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THURSDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11087 February 7, 2019 Jumada II 2, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Amir meets Micronesia speaker Qatar plans to host

QATAR | Economy Amir chairs Supreme meeting to address Council meeting His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Chairman of IS crimes, says FM the Supreme Council for Economic Aff airs and Investment, yesterday QNA of the Global Coalition in defeating the chaired the council’s first meeting Washington group in Iraq and Syria refl ects the in- in 2019 at the Amiri Diwan. His ternational will to eradicate terrorism. Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh The Deputy Prime Minister and Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, who is E the Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Foreign Aff airs stressed the Deputy Chairman of the council, and Minister of Foreign Af- that the success in combating IS group attended the meeting along with HE Hfairs Sheikh Mohamed bin and eradicating its ideology can be the Prime Minister and Minister of Abdulrahman al-Thani has said Qatar sustained only by addressing the root Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser intends to host this year a high-level causes of terrorism and extremism, bin Khalifa al-Thani, Executive His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday met at his off ice at the Amiri Diwan with Wesley Simina, regional meeting to address the brutal ending and preventing armed confl icts, Member of the council, and the Speaker of Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia and Asia-Pacific Group in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and crimes committed by the IS group, in uniting eff orts, promoting regional and members. The council discussed his accompanying delegation. At the outset of the meeting, Simina congratulated the Amir on the victory of the Qatar National co-operation with the Special Adviser international co-operation and abiding topics on the meeting agenda and Team in the 2019 Asian Cup. They also reviewed relations between Qatar and the IPU in parliamentary and legislative fields. and Head of the International Investi- by the relevant provisions of interna- took the appropriate measures. Qatar will host the 140th Assembly of the IPU in April. gation Team to promote accountabil- tional law. It also also reviewed the latest ity for crimes committed by militant The Minister also stressed Qatar’s updates in investment aff airs, the group in Iraq. fi rm position that calls for resolving work process of the second National In a speech at a meeting of the min- the Syrian crisis in accordance with the Development Strategy 2018-2022 isters of the Global Coalition to Defeat Geneva resolutions and relevant Secu- and also reviewed a presentation IS in Washington yesterday, the Min- rity Council resolutions and holding on supporting and promoting local ister said Qatar will spare no eff ort in war criminals accountable for crimes products and the steps taken to supporting the brotherly Iraqi people committed by terrorist groups or those encourage national products. at this stage, underscoring Iraq’s ability who practised state terrorism. Qatar receives to overcome the challenges in the re- He noted that the phenomenon of QATAR | Offi cial construction process, and called on the foreign terrorist fi ghters is a very im- international community to support the portant issue and should be addressed Amir holds phone talk country in its reconstruction eff orts. through comprehensive approach and with Tunisia President He stressed that the fi ght against these fi ghters should be rehabilitated His Highness the Amir Sheikh terrorism is a high priority for Qatar, and integrated into their societies Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani pointing out that Qatar has partici- within the framework of criminal jus- yesterday held a telephone fi rst Rafale jet pated actively in all the activities of the tice. conversation with Tunisian Global Coalition and will continue its Last October, the Minister said, President Beji Caid Essebsi who atar Amiri Air Force has received in the Holy Qur’an. Among other countries who have eff orts at the national, regional and in- Doha hosted a high-level conference congratulated the Amir and the the fi rst French-built Rafale Qatar signed an agreement with placed orders for the multi-purpose ternational levels. of regional and international experts to Qatari people on Qatar winning Qmulti-purpose jet fi ghter. France in 2015 to buy 24 Rafale fi ghter fi ghter are Egypt and India. Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman discuss ways to address the phenom- the 2019 Asian Cup. During the The delivery ceremony was held yes- jets for the Amiri Air Force and later 12 In September 2016, India agreed to said terrorism remains one of the most enon of foreign terrorist fi ghters, add- phone call they reviewed the terday at Dassault Aviation Company’s aircraft were added to the order. buy 36 of the fi ghters. serious threats to international peace ing that the conference came out with bilateral relations between the two premises at Bordeaux City, France, in The delivery ceremony was attended and security, adding that the success important recommendations. Page 2 brotherly countries and prospects the presence of HE Dr Khalid bin Mo- by Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani, Qa- of enhancing them. hamed al-Attiyah, Deputy Prime Min- tar’s ambassador to France, Staff Major ister and Minister of State for Defence General (Piolt) Mubarak bin Mohamed Top French honour for QATAR | Diplomacy Aff airs; Geneviève Darrieussecq, Sec- al-Kaumit, Commander of the Amiri Defence Minister New Zealand greeted retary of State to the Minister of the Air Force, and Staff Brigadier General Armed Forces in France; and Dassault (Engineer Air) Mohamed Mubarak al- The French government has Five more malls set to on National Day Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trap- Shahwani, alongside a number of sen- awarded HE the Deputy Prime His Highness the Amir Sheikh pier. ior Qatari Armed forces offi cers. Minister and Minister of State Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Dr al-Attiyah gave a speech on the The twin-engine fi ghter has been in for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin open in Doha this year His Highness the Deputy Amir occasion, in which he highlighted service with the French Air Force since Mohamed al-Attiyah the National Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- the historical relationship between 2004. Order of the Legion of Honour of By Santhosh V Perumal Organised retail supply in Qatar has Thani yesterday sent cables of the two friendly countries. He also France has also sold Mirage F1, Al- Commander Rank, which is the Business Reporter more than doubled since 2015 with the congratulations to New Zealand named the new Qatari Rafale squad- pha Jets and Mirage 2000 fi ghters to highest decoration in France. Page 2 opening of 13 new malls in Doha, Al Governor-General Patsy Reddy ron as “Al Adyiyat” based on a Surah Qatar, AFP said in a report. Khor and Al Wakrah. Total supply of on the occasion of her country’s atar is expected to see nine new gross leasable area within retail malls National Day. HE the Prime Minister retail developments, including now tops 1.4mn sqm, of which almost and Minister of Interior Sheikh Qfi ve this year despite the block- 800,000sqm is provided in the coun- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- ade, as retailers and shoppers gravitate try’s fi ve largest ‘super-regional’ malls. Thani also sent a similar cable New towards larger malls off ering more en- Outside of the main organised malls, Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda tertainment and amenities, DTZ Qatar, outdoor destinations such as Medina Ardern. a real estate services entity, has said. Centrale and Porto Arabia on The Pearl- In a power-point presentation, DTZ Qatar, Katara Cultural Village and Souq QATAR | Anniversary offi cials yesterday said the new re- Waqif provide in excess of 200,000sqm tail development under construction of leasable retail accommodation, which Cables of greetings would off er as much as 750,000sqm. all comprise a high percentage of food sent to British Queen “If completed in time, 2019 may see and beverage outlets. His Highness the Amir Sheikh the opening of fi ve additional retail malls The substantial increase in retail de- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and in Doha that would see supply increase velopment has transformed the market His Highness the Deputy Amir by more than 350,000sqm,” it said, refer- from undersupply to oversupply within Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- ring to Doha Mall, Katara Mall, Northgate three years, which has had an “impact” Thani yesterday sent cables of Mall, La Galleria and Doha Souq. on both rental levels and occupancy congratulations to Queen Elizabeth The most recent retail mall to open in most of the major retail malls, DTZ II of the United Kingdom on the in Qatar is the Tawar Mall in Umm Le- said, adding rental levels are likely to anniversary of her accession to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah is seen with Qatari and khba, which provides approximately reduce in secondary malls over the next throne. French off icials after a ceremony during which the first Rafale fighter jet was delivered to Qatar yesterday. 90,000sqm of leasable retail space. two years. To Page 8 Demand mounts for release of UK man held in UAE

O Briton assaulted, holiday in January. While he was there accused of promoting Qatar by wear- his injuries were inconsistent with he was asking us to get him released out arrested for wearing he got a ticket for an Asian Cup match ing a football shirt bearing the Qatar his account of events and appeared to of UAE and safely back to the UK. We between Qatar and Iraq on January 22. logo and that when he went to report be self-infl icted. On 24 January 2019, are trying to raise the profi le of his case a Qatar shirt to an The tournament took place in the UAE the assault he was held over claims Ahmed was charged with wasting in the hope that it will lead to his release Asian Cup match between January 5 and February 1 and that he had made false allegations police time and making false state- and safe return to the UK.” was won by Qatar. about security offi cials. ments. We are advised that he has The Foreign and Commonwealth riends of a British football fan He wore the Qatar shirt to the match Initially, the UAE embassy told the since admitted those off ences and (FCO) website in its section con- who has been arrested and de- unaware that doing anything that Guardian it was investigating the cir- will now be processed through the taining information for travellers to Ftained in the United Arab Emir- could be interpreted as promoting Qa- cumstances of the arrest. But after UAE courts.” the UAE warns: “The UAE authori- ates for wearing a Qatar shirt to an tar in the UAE is an off ence punishable other media picked up the story it is- The offi cial added: “He was cat- ties announced on 7 June 2017 that Asian Cup match have called on the with a large fi ne and an extended pe- sued a further statement saying that egorically not arrested for wearing a showing sympathy for Qatar on social UAE government to allow him to re- riod of imprisonment. Ahmad went to the police station in Qatar football shirt. This is instead an media or by any other means of com- turn home safely to the UK. He was later arrested and detained Sharjah last month claiming he had instance of a person seeking media at- munication is an off ence. Off enders They are appealing to the Foreign by the UAE authorities. He was al- been harassed and beaten up by UAE tention and wasting police time.” could be imprisoned and subject to a Offi ce to advocate for the freedom of lowed to make one phone call and in national football fans for cheering the Lokie said: “There is no way that Ali substantial fi ne.” Ali Issa Ahmad, 26, an Arsenal sup- a distressed state contacted a British Qatar team. would have beaten himself up and then The sanctions for “promoting” porter from Wolverhampton, through friend Amer Lokie. A UAE offi cial said: “The police gone to the police station seeking me- Qatar are linked to the breaking off of diplomatic channels. He told Lokie he had been arrested took him to hospital where a doctor dia attention. When I spoke to him on diplomatic relations between the two Ahmad travelled to the UAE for a and beaten following the match and who examined him, concluded that the phone he sounded in a bad state and countries in June 2017. To Page 8 Gulf Times 2 Thursday, February 7, 2019 QATAR

FM attends meeting of Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Speaker meets head of Paraguay’s SC

HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met the President of the Supreme Court of Paraguay, Dr Jose Raul Torres Kirmser and his accompanying delegation. They discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them, especially the legislative HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani attending a meeting for the and legal fields. The meeting was attended by the ambassador of Paraguay to Qatar Angel Ramon ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Washington yesterday. Barchini and a number of off icials from the Advisory Council. Cabinet hails outcome Tobacco tax forces more smokers to kick habit of Amir’s Asian tour “Second-hand smoking By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter can harm children and others. QNA tegic partnership in all fi elds. chase and ownership of animals tive programme in the education There is no safe zone for sec- Doha This was refl ected in the and dangerous species, after it fi eld between the governments ond-hand smoking. It is really number of agreements and studied the Advisory Council’s of Qatar and Jordan for academic here has been a marked dangerous. In our awareness memorandums of understanding recommendations regarding the years 2018-2019, 2019-2020, increase in the number of activities, we highlight about he Cabinet meeting, (MoUs) signed with the goal of draft law. and 2020-2021. Tpeople quitting smoking it,” Basuhai said. chaired by HE the Prime advancing mutual interests and The new law will ban the pur- The fi fth topic saw the cabinet after the introduction of excise “Now, there is also the third- TMinister Sheikh Abdul- enhancing peace and stability in chase or dealings in animals or review two subjects and take ap- tax on tobacco products from hand smoke which is residual lah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- the region and all over the world. dangerous species unless a per- propriate decision on them. January 1, a top offi cial of Hamad nicotine and other chemicals Thani yesterday welcomed the The cabinet hailed the historic mit from the designated author- The fi rst subject was the rec- Medical Corporation (HMC) has Dr Ahmad al-Mulla left on indoor surfaces by to- outcome of the Asian tour of achievement of Qatar’s national ity is obtained. ommendation made by the Ad- said. bacco smoke. People are ex- His Highness the Amir Sheikh football team after they won The law also prohibits tak- visory Council to discuss the “The new tax has made many for six months, it is considered posed to these chemicals by Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani the 2019 Asian Cup, especially ing those animals to any public judicial police powers, and the people rethink about smok- as quitting the habit. Usu- touching contaminated surfaces from January 27 to 31. The tour the strong performances they spaces. views of the public prosecution ing,” Dr Ahmad al-Mulla, head ally those who smoke 20 to 30 or breathing while at these ar- included offi cial visits to South showed and their sportsman- Owners of such animals must in that regard. of the HMC Tobacco Control cigarettes a day are considered eas,” he said. Korea, Japan, and China. ship. also take the measures stated in The second topic was discuss- Centre told a press conference heavy smokers,” he said. “A non-smoker gets exposed Following yesterday’s meet- The cabinet expressed their the minister’s decision to en- ing the cybersecurity commit- yesterday. According to the offi cial, pa- to a room or place or car where ing, which was held at the Amiri pride with the wise leadership sure their animals do not get tee’s annual report. “There is no specifi c data tients attending the clinic receive someone has smoked. The to- Diwan, HE the Minister of Jus- of His Highness the Amir Sheikh away. The committee aims to en- yet but the number of calls re- one-on-one counselling and ap- bacco substances accumulate tice and Acting Minister of State Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, The second subject was the hance cybersecurity in order to ceived through the hotline for propriate nicotine replacement in the car, room or any place. for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad who adopted the right plan and cabinet’s approval to amend a achieve comprehensive develop- quitting has increased signifi - or pharmaceutical support. Even if a smoker talks to you for al-Jafali al-Nuaimi stated the vision for all ministers and State number of provisions of cabinet ment in all fi elds. cantly. While talking to doc- “Patients also undergo a full more than 30 minutes, it can following: institutions, leading to the na- decision No 3 of 2017 regarding They do that by directing the tors, people have revealed it is assessment, including a com- spread toxic substances.” The cabinet stressed that the tional team’s success at the AFC the adopted system for equation national eff orts towards realis- because of the hike in the pric- plete medical history and re- On the National Sport Day positive outcome of the Amir’s Asian Cup. of foreign certifi cates. ing the goals of the cybersecurity es, especially those who smoke lated evaluations, such as lung next Tuesday, the Tobac- visits at all levels have formed The cabinet also expressed The third topic was the ap- strategy. more than one packet a day, function tests. Medications are co Control Centre will hold great momentum in the course their appreciation of the eff orts proval to amend some provisions HE Minister of Justice and young people and low income prescribed for majority of peo- awareness activities at Katara of the relations of Qatar with of all the administrative and of cabinet decision No 34 for Acting Minister of State for Cab- workers,” Dr al-Mulla said. ple and psychological interven- about its services and how to these friendly countries, propel- coaching staff of the national 2011 on restructuring the na- inet Aff airs made a presentation The Tobacco Control Centre tions are done to modify the access the services. Also ex- ling them to a new stage, which team for the role they played in tional committee for coordinat- on the role of judicial bodies in recorded 4,000 visits in 2018 lifestyle,” al-Mulla said. perts will measure carbon was refl ected in the success- the win, wishing them further ing aff airs related to the World engaging and following up with and the number of people seek- Dr Jamal Basuhai, a smoking monoxide and lung volume of ful talks the Amir held with the success in the future. Trade Organisation. cases against or raised by gov- ing to kick the habit is increas- cessation specialist at HMC, smokers and advise or refer leaders of the three countries The cabinet then reviewed The restructuring will see a ernmental bodies. ing after awareness campaigns. said that most people who them to the centre if needed. and its ranking offi cials. topics on its meeting’s agenda as representative from the offi ce of He explained the achieve- “Among them, 30 to 35% come to the clinic smoke ciga- Dr Ashour Ibrahim, clinical The cabinet said that the talks follows: HE the Prime Minister join the ments made over the past few quit smoking. One person rette, while some smoke shee- psychologist and Noor Hassan, were characterised by a sense of The cabinet fi rst agreed to committee. years in that regard, in addition makes at least three to fi ve vis- sha, and others chew several quality controller of Tobacco friendship and a mutual com- take the appropriate measures The fourth subject saw the to the challenges they face and its as part of the quitting pro- tobacco substances. Some also Control Centre also attended mitment to enhancing the stra- to issue a law regulating the pur- cabinet approve a draft execu- the means to resolve them. gramme. If they stop smoking smoke electronic cigarettes. the press conference. Ministry unveils project EAA hosts ‘INSPIRE 2019’ to train school teachers conference in Gaza

QNA professional development of Aliaa al-Basti said that the train- QNA and solutions related to edu- The event was also attended Administrator Geoff rey Prewitt Doha teachers as the basis for the suc- ing policy focuses on achieving a Doha cation and youth. by 300 delegates, including highlighted the signifi cance of cess of any school. set of principles, including effi - The aim of the conference researchers, decision makers, education as a human right that He noted that the training ciency, quality and the provision was to empower youth to speak educationalists, and members allows youth to achieve their he Ministry of Educa- policy aims to improve quality of programmes related to the na- ducation Above All (EAA) up and become part of the glo- of the UN, INGOs and local potential, realise opportunities tion and Higher Educa- in the private education sector, tional professional standards for Foundation’s programme bal conversation on issues in NGOs. for employment, and develop Ttion announced yesterday because it is a strategic partner teachers and leaders of private EAl Fakhoora in Gaza suc- the forefront of education, as Executive Director of Al Fa- life skills. a project to train teachers and in the educational process, and schools. cessfully hosted “INSPIRE well as to share Al Fakhoora stu- khoora Program Farooq Burney “Education is central to leaders of private schools, its stressed the importance of the She said that the programme 2019,” to inspire young people dents’ personal journeys to be- said: “Inspire 2019 completely growth and development and defi nition, objectives, benefi ci- professional development of the will take place over 2018-2022. and motivate them to work. coming active agents of change curated and executed by the has remained high on the devel- ary groups and expected results. private school workers. The number of teachers ben- This conference, in col- in their communities. students of the Al Fakhoora Dy- opment agenda of the interna- Assistant Undersecretary for Director of the training centre efi ting from the training at this laboration with the United Students in large numbers namic Futures programme. tional community: education is private education at the ministry at the ministry, Hessa al-Aali, stage is estimated at 180 from Nations Development Pro- took part in this event. Among “These students are an inspi- one of the 17 Sustainable Devel- Omar Abdulaziz al-Neama said said that the project was a stra- international and community gramme (UNDP), Programme them were 120 participants ration not only to their families, opment Goals. during a press conference yes- tegic one for the ministry. She schools and institutions that of Assistance to the Palestin- from Al Fakhoora programme peers and communities but also Unemployment among youth terday that the ministry’s ini- added that the centre will over- adopt the national curriculum ian People (PAPP) and Qa- and 30 from diff erent academic to us all, demonstrating through in Gaza is over 60%. We have to tiative towards private schools see the project. standards of Qatar in all sub- tar Fund For Development institutions who were trained their actions how everyone can scale up the investment in cre- emphasises the importance of Head of training at the centre jects. (QFFD) and in partnership by seven world-class trainers play a positive role for the bet- ating a movement of education with Al Nayzak organisation, on the importance of commu- terment of our societies.” and motivate youth to make discussed current relevant is- nity building through youth in- For his part, UNDP Deputy social change happen,” Prewitt Exhibition of Annual Education Qur’an contest sues in the field of education volvement. Special Representative of the said. Excellence Award opens in Katara registration to close on Saturday The Ministry of Education and impact of the awards on their life Higher Education has opened the and career. Saturday (February 9) will be the third documentary exhibition of On this occasion, the CEO of the last date for registration in Qur’an the annual Education Excellence Award and the Secretary-General competition for school students, Award in Katara, under the title, of Qatar National Committee for the Calls and Religious Guidance “Excellence Builds Generations.” Education, Culture and Science Department of the Ministry of The exhibition showcases various Dr Hamda Hassan al-Sulaiti said Awqaf and Islamic Aff airs has items about the developments of that the aim of the exhibition is to announced. The department the diff erent phases of the award create a conducive environment is continuing to receive throughout the past, starting for the public and students willing applications for registration in from the first session in 2007 to participate in the competition to the school competition for the until the eleventh session in 2018, meet the former winners and it aims current year which is in its 58th with ten rounds including, photos, to document all the photos, medals edition. The contest is witnessing documentary films, and medals and books of the award from the an enthusiastic response. won and handed over to winners starting of the award till now. Director the Calls and Religious during a special ceremony She added that the objective Guidance Department Malullah arranged on annual basis. of this exhibition is to create a al-Jaber said that all preparations The exhibition also hosts the bridge for the dialogue between have been completed to launch former winners of the awards to the winners of the award and all the competition on February 17. share their experiences and the the target groups of the award. – QNA Participants of “INSPIRE 2019” with off icials. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 3 QATAR Top French honour for Defence Minister QF lines up several he French government has awarded HE the TDeputy Prime Minis- ter and Minister of State for fi tness activities for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah the Na- tional Order of the Legion of Honour of Commander Rank, which is the highest decora- National Sport Day tion in France. The ceremony honouring the Deputy Prime Minister By Joseph Varghese each of the activities that will be stacle course of more than 2km and Minister of State for De- Staff Reporter presented on the Sport Day. in Oxygen Park, with 17 chal- fence Aff airs was held at the “Sport has a special capac- lenges to be overcome. Mem- headquarters of the French ity to engage, inspire, and unite bers of the public can register Ministry of Defence. French atar Foundation (QF) will people. These inclusive, fun either as individuals or as part Minister of Armed Forces celebrate National Sport and family-friendly activities of a three-person team at www. Florence Barley said al-Atti- QDay 2019 with a number are focused on providing people qf.org.qa/qfrace2019 yah was being honoured for of sport and wellness activities throughout the community of Visitors can also watch or join his eff orts to enhance relations on February 12. Qatar with opportunities for en- football activities organised by between Qatar and France. They include a series of well- joyment, while also carrying an the Paris Saint-Germain Foot- After the ceremony, al-Atti- ness sessions off ered by Vishnu important message – that health ball Academy and children will yah and Barley held talks dur- Yoga – which will also have ded- and well-being, and social inter- be able to enjoy the QF Mini ing which they discussed bilat- icated yoga sessions for ladies at action, are cornerstones of both Track, a smaller-scale obstacle eral relations between the two French Armed Forces Minister Florence Barley awards HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Multaqa – and spinning classes a happy and fulfi lling life, and a course tailored for younger par- friendly countries and means of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah the National Order of the Legion of Honour organised by Qatar Cyclists and strong and vibrant society,” said ticipants; games and activities strengthening them in the de- of Commander Rank in Paris. RideTribe, as well as a combina- al-Kubaisi. organised by QF member Qatar fence and military fi elds. tion of boxing and fi tness train- Taking place at four locations Diabetes Association; and the Qatar’s ambassador to al-Thani, Qatar’s Military Atta- ed Mubarak al-Shahwani and a tari armed forces attended the ing provided by Beatbox. – Oxygen Park, the Ceremo- Library of Wonders, where sto- France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim che in France Brig Gen Moham- number of members of the Qa- ceremony. – QNA At the Ceremonial Green nial Court, the Ceremonial Green ries of sport and fi tness with a Spine, the team from the Dog- Spine, and Multaqa and sup- tinge of adventure will be told. pound – one of New York City’s ported by local and international At Multaqa, ladies-only fi t- most high-profi le gyms – will partners, QF’s National Sport ness activities will include full be hosting fi tness sessions with Day events and activities will of- workout sessions, Zumba class- professional trainers, and Qatar- fer something for individuals and es, and circuit training, while for Qatar receives ‘Rafale’ fighter jet from France based gym F45 will run high- families of all ages and interests. those who want a change of pace intensity interval training ses- QF activities will run from and to exercise their minds, the sions, two of which will be for 9am-6pm and feature the Qa- Qatar Chess Association Tour- ladies only. tar Cyclists Tour, beginning at nament will be taking place. The details of the events were 10am at the Ceremonial Court Additionally, Multaqa will host announced yesterday by Kha- and covering a route of approxi- paralympic activities and the lifa Essa al-Kubaisi, media re- mately 20km to the Museum of basketball and volleyball fi nals lations manager, QF at a press Islamic Art and back to QF. Of- of QF’s Shukran Cup, a competi- conference. He was joined by the ferings also include the QF Race, tion that will also see cricket and HE the Deputy Prime Minister and representatives of the partner a test of speed, agility, stamina, football fi nals being played at Minister of State for Defence Aff airs, organisations who highlighted and determination across an ob- Education City. Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, in the cockpit of the French fighter aircraft ‘Rafale’ yesterday in Bordeaux. The Amiri Air Force received the first French-build multipurpose jet fighter yesterday.

Khalifa Essa al-Kubaisi along with representatives of the partner organisations. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, February 7, 2019 QATAR Qatar Charity’s “Future’s Writers” receives best national initiative award

