BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Radwanska gets tough draw, may face INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-12, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 Ezdan Holding is on REGION 13 BUSINESS 1-5, 17–20 Wozniacki in track for fi rst Qatar realty 20,223.00 10,629.13 53.86 ARAB WORLD 13 CLASSIFIED 6 - 17 +87.00 -24.70 +0.80 INTERNATIONAL 14–25 SPORTS 1 – 12 project in Addis Ababa +0.43% -0.23% +1.62% second round Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10362 February 12, 2017 Jumada I 15, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar hands over more residential units to Gazans

QNA as benefi ciaries of the second phase of Gaza Hamad City. In brief Speaking on the occasion, ambas- sador al-Emadi hailed the eff orts of he Qatari Committee for the HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- Reconstruction of Gaza in col- mad al-Thani and HH the Father Emir Tlaboration with the Palestinian Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in Ministry of Public Works and Housing support of the Gaza Strip and the im- yesterday held a ceremony to hand over plementation of dozens of vital service apartments built as part of the second and housing projects including the HH ARAB WORLD | Confl ict phase of the residential city of HH Sheikh Hamad City. Syria rebels, govt Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in He also praised Palestinian President Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister of invited to talks The ceremony was attended by am- the government of national reconcilia- Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry bassador Mohamed al-Emadi, chair- tion Dr Rami Hamdallah, Haniyeh, and announced yesterday that Syrian man of the Qatari Committee for the al-Hasayneh for their eff orts to facili- government off icials and rebels Reconstruction of Gaza, former Pal- tate the implementation of the Qatari are being invited to peace talks estinian prime minister Dr Ismail projects in Gaza. to be held next week in its capital Haniyeh, Palestinian Minister of Pub- Al-Emadi also congratulated the Astana. “It is planned to hold the lic Works and Housing Dr Mufi d al- Palestinian families benefi ting from latest high-level meeting within the Hasayneh, Deputy Chairman of the the second phase of Hamad City in Astana process on resolving the Off icials and beneficiaries attend a function during which apartments built as part of the second phase of the residential city of Qatari Committee Khaled al-Hardan, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, which in- situation in Syria on February 15 and HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, were handed over. several Palestinian ministers, as well cludes 1,264 residential units. 16,” the ministry said in a statement. It added that those invited include “the Syrian government” and “representatives of the Syrian armed opposition,” as well as UN envoy Staff an de Mistura and US observers. The talks are being brokered by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s allies Russia and Iran and Metro rail to be ‘world-class’ rebel backer Turkey, which are all key players in the conflict. By Peter Alagos liminary design and tender design, design can move passengers and goods effi - tar,” Ahlgrimm said. Aside from railway, said DB E&C is proud to participate in the Business Reporter review, and technical support to Qatar Rail ciently, safely and economically. Ahlgrimm noted that DB E&C plays a role upcoming National Sport Day. He said QATAR | Celebrations “in all fi elds of railways engineering.” “Qatar is very open for ideas on inno- in Qatar’s community and contributes in the company will be the main sponsor of “Our understanding of our role in this vation so, I believe it is our responsibility the development of Qatar’s youth through the German Industry and Commerce ‘4th ‘NSD refl ects interest atar’s fl agship railway project is project was to develop a world-class to support Qatar in having, establishing various activities and programmes. Annual Football Tournament’ to be held in values of sport’ equipped with world-class tech- metro for Qatar. This is in accordance and running an excellent metro system,” “We have very good partnerships with on February 14 at the Al Sadd Sports Club. HE Minister of Culture and Sports Qnology and tailor-made trans- with the clients’ requirements and based he stressed. public and private sector leaders in Qa- “We are very proud to participate in Na- Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser port solutions that enables Qatar Rail to on our huge experience of planning and Ahlgrimm also said a “very short” tar such as Qatar University. Aside from tional Sport Day festivities, especially be- al-Ali said Qatar has established a operate high standard systems that are delivering international projects. Our planning to operation timeframe is sports events, we have a programme that cause football is a very important sport in unique date for community sport safe, reliable, and cost-effi cient, an offi - focus was to plan a safe, sustainable, and among the salient features that sets the introduces and attracts young people to both Germany and Qatar. What is impor- by making the National Sport Day cial of a German fi rm has said. high-quality metro system at an eco- project apart from other metro and high- rail because rail is a completely new in- tant for us is that we bring people together (NSD) as the country seeks to give Michael Ahlgrimm, DB Engineering nomically-reasonable price,” Ahlgrimm speed railway projects around the world. dustry in Qatar. because sports encompasses all borders, it priority to the health of the people and Consulting executive director – Qatar, told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview. “Starting from zero means to imple- “You have to attract young people, not creates communities, and it builds fami- and to promote community values. said his company is involved in the project From project conception and prelimi- ment and complete a new transport only to use the system, but to work for Qa- lies. “DB, in general, is very interested to The minister said in a statement the since 2008 to support Qatar Rail’s thrust nary design, Ahlgrimm said the company system. Working together with a high tar Rail or for the operator later on. By go- support sports events worldwide with our NSD, which Qatar will observe on to develop attractive, effi cient and reliable focused on combining years of experi- professional client from the beginning, ing to the university, you can showcase the services and know-how…and it is a good Tuesday, is keenly awaited awaited public transport system in the country. ence in tailor-made transport systems DB E&C is always committed to the cli- advantages, education, and career paths in chance for DB E&C in Qatar to show that by all members of the society – He said DB E&C’s main tasks include with the requirements of “an excellent ent and its targets, including all eff orts to diff erent industries,” Ahlgrimm said. we are part of the community here and youngsters, old people, men and alignment, stakeholder interaction, pre- metro system” to ensure that the project achieve the best railways systems for Qa- Citing sports as an example, Ahlgrimm that is very important for us,” he said. women. The second Tuesday of February each year has become a chance to express the extent of community involvement in the sports, the minister noted. AMERICA | Judiciary Thundershowers Trump faces uphill legal battle over ban After his travel ban suff ered two set to lash Qatar defeats in the US court system, President Donald Trump has vowed to continue his judicial fight – but ain is expected to intensify from of 35 knots at times, resulting in blow- with the controversial measure this evening, becoming thun- ing dust, low visibility and high waves now on shaky ground, it is likely Rdery at times and accompanied in off shore areas. to be an uphill battle. Trump’s by strong winds, the Qatar Met depart- In view of the expected conditions, executive order – issued on January ment said yesterday. the weather offi ce has advised people 27 with no prior warning – suff ered The unstable weather likely to pre- to be cautious and avoid going into the two blows over the course of two vail until next weekend, the weather sea during this period. It has also urged weeks in western US courts. Since offi ce added. them to follow the latest weather up- then the president has proff ered Strong winds and high seas are also dates and warnings through the offi cial a variety of solutions, from taking expected in off shore areas today along social media accounts of the depart- the matter to the Supreme Court with thundershowers. ment. to simply writing a new executive In a report yesterday, the Met depart- Light, scattered rain was reported order. The president’s decree, which ment said the country was still under from diff erent areas, including Doha, temporarily barred nationals from the infl uence of a state of atmospheric yesterday. seven mainly Muslim countries and instability “due to an upper-level low- Besides thundershowers and strong refugees, was halted nationwide pressure system coinciding with an ex- winds, today’s detailed forecast for by a federal judge in Seattle on tension of the Sudan heat low-pressure inshore areas also says poor visibility February 3 and last Thursday a system” over the region. This is expect- – 2km or lower – is expected in some three-judge panel in San Francisco ed to continue until February 18. places in the early hours of the day due declined to reinstate the ban. Meanwhile, it will continue to be to misty to foggy conditions. The wind Page 15 cloudy and the conditions are expected speed will be 8-18 knots, reaching a to intensify from today and become high of 26 knots in some places at times EUROPE | Opposition favourable for moderate to heavy rain during the thundery rain. extending gradually over most parts of The minimum temperature is expect- Protest across Germany the country and becoming thundery ed to be 15C in Abu Samra, Al Khor and against deportations at time over some regions, the Met de- Dukhan today, while in Doha it will be Thousands of demonstrators partment has said. 18C. The maximum will hover around in several German cities called Winds during this period will be the 22-23C levels in the country. yesterday for a halt to deportations mostly southeasterly to northeasterly Yesterday, a minimum temperature to Afghanistan, calling it an in nature, becoming strong especially of 13C was recorded in Ghuwairiya, fol- unsafe country and saying that today and tomorrow. This, in turn, will lowed by 14C in Al Khor, Dukhan and Germany should not be forcing lead to blowing dust and low visibility Shehaimiya. In and around the capital, people to return there. In the over some areas. the minimum temperature was 16C in western city of Dusseldorf alone, The Met department said the ex- the Qatar University area, 17C in the 2,000 demonstrators took to pected thundery rain may be accompa- Hamad International Airport area and the streets, and police put the nied by strong winds reaching a speed 18C in the Doha airport area. Page 4 figures in northern Hamburg at around 1,500. “The people who are forced to return cannot live their lives in safety there. A life in dignity is inconceivable under these conditions,” demonstration organisers in Hamburg said of the situation in Afghanistan. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Thursday that the federal and state governments had agreed to significantly speed up the deportation of rejected asylum Light rain was reported from diff erent areas of Qatar yesterday. applicants. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Gulf Times 2 Sunday, February 12 , 2017 QATAR New transit visa Culture Minister visits Janadriya festival in Riyadh scheme a boon for hospitality sector

By Joey Aguilar tween 3.6% and 3.8% from 2016 Staff Reporter to 2018, according to the COO. He sees major attractions in Qatar, including Lusail City, atar’s hospitality sector Msheireb Downtown and Qatar stands to benefi t from Entertainment City, to become Qthe newly-implemented popular leisure destinations in transit visa scheme, which is an the coming years. initiative designed to further “In terms of travel trends, boost the country’s tourism, Ro- intra-regional travellers from tana COO Guy Hutchinson has the GCC – especially Saudi said. Arabia – remain the dominant “If we can only pull around source market for Rotana and 5% of the passengers who tran- the industry as a whole,” the sit Doha to spend one or two COO said. Qatar’s Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali visited the Qatari pavilion at Janadriya 31 Festival, which nights in Doha, it is a huge Rotana continues to see a very is being held in Riyadh under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia. number. This is really a very strong pattern of Saudi travel- He met the Qatari and GCC writers who participated in the event. critical change for us and the lers outbound despite “going other piece is marketing,” he through its own transition” – a told reporters on the sidelines reason for the company to open of the recent Rotana GCC road- Hutchinson: “If we can two more hotels in Doha in the show in Doha. only pull around 5% of the next two years. Hutchinson stressed that passengers who transit Rotana opened two hotels in focusing on ‘destination mar- Doha to spend one or two Saudi Arabia last year, and plans Ministry of Economy launches online keting’ and promoting Qatar’s nights in Doha, it is a huge to open four more: two in Riya- state-of-the-art tourism in- number. This is really a dh, one in Jeddah, and one in Al frastructure will attract more very critical change for Khobar. foreign visitors from the GCC us and the other piece is Due to some austerity meas- service to issue IPR certifi cates and other countries in the marketing” ures, Hutchinson said the Saudi world. market is now looking for des- The new transit visa structure enal opportunity for us,” he tinations closer to home such as he Ministry of Economy should log on to the system, as lectures, sermons, poems be, such as laws, regulations, allows passengers with a mini- added. Bahrain and Doha – “areas that and Commerce (MEC) submit an application including and chants; theatrical works international agreements, court mum transit time of fi ve hours at Hutchinson also expressed are more regional and we expect Thas launched an online details like the data of the sub- and musical plays; musical verdicts, judicial decisions, Hamad International Airport to confi dence that a government to benefi t from that.” service to issue intellectual ject to be protected and attach compositions, whether accom- daily news and methods of work stay in Qatar for up to 96 hours plan to give ‘visa-on-arrival’ to “There are a lot of ancillary property rights (IPR) certifi - the mandatory documents. panied with words or not, danc- and operation. without applying for an entry citizens of China, Russia and In- things which come around, giv- cates. As soon as the application is es and pantomime; audiovisual The MEC pointed out that visa ahead of time. dia will open new opportunities ing Qatar a lot of visibility and Aimed at protecting intel- approved the user will be noti- production; photos and similar issuing a protection certifi cate “Anytime you make it easier for the hospitality sector, espe- momentum,” he pointed out. lectual property rights, the new fi ed. After the fees are paid, the subjects; applied arts works, has many advantages like safe- through visa regulation to visit cially Rotana. “For us, this is really a destination system allows the applicants to certifi cate will be sent through whether handicrafts or manu- guarding the owner’s fi nancial a destination, anytime you do He also said that a fl ourishing with world class infrastructure, submit requests for registration registered mail. According to factured; drawings, paintings, and ethical rights, which can be visa on arrival, and anytime you tourism and hospitality indus- with ambition, with determina- online, which will be reviewed MEC, the fees are set as follows: calligraphy, architectural de- transferred to the legal inheri- make it easy for transit visa, it is try can contribute substantially tion, and with a drive to develop electronically. Accordingly, QR50 for students, QR100 for in- signs, sculpture, topographical tors throughout the validity of a very big stimulus to tourism,” towards the country’s drive to even further. applicants can visit https:// dividuals, QR400 for educational designs and models and simi- the protection period. the COO noted. diversify away from the oil econ- “When you see this fac- services.mec.gov.qa and fi ll in institutes or entities, and QR500 lar works; and fi nally computer Earlier, the MEC organised “Everywhere we have seen omy. tors come together, this gives the necessary information, at- for corporations and companies. software and programmes. a workshop for intellectual that and we’ve seen a posi- The service sector is expected an organisation like us a lot tach the requested documents The subjects included in the The works, which are not property agents and private of- tive impact. The biggest is- to be the largest contributor of confidence in the future and pay the fees for availing the protection of intellectual prop- under this protection, include fi ces dealing with the matter to sue really is this transit visa to the national gross domestic of the destination,” the COO service. erty rights are books and similar offi cial documents, whatever introduce them to the new sys- change, it is a very phenom- product, which is forecast be- added. To start the process, the user works; verbal production such their original language might tem.

Gulf Times 4 Sunday, February 12, 2017 QATAR

Civic Ministry emergency numbers for removal of rainwater Emir sends National Day With the weather off ice predicting rainfall Al Rayyan Municipality – 30526816, Qatar attends speakers’ conference in the country, the Ministry of Municipality 30526818, 44266112 and 44264791; Al greetings to Rouhani and Environment (MME) yesterday issued, Wakrah Municipality – 55482183, 44264158 on Twitter, a list of emergency numbers and 44264157; Umm Salal Municipality he Second Confer- ed bin Mubarak al-Khulaifi cal initiative for addressing for all municipalities in Qatar to remove – 55552775 and 44264455; Al Khor and ence of Speakers of is heading Qatar’s delega- the internal problems, and H the Emir Sheikh ter and Interior Minister rainwater. Following are some of the Al Thakhira Municipality – 55868313 and Tthe Arab Parliaments tion to the conference. rejecting foreign interfer- Tamim bin Hamad Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser numbers that people can call whenever 44265050; Al Daayen Municipality – kicked off yesterday at the The conference will dis- ence in Arab aff airs. Topics Hal-Thani, HH the bin Khalifa al-Thani have required: Doha Municipality – 50332521, 55691712 and 44729643; and Al Shamal Arab League General Secre- cuss several topics, includ- on the agenda also include Deputy Emir Sheikh Ab- sent National Day greetings 55396342, 55333253, 55906926, 44264888, Municipality – 55077550, 55400888, tariat headquarters in Cairo. ing the Palestinian issue, the position towards the dullah bin Hamad al-Thani to Iranian President Hassan 44264882, 44348867 and 44348869; 44264561 and 44264562. HE the Speaker of the the Arab-Israeli confl ict, Justice Against Sponsors of and HE the Prime Minis- Rouhani. Advisory Council Moham- Arab solidarity, Arab politi- Terrorism Act.

Fraudsters try to fool residents with fake calls

wo recent cases of the local mobile operator. At fraudsters trying to this stage, the trickster cut Tsnare Qatar residents off the call. by telling them they have Though it was a fake call, won prizes in a contest held the recipient was wondering by a mobile operator have how the caller could address come to light. him by his real name. Yesterday, a long-time Doha resident said he re- Local telecom ceived one such call on his operators Ooredoo mobile phone through Viber and Vodafone have from a person who asked him repeatedly cautioned if was aware that he “had customers about such won QR200,000 cash award scamsters “ in a contest conducted by a local mobile operator. The Talking to Gulf Times, caller said he was chosen as the Doha resident said the a winner randomly by the caller’s identity was shown service provider. as ‘Ooredoo QTell’ and the To make the call look like wrong spelling of the sec- genuine, the fraudster also ond word was enough for told him that his name was re- him to conclude that it was peatedly being shown on a TV a fake call. Later the call was channel and the call was now traced to the number 92- being made as the “lucky win- 3078877375. ner” had not responded to an- Another resident said he nouncements until then. also received a similar call However, it took no time recently. for the alert recipient to re- Local telecom operators alise that the caller was a Ooredoo and Vodafone have fraudster and he asked for his repeatedly cautioned cus- name and other details. He tomers about such scam- also told him that he required sters, who might ask their such information as he want- potential victims to oblige ed to verify it with the cus- with a slew of things to claim tomer service department of the “ prize money” .

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, February 12, 2017 QATAR

QTA takes part in Abu Dhabi trade fair

Qatar Tourism Authority members representing global business destination. (QTA) took part in the hosting conferences, A statement of QTA quoted Trade Fair for Events and exhibitions and hospitality Ahmed al-Obaidly, Director HBKU, The Hague Institute Incentive Travel (IBTM industry partners in Qatar, of Exhibitions, as saying Arabia) in Abu Dhabi as held a number of meetings that the authentic tourism part of its ongoing eff orts with the organisers of experiences off ered by to promote Qatar as a business events in the Qatar as well as the high- global tourist destination. international exhibition tech capacity of centres for Global Justice sign MoU The Qatari delegation, aimed at strengthening make it an ideal business which includes eight the country’s position as a and tourist destination. amad Bin Kha- lifa University H (HBKU) and The Hague Institute for Glo- bal Justice have signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for mutual co-operation. The MoU promotes co- operation in the exchange of knowledge, executive programmes, student opportunities, and the expansion of shared re- search programmes, with the goal of contributing towards peace, security, and justice. The agreement was signed by HBKU president, Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, and HBKU and the The Hague Institute off icials at the MoU signing ceremony. Dr David Connolly, head of research, The Hague Insti- It also opens the prospect students and policy- tute. of internships in research makers globally with the and communication, fel- aim of informing policy “At HBKU, we value lowships on priority topics, recommendations and the significance in exchange of scholars, spe- improving best practice. building synergies cialised training, and capac- HBKU shares this impor- with international ity building. tant pillar of our mission partners, to help Dr Hasnah noted, “At and we are eager to part- inspire and benefit HBKU, we value the sig- ner on teaching and re- the Qatari community nificance in building syn- search activities in Qatar towards discovering ergies with international and the Middle East – a innovative solutions partners, to help inspire region at the forefront of that respond to and benefit the Qatari innovation, despite sig- regional and global community towards dis- nificant political transi- challenges’’ covering innovative so- tions and volatility.” lutions that respond to The HBKU president It establishes a frame- regional and global chal- added, “The MoU will al- work for the two parties lenges. Our collaboration low both institutions to co- to develop international with The Hague Institute operate in educational and partnerships that enable for Global Justice will research areas. Our students collaboration on academic explore different oppor- and faculty will benefi t from programmes, research and tunities in education by the expertise of The Hague professional development utilising the institute’s Institute in the area of in- across a range of fi elds that interdisciplinary policy- ternational law and human include confl ict prevention, relevant research and ex- rights.” rule of law, and global gov- perts.” He said each party of ernance. Dr Connolly said, the MoU will nominate Specifi c areas may in- “Chief among our pri- two members for a com- clude climate adaptation, orities at The Hague mittee to design a clear human security, peace Institute is sharing and long-term plan to building, and international knowledge among prac- implement activities of law. titioners, academics, mutual interest.

