harbor wall in Cornwall in southwestern England, bringing seawater flooding in.

Overturned vehicles forced officials to close portions of three major highways in England. The

country’s main weather fore-caster, the Met Office, says gusts reached 100 mph in Cumbria, 450km northwest of London, early yesterday morning when the storm peaked.

The storm then crossed the English Channel to damage power systems in France and Germany. Forecasters said gusts of up to 80mph are possible yesterday.

France’s national electricity provider says it left some 200,000 households without

electricity across the country, including 30,000 in the Paris region.

The windstorm battered northern France with winds sur-passing 90 mph -- some of the worst winds to hit France in years.

Many posted photos of destroyed cars, collapsed scaf-folding and uprooted trees on social media.

In the Paris region a falling tree hit a car and seriously injured one person, while

another resident was seriously hurt falling from a building. In total, the Interior Ministry said nine people in France were injured, with four said to be in serious condition following acci-dents caused by the winds.

Strong winds also caused problems at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, with slight delays stemming from precautions being taken to safely get trave-lers into aircraft.

In Germany, zoos were closed, roads were flooded and

a train derailed as the storm bat-tered many regions.

The German news agency dpa reported Wednesday that a train derailed near Luenen in western Germany when it crashed against a tree that had fallen on the tracks. No injuries were reported.

Highways near Duisburg and

Juelich in the west were also par-tially blocked because of toppled trees and flooding.

The zoos in Munich and Augsburg in Bavaria closed for the day and the rack railway leading up on Germany’s tallest mountain, the Zugspitze, was also shut down because of the storm.

ABOVE: Workers assess damages after building scaffoldings collapsed due to strong winds in Paris' 17th district as storm Eleanor hits the northern part of France, yesterday. FAR RIGHT: Firemen stand in front of a regional train that partly derailed after it collided with a tree uprooted by storm, in Selm, Germany. RIGHT: People view large waves and high winds associated with storm as they hit the lighthouse and seawall at Porthcawl, in south Wales, Britain.

A violent storm battered many parts of western Europe yesterday, wreaking havoc on transport and leaving hundreds of thousands of homes across France, Switzerland, Britain and Ireland without power.

Ireland opens terror probe over knife attackAP

LONDON: A Japanese man was stabbed to death and two others were injured in separate attacks on the streets of Ireland yesterday, and police investi-gating the incidents said terrorism is one line of inquiry.

Police said an 18-year-old Egyptian national has been arrested and detained at the Dundalk Police Station in the Republic of Ireland just south of the border with Northern Ireland.

The suspect has not been identified or charged. Police believe he had been seeking asylum in the Republic of Ire-land in recent days.

Police did not release the name of the stabbing victim, but said he is a 24-year-old Japanese man who had been living in Ire-land for the past year.

An autopsy is underway,

police said.The victim was attacked on

the street and stabbed in the back Wednesday morning in Dundalk. He died at the scene. Media reports say the other inju-ries took place in other parts of Dundalk, with one person being

stabbed and another attacked with an iron post.

Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan said police received emergency calls from three sep-arate locations in the Dundalk area and were able to quickly apprehend the suspect, who was

carrying a large fence post when taken into custody.

He added that the first attack was reported at about 9 a.m. local time, and the attacks were spread out over 40 minutes.

He said no motive has been established and that terrorism is being seen as one possibility.

“We will endeavor to estab-lish the suspect’s background, who they are and where they have come from and why are they here,” Mangan said at a hastily organised press briefing in Dundalk.

Police indicated the stabbing victim was chosen at random and Mangan said it was not clear why an “innocent bystander” would be attacked.

Mangan said the suspect had been in contact with police two days earlier when questions were asked about his immigra-tion status.

Six arrested in UK for alleged extremism linksAP

LONDON: British police have arrested five men and one woman on suspicion of belonging to a banned far-right extremist group.

West Midlands Police said the six suspects aged between 21 and 37 were arrested yes-terday under the Terrorism Act.

They are accused of belonging to National Action, which was banned in 2016. At the time it was the first far-right extremist group out-lawed in Britain.

