H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), visited National Day activities at Darb Al Saai yesterday, where she toured the QF tent, the Qatar Social Work Foundation tent and ‘Al Liwan’ tent. Pic: A R Al Baker → See also page 2

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Qatar condemns Misurata mayor’s assassination

Satish Kanady The Peninsula

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has announced an investigation into the attempts to harm Qatari economy

through the manipulation of its currency, securities and deriv-atives markets.

In a strongly-worded state-ment issued yesterday, QCB Governor H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani said the Central Bank knows that the blockading countries and their agents are attempting to manipulate and undermine Qatari riyal, securi-ties and derivatives, as part of a coordinated strategy to damage Qatar’s economy. “We will not stand by while our country is attacked in this manner,” he said.

The Central Bank has engaged international law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP to lead an investigation into economic manipulation. A number of financial institutions and indi-viduals have been asked to preserve documents in advance of legal proceedings.

“Make no mistake – where we find attempts to manipulate the Qatari riyal or Qatar’s finan-cial markets, we will take every step to identify and hold accountable anyone engaging in, or attempting to engage, in this illegal behavior,” Sheikh Abdulla said.

“Until the illegal blockade is lifted, the QCB will work to ensure our financial sector and economy remains robust and stable despite the illegal actions of the blockaders”, the QCB Governor said.

Earlier, Al Jazeera, citing an

investigative news website report, said a plan by the UAE to weaken Qatar’s economy was found in the email account of Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to the United States.

In an interview with Reuters in November, QCB’s Khalid Alkhater explained how some Arab states were trying to desta-bilise Qatari riyal. Alkhater said part of the strategy to undermine the riyal involved trading Qatar government bonds at artificially low prices to suggest the econ-omy was in trouble. This failed because the market in Qatari bonds was illiquid, so trading in high volumes was difficult, and because Qatar had taken precau-tionary steps, said Alkhater.

A Doha-based Forex trader told The Peninsula that one way of currency manipulation is that banks or forex traders in a for-eign market can quote the said currency at a very lower level than on the onshore market. This would force the investors to go for offshore market, leading to gradual value erosion of the cur-rency. QCB recently pledged to provide dollars to both local and foreign investors at the official exchange rate after glo-bal index provider MSCI considered using the offshore rate to value the country’s stocks. MSCI later decided to stick with the onshore rate.

QCB begins legal probe into riyal manipulation bid

The Peninsula

Ooredoo announced yes-terday the launch of one of the first ‘5G Speed

Experiences’ available anywhere in the world, in various areas of Doha, for a select number of VIP customers.

Ooredoo’s ‘5G Speed Expe-rience’, which was launched in time for Qatar National Day, is available in select locations, and will offer an extremely high speed and low latency network with initial speeds of up to (and in some cases exceeding) 1Gbps.

This is the first time in the world that “5G Speeds” have

been made available to con-sumer customers on a live network and using commercial smartphones.

Talking about the break-through, Waleed Al Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said:

“We are proud to announce this major milestone near a day of celebration for our great country. This is a first-in-the-world landmark for Qatar, and demonstrates that the Ooredoo Supernet is one of the world’s leading networks. We will con-tinue to work hard to provide Qatar with a world-class infra-structural backbone, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Access to Ooredoo’s ‘5G Speed Experience’ requires a special smartphone that has been cali-brated to work with the Ooredoo pre-standardised 5G network and Supernet upgrades applied in the selected locations.

This is the latest in a long line of technological milestones for Ooredoo, as the company con-tinues to work to be one of the first operators in the world to offer incredible 5G speeds for all its customers.

On Qatar National Day in 2016, Ooredoo completed trials for 5G speed and latency, achieving incredible speeds of up to 36 GB per second in their cutting-edge engineering hub

- which made it at that time the fastest mobile data service in the world.

In May 2017, Ooredoo announced that 10 of its base stations had been equipped with 5G-ready technology, and the company plans to start offering the next-generation speeds to all consumers in 2018, when 5G-ready devices are released.

In November, Ooredoo suc-cessfully completed testing of 5G Commercial services in partnership with Qatar Air-ways, and later in the month successfully reached speeds in excess of 1Gbps using commer-cial devices.

The Peninsula

Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti met here yester-day with Eng Khalid Mohammed Khair,

Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation for the state of Khartoum in Sudan.

The meeting also witnessed a business agree-ment between the State of Khartoum and Mowasalat (Karwa) for supplying 505 buses from Karwa to Sudan. The meeting comes with the implementa-tion of a MoU signed between the Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) and Port Sudan to develop the port of Suakin on the Red Sea, making it a key seaport for cargo transportation.

The meeting discussed the commencement of concrete discussions and development works at the port, which is considered key to the development of the Port Sudan area. The meeting also discussed giv-ing directives to the works team to complete the necessary studies in the shortest possible time. This partnership will be given a concession at the economic free-zone, thus serving mutual investments. The two officials also discussed cooperation ties and mutual relations between the brotherly countries in the fields of mobility and transportation.

Land allotted for bus terminal andlabour camps in Umm GhuwailinaThe Peninsula

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment has leased two huge plots of land measuring over a mil-

lion sqm for long term to Barwa Real Estate Company to build big labour camps and a bus terminal in Umm Ghuwailina.

The lease contract was signed recently by Mohamad Ali Al Khori, Act-ing Assistant Undersecretary for Services Affairs at Ministry and Salman Mohamad Al Muhannadi, Group CEO of Barwa Real Estate Company at the headquarters of the Ministry.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Municipality and Envi-ronment, H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi and Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi. As per the contract, the Ministry of Munic-ipality and Environment will lease two governmental plots of land.

The first plot measuring 994,576 sqm will be used for building permanent hous-ing units for workers in addition to other related facilities including administra-tive offices, a mosque, health centres, services centres, commercial shops, warehouses, playgrounds and other premises.

The second plot measuring 184,538 sqm will be initially used for manufac-turing bricks, concrete ready-mix and asphalt that will be used as raw materi-als for projects in the first plot. Once the first plot is ready, a bus terminal will be set up in the second plot.

The lease period is 27 years and it will start from the date of signing contract including two years for construction and accomplishment of the project and 25 years for operation and investment, said a release.

The project is part of the state’s effort to ensure suitable permanent housing premises for workers with all necessary required services and facilities related to

Ooredoo launches 5G service in Doha

Qatar to supply over 500 buses to Sudan

health, social, religious and entertainment among many others.The move also aims at supporting and encouraging national

companies to contribute in the economic development of the coun-try that is considered a basic pillar for Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Minister of Municipality and Environment, H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi (right), and Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi ((left) witnessing the signing ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment.

The Central Bank has engaged international law firm to lead an investigation into economic manipulation.

Chairman of Islamic Resist-ance Movement’s (Hamas) political bureau, Dr Ismail

Haniyah said that the State of Qatar supported Gaza Strip when many other parties abandoned it. He pointed out that Qatar has not sup-ported Hamas or any other faction, but rather supported the entire Pal-estinian people. “The support of Qatar for our Palestinian people is a support for us and we will not fail those who supported us,” Haniyah said during his partici-pation in the celebration of Qatar’s National Day in Gaza.

Qatar supported Gaza when many others abandoned it

Qatar has strongly con-demned the assassination of the Mayor of Misurata,

Mohamad Eshtewi, after being kidnapped by an armed group. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s total rejection of criminal acts, whatever motives and reasons, that contravene all values, and stressed the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Sheikha Moza visits QF tent at Darb Al Saai

02 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017HOME

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi received copies of the credentials of Dato Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Malaysia; Emmanuel Enos, Ambassador of Ghana to the State of Qatar; Nicholos Yachvili, Ambassador of Georgia; and Foday Mulanq, Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs wished the ambassadors success in carrying out their duties. The Minister assured them of all support for enhancing bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and each of Ghana, Malaysia, Georgia and The Gambia to closer cooperation in various fields.

Katara celebrations attract thousands of visitors The Peninsula

H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), yesterday wit-n e s s e d t h e

spectacular Drones Show held at Katara as part of National day celebrations.

The eight-day long celebra-tions which attracted thousands of visitors at the Cultural Village Foundation — Katara concluded yesterday. The evening

culminated in a riveting fire-works display that set the Cultural Vil-lage aglow, in a mosaic of reflected colours.

“We have been honoured to witness H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attending the conclusion of our activities held to mark the Qatar National Day 2017,” said Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Cultural Village Foundation- Katara.

He also said that this year’s celebrations were exceptional and events attracted huge

number of people. During the cel-ebrations, The National Ardah dance at Katara’s waterfront was one of the traditional shows which attracted large number of audiences during their multiple performances. Also many wrote their National Day greetings and messages and affix their signa-tures on the Tamim Al Majd wall.

The musical fountain ‘show’ which took place every 20 min-utes was also a major attraction of the event.

Sailing buffs assembled at

Katara’s waterfront to receive the Fath Al Kheir 3 Dhow. The Fath Al Kheir team, comprising of 16 Qatari nationals led by the Cap-tain Mohammed Al Sada, received a tumultuous welcome as crowds received them back from their voyages in the region.

‘Qatar is sovereign and will always stand tall’ was the under-lining theme across the festivities. Katara’s Beach hosted Al ‘Gaffal’ ceremony, an event that pre-sented national anthems and folk songs from Qatari maritime

heritage, sharpening the sense of patriotism and loyalty already riding high amongst the assem-bled audience. In all, 50 Qatari outlets participated in the daily bazaar held in cooperation with Bedaya Centre, as part of Katara’s National Day Celebrations. The outlets displayed products that were rich in Qatari culture, yet intertwined with a touch of modernity. On the sidelines of the celebrations, an exhibition by the Qatari artist Ahmed Al Maaded was inaugurated in gallery 2,

building 18. Ahmed is a Qatari art-ist who has gained international recognition for his renowned art-work, including the portrait of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The black and white painting depicts a three-fourths profile of the Emir, with the Arabic word-ing, Tamim Al Majd, which means ‘Tamim The Glorious’.

The portrait itself has become a world-wide phenomenon and can be spotted on all social media platforms.

H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), visited Katara Cultural Village to witness National Day festivities, which included the drone airshow, where 300 drones flew in a unique performance of nationalistic display. Pic: Aisha Almusalam

Need of homegrown science and research talent highlightedFazeena Saleem The Peninsula

The importance of homeg-rown scientists who are capable of steering the

continuous development of Qatar’s research agenda was highlighted yesterday during the Annual Gathering of Qatar Research Leadership Program (QRLP).

The Annual Gathering brings together Qatari graduate stu-dents who, through QRLP, are receiving high-quality training and hands-on research experi-ence at prestigious universities and research institutions around the world, with the aim of equip-ping them to be part of Qatar’s next generation of science and research leaders.

The opening ceremony of the three day event included a poster presentations of the research projects undertaken by QRLP participants as well as

presentations by several experts from the research community, at the Qatar national Convention Centre.

QRLP is a key element of Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), of Qatar Foundation Research and Development. It is dedicated to producing home-grown scientists who are capable of steering the contin-uous development and sustainability of Qatar’s research agenda and adding to the nation’s pool of science and research talent.

During the opening session Dr Abdul Sattar Al Taie, Execu-tive Director, QNRF said that through its various tracks, QRLP – a unique program operates in collaboration with prestigious universities and renowned research institutions, in Qatar and around the world - supports candidates from graduate level, through postdoctoral experi-ence, to their early careers.

Through providing them with high-quality training and hands-on research experience, QRLP enables them to become highly-skilled independent scientists who can take leading roles in the development of Qatar’s eco-nomic and scientific footprint.

“To date QRLP has supported more than 200 members who

have gone all to peruse their postgraduate studies, covering the countries co- research dis-ciplines including energy, environment, bio medicine, information technology and computing and social sciences, arts and humanity. In deed we are relying on those talents who will become scientists of the

future to address Qatar’s grand challenges in research and con-tribute achieving Qatar National Vision 2030 and support in transforming the country’s econ-omy from carbon based to sustainable and diversified econ-omy,” said Dr Al Taie.

Also senior academics at the Qatar University (QU), Hamad bin Khalifa University, Sidra Medicine presented about the research strengths of their entities.

Ayman Irbed, who pre-sented a key note speech behalf of Professor Mariam Al Maa-deed, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, QU said that 625 students are involved in research projects across the 17 research entities of the university. The Annual Gathering of QRLP also gives the participants a chance to tour different research labs and learn about the future opportunities available for them.

Participants at the annual Gathering of QRLP.

Qatar regrets UNSC failure to invalidate US Jerusalem moveQNA

The State of Qatar has expressed its deep regret at the failure of

the UN Security Council to adopt the draft resolution submitted by the Arab Group, which rejects the United States recognition of Jerusa-lem as the capital of Israel.

In a statement, the Min-istry of Foreign Affairs considered that 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council agreed on the draft resolution, is affirmation of the international communi-ty’s total rejection of any measures aimed at under-mining the city of Jerusalem and damaging its historical and religious status.

Qatar expressed its sup-port for the voices calling for the Palestinians to seek sup-port from the General Assembly of the United Nations, after the failure of the Security Council to inval-idate the US decision.

The Ministry reiterated Qatar’s firm and consistent position in support of the Pal-estinian cause and the steadfastness of the brotherly Palestinian people, based on the resolutions of interna-tional legitimacy and the two-state solution agreed upon by the international community to ensure the establishment of an inde-pendent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Per-manent Representative to the UN, Ambassador H E Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, said that the Permanent Del-egation of Qatar had participated in the Arab-Islamic Movement in order to request the convening of the emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Jerusalem, after the US had vetoed the Security Council on the draft Arab resolution on Al Quds Al Sharif.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs receives credential copies of Ambassadors

03WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 HOME

SC attends launch of Qatar-Russia Year of CultureThe Peninsula

A delegation from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), led

by SC Secretary-General Hassan Al Thawadi, participated in the launch of the Year of Culture Qatar – Russia 2018, which took place at a ceremony in Moscow, Russia on Qatar National Day.

The event, which was hosted by the Ambassador of Qatar to Russia, Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, was also attended by high-ranking officials from part-nering Year of Culture stakeholders including Qatar Museums, Qatar Tourism Author-ity and Qatar Airways along with the leading figures from the Rus-sian cultural sector.

Commenting on the occasion, Al Thawadi said: “The Year of Cul-ture Qatar – Russia 2018 is a unique opportunity for people in our respective nations to gain a

better understanding and appre-ciation of each other and what our countries and regions repre-sent, much like the FIFA World Cup”. “With Russia hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2018, and Qatar in 2022, the tournament binds our two nations in the eyes of our people and those watch-ing around the world. This is the true beauty and meaning of an event like the FIFA World Cup, and we are certain that both the 2018 and 2022 editions of the tournament will play host to mutual celebrations of culture in both host nations,” he added.

“While the Year of Culture Qatar – Russia 2018 may intro-duce people to Qatar for the first time, we certainly hope it is the first of many exchanges starting in 2018, continuing in 2022 and developing further in the dec-ades to come.”

From his part, the Ambassa-dor of Qatar to Russia Fahad bin

Mohammed Al Attiyah said: “I would like to welcome everyone to the launch of the Year of Cul-ture Qatar – Russia 2018, we are very honoured to have you present and part of this cultural celebration on Qatar National Day – an occasion that is very dear to us all and one that all Qataris around the world celebrate. Today marks the start of an excit-ing programme of cultural exchange between Qatar and Russia, and we are looking for-ward to what 2018 has to offer from cultural exhibitions, activi-ties and events.”

The event included an exhi-bition space that introduced guests to Qatari culture and tra-ditions, and gave an overview of contemporary Qatar. As part of this space, the SC organised a booth that gave guests the oppor-tunity to learn more about Qatar’s hosting plans for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™, the stadiums it is

building for the tournament, the SC’s various legacy programmes including Generation Amazing, Josoor Institute, Challenge 22 and more. The Year of Culture Qatar – Russia 2018, which aims to pro-mote cultural exchange and unity between the two countries comes at a crucial time ahead of Russia’s hosting of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, as it will support further exchange of knowledge and expertise between Qatar and Rus-sia before the tournament comes to the Middle East for the first time in 2022, building on a number of knowledge sharing initiatives and observation pro-grammes between the two FIFA World Cup hosts.

The launch of the initiative follows the signing of an official joint declaration of cooperation between Qatar and Russia by the Minister of Culture and Sports H.E. Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali and his Russian counterpart

Vladimir Medinsky in Novem-ber 2017, during which H.E. Al Ali emphasised Qatar’s keenness to further strengthen its rela-tionships with Russia at the State and public levels, using the Year of Culture Qatar – Russia 2018 as a supporting pillar for achiev-ing this. The Year of Culture

programme, led by Qatar Muse-ums, aims to build bridges between Qatar and the world’s dif-ferent cultures, thereby promoting mutual cultural understanding and appreciation between them, and helping people explore and appre-ciate their cultural similarities and differences.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with Prime Minister of the fraternal People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Ahmed Ouyahia, during his current visit to Algeria. The meeting reviewed bilateral relations and means of boosting and developing them, in addition to the latest regional developments, especially in Jerusalem and Libya.

Deputy PM and FM meets Algerian PMQatar Airways launches service to St PetersburgThe Peninsula

Qatar Airways’ first non-stop flight from Doha to St Petersburg landed yesterday at Pulkovo Airport,

marking the airline’s second gateway in Russia. Qatar Air-ways flight QR279, yesterday operated by the state-of-the-art Boeing B787 Dreamliner, departed Hamad International Airport (HIA) yesterday at 07:30, and arrived at Pulkovo Airport at 13:50.

On board the inaugural Qatar Airways flight to St Peters-burg, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, was joined by Nurmakhmad Kholov, the Russian Federation’s Ambassador to Qatar. The VIP delegation was greeted upon arrival by Vladimir Yakushev, Pulkovo Airport Chief Executive Officer; Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Qatar’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation; Alex-ander Golovin, Chairman of the Committee on Transport, Mem-ber of the Government of St

Petersburg; and Andrey Mush-karev, Chairman of the Tourism Development Committee of St Petersburg.

Akbar Al Baker said: “I am delighted to touch down today on board our first commercial flight to St. Petersburg. Following the great success of our Moscow route, we are extremely happy to extend our reach into Russia. By launching this new route, we are committing to further supporting the Russian market, and provid-ing inbound and outbound

passengers a seamless journey through the skies.”

St. Petersburg, Russia’s sec-ond largest city after Moscow, is considered an important Rus-sian port on the Baltic Sea. The culturally diverse city is filled with historical architectural gems, including the Winter Pal-ace and the Kazan Cathedral.

Pulkovo Airport Chief Exec-utive Officer, Vladimir Yakushev, said: “The launch of Qatar Airways service from Doha to Pulkovo St Petersburg Airport represents new extraor-dinary possibilities for the city’s business and leisure travel mar-ket. With the exquisite product offered by the airline, St Peters-burg will receive a boost of both inbound and outbound tourism once connected to Qatar Air-ways’ worldwide route network via one of the most vibrant glo-bal air hubs, Hamad International Airport, in Doha.”

To celebrate the airline’s inaugural flight to St Petersburg, Qatar Airways operated its Boe-ing B787 Dreamliner, offering on board passengers a flight experience like no other.

In future, Qatar Airways will operate its daily St Petersburg service with an Airbus A320 air-craft, which features 12 flatbed seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class. Passen-gers will be able to enjoy the airline’s superior entertainment system offering passengers a wide variety of entertainment options.

With more than 10 tonnes of belly hold cargo capacity per week to and from St Petersburg on board the A320 aircraft, which serves this new route, Qatar Airways Cargo is delighted to be further expanding its import and export services in Russia. The launch of service to St. Petersburg has increased the overall belly hold cargo capac-ity to and from Russia, with more than 40 tonnes being transported each way per week.

On board the inaugural Qatar Airways flight to St Petersburg, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, was joined by Nurmakhmad Kholov, the Russian Federation’s Ambassador to Qatar.

Qatar Airways staff at the inaugural event.

Ministry of Public Health honours participants in leadership programQNA

The Ministry of Public Health celebrated the graduation of a new batch

of participants in the leaders and talents program, which aims to develop the capacities of the ministry’s department and divi-sion directors and enhance their leadership skills.