Gulf Times 8 Sunday, February 12, 2017 QATAR

11% increase in building permits in January Rayyan topped the and Al Shamal (11 – 2%). such as workshops and municipalities in the country In terms of the type of factories (25% – 13 permits), as it issued the maximum permits issued those for new mosques (19% – 10 permits), number of building permits buildings (residential and government buildings (15% – last month, data released by non-residential) constitute 8 permits). Alfardan Premier Motors the Ministry of Development 57% (366 permits) of the The total number of building Planning and Statistics show. total building permits issued permits issued in Qatar As many as 187 building permits during in January 2017. last month showed an (29% of the total issued in Under the new residential 11% increase compared to Qatar) were issued by Rayyan buildings permits category, December, 2016. Municipality in January, MDPS villas’ permits topped the The increase was seen in the honoured with awards said yesterday. list, accounting for 48% (152 following municipalities – Doha Municipality came permits) of all new residential Wakrah (up 44%), Al Shamal lfardan Premier Mo- Year 2016 awards. second with 135 permits (21%), buildings permits, followed by (22%) and Al Da’ayen (20%). tors Co, the exclu- Driving the region’s Serv- followed by Al Wakrah (127 housing loan-based dwellings On the other hand, the Asive retailer of Jag- ice Adviser award category permits – 20%) and Al Da’ayen (42% – 132 permits) and following municipalities show uar Land Rover in Qatar, forward for the fi rst time, (76 permits – 12%). apartments ( 7% – 22 permits). a reduction in the number was recently recognised Mahmoud El Bayroutieh The building permits issued In the non-residential of building permits issued for its “fi rst-class” cus- and Ibrahim Albaragheeti by other municipalities last category, commercial – Umm Slal (down 24%) tomer service at the 2016 from the Alfardan Premier month are as follows – Umm buildings topped with and Rayyan (6%). The other Jaguar Land Rover Techni- Motors team were placed Slal (45 – 7%), Al Sheehaniya 40% (21 permits), followed municipalities didn’t witness a cian of the Year and Service among the nine fi nalists, (33 – 5%), Al Khor (24 – 4%), by industrial buildings notable change, MDPS said. Adviser of the Year awards. who emerged from more The region’s Land Rover than 90 competition ap- Retailer of the Year 2016 ac- plicants. El Bayroutieh and colade was presented to Al- Albaragheeti were com- fardan Premier Motors as a mended for their commit- “reward for its outstanding ment to the customer-fi rst market success over the last principles Jaguar Land Rov- year”, the company said in a er promises both regionally statement. and globally. “Delivering excellence on Put to the test through all fronts for the Land Rover a series of theoretical and brand in Qatar, Alfardan practical evaluations, both Premier Motors carries the sets of participants applied brand’s promise and values their best eff orts to demon- Alfardan Premier Motors won the Land Rover Retailer and Technician of the Year 2016 accolades. at the core of its work,” the strate the expertise Jaguar statement noted. Land Rover both expects Scooping up the second and prides itself on. award of the night, Alaa Rob Preston, director, Chamas from the Alfardan customer service at Jaguar Premier Motors team was Land Rover Mena, said: “Al- named the region’s Land fardan Premier Motors con- Rover Technician of the tinues to raise the bench- Year 2016. mark in the region with its As part of the 12 Jaguar hard work and dedication to Land Rover fi nalists who customers in Qatar, which emerged from the Techni- helps drive our company’s cian of the Year semi-fi nal business forward every day rounds, Chamas competed in the region.” in the fi nal regional leg of the Andrew Wheeler, after- programme at the Dubai Au- sales manager for Alfardan todrome (UAE) in January. Premier Motors, noted: “We Chamas will now go on pride ourselves on the tech- to attend the Global Jag- nical and non-technical uar Land Rover Technician skill sets that our talented of the Year fi nals, which team at Alfardan Premier will be held in the UK in Motors strives to show- November. case on a daily basis and are Richard Jabilis from grateful to be able to play Alfardan Premier Mo- a part in the success and tors, meanwhile, ranked growth of the Jaguar and third in the regional Jag- Land Rover brands in the uar Technician of the Middle East.”

The items seized from the unlicensed workshop. (Picture courtesy: MoI) Fake seals seized from jewellery workshop

ounterfeited seals The CID raided the work- of renowned inter- shop on a tip-off and found Cnational gold and it was operating without a jewellery brands have been licence. seized by the Criminal In- A number of jewellery vestigation Department items marked with the fake (CID) from a workshop seal were also seized from in Doha. the workshop. According to a release is- The arrested men have sued by the Ministry of In- been referred to the inves- terior (MoI), the seizure was tigative entities to take the made in a raid conducted in necessary legal procedures co-ordination with the Li- against them, the MoI said. censing Department at the The CID has urged the Ministry of Economy and public to deal with licensed Commerce (MEC). shops only while buying The CID also arrested and selling gold and jew- nine Asian men from the ellery and to report any workshop where the seizure suspicious practices by of the fake seals were made. calling 999.

Gulf Times 10 Sunday, February 12, 2017 QATAR HMC gets ready to celebrate ‘National Sport Day’

amad Medical Cor- ing the general public on ways poration (HMC) has to reduce health risks associ- Horganised a number ated with a sedentary lifestyle, of sporting activities for staff such as coronary heart disease, and their families in support diabetes, obesity and even of National Sport Day as part some cancers.” of its commitment to promote He added: “At HMC, Na- the health and well-being of tional Sport Day is also viewed Commercial Bank CEO Joseph Abraham and Ooredoo Qatar CEO Waleed al-Sayed shake hands after a signing ceremony for the ‘Ooredoo Bulk Bill Payment’ partnership. the residents of Qatar. as an opportunity to bring our Led by an organising com- employees closer together, en- mittee from HMC’s Public Re- courage some sporting princi- lations team, these activities ples such as team building, in- will be supported by a group of clusion and unity, fi tness and volunteers from across HMC to health. Most importantly, the ensure the safety and comfort day provides an opportunity Commercial Bank and Ooredoo of participants and attendees. to nurture a sense of togeth- The planned activities will erness as part of our cultural raise awareness of the im- values in Qatar and the GCC portance of sport in building region.” He invited the gen- a healthy and disease-free eral public to join HMC’s Na- community – one of the key tional Sport Day events and to off er ‘bulk bill’ payment service objectives of the Human De- take part in activities such as velopment Pillar of the Qa- walkathon, cycling, football ommercial Bank and customers can now make bill- Bank is proud to partner with Qatari company to further en- their Commercial Bank branch tar National Vision (QNV) and basketball tournaments. Ooredoo have announced ing enquiries and instantly settle Ooredoo and continue our track hance our business experience. to set up the utility payment 2030 and also a key element Participants will also have Cthe launch of a new fi rst- all of their outstanding Ooredoo record of supporting Qatari busi- In today’s connected world, pay- through the Corporate Internet of HMC’s corporate social re- the opportunity to take part in of-its-kind bulk bill payment Business bills subscribed under nesses both large and small for ing your bill should be just a click Banking. Once activated, cus- sponsibility programme. several health checks, includ- service, ‘Ooredoo Bulk Bill Pay- their Commercial Registration a sustainable economic future. away and thanks to this new tomers can log in to the util- Ali Abdulla al-Khater, chief ing blood sugar levels, blood ment’, at a signing ceremony held (CR) number in an easy and se- “Commercial Bank is the fi rst service, businesses can confi - ity module of Commercial Banks communications offi cer at pressure and body mass in- at the Commercial Bank Plaza. cure manner. bank in Qatar to off er a bulk bill dently pay their service bill each Corporate Internet Banking HMC, said: “National Sport dex checks. Dedicated health The ‘Ooredoo Bulk Bill Pay- Enabling businesses to pay payment service to Ooredoo, and month without hassle. service, choose to pay Ooredoo Day is an important event for check areas staff ed by medi- ment’ will enable all Commer- their Ooredoo Business account this convenient and safe online “This partnership is just an- bills and select the amount they the country but it is particu- cal professionals will be set up cial Bank Corporate customers bills securely and instantly via payment feature is in line with other way that we are going wish to instantly transfer. larly important for HMC as the across many HMC hospitals to quickly and easily pay their Commercial Bank will save us- our strategy of investing in tech- above and beyond to off er the Commercial Bank’s state- leading provider of healthcare and facilities. Ooredoo Business bill through ers time and further simplify nology to provide the best cus- best solutions for our business of-the-art online Corporate services in Qatar. HMC is en- For more information about Commercial Bank’s state-of- monthly billing for Qatar’s com- tomer experience for our clients.” users and we thank Commercial Internet Banking channel of- thusiastically embracing this activities, can be obtained the-art online Corporate Inter- panies. Ooredoo Qatar CEO Waleed Bank for working closely with fers a range of banking services special day by organising a on its social media accounts, net Banking channel. Commercial Bank CEO Joseph al-Sayed said: “We’re proud to us to achieve this.” Commercial including transfers, payroll, li- number of activities aimed at Twitter @HMC_Qatar and In- Commercial Bank Corporate Abraham said: “Commercial be working with such a valued Bank customers can contact quidity reports and accounts. promoting sport and educat- stagram @HMC_Qatar

Transport, communications ministry set to hold events at Porto Arabia

he Ministry of Transport and Communications The entities celebrating National Sport Day with the (MoTC), in collaboration with United Development MoTC and UDC are as follows: Civil Aviation Authority, TCompany (UDC) — master developer of The Pearl- Communications Regulatory Authority, Qatar Airways, Qatar, is busy preparing for the upcoming Qatar National Mowasalat (Karwa), Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Sport Day. Rail), Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani), Qatar This year, the ministry will hold its activities at Porto Satellite Company (Es’hailSat), Qatar Aeronautical Col- Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar. National Sport Day, an annual oc- lege, Hamad International Airport, Hamad Port, General casion held on the second Tuesday in February, plays a key Retirement & Social Insurance Authority, Qatar Postal role in maximising social participation across the coun- Services Company (Qatar Post), Qatar Assistive Technol- try and boosting a culture of sport and healthy living. The ogy Centre (Mada), malomatia and the Qatar National MoTC has designed several activities for all participants — Broadband Network. adults, children and families. Marking the National Sport Day “is a positive step to- Its programme also includes entertainment and mind ward bolstering stronger employee bonds, who meet in games, fi tness and healthy lifestyle exercises, as well as one place as a family outside of the work environment”, a challenges and competitions between families. press statement noted. Qatar Foundation lines up activities for family

atar Foundation (QF) will cel- ebrate National Sport Day on QFebruary14, by hosting a series of fun and exciting activities to enter- tain the whole family. The programme will kick off at 9am and feature a walkathon through Oxy- gen Park, as well as a 40km cycling event that will start in Education City. Additionally, QF’s ‘The Game of Games’ event will run throughout the day at Oxygen Park. A high-energy, action-packed activity, ‘The Game of Games’ revolves around fi ve key sports values – strength, balance, concentra- tion, strategy and enthusiasm – and requires participants to work together to overcome challenges. Other activities include pony rides organised by Al Shaqab, ladies-only fi tness classes at the Hamad Bin Kha- lifa University Student Centre, and an infl atable golf structure for children, as well as a range of other fun-fi lled games, at Oxygen Park. The QF Nutrition Clinic will also be on-site to provide nutritional ad- Families from across the country participated in last year’s National Sport Day vice to visitors alongside a number of walkathon in Education City. health-food vendors. Machaille al-Naimi, president of As part of QF’s lifelong learning Word Stomp,” al-Naimi said. QF’s Community Development, QF, said: initiatives, children will also be able Pre-University Education is also “Our National Sport Day activities to exercise their minds with activities celebrating National Sport Day with have been specially designed to help organised by QF’s innovative National a host of exciting activities for stu- shape a healthy, sports-loving soci- Reading Campaign. dents, from football to traditional ety, and to inspire men, women, and “Families can make use of the games, while Renad Academy will children of all ages and abilities to campaign’s Reading Van, which stage a range of Sport Day festivi- make positive, long-lasting lifestyle operates as a mobile library, and ties for the first time, following its changes.” kids can take part in games such as opening in 2016.

Gulf Times 12 Sunday, February 12, 2017 QATAR College of Medicine focuses on four One of the sessions of the programme. CMU-Q takes areas of research computing to 1,000 he Qatar University Col- combine basic research excel- strategy, and aligns with both lege of Medicine (QU- lence with innovations in clinical the QU 5-year research roadmap TCMED) focuses on four practice. and the National Health Strategy. high schoolers pillars of medical research – mo- “Medical education research The college has established part- lecular medicine, clinical re- is another focus for us with a nerships with healthcare pro- search, medical education and special interest in developing viders in Qatar especially those s computer science port programmes that aim to public health, a top offi cial of the agreed standards of professional under HMC and PHCC, covering becomes integral to inspire our next generation of university told Gulf Times. competence and ethics, and also the area of research collaboration Amore and more fields leaders and innovators to pur- “One of our main goals is to the use of technology to enhance and aiming to further contribute of study, Carnegie Mellon sue careers in STEM-related unite CMED researchers, faculty learning and teaching especially to enhancing Qatar’s health re- University in Qatar (CMU- fi elds,” said Maria Laine, vice and students with all depart- simulation technology in medi- search,” he noted. Q) is reaching out to high president, International Stra- ments and stakeholders in Qatar cal education. In public health “The college has enrolled 93 schoolers to introduce them tegic Partnerships for Boeing to conduct world-class research research, the college is focus- new students to its Class of 2022 to the field. Defence, Space & Security. in medical health, and contrib- ing on fi ve inter-disciplinary in Fall 2016. This is an increase The Computer Science Pro- “Through this new initiative, ute to the growing healthcare themes – epidemiological stud- of 16% of the number of stu- gramme at CMU-Q has teamed students will have access to sector. For this, we have identi- ies on chronic diseases, health dents who enrolled the previous up with Boeing to design and challenges and workshops fi ed molecular medicine, clinical promotion and healthy lifestyle, year. At 62%, the majority (58) deliver the ‘Mindcraft’ work- that introduce them to a range research, medical education and healthcare delivery systems, of the new admits are Qatari na- shops, day-long sessions that of computer science mate- public health as the major areas evidence-based healthcare and tionals. guide students through com- rial that can help give them the of research,” said Dr Egon Toft, health informatics,” continued “The college has also adopted puter science disciplines like 21st century skills and knowl- QU vice president for Medical the dean. an interactive and engaging ped- robotics, cryptography, and edge they need to be successful and Health Sciences and CMED QU vice president for medical and health sciences and CMED The offi cial maintained that agogy, incorporating technolo- computational thinking. long-term.” founding dean. founding dean Dr Egon Toft. the college focuses on research gy-based learning, which con- Leading the project is Kha- “Computing will be im- “The College’s molecular in areas of national priority. “Our tributes to preparing students for led Harras, programme direc- portant to these students, no medicine research aims to im- diseases such as diabetes, can- infections,” explained Dr Toft. research covers the full transla- the future and to shaping doc- tor and associate professor of matter what they study in uni- prove patient care by combining cer, inflammatory, metabolic According to the offi cial, in tional pathway from basic science tors for tomorrow. The college computer science at CMU-Q. versity; many advancements basic research excellence with and neurodegenerative diseas- clinical research, researchers and to applied health research with is also registered in the WHO’s “The National Vision 2030 in other fi elds of science, en- innovations in clinical practice. es, as well as clinical infections biomedical scientists from QU the aim to advance the healthcare international directory for medi- is to transform Qatar into a gineering and even humani- The research strategy of the such as enteric pathogens caus- Health are working closely with sector in Qatar. CMED’s research cal schools, this registration knowledge-based economy; ties have been further enabled college is to shift to translation- ing diarrhoea, ulcer forming researchers across QU health agenda is within the broader strengthens its reputation and computer science knowledge with the integration of various al medicine in addressing major bacteria and several respiratory programmes and from HMC to university-wide health research credibility,” added the offi cial. is an unavoidable requirement computer science disciplines” to help materialise this vision. remarked Harras. We have a goal of introducing “We have worked hard to 1,000 high school students in ensure that the Mindcraft pro- Qatar to computer science over gramme is both interesting and this academic year. We want to educational. We don’t want have a deep impact,” said Har- anyone to feel bored because ras. it is too basic, or left behind Since launching the pro- because it is too advanced,” gramme in September, 550 says Nour Tabet, outreach students have participated co-ordinator in the Computer in the Saturday workshops Science Programme at CMU- taught by computer science Q. She added that future plans faculty members, researchers include a similar programme and engineers. aimed at students from grade “Boeing is proud to sup- seven to nine.

Emirates opens access to its lounges Sidra scientists and researchers. mirates has launched an additional privilege Eto extend the usage of its luxury lounges at Dubai International Airport to its Sidra acknowledges international Loyalty Programme members and their guests at a minimal fee regardless of their class of travel. The pay-per-visit access day of women and girls in science will be available to Emirates Business Class travellers now Skywards members and their also have the option to pay an guests travelling on Emirates. upgrade fee to access the First idra Medical and Re- Qatari females is that by being Darawan Rinchai, post-doc- believe women have the perfect “As a Muslim, the scientifi c in- Business Class travellers now Class lounges. search Center (Sidra) ac- in the science and research fi eld toral fellow, Translational Medi- mix to work in science – thanks terpretations of the Holy Qur’an also have the option to pay an Sknowledged the United – you will play such an impor- cine, noted: “There is no end to to our organisational skills, pa- that makes prescient statements upgrade fee to access the First $100 and the Emirates First Nation’s International Day of tant role in developing and ad- expanding your scientifi c knowl- tience, perseverance and crea- about the nature of the universe, Class lounges, the airline has Class lounges for $200. Busi- Women and Girls in Science vancing the health sector for edge – there is always something tivity! Here at Sidra my focus is biological development and oth- said in a press statement. ness Class customers can also yesterday. the country. My work at Sidra is new to discover. By studying sci- in nutrition and how food and er phenomena had a great impact Dubai International Air- upgrade to First Class lounge The acknowledgement directly related to the concept ence you gain deep knowledge lifestyle contribute to the de- in pushing me toward science. port is home to seven Emir- access for a fee of $100. Guests comes in the form of support- of personalised medicine. By that will allow your intellectual velopment of diseases such as I strongly believe we need more ates lounges spread over three who have paid a fee for entry ing messages from its diverse studying genetic diseases and development to expand and more obesity and diabetes including mentors, teachers and career concourses – A, B and C. can stay for up to four hours, female researchers to young knowing the genetic causes of importantly it allows you to play their impact on our gene func- development leaders to help en- There is a dedicated Emirates the statement notes. girls in Qatar to consider ca- certain diseases – we will help an important role to advance tions. Our most promising ap- courage and inspire our young- First Class and Business Class Currently, First and Busi- reers in Science. in designing personalised health your country to a world-class proach is to provide individual sters to consider career paths lounge in each of the con- ness Class customers as well Moza Khalifa al-Kowari, spe- plans that can minimise risks level.” diet therapy – factoring in the in the scientifi c fi eld,” added courses. as Silver, Gold and Platinum cialist, Molecular Bases of Hear- to patients, prevent disease and Annalisa Terranegra, re- type of disease, lifestyle, ge- Muna al-Hashmi, technologist Eligible guests can access Skywards members receive ing Loss, Experimental Genet- develop precise treatment if the search investigator, Transla- netic background and local cul- in the Omics Core laboratories in the Emirates Business Class complimentary access to the ics said: “My advice for young disease occurs.” tional Medicine highlighted: “I ture.” Translational Medicine. lounges in Dubai for a fee of lounges in Dubai.

Officials and guests at the Kahramaa event. Kahramaa holds Engineers Day

atar General Electricity and ing director Abdulla bin Abdulaziz engineers from Kahramaa were The event featured presenta- Implemented in Water Main- Water Corporation (Kah- al-Subaie. also present. tion of three working papers. tenance Section’ by Alyasser Qramaa) has celebrated En- Qatar Society of Engineers The event came within the cor- They were ‘Planning and De- Abdulla Mashhadi and ‘Qatari gineers Day under the patronage chairman Ahmad Jassim Jolo, Qa- poration’s eff orts to attain its ob- veloping Electricity Networks/ Engineer, Achievements and and in the presence of its president tar University College of Engi- jective in attracting and develop- Tasks and Challenges’, present- Challenges’ by Mohamed You- and senior engineer Essa bin Hilal neering dean Dr Khalifa bin Nasser ing qualifi ed employees as well as ed by Maghdeem Ahmed al- suf al-Kubaisi and Abdulla Ha- al-Kuwari, and Qatar Rail manag- al-Khalifa and a number of senior supporting Qatarisation. Nama, ‘Successful Applications mad al-Qahtani. Gulf Times Sunday, February 12, 2017 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD

DIPLOMACY ARREST AVIATION CONFLICT CRACKDOWN Saudi Crown prince says Security forces nab eight Iraqi Airways plane East Libyan forces lose Six ‘terror’ recruiters ties with US strong foreigners planning attacks evacuated after wheel fire copter with two crew held: Tunisian ministry

Saudi Arabia’s relations with the United States are Iranian security forces have arrested eight hard- Hundreds of passengers were evacuated safely East Libyan forces said yesterday that they had lost Tunisian security forces have broken up a six- “historic and strategic”, Crown Prince Mohamed liners suspected of planning attacks to disrupt from an Iraqi Airways plane yesterday after a an Mi-35 combat helicopter near the central town of member “terrorist cell” who had been recruiting bin Nayef said on the occasion of the visit of CIA celebrations for Iran’s Islamic revolution in the wheel caught fire on landing in Saudi Arabia, Zalla and that two crew members had been killed. people to fight with militant groups abroad, the director Mike Pompeo to Riyadh.This is the first past week, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi Saudi state media said. Emergency crews evacu- A military off icial for the eastern-based forces said it interior ministry said yesterday.A statement said reported visit by a senior Trump administration said yesterday. Alavi said the eight were foreign- ated 356 passengers “in record time without any was not clear if the helicopter had been shot down the six were arrested on Friday in the Monastir appointee to the kingdom. “Our relationship with the ers, some of whom were linked to a leader who casualties”, the off icial Saudi Press Agency said. or crashed because of a technical fault. The forces region in the east of the North African country. United States is historic and strategic, any attempts had been killed in Iran, IRNA reported. He did not The aircraft was landing at King Abdulaziz Interna- lost contact with the helicopter on Friday. Forces The suspects, aged between 19 and 51, admit- to undermine that will falter,” Prince Mohamed said, give details of which countries they were from. tional Airport in the Red Sea city of Jeddah when loyal to Khalifa Haftar, head of the Libyan National ted being in contact with Islamic State group in according to SPA. Prince Mohamed, who is also in- “Initial information indicates that Kalashnikovs fire broke out on one of the wheels, the agency Army (LNA), have clashed repeatedly in the central neighbouring Libya and recruiting Tunisians to terior minister, said his country will continue to com- and other equipment were obtained to carry out said. SPA said the captain radioed the control desert region in recent weeks with rival brigades. fight in Syria, it said.The six also said that they bat terrorism. In a recent phone call Saudi Arabia’s terrorist operations...in Tehran and several other tower to report the problem and fire crews rushed The LNA has been extending its control towards the themselves had undergone clandestine “military” King Salman invited US President Donald Trump “to cities under the direct guidance of persons based to the aircraft to extinguish the flames. It said the west over the past few months, after largely defeat- training “with the aim of joining militant groups lead a Middle East eff ort to defeat terrorism.” in neighbouring countries,” Alavi said. fire was “limited” in scope. ing conservative opponents. abroad”, it added. Turkish troops, Iranian president, Swedish PM hold talks Syria rebels enter IS-held town: monitor