atar Charity (QC) received the Social Responsibility Award (SRA) for The stories of the first edition of the programme have been translated into its “Future’s Writers” programme in the category of the best national the Russian language in co-operation with the Ministry of Culture and Sports Qinitiative during the 6th Social Responsibility Ceremony, which was and presented at the Moscow International Book Fair. attended by the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social During the last year 2018, Qatar Charity (QC) has received many awards, Affairs H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro. Yousif bin Ahmed medals, and certificates of honors at the Arab and international levels in Al Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Charity has received the award at the ceremony. recognition of its professional performance in the field of humanitarian and Qatar Charity along with other winners of the award was honored development work and due to its programmes, projects, services and initiatives. at the ceremony. Dar Al-Sharq aims, through organizing the awards For the second year in a row and as part of the Arab Best Award, Qatar ceremony, aims to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge about social Charity bagged the award of the Arab Best Charity organization of 2018. The responsibility and its positive impact on building cooperative societies, and charity also got the Best Arab Programme award in the category of charity work encourage companies and governmental and private institutions to pay for the World Refugee School (WRS), which it co-founded with international attention to this aspect for the benefit of the nation. partners. The ‘Future’s Writers’ programme, which was launched in 2017, is one The charity also received the certificate of excellence and shield of honor of QC’s programmes, implemented within Qatar. It is concerned with the from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a government development of school students’ writing skills to enable them to write a institution in Pakistan, in recognition of its humanitarian and development story within the framework of the Qatari cultural heritage. roles in the country. The programme is also concerned with nurturing young talents, with It also got the certificate of excellence from the Ministry of Health of Niger, the aim of encouraging them to be promising writers. in recognition of its efforts to combat blindness, contribution to alleviating the The idea of this programme is based on organizing story-writing suffering of poor patients and funding for the operations necessary to restore However, the third edition witnessed a vast rise in the number of competitions for students, and holding relevant workshops to sharpen their their eyesight. participating students, as it reached 1697 students; both male and female, writing skills. Moreover, “Change Maker Award” was received by Sheikh Hamad bin from 259 primary, preparatory and secondary schools. Some 137 female students from 32 preparatory and secondary schools Nasser al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Charity, from the Aid & Trade Conference The “Future’s Writers” programme is implemented by Qatar Charity in took part in the first edition of the programme, while the number of and Exhibition in London in April. This honor came in recognition of his role cooperation with its various partners including the Ministry of Education participants in its second edition increased to 375 male and female students in the service of humanitarian work and his leadership, under which Qatar and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Qatari Forum for from 55 schools. Charity’s development and humanitarian efforts reached many countries Authors, Qatar University, Khair Jalees Book Club, Dar Rosa Publishing, around the world. and the programme’s sponsor, Barwa Bank. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 5 QATAR Armed forces shooting championship ends NU-Q appoints new director of QNA Doha production and he Armed Forces Shooting Cham- pionship (2018-2019), organised by digital media Tthe Military Sports Association un- der the patronage of HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant- orthwest- General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al- ern Uni- Ghanem, concluded with the participa- Nversity in tion of six teams representing the offi cers Qatar (NU-Q) has and personnel. appointed Rami The fi nal day of the championship wit- Armed Forces off icers pose for a photo after the championship. al-Badry (pic- nessed the victory of the Qatari Amiri HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Lieu- tured) as direc- Land Forces team in the shooting rifl e trophy for the overall championship, championship to HE the Commander tenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem tor of production competition, while the special forces team which started on January 29. of the Joint Special Forces Brigadier hands over the trophy for the overall championship to and digital media won the shooting gun competition. Al Ghanem honoured the winners and General Hamad bin Abdullah Fetais al- HE the Commander of the Joint Special Forces Brigadier services. The joint special forces team won the handed over the trophy for the overall Marri. General Hamad bin Abdullah Fetais al-Marri. Al-Badry, who left CNN in Washington DC to join NU-Q, brings 15 years of experience as a production and operations man- ager in leading media organisations in the US, the UK, and Middle East. As director, he will oversee the department that manages NU-Q’s studios, advanced equipment, Hydroponics Centre boosts Qatar and state-of-the-art newsroom so they are op- erational and ready for students, faculty, and staff . He and his staff also provide production support in classrooms and training for digital media projects. Dean Everette E Dennis called al-Badry a “con- eff orts on sustainable agriculture summate and respected professional who has a natural penchant for teaching and training for the atar Fertiliser Company chemicals while providing a more wool) that is constantly fed with digital age.” Previously, he worked at Middle East (Qafco), leading private Qa- suitable micro-climate for growing nutrient solutions. News Broadcasting Network (MBN) and the Brit- Qtari agricultural develop- vegetables than in the open fi eld. This reduces the risk of plants ish Broadcasting Corp (BBC). He has also done ment company Agrico and and Yara Plastic tunnels with evaporative being exposed to soil diseases and freelance work for ARTE, Reuters, CNN, the Na- International ASA (Norway) have cooling are more expensive to build allows saving of water, fertilisers tional Geographic, and Eurovision, among others. offi cially opened the Hydroponic but allow better climate manage- and agro-chemicals. NU-Q has some of the most advanced facilities Trial and Demonstration Centre ment inside the greenhouse and Yields in hydroponics are usually and technology in the world. in Al Khor on Tuesday, it was an- longer growing season which might higher than in soil based cultivation, Its building includes the largest sound-stage in nounced yesterday. last to up to 10 months per year. meaning more production using less the region; a projection theatre, which features a Qafco managing director and CEO They are also most appropriate land, fertilisers and water and the 4K cinema and 7.1 Dolby surround sound; three Abdulrahman M al-Suwaidi, Agrico for small scale farming. prevention of land contamination. production studios, each fi tted out to serve a spe- general manager Nasser al-Khalaf, The third type is a multispan All plants are constantly fed with cifi c purpose; and a studio that has been designed and Yara CEO and president Svein plastic greenhouse with evapora- nutrient solution via a drip irriga- to allow students to reproduce everyday sound Tore Holsether, opened the facility. An interior view of a greenhouse. tive cooling for achieving optimum tion system that precisely combines eff ects that are added to fi lm, video, and other Qafco, Agrico and Yara had temperature during the day and air water and required nutrients. multimedia projects; and a 4K mastering room, signed a co-operation agreement negative impact of vegetable pro- The Centre is jointly operated by conditioning for night time cooling The nutrient solution is prepared which is equipped to completely edit a digital on October 15, 2018 to establish the duction on the local environment. the three companies. in the summer. from Yara’s fertilisers and is tailored cinema-quality fi lm. It also has a newsroom that Centre so as to test local greenhouse The Trial and Demonstration Currently the Centre features These greenhouses allow bet- for each crop, each stage of growth features the most advanced technology in broad- technologies, nutrient management Centre, with a growing area of three diff erent types of greenhouses. ter climate management where the and each type of greenhouse. cast and production. and best horticultural practices. 3,750sq m, has been established on The multispan greenhouse pro- growing season may last up to 11 Diff erent irrigation regimes and “Under al-Badry’s leadership,” Dennis said, The objective is to develop a sus- a plot near Agrico Farm in Al Khor. tected by insect net is the most af- months. All crops in the Trial and recipes are managed by a special- “this space will become a platform for creativity tainable crop management system The facility was designed and built fordable type and suitable for growing Demonstration Centre are grown in ised fertigation computer. that our students will use to experiment, create, suited for the Qatari climate that by Agrico using technology, knowl- vegetables for 8-9 months per year. hydroponics, the soilless method of Regular analysis of substrate, and dream. Educating our students to harness the achieves high yields and productiv- edge and expertise accumulated dur- Such technology allows better growing fruits and vegetables. leaves, nutrient solutions and power of the digital age, will enable them to en- ity while conserving precious local ing 10 years of experience operating protection for the plants from in- Crops are grown in substrate (for drainage water is performed in the gage in positive social change and make a signifi - water resources and limiting any in protected agriculture in Qatar. sects, and reduces the use of agro- example coco coir, perlite, rock Qafco Laboratory. cant impact on their societies.” Gulf Times 6 Thursday, February 7, 2019 QATAR Difi to take part QU’s dental college in 57th session of Commission holds fi rst meeting for Social atar University’s (QU) new College of Dental Development QMedicine held the fi rst meeting of the steering commit- tee that will guide and oversee he Doha International laboration with the Perma- the development of the institu- Family Institute (Difi ), a nent Mission of The State of tion which will offi cially open in Tmember of Qatar Foun- Qatar to the United Nations; September. dation, will participate in a the Division for Inclusive So- The steering committee will series of panel sessions at the cial Development, UNDESA; be able to make strategic and 57th Session of the Commis- and the International Federa- operational decisions and pro- sion for Social Development, tion for Home Economics. vide recommendations to the taking place at the UN head- Difi will conclude its par- QU Board of Regents. QU presi- quarters in New York from ticipation with a panel titled dent Dr Hassan al-Derham is February 11-21. ‘Towards Family Sensitive the chairperson of the commit- Difi , in partnership with the Protection’ on February 14. tee and College of Medicine vice UN Department of Economic The discussion will be held in president and founding dean Dr and Social Aff airs (UNDESA) collaboration with the Perma- Egon Toft the vice-chairperson. Members of College of Dental Medicine Steering Committee at QU hold first meeting. and the International Federa- nent Mission of Qatar to the Regular members of the com- tion for Family Development UN, UNDESA, UN Economic mittee are senior representa- of Public Health senior consult- feedback. The committee also to 25 students, including 70% ing technologies, that foster stu- (IFFD), will host a discus- and Social Commission for tives of the local oral healthcare ant Dr Abdulla al-Emadi, Sidra gathered advice and strategic di- who are expected to be Qatari dents’ active learning and critical sion titled ‘Doha Briefi ng’ Western Asia, Berkeley Social and health education systems: Medicine’s director of Dentistry rection on curriculum develop- high-school applicants from thinking. It will be delivered in on February 12. The panel Welfare, and the International Hamad Medical Corporation’s Dr Jamal al-Abdulla, QU Col- ment, organisational structure within Qatar. As the fourth col- close collaboration with HMC will present the ‘Civil Soci- Council on Social Welfare. (HMC) Dental Services chairman lege of Dental Medicine founding and governance, recruitment lege under QU Health, the new and the PHCC, so that students ety Statement on Parenting’, Difi is a global policy and Dr Ghanim al-Mannai, Hamad dean Prof Johann de Vries, and strategy, student outreach, qual- college will complement the ex- can benefi t from early clini- which was launched at Difi ’s advocacy institute working to Dental Center vice chairman Dr QU project manager (strategic ity assurance, partnerships and a isting health-related Colleges of cal experience in state-of-the- ‘Parenting, Child Wellbeing, advance knowledge on Arab Khalifa al-Ansari, Director of development) Nicola Frank. communication plan. Medicine, Pharmacy, and Health art facilities including a dental and Development’ conference families through research and Medical Education Dr Abdulla- The purpose of the fi rst meet- The College of Dental Medi- Sciences, and hence expand the simulation clinic and academic in Doha in October 2018. promote evidence-based po- tif al-Khal, Primary Health Care ing of the steering committee cine, the fi rst such institution in possibilities of inter-profession- dental hospital at HMC, student- On the same day, Difi , with lices at a national, regional, Corporation (PHCC) managing was to introduce all members, Qatar, will off er a six-year pro- al learning at the university. tailored elective studies, com- the IFFD, will co-host a panel and international level. The director Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, provide everyone with key facts gramme leading to the degree The curriculum will incorpo- munity-based education, and re- titled the ‘Value of Unpaid institute has special con- Oral Health Division manager about the soon-to-be tenth col- of Doctor of Dental Medicine rate pedagogical approaches and search possibilities, which are key Care and Domestic Work’. The sultative status with the UN Dr Asmaa al-Khatib, Ministry lege at QU and collect general (DMD). The yearly intake is up advanced e-learning and learn- elements of the curriculum. discussion will be held in col- Economic and Social Council. Tamuq professor elevated to fellow grade of IEEE

r Tingwen Huang, a mathematics profes- sor in the Science Programme at Texas DA&M University at Qatar (Tamuq), has been elevated to fellow grade of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). IEEE Fellow, the highest grade of membership, The honoured employees with Dr Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei, Jamal Abdullah al-Jamal and other executives. is recognised as a prestigious honour and a dis- tinctive career achievement. Huang was recog- nised “for contributions to dynamical analysis of neural networks.” Huang said, “I apply mathematics to solve engineering problems, especially those origi- QIIB honours four employees nating in artifi cial computational intelligence, neural networks and computer science. My re- search areas focus on dynamics of neural net- works including memristor, complex networks including multi-agent and smart grid. Memris- for exceptional performance tor and smart grid both are important to Qatar’s advancement.” Dr Tingwen Huang A neural network is a framework for many IIB honoured four em- customer service department. the institutional work founded of Al Rayyan branch and the diff erent machine learning systems to work to- cultivating modern power system operational ployees for their excep- Al-Jamal expressed his ap- on quality, loyalty, achievement call centre for excelling in ap- gether and process complex data. For example, a consultancy. Qtional performance dur- preciation for the sincere eff orts and commitment to the val- plying the “Quality of Serv- simple neural network could learn to identify cats Huang earned a PhD from Texas A&M Univer- ing 2018 in the quality of service made by the employees hon- ues we have long advocated and ice” standards, al-Jamal called and dogs in photos after learning and decipher- sity in December 2002. Since joining the Tamuq provided and meeting custom- oured during the past year. represented for.” upon QIIB employees to put ing characteristics of them from other photos. faculty in 2003, he has published more than 400 ers’ requirements in an optimum He said, “The bank is proud Al-Jamal affi rmed, “QIIB continuous eff orts into devel- Huang has also developed a framework of the papers in prestigious journals, including more manner. to employ some of the banking pays great attention to human oping the bank’s operations, smart grid system management via neural net- than 130 in IEEE Transactions journals and 36 in QIIB chief executive offi cer Dr sector’s elites who are recog- resources and ensures that all caring for customers and doing works-based approaches, which play a signifi - Neural Networks. His research work has received Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei nised for their competence and employees at all levels abide by their utmost to achieve further cant role in improving the energy effi ciency. In more than 10,000 citations. He was a Dean’s Fel- was present at the ceremony. dedication. the highest professional stand- development and quality of fact, Huang said, Qatar needs a smart grid that low in recognition of his excellence and achieve- QIIB deputy CEO Jamal Ab- “We are honouring only some ards. The Bank has taken ad- service. is intelligent to customers and utility companies, ments in 2014. Qatar National Research Fund dullah al-Jamal handed over the of the employees and the fact vantage of this policy by hav- The employees thanked the self-healing and resilient to natural disasters, awarded him the Best Research Project in 2015. certifi cates of appreciation to remains we have indeed faced ing a professionally competent bank for honouring them and which could accommodate existing infrastruc- Most recently, he’s been named a Highly Cited the employees in the presence of great diffi culties in choosing the staff cadre capable of perform- affi rmed that their professional ture and deliver reliable supply through deep Researcher for 2018 by Clarivate Analytics. senior management executives most distinguished among the ing its functions effi ciently, as and ethical commitment to QIIB learning algorithms. IEEE is a non-profi t international association and heads of various depart- distinguished.” proven through its continu- characterise their behaviour and The outcomes of this research will improve advancing innovation and technological excel- ments within the bank. He noted, “Honouring dedi- ous growth and growth fi gures a nature that distinguishes the the energy effi ciency and enhance the reliabil- lence in the fi eld of electrical and electronics The honoured employees are cation and devotion in work is achieved by the bank since it was bank’s employees. They added ity of Qatar’s power network. Huang said this engineering. The grade of Fellow is awarded to Ibrahim Mahmoud, Yousuf al- an ongoing approach at QIIB. founded more than a quarter of a that they will keep on contribut- will be very useful to the country in training the distinguished researchers in recognition of their Saafi n, Yehia Rayes and Ghaith As we honour the bank’s distin- century ago.” ing in future with more enthusi- next generation of electrical engineers, develop- breakthrough and high-impact studies in any of Salloum, who work in the Bank’s guished employees, we honour Thanking the management asm and determination. ing cutting-edge deep learning technology and IEEE’s designated fi elds of interest. HEC Paris in Qatar AAB successfully concludes to deliver executive short programme Parts Kaizen Marathon 2019 he central parts de- (PKM) event and distribute partment (CPD) of Ab- awards to the winners. EC Paris, one of the Prof Georg, said, “This pro- Tdullah Abdulghani & PKM started in 2014 with the world’s leading provid- gramme will provide the partic- Bros Co (AAB) has success- theme “Kaizen Mindset, the Hers of executive educa- ipants with the tools to realise fully concluded its ‘Kaizen Key to Sustainable Growth” and tion, is delivering ‘Facing the how regulation and techno- Marathon 2019’. the motto “Bring Out the Best Fintech Disruption Challenge’ logical change enable fi ntech Kaizen is a Japanese word in You”. With the objective of executive short programme on companies to disrupt the fi - that means “continuous im- developing the Kaizen mindset February 17 and 18 at its Doha nancial services industry. It provement or change for good”. among all CPD staff , the Kai- Campus. will help them understand the “This is an inherent part of the zen philosophy is implemented The fi rst programme, ‘Facing underlying technology behind corporate value and culture through small group activities the Fintech Disruption Chal- the blockchain revolution and of AAB, which has been im- geared towards establishing lenge’, with HEC Paris MBA Prof equip them in developing the bibed and applied by the whole more teams that help improve Co-Pierre Georg, is designed to tools necessary to assess how company in its operations operations and build the Kai- enable business professionals to react to the fi ntech challenge. and activities,” AAB said in a zen culture of problem identi- to explore the technological in- By virtue of this programme, statement. fi cation, root cause analysis and Off icials with participants of Parts Kaizen Marathon 2019. novations and opportunities the professionals will be in a better AAB’s management team provide solutions. industry faces. position to evaluate how fi ntech led by R K Murugan, act- This year’s PKM had an in- improvement in terms of daily tainable practice of Re-Use, mote a lively environment and The course will use several case will shape the economy of the ing CEO/COO (automotive), teresting roster of presenta- operations to enhance the Reduce and Recycle. The win- with the ‘Kaizen mindset’, con- studies of successful fi ntechs and future”. along with Ravi Stanley, sen- tions by 10 Kaizen champi- service level to customers, the ning team focused on recycling tinuously empower each other outline how they challenge in- HEC Paris in Qatar delivers ior manager (national parts), ons/teams that focused on statement noted. excess packaging materials by to become leaders in the work- dustry incumbents. At the same a full range of executive short and members of the senior sharing their success stories The presentation on ‘Con- transforming them into us- place. This results in greater time, participants will get a thor- programmes, focusing on a wide management team welcomed on customer satisfaction in- verting Waste into Reusable able furniture, storage tools and effi ciency at work ensuring the ough understanding of the foun- range of specifi c areas of man- Hiroyuki Kajita, general man- dex improvement, warehouse Materials’ created an impact on items. This is also in line with company’s sustainable growth dations and principles that ena- agement such as business strat- ager from Toyota Motor Cor- productivity enhancement, the panel of judges and audi- TMC’s ‘Global Corporate Social by living and practising the AAB bled the rise of companies using egy, marketing and sales, leader- poration (TMC), to witness advanced inventory manage- ence as it has shown its align- Responsibility’. value of ‘Customer First’,” the the new opportunities. ship, fi nance and negotiation the Parts Kaizen Marathon ment and many other areas for ment with AAB’s internal sus- “At AAB, the employees pro- statement added.

Gulf Times 8 Thursday, February 7, 2019 QATAR Australia Day celebrated

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

n evening of music, featur- ing members of the Qatar APhilharmonic Orchestra, as well as an array of Australian cuisine, marked the second Aus- tralia Day in the country yesterday at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. The celebration was described as a fi tting occasion to honour Australia’s forefathers and its peo- ple, and highlight the strong ties between Qatar and Australia. It was attended by HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, the Ministry of Edu- cation and Higher Education un- dersecretary Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuami, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs’ Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Yousuf Fakhroo, and the Diplo- matic Corps dean ambassador Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, as well as other diplomats and guests. “Australians come together and celebrate our nation on this occa- sion. We pay respect to the First Australian ambassador Dr Axel Wabenhorst is joined by Qatar’s Minister of Municipality and Environment HE Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Australians, who have lived in al-Subaie and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education undersecretary Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuami in cutting a cake at the Australia Australia for 60,000 years. Their Day yesterday as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Yousuf Fakhroo, and the Diplomatic Corps dean ambassador Ali culture is the world’s oldest con- Ibrahim Ahmed look on. PICTURE: Jayan Orma tinuous culture, a culture that is alive today,” ambassador Dr Axel the globe. These include innova- working in diverse sectors, includ- the airline “connects Australia Australia in the future, especially Wabenhorst said. tions such as the black box fl ight ing engineering, construction, oil to the world.” It now has daily in education. “The fi rst British settlers ar- recorder, Google Maps, Wi-Fi, the and gas, fi nance, aviation, educa- flights from Qatar to five Aus- “Australia’s universities and rived on Australia Day, January 26, cochlear implant for the hearing- tion, healthcare, sports science tralian cities, after the addition research institutions are among 1788. They braved hardship and impaired, and the spray-on skin and journalism. of Canberra in February 2018. the world’s best and offer great built lives and families, and laid for burns victims, among others. While reiterating Australia’s sup- He hopes that the airline’s ex- opportunities for partnerships,” the foundations for modern Aus- Australia, he added, produced 14 port to Kuwait’s mediation in re- pansion will entice more people he noted. “They are already col- tralia,” he noted. “We embrace all individual Nobel laureates, eight solving the Gulf crisis, he stressed from Qatar to discover Australia laborating with Qatari academics those who’ve come since. On Aus- of them in physiology or medicine. that the GCC dispute has separated as a holiday destination, which is and officials, including through tralia Day this year, over 16,000 Dr Wabenhorst also underlined families, prompting Qatari employ- safe, stable and welcoming. “You the Qatar National Research people from all over the world Qatar’s remarkable resilience in ees, students and hospital patients will find outstanding shopping Fund.” gained Australian citizenship in the face of a blockade, maintain- overseas to return to Qatar. and restaurants, and unique in- The envoy added that Aus- ceremonies across the country.” ing its welcoming attitude towards The envoy also underscored digenous culture, landscapes and tralia is the third most popular The envoy also highlighted all residents, including Austral- Qatar Airways’ (major sponsor wildlife.” destination for foreign students Australia’s many achievements in ians. Qatar is home to about 3,100 for the celebration) significant Dr Wabenhorst said there is in the world, and “I would love to various sectors that improved the Australians contributing to its role in the bilateral relations be- scope to expand the areas of co- see more Qatari students study lives of billions of people around development, he said. Many are tween the two countries saying operation between Qatar and in Australia.” RM 51-05 Tourbillon Oryx set to be unveiled at Qatar Show

ichard Mille’s RM 51-05 launches the RM 51-05 Tourbillon collections in Qatar and since 1982 Tourbillon Oryx will be un- Oryx, a tribute to this majestic an- they have been slowly reintroduced Rveiled and available for pur- telope native to the Arabian Penin- to the wild. chase at the Qatar Show later this sula. It is the latest addition to the An enduring symbol for the re- month, it has been announced. Richard Mille family of jewellery gion, the oryx is the national animal The full proceeds of the sale of watches,” the statement said. of Qatar. Adopted as the logo of Qa- this limited-edition piece, the fi rst The oryx is a genus of four large tar Airways and the offi cial mascot of only three being produced, will antelope species, three of which of the 2006 Asian Games held in be donated to “further the vision are native to the arid and semi-arid Qatar, it is much loved and revered. and mission” of Education Above regions of Africa and the fourth to The RM 51-05 Tourbillon Oryx All Foundation in the region and the Arabian Peninsula. The Ara- has a white gold case fully set with around the globe, a press statement bian Oryx, the smallest of the four, over 1,000 diamonds and detailed noted. a desert dweller with broad hooves, with black sapphires. Sitting above The Richard Mille RM 51-05 Tourbillon Oryx. The Qatar Show will be held at is capable of enduring 50C in sum- the tourbillon at the base of the Doha Exhibition and Convention mer and walking long distances (up dial is an intricately carved oryx utes to and four minutes past to admire the oryx in the wild Centre from February 20 to 25. to 70km in a single night). head, also in white gold and set with 12, respectively.“An artistic and and marvel at this rare antelope’s “Richard Mille timepieces have Declared extinct in the wild in diamonds and black sapphires. Its imaginative feat, this symbiosis survival,” the statement added. become synonymous with haute 1972, the Arabian Oryx was saved majestic horns, PVD-coated white between fi ne watchmaking and The RM 51-05 Tourbillon Oryx horology, exquisite artistry and by conservation eff orts in captiv- gold, reach to the upper crescent of fi ne jewellery will delight any- is limited to only three pieces and elegance. In 2019, Richard Mille ity. Some were brought to private the dial culminating at four min- one who has been lucky enough is exclusive to the EMEA region.

Marzooq Shamlan Holding hosts media event Five more malls set to

arzooq Shamlan open in Doha this year Al Shamlan Hold- Ming hosted a media event to introduce the en- From Page 1 boost in the business, tity which is home to over brought about by delivery 150 renowned international “Oversupply has become apps such as Talabat,” it brands including Bosch, a problem, which is likely said. Karcher, Goodyear, Snap- to see retailers and shop- Rents are still in the re- on, Timex, and Citizen. pers gravitate towards the gion of QR250-QR350 per Group CEO, Joe Lahoud, larger malls off ering more sqm per month for some of gave a brief introduction entertainment and ameni- the prime retail malls; how- about the holding, which ties such as food and bever- ever, there are signs that has been formed a year ago, age (F&B) provisions, strong discounted rents are on off er in an attempt to bring all anchors and generous car in some secondary locations operating companies un- parking facilities,” DTZ said. in order to retain tenants der one umbrella. Demand for F&B outlets and maximise occupancy. Some of these compa- remains strong in Qatar, Showroom and high nies have been operating although operators are in- street retail premises typi- in Qatar since 1958, un- Group chairman Tariq al-Shamlan, CEO Joe Lahoud and other officials at the Marzook creasingly ‘rent-sensitive’, it cally command rents of der a creative vision built Shamlan Al Shamlan Holding event. said, adding over the past six QR100 to QR160 per sqm through years of continu- months, DTZ has witnessed per month depending on ous hard work towards in- struction equipment sec- tions (ICS), Qatar Trad- The gathering’s high- a “signifi cant” increase in their size and location, it novation and service-ex- tors, Lahoud added. ing Company, Karcher light was the presence inquiries from F&B opera- said, highlighting that rents cellence, he explained. The heads of the busi- Center Doha, Tools R Us of the Group’s chairman tors, notably those looking in Al Furjan markets, which Currently, the holding ness units, such as Q-Tire and Marzooq Shamlan & Tariq al-Shamlan who for ‘casual dining’ restau- are a government backed caters to retail, automotive, and International Tire Sons (Crono and Watch reaffi rmed the partner- rants. initiative, are typically re- commercial, warehousing, Center (ITC), Interna- Corner), gave introductory ship with media establish- “This industry has re- stricted to QR6,000 per cleaning services and con- tional Construction Solu- speeches. ments. cently seen a signifi cant month for small units. Demand mounts for release of UK man held in UAE

From Page 1 tor of Leeds United FC and founder of cam- abuse,” he said. Radha Stirling of the anyone who expresses sympathy for Qa- paigning group Detained International, who campaign group Detained in Dubai said: tar in any way.” An FCO spokesperson said: “We are pro- was himself detained in UAE, called on For- “Because of the limited communication She added that if Ahmad had been forced viding assistance to a British man arrested eign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and FCO offi - allowed by the UAE to those in custody, to recant the allegations he made to the po- in the UAE and are in touch with the local cials to “act fast and tough”. the exact details of what happened to lice and was now being punished for having authorities.” “The Dubai jails are a cesspit of tor- Ali Issa Ahmad remain vague … What reported them in the fi rst place, it was “ex- David Haigh, a former managing direc- ture, injustice, discrimination and we know is that the UAE does prosecute tremely concerning”. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD US lawmakers criticise Saudi, ask about weapons restrictions

Reuters day that Saudi Arabia and the Representative Eliot Engel, adding, “We are aware of these Khashoggi, a US resident, at a of the bills, calling the Saudis Representative Michael Mc- Washington United Arab Emirates, its main chairman of the House of Rep- reports and seeking additional Saudi consulate in Turkey in important regional partners Caul, the panel’s top Republi- partner in the coalition in the resentatives Foreign Aff airs information.” October. and praising weapons sales as can, called Khashoggi’s murder Yemen confl ict, have trans- Committee said at a hearing. Critical comments from En- Late last year, lawmakers in- an important source of US jobs. “a major setback” in the US- senior US lawmaker ferred US-made weapons to Al “Should Congress pursue gel and other committee mem- troduced various pieces of leg- None of those bills became Saudi relationship and deplored said yesterday he was Qaeda-linked fi ghters and oth- greater restrictions on off en- bers were only the latest recent islation seeking to put tighter law, but Engel said the com- civilian casualties in Yemen. Atroubled by a report er groups and that some of the sive weapons to the Saudi coa- expressions of frustration with controls on US dealings with mittee would continue to press McCaul, however, said he that Saudi Arabia transferred weapons also made their way lition?” asked Engel, who as Saudi Arabia from US lawmak- Riyadh, including clamping for a response to casualties in opposed a proposed war pow- weapons to extremist groups in into the hands of other rebels. chairman has the right to re- ers. down on weapons sales, barring Yemen, Khashoggi’s killing and ers resolution seeking to bar US Yemen and questioned whether “These reports are very trou- view and put “holds” on major Members of Congress have military co-operation with the the imprisonment of women’s military support for the Saudi- Congress should consider more bling and the Trump adminis- foreign weapons sales. been angered by steep civil- Saudi-led coalition and calls for rights activities. “It can no led coalition, saying it “could restrictions on weapons sales to tration must investigate further A State Department offi cial ian casualties in Yemen, hu- human rights sanctions. longer be business as usual. We disrupt US security co-opera- the Saudi-led coalition. and work to prevent this from said allegations of the misuse of man rights abuses and the kill- President Donald Trump’s need to push for a real change in tion with partners around the CNN reported on Mon- happening again,” Democratic equipment are taken seriously, ing of Saudi journalist, Jamal administration opposed many Saudi behaviour,” he said. world.”

Rouhani says Iran Pompeo reassures allies ready to accept friendly US ties if it ‘repents’

of commitment to defeat IS ceremony to mark the 40th anni- AFP Tehran versary of Iran’s Islamic Revolu- Reuters tine insurgency. “The coalition tion. During the hostage crisis at Washington must continue to support the Washington’s US embassy in 1979, government of Iraq in its eff orts ranian President Hassan Iranian students had famously de- to secure the liberated areas of Rouhani said yesterday his manded that the US should repent S Secretary of State that country,” Pompeo said. Icountry would be ready to in return for the release of diplo- Mike Pompeo yester- “Mr Foreign Minister, we’re establish “friendly relations” mats. The following year, the two Uday reassured coalition with you,” he told Hakim. with the United States if it apol- countries cut diplomatic ties, and partners that the withdrawal of Earlier this week, Trump said ogised for past wrongs. they have remained estranged US troops from Syria was not it was important to keep a US “Our slogan is friendly relations ever since. “the end of America’s fi ght” and military presence in Iraq so that with the whole world,” he said. That In a message marking Persian called on them to help perma- Washington could keep a close would even include “America, if New Year in March 2009, then- nently defeat Islamic State in eye on Iran, according to a CBS it repents...and apologises for its US president Barack Obama Syria and Iraq. interview aired on Sunday. previous interferences in Iran, and reached out to the Islamic Repub- Pompeo — addressing for- However, Iraqi President is prepared to accept the greatness lic, declaring: “we know that you eign ministers and other sen- Barham Salih said on Monday and dignity of the nation of Iran are a great civilisation, and your ior offi cials from 79 countries that Trump did not ask Iraq’s and the great Islamic Revolution,” accomplishments have earned the that have worked alongside the permission for US troops sta- he said. respect of the United States and United States in fi ghting the tioned there to “watch Iran.” “We are still ready to accept the world.” militant group in Syria and Iraq The United States and Iran are America’s...repentance despite Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah — said Islamic State remained a Iraq’s two biggest allies. the fact that for years it has done Ali Khamenei responded the next menace. Yeseterday, Hakim, appar- injustice to us,” he told foreign day, saying “change and our atti- “The US troops withdraw- ently responding to Trump’s diplomats in Tehran during a tude will change”. ing from Syria is not the end of comment, called on countries to America’s fi ght. The fi ght is one show full “respect for the terri- we will continue to wage along- torial integrity of Iraq and for all side you,” Pompeo said in open- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stands alongside foreign ministers and leaders during a family operations to take place with the ing remarks at the State Depart- photo at the Meeting of the Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS at the Department of knowledge of Iraq, and in consul- ment. “The drawdown in troops State in Washington, DC, yesterday. tations with Iraqi security forces.” Palestinian prisoner dies is essentially a tactical change, Yesterday’s remarks echoed a it is not a change in the mission. to come very soon,” he added, including an alliance of Kurdish ministers from Turkey, France, warning on Tuesday from a top It simply represents a new stage without elaborating. and Arab militias that has been Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco US general, who said Islamic QNA refugee camp, died shortly after in an old fi ght.” Warnings by Pompeo and among the most eff ective against and Iraq. Iraqi Foreign Minister State would pose an enduring Ramallah he was transferred from Rimon “Our mission is unwavering, others that Islamic State re- Islamic State, and prompted the Mohamed al-Hakim, speaking threat following the planned prison in the south of Israel to an but we need your help to ac- mained a dangerous threat fl y abrupt resignation of Defence after Pompeo, called on coun- withdrawal. Israeli hospital following dete- complish it, just as we’ve had in the face of President Donald Secretary Jim Mattis. tries to help expose Islamic Army General Joseph Votel, ares Baroud, a Palestinian rioration in his health. over the past months and years,” Trump’s December declara- Yesterday’s meeting was the State “sleeper cells” in Iraq and head of a US military command prisoner from Gaza Strip, Baroud, who was arrested on Pompeo said. “To that end, we tion that the militants had been fi rst of senior coalition offi cials restore stability. that oversees troops in the Mid- Fwas martyred yesterday March 23, 1991 and sentenced ask that our coalition partners defeated and the United States since Trump, who was sched- Pompeo said despite progress dle East and Afghanistan, said after serving 28 years in the Is- to life in prison plus 35 years for seriously and rapidly consider would withdraw its roughly uled to address delegates in in fi ghting Islamic State in Iraq, the militant group retained raeli occupation jails, the Pris- killing a settler, has complained requests that will enable our ef- 2,000 US troops from Syria. the afternoon, announced US the group retained a strong leaders, fi ghters, facilitators oners Commission announced. of stomach problems and asth- forts to continue. The president’s sudden deci- troops would withdraw. presence in that country and and resources that would fuel a According to the Commis- ma and underwent surgery last “Those requests are likely sion shocked coalition partners, Participants included foreign was trying to mount a clandes- menacing insurgency. sion, Faris Baroud, 51, from Shati year to remove part of his kidney.

