BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 9 US Olympian to take part in QF National QSE-listed fi rms step Sport Day up IR eff orts in 2018 events published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11090 February 10, 2019 Jumada II 5, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief French protest for 13th consecutive Saturday Qatar informs QATAR | Offi cial Amir condoles with Turkish president UN of airspace His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime violation by Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday cables of condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the victims Bahrain aircraft of a building collapse in Istanbul, wishing the injured a speedy QNA sions of Articles 34 and 35 of the UN recovery. New York Charter. HE Sheikha Alya said that the con- QATAR | Relief tinued air violations by the Kingdom of atar has informed the United Bahrain and its violation of Qatari sov- QRCS winterisation aid Nations Security Council and ereignty are serious breach and fl agrant for 8,000 Bangladeshis Qthe UN Secretary-General violations of international law, warn- Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) about a violation of Qatari airspace by a ing against the continued attempts to has initiated a project to provide Bahrain Air Force aircraft on December ignite incidents that would increase winterisation non-food items for 27, 2018. tension in the region and without re- people aff ected by a cold wave in Protesters face police off icers during a demonstration in Paris yesterday as the “Yellow Vests” (Gilets Jaunes) take to the streets The Bahraini plane entered Qatar’s gard to Qatar’s security and stability. Bangladesh. The QR114,000 project for the 13th consecutive Saturday. The “Yellow Vest” movement in France originally started as a protest about planned fuel airspace without the prior authorisa- She expressed Qatar’s strong rejec- is co-ordinated with Bangladesh hikes but has morphed into a mass protest against the French president’s policies and top-down style of governing. Page 17 tion of the competent Qatari authori- tion and condemnation of “this illegal Red Crescent Society and the ties, it was said in a message sent on act as a violation of the sovereignty and International Federation of the Red February 7 by HE the Permanent Rep- territorial integrity of the State of Qa- Cross and Red Crescent Societies. resentative of Qatar to the UN Ambas- tar”, and blamed the Kingdom of Bah- Over one month, a total of 8,000 sador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif rain for this air breach, asserting that blankets will be distributed in al-Thani to UN Secretary-General it shall adhere to international con- Rajshahi City, western Bangladesh. Antonio Guterres, and to Permanent ventions, the UN Charter and interna- The aid is estimated to help more Centre for rare disease to Representative of Equatorial Guinea tional law. than 8,000 people, mainly children, Ambassador Ndong Mba, who is the Concluding her message, the ambas- women, patients, senior citizens, and President of the Security Council for sador affi rmed Qatar’s commitment to people with disability. Page 4 this month. exercise the highest degree of restraint, In her message, HE Sheikha Alya called abide by the UN Charter and promote QATAR | Tourism be established in Qatar upon the United Nations to take the nec- good neighbourly relations, stressing essary measures to put an end to the ten- that Qatar reserves the full right to re- Queen Mary 2 passengers dentious Bahraini violations in order to spond to any violations in line with its pay visit to Al Shaqab maintain international peace and secu- sovereign right, in accordance with the A trip to Al Shaqab, a member of amad Medical Corporation education, training, and research, we research and training. rity, in accordance with the provisions of provisions of international law. Qatar Foundation, was a highlight (HMC) and Heidelberg Uni- will continue to look at areas where Dr Saad al-Kaabi, chairman of the the Charter of the United Nations. HE Sheikha Alya reaffi rmed that during the recent visit of luxury Hversity Hospital have signed Qatar can develop further and one International Medical Aff airs Offi ce Requesting that the message be cir- Qatar would take the necessary meas- cruise ship Queen Mary 2 to Qatar. an agreement to establish a National such area is the planned Qatar Nation- at HMC and conference chairperson, culated as a document of the Security ures to defend its borders, airspace The passengers, who hail from Center for Rare Disease in Qatar. al Center for Rare Disease. This centre said the gathering provided a forum Council, she said the Government of and sea and its national security, in several countries, were “dazzled by The agreement was signed by HE Dr will be a joint collaboration with Hei- for clinicians, researchers, academ- Qatar draws the attention of the Secu- accordance with international laws the stunning facilities and its elegant Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Minister delberg University Hospital and will ics, and healthcare professionals to rity Council in the light of the provi- and regulations. occupants”, according to a press of Public Health, and Prof Dr Annette see the combining of both organisa- explore new clinical and research col- statement. Page 24 Gruters-Kieslich, chief medical di- tions’ knowledge and expertise,” add- laborations, and to build on many of rector and chairperson of the board of ed Dr al-Kuwari. the collaborations. ARAB WORLD | Trial Heidelberg University Hospital. Prof Gruters-Kieslich, who also “We signed an agreement last year Militants get life for Over the weekend, offi cials from presented a keynote lecture on the to deepen the long-standing relation- HMC and the acclaimed German re- evolving concept of rare diseases, ship between HMC and Heidelberg Venezuela again blocks aid; attacks in Tunisia search institution, gathered for the stated she is confident HMC and University Hospital and we have al- A Tunisian court has sentenced Doha-Heidelberg Clinical, Oncology, Heidelberg will continue to be strong ready seen signifi cant benefi ts result- seven militants to life in prison over Research Conference. The conference partners, collaborating across a ing from the close collaboration be- Guaido vows distribution attacks at a museum and on a beach also saw the hosting of the fi rst Rare number of areas, including cancer tween both our institutions.” Page 2 in 2015 that killed 60 people, many Disease Symposium, illustrating the enezuelan soldiers at the Co- as undemocratic last year. of them British tourists, prosecutors growing interest in this topic. lombian border were preventing Guaido says the aid will be sent to said yesterday. Dozens of defendants Dr al-Kuwari attended the confer- Vthe entry of a humanitarian aid 300,000 Venezuelans suff ering from faced two separate trials over the ence’s opening ceremony and noted convoy carrying 100 tons of food, med- acute food and medicine shortages. closely linked shootings, which the signifi cance of the collaboration icines and hygiene items from entering Maduro on Friday made it clear he occurred just months apart in between HMC and Heidelberg Univer- the country for the second day running would not let the aid through. Tunis and Sousse, but many were sity Hospital. yesterday. Meanwhile, Guaido refused to rule acquitted. Four were sentenced “I am delighted to see the progress The 10 lorries carrying the aid have out the possibility of authorising Unit- to life in prison for the shooting that has been achieved since the agree- been stuck in the Colombian border ed States intervention to help force rampage at a Sousse tourist resort ment between HMC and Heidelberg city of Cucuta since Thursday, but Maduro from power and alleviate a hu- in June 2015, which killed 38 people, University Hospital was signed a year self-declared interim president Juan manitarian crisis. mostly British tourists. Page 12 ago. Not only have we had the benefi t Guaido said on Twitter that he was Guaido told AFP he would do “eve- of senior consultants from Heidelberg nonetheless working on a plan to dis- rything that is necessary... to save hu- EUROPE | Politics visiting Qatar to provide specialist tribute the items to impoverished citi- man lives,” acknowledging that US expertise to our patients, but we have zens. intervention is “a very controversial Thousands protest also benefi ted from opportunities for Guaido – who quickly won US subject.” Italy’s populist govt joint training exercises, with many backing and support from Latin Under Maduro’s stewardship, oil- Tens of thousands of people took physicians from Qatar having trained American and European countries rich Venezuela’s economy has col- to the streets of Rome yesterday to in Heidelberg’s world-renowned fa- after declaring himself head of state lapsed leaving the country wracked by protest the course of Italy’s populist cility,” said Dr al-Kuwari. last month – is demanding the resig- hyperinfl ation, recession and shortag- government, local media reported. “As we work together to explore new HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, and Prof Dr Annette nation of President Nicolas Maduro, es of basic necessities such as food and Several unions had called for the ways of delivering better patient care, Gruters-Kieslich, shake hands at the signing ceremony. who won an election widely criticised medicine. — DPA Page 19 protest in order to draw attention to inequality, unemployment and racism under the government, which came to power last year. “The government has to come out of its virtual reality and enter the real world,” said Annamaria Furlan, the US-backed force launches ‘fi nal battle’ against IS head of the Italian Confederation of Workers’ Trade Unions Cisl. Page 17 Reuters territory previously held by the jihadist fi ghters had handled the battle “pa- ern and eastern Syria over the last four saying the battle against Islamic State ASIA | Rights Qamishli, Syria group. tiently” as more than 20,000 civilians years. there was almost won. The enclave, close to the Iraqi border, were evacuated from the besieged en- Islamic State leader Abu Bakr But a top US general said on Tues- Turkey slams China’s comprises two villages. Islamic State clave. al-Baghdadi declared the group’s day the group would pose an enduring treatment of Uighurs he US-backed Syrian Democrat- also still has territory in the part of Syr- “caliphate” in 2014 in territory stretch- threat following the US withdrawal, as Turkey yesterday condemned China’s ic Forces (SDF) began an assault ia that is mostly under the control of Mustafa Bali, head of the ing across Iraq and Syria. But the group it retained leaders, fi ghters, facilitators treatment of its Muslim ethnic Uighur Tagainst the fi nal Islamic State the Russian- and Iranian-backed Syr- SDF media offi ce, told lost its two main prizes – the Syrian and resources that would fuel a menac- people as “a great embarrassment enclave in eastern Syria yesterday, aim- ian government. Reuters the aim of the city of Raqqa and Iraq’s Mosul – in 2017. ing insurgency. for humanity”, adding to rights ing to wipe out the last vestige of the ji- Mustafa Bali, head of the SDF media assault was to “eliminate After capturing Raqqa, the SDF ad- The Wall Street Journal reported on groups’ recent criticism over hadist group’s “caliphate” in the SDF’s offi ce, told Reuters the aim of the as- vanced southwards into Deir al-Zor Friday that the US military was prepar- mass detentions of the Turkic- area of operations. sault was to “eliminate the last rem- the last remnants of the province, attacking the jihadists in ing to withdraw from Syria by the end speaking minority. “The systematic President Donald Trump, who is nants of the terrorist organisation” and terrorist organisation” and territory on the eastern bank of the of April. assimilation policy of Chinese planning to pull US forces out of Syria, called it the “last battle”. called it the “last battle” Euphrates River. A US offi cial confi rmed that target authorities towards Uighur Turks is a said on Wednesday he expected an an- He later wrote on Twitter that the The remaining Islamic State territory date to Reuters, saying the withdrawal great embarrassment for humanity,” nouncement as early as next week that battle had started and the enclave The SDF, spearheaded by the Kurdish in Syria is west of the Euphrates. included a pullout from the US military Turkish foreign ministry spokesman the US-led coalition operating in sup- would “be cleared soon”. YPG militia, has driven Islamic State Trump said in December he was base at Tanf, near the Syrian border Hami Aksoy said in a statement. port of the SDF had reclaimed all the Bali said that in the last 10 days SDF out of a swathe of territory in north- pulling all 2,000 US troops out of Syria, with Iraq and Jordan. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, February 10, 2019 QATAR

Centre for rare disease to be set up AFG College of Aberdeen to off er new programmes

By Joseph Varghese build on the expertise available Staff Reporter to us and develop synergies with the research being undertaken in Scotland and here in Qatar. I FG College with the Uni- believe that there is a huge po- versity of Aberdeen has tential for us here in Qatar to Aannounced expansion develop our budding research- plans off ering signifi cant learn- ers and academics in the hope of ing opportunities to students in fulfi lling His Highness the Amir Qatar. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- “We are looking to develop Thani’s vision of a knowledge- further programmes from dif- based economy,” noted the of- Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Heidelberg University Hospital have signed an ferent academic disciplines. fi cial. agreement to establish a National Center for Rare Disease in Qatar. Picture shows off icials from Through our research and en- “I have always been an avid HMC and the Heidelberg University Hospital gathered for the Doha-Heidelberg Clinical, gagement with external stake- believer in the power and infl u- Oncology, Research Conference over the weekend. holders, we have identifi ed a ence that education provides the number of key areas for expan- individual. This was instilled in sion and academic development, me by my father, Sheikh Faleh with a new master’s in Interna- bin Nasser al-Thani, who from tional Commercial Law, as well a young age encouraged me and as a graduate diploma in edu- my siblings to take advantage cation,” Dr Sheikha Aisha bint of the academic opportunities Thundershowers, strong winds Faleh al-Thani, chairperson of Al Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh al-Thani. Below: An illustration of the available to me and my siblings. Faleh Group told Gulf Times. upcoming campus of AFG College of Aberdeen in Al Daayen district. This has led me to develop a life- AFG College of Aberdeen long passion for education,” she plans to celebrate Qatar National maintained. forecast in off shore areas Sport Day 2019 in a big way. “As For the International Wom- part of this year’s National Sport en’s Day event on March 8, the Day, we will for the second year, university has invited an ex- hundery rain is expected will result in rising dust and increased at a number of places be hosting a fun run in Al Waab. pert from Aberdeen University in off shore areas today low visibility. yesterday as compared to Fri- Our partners in this event in- who will discuss the ground- Talong with strong winds The department had also is- day, and a further rise is likely clude NBK Holding and Al Waab breaking research that she and and high seas, the Qatar Met sued a warning for off shore in some places today. City. We have more than 800 her team are undertaking in the department has said. areas during this period, and For instance, the minimum registered participants for the treatment of diabetes. “Diabe- The weather offi ce has also advised people to avoid going went up from 9C on Friday to event and we are hoping that not tes is a major medical concern said there is a chance of scat- to sea. 15C yesterday in Ghuwairiyah, only students, but other mem- here in Qatar. So I am excited as tered rain in some inshore areas Meanwhile, today’s detailed from 9C to 14C in Al Shee- bers of the community to par- to how this can help all those af- today, a day after some showers forecast says the wind speed haniya, from 11C to 16C in Me- ticipate,” said Sheikha Aisha. fected by this illness,” pointed were reported from the north- may go up to 25 knots during saieed, from 10C to 15C in Al The new campus of the uni- out Sheikha Aisha. ern parts of the country. thundershowers in off shore ar- Khor, Karana and Shehaimiya, versity, to come up in the Al “Another area that has been The Met department had re- eas, with the sea level rising to from 11C to 15C in Dukhan, Daayen district, will house four highlighted, more so since the cently said in a report that “un- 8ft. from 10C to 14C in Batna, from schools of engineering, busi- beginning of the illegal block- settled weather conditions” Cloudy conditions will pre- 10C to 13C in Abu Samra, and ness, social sciences and medi- ade, is food security. Aberdeen were expected to aff ect the vail in these areas and there is a from 14C to 17C in Ruwais. In cine. “During my visit to For- University has been conduct- country from Saturday evening possibility of scattered rain to- Doha, the rise was from 15C on esterhill medical campus of ing research into this area for a until Tuesday evening “due to day, which may turn thundery Friday to 17C yesterday. Aberdeen University, I had lis- number of years and is consid- the passage of an upper-level at times, the report states. Today, the minimum tem- tened to a number of experts ered to be an international leader low-pressure system”. On the other hand, mild perature is expected to be 20C discussing pioneering medical in this area. Thus, any contri- Light to moderate rain has daytime and partly cloudy in Doha, 19C in Mesaieed, Ru- research taking place there. This bution that we can make to the been forecast during this pe- conditions are likely inshore, wais and Wakrah, 18C in Al inspired me to consider the pos- great works being undertaken riod, becoming heavy and and there is a chance of scat- Khor and Dukhan, and 15C in sibility of utilising the expertise by our government, will help ce- thundery at times – especially tered rain, too, in some places. Abu Samra. that the university has to deliver greater research opportunities “The University of Aberdeen ment our role within the wider on Monday and Tuesday. These It will be relatively cold by The maximum, on the other our dream of opening a medical within the fi eld of medicine,” ex- is renowned for its academic re- academic community here in conditions will be accompa- night. hand, will be 30C in Abu Samra school and helping to develop plained Sheikha Aisha. search and we are now keen to Qatar,” added Sheikha Aisha. nied by strong winds, which The minimum temperature and 25C in Doha.

Gulf Times 4 Sunday, February 10, 2019 QATAR

Winterisation aid distribution in Bangladesh. QRCS provides winterisation aid for 8,000 Bangladeshis

atar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), in response to the cur- Qrent severe cold wave in Bang- ladesh, has initiated a project to pro- vide winterisation non-food items for the aff ected households. The QR114,000 project is being co- ordinated with Bangladesh Red Cres- cent Society (BDRCS) and the Interna- tional Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Over a period of one month, person- nel from the QRCS representation mis- sion in Bangladesh are distributing a total of 8,000 blankets in Rajshahi city, western Bangladesh. This aid is esti- mated to help more than 8,000 peo- The QRCS is providing non-food items as part of the aid. ple, mainly children, women, patients, senior citizens and persons with dis- inaccessible and where no humanitar- QRCS already has a winterisation drive ability, QRCS has said in a statement. ian aid had been delivered. in progress in nine countries – Yemen, A memorandum of understanding The northern and northwestern parts of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, had been signed with BDRCS to take country are undergoing a severe cold wave Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh and part in selecting the benefi ciaries, pro- that has so far claimed 27 lives, including Turkey. A total of QR14mn worth of win- curing supplies from the local market 23 children, mostly in Rajshahi. Another terisation aid is planned to reach more and co-distributing the blankets. 137 children were referred to hospitals for than 225,000 benefi ciaries, the state- The target areas are those that are cold-related health problems. ment adds.

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, February 10, 2019 QATAR Minister calls for enhancing leadership skills of govt staff

QNA number of training programmes human capital guarantees long- Doha and workshops to cover new term sustainable returns. topic needed by those in leader- For his part, Turki Abdullah ship positions. al-Mahmoud gave a speech on nder the patronage of Meanwhile, Vice-President behalf of the graduates and said HE the Prime Minister of Administration and Finance that the workshops held as part Uand Minister of Interior Associate at Doha Institute for of the programme helped the Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Graduate Study, Professor Hend participants gain valuable expe- Khalifa al-Thani, the Ministry Abdalrahman Mohamed al- rience and deep understanding of Administrative Development, Muftah, said yesterday that the of the reasons behind imple- Labour, and Social Aff airs cel- institute has an agreement with menting certain policies. ebrated the graduation of the the Ministry of Administrative Head of the institute of gen- third batch of the Leadership Development since 2014. eral management at the Ministry Training Programme for govern- HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour, and Social Aff airs Yousef bin Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro with other dignitaries and Under this agreement, 134 of Administrative Development, ment staff . course participants at the graduation event. leaders from the fi rst group were Labour, and Social Aff airs, Ab- The batch consisted of 78 graduated and 112 graduated dulaziz Saad al-Majli, stressed participants. of administrative development. The programme contained of the Advisory Council, which The minister noted that they from the second group. the importance of raising the ef- Speaking during the event, It aims to develop the leader- administrative, legal, fi nancial emphasised that human capital contributed to the success of “Today we celebrate the grad- fi ciency of employees, particu- HE the Minister of Administra- ship skills of people in govern- and other information that en- is the real source of wealth. this programme by attending, uation of 78 leaders in the third larly those in leadership position tive Development, Labour, and mental bodies to ensure that able the managers and supervi- The minister also highlighted discussing and presenting their group of participants in this am- in government bodies. Social Aff airs Yousef bin Mo- current and future staff continue sors to carry out their work ef- that the Amir had said that an positive experiences that ben- bitious training programme,” she He noted that the pro- hamed al-Othman Fakhro called to provide excellent services lo- fi ciently in order to realise Qatar offi cial must ask himself what efi ted everyone. said. gramme’s graduates learned, for eff orts to prepare leaders in cally and regionally. National Vision 2030, highlight- did he give to his country and He noted that 78 participants She called on all graduates among other things, how to all governmental bodies, as they The minister added that the ing the commitment of the wise how can he be more useful. graduated this year and a total of working in the public sector to overcome crises. will be in charge of implement- programme enables supervisors leadership to the Qatari human The minister noted that the 246 graduated from the previous constantly improve their work, He noted also that the insti- ing the diff erent administrative to carry out the tasks and re- capital. graduates attended the pro- two classes. stressing that they have the tute takes into consideration the projects. sponsibilities assigned to them The minister referenced the gramme for a full year and were He stressed the importance of passion and the will and effi - needs of ministries when pre- He added that the Leadership according to the best interna- speech of His Highness the Amir a role model in loyalty, despite academic and scientifi c experi- ciency to do so, especially after paring its programmes. Training Programme is part of tional standards in the fi eld of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- having other engagements and ence in that regard, highlight- the blockade, which for its part He said there are 80 partici- the ministry’s eff orts in the fi eld administrative development. Thani during the 44th session responsibilities. ing that the ministry will off er a proved that building the Qatari pants in the fourth batch.

Qatar participates in high-level Arab leaders’ conference

QNA Abdullah al-Sulaiti. Cairo The aim of the confer- ence is to prepare an Arab document jointly drafted he high-level Arab Lead- by the Arab Parliament and ers conference, organ- top Arab leaders with deep Tised by the Arab Parlia- knowledge and extensive ment to promote Arab solidarity experience in joint Arab started yesterday at the Arab work. League headquarters in Cairo, The document focuses on with a number of former and enhancing solidarity among current heads of government Arab countries and facing and ministers participating. their challenges. Qatar is participating The document will be in the conference with a presented by the Arab delegation from the Advi- parliament to the Arab sory Council headed by HE League summit that will the Deputy Speaker of the take place in March in Tu- Council Mohammed bin nisia.

Women’s sport committee holds yoga programme

QNA President at The Qatar Doha Women’s Sport Commit- tee Lolwa al-Marri said that they are organising the pro- atar Women’s Sport gramme to help women in Committee organised Qatar benefi t from yoga, Qa yoga programme and expressed hope that the yesterday. event can benefi t those who The event was attended by participate in it mentally and members of the diplomatic physically. corps and women from the She also said that the pro- society. gramme provides an oppor- The programme will take tunity for Qatari women to place on the fi rst Wednesday participate in all activities, of every month. given they are equal to men in Through the establish- the bid to achieve sustainable ment of such programmes, development. the committee seeks to pro- She added that empower- mote positive messages to ing Qatari women will remain support and inspire wom- a main pillar of the govern- en’s participation in sport ment’s policy in dealing with in order to achieve a healthy all societal challenges facing lifestyle. Qatari women.

Elephant tramples to death two Qatar residents in India

wo Qatar residents, house as part of a vow by the both of them Indian house owner and was sched- Texpatriates, died while uled to be marched to a near- on vacation in their home by temple. country in a tragic incident Patteri died on the spot on Friday. while Gangadharan passed Narayanan Patteri (65), away in a nearby hospital, also known as Babu, and Mu- sources said. Both had gone rugan Ganagadharan (60), to attend the house warming were trampled to death by an ceremony of a friend at his elephant that was frightened invitation. by the bursting of fi recrack- Patteri was the opera- ers during a house warming tions manager of Al Sadd Ex- ceremony near Gurvayoor change. He hailed from Kan- in Kerala. The elephant was nur while Gangadharan came brought to the newly built from Kozhikode in Kerala.

