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Saturday 9 March 2019 | 2 Rajab 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 7825 | 2 Riyals

The big Ooredoo Your home internet will now be Supernet boost up to 5x faster for FREE! Terms & conditions apply Qatar International Kite festival attracts over 20,000 in two days

AROOSA KHALID Boat Show expects THE PENINSULA Since its launch on March 6, the Aspire International Kite to draw thousands Festival has attracted thousands of visitors to Aspire Park to RAYNALD C RIVERA Organisers expect witness coloruful display of THE PENINSULA between 7,000 to flying kites and masterly skills 10,000 people to visit of professional kite-flyers from The sixth Qatar International Boat around 18 countries. Show (QIBS) which kicks off on the five-day show The kite festival has become Tuesday at The Pearl-Qatar is which will be held at one of the leading festivals in expected to attract thousands of 25-29 La Croisette, Qatar and this year is being cel- visitors with some of the most Porto Arabia at The ebrated enthusiastically at luxurious and state-of-the-art Aspire Park and set to conclude yachts, dhows and motor boats Pearl-Qatar. today. which will be on display. The festival’s end will see a QIBS 2019 organisers antic- yachts and unique dhows which ceremony that is scheduled to ipate the show to be another will be displayed both on land award participating schools and success with a number of new and water and complemented the winners of the photography participants and features. by exhibitor chalets, repre- competition for the best photo “Last year, 50 exhibitors senting many of the top names captured during the kite from ten countries participated in the maritime industry, both extravaganza. and 5,344 visitors were local and international, along the According to statistical data, recorded. The event generated marina walkway. Dalis praised during its first two days, the over QR320m in sales. What is the strong and wise leadership Aspire International Kite Fes- most important for us is exhib- of the country and its robust tival managed to attract more A view from the Third Aspire International Kite Festival at Aspire Park, yesterday. itors’ satisfaction rate which support to the business com- than 20,000 people. In addition, PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA stood at 98 percent and which munity amid the blockade. the morning workshop sessions we hope to maintain this year “It is exactly one year and were attended by more than and in the coming years,” said nine months that our wonderful 2,500 students from various 20 local and international flyers from countries including in the world due to its exclusive Loay Dalis, Chief Executive country and its people are passing schools across Qatar. media representatives. Qatar, Kuwait, Singapore, New features for a major kite event,” Officer of Al Mannai Plus Events through unjust blockade imposed More than 300 vivid kites The festival has also been a Zealand, the United Kingdom, Caterina Capelli, art director of and organisers of the show. by our neighbors. However, we designed by international kiters hit digitally, with the live stories Spain, Germany, the Nether- the festival from Italy said while Organisers expect between are fortunate that we are blessed have been on display and over on Aspire’s social media lands, France, the United States, talking to The Peninsula. “I 7,000 to 10,000 people to visit with the wise and strong lead- 7,000 kites were sold to fam- accounts seeing a 300% Japan, Indonesia, Russia, Aus- think kites are amazing form of the five-day show which will be ership, which has given us - the ily’s children to help them increase in viewers and unprec- tralia, India, Italy, China, and art and all the guests we have held at 25-29 La Croisette, Porto business community - confidence emerge themselves in the fes- edented levels of interaction. Colombia. in our festival are painters, Arabia at The Pearl-Qatar. The and all out support to stand on our tivities. Since it launched, the The four-day event involved “Qatar has become one of sculptures and creative show is set to witness over 30 feet and not to discouraged,” he festival has hosted more than more than 80 professional kite the best kite-flying destinations persons.” `P3 impressive motorboats, luxury said. `P2 Senate must hold No shortage of products at winter markets: Official Trump accountable

SIDI MOHAMED locally produce vegetables at low adding that the winter markets “The aim of the winter Ministry of Municipalities and on Khashoggi: THE PENINSULA prices compared to the market. serve as a platform for farmers markets is to support Qatari Environment to provide all Now the production of farms is to sell their products directly to farmers by reducing their mar- aspects of support to the owners Washington Post at its peak and all vegetable types the customers without keting costs, and encouraging of productive farms in the fields The availability of locally are available,” he said. middlemen. small farms to redouble efforts of plant, animal and fish to AGENCIES produced vegetables in winter The markets are operating Responding to a question to become more active,” he said. develop the farms in order to WASHINGTON markets at Al Mazroua, Al Khor- under Agricultural Affairs about the closure of winter On Thursday, Minister of contribute to the increase of local Dakhira, Al Wakra and Al Shamal Department of the Ministry of markets, he said that they would Municipality and Environment, agricultural products. The Senate must push for is at its peak nowadays with no Municipality and Environment. be closed in May before Ramadan H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin He emphasised the impor- accountability after US Pres- shortage, said a senior official at “The big turnout of cus- because at that time temperature Turki Al Subaie had met with a tance of agricultural marketing ident Donald Trump defied the Ministry of Municipality and tomers these winter vegetable will increase significantly. group of owners of local pro- in order to improve the quality Congress and did not report Environment. markets is also due to the fact Regarding opening of new ductive farms to see obstacles of agricultural production and whether Saudi Crown Prince “A large number of citizens that these markets offer fresh winter market next season 2019- and difficulties face the increase the role of the Ministry in sup- Mohammed bin Salman was and residents are keen to visit vegetables and poultry products 2020, he said that the subject of agricultural production and porting farmers through the responsible for Jamal the winter vegetable markets coming straight from the local was still under study especially work to overcome them. opening local markets for selling Khashoggi’s death, according every week because they offer farms to customers at eco- for areas where such markets H E the Minister had also agricultural products without to The Washington Post. all varieties and quantities of nomical prices,” he pointed out were not available. stressed the keenness of the any financial burdens. The newspaper’s editorial board said the Trump admin- istration’s failure caused an outrage amongst senators, who Sidra Medicine offers Pediatric have been calling for further action to hold the crown prince responsible. Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery Khashoggi, a US resident and contributor for The Post, FAZEENA SALEEM vascular and pigmented anomalies, was brutally murdered inside THE PENINSULA burn contractures, and all other the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul manner of reconstructive last October shortly after he An innovative, world-class clinical challenges. entered the diplomatic facility. programme in Pediatric Plastic and In the first year since hospital Riyadh initially denied any role Craniofacial Surgery is now available at opening in January 2018, the Plastic and in the killing but has since Sidra Medicine. The clinical team is Craniofacial Surgery team, under the sought to blame his death on a expected to dramatically reduce the leadership of Division Chief Dr Mitchell botched rendition operation number of patients from Qatar needing Stotland, has successfully conducted the carried out by rogue agents. to travel abroad to receive specialised full range of complex procedures Three dozen countries, care for a host of complex congenital available in their specialty, many of including all 28 EU members, conditions. which were the first of their kind in the has called on Saudi Arabia to The Plastic and Craniofacial country and region. release 10 activists and coop- Surgery programme at Sidra Medicine “At Sidra Medicine, we have a phe- erate with a UN-led investi- leverages the expertise of outstanding nomenal team that works exclusively in gation into the murder of clinicians to care not only for con- a real-time multidisciplinary fashion Khashoggi. It was the first genital and acquired conditions alongside a broad range of other pedi- rebuke of the kingdom at the affecting the cranial, orbital, and max- atric specialties including Neurosurgery, UN Human Rights Council since illofacial skeleton, but also conditions Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Ortho- it was set up in 2006, and came Women power affecting the ears (microtia recon- dontics, Allied Health and others. In- amid growing international Thousands of women gather in central Oslo in Norway to mark the International struction), peripheral nervous system house 3D imaging, modeling and printing concern about alleged Saudi Women’s Day, yesterday. (e.g. facial palsy and brachial plexus capabilities also support our service,” he violations of basic freedoms injuries), the hands and feet, complex told The Peninsula. `P3 such as freedom of expression. 02 HOME SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 Q-Chem participates in WFE Qatar, Singapore review ties campaign for a cleaner world

THE PENINSULA including government entities, cepts of sustainability and con- The initiative is DOHA industrial sectors, educational servation of resources. an important institutions, and their wider This year, WFE focused on regional driver. It The Qatar Chemical Company communities. the efforts towards the impact aims to strengthen Ltd. (Q-Chem) has joined “At Q-Chem we are com- of recycling plastic, endeav- forces with its partners in the mitted to protecting and elim- ouring to foster collective the concepts of seventh edition of the ‘Waste- inating the impact of our activ- responsibility. The campaign sustainability and Free Environment’ (WFE) ities, operations, and products complements to the UN’s sus- conservation of campaign. on the environment,” said tainable development goals. It resources. The event took place from Nasser J Al Kuwari, CEO of promotes sustainability, pre- March 3 to 7. The WFE was Q-Chem. serves the oceans, and organised across the region The initiative is an encourages the responsible included diverse educational and the world, the campaign important regional driver. It and efficient use of resources and awareness programmes engages diverse stakeholders, aims to strengthen the con- and energy. The campaign and visits to several educa- tional institutions and local communities. Covering all school levels, the participants successfully raised awareness of diverse environmental concerns and highlighted safe recycling and responsible litter disposal. Waste disposal poses one of the big challenges of our time. Initiatives such as the WFE campaign strengthens Q-Chem’s efforts towards a cleaner world. The five-day campaign The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H E Dr Ahmed concluded with the cleaning bin Hassan Al Hammadi, met yesterday with the Singapore’s Senior of Al Wakrah Family Beach on Thursday. Various schools, Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki municipalities, contractors, bin Osman, during his visit to Singapore. During the meeting, they and senior management from discussed bilateral relations and ways of boosting them, as well as The participants during the ‘Waste-Free Environment’ campaign. participating entities took part. matters of common concern. Qatari Ambassador meets Seychelles V-P CCQ symposium focuses on community-engaged teaching

THE PENINSULA DOHA

In the course of activating its mission of encouraging civic engagement among community members, the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) recently held its 4th annual International Learning and Civic Engagement (ILCE) symposium. The ILCE is an annual event organised by CCQ’s Center for Learning and Civic Engagement The Vice-President of the Republic of Seychelles, Vincent Meriton, (CLCE). The centre creates and met with non-resident Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the sustains opportunities for mean- Republic of Seychelles, Jabor bin Ali Al Dosari, in Victoria on Thursday. ingful engagement to promote During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, means of learning, broaden knowledge, supporting and developing them, and matters of common concern. cultivate skills, and develop mutual relationships locally, nationally, and globally. Experts during the 4th annual International Learning and Civic Engagement symposium organised The event was attended by by the Community College of Qatar. Qatar International the Under-Secretary of the Min- istry of Education and Higher Boat Show to draw Education, Dr Ibrahim Bin Saleh colleges and universities should Mastoor Al Kaboody, CCQ’s dynamic new format for our pre- thousands of visitors Al Naimi, and CCQ President Dr not only provide quality educa- Chair of the Symposium senters that adds focus, Mohamed Al Naemi, alongside tional programmes, but also Planning Committee, said: “The engagement and value to our FROM PAGE 1 a select group of high-profile teach students to be engaged cit- symposium aims to showcase discussions and further enriches Among the new local guests and experts in the field. izens by instilling in them the how campus-community part- the experience of all participants entities joining the show is In its 4th edition, held under knowledge, skills, and disposi- nerships, community at the event.” Qatar Free Zones Authority to the theme “Connect, Collaborate, tions to become leaders for pos- engagement projects, service- The event’s main session was which Loay Dalis (pictured) Innovate”, the Symposium itive change.” learning courses, and other rel- a panel discussion titled ‘Soft expressed optimism attracting focused on a diverse range of He added in this spirit, CCQ’s evant initiatives provide Power’. more investors to the marine supporting topics such as com- 4th ILCE Symposium brings resources to help meet com- The speakers highlighted industry. munity-engaged teaching and together educators, experts, and munity needs and furnish Qatar’s powerful demonstration “I believe that with the new show has been a passion project learning, knowledge-driven vol- stakeholders to push forward applied learning experiences for of how to exercise ‘soft power’ facilities to the investors in of Al Mannai Plus Events unteerism, eliminating barriers this important aspect of students’ students, thereby developing within the global arena to create recently established Qatar Free Chairman Khalid Issa Al Mannai. through learning communities, learning experiences and present future community leaders.” and maintain mutual under- Zones Authority by the gov- “It is his passion to preserve best practices in civic the community, through active To achieve that, we joined standings, long-lasting relation- ernment, we expect to attract centuries old marine life of engagement, and active citi- discussions and productive dia- forces with a number of experts ships and active international local and foreign investors Qatar and contribute his share zenship. Dr Mohamed Al Naemi, logue, with practical and and prominent figures in this cooperation, while enhancing towards the marine industry and towards promoting tourism and said: “In the sphere of estab- effective recommendations that domain to foster a rich dialogue the State’s stature as an ambi- services relating to it,” he said. investments in marine industry,” lishing 21st century communities can be implemented on the insti- on key areas in this year’s tious, pioneering and vital actor He stressed that the boat he said. and knowledge-based societies, tutional level. edition. We’ve also introduced a in international affairs. New QRCS pact to enhance health services at Rohingya refugee camps THE PENINSULA ceremony was attended by Hafiz Hammadi highlighted the strong (QRCS), which featured dip- DOHA Ahmed Mazumdar and relations between QRCS and lomats and ambassadors from Mohammad Habibe Millat, BDRCS, which have fruitful Kuwait, Iraq, Morocco, Oman, The Qatar Red Crescent Society BDRCS Chairman and Vice- cooperation in humanitarian Libya, France, and the United (QRCS) has signed a memo- Chairman, respectively. Dr. services. He thanked BDRCS for Nations. BDRCS was represented randum of understanding (MoU) Faouzi Oussedik, Head of QRCS facilitating the work of QRCS’s by Chairman, Vice-Chairman with Bangladesh Red Crescent International Relations, and staff representation mission there. (who are MPs as well), Secretary- Society (BDRCS), to work of QRCS’s representation mission Mazumdar appreciated General, and Deputy together on a project for in Bangladesh, were also present. QRCS’s efforts and constant Secretary-General. Rohingya refugees. Other attendees included support, playing a significant role The list of guests goes on to Under the new agreement, Md. Mohammad Abul-Kalam, in helping the Rohingya refugees include head of IFRC’s office in QRCS will develop and operate Refugee Relief and Repatriation and host community. He hoped Bangladesh, head of ICRC’s BDRCS’s primary health care Commissioner of Bangladesh, that this cooperation would con- office in Bangladesh, and head complex in the refugee camp as well as representatives of tinue, in the best interest of the of Qatar Charity’s office in area, which serves up to 250 foreign National Societies that needy and vulnerable wherever Bangladesh. patients per day. has operations in Bangladesh, they are. The participants listened to The agreement was signed the International Federation of Ahmed Mohamed Al a presentation on the work of by Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Dehaimi, Ambassador of Qatar QRCS’s mission in Bangladesh. The officials of Qatar Red Crescent Society and Bangladesh Red QRCS Secretary-General, and Societies (IFRC), and the Inter- to Bangladesh, held a gala dinner Then, they watched a video on Crescent Society sign the MoU to work together on a project for Md. Feroz Salah Uddin, BDRCS national Committee of the Red for the delegation of QRCS and KRCS delegation’s recent visit to Secretary-General. The signing Cross (ICRC). In his remarks, Al Kuwait Red Crescent Society the country. Rohingya refugees. SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 HOME / MIDDLE EAST 03 Indian Embassy hosts cultural show