AFP in August, targeting both IS tal Raqa in an operation dubbed Beirut and Kurdish militia. “Wrath of the Euphrates”. After initial rapid progress, The advance has progressed the campaign has been mired slowly, in part, SDF officials urkish troops and Syrian since December in the deadly say, because IS has heavily rebels yesterday entered fight for Al-Bab. mined territory around Raqa. Tthe Islamic State-held Turkey’s Dogan news agency The Observatory said yes- town of Al-Bab in northern Syr- says 66 Turkish soldiers have terday that SDF fighters had ia, as government forces moved been killed in the campaign now advanced to around eight closer to the militant bastion, a since it started, mostly in IS at- kilometres from the eastern monitor said. tacks. And on Thursday, three outskirts of Raqa, though their A handout picture shows Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in Tehran yesterday. Turkish state-run Anadolu Turkish soldiers were killed forces are further from the news agency quoted military when a Russian air strike ac- north of the city. sources as saying one Turkish cidentally hit their position in Turkey has suggested that soldier was killed and another a strike targeting IS fighters in it could turn its sights to Raqa wounded in clashes with IS Al-Bab. after the Al-Bab operation is fi ghters in Al-Bab. Moscow said the incident complete, with Turkish Presi- Turkish forces and allied was an accident and is under dent Recep Tayyip Erdogan rebels have for weeks pressed an investigation.Despite backing discussing both Al-Bab and Raqa in a call with US President Iraq says will stay clear operation code-named Euphra- opposite sides in Syria’s con- tes Shield to drive the militants flict — Moscow is a government Donald Trump this week. from the fl ashpoint town. ally while Turkey supports the Syria’s conflict has killed The Syrian Observatory for opposition — the two countries more than 310,000 people since Human Rights said Turkish have worked closely in recent it began with anti-government months. protests in March 2011. of US-Tehran tensions forces and allied militias entered Al-Bab from the west and then They helped broker a nation- Successive rounds of peace took full control of its western wide ceasefire in place since talks, including discussions or- Reuters forces battling Islamic State. Thursday, without specifi cally told state TV. The Iraqi read- suburbs after fi erce clashes with December 30, and sponsored a ganised by Russia and Turkey Baghdad “Iraq is very keen to pre- mentioning Iran. out said Abadi asked Trump to the militants. round of peace talks last month in Kazakhstan last month, have serve its national interests (..) Both readouts stressed the lift the ban on people from his The clashes coincided with in the Kazakh capital, Astana. failed to advance a political so- and does not wish to be part of importance of their continued country travelling to the United “Turkish shelling and intensive Al-Bab has been under IS lution to the conflict. raq won’t take part in any any regional or international co-operation against Islamic States. air strikes” on Al-Bab, the Brit- control since 2014, when the A new round of UN-spon- regional or international confl ict which would lead to State, as the militants are be- US courts suspended the re- ain-based monitor said. group seized large swathes of sored talks is scheduled to take Iconfl icts, Prime Minister disasters for the region and for ing pushed back in Iraq and los- strictions announced end Janu- Al-Bab is the militant group’s territory in Syria and neigh- place in Geneva on February Haider al-Abadi told state TV Iraq,” Abadi said, according to ing control over Mosul, the last ary on entries from Iraq, Iran, last stronghold in the northern bouring Iraq, proclaiming its 20, but invitations have yet to yesterday. state TV. major city stronghold under Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria province of Aleppo and is also self-described caliphate. be sent out. The comment came after Trump said on Friday that their control in the country. and Yemen. being targeted by regime forces. In recent months, the mili- Yesterday, Kazakhstan’s for- Abadi had spoke in a phone Iranian President Hassan Rou- The United States has more Trump has said he will keep While Turkish-led forces tants have been rolled back in eign ministry said Syrian gov- call with US President Donald hani “better be careful” after than 5,000 troops deployed in trying to reinstate them. have been advancing from the large parts of northern Syria, ernment officials and rebels Trump during which tensions the latter was quoted as saying Iraq and is providing air and Abadi resisted calls from north, east and west, Syrian both by the Turkish campaign were being invited to new talks with Iran were mentioned. that anyone who speaks to Ira- ground support in the battle of infl uential pro-Iranian politi- government troops are attack- but also a Kurdish-Arab alli- next week in the capital Astana. The call was the fi rst between nians with threats would “re- Mosul. cians to retaliate against the ing from the south. ance known as the Syrian Dem- “It is planned to hold the lat- the two leaders. gret it.’’ Iran has also played a major ban, at a meeting held on Jan 29, On Monday, Syrian troops ocratic Forces (SDF). est high-level meeting within A political commentator The White House on Friday role in the fi ght against Islamic citing Iraq’s need for US mili- severed a road leading into the The SDF fights with air sup- the Astana process on resolving close to Abadi, Ihsan al-Sham- said Trump and Abadi “spoke to State by arming and training tary support. town from the south and by port from the US-led coalition the situation in Syria on Febru- mari, said Abadi’s comment the threat Iran presents across Iraqi groups collectively known Washington last week ratch- Friday they were just 1.5 kilo- battling IS in Syria and Iraq, ary 15 and 16,” the ministry said addressed the US-Iranian ten- the entire region,” in their fi rst as Popular Mobilisation. eted up pressure on Iran, metres from the southern out- but Turkey regards the Kurdish in a statement. sions. phone call since the inaugura- “The Iraqi prime minister Dr putting sanctions on 13 indi- skirts of component of the SDF as “ter- It added that UN peace envoy Iran has close ties with the tion of the US president. Abadi is stressing once again viduals and 12 entities days af- Al-Bab. rorists”. Staffan de Mistura and US ob- Shia political elite ruling Iraq Abadi’s offi ce on Friday also the policy of neutrality and to ter the White House put Tehran Turkey began an unprec- The alliance is pushing to- servers would also be invited to while Washington is providing gave a readout of the phone steer clear from confl icts,’’ po- “on notice” over a ballistic mis- edented campaign inside Syria wards IS’ de facto Syrian capi- the talks. critical military support to Iraqi call that took place overnight litical commentator Shammari sile test.

UN chief defends choice of Palestinian as Libya envoy Iraqi policeman killed, seven hurt

AFP pointment would send within United Nations the United Nations,” where the in clashes with pro-Sadr protesters state of Palestine does not have full membership. N Secretary-General “For too long the UN has Reuters running away as smoke fi lled Antonio Guterres yes- been unfairly biased in favour Baghdad Tahrir Square. Uterday defended his of the Palestinian Authority to Sadr suspects that members choice of former Palestinian the detriment of our allies in of the electoral commission are prime minister Salam Fayyad Israel,” she said in a statement. n Iraqi policeman was loyal to his Shia rival, former to be the UN peace envoy to Dujarric said no Israeli and killed and seven others Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Libya after the United States no Palestinian had served in a Awounded in clashes with one of the closest allies of Iran blocked the appointment. high-level post at the United protesters loyal to prominent in Iraq. Sadr is openly hostile The decision to put forward Nations and that “this is a sit- cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who had to American presence and poli- his candidacy “was solely uation that the secretary-gen- gathered in Baghdad yesterday cies in the Middle East and, at based on Mr Fayyad’s recog- eral feels should be corrected,” to demand political reforms, the the same time, he has a troubled nised personal qualities and his based on personal merit and interior ministry said. relationship with Iraqi political competence for that position,” competencies of the candi- Thousands had gathered in groups allied with Iran. said UN spokesman Stephane dates. the square to demand an over- A political commentator Dujarric. Appointments of the UN haul of the commission that close to Abadi, Ihsan al-Sham- “United Nations staff serve special representatives of the supervises elections ahead of a mari, told Reuters the protests strictly in their personal ca- secretary-general require the provincial vote due in Septem- were ill-timed but would not pacity. They do not represent unanimous backing of the ber. aff ect the US-backed military any government or country,” 15-member council. Police tried to disperse them campaign on Mosul. he said. Guterres had informed Fayyad, 64, was prime min- as they attempted to cross the “The protests don’t aff ect the the Security Council earlier ister of the Palestinian Au- bridge that links Tahrir Square ongoing military preparations this week of his intention to thority from 2007 to 2013, and in central Baghdad and the Protesters run from tear gas fired by security forces after supporters of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr tried to retake Mosul, but the prob- appoint Fayyad and set a dead- also served as fi nance minister heavily fortifi ed Green Zone, to approach the heavily fortified Green Zone during a protest at Tahrir Square in Baghdad yesterday. lem is that, at this time, they are line of Friday for members to twice. which houses government disturbing the security situa- raise objections. He had been tapped to re- buildings, embassies and inter- vent protesters from getting the Green Zone last year after He said his supporters want- tion,” he said. Diplomats had said they ex- place Martin Kobler of Ger- national organisations. too close to the Green Zone, violent clashes with security ed to get near the Green Zone Iraqi forces last month com- pected the appointment to be many, who has been the Libya The escalation of problems witnesses said, choking about forces. to make their voices heard by pleted the fi rst phase of the approved, but US Ambassador envoy since November 2015. with Sadr comes at the wrong two dozen demonstrators, ac- An interior ministry state- decision makers, and had no in- Mosul off ensive that started in Nikki Haley decided to oppose Palestine Liberation Or- time for Prime Minister Haider cording to the organisers of the ment said guns and knives were tention of storming it again. October, by dislodging the mili- it. ganisation executive commit- al-Abadi who wants to keep protest. found on some protesters. Sadr asked the protesters to tants from the eastern side of Haley said in a statement tee member Hanan Ashrawi the focus on dislodging Islamic Bursts of gunfi re were also Sadr issued a statement say- “withdraw until further no- the city. that the United States did not condemned the US decision as State from the northern city of heard but it was not clear where ing the demonstration was tice”. Television footage showed They are now preparing to “support the signal this ap- “blatant discrimination.” Mosul. they came from. peaceful and accused the police young men, many holding Iraqi attack the part that lies west of Police fi red tear gas to pre- Sadr’s supporters stormed of using excessive force. fl ags and covering their faces, the Tigris river. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, February 12, 2017 AFRICA Top South Sudan 17 killed in Angola general resigns DPA/Reuters lice and other security branch- Nairobi es systematically recruited Dinka from the president and chief of army staff ’s home re- South Sudanese army gion. general resigned yes- Non-Dinkas and Dinkas stadium stampede Aterday, citing cases of who disagreed with the presi- ethnic cleansing and crimes dent’s agenda were given re- Reuters/AFP division championship. tal,” said the doctor, who wished a hand, added: “When they gave avoid. They just need to extend committed against civilians by mote postings or sidelined, he Luanda Yesterday an investigation to remain anonymous. the opportunity for everyone to the safety cordon.” the Sudan People’s Liberation said. was announced into the stadium Offi cials maintained that the come in, we were all packed at the Angola, ranked 148 in the FIFA Army (SPLA). He also said “soldiers from stampede that the host team toll was 17. gate already.” world rankings, is a minor power In a letter addressed to South the Dinka ethnic group have t least 17 people died and blamed on police error. “While the players were on the Sergio Traguil, the host side’s in African football. Sudanese President Salva Kiir, been strategically deployed scores were injured in a The government has set up a fi eld, fans outside were trying to coach, told the Diario de Noticias The country has been relative- Lieutenant General Thomas and posted in non-Dinka areas Astampede at an Angolan commission to probe Friday’s get into the stadium and a gate newspaper: “Nobody inside the ly closed to the outside world un- Cirillo Swaka said he resigned to support the policy of land football match on Friday when crush – described as the coun- probably gave way to the pres- stadium was aware of what was der the authoritarian President after losing faith in Kiir and the occupation”. hundreds of supporters stormed try’s worst football tragedy – the sure of the crowd causing several happening outside.” Jose Eduardo dos Santos who has army command. Swaka said the military the stadium gates, a medical of- national Angop news agency re- people to fall who were literally Images shown on Angolan ruled since 1979. “I am dissatisfi ed, and I have raped and killed civilians and fi cial said. ported. trampled on by the crowd,” the television backed up the claim, Football has a tragic history of lost patience with the conduct allowed tribal militias to com- The crowd in the northern city A second commission will help Recreativo de Libolo club said in showing that thousands of spec- stampedes and stadium deaths, of the commander-in-chief mit the same abuses as well as of Uige pushed against barriers families of those who died and a statement on its website. tators sitting around the pitch in often blamed on lack of crowd and other senior offi cers at running a network of secret after failing to gain entry before assist in organising funerals. The club called it “a tragedy a stadium with no stands. control, dangerous venues and the headquarters of the SPLA prisons where torture was en- the start of the match, state news “Several children have been without precedent in the history The Portuguese news agency spectator behaviour. as well as unit commanders,” demic. agency Angop said. killed,” police spokesman Orlan- of Angolan football”. Lusa reported that the presi- In 2009, poor crowd control Swaka, the army’s deputy chief The government routinely Many fell and were trampled, do Bernardo told AFP. Witnesses said many fans did dent of the host team said secu- in Abidjan caused 19 deaths be- of logistics, said in the letter dismisses charges of ethnic it said. “There was a blockage at the not have tickets to the match at rity forces were to blame for not fore a 2010 World Cup qualifi er seen by dpa. bias and blames rebels for Ernesto Luis, director general entrance to the January 4 sta- the stadium which would have properly controlling the crowd. between hosts Ivory Coast and Swaka alleges that a 2013 stoking trouble. of the local hospital, told Reuters dium,” he said. “This obstruction pushed past its 8,000 capacity. “There was serious police er- Malawi. military confl ict was carefully Offi cials say any soldier that people had suff ocated in the caused multiple fatalities – 17 “When we wanted to go in, ror in letting the people so close And a stampede at the Accra planned and executed, which committing abuses will be held crush. “Some people had to walk deaths, and there are 56 injured we found a barrier. The fi rst row to the fi eld,” it quoted Pedro Sports Stadium in Ghana in 2001 stands in contrast to the widely to account and the president on top of other people,” he said. in the hospital.” of people fell down ... I was in Nzolonzi as saying. resulted in 127 deaths. held view that violence erupt- said on Monday that any sol- Five of the injured were in a se- A doctor at the military hospi- the third layer (of people),” said “Many of them did not want At that game, supporters an- ed unexpectedly, in response dier committing rape should rious condition. tal in Uige said yesterday that the 37-year-old fan João Silva, who to pay and those who had tickets gered by their team’s defeat threw to a political disagreement be- be shot. The match between Santa Rita toll had risen to 22. survived the crush with a broken could not get in. Then the confu- projectiles and broke chairs. tween Kiir and his former vice- Military spokesman Briga- de Cássia and Recreativo de Li- “Seventeen people died on the foot. sion began,” he said. “It is all the Police threw tear gas grenades, president Riek Machar. dier General Lul Ruai Koang bolo was part of Angola’s fi rst spot and fi ve others at the hospi- Domingos Vika, 35, who broke fault of the police. It was easy to triggering a stampede. The confl ict was bolstered did not return calls seeking by “tribal militias loyal to comment about Swaka’s letter. President Kiir”, according to The presidential spokesman Swaka. also could not immediately be South Sudan was plunged reached. into a military confl ict when UN offi cials and Western Climate a split between Kiir and his governments have accused former deputy Machar esca- both sides in the confl ict of lated in December 2013. abuses. change The formation of a unity On Friday, the UN Refu- government did not stop the gee Agency (UNHCR) said the fi ghting. number of people who have adds to The confl ict was fought fl ed South Sudan’s civil war mainly between the east Afri- has crossed 1.5mn, in what is can nation’s two biggest ethnic now the world’s third-biggest pressures groups – the Dinka, to which refugee crisis after Syria and Kiir belongs, and the Nuer, of Afghanistan. which Machar is a member. Swaka, widely known as on African “President Kiir and his Cirillo, is respected by the in- Dinka leadership clique have ternational community and tactically and systematically Western governments would penguins transformed the SPLA into a see his resignation and the partisan and tribal army,” it charges he has levelled as an read, using the acronym for the indictment of the government, By Kerry Sheridan, AFP government Sudan People’s one security expert in Nairobi Miami Liberation Army. “Terrorising said. their opponents, real or per- South Sudan has been riven ceived, has become a preoccu- by confl ict since 2013, two limate change and over- pation of the government.” years after seceding from Su- fi shing have left already Swaka said the military, po- dan. Cendangered young pen- guins in Africa confused about where to fi nd food, and they are dying in high numbers as a result, researchers said this week. The report in the journal Cur- Nigeria’s Arik Air rent Biology describes a dire pre- dicament for African penguins, whose young population is pro- founder eyes lawsuit jected to be down 50% in some of the most aff ected areas of coastal DOWNWARD: This file photo shows African penguins in Simon’s Town, South Africa. Endangered, young penguins in southern Africa are Namibia and South Africa. confused about where to find food due to climate change and overfishing, and are dying in high numbers as a result, researchers said. Reuters Arumeni-Ikhide said the ac- “Our results show that juve- Lagos tion recalled 2010 when British nile African penguins are stuck chlorophyll-a (a specifi c form penguins from eight sites across there,” researcher Sherley said. of Nature (IUCN), with about billionaire Richard Branson foraging for food in the wrong of chlorophyll used in oxygenic their breeding range. Young penguins that wind up 50,000 penguins remaining in pulled out of Virgin Nigeria, places due to fi shing and climate photosynthesis), which indicates They found that many pen- there often starve to death. Namibia and South Africa. he founder of Nigeria’s a 10-year partnership with change,” said lead author Richard plankton is near, and likely also guins were getting trapped in the “Their breeding numbers Food shortage is considered airline Arik Air, placed the Nigerian government he Sherley of the University of Exe- the sardines and anchovies that Benguela Current Large Marine are about 50% lower than they the main reason for their endan- Tin receivership this helped set up, citing alleged ter and University of Cape Town. feed on it. Ecosystem (BCLME), an area that would be if they found their way gered status. week, accused the government interference by politicians and The problem happens when “These were once reliable cues stretches from southern Angola to other waters, where the human African penguins are “under- of seizing Arik to meet a politi- regulators. the young penguins leave their for prey-rich waters, but climate to Cape Point in South Africa’s impact has been less severe,” said going a very rapid population cal goal of creating a “national AMCON said on Thursday colonies for the fi rst time and change and industrial fi shing Western Cape. the study. decline, probably as a result of carrier” and said he would that a receivership manager travel long distances, searching have depleted forage fi sh stocks The region has suff ered from Scientists are considering the commercial fi sheries and shifts challenge the move in court. had been put in charge of Arik the ocean for signs that an area in this system,” said Sherley. decades of overfi shing and envi- possibility of transporting young in prey populations,” said the State-owned “bad bank” as the airline had been fallen has plenty of fi sh and the smaller “These signs can now lead them ronmental changes, reducing the penguins to areas where food is IUCN. “This trend currently AMCON said on Thursday that into a “precarious situation creatures they feed on, called to places where these fi sh, the number of fi sh. more abundant. shows no sign of reversing, and the move arose from Arik’s largely attributable to its heavy plankton. penguins’ main prey, are scarce.” “The penguins still move to African penguins are consid- immediate conservation action inability to pay workers and fi nancial debt burden (and) bad These signs include areas of Researchers used satellites where the plankton are abun- ered endangered by the Interna- is required to prevent further de- creditors. corporate governance”. low sea temperatures and high to track newly fl edged African dant, but the fi sh are no longer tional Union for Conservation clines.” Arik is West Africa’s biggest Arumemi-Ikhide denied airline by passenger numbers this. He said Arik’s debt had but has been hard hit by Ni- been secured as a Union Bank geria’s currency crisis as its guarantee to buy new planes customers are invoiced in naira through European export but fuel suppliers are paid in banks. 10 dead in Ghana Key provisions of Mali peace dollars. But he said the dollar guar- Arik founder Michael antee was turned into a more Arumemi-Ikhide said he be- expensive naira loan without power struggle lieved the government staged recourse for Arik when Union deal to roll out this month the move after a team travelled Bank was rescued by AMCON overseas in search of partners in 2010 to help stem a fi nancial AFP “This was triggered by an- but were turned down and ad- crisis. Accra other chieftaincy dispute,” AFP foreign aff airs minister Ram- deal – joint patrols between reg- vised to work with the decade- That brought Arik’s total said Ebenezer Peprah, a police Bamako tane Lamamra, the United Na- ular troops, pro-government mi- old Arik. indebtedness to 147bn naira offi cer in the town, which is tions’ Mali special representative litia and former rebels – would be “This (takeover) was de- ($484mn). even women and three nearly 450km (280 miles) by Mahamat Saleh Annadif and a rolled out on February 20 in Gao signed by the government. But Arumemi-Ikhide said children were killed and road from the capital Accra. ey provisions of a peace French diplomatic representa- and February 28 in Kidal, with Ever since this government Arik had grown rapidly and had S11 people injured when “Out of the total of 10 bod- deal signed by the Malian tive. Timbuktu following a week later. came into power there has been been planning to raise equity a dispute among members of ies, seven are women and three Kgovernment and former Algeria helped to broker the An African diplomat present at the ambition to have a national capital of as much as $1bn in a traditional ruler’s family in are children, two girls and rebels in 2015 are fi nally due to be peace deal and France is Mali’s the talks said the CMA had “giv- carrier,” Arumeni-Ikhide told the second quarter and then a northern Ghana turned vio- a boy,” he told AFP. “Eleven rolled out imminently, according former colonial master. en agreement for the peace proc- Reuters. “We are going to chal- possible stock market listing in lent, police said on Friday. people are receiving treatment to an offi cial document obtained “We are all attached to this ac- ess to restart on the condition of lenge the forceful takeover in Lagos and London, rather than Sounds of gunshots were at the hospital after receiving by AFP on Friday. cord, we do not see an alterna- having a precise timeline on the court. By earlier next week we sourcing debt. heard on Thursday in the town gunshot wounds.” Tuareg-led rebels led an up- tive,” Lamamra said at the open- key points”. will be fi ling the case.” He said Arik had an enter- of Bimbilla after news that a Peprah said the men ran rising in 2012 that was hijacked ing of talks. The rebel alliance known as Analysts say the dispute prise value of around $4bn. local king was set to appoint a away during the “intra-family by Islamist militants, throwing Interim authorities for the the Co-ordination of Azawad showcases the complexity of In 2015, the Nigerian gov- chief against the wishes of an fi ght”, leaving the women and Mali into chaos and triggering a restive north where the upris- Movements (CMA) signed the doing business in Nigeria, with ernment set up a committee opposing faction. children vulnerable to attack. UN-French military intervention ing took place would be put into deal along with the government some suggesting that it could on establishing a national air- Traditional rulers are found “When the fi ght started, the the following year, but the rebels place between February 13 and and loyalist militias with hopes damage Nigeria’s eff orts to line, in fulfi lment of campaign across Africa and although men ran away and left the chil- later signed an accord without 20, the document said, to allow of bringing stability to the north, shake off its image as a risky promises which brought Presi- they often have no formal role dren and the physically chal- the Islamists. the state the re-enter territory the cradle of several Tuareg up- frontier market for interna- dent Muhammadu Buhari’s All in the elected, democratic sys- lenged. So when they go in and The offi cial document seen where it has been eff ectively ab- risings and a sanctuary for Is- tional investors. Progressive Congress to power. tem, they remain fi gures of don’t fi nd the men, they kill the by AFP and under consideration sent. lamist fi ghters. Arumemi-Ikhide said AM- An APC transition paper power and infl uence. women and children,” Peprah on Friday by the government, The strategic city of Kidal is Islamist militants continue to CON had used armed police seen by Reuters had proposed They are courted by politi- said. former rebels and pro-Bamako still entirely controlled by the sow chaos: just over three weeks to take control of the airline on merging a dozen debt-laden cians for advice and support, “We have arrested 21 sus- militias at a gathering in the Ma- former rebels. ago almost 80 people were killed Thursday, but that sharehold- airlines on AMCON’s books particularly over local issues, pects and we are screening lian capital appeared to show a These interim authorities will in the northern city of Gao by a ers have retained their shares. into a single carrier. and shape public opinion. them to aid the investigations,” willingness to overcome several remain in place until the security suicide bomber targeting pro- AMCON said it had a court It would include Arik and In Ghana, kings rule by ap- he said. sticking points after months of situation permits full local gov- government and former rebel order to take over Arik and had operate in partnership with a pointing chieftains to run parts The interior ministry has limited progress. ernment to be installed. militia preparing joint patrols in to use police offi cers and bail- global airline to serve the West of their kingdom. imposed a curfew on the town. Also present were Algerian Another key component of the the area. iff s to carry it out. and Central African region. Gulf Times Sunday, February 12, 2017 15 AMERICA