Police are searching sev-eral properties in relation to the arrests.

The six suspects have not been charged or identified. They are being questioned by counter-terrorism police.

Police say the arrests were pre-planned and there is no threat to public safety.

AFP

LONDON: A homeless man hailed as a hero for apparently coming to the aid of victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack last year admitted yesterday he had instead robbed them.

CCTV footage played in court showed Chris Parker wandering between victims bleeding on the floor after the bombing outside a pop concert in the northern English city in which 22 people were killed.

Parker, 33, was seen in the footage taking a purse from the handbag of Pauline Healey, whose 14-year-old grand-daughter lay dying nearby, and he later used her bank card at a local McDonald’s, the court heard.

He was interviewed by British media in the aftermath of the attack carried out by Salman Abedi, saying he had

been begging outside the con-cert arena when the bomb went off.

A tearful Parker said at the time: “I heard a bang and within a split second I saw a white flash, then smoke and then I heard screaming.”

“It knocked me to the floor and then I got up and instead of running away my gut instinct was to run back and try and help,” he said.

“There was people lying on the floor everywhere.”

Parker was also accused of stealing a mobile phone from a teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at the scene of the explosion.

Parker has a string of pre-vious convictions, including shoplifting and burglary.

He had failed to appear in court on Tuesday and was found hiding in the loft of a house in Halifax in West York-shire, where he was arrested.

Manchester attack ‘hero’ pleads guilty to theft

Ryanair passenger opens emergency exit in MalagaAP

MADRID: A passenger on a delayed Ryanair flight from London who apparently got fed up waiting to get off a plane after it landed in the southern Spanish city of Malaga surprised fellow passengers by using the emergency exit to jump onto a wing. The incident on New Year’s Day took place 30 minutes after the flight from Stansted Airport landed.

The man, who has not been named but is said to be a non-Spanish citizen, was coaxed back onto the plane while police were called.

Fellow passenger Fernando del Valle Villalobos, who vid-eoed the incident, said he heard the man say he got fed up waiting.

He said the passengers were standing in the aisle waiting to get off the plane when the man “very calmly asked permis-sion to get past, opened the emergency exit, looked out, saw the wing, went back for his back-pack.”

Later, he said the captain came out and asked the man why he had done it and del Valle heard him say clearly that he was sick of waiting inside.

Police said yesterday that they have opened a complaint against the man for breaching security.

Ryanair said the incident was now in the hands of Spanish authorities.

Sections of the inner relief road are sealed after stabbing attack in Dundalk, Ireland, yesterday.

17THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAS

48 dead in Peru bus accidentAP

LIMA: At least 48 people died when a bus tumbled down a cliff onto a rocky beach yesterday along a narrow stretch of highway known as the “Devil’s Curve,” Peruvian police and fire officials said.

The bus carrying 57 people was headed to Peru’s capital when it was struck by a tractor trailer shortly before noon and plunged down the slope, said Claudia Espinoza with Peru’s voluntary firefighter brigade.

The blue bus came to rest upside down on a strip of shore next to the Pacific, the lifeless bodies of passengers strewn among the rocks.

“It’s very sad for us as a country to suffer an accident of this magnitude,” Peruvian Pres-ident Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said in a statement.

Rescuers had to struggle to rescue survivors and recover the

dead from the hard-to-reach area in Pasamayo, about 70km north of Lima.

“No road leads directly to the beach, complicating rescue efforts,” Espinoza said.

Police and firefighters used helicopters to transport six sur-vivors with serious injuries to nearby hospitals.

Col Dino Escudero said 48 people were confirmed dead and at least three were missing.

Transportation Minister Bruno Giuffra said initial reports indicated both vehicles involved were traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash.

The company that owns the bus were not immediately avail-

able for comment.As rescue operations con-

tinued late into the night, author-ities announced a suspect had been detained for allegedly rob-bing belongings of victims.

Traffic accidents are common along Peru’s roadways, with more than 2,600 people killed in 2016.

More than three dozen died when three buses and a truck collided in 2015 on the main costal highway.

Twenty people were killed in November when a bus plunged off a bridge into a river in the southern Andes.