Patteri and Gangadhran Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 7 QATAR Qatar Charity hands over 88 social housing units in Tunisia

atar Charity (QC) has handed over 88 social housing units to low- Some 40 social housing units, which were built by Qatar Charity in the and other development projects in the Sidi Bouzid Governorate. income families in many areas of the Republic of Tunisia, which was Tunisian city of Kasserine, were handed over to the Ministry of Equipment, Faisal Rashid Al Fehaida, assistant to CEO in the Operations and Qimplemented with funding from the Qatar Fund For Development Housing and Territorial Development and the Regional Council of the International Cooperation Sector at Qatar Charity, met with Dr. Nizaruddin (QFFD), with the aim of enabling beneficiaries to live in adequate housing Kasserine Governorate Salmi, Minister of Equipment, Housing and Territorial Development, that helps improve their living conditions. Each 57-square-meter residential unit consists of a living room, two Shazli Boualak, Governor of the Tunis Governorate, and Ahmed Samawi, The handover ceremony was attended by several officials of Qatar bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom with the outer lobby surrounded by Governor of the Manouba Governorate. Charity, directors of regional councils and many guests. a wall The minister and governors lauded the efforts of Qatar Charity’s office The handover of these housing units come within the framework of a Faisal Rashid Al Fehaida, assistant to CEO in the Operations and in Tunisia and reviewed a number of developmental and humanitarian plan that includes the provision of 200 social housing units. Other social International Cooperation Sector at Qatar Charity, expressed his thanks and priorities and a range of needs in the area of social housing and housing and housing units will soon be handed over in different governorates of the appreciation to the concerned Tunisian authorities for the good coordination social welfare improvement. country. regarding the implementation of this project and other projects carried out They also expressed their appreciation for the qualitative projects Also, these social housing units were handed over within the by Qatar Charity in Tunisia. He also pointed out that other social housing implemented by Qatar Charity’s in Tunisia to meet these needs, appreciating framework of the partnership between the Ministry of Equipment, Housing units will be delivered in different governments of the Republic of Tunisia. the keenness of the office to coordinate continuously with the competent and Territorial Development, the Regional Council of the Sidi Bouzid For his part, Anis Daifallah, governor of Sidi Bouzid, said that this official authorities. Governorate and Qatar Charity. project was the result of cooperation between the Republic of Tunisia and Qatar Charity has recently distributed in-kind assistance to low-income Some 48 social housing units were distributed to beneficiaries in the Sidi the State of Qatar and came in support of the government’s efforts to provide families in many Tunisian governorates at the cost of $300,000, benefiting Bouzid Governorate to support the social housing plan in the governorate. social housing in the region. more than 1870 low-income families and more than 800 students including The cost of these housing units amounted to QR3mn. He also stressed the determination of the central and local authorities male and female, to help them survive the cold waves that are hitting The social housing includes 24 residential units in Sidi Ali Ben Aoun to continue efforts in this regard within the Tunisian government’s plan to many areas of the country. The assistance included a number of winter and 24 residential units in Meknassy. These housing units were delivered develop social housing. requirements. to beneficiaries in the presence of Anis Daifallah, Governor of Sidi Bouzid, The Governor applauded the efforts made by the State of Qatar and Qatar and Faisal Rashid Al Fehaida, assistant to CEO in the Operations and Charity to provide social housing, underlining the Tunisian authorities’ International Cooperation Sector at Qatar Charity. keenness to provide all the necessary facilities for the success of this project

Qatar Charity delivers aid to remote areas of Kenya

ith the generous support of benefactors in the State of Qatar, Qatar Charity W(QC) has managed to expand its reach across remote and isolated areas of Kenya, where the charity managed to deliver aid to those in need, despite the difficult road conditions. Qatar Charity’s office in Kenya places its emphasis on the poorest regions of the country, where the office managed to provide emergency aid to those affected by drought and rain in the area of Tana River and the north and northeast provinces of Kenya. During the year 2018, Qatar Charity has managed to make very significant achievements, as it implemented 187 economic empowerment projects, carried out 12 relief campaigns, and drilled 29 surface and artesian wells. Also, the number of those sponsored by the charity reached 4,500 people, including orphans, teachers, poor families, and persons with special needs. Qatar Charity’s achievements also include 4 schools, 5 multi-service centers and 5 social projects, which involve the construction of houses for a number of poor families. More than 750,000 people benefited from these projects in many provinces of the country. Last year, Qatar Charity also provided urgent relief aid to the flood and drought-hit people in the affected areas including Tana River and the north and north-eastern provinces of the country, where 18,660 food baskets, 8,800 meat packages, and 250 clothing baskets have been distributed, benefiting nearly 130,000 people. The office also carried out a number of activities for orphans, including recreational activities, summer camp, World Orphans Day celebrations, and Qatar National Day celebrations, in addition to honoring outstanding orphans on this day. Since its opening in 2015, Qatar Charity’s office has implemented hundreds of programmes, projects and activities, most notably in the field of humanitarian relief for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and flood victims. The office has also carried out projects in the fields of education, water and economic empowerment for needy families in different parts of Kenya. These projects contributed significantly to easing the burden of living on the beneficiaries. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, February 10, 2019 QATAR

WISE QNB fi rst bank to open offi ce takes part in debate at European at Msheireb Downtown Doha Parliament New four-story building of QNB at MDD will provide he World Innovation retail services, asset and Summit for Education wealth management and T(WISE), an initiative of international corporates and Qatar Foundation, participated global transactions in a discussion on the future of education at the European Par- sheireb Properties has liament in Brussels, discussing announced the open- the signifi cance of providing Ming of the fi rst bank young people with the skills re- in its fl agship development quired to become creative, tal- project, Msheireb Downtown ented leaders who can work col- Doha (MDD) by QNB. laboratively to make the world a QNB, the largest fi nancial better place. institutions in the Middle East With support from the African and Africa, and one of MDD’s Leadership Academy, the one- fi rst commercial tenants, will day conference brought together occupy its building and provide global education innovators who a range of services to individual are reimagining leadership edu- customers and businesses. cation and have implemented QNB’s building is a commer- a number of successful models cial property located in MDD, across the world. the “Second Smartest City Dis- Dr Asmaa al-Fadala, director trict in the World” and one of of research at WISE, presented a the world’s “most Sustainable panel discussion about enabling City Districts”. an environment for improving the Located adjacent to MDD’s future of education, titled ‘Rede- underpass to Souq Waqif, QNB’s signing Leadership Learning’. new four-story building will QNB executives in front of the bank’s building located adjacent to MDD’s underpass to Souq Waqif. Arusha Rahman, Pakistan’s provide retail services, asset and former minister of information wealth management and inter- achievement. project, Msheireb Downtown mounted solar thermal panels and communication technol- national corporates and glo- QNB Group acting CEO Ab- Doha. We have transformed the provide 31% of the buildings QNB will occupy its building and provide a range of services to ogy, and Anna Molero, chief bal transactions. Moreover, the dulla Mubarak al-Khalifa said, centre of Doha by building the domestic hot water generation. individual customers and businesses. government offi ce, Teach for All, building will host the headquar- “We are pleased to be part of this world’s fi rst smart and sustain- The potable water saving is Spain, also participated in the ters of QNB Capital, the bank’s huge project that demonstrates able downtown regeneration 24%, while the landscape water ditioning condensate, which is with all buildings guaranteeing discussion. subsidiary that provides an array Qatar’s great achievements in project. saving is 100%, with no potable estimated to generate 143cu m. optimal consumption of water Highlighting the need to create of investment banking services the properties sector through “As the leading bank in Qatar water use. Effi cient landscape A comprehensive measure- and energy. a role for educators as designers within Qatar and globally. establishing a world class city and the region, we are delighted water usage, utilising drip ir- ment and verifi cation plan will Through adopting the high- for learning, Dr al-Fadala said: QNB’s new building was de- district that will host the coun- to have QNB locate within MDD rigation and selected plantings, be implemented for the build- est standards of sustainability “Policymakers must cultivate an signed and constructed accord- try’s leading organisations and and their commercial opera- reduces water consumption by ing, ensuring all building energy practices, Msheireb Downtown ecosystem and create a culture ing to the LEED New Construc- companies in one place. This tions benefi t from being in city 52% compared with conven- is monitored through the build- Doha paves the way for other that is more open to risk-taking, tion 2009 certifi cation system aids in promoting sustainability district built according to the tional design. ing management system (BMS) developers to follow suit and enabling teachers and learners to and will be targeting LEED Gold which is a common core interest highest standards of sustainable The overall potable water to evaluate the energy perform- adhere to measures set by the explore new ideas and test mod- status now that it is operational. shared by QNB, as the biggest practice.” saving for the building is 88% ance of the building and com- Qatar Green Building Council. els.” She emphasised that govern- LEED, or Leadership in En- bank in Qatar and Musheireb Overall energy savings for the due to non-potable water use in pare predicted performance to “It is our goal to help Qa- ments need to prioritise and in- ergy and Environmental Design, properties.” QNB building is targeted to be the district cooling plant cool- actual performance. tar realise its National Vision vest in professional development is the most widely used green Msheireb Properties acting 44.5%, with renewable energy ing towers, irrigation and fl ush- Msheireb Downtown Doha 2030, by taking great strides in activities that are embedded in building rating system in the CEO Ali al-Kuwari said, “We are generated by roof mounted solar ing fi xtures. Non-potable water is the fi rst truly sustainable re- sustainability practices within school settings, sustained, collab- world and is a globally recog- honoured to welcome the QNB thermal panels for domestic hot is generated for QNB building generation project from incep- the real estate sector,” Msheireb orative, and focused on addressing nised symbol of sustainability to our fl agship development water generation. Some 20 roof through collection of air con- tion, to delivery and fi nally use, Properties said. problems surrounding practice. Jumbo Electronics opens Ooredoo ‘Smart shop’ at The Pearl-Qatar

umbo Electronics, a premium dealer of JOoredoo, has opened an Ooredoo franchise – ‘Smart shop’ – at The Pearl-Qatar. The ceremony included the cutting of a cake by Damian Chappell, chief consumer offi cer, Ooredoo Qatar; in the presence of Khalid al-Hamadi, senior director – Consumer Sales; Oscar Vilda, executive di- rector; Brian Speldewinde, director and Taqi Moham- ed, senior retail manager, from Ooredoo. On behalf Off icials and dignitaries at the cake-cutting ceremony. of Jumbo Electronics, those present included Sajed Jas- Speaking at the event, dealer goes back 12 years. line customers to migrate to sim Mohamed Sulaiman, Chappell said: “This state- Along the way we have also Ooredoo TV, the all-in-one vice-chairman and manag- of-the-art shop raises the become a Nojoom partner. entertainment service. ing director; C V Rappai, di- bar in terms of intelligent With the addition of this As part of the vision for rector and CEO; Rohit Pan- design and better customer shop, it further increases moving to a paper-free dit, chief operating offi cer; experience. Not only does our footprint of shop in service to reduce the use of Ranjith Abraham, head of it enable paperless trans- shop, kiosks and franchise natural resources, all forms Retail; and Leon Lopez, actions, but it also deploys outlets managed by Jumbo to sign up, upgrade or reg- head of Marketing. latest digital solutions such Electronics for Ooredoo ister for services are avail- The shop in Medina Cen- as digital banners, electron- across Qatar,” said Rappai. able through a fully paper- trale opposite Novo Cinemas ic brochures and our new The facility off ers a “con- less process, the statement is in a prime location for resi- Queue Management solu- venient one-stop shop” for notes. This is made possi- dents and visitors to access its tion. It has a trained team customers seeking serv- ble by a specially designed facilities. It hosts some of the eager and ready to help, ices such as Hala, Shahry, online system supporting latest customer service tech- smarter technology on of- Broadband, fi xed line and easy-to-use e-Forms, the nologies to ensure a “smoother fer, as well as the latest in- business services. The shop latest e-Scanning equip- and improved experience for formation on our deals.” will provide SIM replace- ment for QID and passports, visitors”, Jumbo Electronics “Our association with ments and Hala topups and and e-Signatures for digital has said in a statement. Ooredoo as a premium enables Mozaic and fi xed signatures.

Encroachments removed in Umm Salal area

Umm Salal Municipality’s technical control section has conducted a campaign to remove encroachments from State-owned property in the Umm Salal Ali, South Al Mazrouah and Umm Al Umad areas. This has been done in co-operation with other departments at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 9 QATAR US Olympian to take part in QF National Sport Day events

ioneering athlete Ibtihaj Mo- ticipate in a moderated discussion Born in the US state of New Jersey, hamed will visit Qatar Foun- and a question-and-answer session Ibtihaj went to public high school Pdation (QF) next week to join at the latest edition of QF’s Educa- and then graduated with a degree its National Sport Day celebrations tion City Speaker Series. The dis- in international relations from and speak about the challenges she cussion, which is open to the pub- Duke University, US. She joined her has faced as a Muslim-American lic, will take place at Qatar National school fencing team at the age of 13, Olympian. Library on February 13 from 4-5pm. joining Team USA in 2010. Ibtihaj, a member of the United Ibtihaj made history twice at At the age of 17, Ibtihaj was chosen States fencing team, will participate the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, as the by the prestigious Peter Westbrook in National Sport Day activities fi rst American athlete to wear a hi- Foundation, which selects young with Her Highness Sheikha Moza jab during competition and – as a athletes from less privileged back- bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar member of the bronze medal-win- grounds and teaches them fencing Foundation; and HE Sheikha Hind ning US saber fencing team – the as part of a holistic programme to Mirqab Mall bint Hamad al-Thani, vice-chair- Ibtihaj Mohamed fi rst Muslim-American athlete to develop life and academic skills. person and CEO of Qatar Founda- become an Olympic medallist. The The foundation has developed nu- tion; at Education City’s Ceremo- The following day, she will visit Team USA star inspired a global merous Olympic fencers for Team nial Green Spine and Oxygen Park the QF headquarters, meet Qatar sportswear giant to design the fi rst USA, with Ibtihaj being one of its on February 12. Academy Doha students, and par- hijab for athletes. fi rst female stars. Mirqab Mall holds Sport Day activities for entire family Ooredoo to release app update irqab Mall will host three days special surprises along the way. of action-packed activities for Rony Mourani, general manager of Al Mthe entire family to mark Qatar’s Mana Malls, said: “We have built Mirqab National Sport Day. Mall with the entire Doha community in before National Sport Day The activities will include “exciting mind. We are delighted off ering the public sports challenges, healthy meals and fun a wide range of events in line with Qatar’s oredoo has announced that This year, Ooredoo’s focus will be their steps monitor and associate Speaking about the app update, entertainment”, Mirqab Mall has said in a National Sport Day in alignment with Qa- it will release an update of on engaging customers and encour- a number to their device, to which Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, direc- statement. tar National Vision 2030. We at Mirqab Othe Ooredoo app in prepa- aging them to either begin exercising the company will credit the data. tor of PR and Corporate Commu- The three-day celebration will kick off Mall believe in the power of sport to bring ration for the upcoming National or up their current levels of activity. “If you’re an Unlimited customer, nications at Ooredoo, said: “Sup- at 4pm on February 12 with a football chal- people together and are proud to celebrate Sport Day, when customers will be The day itself off ers a host of exciting then you can gift your data to any porting community initiatives lenge, where football fans can test their this important day.” rewarded for every step they take. activities but as an added incentive, Ooredoo Shahry/Hala customer that encourage our citizens and football skills and compete for prizes. Next Mirqab Mall off ers “exciting retail op- The new update will include a Ooredoo will off er two special pro- for them to enjoy,” the statement residents to adopt and maintain up is a zumba workout on the Mezzanine tions and healthy dining prepared to the new Sport Day section that will en- motional activities for National Sport notes/ healthy lifestyles is of the utmost fl oor “that is guaranteed to get everyone highest standard”, the statement adds. able customers to be rewarded for Day – 200MB data free, valid until A wide range of sports activities importance to Ooredoo. Qatar Na- moving”. Various sport outlets will showcase the being active with the Ooredoo pro- midnight, for every 2019 steps taken will be on off er at MIA Park, with tional Sport Day is the ideal op- Other attractions include a family latest in equipment, trainers and workout motions. “The more you move, the for a total of 1GB when a target of options suitable for all ages – eve- portunity for everyone to come to- obstacle course and soft play area that clothing, while specialty cafes will of- more you will be rewarded; reach 10,000 steps is reached; and 500MB rything from infl atables for kids gether and explore new ways to stay will entertain the youngest guests as fer fresh and healthy meals and juices, to 10,000 steps and not only will you free data, valid until midnight, when to zumba, boxing, taekwondo and fi t and active, and we’re delighted well as the paddle fun bikes, “which “complete an exciting Sport Day”. get your free data, you’ll also have customers visit Museum of Islamic ball sports, as well as a variety of to be supporting such a worthwhile will fi ll the mall’s Atrium with cheers of Mirqab Mall has invited visitors from all reached your daily steps goal as per Art (MIA) Park, fi nd the QR code and fun races – so that the whole fam- event.” delight”, the statement notes. Finally, over to join in celebrating Qatar National the global standard for a healthy, scan it. ily can get involved. There will also The Ooredoo app is available to visitors can join Radio Olive & Suno Sport Day by participating in the activities active day,” the company said in a All customers will need to do is be plenty of food and beverage stalls download on the Apple Store and from 6pm to 9pm on an interactive that will take place at the mall over three statement. allow the Ooredoo app to access off ering healthy options. Google Play. walk around the mall that will feature days.

Mall of Qatar hosting fun and fi tness activities Lekhwiya organises event all of Qatar is hosting Gate 1 for kids and adults. This a variety of fun and February, Mall of Qatar “will for Al Noor Centre pupils Mfree fi tness activities have something fun for every until February 16 in celebration visitor”, the statement notes. he Internal Security Force lifa Mohamed al-Kubaisi praised of Qatar National Sport Day “At Mall of Qatar, we always (Lekhwiya) organised the eff orts of the Al Noor Cen- and to promote the social and aim to provide our visitors with Ta festival for students tre in giving an excellent model personal benefi ts of sports and a memorable experience that of Al Noor Centre for Blind in on how to support and nurture recreation. goes beyond their expectations preparation for the 2019 Qatar this group of society to enable The whole family can im- for a traditional mall,” said Stu- National Sport Day. Lekhwiya them to play an active role in the prove their table tennis, bas- art Elder, Mall of Qatar CEO. departments and sections of service of their country, point- ketball and football skills at an “We take immense pride in our the Ministry of Interior (MoI) ing out that Lekhwiya is keen to activation located at West Gate role as the nation’s mall and are participated in the festival. be a partner in supporting these 3 and get the chance to win in- delighted to support our coun- The event included a vari- groups by sponsoring, organ- stant prizes in collaboration try’s celebration of National ety of recreational competi- ising and presenting diff erent with numerous brands, Mall of Sport Day with a full schedule tions. Lekhwiya employees also events on various occasions. Qatar has said in a statement. of recreational activities.” trained children on horse rid- Al-Kubaisi explained that Little ones can increase their In alignment with National ing. The ministry’s canine sec- Lekhwiya had participat- stamina with an exclusive park- Sport Day, Mall of Qatar has tion presented shows by police ed in a number of activities our and daily boxing classes or- stressed that it seeks to edu- dogs. At the end of the festival, with the community institu- ganised by Anytime Fitness at cate the local population about Lekhwiya presented a memorial tions including Al-Noor Cen- West Gate 1. the benefi ts of being active and shield to the management of Al tre, Dreima, Ihsan and other Additionally, Mall of Qatar participating in recreational Noor Centre. humanitarian institutions. will showcase, until February activities. “National Sport Day Lekhwiya’s sponsorship of the Amal Ali al-Buhendi, act- 16, a freestyle show combining presents an opportunity for festival stems from its keenness ing executive director, Al-Noor BMX, skating, football and roll- communities to come together on social partnership with state Centre for Blind, which has re- ers every day at 6pm and 8pm through recreation and em- institutions in diff erent events cently joined the Qatar Founda- at the Ooredoo Stage as well as brace the sporting principles of to affi rm its interaction with tion for Social Work, praised the a zumba show at 6.30pm and team building, unity and inclu- society, in addition to its main initiative of Lekhwiya, which 7.30pm in partnership with An- sion, participation, fi tness, and role in maintaining the country’s has always joined the blind ytime Fitness. Also, on February health,” the statement adds. security. and visually impaired children 12, the Fencing Federation will One can visit mallofqatar. Lekhwiya’s cultural com- of the centre in their various organise an activation at East com.qa for all the details. Children and adults taking apart in an activity at Mall of Qatar. mittee member Captain Kha- activities. (QNA)

Kahramaa gears up for National Sport Day Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has completed preparations to organise the National Sport Day celebrations on February 12 at Beach 4 of Katara – the Cultural Village under the slogan ‘Keep it in your Mind’. The slogan emphasises importance and significance of sports in maintaining healthy lifestyles. The full-day event from 8am will see several activities and sports competitions with the co-operation of the Qatar Volleyball Federation, Qatar Table Tennis Federation and Qatar Women’s Sports Committee, and will cater to all age groups and both genders. Separate areas have been allocated for women and children with several activities. Kahramaa, by organising National Sport Day, “reflects its social responsibility and willingness to contribute to developing a good sports culture and life in the country, and to improve the In this file photo, Kahramaa employees taking part in an event. wellness and healthy activities of its employees to achieve corporate objectives and goals by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their sporting talents”, the corporation has said in a statement. Awareness messages will also be posted and disseminated through the social media channels of Kahramaa to emphasise the value of sports and to inculcate it in daily activities to make it as a way of life. The yearly sporting event with several sport and wellness activities is likely to receive large numbers of visitors from all walks of life, including Kahramaa’s employees and their families, directors and managers. Last year’s event was attended by Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al- Kuwari and other dignitaries. The National Sport Day celebration will also focus more on community participation to spread sports awareness and to promote healthy lifestyles to help achieve Qatar National Vision 2030. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, February 10, 2019 QATAR Qatar Foundation hosts Ahlibank cuts rate on new Education City Career Fair personal loan atar Foundation (QF) hosted Edu- are available in the market at the moment. cation City Career Fair, bringing “When you talk to recruiters, you get a Qtogether 1,500 young people to very good idea of the type of candidates meet with representatives from more than they are looking for, what specialisations for Qataris 60 local and international organisations. they are interested in, and what soft-skills The two-day event, which took place at you need to develop in order to suit their Multaqa (Education City Student Centre), requirements. The career fair is benefi cial hlibank has launched aim to provide the right bank- was sponsored by Qatar Shell and open to as it gives me a clear idea of how to write an exclusive loan rate ing products and services, the students from across Education City, in- my CV and what skills I need to develop Afor Qataris starting Personal Loan campaign is a cluding QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa further. from 5% per year reducing great initiative to help Qatari University (HBKU) and QF’s eight partner “QF is doing a great job in providing rate (2.7% fi xed rate) for new customers cover any personal universities, as well as QF alumni. students like with me access to a variety of personal loans. expenses including vacation Rashid Majed al-Sulaiti, deputy general recruiters, all under one roof, and I would With easy and fast approval, expenses, education fees, manager, Qatar Shell, said: “Qatar Shell is highly recommend that all students at- Qatari customers can borrow property improvements and proud to be the main sponsor of the an- tend the Education City Career Fair in the up to QR2,000,000, including large household goods.” nual Education City Career Fair, as it aims future.” interest, and with repayment He added: “We always strive to give young people the opportunity to Mohamed al-Shakhs, who is studying up to 72 months. to off er our Qatari customers explore possible career options and net- at Texas A&M University at Qatar, one of Approved applicants will with the best products and work with potential employees. As Qatar QF’s partner universities, said: “I learned also get a Visa Signature credit services and ensuring their Shell, we off ered local students internship about the fair through my university, and card fee-free for the fi rst year fi nancials needs are met with opportunities and we promoted our Shell I am impressed at the number of brands and complimentary 40,000 the right solutions.” Graduate Programme to graduates.” and companies that were present – a lot Pearl Points credited to their More details about the per- Mubarak Eid al-Muhannadi, head of re- of us fi nd it diffi cult to reach out to com- credit card. The off er is valid sonal loan off er can be had cruitment at Al Jazeera, said: “This is the panies and organisations on an individual until April 30, Ahlibank said. from any Ahlibank branch lo- fourth year that we have participated in A participant being guided at Education City Career Fair. basis. Ahlibank’s Deputy CEO (re- cated across the country, its the career fair, and, over the last few years, “QF has brought all these companies, tail and private banking) Has- 24x7 contact centre on 4420 we have hired a number of students from lected through the career fair, providing Kenana Dalle, who is studying Compu- from a variety of specialisations, all under san AlEfrangi said, “With our 5222 or www.ahlibank.com.qa Northwestern University in Qatar. a number of internships. Some have been ter Engineering at HBKU’s College of Sci- one roof. It’s an excellent opportunity for “Aside from recruiting, we have trained for media journalism, some for ence and Engineering, said: “I came to the students to actually talk to representa- trained over 400 students who we se- PR, some for accounting.” fair as I wanted to know what sort of jobs tives from these companies.”