In this regard, 30 employ-ees were honoured for passing the program, which divided them into three groups; depart-ment directors, division

directors and talented employ-ees from medical and administrative jobs at the Min-istry of Public Health. The program was held in coopera-tion with Mega training centre and the graduates were handed accredited certificates from Cambridge International College.

Program director Issa Abdullah Al Suwaidi said the program aims to develop the capacities of department direc-tors and talented employees, noting that the latter are staff

who have leadership drive.The program seeks to

improve the performance of the ministry’s organisational struc-ture by providing high-quality training for department and division directors and prepar-ing a second generation of leaders. It also helps in polish-ing the skills and enhancing the managerial and professional capacities of the associates, especially as it combines theo-retical and practical education in order to enhance leadership and managerial skills.

SC Secretary-General Hassan Al Thawadi and other participants at the launch of the Year of Culture Qatar – Russia 2018, which took place at a ceremony in Moscow,.

Qatar to witness shortest day of the year tomorrowThe Peninsula

Qatar and the rest of the northern hemisphere will be experiencing the shortest day of the year tomor-

row in a phenomenon that astronomers define as the winter solstice in the north-ern hemisphere.

The phenomenon will happen when the sun will be completely vertical in the orbit of Capricorn on Thursday at 7:29 pm at Doha local time.

It is considered one of the important

astronomical phenomena as experts rely on it along with the rest of the four sea-sons to know the changes in climate, in addition to confirming the accuracy of astronomical calculations in calculat-ing the orbits of the planets around the sun.

Astronomer at the Qatari Calendar House, Dr Bashir Marzouk, said that the phenomenon of the winter solstice and the rest of the four astronomical sea-sons (spring, summer, autumn) occur as a result of the rotation of the earth in its

orbit around the sun once a year, in addition to the tendency of the axis of the earth at the level of its orbit at an

angle of 23.5 degrees.Dr Marzouk added that this phe-

nomenon comes after the phenomenon of September equinox, which happened after the virtual movement of the sun gradually continued towards the south after the sun’s rays are on the equator on the day of September equinox. He added that the length of the day became gradually shortens in the northern hemisphere.

He noted this gradient will reach its peak at the shortest day and longest

night on the day of the winter solstice, while the opposite happens on the same day on the southern half of the globe, where the longest day and shortest night on this day on the southern hemisphere. The Earth has two movements, the first moving around its axis from west to east once every 24 hours, resulting in the suc-cession of night and day, and the second movement in orbit around the sun once every 365.25 days, resulting in the suc-cession of the four astronomical seasons.

04 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017HOME

Mowasalat vows to upkeep national valuesThe Peninsula

Mowasalat (Karwa) on the occasion of National Day, extended its sup-port to the

celebration beefing up its services.

Mowasalat also extended its greetings and deepest gratitude to Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, and to all Qatari people on the occasion of National Day. Mowasalat also ensures its com-mitment upkeeping national values and principles that enhance the development to achieve Qatar Vision 2030.

Mowasalat utilised all its resources in readiness to meet public need nationwide. More

PSV routes and buses operated to cover urban and suburbs of Doha.

Mowasalat, as national trans-port provider, government company and a major stake-holder under the Ministry of Transport and Communications also showed its special way for celebrating the National Day by adorning its building with Qatar flag, showing solidarity, loyalty and pride and extended

the support and solidarity to this glorious nation with special greet-ings from employees paying their love and tribute.

Mowasalat Operational Unit, which includes several services and maintenance units, Mow-asalat Call Center, and the Fleet management all together have strived to increase the vehicles readiness in order to meet the growing demand for its services and to help in reducing parking woes and congestion

In addition, Mowasalat man-agement and employees attended and participated in the celebra-tion organised by Ministry of Transport and Communications in the garden of the Museum of Islamic Arts on this occasion.

On this occasion, Khalid Nasser Al Hail, Mowasalat Man-aging Director & CEO, said that “the National Day celebration is a moment of overwhelming

feeling of honour and pride for the State of Qatar, and of the Founder who enhanced the development in order to make the vision more clear towards a civ-ilised nation that adheres to its legacy; a nation that is politically, economically, educationally, and physically well developed. A

nation that is leading with all its offered gestures regionally and internationally, and with the best investment chances in the human and financial abilities positioning itself in the world”. He also added: “We should honour such occa-sion and make it an inspiration to enhance our national values,

and root them deep into the suc-cessive generations to harvest the ancestors’ efforts for securing an honourable living and achieve sustained growth and develop-ment, especially for the coming generations to carry the legacy of the nation through glory and honour”.

Officials and other participants at the Mowasalat celebrations.

Mowasalat management and employees participated in the celebration organised by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

NU-Q announces executive program on sport communicationThe Peninsula

Building on its expertise in the area of strategic communication and media, Northwestern University

in Qatar (NU-Q) has announced a new program which includes three master-classes, focusing on sport communication.

It’s the first initiative announced as part of a series of executive education programs.

“In developing this program, we tapped into our professional experience in the ‘media and sport’ sectors to bring together world class experts from the media industry to lead these

masterclasses,” said Everette E Dennis, dean and CEO of NU-Q.

Dennis also noted that NU-Q’s exec-utive education programming — including the master classes being announced yesterday – are in response to an expressed need that has been relayed to the University over the past several years.

The development of the sport com-munication masterclasses is the result of extensive contacts with leaders in the media industry and government offi-cials in Qatar, as well as a market study, commissioned by NU-Q.

Increasingly sport “is a creature of media,” the dean said, and “anyone

involved in managing or leading sports enterprises needs to be steeped in media understandings and operations.” North-western’s home campus has been a leader in sport and media management and NU-Q has offered a sport and media course for several years.

To launch the executive education program, NU-Q will offer three indus-try-specific master classes in February that will focus on sport media, market-ing, and law. Overseeing the program is NU-Q Professor Craig LaMay, an expert in sport journalism. A Northwest-ern University scholar, LaMay previously taught a course in Sports, Media, and Society at NU-Q in 2013. He is a former

associate dean at the Medill school, cur-rently on leave from his position as associate professor at Northwestern’s Medill School. The upcoming workshops are part of a broader program on sport, communication, and leadership that LaMay is designing.

“NU-Q’s sport program for under-graduates is already in high demand and we have seen increased interest from both our students and the general pub-lic in learning more about sport and the media, particularly given Qatar’s national vision to significantly develop the industry over the next decade,” said LaMay.

The program being offered in

February – The Changing Business of Sport and Sport Communication – is the first in a series of topics the University will hold that will provide executive education for communication profes-sionals in the media and sport industries. February’s masterclasses will be offered to individuals with undergraduate degrees and a minimum of one to two years of professional experience. An NU-Q certificate in Sport Communica-tions will be awarded for completion of all three masterclasses.

The program will be held at NU-Q’s new building in Education City and will take place over three consecutive week-ends in February.

QU lecture focuses on water security under blockadeThe Peninsula

The Qatar University Gas Research Center (QU-GPC) organized recently a public lecture on “Qatar

- Water Security under Blockade”, aim-ing to highlight the current situation of Qatar in terms of consumption of port-able water, the cost of desalination and suggest solutions to address the prob-lem of groundwater shortage.

The lecture was presented by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Regina, Prof Amr Henni, in the presence of the Dean of College of Engineering (CENG) Dr Kha-lifa bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CENG

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and GPC Acting Director Prof Abdelmagid Hammuda, as well as CENG and GPC faculty members.

During the lecture, Prof Henni men-tioned some of the possible methods to reuse the water produced in the indus-trial field, such as the use of dedicated technology to reduce the toxicity of industrial wastewater and raise its potential for irrigation and cleaning facilities.

Furthermore, Prof Henni discussed the new technological advancement in the world that help in water recycling, such as the one used in Australia. This method allows homes to reuse the water

produced by washing machines and dishwashers through a cycle that proc-ess and clean the water used and return it to the house pipe system to be used again, thus providing the house with an infinite source of water.

Commenting on the lecture, Dr Kha-lifa bin Nasser Al Khalifa said: “QU-CENG is committed to water secu-rity research through the coordination with several local and international research teams to carry out advanced

research in this field to come up with practical mechanisms and programs to ensure the strengthening of water secu-rity. Hence, holding such educational lectures and initiatives supports these efforts.”

Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Regina, Prof Amr Henni, delivering the lecture.

Customs pavilion at Darb Al Saai attracts huge crowdThe Peninsula

The pavilion of the General Author-ity of Customs at Darb Al Saai attracted a large number of visi-

tors who were introduced to the role of customs authority in protecting the security of the nation and also on its contribution to the upgrading the state’s economic capabilities.

The pavilion has showcased the most important achievements made by the Authority last year, in addition to the briefing about the history of the customs with use of old pictures which show its development journey since its estab-lishment. The pavilion is educating visitors about ways of inspecting vehi-cles. Customs inspectors explain the ways that smugglers follow to smuggle prohibited things in the cars to the inter-ested visitors.

Abdullah Al Mahmoud, supervisor of the pavilion said that the participa-tion of the customs was aimed at enhance people’s knowledge on role of Authority in protecting society.

The Authority focuses more on chil-dren to brief them about the role of the Authority in security and economic fields. Through different entertainment

activities, children learn the role of the customs. The pavilion also organizes a competition for adults on daily basis and the winners get prizes.

Hamad International Airport cus-toms has also celebrated the National Day through distribution of souvenirs among travelers. Also, the

Airport Customs Department director distributed gifts among customs employees to appreciate the efforts of protecting the nation.

Visitors throng at the pavilion of the General Authority of Customs at Darb Al Saai.

05WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 HOME

United Development Company (UDC), master developer of The Pearl–Qatar concluded four-day event in celebrations of Qatar National Day. A large number of visitors and residents watched a march of children dressed in military clothing. Children also enjoyed various games and activities including falconry, cartoon characters as well as fun games and face painting that are inspired by the country’s heritage and folklore.

The Peninsula

The shows and perform-ances of school students and community teams con-

tinued till 10pm on December 18 at Asian Town, Labour City and Barwa Al Baraha in Doha indus-trial area, Wakra Sports Club, Rayyan Sports Club and Barwa Workers’ Recreation Complex in Al Khor as well as an inter-national cricket tournament in Asian town cricket stadium.

The Center for Bikers

BATABIT under the Ministry of Sports participated with 90 bikes, Mawater Cars with 122 cars. Almost 50000 people attended in Asian town. 20000 attended cricket championship. Asian Labour City witnessed participation of 20000, Barwa al Baraha – 15000, Wakra sports club 15000, Al Khor Workers Recreation Complex – 20000, Rayyan sports club – 7000.

As much as 6000 students participated in three venues from

18 schools that include MES Indian School, Pakistan Interna-tional School, Bhavan’s Public School, DPS Modern Indian School, Pak Shama School, Shan-tiniketan Indian School, Ideal Indian School, Birla Public School, Noble International School, Sri Lankan Stafford School, Bangladesh MHM School, Rajagiri School, Philippines International School Qatar, Phil-ippines School Doha, Doha Modern Indian School, Olive School and Qatar Institute for

Speech and Hearing. In Rayyan Sports Club Phil-

ippines School Doha won first place while Philippines Interna-tional School Doha and Scholars International School won sec-ond and third places respectively.

In Asian Town Ideal Indian School got first place, Birla Pub-lic School came second and Bangladesh MHM School placed third.

In Wakra MES Indian School won first place while Bhavan’s Public School and Shantiniketan came second and third places respectively.

In the march-past competi-tion among community organisation Cultural Forum came first, Bangladesh commu-nity team second and Maharashtra Mandal Qatar came third.

In Rayyan, Malaysian com-munity team won first place, Indonesian second and Filipino community team came third.

Six community teams took part in cultural events. They were Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, Cultural Forum, Indian Social Forum, Bangladesh Community team, Maharashtra Mandal Qatar, Skills Development Cen-

tre and Radio Malayalam. Six venues hosted 10 Indian

shows, 20 Nepali, 20 Sri Lankan, 27 Bangladeshi, seven Filipino, six Malaysian and six Indonesian cultural performances.

In Rayyan, more than 4,000 persons took part in the Run for Qatar by Filipino Community.

Various departments includ-ing Public Relations Department, Community Policing Depart-ment, Establishments and Authorities Security Department, Traffic, Civil Defence, Al Fazaa and Hamad Ambulance, Lekhwiya and Private Engineer-ing Office took part in the events.

Minister of Education hails Qatar’s policy on siegeQNA

Minister of Education and Higher Education, H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi has said the Ministry was able to

accommodate all students of school age in public and private schools with 33 new public and private school and kin-dergarten started this year, providing 13,080 classrooms, including 8 public schools and kindergartens of all levels, and 25 private schools and kindergar-tens of all levels to meet the increasing demand for education.

The Minister pointed out that in coordination with Qatar University, the negative effects of the blockade have been contained and more than 140 stu-dents affected by it have been accommodated in alternative universities.

We have 3,000 students who are now at the head of their scholarships in Qatar and abroad in various scientific and literary disciplines and represent our human and knowledge capital, he added.

The Minister on the occasion of the National Day urged young people take a deep look at the history, celebrate and cherish it and their national symbols and draw lessons from it.

This came in a statement made by the Minister during his visit to Darb Al Saai yesterday, where he toured a number of pavilions and was briefed on

the events offered by various bodies.The Minister pointed out that this

National Day theme is “a message of hope and trust in Allah Almighty and is consistent with the people of Qatar and their aspirations.

On the siege, the Minister said Qatar has followed a policy of restraint and moderation in response and sublima-tion. Qatar’s political approach and diplomacy have earned respect from the entire world.

The Minister added that Qatar had dealt with the crisis of the siege with high professionalism at all levels of diplomacy, media, law and at the com-munity level as well.

The Minister stressed that “all these efforts have been a source of pride for Qatar and Qatari people and residents alike, as the Qatari society totally rejects attempts of harming the sovereignty and interference in the internal affairs, by

fully supporting their leadership. “Our mission at the Ministry of Edu-

cation is to provide comprehensive, lasting, diverse, innovative and high quality learning opportunities to all learners so that they can improve their potential to contribute effectively to the workforce and to develop the Qatari society through the achievement of human development.” Qatar has con-tinued to achieve superior indicators of quality education worldwide.

The ministry has opened special-ised school for students with mental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and the introduction of two courses and the opening of an evening course for adult education at Qatar Techni-cal School.

He stressed that Qatar’s education plan has been updated and that curric-ulum is being developed to include educational tracks that meet the needs of students, to overcome difficulties encountered by students, as well as the establishment evening education cen-tres, modernising adult education system and implementing secondary life skills programme.

A system was developed to ana-lyse the results, issue reports and indicators, develop a system of test-ing for Qatari students transferred from the blockade countries, and man-datory assessment of all private schools in Qatar to ensure the quality of education, a new headquarters will be opened soon, with facilities and

infrastructure completed. H E added that preparations are

under way for the opening of the Acad-emy of Science and Technology STEM in September 2018, which is considered the first of its kind.

He also pointed out that one of the important achievements is the reorgani-sation of the Community College in Qatar to grant diploma and bachelor degrees as an independent body of academic nature for university, academic, technical and applied education, which meet the needs

of society and the labour market.As for the plans for the next stage,

HE the Minister said that a strategic plan for the ministry for the period 2017-2022 was developed as a result of the education and training sector strategy for the years 2017-2022.

More than 200 initiatives cover-ing all aspects of the educational process have been implemented to achieve these goals and setting Qatar’s priorities in this context for the com-ing period.

School students wow audience with National Day performances

LEFT: Students presenting a dance item. ABOVE: Audience appreciating National Day performances by different schools.

Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi at one of the pavilions at Darb Al Saai yesterday.

On the siege, the Minister said Qatar has followed a policy of restraint and moderation in response and sublimation. Qatar’s political approach and diplomacy have earned respect from the entire world.

Four-day celebrations at The Pearl-Qatar

06 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017HOME

Renowned auteurs to give Master Classes at Qumra 2018The Peninsula

In the 4th edition of Qumra in 2018, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Gianfranco Rosi will

deliver Master Classes to upcom-ing filmmakers from Qatar and around the world, providing them with unique professional devel-opment opportunities through the mentoring sessions and develop-ment workshops led by film industry experts.

In addition, defining films will be screened to public audiences, sharing artistic inspirations of world-renowned masters of cin-ema. For the filmmakers that make up the Qumra delegates, the programme provides invaluable access to the finest works in glo-bal cinema by true vanguards of the industry.

Fatma Al Remaihi, CEO of Doha Film Institute (DFI), said: “The fourth edition of Qumra is blessed to welcome three

distinguished auteurs of world cinema, true masters who have presented standout films that reflect our world today through thought-provoking messages and discussions. It is an honour to host the Masters of the first three DFI dedicated industry event Qumra 2018, namely Andrey Zvyagintsev, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Gianfranco Rosi, filmmakers who have rede-

fined storytelling. Elia Suleiman, Artistic Advi-

sor added: “Films by such masters touch the soul unlike any other. Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s films express a rich poetic beauty that can only come with deep contemplation and meditation. A profound window into modern Russian society, Andrey Zvyag-intsev’s films shine with an unsettling narrative brilliance. Gianfranco Rosi presents a gritty reality with a gravitas that holds you to an unavoidable empathy. All three Masters are exceptional filmmakers who define what it is to continuously elevate the stand-ards of world cinema.”

Andrey ZvyagintsevRussian auteur Andrey Zvy-

agintsev represents the new generation in Russian cinema with accomplished works such as Leviathan (2014) winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes and nomi-nated for the Academy Award and took the Jury Prize at Cannes in

2017 with Loveless (2017), which also won Best Film in the Official Competition at London Film Festival.

Apichatpong WeerasethakulApichatpong Weerasethakul

is one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary cinema. His work has garnered wide-spread international recognition and numerous awards, including a Cannes Palme d’Or in 2010 for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. Tropical Malady

won the Cannes Jury Prize in 2004 and Blissfully Yours won the Cannes Un Certain Regard Prize in 2002. Syndromes and a Cen-tury (2006) was recognised as one of the best films of the last decade in several 2010 polls. His first feature, Mysterious Object at Noon (2000), has been restored by Martin Scorsese’s World Cin-ema Foundation.

Apichatpong began mak-ing films and video shorts in 1994 and completed his first

feature in 2000. Gianfranco RosiBorn in Asmara, Eritrea, Gian-

franco Rosi won the Orizzonti Prize at Venice Film Festival with his first feature film, Below Sea Level (2008), shot in Slab City, California. The film also went on to win the Grand Prix and the Prix des Jeunes at the Cinéma du Réel festival in 2009.

In 2010, El Sicario, Room 164 - a film-interview about a killer turned informer from the Mexi-can drug cartels - won prize. In 2013, his documentary feature Sacro Gra won the Golden Lion.

In 2016, his documentary, Fuoccoamare (Fire at Sea) won the Golden Bear at the 2016 Ber-linale, as well as the European Film Award for best documen-tary. In 2017, the film received the Oscar nomination for Best Documentary.

There are two remaining 2018 Qumra masters to be confirmed.

The Peninsula

Vodafone Qatar announced yesterday that it has been re-certified the prestig-

ious ISO 27001:2013, demonstrating the strength of the company’s information security management systems and operations, the scope cov-ering technology, busi`ness and customer care functions.

The ISO 27001:2013 certifi-cation, awarded by Bureau Veritas, sets the international standard for information secu-rity management systems in telecommunications and other data-driven industries. Selim Kseib, Bureau Veritas Country Chief Executive presented the certificate to Vodafone Qatar Chief Executive Officer Ian Gray at a ceremony held at the Com-pany’s headquarter office in Qatar Science and Technology Park.

Ian Gray, Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone Qatar said, “I congratulate each member of Vodafone Qatar’s talented team for achieving excellence and making this richly-deserved recognition possible. This re-certification, which we are proud and privileged to receive, underscores the strength of our world-class data security infrastructure and network. It allows individ-uals and businesses in Qatar to enjoy Vodafone’s innovative products and services safely and securely”.