The nation’s deadliest traffic crash on record happened in 2013 when a makeshift bus car-rying 51 Quechua Indians back from a party in southeastern Peru fell off a cliff into a river, killing everyone on board.

Espinoza said the passengers in yesterday’s crash included many returning to Lima

after celebrating the New Year’s holiday with family outside the city.

The highway is known as the “Devil’s Curve” because it is narrow, frequently shrouded in mist and curves along a cliff that has seen numerous accidents.

Police said the bus fell an esti-mated 80 metres.

Miguel Sidia, a transporta-tion expert in Peru, said that while road conditions in the Andean nation have improved in recent years, lack of driver education and little enforcement

of road rules still lead to many fatalities each year.

He called on authorities to immediately conduct studies into building a new highway farther from the cliff where the accident occurred. “As a Peruvian, it’s shameful,” he said.

Police and firefighters used helicopters to transport six survivors with serious injuries to nearby hospitals.

Rescuers, police and firefighters working at the scene after a bus plunged around 100 metres over a cliff on a coastal highway near Pasamayo, some 45km north of Lima, yesterday.

Plaintiff drops gender bias case against Trump campaignAP

IOWA CITY: A former organiser for Donald Trump in Iowa who filed a legal complaint accusing the campaign of gender discrim-ination has decided not to pursue a lawsuit, her attorney says.

Elizabeth Mae Davidson received a right-to-sue letter from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a requirement before suing an employer for alleged discrimi-nation, attorney Dorothy O’Brien said. But Davidson, now a 28-year-old University of Iowa

law student, is no longer inter-ested in pursuing the case and opted not to bring a case against the campaign, she said.

“My client is not going to say another word about it, ” O’Brien said.

Davidson’s complaint, filed in January 2016 days before the first-in-the-nation Iowa cau-cuses, made national news and put Trump on the defensive.

She alleged that male cam-paign employees were given better jobs, more opportunities and higher pay than female workers. She also accused

Trump of commenting on her looks, saying he told her and another volunteer during an introduction in the summer of 2015 that “You guys could do a lot of damage.” Trump has denied making that remark and the campaign has called her complaints meritless.

The campaign fired Dav-idson, a part-time organiser who was based in Davenport, fol-lowing an article in the New York Times that described her as “one of the campaign’s most effective organisers” in an otherwise ama-teurish operation.

The article noted that Dav-idson had opened the campaign’s second field office and recruited dozens of precinct captains in Scott County, where her mother was then the Republican Party chairwoman.

In her complaint, Davidson said the Trump campaign accused her of making “dispar-aging comments about senior campaign leaders to third par-ties” and breaching a non-dis-closure agreement.

She denied providing infor-mation to the media and said that three male organisers who

were quoted in the press didn’t face any adverse actions.

She alleged that all full-time district representatives for the campaign were men, and that they were allowed to plan and speak at rallies while her requests to do so were denied.

At the time, campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said that “these claims from a dis-gruntled former part-time employee are without merit.”

The spokeswoman added that Davidson was fired for vio-lating her contract and “doing a terrible job.”

Ecuador’s jailed VP stripped of officeAFP

QUITO: Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno confirmed yesterday that Jorge Glas, his vice president jailed for six years for graft, has been stripped of his office.

Glas, 48, automatically lost his title yesterday because he was absent from his post for more than the three months permitted under Ecuador’s con-stitution—because of his incar-ceration and pre-trial detention.

He is the highest-ranking Latin American politician to be convicted and imprisoned in a regional scandal involving a Brazilian construction group, Odebrecht, which gave bribes to secure public works contracts.

He was given a six-year sentence on December 13 by Ecuador’s Supreme Court after being found guilty of receiving $13.5m in Odebrecht kickbacks.

He says he is innocent and will appeal.

But, taking into account his detention since October 2 pending his trial, he has not been able to carry out his duties.

That meant that at midnight on Tuesday, Glas had failed to execute his functions as vice president for the three months allowed under the constitution. So he automatically lost his post.