Conjoined Yemen twins need treatment abroad to survive

Reuters Sanaa

onjoined twin boys born in Yemen are in urgent need of treatment Cabroad, but are unable to leave be- cause the war there has closed the capital city’s airport. Doctors treating two-week-old Abd al- Khaleq and Abd al-Rahim said Yemen’s war-ravaged health system cannot keep them alive, and the parents are poor. Conjoined twin boys who were born around “They need to travel immediately. They 10 days ago are pictured in an incubator at a will not be able to survive in Yemen under hospital near Sanaa, yesterday. the social, political and economic circum- stances in this country,” Dr Faisal al-Balbali medics were not able to perform even ba- told Reuters in Al-Thawra hospital in the sic diagnostic tests such as an MRI scan in capital Sanaa where the boys were born. Yemen, and certainly did not have the capa- The tiny boys, who are being helped to bilities to separate them, if needed. breathe in an incubator, have separate heads. “This is a rare case,” said Doctor Abd al- Within their shared torso they have sepa- Hakim Abu Taleb, the hospital’s general rate spines, lungs, hearts and digestive sys- manager, who is writing up a report about tems, but they share a liver, reproductive their birth for doctors worldwide to study. organs and pair of kidneys, arms and legs He said hospitals in Yemen have seen an between them. increase in birth defects in recent years, “Even if one is unwell, the other is fi ne... something he said could be down to war They are diff erent in every aspect,” al-Bal- conditions causing poor nutrition and lack bali said. The doctors are appealing to the of medicines. Yemen’s almost four-year war United Nations and international humani- pits the Houthi movement against a Saudi- tarian organisations to arrange for the boys’ backed coalition trying to restore the gov- transfer abroad. ernment of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Their parents were not present when the it was ousted from power in Sanaa by the doctors were speaking about their sons, Houthis in 2014. but medical staff said they had agreed with The confl ict has killed tens of thousands them to invite the media to highlight their of people, collapsed the economy and plight. brought millions of people to the brink of Al-Balbali, head of the neonatal unit, said famine.

Armed men blow up gas tanker truck in Iran, policeman killed

A policeman was killed and another seriously saying. The report gave no information about wounded after armed men blew up a tanker the identity of the attackers, or what happened truck carrying liquefied gas in northwestern Iran to them. early yesterday, Mehr news agency reported. Several members of Iran’s security forces have Police approached two men at a petrol station been killed in recent clashes with militants on in the town of Dareh Garm and the men began Iran’s eastern and western borders. shooting at the tanker, the agency said. In September, militants attacked a military There was a “horrific explosion” which blew parade in the city of Ahvaz, killing at least 25 out windows in nearby buildings, Col. Seyed people. Ali Mirahmadi, the deputy police chief of Iran’s Islamic State and a separatist group both northwestern Lorestan province, was quoted as claimed responsibility for the attack. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, February 07, 2019 HOL STIC Wellbeing Lets make 2022 World Cup, Vegan! Three powerful breathing exercises

With an already existing heavy focus on sustainability, it’s time for By Erin Ralph Qatar to turn its attention to accom- modating the world’s fastest grow- ing dietary demand: Veganism. Sta- reathing gives and tistics show that footballs fans are grounds all life. Under- 8 times more likely to be vegan or Bstanding and working vegetarian than any other sporting with our most natural instinct fans, and while many stereotype puts us well on our way to self- this group of fans for being known mastery. You can use breath- for consuming junk food and soda, ing as a tool to draw in power, it’s time to wake up and realise the regulate your expressions, and By Ghanim al-Sulaiti dietary changes taking place in diffuse or influence an outcome today’s society. Fans are following by changing the air around you. the footsteps of the players and Who is breathing deepest and Since Qatar was announced as the likes of Sergio Aguero, Jermain holding the most steady space the 2022 FIFA World Cup host, the Defoe and Lionel Messi. Each adopt is often the most influential in country has remained committed the Vegan lifestyle, consuming only the conversation. Your breath to delivering one of the greenest plant-based products as their fuel is your most important tool and and carbon-neutral tournaments for football. Football fans are also life becomes easier when you in the history of the cup. Qatar has six times more likely to be focused sync with it. invested billions in sustainable on health and wellness in ways From the moment we are and innovative solutions in order other than diet, ensuring they are born, a deep and well-circulat- to achieve such a goal. In one of environmental friendly where pos- ed breath is the most basic life our stadiums, the entire structure sible, and reducing the number of imprint. As we grow, and the is made up of recycled shipping cars needed to travel to games. more thinking we do or ‘in our shoulders relaxed. Once you intense refresh and liberation. are not used to it. For extra ef- Ocean Breathing containers. Furthermore, energy ef- Eating plant-based foods is vital to heads’ we become, the more become familiar with these It is also a great way to wake up fect, place the palm of one hand Imagine sitting on the shores ficient LED sports light will be used many, and the trend is becoming we over-express verbally, and breaths, you can practice them in the morning. over your belly button, spread- of a calm and peaceful ocean, to illuminate every game, reducing less of ‘something we hear about’ exhaust our exertion. We are with your eyes closed. ing your fingers to expand the feeling the pull of the gentle energy consumption by over a and more of the reality of today’s socially hardwired to make de- Deep Belly Breath length of your entire belly bowl. waves come in and out around third. It’s not just structurally where food demand. The meat industry cisions very high up in our body Lion’s Breath Imagine a sleeping baby Have your pinkie extend down your ankles. Visualise the se- Qatar wants to remain committed is crumbling at faster rates than with our critical minds. Instead Inhale through your nose, breathing deep as it fills up its your lower abdomen and pel- rene timing of the waves, where to ensuring a ‘green’ game; Some ever previously anticipated, and of circulating rich, full breaths and open your mouth wide, belly bowl with air, expand- vic region and your thumb ex- nothing is rushed, and every- 170,000 seats will also be donated meat-eaters are developing an un- deep into the bowls of our belly, sticking out your tongue as far ing it like a balloon. Try taking tended up towards your solar thing is in perfect rhythm. This to lower-economically developed derstanding as to why the world’s our focus, and therefore sub- as you can. Slowly release all one of these deep breaths by plexus. Place your other hand exercise helps sync you with countries, ensuring everyone fittest, strongest athletes, wrestlers, liminal breathing, tends to con- the air through your mouth, drawing in a long steady pull of over your heart. Take a few nice, that natural rhythm. Steady around the globe has a chance to footballers and sporting stars are strict as shallow in our chest, exhaling with a ‘haaaa’ sound, oxygen, then letting your belly big and deep breaths, bringing your mind’s eye on the tranquil continue the legacy that will follow switching to the vegan way of life. shoulders and neck areas. tongue still out. While inhaling, rise before your chest rises, the expansive air down to your horizon, where the ocean meets Qatar 2022. Such initiatives are not By 2022, veganism is expected Bringing this energy back close your mouth and draw in and fall before your chest falls. pinkie first and then feeling the a beautiful, clear blue sky. Keep only sustainable, but are integrated to grow by 10 times as much as it down into the core of your body again through your nose. Repeat It may take a few times to get rise in the thumb of your heart this visual during this exercise. in the qualities and virtues of a exists today. not only helps you regulate it at least five times. This pow- into this pattern, as you may hand last. Try two cycles of six Begin to take some deep vegan way of life. While many con- Resilience, hard work and dedica- your emotions and decisions, erful breath offers a wonderful, rouse muscles and areas that breaths. breaths and notice how similar sider Vegansim to be simply a diet, tion in the sporting world has led but it also physically circulates the sounds of your breathing it’s a lifestyle choice, and having our national team to victory this oxygen deeper into your body are to the sounds of the waves. Qatar adopt a ‘Vegan for 2022’ goal month, and Qatar is now the off icial allowing it to start function- Inhale slowly and imagine the will further enhance and enrich it in champion of the AFC Asian Cup. ing and feeling more powerful. water receding out into the sea, new and stronger ways. Yes, meat plays a larger role in tra- A fresh supply of oxygen will drawing more power, and then When it comes to moving fans ditional Middle Eastern culture, but always place you more in con- exhale slowly and imagine the from A to B, Qatar is adopting with a meat industry riddled with trol, more in the moment, and water coming back to crash vegan virtues with 2022 planning chemicals, questionable ingredi- more capable of thinking, act- ashore. Keep strong, steady in facilitating the travel needs of ents and additives, it’s never been ing and attracting something and slow breaths, channel- guests during the tournament. more important for somebody like with greater clarity and confi- ling the powerful force of the Doha’s streets have become fa- a member of a national football dence. ocean. With your inhales, im- mous for frequent traff ic jams, but team to ensure they have access Below are three introduction agine all that no longer serves the new metro system (which uses to healthy, organic, pure foods in breathwork exercises. Before you getting swept out to sea and best-in-the-world technology) will Qatar. While we have a long way to you sit for each of these breaths, with your exhales imagine all not only help reduce the carbon go, I see promising links between we recommend getting out any goodness and treasures being footprint for every single Qatar ‘going vegan’ and the World Cup excess energy in your body, like brought in or washing ashore 2022 visitor, but also for us Qataris 2022 every day. shaking your limbs, hands, feet, for you. Try to keep this visu- and residents of the country. The or rolling your neck and moving alisation going for a minimum metro will be able to transport fans The author is an expert in vegan around. Once you settle down, of three minutes. between stadiums, and around wellbeing and health. sit upright and elevated with Doha. Instagram handle: @Ghanim92 your spine and neck straight The author can be contacted on and your face, tongue, jaw and Instagram @CoCre Travelling light is the closest thing to feeling free Wellness Meal Plan

By Hannah Jane Parkinson stressful, moving with every- The Guardian thing I owned. I often travel alone. It is good for the soul, and all I need then have crossed borders with is: my passport; a good book or nothing but a rucksack on three (paperback, obviously); a I my back. Arrived in coun- playlist relevant to where one tries with a holdall and that’s is going (surely I cannot be the it. Last year, at midnight, I only nerd who does this?); a booked a plane ticket for 7am language app (if relevant); a that morning from London to rolling countryside view from Raw Mexican Rainbow Glasgow, packed a bag barely a train window, or a pointillist (Meal for two) heavier than the quotidian, and expanse from a plane window; off I went. I have gone to Mo- and possibly, depending on Caulifl ower Rice: rocco and Egypt in similar cir- mood, an incredibly interest- Ingredients cumstances. ing seat partner from whom one Caulifl ower 360g Travelling is wonderful, but learns new things. Sundried tomatoes 50g the downsides, with air travel in Because how many pairs of Chilli fl akes 1g particular, are easy to acknowl- jeans are you really going to Method edge: the dragging of heavy wear? Why take weighty bot- Wash and dry the caulifl ower, then use a food processor or a suitcases: the queueing; the tles of shampoo when every blender to break it down into small pieces. It should look like rice. waiting around for luggage, and hotel, Airbnb, or couchsurf- Set aside. the potential for it to be lost; about all of the above when hole-in-a-sack riddle: what bought in Moscow six months ing host will have some? Not Drain the sundried tomatoes, and then cut them into thick the paying extra for, seemingly, travelling light. It isn’t always can you pack that will make earlier had its own plane seat. having much on the back means strips, or into any desired size. everything. Smugness is not a possible, of course, work trips, your bag light? Nothing. (I didn’t buy it its own seat, but one’s plans can always change Place everything in a bowl, together with the chilli fl akes and quality to cultivate, but I can’t longer holidays, but when it is, When I moved back to the UK the stewards were keen on pro- on a whim, too. And, in my mix well to incorporate. tell you that it isn’t immensely it’s perhaps the closest thing to after living in another coun- tecting it.) It hangs in my flat to opinion, plans are made for satisfying not to have to worry feeling free. It’s a twist on that try, a huge Klimt print I had this day, but it was incredibly changing. Tomato Salsa Ingredients Tomato 135g (diced) Red Onion 14g (small dices) How are you showing up in 2019 Cilantro 5g (thinly chopped) Olive oil 8g daily habit, I believe it is a part and the good things you have Lime juics 8g of the formula to success. achieved in your life. Without Chilli fl akes 1g At least once a day, usually refl ection, it’s easy to forget Salt 0.5g in the evening, I refl ect on the these things, and focus on fail- Method 24 hours that have gone by, on ures and regret. Add all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well to incorporate. my life in general, on what I’ve Often we are caught up in the been doing right and what isn’t stress or busy-ness of our daily Guacamole Workout Playlist working. I think of the people I lives. A mistake at the offi ce or a Ingredients interacted with during the day, fi ght with a loved one can seem Avocado 150g (mashed) could I have been kinder? or like the end of the world. Situ- Spring onion 5g (thin slices) Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit more present? I refl ect on each ations like that can overwhelm Red onion 8g (small dices) Click Click Boom by Saliva aspect of my life and this allows us sometimes. But if we take a Salt 2g Open Wide ft. Big Sean by Calvin for continuous improvement. minute to step back, and refl ect Lime juice 12g Harris If we don’t make time to re- and gain some perspective, in Chilli fl akes 0.5g Blood Sugar by Pendulum By Shefa Ali fl ect on our mistakes, we may the grand scheme of things they Cilantro 2g (thinly chopped) Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled, fi nd ourselves repeating them. don’t mean all that much, this Method Rihanna However, with a little refl ec- sense of perspective can calm Add the mashed avocado into a bowl and add all the rest of the Starboy by The Weekend The fi rst month of the year tion we can prevent them in the us down and lower our stress ingredients to incorporate. What I’ve Done by Linkin Park has gone by just like that. How future and turn negatives into levels. We gain clarity, and enter That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars was your 1/12? Your 31/365? positives. This gives us the op- the space of gratitude. Lime Sour Cream Welcome To The Jungle by Guns How are you showing up in 2019 portunity to turn mistakes into The best part about refl ection Ingredients N’ Roses so far? What new risks have you valuable learning tools, instead is sharing what you learn with Cashews 125g Counting Stars by One Republic taken? Which opportunities of something to feel shameful or others going through the same Water 50g Closer by The Chainsmokers have you said yes to? guilty about. things.Over the years I have Apple cider vinegar 30g Monster by Skillet We tend to let the year go When I refl ect on an accom- learned just how powerful that Lime juice 10g Crew by Goldlink without checking in with our- plishment or a success, I think is. I began 2019 with the hope Lime zest 1g Cuatro Babys by Maluma selves, many of us leave refl ec- about what led to that success, that some of the things I’ve Salt 2g Faint by Linkin Park tion at the end of the year, we what it means to me and I like to learned in the past couple years Method Back in Black by AC/DC see it as the perfect time of the celebrate it in some kind of way, can motivate others and that Drain and rinse the cashews. Stressed Out by Twenty one Pilot year to look back and refl ect on which I believe encourages more is what I hope to do with this Add all the ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until Chop Suey! by System of a down what we did right and to learn success. column. smooth. Privado by Rvssian from what didn’t exactly go the Refl ecting on your successes One Step Closer by Linkin Park way we had planned. allows you to celebrate life, It The author is a consultant and Stephanie Calfat is Head Chef at Evergreen Organics Best Friends by Sophie Tukker This year I would like to chal- brings you to the realisation of coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ Hymn of the Weekend by Coldplay lenge you, to make refl ection a how much you’ve done right shefa, Website: missshefa.com Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 11 AFRICA

5 held over Zimbabwe opposition snubs Zuma-era graft charges

AFP Mnangagwa call for dialogue Johannesburg ive suspects, including AFP were sparked by a huge rise in vert attention from the protest South Africa’s former chief Harare fuel prices. abuses. Ffi nancial offi cer for pris- Mnangagwa has said on Tens of thousands of people ons, were arrested yesterday in Twitter that the invitation to took part in the January pro- the latest move against alleged imbabwe’s main opposi- the talks was “without precon- tests after Mnangagwa more government corruption under tion leader snubbed an ditions, to begin a process of than doubled fuel prices, with former president Jacob Zuma. Zinvitation by President national dialogue”, urging “let the demonstrations descending Patrick Gillingham, former Emmerson Mnangagwa to join us all put the people fi rst and into unrest as shops were looted chief fi nancial offi cer at the cor- a political summit yesterday politics second”. and set on fi re. rectional services department, aimed at alleviating the coun- But Chamisa, who insists he A joint police and military appeared in court alongside An- try’s deepening crisis, weeks won the July 30 vote, tweeted crackdown, along with further gelo Agrizzi, who worked for the after security forces crushed that the “presidency is disput- security forces action since Bosasa contracting company and protests over the worsening ed” because of “rigged presi- January, has left at least 17 civil- recently gave damning testimony economy. dential election result”. ians dead and hundreds injured, to an inquiry into fraud. Mnangagwa, who has faced “We need genuine dialogue un- according to the Zimbabwe Hu- “The sweeping high-profi le international criticism for the der a credible convener and me- man Rights NGO Forum. arrests follow a marathon inves- brutal crackdown in January, diator to solve this crisis,” he said. There have also been harrow- tigation,” the Hawks police inves- invited leaders of the more than “Stop citizens’ abuses, beat- ing accusations of torture and tigative unit said in a statement. 20 political parties that par- ings and arrests.” sexual assault at the hands of It said the equivalent of $120mn ticipated in last year’s disputed A dozen leaders of smaller the security services. (105 million euros) was allegedly polls to a “post-election dia- parties did attend Wednesday’s Mnangagwa, who last week ac- stolen in tender deals between the logue” at his State House offi ce. meeting, including Thokozani cused western countries of sup- department of correctional serv- But the talks were held with- Khupe, leader of a MDC break- porting the protests, has said the ices, which oversees the country’s out opposition heavyweight away faction, law professor government “regrets” the loss of prisons, and Bosasa. Nelson Chamisa after he said Lovemore Madhuku and Nko- life, but has defended the crack- Offi cials are accused of taking he would only attend dialogue sana Moyo, a former cabinet down in the face of the violence. bribes in cash and receiving help to called by a neutral party. minister under Mugabe. He came to power last year buy properties, cars and overseas Mnangagwa, who took over Chamisa wants talks to be pledging to revive Zimbabwe’s travel trips. The fi ve suspects were from long-time ruler Robert independently mediated by the sickly fi nances and end its in- bailed until March 27 after a brief Mugabe with promises to kick- Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrives for talks with leaders of opposition parties in regional organisation, Southern ternational isolation. court appearance in Johannesburg. start the country’s economy, Harare yesterday. African Development Commu- The economy has been in a Agrizzi, ex-chief operating of- told Wednesday’s conference: nity (SADC) and guaranteed by downward spiral for more than fi cer of Bosasa, recently told the “We have lost decades of devel- and work out ways of resolving talks that was open to the press. Chamisa’s Movement for Dem- the African Union and the UN. a decade, with cash shortages, commission probing government oping our motherland.” diff erences through peaceful Police arrested more than ocratic Change (MDC) and some His spokesman Nkululeko high unemployment and re- graft that Bosasa made monthly “It is imperative that we means and dialogue,” he said in 1,100 people, including leading children in the violent country- Sibanda said the meeting called cently a scarcity of staples such payments of about $2,200 to the reach out to each other always a speech at the opening of the trade unionists, lawmakers from wide protests last month, which by Mnangagwa was a ruse to di- as bread and cooking oil. Jacob Zuma foundation. Sahel leaders Strikes set fi rst test for DRC president

AFP After a ballot marked by re- of four months’ wages and the Kinshasa peated delays and a bitterly- ousting of their boss, “who is seek UN help disputed result, he succeeded suspected of having siphoned off President Laurent Kabila, whose $30 million,” said Mazime Nz- elix Tshisekedi is facing his 18-year tenure was marked by inga, head of the DR Congo Cus- maiden test as president of authoritarian rule, patronage tom Offi cers Association. The FDR Congo – not from rivals and crackdowns. boss, Mukoko Samba, denied the against attacks in the political arena, as many It was the fi rst peaceful tran- accusations. have expected, but from striking sition in the history of the Dem- In Boma, in the same region, workers. ocratic Republic of Congo (DRC) maritime transport workers AFP ing suicide attack claimed by Since the December 30 elec- – a state that traces its origins are also on strike, demanding Ouagadougou an Al Qaeda-linked group. tions, labour unrest in the public back to independence from Bel- 20 months’ back pay, and state Mahamadou Issoufou, sector has exploded as unions, gium in 1960. fi rms involved in telecoms and president of Niger, told re- eyeing a new regime headed by Tshisekedi had to weigh into a insurance have also been hit by ive nations waging a bat- porters at Tuesday’s meet- a former opposition leader, de- dispute on January 28, just three unrest. tle against jihadi fi ghters ing there was a need to fi nd mand back payment of wages days after his inauguration. Tshisekedi faces familiar Fin the Sahel have asked “a permanent mechanism and a crackdown on cronyism. He ordered “urgent” payment problems of budget constraints Kenya’s former prime minister Raila Odinga, left, chatting with newly the UN for money and other to fi nance” an anti-jihadist Stoppages have hit transport, of backdated wages to workers when seeking to defuse these elected Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tchisekedi, aid to help tackle a scourge force under the UN Charter’s a key port, television, insurance at the Congo Transport Com- problems, as well as a daunting during a one day state visit to Nairobi yesterday. which claimed more lives even Chapter 7. and the fi re service and were pany (Transco), which runs the political tightrope act. as offi cials met. The G5, he added, “reaf- continuing yesterday as Tsh- bus services for the sprawling Pushing out Kabila-era ap- Leaders of the so-called G5 fi rmed its determination and isekedi was in Kenya on his fi rst capital, Kinshasa. pointees could endanger the Kenya vows to help Tshisekedi Sahel – Burkina Faso, Chad, its willingness to continue the foreign tour. The government also sus- delicate sharing of power that he Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta told Tshisekedi that Mali, Mauritania, and Niger fi ght against terrorism with all Although the public sector is pended Transco’s boss for “poor has had to forge with supporters Kenyatta yesterday off ered to Kenya had learned valuable – gathered in the Burkinabe means necessary: militarily, only a small part of the national management.” of his predecessor, who wield a train DR Congo civil servants, lessons from past political capital Ouagadougou seeking economically – because pov- economy – most Congolese work But on Monday, Kinshasa fi re- huge majority in parliament. as he expressed his country’s tensions, which it was willing to beef up the battle against erty is the fertile ground in in small – or medium-sized pri- fi ghters went on strike, saying But he also has to ensure pres- commitment to political stability to share, his off ice said in a jihadists who have killed hun- which terrorism thrives – and vate businesses – the strikes are they were owed 38 months’ sal- idential credibility in the light of during a visit by President Felix statement. dreds of civilians and infl icted also ideologically”. providing an early trial of Tsh- ary and urging Tshisekedi’s new the disputed election result. Tshisekedi. “We will continue to help you crippling economic damage. The G5’s problems have isekedi’s political smarts. government to put pressure on Another opposition candidate, The new DRC president is on achieve peace and stability because In the latest incident, fi ve given rise to long periods “Baptism of fi re,” the daily city governor Andre Kimbuta. Martin Fayulu, contends the re- his maiden tour which has we have had similar experience security personnel were killed of apparent inactivity, al- Le Potential said, wonder- The same day, dozens of sult was cooked up between Ka- already taken in Angola and will which we can share,” he said. on Tuesday in a what the army though on Sunday, its com- ing whether Tshisekedi had the workers on temporary con- bila and Tshisekedi, denying him end in Congo Brazzaville, since Kenyatta said that Kenya would called a “terrorist” attack in mander General Hanena Ould power to match his electoral tracts at RTNC demonstrated a victory after he says he won 61 his inauguration last month off er training opportunities to northern Burkina Faso. Sidi, a Mauritanian, said the rhetoric with deeds. outside Tshisekedi’s tempo- percent of the vote. following a hotly disputed Congolese public servants. “A military detachment force had carried out three Head of the Union for Democ- rary residence, demanding job “I know that there have been election. “We are ready to partner in from forces ensuring security operations since January 15. racy and Social Progress (UDPS), security and the fi ring of their some imperfections, some ir- In Nairobi he held separate talks building infrastructure, sharing in the north at Oursi, in the He gave no further details. the country’s oldest and larg- boss, Ernest Kabila, for alleged regularities in these elections, with opposition leader Raila Odinga skills in extractive industry and Sahel were attacked by terror- In their joint statement, the est opposition party, Tshisekedi cronyism. but overall it went well because and Kenyatta, who have grown in many other areas of mutual ists,” the army said in a heads of state said a military vowed on the campaign trail to At the Atlantic port of Matadi, this change of leadership was close and are working to promote benefit,” he said. statement. force can never be the only combat poverty and root out workers began a strike on Febru- done peacefully,” Tshisekedi said peace after a dramatic 2017 Kenyatta also called for the “Five gendarmes were killed solution, and urged the inter- graft. ary 1 to demand back-payment on Tuesday. election, according to rights groups. deepening of trade ties. (AFP) and three injured, including national community “to sup- two seriously,” it said, shortly port the G5 Sahel’s eff orts” to after another similar attack secure and develop the region. Monday left 14 civilians dead. The president of summit In a statement issued at the host Burkina Faso, Roch Marc close of a one-day meeting, Christian Kabore, also asked Baby fl amingoes rescued the G5 renewed their “con- for “redoubling eff orts to ac- celerate the strengthening of Burkina Faso army cern” over the situation, and called for “closer co-opera- the joint force”. from dried up dam in SA tion between the G5 Sahel and Nearly 300 people have the United Nations”. been killed in Burkina Faso AFP The relocation by air of 2,000 This should include as- in four years of attacks com- Cape Town chicks from Kamfers Dam in mitted by people whom Bu- accused of executions sistance to a joint G5 military the Northern Cape province to force under Chapter 7 of the rundian ex-president Pierre several locations including Cape UN Charter, which can au- Buyoya, the African Union’s Under warming red light, baby Town – a journey of 950km (590 Reuters with the central government director for New York-based thorise measures to help a representative at the summit, flamingos are fed, weighed and miles) – has attracted public Ouagadougou to recruit. Human Rights Watch (HRW), country “which fi nds itself described as “terrorists with cared for in a bid to save 2,000 attention in South Africa. The violence in the West said on Tuesday that some confronted with special eco- regressive aims”. chicks rescued after they were But some conservation experts Africa’s Sahel region, a semi- of the so-called terrorists nomic problems” arising from The capital Ouagadougou abandoned by their parents as dam have questioned the decision to urkina Faso’s army said arid band below the Sahara, has were executed in front of the “prevention and enforcement has been hit three times, most waters dried up in South Africa. intervene. it had killed nearly 150 alarmed former colonial power families. measures” aimed at safe- recently in March 2018. Nicky Stander, rehabilitation “These endearing little birds Bmilitants in response to France and the United States, “All groups: stop collective guarding peace, they said. Tight security was in place manager at the Southern African were apparently left stranded an attack on civilians this week, who have deployed thousands punishment,” Dufka wrote. The fi ve countries are for Tuesday’s meeting. Foundation for the Conservation and dying by their parents as the but an international rights of troops to the zone to counter She added that HRW would among the world’s poorest. A key highway linking the of Coastal Birds in Cape Town waters of the dam dried up,” said group said some of them had Al Qaeda and Islamic State- soon publish a full report on The radical Islamist re- airport and the conference (SANCCOB), said her team swung Mark Anderson, CEO of BirdLife been executed in front of their linked groups. atrocities by both jihadist volt in the Sahel took off after venue was closed off to non- into action when news of the South Africa. families. Burkina’s government groups and security forces in chaos engulfed Libya in 2011. summit traffi c, and armed abandoned birds broke last month. “(But) was the decision to step The army has stepped up op- spokesman could not be imme- Burkina. Jihadist attacks erupted in troops were deployed at “We rehabilitate, that’s our in and remove the abandoned erations in response to wors- diately reached for comment Burkina declared a state of northern Mali as Boko Haram regular intervals. business, and with the aim of chicks and eggs the right one? ening security across northern yesterday. The government has emergency in several prov- arose in northern Nigeria. Last month, President Kabore releasing back into the wild. We Who made this decision, under Burkina since last year, includ- acknowledged some abuses in inces in December following As the toll spiked, a French- carried out a major reshuffl e of have very large facilities here what authority and in terms of ing attacks by Islamist mili- the past and pledged to take an attack by an Al Qaeda- backed scheme was launched the country’s security apparatus, that were built last year. And what expertise?” tants and inter-ethnic clashes, action. linked group. The state of in 2014 with the goal of de- sacking the chief of the armed we thought we were the best At SANCCOB, volunteer Leslie leading to accusations of extra- In the latest incident, emergency was extended by ploying a 5,000-man joint forces and replacing the ministers people to contribute to this Ernst says they are determined judicial killings and arbitrary militants killed 14 civilians six months in January after force among the fi ve nations in of defence and security. project,” Stander said yesterday. to do their best for the rescued arrests. on Monday near the Mali an outbreak of ethnic vio- the front line. At the end of February, “As time goes on and they grow, chicks. Rights activists fear such border, the army said. Sub- lence killed dozens. But lack of funding and Burkina Faso will host the we are going have to adapt “They’re super delicate-feeling. abuses could fuel spiral- sequent ground and air op- Thousands of people have training, as well as poor equip- Panafrican Film and Televi- the way that we house them Every time I go to bed I still feel ling instability in previously erations “neutralised 146 fl ed their homes as a result ment, have greatly under- sion Festival of Ouagadougou, and make sure that they have them in my hands,” she said. “I peaceful Burkina as they have terrorists”, army spokesman of militant attacks and re- mined the initiative, and last one of the biggest African fi lm long running space so they can think we all feel very motherly in neighbouring Mali, where Lamoussa Fofana said in a prisals by the Burkinabe June, the force’s headquarters festivals, which is celebrating exercise their legs.” towards them all.” jihadist groups have tapped statement. army, HRW said in a report in Mali were hit by a devastat- its 50th anniversary. into ethnic rivalries and anger But Corinne Dufka, Sahel last May. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, February 7, 2019 AMERICA Trump vows to build the wall, warns against investigations Reuters war zone, despite comments ear- Abrams dubs shutdown a Trump stunt Washington lier in the day from a top US gen- eral, Joseph Votel, that a US pull- Stacey Abrams, who nearly became both the first African-American and out could prompt a resurgence in first woman governor of Georgia, landed a few jabs against President resident Donald Trump the militancy. Donald Trump after his State of the Union address while calling for an vowed in his State of the “Great nations do not fi ght economic boost for working and middle-class Americans. PUnion speech on Tuesday endless wars,” said Trump, whose Delivering the Democratic Party’s response to his State of the Union to build a border wall, which is a withdrawal plans are opposed by address, Abrams struck a tone that might influence other Democrats source of a deep partisan divide, many congressional Republicans. still searching for the right way to challenge Trump in the election in and said Democratic attempts at Trump also denounced Ven- 2020, when he will seek a second term. “ridiculous partisan investiga- ezuelan President Nicolas Ma- “The shutdown was a stunt engineered by the president of the tions” could damage US prosper- duro, who the United States and United States, one that defied every tenet of fairness and abandoned ity. a number of Latin American and not just our people but our values,” Abrams said. Trump spoke to a joint session European countries accuse of Abrams sought to balance policy prescriptions with measured of the US Congress facing politi- being an illegitimate leader after attacks against the president, something Democratic strategists say cal discord over his demands that last year’s disputed election. presidential hopefuls should emulate. Democrats end their opposition Trump used part of his speech “So even as I am very disappointed by the president’s approach to to funding for a US-Mexico bor- to off er a spirit of compromise, our problems, I still don’t want him to fail. But we need him to tell the der wall he says is needed to stem particularly in areas such as low- truth, and to respect his duties and the extraordinary diversity that illegal immigration and smug- ering the price of prescription defines America,” she said, speaking in Atlanta in front of a group of gled drugs. drugs and funding a $1tn upgrade mostly women. During his 82-minute speech, in US roads, bridges and other in- The 45-year-old lost her gubernatorial bid, in a Southern state that he outlined his political priorities frastructure. Trump won in 2016, by less than 60,000 votes in November. without providing specifi c policy But whether Trump and his Since then, she has emerged as a “bona fide leader” among Demo- details. opponents would follow through crats, said Jaime Harrison, a senior counsellor and co-chair of the Trump called illegal immigra- was far from clear, with both Democratic National Committee. tion “an urgent national crisis,” sides entrenched in long-held “The 2020 folks will be listening to her and looking to what they can but stopped short of declaring a President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address as Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker positions and girding for 2020 adopt to their message from her own.” border emergency that would al- of the House Nancy Pelosi look on at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. elections, reluctant to give the As many as two dozen Democrats are eager to challenge Trump as low him to bypass Congress for other side a political victory. their party’s nominee; about 10 have already declared their candida- wall funding. foolish wars, politics, or ridicu- Financial markets were largely on February 27-28 in Vietnam. It Driving the two parties apart cies. Instead, he urged Democrats lous partisan investigations,” he subdued as Trump delivered his is expected to be either in Hanoi is Trump’s insistence on funding “Stacey Abrams is the face that the Democratic Party would like to and Republicans to fi nd a com- said. speech. or Da Nang. for the border wall. project...That’s where the energy in the party lies: youth and diversity,” promise by a February 15 dead- His remarks came as Demo- “It was pablum, without spe- From China to Venezuela to Pelosi, who frequently sat said Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist. line. crats who now control the House cifi cs,” said Tim Ghriskey, chief Afghanistan, Trump devoted stony-faced through Trump’s Payne said 2020 candidates should heed how Abrams speaks to “In the past, most of the people planned a series of probes into investment strategist at Inver- a large section of his speech to address, has shown no sign of liberals in the party’s base, but also to voters in conservative states like in this room voted for a wall, but the Trump administration and ness Counsel in New York. foreign policy, saying a trade budging from her opposition to Georgia. the proper wall never got built. his personal fi nances, while Spe- Trump’s speech unfolded deal was possible with China if Trump’s wall-funding demand. “The biggest lesson that the 2020 hopefuls can take from Stacey I will get it built,” Trump said cial Prosecutor Robert Mueller largely in a civil fashion with Beijing agrees to “real structural The Republican president ap- Abrams is to contest and vie for every single vote,” he said. in the House of Representatives investigates Russian meddling Cabinet members, military com- change.” peared in the House chamber Since Democrats, especially those running for president, largely chamber, with his main Demo- in the 2016 presidential election manders and several Supreme The world’s two largest econo- just weeks after his demand for agree on policy, finding the right style and tone to fight Trump will be cratic adversary, new House and possible collusion between Court justices in attendance at mies are in talks to try to hammer $5.7bn in funding for the US- paramount, said Jason Nichols, an African-American studies lecturer at Speaker Nancy Pelosi, watching the Trump campaign and Mos- the annual presidential address out an agreement to end a trade Mexico wall triggered a his- the University of Maryland. over his shoulder. cow. Russia denies meddling and to Congress. war. toric 35-day partial government “Abrams is a great example,” Nichols said. Democrats call the wall a waste Trump has said there was no col- Many Democratic women Trump hailed peace eff orts un- shutdown that more than half of “She is firm and uncompromising in her beliefs, yet she will never of money and ineff ective. lusion. lawmakers wore white to cele- folding between his administra- Americans blamed him for, ac- stoop to the level of Trump or fall for his traps.” During the speech, Democratic Democratic Representative Val brate 100 years of women having tion and Taliban insurgents in Af- cording to Reuters/Ipsos polling. Candice Battiste, a Democratic strategist in Louisiana who works Representative Pramila Jayapal Demings called Trump’s remarks gained the right to vote. ghanistan and said if a deal could “Simply put, walls work and on initiatives to expand minority access to voting, said Abrams sets an tweeted her opposition to the shameful and said the investiga- Republicans cheered on the be reached, it would allow him to walls save lives. So let’s work to- example on communication with minority groups. wall, saying: “The border is more tions would proceed. president, while Democrats bring some US troops home after gether, compromise, and reach a “Stacey Abrams has that undeniable relatability that doesn’t cross secure than ever. Enough.” “We’re not going to stop,” she grimaced or shook their heads 17 years of war spawned by the deal that will truly make America the line into ‘pandering,’” she said. Trump warned, without of- said. but held their fi re and applauded September 11, 2001, attacks. safe,” Trump said. fering evidence, that Democratic Apart from lauding economic at non-partisan moments, such “As we make progress in these In the Democratic response to eff orts to investigate his admin- accomplishments — unemploy- as when two Holocaust survivors negotiations, we will be able to Trump’s speech, Stacey Abrams, For all of Trump’s talk about “We are born free, and we will istration, along with the possi- ment near a fi ve-decade low were recognised. reduce our troop presence and who lost a race for governor of political unity, he could not resist stay free. Tonight, we renew our bility of US involvement in wars and manufacturing job growth Despite a lack of concrete focus on counterterrorism,” he Georgia last November, said that denouncing liberal Democrats resolve that America will never abroad, would endanger the US among them — Trump’s speech progress in persuading North Ko- said. while Democrats stood ready who have gained power in the be a socialist country,” Trump economy. was light on new initiatives to rea to give up its nuclear weapons He also hailed allied gains to secure the country’s ports House, best personifi ed by Rep- said. “An economic miracle is tak- further stoke growth in an econ- program, Trump said his second against Islamic State militants and borders, “America is made resentative Alexandria Ocasio- As Trump spoke, Ocasio- ing place in the United States and omy seen as losing momentum as summit with North Korean lead- in Syria and reiterated his plan stronger by the presence of im- Cortez, who has proposed a 70% Cortez could be seen smiling the only thing that can stop it are it began 2019. er Kim Jong-un would take place to withdraw US troops from that migrants — not walls.” tax on the richest Americans. broadly.