Selim Kseib, Country Chief Executive, Bureau Veritas said, “We would like to congratu-late the entire team of

Vodafone Qatar for their col-lective efforts that has resulted in Vodafone Qatar being recer-tified to ISO 27001:2013 international standard. This accomplishment is a testimony of Vodafone’s commitment towards Information Security Management System that ensures high level security in all their operational areas through integration of appro-priate security controls into their business processes. We take great pride in this associ-ation with Vodafone and look forward to take this

partnership forward and achieve many more challeng-ing objectives in their journey towards benchmarking best international practices in man-agement systems.”

Bureau Veritas evaluates more than 100 aspects of the business before awarding this certification, including customer service and care, risk assess-ment, human resources, and vendor governance. This certi-fication applies not only to Vodafone Qatar’s offices, but to retail and franchise outlets across Qatar.

The Peninsula

The Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center (QTTSC) at Qatar

University College of Engi-neering (QU-CENG) recently hosted a workshop titled “Towards Safe and Sustaina-ble Mobility”.

The workshop was organised in collaboration with Rutgers University and sponsored by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). It aimed to provide the best practices and iden-t i f y a n d i m p l e m e n t solutions for sustainable mobility.

Attendees included CENG Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department Assistant Pro-fessor Dr Murat Kucukvar, QTTSC Assistant Research Professor Dr Nuri Onat, Rut-gers University School of Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering Chair-man Prof Mohsen Jafari, Qatar Rail Technical Inter-face Eng Chamakh Mohamed Chamakh, and Qatar Rail Logistics Operations Man-ager Eng Torsten Spiller, as well as CENG faculty and students.

The program agenda fea-tured presentations and discussions delivered by speakers from QU, Rutgers University and Qatar Rail.

They provided the audi-ence with an in-depth insight into various topics such as safe and sustainable mobility, Qatar integrated railways program’s (QIRP) contribution to a sustaina-ble and safe mobility in the State of Qatar, a global web-based decision support tool for sustainable transport, and sustainability assess-ment frameworks for transportation.

Dr Khalifa Al Khalifa said: “This workshop comes as part of QTTSC commitment to advance research and stud-ies that meet national needs in the area of road and traffic safety.

“It also demonstrates the center’s ongoing efforts to provide traffic and road safety experts with a platform to showcase the best solutions for maintaining high levels of transportation systems and to come up with sustainable plans to reduce road traffic crashes and develop a safe road and transportation system.”

Forum discusses safety protection of road usersThe Peninsula

The Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center (QTTSC) at Qatar Univer-

sity College of Engineering (QU-CENG) recently organised the first forum titled “Research Support Towards Road Users Safety Protection”, in collabora-tion with the General Directorate of Traffic.

The forum brought together CENG faculty and technical staff from the General Directorate of Traffic to discuss and implement a joint plan to support traffic and road safety.

Attendees included CENG Dean and QTTSC Director Dr Khalifa Al Khalifa, QU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Center for Humanities and Social

Sciences (CHSS) Director Dr Kaltham Al Ghanim, and Gen-eral Directorate of Traffic Awareness Director Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Radi Al Hajeri, Studies Section Head Captain Ali Al Ettabah and Con-sultant Eng Hasan Younes, as well as CENG and QTTSC faculty and staff.

Commenting on the meet-ing, Dr Khalifa Al Khalifa said: “Through its Qatar Transpor-tation and Traffic Safety Center, CENG is committed to support traffic safety pro-grams and activities in coordination with various institutions from the public and private sectors. The center is a national platform that offers relevant research outcomes and programs in the

area of transportation and traffic safety.”

Lieutenant Colonel Moham-med Radi Al Hajeri said: “The

General Directorate of Traffic is pleased to announce a plan for the implementation of joint activities with QU faculty. The plan covers

various collaboration areas such as managing studies, surveys, questionnaires, campaigns and programs.”

Expert warns of nerve damage misdiagnosisThe Peninsula

A leading researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has published a

paper highlighting the risk of misdiagnosing diabetic neurop-athy, a common diabetes-related complication.

Dr Rayaz Malik (pictured), WCM-Q Professor of Medicine, said that diabetic neuropathy — nerve damage — presents with very similar symptoms to other diseases of the nervous system, particularly chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy, known as CIDP.

Telling the two apart is cru-cially important because diabetic neuropathy cannot be reversed but CIDP can often be treated extremely effectively, preventing the progression of debilitating symptoms like sen-sory loss, pain and weakness with impaired movement.

Dr Malik said: “When diabe-tes patients present with neurological disorders it is under-standable that doctors attribute this to diabetic neuropathy because it is such a common com-plication. However, our research showed that a significant minor-ity of patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy, actually have CIDP, which is far more treatable and has much better outcomes.

“We therefore believe there is a very strong argument for finessing clinical approaches in order to prevent misdiagnosis and ultimately improve out-comes for patients.”

Diabetic neuropathy is a con-dition in which the peripheral nerves are damaged due to high

blood glucose and vascular risk factors like high blood pressure, and lipids as well as being over-weight. Treatment is based on controlling blood glucose, blood pressure and lipids with drugs and dietary changes. In contrast, in CIDP the nerve damage occurs because the body’s immune sys-tem erroneously attacks the myelin sheath, a fatty structure that covers and protects nerves as well as the axons. Although nerve damage cannot be reversed in either disease, CIDP can be controlled effectively with immunosuppressant drug therapies.

Dr Malik added: “Because nerve damage cannot currently be reversed in diabetic neurop-athy it is very important that patients who have CIDP are cor-rectly diagnosed and treated as early as possible so that we limit long-term nerve damage.”

Dr Malik and his research colleagues reported their find-ings in a review paper entitled ‘CIDP and other inflammatory neuropathies in diabetes – diag-nosis and management’, published in the renowned jour-nal Nature Reviews Neurology.

The paper was also contrib-uted to by researchers at Aston University in t he UK, and Uni-versity Hospital Essen and Heinrich-Heine University in Germany.

Vodafone Qatar receives ISO re-certification

Workshop on Safe and Sustainable Mobility at QU

For the filmmakers that make up the Qumra delegates, the programme provides invaluable access to the finest works in global cinema by true vanguards of the industry.

Andrey Zvyagintsev, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Gianfranco Rosi

Officials during the forum on Research Support Towards Road Users Safety Protection.

Selim Kseib presenting the certificate to Ian Gray.

07WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 HOME

Cancer information centre to be set upThe Peninsula

A cancer information centre, which will regulate the legal framework for data protection is set to

be established in the country, as part of implementing National Cancer Framework 2017-2022, says a senior official.

The new centre will also allow more information exchange between cancer spe-cialists in the country, including researchers, doctors and others, as part of a cancer information network, said Catherine Gillespie, Head of Qatar’s National Cancer Program.

She explained the future of dealing with the cancer data within the new National Cancer Framework 2017-2022, during an event organised by the Min-istry of Public Health to celebrate the employees in the public and private health sector in appreciation of their efforts and contribution to the success of the Qatar National Cancer Registry (QNCR) and prepara-tion of the cancer annual report.

Dr Salih Ali Al Marri at the

Ministry praised the QNCR team and the exerted efforts to prepare the national health strategy 2017-2022. The strategy supports establishing plans and programs on a fixed basis based on accu-rate scientific and revised data, stressing the importance of work-ing to achieve the national goals based on global standards and regulations, he added.

Dr Al Hareth Al Khater, Dep-uty medical director of the

National Center for Cancer Care and Research, said that the data in the QNCR is of great accuracy and build on international basis and standards. The data has been accepted by the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, volume 10 of the World Health Organisation, and was included in a number of international sci-entific studies and researches.

Also QNCR Manager Amid Abu Hmaidan, presented can-cer data giving the audience an idea on the prevalence of the disease in Qatar. He also high-lighted on the mechanism adopted to collect data, such as from health sector of Qatar.

Hmaidan added that accord-ing to the data registry, 1,466 new cancer diagnosis were made in 2015 and that breast cancer leads the list followed by colon, rectum and prostate can-cers. Among children below 14 years of age, leukaemia is more common, followed by brain and nerve cancer. However, accord-ing to Hmaidan, the data available at QNCR data scien-tifically reveals that prevalence of cancer in Qatar is similar to countries in the world.

The Peninsula

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) cel-ebrated Qatar National Day in a three-day event ‘We are

fine,’ and it featured several cultural and traditional events as well as expressing solidarity to the nation.

A mural of ‘We are Fine’ was opened by Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al Thani, Chairman, QCS, in the presence of Mariam Al Noaimi, Geenrla manager QCS, members of board directors and several others.

Traditional Qatari songs were performed by well-known

singer Ghanim Shaheen. Also young children in traditional attire joined the celebrations.

Dr Al Thani, said that the National Day celebrations pro-vide the opportunity for Qatar’s citizens and residents to have a sense belonging and loyalty, while emphasizing the impor-tance of pride and dignity.

He also stressed QCS keenness to launch awareness and educational campaigns throughout the year, especially during the celebration of the National Day, to raise commu-nity awareness about cancer.

“Since its inception in 1997,

the QCS has never overlooked its basic objective of supporting cancer patients who are unable to afford medical expenses.

QCS supported such 1400 persons in 2017. The society took care of the patients after coordinating with hospitals about their identity and med-ical records. Thank God there is no single patient is on the waiting list as of now,” he said.

‘We are fine,’ event held at QCS’s headquarters at Barwa Towers in Al Saad area, also had activities for school students during morning hours.

Qatar Cancer Society Chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani (third left), with Qatari singer Ghanim Shaheen (second left), and other officials during ‘We are Fine’ event.Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula

QCS marks QND with three-day event

The new centre will also allow more information exchange between cancer specialists in the country, including researchers, doctors and others, as part of a cancer information network, said Catherine Gillespie, Head of Qatar’s National Cancer Program.

Qatar Post and Nebras Power sign pactThe Peninsula

Qatar Postal Services Com-pany (Qatar Post) and Nebras Power, a Qatar-

based fully-fledged investment company that manages a port-folio of strategic investments in power, water and renewable energy assets throughout the world, recently signed an agree-ment on provision of Global Priority Services.

By the terms of the agree-ment, Qatar Post shall help in facilitating the posting and deliv-ery of express courier items for Nebras Power in a secured and efficient manner.

The agreement was signed between Hamad Al Fahida, the Chief Operations Officer of Qatar Post and Engineer Faisal Al Sid-diqi, Chief Business Development Officer of Nebras Power.

Launched in June, Qatar Post’s Global Priority Service offers door-to-door service to both retail and corporate

customers for over 220 coun-tries and territories.

With the service, Qatar Post customers can send and track letters and parcels in a secure and efficient way in multiple markets and it is the fastest delivery option at Qatar Post as letters and parcels are delivered within one to three days to the various destinations globally.

Speaking at the event, Qatar Post Chief Operations Officer,

Hamad Al Fahida said, “The agreement between us and Nebras Power is an indication of the growing popularity of this service since it was launched in June 2017. Qatar Post has con-tinued to bring new innovations and services to further enhance our customers experience.”

“As the main provider of postal services in Qatar, we’ve always been proactive and responsive to the needs of our

teeming customers. I believe the partnership with Nebras Power is just the beginning of greater relationship between the two parties.”

Commenting on this agree-ment Engineer Al-Siddiqi said, “It is a great pleasure for us to sign this agreement with Qatar Post. Qatar Post represent efficiency, faster delivery and reliability which are some of the pillars of our company as well. We believe the agreement will further enhance our services and help us in meeting the needs of our stake-holders. . We are equally proud to be one of the major corporate cus-tomers of Qatar Post and I believe it will be a mutually beneficial partnership.”

Global Priority service offers a new Track and Trace feature allowing visibility on the entire postal journey and is protected by a money-back guarantee, hence maximizing transparency, reliability and convenience for postal customers.

Hamad Al Fahida Faisal Al Siddiqi

Islamic Cultural Center distributes 18,000 booksThe Peninsula

The library of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mah-moud Islamic Cultural

Center at the Ministry of Awqaf

and Islamic Affairs distributed about 18,000 books issued by the center in different languages from mid November to mid December.

A large number of Asian

communities and institutions benefited from it. The center also held a number of pro-grammes and activities to know communities and tourists in Qatar about Islamic culture and

Qatari architecture.The center has organised

a visit to 36 persons from Western communities to the Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab Grand Mosque. They briefed about the mosque and the role of mosques in the Muslims life.

More than 200 German del-egations and tourists visited the Islamic Cultural Center in order to know about the Islamic civ-ilisation and culture. Also, 30 students from Aspire Academy and 50 students from French Qatari School visited the center and expressed their admiration of the center efforts.

The center has also organ-ised a programme for 62 female participants from dif-ferent nationalities; the program discussed a number of issues like marriage and Qatari tradition. Some visitors were briefed about the National Day and meaning of its celebrations.

It also conducted awareness and cultural lectures to more than 1000 people about Islam and the deal with poor people.Aspire Academy students during their visit to the centre.

Doha hosts workshop on human rights institutionsQNA

The Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions and the United

Nations Center for Human Rights Training and Documentation for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, both are Doha-based, have organised a workshop on the role of national human rights institutions in monitoring and documenting violations of human rights as well as receiv-ing and following up complaints as part of the activities of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Representatives of national human rights institutions from 10 Arab countries: Qatar, Jor-dan, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Tunisia, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon attended the workshop, which has achieved a number of important objec-tives, including providing an

opportunity to exchange expe-riences and raise the capacities of the staff of the national human rights institutions.

The workshop tackled international standards relat-ing to the responsibility of national human rights institu-tions in monitoring and documenting violations of human rights, receiving com-plaints, dealing with them, examining them, following up on them and the basic princi-ples for collecting information, monitoring, documenting and reporting on the human rights situation. The workshop also dealt with making effective rec-ommendations with training in basic fact-finding techniques and elements, including infer-ences, interviews, use of guidance forms and visits to places of detention in addition to monitoring trials and judi-cial systems.

QNA

Qatar’s diplomatic, con-sular and representative missions abroad con-tinued to celebrate National Day, which

falls on 18 December each year to commemorate the founder Sheikh Jassem bin Mohammed bin Thani.

In Jakarta, HE the Ambassa-dor of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Indonesia, Ahmed bin Jassim Al Hamr, held a reception on the occasion of Qatar National Day.

The ceremony was attended by HE Minister of Finance repre-senting the Government Sri Mulyani, HE Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdul Rahman Fakher, HE Special Envoy of the Indonesian President to the Mid-dle East and OIC Dr. Alwi Shihab, HE Deputy Governor of Jakarta, as well as a number of senior gov-ernment officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic mis-sions in Jakarta.

In his speech at the reception, HE Ambassador Ahmed bin Jas-sim Al Hamr expressed his deep regret over the unjust siege imposed on the State of Qatar. HE said that the State of Qatar has increased strength, immunity and determination to preserve its sov-ereignty and defend its position and the welfare of its people and residents in an unprecedented state of strength, determination and cohesion between the lead-ership and the people.

HE stressed the development of bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Indonesia in all fields.

For her part, HE Sri Mulyani stressed the depth of relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Indonesia and referred to the areas of cooperation between the two countries in var-ious fields.

In Khartoum, Qatar’s Ambas-sador to the Republic of Sudan, HE Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi, held a reception on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar.

The reception was attended by HE representative of the Pres-ident of the Republic of Sudan, Minister of the Federal

Government Dr. Faisal Hassan Ibrahim, a large number of min-isters, ministers of state and officials, heads and representa-tives of diplomatic missions accredited in Khartoum and sym-bols of Sudanese society in art, sports and journalism.

In his speech, HE Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi reviewed the challenges faced by the State of Qatar through an unjust block-ade and malicious fabrications. Adding that the Qatari leadership dealt with it wisely. And thanked Sudan for its support to the Kuwaiti initiative and mediation efforts, stressing at the same time that the Qatari-Sudanese relations are witnessing continuous devel-opment.

For his part, the Representa-tive of the Sudanese president praised the positions of the Qatari leadership in support of his coun-try in all fields. He said that the two countries historic relations con-tributed to the development of a model of cooperation and integra-tion, stressing that Sudan thanks the State of Qatar and its leader-ship for standing in all international forums and in achieving peace in Darfur.

In Beirut, HE Qatar’s Ambas-sador to the Republic of Lebanon Ali bin Hamad Al Marri, held a reception on the occasion of the National Day.

The meeting was attended by HE Pierre Raffoul, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, represent-ing HE President of the Republic of Lebanon Michel Aoun, HE Prime Minister Saad Hariri, HE Ali Bazzi, Representative of HE Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, and Representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Lebanon, as well as a number of political, cultural, artistic, media, press and Lebanese party, reli-gious and military figures.

In a speech at the ceremony, HE Ali bin Hamad Al Marri said that the State of Qatar has in a short period of time assumed a distinguished position on the regional and international arenas thanks to the directives of our wise leadership. He pointed out that Qatar’s foreign policy is based on cooperation for security and sta-bility and the support of the

oppressed and the adoption of the language of dialogue to resolve differences and conflicts, the respect for the sovereignty of all countries and good neighborliness and non-interference in its inter-nal affairs and the application of international covenants and treaties.

In Munich, HE Rashid bin Saeed Al-Khayarin, Consul Gen-eral of the State of Qatar in the Federal Republic of Germany, held a reception on the occasion of Qatar National Day.

The ceremony was attended by HE Carl Michael Schwebel, Government Representative, Dean of the diplomatic corps, consuls accredited in Munich, a number of doctors, public figures and Qatari citizens present for medi-cal treatment.

In Manila, Qatar’s Ambassa-dor to the Republic of the Philippines HE Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Malki held a reception on the occasion of the National Day of Qatar.

The ceremony was attended by HE Hjeselin Quintana, Assist-ant Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, “Guest of Honor”, HE Delphine Loren-zana., Minister of Defense of the Philippines, HE Mr. Salvador Banilo, President’s Advisor for Legal Affairs and a number of min-isters and government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and public figures in the country.

In Ashgabat, Qatar’s ambas-sador to Turkmenistan, Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Suwaidi, held a recep-tion on the occasion of the National Day of Qatar.

The ceremony was attended by HE Rashid Meredov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, HE Oraz Mohammad Chariyev, Turkmenistan’s non-resident ambassador to Qatar, HE Ayazov Mohammad, Protocol Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, and a number of officials, heads and representa-tives of accredited diplomatic missions.

HE Ambassador Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Suwaidi praised the developing bilateral relations between Qatar and Turkmenistan. He also touched on the Gulf crisis

and the State of Qatar’s approach to dealing with the crisis and its open position on dialogue and dis-cussion of controversial issues without compromising the sover-eignty of States or interfering in its internal affairs.

In Djibouti, the Acting Charge d’Affaires of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Djibouti, Nasser bin Mohammed Abusulha, held a reception on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar.

The ceremony was attended by HE Mohamed Ali Hassan, Sec-retary General of the Djibouti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of HE Mahmoud Ali Yousif, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Spokesperson of the Djiboutian Government, HE Dr. Nabil Mohammed Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education and Research, HE Delita Mohammed Dalita, Former Minister of Defense and Member of the Parliament, a number of officials, MPs, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, regional and interna-tional organizations and bodies accredited to Djibouti and public figures in the country.

In Islamabad, HE Saqr bin Mubarak Al Mansouri, Ambassa-dor of the State of Qatar to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, held a reception on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar.

The ceremony was attended by HE Danyal Aziz Chaudhry, Fed-eral Minister for Privatization represented by HE Shahid Khakan

Abbasi, Prime Minister, Guest of Honor, HE Jahangir Khanzada, Minister of Sports of the Punjab Region, HE Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Punjab Region; Sec-retary General of the Association of Muslim Scholars, Senator Siraj Haq, Emir of the Pakistan Islamic Group and Senator, Major General Shehzad Naim Khan, Director General of Joint Intelligence, Heads and Representatives of accredited diplomatic missions, a number of Ministers of State, Par-liament, the Senate, a number of businessmen and department directors of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry and senior state and com-munity officials.

In Tunisia, HE Saad Nasser Al-Humaidi, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Tuni-sia, held a reception on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar.

The ceremony was attended by HE Lazhar Al-Qarawi Al-Shabi, Personal Representative of the President of the Republic of Tuni-sia, HE Ziyad Al-Atari, Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation, Rep-resentative of the Tunisian Government, HE Hashemi Al-Humaidi, State Secretary to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies, as well as a number of heads and officials of parties and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Tunisia.