“In line with what the con-stitution stipulates, the vice presidential functions of Jorge Glas have ended,” Moreno said.

He added that, by law, he now had two weeks to present a list of potential replacements for Congress to choose Glas’s successor.

The legislature voted December 17 to open proceed-ings to fire Glas. But that required rulings from the Constitutional Court and a congressional panel before going to a vote before the entire Congress.

Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno (centre), with his new chief adviser Andres Mideros (right) and Alejandra Vicuna, during announcement of the removal of vice-president Jorge Glas at a Cabinet meeting, in Quito, yesterday.

Senator Hatch announces retirementAP

WASHINGTON: Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said yesterday he will not seek re-election after serving more than 40 years in the Senate, opening the door for 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to run for his seat.

The 83-year-old Hatch, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, opted for retirement despite a full-court press from President Donald Trump to stay in Washington, particularly as Romney’s ambition for the seat became apparent.

Romney was a vocal critic of Trump’s during the 2016 e l e c t i o n a n d

could be a potential thorn in the president’s side in the Senate. He also has drawn the ire of Trump’s former White House adviser, Steve Bannon, who recently derided Romney as a draft dodger who “hid behind” his Mormon religion to avoid serving in the Vietnam War.

Hatch said he decided to retire at the end of his seventh term after “much prayer and dis-cussion with family and friends” over the holiday break. He said he’s always been a fighter, “but every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves.”

“Only in a nation like ours could someone like me” -- the scrappy son of a simple car-penter -- grow up to become a

United States Senator.”Trump had been open in

recent months about pressuring Hatch to stay in the Senate, and his private lobbying campaign was bolstered by a public love fest, with Trump inviting Hatch with him on Air Force One in December when he shrunk the boundaries of Utah monuments.

“Congratulations to Senator Orrin Hatch on an absolutely incredible career. He has been a tremendous supporter, and I will never forget the (beyond kind) statements he has made about me as President,” Trump tweeted Tuesday. “He is my friend and he will be greatly missed in the US Senate!”

Parts of Rikers Island jail set to closeAFP

NEW YORK: New York is to close the first of nine facilities that make up the notorious prison of Rikers Island this summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio said yesterday.

The Democratic mayor hopes to one day close the entire prison, located on an island in the East River and infamous for its harsh conditions and vio-lence. Rikers currently houses 8,705 inmates, the lowest number since 1982.

The first Rikers section to close will be the George Motchan detention facility, which houses 600 inmates, the department of corrections said.

“Every day we are making New York City’s jail system smaller and safer,” said the mayor on his Twitter account. “This is an important step in our

plan to close Rikers Island and create more community-based facilities to better serve people in custody and our hard-working correctional staff.”

Lawyers and criminologists have been calling for the pris-on’s closure for years, citing its age and almost daily violent incidents against both inmates and guards, which are blamed in part on its remoteness, which inhibits family visits to the jail.

A drop in the New York crime rate has led to a corre-sponding decline in the prison population on the island: the average number of inmates dropped from 11,696 in 2013 to 8,705 on January 1.

The mayor hopes that the decline will carry on, with the goal of housing just 5,000 pris-oners in five years time.

Around 80 percent of the

inmates at Rikers are awaiting trial and have not been found guilty of any crime.

Rikers Island is one of the most recognisable of US prison names, together with Sing Sing,

located in the village of Ossining in New York state, San Quentin in California and ADX in Colo-rado, a so-called “supermax” prison nicknamed the “Alcatraz of the Rockies.”

People walking by a sign at the entrance to Rikers Island, in New York City.

AP

CHICAGO: Chicago police

said a 27-year-old woman

was wounded in a shooting

that occurred while she was

streaming on Facebook Live.

The Chicago Tribune reports the shooting hap-

pened on Tuesday on the city’s

South Side. Police said the vic-

tim was arguing with another

woman who was seated in a

car. The woman in the vehi-

cle then pulled out a gun and

fired multiple shots, striking

the victim in the arm.

NEWS BYTESWoman shot while live on Facebook

AP

MEXICO CITY: Mexico City

prosecutors say they have

arrested a suspect in the mur-

der of an Argentine model.