October trial Trump mulls revised travel for accused NY bomber

Reuters ban, court test still possible New York

Reuters Elections official asks US judge on Friday set an Octo- Palm Beach, Florida president to provide ber trial date for a man accused evidence of voter fraud Aof detonating a bomb that injured 30 people in New York City, delaying the resident Donald Trump is con- A member of the Federal Election scheduled start about six months af- sidering issuing a new execu- Commission on Friday called on ter defence lawyers argued they needed Ptive order banning citizens of President Donald Trump to share more time to prepare their case. certain countries travelling to the any evidence he has to support a Court-appointed lawyers for Ahmad United States after his initial attempt statement that voter fraud caused Khan Rahimi, 29, an Afghan-born US to clamp down on immigration and him and former senator Kelly Ayotte citizen, had complained that US District refugees snarled to a halt amid politi- to lose in New Hampshire in the 2016 Judge Richard Bermand and prosecutors cal and judicial chaos. US election. were pushing for too prompt a start for Trump announced the possibility of “The scheme the President of the a case that could result in life in prison. a “brand new order” that could be is- United States alleges would constitute US investigators have portrayed Ra- sued as soon as tomorrow or Tuesday, thousands of felony criminal off enses himi as an extremist who bought bomb in a surprise talk with reporters aboard under New Hampshire law,” FEC Com- components on eBay and kept a journal Air Force One late on Friday, as he and missioner Ellen Weintraub said in a expressing outrage at the US “slaugh- the Japanese premier headed to his es- statement. ter” of mujahideen fi ghters in Afghani- tate in Florida for the weekend. Trump blamed voter fraud for his stan, Iraq, Syria and Palestine. His signalling of a possible new tack and Ayotte’s losses in New Hampshire The judge initially set a March tri- came a day after an appeals court in in November’s election while speaking al start, which would have been six San Francisco upheld a court ruling on Thursday with a bipartisan group months after the September 17 blast last week that temporarily suspended Customs and Border Protection agents check vehicles entering the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San of US senators, saying that Ayotte’s in the New York City neighbourhood Trump’s original January 27 execu- Ysidro, California. re-election bid was spoiled by “thou- of Chelsea that offi cials said sent a tive order banning travel from seven sands” of people from neighbouring 45kg garbage dumpster fl ying 36m and majority-Muslim countries. planning to escalate the dispute. rations, especially technology fi rms. Should Trump issue a new order, he is Massachusetts voting in New Hamp- caused damage across a 200m crime Trump gave no details of any new “Every single court option is on the A federal judge in Seattle suspended still likely to face legal challenges, as op- shire, according to media reports. scene. ban he is considering. table, including an appeal of the Ninth the order last Friday after its legality ponents could ask the court to let them Democratic presidential nominee Hil- Rahimi has pleaded not guilty to a He might rewrite the original order Circuit decision on the TRO (tempo- was challenged by Washington state, amend their complaints, said Alexander lary Clinton narrowly won New Hamp- host of both US and New Jersey state to explicitly exclude green card hold- rary restraining order) to the Supreme eliciting a barrage of angry Twit- Reinert, a professor at Yeshiva Universi- shire’s four electoral votes by nearly charges that he detonated that bomb in ers, or permanent residents, said a Court, including fi ghting out this case ter messages from Trump against the ty’s Cardozo School of Law in New York. 3,000 votes, while Ayotte, a Republican New York, another in New Jersey ear- congressional aide familiar with the on the merits,” Priebus said. judge and the court system. On Air Force One, Trump addressed like Trump, lost by only 743 votes. lier that day and left behind others that matter, who asked not to be identifi ed. “And, in addition to that, we’re pur- That ruling was upheld by an ap- the San Francisco court fi ght, saying: Weintraub, who was appointed by failed to explode. Doing that could alleviate some suing executive orders right now that peals court in San Francisco on Thurs- “We will win that battle. The unfor- former Republican president George Prosecutors had argued in favour of concerns expressed by the courts. we expect to be enacted soon that will day, raising questions about Trump’s tunate part is that it takes time statu- W Bush, asked Trump to “immediately the early start in part because of elevat- A new order, however, could allow further protect Americans from ter- next step. torily...We need speed for reasons of share his evidence with the public and ed public interest while also saying tri- Trump’s critics to declare victory by rorism.” An offi cial familiar with Trump’s security.” The matter could move for- with the appropriate law-enforcement als typically start 12 to 16 months after arguing he was forced to change course Trump’s original order, which he plans said if the order is rewritten, ward next week. authorities so that his allegations a defendant’s fi rst appearance in court. in his fi rst major policy as president. called a national security measure among those involved would likely be An unidentifi ed judge on the 9th Cir- may be investigated promptly and But defence lawyers said it would be Whether or not Trump issues a new meant to head off attacks by Islamist White House aide Stephen Miller, who cuit on Friday requested that the court’s thoroughly.” unfair to the defendant considering the order, his administration may still pur- militants, barred people from Iran, Iraq, was involved in drafting the original 25 full-time judges vote on whether the massive volume of evidence that needs sue its case in the courts over the origi- Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen order, as well as offi cials of the National temporary block of Trump’s travel ban to be reviewed. nal order, which is still being reviewed from entering for 90 days and all refu- Security Council, Justice Department should be reheard before an 11-judge preliminary injunction that would put After considering arguments from by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. gees for 120 days, except refugees from and Department of Homeland Security. panel, known as en banc review, ac- a longer hold on Trump’s executive or- both sides, the judge on Friday set a date White House Chief of Staff Reince Syria, who were banned indefi nitely. It is not clear if a new order from cording to a court order. der than the Seattle court ruling, but of October 2 for jury selection to begin, Priebus told reporters late on Friday The abrupt implementation of the Trump would immediately put a travel The 9th Circuit asked both sides to focused solely on visa holders. roughly 12 months after the events. that taking the case to the Supreme order plunged the immigration system ban back in place, or if those who have fi le briefs by Thursday. Judge Leonie Brinkema asked the Rahimi was arrested two days after Court remained a possibility, after an- into chaos, sparking a wave of criticism fi led lawsuits, including the state of In a separate case on Friday, Justice administration for more evidence of the blasts in a shootout with police in other White House offi cial said earlier from targeted countries, Western allies Washington, would succeed in asking Department lawyers argued in federal the threat posed by citizens of the sev- Linden, New Jersey, in which fi ve police in the day the administration was not and some of America’s leading corpo- the same judge for another hold. court in Alexandria, Virginia against a en countries. offi cers were injured.

Gulf Times Sunday, February 12, 2017 17 BRITAIN

AVIATION CITY CRUELTY TO ANIMALS CRIME WEATHER British Airways cabin crew Signalling failure causes Man who killed duck by 15-year-old weeps as he is Forecasters warn of to walk out next week chaos on line to Heathrow wringing its neck walks locked up for stabbing very low temperatures

British Airways cabin crew will walk out on a four- Holiday-goers trying to get to Heathrow have A “callous and cruel” man who killed a duck A 15-year-old killer wept as he was detained for More snow flurries hit the capital as forecasters day strike next week in dispute over pay, Union had their journeys thrown into chaos due to by wringing its neck after luring it over to him at least 13 years for stabbing a teenage boy to warned the weekend will endure some of the Unite has announced. The crew will walk out from severe delays on the Piccadilly line. The signal on the banks of the Thames has walked free death in an ambush near Portobello Road. Fola coldest weather all winter. After seeing a week February 17 in an ongoing dispute with the airline. failure aff ected services between Acton Town from court. Robert Muir, 49, picked up the bird Orebiyi, 17, was expecting a fist fight but ended of wintry showers and cloud, snow began to fall The announcement was made on the second day and all Heathrow terminals yesterday. TfL says for a second time and twisted its neck again up being knifed in the neck and back near the again in London yesterday. Temperatures are of a three-day walkout, which followed a similar it cannot predict when a normal service will before dumping its dead body in a bin in front Notting Hill street market. He was pronounced expected to stay below 3C, but Scandinavian strike earlier this week, the Sun reported. A BA resume, with travellers encouraged to seek of horrified families in Richmond. Police were dead an hour later. His killer, who cannot be winds will make it feel much colder. Undeterred spokesman said: “We have flown all customers to alternative routes. Furious Tube users have called by shocked bystanders who witnessed the named because of his age, stabbed him twice on by the cold weather, many gleeful Londoners their destinations during the previous strikes by taken to social media to vent their fury. One man launching the random attack on the river the evening of July 3 last year over a “trivial” row. shared pictures and videos of the snow. Some mixed fleet Unite and we will ensure this happens person said: “The Piccadilly line is basically bank at about 6pm on May 25. CCTV footage The teenager ran away, leaving his collapsed joked that the light dusting of snow as “probably again. Union off icer Oliver Richardson said: “British finished as any sort of reliable transport showed Muir enticing the mallard duck with food victim to bleed to death in the street, before enough to bring London to a standstill”. A low of Airways should focus on addressing poverty pay provider.” before he grabbed it and broke its neck. Muir, of he disposed of the blade and clothes he was 2C is predicted today. Forecasters have predicted in its mixed fleet, rather than continuing to waste A TfL spokesman said tickets will be accepted on Sandycombe Road, Richmond, was sentenced wearing on the night of the attack. On Friday, he it will warm up towards the end of the weekend hundreds of thousands of pounds on chartering in the local buses and on Heathrow Connect train at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court to 12 weeks in was detained for a minimum of 13 years at the and it is expected that it will be much brighter aircraft to cover striking workers.” services from Paddington. prison, suspended for 12 months. Old Bailey after he was found guilty of murder. tomorrow, with sunny spells and highs of 7C. Trump UK Salmon season visit could sidestep parliament

AFP from a Thursday to a Sunday, London probably at the end of August or early September, it said. Queen Elizabeth II, who he thorny issue of US would host the visit, typically president Donald Trump spends August and September Tspeaking to the Brit- at Balmoral. ish parliament might be side- The remote, private estate stepped by staging his state is in Aberdeenshire in north- visit when lawmakers are not east Scotland, where one of sitting, a newspaper reported Trump’s two Scottish golf yesterday. courses is located. State visits by foreign leaders The Guardian suggested the typically include an address to traditional state banquet could the Houses of Parliament and be held at Windsor Castle, Prime Minister Theresa May west of London, rather than has invited Trump to Britain Buckingham Palace in the city this year. centre, as it would be easier to However, John Bercow, the guard against protesters. speaker of the lower House of Some 1.85mn people have Commons, said Monday he signed a petition saying Trump was “strongly opposed” to al- should be allowed to visit Brit- lowing Trump to address par- ain but not on an offi cial state liamentarians, citing “opposi- visit, for fear of causing em- tion to racism and sexism”. barrassment to Queen Eliza- Anglers arrive to fish in the River Spey during the opening of the salmon fishing season on the Spey in Aberlour, Speyside, northeast Scotland. His outburst outraged some beth. MPs who felt he had strayed One MP has tabled a motion well beyond the remit of the of no confi dence in Bercow, speaker’s chair. claiming he had strayed beyond Quoting sources in London’s the speaker’s neutrality in his Westminster government dis- anti-Trump outburst. trict, The Guardian newspa- The Daily Mail newspaper per said May’s administration cited a government ministry had now abandoned the idea source as saying Trump had of Trump addressing MPs and shown “no interest” in ad- lords. dressing the Houses of Parlia- Government to close Offi cials were instead trying ment, and insisted the visit was to set up the state visit at a time “not being delayed”. when parliament is not sit- Former US presidents Ro- ting, “in order to avoid a formal nald Reagan, Bill Clinton and snub”, the daily said. Barack Obama have addressed The visit would take place both houses of parliament. Iraq war vet inquiry Spurious cases were bought on an “industrial scale”. And they of control in its management. Sir Michael said: “It was the The eff ects of this on the Brit- against the armed forces it is criticised it for “serious” failings It added: “Both the MoD and MoD that supplied the main evi- ish military are profound and en- alleged after it handed over more than IHAT have focused too much on dence that got Phil Shiner struck during.” Frontbenchers who £110,829 to Abu Jamal, an Iraqi satisfying the accusers and too off for making false allegations The defence subcommittee Evening Standard middleman, while he was em- little on defending those under against our Armed Forces. inquiry, chaired by former army London ployed by Public Interest Law- investigation.” Exposing his dishonesty means captain Johnny Mercer, said Iraq defi ed Corbyn will yers (PIL), the defunct fi rm be- IHAT was set up by Labour in many more claims he made can veterans had been treated in an hind many of the claims. 2010 to assess claims of abuse by now be thrown out and the be- “unacceptable manner as a result £60mn government in- Phil Shiner, who ran PIL, Iraqi civilians against troops who ginning of the end for IHAT. of serving the United Kingdom”. not be sacked quiry into allegations has been struck off after being had served there. “This will be a relief for our “Throughout this process Aagainst Iraq war veterans found to have acted dishonestly It started out with 165 cases soldiers who have had allegations there has been an almost total will be shut down within months. in bringing murder and torture but the allegations rocketed. hanging over them for too long. disregard of the welfare of sol- Evening Standard ticle 50. Labour sources said Defence Secretary Sir Michael claims against Iraq war veterans. Most were generated by two Now we are taking action to diers and their families,” the London that given the “extraordinary Fallon said the Iraq Historic Alle- The committee said it was law fi rms, PIL and Leigh Day. stop such abuse of our legal sys- Conservative MP said. circumstances” of the refer- gations Team (IHAT) will close in “deeply concerned” the MoD had The report states: “It is clear tem from happening again.” Chief of the General Staff Gen- endum aftermath rebels will the summer and around 20 cases used public funds to cover the to us that legal fi rms were em- MPs were told that the war eral Sir Nicholas Carter said: abour frontbenchers who receive a written warning, and will be dealt with by the Royal costs of those who were bring- powered by the MoD’s approach veterans had been “hung out to “The army’s leadership code defi ed Jeremy Corbyn will be expected not to defy a Navy Police. ing “spurious and unassessed” to IHAT to generate cases against dry”, with one becoming a rec- requires the highest values and Lover the Brexit bill will three-line whip again. The decision comes in the cases against the war veterans service personnel at an industrial luse, because there had been a standards. It is right therefore not be sacked. Sources said that Corbyn wake of a scathing report by the and about the lack of support for level. lack of military support. that on the occasions that there MPs from the Labour leader’s believes it will “not be viable” defence committee who said the those accused. The MoD cannot claim that it “While the cost to the taxpayer are credible allegations of unac- Shadow Cabinet who defi ed the for someone to remain in the probe subjected serving and re- IHAT investigators used “in- has been a victim of the industry; is signifi cant, the psychologi- ceptable behaviour they should three-line whip will instead re- Shadow Cabinet if they ignore tired troops to “deeply disturb- timidatory tactics”, including nor can it claim that it had no way cal and actual cost to individual be investigated. ceive a written warning. a three-line whip again. ing” treatment. “deeply disturbing” methods of foreseeing the creation of this soldiers is arguably greater,” the “However, a signifi cant The move emerged after the Corbyn is clear that this is MPs set out a litany of fail- such as impersonating the police. industry.” report states. number of claims made against party’s chief whip Nick Brown the “fi nal warning” to Brexit ures about the way the Ministry Serving and retired soldiers The Government said it had “Their lives have been put on our soldiers have not been cred- met with Corbyn to discuss rebels on the issue, the source of Defence, which created IHAT, have also been spied on, the re- not been able to shut down IHAT hold and their careers damaged, ible. how to handle disciplinary ac- said. has handled the probe. port found. sooner because the conduct of sometimes for years, because of The recent exposure of un- tion after more than 50 MPs The House voted in favour of They blamed the department The damning report said the the investigations is under scru- allegations made against them — scrupulous law fi rms and vexa- ignored the leader’s orders and the bill by 494 to 122 — a major- for empowering law fi rms to gen- catalogue of serious failings in tiny by the High Court and the in many cases without any cred- tious claims has clearly shown voted against triggering Ar- ity of 372 – on Wednesday night. erate cases that lacked credibility IHAT’s conduct pointed to a loss International Criminal Court. ible supporting evidence. this to be the case.” Hospital strike likely after porter is sacked over ‘£4 breakfast’

Evening Standard breakfast in the hospital canteen The letter reads: “The panel opinion that permission was not unemployed and branded a due to take place on Thursday to London last month. has taken into account your 15 granted and furthermore you did thief. have Tomlinson reinstated and The union said Tomlinson or- years service and the remorse not take suffi cient action to en- It makes my blood boil when that 80 workers had signed a pe- dered a fried egg on toast and a shown. sure permission to take the food I see criminals and repeat shop- tition against his dismissal. ast London hospital work- cup of tea before realising he was “It is clear that there was a was granted.” lifters who do not even get pros- A Sodexo spokeswoman told ers say they could strike unable to pay. misunderstanding, although Michael Dooley, GMB’s repre- ecuted and here we have a decent the Ilford Recorder: “Any mis- Eafter a porter was sacked He is alleged to have agreed on balance the panel believes sentative for Redbridge, said staff bloke losing his lively hood with conduct by an employee is ad- for allegedly stealing a fried egg with canteen staff to pay for the that the misunderstanding was reacted angrily to the decision little prospects of new employ- dressed through our internal sandwich. food later but a disciplinary panel yours in that a cursory com- and are due to meet to discuss ment for a misunderstanding disciplinary procedure, and if an Father-of-three Aldren Tom- ruled Tomlinson did not take ment and nod could be inter- possible strike action. over a four quid breakfast. individual is not satisfi ed with linson had worked at the King “suffi cient action” for permis- preted as requesting permission He said: “Aldren never tried to “Many of his work colleagues the outcome they have the right George Hospital in Ilford for 15 sion to take the breakfast. and receiving permission and hide what he did but it is clear this are demanding that the union to appeal the decision. years before he was dismissed by In a dismissal letter, seen by confirmed. was a simple misunderstanding refuse to allow the company to “We can confi rm an employee hospitality fi rm Sodexo. the Standard, Sodexo said wit- “Additionally, your request for which the company, Sodexo, act so unfairly. has been dismissed and that in- According to the GMB union, nesses reported Tomlinson was not directed at somebody have not in our view dealt with GMB are meeting with staff to dividual still has the opportunity Mr Tomlinson lost his job over walked past the till without pay- in authority, and furthermore proportionally. Tomlinson was dismissed on discuss the matter and decide on to appeal the decision. a “misunderstanding” when he ing and only approached to grab a as you stated you did not hear a “Aldren has a clean work Tuesday amid allegations he a course of action.” “We are unable to comment forgot his wallet to pay for a £4 knife and fork. response then the panel is of the record of 15 years and is now stole food from the canteen Dooley added a protest was any further.”