Artistes of Girdhar Kala Sansthan perform Rajasthani folk dance at the auditorium of DPS-MIS in Al Wakrah on Thursday evening, as part of the ‘Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture’ celebrations organised by the Embassy of India. RIGHT: The Ambassador of India to Qatar, P Kumaran, with other guests, at the event.PICS: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA Sidra Medicine offers Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery FROM PAGE 1 Dr Mitchell Stotland, added: “We follow many of our patients from birth through to adulthood, and we have the wonderful priv- ilege to watch them evolve as individuals. Our treatment often requires many stages of inter- vention carried out over years, and is aimed at improving function, appearance, and overall quality of life. “An abbreviated list of the complex surgeries that our A bustling corner at the 3rd Aspire International Kite Festival at Aspire Park. Plastic and Craniofacial team PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA provides at Sidra Medicine includes: total cranial vault remodeling, cranial distraction and spring expansion; fronto- Kite festival attracts over 20,000 facial advancement procedures; FROM PAGE 1 the full range of cleft lip and Park during the very first day cleft palate surgeries; orthog- Caterina Capelli (pictured), of the festival exceeded our nathic surgery; orbital and Art Director of the festival from expectations.” eyelid reconstruction; ear Italy, said it was the second The Kuwaiti team’s reconstruction; microsurgery; time she was working in Doha impressive presence was facial re-animation surgery; along with her father for the strongly felt, with kites flown by primary and secondary facial kite festival. Caterina and her the team comprising of Abdel- trauma reconstruction; and father Claudio run the world’s rahman Al Faresi, Mohammed reconstruction of complex hand biggest kite festival in Italy and Al Farasi, Mubarak Marzooq, anomalies” said Stotland. have been invited to be the art Mohammed Al Mosowy and The quality of care, the directors at the Aspire Interna- Saoud Al Ghareeb. patient and family-centered tional Kite Festival. Commenting on their par- approach, the high-tech facility They have also brought to ticipation at the third edition of and services, and most impor- Doha a selection of what they Aspire International Kite Fes- The Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery team, under the leadership tantly the diverse and highly describe as “the best kite Kites in different shapes, tival, the head of the Kuwaiti of Division Chief Dr. Mitchell Stotland, during a surgery. specialised teams at Sidra Med- artists” from more than 20 colours, sizes and concepts are team, Abdelrahman Al Faresi, icine, rival any of the top chil- countries around the world. Its there in the festival. It is a visual said: “This is our first time to fly dren’s hospitals in the world. opting to stay in Qatar and come intervention) often requires a unique gathering of kite treat for the visitors, as the sky our kites on such a large field “Not only have we started to to us instead,” said Dr that treatment is begun early, artists. is dotted with vibrant flying like this one. We’ve seen some- see interest from patients inter- Stotland. before progressive deformity “People saw amazing giant objects shaped like the Rubik’s thing similar in the United nationally, we are also wit- One issue that Dr Stotland has ensued. Sidra Medicine 3D kites which have shape of cube, aeroplanes, dragons, tra- Kingdom but on a smaller scale. nessing reverse medical tourism is committed to working on is aims to increase awareness in animals, some kites made spe- ditional masks, bears and I salute our neighbouring in many cases, where many earlier detection and referral 2019 about its services in Pedi- cially for this event. There is 3D flowers. country for organising this families who previously would of complex craniofacial and atric Plastic and Craniofacial falcon kite flying over Aspire It is also a display of how event.” have travelled abroad for spe- hand deformities, he pointed Surgery both locally as well as Park and these kites are really kite-making skills have evolved Apart from the venue, fes- cialised Plastic and Craniofacial out that optimal care (and more broadly across the huge,” Capelli said, adding that over the years. From delicate tival’s several side activities and Surgery for their child are now sometimes more minimal region. there were kites which were 70 ones made of paper and attractions such as enter- meters long. wooden sticks, they now use tainment shows, theatre per- She said: “We are having flexible materials that make formances which include everyday theme display such them more resilient. comedy circus and different Two dead in Iran thwarts attack on oil tanker as sea life; we have got fishes, Commenting on the huge kinds of Jacqueline, poetical octopuses and dragon and number of visitors that were in and classical circus attracted car bomb REUTERS / DUBAI pirates in 11 speedboats attacked magical creatures and more attendance on the first day, a families and children. a tanker with a cargo of 150 than that we are having famous member of the organising com- This year’s festival is spon- attack in Mosul Iranian naval forces intervened tonnes on Thursday. It showed champions of the world for mittee of the Aspire Interna- sored by The Cultural Village to repel pirates who attacked an naval forces opening fire on sport kite and they are flying tional Kite Festival, Tahani Foundation — Katara, AFP Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of speedboats, without saying kites on the rhythm of music so Khalifa Al Suwaidi, said: “The Ooredoo, Qatar Airways, MOSUL Aden, state television reported whether the footage was from people can see the perform- fact that thousands of visitors Dolphin Energy, Kidzania and yesterday. The broadcast said the latest incident. ances of kite dancing.” were scattered across Aspire Al Salam Group. Two people were killed in a car bomb outside a restaurant in Iraq’s Mosul late yesterday, security forces said, in the Qatar Charity implements hundreds of projects in Burkina Faso second such incident in around a week. THE PENINSULA In the area of social welfare programme, which included the A statement by the Iraqi DOHA and sponsorships, Qatar Charity distribution of dry food to 10,500 military’s media centre said one has provided social services to affected families in northeastern young woman and a security Qatar Charity implemented orphans belonging to low- Burkina Faso. officer were killed in the blast, hundreds of relief and devel- income families and widows. The programme came as part which took place in the city’s opment projects over the past Some 4672 families benefited of its emergency relief inter- eastern half. two months in Burkina Faso. from Qatar Charity’s welfare vention for the victims of internal Ten other people were Some 29113 people benefited services. conflicts in northern Burkina wounded. from Qatar Charity’s projects Qatar Charity also drilled 12 Faso, which resulted in the death Iraqi forces ousted the carried out in the areas of health, surface and artesian wells, of and displacement of a large Islamic State group from Mosul education, culture, social housing which some were equipped with number of people, in mid-2017, but explosions and and welfare. water reservoirs. It also built a In continuation of its emer- hit-and-run attacks have con- With the generous support medical centre and a housing gency relief efforts in the north, tinued to plague the province. from benefactors in Qatar, Qatar unit that was handed over to the Qatar Charity sent a medical Last week a car bomb det- Charity (QC) managed to carry poor and the needy. mission that examined patients, onated near Mosul University, out hundreds of projects in In the area of economic diagnosed diseases, and dis- killing one person and Burkina Faso over the past two empowerment, Qatar Charity tributed the necessary medicines Qatar Charity volunteers distribute aid to people in Burkina Faso. wounding 13 more. months, benefiting 29113 people. implemented 644 income-gen- free of charge to them. On Wednesday night, six The implemented projects erating projects for underprivi- The relief programme paramilitary forces were killed worth more than QR3.6m leged and unemployed people employment opportunities for Such projects aim at improving received great praise and signif- and more than two dozen included health, education, cul- in poverty-stricken areas. the intended population, pro- the economic conditions of ben- icant cooperation from the wounded in an ambush south tural, social housing projects and These projects were imple- viding them with a constant eficiaries. Qatar Charity has people and the competent of Mosul. social welfare projects. mented to bring sustainable income source for a dignified life. implemented a relief authorities. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019

Hezbollah appeals New battle looms for donations to combat sanctions for Islamic State’s AFP BEIRUT last Syria enclave Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement yesterday called for donations from its popular base REUTERS The Syrian Democratic because it says it is coming DEIR AL ZOR PROVINCE, SYRIA Forces (SDF) have under financial pressure as a slowed their offensive result of Western sanctions. US-backed fighters will resume on the militant enclave Hezbollah leader Hassan their assault on Islamic State’s Nasrallah’s appeal came after (IS) last, small patch of ground at Baghouz near the Britain announced on February in eastern Syria if no more Iraqi border to allow 25 that it would seek to make civilians come out by this many thousands of membership of the Shia afternoon, one of their people to pour out in movement or inviting support spokesmen said yesterday. for it a crime. The Syrian Democratic an exodus that has It also follows the United Forces (SDF) have slowed their lasted weeks. States ramping up sanctions offensive on the militant enclave against the group, with its latest at Baghouz near the Iraqi border raft of measures in November Women hold placards during a rally against the imprisonment of women and children in Syria, near to allow many thousands of State, some of its captives and targeting Nasrallah’s son Jawad, Hagia Sophia in the Turkish city of Istanbul, yesterday, on the eve of International Women’s Day. people to pour out in an exodus hundreds of surrendering among other individuals. that has lasted weeks. fighters. “The sanctions and terror A month ago the SDF A Yazidi woman who tomorrow morning or perhaps culmination of a US-backed mil- have gone to ground, staging lists are a form of warfare launched what it called a “final emerged on Thursday spoke of until the afternoon, we’ll give itary campaign waged by the SDF waves of killings and kidnap- against the resistance and we battle” to take the cluster of years of enslavement and abuse another space, for the possibility for four years. pings. In Syria, their comrades must deal with them as such,” houses and farmland, and by the jihadists. Two Iraqi boys that civilians are present and the After suddenly seizing hold out in remote desert areas Nasrallah said in a televised people leaving the enclave have who came out with her, pre- chance to get them out,” he said. swathes of land straddling the and have carried out bombings speech. “I announce today that described harrowing conditions tending to be her brothers, said After that, “if no civilian or Iraqi-Syrian border in 2014 and in areas controlled by the SDF. we are in need of the support of peril and hardship. many fighters remained dug into terrorist comes out, we will declaring it their caliphate, Those who have fled of our popular base,” Nasrallah The SDF said a week ago tunnels in Baghouz. launch our military operation Islamic State were beaten back Baghouz have mostly gone to added. “It is the responsibility that it believed all civilians had However, the head of the anew.” by numerous local and foreign al-Hol, a displacement camp in of the Lebanese resistance, its come out and renewed its SDF media centre, Mustafa Bali, The capture of Baghouz will forces in both countries, suffering northeast Syria whose population popular base, its milieu,” to assault, leading to a new surge said no more people had mark the end of Islamic State’s major defeats in 2017. has swelled to 62,000 people, 90 confront these measures. of displacement, including emerged on Friday. territorial rule over populated However, the jihadists percent of them women and Hezbollah was established obdurate disciples of Islamic “We are waiting for areas of Iraq and Syria, and the remain a menace. In Iraq they children. in 1982 during Lebanon’s civil war and is now a major political party in the country, holding US House committee urges three cabinet posts. The movement has been Turkey, US head for showdown Saudi Arabia to release doctor designated a terrorist organi- sation by the US since 1997 and over Russian missile contracts ANATOLIA/WASHINGTON the group’s armed wing fights alongside the regime of Syrian REUTERS to renewed concerns over relations In one of the strongest com- The top Democrat and Republican on the House Foreign President Bashar Al Assad in the ANKARA with Washington, traders say. ments on the topic yet, the U.S. Pen- Affairs Committee called on Saudi Arabia to release a country’s civil war. Com- President Tayyip Erdogan’s gov- tagon warned on Friday of “grave Saudi-American who was reportedly detained and menting on Britain’s ban, he Turkey is running out of time to avert ernment has missed a ‘soft deadline’ consequences” in the military rela- tortured in prison. said: “More states will follow a showdown with the United States set by Washington to decide whether tionship between the United States “We are deeply concerned by reports that Dr Walid suit and put Hezbollah on terror over its plans to buy advanced to buy a $3.5bn Raytheon Co. Patriot and Turkey if Ankara takes the Fitaihi, a dual US-Saudi citizen in Saudi custody, has lists and describe it as a terrorist Russian air defences and spurn a missile shield system. The formal S-400. “They would not have access been tortured,” Chairman Eliot Engel and Ranking group.” counter-offer from its Nato partner, offer expires at the end of this month, to Patriot and the F-35,” Acting Pen- Member Michael McCaul said in a joint statement. Addressing his supporters, raising the chance of US sanctions U.S. officials have said. tagon spokesman Charlie Summers “Torture and coercion of all prisoners must end. he stressed that the “financial against Ankara. Without publicly rejecting the US said. We call on Saudi Arabia to immediately release Dr. difficulties that we may face are The last diplomatic crisis proposal, Erdogan has repeatedly But Erdogan has ruled out can- Fitaihi and allow him to travel outside Saudi Arabia,” a result of this (financial) war” between the two countries con- said he will not pull out of a contract celling the deal with Russia, an they added. and not because of any “admin- tributed to driving the lira to a record for Russia’s S-400 defence system, increasingly powerful regional force The New York Times reported last week that Fitaihi istrative defect”. low in August. Disputes over strategy due to be installed in October. Wash- which is building a nuclear power was detained in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Saudi “They wont be able to in Syria, Iran sanctions and the ington says Ankara cannot have plant in Turkey and a gas export capital of Riyadh in November 2017. He told a friend empoverish or starve us,” he detention of US consular staff remain both. pipeline across Turkish territory to that he was dragged into a room at the hotel, where said. “Those who have sup- unresolved, and the issue of missile If it goes ahead with the Russian Europe. he was stripped and tortured with electric shocks in a ported us will continue to defence threatens to widen the rift deal, Turkey also risks losing delivery “It’s done. There can never be a session that lasted about an hour, according to the support us... be it states or our again. of Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth turning back,” Erdogan responded Times. Fitaihi, 54, is one of dozens of people who remain support base”. Washington has This week, despite the Central fighter jets and could face sanctions this week when asked about the imprisoned under the pretext of what the Saudi gov- targeted the party with tough Bank maintaining interest rates well under a U.S. law known as Coun- S-400 contract. “This...would be ernment calls a crackdown on corruption in the sanctions, and the European above inflation, Turkey’s currency tering America’s Adversaries immoral. Nobody should ask us to Kingdom. He has not been charged, nor has he faced Union blacklisted the group’s has fallen 1.5 percent - largely due Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). lick up what we spat.” trial. military arm in 2013.