Ch ief prosecutor

Edmundo Garrido Osorio

didn’t identify the suspect by

name, but said three employ-

ees of the hotel where the

woman was found provided

information leading to his

arrest.

Karen Ailen Grodzinski

was found shot in the head

in the hotel on December 27.

Suspect in model’s murder arrested

18 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018AMERICAS

Frozen Niagara FallsA visitor takes pictures near the brink of the ice-covered Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, yesterday.

Trump accuses Bannon of ‘losing his mind’AFP

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump unleashed a spec-tacular denunciation of one of his closest political allies yesterday, describing his former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as insane and irrelevant.

The statement from the pres-ident came after the release of explosive excerpts from a new book about the Trump White House, in which Bannon describes a meeting between Trump’s son Don Jr and a Rus-sian lawyer during the 2016 presidential election campaign as “ treasonous” and “unpatriotic.”

“Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind,” Trump said in a statement that was notably abrasive, even for America’s combative 45th president.

Trump said Bannon -- who engineered the New York real estate mogul’s link to the nation-alist far right and helped create a pro-Trump media ecosystem—was “only in it for himself.”

The book—the “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” by journalist Michael Wolff—is to be published next week.

But both The Guardian and New York magazine released excerpts that also touch on the presidential ambitions of Trump’s daughter Ivanka—and which say that Trump himself did not believe he would defeat Clinton.

Bannon, who left the White House in August, is also quoted as saying that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 election will focus on money laundering.

The investigation by Mueller, a former FBI director, is looking into whether the Trump cam-paign colluded with Russia to get him elected—a charge the pres-ident has repeatedly and vehe-

mently denied.Don Jr took the June 9, 2016

meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya after an intermediary promised material that would incriminate Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and then campaign chairman Paul Manafort also attended the meeting at Trump Tower in New York.

“The three senior guys in the

campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign gov-ernment inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor—with no lawyers,” Bannon was quoted as saying in the book. “They didn’t have any lawyers.

“Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatri-otic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it’s all of that, you should have called the FBI immedi-ately,” he said.

Trump responded quickly and cuttingly to the reported comments by Bannon, a former investment banker and the exec-utive chairman of influential ultraconservative outlet Breit-bart News.

“Now that he is on his own, Steve is learning that winning isn’t as easy as I make it look. Steve had very little to do with our historic victory, which was delivered by the forgotten men and women of this country,” Trump said.

“Steve pretends to be at war

with the media, which he calls the opposition party, yet he spent his time at the White House leaking false information to the media to make himself seem far more important than he was,” he added.

“Steve was rarely in a one-on-one meeting with me and only pretends to have had influ-ence to fool a few people with no access and no clue, whom he helped write phony books.”

Wolff’s book—which he says is based on interviews with Trump, his senior aides and others—also mentions that Trump did not initially know who former House speaker John Boehner was, and that he eats food from McDonald’s because he believes it to be safe.

“This book is filled with false and misleading accounts from individuals who have no access or influence with the White House,” said Trump’s press sec-retary Sarah Sanders.

US President Donald Trump and Steve Bannon

Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind: Trump

Two new Democrat Senators take oathAP

WASHINGTON : The Repub-lican majority in the Senate narrowed to 51-49 yesterday as two new Democratic senators were sworn into office, compli-cating GOP efforts to advance the party’s legislative agenda before the 2018 midterm elec-tions.

The current vice-president, Mike Pence, administered the oath of office to Doug Jones from Alabama and Tina Smith from Minnesota. Two former vice-presidents were there to

support the Senate’s newest members.

Jones, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century, was escorted to the Senate chamber by former vice-president Joseph Biden, who had headlined Jones’ campaign kickoff rally.

Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special election rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore.

Smith, the former lieu-tenant governor of Minnesota, was appointed to replace Al Franken following the

Democrat’s resignation over accusations of sexual miscon-duct. She becomes the 22nd woman currently serving in the Senate, a record.

Former Vvce-president Walter Mondale, who along with Sen Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, escorted Smith into the chamber, recalled that he “went through something like this in the good old days.”