Gulf Times 20 Sunday, February 12, 2017 INDIA

INAUGURATION DEADLOCKED BARGE INCIDENT HIGH SCHOOL HIT DRUG BUST Jat agitation continues as Three sailors die after Police car vandalised in BSF finds 5kg heroin talks remain inconclusive inhaling toxic fumes bicycle distribution row in bullock cart wheel

Talks between a section of Jat community Three Indian sailors of a Singaporean bulk A group of angry high-school students vandalised The BSF has recovered five kg of heroin from leadership, which is spearheading Jat protests carrier died while one was injured when they a police vehicle yesterday during a clash over the tyre of a bullock cart near the India-Pakistan across 19 districts in Haryana, remained inhaled toxic fumes from a sludge leakage the distribution of bicycles in West Bengal. A border in Punjab’s Ferozepur sector. The inconclusive yesterday even as the agitation in a cargo barge off the harbour in Mumbai clash broke out among the students of Kashipur seizure was made in the area of border outpost continued for the 14th day. The Jat leadership, yesterday morning. MV Thor Endevour, High School in Murshidabad’s Rejinagar over the Jagdish in Ferozepur sector on Friday evening, Film actress Tamannaah Bhatia inaugurating a led by Yashpal Malik, who heads the All India Jat anchored some 10km west of Mumbai, reported distribution of bicycles under a state government a Border Security Force spokesman said. “BSF new showroom of Malabar Gold & Diamonds Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, met a panel of senior the incident on the cargo barge, Orion II, around project. “A section of students got agitated for troops performing gate management duties at at Marathahalli, Bengaluru, in the presence of Haryana government off icers at Panipat Refinery. 10.45pm on Friday night to the Indian Coast not getting the bicycles on today’s allotment and Fence Gate No 193 in the area recovered five Asher O, managing director – India The agitation by the Jats has remained peaceful till Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre clashed among themselves. Stones pelted by them packets of contraband from the bullock cart operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds; Ramesh now. Their demands include reservation for Jats, (ICG-MRCC) in Mumbai. While three sailors were hit the police van parked at the school premises tyre of a farmer of Gandu Kilcha village,” the N, Marathahalli corporator; Iflu Rahman, jobs to the next of kin of those killed in violence brought dead to the shore, one was injured and and broke the windscreen,” said Prasanta Dutta, spokesman said. A search led to the recovery of regional head, Karnataka; management team in the Jat agitation last year, withdrawal of cases the master of Orion II, Mohamed Daud Ibrahim Off icer in-charge of Rejinagar police station. “The the heroin consignment, valued at Rs250mn in members of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, other against them and action against off icers who Kurey, 50, was saved after he was administered students were upset with the school authorities the international market. Punjab shares a 553km dignitaries, well-wishers and guests. ordered action against the Jats. first aid by the ICG team. but had no personal grudge against the police.” long international border with Pakistan. 64% vote in UP election fi rst phase

IANS polling booths, were replaced He, however, expressed sat- Lucknow within no time. isfaction on the overall exercise “Elaborate security arrange- of polling and thanked and con- ments were made to ensure free gratulated all political parties he fi rst phase of the Uttar and fair elections,” he said, adding and general public for their “co- Pradesh assembly elec- that over 200,000 security per- operation”. Ttions passed off “peace- sonnel were deployed at various “The fi rst phase (of elections) fully” yesterday with over 64% locations across the 15 districts. has set the tone for the next six polling recorded, bettering the Dev said that nearly 300,000 phases,” he said The polling per- record of the past two state polls, “troublemakers” were bound centage in the region has bettered the Election Commission said. down. the past two elections of 2007 “Participation (of voters) has He said 3,888 cameras were and 2012, an election offi cial in been exemplary,” Deputy Elec- also placed at various locations Lucknow told IANS based on tion Commissioner Vijay Dev to keep watch on every activity in reports gathered from all polling told reporters in New Delhi. poll bound areas. stations. Voting continued even after The Deputy Election Commis- The average polling is over 5pm at some polling stations sioner also said that Rs1.95mn 60% in western UP seats. since voters who had queued up in cash, 4.4 lakh litre of alco- According to Chief Elec- Women voters stand in a queue to cast their vote in the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in Agra yesterday. late were allowed to exercise their hol worth Rs440,000 and gold toral Offi cer of Uttar Pradesh, T franchise. and silver worth Rs140mn were Venkatesh, the total voter turn- iabad (58.10%), Bulandshahr At a few places, polling was Clashes between activists of There were 26,822 polling cen- He said the elections spread seized before the elections. out was 64.22% with Shamli re- (64.65%), Etah (64.73%), Kas- disrupted or delayed due to tech- the ruling Samajwadi Party and tres in this phase of polling. across 15 districts, 73 assembly Asked about the call for elec- cording highest 67.12%. ganj (64.83%), Meerut (66%), nical snags in EVMs, said an of- the Bahujan Samaj Party were re- Among the candidates in the constituencies, involved over tion boycott at a few places, Dev While in Agra, the voter turn- Hatharas (64.10%) and Baghpat fi cial, adding that by and large ported from two places. fray was Pankaj Singh, the son of 26mn voters, 839 candidates, in- said that things were sorted out out was 63.88%, Aligarh saw a (64.99%) witnessing high num- voting was smooth and steady at The largest constituency in federal Home Minister Rajnath cluding 73 women candidates. at six out of seven places where 64.66% turnout with Muzaff ar- bers. most places. the fi rst phase, as per popula- Singh. He said there was no major law poll boycott call was given by the nagar (65.50%), Hapur (65.67%), Total vote percentage in the Sporadic incidents of poll vio- tion, is Sahibabad in Ghaziabad The seven-phased elections in and order problem, and EVMs public dissatisfi ed for various Firozabad (63.59%), Mathura 2007 state assembly polls was lence were also reported from district and the smallest is Jalesar Uttar Pradesh are from February which malfunctioned at few reasons. (65.39%), Noida (59.17%), Ghaz- 45.96% and 59.40% in 2012. some places. in Etah. 11 to March 8. Art biennale unites traditional rivals Brain-dead tourist saves lives in Kerala By Ashraf Padanna Kochi By Ashraf Padanna after Davis Chiramel, a Christian Kochi priest, launched Kidney Federa- ndia’s largest art show currently open tion of India and donated one of here, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, has his kidneys to a Hindu electri- Ijoined hands with Karachi and La- 55-year-old brain-dead cian. hore biennales to create a hub of art and woman tourist from West Soon, industrialist Kochouse- knowledge production and exchange. ABengal has saved two lives ph Chittilappilly followed his Eight other leading contemporary art in Kerala after her family donated footsteps and donated a kidney institutions from across South Asia and her kidneys. to a truck driver. England are also part of the subconti- Kajori Bose, a resident of Inspiring many more peo- nent’s largest collaborative initiative in Behala, a south-west Kolkata ple, social worker Uma Preman art, including the Dhaka Art Summit and neighbourhood, was declared joined them, the recipient this the Colombo Biennale. brain dead at VPS Lakeshore time was an offi ce boy in Tamil Kochi Biennale Foundation, which runs Hospital, where she was under- Nadu, an orphan. the biennial event that attracts more than going treatment here. Organ donations happen in half a million visitors, both Indian and She was shifted here after she Kerala regularly since, and the foreign, says Pakistani artists were taking suff ered breathlessness and col- government provides all logisti- a keen interest in the 108-day show since lapsed on a houseboat in the cal supports to the hospitals to its beginning in 2012. backwater town of Alappuzha transport harvested organs by The new initiative, New North and last week. road or air. South Network, will showcase the best “We decided to donate her It set another fi rst last month of contemporary art in both regions, kidneys as it would save the life when a 26-year-old woman un- promote their artistic and intellectual of two people and it will also help derwent both heart and lung expressions and explore their shared her- us keep her memory alive,” her transplant together at Lisie Hos- itage and contested histories over three husband Deviprasad Bose said. pital here under Dr Jose Chacko years of co-commissions and exhibitions. “Usually people donate organs Periappuram, who has almost Other collaborators include the Man- if brain death happens in their become a synonym for the heart chester Art Gallery, the Whitworth Art hometown. We hope that our de- transplant. Gallery, the Manchester Museum, the cision will encourage others even The organs were donated by if brain death happens beyond the family of 19-year-old Nithin borders.” from Karunagappally, who was ‘Amazing Museum’ by Bara Bhaskaran at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Kerala launched Mrithasan- declared brain dead following a jeevani, the organ sharing net- road accident. Liverpool Biennial and the Tetley art gal- Meanwhile, the Tetley will host a International, Pittsburgh – one of the work, in August 2012 under the The woman was suff ering lery along with the British Council, and is workshop facilitated by Chopra, Madhavi oldest contemporary art exhibitions. initiative of then-chief minis- from a rare congenital disease, supported by Arts Council England. Gore and Jana Prepeluh in Leeds. “The value of exhibitions like the KMB, ter Oommen Chandy and it had Eisenmenger. “This long-term initiative will provide Twelve artists selected by the network which are hosted in places that are con- received 253 deceased donors The government has specifi ed them with a platform for sharing knowl- and drawn from across South Asia and sidered remote, as a point of pride for the since. that a panel of doctors, includ- edge and creativity across the world,” the UK will incubate new ideas and de- people living here cannot be understated. Besides 430 kidneys, the organ ing one in the public service, will KBF president Bose Krishnamachari said. liver a weekend of talks and performances It has the feel of many survey exhibitions transplants include 45 hearts, certify brain death and not a sin- “To better connect with the diverse in August. happening in Korea and even in the US.” three lungs, 199 livers, fi ve pan- gle physician. audiences on two continents, the initia- “We are delighted to have helped “The Biennale has opened a world of creases, three small intestines, A person legally in possession tive will present an ongoing series of solo match them with their peers in the North opportunities for the homegrown art- six hands and six larynxes. of the deceased person can sign artist exhibitions, performances, fi lm of England, nurturing new artistic talent ists,” added Bara Bhaskaran, whose But this is for the fi rst time a the consent form. screenings, music events and social his- in the region,” said Jim Hollington, direc- ‘Amazing Museum’ reconstructing Kera- tourist joining the network. It also decided to implement tory projects.” tor- arts South Asia, British Council. la’s history through the marginalised and Her body was fl own back to stricter monitoring after wide- The on-ground programme begins in International art experts have been unseen people, draws art enthusiasts. her hometown yesterday. spread concerns over the possi- Manchester in March with a retrospective making a beeline for India’s only Biennale The show had little over half a million Philip, 55, of Anchal in Kollam bility of commercialisation. of photographs by Sooni Taraporevala since its opening on Dec 12 at 13 venues footfalls last time, and the organisers ex- and Makkar, 61, of Mulavoor in Violators of the Transplan- followed by exhibitions of Mehreen Mur- across the historic Fort Cochin and Mat- pect it to far surpass with a good spread of Ernakulam received the kidneys tation of Human Organs Act, taza, Waqas Khan, Hetain Patel, Neha tancherry islands and the mainland — paintings, installations, and audio-visual on Friday selected from the on- which makes it illegal to buy or Choksi, Risham Syed Reena Saini Kallat mostly abandoned spices warehouses of shows by 97 talents from 31 countries. line Mritasanjeevani registry. sell organs and tissues are, sub- and Nikhil Chopra. the colonial era. The third edition will conclude on Doctors said both were in fi ne ject to fi nes and imprisonment. The network will facilitate a series of “The Biennale is a potpourri of ideas March 29. fettle after the transplant. Hospitals failing to comply residencies hosted by the Liverpool Bi- from around the world gathered in an Kerala Tourism, the state’s tour- There are 1523 patients regis- with its provisions can lose their ennial, enabling mid-career artists from amazing setting,” said Richard Arm- ism board, is also advertising the event tered on Mrithasaneevani (knos. transplant licences. South Asia to work with, or be supported strong, director of the New York-based as a major attraction for the visitors to org.in) and waiting for a kidney. There are 29 hospitals author- Visitors line up to view the presentations by, artists and curators of international Solomon R Guggenheim Museum and the God’s Own Country, along with its Live kidney donation gained ised to conduct particular organ at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. reputation. Foundation and founder of the Carnegie beaches, backwaters and hill stations. momentum in Kerala in 2009 transplants in Kerala.

Gulf Times 22 Sunday, February 12, 2017 LATIN AMERICA Brazil offi cers won’t end week-long strike Police protest

Reuters Vitoria, Brazil

olice in the Brazilian state spreads to Rio of Espirito Santo did not Preturn to work yesterday AFP despite the government an- Rio de Janeiro nouncing hours earlier a deal had been struck with offi cers to end a week-long strike that has led to a partial police shutdown sharp increase in murders. over unpaid wages put Rio Most of the violence has been Ade Janeiro on edge on Fri- centered in the poor regions of day, sparking fears of chaos simi- metropolitan Vitoria, the state lar to that seen in a neighbouring capital ringed by beaches and Brazilian state where police are where the petroleum, mining in revolt and criminals have run and port industries have a strong amok. presence. Morale among street police is Vitoria streets were calm yes- low as a result of nearly bank- terday, however, as more soldiers rupt Rio state’s inability to pay and elite federal police arrived in full wages, as well as brutal crime the state, with more than 4,000 fi ghting that has seen more than expected to be in place to bolster 3,000 offi cers killed in Rio since the initial deployment of 1,200 1994 – a casualty rate exceeding soldiers. that of US troops in World War II, Offi cials in the state just north according to a recent study. of Rio de Janeiro told report- Police, who are classifi ed as ers late on Friday that they had military, are barred by the con- reached an agreement with rep- stitution from going on strike or resentatives of the police that demonstrating. patrols would resume at 7am To get around that law, female (0900 GMT). relatives of offi cers blocked the But family members of the of- entrances to several Rio police fi cers told Reuters that no such bases, including the elite Shock accord had been reached. Battalion – and personnel made Gustavo Tenorio, a spokesman no eff ort to come out. for the Espirito Santo state secu- “We’re demonstrating to de- rity secretariat, said that Defence Relatives of police off icers block the main entrance of state police mand police get their rights back, Minister Raul Jungmann and headquarters in Vitoria, Espirito Santo. especially security, payment Brazil’s chief prosecutor Rodrigo of salaries on time and better Janot would be in Vitoria to help fi cers remained on strike. could take it. But a week of being equipment, not weapons that are advance negotiations. Under Brazilian law, it is illegal in this chaos is not acceptable.” out of order and cars that are not “We had reached an agreement for police to strike, which is why Offi cials have closed schools, maintained,” said a woman out- Police off icers wait as their relatives block the entrance to the military police station during a protest for last night with police associa- their family members have taken clinics and public transporta- side the 6th Battalion station. better salaries and working conditions in Rio de Janeiro. tions that they return to work to- action to physically prevent po- tion, while shops and other busi- The woman, who like other day, but that has not happened,” lice cars leaving barracks. nesses have remained shuttered, protesters requested that she not Spokesman Major Ivan Blaz President Michel Temer, who Newspaper front pages were Tenorio said. “We continue to The police themselves have causing over $30mn in losses, a be identifi ed, said her husband told journalists that “95%” of said nothing in public about the fi lled with headlines like “Rio’s work on this problem.” not tried to remove their families, state retail association said. had been killed on duty last year. offi cers were working as normal crisis all week, called the situ- Hell” and “Rio ungoverned”. Tenorio said that more than leading to fears among some of Espirito Santo is one of several “We’ve had enough!” said an- and that the state and city were ation “unacceptable” on Friday In a video appeal, police 700 police are already facing the relatives that soldiers could Brazilian states hit by a budget other police widow helping to secure. and said that demonstrators spokesman Blaz urged offi cers possible charges of insurrection try to remove them by force. crisis that is crippling essential blockade the station. Roberto Sa, security chief for “cannot hold the Brazilian peo- and their families not to follow for not working, which could The striking police said they public services. At the imposing Shock Bat- Rio state, said on Friday night ple hostage”. the path of Espirito Santo. lead to prison time. had not received a raise in four The police strike over pay has talion headquarters, women pre- that the defence ministry had Espirito Santo police want a “We cannot allow this scenario Offi cials said late on Friday that years and that their base pay of left a security vacuum and led to vented cars and anyone in uni- made troops available to step in pay raise. of barbarity to reach our houses,” if the police returned to work, no about 2,900 reais ($931) a month rampant assaults, robberies and form from exiting. if needed, adding that he hoped In Rio, the main demands he said. offi cer would be charged. was among the lowest in Brazil. looting, often in broad daylight. “If you come in, we won’t let their intervention would not be are payment of 2016’s fi nal sal- Others took a lighter view of Jungmann told the UOL news Aline Santana, an 18-year-old The police union said yes- you leave,” one woman warned necessary. ary and overtime, including for the possible absence of police, portal that striking police offi c- mother of two boys, was out for a terday that 137 people had been two thick-set police offi cers re- The limited blockades were working extra during the Olym- who for all their ferociousness ers “are contributing to the rise walk in central Vitoria yesterday, murdered in the state since last turning to base with rifl es and modeled on a broader shutdown pic Games in August. against demonstrators and drug in crime” and that “whether they and her mix of understanding Saturday – a six-fold increase other combat gear carried by in the neighbouring Espirito San- But Rio is in dire fi nancial gangs, have been unable to stop know it or not, are on the side of and frustration echoed the senti- over the average homicide rate in Shock Battalion troopers. to state, where relatives of police straits and the corruption- a surge in muggings and other the criminals that are killing citi- ments of many citizens. 2016. They politely agreed. closed all stations one week ago, plagued state is having to im- regular crime around Rio. zens”. “I think most people under- State security agents have said Police authorities said in a plunging the state into chaos (see plement austerity measures to “Attention: Rio military police The wives of police and other stand their need to strike, but that most of the murders appear statement that protests were accompanying report). qualify for a federal bailout. declare that policing continues relatives, who have led the strike they are leaving the population to be related to the drug trade or taking place outside 27 of Rio’s Despite the dispatch of fed- Messages widely shared on normally and that muggings are by forming human blockades of vulnerable to all types of threats,” other crimes, although bystand- 100 police stations, with fi ve eral army troops, more than 120 social media warned parents to occurring without problems,” barracks, refused to budge by she said. “If they had been on ers have also been caught up in reported by Globo television as people have been reported killed keep their children out of school went one joke making the rounds mid-morning yesterday and of- strike for two or three days, we the violence. blockaded. amid looting and robbery. and to stay indoors. of social media.

