e_Paper_Thursday_December 30, 2016

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DT 8 World FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 SOUTH ASIA China to hold first military drills with Nepal China will hold its first military drills with Nepal next year, China’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday, in a move that could unnerve neighbouring India. China is vying to increase its influence in landlocked Nepal, which serves as a natural buffer between China and India, challenging India’s long-held position as the dominant outside power. REUTERS INDIA AIADMK picks new chief after death of Jayalalithaa The party of Jayalalithaa Jayaram, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), picked one of the former leader’s closest aides to succeed her on Thursday, ending weeks of speculation. On Thursday, the AIADMK announced on Twitter that it had elected her close friend, VK Sasikala, a 59-year-old former video cassette seller, as its new chief. AFP CHINA China warns US against stopover for Taiwan’s Tsai Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will pass through the United States when she visits Latin America next month, the Taiwan Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, angering China which urged the US to block any such stopover. China is deeply suspicious of Tsai, who it thinks wants to push for the formal independence of Taiwan. REUTERS ASIA PACIFIC 7 killed in drug-related feud in Philippines Philippine police say gunmen have shot dead seven people including three teens and a pregnant woman in what they suspect is a feud involving illegal drugs. Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo said Thursday one of four suspects in the Caloocan city shooting has been arrested, pinpointed by a survivor of the attack. AP MIDDLE EAST Oman joins Saudi ‘antiterror’ coalition Oman, which generally stays neutral in the face of regional disputes, has joined a Saudi-led military coalition aimed at “fighting terrorism,” official media in Riyadh said Thursday. The Gulf sultanate, which maintains good ties with rival powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia, becomes the 41st nation in the alliance announced last year by the Saudi defence minister, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. AFP US set to move against Russia over vote meddling • AFP, Washington, DC President Barack Obama’s administration is poised to announce a series of retaliatory measures against Russia over its cyber-meddling in the US election, reports said Wednesday. Obama has all but accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of personally ordering an audacious cyber hack that many Democrats believe damaged Hillary Clinton’s chances in November’s closely fought election with Republican foe Donald Trump. The US intelligence community has concluded that a hack-and-release of Democratic Party and Clinton staff emails was designed to put Trump – a political neophyte who has praised Putin – into the Oval Office. The Washington Post cited officials as saying the steps set to be announced as early as this week include economic sanctions, diplomatic censure and covert action – likely including cyber operations. People tied to a Russian disinformation campaign that US intelligence officials say targeted Clinton’s campaign may also be named under the plans, according to CNN. Republican Senators John Mc- Cain and Lindsey Graham called for an even tougher US response to Russian interference in the American election. The US Congress should “increase the sanctions on Russia for this misbehaviour,” McCain told Fox News, pressing for a permanent American military presence in the Baltic states, as well as arming Ukraine with weapons. “You need to hit Russia in a sustained fashion,” Graham added, saying that for Obama to act now just before he leaves office on January 20 would “send the wrong signal.” While suggesting that the Russian action did not ultimately change the election results, Mc- Cain said: “Look, if you’re able to change the results of an election, then you have undermined the very fundamentals of democracy.” US officials said a key goal of the future steps to be taken against Russia was not just to punish, but to deter. Prior to November’s election, the Obama administration warned Russia via diplomatic channels, according to the Post. Obama also spoke with Putin at a G20 summit in China earlier this year. And about a week before the election, Washington sent a message to Moscow using a special crisis communication channel for the first time, asking it to stop targeting state voter registration and election systems. Russia apparently complied, according to US officials. CNN cited Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that Moscow will respond to any “hostile steps” from Washington. • Trump, Obama disputes spill into the open • AFP, Palm Beach, US US President-elect Donald Trump stirred a simmering dispute with Barack Obama on Wednesday, accusing him of derailing a smooth transition with “inflammatory” remarks, before appearing to row back. Ever since the November 8 election, Trump and Obama have tried to bury political differences in favour of a united public front that would smooth the transfer of power on January 20. But the Republican president-in-waiting unceremoniously cast any cordiality aside in a morning Twitter tirade from his Mar-a- Lago estate in Florida. In a declaration that is unprecedented in its personal condemnation of a soon-to-be predecessor, the 70-year-old tweeted: “Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.” White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the call “was positive and focused on continuing a smooth and effective transition,” adding the pair planned to keep in touch over the coming weeks. US