In 1964, Mondale was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy cre-ated when Hubert Humphrey was elected vice president.

New US Democratic Senator from Alabama Doug Jones (third left) with his wife Louise and sons Carson and Chris; former US vice-president Joe Biden (left), and Vice-President Mike Pence after his ceremonially sworn in at the Capitol Hill, in Washington, yesterday.

US Congress session beginsAFP

WASHINGTON: Congress hit the ground running for 2018 yesterday, with US President Donald Trump facing a two-week deadline to forge a compromise between Republi-cans and Democrats that avoids a government shutdown and prevents mass deportations.

The new year’s session kicks off with two Democrats being sworn in as new members of the US Senate, narrowing the cham-ber’s already slim Republican majority just as negotiations over crunch issues intensify.

At the top of the agenda is funding the federal government by a January 19 deadline, after lawmakers were unable to strike a long-term budget deal in December.

Failure to do so would trigger a government shutdown, a potentially costly political out-come for Republicans—who control both chambers of Con-gress and the White House—just months before November’s mid-term elections.

Democrats showed in 2017 that their grassroots activism was getting results in swing states and traditionally Repub-

lican territory. And with President

Trump’s poor approval ratings, they see 2018 as a prime opportunity to reclaim the majority in either the Senate or the House of Representa-tives—or both.

With the budget deadline fast approaching, the top four leaders in Congress—two Dem-ocrats and two Republicans—will huddle with White House staff Wednesday in the US Cap-itol in a bid to set budget caps for military and domestic spending for the remainder of fiscal year 2018.

Call for month-long rally against Honduran leaderAFP

TEGUCIGALPA: Honduras’s leftwing opposition yesterday called for a month of protests and possible insurrection to reject President Juan Orlando Hernandez’s claim to have won re-election in a bitterly disputed poll held in November.

The declaration comes ahead of Hernandez being sworn into a new term on Jan-uary 27.

The opposition has denounced the November 26 runoff election between Hern-andez and its candidate, Sal-vador Nasralla, as rigged. For-eign observers said they noted irregularities in the vote.

After the election, opposi-tion protests took place, coun-tered by robust police and mil-itary contingents. At least 31

people were killed, according to the government’s National Commission on Human Rights.

The US last month said it rec-ognised the victory of Hern-andez. The 49-year-old conserv-ative has Washington’s backing for his policies aimed at stem-ming undocumented migration of his citizens to America.

Nasralla, a popular former TV president, initially conceded after the US declared its sup-port for Hernandez. But he then came back with the Opposition Alliance Against the Dictator-ship to demand the election results be annulled.

“We have a strategy that we are going to develop in this month of January.”

He said it would involve “protest actions” including a march on Saturday in San Pedro Sula.

Freed Canadian hostage faces criminal chargesREUTERS

OTTAWA: A Canadian court yesterday postponed a bail hearing for former Taliban hostage Joshua Boyle, who was arrested on Saturday and faces criminal charges including assault, sexual assault and forcible confine-ment.

The charges, filed on Monday, are for crimes pros-ecutors alleged occurred in Canada after Boyle and his family arrived back in October, nearly five years after he and his wife were abducted in Afghanistan.

When they returned to Canada with three children

born in captivity, Boyle said a fourth child had been mur-dered and his spouse raped after their capture by the Tal-iban-allied Haqqani network. The Taliban denied the accu-sations of rape and murder.

Boyle, 34, appeared in an Ottawa courtroom yesterday via video link dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit. He confirmed his name, but did not enter a plea to the charges.

The court imposed a pub-lication ban that prevents media from reporting on information that could iden-tify alleged victims or wit-nesses. The ban also prohibits reporting on the details of the bail hearing.

Two dead as gunmen attack Mexican familyAFP

LA PAZ: Gunmen opened fire on a family driving through the Mexican tourist paradise of Baja California Sur, killing two adults and badly wounding three children, officials said yesterday.

The attackers ambushed the family’s car with high-cal-iber assault rifles Tuesday night in La Paz, the capital of the northwestern state, the local prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

A local man, 49, and an unidentified woman were killed. Three children aged 11, 14 and 17 were hospitalised with serious wounds.