Yemen:100 civilian casualties on average Tens of thousands protest as Bouteflika stays defiant each week in 2018 AFP AP/CAIRO ALGIERS Opposition figure arrested at Geneva hospital The United Nations refugee Tens of thousands protested agency says nearly 100 civilians across Algeria yesterday in the AFP were killed or wounded in biggest rallies yet against ailing GENEVA Yemen on average each week President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s of 2018. UNHCR says in a report bid for a fifth term, despite the Algerian businessman Rachid that around 5,000 civilians defiant leader’s warning of the Nekkaz was arrested at a were either killed or wounded risk of “chaos”. hospital in Geneva yesterday last year, which averages out to A rally in the capital Algiers after demanding access to Pres- 93 victims each week. slowed to a near-crawl by the ident Abdelaziz Bouteflika who Nearly half of this number huge numbers taking part, is being treated at the facility. were wounded or killed in the swelled by women marking Nekkaz, who sought to run country’s west, including the in International Women’s Day and against Bouteflika in Algeria’s the war-torn governorate of chanting “No fifth term — hey, upcoming elections, said he had Hodeida. A third of the causal- Bouteflika!” come to the University Hospitals ities were children, according Waving Algeria’s green- of Geneva (HUG) to seek infor- to the Thursday report. white-and-red flags, men and mation about the ailing women converged on the city’s 82-year-old leader. landmark Grand Post Office He staged a demonstration Saudi claims shooting square after weekly prayers. with several dozen supporters down Houthi drone The situation was calm, and outside HUG and then several police vans which had announced he was going inside. REUTERS/DUBAI been surrounded by crowds He was arrested for tress- Algerian businessman and political activist Rachid Nekkaz (centre), argues with Algerians in front began to leave the area. passing following a complaint of the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) buildings in Geneva, yesterday. Saudi Arabia’s air defence Peaceful protests were also by the hospital, police spokes- systems shot down a drone over being staged in several other woman Joanna Matta said. media reports have place him apparently falling foul of a law explicit intention of using the kingdom yesterday, the cities, including Oran and Con- “There are 40 million Alge- at the hospital. A journalist also which bans candidates who inventive measures to take over Saudi-led military coalition in stantine, according to the TSA rians who want to know where heard hospital staff discussing have ever possessed a nation- the presidency if his relative is Yemen said, and it accused the news site. the president is,” Nekkaz told Bouteflika’s presence on HUG’s ality other than Algerian. elected. Algeria’s constitutional country’s Houthi fighters of In a message released on the the crowd of a few dozen people eighth floor, where the VIP wing This despite the fact that he committee is due to determine launching the aircraft and eve of the fresh protests, Boute- that had assembled outside is located, and there was a large had renounced his French citi- on March 13 if the presented targeting civilians. flika — who uses a wheelchair HUG. Bouteflika has been in deployment of police outside zenship and also gathered the candidacies are legitimate. Some civilians suffered and has rarely been seen in Switzerland for nearly two the hospital yesterday. necessary 60,000 voter signa- Nekkaz urged the com- light injuries from debris when public since a 2013 stroke — weeks receiving what his office Nekkaz — an increasingly tures needed to run. mittee not to accept the can- the drone was shot down, coa- warned that trouble-makers may has called routine medical popular activist with a large But Nekkaz instead put didacy of Bouteflika, warning lition spokesman Colonel Turki try to infiltrate the demonstra- checkups. Algeria has not offi- social media following — was forward the candidacy of his that if it did, he would be forced al-Maliki said, according to tions. “Many of our fellow cit- cially confirmed that Bouteflika himself earlier this week denied cousin and namesake, an to withdraw the candidacy of Saudi state television. The air- izens” have demonstrated across is at HUG, but multiple Swiss the right to stand in the vote, Algerian mechanic, with the his cousin. craft had been heading towards the North African country “to residential areas in Abha, peacefully express their views”, around 230km north of the he said. “However, we must call infiltrated by some insidious of the demands that he abandon risk of a return to the “national “crises and tragedies caused by border with Yemen, Saudi- for vigilance and caution in case party... which could cause his bid to seek re-election on tragedy” of Algeria’s decade-long terrorism” in neighbouring owned Al Arabiya TV said. this peaceful expression is chaos,” he said, without mention April 18. Bouteflika flagged the civil war in the 1990s and of the countries. SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 ASIA 05 Kashmir ‘fake news’ barrage raises fears for India elections

AFP for the six-week-long vote across More than 460 million was in fact two years old. A 2013 video of Indian Prime Thursday that it would start NEW DELHI the nation of 1.3 billion people. people are online One video, of a 2014 military Minister Narendra Modi tele- flagging dubious content in news- More than 460 million people in India but digital air show in Islamabad, was used phoning the wife of a man who related videos in India, while its A deluge of online hoaxes that are online in India but digital lit- to push separate false claims in died at one of his rallies was re- parent company Google is training hit Indian social media as the eracy is often poor which only literacy is often poor both India and Pakistan. Indian published online two days after Indian journalists in verification country fought aerial battles with helps the spread of fake videos, which only helps the social media accounts and TV the bombing. Its caption said he techniques and boosting strin- neighbouring Pakistan has photos and messages that incite spread of fake videos, channels said the footage was of was speaking to the widow of a gency over election advertising. heightened fears over the “fake lynch mobs, communal violence photos and messages Indian air strikes carried out in “martyr”, a word routinely used WhatsApp, which has 200 news” war looming in India’s and hardcore support for the main Pakistan, but Pakistani Facebook in India after soldiers are killed million users in India, restricted national election. political parties. that incite lynch mobs, users and newspapers said it in action. message forwarding and ran AFP has published more than “Ahead of the elections, I communal violence showed Pakistani jets chasing India is fertile ground for newspaper adverts to counter 30 fact-check blogs debunking believe our workload is going to and hardcore support Indian planes out of their misinformation proliferation. fake news after a spate of mob false claims made on Facebook increase, we have seen a lot of for the main political airspace. Cheap smartphones and data killings sparked by a hoax spread and other social networks about disinformation after Kashmir Political campaigners took plans bring more people online, on the messaging service. the stand-off over Kashmir and the air strikes and we are parties. advantage of the showdown to but many are first-time internet Facebook, which owns between the nuclear-armed expecting much more,” Pratik “grind their own axes”, said users unskilled in discerning fact WhatsApp, is running its biggest neighbours. Sinha, head of the Indian fact- bombing in Kashmir that left 40 Rajesh Upadhyay, editor-in- from fiction. Indian cyberse- ever election monitoring cam- Experts said it was just the checking site Alt News, said. Indian paramilitaries dead set off chief at Hindi-language news curity consultant Rakshit Tandon paign. It is running adverts and tip of the iceberg and that India “Disinformation in elections the hostilities. Multiple viral posts group Jagran New Media. said the amount of online fake announcements to help people will be the biggest misinfor- could be anything from fake wrongly labelled videos of “Some of this content was news was “likely to grow” during spot misinformation and is mation challenge among a host quotes attributed to politicians... Russian army drills as a display indeed aimed at stoking extreme the tussle for votes in the election working with Indian newsrooms of closely-watched elections (to) false propaganda,” he added, of Indian military might, while nationalistic sentiment, but a campaign. to make false posts less visible. around the world this year. predicting even more anti- the footage in a “breaking” news bigger percentage of it was polit- International tech companies Facebook has a fact-checking The government is expected Pakistan rhetoric. report of Pakistani tanks moving ically motivated and click-bait are preparing major campaigns partnership with AFP in multiple to imminently announce dates A February 14 suicide towards the border with India driven,” he said. for the polls. YouTube said on countries, including India. Military saris in Apex Court appoints vogue as India arbitration panel for parades patriotism

REUTERS disputed holy site SURAT

REUTERS case to explore the possibility of Indian sari manufacturers are NEW DELHI resolving their dispute through cashing in on a wave of patri- mediation. otism to create military-embla- India’s Supreme Court Hindu groups say there was zoned versions of the traditional appointed an arbitration panel a temple at the site before the woman’s drape. yesterday to mediate in a mosque was built by a Muslim Inside a smoky factory here, decades-long dispute over a ruler in 1528, and the dispute has machines run 24 hours a day to controversial plan to build a fuelled ill-feeling between churn out fabrics showing jets Hindu temple on the ruins of a India’s majority Hindus and and the face of an air force pilot 16th-century mosque in the minority Muslims, who make up shot down in a dog fight with the northern town of Ayodhya. around 14 percent of the coun- neighbouring rival. With a general election try’s 1.3 billion people. At Annapurna Industries, looming in coming months, con- Groups affiliated to the workers toil in three shifts to ABOVE: Traders display a servative Hindu allies of Prime BJP had also called for a leg- meet demand for saris, which sari, a traditional clothing Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling islation to allow a temple to retail at around Rs850 ($12). One Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) be built, bypassing the worn by women, with version features Wing Com- have ratcheted up their long- Supreme Court. But Modi has printed images of India’s mander Abhinandan Varthaman. standing demand for the con- told Asian News International, Prime Minister and Army “I had only expected orders for struction of a temple. a video news agency and inside their shop in Surat, some 500 saris,” said Manish In 1992, a militant Hindu partner of Reuters, that the yesterday. RIGHT: A Agrawal, a director at Annapurna mob tore down the mosque trig- judicial process should be salesman displays a sari Industries. “But it’s already gering riots that killed about allowed to take its course. with a printed image of crossed 4,000 and still more 2,000 people in one of the worst The Vishva Hindu Parishad Indian Air Force pilot orders are pouring in.” instances of communal violence (VHP), or the World Hindu Abhinandan Varthaman, Another manufacturer, in India since the 1947 partition Council, has led the campaign who was captured Jamkudi Sarees, has prepared of the country. over the past three decades to and later released by five new designs to meet the high While holding control over build a temple on the site of Pakistan, inside a sari demand. “It’s been a hit,” said the controversial site in Uttar what Hindus say is the birth- manufacturing factory Vinod Surana, the owner of Pradesh State, the Supreme place of deity Ram. in Surat. Jamkudi Sarees. Court has been weighing peti- Over the past few months, tions from both communities on the VHP has organised rallies of what should be built there. tens of thousands of monks, Yesterday, the court activists and other supporters, India signs $3bn submarine deal with Russia: Reports appointed former judge F M to press its case. Kalifulla to head an arbitration The resurrection of the issue AFP Pakistan following their biggest hardware from Moscow. over a Himalayan plateau panel that includes guru Ravi in the run-up to the election has NEW DELHI standoff in years, and as Chinese Last October Russian Pres- claimed by both Beijing and Shankar and senior lawyer raised the risk of communal vio- influence grows in the region. ident Vladimir Putin and Indian Bhutan, a close ally of India. Sriram Panchu. The process of lence. Just ahead of the 2014 India has signed a $3bn deal to A defence ministry Prime Minister Narendra Modi China has made inroads in Sri mediation should start within a general election, about 65 lease a third Russian nuclear- spokesman declined to confirm met and inked a deal for Delhi Lanka and Maldives, countries week and the panel should be people were killed during reli- powered submarine for 10 years, the agreement to AFP but the to buy Russia’s S-400 surface- that India considers to be in its able to wrap up its work in eight gious riots in Uttar Pradesh, and giving Delhi a boost in the Indian reports said that the submarine, to-air missile defence system for sphere of influence, through its weeks, Chief Justice Ranjan thousands more, most of them Ocean against arch-rivals the third India has leased from $5.2bn. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Gogoi said. Muslims, were forced to flee Pakistan and China, media Russia, would be delivered by But India also shares US fears India has raised concerns India is due to hold a general their homes. reports said. 2025. Russia, India’s Cold War about China’s growing assert- about the initiative as a major election by May. Earlier, a five- A court in February this year The deal — which according ally, remains a major supplier of iveness in the Indian Ocean, section passes through Pakistan- judge panel, headed by Gogoi, sentenced seven Muslim men to to the reports took months to arms to India, irking the United where New Delhi has tradi- administered Kashmir, a dis- had asked both Hindu and life in prison for killing two negotiate — comes as tensions States which has imposed sanc- tionally held sway. In 2017 India puted territory which was again Muslim groups involved in the Hindu men during the riot. run high between India and tions on nations buying military and China had a military standoff the fuse for the latest crisis. MiG-21 Bison crashes 44 women of excellence honoured Prisoner throws in Bikaner, pilot safe chilli powder in with Nari Shakti Puraskar constable’s eyes, IANS / BIKANER IANS embroidery, she gathered some fails to escape A MiG-21 Bison fighter jet of the NEW DELHI women to form a self help group Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed that would make bags and other IANS / GURUGRAM yesterday near here during a It was women power all the way handcraft items. routine mission after reportedly at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday Like her, for acid attack sur- A prisoner threw chilli powder suffering a bird hit but the pilot when as many as 44 women vivor Pragya Prasun, the award in the eyes of a policeman in a ejected safely, officials said. were honoured by the President is a hope to change society’s desperate attempt to escape An IAF spokesperson said of India with the prestigious Nari approach towards those who from the Gurugram Civil Hos- the MiG crashed after getting Shakti Awards, the highest have been victims of acid pital yesterday but he was over- airborne from Nal, near civilian honour for women in attacks. Pragya was attacked in powered by the constable and Bikaner. He said initial inputs India, on the occasion of Inter- 2006, just 12 days after her mar- hospital staff. indicated that the jet crashed national Women’s Day. riage. She said her life had Manoj Singh alias Moni was after it reportedly hit a bird. Its These 44 women, hailing turned upside down but the taken to the hospital for a debris fell in Shobhasar village from different backgrounds, had incident failed to deter her. routine check-up. He threw the near Bikaner. A Commission broken barriers in various streams Pragya runs an NGO, Ati- chilli powder in the eyes of of Inquiry will investigate the ranging from social development jeevan Foundation, that helps Constable Ram Chandra who cause of the accident. to technological innovations and survivors of acid attacks become had accompanied him. But The “Bison” is an upgraded medical excellence. economically independent. despite the attack, Ram Chandra version of the MiG-21 jet, which For 30-year-old Ruma Devi, This year, among the managed to keep holding the was first inducted into the IAF Nirav Modi’s Alibaug mansion blown up who hails from Barmer in awardees are scientists, entre- accused until security staff of the in the 1960s. The upgrade to the Rajasthan, receiving an award preneurs, environmentalists, hospital reached the spot and The remains of the structure of fugitive billionaire and jeweller Bison version was done in from the President was some- social workers, farmers, artists, overpowered him, said police Nirav Modi’s mansion are seen in Alibaug, off Mumbai coast, 2006. The upgraded version thing she had never imagined masons, woman marine pilot, spokesman Subhash Bokan. was equipped with the yesterday. Indian authorities dynamited the multi-million-dollar till date. “The award is a huge woman commando trainer, The incident took place Phazotron Kopyo airborne seafront mansion of Nirav Modi, officials said. The 33,000 square- boost not just for me but for the journalists and film-makers and around 11.30am. The accused radar which is capable of simul- foot property near Mumbai, believed to be worth $14m, was seized society as well,” Ruma said. many others, who have faced is on trial and lodged in the taneously tracking eight targets after Modi was accused of involvement in a massive bank fraud Married at the age of 17, it their own unique challenges, but Gurugram district jail on and engaging two of them with that rocked India’s corporate community. was not a cake walk for Ruma. have not been deterred from charges of raping a 14-year-old air-to-air missiles. With skills in stitching and achieving their dreams. girl on April 19, 2018. 06 ASIA SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019