HBKU showcases graduate programmes

amad Bin Khalifa Univer- and alumni to meet with repre- gas, sports, technology and tel- sity (HBKU), a member of sentatives from organisations ecommunications sectors, who HQatar Foundation, intro- spanning numerous industries were on hand to answer indus- duced the Education City com- to discover the career paths and try-specifi c questions and off er munity to its graduate programmes prospects available to them. career guidance. and employment opportunities During the event, attendees In addition, attendees had a during the Education City Career met with potential employ- chance to explore career oppor- Fair 2019, held at Multaqa recently. ers from the aviation, banking, tunities off ered by Qatar Foun- The annual Education City media, education and research, dation’s international partner A participant talking to a representative. Career Fair enables students management consulting, oil and universities. Ahlibank head off ice in Doha. Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 11 QATAR LuLu Group launches Australian Festival uLu Group, in co-operation with the Australian embassy, Lhas organised the Australian Festival at LuLu Hypermarkets. Australian ambassador Dr Axel Wabenhorst launched the festival at LuLu Hypermarket, Al Messila, at a ceremony on Thursday. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by other offi cials from the Australian embassy, namely Yara Elsergany, Azza Basha and Erin Tunks; Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Hypermarkets; and many oth- er dignitaries from various sectors. The festival runs until February 13. The Group has been conduct- ing the Australian Festival since last year. In his inaugural speech, Dr Wa- benhorst commended the eff orts made by LuLu Group to highlight and promote Australian foods and other products in their stores. He was also impressed with the excellent supply chain that made the import of Australian products a real- Dignitaries and off icials at the inauguration of the Australian Festival at LuLu Hypermarket, Al Messila. PICTURE: Nasar TK ity, the Group said in a statement. Further, the ambassador pointed imported from Australia for a long out that there had been a signifi cant time. The important categories in- increase in the export of livestock, clude fresh meat, chilled and dairy fresh food, manufactured food products, cheese, frozen foods, ol- products and vegetables, including ives, free-range eggs, muesli bars, carrots and citrus etc, from Australia bread, varieties of milk and milk to Qatar. products, organic baby foods, sauce, Children from Sherborne Qatar cake mix, honey, grocery, and fresh were present at the inaugural cer- and frozen fruits & vegetables etc. emony and presented a musical per- The festival also highlights spe- formance. cialties and delights such as Aussie Live cooking sessions by a culi- burgers and other popular Austral- nary chef from Meat & Livestock ian dishes at the hot-food counters. Australia have also been organised in “Although Australian products every LuLu outlet. have had a presence in LuLu stores One of the major attractions of the for a long time, this promotion ceremony was that LuLu Hypermar- campaign endeavours to promote a kets had arranged for live kangaroos wide range of Australian products at the venue. and augment sales by increasing the The festival showcases major extent of imports,” the statement product lines that have been directly noted. The festival includes various types of Australian food products. Supplied picture ‘Innovative’ campaign to promote Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

ommercial Bank has Commercial Bank will act as the but also masters of dining, music, the Commercial Bank Qatar Mas- cally and mentally. Commercial launched an “exciting and title sponsor of the tournament entertainment and more, bringing ters, but have a lasting impact in Bank’s wider sponsorship of the Cinnovative” campaign to for the 14th year in a row. across the wide range of activities inspiring people to pick up a club Commercial Bank Qatar Mas- promote the Commercial Bank Commercial Bank’s campaign that complement golf. and give golf a try. ters will enable the event to off er Qatar Masters 2019. applies golfi ng terms to elements Hussein Ali al-Abdulla, EGM, “Everyone at Commercial Bank not only a world-class sporting The campaign is focused on of Qatari culture and heritage to chief marketing offi cer, said: “The is looking forward to what will be tournament to visitors, but also a generating awareness about the explain them to the Qatari public. Commercial Bank Qatar Masters another fantastic edition of this range of exciting hospitality and event and on educating the public The aim of the campaign is to is one of the country’s premier very special tournament, which entertainment activities such as in Qatar about golf in the context encourage people in Qatar to gain sporting events that attracts a glo- supports Qatar’s national vision pop-up restaurants, music per- of the Qatari culture, the bank has a better understanding of golf as bal TV audience and international of being a world-class venue for formances and shopping areas, said in a statement. a sport, and therefore enjoy the visitors to Qatar. sport, promoting healthy life- the statement noted. The Commercial Bank Qatar Commercial Bank Qatar Masters “What we wanted to do in this styles, and bringing members of The Commercial Bank Qa- Masters 2019, which takes place event even more. marketing campaign is encour- the Qatari community together.” tar Masters has also become part from March 7 to 10, is an an- As part of the event’s market- age people in Qatar to learn more Corporate social responsibility of Qatar’s social fabric, off ering a nual golf tournament that is part ing communications, Commer- about the wonderful sport of golf. is an integral part of Commercial wonderful day out with family and of the European Tour. Many of cial Bank is running a social media At Commercial Bank, we are com- Bank’s business in line with its friends in the beautiful surround- the world’s top golfers compete campaign that aims to elaborate mitted to playing a role in driving support of the human develop- ings of Doha Golf Club.For more on Doha Golf Club’s challeng- on the many ‘masters’ that can participation in sport in Qatar, ment pillar of Qatar National Vi- information about the Commercial ing desert-style championship be found at this year’s tourna- and we hope that our campaign sion 2030, which aims to promote Bank Qatar Masters, visit http:// course. ment – not only masters of golf, will not only drive attendance to a healthy population both physi- www.qatar-masters.com

Bang & Olufsen unveils new BeoSound Edge, Bronze Collection

ifty One East and Bang & Olufsen have launched Fa new powerful wireless speaker for the home that “reim- agines how we live with sound”. The Beosound Edge is a “unique speaker and a minimalist design object, delivering a powerfully dy- namic sound performance for the home”, according to a press state- ment. Designed for intuitive touch and motion, this speaker is “an unbro- ken circle of audio clarity, precision and beauty”. Combining premium audio quality with the iconic design of Bang & Olufsen, Beosound Edge made its debut alongside the an- nouncement of the limited-edition Snapshots from the launch event. Bronze Collection of the company’s most popular multiroom speakers, exterior hides an acoustic mas- from both sides of the speaker, and it comes with AirPlay 2, Chrome- sound to the modern home”. The at Flik Cinema, Lagoona Mall, at terpiece – the world’s fi rst Ac- the new Directional Sound Con- cast and Bluetooth. new collection brings together an event attended by distinguished tive Bass Port. This revolutionary trol allows the user to defi ne the Created in collaboration with the iconic and powerful Beoplay guests.The new products are avail- technology allows Beosound Edge direction from which the sound globally acclaimed designer A9, the Beoplay M5, Beosound 1 able at the Bang & Olufsen store in to deliver an outstandingly potent radiates, creating two acoustic Michael Anastassiades, Beosound and Beosound 2 with 360-degree Lagoona Mall on the fi rst fl oor. bass when played loud and still fronts. This ensures that a room Edge is “yet another thought- sound as well as the all-new Be- Beosound Edge is “an opulent play with fi nesse and delicacy at can be divided into an active lis- ful design from the Danish luxury osound Edge speaker, designed speaker for the style-conscious lower volumes,” the statement ex- tening area and a more passive lis- audio brand that transforms the by Anastassiades for Bang & music lovers”. “A compact and plained. tening area. Controlling the direc- everyday mundane into musical Olufsen. powerful wireless speaker with a Interaction with Beosound tional sound is controlled through mastery and adds aesthetic value All the speakers within the timeless design, the cutting-edge Edge is a “truly unique experi- the Bang & Olufsen app. to the home”. Bronze Collection are wireless acoustic innovation and magi- ence” with a push either way from Equipped with all major in- At the same event, the Bronze multiroom speakers, allowing one cal interaction combine to create Beosound Edge’s centre of gravity dustry-standard technologies to Collection also took the spot- to connect the speakers to a home a listening experience that in- controlling the volume. “provide the best streaming ex- light by “tastefully adding allur- sound system and have Bang & spires the imagination. At its core, Beosound Edge comes with perience and to let you enjoy the ing dark, naturally warm hues, Olufsen Signature Sound fl ow the refi ned polished aluminium 360-degree room-fi lling sound streaming service of your choice”, character and an even more vivid seamlessly throughout the home. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, February 10, 2019 REGION/ARAB WORLD Militants get life term for deadly 2015 Tunisia attacks on tourists

AFP isn’t a trial that can satisfy the the emergence of the caliphate”, Tunis victims,” she said. “There is a that IS supremo Abu Bakr al- taste of unfi nished business.” Baghdadi proclaimed in June Tunisia retains the death pen- 2014 across swathes of territory Tunisian court has sen- alty for terrorism off ences de- the militants controlled in Iraq Classmates of Hassan Shalabi, 14, mourn his death at his school in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. tenced seven militants to spite carrying out no executions and neighbouring Syria. Alife in prison over attacks since the 1990s. Other defendants accused of at a museum and on a beach in The court heard that the two helping prepare the attack said 2015 that killed 60 people, many attacks, both claimed by the they had only discussed ideas of them British tourists, pros- Islamic State group (IS), were with friends. ecutors said yesterday. closely linked. Several alleged they were tor- Palestinian held in Ramallah raid Dozens of defendants faced Several defendants pointed to tured in detention. two separate trials over the the fugitive Chamseddine Sandi Survivors and relatives closely linked shootings, which as mastermind of both. in France and Belgium, who AFP occurred just months apart in According to Tunisian media, watched the live feed of Friday’s Jerusalem Tunis and Sousse, but many Sandi was killed in a US air strike hearing, said it had helped them were acquitted. in neighbouring Libya in Feb- to turn the page. Four were sentenced to life in ruary 2016, although there has “It was important for us to Palestinian suspected prison for the shooting rampage been no confi rmation. see, and especially to hear — to of having killed a young at a Sousse tourist resort in June Among those who were facing try to understand the role” of AIsraeli woman has been 2015, which killed 38 people, trial were six security person- each defendant, said one French arrested in a raid in the West mostly British tourists. nel accused of failing to provide survivor. Bank city of Ramallah, an Is- Five other defendants in the assistance to people in danger “Arriving at the end of the raeli police spokesman said Sousse case were handed jail during the Sousse attack. That process will help us to turn the yesterday. terms ranging from six months shooting was carried out by page, even if we can never for- The body of Ori Ansbaher, 19, to six years, while 17 were ac- Seifeddine Rezgui, who opened get.” was found on Thursday evening quitted, prosecution spokesman fi re on a beach before rampaging The Sousse attack, which in the south of Jerusalem, and Sofi ene Sliti said. into a high-end hotel, where he killed 30 Britons, is also the she was buried on Friday in the Three were given life sen- continued to fi re a kalashnikov subject of proceedings in front Israeli settlement of Tekoa. tences for the earlier attack in and throw grenades until being of the Royal Courts of Justice in The suspect comes from the March 2015 at the capital’s Bardo shot dead by police. London, which is seeking to es- fl ashpoint city of Hebron in National Museum, in which two Four French nationals, four tablish what happened. the south of the occupied West gunmen killed 21 foreign tourists Italians, three Japanese and two After holding inquests into Bank, police said. and a Tunisian security guard. Spaniards were among those the British deaths in January and All other details of the wom- Others found guilty of links to killed in the Bardo attack, before February 2017, judge Nicholas an’s killing remain the subject the Bardo attack were sentenced the two gunmen, armed with Loraine-Smith concluded that of an Israeli gag order. to prison terms ranging from one Kalashnikov assault rifl es, were the response of Tunisian police Previous Israeli statements to 16 years, and a dozen defend- themselves shot dead. was “at best shambolic, at worst about her murder came only ants were acquitted, Sliti said. Investigations showed one of cowardly”. There have been sig- from top diplomats and politi- The prosecution will appeal, the gunmen, Yassine Laabidi — nifi cant improvements in secu- cians. he added. who was born in 1990 and was rity at Tunisian tourist resorts Israel’s ambassador to the One of the lawyers for rela- from a poor district near Tu- since the massacre and, in July United Nations, Danny Danon, tives of French victims in the nis — had amphetamines in his 2017, Britain lifted its warning accused the UN Security Coun- Bardo attack, Gerard Chemla, body. against “all but essential travel” cil of staying silent in the face expressed “enormous bitter- His fellow attacker Jaber to the North African country. of what he charged was the Relatives of 18-year-old Palestinian Hamza Ishtawi, who was shot in the neck the day before in clashes ness” that the families had not Khachnaoui, born in 1994 and The attacks and resulting complicity of the Palestinian along the border with Israel, mourn during his funeral in Gaza City, yesterday. been given more input into the from Tunisia’s deprived Kasser- travel warnings dealt a devastat- Authority (PA) president Mah- proceedings. ine region, had travelled to Syria ing blow to Tunisia’s vital tour- moud Abbas. chief of staff Benny Gantz, said sues of the Israeli election cam- large swathes of the Palestinian He said a live feed of Friday’s in December 2014 via Libya. ism sector from which it has tak- Prime Minister Benjamin he had full confi dence in the paign. territory. hearing had brought some de- One suspect questioned in en time to recover. Since a 2011 Netanyahu vowed in a state- ability of the security forces to Gantz, who is running on a Some 650,000 Israeli settlers gree of comfort but lamented court, Tunis labourer Mahmoud uprising that toppled dictator ment on Friday evening that arrest the killer. centre-right ticket, has hinted live in the West Bank, including that the relatives of those killed Kechouri, said he had helped Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, militant “the security forces will track The West Bank was hit by that he may be ready to pull annexed east Jerusalem. had not been compensated. plan the Bardo attack, includ- attacks in Tunisia have killed down those responsible for this a bout of unrest in December back from the territory as part The settlements are seen as Geraldine Berger-Stenger, ing preparing mobile phones for dozens of members of the secu- killing and we will treat them as tensions eased in the Gaza of a peace deal with the Pales- illegal under international law another of the lawyers, said the Sandi, a neighbour and longtime rity forces. Thousands of Tuni- with the full force of the law.” Strip. but they later eased in the tinians. and a major obstacle to peace, hearings had not revealed the friend. sians have also travelled abroad Netanyahu’s principal chal- West Bank too. Netanyahu’s far-right coali- as they are built on land the full truth of what took place. Kechouri, 33, said he was driv- to join militant organisations, lenger in an April 9 general The future of the West Bank tion partners are campaigning Palestinians see as part of their “A page has turned, but this en by a “duty to participate in according to the United Nations. election, former armed forces is set to be one of the main is- for the unilateral annexation of future state.

Camel race UN aid group: Situation ‘dire’ for Syrian refugees at desert camp

DPA ever aid convoy to thousands — potatoes and plain rice, every Beirut of refugees at the Rukban camp day, very basic diets. near the border with Jordan. This can cause health issues The convoy included more over time,” she said. n UN aid group warned than 130 trucks loaded with All the food that enters the yesterday that the hu- fl our, ready-to-eat rations, sup- camp is smuggled in, and some Amanitarian situation at plements for children and preg- people cannot aff ord to buy it as a desert refugee camp in Syria nant women, clothes and educa- it is very expensive, she added. where thousands of people are tional materials, according to a Most of the refugees in Ruk- stranded is “quite dire” SARC statement. ban fl ed areas in eastern Syria “The humanitarian situa- The Rukban camp is located in that had fallen to the Islamic tion at Rukban is quite dire. It’s southern Syria, 265 kilometres State extremist group and were pure desert here, barely noth- from the capital, Damascus, and trapped after Jordanian authori- ing grows,” said Marwa Awad, is home to around 40,000 dis- ties closed the border. a spokeswoman for the World placed Syrians. In June 2017, Jordan declared Food Programme (WFP) in Syria. “We’ve doubled assistance the Rukban area a military zone “This is one of the worst hu- because we don’t know when we after an attack claimed by Islam- manitarian situations I’ve seen,” can come back,” Awad added. ic State targeted a nearby border she said. Most residents in the camp are post, killing six soldiers. On Wednesday, the United women and children, according Jordan has since refused to Nations, in collaboration with to Awad. “People there have re- reopen the border, saying that Camels compete in Kuwait’s 19th International Camel race championship, in Kuwait City, yesterday. the Syrian Arab Red Crescent duced the number of meals they the solution is to help refugees (SARC), dispatched its largest- eat. There is no food diversity return to their homes.

Algeria’s ailing president urged to run for fi fth term Iran guards vow to continue

DPA The 81-year-old wheelchair- Bouchareb, a senior FLN offi - pro-democracy uprisings of expanding missile programme Algiers bound president has been in cial, told the rally. The gather- the Arab Spring that started in power since 1999. He is rarely ing was aimed at “appealing” to neighbouring Tunisia in 2010. seen in public. Boutefl ika to run for a new term, At the time, his government DPA the diabolical demands” of the US. Iran’s state news lgeria’s ruling party The governing National Lib- according to Algeria’s offi cial contained pro-democracy pro- Tehran agency Isna cited an IRGC statement as saying the yesterday called on ail- eration Front (FLN) yesterday news agency APS. tests in Algeria with promises of the country would pursue its anti-Israel course Aing President Abdelaziz held a massive rally in the capi- “Today’s Algeria lives in se- reform and pay raises, fi nanced with “no reservations, no compromises and no ne- Boutefl ika to stand for a fi fth tal, Algiers, announcing Boute- curity and stability thanks to by the country’s revenues from ran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gotiations.” term in the country’s presidential fl ika as its candidate in the polls Boutefl ika’s wisdom,” added oil and gas. In recent years, announced yesterday that the country would The IRGC is under the command of Iran’s Su- elections scheduled for April. scheduled for April 18. Bouchareb, who is also parlia- Algeria’s fi nances have been Icontinue expanding its missile programme de- preme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran claims It is not clear yet if Boutefl ika, “President Boutefl ika’s mentary speaker. Boutefl ika hurt by the global drop in oil spite warnings from the United States. its missile programme does not contravene the UN who suff ered a stroke in 2013, standing for a new term is a de- is the only president in North prices, prompting cuts in state The IRGC said it would expand the programme resolution 2231, which relates to the country’s nu- will seek another term in offi ce. mand by all Algerians,” Mouad Africa who was spared in the subsidies. “in line with our rational defence strategy...despite clear activities. Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 13

AFRICA Revealed: DR Congo’s carefully-planned ‘invisible’ massacre

AFP tion said “credible sources” had violence was a carefully-planned men attacked the area,” said “The soldiers were right in the the soldier told AFP, asking not to “Attackers went to the home of Yumbi, DR Congo found nearly 900 people were massacre of the Banunu. Gasita, who has become Yumbi’s front line,” said Bosukisa Mon- be named. the primary school headmaster killed – a fi gure later scaled back The attack was carried out acting territorial administrator. tole, a refugee cradling his son, “They told me that if the Ba- to camoufl age themselves,” said to 535 after bodies had been iden- using military-style tactics and There was a “training camp” in who had a bullet wound in the nunu brought back the body of Richard Nkumu, a teacher from t was a bloodbath that hap- tifi ed. some assailants were dressed in the Yumbi region, he said, with- neck. their tribal chief, that would be Bongende who took refuge in pened out of sight of the rest Some 16,000 refugees fl ed army uniforms, they said. out giving its location. Another soldier, who wished the signal to start fi ghting.” Makotimpoko. Iof the world and was largely across the Congo river into the Some implicated members of Men in military uniform and to remain anonymous, told AFP At least 339 people perished in At least four Banunu people unnoticed even at home, occur- neighbouring Republic of Congo. the armed forces and the local armed with assault rifl es gunned “around 30 troops” had directly Bongende village on December who had spouses or friends and ring in the run-up to fi ercely- The authorities have charac- authorities in the massacre. down Banunu people, said many participated in the violence. 17, according to investigators. relatives among the Batende were disputed elections. terised the violence as a spon- Colonel Olivier Gasita, sent to survivors who had fl ed across the He said that his unit, deployed The soldier said that three days given several days warning ahead Days passed before details be- taneous act – long-simmering the region on December 20 from river to Makotimpoko in the Re- in one of the four targeted villag- before the assault, he notifi ed the of the attack, survivors told AFP. gan to trickle out about what had tensions between the Batende Kinshasa, around 400km to the public of Congo. es, Bongende, received warning Yumbi authorities that suspicious “A Batende friend came to say happened on December 16 and 17 and Banunu communities that south, said: “The assailants were The colonel spoke of “a three- messages from members of the men were gathering at the home that I should fl ee with my family in Yumbi, a remote territory in suddenly fl ared over the burial of well organised. Clearly there was column attack – that’s a military Batende just before the onslaught of a school headmaster in Ngama- because soldiers were going to southwest DR Congo. a Banunu tribal chief. an organisation commanding tactic. That shows that military began. bila, situated near Bongende. attack,” said Raoul, who took a It was a whole month before But when AFP visited the them.” men, either deserters or demobi- “They called us to say that they But his concerns were not ad- pseudonym and is today a refu- a preliminary UN investiga- scene last week, sources said the “Between 3,000 and 4,000 lised men, were involved.” were going to fi ght the Banunu,” dressed, he said. gee.

Opposition accuses police of shooting Nigeria’s main during rally in Zambia parties trade AFP Lusaka

ambia’s opposition yes- terday accused police of Zopening fi re during a rally, charges ahead causing the party’s leader to fear for his safety as political tensions rattle the country. Police denied using live am- munition to disperse the crowd at the event on Friday in Sesheke, a small town on the border with of elections Namibia, approximately 500km west of the capital Lusaka. AFP of the vote, beating the PDP’s In all, 73 candidates are running United Party for National Lagos Goodluck Jonathan by 2.6mn to be president, including seven Development leader Hakainde votes. women. Hichilema, who was detained The elections are the sixth to Parliamentary elections will be in 2017 on treason charges that igeria’s president and rul- be held since Nigeria returned to held at the same time, involving critics said were politically mo- ing party were yesterday civilian rule in 1999 after decades 6,483 candidates for 109 seats in tivated, was addressing his sup- Naccused of dirty tricks to of military government. the Senate and 360 in the House porters ahead of a parliamentary stifl e opposition support, with No details have been given of Representatives. by-election in the area slated for one week to go before the election about when offi cial results will A second round of polling takes next week. in Africa’s most populous nation. be announced, but in 2015 fi gures place on March 2 to elect new “Our lives are in danger as po- The main opposition Peo- were released 48 hours after polls governors in 29 states, and new lice are discharging live ammuni- ples Democratic Party (PDP) had closed. members of state assemblies. tion at us and our people,” Hich- been due to hold a “mega-rally” The APC is bullish about Bu- In 2015, voting was delayed by ilema said on Twitter late Friday, in Abuja, but said it was shut out hari’s chances of re-election. six weeks because of military ac- urging people to “remain calm”. of the venue despite having made But many predict a tighter race tion against the Boko Haram mili- The party said no one was in- payments and obtained offi cial because of dissatisfaction at inse- tant group and the government jured. approval. curity, claims of a one-sided fi ght has again warned of possible at- “We are temporarily safe and It blamed President Muham- against corruption and the oil- tempts to disrupt polling. the president is in hiding but we madu Buhari and his All Progres- dependent economy’s recovery But the chairman of the Inde- don’t know what will happen to sives Congress (APC) and called from recession. pendent National Electoral Com- us,” Brian Mwiinga, the deputy the move “provocative” and a sign “People are tired after four mission (INEC), Mahmood Yaku- press secretary told AFP. of “desperation”. years of Buhari and even if he’s the bu, has said he sees “no reason” to Later, Mwiinga said in a Face- APC spokesman Lanre Isa-On- incumbent, the outcome of the postpone. book post that the party’s convoy ilu told AFP the party did not own elections is very uncertain,” said “We are good to go,” he told had been threatened by “heavily the venue, “so there is no way we Cheta Nwanze, of analysts SBM Channels television on February armed” police as it passed back could have denied them access to Intelligence. 6. through Sesheke yesterday. a place we don’t own and we don’t Two key factors in political al- Nevertheless, election logistics Inspector general of police Ka- have control over”. legiance – ethnicity and religion may prove a headache. koma Kanganja denied real bul- The access row came as Buhari – have been removed, as both Some 1.8mn people in three lets were used at Friday’s rally. and the APC prepared to address Buhari and Abubakar are Hausa- northeast states are still homeless “The Zambia police wishes tens of thousands of supporters in speaking Muslims of the Fulani because of Boko Haram violence, to state that no live ammunition the commercial hub of Lagos, in ethnicity. which has killed more than 27,000 was fi red by our offi cers that were one of the last major rallies of the “Buhari is positioning himself people since 2009. dispersing the unruly crowd in campaign before voting begins as a statist, pro-big government, In Borno, the worst-aff ected Sesheke yesterday. We also wish next Saturday. where government should own state, INEC has set up 10 special to further clarify that no life was Buhari, 76, wants a second, most things, while Abubakar on voting centres to allow more than lost yesterday as a result of the four-year term while Atiku Abu- the other side is positioning him- 400,000 displaced people to vote. fracas,” Kanganja said in a state- bakar, 72, is hoping to fi nally se- self as pro-business, pro-private Similar challenges are likely in ment. cure the presidency after four enterprise,” said Nwanze. some central states, where there Zambian President Edgar Lun- previous attempts. “It’s unique in our history. We has been renewed violence in a gu has been accused of cracking A record of just over 84mn vot- have never had that before.” long-running battle for resources down on dissent since winning a ers are registered this year – up Veteran politician Tanko Yaka- between nomadic cattle herders disputed election in 2016. 18% from 2015, when Buhari be- sai said the focus on policy and and farmers. Hichilema has repeatedly came the fi rst opposition candi- programmes could be a “good An increase in kidnapping for challenged the result of the 2016 date in Nigerian history to defeat beginning for Nigerian politics”, ransom and cattle rustling in election and accused the govern- Supporters stand at the campaign headquarters of presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar following the a sitting president. as younger, more ideologically parts of the north may also com- ment of intimidating critics. cancellation of a campaign rally by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja yesterday. Buhari secured just under 54% driven politicians emerge. plicate voting.