There was no information on the motive.

The state is home to the pristine beaches of Los Cabos, whose turquoise waters draw tens of thousands of foreign tourists each year.

But it has been hit recently by a wave of violence linked to drug trafficking.

It registered 499 murders from January to November 2017, more than double the figure for 2016.

The state is caught up in a turf war between rival drug cartels including the Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation.

Mexico’s drug wars have left a trail of bodies in their wake since the government first sent the military into the streets to fight the country’s multi-billion-dollar cartels in 2006.

Since then, Mexico has registered nearly 200,000 murders.

Last year was the most violent since the government began compiling nationwide statistics in 1997, with 23,101 murders between January and November.

19THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018 HOME

FAJRSHOROOK

04.59am06.20 am

ZUHRASR

11.39 am02.37 pm

MAGHRIBISHA

04.59 pm06.29 pm

PRAYER TIMINGS

HIGH TIDE 06:45 – 18:00 LOW TIDE 14:00 – 23:45

Moderate temperature with slight dust at

places at times and cold by night.

WEATHER TODAY

COURTESY: Qatar Meteorology Department

Minimum Maximum 15oC 23oC

20 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 2018MORNING BREAK

Revolutionary art A Palestinian artist paints a portrait of Ahed Tamimi, 16-year-old prominent campaigner against Israel’s occupation, who is currently detained, on a large fabric in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The ninth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival, which runs until January 27 at Sabkat Marmi in Sealine, continues to attract a large number of Arab and foreign tourists, who are eager to learn more about the various festival competitions.

One of the popular competitions is the Al-Da’u Championship which aims to measure the speed of falcons across a given 400-metre flight path. The Al-Tal’ Championship and the Hadad Al Tahadi Championship, on the other hand, test the hunting skills of juvenile peregrine falcons.

The contests have garnered unprecedented attention, with the events being covered by experienced commentators. They are being streamed live on giant screens for the public to follow the exciting stages of the competitions.

Also ongoing is the thrilling Hadad Al-Saluqi Championship ded-icated to the pure Arabian saluki breeds (non-crossbred). The hounds follow a vehicle with a dangling deer

“gazelle” in a 2km race to determine the winner.

A traditional Arabic majlis show-casing true Qatari hospitality has been set up at the festival. The organ-izing committee also provides visi-tors traditional food, free lunch, ATM machines, tourist shops and fishing accessories, in addition to a museum of Souq Waqif Falcons Hospital.

All the competitions are open to public viewing. To facilitate access to the venue of the festival, signages have been placed along the road from Doha through Al Wakrah and Mesaieed to Sabkhat Marmi. Roads have been paved and paths cleared for easier access during the tournament.

Falcon festival attracts Arab, foreign tourists

A falcon flies as part of the Al-Da’u Championship held as part of the ninth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival. BELOW: Visitors and other participants during the festival.

The contests have garnered unprecedented attention, with the events being covered by experienced commentators.

AFP

PARIS: A baby girl who died in Alaska some 11,500 years ago belonged to a formerly-unknown population group whose discovery has shed light on the peopling of the Americas, a study of her genome revealed yesterday.

By decoding the child’s genetic fingerprint, scientists could look back on the history of the first people to conquer the New World, and conclude they likely arrived from Siberia some 20,000 years ago.

“The study provides the first direct genomic evidence that all Native American ancestry can be traced back to the same source population during the last Ice Age,” researcher Ben Potter of the University of Alaska told AFP.

Potter and a team analysed the DNA of an infant whose remains were unearthed at the Upward Sun River archaeolog-ical site in Alaska in 2013. She was named Xach’itee’aanenh T’eede Gaay (Sunrise Girlchild) by the indigenous community, and her genome “provided an unprecedented window into the history of her people”, said Potter.

The team had expected the

girl’s genetic profile to match that of known Native American groups. Instead, it showed she belonged to a completely new group, which they named Ancient Beringians.