Pakistan airspace No militant group will be allowed closed for all to operate on Pakistani soil: Imran transit flights till today REUTERS / AP “This government will Khan’s latest crackdown on mil- ISLAMABAD not allow Pakistan’s itant groups. Many of the groups INTERNEWS land to be used for are popular among the poor KARACHI Pakistan Prime Minister Imran because they operate networks of Khan yesterday said that no mil- any kind of outside charities. Some have also enjoyed Pakistan’s airspace will remain itant group would be allowed to terrorism,” Khan said the support of the military and closed for all transit flights till operate from Pakistani soil to while addressing intelligence services. “Jaish-e- today (March 9), the Civil Avi- carry out attacks abroad, days a rally in southern Mohammad is not a terrorist ation Authority (CAA) said after his government announced group, they just want to spread yesterday. a sweeping crackdown against Pakistan. “God willing, Islam,” said Tahir Zia, a shop- As per a CAA notification, Islamist militant organisations. you will see that a keeper in Bahawalpur. the airspace has been closed for Pakistan faces growing inter- new era is emerging.” According to Pakistan’s all overflying (transit) flights till national pressure to rein in counter-terrorism agency, the March 9 (10:00EST). Islamist groups that carry out Pakistani-based militants on government has outlawed 68 The airspace has been attacks in neighbouring India. India’s parliament brought the militant groups. This includes closed for all overflying flights Pakistan has a history of using two countries to the brink of war. Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lahskar- from east to west and west to Islamist groups to pursue foreign Crackdowns have been e-Taiba and Harakat-ul Mujah- east till 3pm on March 9 while policy aims in the region, but it launched with fanfare but faded edeen. Under pressure to rein in some transit flights between the has denied Indian accusations it out after a while, with the pro- the militants, Pakistan took over north and south of Pakistan’s actively supports militants scribed groups able to survive mosques and religious schools airspace have been permitted. fighting Indian forces in Kashmir. and continue their operations. belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad. Further, Sialkot, Rahim Yar On Monday, Pakistan Given the history, India has been Their students and teachers have Khan and Sukkur airports announced a new crackdown sceptical about Pakistan’s latest been barred from talking to the which were set to reopen yes- against militants and by steps to dismantle militant media. Police and paramilitary terday will remain closed for Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing a public gathering Thursday, 182 religious schools groups, with Indian officials rangers armed with AK-47s, now an additional 24 hours. in Chachro town, in the Tharparkar district of the southern Sindh run by banned groups had been calling the action cosmetic. guard the group’s buildings. For entry and exit into and seized, and more than 120 But Khan said there was a The group’s headquarters on province, yesterday. The Prime Minister announced a massive health out of Pakistan, only specific people detained. huge desire to build a peaceful the northern outskirts of Baha- package for the residents of Tharparkar with provision of mobile airspace can be used, the noti- “This government will not and stable Pakistan. “We will not walpur, a city of 2 million people, hospitals and health cards which will benefit 112,000 families in fication added. allow Pakistan’s land to be used allow any militant group to are ringed by a 6-metre-high the drought-stricken region. Airports across Pakistan for any kind of outside ter- function in our country now,” he brick wall. On a recent morning, where flight operations were rorism,” Khan said while said. Pakistani officials say this several bearded men and two a widely cheered 2015 National King’s College in London, resumed earlier this week will addressing a rally in southern crackdown is part of a long- Pakistani police officers armed Action Plan that calls for zero tol- warned of a short-term backlash continue to operate as per Pakistan. “God willing, you will planned drive and not a response with automatic rifles turned erance of militant groups. The against the crackdown. schedule till 5am on March 15. see that a new era is emerging.” to Indian anger. away visitors approaching the previous government devised the “Pakistan, if it takes an Flight operations at Pakistani governments have Meanwhile, in Bahawalpur, a compound’s large steel gates. 20-point plan to combat ter- aggressive, no-tolerance stand Karachi, Multan, Chitral, in the past made similar pledges city in southern Pakistan’s jihadi In a tweet on Wednesday, rorism and extremism in against Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e- Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, to stop militant attacks being heartland, emotions run high in Pakistan’s Interior Minister Pakistan, only to ignore it. Mohammed and Harakat ul-Muja- Quetta and Faisalabad airports launched from its soil, notably favour of Jaish-e-Mohammad. Shahryar Afridi promised his Adnan Naseemullah, an hidin, will suffer a violent backlash will run as per schedule till 5am in early 2002, after a raid by Such support complicates Imran government would implement expert in international affairs at domestically,” he said. on March 15. Flight operations at most airports had resumed over the week, however, the reopening Prime suspect in Afzal Kohistani murder case arrested of the airspace nationwide had been delayed. INTERNEWS other suspects,” Yousafzai said. — including Bazgha, Sireen Jan, Dr Farzana Bari, one of the Authority orders to match fin- Pakistan had closed its air- ABBOTTABAD Afzal Kohistani shot dead on Amna, Begum Jan, and Shaheen commission members, had gerprints. The tests came back space last week following esca- Wednesday night at Children Hos- — were all killed upon the jirga’s expressed her doubts that the girls negative. On July 31, 2018, a new lating ties with India. Police yesterday arrested the pital Road in Abbottabad’s Gami orders. In December last year, weren’t the same and some other case was registered under the Flights between Asia and main suspect behind the murder Adda area. The firing incident left four suspects who had been girls were produced clad in burqa Palas police station under the Europe were disrupted, of Afzal Kohistani, who had three others wounded. caught in relation to killing the and veil. On January 3, 2013, supreme court orders. stranding thousands of pas- brought the Kohistan video Afzal Kohistani, a local man, five women in Kohistan had con- Afzal’s three brothers named Shah In December 2018, then, four sengers, although airlines were scandal to light. had shown media in May 2012 a fessed to their crime — six years Faisal, Sher Wali, and Raffiduddin suspects identified as Umar later able to reroute through Masoom Khan, nominated as video in which his brothers were after the video had emerged. were killed inside their homes by Khan, Saber, Mohamad Sarfraz, China many flights that nor- the main suspect in the first dancing at a programme, while Former chief justice Iftikhar the girls’ tribespeople. and Saeer were arrested. mally pass over Pakistan. information report (FIR), was some girls were shown singing Chaudhry had taken a suo moto Meanwhile, Bari, with the Upon interrogation, the sus- Flights from Singapore to arrested from Palis tehsil, Khyber along and clapping. After the notice of the case on June 7, 2012, help of human rights activists pects confessed to killing three Europe that usually cross Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Infor- footage was leaked, a jirga com- constituting a fact-finding mission and Afzal, had some tests con- girls Begum Jan, Sireen Jan, and Pakistan and Afghanistan, for mation Shaukat Yousafzai said. prising elders of the tribe decreed on July 17, 2012, to investigate the ducted to ensure that the girls Bazgha by firing, saying they had example, were rerouted west- A Kalashnikov and cartridges that the girls and boys be killed in case. The commission had then were same but the tests didn’t disposed of the bodies in Nala wards over Oman, adding more were seized from Masoom Khan’s line with ‘riwaj’ (a tribal custom). gone to Kohistan and investigated match. When the case was Chorh. They had said Amna and than an hour’s flying time and possession, the KP information Afzal, whose brothers were the matter, producing a report on appealed to be reopened, the Shaheen were still alive and boosting fuel costs. Iran also minister added. “Raids are being in the video, had appealed to the July 20, 2017, which stated that the apex court gave the National would be presented before the saw heavier use of its airspace, conducted for the arrests of the court that the five girls girls were alive. Database and Registration court. officials said. As polio goal nears, Pakistan pushes UN chief urges speedy Afghan against vaccine misinformation government and Taliban talks

REUTERS AP immediate, direct and substantive security incidents. Saying he ISLAMABAD UNITED NATIONS talks, towards the hope of ending remains “profoundly concerned this conflict and its unacceptable by the impact of the armed con- As Pakistan closes in on eradi- UN Secretary-General Antonio toll in lives,” he said. flict on the civilian population,” cating polio, Prime Minister Guterres is calling for immediate US peace envoy Zalmay he pointed to recent UN figures Imran Khan’s office has urged talks between Afghanistan’s gov- Khalilzad is currently holding documenting “record-high the country’s telecoms regu- ernment and the Taliban, saying talks with the Taliban, which are numbers of civilian deaths” — lator to take action against mis- the current moment represents now in their second week. This 3,804 people killed in 2018. information spread on social “perhaps the most significant has raised expectations there Last year, the secretary- media discouraging vaccination chance” to find a negotiated res- could be some progress. general said, the Taliban suc- against it and other diseases. olution of the country’s 17-year Khalilzad has said he sees ceeded in temporarily cap- “The parental refusals due war. himself as a “catalyst” to finding turing 21 district administrative to misconceptions regarding The UN chief stressed in a a formula for Afghans to sit centers, the second-highest the vaccine are emerging as the report to the Security Council down with each other and work level since Afghan forces took major obstacle in achieving circulated on Thursday that “a out a roadmap for a peaceful over responsibility for security complete eradication,” Khan’s sustainable peace agreement can future. He also said he wants at the end of 2014. office said in a letter to the head be reached only through com- intra-Afghan negotiations to Khalilzad said last month he of the Pakistan Telecommuni- prehensive intra-Afghan dia- start immediately. hopes a final peace deal can be cations Authority, referring to logue.” Guterres expressed hope Despite stepped-up US efforts clinched before Afghanistan’s parents who refuse to get their that progress in US talks with the to end America’s longest war, presidential election in July, in children vaccinated. Women’s Day rally Taliban will bring about direct attacks have continued in Afghan- which 18 candidates are vying to The letter, which was dated talks between Taliban insurgents istan. Guterres said the security lead the country, including current Pakistani policewomen take part in a rally on International Women’s March 7 and posted on Twitter and the government. situation in the country remains President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Day, in Lahore, yesterday. yesterday, was headed “I call for the beginning of volatile, with a high number of Executive Abdullah Abdullah. “Removal of Anti Vaccine Content from Facebook and YouTube”. Separately, Facebook Inc, China denies offering cash to lure Rohingya to Myanmar which along with other social media companies has faced ANATOLIA money to Rohingya people for secretary-general of the advocacy rebuild their homes in Rakhine violence in 2012. According to growing pressure over spurious DHAKA them to go back.” The denial group Arakan Rohingya Society State. Responding to the report, Amnesty International, more content spread on its platform, came a few days after the news for Peace And Human Rights Vera said: “It is Myanmar gov- than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, announced it would remove A Chinese official has denied portal reported that Sun (ARSPH), as saying. ernment that would offer the mostly women and children, user groups and pages that con- reports that his country’s gov- Gouxiang, a Chinese envoy for He said that he rejected the money to Rohingya families who have fled Myanmar and crossed tained misinformation about ernment delegation had Asian affairs, met 15 men and 14 offer saying they will not return don’t want to accept the houses into Bangladesh after Myanmar vaccinations. promised each family of women in the southeastern town unless they were granted citi- built by Myanmar in Rakhine, as forces launched a crackdown on Last month, online video Rohingya refugees $6,000 if they of Cox’s Bazar on Sunday and zenship with Rohingya identity. a fund to rebuild their homes by the community in August 2017. sharing site YouTube, a sub- returned to restive Rakhine State offered them $6,000 each if they According to BenarNews, a themselves.” Since August 25, 2017, nearly sidiary of Alphabet Inc, said it in Myanmar, a media report said. returned to Rakhine state. Bangladeshi official, who The Rohingya, described by 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have would take action to stop According to BenarNews, an “They asked whether we attended the meeting, had also the UN as the world’s most per- been killed by Myanmar’s state advertising revenue to channels online news service, Chinese would return to Myanmar if they confirmed to the news service secuted people, have faced forces, according to a report by promoting anti-vaccination Embassy Attaché in Dhaka Vera gave us $6,000,” the online had that the Chinese delegation had heightened fears of attack since the Ontario International Devel- content. Hu said: “China never offers quoted Syed Ullah, the offered some money to help dozens were killed in communal opment Agency (OIDA). SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 ASIA 07 South Korea to pay more toward US troop presence