Haitians’ dreams Bolivia fi ghts locusts dashed after threatening harvests Reuters costly US voyage La Paz olivian farmers and gov- By Makini Brice, Reuters buses before reaching Arizona. ernment offi cials are Port-au-Prince For seven years after the Bfi ghting a locust plague quake, US policy protected Hai- threatening corn and sorghum tians from deportation unless harvests, just as agricultural ohn Stevens Val borrowed they were convicted of a serious areas were starting to recov- $3,000 from friends and fam- crime or posed a national secu- er from the South American Jily and trekked through 10 rity threat. country’s worst drought in a countries to make his way to the Encouraged by the policy, be- quarter century. United States, where he hoped tween October 2015 and Decem- Marieline Jean, who was deported back to Haiti from the US, poses for a portrait at the house where she The locusts, fi rst reported in life would be better than in Haiti, ber 2016, more than 13,500 Hai- lives, in Port-au-Prince. late January in Bolivia’s east- Morales speaking with farmers his impoverished homeland. tians like Val made the perilous ern grains belt, have aff ected aff ected by the locust plague But in the end he landed in a trip, up from just a few hundred and now you do not even suc- sobbed, while others looked furi- more than 4,400 were Haitians, around 1,000 hectares (2,470 in Cabezas district, Santa Cruz, US immigration detention centre in the previous year. ceed,” said Val, sitting in the li- ous, clinging to gray sweatshirts according to the then-US sec- acres) of crops and 500 pro- Bolivia. and was deported back to Haiti, In September, in response to brary of non-profi t organisation, issued in the US detention cen- retary of homeland security, Jeh ducers, said Vicente Gutierrez, deep in debt and struggling to in- the surge in Haitian immigrants, the Jesuit Service for Migrants. tres. Johnson. president of a corn and sor- represent only a small fraction tegrate, like so many other Hai- the United States restarted de- Back in a country with 40% “They spent a lot of money. Between October 2016 and ghum producers group. of the 100,000 hectares plant- tians. portation fl ights for newly ar- unemployment, Val was worried. It’s like a broken dream. They left January 16, 2017, 1,513 Haitians Government authorities and ed with grains in Santa Cruz Val, 28, left home after a dev- rived Haitians who do not have a “It’s not easy to live in Haiti. thinking they would stay 20, 30, were deported, a US Immigra- farmers were preparing on Fri- department. astating 2010 earthquake that case for seeking asylum. It’s complicated. There is no aid; 40 years or never return,” said tion and Customs Enforcement day to fumigate 300 hectares of Bolivia, normally self-suffi - wrecked the economy of the Car- More Haitians arrived late last there is no organisation that can Adelson Lorgeat, the technical offi cial said. crops, with the ultimate goal of cient in grain production, had ibbean nation, the poorest in the year, with more than 7,000 cross- help us in one way or the other. and research director for Haiti’s As of January 16, 4,060 were spraying some 17,000 hectares to import more than 100,000 Western hemisphere. ing the border between October We’re here. We live poorly,” Val National Offi ce of Migration. in US detention, an indication and preventing the plague from tonnes of corn worth $21mn in He worked in Brazil at a super- and December alone, creating said. “They consider it to be a dishon- more are crossing from Mexico, spreading and endangering the 2016, largely from Argentina, market for about two years until a backlog that will take months To make things worse, shortly our, a defeat.” where even more are massed on food supply. according to the private Boliv- a crash in Latin America’s biggest for the new administration of US after deportations resumed, Lorgeat advises deportees at the border. “This fi ght will not be short,” ian Institute of Foreign Trade. economy led him to pack his bags President Donald Trump to clear. Category-4 Hurricane Matthew Port-au-Prince airport but said Val said he had not ruled out said Reinaldo Diaz, president The country also import- again. For Val, who was still en route trashed Haiti’s southwest. that the offi ce did not have funds leaving Haiti once more for dif- of Bolivia’s oilseed and wheat ed 2,000 tonnes of sorghum After gathering the cash, he through South America when the After one fl ight carrying some to provide additional support be- ferent shores, if he had the mon- producers’ association. “We’re worth $5mn. made his way via plane, boat, shift occurred, the new policy of the fi rst Haitians to be re- yond that. ey. trying to identify where the Argentina, the world’s No three days of walking through came as a huge shock. patriated arrived a few weeks In November, of some 40,000 “If I don’t have any opportuni- eggs are, where the nymphs 3 corn exporter whose output forests and jungles, and a dozen “You lose all of your money ago, some of the 60 passengers people in immigration detention, ties, I’ll leave,” he said. are – those are the initial stages has been rising since corn ex- of the plague and where we can port taxes were slashed in late control it most effi ciently.” 2015, had sent experts to assist The plague follows a se- the fumigation eff ort, Bolivian vere drought in Bolivia that producers said. prompted controversial water “They have lived with this Paraguay gives remains of dictatorship victims to families rationing, confl icts between since 1920; we are learning miners and farmers over aqui- how to combat this problem,” fer use, and slashed agricultur- Bolivia’s President Evo Morales Reuters The remains are the only ones long time ago and that at the year, belong to two Paraguay- video, Uruguay, in 1977 but were al harvests, requiring a sharp said after fl ying over aff ected Asuncion identifi ed to date among about same time opens a new door of ans: Miguel Angel Soler, a former killed in Paraguay. increase in imports. areas. 400 who were executed and struggle because now we must communist party general sec- Under the so-called Plan Con- Recent rains have relieved Producers in Santa Cruz, one 19,000 tortured under the rule insist that the judiciary de- retary, and Castulo Vera Baez, a dor, authoritarian rulers in Ar- Santa Cruz and inspired opti- of Bolivia’s wealthiest areas, he remains of four people of Alfredo Stroessner, accord- termine what happened,” said farmer. Both vanished in 1977. gentina, Chile, Uruguay, Para- mism for this year’s crops al- have for years lobbied the gov- killed during Paraguay’s ing to Paraguay’s Truth and Jus- Rogelio Goiburú from the justice The other victims were Rafaela guay, Brazil and Bolivia traded though drought continues to ernment to lift export restric- T1954-1989 military dicta- tice Commission, established in ministry’s board of historical Filipazzi, an Italian citizen, and information in order to hunt affl ict the main city of La Paz. tions and liberalise regulations torship were given to their fami- 2003. memory and reparation. Jose Agustin Potenza of Argen- down and kill exiled opponents For the moment, the 1,000 on the use of genetically-mod- lies on Friday in a ceremony. “It is a job that we started a The remains, identifi ed last tina. Both disappeared in Monte- in the 1970s and 1980s. hectares aff ected by locusts ifi ed seeds. Gulf Times Sunday, February 12, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Tale of a woman spread across Indo-Pak borders, religions

Internews They were migrating to Am- the apple of his mother’s eye. used to pray for my children and Khurshid, who lived in Canada, youngest of whom is amused by Karachi ritsar when the caravan was at- In 1962 when the government recall their names before falling was able to travel to the US to his great-grandmother. “She has tacked and everyone, except the relaxed the visa restrictions be- asleep,” she shared. meet her. wings, she can fl y,” he giggled. women on board, was killed. tween India and Pakistan, Khan Her step-son Romy moved to After the reunifi cation, Kaur “We used to say a prayer each arbhajan Kaur’s life story She was one of the surviv- off ered to take her to her home- the United States in 1989 and lat- was desperate to meet her night for her safe return home,” is nothing short of a fi lm, ing girls who converted to Islam town and meet her family. er invited his parents to join him. youngest son. “I won’t die until I said her daughter, Iqbal. Hcomplete with all the and married a man named Afzal When her father met her, he Kaur’s second husband died see him,” she would tell the fam- “At the same time, we thought gut-wrenching horrors of Par- Khan, who was 16 years older refused to accept her conver- in 2007 and that is when Romy ily over the phone. she was in India and must have tition and the helplessness of than her. sion and marriage and forced her Harbhajan Kaur had five off ered to look for her missing Her wish came true by the end died by now. We prayed that she families divided by hastily drawn Kaur became Shahnaz Begum. husband to leave her behind. children with her Pakistani children. of April that year when Romy rest in peace.” international boundaries. The nikah was solemnised at a Even though she tried to keep husband. He placed an ad in an Urdu was able to bring her to Pakistan The children fi nd it hard to be- It was in 1946 when Kaur, mosque in Kohat and the couple Rizwan with her, Khan refused newspaper in Pakistan. to meet her children for the fi rst lieve they are reunited with their barely a teenager at the time, moved to the Koela Godaam area and left for Pakistan. became Harbhajan Kaur again The ad caught the eyes of time in 51 years. mother. “We hope she remains was married to a Sikh man.“I of Karachi. It was around this time that and was married to a Sikh poet, Rizwan’s boss, recalled Kaur’s Kaur is currently in Karachi with us forever,” said Zubaida. was born in the house of a Sardar They had six children — Zulfi kar Ali Bhutto was the for- Gurbachan Singh, who had a daughter Jameela. for her second visit and this time “We will look after her, we will and I got married into the house Hameeda, Khurshid, Zubeda, eign minister of the country. fi ve-year-old son, Romy, from It was February 9, 2013 — a she is accompanied by Khurshid. serve her,” added Rizwan as he of a Sardar,” she said. Jamila, Iqbal and Rizwan. When Khan fi led a case against his previous marriage. date etched in the entire family’s Her visa expires on April 9 but sobbed. Kaur moved from her home- However, Hameeda died at a his Indian in-laws the verdict A victim of Partition for the memory. Kaur admitted she does not want The story of Harbhajan Kaur town Sansi near Amritsar to La- young age. did not come in his favour. second time, Kaur lost touch The family reached out to to leave her children. aka Shahnaz Begum will be hore where she lived for a short It was after a lot of prayers Khan stayed quiet and married with her Pakistani family and Romy and by February 13, they Her family has now extend- shared at the 8th Karachi Lit- period until the news of Parti- that she was blessed with a boy, someone else. continued living in India. “Like met her virtually via Skype. ed to include 15 grandchildren erature Festival taking place this tion reached her family. so the two-year-old Rizwan was Meanwhile, Shahnaz Begum every night one prays on rosary, I By March 4, Kaur’s daughter, and 37 great grandchildren, the weekend. US keen on Raft racing working with Pakistan

Internews rifi ced their lives in the fi ght Pakistan?” asked Senator Mc- Islamabad against terrorists, he said: “But Cain. “Sir, it’s very diffi cult to the fact remains that numer- succeed on the battlefi eld when ous terrorist groups still oper- your enemy enjoys external sup- he United States would ate within Pakistan, attack its port and safe haven. I think we like to maintain close ties neighbours and kill US forces.” need to continue to work closely Twith Pakistan and to use The senator, who also vis- with Pakistan,” the general re- those ties to persuade Islamabad ited North Waziristan last year, plied. “The Pakistanis did some to change its policies towards praised Pakistan for conducting good work in North Waziristan, Afghanistan, US lawmakers and a successful military operation right?” asked the senator. a top American general indicated in that area, but said that this “They did, sir. And we have at the latest Congressional hear- was not helping the US forces great respect for the operation ing on the situation in Afghani- combating terrorists in Afghani- they conducted in Waziristan. stan. stan. It was a very large and signifi - Although the hearing fo- “Put simply, our mission in cant operation and they suff ered cused on Afghanistan, Pakistan Afghanistan is immeasurably heavy casualties,” said Gen Ni- was mentioned 73 times in this more diffi cult, if not impossible, cholson. Tourists participate in a raft racing in northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar, yesterday. The raft racing is organised by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hours-long meeting on Wednes- while our enemies possess a safe “But the problem is the tourism department to attract more tourists. day while there were also doz- haven in Pakistan. These sanc- Haqqani network, especially in ens of indirect references to the tuaries must be eliminated,” he places like Quetta, right?” asked country’s role in the Afghan said. Senator McCain. confl ict. “Sir, that’s correct. We still WEATHER Senator John McCain, chair- “Sir, I have a great respect have enemy sanctuary in areas man of the Senate Armed Serv- for the Pakistan military like Quetta, like you mention, Gilgit-Baltistan ices Committee, set the tone of and its leaders” with the Taliban leadership, and limping back the discussion in his opening other cities within the tribal ar- Suicide bomber targets statement, saying that “suc- Senator McCain urged the eas for the Haqqani leadership,” to normality ceeding in Afghanistan will also new US administration to work Gen Nicholson said. require a candid evaluation of with Congress to “determine “You have had some dealings After Gilgit-Baltistan area in north America’s relationship with Pa- what additional actions are with the new chief of staff at of Pakistan was blanketed by kistan”. And the hearing’s sole necessary, to ensure that the the army. I don’t know if you’ve Afghan soldiers: 6 killed heavy snow with avalanches and witness, Gen John Nicholson enemies we continue to fi ght in had any dealings with the new landslides reported in many areas, Jr, commander of the US and Afghanistan can fi nd no sanctu- head of ISI, but does it make the government said they were international forces in Afghani- ary in Pakistan or in any other sense to focus our persuasive Agencies had been rushed to hospitals in destroyed in the bombing, Feda still assessing the extent of the stan, advocated for working country”. efforts on specific sub ele- Kandahar the city. Mohamed, a local witness, said. damage. However, most roads with Pakistan and its military to Senator Jack Reed, the com- ments within Pakistan?” asked Taliban militants claimed re- For years Helmand was the had been cleared while power stabilise Afghanistan and defeat mittee’s ranking Democrat, in- Senator Reed. sponsibility for the bombing. centrepiece of the US and Brit- had been restored. “All link roads extremists. sisted that the alleged Pakistani “Sir, I have a great respect t least six people were Qari Yosuf Ahmadi, a Taliban ish military intervention in have been cleared of snow while He disagreed with a sugges- support for extremist groups in for the Pakistan military and its killed yesterday when spokesman, claimed on Twitter Afghanistan only for it to slip electricity has been restored tion that cutting off US aid to Afghanistan, “whether it is pas- leaders. I’m developing, I be- Aan explosives-laden car that 39 soldiers and offi cers had deeper into a quagmire of insta- in the aff ected areas,” said the Pakistan would force it to co- sive or deliberate, must end if we lieve, a positive and construc- rammed into Afghan soldiers been killed and wounded “in the bility, with large swathes of the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Minister for In- operate. and Afghanistan are to achieve tive relationship with Gen Bajwa who had queued outside a bank martyrdom attack.” province under the control of the formation, Planning and Develop- Every time he was asked about necessary levels of security”. and his team. And again, we have in southern Helmand province “A suicide car bomber killed insurgents. ment Iqbal Hassan yesterday. He stopping US assistance, he em- He pointed to another dilemma great respect for the operations to collect their salaries, offi cials six people, including fi ve sol- Lashkar Gah — one of the last added that the government was phasised the need for diplomatic that US forces in the region face, they’ve conducted in Fata,” Gen said. diers, and 21 others were wound- government-held enclaves — trying to repair and reconstruct engagement with Islamabad. militants fl eeing to Afghanistan Nicholson replied. Nearly two dozen others ed,” Helmand police chief Agha also risks falling to the Taliban’s the bridges and roads which had Senator McCain, a regular when Pakistan launches an op- “The Pakistan people have were wounded in the explo- Noor Kentoz said. repeated ferocious assaults. been aff ected due to the ava- visitor to both Afghanistan and eration against them in the Fed- also suff ered from the scourge of sion in the capital Lashkar Gah, The Italian-run Emergency The intensified fighting in lanches and landslides during the Pakistan, underlined the US di- erally Administered Tribal Areas terrorism. And I quite sincerely many of them critically. Omar hospital in Lashkar Gah said it the province recently forced recent heavy torrential rains and lemma on this issue. (Fata). want to eliminate those terror- Zhwak, the provincial gover- had received at least 12 people, thousands of people to flee to snowfall in G-B. Acknowledging that thou- “What we need to do con- ists that are attacking their soci- nor’s spokesman confirmed the including a woman and a child. Lashkar Gah from neighbour- sands of Pakistanis had sac- cerning the safe haven issue in ety,” he said. casualties, saying the wounded Three military vehicles were ing districts. WILDLIFE Zebra born at Islamabad zoo

A zebra was born at the Marg- Children pay the price of Afghan confl ict hazar Zoo in Pakistani capital Islamabad yesterday. “The baby zebra is healthy and remained AFP Kabul that also killed at least 30 blown off and their abdomen se- popular with visitors, especially Kabul in a rush-hour attack. verely damaged. children, on Saturday,” said Direc- Ezadullah, who is crying and “It’s not strange to have to tor Zoo Irshad Ahmed. He said the whimpering in the hospital de- carry out two or three amputa- foal had started walking soon after bullet struck four-year- spite cuddles from his 13-year- tions and fi ve or six specialist he was born Thursday morning old Ezadullah in the old brother, was at home in his surgical procedures at the same and that mother and baby were Astomach. Maysam, 12, village of Logar when a stray time on the same patient: vascu- doing well. Irshad said a name for was wounded in the leg. Both bullet hit him on January 22. lar, plastic, abdominal.” the foal is yet to be decided on. are collateral damage in a war The confl ict severely aff ected “Unfortunately,” he adds, “the “We are thinking of calling him that last year killed or wounded Afghan children in 2016, with Afghans are getting better in the Ladla,” he said. nearly 11,500 Afghan civilians, the United Nations Mission in worst possible way. according to the United Nations. Afghanistan (UNAMA) record- “These homemade bombs are TECHNOLOGY The statistics have names ing 3,512 child casualties (923 made from soap, gunpowder, and faces at Kabul’s Emergency deaths and 2,589 injured). fertilisers made from ammo- Website names Hospital where, among curtains It is a 24% increase from 2015 nium nitrate – everything that and blankets, wounded bodies and the highest number of child can easily be found at the bazaar, in Urdu language tell a tale of nearly continuous casualties recorded by UNAMA more powerful than factory- violence, increasing again after in a single year since it began made mines.” Pakistan achieved a major mile- nearly four decades of confl ict its authoritative report in 2009, The handicapped face a bleak stone towards becoming ‘Digital waged against the Afghan popu- making children disproportion- future in the wretched nation Pakistan’, as users will now be able lation. ately represented in the annual especially in the countryside, to acquire their website names “I was on my bike,” says May- toll, says UNAMA human rights acknowledges a nurse, Sakhi and addresses in Urdu language. sam ruefully about being in the director Danielle Bell. Shafyi, while passing a stretcher “Internet Corp for Assigned Names wrong place at the wrong time “I’m not surprised,” says De- A wounded child is treated at Kabul’s Emergency Hospital. bearing a 22-year-old woman and Numbers (ICANN) Board has on January 10. “I was going to jan Panic from the Italian NGO whose lower body will remain passed resolution on Internet collect my school books when I Emergency, which runs the 14 or under.” In 2016, children ing cause of child casualties after who has spent seven years in Af- paralysed. Registry Pakistan through which was hit.” medical facility in the capital. comprised 86% of all civilian ground engagements. ghanistan. “Sadly only the dead see the the local community can register He was one of 78 wounded “The disaster is escalating,” he casualties caused by the deto- “The IEDs (improvised explo- “In 2010 we saw a lot of open end of war,” says Panic, quoting and use Internet domains in our na- when twin Taliban blasts struck says. “We had 3,400 admissions nation of explosive remnants of sive device) are becoming more wounds. These days we’re seeing one of the Afghan medics at the tive languages and scripts,” Minster near the Afghan parliament in last year of which 30% were aged war, making it the second lead- and more powerful,” says Panic, people arriving with both legs hospital. Anusha Rahman said. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, February 12, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Vehicles pass cracks on a road that appeared along the National Highway at Rizal town after an earthquake hit Surigao city, southern Philippines yesterday. Right: Debris falls on a car after the strong earthquake hit Surigao city. Six dead after strong quake shakes southern Philippines AFP Hospital staff temporar- Surigao City ily brought bed-ridden patients outside until the aftershocks eased. escuers dug through rub- Local journalist Roel Catoto ble yesterday to fi nd sur- said when he visited a hospital Rvivors after a powerful emergency room after the quake, earthquake struck the southern what he found was “mass hyste- Philippines, killing at least six ria.” people and sending thousands “There were a lot of wounded fl eeing for safety. patients coming in and all the Residents of the southern patients who were (already) con- town of Surigao in Mindanao fi ned were rushing outside. They island spent the night huddled were afraid the hospital would in fear as aftershocks rocked collapse,” he said. the city following the 6.5-mag- Gotinga said residents were nitude quake which struck late still on edge yesterday. Friday when many people were “They are all still traumatised. already in bed. At the slightest shaking, they run Provincial disaster manage- out in the streets,” he said. ment offi cer Ramon Gotinga President Rodrigo Duterte’s said that most of those killed had spokesman Ernesto Abella as- died due to falling objects. sured the public that the govern- But he added that one eld- ment was ready to assist them. erly man was buried in his home “These are trying times and when the upper fl oor collapsed, our hearts go out to Surigao,” he and despite rescue teams digging Residents stand on one end of a bridge, linking the city of Surigao to nearby towns, which was damaged after the earthquake struck overnight, in the southern island of Mindanao. told reporters. throughout the night, they were Right: Injured victims seek medical treatment at Caraga Regional hospital after the earthquake. The Philippines lies on the so- unable to recover him alive. called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacifi c Another 80-year-old woman shattered windows, sending “I thought it was the end of the coastal city of over 152,000 that were damaged and they (the Authorities said they expected Ocean region where many earth- died of a heart attack, Gotinga sharp shards and heavy rubble the world. The cement on the people. rescue teams) have to go around power to be restored by today quakes and volcanic eruptions said, adding that at least 126 into the street. roads was cracking open,” resi- Regional civil defence chief these impacted areas to really but that it may take as much as occur. people were injured, 15 of them One bridge collapsed and dent Carlos Canseco told ABS- Rosauro Arnel Gonzales said ascertain whether there is a need three days to bring back water The last lethal quake that hit in a serious condition. two others were damaged in the CBN television. several houses had collapsed to conduct a rescue,” he said. services. the country measured 7.1-mag- The quake damaged many quake, which also cracked the Thousands of terrifi ed resi- and search and rescue teams had The disaster also knocked out Many residents spent the nitude.It left over 220 people buildings, including in the two- city airport’s runway, forcing dents fl ed their homes with been dispatched to make sure no both power and water services night in parking lots and open dead and destroyed historic storey Gaisano mall — one of the fl ights to be diverted, the civil many running to higher ground, one was inside. in Surigao City and surrounding fi elds to avoid falling objects or churches when it struck the cen- city’s largest structures — and defence offi ce added. fearing that a tsunami would hit “There are reports of houses areas. collapsing buildings. tral islands in October 2013.