Snooze of the Union: (Joshua) Trump’s power nap goes viral Between the late bedtimes and early morning tweets the leader of the free world is renowned for needing just Cohen congressional testimony postponed four hours’ sleep but his young State of the Union guest Joshua Trump hardly lived up to the name — nodding off mid-speech. Reuters telligence Committee Chairman Adam business interests and his administration. The 11-year-old — who is not related to Donald Trump Washington Schiff said in a statement. Congressional committees are also but has been bullied at school because of his surname — It was the second time this year a congres- conducting their own investigations of had been invited as a special guest of the first family to sional appearance by Cohen has been put Russian interference in the 2016 US presi- the prestigious annual address. estimony by US President Donald off . Last month, Cohen cited threats from dential election on Trump’s behalf and The youngster was seen looking presidential in a white Trump’s former lawyer Michael Trump for postponing testimony before an any cooperation between the Trump cam- shirt and dark tie as formalities commenced in Washing- US first lady Melania Trump with Grace Eline and TCohen before the House Intel- open hearing of the House of Representatives paign and Moscow. ton on Tuesday evening but he soon succumbed to the Joshua Trump, special guests of President Donald ligence Committee has been postponed Oversight Committee set for February 7. That Special Counsel Robert Mueller has apparently soporific cadence of Trump’s words. Trump, look during of the State of the Union until February 28, the panel said yester- hearing has not been rescheduled. been investigating Russia’s role in the Installed two seats up from First Lady Melania Trump, address at the US Capitol. day, the latest snag over an appearance by Cohen has also been subpoenaed by the election and whether there was any col- the middle school student from Delaware appears to Trump’s one-time “fi xer.” Senate Intelligence Committee to appear lusion or obstruction of justice by the have found his sudden fame somewhat tiring. same surname as the president, Joshua dropped out of Cohen, who is set to go to prison on in mid-February. Trump team. Schiff said last month he Images of him catching 40 winks quickly went viral on school and told his mother he had lost the will to live. March 6 after pleading guilty to crimes in- In December, Cohen was sentenced by a wanted to discuss the Russia probe with Twitter, where many hailed him as an unlikely talisman “They say are you related to Donald Trump? And I say, cluding campaign fi nance violations dur- federal judge in Manhattan to three years Cohen in the closed testimony. of the anti-Trump “resistance” while one wag remarked: ‘Would I be here if I’m related to him?’” the schoolboy told ing Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, in prison for crimes including orchestrat- Cohen was part of Trump’s inner circle “Joshua Trump spoke for all Americans.” “Joshua Trump the news site Inside Edition in December. was scheduled to appear today before the ing hush payments to women in violation who in the past called himself the presi- is a Trump I can get behind,” quipped another while a His school instructed his teachers not to use his panel for closed testimony. of campaign laws before the 2016 election. dent’s “fi xer.” After Cohen pleaded guilty third enthused: “Not all heroes wear capes.” surname any more, and disciplined five students, who “In the interests of the investigation, Democrats newly in control of the to the Mueller charges on November 29, Forced to endure months of bullying for sharing the apologized to the boy. Michael Cohen’s testimony has been House of Representatives have planned Trump called his former lawyer a liar, “a postponed” until February 28, House In- numerous investigations of Trump, his weak person and not a very smart person.” Women in white stand up (or sit down) to Trump

e didn’t count on the when Trump delivered com- the long speech, which otherwise There were some moments of In the chamber’s balcony, fi rst women in white. Presi- ments she viewed as egregious drew mixed reactions from the bipartisanship. lady Melania Trump, dressed in Hdent Donald Trump’s and stared daggers at colleagues audience, divided with Republi- When the president called for black, sat with specially invited State of the Union speech on who stood and clapped. cans on one side of the chamber embracing the principles of com- guests. Tuesday was billed as his attempt Then the president spoke and Democrats on the other, in promise, Pelosi stood up and ap- They included Debra Bissell, to unify the country. about women in the workforce, a refl ection of the deep partisan plauded heartily. whose parents Trump said were But Democratic women law- and the dynamic changed. chasm that has characterised the Trump turned around and killed by an illegal immigrant; makers from the House of Repre- Briefl y. country before and after Trump’s nodded to her in acknowledge- Matthew Charles, a former sentatives, many of them dressed As he lauded the growing 2016 election victory. ment. drug dealer who was released elegantly in white to celebrate number of women fi nding jobs When Trump said the Unit- Lawmakers applauded an eld- from prison as part of biparti- 100 years of women having the in the economy, the women law- ed States would be at war with erly American who helped liber- san prison reform efforts; and right to vote, projected a pic- makers in white rose and cheered, North Korea had he not won the ate the Dachau concentration Joshua Trump, a sixth-grade ture of calm displeasure during apparently for themselves, for presidency, Democrats groaned. camp in Germany during World student from Delaware who has Trump’s speech that made clear fi lling many of the open jobs in When he declared the state of War II and erupted in cheers for been bullied because of his last his version of unity was not one Congress during the congres- the union “strong,” they disagreed former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, name. they could accept. sional elections in November. and most stayed in their seats. the second man to walk on the Pelosi’s guests included two House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, “You weren’t supposed to do When he warned against “ri- moon. active-duty transgender mem- the most powerful Democrat that,” Trump said with a smile, diculous partisan investiga- But those moments were more bers of the US Army, Captain in the country, sat behind the pointing at them and drawing tions,” the sound of hissing could a rarity than a rule. Jennifer Peace and Major Ian Congresswomen dressed in white in tribute to the women’s suff rage president on the stage, wearing a laughter. be heard. At the beginning of the Brown, in a critique of Trump’s movement pose for a photo ahead of the State of the Union address white pantsuit. Telling them not to sit down Proclaiming that the United evening, as Trump entered the eff orts to ban transgender men at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. She shook her head or looked yet because there was more good States would never be a socialist chamber, Republicans clapped, and women from serving in the on disapprovingly when he chal- news to come, Trump went on to country, Trump drew an ovation while some Democrats stood and military. choosing another location for wanting the pageantry and spot- lenged Democrats or laid out a recognise the record number of from Republicans and even some kept their hands folded. During the 35-day government the president’s speech, perhaps light that only come with the an- dark vision of illegal immigrants women serving in the Capitol. Democrats. The image-conscious presi- shutdown that ended on January at a venue near the US-Mexico nual address to Congress inside assailing America. They cheered some more and Senator Elizabeth Warren, a dent’s signature red tie hung 25, Pelosi essentially rescinded border to emphasize his call for the Capitol’s walls. Representative Alexandria chanted: “USA, USA!” Republi- Democratic presidential hopeful, slightly to the left in his jacket as Trump’s invitation to deliver his a wall to keep out illegal immi- He got the pageantry. Ocasio-Cortez, a young social cans joined in. hesitated but eventually stood up he walked in, and stayed that way address in the House chamber. grants. He got the decorum. media star, looked down or away It was a rare moment during and clapped. while he spoke. The White House considered But Trump decided to delay, But unity was scarce. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 13 ASIA Thailand blames Australia for arrest of refugee al-Araibi

Reuters competing for Mr. Hakeem’s leased sooner if Bahrain with- Australian Foreign Aff airs Minis- Bangkok custody”. drew its request. ter Marise Payne urged Thai au- Hakeem al-Araibi is escorted to a courtroom in Bangkok. It said Thailand became in- Araibi’s soccer club, Pascoe thorities to use their discretion. volved “by chance” after a po- Vale, said in a tweet: “Our hearts “Given ... that he is a perma- hailand defended yester- lice bureau that handles Inter- are broken...we registered him nent resident of our country, on Thai attorney general opposes bail day its arrest of a Bahraini pol matters in Australia notifi ed today for the 2019 season. He is the pathway to citizenship, we Tfootballer with refugee Thai authorities that Araibi had No. 5 on the team sheet and his have encouraged the Bahraini Thai prosecutors will oppose believes he could face imprison- ankle shackles. Rights groups status in Australia, saying offi - boarded a fl ight to Bangkok and shirt is waiting.” government not to proceed with bail for a refugee football player ment and torture. and the Australian govern- cials only detained him because was the subject of a “red notice” Australia’s Home Aff airs offi ce the extradition application, and detained in Bangkok and fac- A Thai court this week extended ment have repeatedly called Australian authorities sent an initiated by Bahrain. confi rmed in December that fed- we have encouraged the Thai ing extradition to Bahrain, the his detention by another 60 for Araibi’s return and the case Interpol “red notice” after he “It took several days after the eral police had advised Thai au- government to exercise the dis- off ice of the attorney general days after which he will have a has become a cause celebre boarded a plane to Bangkok. arrival of Mr. Hakeem before the thorities a person with a red no- cretion that they have available said yesterday, citing flight risks. chance to object to Bahrain’s in the football world, with FIFA Hakeem al-Araibi’s case has Australian authorities informed tice was on the way to Thailand to them,” she told the Australian Hakeem al-Araibi was granted extradition request. also urging the Thai premier to drawn international criticism us that the red notice had been but did not say if the bureau was Broadcasting Corporation from refugee status in Australia after The Thai attorney general’s intervene. Football Federation as a Thai court considers an ex- cancelled,” the statement said. aware Araibi had refugee status. the Solomon Islands. fleeing charges in Bahrain con- Off ice told reporters that with Australia (FFA) cancelled the tradition request from Bahrain “By that time, legal proceed- Bahrain’s embassy in Bangkok Araibi was convicted of van- nected to Arab Spring protests extradition requests bail would under-23 men’s national team for him to serve a 10-year sen- ings in Thailand regarding Mr said Araibi was a fugitive who dalising a police station during but was stopped in Thailand in be opposed. plans to hold a training camp tence related to the Arab Spring Hakeem had already started and should be returned. 2011 anti-government protests in November attempting to go on “If you look at the number of for- and a friendly game in Thailand uprising of 2011. He denies the could not be reversed,” it said. “Mr Al Araibi, as with de- Bahrain and sentenced in absen- his honeymoon. eign defendants, they pay their ahead of the AFC U23 Cham- charges. Araibi could stay in jail un- fendants in all criminal cases in tia after he fl ed. He is wanted for damaging a bail and jump bail and then don’t pionship qualifiers next month. Araibi was arrested at a Bang- til August, as the court hearing Bahrain, is guaranteed full legal He denies the charges, say- police station but the former show up in court,” Chatchom Australian Prime Minister Scott kok airport in November when he his case will take two to three rights and protections with full ing he was playing in a televised national youth footballer says Akapin, the off ice’s director gen- Morrison told reporters in arrived from Australia with his months to deliver its ruling af- access to proper representation,” soccer match at the time of the the case is bogus and tied to eral for international aff airs, said, Melbourne Wednesday he had wife for their honeymoon. The ter the next hearing, set for late it said in a statement on Wednes- police station attack. New York- his criticism of Asian Football adding that the policy applied now written two letters to his 25-year-old says he faces torture April, a spokesman for the at- day. based Human Rights Watch has Confederation (AFC) president “not only to Hakeem”. Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-O- in Bahrain and wants to return torney general’s offi ce said. “So On Tuesday, Australian Prime said Araibi was tortured by Bah- Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim A deputy spokesman for the Cha and had stressed “just how to Australia, where he has lived between now and then, Hakeem Minister Scott Morrison repeat- raini authorities because of his al-Khalifa, a member of Bahrain’s off ice said the case was not strongly Australians feel about since 2014 and plays for a Mel- will have to be in custody for at ed a call for Araibi to be freed, brother’s political activities dur- ruling family. political. Araibi’s appearance in this”. Australian off icials have bourne football club. Thailand’s least until August,” Trumph Jali- saying he was “disturbed” to see ing the 2011 protests. The 25-year-old fears being court this week fuelled outrage also been pressing the Bahraini foreign ministry described the chandra told a news conference, photos of the footballer in shack- Bahraini authorities deny alle- returned to Bahrain where he after he was brought in with government, Morrison said. case as “involving two countries adding that he could only be re- les at a court hearing this week. gations of torture.

Campaign mode Bangladesh protests over new infl ux from Myanmar

AFP Some people are already wait- have been killed in reprisal at- Dhaka ing on the border and they may tacks while the United Nations also enter. We have asked them says at least 5,200 people have (Myanmar) to take eff ective and been displaced by the violence. angladesh has protested to urgent steps so that violence is An accurate death toll has been Myanmar over a new infl ux stopped,” the offi cial said. impossible to ascertain because Bof refugees fl eeing trou- A Bangladesh border guard the zone is under a near-blanket bled Rakhine state after clashes offi cial said the refugees had lockdown. between security forces and an crossed in a remote hill area of The fi ghting has added a new, insurgent group, an offi cial said Bandarban district in the south- complex dimension to the trou- yesterday. east of the country. Bangladesh bles in Rakhine that since 2012 Bangladesh’s foreign ministry is already struggling to cope with have seen religious and com- summoned Myanmar’s ambas- the 740,000 Rohingya Muslims munal riots, the mass exodus of sador late Tuesday to protest who arrived after August 2017 Rohingya and killings across all over the arrivals from Rakhine, adding to 300,000 who had fl ed ethnic lines. already notorious following a earlier violence in Rakhine. The Bangladesh protest came military clampdown on Muslim Now Rakhine’s ethnic major- after Hollywood superstar An- Rohingya in August 2017 which ity, who are Buddhist, are in con- gelina Jolie said Tuesday that sent more than 700,000 people fl ict with the army they helped Myanmar must “show genuine across the border. to drive out the Rohingya just 18 commitment” to end violence The new arrivals are from Ra- months ago. On January 4 the that has driven the Rohingya into khine Buddhist and other tribal Arakan Army (AA), a militant Bangladesh. groups, a senior foreign ministry group calling for greater auton- The UN is preparing to launch offi cial told AFP on condition of omy for Rakhine, killed 13 people a new international appeal for anonymity, without giving a fi g- in raids on police border posts. nearly one billion dollars to look ure. “The number is increasing. The army says 13 militants after the Rohingya.

Nearly 200 ‘Bangladeshis’ crammed into Indonesia shophouse

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha posing with children while visiting a local community in Yasothon province. The pro- army Phalang Pracharat party formally invited junta leader Prayut to stand as its candidate for prime minister as Thailand will hold a Almost 200 men identified by said they believed the men had they may have played in the aff air. general election on March 24, the first national poll since a 2014 coup knocked out the civilian government of Yingluck Shinawatra. police as Bangladeshi have been arrived from Bangladesh and were In recent years, Indonesia has found crammed into a shophouse living in the cramped quarters for seen hundreds of asylum seekers in Indonesia, authorities said yester- several months in the hopes of – mostly Afghans and minority day. Police in the city of Medan on going to neighbouring Malaysia Rohingya from Myanmar – arrive in Sumatra island were tipped off to for work. “We think they arrived the northern part of Sumatra. the group by suspicious residents here by boat. They don’t have any In 2015, hundreds of Muslim who lived nearby. documents,” said head of Medan Rohingya arrived ashore in Aceh, When police raided the shophouse immigration Fery Monang Sihite. where they were welcomed in the British woman jailed for slapping on Tuesday they found some 192 “We’re still questioning them and staunchly conservative Islamic men, mostly in their 20s, occupy- will later decide whether we need province. Indonesia has not ratified ing the two-storey building with to deport them or not.” the UN convention on refugees many complaining about lack It was not immediately clear who and asylum-seekers are usually not Indonesian immigration offi cer of food, authorities said. Off icials owned the building or what role allowed to work in the country.

Reuters “The sentence is six months in prosecutors had “the right to before slapping him across the Denpasar prison,” Oktavi said by text mes- take forcible action to bring her face after grappling to snatch sage. The sentence was lighter to court” after Taqaddas missed her passport. The woman had than the one-year jail term several earlier court dates. Her overstayed by about 160 days Sri Lanka to resume executions n Indonesian court yes- sought by the prosecutor on July sentencing had been postponed and was asked to pay a fi ne of terday jailed a British 28 last year. several times because she was 300,000 rupiah ($21.60) for each Awoman for six months for “This is an unfair decision sick and also when authorities day, or about $3,500 in all. slapping an immigration offi cer ... I was forcibly brought to the said she had checked out of a ho- Bali is Indonesia’s main tour- within two months: president in an argument over a fi ne for court, no lawyers provided,” tel and could not fi nd her. ism hub, attracting millions overstaying her visa. Taqaddas told the court, accus- The judge and prosecutor said of foreign tourists a year to its Auj-e Taqaddas, 42, was ing the prosecutors of torturing Taqaddas had fi led an appeal. beaches, temples and bars. AFP Criminals in Lanka are regularly given death sentences found guilty in a court in Bali’s her three times and trapping her A smartphone video of the A small number of visitors run Colombo for murder, rape and drug-related crimes but until now capital, Denpasar, of violence in the country. Waher Tariho- incident, which went viral at into trouble with the law every their punishments have been commuted to life jail against an offi cer at Bali airport rang, an offi cial at the prosecu- the time, showed an agitated year, sometimes for breaking the carrying out his legal duty, Judge tors’ offi ce who oversaw the case, Taqaddas shouting and swear- Southeast Asian country’s tough ri Lanka’s president said to pressure us on this decision.” now only had to sign death war- Esthar Oktavi told Reuters. denied using violence and said ing at the immigration offi cial, laws on drugs. yesterday that a 42-year Criminals in Sri Lanka are regu- rants. The president did not say Smoratorium on capital larly given death sentences for how many would be involved in punishment will end within murder, rape and drug-related the fi rst hangings. But prison of- Vietnamese blogger goes missing after seeking asylum in Thailand two months with the hanging crimes but until now their pun- fi cials said that authorities were of drug convicts. Maithripala ishments have been commuted still trying to fi ll a vacancy for an Sirisena told parliament he was to life jail. hangman, despite placing adver- A Vietnamese blogger for Radio RFA said on Tuesday, citing “exile to be assured that he’s not in any with limited press freedom, committed to bringing back the Following a visit to the Philip- tisements for the position last Free Asia (RFA) has gone missing sources.” He last made contact danger.” Nhat served two years in Nhat’s disappearance has raised death penalty for drug off enders, pines last month, Sirisena said he year off ering a salary of 35,000 one day after seeking asylum in with RFA editors on January 26 prison beginning in 2014 for pub- concerns over his possible abduc- months after vowing a tougher wanted to copy President Rod- rupees ($200) a month. Thailand, the Washington-based and has not been heard from lishing criticism of the Vietnamese tion and sent a “chill” through the line on spiralling narcotics-re- rigo Duterte’s strongarm tactics While Sri Lanka’s last execu- broadcaster has said. Truong Duy since, the broadcaster said. “We government. His last post on RFA Vietnamese refugee community lated crime inspired by a similar in dealing with illegal drugs. tion was more than four dec- Nhat, who often criticised the Viet- are extremely concerned about suggested changes in Vietnam fol- in Thailand. Thailand does not rec- crackdown in the Philippines. Justice Minister Thalatha ades ago, an executioner was in namese communist government, (his) safety and well-being,” RFA lowing anti-government demon- ognise the status of refugees or “I hope to carry out the fi rst Athukorale said Tuesday that ad- post until his retirement in 2014. went to the UN Refugee Agency president Libby Liu said. “We hope strations in Venezuela. According asylum-seekers, who are generally hanging within a month or two,” ministrative procedures for the Three replacements since have (UNHCR) in Bangkok on January to hear from him as soon as pos- to the RFA, which provides news treated as illegal immigrants and he said. “I appeal to human execution of fi ve drug convicts quit after short stints at the un- 25 to apply for refugee status, sible about his whereabouts and to a number of Asian countries consequently incarcerated. rights organisations not to try had been completed and Sirisena used gallows. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, February 7, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Trump to meet Kim in late Feb

Reuters Washington

S President Donald Trump said he would Uhold his second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam on Feb 27- 28, while giving himself credit for averting a major war on the Korean peninsula. Trump said in his annual State of the Un- ion address to Congress much work remained to be done in the push for peace with North Ko- rea, but cited the halt in its nu- clear testing and no new missile Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in a file photo. People walk past a photograph of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, displayed outside the North Korean embassy in Hanoi. launches in 15 months as proof of progress. Blue House spokesman Kim South Vietnamese forces during mit would likely centre on dis- “If I had not been elected Eui-kyeom told a news briefi ng the Vietnam War, a source with mantling the North’s main From Twitter hate to second date — Key quotes from Trump-Kim relationship president of the United States, in Seoul. direct knowledge of the matter Yongbyon nuclear complex and we would right now, in my opin- Vietnam would be the best told Reuters. The US Embassy how this would be reciprocated, A madman with nuclear dog barks louder.” markedly over the next few ion, be in a major war with North host of the event, Kim Eui- in Vietnam said it did not have although the United States re- weapons — “We can’t let a Sick puppy — On the heels months. In May, Kim released Korea,” Trump said. kyeom said, citing its chequered anything to announce regarding mains reluctant to provide any madman with nuclear weapons of an intercontinental ballistic three American citizens Trump had raised fears of war history with the United States in the summit. sanctions relief. let on the loose like that,” Trump missile test by Pyongyang detained in North Korea, which in 2017 when he threatened to which they used to “point a gun US Special Representative The focus of the two-day told Philippines President in November 2017, Trump Trump hailed as a “positive rain “fi re and fury like the world and knife at each other.” Com- for North Korea Stephen Bie- summit would be whether Rodrigo Duterte during a phone derided Kim as a “sick puppy,” gesture of goodwill”. has never seen” on North Korea munist-ruled Vietnam, which gun was due to hold talks in Washington was willing to ease call in April 2017, shortly after drawing cheers from a crowd of Trump later said that “everyone because of the threat its nuclear has good relations with both the Pyongyang this week to map out some of the sanctions, said taking up residency in the supporters at a campaign-style thinks” he deserved a Nobel weapons and missiles posed to United States and North Korea, what he called “a set of concrete Cheong Seong-chang, a senior White House. “We have a lot of rally. Peace Prize for his contributions the United States. had been widely touted as the deliverables” for the second fellow at South Korea’s Sejong firepower, more than he has, to warming US-North Korea Trump met Kim in Singapore most likely venue for the meet- meeting. The Singapore summit Institute. times 20 — but we don’t want Whose button is bigger? relations. on June 12 in the fi rst summit ing. yielded a vague commitment “If the United States can be to use it.” — Kim welcomed in 2018 with between a sitting US presi- It has also been used as a from Kim to work toward the more proactively fl exible on a New Year address in which Unwavering faith — Even as dent and a North Korean leader. model of economic and politi- denuclearisation of the Korean that, it may draw other denu- Rocket man’ versus US dotard he warned he had a “nuclear the two sides sparred over the Trump has been eager to hold a cal reform for impoverished and peninsula, where US troops have clearisation steps on top of abol- — In September that year, in button” on his table. exact meaning of the vaguely- second summit in spite of a lack isolated North Korea to fol- been stationed since the 1950-53 ishing the Yongbyon facilities, his debut speech at the United Trump jumped on Twitter to worded Singapore declaration, of concrete progress in persuad- low. That would require major Korean War. and expedite talks on setting up Nations, Trump dubbed Kim declare that his was superior. with Pyongyang accusing ing North Korea to give up its changes to the North’s person- In the US view, North Korea a liaison offi ce and replacing the a “rocket man” on a “suicide “Will someone from his Washington of “gangster-like” nuclear weapons programme. ality cult and “juche” ideology has yet to take concrete steps armistice with a peace treaty,” mission.” depleted and food starved behaviour, Trump boasted of his He said his relationship with of self suffi ciency. to give up its nuclear weap- Cheong said. “The United States has great regime please inform him that rapport with Kim, who he said Kim “is a good one.” Trump did not say which Vi- ons. It has complained that the While Trump has hailed “tre- strength and patience, but if it I too have a Nuclear Button, had proclaimed his “unwavering The presidential Blue House etnamese city would host the United States has done little to mendous progress” in his deal- is forced to defend itself or its but it is a much bigger & more faith” in the US president. “We of South Korea, which plays a fa- two leaders but both the capital, reciprocate its freezing of nu- ings with North Korea, a confi - allies, we will have no choice but powerful one than his, and my will get it done together!” cilitating role between the Unit- Hanoi, and Danang have been clear and missile testing and dential report by UN sanctions to totally destroy North Korea,” Button works!” Trump wrote on Twitter in ed States and North Korea, wel- considered as possibilities. dismantling of some nuclear fa- monitors seen by Reuters this he said. The North’s off icial party September. comed Trump’s announcement A source at Danang airport cilities. North Korea has repeat- week cast further doubt on the “Rocket Man is on a suicide newspaper dismissed Trump’s and expressed hope for progress said four US military V-22 “Os- edly urged a lifting of punishing North’s intentions. mission for himself and for his “swaggering” as nothing but the Fantastic chemistry — In his on improving relations. “The prey” aircraft fl ew from Japan’s US-led sanctions, a formal end It said the country’s nu- regime,” Trump added. “spasm of a lunatic” frightened State of the Union address, two leaders already took their Okinawa island and landed in to the war, and security guaran- clear and ballistic missile pro- “The United States is ready, by North Korea’s power, and the Trump boasted of his diplomatic fi rst step in Singapore toward the coastal city on Tuesday tees. The three-year Korean War grammes remained intact and willing and able.” Kim shot back, “bark of a rabid dog.” prowess, saying if he had not shaking off their 70-year history evening. They left after a few ended with an armistice that left that North Korea was working vowing to “surely and definitely been elected the US “would of hostilities. Now we hope that hours, the source said. US logis- the two Koreas technically still to make sure those capabilities tame the mentally deranged US Singapore fling— The tone right now, in my opinion, be in a they will take a step forward for tics offi cials visited the city last at war. could not be destroyed by any dotard with fire. A frightened between the two men changed major war with North Korea.” concrete, substantive progress,” week, a major base for US and Seoul offi cials said the sum- military strikes.