AP The US President months to determine Seoul’s con- springtime military drills and drills “very provocative” and The statement was much milder SEOUL Donald Trump earlier tribution next year. replaced them with smaller “massively expensive.” Many than its past warlike statements South Korean Foreign Min- training in what they called a bid experts think the lack of compre- issued in response to the just- South Korea and the US yesterday pressured Seoul to ister Kang Kyung-wha and US to back diplomatic efforts to strip hensive joint exercises will even- ended South Korea-US drills that formally signed a deal on Seoul’s increase its share, Ambassador Harry Harris signed North Korea of its nuclear tually likely weaken the allies’ North Korea viewed as an increased payment for the US triggering concerns the new cost-sharing deal yes- weapons. Trump tweeted that military readiness if diplomacy invasion rehearsal. troop deployment, amid worries in South Korea that terday. During a signing cer- “the reason I do not want military fails and tensions with North The cost-sharing deal, which about the future of the countries’ emony, Kang called the deal “the drills with South Korea is to save Korea return. involves the spending of South decades-long military alliance. he might withdraw results of hard work and some- hundreds of millions of dollars for Trump’s second summit with Korean taxpayer money, requires The US President Donald some of the 28,500 US times difficult work” that “the the US for which we are not Kim in Vietnam last week ended parliamentary approval in South Trump earlier pressured Seoul to troops here if Seoul alliance can build upon to become reimbursed.” without any agreement. Korea, but not in the United increase its share, triggering con- refused to accept his stronger and greater.” Harries After his first summit with North Korea’s state media on States. The deal will likely easily cerns in South Korea that he said the deal’s signing under- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Thursday called the new, smaller pass through South Korea’s par- might withdraw some of the demand. scores “the importance of iron- in Singapore last year, Trump uni- US-South Korea exercise “a liament as the main conservative 28,500 US troops here if Seoul clad nature of our alliance.” laterally announced the sus- wanton violation” of previous opposition party highly values a refused to accept his demand. again apply pressure when the Earlier this week, the two pension of another major US- agreements to ease tensions and stronger alliance with the United Experts say Trump will likely two countries meet in coming countries eliminated their huge South Korea exercise, calling joint remove hostility among them. States. Mahathir pledges to MH370: Chinese kin seek answers support Mindanao’s AP development BEIJING Around 40 people gathered AP kill, but it’s difficult to develop. outside China’s foreign ministry MANILA Chairman Murad said ‘Yes, that yesterday to seek answers on the is the next level of our struggle, ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight Malaysian Prime Minister how to develop and transform 370, which took away their loved Mahathir Mohamad yesterday our revolutionary organisation,’” ones exactly five years ago. met a Filipino Islamist rebel said Nabil Tan, a Philippine The plane disappeared on leader who has become a official who joined the meeting. March 8, 2014, on a journey from regional governor under a Murad said Mahathir told Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The Malaysian-brokered peace deal, him, “If there is peace, then eve- majority of the 239 people on telling him while it’s easier to rything will come... He really board were Chinese. shoot and kill than to develop a encouraged us.” “I explained to While the mystery initially nation, prosperity can only him our priorities, the chal- captured the world’s attention happen in the absence of war. lenges. Part of the challenges is and prompted a joint search Moro Islamic Liberation our transformation from revo- effort by China, Malaysia and Front rebel chairman Murad lutionaries to this governance. Australia, the whereabouts of the Ebrahim said Mahathir pledged We want to have programmes plane remain unknown. Debris during their meeting in Manila that will benefit the people,” that washed ashore in the that his country will help ensure Murad said. western Indian Ocean indicated the success of the peace accord Under the peace deal bro- the plane crashed in the remote that transformed him and other kered by Malaysia, Murad’s southern Indian Ocean. rebel commanders last month group gave up its goal of a sep- The passengers’ families, into administrators of a conflict- arate Muslim state in exchange however, have not given up A relative of a passenger of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 cries outside the Foreign Ministry wracked Muslim autonomous for broader autonomy. The hope. “Why does the world stop office in Beijing yesterday. region in the south. 40,000 fighters and at least talking?” asked Guan Zhongping, Mahathir met Murad on the 7,000 firearms that Murad’s whose daughter was on the last day of his visit to Manila, group has declared are to be flight. “Why is it totally covered didn’t have any direct responses rumblings that Malaysia may assertion that the plan was delib- where he held talks with Pres- demobilised starting this year in up?” he said. “We, the relatives, to their questions. resume its search, said Jiang Hui, erately diverted and flown for ident Rodrigo Duterte on a wide three phases depending on want to put a question mark on After the two years-long joint whose mother was among the over seven hours after severing range of issues, including com- progress in the agreement’s this.” Zhang Niuli, who lost her underwater search in the passengers. communications. batting Islamic State-linked mil- enforcement. The first huge daughter on the flight, said the southern Indian Ocean was A Malaysian-led inde- Yet the report said there was itants in the largely Roman batch of about 12,000 guerrillas families met with a foreign min- called off in January 2017, a US pendent investigation report no indication of abnormal Catholic nation’s southern and their firearms would be istry director surnamed Chen for company attempted an explo- released last July raised the pos- behaviour or stress in the two region of Mindanao. “Mahathir demobilised in two to three about 15 minutes. Zhang said ration last May that also yielded sibility of “intervention by a third pilots that could lead them to told him it’s easy to shoot and months, Murad said. they were disappointed Chen no results. But there have been party,” reiterating Malaysia’s hijack the plane. Vietnam Communist Party expels South China Sea expert Malaysia: No crime in Dutch AFP institute in central Danang City, party organisation and the the sea. The outspoken posted a cryptic message on HANOI was expelled from the party this institute where he is working,” researcher has collected docu- Facebook after the news of his model’s death week after being accused of it added, referring to the Danang ments that he says justifies expulsion. “This is a happy Vietnam’s Communist Party has eroding its prestige, state media Institute for Socioeconomic Hanoi’s claims in the waterway moment,” he posted, quoting the AP purged a prominent researcher reported. Development where he has been dating back to the 19th century, controversial anti-war Buddhist KUALA LUMPUR whose work on his country’s “The violations by Tran Duc employed since 2009. namely over the Spratly and monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Hanoi claims to the disputed South Anh Son are very serious, cre- The newspaper did not Paracel islands. and Beijing enjoy an at times A Malaysian coroner ruled China Sea had threatened to ating negative public opinion specify Son’s alleged misdeeds, Son’s patriotic Facebook uneasy alliance, with occasional yesterday that there was no ruffle feathers in Beijing, which among cadres, party members though the historian has previ- posts have argued in favour of flare-ups over the South China criminal involvement in the says it owns most of the and the people,” Danang Online ously criticised the Vietnamese those claims and against China’s Sea. Last year Vietnam scrapped death of an 18-year-old Dutch resource-rich waterway. official news site reported yes- government for not standing up 1979 invasion of Vietnam that a major exploration project off model whose body was found Tran Duc Anh Son, deputy terday. He was also accused of to Beijing in its long-simmering sparked a border war. Son was its coast in the South China Sea after plunging from a condo- head of a state-run research “defaming the prestige of... the fight over disputed territory in not available for comment, but run by Spanish oil firm Repsol. minium. Ivana Smit’s body was found on the balcony of a sixth- floor unit in a Kuala Lumpur Thai court bans party for condominium on December 7, 2017. She was believed to have fallen from the 20th floor, nominating princess for PM where she had spent the night with an American man and his ANATOLIA history, calling it “unconstitu- Kazakhstan wife. ANKARA tional” in an address to the Police initially ruled her nation on February 10 which death as suicide but an inquest Thailand’s constitutional court forced the princess to withdraw was held last year after her has disbanded an opposition her candidacy. family suspected she was mur- political party for nominating a All 14 members of Thai dered. Smit’s body was flown royal family member as its Raksa Chart Party’s executive back to the Netherlands, where candidate for the prime minis- board were banned from par- a second autopsy found bruises ter’s post ahead of March 24 ticipating in politics for next 10 on her arm, trauma on the back elections in the country, local years, the daily reported. of her head as well as the DNA media reported. Thai Raksa Chart Party was of the American man, Alex According to daily Bangkok founded by the allies of former Johnson, under Smit’s finger- Post, an order unanimously prime ministers Thaksin Shina- nails. Traces of drugs were also passed by the constitutional watra and his sister Yingluck, found in Smit’s body. court of the country dissolved who was ousted in a 2014 mil- The Malaysian coroner, Up in arms the Thai Raksa Chart party citing itary coup. Mahyon Talib, agreed evidence “customary law”. Princess Ubolratana had showed there could have been The members of Real Hong Kongers View group hold a large banner and placards as they protest Princess Ubolratana Raja- already relinquished her royal some struggle between Smit against recent comments by the US Consul Kurt Tong, outside the US Consulate in Hong Kong yesterday, kanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, status in 1972. However, she and the couple but she said no claiming that Tong is interfering in the internal affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. the elder sister of Thailand’s continues to work as a member one had caused her fatal fall King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was of the Royal Family, attending and ruled it as a “misad- nominated the candidate for royal ceremonies as well as rep- venture.” Sankara Nair, a Indonesian activist charged with insulting military prime minister by Thai Raksa resenting the monarchy, the lawyer for the family, said they Chart Party on February 8. order said. “Hence, the princess were disappointed by the cor- AFP / JAKARTA attack on free speech. Robertus of Indonesia’s late dictator “This action undermined is an inseparable part of the oner’s finding and will chal- Robet was briefly detained after Suharto. The university lecturer, Thailand’s constitutional mon- institution. Submitting her name lenge it in the High Court. Nair Indonesia has charged a rights video emerged online of him who is also a well-known rights archy,” local daily The Nation as a candidate for the premier’s said evidence presented at the activist with allegedly insulting singing a protest song criticising campaigner, was released and quoted the constitutional court post undermines the above inquest — the bruises, neck the country’s military, sparking a plan to put senior military offi- subsequently charged under a order. Thai king Vajiralongkorn politic status of the monarchy,” trauma and the DNA findings a protest from campaigners who cials in civilian government posi- law that makes it illegal to insult had objected to the unprece- The Nation quoted the court of the Dutch autopsy - showed derided it as “ludicrous” and an tions, comparing it to the days public institutions. dented move in the country’s order. elements of homicide. 08 VIEWS SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 Gulf women have come ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN a long way SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR SAADIA MUFARREH MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED AL JAZEERA [email protected] ver the past few years, the topic of women’s rights in the DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Gulf has attracted much MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI Oattention in the region and [email protected] beyond. It has become a favourite subject of public forums, conferences, academic scholarship and the local and international press. Even those who are most con- Massouma Al Mubarak, Aseel Al Awadhi, Rola Dashti and Salwa Al Jassar celebrate cerned about women’s rights in the being elected to the Kuwaiti Parliament on May 19, 2009. Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula cannot EDITORIAL deny the fact that much progress has world. Gulf women are also more edu- government posts. In 2013, the late been made in the area over the past cated than Gulf men. In Qatar, for King Abdullah appointed 30 women to two decades. The movement for example, 54 percent of university-age the Shura Council and last year King women’s rights, which has been joined women are enrolled, compared with Salman entrusted the post of deputy Towards self-sufficiency by men as well, has sought relentlessly just 28 percent of men; in Bahrain and minister of labour and social devel- to empower women and to secure the Kuwait, women also outnumber men opment to Tamader bint Yousif al- atar government represented by the Ministry of same opportunities in education, work in institutions of higher education. Rammah. In the UAE, Amal Abdullah Municipality and Environment has taken a number and other aspects of public life afforded Gulf women also enjoy higher al-Qubaisi became the first woman to Qof initiatives in recent years to raise country’s self to men in the region. labour participation rates than women hold the post of speaker of the Federal sufficiency in vegetables, dairy and meat products. Although empowerment has been in other Arab countries, with Kuwait, National Council in 2018. All these efforts multiplied after the unjust siege imposed achieved at different levels in Gulf the UAE and Qatar leading in this sta- There are still many challenges on Qatar in June 2017 and since then many new ambitious countries, given the difference in local tistic. Growing access to work and ahead. Some achievements in the plans were conceived and executed successfully to achieve political and social circumstances, business opportunities for women has political arena, especially in Bahrain self sufficiency in food from reviving non-productive agri- there are a number of remarkable also increased their personal wealth. and Kuwait, have been rolled back. cultural fields to establishing new poultry and dairy farms. achievements that have to be According to a 2012 report, enterprises Women face a lack of social and The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) highlighted. managed by Gulf women hold assets financial support that makes it difficult has undertaken many initiatives to develop the agricultural Education was the key that opened worth $358bn. Last year, two Saudi for them to run for office. Various levels sector through providing support to farms and investors. the door to women’s participation in women made it to the Forbes’ most of political repression across Gulf states Qatar’s locally produced vegetables’ sales surged over 16 public life. The first girls’ schools in the powerful women ranking: Lubna have also affected women and percent in December 2018 compared to November 2018 at region were established in Bahrain and Olayan and Rania Nashar. women’s rights activists. And despite winter vegetable markets due to increased production of Kuwait in the 1920s. By the 1950s, edu- Being increasingly more educated appointments to official positions, local seasonal vegetables. cational institutions for girls had been and active in the labour force, Gulf political decision-making largely The winter vegetable markets operating at Al Mazrouah, founded women have also sought political remains in the hands of men. Al Khor-Dhakhira, Al Wakrah and Al Shamal sold a total across the empowerment. Their attainment of Large sections of the Gulf societies of 870 tonnes of vegetables in December which was an region. political rights has not lagged too far are still dominated by views that average of 218 tonnes per week. Education behind men’s given the constricted reduce the importance of women’s On Thursday, Minister of Municipality and Environment, slowly started political space in the region. In the early participation in the public sphere. H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin changing tra- 2000s, Gulf countries finally started These are very much reflected in Turki Al Subaie said that the Even those who are ditional per- allowing women to pursue and occupy various provisions of family and per- Ministry was keen to provide full most concerned about ceptions of political posts (in some instances, these sonal status laws, which can restrict support to productive agri- women’s rights in the gender roles rights were given at the same time as certain social and economic activities culture, animal and fish farms Gulf and the Arabian and women’s men). of women and put them at a legal dis- advantage to men, with Saudi Arabia to increase their production. Peninsula cannot deny position in In 2002, Bahraini women were The winter Speaking to a group of society. In the given the right to vote and run in elec- still retaining a strict guardianship law. vegetable markets owners of local farms, H E the the fact that much following tions for the first time; four years later Although Bahrain (2006), the UAE operating at Al Minister lauded the important progress has been decades, Lateefa al-Gaood became the first Bah- (2008), Qatar (2010) and recently Mazrouah, Al and effective role played by the made in the area over women raini woman elected to parliament. Kuwait (2018) allowed women to owners of farms in the past by the past two decades. secured not In 2005, Kuwait also allowed become judges, the judiciary and the Khor-Dhakhira, increasing agricultural pro- only the right women to vote and stand for election. interpretation of the law is still very The movement for Al Wakrah and duction and raising self-suffi- to higher edu- Four years later, four Kuwaiti women much dominated by men. Al Shamal sold a ciency in local production of women’s rights, which cation but were elected to the parliament: Mas- Despite these major challenges, it total of 870 tonnes several agricultural has been joined by also the souma al-Mubarak, Salwa al-Jassar, has to be recognised my generation commodities. men as well, has opportunity Aseel al-Awadhi and Rola Dashti. witnessed the transformation from of vegetables in “Qatar gives great impor- sought relentlessly to pursue In 2003, the Gulf also witnessed the “ground zero” to the impressive level of December which tance to the agriculture sector studies appointment of its first women min- public participation Gulf women enjoy to empower women was an average because of its role in achieving abroad, even- isters. In March of that year, Sheikha today. The struggle of the next gener- food security. Helped by the and to secure the tually sup- Aisha bint Khalfan took charge of the ation will indeed be difficult and of 218 tonnes per various initiatives taken by the same opportunities ported by National Authority for Industrial Crafts- change will be slow, but they will be week. Ministry and proactive role of in education, work government manship in Oman and in May, Sheikha aided along the way by the established consensus in the Gulf that women’s the private sector, the self suffi- and other aspects of scholarships. Ahmed al-Mahmoud became Qatar’s ciency in food production of Although education minister. socioeconomic empowerment has to Qatar has increased significantly,” the Minister added. public life afforded to the Gulf was Now, a decade and a half after this be part of any comprehensive devel- According to the data of MME, Qatari market has men in the region. relatively late modest political opening, there have opment strategy and any “future attained self sufficiency in some product categories such in introducing been more steps made forward and a vision” plans. as poultry, fresh milk and shrimp. The country’s self suffi- women’s few backward. The speaker of par- Policies on women’s participation ciency in poultry has reached 124 percent while it is 105 education liament in Bahrain and the vice chair- are no longer just a bunch of nice words percent in case of fresh milk production. The production of compared with the rest of the Arab person of the state council in Oman are that grace reports of international shrimp in the country is now able to meet the local demand world, over the past 60 years it has not both women (Fawzia Abdulla Yusuf organisations; they are real and tangible fully. According to recent media reports, there are about only managed to catch up with other Zainal and Suad al-Lawati despite all the remaining political and 1, 200 farms in Qatar (most of them located in the northern Arab countries, but has even overtaken respectively). social barriers. Indeed, the difficulties areas), among them 300 are active and they are marketing them. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have that were surmounted to get us where their products in the country. The region now boasts the highest also started to give opportunities to we are today are considerably bigger Since the siege was imposed on Qatar, Qatari farms education rates for women in the Arab women to occupy important than the ones that lie ahead. have increased their produce by more than 100 percent, and over 400 protected houses (shaded agricultural facil- ities) were also built at a number of farms. The Ministry of Municipality and Environment also Europe isn’t ready for the next recession recently announced plans of introducing advanced LED farming technology in Qatar which will bring radical BLOOMBERG Organization for Economic Cooper- much else the ECB can do. The policy changes in agriculture sector as the technology will help ation and Development. The picture rate is zero, and the central bank’s improve the quality and quantity of products. he European Central Bank varies a lot from country to country deposit rate is slightly negative. Taking surprised financial markets within the euro area, and a number of rates farther into negative territory Thursday with moves to one-off factors have been at work - might rattle confidence and destabilize Tloosen monetary policy. The but across the bloc, slowing interna- the financial system. Meanwhile the prospects for growth in the euro zone tional trade and rising political uncer- ECB’s enormous bond-buying have dimmed lately, and policy was tainty have taken a toll. The OECD program, which was paused three QUOTE OF THE DAY going to be tweaked at some point expects growth of just 0.7 percent this months ago, is constrained by rules unless things picked up. But a change year in Germany, for instance; it thinks about the composition of its holdings. With all the necessary wasn’t expected so soon. ECB Pres- Italy’s output will be lower than last These were intended to stop the precautions, Italy’s ident Mario Draghi and his colleagues year, and will manage only a feeble central bank from disproportionately accession to a new are apparently worried. recovery in 2020. financing the outlays of high-bor- silk route represents They have reason to be. Their main In response the ECB said its policy rowing countries - such as Italy. They an opportunity for our problem, however, isn’t the precise rate will stay at zero at least through mean the ECB has more or less run out country. This is a strategic timing of monetary adjustments like December, extending its previous of room. the ones announced this week. It’s the guidance by months. And it announced Monetary policy isn’t enough - and choice for the country lack of good options if things get any new issues of cheap long-term loans to if slow growth in the euro zone should .. and such choices worse. banks. Yet the actual stimulus provided tip into outright recession, Europe will need coordinating with The ECB’s new projections show by these measures will be small at best. no longer be able to avoid a drastic traditional partners. growth in the euro zone slowing this In fact, the combination of signaling rethinking of macroeconomic policy. year to just 1.1 percent; in December new concern about the prospects and The lack of a sufficiently powerful Giuseppe Conte the central bank had predicted 1.7 announcing changes with limited force fiscal instrument is already holding the percent. That’s roughly in line with could turn out to subtract from future bloc back. The consequence has been Italian Prime Minister other recent downgrades from the demand rather than add to it. high unemployment, slow growth and International Monetary Fund and the Given its own rules, there’s not less-than-target inflation. SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 OPINION 09 No majority in British parliament for second Brexit referendum