In Belgrade, Qatar’s ambassa-dor to the Republic of Serbia, HE Sheikh Mubarak bin Fahad Al-Thani, held a reception on the

occasion of the National Day of Qatar.

The ceremony was attended by HE Rasim Lajic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Com-merce, Tourism and Communications, HE Zoran Geor-gievic, Minister of Labor and Employment, Veterans and Social Policy; HE Tomislav Nikolic, Pres-ident of the National Council for Cooperation with Russia and China; Royal Princess Catherine Karagorjevic, and heads of diplo-matic missions accredited to Serbia.

HE Sheikh Mubarak bin Fahd Al-Thani said in a speech that Qatar’s foreign policy, which is open to the world, is the basis of its political and economic power based on the principles of peace-ful coexistence and mutual respect.

He pointed out that the State of Qatar has been subjected to an unjust siege that has lost all inter-national values and norms. However, it has followed the pol-icy of restraint and moderation in responding to the measures taken against it, in respect of the values and customs of the Qatari people.

He expressed his thanks to the Republic of Serbia for its balanced, neutral and calling for dialogue, stressing the readiness of the State of Qatar to sit at the negotiating table to narrow the points of dis-agreement and find a peaceful solution to the crisis provided that its dignity and sovereignty are not compromised.

QND celebrations continue at embassies abroad

Saad Nasser Al Humaidi, Ambassador of Qatar to Tunisia; Lazhar Al Qarawi Al Shabi, Personal Representative of the President of the Republic of Tunisia; Ziyad Al Atari, Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation; Representative of the Tunisian Government, Hashemi Al Humaidi; State Secretary to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies, as well as a number of officials, during a reception on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar in Tunisia.

Ali bin Ibrahim Al Malki, Qatar’s Ambassador to The Philippines; Hjeselin Quintana, Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of The Philippines; “Guest of Honour”, Delphine Lorenzana, Minister of Defence of The Philippines; Salvador Banilo, President’s Advisor for Legal Affairs; and a number of ministers and government officials, during the reception in Manila.

Saqr bin Mubarak Al Mansouri, Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan and other officials during the reception in Islamabad.

H E Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva with other officials during the reception in Geneva.

Yousef bin Ali Al Khater, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United Kingdom, with other officials during the reception in London.

08 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017HOME

United Nations

AFP

The UN General Assem-bly will hold an emergency session tomorrow to vote on a draft resolution reject-

ing President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital after the United States vetoed the measure at the Security Council.

Turkey and Yemen requested the urgent meeting of the 193-nation assembly on behalf of the Arab group of countries and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Miroslav Lajcak, the presi-dent of the General Assembly, informed all 193 delegations of the emergency session in a let-ter sent late on Monday.

The United States vetoed the draft resolution reaffirming that any decision on the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be rescinded. Egypt had put forward the draft which was backed by all 14 other Security Council members.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said a similar

draft resolution will be presented to the assembly and he expects “overwhelming support” for the measure.

No country has veto powers in the 193-nation assembly, con-trary to the council where the United States, along with Britain, China, France and Russia, can block any resolution.

“The General Assembly will say, without the fear of the veto, that the international commu-nity is refusing to accept the unilateral position of the United States,” Mansour told reporters. Trump’s December 6 decision to recognise Jerusalem broke with international consensus,

triggering protests across the Muslim world and drawing strong condemnation. Key US allies Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Ukraine were among the 14 countries in the 15-member council that voted in favour of the measure.

After the clash at the top UN body, the White House announced that US Vice-Presi-dent Mike Pence was delaying a trip to the Middle East planned for this week.

Turkish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee head Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday slammed the US veto on a UN Security Coun-cil resolution, which condemned the American decision on Jeru-salem. In a meeting with Palestinian ambassador to Ankara, Faed Mustafa, Bozkir said: “The resolution registered that the US was alone with regards to its foreign policy and international politics.”

The US vetoed on Monday a UN Security Council resolution that rejected the establishment of diplomatic facilities in the contested city of Jerusalem, breaking with the rest of the Council. The move comes almost

two weeks after Washington moved to recognise the holy city as Israel’s capital and begin the process to move its embassy there from Tel Aviv — the city where all other nations house their main diplomatic facilities.

Fourteen Council members voted in favor of the Egyptian-sponsored resolution that would have demanded US President Donald Trump reverse course on the decision. The US was the sole dissenting vote.

Bozkir said that the resolu-tion against Trump’s move would be submitted to UN General Assembly. “We hope that we can get two-thirds majority there,” said Bozkir.

After a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be reconsidered at the same ses-sion unless the General Assembly, by a two-thirds majority votes for it. Mustafa described the US decision on rec-ognizing Jerusalem as Israeli

capital as “a political murder.” He said: “With this decision, the U.S. violated international law.

“We will continue to work on having this decision reversed. We will never approve it, we will never allow it.”

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine con-flict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967-- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.

UN General Assembly to vote on Jerusalem

Geneva

AFP

The UN’s human rights chief said yesterday he was “truly shocked” by

the Israeli army’s killing of a wheelchair-bound Palestin-ian protester in Gaza, and demanded an “independent a n d i m p a r t i a l investigation”.

Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh, a 29-year-old who lost both his legs in an Israeli attack a dec-ade ago, was among five Palestinians killed on Friday during protests against US Pres-ident Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein slammed Trump’s decision as “danger-ously provocative” and blamed it for the violence.

Following an initial investi-gation, the Israeli army said on Monday it had not deliberately targeted him and had found no evidence of any “moral or pro-fessional failures”.

The UN office said Abu Thurayeh was among hundreds of people who marched across farmland towards the fence

separating Gaza from Israel and appeared to have been shot in the head when he was 20 metres away from it.

“The facts gathered so far by my staff in Gaza strongly sug-gest that the force used against Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh was excessive,” Zeid said.

“As far as we can see, there is nothing whatsoever to sug-gest that Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh was posing an imminent threat of death or serious injury when he was killed.

“Given his severe disability, which must have been clearly visible to those who shot him, his killing is incomprehensible — a truly shocking and wanton act.”

In video footage recorded early on Friday, Abu Thurayeh could be seen holding the Pal-estinian flag and giving the victory sign to Israeli soldiers across the border.

Israel seized the largely-Arab eastern sector of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, claiming both sides of the city as its “eternal and undivided capital.”

But the Palestinians want the eastern sector as capital of their future state and have

been infuriated by Trump’s decision to recognise the city as the Israeli capital.

The UN rights office said Israeli forces had used live fire to disperse the protesters, indi-cating that the violence could be “traced directly back to the uni-lateral US announcement on the status of Jerusalem, which breaks international consensus and was dangerously provocative.”

Zeid also called for “an independent and impartial investigation” to ensure per-p e t r a t o r s w e r e h e l d accountable.

On Monday, the Israeli army said its troops had been faced with a “riot” which was “extremely violent and included thousands of rioters.”

In response, a “few control-led shootings were carried out towards main instigators,” but “no live fire was aimed at Abu Thuraya,” it said in a statement.

“It is impossible to deter-mine whether Abu Thuraya was injured as a result of riot disper-sal means or what caused his death,” it said, adding: “The ini-tial investigation indicates that no moral or professional failures were identified.”

Murder of disabled Palestinian protester shocking: UN

Riyadh

Bloomberg

Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen rebels at the royal pal-

ace in the capital, Riyadh, an attack that threatens to edge the kingdom and its chief nemesis, Iran, closer to confrontation.

The Iranian-backed Houthi militants said they had targeted a meeting of top Saudi officials at the Al Yamamah pal-ace, the official residence of King Salman and headquarters of the royal court. Saudi Arabia is leading a military cam-paign against the Houthis in Yemen, and shortly after the missile launch, alliance aircraft struck Houthi positions south of the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.

A loud boom was heard in Riyadh and a column of white smoke could be seen briefly from a distance before the

coalition announced it had intercepted the missile. No injuries were reported, according to Sky News Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index declined as much as 0.4 percent before recovering the loss.

“You are hitting Sana’a and we are hitting Riyadh and Abu Dhabi,” rebel leader Abdulmalik Al Houthi said in a speech. “You are attacking the republi-can palace in Sana’a and our ballistic missiles reach Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh. You are targeting our vital installations and we will do that.” A sep-arate Houthi statement said Saudi military and oil installations were also “within our missiles’ reach.”

The missile attack, aimed at the very heart of Saudi power, is the most auda-cious challenge to Saudi Arabia by Iran’s proxy in Yemen. Saudi Arabia and Iran already support opposing sides in con-flicts across the Middle East, and after

the rebels fired a missile at the interna-tional airport in Riyadh last month, the coalition warned that the failed attack could be considered “an act of war” against Saudi Arabia.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki Al Maliki yesterday again pointed the finger at Iran. “This aggressive and arbi-trary act by the armed Houthi Iranian group proves the continued involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting the Houthis with qualitative capabilities,” he said, according to state-run Saudi Press Agency. The Saudi royal air defense forces spotted the launch of the missile from Yemen, he added.

The United Arab Emirates’ state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gar-gash, said on Twitter that “with every Iranian missile launched by the Houthi militia against civilian targets, it becomes clear that the storm is necessary.”

Iran in the past has denied provid-ing the Houthis with missiles to attack Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have said their military experts have the capabil-ity to develop Scud-type missiles. The Burkan 2-H launched yesterday is such a weapon.

Crispin Hawes, a managing direc-tor at Teneo Intelligence, a political risk consulting firm in London, predicted “a concerted effort by the Saudi govern-ment to push for action against Iran.”

“We have clearly entered a period where there is a direct threat to Saudi population centers, even with their air defence systems in place,” Hawes said. This will have a “depressing impact on the local capital markets and on eco-nomic activity in general,” he added.

The palace that was targeted yes-terday is the site of official meetings, including cabinet sessions last held there on December 12. The cabinet met on

Tuesday to approve the 2018 budget, which officials said would focus on bol-stering an economy battered by the drop in oil prices, austerity measures and regional instability.

Yemen’s civil war, nearing the end of its third year, has become part of the broader struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran for regional influence. The coa-lition is fighting the rebels, who are members of the Zaidi branch of Shiite Islam, to restore the internationally rec-ognized government of Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, a Sunni. The fighting has killed well over 5,000 civilians and contributed to one of the world’s biggest humanitarian dis-asters, according to the United Nations. Nearly 1 million people have contracted cholera, and 3 million, out of a popula-tion of 28 million, are internally displaced, according to the UN.

Saudi downs Houthi missile before it strikes palace

Turkey and Yemen requested the urgent meeting of the 193-nation assembly on behalf of the Arab group of countries and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), tomorrow.

Palestinian demonstrators burn tires to set barricades as Israeli security forces intervene them during a demonstration against US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, near Attara Checkpoint in Ramallah, West Bank, yesterday.

Kuwait’s new Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah taking oath during a parliament session at National Assembly in Kuwait City, yesterday.

Kuwait

QNA

Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah said yesterday

that his country has what it takes to overcome challenges and sus-tain successes, progress and prosperity.

In a speech after the new cabinet took oath before the National Assembly, the Kuwaiti premier said the government will present to parliament its action programme in parallel

with the state’s development plan, including work strategies and deadlines. “Landing on clear means to reach a new stage of cooperation between the legisla-tive and executive branches is needed in order for national ambitions to be attained,” the Prime Minister was quoted by Kuwait News Agency as saying.

The Kuwaiti premier said that he will exert utmost efforts to cooperate with MPs so as to man-ifest the Emir of Kuwait’s directions for the wellbeing of the state and interests of citizens.

“Adjusting the parliamentarian practice is an objective that cannot be delayed or procras-tinated in order to preserve national gains; as pointed out by the Emir in his speech,” the Premier said.

Principles of the Constitu-tion and the by-laws of the National Assembly, as well as decisions of the Constitutional Court, has established basis of parliamentary and monitoring work; enacting the true demo-cratic practice, he said in his speech.

New Kuwait cabinet sworn in

09WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 MIDDLE EAST

As the saying goes a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Health care is important to the society as people fall ill, accidents and emergencies do arise and hospitals are needed to diagnose, treat and manage different types of ailments.

Many of the people’s aspirations and desires cannot be met without longer, healthier and happy lives.

People in Qatar are blessed with an excellent and well-organised health care system right from primary health care to tertiary and advanced treatment facilities available in the country. In the current decade, Qatar has been witnessing steady development in the field of health care with the opening of new facilities and re-organisation of the existing ones.

The opening of the three specialised hospitals on Sunday by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Hamad Medical Corporation’s Medical City complex is the latest addition to Qatar’s health care system. The hospitals – Qatar Rehabilitation Institute (QRI), the Ambulatory Care Centre (ACC) and Women’s Wellness and Research Centre (WWRC) - have been providing services throughout the year, recording over 90,000 outpatient.

As part of the region’s biggest health care facility expansion project, the hospitals will have 500 new hospital beds and 3,000 well-trained clinical and support staff. These facilities are equipped with the latest international medical technologies and follow highest

medical standards giving patients access to an unprecedented level of care, improved services and special treatment. QRI, the region’s largest tertiary rehabilitation hospital, provides technologically advanced and patient-centred care and a highly integrated rehabilitation services.

At the ACC patients can access latest treatment options using advanced clinical and surgical practices offered in the same day and at a single dedicated location, thus saving a lot of time and money. The WWRC will provide a host of surgical and

clinical services, from preconception to childbirth, post-natal-care and beyond.

The State of Qatar, under the visionary leadership of H H the Emir, has been keen in ensuring its citizens and residents as well are getting the best of facilities and care available in the world, whether it is in the field of medical care, infrastructure, education, scientific developments or other amenities.

Even though the blockading countries are exerting pressure in whatever way possible to choke the development process and thus hijack the peace and prosperity prevailing in Qatar, the leadership of the country has taken every possible steps to protect its people and made it a priority to provide the best to them.

So the country will never rest on the glorious laurels it has already achieved, but will tirelessly strive to take the developments to the next level, so that the country always holds its head high.

10 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017VIEWS

E S T A B L I S H E D I N 1 9 9 6

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

Excellence in healthcare

QUOTE OF THE DAY

China is currently implementing the United Nations Security Council resolutions (on North Korea), but China can probably do more. We agreed on the need to put pressure firmly on North Korea.

Taro KonoJapanese Foreign Minister

People in Qatar are blessed with an excellent and well-organised health care system right from primary health care to tertiary and advanced treatment facilities available in the country.

Donald Trump’s Jerusalem decision revived an interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, after seven years of Arab revolutions and armed conflicts taking centre-

stage.There is something about the Palestinian people’s predicament that still deeply moves Arab hearts and minds, as well as global supporters of justice. As Palestinian-American historian Rashid Khalidi wrote, “whatever Arab dictators and absolute mon-archs may tell the Americans they depend on, the Arab peoples are unanimous in support-ing the Palestinian position on Jerusalem.”

Consensus on Jerusalem and Palestine makes the Israeli governments uncomforta-ble. And what does a successful strategist and “public relations expert” like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu do in an uncomfortable situation? He changes the sub-ject. Netanyahu has no interest in a peace process that brings about an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state. This is why he loves to talk about Iran.

By focusing on the “existential threat”, he is able to divert attention from the settler-colonial status quo, with its apartheid regime and ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Pales-tinian population. Iran is, in a sense, an easy target. The Islamic Republic has a dire record when it comes to human rights violations, and its intervention in the Syrian civil war in sup-port of the Assad regime did not serve in bolstering its image in the Arab world and beyond.

Despite the nuclear deal signed in 2015, Iran has not yet fully normalised its relations with the international community and is still subject to US and EU sanctions. Furthermore, Iran has long been seen as an aggressive meddler in Arab internal affairs. Israel is thus exploiting this common hostility with Iran to push for further collaboration with Arab states. In short, focusing on Iran leads to com-mon ground with some Arab states. In stark contrast, if the discussion is solely focused on Palestine — as we have seen in the last three weeks — Israel is exposed for what it is: an occupying, oppressive state imposing an apartheid regime and disregarding Palestin-ian lives within its settler-colonial enterprise.

Now, Netanyahu understands the impor-tance of presenting complex issues in neat and consumable bundles for the media. As Colin Shindler, Emeritus Professor at the Uni-versity of London, wrote in his book, The Land Beyond Promise: “Netanyahu was the long-awaited answer to Israeli problems in this area, since he was both presenter and spin-doctor. Netanyahu believed that lan-guage and ideas in the media circus shaped foreign policy — and particularly in America.”

Netanyahu is thus very comfortable dis-cussing Iran. However, it is much harder to be a successful “presenter and spin-doctor” when it comes to oppressing Palestinians. This is why a sustained refocus on Jerusalem and Palestine is necessary. In other words, if the iconic image of the 16-year old boy - bruised face, blindfolded and surrounded by

Don’t fall for Netanyahu’s dangerous distractionHalim ShebayaAl Jazeera

Israeli armed soldiers — becomes the focus of the world, where can Netan-yahu hide his face when Israel’s disproportionate violence is on wide dis-play for the world to see?

And if news about the extrajudicial killing of a young man — who lost his legs in the Israeli bombing of Gaza in 2014 — by an Israeli sniper captures the interest of the world, how can the Israeli government divert attention in order to avoid a discussion about their utter dis-dain for Palestinian lives?

Enter Iran — and enter Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United Nations.

On December 14, Haley tried to con-vince the world that Iran, not Jerusalem, should be under the international media spotlight once again. Less than two weeks after Trump’s decision, Haley presented “evidence” that Iran trans-ferred weapons to the Houthis in Yemen, including missiles. A lot of doubt was cast on Haley’s allegations, and not just by Iranian media and officials.

But let’s proceed, for the sake of argument, on the assumption that her claims are true.

When it comes to the Yemen crisis, are we really supposed to go along with Haley and agree that the Houthi missiles should be the main focus of the discus-sion? Should we forget the calls of Amnesty International just one month ago for the US, UK, and France to “immediately cease supplying arms to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition fighting in Yemen, which is impeding humanitarian assistance, including items indispensable to the survival of civilians”?

Or should we ignore Human Right Watch’s call for an international inquiry last September and its demand for the UN to “immediately return the [Saudi-led] coalition to its annual ‘list of shame’ for violations against children in armed conflict”? None of the above is in defence of Iran and its aggressive actions in the region. Two wrongs will never make one right. The point here is clear and simple. The obsession with Iran suits Saudi Arabia and Israel, each for differ-ent reasons: the former in relation to the armed conflict in Yemen, and the latter to deflect attention from Palestine. And US President Donald Trump seems happy to oblige, in order to be seen as the “anti-Obama”.

However, the obses-sion with Iran does not make sense for those who are genuinely interested in reaching an end to the Yemen

crisis, as well as a just resolution for the Israeli occupation of Palestine. In the case of the latter, Iran is not the main impediment to peace with the Palestini-ans. It suffices to recall John Kerry’s remarks that Israeli leaders don’t want peace with the Palestinians, who “have done an extraordinary job of remaining committed to nonviolence”.

Media attention on Jerusalem and Palestine is now as important as ever.Indeed, Israel has always been at least three steps ahead of the Palestinians and Arabs in advocating for its cause, espe-cially in the West. It has enjoyed the aid and complicity of governments and media giants who like to focus on Pales-tinian “violence” to further the Israeli narrative that Israelis are living in a region where “self-defence” (an all-encapsulating term used by the Israelis to justify their violence, oppression, apartheid regime, violations of interna-tional law, illegal settlements, etc) is necessary to survive.

Against this backdrop, it was extremely saddening to read Robert Sat-loff’s account of his visit to Saudi Arabia, which he titled “Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) does not want to talk about Jeru-salem.” Satloff wrote: “on Israel itself, he [MBS] struck an unusually positive note. Unlike what I heard from Saudi leaders on past visits, he said nothing about Israeli expansionism, Israeli arrogance, Israeli unfairness, or Israeli encroach-ment on Muslim rights in Jerusalem. Instead, he spoke of the promising future that awaited Saudi-Israeli relations once peace was reached and, operationally, he committed himself to bringing that about”. To be fair, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman condemned Trump’s announce-ment, although with legitimate questions remaining about the extent of Saudi coordination with the Trump adminis-tration prior to the announcement.

Ultimately, the Palestinian people should decide on the best ways to resist the occupation — bearing in mind their right to use “all available means” as UN resolutions state.