“Prior to this study, we did not know that this Ancient Ber-ingian population existed,” said Potter. Critically, the girl’s genome also revealed the iden-tity of a common ancestor her people shared with Native Americans.

This common forebear or “source population”, which the team dubbed Ancestral Native Americans, emerged some 36,000 years ago in what is Russia today, splitting from East Asians, whose progeny include the Han Chinese.

The common ancestor stuck around on the Asian continent for several thousand years, with genetic evidence that it interbred with its East Asian cousins.

This likely stopped due to

“brutal changes in the climate” at the height of the last Ice Age, which may have isolated the ancestral group.

Around 20,000 years ago, it split into two groups -- one of them the Ancient Beringians -- the gene data showed.

This was about the same time that the first people started moving into America via the so-called Bering Land Bridge -- then an expanse of dry land between Alaska and Siberia which was submerged at the end of the last Ice Age, some 18,000 years ago, when glaciers melted and sea levels rose.

What is still not sure is whether the common ancestor group was the first to make the crossing, splitting only thereafter, or whether the Beringians and their cousins’ group made the journey to America together.

But the study does narrow the timeframe for the great migration, and said it was unlikely to have happened in several waves.

“One significant aspect of this research is that some people have claimed the presence of humans in the Americas dates back earlier -- to 30,000 years, 40,000 years, or even more,” said study leader Eske Willerslev

of the University of Cambridge.“We cannot prove that those

claims are not true, but what we are saying, is that if they are cor-rect, they could not possibly have been the direct ancestors to con-temporary Native Americans.”

While Ancient Beringians appear to have stayed in the north of the Americas, its cousin

group split into two Native American sub-groups between 17,000 and 14,000 years ago and spread throughout the continent, the scientists found.

These were the ancestors of most of the indigenous popula-tions of the Americas.

The study was published in the journal Nature.

Ancient infant helps scientists unravel America’s genetic history

AFP

MIAMI: Women who undergo hyster-ectomy before age 35 may face signif-icantly higher long-term heart risks, even if their ovaries are preserved, a

study found. The elevated risks ranged from 13% more for high blood pressure to 33% more for coronary artery disease. For women under age 35, the risks were particularly acute —a 4.6-fold increased risk of congestive heart failure.

Hysterectomy raises heart risks later

AFP

MIAMI: It’s been called the “most mysterious star in the universe,” bigger than the sun and yet bright-ening and dimming in an odd way that suggested to some an alien megastructure might be circling it.

But a study out yesterday, com-piled by more than 100 scientists who have been observing the star, named KIC 8462852, puts the alien rumours to rest.

“Dust is most likely the reason why the star’s light appears to dim and brighten,” said lead author Tabetha Boyajian, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Loui-siana State University, for whom “Tabby’s Star” is nicknamed.

“The new data shows that dif-ferent colours of light are being blocked at different intensities. Therefore, whatever is passing between us and the star is not opaque, as would be expected from a planet or alien megastructure.”

The initial discovery of the star was made with the help of NASA’s planet-hunting space telescope, known as Kepler.

Kepler detects planets by tracking

moments when a star’s light dims as an object passes in front of it.

The unusual dips in brightness in Tabby’s Star -- more than 1,000 light-years away, about 50 percent bigger and 1,000 degrees hotter than the sun -- aroused global interest.

More than 1,700 people donated some $100,000 through a Kickstarter campaign to study it further.

Astronomers at the California-based Las Cumbres Observatory watched it closely from March 2016 to December 2017.

“We were hoping that once we finally caught a dip happening in real time, we could see if the dips were the same depth at all wavelengths,” said co-author Jason Wright, assistant professor at Pennsylvania State’s department of astronomy and astrophysics.

“If they were nearly the same, this would suggest that the cause was something opaque, like an orbiting disk, planet, or star, or even large structures in space.” Even though the team has ruled out any massive alien construction as the cause of dimming, “it raises the plausibility of other phe-nomena being behind the dimming,” Wright said.

Cosmic dust veils mysterious star

Scientists work at the Upward Sun River discovery site in Alaska’s Tanana River Valley, US.

An illustration depicts the Upward Sun River base camp site in central Alaska.