VS RUSSIA: THE POWER DYNAMICS The US military outguns its Russian rival in most key categories, though Russia’s nuclear arsenal retains its Soviet-era potency. Total defense spending Ground troops Tactical aircraft Long-range strike aircrafts Surface warfare ships Aircraft carriers Submarines US RUSSIA Tensions between Trump and the current White House have been growing for weeks as Obama has become more outspoken about a vitriol-filled election that saw Democrat Hillary Clinton suffer a shock defeat. Obama – who is still the most popular politician in the country – recently suggested that he may have won a third term were he not constitutionally barred from doing so. That seems to have irked the notoriously thin-skinned president-elect. $1,350,000bn $157bn $272bn $71bn $3,290bn $180bn $217bn $59bn $560bn $845,000bn $1,200bn $10bn Nuclear warheads $7,100bn $7,700bn Sources: Defense department, US Air Force Association, International Institute for Strategic Studies 2015 US President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump $60bn $1bn REUTERS Competing claims At the same time, the pair have competed to take credit for solid economic indicators. After months of talking down the world’s largest economy, Trump has tried to take credit for a number of economic developments that are roughly on trend. Trump claimed Sprint was creating 5,000 US jobs “because of me.” White House response While the White House has seethed behind the scenes, there has been little public response to Trump’s forays into US foreign and domestic policy before he takes office in less than a month. But tensions reached something of a breaking point after the United States tacitly backed condemnation of Israeli settlement activity at the United Nations. With Washington withholding its veto, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding a halt to Israeli settlement building in the Palestinian territories. Trump followed up Wednesday’s early tweet with another two taking aim at Obama’s policy toward Israel. Throughout the long election campaign, Obama made no secret of his disdain for Trump, describing him as ill-informed and unfit for office. But since a landmark meeting in the Oval Office a few days after the election, Obama has tried flattery in a bid to bind Trump to the norms of office. He has praised Trump on a historic victory and made plain that millions of Republican voters would also be hurt if Trump overturns his landmark health care law. •
World Russia, Iran ties with Taliban stoke Afghan anxiety • AFP, Kabul Allegations over Russia and Iran’s deepening ties with the Taliban have ignited concerns of a renewed “Great Game” of proxy warfare in Afghanistan that could undermine US-backed troops and push the country deeper into turmoil. Moscow and Tehran insist their contact with insurgents is aimed at promoting regional security, but local and US officials who are already frustrated with Pakistan’s perceived double-dealing in Afghanistan have expressed bitter scepticism. Washington’s long-time nemesis Iran is accused of covertly aiding the Taliban, and Russia is back to what observers call Cold War shenanigans to derail US gains at a time when uncertainty reigns over President-elect Donald Trump’s Afghanistan policy. Russia has officially provided military helicopters for Afghan forces, but simultaneously propped up the Taliban with arms, official and insurgent sources say. A Taliban commander said the Russian support had helped the insurgents overrun the northern city of Kunduz in October for the second time in a year. Taliban representatives in recent months have also held several Ten years since Saddam Hussein executed • AFP, Baghdad Ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was hanged inside one of his own regime’s former torture centres a decade ago on December 30, 2006. Following is an account of the demise of the man who had ruled Iraq ruthlessly for more than two decades: No sign of fear On December 30, 2006, Saddam was hanged at the military intelligence headquarters in the Kadhimiyah district of northern Baghdad. Officials who witnessed the predawn execution say Saddam, 69, remained defiant to the end, railing against his Iranian and American enemies and praising insurgents who had pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war. “I didn’t see any signs of fear,” then national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie, who oversaw the execution, said in 2013. “I didn’t hear any regret from him, I didn’t hear any request for mercy from God... or request for pardon,” he said. Rubaie said he pulled the lever In this November 2015 file photo, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, meets with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran REUTERS meetings with Russian officials in Tajikistan and Moscow, sources say. ‘Great fear’ Western diplomats in Kabul have privately voiced alarm that Russia is quietly filling its embassy ranks with Soviet era “old-timers” well versed in Cold War tactics, as relations with Washington turn sour over the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. And this week Kabul vented fury over a summit between Russia, China and Pakistan in Moscow SADDAM HUSSEIN April 28, 1937 Born in Awja, near Tikrit, into a Sunni family 1957 Joins Baath Party Photo AFP to hang Saddam, but it did not work. An unidentified person then pulled it a second time, killing him. Crimes against humanity The former strongman was executed after being found guilty of crimes against humanity for the 1982 killing of 148 Shias in the town of Dujail. The massacre followed an assassination attempt against him there. His rule was marked by brutal repression, disastrous wars and punishing international sanctions. Saddam disputed the legitimacy of a special Iraqi tribunal