In this regard, the Boycott, Divest-ment, and Sanctions movement (BDS) is widely seen as an effective tool of resist-ance, in that it draws attention to the Israeli occupation and provides con-cerned individuals with a way to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Until the time when there is a united Arab hasbara devoting all its media and intellectual efforts to support Palestine, we should keep talking about Jerusalem and Palestine, each according to his or her means.

As simple as it sounds, its importance cannot be overstated, especially at a time when the interests of the Trump administration, Israel and Saudi Arabia seem to be perfectly aligned when it comes to the Iran obsession. If now is not the time to have an enhanced, united focus on Palestine, when is it?

The writer is a Beirut-based political analyst

and multi-disciplinary researcher.

The Palestinian people should decide on the best ways to resist the occupation — bearing in mind their right to use “all available means” as UN resolutions state. If now is not the time to have an enhanced, united focus on Palestine, when is?

ED ITOR IAL

11WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 OPINION

Israel has promised to raze down the whole coun-try, in case of war with Hezbollah across the Israeli-Lebanese borders.

Because Israel has been in panic mode over Iranian bases in southern Syria, it has used what-ever clout it has with America to convince Washington of the necessity to cut the “Iranian Crescent” that passes from Tehran to Beirut, through Iraq and Syria.

For such a crescent to hold, America and its allies will have to end their military operations east of the Euphrates [River]. As long as America maintains its foothold in that area, the Iranian Crescent will remain at the mercy of, or at least the eyes of, America.

American military operations against Daesh’s stronghold, in this same area have come to an end. US President Donald Trump told his Turkish coun-terpart President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Washington would stop arming the YPG in Syria, who presumably fought alongside Arabs and Americans to destroy the Daesh ‘state’.

But Israel, which has been flirting with the Kurds of Iraq and Syria for a couple of decades now, wants America to keep arming the YPG, hop-ing that such an arrangement would cut the Iranian Crescent, and thus end the Iranian threat in southern Syria at its source, instead of having Israeli fighter jets chasing Iranian arms shipments and personnel.

America obliged. Despite Trump promising President Erdogan to stop arming the YPG, and even though the Pen-tagon announced decreasing its troop levels in Syria from 6,600 to

Washington wants Hezbol-lah out of Syria. London wants British fighters with Daesh eliminated before they return home.

The difference in American and British goals have resulted in diverging policies.

America thinks a Russia-sponsored Bashar Al Assad might help eradicate Ira-nian influence in Syria. Britain thinks that as long as Assad remains in power, his tyranny will create a fertile ground for terrorist groups to recruit and thrive, even after the defeat of Daesh.

Apart from defeating Daesh, America has little interest in Syria. When America wants to fight with Daesh, it usually goes through Iraq.

But Israel, America’s closest ally, has bigger stakes in Syria than in Iraq and Daesh. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq ceased being a regional threat to Israel. But because Israel has borders with Syria, Damascus remains a threat to the Israelis, even after Assad gave away his chemical arsenal. These borders have been quiet since the UN sponsored a cease-fire in 1974, in the aftermath of the October War of 1973.

Starting in 2011, and with Assad weakening, his grip loosened in the south. Iran and Hezbollah instantly jumped to fill the vacuum, forcing the Israeli Air Force to drastically increase its policing of Iranian arm shipments to Hezbollah, and target them.

Iran has been striving to open shop in southern Syria. Tehran reasons that Israel will find it futile to respond against a weakened Assad for Iranian attacks from southern Syria, unlike in Lebanon, where

United States and UK diverge on Syriaaround 2,000, Washington has already given hints that it intends to stay in the area east of the Euphrates for some time, presumably to prevent Daesh from coming back but more probably to keep an eye on the Iranian Crescent and keep the pressure on this Iranian militias’ lifeline.

Britain, for its part, has little interest in the Israel-Hezbollah dynamic and is rather focused on the dismantling of Daesh and policing of Syria’s lawless areas. For this reason, London has donated significant amounts of money to local fighters to fund local police forces, only for claims to surface accusing British money of finding its way to the wrong hands, that of terrorists. London promptly suspended some of its funds destined to local Syrian police, through a third-party contractor.

Because the end of Daesh and stability of the areas this terrorist group once controlled are of paramount importance to the UK, London has been focused on stabi-lizing territories from where Daesh has been ejected. Britain has also been one of the leading forces in trying to collect international money to help rebuild these Syrian lands, in the hopes that stability will keep both Daesh and Assad away.

The British government seems to think Assad has been the main cause of the rise of Daesh. Bringing back Assad to control Syrian territories might speed up, rather than prevent, a Daesh relapse.

Where Britain thinks that Assad cannot be part of the solution, America thinks that if Assad completely aban-dons Iran and sticks with Russia, his comeback might facilitate stabilisation, albeit with some governing con-cessions to his opponents.

America and Britain do not see eye-to-eye on the Syr-ian crisis. Washington wants stability, which can prevent an Iranian takeover of southern Syria, while Britain thinks stability is impossible with Assad, who will neces-sarily provoke violent reaction and facilitate the comeback of Daesh.

America’s decreasing interest in the Middle East, at large, does not help bridge the Syria policy gap between the two transatlantic allies. For now, Washington and London will each have to go their way, until further notice.

The writer is a Washington-based political analyst. He has writ-

ten for The New York Times, The Washington Post and Kuwaiti

daily Al Rai, among others.

In 2017, the world let a genocide unfold

The volume of utterly horrifying stories emerging from Myanmar can feel over-whelming. Since late August, more than 626,000 ethnic Rohingya have fled what seemed to be a systematic campaign of

attacks by the Burmese military and local militias in the country’s Rakhine state — the most rapid exodus of a community since the Rwandan genocide. An aid group estimated that some 9,000 Rohingya, includ-ing 1,000 small children, died between late August and late September. Satellite data showed hundreds of villages burned to the ground, while virtually everyone who escaped to squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh has a horror story to tell.

“They shot my old father, they put a log of wood in his mouth and then slit his throat,” a woman named Almas Khatun recently told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I keep thinking about my children. I couldn’t save them. They killed seven of my chil-dren, my husband and his two brothers.” She pretended to be dead and managed to later crawl to safety, away from the burning ruin of her village and the corpses of dozens of slain relatives.

Last week, an investigation by the Associated Press chronicled what appears to have been a cam-paign of mass rape carried out by Burmese security forces, based on interviews with 29 women and girls ranging from the ages of 13 to 35. Soldiers and anti-Rohingya vigilantes, they say, engaged in rob-bery and torture, including abusing and gang-raping the women they captured. “The testimonies bolster the UN’s contention that Myanmar’s armed forces are systematically employing rape as a ‘calculated tool of terror’ aimed at exterminating the Rohingya people,” the AP wrote.

In a Friday column, Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times recounted his own conversations with

Rohingya women who were raped and had to witness the slaughter of their loved ones. He called on Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s top civilian

leader and Nobel laureate, to listen to the story of Hasina Begum, a 21-year-old who saw the men and boys of her village killed, their bodies dumped in a pile, doused in gasoline and set aflame. The women and girls were meant to endure an even grislier fate.

“I was trying to hide my baby under my scarf, but they saw her leg,” Hasina told Kristof. “They grabbed my baby by the leg and threw her onto the fire.” The story goes on: “Hasina said she collapsed on the ground, screaming. The impatient soldiers then began to club her — she showed me scars from the beating —and dragged her into a hut with her sister-in-law, Asma Begum. The soldiers stripped the women and raped them, she said, and finally closed the door and set the hut on fire.”

The two women managed to escape through a hole in the hut, salved their injuries with mud, scav-enged clothes and made a three-day trek to the Bangladesh border. “When I fall asleep, I look for my baby,” Hasina told Kristof. “I wake up screaming.”

The violence that prompted these shocking sto-ries has generated plenty of international outrage. The US Holocaust Memorial Museum, which warned two years ago that conditions in Myanmar, also called Burma, were ripe for genocide, issued a report in November alongside a local rights group saying there was “mounting evidence” that the Bur-mese military carried out acts that “represent a genocide of the Rohingya people.” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described what befell the Rohingya as “ethnic cleansing,” while various senior UN officials have also made similar statements. Yet there has

been little genuine action, and not just from the United States.

Muslim leaders from Turkey to Malaysia grand-standed for a time about the tragedy befalling their fellow Muslims, but most have moved on. In India, which does have influence over Myanmar, sympa-thy for the Rohingya played second fiddle to domestic politics, with the country’s Hindu — nationalist government moving to deport thousands of Rohingya refugees in the country over concerns about Islamist extremism. And China, which has a close relationship with Myanmar’s generals and deep economic interests in the country, has pro-posed a repatriation plan that would likely shield Myanmar’s top brass from further international scrutiny.

“The Rohingya are a lesser consideration for Beijing,” noted Nicholas Bequelin of Amnesty Inter-national in the New York Times. “The returnees would not be allowed to go to their home villages, which have been reduced to ashes, but consigned to grim internment camps. The system of discrimina-tion and segregation that made them so vulnerable in the first place would become further entrenched.”

The Burmese government certainly seems unmoved. Suu Kyi maintains that Rohingya testi-mony isn’t to be believed on face value and blames local “terrorists” among the Rohingya for provoking the chaos. Her defenders argue that she has to play her own complicated game with the country’s over-weening military, but her maneuvering still obscures the calamity in Rakhine, which remains almost entirely closed off to independent media.

Rohingya children refugees stand in front of their temporary shelters at the Kutupalong refugee camp near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

When journalists recently asked Rakhine official Phone Tint about reports of rape, he scoffed. “These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their appearances - do you think they are that attractive to be raped?” he said.

Another senior official from Rakhine, speaking to Hannah Beech of the New York Times, articulated the Burmese govern-ment’s refusal to even believe in the existence of the Rohingya, a largely Muslim ethnic group that has lived for generations in Myan-mar but had its citizenship rights stripped in the 1980s by a military junta. “There is no such thing as Rohingya,” he said before parrot-ing President Donald Trump. “It is fake news.”

That use of the term “fake news” generated a fair bit of con-troversy, underscoring both Trump’s broader appeal to strongmen abroad and his own muted response to the Rohingya crisis. Yet, in this instance, Trump is hardly alone in his indifference.

“Crimes against humanity are an offense against all humanity and require a response from all of us,” wrote Kristof. But in a year so profoundly steeped in bad blood, that common response is nowhere in sight.

The author writes about foreign

affairs for The Washington Post. He

previously was a senior editor and

correspondent at Time magazine,

based first in Hong Kong and later in

New York.

Ishaan Tharoor The Washington Post

The Burmese government certainly seems unmoved. Suu Kyi maintains that Rohingya testimony isn’t to be believed on face value and blames local “terrorists” among the Rohingya for provoking the chaos.

Hussain Abdul Hussain Anatolia

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America’s decreasing interest in the Middle East, at large, does not help bridge the Syria policy gap between the two transatlantic allies. For now, Washington and London each will have to go their way, until further notice.

12 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017ASIA

Kanyakumari/

Thiruvananthapuram, IANS

Tamil Nadu and Kerala yesterday sought over Rs1,75,000m for relief and rehabilitation work as Prime Minis-

ter Narendra Modi made a hurricane day-long visit to their coastal areas and Lakshadweep promising all help when he met the kin of fishermen who went missing after cyclone Ockhi hit the southern coast.

“This is not the time for lec-ture and I assure you that we will do everything to help you. That’s why I have come. We are all with you and will do everything. With Christmas round the corner, we wish all the missing to return back,” he said in brief remarks while meeting the families of the fishermen in Poonthura near Thiruvananthapuram.

Modi arrived at the Poon-thura Community hall to interact

directly with the families of the fisherfolk whose near and dear ones either died or remain miss-ing, giving them a patient hearing as Union Tourism and IT Minister K.J. Alphons trans-lated what they were saying.

It was after that the Prime Minister went on to the stage and spoke briefly.

“The cyclone hit Lakshad-weep, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and many of the fishermen are yet to return. We have taken quick action by first sending D e f e n c e M i n i s t e r

(Nirmala Sitharaman). The whole country is with you in your grief,” he said to claps from the grief-stricken families.

Kerala Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham made a power pres-entation highlighting the various needs of the fishermen.

The Kerala government sought a Rs7,340 crore package that included compensation for the 71 dead, help to the perma-nently disabled, construction of homes, educational assistance and writing off of loans and other programmes meant for the

overall upliftment of the fisherfolk.

More than 250 fishermen from Kerala are still missing since the November 30 cyclone.

Governor P. Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his cabinet colleagues and offi-cials were also present at the meeting with Modi.

Later, Modi briefly met state BJP leaders, who sought speedy clearance of the package.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala expressed dissatis-faction over the fact that despite repeated pleas, their delegation was not given permission to meet the Prime Minister.

“It is strange that even while we are the opposition here, we were ignored and the BJP was given preference, which does not augur well,” he told reporters.

Modi flew into Kerala from Lakshwadeep where the cyclone had damaged property and was received by Vijayan. Modi then

went by helicopter to Kanyaku-mari in neighbouring Tamil Nadu before returning to Kerala in the evening and going to Poonthura.

In Tamil Nadu, Modi visited Kanyakumari and met repre-sentatives of fishermen and farmers affected by Ockhi.

The Tamil Nadu government has asked the Centre for Rs 9,302 crore towards relief and reha-bilitation and urged the Prime Minister to declare the cyclone damage as a `National Disaster’.

Large tracts of rubber and banana plantations were affected due to the cyclone.

More than 70 fishermen from the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kol-lam in Kerala died in the cyclone while more than 250 remain missing. According to officials, the cyclone killed 18 people in Tamil Nadu while several oth-ers are still missing.

PM visits cyclone-hit Kerala and TN The Kerala government sought a Rs73,400m package that included compensation for the 71 dead, help to the permanently disabled, construction of homes, educational assistance and writing off of loans and other programmes meant for the overall upliftment of the fisherfolk.

Srinagar

AP

A woman was killed during anti-India protests in dis-puted Kashmir yesterday

following a gunbattle that killed two rebels, police and villagers said. The trapped militants tried to escape while firing their guns

but soldiers retaliated, leading to a prolonged clash.

The fighting stopped yester-day after two militants were killed and a police official and a soldier were injured, police said. But clashes continued between rock-throwing protesters and troops who fired bullets, shot-gun pellets and tear gas. Police

said the woman died in the crossfire. At least 10 civilians were also injured. Over 200 mil-itants, 75 police and soldiers and at least 40 civilians have died this year, the deadliest since 2010. The surge in violence comes after massive protests and clashes erupted in Kashmir.

2 rebels dead in Kashmir fighting

New York IANS

President Donald Trump has unveiled his “Amer-ica First National

Security Strategy” giving India a “leadership role” in the “broader” Indo-Pacific region and taking a hardline on China and Russia, provoking strong reactions from Beijing and Moscow.

The security plan released on Monday said: “We will deepen our strategic partner-ship with India and support its leadership role in Indian Ocean security and through-out the broader region.”

Washington also pledged to increase quadrilateral cooperation with Japan, Aus-tralia and India.

“We welcome India’s emergence as a leading glo-bal power and stronger strategic and defence partner. We will seek to increase quadrilateral cooperation with Japan, Australia and India.” Trump’s security strat-egy also stated that the US would continue to push Paki-stan to speed up its counter-terrorism efforts. “We will press Pakistan to intensify its counterterrorism efforts, since no partnership can survive a country’s sup-port for militants and terrorists who target a part-ner’s own service members and officials,” it said.

New Delhi

IANS

A Metro train on a new line, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra

Modi next week, hit a wall here yesterday evening during trials as its brakes failed, a Delhi Metro official said. No one was injured.

The incident, on the upcoming section between Noida and Kalkalji, occurred at 3.40pm at the Kalindi Kunj Metro Depot due to brake fail-ure, the Delhi Metro said.

“A trial train was moved from the workshop without testing the brake system as a result of which, while the train was moving up the ramp for washing, it rolled back and hit the adjacent boundary wall,” said the Delhi Metro Rail Cor-poration (DMRC) statement.

In a video grab of the inci-dent which has since gone viral, the train can be seen coming out from the other side of the wall of the depot after hitting it.

Attributing the incident to “human error”, the DMRC said it appeared to have occurred because the brakes were not checked properly after the train was taken off the signalling sys-tem by the person who was in

charge of the train.It said once the train enters

the workshop, it is taken off the signal system and brakes are properly checked before it is put back in operation.

“Prima facie, it appears, this was not done and subsequently, the person who took charge of the train from the maintenance staff also did not check the brake and proceeded with the train up to the washing plant built on a ramp. While stopping at the ramp, since the brakes were not available, the train rolled back causing this inci-dent,” it said.

The DMRC added that though the trains on the upcoming Magenta Line are enabled to be driven without drivers, at the time of the inci-dent inside the workshop, it was being manually operated since it was off the signal system.

“DMRC has ordered a high level enquiry into this incident by a committee of three offic-ers... Prima facie it appears to be a case of human error and negligence and appropriate action will be taken after the enquiry,” it added.

Modi is to inaugurate a sec-tion (Botanical Garden - Kalkaji Mandir) on the line on Decem-ber 25.

A bird flying over New Delhi during sunset, yesterday.

Trump backs ‘leadership role’ for India

People climb on trees to watch the funeral procession of Tanveer Ahmad Bhat, a suspected militant, who according to local media was killed in a gunbattle with Indian security forces, in Batmurran village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, yesterday.

Delhi Metro hits wall on new line during trials

New Delhi

IANS

The Lok Sabha was again disrupted yesterday over Prime Minister Narendra

Modi’s allegations against former premier Manmohan Singh, with Congress MPs shouting slogans and staging a walkout.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue during Question Hour but the House was spared noisy scenes after the government extended an olive branch.

Finance Minister Arun Jait-ley conveyed the government’s willingness to hold talks on the matter with the opposition.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumi-tra Mahajan, however, was stern when she bluntly told the sloganeering Congress MPs that she would not allow “something said on the road” to be dis-cussed inside the House.

As soon as the Lower House met, Congress members tried

to raise the matter but Speaker Mahajan denied them permis-sion and went ahead with the Question Hour.

The agitated members then trooped to the Speaker’s podium raising slogans and demanding an apology from Modi. “All elections are over, the things that are said on the roads shall not come to Parliament... I am not allowing you to raise the issue,” Mahajan said.

“Again and again I am requesting you, don’t disrupt the Question Hour. As per rules I cannot allow and I will not allow... If you don’t want the session to run, give it in writ-ing,” she added amid the ruckus before adjourning the House till 12 noon. When the House met again, the Congress members continued their protest. Stand-ing near the Speaker’s podium, Congress members appeared to be addressing the Chair, though their voices were not audible. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also tried to speak but was denied permission.

LS disrupted over Modi tirade against Manmohan

Gandhinagar

IANS

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will visit Gujarat to attend a

three-day meeting starting today to review the party’s showing in Assembly elec-tions in which it gave a tough fight to the ruling BJP.

Other Congress leaders are also expected to attend the “review meeting” in Ahmedabad, party leaders said.

The Congress will analyse in detail why it failed to dis-lodge the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has ruled Gujarat for 22 long years, and the road ahead with 80 newly elected MLAs -- the highest number in decades.

Congress leaders say that although they lost the elec-tion, the victory of 80 party candidates has given a new confidence to the party.

Rahul to attend Congress ‘review’ meeting in Gujarat

Imphal

IANS

The Manipur High Court yesterday ordered the central and state gov-

ernments to pay Rs0.7m as compensation to the mother of a young man killed in a fake “encounter” by security forces.

The money should be paid within five months, Act-ing Chief Justice N. Kotesor and Justice Kh. Nobin said.

The authorities were ordered to pay the money to Thangjam Apabi, the mother of Thangjam Thoithoi of Imphal West district. On Jan-uary 14, 2012 Thoithoi left his home on a two-wheeler but failed to return. His body was found in a mortuary.

New Delhi

IANS

As many as 47 (26 percent) of the newly-elected MLAs in Gujarat and 22

(32 percent) in Himachal Pradesh have criminal cases against them, election watch-dog Association for Democratic

Reforms (ADR) said yesterday.The ADR, which analysed

the self-sworn affidavits filed of the MLAs from both states where results for assembly elec-tions were declared on Monday, also found that 141 of total 182 Gujarat MLAs and 52 of total 68 Himachal Pradesh MLAs were ‘crorepatis’ (millionaires).