Australia cancels Holiday blues Japan residency of Chinese stops billionaire with scribe political connections going to

AFP Yemen Sydney

AFP prominent Chinese billionaire political donor has been Tokyo stripped of his Australian residency and barred from re- Aturning to the country after scrutiny of his Communist Party ties, media reported yesterday. Huang Xiangmo was report- veteran freelance edly left stranded outside of Australia after Home Aff airs cancelled journalist said yester- his permanent residency and rejected his application for citizen- Aday the Japanese gov- ship. The prominent property developer has donated millions to ernment has ordered him to Australia’s two main political parties and been photographed with surrender his passport as he key fi gures including former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and prepared to leave for Yemen. opposition leader Bill Shorten. But he has come under scrutiny for The move came amid debate alleged links to the United Front Work Department – a Communist in Japan about whether jour- Party-linked body accused of neutralising opposition and buying nalists should be prevented political infl uence around the world. from going to war zones after Asked about Huang’s case, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the capture and release of a he would not comment on such “sensitive matters”, but added Japanese reporter in Syria “the government has always acted consistent with the advice that last year. we’ve received and that’s what has happened on this occasion.” Kosuke Tsuneoka, 49, told Quoting unnamed sources, the Sydney Morning Herald news- AFP that immigration offi c- paper said Huang had his application for an Australian passport ers stopped him at Tokyo’s blocked on “character grounds” and concerns over the “reliabili- Haneda airport on February ty” of information he had supplied in interviews. The Home Offi ce Security personnel stand in formation during Spring Festival celebrations in Longtan Park marking the Lunar New Year in Beijing, China. 2, citing an order for him to declined AFP’s request for comment on the case. surrender his passport. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Marise Payne played down sug- “This cannot be tolerated gestions that the decision to strip Xiangmo of his residency could in a democracy,” he told AFP. poison relations between Canberra and Beijing. The countries’ He planned to cover relief economies are deeply intertwined, but confl icting political sys- eff orts by international or- tems and China’s increasingly strong-arm tactics in the Pacifi c Drought-stricken Aussie farmers hit by fl oods ganisations and conditions region have made co-operation more diffi cult. “I don’t expect it to in Yemen, which the UN calls be the subject of a bilateral discussion. These are matters that oc- the world’s worst humani- cur from time to time,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Cor- AFP money and energy keeping their properties. “Stock losses will be the way this fl ood has come, we tarian crisis, with millions poration when asked about the Huang case. Townsville herds alive through the drought, much higher than normal, because really don’t think there is much of people facing famine and Australia’s main spy agency has long voiced concerns that Chi- only to see them now devastated drought-weakened cattle are more hope,” Anderson told national starvation. “I planned this na was interfering in Australian institutions and using the opaque by fl oods,” said Michael Guerin susceptible to being caught and broadcaster ABC. mission in Yemen, but now political donations system to gain access. It reportedly warned the ustralian ranchers who of the farm lobby group AgForce. drowned in fl oodwaters or dying of “If I were a cow I would have it is interrupted. This is not country’s political elite about taking donations from Huang – who struggled to keep their The losses for farmers from the exposure in the wet, cold winds,” chucked the towel in two days just harm done to me, but owns a multi-million-dollar mansion in Sydney – and a fellow bil- Acattle alive during a pro- fl oods were likely to be in the Guerin said. ago. What’s really getting to me rather to the entire Japanese lionaire property developer, Chau Chak Wing. longed drought last year are “hundreds of millions of dol- Bureau of Meteorology fore- at the moment is people say- public” for missing the news, In 2017, one-time opposition Labor powerbroker Sam Dast- now battling to save herds from lars” he said. Swathes of Aus- caster Vinord Anand said some ing: ‘You asked for the rain, you he said. yari was forced to quit politics when it emerged his offi ce took record-breaking fl oods inundat- tralia’s eastern inland, including drought-aff ected communities got it’. We’d probably almost Foreign Minister Taro cash from Huang to pay legal bills. The Sydney Morning Herald ing the northeast of the country, Queensland, have been plagued received hardly any rain in De- (would) have been better off in Kono said the govern- said Dastyari had repeatedly contacted immigration personally to offi cials said yesterday. by a severe and prolonged cember and the start of the year the drought.” ment issued the order to “a check on Huang’s case. Australia’s military has been drought that pushed farmers to before the heavens opened. “It’s Some towns cut off from the male Japanese national” at Canberra last year introduced sweeping reforms to its espionage called in to drop fodder to cat- breaking point as they struggled like the fl icking of a switch – it’s deluge started to mop up yester- Haneda airport. When asked and foreign interference laws, strengthening existing off ences and tle stranded by fl oodwaters in to keep their cattle and crops been dry, dry, dry and then sud- day as the monsoon trough drifts whether the action violated introducing new ones targeting the foreign infl uence of domestic Queensland state to stop them alive. denly you get a year’s worth of south and moves off shore in the Tsuneoka’s right to travel, politics, including a ban on foreign donations to political parties. from starving, Agriculture Min- While the late arrival of the rain in 37 days,” he told AFP. next few days. Australia’s tropi- Kono said the journalist had “Foreign adversaries are actively working against Australia’s ister David Littleproud said, with monsoon in mid-January initially Farmer Rachael Anderson said cal north typically experiences the right to legal recourse. “I interests through a variety of means, including obtaining classi- their owners still marooned in sparked joy among graziers as it she expected that some 200 cat- heavy rains during the monsoon wish to express my utmost fi ed information or seeking to infl uence the outcome of Australia’s their farmsteads. brought much-needed rain to the tle at a station she manages near season, but the recent down- respect to journalists who are democratic processes,” the government said upon passing the laws “This is absolutely heart- parched lands, celebrations turned Julia Creek township have so pours have fl ooded highways, reporting in dangerous plac- in June. Beijing has dismissed the claims of meddling as hysteria breaking for producers who have to horror as incessant downpours far died. “We thought that they towns and turned roads into riv- es,” Kono said, while declin- and paranoia. expended enormous amounts of destroyed herds and washed away would have been OK, but with ers. ing to disclose other details. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 15 BRITAIN/IRELAND

DECISION CRIME WARNING LEGAL SETBACK Northern Rail industrial Two arrested after 54,000 ‘have died waiting Traumatised ex-stage 50,000 members action called off man stabbed to death for social care reforms’ manager seeks payout quit Labour party

The long-running industrial action at Northern Two men have been arrested on suspicion of More than 50,000 elderly Britons have died wait- A former Royal Opera House stage manager is Labour’s membership numbers plummeted by Rail, which has included 47 days of strikes over murder after a teenager was fatally stabbed in ing for social care since ministers first promised seeking £200,000 compensation after a half-ton 50,000 in a year amid signs of growing dissatis- the two past years, has been called off . The RMT south-west London, Scotland Yard said. The men, much-needed reforms, a charity has warned. curtain almost crushed him, triggering a nervous faction with Jeremy Corbyn. Leaked figures show union said it had suspended further action after aged 19 and 27, were arrested after presenting Ministers promised a green paper on the issue in breakdown. Gary Crofts, 68, claims he has been there are now 512,000 – 9% fewer than an off icial being guaranteed a conductor on all trains for themselves at a central London hospital. Both March 2017. Its release has been delayed several plagued by depression since the section of stage estimate of 564,400 in December 2017. Some the rest of the franchise, running until 2025, from men were taken to separate central London times, and was most recently expected in Decem- curtain fell in his ‘immediate vicinity’ in November 30,000 are also in arrears on their subscription the operating company Arriva Rail North with police stations for questioning. Police said they ber – until it was once again postponed. Age UK 2016 as he worked on a production of the ballet fees, meaning could lose their membership within the backing of the department for transport. The were called to reports of an incident in Battersea estimates that just over 54,000 have died without Anastasia. In Central London County Court, his six months, the Daily Mirror reported. The figures breakthrough will come as a relief to Northern’s shortly before 8pm on Tuesday and found a receiving their care package while waiting for lawyers said Croft had been injured in a similar are a blow to Corbyn, who has had a diff icult passengers, whose train services have been cut 19-year-old man with stab wounds. Despite the ef- the paper. The charity highlighted the case of an incident two years earlier, when part of a gate 12 months, particularly over his handling of the most Saturdays since last summer by strikes. forts of paramedics from the London ambulance 87-year-old who was told she needed three care toppled onto his legs, causing ‘significant physi- party’s anti-Semitism crisis. He has also faced Two more strikes were due on February 9 and service, he died about half an hour later. He has visits a day, but is yet to receive any due to cuts. cal and psychiatric injury’. They said the falling a backlash from members who are passionate February 16, with further dates expected to be yet to be formally identified and a crime scene The green paper is supposed to set out how to curtain had an especially traumatic impact, and Remainers for not supporting a second Brexit announced. remained in place. properly fund social care. made his mental symptoms even worse. referendum.

Clark hints ministers Tusk mocks could quit in case of ‘no-deal’ supporters of

Guardian News and Media London Brexit, rules he business secretary has indicated he and other Tministers would feel un- able to remain in a government that recommended a ‘no-deal’ Brexit should Theresa May fail to get her revised agreement out new off er through parliament. Greg Clark told MPs on the Reuters ence with Irish Prime Minister ly Brexit, Irish nationalists warned business select committee Brussels Leo Varadkar. May that if she allowed a no-deal that “he had always strongly The remark by Tusk, who Brexit then there would have to be expressed the view” that the chairs summits of the EU’s na- a referendum on Irish unity. UK needed to leave the Euro- he European Union will tional leaders, angered Brexit “In the event of a crash...she pean Union with a Brexit deal make no new off er on supporters in Britain. must as a democrat return to agreed, even though one has TBrexit and those who pro- Veteran Brexiteer Nigel Farage re- the Good Friday Agreement and not been agreed with 51 days moted Britain’s exit without any torted: “After Brexit we will be free she must begin preparation for a to go. understanding of how to deliver of unelected, arrogant bullies like referendum on Irish unity,” Sinn The minister – one of the it deserve a “special place in you — sounds like heaven to me.” Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald strongest voices in Cabinet hell”, European Council presi- While Tusk was clear the EU said, referring to the peace ac- against leaving without a deal dent Donald Tusk said yesterday. would not reopen the divorce cord signed in 1998 that ended – was repeatedly pressed by the The United Kingdom is on deal, he also said he still believed three decades of sectarian vio- committee chair, Rachel Reeves, course to leave the EU on March a common Brexit solution was lence in Northern Ireland. as to what would happen if the 29 without a deal unless Prime possible. The United Kingdom’s deci- prime minister could not get a Minister Theresa May can con- European Commission presi- sion to leave the EU has strained revised Brexit deal through the vince the bloc to reopen the di- dent Jean-Claude Juncker ties between its constituent Commons as the March 29 dead- vorce agreement she reached rammed home Tusk’s message, parts: England and Wales voted line loomed. in November and then sell it to saying the legal withdrawal to leave the EU in the 2016 ref- At the culmination of a string sceptical British lawmakers. agreement would not be reo- erendum while Scotland and of questions, Reeves asked But as Tusk’s pointedly blunt pened, and May knew that. Northern Ireland voted to stay. Clark: “Would you still be a gov- language showed, frustration Varadkar said Britain’s politi- May has said she will seek an ernment minister in a govern- runs deep among European lead- cal instability further proved the alternative arrangement which ment that took us out of the EU ers over the British parliament’s need for a “backstop” insurance avoids the need for a hard border without a deal?” rejection of the divorce deal and policy — the main obstacle to on the island of Ireland, or legally Clark said that if leaving with- May’s demands that the EU now a deal — to keep the border be- binding changes to the backstop out a deal “were ever the policy give up on key principles or face tween EU member Ireland and to introduce a time limit or create of the government as a matter of disruption in just 50 days. British-ruled Northern Ireland an exit mechanism. policy” then “I think there would As companies and govern- open after Brexit. Brexit has snagged on the be many people on all sides of the ments across Europe step up May will visit Dublin tomor- 500km frontier because there is House that would regard that as preparations for a disorderly ‘no- row, Varadkar said. disagreement on how to monitor unacceptable”. deal’ exit, diplomats and offi cials For May, failure to deliver a trade without physical checks on The minister said repeatedly said Britain now faces three main revised deal would shatter the the border, which was marked by that parliament needed “to grasp options: a ‘no-deal’ exit, a last- fragile unity in her Conserva- military checkpoints before the the nettle and agree a deal” and minute deal or a delay to Brexit. tive Party, leaving her already- Good Friday peace agreement. that May “needed to propose a Rebuffi ng May’s bid to rene- diminished authority in tatters, Under the divorce deal agreed in deal that can command the sup- gotiate just a day before she is and ramping up uncertainty in November, the ‘backstop’ would port of the whole house,” before due in Brussels, Tusk said he had fi nancial markets over the fate of come into eff ect if the two sides conceding: “That is very diffi - abandoned the hope he has of- the British economy, the world’s failed to come up with a better idea cult.” ten expressed that Britain’s exit fi fth largest. to keep the border open. MPs on the committee also might be stopped and said his Rating agency Standard and But the Northern Irish Dem- questioned Clark on his failure priority was now to avert a “fi - Poor’s said a ‘no-deal’ Brexit ocratic Unionist Party (DUP) to tell them that he had been asco” when it leaves. could result in negative revisions which props up May’s govern- negotiating a package of fi nan- “I’ve been wondering what of their outlooks on Britain’s ment says it could endanger the cial support to Nissan worth up that special place in hell looks credit ratings, but that there re- province’s place in the United £80mn in October 2016, con- like, for those who promoted mained a very strong incentive Kingdom, while Brexit support- tingent on the company building Brexit, without even a sketch of for both sides to reach a deal. ers in May’s Conservative Party a new model X-Trail in Sunder- Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (left) meets European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker at the a plan how to carry it out safely,” In another stark indication of worry it locks the country into land. European Commission headquarters in Brussels yesterday. Tusk said at a joint news confer- the stakes for Britain of a disorder- EU rules.

Fracking rules hindering Hammond ‘set to testing work: Cuadrilla miss budget target’ Reuters uct — as he promised voters that London an end to austerity was in sight. Reuters well because of the operating fective fracturing. But even that gentler squeeze London limits. The fi rm has asked the regu- on spending would probably be It said it fully fractured two out lator to review rules on seismic inance Minister Philip Ham- too hard to achieve, NIESR said. of 41 stages along the horizontal activity to allow more thorough mond will probably say next “There are clearly demands on ests of the fi rst shale well and less than 14% of sand testing of exploration wells. Fmonth that he will miss a the social infrastructure of the well at Cuadrilla’s site in was injected. Depending on the outcome, key budget target because he will economy that go beyond what Tnorthwest England show “Nonetheless the natural gas Cuadrilla plans to complete not be able to squeeze spending would be feasible within the cur- a rich reservoir of high quality still fl owed back from the shale fracking its fi rst well at Preston as much as he planned, a leading rent envelope of the fi scal rule,” and recoverable gas, the fi rm said at a peak rate of over 200,000 New Road, start a second and think-tank said yesterday. NIESR director Jagjit Chadha said. yesterday, adding that rules that standard cubic feet (scf) per day carry out fl ow testing of both Hammond, trying to reassure Hammond’s job will also be have constrained its testing work and a stable rate of some 100,000 later this year. investors that he will tackle Brit- made harder by the impact on should be eased. scf/day,” chief executive offi cer Rival Ineos, which has the ain’s high public debt levels even as the public fi nances of a decision Cuadrilla is using a technique Francis Egan. largest shale gas license acre- Brexit nears, says he wants to hold by offi cial statisticians to reclas- called hydraulic fracturing that Scaling up the results suggest- age in Britain, has called on the the underlying budget defi cit below sify student loans, NIESR econ- involves injecting water and ed a fl ow range of between 3mn to government to change seismicity 2% of the country’s economic out- omist Amit Kara said. chemicals at high pressure to 8mn scf/day for a 2.5km section regulations. put in the 2020-21 fi nancial year. Hammond has other public fi - break up rock and extract gas. once all stages were hydraulically Experts have also said the limit But he is also under pressure nance targets including steadily The practice, known as frack- fractured, Cuadrilla said. for tremors could be safely raised to ease the strain on hospitals bringing down public debt as a ing, can cause tremors and envi- “We have also confi rmed that at fracking sites. and other public services, while share of gross domestic product. ronmentalists oppose the devel- the Bowland shale formation frac- Environmentalists have cam- some welfare reforms are on hold NIESR cut its forecast for eco- opment. tures in a way that, from US ex- paigned against fracking, saying due to their impact on poorer nomic growth in 2019 to 1.5% The company repeatedly perience, is typical of an excellent extracting more fossil fuel is at households. from a previous estimate of stopped operations last year at shale gas reservoir,” Egan said. odds with Britain’s commitment The National Institute of Eco- 1.9%, citing a slowdown in the its Preston New Road site in Lan- Fracking techniques were to reduce greenhouse gas emis- nomic and Social Research said economy at home and globally. cashire because of minor seismic pioneered in the US, which has sions. Hammond would probably have The forecast was based on the events. turned from an importer of gas to They have also raised concerns to relax his target or drop it when assumption that Britain avoids British regulations demand a net exporter. about potential groundwater he makes a half-yearly budget the shock of a no-deal Brexit work be suspended if seismic ac- Cuadrilla said more produc- contamination. statement on March 13. next month, something Prime tivity of magnitude 0.5 or more is tion data was needed to refi ne Greenpeace UK said the gov- Last October, Hammond sof- Minister Theresa May says could detected. the preliminary results and this ernment should not waste time tened planned cuts to total man- happen if the European Union Cuadrilla said it could only could only be done if seismicity on fracking and support clean aged expenditure — expressed as refuses to give her more conces- partially test the horizontal shale limits are lifted to allow more ef- energy infrastructure instead. Philip Hammond: setback a share of gross domestic prod- sions on the Irish border issue. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, February 7, 2019 BRITAIN Hillsborough police chief said fans ‘forced’ gate open, court told

Guardian News and Media ball’s Association’s head of ex- “co-ordinated assistance” for Asked whether Duckenfi eld pings Lane turnstiles, which was ticular time given as to exactly retary and safety offi cer Graham London ternal aff airs, told the trial Duck- people “clearly in distress”, who had said which supporters had allocated to Liverpool supporters. when it was that this happened”? Mackrell, who is charged with enfi eld said that an “inrush” of were being helped mainly by other forced the gate, Kirton agreed More than 2,000 people were al- Kirton agreed that the particular two counts of breaching safety Liverpool supporters, after the supporters, rather than by police he had previously stated that lowed through the gate during two gate that Duckenfi eld said was law, Kirton confi rmed that the FA avid Duckenfi eld, the gate was forced, had caused “cas- offi cers. Duckenfi eld said it was Liverpool openings, at 2.48pm and 2.52pm, forced, and the time it happened, had regarded the club as well run, South Yorkshire police of- ualties” at the Leppings Lane end Christine Agnew QC, pros- supporters. Asked further what and many of them went down a were not stated. and Hillsborough as a well-main- Dfi cer who commanded the of the ground. ecuting, asked Kirton at the end Duckenfi eld said about the “in- tunnel facing them, into the two Kirton said that his responsi- tained stadium. Hillsborough FA Cup semi-fi nal Kirton said that by then – when of her questioning of him, about rush”, Kirton replied: “He said central “pens” of the terrace, bilities at the semi-fi nal included When, seven years after the dis- at which 96 Liverpool supporters he and the FA’s chief executive, the explanation Duckenfi eld had that it had caused casualties.” where the lethal crush took place. the “hospitality of VIPs” and the aster, he was the FA’s tournament were killed, said while the disas- Graham Kelly, went to the police given to Kelly for the events at the The trial at Preston crown court Ben Myers QC, represent- lunch put on by the FA for its of- director for the 1996 European ter was unfolding that fans had control box after the match was Leppings Lane end. has already heard that Ducken- ing Duckenfi eld, asked Kirton in fi cials and those of the clubs, Championship in England, Kirton “forced” a gate, the jury hearing stopped at 3.06pm – he had been Kirton replied: “Duckenfi eld fi eld had ordered a wide exit gate, cross-examination whether it which was organised by Sheffi eld confi rmed, he appointed Mackrell his manslaughter prosecution has told that people had died. Kirton said to Kelly that a gate had been C, to be opened shortly before the was true of Duckenfi eld’s expla- Wednesday. Questioned by Simon as one of the FA’s venue directors, heard. said the scene on the pitch ap- forced … he said there had been an 3pm kick-off on April 15, 1989, to nation that “no particular gate Antrobus QC, representing the overseeing Hillsborough and Not- Glen Kirton, who was the Foot- peared to be “chaotic”, with no inrush of supporters.” relieve overcrowding at the Lep- was identifi ed to you, and no par- former Sheffi eld Wednesday sec- tingham Forest’s City ground.

Queen’s 67th year on throne marked Man accused of crushing boy to death is son of ex-Tory minister

Daily Mail your parents are powerful people London to make you untouchable.” Waterson replied: “I’m not un- touchable.” Thorne went on: “You man accused of fatally like it to be known your father is a crushing a three-year-old lawyer, don’t you? You would say Aboy with an electric car your father is an important per- seat is the son of a former govern- son, not just a lawyer but he used ment minister, a court heard. to be a government minister, and And Stephen Waterson, 25, al- you were so powerful because you legedly tried to use his father’s had these connections.” status to make himself ‘untouch- Waterson replied: “I don’t able’ as he intimidated other pas- know why this is relevant and sengers into staying quiet about why we are talking about my par- how his girlfriend’s son had been ents. I’ve never used my parents Members of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery stage a 41-gun salute to mark the 67th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne in Green Park, hurt. to control anyone.” central London, yesterday. Waterson’s adoptive father Ni- Jurors were told Hoare and gel, 68, who studied law at Oxford Waterson lied repeatedly to cover University and worked as a solici- up the events, telling paramedics tor before moving into politics, they had got into a taxi and put served as a Tory MP for East- Alfi e in a child seat where he fell bourne from 1992 to 2010 and was asleep. a junior minister in John Major’s Waterson allegedly later government. threatened family friend Emilie Alfi e Lamb was crushed in the Williams, 19, who was in the rear footwell of the Audi A4 con- Audi A4, and tried to get her to vertible when Waterson twice lie about what happened. He is moved his seat back in anger be- also said to have threatened and Thatcher statue to be cause he was making too much assaulted the driver of the car, noise, jurors heard. Marcus Lamb, 22, while Hoare at- After arriving back home in tacked Williams. Croydon, south London, Alfi e The court has previously been suff ered a heart attack. He died in told that Waterson “deliber- hospital three days later when his ately” moved his car seat back life support was switched off . twice because he was “angered erected in home town In the days after Alfi e’s death at the noise and fuss” that Alfi e last February, Waterson, a night was making, despite his cries of AFP street protests made her into a in central England approved it cillor Charmaine Morgan was statue will undoubtedly at- club worker, threatened Alfi e’s “Mummy!”. London hate fi gure for the left. only after agreeing to put it on an quoted saying by the Grantham tract more visitors to the town mother, his girlfriend Adrian The court was also told that A bid to have a statue of the equally tall granite plinth to keep Journal. “Perhaps it should stay which can only be good news for Hoare, 23, and the car’s other pas- while Alfi e was gravely ill in hos- Conservative party leader stand it safe from “politically motivated there.” Grantham’s local economy,” he sengers to make them stay quiet pital, Waterson sent a string of argaret Thatcher’s alongside icon Winston Churchill vandals”. Grantham is a town of around said in the same statement. about what happened, the Old suggestive text messages to other home town yester- and other leaders fi lling a square Thatcher will now hover over 45,000 that once produced steam But councillor Morgan said Bailey was told. women. Mday cautiously backed opposite parliament in London a central Grantham square facing engines but is now mostly known Thatcher “did little to help her Waterson and Hoare both deny He denied having sexual rela- plans to erect a statue of the late fi zzled out last year over concerns the local museum. as being the birthplace of both fellow women” and “preferred the manslaughter. tionships with “all of these wom- leader — but only after putting about “potential vandalism and “There remains a motivated Thatcher and the scientist Isaac company of men”. As he gave evidence, Waterson en” and insisted that he had been it on a plinth tall enough to keep civil disorder”. far-left movement across the Newton. “Our police are struggling to was accused of telling police in- in a state of panic about the boy’s vandals at bay. Thatcher’s daughter Carol also UK... who may be committed to Local heritage association manage without the additional vestigating Alfi e’s death that he condition. The strong-willed ‘Iron Lady’ reportedly objected to the absence public activism,” a report submit- trustee David Burling admitted burden,” Morgan argued. had “powerful parents”. In the weeks before Alfi e died, of the 1980s remains a polarising of her mother’s trademark hand- ted to the local district council that “the debate about Margaret Grantham’s only existing Katy Thorne QC, who repre- Hoare moved in with Waterson fi gure in Britain six years after her bag. The 10.5 foot tall bronze stat- cautioned. Thatcher’s legacy will now con- commemoration of Thatcher is sents Hoare, said: “In that inter- for a “new start” but did not have death at the age of 87. ue shows the former prime min- Some council members said tinue for generations to come”. a plaque marking where she was view you used the fact you have a key, jurors heard. Her sweeping privatisation ister in the fl owing robe that she the statue — reportedly gather- But he said in a statement posted born. She will now stand besides got powerful parents because you Thorne suggested Hoare was and deregulation eff orts are cred- wore as a member of the House of ing dust in a foundry since being on the local council’s website that an existing statue of Newton and like to drop it into conversation all not allowed to have a mobile ited with pulling Britain out of the Lords. rejected by London — should stay what Grantham needed most was a 19th-century local politician the time. You befriend vulnerable phone because Waterson was economic doldrums. Thatcher’s hands are folded where it is. tourist money. named Frederick Tollemache. people and you are exerting your “paranoid she would be in touch But her resolve to break the solemnly before her — without “I understand Margaret Local council leader Matthew The entire £300,000 project will over them, and what you do with other men”. trade unions — especially the the handbag. Thatcher’s statue is currently out Lee agreed. will be paid for by donations raised Waterson is you used the fact that The trial continues. miners — in the face of strikes and The local council in Grantham of sight in a secret location,” coun- “Whatever your views, the by a British historical charity. Trump bid for 550 fl ats Charles and Camilla set to visit Cuba at golf estate delayed ences including Native American Daily Mail London Taino, African, Spanish and Car- Guardian News and Media tion had been withdrawn from a analysis which could and would ibbean cuisines. Favourite dishes London Formartine local area committee have been provided months ago.” include tamales, made of a starchy hearing next week and would no The Guardian disclosed last he Duchess of Cornwall has dough steamed in a corn husk or longer be put to a full Aberdeen- month that Aberdeenshire’s hous- confi rmed that she and her banana leaf with rice and beans. roposals to build 550 luxury shire council meeting on March 7. ing department had told council- Thusband will be the fi rst Barack Obama became the homes at Donald Trump’s Council offi cials believe the lors the Trump Organisation could royals to set foot in Cuba when fi rst US president to visit Cuba in Pgolf course near Aberdeen Trump Organisation has been be liable to pay a surcharge as high they visit this spring. 2016 but no British prime minis- have been delayed after a fresh row drip-feeding important technical as £5mn if it failed to ensure that But while Camilla said she was ter or member of the royal fam- over the planning application. information about the planning 25% of the new homes were af- looking forward to hearing the ily has ever been. Overseas visits Aberdeenshire council has can- application. fordable housing available to local Communist country’s music and by Prince Charles are almost of celled plans to consider the Trump It is thought the entire appli- people. seeing its architecture, she con- state-visit status now that the Organisation’s controversial bid to cation could be delayed for some Aberdeenshire has a strict rule fessed she “wasn’t so sure” about Queen does not travel abroad. build a large luxury housing estate months to allow the latest material that a quarter of any new housing the food, in an uncharacteristic Trips are requested by the For- near his golf course, which has re- to be studied. The Trump Organi- schemes must include aff ordable diplomatic slip. eign Offi ce and refl ect Britain’s ceived a record number of objec- sation has had a series of planning homes. As a last resort, developers Speaking on a visit to the Su- policy aims. tions from the public. disputes with the council, includ- will be told to donate the value of preme Court in London with The trip, which will be part of a In an unusually public confl ict ing building fl agpoles and struc- those homes for aff ordable hous- Prince Charles, the 71-year-old large-scale Caribbean tour, would between the two sides, the council tures without planning approval. ing elsewhere. royal said that the couple will un- have been unthinkable a few years said Trump’s family fi rm had failed Malone insisted, however, the None have been included in the dertake an historic offi cial tour to ago, as the country emerged from to provide the correct information proposals could still go through fi rst phase of the luxury housing the Caribbean country. six decades under Fidel Castro and quickly enough, and said it cannot next month. estate, but Trump Golf Scotland Lady Hale said afterwards: his family. be considered until the new mate- “The reason the Formartine has insisted it could yet include an “They are going to visit the Car- However Charles is understood rial was properly reviewed by out- area committee hearing has been unspecifi ed number of aff ordable ibbean. They are not only going to have met with the new Cuban side agencies and councillors. deferred until its next scheduled homes. to the Anglo Caribbean, they are president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, at Sarah Malone, a senior execu- meeting is due to the council’s in- The company said: “Trump going to Cuba as well. She is very Clarence House in November in a tive with Trump Golf Scotland, ability to convene a design review International has raised the pros- much looking forward to going to diplomatic breakthrough. Charles hit back by accusing the council of panel meeting until January 22, pect of providing on site aff ordable Cuba. She said she loved the music and Camilla have previously “a gross misrepresentation of the more than four months after the housing as part of future chap- and was interested in the architec- toured the Caribbean by yacht but facts and handling of our applica- validation of our application. ters and the council has said they ture. And she did make a remark are likely to fl y between Cuba and tion.” She blamed the council for “In addition the roads and would be open to considering such Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, about (how) she wasn’t so sure several as-yet-unconfi rmed is- the delay. The council confi rmed transport department have only proposals when further applica- pose with justices of the Supreme Court during their visit to The about the food.” lands in the region, possibly on the yesterday the planning applica- just requested new surveys and tions come forward in due course.” Supreme Court in central London. Cuban food is a blend of infl u- government’s Voyager plane. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 17 EUROPE