KYLIE MACLELLAN here is no majority in Brit- lawmakers voted to remain in the Liberal Democrats. The Westminster REUTERS ain’s parliament in favour of bloc in the 2016 referendum, a leader of the Scottish National Party holding a second Brexit refer- Reuters analysis of public comments has also backed the idea of another Tendum, according to a found that only 219 have expressed a vote, although at least one of his law- Reuters analysis of public comments willingness to support another vote, makers has voiced concern. “Now we know what made by lawmakers. and a further 65 have not made their In contrast, 245 lawmakers Brexit looks like, now Britain is due to leave the views known. openly oppose the idea, 15 are deeply we know the cost, and European Union at the end of this This is well short of the 318 votes sceptical and a further 94 gov- month, and with parliament yet to needed to guarantee approval of the ernment ministers and whips, or par- now we know how badly approve Prime Minister Theresa amendment if there are no absences liamentary enforcers, would be Brexit compares to our May’s exit deal, calls for a second ref- or abstentions. required to vote in line with the gov- current deal in the EU, the erendum to break the deadlock, often A referendum would need to be ernment’s position against another Britain is due to leave dubbed a ‘people’s vote’, have approved by parliament and May has referendum. only way forward is to the European Union at intensified. ruled out proposing one, saying it So far, 24 of Labour’s 245 law- put it to the people,” said the end of this month, Last month, the opposition would deepen already ugly divisions makers have said publicly they do not Labour lawmaker and and with parliament Labour Party broke new ground for over Britain’s biggest decision since support another referendum, while a People’s Vote campaigner one of the major parties by saying it World War Two and betray the 52 further 13, many of whom represent yet to approve Prime would support a new referendum on percent - 17.4 million people - who areas that voted strongly in favour of David Lammy. Minister Theresa May’s May’s deal after parliament defeated voted to leave the EU. leaving the EU, have expressed exit deal, calls for a its alternative Brexit plan. But while Tuesday’s votes on reservations. A YouGov poll last month second referendum to When May’s deal is brought back amendments are not binding on the “I will not, shall not and cannot found that, when asked to choose to parliament on Tuesday, Labour’s government, they would be politically vote for a second referendum, between accepting May’s deal and break the deadlock, amendment will provide the house hard to ignore. regardless of how much lipstick is put having another referendum, 51 often dubbed a with its first explicit vote on whether Those in favour include many on it and what it is called,” Labour percent favoured a fresh vote and ‘people’s vote’, have to back the idea of a second Labour lawmakers, seven of May’s lawmaker Gareth Snell told par- 49 percent - the deal. referendum. Conservatives, the newly formed liament after his party announced its Lawmakers across parties cite intensified. But while a majority of Independent Group and the pro-EU backing for another vote. worries about prolonging uncer- “That is a distraction from the tainty and increasing division as main purpose of our job, which is to reasons for opposing a vote, while find a deal.” Labour lawmaker the most common argument is that Caroline Flint has said as many as 60 it would be undemocratic to seek or 70 of her colleagues oppose a ref- to overturn the result of a vote in erendum. It is unclear what condi- which more than 30 million tions Labour may attach to sup- people took part. porting a vote on its amendment on But pro-referendum cam- Tuesday, and there is disagreement paigners say voters did not know within the party over whether any what kind of Brexit was available referendum should include an option when they were offered a binary to remain in the EU. choice between “Remain” and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, “Leave” in the 2016 referendum. who voted against joining the EU in “Now we know what Brexit 1975, has said his party would support looks like, now we know the cost, a referendum to “prevent a damaging and now we know how badly Tory (Conservative) Brexit or disas- Brexit compares to our current trous ‘no deal’” - leaving open the deal in the EU, the only way possibility that it would back a dif- forward is to put it to the people,” ferent deal without a popular vote. said Labour lawmaker and Peo- Some lawmakers may yet change ple’s Vote campaigner David their minds, particularly if any refer- Lammy. endum was a confirmatory vote on whether to back May’s deal, much as Corbyn suggests, rather than a re-run of the 2016 vote. But the numbers suggest it is likely to have difficulty getting through parliament. Opinion polls indicate Britons are still deeply divided over Brexit. While D-RING ROAD most voters would stick to their 2016 POST BOX: 3488 A van with a billboard entitled Breaking Point during the youth and student wing of the People’s Vote campaign choice, some surveys have shown a DOHA - QATAR outside the Houses of Parliament in central London. swing towards remaining in the EU. [email protected]

Abul Kalam Maji has been cyclone warnings along Bangladesh’s said when fishermen cannot go to sea EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE catching fish in the Bay of coast in 2018, according to gov- as a result of cyclone warnings or TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 Bengal for 30 years but an ernment data. In each case, fishermen other threats, the government dis- FAX: +974 4455 7758 uptick in cyclone warnings, were asked not to go to sea for tributes ‘fishermen cards’ which fish- A ermen can exchange for free grain. MANAGING EDITOR as warming seas bring stronger between two and 15 days. storms, is making his job much In total, fishermen were asked to “But the number of cards is negli- TEL: 4462 7505 harder. remain on shore for 75 days in 2018, gible and needs to be increased,” he RAFIQUL ISLAM He and other fishermen in this said meteorologist Arif Hossain. said. DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4455 7769 REUTERS village in southern Bangladesh’s delta “Except for the first five months of He said his administration plans to the last year, we issued at least one negotiate with higher-level author- LOCAL NEWS SECTION warning or cautionary signal every ities to find ways to provide more TEL: 4455 7743 month,” the meteorological support to fishermen during crisis department worker said. periods. BUSINESS NEWS SECTION The decrease in time spent fishing Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, a com- TEL: 4462 7535 Bangladesh’s fishermen means many fishing families are now munity development officer for the struggling financially, they said. UN Development Programme, said his SPORT NEWS SECTION Apart from the cyclone warnings, agency is trying to provide alternative TEL: 4455 7745 struggle as cyclone the government restricts fishing at sea ways for fishermen to earn a living, and in coastal rivers for 22 days each from growing vegetables to farming ONLINE SECTION October, to protect Hilsa fish - a fish. TEL: 4462 7501 threat grows herring-like fish that is Bangladesh’s But with so many fishermen strug- [email protected] main national catch - during the peak gling, it is hard to find enough alterna- breeding season. tives, he said. PUBLIC RELATIONS Abdul Malek, who has fished for Malik Fida A. Khan, the deputy islands now must stay off the water up TEL: 4455 7613 27 years from the village of Kalirchar, executive director of the Center for to half of the month during the storm [email protected] season, in response to warnings that said he has seen his income fall dra- Environmental and Geographic Infor- mation Services (CEGIS), a Dhaka- fishing could be perilous. matically as the number of days he ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT “I never saw such an increased can fish declines. based thinktank, said setting up fish TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 number of cyclone warnings in the “As a result, we are failing to meet farms might be a promising way of FAX: 4455 7870 past. Now we cannot go to sea for 10 the educational and healthcare providing a supplemental income. [email protected] to 15 days every month on average expenditures of our children. We “Inland cage fish cultivation could during the summer and monsoon,” cannot even give them meal three be introduced in the coastal canals to CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT the 64-year-old told the Thomson times in a day,” he said. create alternative livelihoods for fish- TEL: 4455 7857 Reuters Foundation. “Families of many fishermen ermen and it would be a good adap- [email protected] Fishermen rarely ignore the remain hungry,” he said. tation option,” he said. warnings, he said, as most have first- Mahabub Morshed Liton, Such systems are popular in other SUBSCRIPTION & hand experience with cyclones. chairman of the Hatiya sub-district, countries, including Vietnam, he said. DISTRIBUTION Two years ago, he remembers, TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 while at sea, his crew received a FAX: 44557819 cyclone warning urging them to head [email protected] Bangladesh, widely to shore. seen as one of the “But it was too late. Our fishing countries most boat was hit by the cyclone before reaching shore and we were stuck on All thoughts and views vulnerable to a small island, 40 kilometres off to the climate change, coast,” he said. expressed in these columns sees cyclones hit its Only the next day did they manage are those of the writers, coastal areas almost to extract their boat and reach home, not of the newspaper. he said. every year, usually Bangladesh, widely seen as one of in early summer or the countries most vulnerable to All correspondence the late-year rainy climate change, sees cyclones hit its regarding Views and season - and the coastal areas almost every year, Opinion pages should be usually in early summer or the late- sent to editor-in-chief numbers are rising, year rainy season - and the numbers meteorological are rising, meteorological officials say. office or mailed to the officials say. The Bangladesh Meteorological [email protected] Department issued a total of 12 A group of fishermen repairing fishing nets in Nijhum Dwip, Bangladesh. 10 EUROPE SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 May seeks ‘one more push’ from EU on Brexit