Gujarat had 13 women MLAs or (7 per cent) while the number is four (6 percent) in Himachal Pradesh. It its report, the ADR said the total number of MLAs with cases related to serious crimes is 33 and two of them have declared cases related to murder while one is charged with a case related to abuse.

Criminal cases against 47 new legislators in Gujarat

Court orders Rs0.7m to mother of ‘encounter’ victim

Eye-catching

13WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 ASIA

Pakistani schoolchildren take part in a protest against the suicide attack on a church in Lahore, yesterday. A suicide bomb attack on a church in Quetta claimed by the Islamic State group left at least eight people dead and wounded 30 on December 17, just over a week before Christmas.

Sharif’s party starts ‘thinking of early polls’Lahore

Internews

Although former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s rul-ing Pakistan Muslim L e a g u e - N a w a z

(PML-N) government is deter-mined to complete its constitutional term in power, it has started making prepara-tions for the next general elections if “imposed” earlier than the schedule.

“The central leadership has not only directed a couple of technocrats to begin work on party manifesto but is also looking into some thorny issues that had earlier been left to the second tier,” a source privy to the development here says.

The PML-N leadership was now directly handling the dia-logue with religious elements on some contentious issues which had earlier been held by a couple of Punjab cabinet members, he said.

According to the source, party president Sharif is also set to address a public meeting in Sargodha in a couple of weeks “to test the level of voters’ dis-comfort” after rebellious Pir Sialvi’s campaign against the government when it failed to appropriately and timely han-dle a religious crisis last month.

He said the technocrats, who had given their input for the party’s previous election manifesto, had again been asked to come up with a vibrant document for the 2018 polls.

Publicity material compris-ing promos containing slogans that highlighted the achieve-ments made by the PML-N government so far overcoming energy crisis, improved law and

order, better road and transport networks and housing (Ashiy-ana) projects was also being given a final shape, he added.

The source said all these preparations showed the party would not be caught unaware if elections were “imposed” despite its efforts to complete the term in power.

Central information secre-tary Mushahidullah Khan confirmed that election activ-ity within the party had been started, though informally.

“No one has been formally notified to prepare the mani-festo or conduct any other election-related business,” he claimed.

Khan said formal activities would start only when the party would conduct a survey on influence of various clans and notables in their respective areas. The source said the party was already working to “expose” development claims of rival parties particularly of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Referring to Imran Khan’s “one-billion tree” claim, he said some international agencies were questioning whether Pakistan had the required number of saplings for the purpose.

Germany hints at sending more troops to AfghanistanMazar-i-Sharif

Reuters

Germany’s defence minis-ter said yesterday she wanted to boost the Ger-

man presence in Afghanistan, in the first public indication that Berlin could accept a US call for more soldiers to help reverse territorial gains by Taliban insurgents. Germany currently has 980 soldiers stationed in the Hindu Kush mountains as part of a NATO mission to train Afghan security forces, the sec-ond biggest national contingent after the US.

“The soldiers, and especially the trainers, are telling me: We have enough trainers but we could do significantly more if we had better protective compo-nents, more security personnel,” Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said during a visit to the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Von der Leyen added that the German parliament would have to approve any additional deployments. The minister is a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and has said she hopes to retain her job in a new coalition government currently being negotiated.

Merkel hopes to forge another ‘grand coalition’ with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) like the one that has led Germany for the past four years. The SPD is generally more cau-tious about defence spending and sending German troops abroad.

US President Donald Trump in August authorised an increase in US troops to train Afghan security forces and carry out counter-terrorism operations, hoping to reverse gains by Tal-iban insurgents and compel them to agree to peace talks.

On Monday von der Leyen criticised the rapid reduction in

forces since the NATO-led Inter-national Security Assistance Force (ISAF) wound up in Afghanistan in 2014, and she called for a longer-term com-mitment in the Hindu Kush mountains.

At the peak of the ISAF mis-sion around 150,000 foreign soldiers were deployed in the Hindu Kush. There are now around 17,000, of whom 10,000 are Americans. Germany increased the upper limit to its Afghanistan mandate to 980 soldiers from 850 in 2016, at a time when the US and most other countries were reducing their forces.

Von der Leyen called for negotiations between the Afghan government and the Tal-iban, saying the Afghan security forces could “apply pressure” to those Taliban who were ready to negotiate. “Only that will lead to success in the long-term,” she added.

Nine IS militants killed in Afghan military actionKabul

QNA

At least nine ISIS mili-tants were killed and five others were

injured during the latest oper-ations of the Afghan forces in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

According to a statement by Nangarhar provincial gov-ernment media office reported by Khaama press, the Afghan security forces conducted counter-terrorism operations against the terror group in Khogyani and Haska Mina dis-tricts in the past 24 hours. The statement added that the mil-itants were killed as part of the ongoing military operations in this province.

According to the Nan-garhar government, at least four villages have been cleared of IS militants in Kho-zakhel and Peerakhel areas of the district. The IS insur-gents have not commented on the report so far.

Pakistani migrant dies after falling into riverEdirne, Turkey

Anatolia

A migrant froze to death yesterday after falling into a river which

marks Turkish-Greek border, Turkish sources said. Gen-darmes detained a group of migrants in northwestern Edirne province near the Meric river, most of whom are Paki-stani and Afghan nationals.

One of the migrants, a Pakistani national, was brought to hospital suffering from hypothermia, but died later. The sources said the migrants had been sent to Turkey from Greece by secu-rity forces over Meric river.

Turnbull reshuffles cabinet to bolster his fading fameSydney

Reuters

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yester-day named a new attorney

general and promoted two jun-ior lawmakers from rural Queensland state to his cabinet in a reshuffle he hopes will bol-ster his flagging popularity. Australian leaders often revamp cabinets before the start of a new year but for centre-right Turn-bull the move is an attempt to salvage his leadership, ravaged by dismal opinion polls.

Last month, Turnbull’s rul-ing Liberal-National coalition made its worst showing in a Queensland election in more than a decade, when it won 34 percent of the vote as Pauline Hanson’s populist One Nation clawed into its conservative base. A large number of marginal seats in the country’s third most populous state of Queensland often give its voters a crucial say in deciding federal elections.

The reshuffle was sparked by the resignation of Attorney Gen-eral George Brandis from the Senate. Turnbull said he would

ask Brandis to be the country’s next High Commissioner, or ambassador, to the United King-dom. Turnbull gave cabinet positions to Queenslanders John McVeigh and David Littleproud, who both took office 18 months ago.

He dropped infrastructure minister Darren Chester, from the urban state of Victoria, giv-ing the portfolio to deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, the leader of the Nationals, which features prominently in Queensland.

” I t ’ s a m i n i s t r y

that showcases the depth of the Liberal and National team, with well-earned promotions for tal-ented individuals, a number of young and upcoming MPs bring-ing new skills and energy to the front bench,” Turnbull told reporters. Asked why he removed Chester, whose duties included running the Australian part of the fruitless search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Turnbull said his cabi-net had “to take into account matters of geography”, but did not elaborate.

The pitch to voters in the

northeastern state of Queensland was obvious, said Stewart Jack-son, a specialist in Australian politics at the University of Sydney.

”Everybody’s been spooked by One Nation,” Jackson said. “The emphasis will shift back towards Queensland where the National Party was traditionally strong.”

The overhaul also brings youth into a government that has narrowly retained its razor-thin majority in parliament after a constitutional crisis triggered a series of by-elections.

Hopes for missing Filipinos dwindle; toll rises to 43Manila

AFP

The death toll from a trop-ical storm that pummelled the central Philippines

rose to 43 with hopes fading for dozens of others still missing after massive landslides, authorities said yesterday.

Slow-moving Kai-Tak finally swept out to the South China Sea on Mon-

day after inducing days of heavy rain that led to deadly floods and landslides as it sliced across the central islands last weekend.

The government’s disaster monitoring agency listed 43 dead in an updated tally and said 45 other people were still missing, many of them feared buried by mud avalanches that

struck the small island of Biliran.

”The retrieval operations are still ongoing but we are not finding anyone alive. We only find dead bodies,” Sofronio Dacillo, a disaster monitoring officer, said.

”We still have not given up hope of finding someone alive but the chances are slim.” Bull-dozers continued to dig for survivors in houses buried by landslides on Biliran, located about 500km southeast of Manila.

The island accounted for 30 of the 43 deaths, with 31 resi-dents missing, authorities said. The storm’s slow movement caused large volumes of rain to fall on the central Philippines, government weather forecaster Jun Galang said.

Philippine navy chief sackedManila

AFP

The commander of the Philippine Navy was sacked yesterday in a

surprise move which is being linked to a dispute about a contract for warships. Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mer-cado was replaced by Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad in compliance with “the instruc-tions from higher authorities”, said military spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo.

”The reason for this change of command will be explained in due time,” Arevalo said in a statement. President Rodrigo Duterte has not commented publicly on Mercado’s dismissal.

Australian sailor dies off PhilippinesManila/ AFP

Three elderly Australians on a sailing trip were rescued at sea off the

Philippines days after their yacht capsized. One of them later died, Filipino police said yesterday. North Queensland resident Anthony John Mahoney, 73, died in hospital shortly after their December 17 rescue by local fishermen off the resort island of Siar-gao, police said. Mahoney and two others, namely Law-rence Alfred Mallea, 68 and Lionel Peter Ansellin, 74, were sailing from Australia to Subic, when their vessel sunk.

The source said all these preparations showed the party would not be caught unaware if elections were “imposed” despite its efforts to complete the term in power.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen visits Camp Marmal of the German armed forces Bundeswehr in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, yesterday.

Protest against church attack

14 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017ASIA

People stand next to decorations in Beijing’s Sanlitun area, China, yesterday.

Dhaka

AFP

Bangladesh and Myanmar yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to begin

repatriating Rohingya refugees from January, despite growing concern that their safety is still not assured should they return.

The foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and Myanmar met in Dhaka to finalise the agree-ment signed on November 23 for the voluntary return of nearly three-quarters of a million state-less Rohingya living in refugee

camps along the border.A new working group would

“ensure commencement of repa-triation within two months” by developing a timetable for the verification of refugee identities and logistics of their return, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Now, we will start the next step of our work,” Bangladesh foreign minister A.H. Mahmood Ali told reporters after the meeting.

But there is growing doubt that the persecuted minority will be safe if returned to Rakhine

state, where Doctors Without Borders said nearly 7,000 Rohingya were killed in a month of violence.

An estimated 655,000 refu-gees from the stateless group have poured across the border into Bangladesh since August, fleeing what the US and United Nations have described as eth-nic cleansing.

UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he had received no assurances that international observers would be allowed into northern Rakhine to monitor the return of the Rohingya.

“We have seen no interest or desire to invite my office in. So we are sceptical of that,” he told AFP in an interview Monday.

Human Rights Watch on Monday, citing analysis of satel-lite imagery, said Myanmar’s army burned down dozens of Rohingya homes within days of the signing of the repatriation deal.

The watchdog said the repa-triation deal was “a public relations stunt” and warned the Rohingya would not be safe in Rakhine without guarantees of equal rights and protections.

The Rohingya have been the target of past pogroms in Bud-dhist-majority Myanmar, which does not recognise the group as a genuine ethnicity and has stripped them of citizenship.

Testimonies gathered by AFP from displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh suggest few refugees wish to return to Myanmar, where many saw their villages burned to ashes and loved ones killed. “We will not go back to our country until our rights are afforded,” said Rohingya refu-gee Roushan Ali from a camp in Bangladesh’s southeast.

Bangkok

Reuters

Thai Prime Minister Pray-uth Chan-ocha said yesterday he would use a

special order that gives the mil-itary sweeping powers to allow political parties to prepare for next year’s general election.

Major parties had urged the government for months to lift a ban on political activity, which has been in place since a 2014 coup, to allow them to get ready for the vote.

Prayuth, who is also head of the junta, said he would use the special order, known as Article 44, to solve a political deadlock.

“The government will have to use Article 44 to solve this problem (political activity deadlock),” Prayuth told report-ers, referring to a constitutional clause that grants the military absolute powers.

Government spokesperson Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prayuth would allow parties to take some steps outlined in

Thailand’s new constitution, including reviewing their mem-bership list and ensuring they have at least 500 members to qualify them to run in the November 2018 poll.

“The meeting is not consid-ering lifting the ban on political activities at the moment,” Sansern said.

The military has been run-ning Thailand since the May 2014 coup when it ousted the civilian government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, ending years of political tur-moil, including pro- and anti-government street protests.

A coup in 2006 ousted Yingluck’s brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shina-watra, whose supporters have dominated the polls since 2001.

The 2014 coup saw some Western countries downgrade ties with Bangkok. Earlier this month, the European Union said it would resume political contact “at all levels” with Thai-land after putting relations on hold.

Tokyo

AFP

Japan’s government yester-day approved the introduction of the US mili-tary’s land-based Aegis missile interceptor system,

beefing up its defence against “serious” and “imminent” North Korea threats.

The regime in Pyongyang has fired two missiles over Japan this year and has threatened to “sink” the country into the sea.

Last month, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that plunged into the waters of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

“North Korea’s nuclear and missile development has entered a new stage of threat that is more serious and imminent to our country’s security,” the govern-ment said as it endorsed the introduction of Aegis Ashore at a cabinet meeting.

Japan needs to drastically improve its missile defence, Tokyo added.

Speaking later yesterday at a lecture hosted by Jiji Press, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to take a hard look at whether Japan’s defence capa-bility is sufficient to protect its people.

“While keeping our defence-only policy as the basic premise,

I will examine what our defence capability should truly be like while facing up to the severe reality for our country,” he said.

Abe argued that the UN sanc-tions on Pyongyang must be taking effect now and dismissed the view that too much pressure could trigger an “explosion” of violence.

“Thinking that way gives North Korea the maximum bar-gaining power... What is important is not to give in to North Korea’s bluff,” he said, vowing to keep imposing pres-sure until Pyongyang begs for dialogue.

Abe also sought cooperation from China to solve the problem. “As the North Korean issue faces an important phase, the role of China is extremely important,” he said, adding he wanted to ele-vate relations with China to “a

new level” by reciprocal visits and other exchanges.

Japan plans to introduce the Aegis Ashore system at two loca-tions, covering the entire nation with powerful radars.

The deployment will hand the US ally another layer of defence in addition to SM-3 guided missiles launched by Aegis destroyer vessels and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles. However, it will take years before the Aegis Ashore system is operational, according to Japanese officials. The contract is yet to be signed with the United States and deployment at two locations could cost a total of 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion), including the cost of building new facilities.

Japan to beef up missile defence against N Korea

Tokyo

Reuters

Japan and South Korea urged China to do more to “pressure” North Korea to end its nuclear

and missile programmes, Japa-nese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said yesterday, as tension builds amid a standoff between North Korea and the United States.

“China is currently imple-menting the United Nations

Security Council resolutions (on North Korea), but China can probably do more,” Kono said after talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. “We agreed on the need to put pressure firmly on North Korea.”

The US Navy’s top officer said yesterday said that vessels from eastern Pacific could be brought forward to reinforce US naval power in Asia as

Washington contends with increased threats in the region.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have exchanged belli-cose rhetoric in recent weeks, with Trump threatening to destroy North Korea if provoked, while US diplomats have stressed the importance of diplomacy.

Trump on Monday unveiled a new national security strategy,

again saying Washington had to deal with the challenge posed by North Korea’s weapons pro-grammes. Japan and South Korea are seeking to boost cooperation over North Korea, despite linger-ing tension between them over the issue of “comfort women”, a Japanese euphemism for women - many of them Korean - forced to work in Japanese military brothels before and during World War Two.

Seoul, Tokyo urge Beijing to ‘do more’ on North South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (left) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during her courtesy call at the latter’s official residence in Tokyo, yesterday.

Thailand to allow parties to get ready for 2018 election

Rohingya refugees to start returning from January: Officials

Yangon

Reuters

Myanmar authorities have found 10 bodies buried in a mass grave on the

edge of a village in Rakhine State, the military-run newspa-per Myawady reported yesterday, a day after the army said it had launched an investi-

gation at the site.About 650,000 Rohingya

Muslims have fled from Rakhine state and sought refuge in neigh-bouring Bangladesh in recent months after a violent crack-down there by Myanmar security forces in response to attacks by militants.

Rights monitors have accused troops of atrocities,

including killings, mass rape and arson during the crackdown. US has said it amounted to “ethnic cleansing”. A team including police, a local administrator, judge and doctor had examined the grave site, at the village of Inn Din, about 50km north of Sittwe, yesterday and discov-ered 10 unidentified bodies, Myawady said.

10 bodies found in Myanmar mass grave

Indonesia

AP

Indonesian officials said yesterday they have arrested three foreigners

who were attempting to smuggle illegal drugs to the tourist island of Bali.

Bali’s customs office pre-sented the three men from Australia, Malaysia and the United States at a news con-ference at the customs office near the airport.

The only suspect identi-fied by name was Australian Isaac Emmanuel Roberts. The Malaysian and American were introduced only as CHJ and KSL.

Customs chief Himawan Indarjono said Roberts, 35, was arrested at Bali’s airport on Dec. 4 carrying 19.9 grams (0.7 ounces) of methamphet-amine and 6.2 grams (0.2 ounces) of the party drug ecstasy.

He said the 30-year-old Malaysian was arrested at the airport on Nov. 8 with 3 grams (0.1 ounces) of mari-juana and 0.65 grams (0.02 ounces) of cocaine.

Indarjono said the Amer-ican was detained Nov. 30 when he was picking up a package containing 336.6 grams (12 ounces) of mari-juana at a post office.

“We hope these arrests were able to protect our soci-ety from the bad impact of drugs,” Indarjono said. He added that all three suspects have been handed over to police.

Indonesia has very strict drug laws and convicted traf-fickers can be executed by a firing squad. More than 150 people are on death row, mostly for drug crimes, and about a third of them are foreigners.

Eighteen people con-victed of drug-related offenses have been executed under the current President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, as per the information available.

Indonesia arrests 3 foreign drug suspects in Bali

Abe argued that the UN sanctions on Pyongyang must be taking effect now and dismissed the view that too much pressure could trigger an “explosion” of violence.

Dazzling decorations

15WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 EUROPE

Macron hits back at Assad’s terror blameParis

Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) said yester-day that Bashar Al Assad was the enemy

of millions of his own people and in no position to lecture France, after the Syrian leader accused Paris of supporting terrorism.

After a string of strong com-ments by French officials blaming Assad’s government for atrocities and failed talks, Assad said on Monday France was sup-porting bloodshed in Syria, making it unfit to talk about peace settlements.

“France spearheaded sup-port for terrorism and their hands are soaked in Syrian blood from the first days and we do not see they have changed their stance fundamentally,” Assad was quoted in state media as saying.

“Those who support terror-ism have no right to talk about peace,” Assad added.

Despite being a leading backer of the Syrian opposition, France has sought a more prag-matic approach to the conflict since the arrival of Macron, say-ing that Assad’s departure was not a pre-condition for talks to end the six-year war.

Speaking alongside Nato Secretary General Jens Stolten-berg, Macron hit back at Assad.

“I don’t think Syria boils down to Bashar Al Assad,” Macron said. “The Syrian peo-ple have an enemy. There are millions of Syrians outside of Syria and they have an enemy who is Bashar Al Assad. That’s the reality.”

“On the military front we have a priority which is war against Daesh (IS militants) and that’s why his (Assad’s) state-ments are unacceptable because if there is someone that has fought and can defeat Daesh ... it is the international coalition.”

France and other members of a US-led coalition have launched air strikes against IS militants target.

Macron said recently he would push for peace talks involving all parties, including Assad, promising ‘initiatives’ early next year, although it remains unclear how any French proposal would relate to existing United Nations’ efforts.

He criticised separate Rus-sian talks in Astana with Iran and Turkey meant to reduce violence and possibly pave the way to Syrian talks in Sochi next year. Those initiatives would fail, Macron said, because they did not include Assad’s oppo-nents and were an attempt to impose a solution on Syrians.