CAUSE UNKNOWN INVESTIGATION POLITICS CRACKDOWN Eight-storey building Arsonist ‘just released Politician to dump husband Spain orders removal of collapses in Istanbul from psychiatric ward’ running for rival party Franco-era symbols

An eight-storey apartment building in Istanbul The woman suspected of setting fire to a Paris Italy’s first-ever black minister, Cecile Kyenge, is Spain’s justice ministry said yesterday it had ordered collapsed yesterday, leaving at least one person apartment building in which 10 people died had divorcing her husband, who is going to run as more than 600 municipalities across the country dead, Turkish media reported. Images from the only just been released from a psychiatric ward, a candidate for a far-right political party known to remove symbols honouring the dictatorship of incident in the Kartal district on the Asian side of sources close to the investigation said yesterday. for targeting Kyenge with racist abuse. In one dictator Francisco Franco which are still on display Istanbul showed people escaping as the building The woman in her 40s, who lived in the building, notorious incident, a senior figure from the in public spaces. A so-called “Historical Memory” crumbled around them. There were reports of is understood to have been treated a dozen times League, the party of Interior Minister Matteo law approved in 2007 requires the removal of people left wounded or trapped under the rubble. in psychiatric facilities. In late January she was Salvini, compared Kyenge to “an orang-utan.” But all remaining Franco symbols such as street It was not immediately clear what caused the released from Sainte-Anne psychiatric hospital in Salvini “is fundamentally a good person. I am sure names bearing the name of Franco generals and collapse but prosecutors launched an investigation, Paris, sources said. The fire on the upper floors of he is not racist,” Kyenge’s soon-to-be ex-husband, statues from public spaces. Some exceptions are the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. the building on Rue Erlanger in the upscale 16th Domenico Grispino, told right-wing tabloid La allowed for works of particular religious or artistic Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya said 43 residents Paris district, was the most deadly in the capital Verita yesterday. He said the couple’s separation significance. But according national statistics were registered as living in the block, according to since 2005. Firemen yesterday continued to will be formalised on February 14, and confirmed institute INE there are still 1,171 streets and squares Rescuers work at the site of a building that Anadolu. He said local authorities had told him that search through the building’s blackened remains, he would run for the League in May local elections across Spain named after Franco-era government collapsed in Istanbul’s Kartal district yesterday. three of the eight storeys had been illegally added. part of which has been declared unsafe to live in. in his hometown of Castelfranco Emilia. figures, the justice ministry said in a statement. Macedonia heads on the road to Nato membership

By Damon Wake, AFP paved the way for Skopje to join Nato and the Eu- Brussels ropean Union. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said it was a “great, historic day for all our citizens”. acedonia yesterday moved a step closer “Today the largest security alliance in the to Nato membership, signing accession world, Nato, has welcomed us,” he wrote on Fa- Mpapers after resolving a long-running cebook and Twitter. “We have provided lasting name row with Greece. stability for our country.” Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said it The EU’s enlargement commissioner Johannes was a “historic day” which will lead to Macedo- Hahn also tweeted congratulations, saying the Pedestrians make their way among snowdrifts on an embankment of the Griboyedov canal in Saint Petersburg yesterday. nia becoming the 30th alliance member, once the move was “a contribution to peace and stability” deal has been ratifi ed by all the other capitals. in the Western Balkans. Nato and the EU welcomed the move as bring- But Macedonia’s moves to join Nato, follow- ing more stability to the Balkans, but the alli- ing Montenegro’s admission in 2017, have ruffl ed ance’s expansion into the region has been op- feathers in the Kremlin. St Petersburg struggles as snow piles up posed by Moscow, which regards it as part of its Russian President Vladimir Putin last month own “sphere of infl uence”. accused the West of “destabilising” the Balkans by After signing the accord with representatives pushing Macedonia and Montenegro to join Nato. AFP asking the military to intervene. Investigators have launched a minutes, it’s chaos on the roads,” of current Nato members at alliance headquar- Washington has accused Moscow of meddling St Petersburg Authorities have defended criminal probe. she said. ters in Brussels, Macedonian Foreign Minister in the region, including in last year’s referendum themselves saying they are doing A video posted on the Face- Some residents are too scared Nikola Dimitrov said membership would make in Macedonia on changing its name. everything they can to alleviate book page Saint Petersburg Live to even go outside. “I have not his country safer. For many countries once in the Soviet orbit, awmakers in Russia’s sec- the problem. claimed to show the incident. been out of my house for two “What’s important for us is we’ll never walk Nato membership, with its guarantee of mutual ond city Saint Petersburg “It’s a complicated situation. Two people were walking weeks, I’m afraid of falling on the alone again and we stand beside these 29 allies defence, provides a welcome insurance policy Lhave called for a state of Snow is falling daily. We see there on the sidewalk and fell to the frozen pavements,” said Marina able and ready to assume the obligations arising against possible Russian incursions. emergency after heavier than is tension among the residents ground when a large block of ice Shibalova, 78. from our full membership,” Dimitrov said. Macedonia will now take part in Nato minis- usual snowfall caused treacherous but we are working, we are doing hit them. Snow and falling icicles that Stoltenberg said the move would bring “more terial meetings as an invitee, Stoltenberg said, conditions and a man died when everything possible,” city offi cial The page claimed a student can infl ict deadly injuries have stability to the Western Balkans”, adding that he starting with a gathering of defence ministers in he was hit by a block of falling ice. Sergei Sharlayev told journalists. from Uzbekistan died while the plagued Saint Petersburg for looked forward “to seeing thirty Allied fl ags fl y Brussels next week. Public anger at icy pavements The local weather service second person to be hit was taken years. outside Nato headquarters”. For Skopje to progress to full membership, all and mountains of snow has branch said the city had experi- to hospital. A former governor Valen- “I want to congratulate both Skopje and Ath- 29 current members must ratify the accession grown in recent weeks, with some enced more than double the usual “The city has turned into a gi- tina Matviyenko, who is now the ens for showing commitment and courage in protocol. locals even resorting to picketing amount of snowfall for the time ant snowdrift,” said local resident senate speaker, was nicknamed reaching an agreement on the name issue. We can How long this will take depends on national municipal offi ces. of year. Yelena Antonova, 43. Madame Icicle after a video of her now look to the future,” Stoltenberg said. procedures, but when Montenegro joined in 2017 The group of local lawmakers On Tuesday, a 23-year-old Like thousands of others living suggesting that icicles should be The agreement last month with Greece to it took about a year. has petitioned the city’s governor man was killed in the city centre in the city, she takes a shovel with cut with lasers went viral. change the name of the former Yugoslav republic Dimitrov said Macedonia was determined to to declare a state of emergency, when he was hit by a large piece her every day to dig out her car. Offi cials now say they have to the Republic of North Macedonia ended one meet the Nato spending pledge of devoting at accusing authorities of failing to of ice that fell from the roof of a “I take almost two hours to get tasked over 7,500 people and 7,000 of the world’s longest diplomatic disputes and least 2% of GDP to defence by 2024. deal with the problem and even building. to work instead of the usual 40 vehicles with clearing the snow.

Scientists probe mass ‘Scare’ trip France condemns seabird death mystery Italy Dy PM meet in The Netherlands with ‘yellow vests’

AFP Netherlands? Surely we’re AFP change has crossed the Alps.” The Hague not the only place experienc- Paris Tensions have fl ared be- ing winter weather?” said tween the two countries Leopold. since the Five Star Move- utch scientists said Dutch media have raised the he French foreign ment and far-right League yesterday they are baf- question of whether the deaths ministry yesterday party came to power in a Dfl ed after 20,000 dead may be linked to a recent con- Tdenounced as “un- coalition in Italy last June. or dying guillemots washed up tainer spill, littering the Dutch acceptable” a meeting be- Di Maio had already on North Sea beaches in a phe- and German coast lines with tween Italy’s Deputy Prime drawn Paris’s ire after he ac- nomenon not seen for decades. debris, including plastic toys, Minister Luigi Di Maio and cused France of fuelling the The fi sh-eating seabirds polystyrene, shoes and at least France’s “yellow vest” anti- migrant infl ux to Europe by have been washing up between one bag with a dangerous pow- government protesters. continuing to “colonise” the northern Wadden Islands der identifi ed by authorities as “This new provocation Africa. and southwestern Zeeland “organic peroxide.” is unacceptable between That prompted France to — all showing symptoms of But Leopold said an initial neighbouring countries and summon Italy’s ambassador severe starvation, a marine bi- autopsy on a small number of partners at the heart of the in protest. ologist said. birds showed “no plastic” in European Union,” a ministry And De Maio’s fellow “What’s killing them though their stomachs. spokesman said in a state- deputy prime minister, is the million-dollar question,” Similarly, if the birds were ment a day after Di Maio met Matteo Salvini, has lam- Mardik Leopold, a maritime aff ected by a chemical, oth- the protesters on French soil. basted President Emmanuel researcher for Wageningen er animals would also have “Mr Di Maio, who has Macron directly by saying he University, told AFP. shown symptoms, the marine governmental responsibili- is “close, with all my heart... “And we still don’t know biologist said. ties, should ensure that he to the French people, the what the answer is. It’s an “The birds were not covered does not impair our bilateral millions of men and women alarming situation,” he added. in oil either,” he added. relations with repeated in- who live in France under a “The last time we saw high Dutch authorities said yes- terferences, in the interest terrible government and mortality rates like this was in terday they had been told by of both France and Italy,” the terrible president”. the 1980s and 1990s.” the MSC shipping company spokesman said. The “yellow vest” pro- A number of questions are that at least 341 containers Di Maio, head of the tests against fuel taxes be- puzzling scientists, he said. were lost off the MSC Zoe as anti-establishment Five gan in rural and small-town The bird deaths are confi ned it was battling a storm last Star Movement (M5S), an- France in late November, only to Dutch shores — noth- month. nounced Tuesday he had before ballooning into a ing has been reported in Bel- Scientists are now planning met near Paris with yellow wider revolt against Ma- gium or Germany. a mass autopsy of hundreds of vest leader Christophe Cha- cron’s policies and govern- High winds and stormy dead birds next week, hoping lencon and Ingrid Levavas- ing style. winter seas also could aff ect to shed more light on the mys- seur, who is heading a yellow The French president is the birds’ feeding patterns tery. vest list for European Parlia- hoping to forge an alliance on herring and sprat as they However, the species is not ment elections in May. of pro-European centrists become too fatigued to eat, threatened with extinction. He invited them and other ahead of the bloc’s parlia- Leopold said. Some 2mn guillemots live in A child visits ‘Dinosaurs of the Ocean’, an interactive exhibition of robotic extinct creatures in real-life size, yellow vests to a follow-up mentary vote, against a wave “But again, why are the the North Sea, the NOS public in the Cypriot capital Nicosia. meeting in Rome, claiming of populist movements in deaths only localised to the broadcaster said. on Twitter that “The wind of several European countries. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, February 7, 2019 INDIA

Telugu ED set to grill actress ends life

IANS Vadra again Hyderabad elugu television actress Naga Jhansi committed Tsuicide at her house here yesterday allegedly over a failed love aff air. today in graft Jhansi, 21, was found hang- ing in her room in an apartment building in Sri Nagar colony. Police informed that after re- peated knocks, her brother Du- rga Prasad broke open the door with the help of her neighbours investigation to fi nd her hanging from the ceiling fan. IANS closed assets abroad, allegedly court earlier that the London According to Jhansi’s rela- New Delhi belonging to Vadra. property was part of the kickbacks tives, she was in love with a man, Soon after Vadra’s questioning, received in a petroleum deal. The Surya, who was her distant rela- his lawyer Suman Jyoti Khaitan told money was transferred by Santech tive, and was reportedly in de- our days after a Delhi court reporters “they wanted to harass International, FZC, a UAE-based pression for the last few days. ordered Robert Vadra to join him as part of political vendetta”. company controlled by Bhandari. They suspect failure in love to be Fthe enforcement directorate “He (Vadra) felt that something There were a few more proper- the reason for the suicide. (ED) investigation, the brother- wrong is going to happen. He on ties that needed to be probed, the Jhansi’s mother Annapurna in-law of Congress president Ra- his own went to the court and said counsel said. said Surya wanted to marry her hul Gandhi yesterday afternoon he is going to appear voluntarily The offi cial said that Arora, and on his insistence she had appeared before the agency which before the ED. He asked the court an employee of Vadra’s Skylight stopped acting. However, he questioned him for around six to give him the date to appear be- Hospitality LLP, is a key suspect later changed his mind. hours in a money laundering case fore the ED. He appeared before in the case as he is aware of the Jhansi’s mobile phone has and asked him to join the probe the ED on his own even without overseas investments and pur- been seized and the police are again today. receiving summons. chases made by his employer. examining the call data and chat Vadra arrived at the ED’s Jam- Agency sources said that Vadra He said the agency also con- records. nagar House at 3.45pm and left has been asked to join the investi- fronted Vadra with the statement Her body was taken to the at 9.35pm. He was accompanied gation again at 10.30am today. given by Arora. Gandhi Hospital for autopsy and by his wife and Congress general The ED has lodged a money The questioning came in the a case registered at the Punjag- secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, laundering case against Vadra’s wake of an order by a Delhi court utta police station. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. close aide Manoj Arora after his role on February 2 directing Vadra to She, however, left the ED offi ce surfaced during a probe by the in- appear before the ED for ques- after dropping Vadra, who was come tax department into another tioning while hearing the antici- Girl critical after questioned by the investigating case under the new Black Money patory bail plea fi led by him. agency for the fi rst time. Act and tax laws against abscond- The court had on Saturday also attack by youth A team of seven ED offi cials of ing arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. granted interim bail to Vadra till the rank of deputy director and The London property was al- February 16. A class 12 student was yesterday assistant directors took part in his legedly bought by Bhandari and Earlier in the day, Priyanka Gan- critically injured in an attacked by questioning. sold in 2010 for the same amount dhi Vadra, who accompanied her a spurned lover, police said. The According to an ED offi cial, despite incurring additional ex- husband to the ED offi ce made a assailant was later arrested. Vadra was asked questions relat- penses on its renovation. strong political statement. “I stand The incident occurred in ing to transactions, purchase and On December 7, as part of the by my family,” she later told re- Barkatpura neighbourhood in the possession of certain immovable investigation, the ED conducted porters at the AICC headquarters heart of the city when the 17-year- assets in London. searches at a number of premises where Congress workers shouted old student was on her way to the The ED’s case relates to the in Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru. slogans hailing her. “Priyanka you Businessman Robert Vadra arrives at the enforcement directorate off ice for questioning in a money college. ownership of £1.9mn of undis- The ED counsel has told a city fi ght on, we are with you!” laundering case in New Delhi yesterday. The youth, later identified as Bharat, attacked her with a sickle used to cut coconuts. The girl sustained grievous injuries on Twitter summoned over alleged anti-BJP bias her neck, stomach and hands and was taken to the Yashoda Hospital Representatives of Twitter have bias” by those managing content where she is battling for life. been summoned to appear before on Twitter. Off icials from Twitter will Doctors at the hospital said the a parliamentary panel following appear before the panel on February victim suff ered 14-15 cuts and lost a complaints that the platform is biased 11 to discuss “safeguarding citizens’ lot of blood. They said she was put against pro-ruling party and right- rights on social/online news media on artificial life support system and wing content. The announcement platforms.” The panel would also the next 72 hours would be critical. was posted on Twitter by Anurag examine a “range of issues” which Police later arrested Bharat, a Thakur, the head of the parliamentary include the problem of fake news neighbour of the victim. He told committee on information technology ahead of the general elections police he was furious as the girl and a member of Prime Minister scheduled to take place by May, the was not talking to him. Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu Times of India daily reported. A Twitter An off icer said the Bharat and nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. spokesperson said the company had the girl had been friends, but BJP spokesman Tajinder Pal Singh no comment other than to confirm a few days ago, her family had Bagga, who recently organised that “discussions with the government approached the police alleging a protest in relation to the issue, are ongoing.” Social media is playing that the youth was harassing her. yesterday accused Twitter of shutting an increasing important role during As the youth’s family agreed to down pro-BJP and right-wing elections in India in recent years, with make him mend his ways, the accounts. Committee member Vinay leaders including Modi commanding girl’s parents did not lodge a Sahasrabuddhe, also from the BJP, huge numbers of followers. As many complaint with the police. told broadcaster NDTV that the move as 7mn tweets were generated during However, Bharat continued to was in response to complaints of a elections in five states this winter, pester the girl. As she was not “partisan approach” and “ideological according to the micro-blogging site. talking to him, he took revenge on her by attacking her. Anger as Sabarimala temple board backs women’s entry

IANS have no place in a constitutional order”. The royal family’s spokesperson P S New Delhi Citing human dignity, Dwivedi said: Verma said that the “true colours” of the “Practices prevailing in our temples TDB had been revealed. “They have toed should be in conformity with the con- the Kerala government line. Their true he Travancore Devaswom Board stitutional morality.” At this, justice colours have surfaced and this means (TDB), which manages the Malhotra asked Dwivedi: “There’s a both the government and the TDB are TSabarimala temple, yesterday change in stand of Devaswom Board. out to destroy the customs and tradi- joined the Kerala government in sup- You had argued otherwise.” tions of the temple,” he claimed. porting entry of women of all ages to “The board has now taken a decision TDB president A Padmakumar denied the temple, saying that any practice to respect the judgment,” he replied. the board had changed its stand. “We has to be consistent with the Consti- Earlier during yesterday’s hearing, did not fi le a review petition. Instead tution’s dominant theme – “all per- the Kerala government opposed the we fi led a ‘delay petition’ (requesting sons are equally entitled”. review petitions, saying that there was the court to defer the judgment). What The TDB spelt out its changed posi- no need to review the judgment as un- I have been told is that today we were tion before the fi ve-judge constitution constitutional practices could not be asked about our stand in relation to the bench comprising chief justice Ranjan allowed to continue. September 28 verdict. It was to this that Gogoi, justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, Senior counsel Jaideep Gupta ar- our counsel said that they will abide by justice A M Khanwilkar, justice D Y gued that Sabarimala temple is a pub- the court verdict. The court has also giv- Chandrachud and justice Indu Malhotra lic temple and its aff airs are managed en time till February 13 to give in writing as it opposed a batch of petitions seeking by a law, and that religious practices if there are any more things that should the review of the court’s September 28, shadowing the fundamental rights can be brought before the court. 2018, judgment lifting the ban on entry be over-ruled. “We will meet to discuss on what of women of all age groups to the temple. Pointing out that that the trust of the needs to be given in writing,” said Pad- Senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi, ap- constitution is that ‘you will not dis- makumar, a former CPI-M legislator. pearing for the board, focused on con- criminate’, Gupta said that all the cus- “The TDB will abide by whatever the stitutional morality, which he said was toms are subject to fundamental rights. verdict is,” he said. not subjective but founded on Articles Indira Jaising, appearing for Kanaka Former chief minister and Con- 14, 15, 17, 21 and 25 of the Constitution Durga and Bindu Ammini – the two gress leader Oommen Chandy said the and subject to other fundamental rights. women who entered Sabarimala – said TDB’s somersault showed that it was The court yesterday reserved its or- that what was being witnessed was hand in glove with the Pinarayi Vijayan der on a batch of 54 petitions seeking not just a case of exclusion but of so- government. “Just what Vijayan want- recall of its verdict which had opened cial boycott. She claimed shopkeepers ed, the TDB has done,” he said. the gates of the temple to women in have been asked not to have any kind State BJP president P S Sreedharan the 10-50 age group. of dealings with the two women. Pillai said Vijayan has taken every- In a 4:1 judgment with justice Mal- Meanwhile, the Pandalam royal one for a ride. “The people have been hotra dissenting, the court had also family, the custodian of the Sabarimala cheated and very soon the people will held that “notions of ‘purity and pol- temple’s jewellery, yesterday slammed give a fi tting reply for what has hap- lution’, which stigmatise individuals, the TDB for changing its opinion. pened,” he said. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 19 LATIN AMERICA Military blocks aid shipments into Venezuela AFP tarian aid would be the forerun- In his State of the Union ad- has been ramping up pressure on Caracas ner of a US-led invasion, insist- dress Tuesday night, President Maduro by calling his supporters ing that “no one will enter, not Donald Trump reaffi rmed US out into the streets. one invading soldier.” support for Guaido, saying “we The next mass demonstration enezuelan military offi c- Venezuelan military offi c- stand with the Venezuelan peo- is due for February 12. ers yesterday blocked a ers used a tanker truck and huge ple in their noble quest for free- Guaido must still fi nd a way An aerial view of the Tienditas Bridge, in the border between Cucuta, Colombia and Tachira, Venezuela, Vbridge on the border with shipping container to block ac- dom.” to bring in the humanitarian aid after Venezuelan military forces blocked it yesterday with containers. Colombia ahead of an anticipated cess to the Tienditas bridge, Britain, France, Germany and given the military’s loyalty to humanitarian aid shipment, as which links Cucuta, Colombia to Spain were among 20 EU na- Maduro. sponding to “the largest hemi- Guaido, or force the military May, which the opposition boy- opposition leader Juan Guaido Urena, Venezuela. tions to side with Guaido this He accused the military on spheric humanitarian crisis in to block their entry, risking a cotted after several of its lead- stepped up his challenge to Presi- Franklyn Duarte, an opposi- week after Maduro ignored their Monday of planning to divert modern history.” backlash in the streets. ers were either jailed, barred or dent Nicolas Maduro’s authority. tion lawmaker from the border demands that he announce new aid being stockpiled in Colom- Maduro disclosed Monday Maduro, though, remains forced into exile. On Tuesday, the opposition- state of Tachira, told AFP that presidential elections by Febru- bia, Brazil and an unidentifi ed that he sent Pope Francis a let- steadfast. The US and EU dismissed the dominated National Assembly troops from the armed forces ary 3. Caribbean island, in order to ter seeking help in mediating the “Venezuela doesn’t have to beg elections as a fraud. had warned the armed forces, were blocking the crossing. Guaido is trying to force Ma- distribute it through the social- country’s crisis. to anyone,” he said. “If they want Maduro has fl atly rejected de- which make up much of Ma- The aid delivery was being duro from power, set up a tran- ist government’s subsidised food The pope told journalists to help, then end the blockade mands for new elections, telling duro’s power base, not to cross a coordinated by Guaido, who has sitional government and hold a programme for its own support- Tuesday that this would require and the sanctions.” Spanish television he would not “red line” by blocking aid. declared himself interim presi- new presidential poll. ers. agreement from both the govern- Under Maduro’s stewardship, “cave in to pressure.” Guaido, who proclaimed him- dent of the oil-rich country and He thanked his EU supporters The National Assembly said ment and the opposition. oil-dependent Venezuela has He has supported plans for a self acting president on Janu- now enjoys the backing of some “for supporting all Venezuelans the military must decide whether “Getting close to both sides plunged into an economic crisis, meeting of Latin American and ary 23 — sparking an interna- 40 countries as Venezuela’s le- in this struggle we undertake to it is on the side of the people or to enact the possibilities of dia- suff ering from hyperinfl ation EU states in a “Contact Group” in tional crisis — claims that up to gitimate leader. rescue our nation’s democracy, “the problem.” logue. That’s how diplomacy and shortages of food and medi- Montevideo today, though. 300,000 people face death if the Maduro, 56, has repeatedly freedom and justice.” Guaido knows he needs the works,” the Pope said on the cine. The United Nations said 40 aid is not delivered. accused the United States of fo- But key Maduro ally Russia armed forces on his side to dis- plane bringing him back from the Eurasia said US oil sanctions people were killed in clashes with “You know there’s a red line, menting a coup. slammed what it called interfer- lodge Maduro. United Arab Emirates. are “set to have a broad impact” security forces in a week of pro- you know well there’s a limit, you The US, which has not ruled ence in the oil-rich but now poor He was boosted last week by Eurasia Group analysts say with the government facing “the tests last month, coinciding with know that medicines, food and out a military intervention in cri- Latin American country, saying the defection of a top air force the humanitarian crisis “rep- prospect of running out of gaso- Guaido’s self-proclamation as medical supplies are that limit,” sis-wracked Venezuela, was the it was an attempt to “legitimise general. resents a lose-lose gambit for line, which could serve as anoth- acting leader. lawmaker Miguel Pizarro said in fi rst to recognise him as acting usurped power.” His fl edgling alternative ad- Maduro” who will either have er social catalyst.” Local NGO Foro Penal said al- a message to the military. president, followed by a dozen Guaido, 35, claims his legiti- ministration will hold talks in to allow the goods to enter the Guaido branded Maduro ille- most 1,000 people were detained Maduro, though, said humani- Latin American countries. macy from the constitution and Washington February 14 on re- country, further bolstering gitimate over his re-election in between January 21 and 31.

Flavio Bolsonaro faces Another migrant caravan reaches US-Mexico border fresh graft allegations AFP Eagle Pass, Texas. The local mayor, Clau- Authorities in Piedras Negras converted Another group of around 3,800 migrants Nuevo Laredo, Mexico dio Bres Garza, said the city would wel- several old factory buildings into shelters to is in southern Mexico, in the state of Chia- come “all those who behave themselves,” house the migrants. pas. They planned to regroup yesterday and Reuters Flavio Bolsonaro, his father after Coahuila’s Governor Miguel Angel Women and children will sleep separate- then continue their northward trek. Brasilia and Queiroz have all said they round 1,700 migrants travelling by Riquelme vowed not to accept more un- ly from the men, they said. Several thousand Central Americans are innocent of any crime. caravan reached the US-Mexican documented migrants in the state. The migrants were part of a group of have trekked across Mexico by caravan The scandal arose after the Aborder Tuesday, just as President Their arrival came as Trump was set to around 2,200 who began their journey on since last year, fl eeing poverty and violence he son of Brazil’s Presi- Council for Financial Activi- Donald Trump was preparing to give a ma- deliver his annual State of the Union ad- January 15 in Honduras. in their home countries. dent Jair Bolsonaro is ties Control (COAF) identi- jor speech certain to include calls for his dress, with the issue of border security Around 500 of the caravan’s original They travel en masse in hopes of fi nding Tfacing accusations of fi ed 48 suspicious deposits long-sought wall. centre stage after a record fi ve-week gov- members decided to accept the Mexican safety in numbers against Mexican gangs money laundering in connec- worth a total of 100,000 reais The Central American migrants, mostly ernment shutdown triggered by his spat government’s off er of humanitarian visas that regularly extort, kidnap and kill mi- tion with at least two luxury ($27,005.13) deposited in a Hondurans, arrived in the city of Piedras with Congress over funding for his prom- to remain in Mexico and work for up to a grants, sometimes in collusion with local apartments he purchased in single month in 2007 into Negras, Coahuila, across the border from ised wall. year. authorities. Rio de Janeiro, according to Flavio’s bank account. federal prosecutors and a lo- COAF also found 7mn reais cal news report published in suspicious fi nancial trans- yesterday. actions in accounts belonging Flavio Bolsonaro, a newly to Queiroz. inaugurated federal senator, The O Globo newspaper re- Ex-Costa Rica president Russia has approved $43mn has been dogged by corrup- ported yesterday that it had tion allegations that are sul- viewed a federal police inves- lying the squeaky clean, law- tigation into real estate deals accused of sexual assault loan to Cuba military: offi cial and-order image his father Flavio carried out between used to ride to an easy presi- 2014 and 2017 that resulted in dential election last year. an “exceptional increase” in doctor has fi led a criminal spected the wishes of any woman,” Reuters Service for Military-Techni- contractors who carry out se- Flavio Bolsonaro has re- his net worth. complaint of sexual assault Arias said in a statement through his Moscow cal Co-operation, said in an cret missions for the state fl ew fused to meet with prosecu- The police document did Aagainst Nobel Peace Prize lawyer. interview published in Rus- into Venezuela last month, tors to be questioned and re- not provide details on what winner and former Costa Rican Arias, 78, was president of Costa sia’s Kommersant newspa- Reuters reported, citing two peatedly dodges journalists’ apartment deals or amounts president Oscar Arias, the New York Rica twice, fi rst between 1986-90, ussia has approved a per. people close to the contrac- questions on the allegations of money were involved. Times reported on Tuesday, an al- and then 2006-10. He won the Nobel 38mn euro ($43.27mn) Kommersant had previously tors. against him. That time period is roughly legation that Arias categorically de- Peace Prize in 1987. Rloan for Cuba’s defence reported Moscow planned to One of the sources said they He said in a written state- the same as when the 7mn nied through his lawyer. The Public Ministry confi rmed sector, a senior Russian de- grant Cuba a loan to buy Rus- fl ew there via Cuba. ment that the latest accusa- reais in suspicious transac- The accuser said that Arias as- that the woman presented a com- fence offi cial was quoted as sian hardware such as tanks, In the newspaper interview, tions against him were base- tions fl owed through the bank saulted her at his home in Costa plaint on Monday afternoon but did saying yesterday. armoured vehicles and possi- Shugayev said Russia has con- less and would be tossed out. account of Queiroz. Rican capital San Jose in 2014, ac- not give further details. The deal was fi rst an- bly helicopters. cerns about the Venezuelan Brazil’s Supreme Court The prosecutor general’s cording to The New York Times and The New York Times said that it nounced in November after Communist-ruled Cuba crisis and was not considering earlier this month rejected offi ce confi rmed it had re- reports in local media. had been provided with a copy of the Russian President Vladimir is a close ally of Venezuela, scaling back defence co-oper- an appeal by Flavio to halt a ceived the case from federal The accuser’s name was published complaint by the accuser, which was Putin met Cuban President where Moscow-backed Presi- ation with Caracas. sprawling probe into numer- police, but provided no de- in the media reports. fi led with federal prosecutors. Miguel Diaz-Canel in Mos- dent Nicolas Maduro is facing According to Shugayev, co- ous suspicious cash pay- tails. Reuters was unable to reach her for The woman is an anti-nuclear ac- cow. pressure from the opposition operation with Venezuela is ments made into the account Federal police did not re- comment. tivist who often met with Arias, who It has now been finalised and Western governments to limited to maintaining previ- of his former driver, Fabricio spond to a request for com- “I categorically reject the accusa- supported her cause, the New York by Russia, Dmitry Shugayev, step down. ously supplied arms and help- Queiroz. ment. tions against me. I have never disre- Times report said. head of the Russian Federal Private Russian military ing build military facilities.