Teachers’ strike 250 militants captured after UN chief sees ‘wind rebel convoy targeted: Chad of hope’ in Africa AFP plement the latest in a long line of AFP President Idriss Deby on of its members Mahamat Doki Addis Ababa peace deals to end a bloody fi ve- N’Djamena Thursday said the column of Warou. year confl ict. rebels had been “destroyed” in Another source from the group The Central African Repub- a series of strikes carried out by told AFP that ten fi ghters had nited Nations Secretary- lic this week reached a peace deal he Chadian military yes- French warplanes. been killed. General Antonio Guterres between the government and 14 terday said it had captured Acting in conjunction with The UFR was created in Janu- Usaid yesterday that a slew militia groups, boosting hopes of Tmore than 250 rebels, in- Chad’s government, French ary 2009 from an alliance of of peaceful elections and truces an end of a crisis that has gripped cluding some top leaders, after Mirage 2000 jets targeted the eight rebel groups. in Africa were signs of a “wind of the country since 2012, sparking an operation against a convoy of convoy on Sunday, Tuesday and In February 2008, a tripartite hope” on the continent. confl ict that left thousands dead militants trying to cross into the Wednesday, destroying about insurgent group, moving in from He was speaking on the side- and over a million displaced. country from Libya in late Janu- 20 of roughly 50 pickup trucks the east, reached the gates of the lines of an African Union summit “All these circumstances were ary that also involved French air- the rebels started out with, the presidential palace in N’Djamena in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, realised through the combina- strikes. French armed forces said in a before being repulsed by Deby’s where heads of state from 55 mem- tion of eff orts of the UN and AU to In a statement issued by army statement. forces. ber nations will meet from today. make sure guns will be silent from staff the Chadian military said Chadian forces had already Chad, a vast and mostly desert “This is a moment in which a 2020 onwards on the African con- the sweep would continue in the tried to stop the column with air- country with more than 200 eth- wind of hope is blowing across tinent,” said Guterres. region of Ennedi, in the north- strikes at the beginning of Feb- nic groups, has suff ered repeated Africa. We have seen reconcilia- “I believe Africa is becoming west border with Libya and ruary, before asking France for coups and crises since it gained tion between Ethiopia and Eritrea, an example where it is possible to Sudan, near where the armed warning passes and then strikes. independence from France in we have seen peace agreements solve confl icts and prevent con- column of rebel vehicles was An armed forces spokesman 1960. in South Sudan and CAR (Central fl icts and I hope this wind of hope brought to a halt in early Febru- said the convoy had crossed Under Deby, a former head of African Republic)”, said Guterres. can be extended to other parts of ary. 400km of Chadian territory be- the armed forces, the country “We’re working together to see the world.” Meanwhile, more than The statement said some 250 fore being halted between Tibesti has taken a leading role in the if we can move the same direction 1,700 members of a rebel group “terrorists, including four main and Ennedi in the northwest. fi ght against militants in the Sa- in Libya. We have seen elections in have disarmed, Ethiopia’s govern- leaders” were detained, while An anti-Deby rebel group, hel region. Madagascar, DRC and Mali that ment said yesterday. more than 40 vehicles were de- the Union of Resistance Forces It is part of a West African co- people were forecasting will lead Some 1,740 rebels from the stroyed and hundreds of weap- (UFR), claimed to have crossed alition fi ghting the Boko Haram to tragedy and violence and in the Ogaden National Liberation Front ons were seized. into northern Chad with “three insurgency, and a member of the end took place in a peaceful con- (ONLF) – one of Ethiopia’s strong- “Several compromising docu- columns” of vehicles. French-backed G5 Sahel anti- text,” he added. est armed groups – laid down their ments were also seized,” the On Friday, the group said it terror alliance, which also in- Zimbabwean schoolchildren await transport from school Ethiopia and Eritrea last year weapons, said Mustafa Muhumed statement added without giving had suff ered “damage” after the cludes Burkina Faso, Mali, Mau- during a teachers’ strike in Harare. ended a two-decade long cold war, Omer, deputy chief administrator further details. French strikes, according to one ritania and Niger. while South Sudan is trying to im- of Ethiopia’s Somali regional state. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, February 10, 2019 AMERICAS

HONOURED RAT STORY CLEANUP SECONDARY BARRIER Dolly Parton raises laughs LA City Hall battles EPA penalties against US Bipartisan bill tabled on at charity awards gala rodent infestation polluters fall sharply cockpit safety

Dolly Parton became the first country Los Angeles off icials are ripping out carpets, Numbers released by the Trump administration US lawmakers are pushing for stronger singer to receive the MusiCares Person setting traps and fumigating as they battle a rat on Friday show an 80% drop in some penalties aviation security with a bipartisan bill that of the Year award on Friday, taking to infestation at City Hall that one attorney says levied against polluters, the latest sign that would require passenger airlines to install the stage with jokes about hillbillies and left her battling a bout of typhus. The historic the US Environmental Protection Agency has secondary security doors between cabins fighting. Comedy played a large role building, located in the downtown area, has become a less aggressive watchdog. Injunctive and the cockpit on current aircraft to prevent in a night of all-star musical performances apparently been overrun with rodents after relief — the amount of money polluters commit another September 11-style attack. Hijackings in Los Angeles to honour Parton for a nearby structure was demolished last year. to pay to correct problems and prevent them remain a threat despite improvements in global her music and philanthropy, hosted City council members and staff say the rats are from recurring — fell from $20.6bn in fiscal 2017 aviation safety since September 11, 2001, four by country group Little Big Town. having a field day in the 91-year-old building, to $3.95bn in fiscal 2018. That is a 15-year low US representatives — Democrats Andre Carson Eight-time Grammy winner Parton got nesting in potted plants, gnawing at carpets and for the agency. Civil penalties in 2018 declined and Josh Gottheimer and Republicans Brian the biggest laughs at the 29th annual leaving droppings on several floors. City council to $69mn. That was far less than the $1.68bn Fitzpatrick and Peter King — said in a statement. gala for MusiCares. “Of course, you know president Herb Wesson has submitted a motion in penalties imposed 2017, but that year’s Secondary barriers would allow a pilot to close Dolly Parton speaks at the MusiCares event in we hillbillies need MusiCares too,” she calling for a probe into “the scope of vermin and figure includes fines negotiated by the Obama the cockpit door before opening another door Los Angeles. told the audience. pest control issues”. administration. to the rest of the plane. Quebec mosque Snow story shooter gets life, no parole for 40 years

By Alice Chiche, AFP The attack at the Quebec Islamic treating to a safe area to reload his nine- Quebec City Cultural Centre in the quiet Sainte-Foy millimetre pistol at least four times, neighbourhood of Canada’s oldest city, “like he was playing a video game,” re- he concluded, will go down in Canadian counted one witness. Two boys build a snowman with their mother in Seattle. 29-year-old who shot dead six history “written in blood” as one of this Six men were killed and fi ve were se- worshippers at a Quebec City country’s worst tragedies. riously injured. Amosque in the worst anti-Mus- As the 246-page verdict was read The victims were all dual nationals lim attack in the West got life in prison over a six-hour period, Bissonnette sat who emigrated to Canada over recent on Friday. quietly in the packed courtroom, gazing decades: two Algerians, two Guineans, a Alexandre Bissonnette will have to at his feet while his parents and several Moroccan and a Tunisian. wait 40 years — longer than usual — be- friends and family of the victims wiped They were a scholar, a butcher, a day- fore he can apply for parole. tears from their eyes. care operator, a food industry worker, a public servant and a computer pro- Fast-food fan Trump In his decision, Judge Francois Huot Outside the courtroom, Aymen Der- rejected a prosecution request for a bali, who was left quadriplegic in the grammer — all connected by faith. 150-year sentence, which would have shooting, said he was “very upset and Introverted and educated, Bisson- been the longest ever in Canada, saying astonished” that Bissonnette did not get nette had been described after his arrest “subjecting a murder to a sentence that more time. as a white supremacist opposed to Mus- lim immigration but not affi liated with in ‘very good health’ exceeds his life expectancy” would be “I had hoped for justice for the vic- a cruel and unusual punishment under tims, for the people who died, and that any group. Canadian law. the sentence refl ected the seriousness of At the start of his trial in 2017, he said By Sebastian Smith, AFP not respond to reporters’ questions Trump loves the more sedate game But he also noted the killer’s “visceral the crime,” he said. “This was a very se- he had been suicidal, “swept away by Washington about how he was feeling. of golf, but rides a cart between holes hatred of Muslim immigrants.” rious attack in a place of worship.” fear and by horrible despair,” and deeply It remained unclear how many of and has said that anything more “You killed six of your compatriots Surrounded by members who la- regretted his “unforgivable” actions. the test results would eventually be strenuous is actually bad for your whose only crime was to be diff erent mented having to face Bissonnette at a He also told the court he hoped for a “ray resident Donald Trump, who made public. health. than yourself,” Huot said in court. parole hearing in the future and relive of hope at the end of the long, dark tunnel delights in confounding health Last year, everything from the “All my friends who work out all “With your hatred and racism, you’ve the tragedy, mosque president Boufeldja in which I lost myself on January 29.” Pexperts with his junk food president’s cholesterol levels (high) the time, they’re going for knee re- ruined their lives, yours and your par- Benabdallah said: “We are completely Survivors testifi ed about those har- cravings and disinclination to exer- to weight (too high at 108kg) was re- placements, hip replacements — ents’, and the crime you’ve done de- stunned.” rowing moments under fi re and their cise, is “in very good health,” his doc- leased. they’re a disaster,” Trump told The serves the greatest denunciation,” he On January 29, 2017, Bissonnette suff ering since the shooting: one leav- tor declared on Friday following an Trump’s then chief physician, New York Times in 2015. said. burst into the Quebec City mosque and ing a trail of smeared blood on the fl oor annual medical checkup. Ronny Jackson — who has since run Trump has described his chief ex- A university student at the time of unleashed a hail of bullets on the 40 while dragging himself to a hiding spot, “I am happy to announce the into trouble over alleged ethical mis- ercise as walking around the White the shooting, Bissonnette appeared to men and four children who were chat- another still feeling pain from bullet de- president of the United States is in conduct — also held an unusually House compound and standing up at have been seduced by nationalist and ting among themselves after evening bris left in his leg after surgery. very good health and I anticipate he detailed press conference in which public events. supremacist ideologies into committing prayers. Many said they are struggling with will remain so for the duration of his he declared Trump to be in “excellent The 45th president’s diet, report- this “unjustifi ed and deadly” massacre Security video footage showed a anxiety, including one man who said he presidency, and beyond,” chief phy- health.” edly involving legendary amounts that sought to “undermine our funda- cold-blooded killer strategically and now plots a safe exit whenever he goes sician Sean Conley said in a memo- On the plus side, Trump doesn’t of Coke and red meat, also seems to mental societal values,” the judge said. methodically fi ring dozens of shots, re- out to a coff ee shop or a store. randum released by the White House. smoke and is a noted teetotaler. defy most doctors’ orders. The Marine One helicopter re- He says he’s never even had a beer. In January, Trump hosted the turned the 72-year-old head of state Less good: the former real estate strapping athletes of America’s to the White House from the Wal- tycoon and reality TV performer champion college football team, the ter Reed National Military Medical unashamedly embraces the couch Clemson Tigers, with a mountain of Winter fare Center in the Washington suburb of potato life. hamburgers and pizzas. Bethesda after a full four hours of Not for Trump the basketball ses- According to Jackson last year, prodding, poking and testing. sions that Barack Obama sweated Trump’s secret is genes. Dressed in a long dark overcoat, through in the White House, or the “Incredibly good genes,” he said. Trump gave a thumb’s up, but did bike rides of George W Bush. “It’s just the way God made him.”

Virginia governor vows to stay on

Reuters that his encounter with a woman who branch having to resign raised the Richmond has accused him of forcing himself prospect of Democrats losing the gov- on her sexually at a hotel in Boston 14 ernorship to the Republican speaker years ago was entirely consensual. of the state House of Delegates, who is irginia’s embattled gover- But Friday’s accusation sparked a next in the line of succession. nor, Ralph Northam, capped round of calls for the resignation — And that possibility has tested Va week of political chaos ig- and even a threat of impeachment Democrats’ resolve to show zero tol- nited by racial scandals by vowing to — of the once-promising young poli- erance for sexual misconduct and ra- stay in offi ce on Friday, while the fel- tician who seemed poised days ago cial bigotry. low Democrat in line to succeed him to replace Northam and become the It also has stirred Democrats’ con- faced a second accusation of sexual second African-American governor cerns that political discord in Vir- assault. in Virginia history. ginia, a key swing state in presiden- Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax The second in line to succeed tial elections, could fl ip it back into issued a statement denying both al- Northam, Attorney General Mark the Republican column in the 2020 legations as a “co-ordinated smear Herring, 57, came under fi re with his White House race. campaign.” own admission this week that he, The upheaval began with the rev- He said the latest accusation, that like Northam, had once darkened his elation last Friday that Northam’s he had raped a fellow student at Duke face to imitate a black performer — a 1984 medical school yearbook page University in 2000, was “demonstra- practice widely considered to be rac- contained a racist photo, followed by bly false” and declared he would not ist. his acknowledgement of, and apol- Participants compete during the Ice Dragon Boat Festival on Dows Lake in Ottawa, Ontario. step down. The possibility of all three top- ogy for, masquerading in blackface Fairfax, 39, insisted earlier this week ranked leaders of Virginia’s executive that year as pop star Michael Jackson.

US Senator Warren launches 2020 campaign, sounds note of economic equality

Reuters her 2020 presidential campaign, Warren, 69, has made worker today: to declare that I am a can- many of those candidates are Warren picked up the endorse- Warren is the most electable Lawrence, Massachusetts saying that she is fi ghting for all rights, fair wages and access to didate for president of the United spending this weekend talking to ment of the Progressive Change Democrat and the best person to Americans. healthcare central to her cam- States of America.” voters in the early-nominating Campaign Committee (PCCC) be president to defeat Trump,” The Massachusetts Democrat, paign. Warren is part of an increasingly states of Iowa, New Hampshire simultaneously with her launch Adam Green, the co-founder of S Senator Elizabeth War- a leader of the party’s progres- “This is the fi ght of our lives. crowded and diverse fi eld of Dem- and South Carolina. — a group that could pump mil- PCCC, said. ren, struggling to move sive wing, made her announce- The fi ght to build an America ocrats vying for the chance to chal- Warren’s announcement will be lions of dollars behind her candi- Warren’s heritage claims have Upast criticism over her ment from a historic site in Law- where dreams are possible, an lenge President Donald Trump, followed on Sunday by US Senator dacy and provide an outside at- dogged her since her fi rst cam- claims of Native American herit- rence, northwest of Boston, that America that works for every- the likely Republican nominee. Amy Klobuchar, who has said she tack dog against her Democratic paign for the Senate in 2012, and age, aimed for a fresh start yes- launched the US organised la- one,” Warren said. A year before any ballots are will reveal her presidential plans opponents. Trump mockingly refers to her as terday with the formal launch of bour movement. “And that is why I stand here cast in a Democratic primary, in her home state of Minnesota. “We believe that Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’. Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 15 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Thousands without power as storm lashes Sydney

AFP rienced some fl ash fl ooding, one ages at the peak of the storm match was delayed twice, Extreme heatwaves during Sydney suburb saw nearly 42mm fall in a overnight, with more than pushed back 45 minutes as heavy the southern hemisphere sum- Defence Force firefighters combat the Richmond fire near Nelson, short downpour lasting just 30 5,000 still without power early rain and lightning pummelled mer have also led to temperature South Island, New Zealand yesterday. minutes. yesterday. the oval. records being broken in some housands of Sydney “It was a slow-moving storm Emergency services fi elded Several light towers then went towns. homes were without pow- with that warm humid air mov- over 1,000 requests for assist- out mid-match during the live Eastern inland areas have been Ter yesterday after severe ing along the coast... that al- ance, including nine fl ood res- television broadcast, temporar- experiencing a severe drought, storms hit Australia’s largest lowed for that increase of mois- cues in the Sydney area. ily stopping the game during a while fi refi ghters in the coun- Firefi ghters struggle city, causing transport hold-ups, ture,” Byron Doyle from the New The rescues were “all for vehi- reported blackout. try’s southern states have been inundating vehicles with fl ood- South Wales Bureau of meteor- cles in fl ood water,” a New South The Sydney storm comes as recently battling bushfi res. water and delaying a national ology said. Wales state emergency services recovery eff orts continue in High temperatures are not to contain raging football match. Images of cars submerged in spokesperson said. Australia’s fl ood-ravaged north- unusual in the Australian sum- Heavy rains and lightning fl oodwaters on main roads, bro- Flights were delayed at Syd- eastern state of Queensland, mer, but climate change has storms lashed parts of Sydney ken traffi c lights and fallen trees ney’s airport, while the storm which over the past week has pushed up land and sea tempera- N Zealand wildfi res late Friday, with close to 60mm circulated on social media. caused havoc on some of the seen record-breaking rainfall, tures and led to more extremely (nearly two and a half inches) of Energy companies reported city’s train lines. forcing hundreds of evacuations hot days and severe fi re seasons, rain falling in some areas. that more than 40,000 custom- The start of a national Aus- and thousands of requests for scientists say. DPA egy that we have been imple- In Sydney’s west, which expe- ers were aff ected by power out- tralian rules football women’s help. Wellington menting on this fi re for the last few days,” he added. Grant Pearce, fi re scientist ore people have been with Scion Rural Fire Research asked to prepare to Group said, “Fire managers Mevacuate their homes have reported that current Abe vows Thai princess bid for PM scuttled by king as fi refi ghters struggle to con- fi re danger levels are the high- tain one of the largest recorded est they’ve seen in almost 20 AFP morning. social media after the order, invalidates her candidacy,” wildfi res in New Zealand his- years.” to tackle Bangkok The move rattled the status writing “long live the king”. said Puangthong Pawakapan, tory for the fi fth day. “The very hot, dry and quo and threatened the Others expressed unhappiness professor of political science at About 3,000 residents have windy weather over the past ambitions of the generals with groups such as Thai Raksa Chulalongkorn University. already fl ed from the blaze month has had a major eff ect growing Thai Princess Ubolratana’s who have controlled Thailand Chart linked to Yingluck and An Election Commission near Nelson on New Zealand’s on the drying of forest fuels in unprecedented attempt to since they toppled the her brother Thaksin, who was off icial said it is reviewing all South Island that now covers particular,” he added. become the country’s next administration of Yingluck ousted in a 2006 coup. candidate applications and will 2,100 hectares with a 27km On Friday, 860 homes were child abuse prime minister was abruptly Shinawatra almost five years Analysts say the events of the finish the process this week, perimeter, police said. evacuated from the town of nixed yesterday after her ago. past day will help the military though few expect it to divert “The situation remains dy- Wakefi eld situated 25kms party agreed to comply with But the Thai king torpedoed to consolidate power and tilt from the royal order. namic, changeable, there is a south-west of Nelson. in Japan a command from the king his sister’s bid in a sharply the odds in favour of junta Thailand is a constitutional risk to life and our animals and Earlier in the week, about opposing the plan. worded statement the same chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha. monarchy and has not had a our property,” Civil Defence 400 residents were evacuated The party’s announcement day that said bringing senior Prayut is standing as premier royal run for frontline off ice Nelson Tasman group con- from Pigeon Valley where the AFP eff ectively blocking royal family members into for the Phalang Pracharat since 1932. troller Roger Ball told media fi re started on Tuesday after- Tokyo Ubolratana’s candidacy came politics was against tradition party, a group aligned with the The 67-year-old princess has yet yesterday afternoon. noon. after an extraordinary rebuke and “highly inappropriate.” regime. to address the rebuke head on. Fire and Emergency New Yesterday, civil defence by her brother King Maha Thai Raksa Chart responded The military has “gained She thanked supporters Zealand (FENZ) regional warned residents of a further rime Minister Shinzo Abe Vajiralongkorn, and removes swiftly, cancelling a campaign the upper hand”, said yesterday on her widely manager John Sutton said 235 properties in the Wai-iti yesterday vowed to crack a hurdle for the ruling junta event yesterday and issuing a professor Anusorn Unno from followed Instagram account, a “fairly intense amount of area to be ready to evacuate. Pdown on the increas- to hold onto power after the statement saying it “complies Thammasat University, adding saying vaguely that she work” had been done on Sat- Several other fi res also ing number of child abuse cases March 24 vote - the first since a with the royal command”. that it is poised to perform well wanted Thailand to “move urday by the more than 150 fl ared up in recent days in the in Japan after the death of a 2014 coup. Thailand has some of the most in the vote. forward”. personnel. tinder-dry region, but fi re 10-year-old girl, allegedly killed The Thai Raksa Chart party, severe lese majeste laws in the Even before Thai Raksa Chart’s The king did not criticise the The biggest worry were services were able to contain by her abusive father, shocked aff iliated with the powerful world and the king’s word is reversal, many warned the princess directly and seemed winds up to 50km per hour those. the country. Shinawatra political clan, seldom challenged. palace statement had ended to focus blame on political that were predicted for Sun- Investigators believe that Mia Kurihara was found dead had announced the princess Royalist Thais and celebrities the princess’ chances. party members who brought day. “As I’ve said all along that a contractor ploughing a in the bathroom of her home in as their candidate Friday praised the intervention on “The palace disapproval her on board. the wind is our biggest enemy, paddock in Pigeon Valley Chiba near Tokyo last month af- that has determined the strat- accidentally started the fi re. ter authorities failed to respond to her repeated pleas for help. Her parents have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting their daughter after her father report- edly abused her regularly and re- Hard work still needed before Kim-Trump summit: envoy fused to allow her to go to school. The tragedy came more than a year after she asked her teach- AFP the meeting focused on the ond summit if it is to avoid be- er to help stop her father from Seoul need to modernise the military ing dismissed as “reality TV.” “beating and kicking” her. while maintaining party disci- On Friday, Trump tweeted She was temporarily pro- pline in the ranks. that North Korea will become a tected by child welfare offi cials here was still some hard Attention will now focus on “great Economic Powerhouse” but returned to relatives about work to be done ahead whether the US team had off ered under Kim. two months later. She was then Tof the upcoming summit to lift some economic sanctions “He may surprise some but brought back to her parents in between US President Donald in return for Pyongyang taking he won’t surprise me, because I March last year. Trump and North Korean leader concrete steps toward denu- have gotten to know him & fully Police have found a video on Kim Jong- un, a Washington clearisation. understand how capable he is,” her father’s mobile phone show- envoy said yesterday after three Discussions on declaring an end said Trump. ing him hitting her, local media days of talks in Pyongyang. to the 1950-53 Korean War could But Park Won-gon, a profes- said, adding that she cried in the Stephen Biegun, the US Spe- also have been on the table, with sor at South Korea’s Handong footage saying: “Dad, I’m sorry.” cial Representative for North Biegun last week saying Trump University, said Trump’s re- The high-profi le case has Korea, said preparatory talks was “ready to end this war.” marks may not align with drawn huge media attention, had been productive, but more The three-year confl ict end- Pyongyang’s current agenda. prompting the government to dialogue was needed ahead of ed in an armistice, not a peace “What Pyongyang wants take action amid growing public the summit scheduled for Viet- treaty, leaving the two Koreas now, more than anything, is awareness over child abuse. nam from February 27-28. still technically at war, with the the lifting of the existing sanc- Abe told members of his ruling Biegun yesterday briefed US keeping 28,500 troops in the tions,” Park told AFP. Liberal Democratic Party that his South Korean Foreign Min- South. “The idea of being an eco- government had ordered child ister Kang Kyung-wha on his Experts say the most likely nomic powerhouse may sound welfare centres across the nation Pyongyang visit, shortly after scenario in Vietnam is that the too vague and even unrealistic to confi rm within a month the Trump revealed the summit concerned parties – North and for them at this moment.” safety of all children suspected to would take place in the Viet- South Korea, the US, and China North Korea, which holds have been abused. namese capital, Hanoi. – to declare a formal end to the most of the peninsula’s mineral Abe also said the government “We have some hard work to war as a political statement. resources, was once wealthier would raise the number of child do with the DPRK between now At their landmark sum- than the South, but decades of welfare workers by some 1,000 and then,” Biegun told Kang, mit in Singapore last year, the mismanagement and the de- for the next fi scal year starting in adding: “I’m confi dent that if mercurial US and North Ko- mise of its former paymaster April from the current 3,200. both sides stay committed we rean leaders produced a vaguely the Soviet Union have left it “It was a painful case which is can make real progress here. worded document in which Kim deeply impoverished. all too regrettable,” Abe said. Trump announced Hanoi as US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, left, shakes hands with South Korea’s Foreign pledged to work towards “the In 2017, the UN Security “Protecting children’s lives is our the location on Twitter, hailing Minister Kang Kyung-wha during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul yesterday. denuclearisation of the Korean Council banned the North’s adults’ responsibility,” he added. as “very productive” the pre- peninsula”. main exports – coal and other Police reported the suspected paratory talks between diplo- during Biegun’s three-day trip It also confi rmed Biegun had of the summit and Kim Jong-un But progress has since stalled, mineral resources, fi sheries and abuse of a record-high 80,104 mi- mats from the two countries. explored Trump and Kim’s “com- agreed to meet his North Kore- appeared to make no mention of with the two sides disagreeing textile products – to cut off its nors to child welfare authorities in “I look forward to seeing mitments of complete denucleari- an counterpart Kim Hyok Chol it during a meeting earlier with over what that means. access to hard currency in re- Japan in 2018, Kyodo News said. Chairman Kim & advancing the sation, transforming US-DPRK again before the summit. the top brass of the Korean Peo- Experts say tangible progress sponse to Pyongyang’s pursuit The fi gure rose by 22.4% from cause of peace!” he said. relations and building a lasting North Korea has yet to pro- ple’s Army. on Pyongyang’s nuclear weap- of nuclear weapons and ballistic a year earlier, it said. The State Department said talks peace on the Korean Peninsula”. vide any offi cial confi rmation As reported by state media, ons will be needed for the sec- missiles. Thousands of S Koreans mourn death of coal worker AFP work safety is compromised for including health insurance. chair Korea Alliance for Progres- subcontracted worker was killed Seoul temporary or contract workers The funeral ceremony fi - sive Movement, a local NGO, at by a train while repairing plat- – despite being a wealthy, de- nally took place yesterday after the ceremony. form screen doors at Seoul’s veloped economy which is the the government off ered to turn “I hope you get to live in a Guui subway station, aged 19. ome 2,500 South Ko- fourth biggest in Asia. 2,200 temporary workers into world where life is valued more Kim, a college graduate, spent reans marched through Labour activists say if Kim had full-time employees. than anything else”. more than six months trying to SSeoul yesterday to honour not been working unaccompa- Street protests following South Korea has one of the fi nd a full-time position before a worker who was crushed to nied, another person could have Kim’s death led to the amend- highest workplace fatality rates taking the temporary position at death at a coal plant fuelling an saved Kim’s life by turning off ment of the Industrial Safety among developed countries. the power plant. outcry which led to a landmark the conveyor belt. Kim was the Act, which bans companies from According to labour ministry data, As of 2017, 51% of all Koreans amendment of the nation’s in- ninth subcontracted worker to subcontracting high-risk tasks 1,957 South Koreans died of work-re- aged 15-24 were working in part- dustrial safety laws. have died from work-related in- such as those requiring the use lated injuries or diseases in 2017. time or contract positions, ac- Kim Yong-kyun, 24, died juries at the Chungnam plant in of mercury. Of 20 employees who died af- cording to a study by Korea La- last month after being sucked Taean since 2010. Young temporary workers at- ter being injured while working bor Institute. into a coal conveyor belt. He Kim’s mother, Kim Mi-sook, tended the funeral wearing head- for the nation’s fi ve major power Kim’s mother sobbed as she was working as a contractor at refused to hold a funeral until bands that read “I am Kim Yong- plants from 2014 to last year, all read out a letter to her son at the a power plant 110km (70 miles) the government introduced pro- Kyun”. Kim’s father, Kim Hae-gi, were subcontracted workers, ac- ceremony. south of Seoul. tective measures for temporary sobbed as he hugged the coffi n. cording to a report by lawmaker “I don’t know how to live now His death triggered uproar in workers, 60% of whom are de- “I hope you get to be born Lim Lee-ja’s offi ce. that you are gone,” she said. “I People march to honour a worker crushed to death at a coal plant, in South Korea where critics say prived of employment benefi ts again,” said Park Seok-woon, the In 2016, an unaccompanied, will always love you.” Seoul yesterday. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, February 10, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND Netherlands talking to 250 fi rms about leaving UK

Dutch government says it has ($330mn) in investments, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit ketAxess and Azimo. actively looking for opportuni- British, but some were Ameri- investment and could not ride already lured nearly 2,000 ministry said in a statement. and changing global trade poli- In addition to relocations by ties to capitalise on Brexit ever can or Asian fi rms reconsidering out that political uncertainty. jobs from Britain as it steps up “In 2019, several compa- cies, the importance of a good corporates, the European Medi- since the EU referendum. their European branch struc- France has identifi ed as many bid for Brexit spoils nies, including Discovery and Dutch business climate for all of cines Agency (EMA), an EU Banks and other fi nancial tures. as 50 companies, including mo- Bloomberg have already an- us is continually increasing”. agency, has said that it will move services are obliged to have op- “These include companies in tor and pharmaceutical indus- Guardian/AFP/Reuters/DPA nounced their intention to invest The continuing charm of- from London to Amsterdam as it erations in a member state as are the fi nancial sector, media and tries, that it is trying to entice London in the Netherlands because of fensive comes as companies in cannot legally remain in a non- broadcasters if they want to con- advertising, life sciences and across the channel. Brexit,” the ministry said. “Ad- the UK continue to progress EU country. tinue to serve a pan-EU market. health and logistics,” it said. Last month French President ditionally, the Netherlands For- with contingency plans includ- Britain is to leave the European “In 2019, several compa- Broadcasters who transmit Emmanuel Macron hosted an in- he Dutch government eign Investment Agency is talk- ing Sony, which announced last Union on March 29. nies including Discovery and services across Europe need to vestment summit for more than has said it is in talks with ing with more than 250 foreign month it was moving its Europe- Possible restrictions to move- Bloomberg have already an- have a licence in one EU member 140 business leaders, including T“more than 250 compa- companies considering setting an headquarters to Amsterdam. ment of EU citizens within Brit- nounced their intention to invest state in order to meet pan-Euro- bosses of companies with a sig- nies” about moving operations up operations in the Netherlands Sony’s rival Panasonic has al- ain following Brexit have also in the Netherlands because of pean regulations. nifi cant British presence such as to the Netherlands from the UK following Brexit.” ready moved its headquarters to caused many Britain-based Brexit,” the ministry said. “Ad- The BBC is considering setting Goldman Sachs, Google and Sie- before Brexit. “These include companies in Amsterdam. companies to complain about ditionally, the Netherlands for- up a base in Belgium. mens. The economic aff airs minis- the fi nancial sector, media and The Dutch government report staff shortages. eign investment agency is talk- The number of companies re- Last week the boss of Siemens try said it had already lured 42 advertising, life sciences & health named another Japanese compa- While Mark Rutte, the Dutch ing with more than 250 foreign locating to an EU member state UK, Jürgen Maier, said that Brit- companies or branch offi ces, and and logistics,” it said. ny, the investment bank Norin- prime minister, recently said he companies considering setting is expected to grow with recent ain and the Conservative party 1,923 jobs, from Britain in 2018 as The Dutch government wel- chukin, which was making the did not see Brexit as a business up operations in the Netherlands warnings from the Institute of were being held to ransom by it steps up its bid for Brexit spoils. comed the fi gures, with Economy move to the Dutch capital along opportunity, countries including following Brexit.” Directors and the Confederation hardline Brexiters in the ERG The combined moves will Minister Eric Wiebes saying that with global content company, Ireland, France, Germany, Bel- The government report said of British industry that business (the anti-EU European Research translate into the shift of €291mn “due to the growing international fi nancial services providers Mar- gium and Luxembourg have been most of the 250 companies were needs certainty and visibility for Group).