“I don’t believe in a resolu-tion of a conflict by external forces that want to impose a peace ... and I don’t believe in indulging someone that thinks their country boils down to them.”

Austria to press ahead on citizenship planVienna

Reuters

Austria’s new coalition government will press ahead with plans to offer

citizenship to the German-speaking minority in Italy, it said yesterday, but pledged to consult with Rome on the project that risks reopening century-old wounds.

The dual citizenship plan for the northern Italian region of Alto Adige was included in a coalition agreement announced over the weekend between Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conservative People’s Party and

the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).

Italian politicians have already roundly condemned it, calling it a gesture to national-ism and saying it will threaten the delicate ethnic balance in the autonomous area of Alto Adige, also known as the South Tyrol.

Kurz has said the scheme, which the FPO has long pushed for, is only meant to encourage cooperation between European states.

“That is something that of course we only plan to do in close cooperation with Italy and with the government in Rome,” Kurz told a joint news

conference with FPO chief and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache.

Alto Adige was ceded to Italy by Austria after World War I. Despite moves by Fascist dicta-tor Benito Mussolini to settle thousands of ethnic Italians there in the 1920s, German-speakers still outnumber Italians by around two to one.

“In our government pro-gramme we have complied with a wish of South Tyroleans that was expressed by all parties in South Tyrol and that above all was also expressed by the South Tyrolean provincial govern-ment,” Kurz said.

Catalans in tight race for regional elections tomorrowBarcelona

AP

Political parties for and against Catalonia’s inde-pendence from Spain were

making a final effort to convince voters as campaigning for a regional election ended yesterday.

The election tomorrow is being held in exceptional cir-cumstances as it was ordered by the Spanish government when it seized control of the region, dismissed its government and dissolved the regional parlia-ment following a declaration of independence by separatist law-makers there on October 27.

Several members of the ousted Cabinet, including former Catalan President Carles Puig-demont, are campaigning from Brussels where they have sought refuge from Spanish justice while others are in jail in Spain on pro-visional rebellion charges.

Puigdemont closed his re-election campaign with a video speech yesterday to be relayed at a rally for his Together for

Catalonia party in Barcelona.His former deputy president,

Oriol Junqueras of the ERC left-ist republican party, is in jail outside Madrid where his cam-paigning is curtailed.

The parties of Puigdemont and Junqueras, along with a small anti-capitalist group, held a slim majority in the last parlia-ment, enabling them to push

ahead with the independence drive but it remains to be seen whether they can stick together after tomorrow’s election.

Recent polls indicate the vote will see a close race between Junqueras, Puigdemont and Ines Arrimadas of the pro-Spanish unity Ciutadans (Citizens) party, but no group is likely to win a majority.

“I expect there to be an impasse Thursday and we are going to face quite a few weeks of attempts to form a govern-ment,” said Andrew Dowling, a specialist in Catalan history at Cardiff University in Wales.

Dowling said the campaign showed the pro-secession bloc still had solid support but that the anti-independence side had

come to life and posed a serious challenge.

Spain has said it will return full autonomous powers to Cata-lonia once a law-abiding government is elected.

Polls consistently show most Catalans want the right to decide their future but are evenly divided over splitting from Spain.

Romania MPs okay judicial reform bill Bucharest

Reuters

Romanian lawmakers voted yesterday to enact judicial changes that critics say

will undermine graft investiga-tions by weakening the president’s oversight.

The move brings the coun-try, ranked as one of the bloc’s most corrupt, in line with east-ern EU peers Hungary and Poland in defying EU concerns over the independence of judi-ciaries and the rule of law.

Ruling Social Democrat sen-ators approved the bill by 80-0 with all opposition groupings boycotting the vote. It now goes to the president, who has expresses scepticism about it.

He can sign it or send it back for more discussion. The oppo-sition, however, has already said it plans to contest the bill at the

constitutional court, which could prolong its adoption by early 2018.

Contested elements of the bill include weakening the pres-ident’s right to vet prosecutor candidates, as well as amend-ing the definition of prosecutors’ activity to exclude the word “independent.”

“The president can refuse to appoint (prosecutors) only once...,” reads the bill.

“Prosecutors carry out their work according to the principles

of legality, impartiality, hierar-chical control, under the authority of justice minister. Prosecutors are independent in proposing solutions,” the bill stipulates. Critics say this amounts to political control.

The bill also refers to the finance ministry’s obligation to recoup losses triggered by a judicial error from the judge who issued the sentence, instead of from state funds. Experts have said this would could distort court judgements.

The bill is are part of a wider judiciary overhaul that has trig-gered street protests across the country in recent weeks.

Prosecutors have investigated thousands of public officials in an unprecedented crackdown on graft in recent years. The lower house and senate speakers, both leaders of the ruling coalition, are on trial in separate cases.

7 held in Italy for human traffickingMilan

AP

Police in southern Italy have arrested seven people on charges of

trafficking Nigerian women for white slavery yesterday.

Italy’s Carabinieri said that one Italian and six Nige-rians face charges of human trafficking, trading in slaves and unlawful immigration.

The year-long investiga-tion was instigated by victims of the trafficking ring, and that it turned up evidence of a criminal structure operat-ing in Italy, Libya and Nigeria.

The International Organ-ization for Migrants recorded a 600 percent increase in potential sex trafficking vic-tims arriving in Italy over three years, most of them from Nigeria, to over 11,000 last year from under 1,500 in 2014.

Soyuz MS-07 crew docks at ISSMosocw

AFP

A three-man space crew made up of American and Japa-nese rookie astronauts and an experienced Russian cosmonaut successfully docked at the International Space

Station to begin a six-month mission yesterday.Nasa TV footage showed the Soyuz MS-07 capsule contain-

ing Scott Tingle of Nasa, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency dock at the ISS at 0839 GMT following a two-day flight.

A Nasa TV commentator hailed the “textbook arrival” of the trio at the orbital lab positioned more than 250 miles above “the boot of Italy” at the time of contact.

The space travellers who blasted off from Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in freezing conditions on Sunday will now join Russia’s Alexander Misurkin and Nasa pair Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba currently aboard the ISS.

Both Tingle, 52, and Kanai, 40, are first-time flyers but flight commander Shkaplerov, 43, is an experienced hand.

The former Russian military pilot has spent exactly a year in space over two missions and will mark his birthday in orbit for the third time in February next year. The ISS laboratory, a rare example of American and Russian cooperation, has been orbiting Earth at about 28,000km per hour since 1998.

I don’t think Syria boils down to Bashar Al Assad. The Syrian people have an enemy. There are millions of Syrians outside of Syria and they have an enemy who is Bashar Al Assad. That’s the reality: Emmanuel Macron

‘Enemy of his own people’

Newly sworn-in Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (centre) and new Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache (second left) attend their first cabinet meeting, in Vienna, Austria, yesterday.

'Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya' -(ERC) candidate for the Catalan regional election, Marta Rovira (centre) during a demonstration in front of the Estremera prison, in Madrid , yesterday. RIGHT: A man walks by an electoral poster of the deposed regional president Carles Puigdemont, in Barcelona, yesterday.

Six Bosnian war crimes suspects arrestedSarajevo

AFP

Six Bosnian war crimes suspects were arrested yesterday close to Sara-

jevo, on accusations that they murdered 30 Serbs during the country’s 1990s conflict, offi-cials said.

The arrests marked the second operation since early December targeting former members of Bosnian forces over crimes in the year 1992 to 1995 civil war, in which 100,000 people were killed.

The six suspects were arrested to the north of Sara-jevo, police said in a statement.

Prosecutors allege that they took part in an attack in 1992 in the Serb village of Cemerno near the Bosnian capital. The victims were aged between 18 and 80.

Ruling Social Democrat senators approved the bill by 80-0 with all opposition groupings boycotting the vote.

16 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017EUROPE

Harry replaces Philip

Govt admits lapses in Berlin attack responseBerlin

AFP

Germany’s leaders admitted yesterday that the government failed to provide ade-quate support and

comfort to relatives of victims in last year’s devastating Christmas market attack, and acknowl-edged security gaps in the run-up to the atrocity.

A year after rejected Tuni-sian asylum seeker Anis Amri rammed a truck into the crowded market at the Breitscheidplatz, killing 12 people and wounding 70, the authorities have come under fire over security failings and their clumsy handling of the aftermath of the assault.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, accused of failing to reach out personally to families of victims, had met with them for the first time only Monday.

“The talks were very open,

and from the part of those affected, no holds barred, and pointed to the weakness of our

country in this situation,” Mer-kel said as Germany held a day of solemn commemoration for the victims.

“Today is a day of sadness, but also a day of our will to make better things that did not work well,” she vowed, adding that she had offered to meet the bereaved again in a few months’ time.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also told the bereaved and emergency workers at a pri-vate church memorial for the victims that “it is true that some support came late and remained unsatisfactory”.

“Many family members and injured—many of you—felt aban-doned by the state,” he said, recalling the words of a mother who had lost her daughter and said no one had comforted her after the attack.

“I can’t get those words out of my head,” he said, saying that the relatives’ appeal to be heard had “triggered something and set

it in motion.”In the hours following the

assault, which was claimed by the IS militant group, politicians had put on a brave front and repeated the mantra that Ger-many would not be cowed by terror. But Steinmeier said such rhetoric had done little for the victims.

“So soon after the attack... these words don’t sound simply defiant and self-confident, but also strangely cold and detached,” he said.

To mark the anniversary, the popular holiday market at Breitscheidplatz will stay shut all day out of respect for the victims.

At midday, Merkel joined rel-atives in inaugurating a memorial—a 14-metre golden crack in the ground engraved with the victims’ names.

And during the evening, there will be a public ecumeni-cal prayer at 8:02 pm -- the exact

time when Amri rammed his truck into the crowded square—when people can light candles and the church’s bells will chime for 12 minutes.

But the run-up to the com-memoration has been marred by criticism of the authorities by families of the victims.

A wrenching open letter by some of the bereaved accused Merkel of failing to personally offer condolences.

In an editorial in the Tagesspiegel newspaper, Justice Minister Heiko Maas apologised.

“We were not sufficiently prepared to deal with the con-sequences of such a terror attack,” he wrote.

“For that, we can only apol-ogise to the victims and their surviving relatives.”

Kurt Beck, who was commis-sioned by the government to look into the handling of the after-math, last week outlined a litany of official failings, including

taking up to three days to inform anxious relatives that their loved ones had perished and even sending the bereaved autopsy bills complete with late-payment warnings.

Further adding to the embar-rassment, the Bild newspaper said the letter inviting relatives to yesterday’s commemoration was accompanied by an infor-mation sheet stating that “taxi costs will not be reimbursed!” and urging them to use public transport instead.

A spokeswoman for Berlin authorities, Claudia Suender, told Tagesspiegel that such informa-tion was “required under budgetary and administrative law” even if she “regretted the impression it gave.”

Police also faced fierce crit-icism after it emerged that Amri, who arrived in Germany in 2015 and registered under several dif-ferent identities, should have been deported.

Malta scribe’s murder trial again as judge recuses from caseValletta

AFP

The trial of three men accused of killing cam-paigning Maltese journalist

Daphne Caruana Galizia will start for the third time, after a second magistrate recused her-self from the case yesterday.

Galizia died in a car

bombing on October 16. The blast reduced her vehicle to a shell of twisted, burned metal and her murder led to an outpouring of grief on Malta and an interna-tional outcry.

Brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, aged 55 and 53 respectively, and Vincent Mus-cat, 55 -- have pleaded not guilty to planning the killing.

One of Malta’s most promi-nent public figures, Galizia became well-known thanks to a blog she used to expose crime and corruption in the small but economically booming nation.

But the trial has been held up because magistrate Charmaine Galea said the blogger had tack-led the subject of her appointment to the bench,

forcing her to withdraw from the case.

Another magistrate, Don-atella Frendo Dimech, last week also refused to hear the trial, say-ing she was at school with one of Galizia’s sisters.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit will now hear the case.

Malta has only 22 magis-trates and another 22 judges.

Every criminal case is heard by a magistrate in the lower courts but a magistrate cannot order prison sentences of more than 12 years.

Therefore, following the compilation of evidence stage, the case is referred to higher courts for a trial by jury or judge -- whichever the accused choose.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Berlin's Mayor Michael Mueller attend the inauguration of memorial at the site of last year's truck attack in a holiday market, at Breitscheidplatz Square, in Berlin, yesterday. RIGHT: A man stands in front of the memorial at the site of last year’s attack.

“Today is a day of sadness, but also a day of our will to make better things that did not work well,” Merkel vowed, adding that she had offered to meet the bereaved again in a few months’ time.

A year after

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also told the bereaved and emergency workers that “it is true that some support came late and remained unsatisfactory”.

German watchdog slams Facebook on data collectionFrankfurt am Main

AFP

Germany’s competition watchdog said yesterday that Facebook was abus-

ing its dominant position to “limitlessly” harvest user data from outside websites and apps, allowing its advertisers to tar-get customers with hyper-specific ads. In a prelim-inary assessment, the Federal Cartel Office (FCO) said it had focused its probe on the US social media giant’s use of third-party sites to track users’ browsing behaviour, often without their knowledge.

“The authority holds the view that Facebook is abusing this dominant position by mak-ing the use of its social network conditional on its being allowed to limitlessly amass every kind of data generated by using third-party websites,” the FCO said in a statement.

These third parties include Facebook-owned services such

as WhatsApp and Instagram, but also sites and apps that are less obviously linked to Face-book, often through the “like” button at the bottom of a webpage.

The FCO said many users were unaware their movements on other sites were being shad-owed by Facebook, and that it “can also not be assumed” users consent to data collection.

“Consumers must be given more control over these proc-esses and Facebook needs to provide them with suitable options to effectively limit this collection of data,” it said.

The data transmitted from third sources give Facebook a wealth of information about its users, from which the Silicon Valley titan benefits financially by offering targeted advertising on its website. FCO president Andreas Mundt said the social network’s advertising space was “so valuable” precisely because it has “huge amounts of person-alised data at its disposal”.

Russia detains suspected spyMoscow

Reuters

Russia has detained a Norwegian citizen it suspects of spying, his

Norwegian lawyer and the RIA news agency said yester-day, citing a Moscow court which sanctioned the individ-ual’s detention.

Media reports said Rus-sia’s FSB security service had caught the Norwegian taking secret documents about the Russian Navy from a Russian citizen.

The detained man is 62-year-old pensioner Frode Berg, a former guard work-ing on the Norwegian-Russian border who was arrested on December 5, his Norwegian lawyer said.

“His family says the accu-sations of espionage are inexplicable,” Berg’s lawyer in Oslo, Brynjulf Risnes, said yesterday.

“He was on a private visit to meet acquaintances from his former job and the cul-tural work he does ... The family has known for a while that Frode Berg was arrested. They thought it was a misun-derstanding and that it would be clarified soon.”

Berg resides in the Nor-wegian city of Kirkenes, a town some 15km from the border with Russia. He is active in a cross-border cul-tural organisation called Girls on the Bridge.

The maximum penalty for espionage in Russia is 20 years in prison, while the minimum sentence is 10 years, said Risnes.

Britain’s Prince Harry (second right) with Major General Robert Magowan, outgoing Commandant General Royal Marines; The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip (second left), outgoing Captain General Royal Marines; and Major General Charles Stickland, incoming Commandant General Royal Marines, after his appointment as Captain General Royal Marines by Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, yesterday.

17WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 AMERICAS

US accuses North Korea of cyberattackWashington

AFP

The White House yes-terday publ ic ly accused North Korea of launching a massive cyberattack that hit

150 countries last May—hobbling networks from Britain’s public health system to FedEx.

“After careful investigation, the United States is publicly attributing the massive ‘Wan-naCry’ cyberattack to North Korea,” said White House home-land security adviser Tom Bossert.

“We do not make this alle-gation lightly, we do so with evidence and we do so with part-ners,” he added.

Exploiting a security flaw in

Microsoft’s Windows XP operat-ing system, the malware infected an estimated 300,000 comput-ers demanding ransom to decrypt data.

The United States is the lat-est country to point the finger of blame at Pyongyang, attribution which comes as part of a drive to exert “maximum pressure” on the regime.

As yet, no retaliatory meas-ures have been announced.

Among the infected comput-ers were those at Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), Spanish tel-ecoms company Telefonica and US logistics company FedEx.

London had already blamed North Korea, which hit a third of Britain’s public hospitals.

Pyongyang then denied the allegation, saying it went “beyond the limit of our toler-ance” and was a “wicked attempt to lure the international

community into harboring greater mistrust of the DPRK.”

Questions had been raised about whether the US govern-ment acted in a timely manner to respond to the attack, with Microsoft accusing Washington of spotting the flaw and using it for its own ends.

“This attack provides yet another example of why the stockpiling of vulnerabilities by governments is such a problem,” Microsoft’s Brad Smith said at the time.

“Repeatedly, exploits in the hands of governments have leaked into the public domain and caused widespread dam-age,” he said, claiming that the National Security Agency of spot-ting the flaw and saying nothing.

Bossert said that the United States kept only 10 percent of security flaws secret and had no policy of “stockpiling” or with-holding information from potential targets.

Since coming to office Don-ald Trump has sought to put pressure on North Korea, as its reclusive leaders edge ever-closer to developing a ballistic missile that could deliver a nuclear warhead to the US.

Amid a series of tests Trump’s administration has appeared at odds over whether talks could offer a way out of the standoff.

National Security Advisor HR McMaster tried to clean up that question, saying the US wanted a peaceful solution: “Of course that’s what we want but we are not com-

mitted to a peaceful resolution.”“We are committed to a res-

olution, we want the resolution to be peaceful. But, as the pres-ident has said, all options are on the table and we have to be pre-pared if necessary to compel the denuclearisation of North Korea without the cooperation of that regime.”

Trump’s first National Secu-rity Strategy released on Monday, declared that “North Korea seeks the capability to kill millions of Americans with nuclear weapons.”

“Continued provocations by North Korea will prompt neigh-boring countries and the United States to further strengthen security bonds and take addi-tional measures to protect themselves.”

After careful investigation, the United States is publicly attributing the massive ‘WannaCry’ cyberattack to North Korea. “We do not make this allegation lightly, we do so with evidence and we do so with partners: Tom Bossert

Brazil tycoon leaves jail for house arrest

Montreal manacquitted of terror chargesMontreal

Reuters

A Canadian jury yester-day found a man guilty of possessing an explo-

sive substance and acquitted his partner of all charges in a case in which the government alleged they were trying to build a bomb with ingredients that included holiday lights.

The Montreal couple, El Mahdi Jamali and Sabrine Djermane, were charged with trying to leave Canada to join a terrorist group, possessing an explosive substance, facil-itating a terrorist activity and committing an offense for a terrorist group.

They have been detained since they were arrested in 2015, when they were teen-agers. Jamali, now 20, was found guilty of explosives pos-session and acquitted on other charges. He faces up to five years in prison. Djermane, 21, was acquitted of all charges.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police found a handwritten bomb-making recipe copied from a propa-ganda magazine published by Al Qaeda militants when the police searched a condo rented by the couple in 2015, according to prosecutors.

The two were arrested at a time when international security forces reported that students from Montreal were among waves of young peo-ple heading to Syria to join IS militants.

US Congress approves new disaster relief aidWashington

AFP

The US Congress has set aside additional aid of $81bn to help states rav-

aged by hurricanes or wildfires, in a bill that could be adopted this week.

This comes on top of emer-gency packages of $15.3bn and $36.5bn in September and Octo-ber, bringing the total to $133bn.

The new package goes far beyond the $44bn that the White House had asked for, and could be adopted by the end of the week as lawmakers vote on budgetary issues.

Texas, Florida, California, Louisiana and the US Caribbean territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will be the main beneficiaries of the assistance.

Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and Louisiana in late August. Hurricane Irma ravaged Flor-ida on September 10 after striking the Virgin Islands. Then Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico on September 20.

California has been grap-pling with intense wildfires since October and one of them, known as Thomas and still burning, is one of the worst in the state’s history.

Over-speeding leads to Amtrak train crashDupont

AP

The Amtrak train that plunged off an overpass south of Seattle, killing at

least three people, was hurtling 50mph over the speed limit when it jumped the track, fed-eral investigators say.