Brazil’s Vale to invest $400mn to reduce need for tailings dams

Reuters leftover material that is dried identifi ed concerns about the Sao Paulo rather than stored wet to 70% tailings dams and discussed the by 2023. possibility of making building The company said it would material from tailings, including razil’s Vale SA, the world’s spend about $70mn on safety bricks, in a bid to trim the vast largest iron ore miner, will and maintenance at existing tail- amounts of wet tailings, Reuters Binvest some 1.5bn reais ings dams in 2019, representing a reported last week. ($400mn) starting in 2020 to 180% jump from 2015. That year, It was not clear whether the reduce its reliance on tailings a Vale joint venture was respon- company followed any of his rec- dams, it said late on Tuesday, sible for another deadly dam spill ommendations at the time. after one dam collapsed last that killed 19 people and polluted Vale has come under intense month, likely killing more than a major river. public pressure since the January 300 people. A Vale spokeswoman said 25 dam burst, with some politi- The dam at the Feijao do Cor- both the 2019 investment in cians and prosecutors calling for rego mine burst on January 25 in dam management and the plan criminal prosecution and a man- the town of Brumadinho, in what to produce more dry tailings had agement shakeup. is possibly Brazil’s most deadly already been budgeted before the A court-ordered halt to pro- mining disaster. Brumadinho disaster but had not duction at several of its dams Rescuers said yesterday they been made public. on Monday froze production at had found 150 bodies, and 182 In December, Vale agreed to its largest mine in Brazil’s min- people were still missing. pay $500mn for New Steel, a ing heartland of Minas Gerais, Vale said its plan to reduce company that owns patents in responsible for nearly 9% of the its reliance on giant dams to 56 countries for a dry process- company’s output. store the muddy detritus from ing method known as Fines Dry That led Vale to declare a force mining, known as tailings, Magnetic Separation. majeure on some of its iron ore A soldier helps a rescue team on Paraopeba River as they searched on Tuesday for victims of a collapsed tailings dam in Brumadinho. would boost the portion of the In 2009, one Vale executive contracts on Tuesday. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, February 7, 2019 PAKISTAN Top court tells military Top taxpayers to have dinner to stay out of politics with Imran The Supreme Court is lice initially tried but failed to investigating the so-called remove protesters. Internews “Faizabad protest” in The military is widely seen Islamabad 2017, which saw a hardline to have disagreed with civilian group paralyse the capital authorities over how to han- Islamabad accusing a dle the protests. The unrest had he Federal Board of minister of blasphemy weakened the previous Pakistan Revenue (FBR) has Muslim League-Nawaz (PML- Tcompiled a list of the Reuters N) government, which had fallen country’s top 50 taxpayers for Islamabad out with the armed forces. the year 2018 to be invited for The army’s role came under a dinner with Prime Minister criticism after video footage Imran Khan. akistan’s top court yes- shared on social media showed a A summary for the dinner to terday warned the mili- senior offi cer from the military- be hosted by the prime minis- Ptary and intelligence run Inter-Services Intelligence ter has been sent to the fi nance agencies they must not exceed (ISI) spy agency giving cash to ministry. The list includes Prime Minister Imran Khan ... their mandate and meddle in protesters after a deal was struck large taxpaying companies fulfilment of a poll promise politics, an apparent rebuke to end the blockade. and individual taxpayers. over their handling of Islamist “The involvement of ISI and of The top tax paying compa- policymaking for enhanc- protests in 2017. the members of the Armed Forc- nies include the OGDCL, PPL, ing tax revenue. The practical The judges’ comments were es in politics, media and other PSO and large banks like HBL, recommendations would be a rare public ticking off for the ‘unlawful activities’ should have MCB, UBL, National Bank, made part of the budget. powerful armed forces, which stopped,” Supreme Court Jus- Silk Bank as well as other The premier after taking have ruled for nearly half of Pa- tices Mushir Alam and Qazi Faez companies, including cellular oath had announced that he kistan’s history and have in re- Isa said in their verdict. phone and telecom fi rms. would hold a dinner with the cent years been criticised for “Instead when (protest) par- The heads of these compa- country’s top 50 taxpayers resuming a more active role in ticipants received cash hand- nies, chief executive offi cers every year. politics. outs from men in uniform, the or their representatives would Several ministers, including The army denies interfering. perception of their involvement attend the dinner with the Finance Minister Asad Umar, The Supreme Court was in- gained traction.” In this file photo, paramilitary soldiers stand guard outside the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. prime minister. State Minister for Revenue vestigating the so-called “Faiza- The Supreme Court also criti- The individual taxpayers Hammad Azhar, Planning and bad protest”, which saw a hard- cised the military’s infl uential Armed Forces from engaging intelligence agencies, though in larity by championing Pakistan’s include Syed Shahzad Has- Development Minister Khusro line Islamist group paralyse the media wing, the Inter-Services in any kind of political activ- the past the ruling party said the harsh blasphemy laws. san Shah, Arif Habib, Hassan Bakhtiar, Adviser to PM for capital Islamabad accusing a Public Relations (ISPR), for ity, which includes support- army and government acted to- TLP leaders have in recent Mansha, Muhammed Yasin Commerce Abdul Razak Da- minister of blasphemy. commenting on political matters ing a political party, faction or gether over the 2017 protests. months been mostly arrested Malik, Syed Irshad Ahmed, wood, FBR chairman and his But the inquiry also looked such as the contested 2018 elec- individual,” the justices said. The judgement urged pro- or detained after they staged Wazir Ali Pardhan, Mian team and heads of the invest- at the role of security agencies, tion, where the military was ac- “All intelligence agencies ... vincial and federal authorities further protests and urged the Amir Mansha, Babar Ali, Im- ment board, SECP and other including ending the standoff cused of helping Prime Minister and the ISPR must not exceed to monitor and prosecute those overthrow of the army chief over tiaz Hussain, Rehan Hussain, organisations will also attend through mediation. Imran Khan into power. their respective mandates.” advocating hate and extremism, the Supreme Court’s acquittal Abdul Ghaff ar Memon, Malik the dinner. Seven people were killed and “The constitution emphati- There was no immediate re- such as the Tehreek-e-Labaik of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, Shahid and others. According to documents nearly 200 wounded when po- cally prohibits members of the sponse from the military and (TLP) group that rose in popu- from blasphemy charges. Sources in the ministry of available with Daily Express, fi nance said that the basic the list of the top taxpayers has purpose of organising a din- been sent to the fi nance min- ner with the premier was to istry. The ministry has been encourage taxpayers and seek requested to seek time from NAB arrests Punjab minister At least their recommendations in the PM for the event. 13 killed in for disproportionate assets KP road PM to chair cabinet meeting today Internews worth more than Rs129.3mn. accident Lahore Punjab Information Minis- ter Fayazul Hasan Chohan said, Internews Health Services and endorse “NAB has the authority to ar- DPA Islamabad previous decisions of the Eco- he National Account- rest any offi cial or bureaucrat Islamabad nomic Coordination Council ability Bureau (NAB) who owns disproportionate (ECC). Tyesterday arrested senior assets.” akistani Prime Minister The meeting will also dis- Punjab minister Aleem Khan, “A case had been ongoing t least 13 people were Imran Khan has sum- cuss the appointment of the pictured, for owning assets against Aleem and he appeared killed yesterday when a Pmoned a meeting of the director general of the Debt beyond his known sources of before NAB for the second time Apassenger van rammed federal cabinet for today which Policy Co-ordination Offi ce. income, a spokesperson for the in that case,” the provincial into a pickup truck and caught will take up a 21-point agenda, PM UNHAPPY WITH watchdog said. information minister said. fi re in north-western Pakistan. including the increase in prices SENATORS: Pakistani Prime The Pakistan Tehreek-e-In- “Aleem has never spoken “At least 13 people died and six of necessary items, reconsti- Minister Imran Khan, while saf (PTI) leader was taken into against NAB or state institu- others were wounded in the ac- tution of Pakistan Baitul Mal expressing anger over two of custody as he appeared before tions and neither will the Pun- cident,” police spokesman Jamal board, summary of the defence the ruling party senators for NAB Lahore. The Punjab lo- jab government or any offi cials Khan said. division’s last year by-election travelling in business class on cal government minister was do so – this is the diff erence Those wounded were taken to expenditures and supplemen- their tour to the UK to attend being investigated by NAB in between us and the Sharifs and hospital for treatment, he said. tary grant of Rs429mn for the Kashmir conference, has cases pertaining to owning as- Zardaris,” he added. The fi re erupted due to com- Pakistan Rangers. directed them to return the sets beyond his known sources “Aleem is not a suspect and pressed natural gas (CNG) cylin- The meeting is expected expenditures incurred on their of income and an off shore no reference has been fi led ders fi tted in the van. to give approval to various trip. company. against him,” Chohan asserted. It crashed into the truck, agreements signed with dif- The two PTI senators are NAB will present Aleem be- Further, Chohan rejected re- which was coming from the op- ferent countries, including the part of the Committee on fore an accountability court ports that Aleem has resigned posite direction, in Karak district memorandum of understand- Foreign Aff airs and among tomorrow to seek his remand. from the post of Punjab local of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) ing (MoU) signed between the the 14 senators who have Following the arrest, Aleem government minister. province. Trade Development Author- gone to attend the Kashmir resigned from the post of Pun- “There is no need for him to The government has an- ity of Pakistan and Belgium’s conference on the Kashmir jab local government minister, resign right now and nor has a nounced a ban on the use of CNG trade promotion agency. Solidarity Day. family sources said. “I will fi ght against my arrest and the case in court” resignation been forwarded to cylinders in school minivans but It will also accord approval The senators, along with “I will fi ght against my arrest the Punjab chief minister. NAB they are still used in commercial to the constitution of the Audit others, stayed at Hotel Park and the case in court,” Aleem from leaving the offi ce and the Earlier it emerged that will further investigate and vehicles. Oversight Board and release of Plaza, Westminster, London. was quoted as saying. cars he had arrived in left the Aleem owned assets worth then decide whether to fi le a Road accidents are common funds for replacing the CCTV The noted fi gures, who are Aleem arrived at the NAB of- premises. over Rs918mn. According to reference.” in Pakistan as a result of a lack cameras at the Islamabad High part of the visiting delegation, fi ce in Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore This is the fourth time the Aleem’s nomination papers Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim of infrastructure, poorly main- Court (IHC). Nominations for include Foreign Minister Shah around 10:45am, sources said. senior Punjab minister ap- submitted for the recently League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader tained vehicles and careless the council of the Institute of Mahmood Qureshi, Sherry During an informal talk with peared before the accountabil- held elections, he holds total Muhammad Zubair said that he driving. Chartered Accountants of Pa- Rehman, Mushahid Hussain the media he informed that he ity bureau. Aleem had last ap- assets worth Rs918,278,855. believes “today’s development According to the Pakistan Bu- kistan will also be reviewed. Syed, Asif Kirmani, Nuzhat had been summoned by NAB peared before NAB on August Aleem’s personal prop- is positive”. reau of Statistics, around 9,000 The cabinet will approve Sadiq among others. and will share further details 8 when he was handed a ques- erty is valued at more than “If Aleem Khan is in jail, how road accidents are reported every the transfer of health insti- A senior party leader, while afterwards, sources added. tionnaire and told to appear on Rs159mn while his owner- will the provincial government year, killing more than 4,000 tutes from the cabinet division requesting anonymity, con- However, he was prevented February 6 (today). ship of shares is said to be run?” he asked. people on average. to the Ministry of National fi rmed the information. IPC and CCI get permanent off ice in capital Authorities in Pakistan have on January 4. calling attention notice of decided to establish a permanent According to the ministry’s Pakistan People’s Party Senator Handmade shoes defi ne luxury in Islamabad secretariat for the Ministry of federal secretary Akbar Durrani, Raza Rabbani, who during Inter-Provincial Co-ordination the cabinet block off ice, currently his time as chairman of the (IPC) and the Council of Common situated on the second and third Senate, had given a ruling Internews including jackets and hand- months to complete a consign- He added that more and Interests (CCI) to promote floors of the ministry off ice, does on the matter asking the Islamabad made shoes because of the ment of custom-made shoes more shoe factories and contact between the provinces not off er enough space to run the government to immediately set availability of high-quality and that they charge between workshops across the coun- and expedite resolution of aff airs properly. up the secretariat in line with the leather here. Rs10,000 and Rs15,000 per try were now turning to these disputes at the premises of The authorities concerned Constitution. ven though the culture He added that he used to have shoe.” machines to maximise their Pakistan Secretariat. carried out a survey of the new However, he did not get a and buying habits of resi- a store in Rawalpindi, and due Anwar, a craftsman who profi ts. The new off ice will allow secretariat building of the federal response from the government Edents of the federal capi- to its success he was able to ex- works at a workshop of one Anwer says that they are preparation and finalisation of secretariat to assess its suitability due to the absence of Federal tal have changed with an infl ux pand his business to Islamabad of the custom shoe establish- usually paid daily wages be- recommendations put forth by to host a permanent secretariat Minister for IPC Fehmida Mirza, of foreign brands and a refresh for better prospects. ments, said that he has been tween Rs600 to Rs800 instead the provinces and the CCI. for the CCI, Durrani said, and who was unable to attend the of designs, especially amongst His store is among many for preparing handmade shoes for of per shoes and that they are The IPC ministry, during a added that recommendations session due to medical reasons. the trendy elite, the draw that handmade shoes in Jinnah Su- the past 60 years. only paid a monthly salary CCI meeting held on July 23, based on the survey will soon be Irked by the minister’s absence, handmade shoes off er remains per Market along with stores in Having seen the rise and then when work is in full swing. 2013, was advised to prepare made. Rabbani had regretted the failure intact. Sectors F-10 and F-11. the fall of the leather goods in- But with handmade shoes a summary pertaining to the “After that, the secretariat off ice of successive governments in At one point in time, hand- They claim to regularly re- dustry of the country, he said going out of fashion, their establishment of a permanent for the ministry and CCI will be setting up the CCI secretariat made leather shoes of Paki- ceive large orders for handmade that they, their craft and their fortunes also faced a dip and CCI secretariat in Islamabad, set up in the new place by June and had termed it an attempt to stan used to be popular and shoes, especially from the con- livelihoods were under threat they faced complications in including its budget and this year,” he is quoted as saying. “sabotage and circumvent” the sought after commodities tingent of foreigners who work from the import of cheap Chi- managing their household procedure for appointment Before that, the longstanding Constitution. across the world. But with the at the embassies. nese machines. expenses. of staff . The measure was issue was last referred to the He had alleged that though rise of western fashion brands Adeel said that because they “Machine-made shoes are But with some businesses proposed to address and resolve IPC house committee by Senate the Prime Minister Off ice had coupled with a failure to evolve have all the available tools, they preferred by shopkeepers bringing handmade and custom any reservations held by the Deputy Chairman Saleem been supporting the idea, the diminished the appeal of these are able to make any kind of due to their cheap cost and showed back into fashion, in- provinces. Mandviwalla during the sitting of Ministry of Finance had been shoes. shoe ordered by their customer, high-profi t margin,” he stat- cluding promotion of the prod- An important meeting to discuss the upper house of parliament in creating hurdles in the way Adeel, a shoemaker, stated including from pictures which ed, adding, “However, those ucts internationally, he hopes establishment of the permanent December. of establishment of the CCI that Pakistani leather goods a client brings with him. “It shoes are made from poor that the industry will pick up secretariat for CCI was also held It was referred following a secretariat. (Internews) are famous all over the world usually takes them two to three materials.” once again. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES Govt registers libel charge against critical journalist

AFP Year” in 2018 for her journal- forwarded to prosecutors for bail for the tax charges, said way before the Cybercrime Manila istic work, slammed the fresh their consideration. the new case lacks a sound le- Law,” he added. Guevarra de- case as a new front of “harass- Justice Secretary Menardo gal basis. “It is ridiculous, of nied the government’s decision ment” intended to silence her Guevarra said yesterday the course it is harassment,” she to pursue the case was an effort hilippine prosecutors website. Rappler has drawn case would be filed in court said. “The story was published to put pressure on the website. said yesterday they will the administration’s ire since “very soon”. Duterte has lashed seven years ago, four months “We do not inject politics in Pfile a libel charge car- publishing reports critical of out at other critical media out- before the (cybercrime) law was our work. No one tells us how rying up to 12 years in prison Duterte’s signature anti-drug fits, including the Philippine enacted.” to go about doing our job. We against journalist Maria Ressa, crackdown that has killed Daily Inquirer newspaper and The law that forms the foun- give contending parties equal who leads a news website that thousands of alleged users and broadcaster ABS-CBN. dation of the case takes aim at opportunities to present their has clashed with President Ro- pushers since 2016. He had threatened to go af- various online offences, in- side,” Guevarra said. drigo Duterte’s administration. However, the new case ter their owners over alleged cluding computer fraud and Under the tax case, the The case — under a con- against Ressa and former Rap- unpaid taxes or block the net- hacking. Nonoy Espina, chair- government accuses Rappler troversial cybercrime law pe- pler reporter Reynaldo Santos, work’s franchise renewal ap- man of the National Union of Holdings Corp, Ressa and the nalising online libel — adds Jr stems from a 2012 report plication. Journalists of the Philippines, site’s accountant of failing to to legal pressure on Ressa and written about a businessman’s Some of the drug crack- said the case would set an omi- pay taxes on 2015 bond sales her site Rappler, which has al- alleged ties to a then-judge on down’s highest profile critics nous precedent. that it alleges netted gains of ready been hit with tax evasion the nation’s top court. have wound up behind bars, in- “This is an extremely dan- 162.5mn pesos ($3mn). The charges that could shutter the While investigators initially cluding Senator Leila de Lima, gerous proposition since it es- Philippine justice system is outlet and put her behind bars. dismissed the businessman’s who was jailed on drug charges sentially means anyone can be notoriously overburdened and Ressa, who was named a 2017 complaint about the arti- she insists were fabricated to made liable for anything and slow, with even minor cases Time Magazine “Person of the cle, the case was subsequently silence her. Ressa, already on everything they posted even taking years to be judged. Maria Ressa: facing libel charge

Committee passes bill to punish ‘political butterflies’ Comelec to monitor social Ano warns on foreign Public off icials who change their political party a year before or terrorists creating chaos after elections may soon be banned if a measure approved media expenses of candidates by the House Committee on Manila Times ing,” he said. It was Ano who Ways and Means becomes a law, Manila fi rst told the public the suicide Manila Times reported. By William Depasupil television advertising per sta- bombers in the twin blasts at the The House panel on Mon- Manila Times tion and 180 minutes of radio Our Lady of Mount Carmel Ca- day approved the proposed advertising per radio station. he Jolo twin blasts carried thedral were Indonesians, citing Political Party Development Candidates for a local elec- out by suicide bombers intelligence sources. Act to strengthen the political or the fi rst time in the tive position are allowed a Twere an example of for- Philippine National Police party system and promote party country’s electoral his- maximum of 60 minutes of eign terrorists training locals on (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde loyalty and discipline. Ftory, the Commission television advertising per sta- how to sow chaos in the country, later confi rmed Ano’s claim and The unnumbered bill was au- on Elections (Comelec) will tion and 90 minutes of radio Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said witnesses to the bombings thored by House Speaker Gloria regulate political propaganda advertising per station. has said. noticed that the couple couldn’t Macapagal Arroyo, Majority in social media by monitoring For printed or published “By showing and doing these speak Tausug, the language of Leader Fredenil Castro and 14 the expenses of candidates and ads, national and local candi- suicide bombings, they are ex- Sulu natives. other lawmakers, consolidat- political parties in the coming dates and political parties are pecting Filipino terrorists would A DNA test on two unclaimed ing House Bills 522, 697, 1695 midterm elections. allowed a one-fourth page in follow soon. They underestimate pairs of feet would be conducted, and 7088. Under the measure, Comelec spokesman James broadsheets and one-half page the infl uence of Filipino culture Año said. political turncoatism, or changing Jimenez said that monitoring James Jimenez: eye on expenses in tabloids. on our brothers,” he told report- According to investigators, political aff iliation a year before social media would be a diffi - Print advertisement, ers. There has been no record of the Indonesian couple came or after the holding of national cult task for the Comelec, but menting Republic Act 9006 or dress of the offi cial blog and/or whether procured by purchase a suicide bombing in the Philip- to the Philippines on January elections will be punished. candidates must toe the line. the Fair Election Act, in con- social media page of such po- or given free of charge, shall pines committed by a Filipino 21 through Lampinigan Island, Penalties for “political turncoats” “We’re going to be requir- nection with the May 13, 2019 litical party or candidate.” not be published more than terrorist, as it is deemed too vio- 277.3 kilometres away from Jolo. include forfeiture of their ing reports from them as to the national and local elections. Any other blog or social me- three times a week per news- lent, according to security offi - The two were brought to Jolo elective office; disqualification money spent for these con- Social media, according to dia page, which, when taken paper, magazine or other pub- cials and experts. on January 24 by pump boat. from running for any elective tractors. Comelec rules, refers to the as a whole, has for its primary lications during the campaign. In August 2018, a Moroccan Upon arrival in Jolo, the cou- position in the next election; Remember people have been collective online communi- purpose the endorsement of a Candidates with a political with ties to the Abu Sayyaf ter- ple was brought to the house of prohibition from holding any reporting on their Statement cation channels, including candidate, whether or not di- party are authorised to spend rorist group launched a suicide Sawdjaan Met Usman, the al- position in any government of Campaign Expenditures websites and applications, rectly maintained or adminis- P3 for every voter. attack in Lamitan City, Basilan leged mastermind of the blasts. office for three years after (SOCEs) for quite a while now that enable users to create and tered by the candidate or of- The cap is P5 for independ- in which 10 people were killed. The couple and other suspects the expiration of his or her but they have never reported share content, collaborate and fi cial representatives, shall be ent candidates and political Ano said authorities were still then went to a forested area in current term; prohibition from on their social media expenses. interact with each other. considered additional offi cial parties and party-list groups. verifying the identities of the Patikul, Sulu to plan the attack. assuming any executive or And this would be the fi rst Section 9-C of CR 10488 blogs or social media pages of The campaign period for Jolo Cathedral suicide bomb- They went back to Jolo on Jan- administrative position in the time they would be doing also states that “each regis- the candidate. senators and party-list groups ers, believed to be an Indonesian uary 26 with black trolley bags new political party; and refund that,” Jimenez said. tered political party and can- For broadcast election will be from February 12 to couple. allegedly carrying the impro- of the amount received from The Commission en banc didate shall register with the propaganda, candidates and May 11, while candidates for “Identifi cation is on the proc- vised explosive devices or IEDs the previous political party and earlier promulgated Comelec Education and Information political parties for a national representative, regional, pro- ess but may take time. The Indo- used in the blasts. The woman a 25% surcharge thereon. Resolution (CR) 10488, the Department of the Comelec, elective position are allowed vincial, city and town offi cials nesian government is willing to reportedly was the fi rst to deto- rules and regulations imple- the website name and web ad- a maximum of 120 minutes of is from March 29 to May 11. assist. It is offi cially confi rmed nate a bomb, followed by the that it’s a case of suicide bomb- man seconds later.

Panel to urge Diokno to appear People vote for autonomy for inquiry over budget mess in southern Philippines DPA Bangsamoro people as part of a Manila peace agreement between the Manila Times by the Department of Budget retary after it uncovered last government and the Moro Is- Manila and Management (DBM) into week P50bn worth of idle funds lamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the 2019 budget. under the DBM and the De- undreds of thousands of 2014. “No amount of bombing or “I don’t know where (Dio- partment of Trade and Indus- people in two Muslim- terrorist acts will scare, intimi- he House of Representa- kno) gets that thick facial fa- try (DTI) because of Diokno’s Hdominated provinces of date or threaten the voters from tives’ appropriations cade,” Andaya said, reiterating alleged revisions on the Imple- the southern Philippines went to participating in today’s plebi- Tpanel will subpoena that he will continue to expose menting Rules and Regulations the poll yesterday for the second scite,” presidential spokesperson Budget Secretary Benjamin the budget irregularities under (IRR) of the Republic Act (RA) part of a referendum on a new Salvador Panelo said. Diokno for failing to show up in Diokno even after he “chose si- 9184 or the Government Pro- autonomous region despite vio- Panelo said the military and the public inquiry on the budg- lence over transparency.” curement Reform Act. lence the day before. the police were deployed to safe- et mess for the fifth time. The panel previously agreed Since December’s Question Two explosions and a grenade guard the public and the demo- “(There) are matters that to issue a show-cause order Hour, Diokno has been grilled blast took place in the provinces cratic process. have to be explained, particu- against Diokno for his con- for his alleged involvement in of Lanao del Norte and North On January 21, the fi rst part of larly by the Budget secretary. I secutive absences in the public the P75bn insertion to the De- Cotobato on Tuesday, with no the referendum to create the new therefore move that a subpoena inquiries of the House. partment of Public Works and injuries or damage reported, but autonomous region was held in be issued for him to appear at Around P370bn worth of Highways (DPWH) to favour electoral commission spokes- others areas in Mindanao. The the next hearing,” said Leyte budgetary savings for 2017 a private construction firm man James Jimenez said the MILF was confi dent that peo- 3rd District Rep. Vicente Veloso alone was uncovered under the owned by his in-laws. violence was not aff ecting yes- ple in North Cotobato would yesterday. DBM. About P198bn worth of gov- terday’s turnout. Some 640,000 favour their inclusion in the au- Appropriations Committee The committee also previ- ernment contracts were also voters are registered to vote in tonomous region but unsure of chairman carried Veloso’s mo- ously said that it would file reportedly procured by the the provinces for their inclusion its approval in Lanao del Norte, tion as deliberations resumed charges of technical malversa- DBM in 2018 for big-ticket in- in an autonomous region meant where the provincial governor on the anomalous “insertions” tion against the Budget sec- frastructure projects. Diokno: explanation sought to allow self-governance for the campaigned for its rejection.