Irish PM believes UK pulls Brexit ferry deal Brexit deal ‘can from fi rm with no vessels be done’

AFP Secretary Chris Grayling quietly copy-pasted from a food deliv- Reuters London approved over the Christmas ery store. Dublin/Belfast break. Grayling’s ministry explained However, it quickly became that the section had been put eeks of public snigger- the most famous – or perhaps there in error. rish Prime Minister Leo Var- ing and indignation infamous – when reporters dis- It was soon removed – but the adkar said on Friday that he Wculminated yesterday covered that Seaborne Freight damage had been done. Ibelieved “a deal can be done” when the British government was a start-up that had never “Seaborne Freight. No ships, to avoid a disorderly British exit cancelled a ferry contract it had actually been involved in this no trading history and website from the EU, after a meeting awarded to a fi rm with no ships. line of work. T&Cs copied and pasted from a with a key ally of British Prime The island nation’s break-up It had no ships and planned takeaway delivery site,” opposi- Minister Theresa May that he with the European Union took to operate from a port not suit- tion Labour party deputy leader said went very well. an odd turn in December when it ed for the types of large vessels Tom Watson tweeted at the time. Varadkar later hosted May for handed the unheralded Seaborne needed to move stacks of loaded Labour’s assault on Grayling a formal dinner in Dublin that an Freight company the £13.8mn containers across the sea. continued yesterday with calls Irish offi cial described as “very ($17.9mn, €15.6mn) deal. Grayling’s ministry said yes- for him to resign or be sacked. warm” – in contrast to a rela- It was meant to make sure that terday that its decision to rip “Whilst Theresa May needs tively chilly reception given to cross-Channel trade with its up the deal came after an Irish the few friends she has right May in Brussels earlier this week. closest trading partners did not fi rm that emerged as a possible now, we cannot have this in- He said that talks with North- grind to a halt if Britain ended supplier of ships for Seaborne competent transport secretary ern Ireland’s Democratic Union- up leaving on March 29 without Freight changed its mind. carry on heaping humiliation ist Party (DUP) in Belfast in the new arrangements in place. “Following the decision of after humiliation on our coun- afternoon showed that there was Fears of the dreaded “no-deal Seaborne Freight’s backer, Ark- try,” Labour transport pointman “more that unites us than di- Brexit” are rising as the clock low Shipping, to step back from Andy McDonald said. “He has to vides us when it comes to Brexit”, nears the hour when the Unit- the deal, it became clear Sea- go.” unusually conciliatory language ed Kingdom ends its 46 years borne would not reach its con- The Telegraph newspaper in what has often been an acri- involvement in the European tractual requirements with the said the Irish shipping company monious relationship. project. government,” the transport stepped in two weeks ago but The DUP, which props up The agreement London and ministry said. “We have there- abruptly withdrew on Friday. May’s government, has been one Brussels sealed in December is fore decided to terminate our There has been no offi cial ex- of the fi ercest critics of Britain’s currently stuck in the UK parlia- agreement.” planation for its change of heart. exit deal with the European Un- ment. It also stressed that no tax- However, Brexit backing MP ion, which parliament in London Many lawmakers oppose it payer money had been spent. Jacob Rees-Mogg said gravely has rejected and more particu- and Prime Minister Theresa Seaborne Freight has been a that “one has to hope the Irish larly the contentious “backstop” May’s eff orts to get sweeten- source of ridicule and amuse- government has not lent on or championed by Varadkar. ers from the EU that could help ment throughout the bleak Brit- put any pressure on Arklow to The provision is an insurance push it over the line are being ish winter weeks. persuade it to pull out”. policy meant to keep the bor- rebuff ed. Social media comment erupt- “That would be a very un- In this file photo taken on January 8, a platform support ship is pictured at the Port of Ramsgate in der between Ireland, a eurozone The Seaborne Freight contract ed after someone noticed that friendly act of a neighbour to Ramsgate, southeast England. Weeks of public sniggering and indignation culminated yesterday when member, and the British-run was the smallest of three emer- parts of its “terms and condi- obstruct no deal preparations,” the government cancelled a ferry contract it had awarded to a firm with no ships. Seaborne Freight had province of Northern Ireland gency ferry deals that Transport tions” appeared to have been he said. said that it would operate services out of Ramsgate. open under any and all circum- stances. The DUP says that its terms are unacceptable as they would undermine trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of BBC fi ghts to stop Attenborough being poached the United Kingdom. The EU has said it will not re- move the provision or re-open Three major nature shows helped push the issue of plastic part of the offi cial BBC Plan- deal with Netfl ix to produce na- the legally binding Brexit deal revealed as broadcaster recycling to the top of the politi- et series and the similarity is ture and science series. agreed with Britain over two aims to stem staff exodus to cal agenda. thought to have angered the cor- The BBC’s fi nances could years, but has said it is ready to Netflix The announcement comes poration’s bosses. also be hit if Netfl ix dents the rework the political declaration after senior staff left the BBC’s In an interview with the Fi- amount that other broadcast- that accompanies it. By Jim Waterson Natural History Unit, lured to nancial Times published on Fri- ers around the world are willing After the meeting, DUP lead- Guardian News & Media the commercial sector by the day, Attenborough said he would to pay for the rights to show the er Arlene Foster said she had a prospect of working for rapid- still work with the BBC but BBC’s natural history output. “good engagement” with Var- ly-growing streaming services, was enthused by Netfl ix’s glo- The BBC’s global reputation adkar and that the DUP wanted he BBC has commis- which can off er bigger budgets. bal reach, with its programmes for making high-quality series “to be as helpful as we can to try sioned three major series Attenborough, who is syn- made available around the world has helped boost returns at the Attenborough has agreed to provide the voiceover for Netflix series and get a deal that works for the Ton the natural world, as it onymous with the BBC’s natu- at the same time: “It’s more than corporation’s commercial arm, Our Planet. United Kingdom and also works fi ghts to stop staff who make its ral history output, has already 200mn people, it’s urgent, it’s with Blue Planet sold to more for the European Union”. popular natural history shows – agreed to provide the voiceover instantaneous. And it stays there than 233 diff erent territories. The BBC has also announced a the newly commissioned pro- She declined to comment on including David Attenborough for a forthcoming Netfl ix se- for months, so it can get an even Of the new programmes, Per- spin-off series called Blue Planet grammes. the detail of the talks, saying – being poached by deep-pock- ries named Our Planet, which is bigger audience through word of fect Planet shows how the forces UK, a week-long documentary A BBC spokesperson said it both sides needed space to com- eted rival Netfl ix. due to be released in April and mouth.” of nature support life on Earth; series broadcast at the end of was too early to sign up a pre- plete discussions. Perfect Planet, Frozen Plan- has involved 600 crewmembers The Blue Planet II creator, Frozen Planet II is fi lmed in the March on BBC One daytime, senter for the shows, which take The support of the DUP’s 10 et II, and Planet Earth III will fi lming for four years around the James Honeyborne, left the Arctic and Antarctic; and Planet which will look at the stories be- years to produce and are due to members of parliament is seen be shown on the BBC over the world. Natural History Unit last month Earth III is described as “the hind the United Kingdom’s ma- be aired between 2020 and 2022, as key to May’s winning over coming years, building on the Despite its name, the pro- after almost 30 years to found an most ambitious natural history rine wildlife. but if the 92-year-old wanted to sceptical members of her Con- success of 2017’s enormously gramme, produced by former independent production com- landmark ever undertaken by It is unclear whether At- take part then they would “love servative party and securing popular Blue Planet II, which Natural History Unit staff , is not pany, which instantly signed a the BBC”. tenborough will be involved in to have him”. parliamentary approval for the withdrawal agreement. Asked by Irish state broad- caster RTE how he envisaged a deal could be done between Britain and the EU after weeks Prince Philip voluntarily gives up driver’s licence of stalemate, Varadkar cited the common ground between the Irish government and the DUP. DPA/Reuters/AFP “After careful considera- him after he was photographed Philip retired from public driver during World War II, is Both sides, he said, wanted to London tion, the Duke of Edinburgh has driving without a seatbelt. life in 2017, although he still said to have shocked Saudi Ara- avoid a hard border in Northern taken the decision to voluntarily The driver of the other car, a occasionally appears with his bia’s late King Abdullah, then Ireland, ensure Britain left with surrender his driving licence,” 28-year-old woman, suff ered 92-year-old wife at offi cial crown prince, by climbing into a deal and enabled frictionless rince Philip gave up his the royal palace said in a state- cuts to her knee while her pas- events. the driver’s seat and taking him trade. driver’s licence yesterday ment. senger, a 45-year-old woman, Philip drove Barack Obama for a ride around her estate dur- “Often when you share all the Pafter a collision he caused Witnesses said Philip pulled sustained a broken wrist. and his wife Michelle to lunch ing a visit to Britain in 1998. major objectives, it is possible while driving near the royal into a main road from a drive. A nine-month-old boy who at Windsor Castle during their At the time, women were to come to a solution,” Varadkar Sandringham estate last month Philip had suggested that low was in the second car with the state visit to Britain in 2016, banned from driving in Saudi said. “I think that on balance we prompted an outcry. sun had aff ected his sight for the two women was unhurt. prompting the former US presi- Arabia. will secure a deal – whether it Buckingham Palace said in a crash. The crash fuelled debate on dent to remark: “I have to say Outspoken yet intensely pri- will be by the end of March or af- statement that Philip, 97, also In January, Philip’s Land Rov- restrictions for elderly drivers. I have never been driven by a vate, Philip developed a repu- ter an extension I can’t say.” known as the Duke of Edin- er Freelander landed on its side Current British traffi c laws Duke of Edinburgh before, but tation for brusque comments Speaking ahead of his din- burgh, made the decision to give after a collision with a Kia. require drivers over 70 to un- I can report it was very smooth and often headline-grabbing ner with May, Varadkar said the up his licence of his own free Two days after the accident, dergo a medical examination to riding.” verbal gaff es during ceremonial meeting was aimed at seeing will after lengthy deliberation. police had a conversation with extend their licence. The queen, a trained military events. Philip: outspoken “confi dence and trust restored.” Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 17 EUROPE

Italian unions More violence in Paris lead mass protest for economic as ‘yellow vests’ march Demonstrator loses hand as machines and shop windows This was the 11th time he had growth protesters clash with police along the route. marched with the movement, he One of the torched cars be- told AFP. AFP longed to Sentinelle, France’s “We have to win to have more AFP Paris anti-terrorism unit. social and fi scal justice in this Rome Interior Minister Christophe country,” said Mairesse, who Castaner expressed his “indig- was carrying a placard calling “yellow vest” demon- nation and disgust” in a tweet. for the reimposition of a wealth undreds of thousands of strator lost his hand dur- Volunteer medics at the Na- tax on high earners repealed by people demonstrated in Aing clashes with police tional Assembly told AFP that a Macron. HRome yesterday, led by outside the main parliament man had had his hand ripped off At the march in the southeast unions demanding pro-growth building in Paris yesterday, wit- during the clashes between po- city of Lyon, Benard, a 56-year- policies from the populist gov- nesses told AFP, during a 13th lice and protesters. old computer technician ex- ernment, the biggest such pro- weekend of anti-government One witness who fi lmed the pressed scepticism about Ma- test in four years. protests across France. incident, 21-year-old Cyprien cron’s “great debate” initiative No violent incidents were re- Despite a drop in numbers Royer, said that the injury had designed to address people’s ported at the gathering. from the massive turnouts of been caused by a fl ash-ball gre- grievances. Unions had helped protesters the fi rst demonstrations in nade fi red by police. “It’s all very good, the great from elsewhere make their way November, tens of thousands Royer said the victim was a debate, but we want something to the capital using 12 special still turned out in cities across yellow jacket photographer tak- concrete: fewer taxes, more pur- trains, 1,300 coaches, ferries and the country to protest against ing pictures of people trying to chasing power. low-cost fl ights. French President Emmanuel break down the barriers protect- “We’ll be here every Saturday Holding banners with slo- Macron’s policies. ing the entrance to the National of the year if we have to.” gans such as “A future for work”, Clashes broke out outside Assembly. Thousands of protesters demonstrators called for a mas- the National Assembly building “When the cops went to dis- turned out yesterday in the sive publicly and privately fund- in Paris after a march from the perse people, he got hit by a French Mediterranean ports of ed investment programme, and Champs Elysees arrived there. fl ash-ball grenade in the calf. Marseille and Montpellier and further-reaching reforms than While many demonstra- He wanted to bat it away so it also in Bordeaux and Toulouse in Street medics assist a woman during a ‘yellow vest’ demonstration in Paris yesterday. what the government – made up tors marched peacefully, some didn’t explode by his leg – and the southwest – strongholds of of the far-right League party and masked activists tried to break it went off when he touched it,” the movements – as well as sev- 51,400, of whom 4,000 marched 282,000 people out on to the while investigating a series of the anti-establishment 5-Star down barriers outside the par- he added. eral cities in the north and west in Paris, slightly down on the streets across France, according attacks on homes belonging to Movement – is currently off er- liament while others urinated Paris police said the man had of France. previous week’s fi gures. to government fi gures. politicians in Macron’s Republic ing. nearby. lost four fi ngers. In the eastern city of Saint However, last week’s offi cial But a YouGov poll of 1,037 on the Move party, ranging from Italian unions have called in- Masked men threw projectiles By early evening, offi cers in Etienne, eight police offi cers estimates were disputed both people issued on Thursday sug- vandalism to arson. vestment plans announced by at police, who responded with Paris said they had arrested 36 were slightly hurt during clash- by march organisers and contra- gested that nearly two out of No one has been hurt and no the government too cautious, tear gas and stun grenades. people and 16 were being held in es with some protesters on the dicted by an independent esti- three people in France (64%) individual or group has so far its pension reform plan not far- As the march continued, van- custody, they added. fringes of the march there, local mate carried out for news media, still support the movement. been implicated in the incidents. reaching enough, and have also dals burned rubbish bins as well “We mustn’t give up,” said police said. which gave a higher estimate. It was carried out on January Government and opposition criticised a plan to pay the poor- as cars – mainly luxury models pensioner Serge Mairesse, from Interior ministry fi gures put The fi rst yellow vest day of 30 and 31. politicians have condemned the est Italians a monthly income, – vandalising bus shelters, cash Aubervilliers, just outside Paris. the turnout across France at protest in November brought French prosecutors are mean- attacks. saying that it undermines the fi ght against both poverty and unemployment. The new boss of the CGIL un- ion which claims 5.5mn mem- bers, Maurizio Landini, said in- Germany’s Akin back in Berlinale with real-life thriller vestment had fallen by 30% over the past decade. “The government must DPA change direction, we already Berlin have one foot in recession,” said Annamaria Furlan, the head of Italy’s second-biggest union ermany’s Fatih Akin re- CISL. “It needs to come out of its turned to the Berlin Film virtual reality and face the reality GFestival yesterday with of our work.” a thriller about a real-life serial The Italian economy con- killer in Hamburg in the 1970s, tracted in the fourth quarter of which also showed a nation still 2018 because of a slowdown in trying to come to terms with its exports, plunging the eurozone’s dark past. third-largest economy into a The screening of Akin’s Der technical recession and increas- Goldene Handschuh (The Golden ing the government’s budgetary Glove) comes 15 years after he problems. shot to cinema fame with Head- Italian unions feel overlooked On, a movie about a young by the government and did not woman breaking free from strict take well to an encounter be- family traditions that won him tween 5-Star Movement chief the Berlinale’s top prize, the Luigi Di Maio with members Golden Bear for best picture. of the “yellow vest” protest in Der Goldene Handschuh is one France which caused a diplo- of the 17 fi lms competing this matic uproar between Paris and year in Berlin for the festival’s Rome. coveted awards. German producer Herman Weigel, German actor Jonas Dassler, Austrian actress Margarethe Tiesel, “It is unusual, to say the least, The fi lm is drawn from the German director and screenwriter Fatih Akin, producer Nurhan Sekerci-Porst and German author Heinz that a deputy prime minister true story of Fritz Honka, who Strunk pose during a photocall for the film The Golden Glove (Der Goldene Handschuh), presented in fi nds the time to meet opponents killed four women in Hamburg’s competition at the 69th Berlinale film festival. of the government in a neigh- red-light district and then kept bouring country but doesn’t their bodies in his apartment. ing for normality in his life,” Apart from creating a portrait by her mother after she rebels Austrian actress Adele Neuhauser (left) and Danish actress Trine have the time to meet with the Honka died in 1998. 23-year-old Dassler told a press of a man driven by misogyny against authority. Dyrholm pose on the red carpet ahead of the premiere of the film opposition in his own country, German actor Jonas Dassler conference marking the fi lm’s and his own sexual inadequa- The nature of family is one of Brecht at the 69th Berlinale film festival. i.e. the unions,” Landini said on plays Honka in the fi lm, which world premiere in Berlin. cies, Akin also sought to show the themes running through this Friday. is based on a 2016 crime novel The 45-year-old Akin also the other side of Germany’s year’s Berlinale. Yesterday’s demonstration by Hamburg-born author Heinz said that he was impressed by “economic miracle” with many Paris-born director Francois men still struggling with de- tions,” Ozon told a Berlinale was the biggest since mass dem- Strunk. the way that Strunk portrayed still trying to regain a sense of Ozon’s hard-hitting portrayal spair, humiliation and fury, years press conference. onstrations just over four years A stooped fi gure with a squint Honka with a sense of dignity balance in the country’s post- of the corrosive impact that sex after they had fallen prey to a He also hoped to show “the ago against reform plans by the and speech impediment, Honka that helped to give him a human World War II era. abuse by priest has on the lives paedophile priest. knock-on eff ects [the abuse] has then-prime minister Matteo preyed on the women in a lo- face, despite his crimes. Akin’s fi lm is the second Ger- of the children aff ected also Set in Lyon – a stronghold of had on their families and lives”. Renzi. cal pub called Zum Goldenen Akin acknowledged that the man movie to so far screen in the delves into the wider aspects of the Catholic Church – Ozon’s In the fi lm, Ozon also attacks Meanwhile, an Italian version Handschuh (the Golden Glove), victims also had a sense dignity, Berlinale’s main competition, French family life and society, fi lm draws on the true case of the church over its silence on of “yellow vest” protests, also which was home to prostitutes with one of Honka’s victims – a which opened on Thursday. and the power wielded by the Father Bernard Preynat, who in abusive priests and its attempts planned for yesterday, was can- and lonely, down-at-heel drink- concentration camp survivor – Nora Fingscheidt has won Catholic Church. 2016 was charged with sexually to cover up the scandal. celled by police because of fears ers in the northern German port rigorously fi ghting to counter praise from festivalgoers for Over the course of 137 min- assaulting around 70 boys in the But underlining the sensitiv- of violence. city. his attack. System Crasher, about an ag- utes, Ozon shows in his fi lm southern French city. ity of Ozon’s fi lm, some of its “He was a monster, a serial The movie showed “a will to gressive nine-year-old girl Grace a Dieu (By the Grace of “I wanted to make a fi lm about critics are already attempting to „ See also page 22 killer but he was also search- live”, the director said. placed in protective services God) a group of middle-aged men ... expressing their emo- have it banned in France.