Three rebels held over truck burning Govt dismisses about Police here arrested three Duterte backs death penalty suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the burn- 100 cops for drug use ing of two trucks loaded with copper concentrate owned by Philex Mining Corp. last Thursday Reuters civil service rules, must be to curb heinous crimes in Barangay Ampucao, Itogon Manila dismissed...that is a grave town, Manila Times reported. offence,” he said, adding that Police Senior Supt. Angelito he had promised the chief of By Catherine S Valente Casimiro, Police Regional Off ice- he Philippine police police that he would quickly Manila Times/Davao City Cordillera (PRO-Cor) deputy have sacked nearly 100 resolve outstanding cases. regional director for operations, Tpolicemen since the Triambulo said he would identified the suspects as Antonio start of the year because they recommend next week the resident Rodrigo Duterte Cabalser, Sarah Abeleon and were found to be drug users, a dismissal of 40 more police- has pushed for the reim- Marciano Passon Sagun who top official said yesterday, in men to the chief of police. Pposition of death penalty, were turned over to the Philippine a clean-up of the ranks after saying that heinous crime in- Army’s 503rd Brigade on Friday President Rodrigo Duterte More than 7,700 creased when it was lifted. night. About 20 rebels armed halted police anti-drug op- people have been killed In his speech during the with long firearms flagged down erations. since Duterte unleashed Manila Times fi fth Busi- the trucks along the highway of More than 7,700 people his bloody war on drugs ness Forum, Duterte insisted Sitio Tapak, ordered the drivers have been killed since Du- seven months ago, that capital punishment deters and security escorts to alight and terte unleashed his bloody about 2,500 in police crime, as proven by the data torched the trucks loaded with 20 war on drugs seven months operations, while the rest presented by the Bureau of Cor- tonnes of copper concentrate. A ago, about 2,500 in police are being investigated rections (BuCor) at the Senate hot pursuit operation continues operations, while the rest are on Tuesday. for the other NPA members in the being investigated. Last month, Duterte “Now that there is no death Thursday incident while check- Duterte had been unwa- denounced the police as penalty, an increase of 3,000% points have been installed along vering in defending the po- “corrupt to the core” and (people convicted of heinous Kennon Road, Naguillian Road lice in the face of interna- suspended their role in anti- crime). And they say it’s not a and Halsema Marcos Highway tional outrage over the toll, drug operations, although he deterrent?” the president said. to pre-empt any retaliation from but his faith was shaken by vowed to forge ahead with the Citing the BuCor report, the rebel group after the arrest of the killing of a South Korean drug campaign. Duterte said the number of their three comrades. businessmen late last year by Human rights groups people convicted of heinous Duterte: keen to check rising crime Baguio City Mayor Mauricio rogue officers. suspect many of the kill- crimes after the abolition of Domogan allayed the residents’ Ninety police officers have ings being investigated were the death penalty in 2006 rose voked, this fi gure rose to 6,200 penalty was there, nothing death penalty. House Speaker fear saying that Baguio and the been fired since the start of committed by vigilantes or by 3,280%. inmates, an astonishing 3,280% happened. It’s because I was Pantaleon Alvarez also ex- province of Benguet are safe de- the year and nine were re- hitmen supported by the po- “BuCor director Benjamin increase of persons convicted of not the president then,” he said. pressed his support for the re- spite the recent atrocities by rebel moved last year, Internal Af- lice. delos Santos said there were heinous crimes,” he added. “Bring it back while I am vival of death penalty. Early this groups. Tension gripped people fairs Service Inspector Gen- The Philippine Drugs En- 189 inmates convicted of hei- Duterte said with him as president, I’ll turn those idiots week, he sacked deputy speak- over the weekend following posts eral Alfegar Triambulo said forcement Agency has been nous crimes before the capital president, he is confi dent that into a curtain on trees. Hang ers, including former president on social media over the alleged in comments broadcast on put in charge of anti-drug punishment was abolished in the enforcement of death pen- them,” the president added. Gloria Arroyo, who were op- entry of terrorists groups, includ- ANC TV. operations and Duterte has 2006,” Duterte said, reading alty, if it is revived, will be more Since the presidential cam- posed to the measure that seeks ing the Abu Sayyaf Group. “Those caught using il- also raised the possibility of from his notes. eff ective. paign, Duterte has declared the revival of capital punish- legal drugs, according to the getting the military to help. “After death penalty was re- “They said when the death support for the return of the ment. Gulf Times Sunday, February 12, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

13 killed in bus, truck Hasina’s son accuses WB of collision

Dhaka IANS

trying to discredit mother t least 13 people were killed and over 20 injured Sajeeb Wazed Joy blames seen the evidence myself during an international bribery case subordinate Ramesh Shah and Awhen a bus and a pick-up the World Bank for raising a the whole episode.” linked to the construction of Bangladeshi-Canadian busi- truck carrying gas cylinders col- controversy over graft and “It was quite clearly made Padma bridge. nessman Zulfi quar Ali Bhuiyan lided head-on in Bangladesh’s bribery in the $2.9bn Padma up as there were no concrete Justice Ian Nordheimer of the all pleaded not guilty in the case. Faridpur district, a police offi cial bridge project details, just one anonymous Ontario Superior Court threw After the suspension of the said yesterday. source who was never revealed, out all wiretap evidence on Fri- project, the Bangladesh gov- “Thirteen people have died so IANS even to the Canadian court,” day and rebuked the Royal Ca- ernment, which had been re- far in the accident while nearly Dhaka said Joy. nadian Mounted Police (RCMP) futing the allegation of bribery 20 people are being treated for “The World Bank came up for its conduct in the inves- attempts, decided to build the injuries caused by the accident,” with this plot against my moth- tigation, the Dhaka Tribune bridge with domestic funding. a police offi cial said. angladesh Prime Min- er, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasi- reported. The main construction of the Media reports quoting wit- ister Sheikh Hasina’s na’s government in an attempt The alleged bribery scheme bridge began in December 2016 nesses said that a massive fi re Bson Sajeeb Wazed Joy to discredit her.” is related to the $2.9bn Padma and is continuing smoothly. engulfed both the vehicles as yesterday said those who Hasina has maintained that bridge project in Bangladesh. The project was initiated in the gas cylinders fell off the van raised allegations of graft in the Padma bridge graft-brib- As part of that project, the 1998 when the Awami League following the collision with the the ambitious Padma bridge ery allegations were aimed at Bangladeshi government was was in power, but it went into bus and exploded. They said that project should apologise to undermining the image of her looking to award a $50mn con- limbo when the party lost the most of the victims were burned the government after a Ca- government and that some struction supervision contract. general election in 2001. to death beyond recognition. nadian court debunked graft Bangladeshis were also involved SNC-Lavalin was one of the fi ve When the AL returned to “Most of them died almost allegations in the case. with it. companies short-listed for the power in 2009, it revived the instantly. Some of the wounded Joy took to Facebook to lash She has alleged that Nobel contract. initiative. bus passengers were critically out at those raising the allega- laureate Mohammed Yunus had In June 2012, the World Bank Once completed, the 6.15km injured,” a police offi cer said, tions, bdnews24.com reported. tried to infl uence then US sec- Sajeeb Wazed Joy: “The evidence was fabricated by the World Bank. – a primary lender in the project bridge will establish direct road adding that the death toll may Joy, who is also the prime retary of state to cut off World I had seen the evidence myself during the whole episode.” – cancelled its $1.2bn credit for communication between Dhaka increase. The van driver was minister’s ICT adviser, blamed Bank funding for the Padma the Padma bridge project, say- and 21 southern districts of the among the dead. the World Bank for raising a bridge. dragged the reputation of sev- His comments came after ing it had proof of a “corruption country. It will have a railroad Fire service and civil defence controversy over graft and brib- Joy hit out at ‘a section of our eral highly respected, quali- two former top executives of conspiracy”. as well. assistant director Momtaz Ud- ery in the $2.9bn Padma bridge civil society’ who had joined fi ed and hardworking people engineering giant SNC-Lavalin The three accused are Kevin The 230bn taka project is din said that the fi re might have project. “The evidence was fab- the World Bank in raising the through the mud ...” he wrote, and a Bangladeshi-Canadian Wallace, former vice-president the largest ever self-fi nanced occurred by explosion of gas ricated by the World Bank. I had stink over alleged graft. “They according to bdnews24. businessman were acquitted in of energy and infrastructure, his project taken up by Bangladesh. cylinders.

First hybrid power plant opens off Jaff na Villages light up at night Sri Lanka has opened its first hybrid power plant which will generate 60MW of electricity, a spokesman said. The power and energy ministry’s to drive away elephants spokesman Pethum Pasqual said the plant would generate electricity using wind, solar and By Mizan Rahman threat to destroy crops. Lt Col Atiar Rahman, com- erators to light up the area as a diesel, Xinhua news agency Dhaka The elephants went berserk manding offi cer of the BGB protective measure to keep the reported. after one of them was killed (Jamalpur), confi rmed the death elephants away. The plant is located on a small during one such transbor- of the elephant, adding that Villagers take part in night island off the Jaff na district illagers and Border der operation from the hills rampaging by the herd has be- patrol and make loud noises Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. with a population of 787 people Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to the plains of Kurigram and come a routine aff air since then. to drive away the marauding belonging to 190 families. Vpersonnel are currently Jamalpur district. A herd comprising about 40 beasts. The plant was built with financial on high alert in bordering Kuri- The elephant was found ly- elephants is regularly crossing “Our eff orts have paid off . assistance of the Ceylon gram district and authorities ing dead on the no-man’s land the border despite the fence, The sound of generators and Electricity Board and the Asian have set up portable genera- within 150 yards of the border making forays through Ma- bright lights are forcing them New species of Development Bank for the tors to light up villages at night between Bangladesh and India. khaner Char and Miar Char of back,” said Atiar Rahman. promotion of green energy in the to prevent the wild elephants The cause of its death has re- Rajibpur, where the elephant He said the BGB has already country. from entering the periph- mained unknown. It had appar- was found dead on January 23. contacted its Indian counter- The spokesman added that it was ery of croplands and human ently died while trying to break Every night, they surge part, the Border Security Force bird discovered part of the government’s plan to habitation. through the barbed wire fence through the Rajibpur border (BSF), in an eff ort to contain the move toward green energy. Eyewitnesses said that herds along with other members of and go rampaging homes and wild elephants coming down of wild elephants roam around the herd. croplands. from the hills of India, where IANS Thrush is considered as an villages near the Indian bor- India’s Border Security Force The Kurigram district ad- they are believed to be facing Kathmandu autumn passage migrant in Lanka plans der and pose clear and present (BSF) took away the carcass. ministration has arranged gen- acute shortage of food. Pakistan and India. A four-member team includ- tourism promotion epal has recorded a ing young wildlife researcher of drive in China new species of bird Nepal Naresh Kusi and Geral- Nfrom upper Dolpa, the dine Werhahn from University The Sri Lanka government will Celebration of culture largest district of the mid- of Oxford made the record dur- undertake a tourism promotion western development region. ing their visit to the region. drive in Fujian province of China Discovery of a single indi- The team was studying the next week to attract more and vidual of Rufous-tailed Rock Himalayan wol, wild yak and more Chinese tourists, a Sri Thrush Monticola saxitilis was snow leopard while they dis- Lankan minister has said. made public in Kathmandu on covered this new bird species. Tourism Promotion Minister John Friday, Xinhua news agency Bird experts have claimed Amaratunga said that tourist reported. that more researches are arrivals to Sri Lanka were up by The bird was seen and pho- needed to ascertain the status 20% in January compared with tographed in May near the of Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush the corresponding period of the Shey monastery within the in other parts of Nepal. last year. Shey-Phoksundo National With this record, Nepal now “We received more than Park of Dolpa. has a total of 886 species of 200,000 tourists last month. The Rufous-tailed Rock birds. This is despite flight restrictions at the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport for renovations of the runways,” he said. Asserting that the Chinese and Nepal aims to increase Indian nationals account for a bulk of tourist arrivals, he said he would leave for Fujian on buff aloes population February 17 to start a promotion drive with the help of authorities in the southeastern province of IANS wilds is to revive their popu- China. Kathmandu lation in the original habitats “We will set up a tourism and to make them genetically promotional centre in that area strong through pure breeding.” for the benefit of those willing to epal has completed the For relocation, Chitwan travel in Sri Lanka,” he said. relocation of 15 wild National Park has separated Last year, 2.2mn tourists visited Nwater buff aloes, aimed 30 hectares of land and built Sri Lanka. The minister said he Traditional Kandyan dancers perform during the Navam Perahera festival in Colombo yesterday. A grand festival parade, which is at increasing their population, several enclosures. was targeting to bring as many as named Navam Perahera, is celebrated annually in February in Sri Lanka, showing the rich cultural tradition of the island country. the media reported. “The wild buff aloes com- 2.5mn this year. As part of the government’s prising three males and 12 decision to relocate 30 rhinos, females will be kept in en- 30 wild water buff aloes, and 35 closures for two years before swamp deer to protected areas leaving them free for wild”, by 2018, the recent relocation Pokharel added. has been conducted, Xinhua For years, Koshi Tappu Wild- 650 transgenders in Nepal apply for civil services news agency reported. life Reserve located in eastern Among the proposed 30 part of the country was the only wild water buff aloes, 15 were habitat for water buff aloes. Ac- IANS appeared in the ‘other’ sex cat- identifying themselves as the provided to transgenders by Tribes,” BDS chairman Pinky relocated to Chitwan National cording to a survey in 2016, the Kathmandu egory was 0.11% of total 595,031 ‘other’ sex might have secured the government but said they Gurung said. Park in the fi rst phase. Out of wild water buff alo population applicants. jobs in civil service,” she told should also be included in the According to local media, the 15, 12 were shifted from Koshi increased to 432 individuals It nevertheless was a big step the Post. reservation policy, like women, PSC made such provision after Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the in Koshi Tappu, 105 more as or the fi rst time in the his- forward for the country’s LG- Even if the transgender appli- Dalits, other ethnic minori- the rights of gender and sexual last week of January while three compared to 2014 count. tory of Nepal, 651 trans- BTI community, PSC chairman cants did not make it through the ties and disabled persons, for minority was guaranteed by the were shifted from National Zoo Experts claim that the wa- Fgenders applied for civil Umesh Prasad Mainali said. exams, they can have a go next whom the government has been new constitution of Nepal. in Kathmandu on Thursday. ter buff aloes are under threat service exams conducted by the The report does not state time, she said. setting aside 45% of the civil PSC spokesman Laxmi Bi- The Asiatic wild water buf- due to anthropogenic pres- Public Service Commission last how many transgender appli- “The government opening service seats. las Koirala said there was equal falo is one of the protected sure, habitat deterioration and year, a media report said. cants secured jobs as the re- doors to allow transgenders to “The government should treatment to male, female and species in the Himalayan hybridization with domestic The forms for civil service jobs sults of many exams have not join the civil service is a positive give LGBTIs a leg up for them transgenders in the recruitment country. buff aloes. exams had three gender options, come out, said Geeta Kumari decision. It is a matter of pro- to succeed in the society. There process. Chiranjivi Prasad Pokharel, Besides Nepal, the Asiatic one for male examinees, the oth- Humagain, information offi cer viding equal opportunity to all are many of us who come from “We will treat all with equal project coordinator at Nation- wild water buff aloes are found er for females, and the third for at the PSC. citizens,” said Mainali. poor background and who have footing. Male, female and trans- al Trust for Nature Conserva- only in tropical and sub- the ‘other’ sex, Kathmandu Post “The results of all exams were A member of Blue Diamond lived in stigma all their lives gender all can fi ght for govern- tion told Xinhua news agency tropical regions of India, Sri reported. not included in the report, so Society, an LGBTI advocacy just like the people who belong ment jobs,” said Koirala, the Post on Friday: “The major objec- Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, The percentage of those who there is a chance that people group, praised the opportunity to the Scheduled Castes and reported. tive of translocation of these Thailand and Bhutan. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, February 12, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Mammoth state poll set

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar to impact India’s politics [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), Voting began yesterday in election is about BJP’s battle against national level,” Kumar said. vicious cycle. Indian politics is based 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Uttar Pradesh, in India’s corruption and highlights the recent If it wins, BJP would send a message on this truth. We will vote for leaders Fax 44350474 move to scrap high-denomination that it is diffi cult to stop and add from our own caste, at least we will most important state poll, currency to fi ght tax fraud. tremendous clout to its national not suff er.” “When 2019 comes, Modi will be presence. The elections are also seen as a test billed as a “semi-fi nal” the fi rst to give an account of all the Both Yadav and Gandhi, in their for BJP after Modi’s controversial before the 2019 national work he’s done,” he said, referring to 40s, are projecting themselves as demonetisation move, which critics the next national elections, set for forces for youth and development. said have pushed the poor, farm elections 2019, amid talk that the current poll is The BJP has listed rising crime, workers and daily wage labourers into GULF TIMES a referendum on his government. corruption and unemployment as key deeper distress. By Siddhartha Kumar/DPA Uttar Pradesh alone sends 80 issues while highlighting its pro-poor But media surveys and interviews Ghaziabad, India lawmakers to India’s 543-member policies. show that a majority of the poor lower house of parliament. Although the Samajwadi Party support demonetisation, believing it In 2014, the BJP won a landslide has socialist origins, its support an action against the corrupt. Outlook for world fl eet of helicopters roars tally of 71 seats, enabling it to clinch base is composed largely of farmers “Demonetisation has not been onto the dusty ground in national polls. and cattle-breeders from the Yadav much of an issue, even in other Ghaziabad city, causing a Modi hopes to win a second term community and also from the Muslim states like Punjab or Goa, which Awave of excitement in the and his party’s performance in the community, which comprises 18% of went to polls. In Uttar Pradesh, it energy market looks crowd, as people clamber onto their bellwether state is a crucial test for the the local population. is local issues like drinking water, seats for a better view of Indian Prime leader. The Congress is trying to stay roads and jobs that are important Minister Narendra Modi, who is here The vote could determine strategies politically relevant, performing poorly and these vary within regions,” better this year for an election campaign. for national elections and defi ne in state elections ever since it was Kumar said. “Modi! Modi!” thousands chant in the country’s political landscape, reduced to its lowest-ever tally in The balloting will be held in seven chorus, cheering and waving, as the says Sanjay Kumar, director of the parliamentary polls. phases until March 8 and results will Resilient oil demand on the back of improving 66-year-old leader blasts political Delhi-based Centre for the Study of It has joined hands with Samajwadi be announced on March 11, alongside economic conditions in many major economies seems rivals, in a throwback to his high- Developing Societies. Party to ensure that the Muslim vote, tallies from four smaller states where to be presenting a better outlook for the global energy powered campaign during the 2014 The BJP is locked in a tough fi ght critical to winning the election, is not elections are also being held. national elections. with the incumbent Chief Minister split. Political analyst Satish Misra market this year. The rally is for a state election, but Akhilesh Yadav from the regional With nepotism and criminality said the Uttar Pradesh elections On the world oil demand growth, the International for Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Samajwadi Party, which has formed rife in the mostly poor, rural state, could prove a hard task for BJP as Energy Agency (IEA) sees a better outlook in 2017 and and India’s major political parties, the a political alliance with the country’s elections here are invariably a raucous its performance has failed to make a anticipates an increase of 1.4mn barrels per day (bpd) polls in Uttar Pradesh are about much main opposition Congress Party, led aff air. deep impression on the public and more than that. by Rahul Gandhi, scion of the Nehru- Caste and religion play a dominant that many people may not vote for the this year. The polls have no bearing on Gandhi dynasty. role. party again. According to IEA, the Organisation of Petroleum whether Modi remains in offi ce. Bahujan Samaj Party, led by “Voting for your caste is as K K Sharma, a Congress candidate Exporting Countries (Opec) achieved the best But elections in the country’s Mayawati, an icon for Dalits or lower- important as casting your vote,” said from Ghaziabad, is confi dent that the compliance rate in its history at the outset of an accord most populous state, with 204mn castes, is polling in third place. 26-year-old engineer Raj Maurya, combination of youth leaders will turn inhabitants, are a barometer of public “If BJP loses, it would be its second pointing to allegations that Yadav the tables. to clear the oil glut, a plan that’s being supported by opinion. major defeat since the 2015 election fi lled positions in administration and “Uttar Pradesh will send a big signal growing demand. The results will shape national in Bihar state, which will prove that police with members of his caste, to the country that parties can come The Opec implemented 90% of promised output politics. forming smart alignments with angering other castes. together to defeat BJP. For BJP, the cuts in January, the fi rst month of its agreement, as Listing his government’s regional parties to beat the BJP works. “We want to escape caste and countdown to 2019 has begun,” he achievements, Modi says the state This could be a template at the associated discrimination, but it’s a said. key member Saudi Arabia reduced production by even more than it had committed, the agency recently said. Some 11 non-Opec members who joined the agreement have made about half their pledged reductions, according to the IEA. Opec and Russia are leading a push by global oil producers to end a three-year oil surplus that has depressed prices and battered the economies of energy-exporting nations. Opec and other big exporters have agreed to trim output by almost 1.8mn bpd during the fi rst half of this year in order to prop up prices and rebalance the market. Supply from the 11 Opec members with production targets under the deal fell to 29.92mn barrels per day, according to the average assessments of the six secondary sources the organisation uses to Opec and Russia monitor output, which translates into 92% are leading a compliance. push by global “This seems to be one of the most successful oil producers to agreements in terms end a three-year of compliance,” IEA executive director Fatih oil surplus Birol said. The IEA, which advises industrial nations on energy policy, said if current compliance levels hold, the global oil stocks overhang that has weighed on prices, should fall by about 600,000bpd in the next six months. The agency also raised global oil demand growth Modi hopes to win a second term and his party’s performance in Uttar Pradesh is a crucial test for the prime minister. expectations for 2017 to 1.4mn bpd, up 100,000 bpd from its previous estimate. Nevertheless, producers will probably have to extend the production cuts beyond six months if they want to achieve their goal of balancing the oil market. Millions face hunger in Ethiopia A recent report indicates as 2017 starts off on a positive note, the Organisation for Economic Co- Tens of thousands fl ock The lack of rain is caused by the The situation is the worst in the government has been accused of operation and Development (OECD) storage continues Indian Ocean Dipole, an atmospheric Somalia, where insecurity and poor downplaying the impact of last year’s to decline at a pace of about 700k bpd. into aid camps, desperate phenomenon that results in diff erent infrastructure have exacerbated the drought. As a result of the high-compliance Opec and non- for food and water sea temperatures on either side of the impact of the drought and the UN has It still maintains “strict control” Opec cut, the OECD storage should be back to the fi ve- Indian Ocean. issued a pre-famine alert. over the access of journalists to It follows an El Nino-linked dry In the Garlogube camp, women sit drought areas, said East Africa year average by June this year, the report noted. By Elias Meseret and spell last year that mostly aff ected listlessly waiting for rations of rice analyst Emma Gordon from the risk Founded in 1960, the Paris-based OECD is an Sinikka Tarvainen/DPA northern Ethiopia, and was regarded while using their skirts and scarves to consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. intergovernmental organisation with some 35 member Warder, Ethiopia as the East African country’s worst in protect their babies from the sun. UN offi cials, however, praise the countries, the world’s leading economies, to stimulate 50 years. Looking emaciated, some of them eff orts made by the government, About 5.6mn people are now ask passers-by if they have a bottle of which has allocated $47mn in economic progress and world trade. he dusty road winding expected to need food assistance, water to share. immediate humanitarian relief for Although US bank Goldman Sachs said high fuel through Ethiopia’s eastern while 9mn have no safe drinking The camp residents, most of whom the drought victims and launched an inventories and rising United States crude production Somali region is littered with water, according to the UN. belong to the Somali ethnic group international appeal for $874mn more. meant oil markets would be over-supplied for some Tanimal bodies, the air thick About 2.4mn herders and farmers making up about 6% of Ethiopia’s “The government has recognised with the smell of decaying fl esh. cannot sustainably practise their 100mn population, compete for that it will continue facing droughts time, it noted “they would drain gradually”. Rail-thin goats and sheep have livelihoods after many of their animals resources with Somalis fl eeing the that, because of climate change, can “We do not view the recent excess US builds as fl ed the scorching sun to the shade of died. same drought in Somalia, where aid become more intense,” Handley said. derailing our forecast for a gradual draw in inventories, acacia trees. “I saw children who were perilously deliveries function with far more Ethiopia is also trying to increase with in fact the rest of the world already showing signs “I came from a place that is 35km close to slipping into the red danger diffi culty than in Ethiopia. its agricultural productivity through away just to get water for my camels,” zone of severe acute malnutrition,” An estimated 2,000 Somalis have programmes including irrigation and of tightness,” the bank said in a recent note to clients. Ali Warsameh says, pointing to a UN Under Secretary General for already arrived in the region this year, technological modernisation, Gordon borehole where women and children Humanitarian Aff airs Stephen O’Brien adding to Ethiopia’s already huge said. are fetching water at the Garlogube said after a recent visit to Garlogube. refugee burden of about 780,000 At present, however, “the To Advertise displaced people’s camp. During last year’s drought, a people, Handley told DPA. magnitude of the crisis clearly is above With hundreds of camels crowding massive humanitarian operation Droughts regularly wreak havoc in the capacity of the country to resolve,” [email protected] around the borehole, from where mounted by the government and Ethiopia, a country heavily dependent UN Secretary General Antonio Display buckets of water are pulled up with a aid agencies provided food to 10mn on rain-fed smallholder agriculture. Guterres said while OCHA launched Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 rope, Warsameh fears he may have to people at the cost of $1.7bn. But over the past decade, Ethiopia an urgent appeal for funds. wait a long time to quench the thirst of “Now the numbers are a bit less, but has experienced double-digit Halima Ali, meanwhile, only wants Classified his seven camels. this area has less infrastructure than growth based partly on the services her suff ering to end. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 “If these camels cannot drink the north, making the aid operation sector, and Addis Ababa’s shiny “I have nothing left now, except within three days, they will die,” he more complicated,” said Paul Handley, offi ce buildings and new highway the clothes I wear and these plastic Subscription sighs. head of the Ethiopia branch of the passes stand in contrast to the grass jars that I use to fetch water,” says [email protected] Garlogube is one among 50 camps UN Offi ce for Co-ordination of huts covered with plastic sheets in the woman, in her 50s, who reached set up by the Ethiopian government Humanitarian Aff airs (OCHA). Garlogube. Garlogube after walking for four days. for a total of about 100,000 people The drought is also hitting more Keen to swap Ethiopia’s image as “We need food and water. I don’t 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved fl eeing an unrelenting drought in the than 6mn people in neighbouring one of the world’s poorest countries know until when we can live like this. east and south of the country. Somalia and Kenya. for that of an economic powerhouse, It is unbearable.” Gulf Times Sunday, February 12, 2017 27 COMMENT Trump’s anachronistic trade strategy