Senate approves fl exible work arrangement for labour market

By Javier J Ismael market and in the nature of em- ticle 83 of the Labour Code by no worker deserves to have this quarter of 2018, Villanueva is more productive and deliver also found that at least 15% of Manila Times ployment.” making an exception to the statutory right. Some compa- confident that more jobs will be better results, citing a British workers in the 28 member- “We are now in the age of ro- normal eight hours of work a nies are already implement- suitable to alternative working study. states of the European Union botics, the so-called Fourth In- day, when the exigency of busi- ing non-traditional working arrangements. A research project funded by have the freedom to change the he Senate has approved on dustrial Revolution or Industry ness operations requires the arrangements like “flexitime,” the Economic Social Research beginning and ending times of second reading a bill that 4.0. Today, work need not be adoption of a mutually agreed four-day workweek, com- “We are now in the age of Council based in the Univer- their work, and approximately Twill give employers and confined in a certain place or voluntary work arrangement pressed workweek, working robotics, the so-called Fourth sity of Kent in England, titled 5% of all workers across Europe employees an option to adopt office. Work need not happen between the employer and the from home and shift flexibil- Industrial Revolution or “Work Autonomy, Work Flex- have complete independence fl exible working arrangements. at the same time. Work can be employee. ity, among others, to give their Industry 4.0. Today, work ibility and Work Life Balance,” over their work. Sen. Joel Villanueva, author done remotely,” said Villanue- Under the proposal, alterna- workers more independence need not be confi ned in a found that when managers al- The bill has benefits to em- and sponsor of Senate Bill 1571 va, chairman of the Senate tive working hours shall not ex- and control over their work. certain place or offi ce...” lowed workers more discre- ployers, such as lower expenses or the Alternative Working Ar- Committee on Labor, Employ- ceed 48 hours a week, and there Given the growth of the tion or control over their work, on recruitment and training rangement Bill, said the pro- ment and Human Resources will be no reduction in existing country’s services sector, Villanueva said workers who they delivered better perform- and huge savings resulting posed measure was an “answer Development. benefits. which accounted for 59.3% of have more independence and ance outcomes or better pro- from the reduction of traffic to the changes in the labour The bill seeks to amend Ar- Villanueva said every Filipi- the economy during the third control over their work are ductivity. The research project congestion, Villanueva said. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, February 7, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Trump-Kim summit in Vietnam, a chance for real progress

Their fi rst meeting was a blockbuster piece of diplomatic theatre criticised as light on substance. But with a second date stretching over two days, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un must make real progress on denuclearisation, analysts say. The historic handshakes and warm smiles of the Singapore summit in June last year heralded a sea change for two men who months earlier had been threatening each other with nuclear destruction. New draft law emphasises The bonhomie continued in the following weeks, with Trump musing that he and Kim had fallen “in love”, and frequently trailing a second date. Delivering his State of the Union on Tuesday, Trump said the time and place was set: Vietnam on February 27 and 28. Analysts welcomed the news, but cautioned the meeting freedom of media in Qatar needed to achieve something more concrete than the vaguely- worded agreement they produced last time. “What is critical is that President Trump’s next meeting with QNA Nations General Assembly. It was also necessary to amend a registration of journalists competent Kim Jong-un goes beyond the pomp and circumstance of the Doha In an exclusive interview with Qatar number of articles of the current two to accept the aff airs of journalists and fi rst to achieve real steps toward denuclearisation,” said Bruce News Agency (QNA), Director of the laws and add a number of activities that media professionals, she told QNA. Department of Publications and Art were not previously organised such as Provisions for publishing and Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation. atar has reaffi rmed its Works at the Ministry of Culture and fi lm production, artistic production electronic circulation have been added In Singapore, the inaugural summit between the leaders of keenness to support and Sports Abeer Shaheen al-Kuwari said and radio and television broadcasting, to the new draft in a number of its two countries that never signed a peace deal after their 1950-53 develop the freedom of that the new draft law stems from the she underlined, she said, adding that articles, al-Kuwari said. war was brief — from 9am to 2pm. Qmedia, based on the political State’s keenness on the interest of the new draft law incorporated the In addition, articles concerning A short pronouncement and social awareness of its people and society and on the regulation of work in Publications and Publishing Law No the establishment and management — little more than a page its recognition of the right of its citizens the relevant institutions. 8 of 1979 and the Decree Law No 16 of cinemas and theatres were also “North Korea and in which Kim pledged to know the full truth. She noted that the draft law includes of 1993 on regulating the practice of introduced, she underlined, noting The State has consolidated the provisions relating to the organisation advertising, public relations, artistic that the draft also has a chapter on the US shaped to work towards the citizen’s right to free and constructive of press, printing houses, the production and artistic works as the audiovisual broadcasting. “denuclearisation of the media in a manner that distinguishes circulation of publications, publishers, main legislation in the fi elds of the Regarding the existence of facilities up detailed Korean peninsula” — was the truth from rumours and false and the establishment and management of ministry’s work. for the establishment of cinemas and leapt on by critics as fabricated news through a draft law cinemas and theatres, the organisation On the main features of the new theatres in the new draft law, al-Kuwari strategies for impossibly vague. regulating publications, publishing, of works of art, fi lm production, draft law, Abeer Shaheen al-Kuwari said that the current law actually grants Pyongyang wants media activities and arts, which radio and television broadcasting, said that the draft law adopted some licences for such activities. progress in their relief from punishing was approved by the Cabinet last advertising, media services and public basic amendments concerning the She stressed that the department September. relations. press, which is considered one of the is responsible for implementing laws talks” UN sanctions and rejects The draft law was prepared in the One of the most important articles most important means of expression, and regulations related to publications demands for what it calls framework of modernising legislation of this draft law is the emphasis on in line with Article 19 of United Nations and publishing, studying and issuing its “unilateral” disarmament. and keeping abreast of the technical freedom of press and there are no prison Universal Declaration of Human Rights the necessary licences for press Washington insists that the measures must stay in place until and technological development in the sentences in publishing cases due to the and Article 19 International Covenant publications and issuing procedures North Korea gives up its nuclear arsenal. fi eld of publications, publishing, media freedom of expression, she added. on Civil and Political Rights. in accordance with the regulated Cheong Seong-jang, a researcher at the Sejong Institute, said activities and arts, and in support of Al-Kuwari pointed out that She noted that the importance of law, as well as issuing licences for the two days scheduled for the end of February will provide the freedom of opinion and expression the draft law was prepared by the freedom of expression lies in three main printing presses, publishing houses, and freedom of the press and media in Ministry of Culture and Sports as the aspects which are the respect for human bookshops, import, institutions of the leaders with “suffi cient time” to work out just what the Qatar. administrative authority competent dignity, free exchange of ideas and publications’ export and distribution, contentious term “denuclearisation” means. It also comes in response to the to implement its provisions, whether views and the fl ow of information. issuing business licences in Trump’s sudden announcement last March that he would United Nations Universal Declaration in relation to publications, publishing The new draft law, she said, affi rms press, issuing licences to practise sit down with Kim caught the international community — and of Human Rights in which Article and press or practising advertising the freedom of journalists in accordance journalism, issuing the necessary some in his administration — off guard. 19 provides that everyone shall be activities, public relations, artistic with the Qatari Constitution, United licences to start printing publications, Supporters said the meeting was only possible because Trump guaranteed the right to freedom of production, artistic works and Nations Universal Declaration of issuing licences for advertising was prepared to write his own rules in this way. opinion and expression. supervising actors operating in these Human Rights and the International activities, public relations and artistic His Highness the Amir Sheikh areas through regulation, supervision Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, production and licenses for selling But the run-up to Tuesday’s announcement has more closely Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has and granting of licences. adding that it also recognises the and distributing artistic works. followed a traditional playbook, and comes after a considerable announced Qatar’s accession to the As for the reasons for the new general obligations of the journalist It is also authorised to approve back-and-forth at more junior levels. International Covenant on Civil and legislation, she said that it came due to which represent in general the code of the issuance and distribution of As Trump was making his speech, his special envoy on North Political Rights (ICCPR) and the the great technical and technological ethics of the press work. publications and leafl ets of diplomatic Korea, Stephen Biegun, arrived in Pyongyang for negotiations. International Covenant on Economic, development that aff ected the printing The draft law adopted the and consular missions accredited to That trip follows meetings Biegun held with North Korean Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) industry, artistic works, press, other establishment of a committee in the the State, in co-ordination with the offi cials in Sweden last month, and comes after Kim Yong Chol — in the 73rd session of the United media activities and arts. Ministry of Culture and Sports for the relevant administrative units. the North Korean leader’s key aide — travelled to the White House. The overall impression, says Cheong, is that there has been a good deal more groundwork laid this time. “North Korea and the US didn’t waste the 260 days since the fi rst summit but formed new negotiating teams and shaped up detailed strategies for progress in their talks,” Cheong said. But others remain sceptical. Lack of doctors breeds deep resentment in rural France They note that North Korea has decades’ worth of form in stringing the international community along, appearing to off er ensured nearly free medical services Jean-Pierre Door, a local member to six hours,” Door said. concessions that it later backs away from. AFP Montagris, France since the end of the Second World War, of parliament and himself a heart Because of the lack of GPs, more than While there have been no nuclear tests in 17 months, not all patients get equal treatment. specialist. 60% of those attending emergency Pyongyang has not volunteered information on the size of its France counts some 220,000 doctors, As doctors retire, they have trouble services are there on routine matters atomic armoury. he small town of Montargis is twice as many as in 1980, according to fi nding younger practitioners to replace such as an ear infection or even to get a And although there have been no missile tests since the only 100km south of Paris, but offi cial fi gures. them. prescription renewed, he said. for many of its inhabitants it But many prefer to settle in larger This is partly the result of a 40-year Francois Camus, a young cancer Twitter peace broke out with Trump, international inspectors might as well be on the dark cities rather than rural or smaller urban government policy which allows for specialist who set up shop a few months have not been allowed into North Korea. T side of the moon when it comes to areas. nearly anyone to sign up for medical ago, confi ded his surprise at the lack of Sceptics include Trump’s own intelligence chief, Dan Coats, seeing a doctor or a dentist. In Paris, for example, there are studies, but then strict grading culls medical follow-up. who told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Kim appeared “Having to wait two years to see a about 798 doctors for every 100,000 80% of the hopefuls by the end of the “I have seen advanced cancers. in no mood to give up his weapons. heart specialist isn’t acceptable. We’ll inhabitants, but in the Montargis fi rst year. Because of the lack of GPs, the be dead before then,” Catherine Adrien- area the number drops to 76 general In the early 2000s, around 3,500 diagnosis has been to late,” he said. Camus said to wide applause as she and practitioners for 100,000 people — the doctors graduated every year, but only Gynaecological services are also other residents took part in a debate on lowest ratio in the nation. 8% chose general medicine. lacking. To Advertise what ails France, and more specifi cally Some 9,000 small towns, accounting “No one wants to live as doctors used “Some women haven’t been followed their community. for 8% of the total population, lack to live, working 20 hours a day, seven up for over 20 years and arrive with [email protected] The evening event last week was part general practitioners in what has days a week,” Door added. enormous tumours” Camus said. Display of the two months of debates President been termed a growing “medical Macron recently announced a reform Online forums also abound with Emmanuel Macron has called as part desertifi cation”. In Montargis, where of medical studies to help lift doctor similar complaints. 44466621 44418811 of his response to the “yellow vest” the “yellow vest” movement is well numbers, “but it takes 12 years to train a “If you’re looking for a dentist, good protests, sparked by anger over high supported, none of the GPs are doctor,” Door noted. luck! I’ve been looking for one for the Classified costs of living. currently taking on new patients, locals In Montargis, there is only one past fi ve years,” wrote a Montargis 44466609 44418811 Local communities have been say. hospital for 150,000 people living woman giving her name as Nelly. encouraged to hold town-hall meetings The region, which extends south to in the area that it is supposed to But for Door, coercion isn’t the Subscription to discuss how things could be the renowned castles of the Loire Valley, serve, and while 130 doctors work answer. improved, and in this 15,000-strong also has the lowest density of medical there, emergency services are still He thinks instead local authorities [email protected] town and many others, one of the hot specialists in the country, according to overwhelmed. should be encouraged to off er rent- topics is the lack of doctors. the national medical association. “Fifteen years ago, they looked free offi ces to doctors who can form Despite France’s much vaunted “Big towns have sucked everything after 15,000 patients a year, today it’s a practice, something that has been © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved national health service, which has away from rural territories,” said 60,000, and waiting times average fi ve tested for the past two years. Gulf Times Thursday, February 7, 2019 23 COMMENT Regulating speech in the new public square

By Madeleine de Cock Buning and the view that it is impossible to discern fact-checking applications developed Miguel Poiares Maduro fact from fi ction. When people do not by reliable media organisations. Florence know what they can believe, journalists’ Platforms must also clearly identify ability to police the powerful is news sources, especially paid political weakened. This trend will only worsen as or commercial content. Many of these oday, debates about public “deep-fake news” – bogus images and more immediate measures can and issues play out on social videos that appear real – becomes more should be implemented in advance of media, people receive their ubiquitous. the European Parliament election in Tnews via digital platforms, Clearly, the vulnerabilities of May 2019. and politicians pitch their policies the digital public sphere must be We also need new international using these same media. The Internet addressed. Some argue that the collaboration and better is our new public square. solution is to block questionable jurisdictional rules to ensure In the public square of old, websites or demote search results. that laws and regulations protect journalists and editors served as Facebook, for example, censors victims of fake and offensive news gatekeepers and acted as referees. duplicitous posts and has created without restricting free speech Human news aggregators set the an election “war room” to fight or undermining the rights of agenda and provided audiences with disinformation. Other global whistleblowers. In particular, these credible information and a diversity of platforms, like Google and Twitter, conflicts should not be legally settled views. We trusted them because of the have considered similar steps, and where only one of the parties has professionalism and integrity of their all three are being pressured to give effective access to justice. editorial processes. authorities access to the private data Finally, platform companies should In the new public sphere, this model of users who publish fake news or co-operate with schools, civil-society of journalism – and of journalism’s make defamatory statements. But groups, and news organisations role in sustaining democracy – has we believe that these steps, while to strengthen the public’s media become obsolete. Traditional media seemingly prudent, are deeply literacy. Data show that consumers no longer play a dominant gatekeeping misguided. in some markets still have diffi culty and agenda-setting role. Fake news can At the heart of any strong democracy distinguishing fake news from real. reach multiple jurisdictions at once. is a political consensus and arbitration Well-intentioned eff orts to scrub the But so can public and private that depends on the public’s ability new public square of disinformation measures that censor speech. The to debate and disagree. It is not will certainly backfi re; only consumers challenge is to redefi ne the parameters up to private entities – or public can marginalise fake news. We of civil discourse in the new public institutions, for that matter – to cannot allow private companies or sphere without restricting pluralism. censor this process. Rather, we should governments to decide what people Recent examples highlight the risk be working to ensure that citizens have should know. The history of democracy of throwing the baby out with the access to a broad array of opinions is clear on this point: pluralism, not bathwater. and ideas and understand what they private or public censorship, is the best Despite the ominous headlines, the are reading, viewing, or hearing. guarantor of truth. – Project Syndicate infl uence of fake news on political Freedom of expression includes the decision-making appears to be limited. right to receive and impart information Google, Facebook, and Twitter should stay out of the fact-checking business. z Madeleine de Cock Buning, According to the Reuters Institute without interference, which implies Professor of Digital Politics, Economy, for the Study of Journalism at the the corollary values of media freedom roadmap, and the recent European For example, professional media Report. But “Big Tech” can contribute and Societies in the School of University of Oxford, the reach of and media pluralism as enshrined Commission Action Plan provides a must do more to guarantee the veracity in other ways, such as by providing Transnational Governance at the such content is largely restricted to in the EU’s Charter of Fundamental good starting point. But more needs to of their coverage. Fact-checking client-based interfaces for curating European University Institute, was groups of believers seeking to reinforce Rights. Studies show that most people be done. technology can help, as long as it is legitimate news, ensuring diversity in Chair of the European Commission’s their own views and prejudices. But prefer reliable and pluralistic news There is no silver bullet to combat kept free of political and economic social-media timelines, and making High-Level Group on Fake News that does not make digital deception sources; policymakers’ job is to enable disinformation. Only multi- infl uence. Google, Facebook, and a high priority of reposting fact- and Online Disinformation. Miguel any less dangerous. Fake news feeds them to realise this preference. stakeholder approaches that spread Twitter should stay out of the fact- checked information. Platforms can Poiares Maduro, Director of the School – and is fed by – polarisation, and, A March 2018 report to the European responsibility across the news checking business. also improve transparency in how of Transnational Governance at the paradoxically, the more it is discussed, Commission by the High-Level ecosystem and take into account the Big Tech is starting to take they use data and code algorithms. European University Institute, was a the more disruptive it becomes. Group on Fake News and Online fundamental rights involved, can responsibility by committing to a Ideally, these algorithms should give member of the European Commission That is because fake news undermines Disinformation, which one of us provide adequate defences against Code of Practice based on the ten consumers more control over editorial High Level Group on Media Freedom trust in all forms of media and reinforces (de Cock Buning) chaired, off ered a disinformation. key principles from the High-Level preferences and integrate editing and and Pluralism.

Three-day forecast

TODAY Is Japan’s sun rising? Maximum Temperature : 230c Minimum Temperature : 160c

By Jim O’Neill longer seems as mistaken as it once risks; and it is not at all clear that a 2% For example, with so much FRIDAY Maximum Temperature : 230c Tokyo did, given the recent backlash against target is sensible to begin with. Even experience in managing the tricky globalisation in Europe and the United if it is, there are risks to pursuing such relationship with China, Japan Minimum Temperature : 170c States. a narrow objective at the expense of probably has some wisdom to off er SATURDAY hen I participated in Later this year, Shinzo Abe will other policy priorities. Many countries other developed countries. For Maximum Temperature : 240c the Chatham House/ become the longest-serving prime learned this the hard way back in the governments around the world, Minimum Temperature : 190c minister in Japan’s history. Having 1990s. the challenge is to strike a balance Daiwa Research Institute Fisherman's forecast conference on the taken offi ce after two decades of Nonetheless, the BoJ will maintain between reaping the benefi ts of W WARNING post-Brexit Japan-UK relationship in successive Japanese leaders playing its current approach at least until Abe Chinese growth and avoiding the leaves offi ce. The question is what attendant security, cyber, and fi nancial Inshore : Nil Tokyo last month, it was my fi rst visit musical chairs, he has delivered a Offshore : Nil back to Japan since my departure from remarkable period of stability. In happens after that. With the BoJ risks. WEATHER Goldman Sachs almost six years ago. particular, his signature economic having become such a distortionary I suspect that policymakers in Inshore : Misty at some places Prior to this trip, I had been visiting strategy (“Abenomics”) has produced presence in bond and equity markets, the United Kingdom will share in the early morning becomes moderate the country regularly since 1988, so a number of successes. In addition to its curtailment of QE could have Abe’s enthusiasm for stronger temperature daytime it was helpful to see things from a experiencing strong real per capita far-reaching implications across co-operation on data protection with some clouds. Cold slightly more detached perspective. GDP growth, Japan’s persistent the global economy. Unless the end and cyber security – an issue that by night By and large, Japan in 2019 feels defl ation seems to have come to an of QE coincided with a dramatic will feature prominently at the Offshore : Scattered clouds relatively stable when compared to end, and there have been marked improvement in the government’s G20 summit in Osaka this June. other advanced economies. A decade increases in women’s labor-force debt position, which is highly unlikely, They would also welcome Japan’s WIND Inshore : Northwesterly-North- from now, I would not be surprised if participation. bond prices fi nally would be in for a advocacy for a better rules-based easterly 04-12 KT it continues to show the highest real Then again, Japan is also nearing tough time. system of global governance. And, of (infl ation-adjusted) per capita GDP the 20th anniversary of its foray That could also be true for equities, course, they might have something Offshrore : Northwesterly 03-12/15 growth rate in the G7. into quantitative easing (QE). given that the BoJ has become one of to learn from Japan’s recent success KT True, Japan’s annual GDP growth The remarkable duration of this the top-ten largest shareholders in in striking trade deals across Asia Visibility : 4-8/3 KM has averaged just 1.1% so far this unconventional policy may owe many Japanese companies. On the and with the European Union. If the decade; but its declining population something to the fact no one can be other hand, if the BoJ ends its share UK is determined to go it alone on Offshore : 1-3/5 FT purchases, equity markets will suff er trade, strengthening its commercial and shrinking workforce is already sure what will happen if it stops. But Around the region translating into stronger per capita it also continues simply because, less distortion, and there could a more ties with Japan will be absolutely Weather performance. In fact, given the despite massive liquidity injections important role for individual stock necessary. Weather tomorrow Max/min country’s demographic challenges, it and measures to cajole companies analysis. No doubt, these variables – And who knows, if Abe’s overtures today Max/min Rain 19/12 might well be outperforming its long- into raising wages, infl ation remains along with a planned increase in the to Russian President Vladimir Putin Baghdad Cloudy 19/11 Cloudy 21/15 term growth potential. persistently below the 2% target that Japan’s consumption tax – will occupy pay off , he might even be able to Kuwait CityM Sunny 21/12 Sunny 23/17 Moreover, the Japanese government Abe instructed the Bank of Japan (BoJ) fi nancial analysts’ minds for some teach the rest of us something about Manama Sunny 22/16 Sunny 23/16 has begun to publicise its eff orts to pursue. time to come. Kremlinology. But on this issue, at Muscat Sunny 22/16 M Cloudy 14/07 to attract certain foreign-born Under these conditions, ending As for the broader topic of our least, we would do well to keep our Tehran M Sunny 12/05 workers, having fi nally recognised QE is simply not an option. Still, recent conference, I have realised that hopes in check. – Project Syndicate that immigration will be necessary in principle, one can question there are more areas for co-operation for future growth. That has been the wisdom of continuing with it between post-Brexit Britain and zJim O’Neill, a former chairman obvious for at least 20 years now. Yet, indefi nitely. It is obvious that the BoJ Japan than I had previously thought, of Goldman Sachs Asset Management in hindsight, Japan’s long refusal to cannot achieve 2% infl ation without owing to the oddities of each country’s and a former UK Treasury Minister, is adopt a pro-immigration strategy no introducing signifi cant monetary economic situation. Chair of Chatham House.

Live issues Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Teen e-cigarette use linked to eventual smoking Athens S Showers 12/06 M Cloudy 13/05 Beirut S Showers 18/14 S Showers 17/13 Bangkok M Sunny 33/26 Sunny 34/27 By Linda Carroll one,” said senior study author Andrew and their attitudes about smoking. or were regularly smoking cigarettes Berlin Cloudy 06/03 M Cloudy 08/06 Reuters Health Stokes of the Boston University School They were also asked questions by wave three, and among kids who Cairo Sunny 20/11 M Sunny 21/10 of Public Health. designed to illuminate how prone they fi rst tried other non-cigarette tobacco Cape Town Sunny 32/17 P Cloudy 24/18 Overall, smoking rates have dropped were toward risky behaviours and products, more than 21% had tried Colombo M Sunny 31/24 S T Storms 30/24 mong teens, using signifi cantly, Stokes said. “That’s sensation-seeking. or were smoking cigarettes. That Dhaka Sunny 29/18 M Cloudy 30/20 e-cigarettes may raise been a real success story for public Those who reported using a tobacco compares with just 4% of kids who Hong Kong P Cloudy 22/18 P Cloudy 21/18 the risk of progressing to health and in that context, it’s pretty product in the three years of surveys had not used any type of non-cigarette Istanbul Rain 08/06 Cloudy 08/05 Acigarette smoking, a new US alarming that a new product has come were asked which of 12 products tobacco products. Jakarta S T Storms 31/24 T Storm 30/24 study suggests. on the market potentially drawing a they had “tried fi rst,” including The new fi ndings are “pretty Karachi Sunny 20/13 Sunny 24/12 Overall, adolescents who used whole generation into using tobacco,” traditional cigarettes, cigars, pipes, consistent with what we’ve seen London P Cloudy 10/07 Rain 11/07 e-cigarettes before trying any other he added. hookahs, chewing tobacco, snus and before in this area in terms of Manila Sunny 32/22 P Cloudy 32/22 tobacco products were more than Stokes and his colleagues explored e-cigarettes. demonstrating that people who Moscow Cloudy -2/-6 M Cloudy -2/-6 four times as likely to be smoking the infl uence of e-cigarettes through Stokes and his colleagues focused experiment with electronic cigarettes, New Delhi T Storm 21/08 Fog 19/08 traditional cigarettes within a couple the Population Assessment of Tobacco on the 6,123 kids who said in the even if they swear at baseline that they New York Cloudy 09/06 P Cloudy 13/-3 of years compared to those who had and Health Study (PATH), a nationally- fi rst-wave survey that they had never would never smoke regular cigarettes, Paris S Showers 11/06 Cloudy 10/07 never tried any type of vaping device representative sample of kids aged 12 to used any tobacco product. By the third are at much more risk of transitioning Sao Paulo S T Storms 27/18 I T Storms 28/18 or non-cigarette tobacco products, the 15 who completed annual questionnaires survey, 6.1% of these kids reported to regular cigarettes,” said Dr Brian Seoul P Cloudy 03/-12 P Cloudy -1/-9 study team reports in JAMA Network between 2013 and 2016. smoking or having tried traditional Primack, director of the Centre for Singapore S Showers 32/25 S T Storms 33/26 Open. Along with questions about vaping cigarettes. Research on Media, Technology and Sydney Sunny 26/21 M Cloudy 28/21 “E-cigarettes may be a pathway and smoking, the surveys asked about Among kids who had fi rst tried Health at the University of Pittsburgh Tokyo Clear 16/03 Clear 09/05 to cigarette smoking, and a sizeable kids’ socioeconomic backgrounds e-cigarettes, just over 20% had tried in Pennsylvania. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, February 7, 2019 QATAR

Mid-season statistics. Costa Mediterrenea at Doha Port.

Continued growth for cruise tourism sector In the first three months of the 2018/19 cruise season, Qatar witnessed a 129% and 136% increase in the number of cruise Costa Mediterranea makes ships and visitors, respectively, compared to the same period last year. December 2018 wit- nessed the highest arrivals this season with nine ships carrying a combined total of 29,000 visitors, representing a 150% in- its maiden voyage to Qatar crease on the same period last year. The top three cruise visitor „ Costa Cruises to be first cruise line source markets have so far been Mexico, Spain and Brazil, to make Doha its turnaround port followed by Germany, Italy, the next year UK, US, Russia, Switzerland and Austria. Qatar’s cruise industry „ In 2019/20 cruise season, flagship is set for further growth in the coming years, with projections Costa Diadema is scheduled to make showing the arrival of 200,000 16 calls to Doha Port passengers by 2020. Thanks to an expansion that now allows osta Mediterranea’s arriv- Satisfaction levels rise Doha Port to welcome mega al at Doha Port yesterday ships, the port is expected to Cmarked the Italian cruise In a bid to further measure and receive more than one mega ship’s maiden voyage to Qatar, enhance the cruise tourism ship at the same time. bringing 3,700 passengers and visitor experience, QNTC has crew members to the country’s begun taking visitor satisfaction shores. surveys since last season. Opin- management companies, allow- Upon her arrival, the mega ship ion polls and surveys carried ing passengers to leave the port was welcomed by the Minister of out by QNTC show that cruise swiftly and begin enjoying cu- Transport and Communications visitors’ overall satisfaction is at rated experiences around Doha, HE Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, 94%, up from 92% in the same according to a press statement. Qatar National Tourism Council period last year. In addition, Costa Cruises and its sister- (QNTC) secretary-general HE Ak- 95% of visitors said they would company AIDA Cruises were bar al-Baker, Italian ambassador recommend Qatar as a destina- the fi rst cruise companies in the Pasquale Salzano and Mwani Qatar tion to family and friends. world to start regular cruises in CEO Captain Abdulla al-Khanji. the Arabian Gulf back in 2006. “We are pleased to see Doha “This makes Costa an ideal part- Port playing a signifi cant role in the port, enhancing its ability to ner for QNTC, which has a repre- enhancing Qatar’s position as accommodate the world’s larg- sentative offi ce in Milan working an attractive tourist destination est cruise ships.” HE the Min- to position Qatar with key travel through accommodating inter- ister stressed the role played by and tourism agencies as an at- national cruise ships,” HE the Mwani Qatar, QNTC and other tractive destination for Italian Minister said. stakeholders in providing world- Dignitaries and off icials along with the ship’s captain. travellers,” the statement adds. “This, in turn, energises vari- class services, further position- Italians were among the top ous ancillary sectors such as hos- ing Doha as a turnaround port for 2019/20 programme; it will then cruise line being the fi rst to make seeing Qatar become an increas- tar, and said: “We are proud that three nationalities to visit the pitality, food and beverage, retail future cruise seasons. become the fi rst cruise line to Doha Port a turnaround port next ingly frequent destination on thanks to the new partnership country on board cruise ships and other services, making cruise “I would like to commend make Doha its turnaround port. year,” HE al-Baker said. “Our Costa Cruises’ itineraries.” between Qatar National Tour- in the 2017/18 season. “Costa shipping an important sector for QNTC, Mwani Qatar and all The MoU also paves the way for collaboration with Costa Cruises On his part, ambassador Sal- ism Council and Costa Cruises, Cruises is a pioneering company, diversifying the country’s econ- stakeholders for their collabora- co-operation to build attrac- is helping expedite the devel- zano said: “I am very proud to more international tourists will constantly innovating its product omy in line with Qatar National tion in developing Qatar’s cruise tive packages and special serv- opment of the cruise industry board Costa Mediterranea on its travel to Qatar in Italian style and to deliver guests an unforgettable Vision 2030 and the guidance of tourism,” he concluded. ices dedicated to Costa Cruises in Qatar and Costa Mediterra- maiden voyage to Qatar. The top- comfort, bringing our countries cruise experience. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Costa Mediterrenea’s arrival guests, in addition to co-mar- nea’s arrival marks another step level technology and customer closer.” “Therefore, we are glad to Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.” follows the signing of a memo- keting eff orts through joint com- towards our target of 200,000 service of this mega cruise ship The passengers’ smooth dock- start operating in an interest- He added, “The development randum of understanding (MoU) munication and familiarisation cruise visitors by 2020.” – similar to others in the Costa ing and disembarkation is made ing destination such as Qatar, of Doha Port is part of our ongo- between QNTC and Costa Cruis- trips. He added, “As we continue to fl eet — are designed to meet the possible through close co-ordi- which has a big potential for the ing eff orts to make Doha a unique es in September 2018. According “We are delighted to welcome work with our local partners in best of Italian innovation, life- nation between QNTC, Mwani cruise industry and allows fur- and attractive tourist destination to the agreement, Costa Cruises’ Costa Cruises – as both cruise the country to provide memora- style and engaging hospitality.” Qatar, the Ministry of Interior, ther strengthening of the entire in the region. Dredging and drill- fl agship Costa Diadema will ar- ship and partner – to Qatar’s ble experiences to each and every He also highlighted the grow- General Authority of Customs, region,” Costa Cruises president ing has recently begun to deepen rive in Qatar 16 times during its shores and look forward to the cruise visitor, we look forward to ing ties between Italy and Qa- Mowasalat and destination Neil Palomba said. WCM-Q workshop boosts rigour in medical research

ealthcare professionals physicians, nurses, pharmacists, presenters. “By following the from across Qatar con- researchers, educators and other established methodology for Hvened at Weill Cornell healthcare professionals partic- critically synthesising existing Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) for a ipated in the workshop, which studies and reporting their fi nd- workshop that explained how to was developed and implemented ings, participants will be able optimise the rigour and reliabil- by WCM-Q’s Institute for Pop- pursue their own systematic re- ity of medical research. ulation Health (IPH). view projects. The workshop focused on a Dr Karima Chaabna, popula- “This will enable them to branch of academic research tion health and communication make valuable contributions to called systematic review, where- specialist at IPH said, “Because the ongoing process of continual by investigators synthesise and it synthesises and critically improvement in healthcare and analyse large quantities of exist- analyses large amounts of re- population health, for the bene- ing research on a particular sub- search, systematic review actu- fi t of patients and communities,” ject in one paper. ally gives us a better evidence noted Dr Cheema. When performed correctly, base for empirically grounded The workshop, which was systematic reviews in the medi- healthcare practice rather than fully subscribed, will be of- cal fi eld provide researchers, viewing individual studies does. fered again in September. “This healthcare practitioners and There is one important ca- workshop has been designed to policymakers with useful re- veat, however, which is that in equip healthcare profession- sources to quickly and effi ciently order for a systematic review to als in Qatar with the skills and gain an accurate understanding be useful it must be conducted The WCM-Q systematic review workshop drew participants from the fields of healthcare, research and education. knowledge necessary to con- of a particular healthcare issue. with absolute rigour and trans- duct high-quality systematic They can then identify av- parency.” ma, IPH director and assistant and interactive activities dem- the quality of studies and iden- entation, while projects co- reviews that meet the very high enues for further research or Participants at the workshop professor of healthcare policy onstrated how to write a proto- tify risks of bias, and how to ordinator Aida Tariq Nasir and standards of rigour demand- implement new healthcare fi rst took part in a pre-assess- and research, and Dr Chaabna col for a systematic review, how synthesise and report a system- projects specialist Sonia Chaa- ed of academic research,” Dr practices or policies to improve ment survey to identify their gave an introductory presenta- to search and screen literature, atic review. bane, along with the rest of the Ravinder Mamtani, professor of patient outcomes based on the current knowledge of systematic tion of the subject. how to systematically collect IPH projects specialist Dr IPH team, facilitated the work- healthcare policy and research available evidence. In total, 44 review, before Dr Sohaila Chee- Subsequent presentations and extract data, how to assess Amit Abraham also gave a pres- shops in conjunction with the at WCM-Q, added.