Bella Dinh-Zarr, a National Transportation Safety Board member, said yesterday that the data recorder in the rear loco-motive showed the train was going 80mph in a 30mph zone when it derailed along a curve,

spilling some of its cars onto an interstate highway below.

Dinh-Zarr said it is not yet known what caused the train to run off the rails and too early to say why it was going so fast.

She said investigators will talk to the engineer and other crew members. In previous wrecks, investigators looked at whether the engineer was dis-tracted or disabled.

The engineer, whose name was not released, was bleeding from the head after the wreck, and both eyes were swollen shut, according to dispatch audio.

The train, with 85 passen-gers and crew members, was making the inaugural run along a fast new bypass route that was created by refurbishing freight tracks alongside Interstate 5. The 15-mile, $180.7m project was aimed at speeding up serv-ice by bypassing a route with a number of curves, single-track tunnels and freight traffic.

Positive train control “tech-nology that can automatically slow or stop a speeding train” wasn’t in use on this stretch of track, according to Amtrak Pres-ident Richard Anderson.

Curitiba

AFP

Marcelo Odebrecht, the construction tycoon at the center of Brazil’s

biggest ever corruption scandal, was released from prison yes-terday to begin house arrest in his luxury Sao Paulo home.

Odebrecht, 49, left the prison in the southern city of Curitiba after serving two and a half years behind bars. He was fitted with a monitoring ankle bracelet before boarding a chartered business plane to fly to the coun-try’s biggest metropolis, reporters at the scene said.

The former CEO of Latin America’s most powerful con-struction company still has seven and a half years to serve of his sentence for organising the sys-temic bribery of politicians to gain influence and contracts for Odebrecht in Brazil and across the region.

The so-called “Car Wash” scandal around the family-owned firm Odebrecht S.A. has put huge pressure on President Michel

Temer after many of his allies came under investigation.

“Car Wash” is also causing political havoc abroad, with Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski facing possible impeachment this week over allegations that he took bribes from the company, and Ecua-dor’s vice-president being sentenced to six years in prison

last week for taking kickbacks.Building everything from the

Miami Heat basketball arena to a hydroelectric dam in Angola, Odebrecht S A has long been one of Brazil’s economic giants. At the peak of his career at the company founded by his grand-father, Marcelo Odebrecht was one of the most influential peo-ple in the country.

But in 2015 he was arrested and later convicted for his cen-tral role in the embezzlement and bribery scandal uncovered by the “Car Wash” probe that two-and-a-half years later con-tinues to shake Brazil’s elite.

Originally sentenced to 19 years in prison, Odebrecht struck a plea bargain with prosecutors, agreeing to testify in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Under the deal, 77 Odebre-cht S A executives, including Marcelo Odebrecht, pulled back the curtains on their corruption scheme, which was so extensive that it required its own dedicated corporate department to man-age the bribes.

The company also ended up agreeing to pay $2.6bn in fines to the Brazilian, Swiss and US governments.

Fallout from the scandal con-tinued even as Odebrecht was being released, as the authorities revealed that documents surren-dered by the firm show it formed a cartel to control the market for highway construction in Sao Paulo between 2008 and 2015.

No sign of terrorism in Atlanta power outageAtlanta

AP

The FBI is part of the probe into what caused a fire that knocked out power to the world’s busiest airport in Atlanta, but an agency spokesman said yesterday there

was no sign of anything connected to terrorism.“There’s no indication at this point of anything nefarious,”

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said.The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and

Explosives has also been involved in the investigation, Geor-gia Power spokesman Craig Bell said.

“We’re bringing everything we have to bear to the situa-tion to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Bell said.

No conclusions have been drawn as to the cause of the fire, which took out the airport’s power supply and also its backup electricity for about eleven hours on Sunday.

Argentina passes pension overhauls amid protestsBuenos Aires AFP

Argentina’s centre-right government managed yesterday to push

through pension overhauls that have prompted several violent protests, with critics saying the changes will weigh heaviest on the poorest sectors of society.

Members of the governing “Cambiemos”, or Change, coa-lition won 128 votes in favour of the bill, with 116 voting against and two abstaining.

On Monday, clashes erupted between police and protestors opposed to the measures near the country’s congress building in Buenos Aires, with demonstrators con-tinuing to bang pots and pans in protest late into the night.

President Mauricio Macri, has been trying to limit pension payouts to lower the country’s deficit, which is estimated at five percent of GDP.

His aim is to produce sav-ings of $5.7bn in 2018, equivalent to around a fifth of the deficit.

The changes would also push back the retirement age to 70 from 65 for men and to 63 from 60 for women.

Cabinet chief Marcos Pena has said that it will not cause retirees to lose purchasing power.

But the opposition argues that the overhaul would nega-tively impact about 17 million retirees, as it would change the formula used to calculate ben-efits, adjusting payments quarterly while taking only the official inflation index into account.

“Voting is not the end of history,” said Agustin Rossi, president of the leftist Front for Victory party of former presi-dent Cristina Kirchner.

“What happened today is the starting point, the beginning of a peaceful resistance.”

Journalists gather around the car that supposedly carries Marcelo Odebrecht in front of his house, in Morumbi neighbourhood, in Sao Paulo, yesterday.

Emergency crew continues lift an Amtrak train off the bridge, in Dupont, yesterday.

18 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017AMERICAS

Washington

Bloomberg

Andrew McCabe, the FBI’s deputy director, was being inter-viewed behind closed doors by the

House Intelligence Committee yesterday after a senior senator demanded that he be fired.

“He oughta be replaced. And I’ve said that before and I’ve said it to people who can do it,” Sen-ate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, said.

Grassley has questioned whether McCabe has a conflict of interest and is biased against President Donald Trump. McCabe’s wife in 2015 ran for a state Senate seat in Virginia, backed in part with money from associates of Hillary Clinton, Trump’s opponent in last year’s

presidential election.Such concerns with McCabe

have increased among Republi-cans with the recent release of text messages that many Repub-licans claimed showed anti-Trump bias by agent Peter

Strzok, who was removed from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team investigating whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russians to help get him elected.

The president has com-plained on Twitter that his Attorney General Jeff Sessions should have fired McCabe a long time ago.

Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, the top Democrat on the House Judici-ary Committee, said in a statement Friday that he respects Grassley “but I could not disa-gree more with his suggest that Mr. McCabe should be removed from his post, as President Trump has repeatedly urged.” Nadler said “the president and his supporters in Congress seem intent on trashing the FBI.”

Grassley said Trump shouldn’t intervene to have McCabe removed and instead

leave that up to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Chris-topher Wray.

“Trump ought to stay out of it,” Grassley said. “I think it’s a Christopher Wray job.”

FBI spokesman Andrew Ames declined to comment.

House Oversight and Gov-ernment Reform Chairman Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Repub-lican, said in an appearance on Fox News last week he’d be “a little surprised” if McCabe still had his job this week.

McCabe’s closed-door inter-view with House Intelligence had been arranged after months of efforts by committee Republi-cans angered over what they said was an inability to get more cooperation from the FBI in turning over material about the investigation. House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes of Cali-fornia has suggested preparing

contempt of Congress action against the FBI and the Justice Department.

Republicans, who have long wanted to question McCabe over how the FBI used a now-famous dossier about Trump with unver-ified accusations of collusion, also want to ask about the Strzok text messages.

Grassley and other Republi-cans have said they want to find out what McCabe knows about a particular text message from Strzok in August 2016 -- during the presidential campaign—talk-ing about a need for some “insurance policy” in the case of a Trump victory.

They also want to know what McCabe knows about demoted Justice Department official Bruce Ohr and his wife Nellie Ohr, who was reportedly contracted to help prepare opposition research on Trump.

Grassley calls for McCabe’s ousterDisney unveils Trump RobotWashington

AFP

Disney yesterday revealed its ani-matronic Donald

Trump figure in Orlando, Florida, and the robo-Trump quickly stoked almost as much social media buzz as the man it is based upon.

The robotic figure, on dis-play at Disney’s Hall of Presidents exhibit, stands on a stage alongside life-size models of Trump’s predecessors.

It can speak and move its hands, but was widely derided by friends and foe for its fleet-ing resemblance to the 45th United States president.

Twitter users said the fig-ure, dressed in a dark suit and trademark long tie, looked more like his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton or Hollywood actor Jon Voight, a Trump supporter.

Others compared it to veteran US actress Angela Lansbury or the character Biff Tannen from the film “Back to the Future.”

“The more I see of Disney’s ‘Hall of Presidents’ Trump, the more I’m convinced they made a Hillary one first and had to redo it” said Twitter user Maplecocaine.

“It looks like Jon Voight and Hillary had a man-baby,” said another Twitter account under the handle Tyree.

The comedy website Funny or Die quickly dubbed over the official recording on Trump’s voice, in which he talks about “the achievements of the American spirit,” with some of his more lurid proc-lamations, such as the “Access Hollywood” tape in which he boasts of grabbing women.

Twitter user Rex Hupke said that “the best part of Donald Trump being in Dis-ney’s Hall of Presidents will be when they move him ... and put him in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride’s jail.”

12 dead as tourist bus crashes in MexicoMexico City AP

At least 12 people died when a bus carrying cruise ship passengers to

Mayan ruins in eastern Mexico flipped over on a highway early yesterday, officials said.

Seven Americans and two Sweden citizens are among the injured, according to Quintana Roo state Civil Defense spokes-man Vicente Martin, who said authorities haven’t yet estab-lished the nationalities of the dead.

Miami-based Royal Carib-bean Cruises said in a statement that passengers from two of its ships, the Celebrity Equinox and Serenade of the Seas, were involved in the crash. The com-pany expressed its sympathies and said it was assisting with

m e d i c a l c a r e a n d transportation.

A spokesman from the US Embassy in Mexico said US offi-cials were working with local authorities to determine whether US citizens were involved.

Video images from the scene showed the bus on its side in vegetation off the two-lane highway, with some survivors lying on the pavement while others walked around.

Martin said the crash occurred as the bus was on its way to the ruins at Chacchoben, about 175km south of Tulum.

Costa Maya Mahahual, the bus company involved, said in a statement that the bus was carrying tourists who had arrived to the coastal town of Mahahual aboard a cruise ship.

A guide and driver were aboard the bus.

Lighter winds help firefighters battle California blazeCalifornia

Reuters

Thousands of weary fire-fighters, battling a Southern California

wildfire that ranks among the largest in state history, got a little help from more favora-ble weather yesterday amid fresh signs of their progress against the flames.

As the Thomas fire rages into its third week in the coastal mountains, foothills and canyons of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties north-west of Los Angeles, officials lifted some evacuation orders, sent some visiting firefighters back home and reported improved air quality.

Firefighters have carved containment lines around half of the blaze’s perimeter, but it has still spread by several hundred acres a day since the weekend. In total the fire has scorched 110,000 hectares of drought-parched chaparral and brush.

Increasing humidity and diminishing winds have made firefighters’ jobs easier since Monday, although the area remains “critically dry,” a coalition of agencies said in a statement.

But the National Weather Service predicted a pick-up in wind speeds late Wednes-day and early Thursday, with gusts of 50 miles per hour and occasionally higher. The potential for more gusty con-ditions will continue at least through Friday, it said.

Honduras president seeks peace after election victoryTegucigalpa

AP

Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez called on the country’s

leaders yesterday to accept his disputed re-election and bring peace to the divided country, even as his challenger said he would once again challenge the official result.

“The people have spoken and it only remains to comply with their will, expressed freely at the ballot box,” Hernandez said in a televised speech.

But street protests continued yesterday, with roads and high-ways blocked at various points by burning tires and rocks two days after the Electoral Tribunal rejected complaints by Salvador

Nasralla and declared Hernan-dez the victor in the Nov. 26 election.

According to the court’s offi-cial count, Hernandez won with 42.95 percent to 41.42 for Nas-ralla, a former sportscaster backed by a left-leaning coalition.

However the Organization of American States, which had observers monitoring the elec-tion, called for a repeat of the vote, saying the official version of the count included “extreme statistical improbability.” A Georgetown University researcher who advised the OAS said an implausibly uniform wave of late-breaking results across the country pushed Her-nandez past Nasralla after a daylong interruption in

counting.Nasralla, who was in Wash-

ington to rally international support, said he would file a new formal appeal of the results, and

said he was encouraged by the reaction of the US government, which issued a statement Mon-day urging parties unhappy with the vote to take advantage of a

five-day period to appeal it.But Honduras Vice President

Ricardo Alvarez insisted on Mon-day there would be no do-over.

Republicans aim for short-term extension of surveillance lawWashington

AP

Senate Republicans are aim-ing for a short-term extension of a soon-to-

expire foreign intelligence collection programme, a move that would appear to satisfy lib-ertarian-leaning lawmakers demanding the contentious law be revised to protect the privacy of American citizens.

The Senate’s No. 2 Repub-lican, John Cornyn of Texas, said that the programme, known as section 702 of the

Foreign Intelligence Surveil-lance Act, could be renewed for several weeks by adding a pro-vision to a stopgap government spending bill. That would give Congress more time to sift through competing bills in the House and Senate to alter and reauthorise the law.

“If I was a betting man, I would say that’s the most likely outcome at this moment,” Cornyn said. “We need to figure out what we need to do to get this into the New Year because we can’t afford to go dark. It would be dangerous for the country.”

Congressional Democrats and Republicans agree the law, which lapses on December 31 without action, is invaluable in helping the US track foreign spies, terrorists, weapons traf-fickers and cyber criminals. But a number of lawmakers and privacy advocates want greater protections for the communi-cations of Americans that are picked up during the collection of the foreign intelligence.

The Trump administration has pushed for a renewal of the law without changes. US intel-ligence and law enforcement

officials have argued for broad authority to spy on the elec-tronic communications of foreigners located outside the US. They said the information yields intelligence that helps prevent terrorist plots and cyberattacks.

Cornyn’s remarks came shortly after GOP Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky declared they would oppose any government spend-ing bill that included a permanent or long-term exten-sion of section 702. They’re pressing for open debate so

changes can be made to ensure the civil liberties of American citizens are protected. They’re in favor of only a temporary extension, which they defined as a matter of weeks.

“The intelligence community here in our country needs more oversight not less,” Paul said. “No permanent reauthorisation. Any-thing should be short-term reauthorisation and there needs to be a full-throated debate on informing, controlling and over-seeing this enormous power we allow the intelligence commu-nity to have.”

Grassley and other Republicans have said they want to find out what McCabe knows about a particular text message from Strzok in August 2016 -- during the presidential campaign—talking about a need for some “insurance policy” in the case of a Trump victory.

Inquiry

Supporters of opposition candidate Salvador Nasralla clash with Honduran Army soldiers and riot police members, during protests in Tegucigalpa.

People pose for photos with a snowman decoration inside the Oculus World Trade Center Transportation Hub, in New York City, yesterday.

Holiday spirit

19WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 MORNING BREAK

FAJRSHOROOK

04.31am

05.50 am

11.18 am

02.24 pm

MAGHRIBISHA

04.48 pm

06.18 pm

PRAYER TIMINGS

HIGH TIDE 03:30 – 17:15 LOW TIDE 13:30 – 23:00

Hazy to misty / foggy at places at

first becomes moderate tempera-

ture daytime, cold by night.

WEATHER TODAY

Minimum Maximum

Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department

19oC 25oC

Drone Air Show at Katara as part of Qatar National Day celebrations yesterday. Pics: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula

Alaskan snow multiplied due to global warming

Washington

AP

US health officials yesterday approved the nation’s first gene therapy for an inherited disease, a treat-ment that improves the sight of patients with a

rare form of blindness. It marks another major advance for the emerging field of genetic medicine.

The approval for Spark Therapeutics offers a life-changing intervention for a small group of patients with a vision-destroying genetic mutation and hope for many more people with other inherited diseases. The drug-maker said it will not disclose the price until next month, delaying debate about the affordability of a treatment that analysts predict will be priced around $1m. The injection, called Luxturna, is the first gene therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration in which a corrective gene is given directly to patients. The gene mutation interferes with the production of an enzyme needed for normal vision.

Patients who got the treatment have described see-ing snow, stars or the moon for the first time.

“One of the best things I’ve ever seen since surgery are the stars. I never knew that they were little dots that twinkled,” said Mistie Lovelace of Kentucky, one of sev-eral patients who urged the FDA to approve the therapy at a public hearing in October.

Smart cars, covered in snow after a heavy snowfall, are parked for sale outside an automobile dealership in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday.

Snow cover Gene therapy for rare form of blindness wins US approval

London

AFP

New BBC drama “McMafia” will delve into the murky depths of global crime when it airs in Jan-

uary, exploring the ties between the corporate world and well-heeled mobsters.

“The gangsters have changed, they are not in the shadows anymore. They can be bankers, lawyers, government ministers,” said Hossein Amini, co-cre-ator of the series with director James Watkins.

Based in London but taking in cit-ies including Moscow and Tel Aviv, “McMafia” follows the criminal classes

who appear far from mobster stereotypes.

The luxurious lifestyles of the well-dressed polyglots are on show, complete with champagne and cav-iar. “The line between the underworld and the overworld does not exist any longer,” Amini said at a London screening, noting that these days it was possible to sit next to someone at a res-taurant with no idea of their criminal ties.

Watkins agreed. “The criminal is becoming corporate and the corpo-rate is becoming criminal,” he said.

The eight-part series centres around Alex Goldman, played by Brit-ish actor James Norton (“War & Peace”,

“Happy Valley”), brought up in Eng-land by Russian exiles with mafia ties.

Despite a successful career in finance, Goldman is dragged into his family’s past and finds himself caught in an international web involving cor-rupt politicians and intelligence agencies. “The whole point of the show is that the corruption is global... It’s by no means limited to Russia, it’s very much in London as well,” Norton said.

The drama is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by British journalist Misha Glenny.

He chose London as the novel’s focal point in part due to the British capital’s reputation among anti-cor-ruption campaigners as a magnet for

questionable wealth, much of which is invested in the luxury property market.

“I did keep coming back to Lon-don because of the fact that London welcomed a lot of money from all over the world without actually scrutinis-ing entirely where it was coming from,” Glenny explained.

“McMafia” was filmed in around a dozen countries and the cast includes Russian actor Aleksey Serebryakov (“The Method”) and Faye Marsay, a British actress known for her role in “Game of Thrones”. “McMafia” will first be aired by the BBC on January 1, before being distributed by the Ama-zon Prime online platform a day later.

BBC drama to explore depths of global crime

Paris

AFP

Snowfall in central Alaska has more than doubled since the mid 1800s, said a study yesterday which

pointed the finger at global warming.

Two ice cores drilled into Mount Hunter in the Denali National Park, revealed a 117-percent increase in win-tertime snowfall in south-central Alaska since about 1840, researchers wrote in the journal Scientific Reports.

Summer snow also increased, by nearly 50 percent. “We were shocked

when we first saw how much snow-fall has increased,” said Erich Osterberg of Darmouth College, who co-authored the study.

“We had to check and double-check our results to make sure of the findings.” Next, the team set out to find out why. Scientific models predict that global precipitation -- rain or snow -- would increase by as much as two percent per degree of global warming. Warmer air holds more moisture.

This accounted for some, but not most, of the Denali snowfall increase, the team said. They found another contributor: the strengthening of a

low-pressure system called the Aleu-tian Low in the Bering Sea off the Alaskan coast, driven by warmer trop-ical oceans.

The Aleutian Low brings a north-ward flow of warm, moist air to Alaska.

“It is now glaringly clear from our ice core record that modern snowfall rates in Alaska are much higher than natural rates before the Industrial Rev-olution,” study co-author Dominic Winski of Dartmouth College said in a statement. This is when humankind started pumping planet-warming greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The same changes accounted for a

decrease in Hawaiian precipitation, the paper pointed out.

And it stressed the Alaskan impact would not necessarily be repeated in other places with similar conditions.

“Scientists keep discovering that on a regional basis, climate change is full of surprises,” said Osterberg.

The world’s nations vowed in the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to under two degrees Celsius (1.5 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels. Anything more, experts warn, will give rise to life- and asset-threatening superstorms, sea-level rise, floods and drought.

Spectacular Drone Air Show

20 WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017HOME