Turkey apartment building collapse Sacked cardinal issues manifesto in thinly-veiled attack on Pope death toll now 18 The death toll from the collapse Reuters However, conservatives He said some church leaders criticism of the Pope since of an apartment building in Vatican City balked this week when Francis “have abandoned the people Francis removed him as head Istanbul rose to 18, as President made the fi rst trip by a Pope entrusted to them, unsettling of the Vatican’s Congregation Recep Tayyip Erdogan said to the Arabian peninsula and them and severely damaging for the Doctrine of the Faith in yesterday that authorities have cardinal who was sacked signed a Document on Human their faith”. 2017. “lessons to learn” from the from a senior Vatican Fraternity with a Muslim faith He warned against “the Most of the manifesto was incident. Apost by Pope Francis has leader. fraud of (the) anti-Christ”. a re-stating of the church’s The eight-storey block in the written his own Manifesto of Ultra-conservative Catho- Mueller, who did not men- teachings, including sev- Kartal district on the Asian side of Faith, in the latest attack on the lics are opposed to dialogue tion the Pope, is one of a hand- eral that Francis himself has the city collapsed on Wednesday Pontiff ’s authority by a leading with Islam, with some saying ful of conservative cardinals strongly upheld, such as celi- but the cause is not yet clear. member of the church’s con- its ultimate goal is to destroy who have openly accused Fran- bacy for priests and the ban on Erdogan, visiting the site servative wing. the West. cis of sowing confusion. women’s ordination. yesterday, said: “We have a great Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, The manifesto was dated They say that he is weaken- One section, however, was number of lessons to learn from 71, a German who was the Vati- February 10, the sixth anniver- ing Catholic rules on moral a clear jab at Francis’ reaching this. We will take the necessary can’s doctrinal chief until 2017, sary of the eve of former pope issues such as homosexual- out to Catholics who have di- measures.” issued the four-page manifesto Benedict XVI’s announcement ity and divorce, while focusing vorced and remarried outside Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, on Friday via conservative of his resignation. excessively on social problems the church. meanwhile, told reporters that Catholic media outlets. Benedict, 91, remains an such as climate change and Francis believes some should the death toll had risen to 18 dead He said that “many bishops, icon for conservative Catho- economic inequality. be allowed to receive com- and 14 injured. priests, religious and lay peo- lics. Their leader is Raymond Leo munion on a case by case basis, The president also went to the ple” had requested it. Mueller said that he wrote it Burke, 70, an American who something that is anathema to hospital to talk to survivors, and Mueller did not say how “in the face of growing confu- was demoted from a senior conservatives. then attended the funeral of the Some conservative cardinals have openly accused Francis of sowing many, or why he was issuing it sion about the doctrine of the Vatican position in 2014. The Vatican has not com- nine members of one family who confusion in the church. now. faith”. Mueller has ramped up his mented on the document. lost their lives in the disaster. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, February 10, 2019 INDIA

PEOPLE BOTCHED SURGERY POLITICS INVESTIGATION JUDICIARY Jaitley returns from US Doctors leave forceps Sudheeran not to CBI to probe into medical Jayalalithaa death probe after medical treatment in patient’s abdomen contest Lok Sabha polls college admission scam panel ‘going beyond brief’

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley returned In a shocking incident of medical negligence, V M Sudheeran, a veteran Congress leader and The government has decided to refer the Uttar Apollo Hospitals has approached the yesterday to India after spending four weeks in surgeons at Nizam’s Institute of Medical former party president in Kerala, said yesterday Pradesh medical college admission scam to Madras High Court to restrain the Justice A the US where he underwent medical treatment. Sciences (NIMSi n Hyderabad left an artery he would not run in the coming Lok Sabha polls. the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Amit Arumugaswamy Commission from probing “Delighted to be back home,” Jaitley said in forceps in a patient’s abdomen during a He said in Thiruvananthapuram that even when Biswas in the Ministry of Health and Family into the adequacy or correctness of the a tweet. In his absence, Railways Minister surgery performed three months ago. The the party high command in 2009 asked him to Welfare, in a letter on February 8 to Surender treatment given to late chief minister J Piyush Goyal has been given the charge of the incident came to light yesterday when an X-ray contest, he did not. “I feel it’s high time that new Singh Hooda, said “the matter has been referred Jayalalithaa at the hospital. Jayalalithaa was in Ministry of Finance on a temporary basis. On revealed that a pair of forceps was embedded faces, especially the youth, should be given more to the CBI for further investigation.” Hooda, Apollo Hospitals in Chennai for 75 days in 2016 February 1, when Goyal presented the interim in the stomach of Maheshwari Chowdary. The importance. I have had a very long innings in an investigative journalist, had filed a petition before she died there due to cardiac arrest on budget, Jaitley via video conference told 33-year-old had undergone a surgery for hernia public life and have contested several elections,” seeking a CBI probe into the alleged corruption December 5, 2016. The hospitals has also filed a reporters that he was getting better and would on November 2 last year at the government- he said. Sudheeran, 70, entered politics through in the UP Unaided Medical Colleges’ Welfare petition in the court to appoint an independent return soon. Jaitley, 66, who is convalescing, run hospital. But even after the surgery, she the Congress-backed students unit and over Association that conducted the admission test. medical board. “We feel the commission is has presented the last five budgets of the complained of severe abdominal pain and an the years was a four-term Lok Sabha member Hooda in 2015 conducted a sting operation at K going beyond its terms of reference. The terms Bharatiya Janata Party government. Goyal was X-ray revealed that surgeons had left the tool and also a state legislator an equal number of D Medical College in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. of reference for the commission do not intend given additional charge of Finance Ministry on in her stomach. The patient’s relatives staged times. Dismissing reports that he was asked It exposed the holes in the admission process in to go into the adequacy of the treatment given January 23, 10 days after Jaitley left for the US. a protest outside the hospital and lodged a to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the private medical colleges. “Those who deprived to Jayalalithaa. The inquiry is now changing Jaitley had a kidney transplant surgery on May complaint with the police. The woman is now veteran leader said: “I am going to Delhi, but not almost 1,900 genuine students seats in private towards a case of medical negligence,” a 14 last year. set to undergo another surgery. tomorrow. It’s pretty cold there now.” medical colleges must be punished,” Hooda said. person close to Apollo Hospitals said. Court order on statues deals severe blow to Mayawati

IANS former Uttar Pradesh chief min- Lucknow ister for two reasons – one that the judicial reprimand could im- pact the party’s prospects in the n ‘elephantine’ crisis of run-up to the Lok Sabha polls over Rs59 crore stares and prompt the opposition, spe- Aat Bahujan Samaj Party cially the Bharatiya Janata Party, (BSP) supremo Mayawati after to yet again call her ‘Daulat and the Supreme Court ordered her not Dalit-ke-beti’. Second, it to refund the money used in in- could burn a massive hole in her stalling statues of elephants, BSP purse. founder Kanshiram and her own There are 152 statues of el- statues in parks built in various ephants in the Ambedkar Park parts of Uttar Pradesh. in Lucknow and 56 in a park in According to conservative Noida. The cost of one statue of estimates, the four-time chief an elephant is estimated to be minister spent Rs3.49 crore on around Rs50 lakh. Apart from her own statues, Rs3.77 crore on using public money, Mayawati Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates development projects in Itanagar in northeastern Arunachal Pradesh yesterday. that of her mentor Kanshiram is also accused of wrongdoing in and Rs52.02 crore on elephants, awarding contracts for the me- her party’s election symbol. morials. A bench of Chief Justice Ran- A public interest litigation jan Gogoi and Justices Sanjiv (PIL) in the Supreme Court de- Khanna and Deepak Gupta said manding an end to the use of that “Madam Mayawati must re- public money for political gains imburse to the exchequer public alleges a large chunk of budget of money” she spent on these stat- several state government depart- Assam protesters greet ues. ments, including culture, was She is now said to be discuss- routed for the purpose. ing the issue with a battery of The petitioner, lawyer Ra- legal eagles, including party gen- vikant, said while this was brazen eral secretary Satish Chandra use of public money to further Mishra. political interests while in pow- Her new ally Samajwadi Party er, it also was in contravention Modi with black fl ags (SP) has left her to fend for her- of various rules of the Election self. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Commission, which, in the run- Agencies pares to call a national election. the parliament’s upper chamber, were living in the state before 1971, BJP’s hopes in the northeastern who till not ago used every pub- up to the 2012 assembly elec- Guwahati His Bharatiya Janata Party was a “national commitment” to when millions fl ed Bangladesh’s states have been badly damaged lic outing to hit out at ‘Bua ji’ for tions, got the elephant statues (BJP) has faced a severe back- the minorities. war of independence. by the new law, analysts said. plundering public money for her covered with polythene sheets. lash in the notheastern region “The passage of the bill will Modi said that his government The prime mMinister said statues while being alive, now The Lokayukta probe ordered by second day of protests over a proposed change to a 1955 ensure that those people who was speeding up eff orts to seal the government is committed ducks questions. “Well, I have not Akhilesh Yadav has also inferred yesterday tainted Prime citizenship act which would give love India more than their lives the India-Bangladesh border. to ensuring that there are no il- read the whole observation made a scam of Rs1,400 crore. AMinister Narendra Modi’s Indian nationality to Hindus and will be accommodated in India. An election is expected to be legal foreigners in Assam and the by the court. The BSP lawyers will The Enforcement Directorate visit to Assam where proposals other minorities who have fl ed It is a responsibility of India to called for April-May and the country. tackle the matter,” he said. (ED) had only 10 days back raided to change a nationality law have the neighbouring Muslim coun- accept those people,” he said. After assuming power in 2012, several places in connection with sparked outrage. tries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh Modi said citizenship will only Govt rejects China opposition the SP government had ordered the park scam and questioned Protesters waved black fl ags and Pakistan. be granted after thorough checks a probe into the memorials and engineers and offi cials involved and burned effi gies of the na- Assam, a state of 33mn, has on each applicant. India yesterday dismissed consistent position has been the report revealed expenses of in the process. The Dalit memo- tionalist prime minister while been plagued by decades of ten- While groups in Assam want China’s opposition to the visit conveyed to the Chinese side Rs5,919 crore on parks and me- rials, other than statues of el- some students staged a nude sions between local tribal and to block all outsiders, human of Prime Minister Narendra on several occasions.” As Modi morials built in Lucknow, No- ephants, Mayawati, her mentor protest outside the state govern- indigenous groups and settlers rights activists have condemned Modi to Arunachal Pradesh, yesterday inaugurated several ida and Greater Noida. Of this, Kanshiram have a place of pride ment complex in the state capital from outside, including many the government law for not cov- saying the northeastern state developmental projects over Rs400 crore was spent for icon Bhimrao Ambedkar, Jyo- of Guwahati. Muslims and Hindus from near- ering Muslims. was an integral and inalienable during his one-day visit to on purchase of stones alone. A tirao Phule and even lord Bud- The nude protesters were by Bangladesh. They say it will be the fi rst part of India. “The state of Arunachal Pradesh, China said Comptroller and Auditor Gen- dha, with whom Dalits connect detained while Assam student Modi insisted that his gov- time religion has been a criterion Arunachal Pradesh is an such actions would “escalate” eral report, presented in the Ut- in a huge way. groups said police baton charged ernment will ensure that the for nationality in India, which is integral and inalienable part and “complicate” the border tar Pradesh assembly in 2014 had The intimidatingly huge stat- another group of activists. amended law does not harm offi cially secular. of India. Indian leaders visit dispute. “China’s position on mentioned a huge scam in the ues, an offi cial who worked with Black fl ag protests greeted Assam and neighbouring states Last year the Assam govern- Arunachal Pradesh from time the Sino-Indian border issue is construction of the memorials her on many occasions told Modi when he arrived in Gu- however. ment released the fi rst draft of a to time, as they visit other consistent and clear. ,” Chinese built on 750 acres of land. IANS, was deliberate and an in- wahati on Friday night to start Addressing one public rally, state citizens’ register that reject- parts of India,” the External Foreign Ministry spokesperson The matter, listed for fi nal ad- tegral component of “Mayawati’s the tour of Assam, Arunachal he said the bill, which still needs ed 4mn mainly Muslim residents Affairs Ministry said. “This Hua Chunying said in Beijing. judication on April 2, worries the radical brand of Dalit assertion”. Pradesh and Tripura as he pre- approval from the Rajya Sabha, who were unable to prove they

Shopping complex blaze Publicity to Vadra could Church revokes transfer help Congress: RSS leader orders of four nuns IANS section of the society. But trou- Kottayam, Kerala ble broke out when fi ve people, IANS ister Narendra Modi ahead of the which he shared on his offi cial believed to be sympathisers of New Delhi 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Twitter handle. Bishop Mulakkal, created a fl ut- Chari’s remarks came in the In the 1977 general election our Kerala nuns, who pro- ter at the venue. wake of Vadra appearing for the held after the emergency, Janata tested last year demand- The fi ve protesters were ashtriya Swayamsevak third consecutive day before the Party emerged victorious defeat- Fing the arrest of Bishop quickly taken into custody. Sangh ideologue Seshadri Enforcement Directorate (ED) for ing the Congress, and Morarji Franco Mulakkal in an alleged Last month, the four nuns, RChari yesterday expressed the third round of questioning in Desai became the prime minister. rape case, got relief yesterday who are presently attached to fears that “too much publicity” a money laundering case. He was later succeeded by Cha- when the church authorities the Kuruvilangad convent, were to Robert Vadra, the brother-in- Vadra’s wife Priyanka Gandhi ran Singh. cancelled their transfer orders transferred to four diff erent law of Congress president Rahul Vadra, who recently entered ac- But in the 1980 general elec- and allowed them to continue places in the country. Gandhi, could help the opposition tive politics and was appointed tions, the Congress, led by Indira here at the convent. They sought Kerala Chief party bounce back, like former Congress general secretary, has Gandhi, bounced back to power “We have received a letter Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s in- prime minister Indira Gandhi did accompanied Vadra to the ED of- winning a handsome 353 of 529 from the new Bishop of Ja- tervention, but as nothing much after the 1980 general election. fi ce to drop and pick him in the seats. landhar stating all the trans- happened, they decided to or- “I hope too much publicity to past few days. Meanwhile Vadra, who was ferred nuns can remain at the ganise the protest meeting yes- Vadra does not end up like In- Chari also suggested the questioned for over six hours on Kuruvilangad convent till the terday. dira Gandhi bouncing back after Bharatiya Janata Party backroom Wednesday and Thursday, ar- case is over,” said Sister An- All the four nuns are witness- the Janata Party government. boys scale up the corruption issue rived at the ED offi ce at around upama. es in the case against Mulakkal, Conviction is not possible in a to at least the 2014 level if they 10.45am yesterday. The news of revocation of the former Jalandhar bishop, month’s time and by then, elec- want to achieve the target of “ab He is being questioned on transfer orders was read out by accused of sexually assaulting tion schedule could begin,” Chari ki baar, teen sow paar” (‘this time, transactions, purchase and pos- Anupama, one of the four nuns, a nun repeatedly between 2014 said in a tweet. above 300 seats’ - the BJP slogan). session of certain properties in at a public meeting organised and 2016. The former editor of Or- “The general perception that London. near here to protest against the Mulakkal was arrested on ganiser, the RSS mouthpiece, Congress’ fi rst family greatly The ED case relates to the Firefighters spray water to extinguish a blaze that broke out manner in which they were be- September 21, 2018 and bail stressed the need to project posi- benefi ted from corruption will ownership of £1.9mn of undis- at a shopping complex in Allahabad yesterday. There were ing hounded. on October 16, 2018. He is now tive, affi rmative, people-friendly have a great impact in the com- closed assets abroad, allegedly no casualties, off icials said. The ‘protest’ meeting saw back in Punjab, but is no longer projects initiated by Prime Min- ing months,” he said in an article belonging to Vadra. good participation from a cross the diocesan head. Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 19 LATIN AMERICA

ILLEGAL FISHING SAFETY FIRST REFORM RECOVERY SPLITTING UP 700 evacuated amid fear of Obrador moots $1.5bn Bolsonaro medical condition Pena Nieto, soap opera new Brazil dam disaster rescue plan for Pemex improving: spokesman star wife divorcing

About 700 people living near two mining dams in Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has no fever Mexican ex-president Enrique Pena Nieto and his Brazil have been evacuated as a precaution after said on Friday he would soon announce a rescue or pain and is quickly overcoming a bout of wife, soap opera star Angelica Rivera, are getting another dam burst and left at least 157 people plan for troubled state oil company Pemex, pneumonia, signs that his medical condition is divorced, the former first lady said on Friday. “I dead two weeks ago, the companies operating suggesting it would be worth around $1.5bn. improving, spokesman General Otavio Rego deeply regret what is a very painful situation for them said on Friday. The dam operated by the Pemex is struggling under the weight of more than Barros said on Friday. A feeding tube and another me and our children. That is why I have decided Brazilian mining giant Vale ruptured in Minas $100bn in debt and years of declining production, tube draining liquid that accumulated where his to get divorced,” Rivera, 49, said in a statement Gerais state and unleashed a sea of toxic sludge and was recently downgraded by ratings company colostomy bag had been attached to his intestine posted to her social media accounts. Rumors over the surrounding areas. The confirmed Fitch. Trying to shore up the firm, Lopez Obrador’s have been removed, according to a medical had swirled that the couple were in the process A handout photo released by the Argentine death toll stands at 157, while more than 180 are government has announced a series of tax breaks bulletin issued by the Sao Paulo hospital where of separating, even before Pena Nieto’s term Naval Prefecture (PNA) shows a PNA boat missing. The national mining agency ordered for Pemex — and will now announce further he is being treated. Bolsonaro, who was stabbed ended last December 1. Last week, a Mexican approaching South Korean-flag-bearing vessel the evacuation of about 500 people from a measures next week, the leftist leader said. “The in the abdomen during the election campaign in gossip magazine published photos of Pena O Yang 77 during its capture for fishing illegally downstream area of the Gongo Soco mine dam decision has already been made. We are going to September, ate chicken broth and jelly. His medical Nieto, 52, out and about in Madrid with Mexican in Argentine waters near Comodoro Rivadavia, near the city of Barao de Cocais. It was not known strengthen Pemex, to rescue Pemex, to make it team said his bodily functions are returning to model Tania Ruiz Eichelmann, 31, claiming the Chubut province, Argentina. when the evacuees would be able to return home. solvent,” he told a press conference. normal, but there is not date set for him to go home. two were now living together. Guaido refuses to rule out okay for US intervention

AFP the supplies are stuck in ware- Caracas Humanitarian aid for Cuba houses in Colombia because the Venezuelan military has blocked Venezuela has sent 100 tonnes of when Venezuela is suff ering a their entry. enezuela’s self-pro- humanitarian aid to Cuba while political and economic attack led Earlier, Maduro vowed not to claimed acting president about the same amount of US aid by the United States.” let in “fake humanitarian aid” Venezuela self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido delivers a speech at the Central University of VJuan Guaido has refused for Venezuela remains blocked on Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Trade and claimed Venezuela’s crisis Venezuela in Caracas. to rule out the possibility of au- the Colombian border. Minister Antonio Carricarte has been “fabricated by Wash- thorising United States inter- A Venezuelan navy vessel thanked Caracas for the “gesture” ington” to justify intervention. illegitimate over his re-election miserable at this point of huge Consultants Eurasia Group vention to help force President carrying construction vehicles and said his country supported Guaido says 300,000 people last May in polls branded a fraud necessity not to accept it,” he said on Thursday that Maduro’s Nicolas Maduro from power and and materials arrived in the port “the Venezuelan government could die if desperately-needed by the US, EU and many Latin said. “Inhibiting the entry of traditional allies Russia and alleviate a humanitarian crisis. of Havana on Friday, according to and people in the face of internal aid isn’t brought in. American countries. this aid could be seen as a crime China are “unlikely to lend (him) National Assembly leader Cuban state television. and external action to impose a And he said a fi rst attempt to Guaido says the constitution al- against humanity.” meaningful support,” reinforcing Guaido told AFP he would do The aid was meant for victims change of regime.” bring in the aid should be made lows him to assume power, set up a Guaido said the military has to its view that the socialist leader “everything that is necessary... of a tornado which hit the Cuban About 100 tons of food, next week. transitional government and hold decide whether to “take the side “will be unable to sustain his re- to save human lives,” acknowl- capital late last month, killing six medicine, hygiene products and “The fi rst stage is containing new elections — one of his key of the constitution” or to “con- gime.” edging that US intervention is “a people and damaging thousands other aid items were meanwhile the sanitation emergency. Two demands that has received wide- tinue on the side of an increas- Guaido agrees that no-one will very controversial subject.” of houses. blocked at a reception centre in days ago eight children under spread international support. ingly isolated dictator.” come to Maduro’s rescue. The opposition leader The commander of the the Colombian border city of Cu- three lost their lives...dehydrat- “We’ll do everything we have But he said “fear” was prevent- “I’m not very worried...Madu- launched a bid to oust Maduro Venezuelan navy vessel, Vladimir cuta amid uncertainty about how ed, malnourished,” said Guaido. to in a sovereign and autonomous ing more top ranking members of ro hasn’t had a new line of credit last month, declaring himself Maldonado, told Cuban media it would get across Venezuelan Failing public services in- manner to achieve an end to the the armed forces from switching since 2016,” said Guaido. interim president, a move rec- that the aid arrived “at a time soldiers guarding the border. cluding water, electricity and usurpation, a transitional govern- sides and joining air force general “I’m sure that Moscow as ognised by the US and around transport are among Venezuela’s ment and free elections,” he said. Francisco Yanez who last week- much as Beijing is very aware of 40 other countries, including 20 worst problems, while there is And he still has faith that the end disavowed Maduro. the situation in Venezuela, that from the European Union. recession and shortages of ba- generates governability and sta- also a shortage of doctors and military can be won over, appeal- “We’ve seen some National Maduro doesn’t have popular Under Maduro’s stewardship, sic necessities such as food and bility to deal with the emergen- medical supplies in hospitals. ing to their sense of humanity. Guard sergeants who’ve shown support, the he can’t stabilise oil-rich Venezuela’s economy medicine. cy,” said Guaido, 35. Helping the needy is not “The armed forces have a huge unhappiness and they’re being the economy...all the while hold- has collapsed leaving the coun- “We’re going to do everything He is trying to bring in food Guaido’s only aim, though. dilemma, whether or not to ac- tortured. One of the sergeants’ ing the biggest oil reserves in the try wracked by hyperinfl ation, that has a lower social cost, that and medicines from the US but He has dismissed Maduro as cept the aid. It would be almost relatives is missing.” world.” Could women in white sway Venezuelan soldiers blocking aid?

By Juan Restrepo, AFP and daughters can convince the But Acevedo, who has three a devastating economic crisis through the military cordon and around 40 countries, may try the “Soldier, friend, we’re count- Cucuta, Colombia soldiers to break with President children, thinks she and her fel- under Maduro. crossed to Colombia, the only same strategy used in Cucuta in ing on you,” said a sign one of Nicolas Maduro and let the US low Venezuelan women can “We women are the ones who place they could buy enough food 2016. them was brandishing. aid shipments pass. change that. have to help get this humanitar- for their families. The team he has appointed to “We didn’t want to leave our he soldiers blocking hu- Maduro, who is locked in a She should know — she comes ian aid through. Not the men,” Women protesting in white, distribute the aid says it is not country, which we love, but manitarian aid from en- power struggle with opposition from a family of soldiers. she added. a tradition dating to at least ruling it out. the situation forced us to. Our Ttering Venezuela look leader and self-declared interim “I come from a military fam- “They may be strong, but they the suff rage movement in the “The Venezuelan people are children are hungry, we have unlikely to give any ground, but president Juan Guaido, refuses to ily, too. And my family is against can’t do much because the au- United States a century ago, has going to unite in a humanitarian no money,” said demonstra- Maria Acevedo thinks she knows let the aid through. this, against the army blocking thorities would immediately at- reemerged as a trend. corridor, civilians hand in hand tor Eduard Guzman, clutching a how to make them let the ship- He calls it a “show” and says humanitarian aid. But my family tack them.” It was seen most recently on with soldiers,” said Lester Toledo, sign asking soldiers to let the aid ments through. Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis can’t do anything. Only the top There is history behind Aceve- Tuesday at President Donald the head of that team. through “now, now, now.” Acevedo, 26, wants to join to- has been manufactured by Wash- brass,” Acevedo told AFP in Cu- do’s hope. Trump’s State of the Union ad- A small group of Venezuelan He walked across the border gether with fellow Venezuelan ington to justify a “coup.” cuta, on the Colombian side of In 2016, Maduro also closed dress, where several dozen op- protesters on the Colombian and was on his way to the Colom- women and escort the food and What happens to the sea of the border. the border at Cucuta, accusing position Democrats used their side of the border bridge — ex- bian capital, Bogota, when he saw medicine across the border from shiny white plastic bags fi lled with She regularly travels there to Colombia of plotting to destabi- wardrobes to make a visu- patriates who are among the the protest and decided to join it. Colombia. vital supplies — and to Venezuela buy the food she can no longer lise his socialist government. ally striking statement against 2.3mn people to leave the coun- “We need it, we are suff ering,” Her bet is that a group of hun- itself — now hinges on the military, fi nd in Venezuela, a once boom- In July that year, hundreds of Trump. try since 2015 — is sending the said Guzman. “We can’t go on gry and suff ering mothers, sisters which has so far stood by Maduro. ing oil giant that has skidded into women dressed in white broke Guaido, who is recognised by same message. like this.” Dragon dance 13 dead in Rio favela police crackdown