AFP Theresa May told an Brussels failed to help her now. trapped long-term in a customs “more months and years arguing. Conservative MPs of the backlash GRIMSBY audience of factory The deal “needs just one union with the EU. If we go down that road, we they might face from voters if workers in the more push to address the final, May wants a written guar- might never leave the EU at all,” they failed to deliver Brexit on Prime Minister Theresa May northeastern fishing specific concerns of our par- antee from Brussels that this will May said. time. (pictured) called on the liament,” May said in prepared not be the case. EU officials said “That would be a political Top members of May’s team European Union yesterday to town of Grimsby that remarks. “So let’s not hold back. the backstop must stay in place failure. It would let down the have spent recent days delivering make “one more push” to get the Britain may never split Let’s do what is necessary for until a new trade deal is signed more than 17 million people who stark warnings about Britain Brexit deal over the line in time off from the other 27 MPs to back the deal on — no matter how long that takes. voted to leave the EU and do pro- never leaving and the complica- for the Britain’s exit from the bloc nations if Brussels Tuesday.” EU ambassadors were to found damage to their faith in tions this would create for EU. in three weeks. “Because if MPs reject the meet in Brussels to discuss how our democracy.” “This is a moment of change The beleaguered British failed to help her now. deal, nothing is certain. It would they might proceed ahead of next Grimsby ran the world’s in our relationship between the leader’s request for an additional be at a moment of crisis,” she week’s crucial events in London. largest fishing fleet in the 20th UK and the EU and history will concession from Brussels comes between UK and EU envoys said. May has scheduled a century but has seen its pros- judge both sides very badly if we with Britain on the brink of hur- ended in acrimony on The deal is stuck on the so- potential series of votes that perity fall after Britain joined the get this wrong,” Foreign Sec- tling out of the EU after 46 years Wednesday and May still lacks called “backstop” solution that could include one on Thursday European communities and retary Jeremy Hunt said. with very few arrangements in the assurances she has been after London and Brussels have come asking the EU to grant London signed up to the Common Fish- “We know what it would place. from Brussels to get her deal up with to keep the Irish border an exit day delay. eries Policy. take to get a deal through the The British parliament is set through. open with Britain’s Northern But May said such a deferral Some 70 percent in the sur- House of Commons, and it is for to vote on Tuesday on May’s May told an audience of Ireland — a province of past sec- would create “continuing uncer- rounding area voted in favour of a significant change that would existing deal with Brussels after factory workers in the north- tarian violence. tainty” that ruins the business Britain leaving the EU in 2016. allow the (UK government) to say rejecting it by a historic margin eastern fishing town of Grimsby Some lawmakers in May’s climate and potentially leads to May’s decision to visit the we couldn’t be trapped in the last month. that Britain may never split off Conservative Party fear that the Brexit never happening. region yesterday highlights her customs union for ever. That’s But last-gasp negotiations from the other 27 nations if arrangement will keep Britain A delay would only lead to government’s efforts to remind not an unreasonable ask.” Finland govt resigns Austria slams Ukraine over over failed reforms entry ban on AFP earned millions as an IT entre- HELSINKI preneur before becoming prime journalist minister in 2015, Sipila con- Finnish Prime Minister Juha sidered the shake-up as key to AFP Sipila’s centre-right government cutting the ballooning costs of VIENNA resigned yesterday after failing treating a rapidly ageing to push through a flagship social population. Austria urged Ukraine to allow and health care reform package, The proportion of over a veteran Austrian journalist to just five weeks ahead of a legis- 65-year-olds in the Nordic enter the country, saying the lative election. country, which has a population ban was an “unacceptable act There has been a hard fought of 5.4 million, is expected to of censure”, as Kiev gears up for struggle for the wide-reaching reach 26 percent by 2030. presidential elections. reform for over a decade, Among the reforms dis- Austria’s Foreign Ministry dividing successive cussed were a centralisation of will summon Ukraine’s ambas- governments. services into new regional sador next week over the entry Sipila called the failure to healthcare authorities — which ban on Christian Wehrschuetz, pass the reform “a major would take over from the current a correspondent for public disappointment”. local municipalities — and the broadcaster ORF, according to He has since 2015 headed a use of more private health care a ministry spokesman. coalition made up of his Centre providers, a subject of heated “We condemn this action, Party, the conservative National debate. President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, and Finnish Prime Minister, Juha Sipila (right), at the President’s which goes against basic Coalition, and the eurosceptic But the coalition partners official residence Mantyniemi, in Helsinki, yesterday. European values,” Foreign Min- Blue Reform party, a moderate were unable to agree on issues ister Karin Kneissl said on faction spun off from the such as how much the system healthcare. election set for April 14. government’s resignation and Twitter, demanding “immediate far-right. should be opened up to give Claims that the reforms “My government works on a asked it to continue on a care- overturn” of the one-year ban. The three parties were patients freedom of choice, would bring $3.3bn of savings to ‘results or resign’ principle. I am taker basis until a new one has Kiev has accused Wehr- unable to agree among them- among others. the country’s welfare bill have a man of principle and in politics been appointed. schuetz, who has regularly selves on the package, which A recent scandal of neglect also been repeatedly called into you have to carry responsibility,” The current cabinet will reported from Ukraine, of border Sipila had made one of his top allegations that came to light in question. Sipila told reporters, adding: “I retain their jobs until a new gov- violations in Crimea, “trying to priorities in office. He had privately-run elderly care homes Sipila threw in the towel when am taking my share of ernment is formed after the justify the annexation of Crimea” repeatedly threatened to resign helped turn the political mood it became clear the government responsibility.” election, but will only work to and “anti-Ukraine propaganda”, if the reforms did not go through. further against any more priva- would not be able to submit a pro- Finland’s President Sauli finish off business that is already according to Austrian media. A former businessman who tisation of the country’s posal to parliament before the Niinisto said he had accepted the in progress. Wehrschuetz said that he would take legal action to fight the accusations against him. British air show Earlier, Wehrschuetz, who Bosnia braces for new ‘surge’ of EU-bound migrants was named “Journalist of the pilot acquitted Year” in 2014 by Austria’s jour- AFP Croatia, which is a member state. the minister said. fractured government, Bosnia nalism trade magazine for his for crash deaths SARAJEVO The vast majority — around According to Mektic, infor- does not have the economic or coverage of the conflict in 22,000 — successfully passed mation from “official institutions, political capacity to support a eastern Ukraine, had already AFP Bosnia is expecting an “esca- through Bosnia while several including European ones” says large increase in migrants, he been denied accreditation to LONDON lation” of EU-bound migrants thousand are currently housed some “70,000 migrants are cur- said. report from the region. passing through its country in in reception centres, said rently in Greece and are moving” Last year, the EU allocated The International Press A pilot who crashed his plane 2019, Bosnia’s security minister Security Minister Dragan with the aim of reaching western some $10.3m to help Bosnia set Institute also urged the Ukraine at a British air show in 2015, said, adding the European Union Mektic. Europe. up migrant reception centres to overturn the entry ban. killing 11 men, was cleared of had failed to solve a brewing While the stream of migrants “It is not only Bosnia’s with a current capacity of 4,500 “The recent harassment and manslaughter charges. crisis. dwindled in the cold months of problem.., we want to be part of people. now entry ban on Mr. Wehr- Andrew Hill, 54, was Last year, some 25,000 winter, Mektic said authorities the European solution, but the On Thursday, Bosnia’s Min- schuetz run counter to norms attempting a loop at the migrants from the Middle East, are preparing for a large wave EU cannot agree on a solution. istry of Security announced its protecting press freedom and Shoreham Airshow on the North Africa and Asia trudged this spring. These illegal migrations have intention to “close completely” freedom of expression that southern English coast on through the mountainous “We expect the problem of simply been allowed to the 600km border with Serbia Ukraine claims to respect,” the August 22, 2015 when he lost country in hopes of entering the migrants to escalate, not only continue.” and Montenegro in the east by group’s deputy director Scott control of his Hawker Hunter EU through neighbouring in Bosnia but along this route,” Poor and paralysed by a deploying more police. Griffen said in a statement. vintage military jet. It crashed onto a road and exploded in a fireball. Hill sur- vived after being thrown clear Spain marks International from the wreckage. Jurors at England’s Old Bailey Central Criminal Court Women’s Day with protests in London found Hill not guilty on 11 counts of manslaughter AFP many women were by gross negligence. MADRID participating. “I’m truly sorry for the part International Women’s Day I played in their deaths and it is For the second year running, was being celebrated around the they that I will remember for Spanish women went on strike world yesterday, with marches the rest of my life,” Hill said yesterday for International and other actions expected. afterwards outside court, Women’s Day, with several Already, thousands of people reading out the names of those protests kicking off over what had protested around the killed. has become a hot topic in the country. In Barcelona, demon- The prosecution alleged country’s election campaign. strators blocked a major thor- that former Royal Air Force and “If we stop, the world stops,” oughfare, some wearing purple British Airways pilot Hill had said one of the main slogans as wigs — the colour long asso- been flying too low as he Spain’s largest unions CCOO and ciated with gender equality. attempted the disastrous stunt. UGT organised a two-hour work Mass protests are planned But Hill said he blacked out stoppage — the first starting at later in the day in Madrid and in the air, having experienced midday — while smaller unions Barcelona. A woman wearing a mask that reads “Feminist Strike” as she takes part in a bike protest, in Madrid, yesterday. “cognitive impairment” brought called for a 24-hour strike. As snap general elections on by hypoxia possibly due to Madrid Mayor Manuela near on April 28, women’s rights points below the EU average. those of us who have had to put wanted “a feminist Spain”. the effects of G-force. Carmena, prominent journalists, has become a major theme of And gender violence con- up with lots of humiliation and “Only with feminism will we In the year 2017, a report and company employees are left- and right-wing parties’ tinues to take its toll on women, harassment in work and in edu- end violence against women and by the Air Accidents Investi- among hundreds of women who election campaigns, with all with 47 killed by their partners cation,” said Marta Horcas, a achieve real equality,” he said. gation Branch found the dis- pledged to take part in a strike pledging to do their bit for or ex-partners last year and at 30-year-old graphic designer. Even the national police aster was caused by pilot error that seeks to recreate a two-hour inequalities. least 975 dead since 2003, Prime Minister Pedro force joined in, announcing after the plane was too slow work stoppage that took place The gender pay gap in Spain according to government figures. Sanchez, who has made women’s Thursday it was working on a and too low during the loop on the same day in 2018. stands at 14.2 percent according “I’m on strike for all those rights one of the central themes “non-sexist language guide for manoeuvre. It was as yet unclear how to the latest EU statistics, two who can’t go on strike today, for of his campaign, tweeted that he its agents”. SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 EUROPE / AMERICAS 11

Ex-army intelligence Manafort gets analyst arrested for refusal to testify 47 months jail in WikiLeaks case AFP WASHINGTON

Chelsea Manning, who spent term for fraud more than three years in prison for leaking US military secrets to WikiLeaks, was jailed again AFP Paul Manafort still yesterday for refusing to testify ALEXANDRIA faces sentencing in a grand jury investigation in a second case in targeting the anti-secrecy US President Donald Trump’s Washington next group. former campaign chief Paul Judge Claude Hilton Manafort was sentenced to 47 week, where the ordered Manning to be held not months in prison for tax crimes maximum penalty as punishment but to force her and bank fraud. is 10 years and the testimony in the secret case, It was the stiffest sentence judge has appeared according to a spokesman for yet given to an associate of the the US attorney in the Alex- president in Special Counsel more sympathetic to andria, Virginia federal court. Robert Mueller’s investigation prosecutors. “Chelsea Manning has been into Russian election meddling Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort appears for sentencing in this court sketch in US remanded into federal custody — but significantly lighter than District Court, in Alexandria, Virginia, yesterday. for her refusal to provide tes- many expected for the 69-year- and associates of Trump’s 2016 timony” to a grand jury, said a old political consultant. presidential election campaign the Special Counsel’s office. guilty to lying to the FBI about Congress. statement from The Sparrow In a rebuff to Mueller’s call to be charged in the Mueller Besides Manafort and Gates, his contacts with Russian offi- George Papadopoulos, a Project, a support group for for stiff punishment, the judge investigation. four other former Trump asso- cials and awaiting sentencing. foreign policy advisor to the Manning. called the official guidelines for During Manafort’s trial, ciates face charges or have Trump’s former personal Trump campaign, pleaded guilty They cited Hilton as saying a prison sentence of 19 to 24 much of the damaging testimony pleaded guilty to charges attorney Michael Cohen is to to lying to the FBI and was sen- Manning would be held indef- years “excessive.” against him was provided by his stemming from the Mueller begin serving a three-year prison tenced to two weeks in prison. initely “until she purges or the But Manafort still faces sen- former deputy Rick Gates, who investigation. sentence on May 6 for fraud, tax Another Trump advisor, end of the life of the grand jury.” tencing in a second case in is awaiting sentencing after Former National Security evasion, illegal campaign con- Roger Stone, awaits trial. Manning was ruled in con- Washington next week, where reaching a plea agreement with Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded tributions and lying to tempt of court after refusing the maximum penalty is 10 years earlier this week to testify and the judge has appeared more before a secret grand jury that sympathetic to prosecutors. Trump claims Manafort case shows ‘no collusion’ with Russia is investigating actions by The charges involved Man- AFP stated loudly and for the world Russia to influence the 2016 involved with Russia. WikiLeaks and its founder afort’s work for 10 years on WASHINGTON to hear that there was NO COL- presidential election. That is the subject of the Julian Assange in 2010, behalf of Moscow-allied politi- LUSION with Russia,” Trump Following the sentencing, investigation by Mueller, a according to her own cians in Ukraine, and nothing US President Donald Trump tweeted. Manafort’s lawyer said that former FBI director. description, inadvertent court related to the 2016 election — an declared a victory yesterday in Judge T.S. Ellis did not there was “absolutely no evi- Speaking to reporters, revelations and media reports. issue he argued in asking the the Russia collusion investi- actually say that and neither did dence that Paul Manafort was Trump said he “feels very badly In that year Manning, a court for lenience. gation after his former campaign Manafort’s lawyer, Kevin involved with any collusion with for Paul Manafort.” transgender woman then Prosecutors alleged that chief received an unexpectedly Downing. any government official from “I think it has been a very known as Bradley Manning, Manafort used offshore bank light sentence in a high-profile What the judge said before Russia.” tough time for him,” he said. was a military intelligence accounts in Cyprus to hide more case brought by Special Counsel sentencing Manafort to nearly He did not address the wider Trump has denounced analyst who delivered more than $55m from Ukrainian pol- Robert Mueller. four years in prison was that he question of whether any other Mueller’s investigation on mul- than 700,000 classified docu- iticians from the tax “Both the Judge and the was not before the court on any members of Trump’s election tiple occasions and he repeated ments related to the wars in authorities. lawyer in the Paul Manafort case allegations of collusion with campaign may have been his criticism. Iraq and Afghanistan into He is one of six top advisors WikiLeaks’ hands. Serbia, Kosovo urged to halt mutual provocations US Congress passes REUTERS in 1999 to halt killings and expul- pass legislation to set up a between the two. BELGRADE sions of Kosovo Albanian national army. Serbian Prime Minister Ana election reform bill civilians by Serbian security “The United States calls for Brnabic said yesterday the Serbia and Kosovo should stop forces in a counter-insurgency the abolition of tariffs, an end to Kosovo negotiating platform was REUETRS provoking each other and campaign. mutual provocations and “against common sense ... It rep- WASHINGTON resume talks on normalising Albanian-majority Kosovo resumption of dialogue,” David resents a death blow to the relations two decades after the declared independence in 2008 Hale, US Under Secretary of State talks...Serbia’s reaction will be The US House of Representa- end of their war, a senior US and won recognition from the for Political Affairs, said in a appropriate, moderate and in the tives yesterday passed legis- envoy said yesterday. United States and most EU coun- Serbian-language tweet issued interest of our people”. lation that Democrats said will Western officials see lin- tries, but not Serbia or its big by the US Embassy in Belgrade. Both Vucic and Kosovo Pres- lessen the influence of big- gering Serbian-Kosovar tensions power patron Russia, and some His appeal came after a ident Hashim Thaci have previ- money interests in federal as a risk to stability in south- 4,000 Nato peacekeepers meeting with Serbian President ously floated ideas about either elections, make voting easier eastern Europe. Both countries remain in the Balkan country. Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, “correction of borders” or and tackle “gerrymandering” seek European Union mem- Sporadic normalisation talks and two days after Kosovo’s par- “delimitation” — terms inter- that skews the makeup of bership but have been told they have made little headway and liament adopted a 12-point preted by analysts as land swaps. congressional districts to must normalise ties to advance Kosovo’s nationalist-minded negotiating platform that stipu- Vucic has repeatedly said favour particular political towards integration with the government recently imposed lates mutual recognition Serbia will not resume talks with parties. West. 100 percent tariffs on goods between Serbia and Kosovo, Kosovo until it abolishes import In a warning shot to Repub- Nato carried out air strikes imported from Serbia, as well as while preserving current borders tariffs. lican President Donald Trump, the dominance of big, dark, Democrats included a provision special-interest money in pol- in the bill requiring all presi- itics and it empowers small EU police seize dents and presidential nominees donors and the grassroots” and to make public their tax filings “fights voter suppression.” $185m worth of — something the current White But the measure is likely to House resident has steadfastly become merely a campaign tool illicit medicines refused to do. for Democrats as they try to Some congressional inves- expand the number of seats they AP tigators think those returns hold in the House and to capture THE HAGUE could shed light on whether the Senate and White House in Trump has had any business the 2020 elections. European Union’s police agency dealings in Russia that could Senate Majority Leader said law enforcement author- have influenced his relations Mitch McConnell, a Republican, ities seized illegally trafficked with Moscow, either as a presi- has repeatedly attacked the medicines last year worth more dential candidate or as Democratic bill, leaving little than $185m. president. chance for it in the Republican- Europol said yesterday that In a party-line vote of 234- controlled Senate. a seven-month operation 193, the House approved the Backers said the legislation involving authorities from 16 “For the People Act,” a bill House would make voter registration European countries led to 435 Speaker Nancy Pelosi (pictured) easier, expand voting hours on arrests and the seizure of 1.8 promised in the 2018 congres- election days, restore voting tons of medicines. sional election campaigns that rights to US citizens who have The police agency, which Democrats would pursue to help served prison sentences for fel- A view of Chacao neighbourhood during a massive power interruption, in Caracas, yesterday. helped support the operations, clean up American politics and onies and shore up voting said that more than half the foster voting rights. machines and election infra- medicines seized were coun- Shortly before passage of the structure against cyberattacks Massive power outage hits Venezuela terfeit or falsified. bill, Pelosi said it “ends and other interference.