set up with US support to try him, and described his October 2005 to July 2006 trial as “a comedy”. But the execution, in which which agreed on a “flexible approach” to remove certain Taliban figures from sanctions lists. Alexander Mantytskiy, Russia’s ambassador to Kabul, insists engagement with the insurgents is benign. Lashing out at Nato, he added the allegations against Russia were an effort to distract attention from the worsening conflict and “put the blame for their failures on our shoulders”. Some observers agree that Russian and Iranian concerns over 1968 Involved in coup that brings Baath party to power, becomes key figure 1979 Takes power, purging Baath party leadership 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War March 17/18 1988 Orders chemical weapons attack on Kurdish village of Halabja, killing nearly 5,000 people 1990-91 Invasion of Kuwait: 1st Gulf War the United States said it played no part, was slammed by Sunni Iraqis and governments around the world – although not by Saddam’s arch-enemies Israel and Iran. The day after his execution, Saddam was buried in the village of Awja, his birthplace near Tikrit, 160km north of Baghdad. Islamic State jihadists cannot be dismissed lightly. Playground for superpowers Afghanistan has long been used as a chessboard for proxy battles – from the 19th century “Great Game” of rivalry between Britain and Russia to the US funnelling weapons through Pakistan to Afghan rebels fighting Soviet forces in the 1980s. It has also served as a proxy war playground for nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, which is also accused of playing a “double game” by endorsing Washington’s war on terrorism while providing sanctuary to the Taliban. Superpowers jockeying for supremacy in Afghanistan could sow further chaos amid the unpredictability of Trump’s foreign policy, analysts say. Trump has given surprisingly few details on how he will tackle America’s longest war. “Russia is waiting to see the next US move when Trump takes over,” said Kabul-based analyst Ahmad Saeedi. As for Iran, many in Tehran fear that a potentially hawkish White House under Trump will try to scrap its landmark nuclear deal with world powers, pushing them to retaliate by deepening ties with the Taliban. • March 20, 2003 US-led forces invade Iraq: 2nd Gulf War April 9 Fall of the regime December 13 Hussein captured near Tikrit 2005-2006 Judged by special Iraqi tribunal for genocide and crimes against humanity, Death sentence Dec 30, 2006 Executed by hanging in Baghdad The betrayal It was also near Tikrit that on the moonless night of December 13, 2003, the former dictator was captured by US forces. Washington had offered a $25m reward for his capture. After being overthrown by the US-led invasion, Saddam was on the run for eight months with the help of bodyguards from his family, according to local tribal leaders. But one betrayed him, leading American troops to Saddam’s hiding place after himself being detained. Far from the luxury of his presidential palaces, Saddam was found hiding on a farm down what American troops called a “rat-hole”, an underground hideout with enough space for a person to lie down in, equipped with an air vent and an exhaust fan. As he peered out from his den, he announced in English: “I am the president of Iraq and I want to negotiate,” US army officers said. “Ladies and gentlemen, we got him,” a smiling American diplomat Paul Bremer said the following afternoon as he announced Saddam’s capture. • 9 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 DT USA Trump issues fresh attack on United Nations US President-elect Donald Trump launched a fresh salvo of accusations against the UN Wednesday, saying the world body had not lived up to its potential and failed to solve global problems. His comments came as incoming UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he wants to meet Trump “as soon as possible” and is “determined to establish a constructive dialogue.” AFP THE AMERICAS Lawmakers in Colombia pass Farc amnesty law Colombia’s Congress on Wednesday passed a law granting amnesty to the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) insurgents as part of the country’s peace deal. The measure grants special legal treatment, amnesty and pardons to members of the Farc accused of political and related crimes. The Senate passed the bill 69-0, after the House of Representatives approved it 121-0. AFP UK UK faces legal fight with Calais child asylum seekers Dozens of children who sought asylum in Britain after living in the Calais jungle camp have launched a legal challenge against the government’s handling of their claims, their lawyers said Thursday. They accuse interior minister Amber Rudd of breaking the government’s commitment to welcome vulnerable minors under section 67 of the Immigration Act, known as the Dubs amendment. AFP EUROPE Turkey detains prominent journalist over tweets Turkish authorities on Thursday detained a prize-winning journalist over a succession of tweets and articles for an opposition daily, state media said, as alarm grows over press freedom in the country. Ahmet Sik was detained on accusations of making “terror propaganda” and denigrating the Turkish Republic, the judicial authorities and police, according to the staterun Anadolu news agency. AFP AFRICA Floods in southwest Congo kill at least 50 Flooding this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo port city of Boma killed at least 50 people and left another 10,000 homeless, authorities told Reuters on Wednesday. Torrential rain on Monday night caused the Kalamu River to overflow, flooding two districts of the southwestern city, said Therese-Louise Mambu, health minister for Kongo Central province. REUTERS
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