AFP was a battle,” the police said. ing police operations in Rio state, Rio de Janeiro “After which at least 10 the Public Security Forum NGO wounded criminals were found said — a 90% increase since 2014. in the streets and were taken to Also in 2017, 104 security n operation by Brazilian the Souza Aguiar hospital,” they agents were killed, mostly when military police in Rio de Ja- added. off duty. Aneiro on Friday left at least Authorities said they had Insecurity is one of the issues 13 people dead in a number of city seized three assault rifl es, 12 pis- that most worries Brazilians in a centre favelas, authorities said. tols and six grenades, pictures of country that is already one of the They were among 14 people which were posted on the military most violent in the world. who sustained gunshot wounds police’s Twitter page. Violence is often blamed on in the operation close to the Santa A video posted on the web- powerful armed gangs such as the Teresa neighbourhood, health of- site of the local O Dia newspaper Primer Comando de la Capital fi cials said. showed police loading bodies into (Capital First Command) in Sao Firefi ghts often break out in the back of a vehicle. Paulo and Rio’s Comando Ver- favelas during battles between A quarter of Rio’s population of melho (Red Command). rival gangs or when the police six mn people live in favelas — in- These groups, many of whose launch operations to combat drug formal, poorly-resourced town- members are in jail, fi ght for con- traffi cking. ships populated by low income trol of the drug traffi cking trade. The police said they conducted residents in one of the world’s Occasionally their disputes de- operations from Friday morning most economically unequal scend into bloody battles, either due to “shoot-outs in the area countries. in the streets or in the cells. caused by the dispute between Insecurity has been on the rise Far-right President Jair Bol- rival criminal groups,” with lo- since the city hosted the 2016 sonaro was swept to victory in cal reports indicating that two Summer Olympic Games. elections last year mostly through gangs had been in a turf war since Last year, it registered a record vowing to get tough on crime. Wednesday. 63,800 murders. Last month he issued a decree On Twitter police added that As well as rising crime, human authorising gun ownership, while they had “shot 12 criminals” dur- rights groups have hit out at the the pro-gun lobby in congress The dragon dance is performed during celebrations yesterday marking the Chinese Lunar New Year at the Liberdade district in the ing the operation. security forces for excessive use wants to make it legal for citizens Brazilian city of Sao Paulo. In the Fallet area, security forc- of force, particularly in favelas. to carry weapons for self-defence es were “met by gunfi re and there In 2017, 1,127 people died dur- purposes. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, February 10, 2019 PAKISTAN PM vows no NRO for anyone PM launches ‘Plant for Addressing a ceremony of the The prime minister explained money laundering was done was prime minister stated. Pakistan’ campaign launch of the spring tree plan- “NRO is forgiving very big sus- also present. Questioning how the previous tation campaign in Balloki, the pects. Two NROs destroyed the “However, to save his own leaders have the audacity to say Internews prime minister once again re- country and our current circum- seat, Musharraf gave Nawaz an that they “did good work”, Khan Balloki/Nakana futed reports regarding giving an stances are owing to that.” NRO and let him leave for Saudi stressed: “We will not leave any- NRO and asserted: “No will get “One NRO was given by Gen- Arabia,” the premier stated. one who made the country bank- an NRO.” eral (retired) Pervez Musharraf to “On the other hand, Rs2bn rupt.” rime Minister Imran Khan “Those who are speculating Nawaz Sharif. A case was ready from the national exchequer “We are asking those for ac- has said that giving an that we will give NRO to anyone against the Sharif brothers per- were spent on Asif Zardari’s countability, who destroyed PNRO (National Reconcilia- should understand that it will be taining to the Hudaibiya Paper Swiss case, and there was a Sur- the country. This is tabdeeli tion Ordinance) to anyone will be equivalent to treason and disloy- Mills and Ishaq Dar’s confes- rey Mansion case in London, (change),” he added. equivalent to treason. alty to the country,” Khan added. sional statement regarding how which the Pakistan government Firing a broadside at Pakistan won and the country was to get Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- PM Imran to meet IMF chief Lagarde for talks on bailout the money, however, an NRO was N) president Shehbaz Sharif, signed and that case was closed.” Khan said: “In this history of de- Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet International ance from Middle Eastern allies such as Saudi Arabia The premier continued: mocracy, it has never happened Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, who have loaned it in “These two NROs gave the pow- that a man becomes the chairman today for discussions on issues which have held up excess of $10bn to ease the pressure on its dwindling erful the impression that theft is of the Public Accounts Commit- bailout negotiations, a Pakistani minister said yester- foreign currency reserves. no big deal, and no matter how tee from jail, and then summons day. “The problem is not the (IMF) deal, the problem is the much you steal, the powerful the accountability watchdog (the Pakistan is seeking its 13th bailout since the late 1980s condition attached to the deal,” Chaudhry said. “We thieves are not caught in Paki- National Accountability Bureau) to deal with a current account deficit that threatens don’t want conditions that hurt Pakistan’s growth stan.” which is probing him.” to trigger a balance of payments crisis, but talks have prospects. We want a fair deal that can actually help “The result of this was that “Now, no favours will be given been delayed by diff iculties in reconciling IMF reform Pakistan in the short term, without aff ecting our long- from 2008 to 2018, two leaders to corrupt people,” the prime demands with Islamabad’s fears the push is too drastic term economic goals.” who were given NROs governed minister stressed. Prime Minister Khan: NRO is forgiving very big suspects. Two NROs and could hurt economic growth. The IMF talks come amid a worsening macroeconomic for fi ve years each. In 2008, Pa- Khan was in Balloki, Nankana destroyed the country and our current circumstances are owing to Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told Reuters outlook, with growth expectations slashed for the kistan’s debt stood at Rs6tn but Sahib, to launch the “10 Billion that. that Khan will meet IMF managing director Christine current fiscal year to about 4% from 6% previously after the terms of the two leaders, Tree Plantation Drive”, where he Lagarde on the sidelines of the World Government forecast. it rose to Rs30tn as they had no planted a sapling at the forest re- ests should be protected at any will be made clean and green,” Summit in Dubai. Yesterday, Pakistan also revised its growth figures fear,” he added. serve. cost.” the premier stated. “This will give us a chance to understand the IMF views for the last financial year to 5.2% from a previously Khan further said: “Owing He was also briefed about the “Seventy per cent of Pakistan’s Khan further announced that and we will be able to give our version to (Lagarde),” reported 5.8%, after a sharp cut in the figure for large- to these two NROs, the nation tree plantation campaign. forests have been cut down in the his government will create a said Chaudhry, who will accompany Khan to Dubai scale manufacturing, the statistics off ice said. is suff ering today, the prices of Speaking on the occasion, the past few years, and this has cre- wildlife reserve park under Baba along with Finance Minister Asad Umar. When the original estimate was reported in April by commodities have increased, and prime minister directed that for- ated an imbalance in our envi- Guru Nanak’s name, and that a Chaudhry said that Pakistan wants any agreed bailout the government of then-prime minister Shahid Khaqan the value of rupee has fallen. est land given on lease in Punjab ronment,” the premier said. “We Baba Guru Nanak university will package, which would be the country’s second IMF Abbasi, it was hailed as the strongest growth in 13 “When you take loans and should be retrieved. are now going to allow builders be built in Nankana Sahib. bailout since 2013, to be the nation’s last such eco- years. leave historic debts, then the na- “Forest cover in Pakistan is to build higher buildings, just Earlier, the prime minister nomic rescue by the IMF. Before the revisions to last year’s GDP figures, Paki- tion will have to pay.” already very low as compared to so our cities stop expanding and took to Twitter, writing: “We are Off icials had expected talks to conclude in November, stan’s deficit to GDP ratio, estimated at 5.8% in 2017-18, “Today, I see on TV the faces other countries in the region,” encroaching on our forests,” he launching our #Plant4Pakistan but they have been delayed as Islamabad harbours was expected to hit 6.9% this year, according to IMF of those who increased our debts, Khan lamented. added. programme and reclaiming ma- concerns that the programme could derail the data. – Reuters questioning what we have done Pointing out that there used to “Ten billion trees will be fi a encroached land, converting economy and Khan’s plans for his term in off ice. in the last fi ve months. They are be thick forests in Chicawatni, planted in fi ve years. Pakistan is it into forests and wild life parks Pakistan has in the meantime sought financial assist- „ See also page Business Page 8 the ones who left us in debt and Mianwali, and Changa Manga, the most aff ected due to climate for our future generations to fi ght are asking us for answers,” the the prime minister urged: “For- change, and the entire country climate change and pollution.”

7,076 people got information from FBR: Aleema Khan has Journalist seized outside his home govt under RTI KP Right to Information deposited 25% of tax on Reuters off friends,” his son Osama told been granted to register a case In a separate case, Ammar Commission chief Azmat Hanif Lahore Reuters of the incident yester- against him. Ali Jan, an academic also based Orakzai has said that 7,076 day morning. His account @RaziDada ap- in Lahore, was arrested over his people in the province have undeclared properties “When the friends left, un- peared to be offl ine yesterday. involvement in a protest at the received information from the journalist under scru- known persons, riding a black FIA offi cials in Lahore re- death of Arman Loni, a regional government departments under tiny for anti-government Honda Civic car, thrashed and ferred questions to the main leader of the Pashtun Tahaff uz the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Internews being given to the prime minis- Asocial media posts was dragged him in the car and fl ed offi ce in Islamabad, where offi - Movement. “The number of people seeking Lahore ter’s sister, Jahanzeb Khan said beaten and seized outside his away ... I ran after the car but cials could not be reached. He was later released on bail. information under the RTI law that this is a false impression, home yesterday, his son said, could not do anything,” Osama Khan’s government replaced A message on Ammar’s Face- to check the performance and adding that proceedings on in the latest sign of pressure on added. the party of ousted former prime book page yesterday said that he transparency of the government ederal Board of Revenue Aleema Khan’s tax evasion are media. Pakistani journalists say they minister Nawaz Sharif, who is was taken at 4am. departments is increasing, as so (FBR) chairman Jahanzeb continuing in accordance with Rizwan Razi, who worked for face an increasingly hostile cli- currently serving a seven-year “I am a law-abiding citizen far 12,859 applications have been FKhan has said that Prime the law, and that the FBR would private Din TV in Lahore, was mate since the vote last year prison sentence for corruption. and will not be deterred in the submitted in the government Minister Imran Khan’s sister act accordingly. being investigated for “defama- that saw Prime Minister Imran The increased offi cial pres- fi ght for justice,” it said. departments for receiving Aleema Khan had deposited He was responding to media tory and obnoxious” comments Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-In- sure has come at a diffi cult time Police offi cial Azhar Naveed information,” the commissioner 25% of the tax on the unde- questions after the concluding about the judiciary, the govern- saf (PTI) take power. for the media in general as ad- confi rmed the brief detention said this in his presentation to the clared Dubai properties. session of the three-day inter- ment, and the intelligence serv- A report from the Federal In- vertising revenues have plunged and bail, which followed other legal fraternity over the RTI law, The FBR had given her a Feb- national taxation conference ices, according to Pakistan’s law vestigation Agency (FIA), dated and newsroom budgets been arrests over the protests earlier at a seminar arranged recently in ruary 7 deadline to submit due organised by the Directorate of enforcement agency. yesterday and seen by Reuters, slashed. this week. the Peshawar High Court Bar. taxes in the national exchequer. Training and Research at the However, there was no offi cial said that Razi had previously Government offi cials say Pa- He said that Ammar was About the performance of However, she deposited 25% FBR. confi rmation that he had been been questioned about his kistan has an independent me- charged with taking part in a the commission, he said the of the amount, while availing Under the law, any taxpayer arrested. Twitter comments. dia and the military denies pres- rally, blocking a road and mak- commission had received 5,379 the legal right of fi ling an ap- had the right to lodge an appeal “My father went out to see It said that authorisation had suring journalists. ing “anti-state” speeches. complaints against public bodies, peal in the court. after paying 25% of due taxes, out of which 5,154 were decided. To a question on why the and the FBR may not move to He added that penalties, FBR typically seizes a tax evad- recover the remaining taxes including Rs25,000 fines, had ers’ bank accounts to recover by seizing the taxpayers’ bank All in a day’s work been imposed on various off icials, tax in ordinary tax evasion cas- accounts until the cases have who had refused information to es while special treatment was been decided. the applicants under the RTI law. Currently, he said, 225 complaints are pending with the commission against the departments. Orakzai said that every RTI law is being evaluated at the Law and Sharifs’ plea for ECL Democracy Centre in Canada, and as per a report issued by the centre, the KP RTI Act is one of removal is rejected the top-3 best laws in the world. He said that the government had introduced the law to improve Internews The decision to place their governance in the province. Islamabad names on the ECL was taken “The sole purpose of the law during the fi rst cabinet meet- is to ensure transparency and ing chaired by Prime Minister accountability in public bodies, he ministry of interior Imran Khan on August 20. through a mechanism whereby has rejected the request In July last year, an account- citizens could seek information Tfrom former premier ability court in Islamabad had of public importance from public Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and convicted Nawaz, Maryam and bodies as enshrined in article 19-A son-in-law for removal from Safdar in the Avenfi eld proper- of the Constitution of Pakistan,” the Exit Control List (ECL). ties reference and sentenced he added. In October last year, Nawaz, them to 11 years, eight years, Under this law, he said that every his daughter Maryam, and son- and one year, respectively, in citizen can file an application for in-law Captain (retired) Safdar prison. information from a public body. had written letters to the inte- Sharif and Maryam were re- The Public Information Off icer rior ministry seeking removal leased from jail on September within the department or of their names from the ECL. 19 after the Islamabad High institution cannot ask why the In the petition, the three had Court suspended their sen- information is sought. stated that Rule 2 of the Exit tences in the Avenfi eld case. Orakzai said that some From Pakistan Rules 2010 did However, in December, an departments had tried to not apply to them. accountability court in Islama- amend the law, to ensure that They stated that they were bad sentenced Sharif to seven the applicant would only use not involved in corruption, years in prison in the Al-Azizia the information for a specific misuse of authority, terrorism Steel Mills corruption refer- purpose, but due to criticism or any conspiracy, and thus ence, while acquitting him in in the media, Prime Minister they should be removed from the Flagship Investment refer- A craftsman makes cane furniture on a roadside in Karachi. Imran Khan had refused such an the ECL. ence. amendment to the RTI Law.

Supreme Court orders national museum be handed back to federal government

Internews After the 18th Amendment, and monuments protected under a senior offi cial of the ministry of until it decides that a province time the mistake was made in institutions and the National Islamabad subjects under the control of the Antiquities Act 1970. heritage said. has acquired the capacity to take April 2011, the Department of Museum of Pakistan in Karachi, the federal government includ- “The inept manner in which He said that according to the on the responsibility. Archaeology and Museum con- it noted that the requisite legal ing museums and libraries were the devolution was carried out Constitution, subjects on the “One of the reasons for re- sidered devolution of its subjects procedures were not followed. he Supreme Court of Pa- transferred to the provinces started coming to light with time. federal legislative list are under taining the federal list was that in the federal list ... to the prov- The apex court said provin- kistan last month ordered along with subjects on the con- In its last days, the ministry of the control of the centre, while the centre served as a focal point inces as wrong.” cial governments and all related Tthat the National Museum current list. culture devolved those very her- those on the concurrent list be- when it came to signing or nego- Nonetheless, when Supreme departments shall take all steps of Pakistan be transferred back to These included 13 museums itage sites that the federal gov- long to both, but are under the tiating international agreements Court ordered the transfer of relating to the return of the insti- the federal government. across the country, and 403 sites ernment was supposed to retain,” control of the federal government and treaties,” he said. “From the ownership of the three health tutions to the federation. Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES

Ejercito says he Metro, Light Rail lines has no hidden ban liquids amid threat wealth By Roy Narra some liquid items could be al- By Bernadette E Tamayo Manila Times lowed inside its train stations Manila Times amid the implementation of the ban on liquids. he Philippine National Passengers may bring the enator Joseph Victor “JV” Police (PNP) sought un- following items upon valida- Ejercito has maintained Tderstanding and co-op- tion and approval of security Sthat he has no hidden eration from commuters as the personnel and police officers wealth. Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and in its stations: The re- Light Rail Transit (LRT) ordered Baby formula/breast milk electionist a ban on liquids that could be in bottles, if the passenger is senator used as bomb materials. travelling with a baby or small turned to Senior Supt. Bernard Ba- child; drinking water to be social me- nac, PNP spokesman, said the used by the baby or small child; dia to de- strict ban of liquid materials all prescription and over-the- plore the in LRT and MRT lines was part counter medications; liquids “rehashed” of the full-alert status level including water, juice or liquid accusation implemented by the National nutrition or gels for passenger that he al- Capital Region Police Office with disability or other health legedly has a secret off shore dol- (NCRPO). condition; lar account. He said banning liquid ma- life-support and life-sus- “It’s political season indeed! terials had long been part of taining liquids, such as bone Old issues are being rehashed by the international standard in marrow, blood products and this circle about so-called hid- security as observed in air- transplant organs; items used den wealth,” Ejercito said in his ports and seaports. to augment the body and for Twitter account. “This is all part of our se- medical and cosmetics rea- “How I wish that it’s true that curity measures, so we ask the sons, such as mastectomy I have hidden wealth, so that I public for understanding and products, prosthetics breast, would not be having diffi culty co-operation in order not be shells containing gels, saline getting campaign funds,” he said. bothered. This is just tempo- Passengers board a train at the Doroteo Jose station of LRT in Manila. solution, or other liquids; and He added, “If you only know rary,” Banac said. gels or frozen liquids needed how hard it is for me right now “We are still talking and coming days, we can expect a bottled drinks and other liquid blasts in Jolo, Sulu on January graded the alert level status in to cool disability or medical- to scrounge for campaign funds.” studying about it and hope- statement regarding the secu- materials on January 31 inside 27. Metro Manila from full alert to related items used by persons Ejercito said he was having a fully, nothing bad will happen rity in LRT and MRT,” Banac train stations to prevent possi- Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO just heightened alert. with disabilities or medical hard time raising money to pay in our peace and order…In the said. LRT and MRT banned ble attacks following the twin regional director, had down- The MRT later clarified that conditions. for his political advertisements. Rescuers fi nd bodies of Aquino calls for task force two Cessna plane pilots against measles outbreak By Ernie B Esconde burned. The plane was torn into Singh complained that Flite- Manila Times pieces and the charred bodies of line Aviation School in Plaridel, By Javier J Ismael the pilots were found at the cen- Bulacan was, apparently, unco- Manila Times Parents urged to immunise children tre,” he said. operative and even failed to give escuers from various The search and rescue team them updates during the search Filipino parents were urged vaccinated for measles. The government agencies who came from the police, Phil- and rescue operations. enator Paolo Benigno yesterday to immunise their Department of Health has Rretrieved on Friday the ippine Army, Provincial Disaster “We were hoping that the “Bam” Aquino 4th has children against measles amid declared a measles outbreak in bodies of a student pilot and the Risk Reduction and Manage- two were still alive. Hoping that Scalled on the government an outbreak that has killed more the capital, Manila, and other instructor pilot, both Indians, of ment Council and other agencies someone will help them. We to establish an inter-agency task than 20 children in the Philip- regions after recording a sharp the Cessna training aircraft that had diffi culty locating the crash made the search on our own. Ba- force that would immediately pines since the start of the year. increase in the number of crashed at the portion of Mount site as they patiently scoured the sically, it should have been done address the measles outbreak. Julia Rees, of Unicef Philippines, cases in January. Natib here on Monday. area and successfully retrieved by Fliteline, but it took days to Aquino issued the call after said routine immunisation cov- In Manila alone, the number of Chief Inspector Leodebal- the bodies, Bacon added. retrieve the bodies,” a family the Department of Health (DoH) erage in the country was only patients with measles rose to don Bacon, Orani police chief, Captain Navern Nagaraja, in- friend said. expanded the outbreak decla- at 55%, despite the fact that the 441 as of January 26, up from said the plane wreckage and the structor pilot, and student pi- Bacon said the aircraft left ration to other regions such as measles vaccine was available 36 in 2018. bodies were found on a ridge be- lot Kuldeep Singh, 26, were on Bulacan for Subic on Monday Calabarzon, Western Visayas for free in government facilities There were at least five deaths tween two mountains, some 2.1 board the Cessna aircraft oper- morning “for a touch and go and Central Visayas, in addition “The measles vaccine is safe reported in Manila, it added. kilometres from Barangay Tala ated by Fliteline Aviation School landing manoeuvre” and was to Metro Manila and Central Lu- and effective, and had been Health Secretary Francisco Du- in Orani. “Totally charred, (the when it crashed. supposed to return to Plaridel an zon. successfully used in the Philip- que has blamed the increase bodies) and the crash site was Some friends and relatives of hour later. Calabarzon is comprised of pines for more than 40 years,” on low vaccination rates Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal she said. “I urge parents and among children due to a scare and Quezon. Paolo Aquino: call for action communities to take their triggered by a controversial “Let’s stop fi nger-pointing children to the health centre to programme to immunise chil- Three kids left alone in house die in fi re in Davao Oriental province and fault-fi nding, set aside poli- vaccinated.” The inter-agency be immunised,” she added. dren against dengue in 2017. tics and focus fi rst on the welfare task force should be led by the ”Measles in children is deadly The scare focused on a vaccine Three children left alone at home were killed in a fire massage therapist, said Christian Cena, the town’s fire of children at risk,” Aquino said. DoH and joined by other agen- and can cause long-term com- created by French firm Sanofi that raced through a shantytown in the southern marshal. “We also need to learn from cies such as the Department of plications and disabilities.” Pasteur, which disclosed that the Philippines, a fire marshal said yesterday. The grandmother was able to take two other grand- this tragedy, not to politicise the the Social Welfare and Develop- According to Unicef esti- medicine posed risks to children The victims — aged three, eight and 10 years old — children to safety, but when she came back to rescue health of the youth,” he added. ment, Department of the Inte- mates, about 2.5mn children who have not been infected by were sleeping in their home in the town of Mati in the three other kids, she should no longer go inside Aquino said the interagency rior and Local Government, De- under five years old are not dengue before immunisation. Davao Oriental province, 1,025 kilometres south of due to thick smoke, Cena said. task force would “address the partment of Education and the Manila, when the fire broke out. Investigators were still determining the cause of the needs of the victims and con- Philippine Information Agency, Their grandmother had left to stay at a neighbour’s fire, which destroyed at least 25 houses and leaft duct an aggressive and sus- the lawmaker said. ment and help it stop this public my fellow parents to immediately house while their mother was out working as a more than 130 people homeless, Cena said. tained health promotion drive He also called on the public menace. “I also have a child who have their children vaccinated,” to get parents to have their kid to co-operate with the govern- is still young. I am appealing to Aquino said. Senate ratifi es student discount bill De Lima ‘being By Bernadette E Tamayo and agencies other than DoST. Manila Times “The two measures would be of great help in giving entrepre- treated neurs the necessary support in he Senate has adopted rendering solutions to the prob- and ratifi ed the bicameral lems in the country,” Aquino humanely’ Tconference committee said. reports on three measures prin- SB 1597 grants mandatory cipally sponsored or authored 20% fare discounts to students By Roy Narra by Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” on all land, air and water trans- Manila Times Aquino 4th — Senate Bill (SB) portation, even during week- 1532 or the “Innovative Star- ends and holidays. tup Act,” SB 1534 or “the Magna The proposed First Time he Philippine National Carta for Scientists,” and SB Jobseekers Assistance Act, Police (PNP) has main- 1597 or “the Student Fare Dis- meanwhile, aims to assist fresh Ttained that detained Sen. count Act.” graduates searching for em- Leila de Lima is being treated in The Senate also ratifi ed the ployment. If passed into law, a humane manner at the police bicam report on disagree- it will benefi t about 600,000 Custodial Center, disputing the ing provisions of SB 1629 and fresh graduates annually. claims of the Commission on House Bill 172 or the First Time Sen. Joel Villanueva, chair- Human Rights (CHR) that the Jobseekers Assistance Act. man of the Senate committee on lawmaker was being accorded Aquino pushed for the pas- labour, employment and human unfair treatment. sage of SB 1532 as principal au- resources development, sought Chief Supt. Dennis Siervo, thor and sponsor and of SB 1534 its ratifi cation on Wednesday PNP Human Rights Aff airs head, as principal sponsor. File photo shows students waiting for a ride after their classes along the Recto Avenue in Manila. night. said de Lima was satisfi ed with The measures will be trans- The bill aims to exempt fresh the setup of her custodial facility mitted to Malacanang for Presi- as transportation, fi nancing, provide subsidies to innovative competitions. investments in start ups by in- graduates from paying fees in and the treatment she had been dent Rodrigo Duterte’s signa- agriculture and healthcare. startups to help defray the cost In addition, the proposed law vestors. securing pre-employment doc- receiving from custodial offi cers. ture. Under the measure, host of business registration and the creates a Start-Up Grant Fund SB 1534 seeks to remove lim- uments such as police clearance “After our thorough inspection If enacted into law, SB 1532 agencies including the Depart- use of space, facilities, equip- administered by DoST, DICT, its on additional honoraria certifi cate, National Bureau of on Senator de Lima’s custodial will provide support to innova- ment of Science and Technology ment and other services for their and DTI to provide grants-in- sourced from externally funded Investigation (NBI)) clearance, facility, we can say that Atty. de tive and tech startups, which (DoST), Department of Informa- operations. Start-ups will also aid for research, training, ex- grants for science and technol- barangay clearance, medical Guia’s allegation and pronounce- pertain to businesses that pro- tion Communications Technol- receive subsidies for travel related pansion, or scaling up and a ogy (S&T) professions and fos- certifi cate, birth and/or mar- ments against PNP is defamatory vide unique and relevant solu- ogy (DICT) and Department of to their participation in local and StartUp Venture Fund admin- ter ease in accessing benefi ts for riage certifi cate, and Tax Iden- in nature. It was all false and mali- tions to pressing problems, such Trade and Industry (DTI) would international start-up events and istered by DTI to fund match S&T personnel in departments tifi cation Number. cious accusations,” he said,. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, February 10, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Qatar-EU ‘open skies’ deal based on fair principles

A Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement that is expected to be implemented between Qatar and the European Union later this year will provide their national carriers unlimited and unrestricted access to their respective territories. This means Qatar Airways and carriers from the 28 EU member states will get a signifi cant competitive edge and a sustainable framework for future operations. Recently, the two sides concluded negotiations in Doha for a landmark Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, which Row with France could lift may take eff ect before the year-end. When the agreement takes eff ect, it will be a milestone given the fact that it is the fi rst of its kind in the GCC. According to the European Commission, one such agreement with the Sultanate of Oman is expected by March this year. divided Italian coalition As part of the negotiations, Qatar and the EU have taken bold steps by agreeing to articles on: fair competition, environment, consumer protection, social aspects and Reuters president, Emmanuel Macron, as a multi-billion-euro project, while the 24%, down about eight points since Rome natural adversary in their respective pro-business League is determined to national elections last March. transparency, as well as the inclusion of a doing-business EU electoral battles, publicly accusing proceed, with no sign that either party is Should 5-Star backing buckle in provision, which exempts EU carriers from the obligation to him of undermining Italy’s foreign, willing to back down. May, party leader Luigi Di Maio will hire a local General Sales taly’s ruling coalition has hit economic and immigration policies. Another divisive issue that must face internal pressure to quit the Agent (GSA) in Qatar. fi erce turbulence for the fi rst time Macron’s abrupt decision to recall be addressed this month is whether government. “Open skies Once the since taking offi ce last June, with France’s envoy, a move not seen since wealthy northern regions in the League Despite all these problems, there is no other viable majority in parliament Comprehensive Air Idiplomatic crises, ideological World War Two, alarmed Italian heartland should have greater autonomy between two divisions and daily dust-ups taking business leaders but could please — something 5-Star fears will suck funds and voters here often punish parties Transport Agreement their toll as the economy tips into League and 5-Star voters, thirsty from its southern strongholds. that bring down coalitions and trigger regions oft en becomes a reality, recession. for change after years of old-style, “If regional autonomy doesn’t go instability — a compelling reason for expected before end- France’s decision on Thursday to consensus politics. ahead as we want then I will leave the 5-Star and the League to cling together. produce more 2019, a common platform recall its ambassador from Rome to “Potentially, this is something that government. “I don’t think either ruling party has will be created for protest against repeated verbal assaults might help the government parties There would be no point in staying,” any interest in bringing the government traffi c” from Italy’s populist leaders has reconnect,” said Lorenzo Pregliasco, said Giancarlo Giorgetti, undersecretary down this year, even less so before airlines in Europe and exacerbated a sense of turmoil in Rome a founder of political consultancy in the prime minister’s offi ce and a the European election,” YouTrend’s Qatar to understand each other better, and throw open new and helped further depress already YouTrend. leading League light. Pregliasco said. opportunities for collaboration and co-operation. anxious fi nancial markets. “Identifying common enemies The future of League leader Matteo When Salvini hooked up with 5-Star “Through these negotiations, both sides have Italy is Europe’s third largest always helps bring parties together...so Salvini, who serves as interior minister, last year, he uncoupled the League from economy and has its second biggest I don’t see this as a major problem.” has become an additional fl ashpoint, its old political allies, the nationalist demonstrated that positive engagement can build trust debt pile in terms of gross domestic By its own admission, the coalition with magistrates pressing parliament Brothers of Italy and former prime among nations, so they can embrace the benefi ts of product after Greece, making investors faces myriad other problems, starting to strip him of his immunity to let them minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia competition, points out Qatar Airways Group Chief highly wary of political risk here. with the anaemic economy. possibly press kidnapping charges after (Go Italy). The three parties still fi ght Executive HE Akbar al-Baker. “Our hope is that the success Recent ructions have raised Italy fell into its third recession in he refused last year to let a group of together in local elections and for of these negotiations will encourage other trading blocs and speculation that the government a decade at the end of 2018 and the migrants disembark from a rescue boat. the fi rst time since last May, Salvini signifi cant aviation markets to join in achieving a liberalised might fall apart even before European European Commission on Thursday 5-Star built its support by appeared in public with Berlusconi on parliamentary elections in May, long slashed its Italian growth forecast to 0.2% denouncing parliamentary privilege Thursday ahead of a ballot on Sunday in global aviation regime for future generations.” seen as a litmus test for the two ruling this year from a previous estimate of 1.2% and it could take a big hit if it moved to the Abruzzo region. European Commission director general (Mobility and parties — the far-right League and anti- — the lowest in the 28-nation block. protect Salvini. News of the event triggered gossip Transport) Henrik Hololei said: “We are very pleased to have establishment 5-Star Movement. Anxious not to be blamed by voters But League lawmakers question how that the old centre-right bloc might be concluded our negotiations with the State of Qatar here in But interviews with more than a for the new downturn, coalition parties they could continue to work together if revived at a national level, but Salvini Doha today. Thanks to the strong commitment of all parties, dozen coalition lawmakers suggest hope their big-spending 2019 budget, they abandon their ally to the courts. openly dismissed the idea and, driving that despite deep, mutual frustrations, which includes a new income support “This is the most dangerous issue the point home, did not put the event we have managed to reconcile our diff erences and found neither side expects an imminent scheme, will lift the economy. for us. We are in a lose-lose situation,” on any of his massively followed social common ground through honest engagement and open divorce, with the French row likely to “The economy is at the centre of a 5-Star minister, who declined to be media platforms. dialogue.” reinforce their troubled relationship our thoughts. We are waiting to see named, told Reuters. A poll in La Stampa newspaper this On Qatar and the EU concluding negotiations for a rather than break it. what impact the budget will have,” said Such issues would be hard to tackle week explained his reticence, predicting Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, IATA director “We are united in not accepting Stefano Patuanelli, the 5-Star leader in at any time, but the situation is he would lose seven percentage points if orders from France, Europe or anyone the Senate, Italy’s upper house. exacerbated by the fact they are playing he returned to Berlusconi, a relic of the general and CEO Alexandre De Juniac said: “Open skies else,” Guglielmo Picchi, a senior The impact of the budget will take out against the backdrop of regional political past. between two regions often produce more traffi c”. member of the League and foreign months to be felt and the coalition faces election campaigns and the May 26 EU “It’s clear the situation is a mess right “For people in Qatar, it will multiply the possibilities to go ministry undersecretary, told Reuters. many hurdles in the meantime, including vote, which gives parties little room to now, but we are moving ahead. to Europe either through the national carrier Qatar Airways “What do you expect? We are in an a fraught decision on whether to press manoeuvre. The situation is highly fl uid but or through the European carriers, which now have the right election campaign where everyone has ahead with building a Franco-Italian The League has doubled its support we are not yet at a point where the their own interests.” Alpine rail link, known as the TAV. to around 34% in just a year, lifted by government is at risk,” said a League to land openly in Qatar. You will have more choices and Both the League and 5-Star have 5-Star, which has strong roots amongst Salvini’s anti-immigration stance, politician and deputy minister, who possibilities to go to Europe. This means, more competition identifi ed the pro-European French environmentalists, wants to kill off the while 5-Star has dropped to around declined to be named. and hence more freedom for passengers and generally lower fares,” De Juniac told Gulf Times. Through the historic agreement, Qatar has demonstrated once again that despite the ongoing intra-regional geopolitical tensions due to the illegal blockade on the nation by a quartet of Arab countries; it remains a leader on the global stage. As part of the agreement, a predictable legal framework between the two parties has been created. Qatar has shown yet again that it is approaching the principle of fair competition, honestly, by committing fair access to vibrant markets.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Leader of Italy’s League Matteo Salvini 5-Star movement leader Luigi Di Maio French President Emmanuel Macron Gulf Times Sunday, February 10, 2019 23 COMMENT End the US stranglehold on the World Bank

By Jesse Griff iths Yong Kim, was interviewing for the London job in 2012, he was widely regarded as less impressive than the two other candidates, both of them former ominations opened this fi nance ministers and heavyweights week for the World Bank on the international scene. Only with presidency, one of the most the determined backing of the Obama Npowerful and important administration did Kim manage to get jobs in the international system. Many over the line with the Bank’s Executive commentators have assumed that US Directors. President Donald Trump’s pick for the Indeed, the second reason why job will be a shoo-in. But history and this time may be different is that the current geopolitical conditions suggest Trump administration has nominated this may not be the case. an especially unsuitable candidate: To be sure, the United States has David Malpass. As the chief selected all 12 previous World Bank economist of Bear Stearns at the time presidents, owing to an informal deal of its collapse, Malpass did not see it struck with European governments the 2008 financial crisis coming, and after World War II, granting the has since made his way into the US Europeans the pick of the top job at Department of the Treasury through the International Monetary Fund in political appointment. He has no exchange. Yet there are three reasons to significant experience working in think that this anachronistic carve-up developing countries, and he is of the international fi nancial system’s openly sceptical of the benefits of top jobs could be about to end. multilateralism – the very raison First, the leadership selection d’être of the World Bank. process at international organisations Third, an alliance of developing is becoming increasingly merit- countries and European governments based across the board. For example, backing a merit-based selection everyone assumed that the Eastern process could be in the cards. European Group would get its “turn” The developing countries in the to pick the next secretary-general of Intergovernmental Group of 24 will the United Nations in 2016. But after be putting forward good candidates several rounds of public voting, the to challenge the US, as they did last General Assembly elected former time. Several heavy hitters are already Portuguese Prime Minister António being touted, so the question is Guterres, the nominee of the Western whether other developed countries – US President Donald Trump introduces the US candidate in election for the next President of the World Bank David Malpass at the White House in Washington, US, on February 6. European and Others Group. particularly European powers, which The Trump administration has are over-represented on the board – Bank president, and then spent the and management skills. critical juncture. Now is the time Executive Directors’ final votes already suff ered a similar loss of its will still back the US. next two years trying to get rid of him, The obvious omission in the Board’s for it to conduct a transparent, should be publicly recorded. own. Last year, its candidate to lead Surely, it is time for European eventually succeeding in 2007. criteria is a deep understanding merit-based process to select its The next World Bank president will the International Organisation for governments to take the high road. What would a good candidate of development issues. Given that next president. Fortunately, the have a diffi cult job. Given mounting Migration, Ken Isaacs, was put out of They should announce that they will look like? The Board’s selection the World Bank operates only in Board took some major steps forward global challenges, the institution will the race in the second round of voting. no longer insist on choosing the IMF criteria include some of the essential developing countries, this missing last time around, not least by have to be rebuilt and repositioned for For the fi rst time since 1951, the agency managing director (which would be points. The nominee should have a category should and will loom large in interviewing several candidates. Still, a new age. Only a truly merit-based, elected a non-American, the much bowing to inevitability anyway) and proven track record of leadership and the selection process this time around. the process was not transparent. transparent process will deliver that better qualifi ed António Vitorino of back the best candidate for the World experience in managing large public Malpass, with his lack of experience in This time, the interviews should be outcome. – Project Syndicate Portugal. Bank presidency. They should bear organisations with international international development, will look conducted in public, or candidates Moreover, the World Bank in mind their experience in 2005, exposure. They should support wholly insuffi cient when compared should be required to defend their z Jesse Griffi ths is Head of the presidency has itself become when they acquiesced to the US multilateralism, offer a clear strategic to a heavyweight candidate backed by records in a variety of public forums. Development Strategy and Finance increasingly contested in recent years. government’s desire to appoint the vision for the Bank, and demonstrate the G24. And, as with the UN secretary- team at the Overseas Development When the most recent president, Jim unsuitable Paul Wolfowitz as World strong diplomatic, communication, The World Bank has reached a general selection process, the Institute.

Three-day forecast

Can Pakistan ride the new tech wave? TODAY Maximum Temperature : 250c Minimum Temperature : 200c By Asad Jamal limited funding, and an inexperienced with the computing and Internet fewer resources than traditional San Jose, California team, yet they were aiming to revolution morphing into a new one large-scale industrial firms. Whereas MONDAY challenge search giants Google and powered by artifi cial intelligence, the latter typically need hundreds of Maximum Temperature : 240c Yahoo. nanotech-biotech, and cyber-physical millions of dollars in capital, plant Minimum Temperature : 170c n the old days, it was the But I soon learned that in the new systems. Here, too, the opportunities and machinery, and bank loans, TUESDAY discovery of natural resources, Internet world, these obstacles were for visionary entrepreneurs are huge. tech companies need only a small Maximum Temperature : 220c such as gold or hydrocarbons, perfectly normal and surmountable by And here, too, the global leaders are team of smart people, computers, Minimum Temperature : 150c that drove the world’s most visionary, passionate entrepreneurs the US and China, with the latter modest funding, and mentorship. I Fisherman's forecast dynamic economies. Today, it’s with big dreams and ideas. continuing its remarkable recent tech Young Pakistani entrepreneurs technology, innovation, and Consequently, my fi rm went ahead development. are just as well placed as their What, then, should the priorities Chinese counterparts were two WARNING entrepreneurship. As we all know by and invested in Robin’s vision. Within Inshore : Nil now, a one- or two-person tech start- fi ve years of that fi rst meeting, Baidu be for a developing country such as decades ago: they need big ideas and Offshore : Expected thunder up with no physical assets can become went from little more than an idea to Pakistan, which today is where China encouragement to build on them. rain at associated with a multi-billion-dollar company and being the leader in China’s Internet was economically 25 years ago? Here, of course, the provision of strong wind & high sea transform entire industries, almost in search industry, leaving Google and At present, Pakistan’s economy is venture capital is essential. Pakistan WEATHER the blink of an eye. Yahoo far behind. Today, it is one of focused on traditional industrial sectors, should therefore establish a national Inshore : Mild daytime & p This tech-driven revolution China’s top three Internet companies, agriculture, textiles, fertiliser, and venture capital fund to promote cloudy with a c of sctd rain at some places, potentially gives developing countries forming the so-called BAT triumvirate cement, leaving it trapped somewhere technology entrepreneurship. relatively cold by night a great chance to speed up the along with Alibaba and Tencent. Robin between the fi rst and second industrial Moreover, China’s rise as an economic Offshore : Partly cloudy to modernisation of their economies. For himself is now the Larry Page (or Bill revolutions. The combined market and technology leader gives Pakistan cloudy with c of sctd rain maybe thundery example, Pakistan – which has 130mn Gates) of China, with a net worth of value of all 559 companies listed on a unique opportunity to learn from its at times young people and a largely traditional over $10bn. the Pakistan Stock Exchange is about neighbour and collaborate with it in WIND economy – and other developing Baidu’s story is similar to that of $60bn, equivalent to that of a single education, science, and technology. Inshore : Southeasterly-North- easterly 05-15/20 KT countries could look for inspiration to many other successful tech fi rms. Like top-100 technology company. And Pakistan should leverage its Offshrore : Southeasterly-North- China, which just two decades ago had Alibaba, Apple, Google, and Facebook, To break its cycle of poverty, historical ties with US and British easterly 08-18/25 KT a small tech start-up industry, but is the company was driven by young Pakistan must create conditions universities in these areas. Visibility : 4-8 KM now home to nine of the world’s top 20 founders rather than older business enabling its broad participation in Technology, innovation, and Offshore : 3-5/8 FT the technology revolution. Only entrepreneurship are the key digital companies. tycoons. In addition, Baidu initially Around the region I fi rst experienced this Chinese relied on venture capital for equity through radical reform can the ingredients for economic success in Weather tech dynamism when, inspired by funding, avoiding the conventional country leapfrog to the AI-led Fourth the twenty-fi rst century, as the US and Weather tomorrow Max/min the late-1990s Internet start-up bank debt that would have been a kiss Industrial Revolution of today. To China are demonstrating. Pakistan has today Max/min S Showers 18/08 culture, I moved to Silicon Valley and of death for a young start-up. Like achieve this, Pakistan must recognise huge untapped potential in these fi elds Baghdad S Showers 18/08 P Cloudy 18/11 founded ePlanet Capital, a venture its successful US peers, Baidu posed that its young people are its most that must now be realised. The payoff Kuwait CityM Cloudy 20/13 Showers 23/16 capital fi rm. I was new to the fi eld and a radical and disruptive challenge to precious resource. It should educate could be enormous: a more dynamic Manama M Cloudy 23/18 Cloudy 27/19 unsure what to expect. In 2000, I met incumbent market leaders. Finally, and empower them, and cultivate their Pakistan that is better placed to solve Muscat Sunny 26/19 S Showers 10/03 Robin Li, a Chinese entrepreneur in Baidu showed that good ideas can success, particularly in science and many of its other problems. – Project Tehran Sunny 13/04 his twenties who was seeking funding grow at an exponential pace, as its technology. If they succeed, Pakistan Syndicate for his new company, Baidu. Based market share rose from zero to market succeeds. on conventional investment criteria, leadership in fi ve years. The good news for Pakistan and z Asad Jamal is the founder and Baidu’s chances of success seemed Since then, the pace of technological other countries in a similar position chairman of ePlanet Capital, a Silicon low. The company had no track record, innovation has accelerated further, is that tech start-ups require far Valley venture capital fi rm.

Live issues

Around the world Weather Weather Treating kids’ sleep apnea may keep them safer today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens Sunny 15/08 M Sunny 17/11 Beirut Rain 14/12 P Cloudy 15/12 By Carolyn Crist study author David Schwebel of the “When someone struggles with a Ohio, who wasn’t involved with the Bangkok M Sunny 34/27 S T Storms 32/26 Reuters Health University of Alabama at Birmingham. sleep disorder, they can be chronically study. Berlin Rain 09/03 P Cloudy 07/01 Annually, more than 6,000 tired, and that can infl uence all sorts “PAP treatment is more often Cairo P Cloudy 19/09 P Cloudy 19/11 pedestrians in the US are killed and of real-world outcomes, including used for adults, where surgery is Cape Town Cloudy 22/17 Cloudy 23/17 ids with obstructive sleep 190,000 are injured. A large number their risk for unintentional injury, not successful at all,” he said in a Colombo S T Storms 30/23 P Cloudy 32/24 apnea may be at lower risk of those are children. Preventing or accidents,” Schwebel told Reuters phone interview. “It’s hard to get PAP Dhaka Sunny 26/14 Sunny 27/16 of accidents with oncoming paediatric pedestrian injury should be Health by e-mail. accepted by families and kids, but it Hong Kong P Cloudy 19/17 M Sunny 21/17 Kvehicles during the day if a priority, the study authors write. “PAP therapy is sometimes diffi cult. could be useful.” Istanbul Sunny 09/04 M Sunny 12/11 they use positive airway pressure, or Obstructive sleep apnea usually occurs It can be uncomfortable and hard to Future studies should look at sleep Jakarta T Storm 31/25 T Storm 31/24 PAP, therapy at night, a new study when an individual’s airway collapses follow,” Schwebel said. “But it will apnea and safety among teens who Karachi M Sunny 25/14 M Sunny 28/17 suggests. multiple times during sleep, interrupting help with sleepiness, and it also will drive, he added, as well as kids who London Rain 08/03 M Cloudy 09/03 Importantly, children must breathing again and again during the help with many other aspects of life, ride bikes to school. PAP therapy may Manila P Cloudy 32/24 Sunny 32/24 consistently stick to the PAP treatment night. It’s estimated that between 1% and such as school, their social life and help them to better concentrate on the Moscow Cloudy -4/-4 Cloudy 01/-1 plan for it to make a diff erence, the 5% of non-obese children and 25% to their mood.” road. New Delhi Cloudy 19/08 P Cloudy 21/10 study authors report in the journal 40% of obese children have the condition, Many sleep specialists fi rst “If your kid snores loudly most New York M Cloudy 04/-1 Cloudy 05/-2 Sleep Health. the authors note. recommend surgery to most kids who nights, it’s time to bring that up with Paris Rain 12/04 P Cloudy 09/00 “Sleep disorders have real-world PAP therapy requires patients to are diagnosed with sleep apnoea, your doctor,” he said. “Snoring every Sao Paulo P Cloudy 32/21 S T Storms 33/23 consequences, even life-and-death wear a mask that covers the nose so PAP is discussed less frequently. so often isn’t a big deal, but if it’s most Seoul Cloudy 01/-8 Sunny 03/-7 consequences. Someone who is tired, and mouth during sleep. The mask However, for older children or nights, that’s not healthy or cute and Singapore S T Storms 32/25 P Cloudy 32/25 whether a child or an adult, simply is connected to a machine that overweight children, surgery may is our most visible marker for whether Sydney Sunny 22/17 Cloudy 27/19 does not function the same way they continually blows air to keep the not be as eff ective, said Dean Beebe there might be breathing problems Tokyo Clear 08/00 Cloudy 06/01 do when they are rested,” said senior airway open. of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in during sleep.” Gulf Times 24 Sunday, February 10, 2019 QATAR Qatar Foundation prepares to host 2019 Ooredoo Ride of Champions he third edition of the Ooredoo Ride of Cham- Tpions will take place on March 15. Hosted by Qatar Foundation (QF), the event will feature dis- tances that suit all ages and ex- perience levels. The details of the 2019 Oore- doo Ride of Champions were un- veiled during a press conference held recently at QF’s Ceremonial Court. Dr Bahia Tahzib-Lie, ambas- sador of the Netherlands to Qatar; Dr Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, presi- dent of Qatar Cyclists, Ali al-Ku- wari, managing director of Oore- doo Ride of Champions, Thani al-Zaraa, deputy general secre- tary of Qatar Cycling Federation and Saoud al-Shahwani, Com- munity Outreach offi cer at QF, took part in the media briefi ng. The event, which fi rst took place in 2016 when Doha suc- cessfully hosted the UCI Road World Championships, has grown into Qatar’s biggest road cycling event. The 2017 edition brought to- gether more than 1,100 partici- pants from 57 diff erent nation- alities. Registration for this year’s edi- tion is open through the tour- Off icials at the press conference. Children enjoying a previous edition of Ride of Champions. nament’s offi cial website, with interest already reaching an all- 5.8km tour inside QF, while chil- changed the lives of thousands QF provides an ideal setting for ons has proved hugely successful ons alongside my family and cling, and, after that, can en- time high, the organisers have dren aged from 3-8 years can join of members of our community. the event, with safe roads for the in the past, and we are looking friends. I am very passionate joy some lovely food at Torba said in a statement. in a 1km ride in QF’s Oxygen Park. “The main concept of the event is family rides, Oxygen Park for the forward to another great event about this cycling event – it is Farmers Market.” Al-Kuwari said, “Our target Meanwhile, the three routes that everyone is a champion. Join children’s rides, and the spacious this year.” wonderful. It creates a sense Additional partners include this year is to reach 1,500 partici- available for road rides cater to us and have fun riding through Ceremonial Court which houses In previous years, several high- of community, and promotes Alfardan Group, Dolphin Energy, pants, and we are confi dent that all levels, and include a 137.5km Qatar Foundation, cross the fi n- Torba Farmers Market, the state- profi le guests showed their sup- an active and healthy lifestyle, Qatar Stock Exchange, Qatar Na- this is possible. Cycling is more route for experienced cyclists, a ish line then celebrate on the po- ment notes. port for the event by taking part as well as a sustainable mode tional Tourism Council, Turkish popular than ever in Qatar, and 78km route for intermediate rid- dium with your medal. The con- Al-Shahwani said: “At Qatar in the ride, including Dr Tahzib- of transport, which is very im- Airlines, the Ministry of Cul- the Ride of Champions provides ers and a 48km route for begin- cept has proved very successful. Foundation, we strive to support Lie. portant. This is such an impor- ture and Sports, Qatar Cycling a safe environment for every- ners. Many of my friends who tried cy- initiatives that encourage the “I come from one of the most tant event for the community, Federation, Garmin Lingawi and one; from experienced cyclists to Dr al-Kuwari said: “The Ride cling for the fi rst time at previous community to play sports and bike-friendly countries in the so please join us on March 15 Rayyan Water. young children.” of Champions is a celebration of Ride of Champions events have to adopt healthy lifestyles. Our world, the Netherlands. I took with your friends, families, and More information and regis- Parents and children over the cycling, a sport that has grown become very active members of partnership with Qatar Cyclists part in the 2016 and 2017 edi- colleagues. Participants will tration procedures are available age of nine can participate in a rapidly in the past few years and Qatar Cyclists.” to organise the Ride of Champi- tions of the Ride of Champi- have a wonderful day of cy- online at rocdoha.qa Al Shaqab visit a highlight for Halal Qatar Festival in full swing Queen Mary 2 passengers

trip to Al Shaqab, a mem- and the amazing facilities are ab- ber of Qatar Foundation, solutely beautiful. I will be taking Awas a highlight during the back many wonderful memo- recent visit of luxury cruise ship ries,” remarked Gloria Sharp Queen Mary 2 to Qatar. from Canada, watching a stallion The passengers, who hail from swim in his purpose-built pool, several countries, were “dazzled while another horse completed by the stunning facilities and its his session on the treadmill. elegant occupants”, according to The overall verdict from the a press statement. visitors seemed to be unanimous: “An organised tour of Al Shaqab “If I were a horse, I would like to is nothing short of a remarkable live here.” experience. Visitors to the cen- Al Shaqab is in the midst of tre of equestrian excellence have preparing to host the opening leg the opportunity for close contact of the Longines Global Cham- with some of the fi nest of Arabian pions Tour from February 28 to horses and world champion stal- March 2, followed by its signa- lions – all within a venue that has ture event, Chi Al Shaqab 2019 The 2019 Halal Qatar Festival continued to draw large crowds yesterday, as people of various ages state-of-the-art facilities,” the Queen Mary 2 passengers tour the Al Shaqab stables. on March 7-9, and visitors to the flocked to Katara — the Cultural Village to enjoy the various activities and presentations on off er. statement noted. venue can look forward to a true Katara also said in a statement that the festival will continue until tomorrow. Taking in the beauty of the “I would say this is the best in the world,” said Andrew Shaw equestrian experience. Arabian horses resting within the place in the world for equestrian from Ireland. Among them will be the passen- magnifi cent Amiri Stable, Hans sports. Germany is relatively The Equine Exercise Center gers of AIDAprima, another cruise Kruse from Germany said: “I am strong in horse riding, but the fa- off ered the Queen Mary 2 pas- ship, which will be docking in Doha very impressed with the facilities cilities there cannot be compared sengers “truly unique spectacle”, on March 7, the statement adds. and the horses. The indoor and to what you see here.” and their visit coincided perfect- “The combination of seeing outdoor arena are beautiful, too. Kruse’s fellow passengers ly with the workout time of some world-class athletes and horses QNL event off ers fi tness advice I would say this is a wonderful seemed to concur. of the horses. in action and taking part in fun- place. To be a horse within these “This is an extremely clean, “This place is absolutely fi lled activities will no doubt leave facilities must be like being in fantastic facility – way above amazing and beyond all expec- them with a lifetime of memories for people with disabilities heaven. anything you get to see anywhere tations. The magnifi cent horses from their trip to Qatar.” heelchair users at- tended an intensive Wzumba session at Qatar National Library (QNL), led by Nawaal Akram, an inspirational Qatari model. The fi tness exercise was one of QNL’s events organised in cel- ebration of National Sport Day. Nawaal shared useful tips with participants on how to stay fi t, set realistic fi tness goals and use the variety of social activities taking place in Qatar as an opportunity to get to know new people. “Zumba is a perfect exercise for wheelchair users to maintain their fi tness, and it has been ben- efi cial for me over the years. I am The session in progress. happy that the Library is helping people adopt a healthier life- velop programmes for each other. sion of everybody.” style,” said Nawaal. “QNL has incredible facilities, “It is important for the people “QNL brings unlimited pos- and a dedicated assistive tech- to know more about the poten- sibilities for the people of Qatar, nology librarian to help people tials of people with disabilities especially for those with disabili- with disabilities,” commented Dr and how much they can contrib- ties. I encourage everyone in the Lisa Thornton, division chief of ute to the society. society to visit the Library more paediatric rehabilitation medi- I am happy that the Library often and use the facilities, at- cine at Sidra Medicine, who at- is organising such events,” said tend one of the events and meet tended the event. Abeer, a personal trainer and nu- new people. I am happy to see “It is wonderful that this tritionist. that QNL is organising an in- beautiful space has opened its To learn more about the Li- clusive event. I would like to see doors. This library is designed in brary’s upcoming events, one can The visitors enjoy an outing with the horses. more people with disabilities de- a way that celebrates the inclu- visit www.qnl.qa/en/events