Ripping up trade 20th century solutions for America’s unpredictable, and uncontrollable 21st century industrial problems. to rely on static measures like tariff s. agreements and raising Unfortunately, old-fashioned Instead, the US needs to restore its tariff s will do nothing to protectionism will not boost American social contract so that its workers industrial competitiveness, even if it have a fair shot at sharing in the create new, high-paying saves a few thousand jobs in sunset gains generated by global openness factory jobs sectors. Moreover, ripping up trade and automation. Globalisation and agreements and raising tariff s will do technological innovation are not nothing to create new, high-paying painless processes, so there will always By Richard Baldwin factory jobs. If anything, tariff s will be a need for retraining initiatives, London only infl ict further harm on workers. lifelong education, mobility and Trump and his team are missing income-support programmes, and a simple point: 21st century regional transfers. onald Trump’s ignominious globalisation is knowledge-led, By pursuing such policies, the executive order barring not trade-led. Radically reduced Trump administration would stand entry into the US for communication costs have enabled a much better chance of making Drefugees and others US fi rms to move production to America “great again” for the working from seven predominantly Muslim lower-wage countries. Meanwhile, and middle classes. Globalisation has countries has dominated headlines to keep their production processes always created more opportunities in recent weeks. But the damage synced, fi rms have also off shored for the most competitive workers, done to America’s image, and to the much of their technical, marketing, and more insecurity for others. This global economy, will only be further and managerial knowhow. This is why a strong social contract was compounded by Trump’s early “knowledge off shoring” is what has established during the post-war decisions on trade. really changed the game for American period of liberalisation in the West. In In speeches and tweets, Trump workers. the 1960s and 1970s institutions such has aggressively lashed out against In 2017, US workers are not as unions expanded, and governments globalisation. He has appointed the competing with low-wage foreign made new commitments to aff ordable famously protectionist trade litigator labour, capital, and technology, as education, social security, and Robert Lighthizer to be US Trade they did in the 1970s. Rather, they are progressive taxation. These all helped Representative. And the other two competing with a nearly unbeatable members of the middle class seize new members of his trade triumvirate combination of low-wage foreign opportunities as they emerged. – Commerce Secretary-designate labour and US knowhow. One way to Over the last two decades, this Wilbur Ross and White House trade conceptualise this is to think of US situation has changed dramatically: adviser Peter Navarro – are no less products as being made not in the US, globalisation has continued, but protectionist than Lighthizer. but in Factory North America. The the social contract has been torn Many working- and middle-class goods made in Factory North America up. Trump’s top priority should be Americans believe that free trade must compete with goods made in to stitch it back together; but his agreements are why their incomes Factory Asia, Factory Europe, and so trade advisers do not understand have stagnated over the past two forth. this. Sadly, they seem intent on decades. So Trump intends to provide This means that if the Trump imposing tariffs, which will disrupt them with “protection” by putting administration imposes tariff s, it will international supply chains, possibly protectionists in charge. turn the US into a high-cost island lead to trade wars, and only hasten But Trump and his triumvirate have for industrial inputs. Firms might be US industry’s shift abroad.– Project misdiagnosed the problem. While induced to move some production Syndicate globalisation is an important factor back to the US, if it is strictly aimed at in the hollowing out of the middle US consumers. But they will be equally Imposing tariff s on imports, accept 21st century realities. The disrupting imports will just create zRichard Baldwin, Professor of class, so, too, is automation. Most encouraged to off shore production without also stemming the fl ow of information revolution changed the more jobs for robots. International Economics at the of Lighthizer and Ross’s business that is aimed at export markets, so ideas and intellectual property, is like world in ways that tariff s cannot Trump should be protecting Graduate Institute, Geneva, is the experience has been in 20th century that they can compete with Japanese, trying to prevent water from fl owing reverse. With US workers already individual workers, not individual author of, most recently, The Great industries such as steel production, German, and Chinese producers through one’s fi ngers by making a competing against robots at home, jobs. The processes of 21st century Convergence: Information Technology which has conditioned them to pursue outside of the US. fi st. A more rational approach would and against low-wage workers abroad, globalisation are too sudden, and the New Globalization. Weather report Miracle crop: can quinoa help feed the world? Three-day forecast TODAY The grain thrives at any The grain thrives at any altitude chemicals is labour-intensive and Tester’s team has already pinpointed High: 23 C up to 13,000ft above sea level, in costly, and requires ample use of genes, including one that controls the Low : 18 C altitude up to 13,000ft Inshore: Expected poor horizontal conditions that would leave most food water. production of saponins, that could be visibility at places at first and thundery rain associated with above sea level, in plants struggling. Another constraint is that quinoa altered – through breeding or gene strong wind. “Quinoa is incredibly resilient, plants tends to have small seed heads editing – to enhance quality and yields. conditions that would and can grow in poor or salty soils,” and long stalks that can collapse in “With this new knowledge of MONDAY leave most food plants said Mark Tester, a professor at King strong wind or heavy rain. quinoa DNA, we can quickly and easily High: 23 C Abdullah University of Science and “Despite its agronomic potential, select plants that do not produce Low: 19 C struggling Technology in Saudi Arabia and leader quinoa is still an underutilised crop, bitter substances in the breeding S Showers of the consortium of scholars that with relatively few active breeding process,” said co-author Robert By Marlowe Hood/ AFP decoded the plant’s genome. programmes,” Tester and three dozen van Loo, a scientist at Wageningen Paris “It could provide a healthy, colleagues wrote in the journal Nature. University and Research Centre in the TUESDAY nutritious food source for the world First grown by humans thousands Netherlands. High: 23 C using land and water that currently of years ago in the high plateau around South American varieties could Low: 19 C cientists earlier this week cannot be used.” Lake Titicaca in the Andes, quinoa probably be made sweeter with a Rain unveiled the near-complete And yet, global consumption is still barely domesticated, the single gene change, he added. genome of quinoa, a grain remains incidental compared to researchers said. Most quinoa is grown in three Scultivated centuries ago by wheat, rice, barley or corn – less than Other major crop plants have been Andean countries: Peru, Ecuador and Fishermen’s forecast Bolivia. Incas in the Andes that scientists say 100,000 tonnes per year compared bred for centuries or, more recently, OFFSHORE DOHA could help feed a hungry world. to hundreds of millions of tonnes for genetically modifi ed to combine The United States and Canada Wind: NE-SE 18-28/35 KT Best known outside its native each of the other major grains and optimal traits to boost yield and bolster account for nearly 70% of exports, Waves: 6-9/14 Feet region to health food fans in North cereals. resistance to pests and climate change. followed by France, the Netherlands INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-SE 08-18/26 KT America and Europe, quinoa is highly “One problem with quinoa is that Now, scientists can delve into the and Germany. Waves: 2-4/5 Feet nutritious, gluten-free, and packed the plant naturally produces bitter- quinoa genome as well. The price of quinoa has nearly with essential amino acids, fi bre, tasting seeds,” Tester explained. “Quinoa has great potential to enhance tripled in recent years due to increased Around the region vitamins and minerals, experts say. The bitterness – a natural defence global food security,” Tester said. demand. Weather Weather It also scores lower than other crops against birds and other pests – comes The fact that some strains grows If printed, the sequence of letters today Max/min tomorrow Max/min on the glycaemic index, a measure of from chemical compounds called well at temperatures up to 38 degrees corresponding to the quinoa genome – Abu Dhabi Cloudy 25/22 Cloudy 27/22 how quickly foods raise blood sugar saponins. Celsius also bodes well for regions hit comprised of 1.3bn molecular building Baghdad S Showers 21/08 P Cloudy 18/07 Dubai levels – a major concern for diabetics. The process for removing these hardest by global warming. blocks – would take up 500,000 pages. Cloudy 27/22 Cloudy 28/22 Kuwait City S Showers 21/14 Sunny 23/11 Manama P Cloudy 25/17 Showers 24/16 Muscat P Cloudy 27/21 Cloudy 29/21 Riyadh S T Storms 27/16 Sunny 23/11 Live issues Tehran S Showers 08/04 Rain 07/01 Drowsy drivers often behind fatal crashes

By Lisa Rapaport thrill-seekers also are more likely to be “Another reason people drive Reuters Health drowsy drivers. while tired is that they underestimate Also In Health News Activists on the risks of driving drowsy,” Griffi n both sides of abortion issue to protest added.“If we are able to educate n the US alone, more than across US With eye on Obamacare, the public of the dangers of drowsy 6,000 people die in drowsy Price takes helm as US health secretary driving, this may drive people to either driving-related motor vehicle People who don’t fi t the profi le of a fi nd alternate modes of transportation Icrashes each year, a recent study typical drowsy driver can still be at when tired or plan ahead when they suggests. increased risk for nodding off behind know that they will have to be driving Millions of US drivers fall asleep at the wheel at some point due to life while tired (eg, driving home from the wheel each month, and roughly events, the authors also note. work).” 15% of all fatal crashes involve a For example, people who don’t While insuffi cient sleep is most drowsy driver, researchers note in the get enough rest the night before often the cause of drowsy driving, journal Sleep. embarking on a long family road trip other health issues can sometimes Around the world “Drowsy driving is not just falling might be drowsy drivers. contribute to the problem, said Dr Weather Weather asleep at the wheel; it mimics alcohol- 20 to 30 minute nap in a safe place, To calculate the toll of drowsy Donald Redelmeier, a researcher at today Max/min tomorrow Max/min impaired driving in many ways,” said such as a lighted designated rest driving, researchers examined crash the University of Toronto who wasn’t Athens M Cloudy 08/04 P Cloudy 08/04 lead study author Stephen Higgins, a stop,” Higgins said.“You can also data from 2010. involved in the study. Beirut Showers 16/11 Showers 14/09 Sunny 32/21 researcher at the National Highway combine a caffeinated drink with They found 32,999 total fatal “Sometimes drowsy driving is Bangkok 32/21 Sunny Berlin Sunny 02/-5 Sunny 03/-6 Traffi c Safety Administration in the nap — this has been shown crashes and 3.9mn total injury crashes. caused by a medical disorder such as Cairo P Cloudy 21/11 M Sunny 20/10 Washington, DC. to increase alertness in scientific Drowsy driving accounted for about sleep apnea, narcolepsy or a drug side Cape Town Cloudy 23/18 Cloudy 22/16 “Drowsiness leads to slower studies but only for short time 5,445 fatal crashes and 510,900 non- eff ect,” Redelmeier said by e-mail. Colombo Sunny 32/23 M Sunny 33/23 reaction times and impaired attention, periods.” fatal collisions, for a total estimated Beyond taking precautions to Dhaka Sunny 30/19 Sunny 30/19 Hong Kong Sunny 17/15 Sunny 18/16 mental processing, judgement, and For the study, Higgins and societal cost of $109bn per year, based remain awake and alert behind the Istanbul Showers 06/01 Cloudy 04/01 decision making,” Higgins added by colleagues examined data from on the 2010 fi gures. wheel, drivers should also keep other Jakarta T Storms 31/24 T Storms 31/24 e-mail. previously published research on Too often, people drive when they’re common-sense safety measures in Karachi Sunny 29/17 Cloudy 30/19 Getting enough sleep every night drowsy driving to identify the main tired because they have no choice, mind. London S Showers 06/04 Sunny 08/02 Manila P Cloudy P Cloudy 27/21 is the best defense against drowsy causes of the problem and potential said Russell Griffi n, a researcher at the “Being drowsy is one of many 28/21 Moscow S Showers -4/-12 S Showers -3/-4 driving, Higgins and colleagues ways to prevent it. University of Alabama at Birmingham factors that can lead to driver error New Delhi Sunny 23/10 Sunny 24/10 note. Many lifestyle factors can infl uence who wasn’t involved in the study. and a life-threatening traffic crash,” New York Rain 04/02 Cloudy 04/-3 When that’s not possible, a nap to the odds of drowsy driving, they note. “It would be great if everyone had Redelmeier said. “At a minimum, Paris Rain& Snow 11/04 Sunny 12/03 break up the road trip may still help These include working long and the ability to carpool or to had access be sure to buckle your seatbelt, Sao Paulo P Cloudy 31/19 M Sunny 31/18 Seoul Sunny 03/-7 Sunny 06/-7 drivers remain more alert behind the irregular hours, working night shifts to public transportation, but without respect the speed limit, avoid using Singapore T Storms 30/24 T Storms 29/24 wheel. and having multiple jobs. these options all they can do is drive cell phones, signal your turn, yield Sydney P Cloudy 28/18 P Cloudy 24/18 “If you start to get sleepy while In addition, people who tend to themselves regardless of how tired right-of-way, and do not drink and Tokyo Clear 10/00 Clear 09/01 you’re driving, pull over for a short frequently visit nightclubs or who are they may be,” Griffi n said by e-mail. drive.” Gulf Times 28 Sunday, February 12, 2017 QATAR Clock experts to display their craft at DJWE oha Jewellery and Watch- each participant will be award- watchmaking sessions per day. Harcourt Studio, who have told clude Fajr al-Attiya (Trifoglio), es Exhibition (DJWE) or- ed an accredited diploma. Limited to four participants, the the story of Hollywood’s big- Ghada al-Bouanain (Ghada Dganisers have announced Established in Paris, Objec- workshops are free to all reg- gest stars since the 1940s, will al-Bouanian), Nada al-Sulaiti that world-renowned clock spe- tif Horlogerie brings its “First istered visitors but should be off er visitors the opportunity to (Hairaat), Noor Alfardan (Nou- A watchmaker at work. cialists Objectif Horlogerie will Time” workshop to Qatar, open booked in advance. Registration have their portraits taken in the dar), Nouf al-Meer (Nouf Jew- join the event this year, off ering a to all levels. The introductory can be completed on site, or on- privacy of their studio, recreated ellery) and Sarah al-Hammadi tion welcomes over 400 brands visitors by Qatar Tourism Au- “unique, interactive” workshop workshops, which are 1.5 hours line at www.djwe.qa, the organ- outside Paris for the fi rst time at (Sarah’s & Co). through 40 exhibitors from 10 thority along with this year’s to attendees. long, present visitors with an isers have said. DJWE. This edition will also reveal a countries, returning to showcase partners, Auditoire. In Qatar for the fi rst time, insight into the precision and The 14th DJWE, to be held at DJWE will also provide out- central exhibition specially cu- their gemstone and accessories Entry to DJWE 2017 is free (re- Objectif Horlogerie will show- complexity of watchmaking, ac- Doha Exhibition and Conven- standing local talents with the rated to showcase exceptional, at DECC. served to visitors above 12 years) case the art of their mas- cording to a statement from the tion Centre (DECC) from Feb- opportunity to showcase their privately-owned jewellery and Also taking part in this year’s and registration can be com- ter craftsmanship to watch organisers. ruary 20 to 25, will also present collections side by side with in- timepieces that have never been exhibition are a number of Qa- pleted at the venue or online at connoisseurs and give them Every participant will leave more “innovative visitor experi- ternational brands. The Young shown in Doha before. Further, tar’s premier jewellery patrons www.djwe.qa. This year’s offi cial the opportunity to become with a manual that summarises ences” to be unveiled through- Qatari Designers, an initiative it will host for the fi rst time the such as Alfardan Jewellery DJWE partners, Qatar Airways a “watchmaker-for-a-day”. the contents of the workshop, out the exhibition. launched for the fi rst time this French Auction House Artcurial, Company, Al Majed Jewellery, and Shangri-La Doha, are off er- Workshop attendees will ob- and a tutorial so that they can Attendees will be able to en- edition, will allow emerging who will provide visitors with Al Muftah Jewellery, Ali Bin Ali ing travellers discounted rates to serve and participate in the continue to practise their new joy a glimpse of the glamour of young Qatari designers to shine free jewellery and watches valu- Group, Amiri Gems, Blue Salon explore the exhibition and dis- master watchmaker’s rituals, skills. the past through historical black in a dedicated exhibition space. ations services. and Fifty One East. cover the experiences Qatar has and at the end of the session, DJWE will off er four-fi ve and white photography as, the Exhibiting local talents in- The annual luxury exhibi- DJWE 2017 is brought to its to off er. Initiative launched to promote role of culture

he eighth Strategic international experts inter- said, noting that the index cultural development, in ad- Leadership Forum or- ested in developing strategies entails fi gures and statistics dition to the economic and Tganised at Katara-the for governments and private and sheds light on cultural social impact of such indices Cultural Village has conclud- sectors. projects and events launched – all leading to placing edu- ed with the launch of a new In a statement, Katara in Qatar. cation as the primary source initiative that will contribute said the initiative aims to “This index will surely of cultural infl uence as it’s to planning and preparing for trace and study statistics help us in planning and pre- linked to the variables of cultural projects in future. relevant to heritage, cultural paring for upcoming cultural cultural policies.” Dubbed the ‘Katara cul- activities, events and cul- projects, and in recognising The forum, he observed, tural index in Qatar’, the tural products and projects in the trends and tendencies of involved debates on identify- initiative lays “special focus Qatar in co-ordination with the intellectual elite, writers, ing and analysing best prac- on enhancing the role of the Unesco’s framework of authors and literary person- tices, transferring knowledge cultural element in commu- cultural statistics. alities, in order to capital- and circulating and exchang- nity development”, accord- “Recognising the impor- ise on their talent, creative ing successful business ex- ing to Katara general man- tance of cultural and commu- works and knowledge in the pertise. The participation of ager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim nity values in Qatar through a fi elds of culture and sci- experts from the US and UK, al-Sulaiti. well-planned mechanism to ence,” Dr al-Sulaiti contin- as well as executives from the The forum attracted a line- reach results, recommenda- ued. “Cultural indices are GCC countries, helped circu- up of executives and lead- tions and initiatives would be of great importance as they late winning business models ers from Qatar and the GCC vital in Katara’s bid to boost contribute to building com- in the fi elds of education, region’s public and private cultural and community val- munities aware of their roles health, culture and public Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti addressing the Strategic Leadership Forum at Katara-the Cultural Village. sectors, along with Arab and ues in society,” Dr al-Sulaiti in achieving comprehensive and private sectors.