AFP country,” Vice-President Delcy A Copa Libertadores soccer CARACAS Rodriguez tweeted. game in the city of Barquisimeto The blackout in the capital was postponed. 40 more face probe in Genoa bridge collapse Venezuela’s government was total and hit at 4:50pm Rodriguez said on Twitter suspended work and classes (2050 GMT), just before nightfall. that Venezuela was “victim of REUTERS at state-controlled road main- waiting on the prosecutors’ yesterday due to a massive elec- Caracas is one of the world’s the imperial electrical war!” GENOA tenance operator Anas were also work, while ensuring full coop- tricity blackout that has lasted most crime-ridden cities, so “United Venezuelans will under investigation, the sources eration to get at the complete since the previous evening and people set out for home early, win. The putschists will not Italian prosecutors have placed said. truth,” a spokesman for the is affecting the majority of the well before the sun went down. pass,” she wrote. around 40 more people under The prosecutors’ move transport ministry said. country, the vice-president said. Telephone services and The state power company investigation in relation to the broadens a probe started last Prosecutors will ask the President Nicolas Maduro — access to the Internet were also Corpoelec said there has been collapse of a motorway bridge year after a section of the judge for a new evidentiary who has denounced the blackout knocked out. sabotage at a big hydroelectric in Genoa last year, including Morandi bridge in the northern hearing on the disaster to as an act of “sabotage” — made The capital’s international plant called Guri in Bolivar state. ex-officials of Atlantia’s units city of Genoa collapsed, sending ascertain the causes of the col- the decision “in order to facil- airport was hit, according to It gave no details. The facility is and the transport ministry, dozens of cars plunging to the lapse, the head of the prosecu- itate efforts for the recovery of social media posts from would- one of the biggest in Latin judicial sources said. ground and killing 43 people. tor’s office Franco Cozzi said electricity service in the be travellers. America. Former officials “The ministry is calmly recently. 12 AMERICAS / CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019

An unmanned capsule of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is seen as it was lifted out of the ocean and loaded on the recovery ship, in the Atlantic, about 200 miles off the Florida coast, yesterday. SpaceX capsule splashes down off Florida coast

REUTERS Steve Stich, the crew Stich, the crew program’s deputy CAPE CANAVERAL program’s deputy manager with NASA. manager with Nasa A boat in the zone where An unmanned capsule from Elon Dragon hit the Atlantic lifted the Musk’s SpaceX splashed down said, the vehicle 16-foot spacecraft out of the into the Atlantic Ocean yesterday is doing well. The water about one hour after morning after a short-term stay recovery crews are splash-down using a crane. It on the International Space out. They’re on the will carry the capsule back to Station, capping the first orbital land by tomorrow. test mission in Nasa’s long- scene. The first-of-a-kind mission delayed quest to resume human brought 400 pounds of test space flight from US soil later perfectly, right on time the way equipment to the space station, this year. that we expected it to,” Benjamin including a dummy named After a six-day mission on Reed, SpaceX’s director of crew Ripley outfitted with sensors the orbital outpost, Crew Dragon mission management, said in a around its head, neck, and spine autonomously detached about live stream from California. to monitor how a flight would 2:30am EST (0730 GMT) yes- The test mission was a feel for a human. terday and sped back to earth crucial milestone in the US The space station’s three- reaching hypersonic speeds National Aeronautics and Space member crew greeted the before an 8:45am EST (1345 Administration’s Commercial capsule last Sunday, with U.SS GMT) splash-down in the Crew Program ahead of SpaceX’s astronaut Anne McClain and Atlantic, about 200 miles off the first crewed test flight slated to Canadian astronaut David Saint- Florida coast. launch in July with US astronauts Jacques entering Crew Dragon’s A SpaceX rocket launched Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. cabin to carry out air quality the 16-foot-tall capsule from the “This really is an American tests and inspections. Kennedy Space Center in Florida achievement that spans many Nasa has awarded SpaceX last Saturday. generations of Nasa adminis- and Boeing Co a total of $6.8bn Minutes before splash-down, trators and over a decade of to build competing rocket and Crew Dragon deployed its four work by the Nasa team,” current capsule systems to launch astro- parachutes, easing some con- Administrator Jim Bridenstine nauts into orbit from American cerns about functionality that said after the splash-down. soil, something not possible both Nasa and SpaceX had “The vehicle is doing well. since the US Space Shuttle was before the landing. The recovery crews are out. retired from service in 2011. “Everything happened just They’re on the scene,” said Steve Trump tours tornado Heather Wilson resigns as US Air damage in Alabama Force Secretary AP AP Air Force One first landed at WASHINGTON AUBURN a military base along the Georgia border, where Trump boarded Department of Air Force President Donald Trump a helicopter for an aerial tour of Secretary Heather Wilson, once surveyed yesterday the damage some of the damage. seen as a candidate to succeed from a deadly tornado that It was one of at least 38 tor- Jim Mattis as defence secretary, devastated a small Alabama nadoes confirmed to have said that she is resigning to town, killing nearly two dozen touched down across the become president of the people. Southeast in a deadly weekend University of Texas at El Paso. Trump and First Lady outbreak. A former US House Repub- Melania Trump, flew south to As he left Washington, lican member from New Mexico Georgia and then took a heli- Trump said he expected to meet and graduate of the US Air copter to Alabama, landing at a with Gov Kay Ivey and people Force Academy, Wilson has regional airport in Auburn. who “got hit very hard by the headed the Air Force since May The president was expected tornadoes.” He also planned to 2017, making her President to tour rural Lee County in thank first responders. Donald Trump’s first Senate- eastern Alabama, where 23 Trump has said he’s confirmed service secretary. people died last Sunday in a instructed the Federal Emer- She had been an early massive EF4 tornado that carved gency Management Agency to skeptic of Trump’s interest in a path of destruction nearly a give Alabama “the A Plus creating a Space Force as an mile wide with 270kph winds. treatment” as the state recovers. independent military department, but she publicly embraced the administration’s proposal to Congress last month Vehicular accident in Mexico leaves that would establish a Space Force as a separate service 25 Central America migrants dead within the Air Force. AP ipality of Soyalo. In her resignation letter to TUXTLA GUTIERREZ The injured were trans- Trump, Wilson said the Uni- ported to hospitals as author- versity of Texas Board of Authorities in the southern ities investigated the cause of Regents announced that she is Mexico state of Chiapas said at the crash. the sole finalist to become the least 25 Central American In a statement, Guatemala’s university’s next president, migrants died when the truck foreign ministry said 23 of effective September 1. they were travelling in over- those killed were Guatemalan “Under Texas law, my name turned. migrants. will be public for three weeks The Chiapas state prosecu- Photographs on social media before the regents take a final tor’s office said in a statement show an overturned truck in an vote on my appointment,” she that 29 others were injured in unpopulated area, with dozens wrote. the accident. It appears the of people lying on the ground “Upon a favourable vote by driver lost control of the truck nearby. Some of the wounded the regents, I will resign my around 6pm near the town of appeared to be waiting for help position as secretary of the Air Francisco Sarabia in the munic- from paramedics. Force effective May 31, 2019,” she added. SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 CLASSIFIEDS 13

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30029977/55875920 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] www.iescoqatar.com. E-mail: [email protected] www.iescoqatar.com. 20 MORNING BREAK SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04. 34 AM Limitless luxury cars on show in Geneva SHOROOK 05. 50 AM AFP ZUHR 11. 45 AM MAGHRIB 05. 42 PM GENEVA ASR 03. 08 PM ISHA 07. 12 PM Luxury figured high on the menu as Europe’s biggest annual car show WEATHER TODAY opened to the public on Thursday, fea- turing everything from “hypercars” to flying cars, and more traditional high- end automobiles, encrusted with diamonds. Setting the tone, the new sleek and shiny “Battista” by Italian carmaker Pininfarina is one of the first vehicles one sees when walking into the massive exhibit halls of the Geneva Motor Show. The Battista is the first so-called hypercar — which are ultra-light, ultra-fast aerodynamic cars — that is fully electric, according to a Pininfarina ABOVE: Italian design house Pininfarina unveils Battista electric car during the the 89th Geneva International Motor sales rep on the floor. Only 150 Show in Geneva, Switzerland. According Pininfarina statement Battista is faster than even Formula 1 race cars. BELOW: Battistas will be made, each with a The PAL-V Liberty flying car on display at the show. 1,900 horsepower engine can go from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in less than two seconds. The vehicle, which carries a price tag of around €2m ($2.2m), was conceived for enthusiasts who have “money... and a really great passion for cars,” the sales rep said. Nearby, Dutch automaker Pal-V is showing off its hybrid car-plane, which o o with its retractable wings on the roof 17 C 23 C looks a bit like a shiny beetle. Carrying a price tag of some Minimum Maximum €500,000, it can drive at up to 160km Moderate temperature daytime with slight per hour and can fly up to an altitude dust to blowing dust at places at times, of 3,500 metres (11,500 feet), or at least cold by night. that is what Pal-V claims.

HIGH TIDE 05:54 – 18:02 LOW TIDE 00:41 –13:40 While advance sales have opened, Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department the object has not yet been registered to fly. The company says the first edi- tions will be delivered next year, but before drivers begin imagining them- selves soaring over interminable traffic jams, they will need to imagine passing the test for a pilot’s licence. More traditional perhaps, but ultra- type of cars like their mobile office,” of Britain, said he had become frustrated The branch of Volkswagen pre- luxurious nonetheless are the mod- he explained. The interior is typically when he could not find a car to fit his sented its one-of-a-kind Voiture Noire, ified vans by Okcu Automotive: The covered in wood panelling and with tastes and decided to build one for advertised as the world’s most black Mercedes Class V vans with their large leather seats, flanked by built-in himself. Using the chassis of a modern expensive car. It was conceived as an tinted windows have been turned into high-end televisions. Rolls-Royce, it took him five years and hommage to Bugatti’s Type 57 SC, the lush lounges. Company chief Savni Further along, the booth of Eadon around £2.5m ($3.3m) to build, he said. mythical 1930s sports car. There is no Okcu said that most customers are Green is showing off another eye- The desire for the out-of-the- point in asking for a test drive: The only businessmen, but there are also “some catching modified model: A neo-retro ordinary has also led to some inspired Voiture Noire has already been sold to countries’ presidents, some celeb- vehicle that is in fact a rebodied Rolls marketing by France’s Bugatti, which an anonymous collector for a rities.” In “some cities you know the Royce inspired by the cars of 1930s is celebrating its 110th anniversary at whopping €16.7m, including tax, the traffic is amazing, so they are using this France. Company founder, Felix Eaton the Geneva show. company said. Disney ‘Star Wars’ attractions to open soon in California, Florida Mid-day nap AFP Disney said the theme parks — initially aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers LOS ANGELES set to make their debuts in the summer Run.” Phase two, opening later this year, can lower in California and in the fall in Florida will feature “Rise of the Resistance,” an The Force will soon be with California — will open in phases. “On opening immersive attraction in which park goers high BP and Florida: Disney announced that its day for phase one, guests will be can experience battle between the First “Star Wars” theme park attractions will transported to the remote planet of Order and the Resistance. The new lands IANS be opening this year, ahead of schedule, Batuu, full of unique sights, sounds, will offer “Star Wars”- themed restau- LONDON in the two US states. smells and tastes,” the statement said. rants and shops, and Disney World is also Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Cal- “Guests can become part of the story set to have a hotel where guests will sleep Want to lower your high blood ifornia, will open its “Galaxy’s Edge” as they sample galactic food and bev- on board a starship offering a space view. pressure? Taking a nap during attraction on May 31, while Disney erages, explore an intriguing collection “Galaxy’s Edge” is part of Disney’s ambi- the day may help reduce hyper- World in Orlando, Florida will launch of merchant shops and take the controls tious plan to expand its theme parks tension levels, besides increasing its version on August 29. In a statement, of the most famous ship in the galaxy around the world. your energy levels and improving mood, finds a study. The findings showed that taking a nap during the day was associated with an average 5 Nasa captures images of mm Hg drop in blood pressure. In addition, for every 60 minutes of mid-day sleep, supersonic shockwaves 24-hour average systolic (top number) blood pressure AFP differently”, said Neal Smith of decreased by 3 mm Hg. “Mid-day WASHINGTON AerospaceComputing Inc, an sleep appears to lower blood engineering firm that works pressure levels at the same mag- Nasa has captured unprece- with Nasa, in a post on the nitude as other lifestyle changes,” dented photos of the inter- agency’s website. said Manolis Kallistratos, cardi- action of shockwaves from two “This data is really going to ologist at the Asklepieion General supersonic aircraft, part of its help us advance our under- Hospital in Voula in Greece. research into developing standing of how these shocks “These findings are planes that can fly faster than interact.” important because a drop in sound without thunderous Sonic booms can be a blood pressure as small as 2 “sonic booms”. major nuisance, capable of not mm Hg can reduce the risk of When an aircraft crosses just startling people on the cardiovascular events such as that threshold — around 1,225 ground but also causing heart attack by up to 10 per kilometers (760 miles) per hour damage — like shattered cent,” said Kallistratos. at sea level — it produces windows — and this has led to Moreover, people who slept waves from the pressure it puts strong restrictions on super- during the day had more on the air around it, which sonic flight over land in juris- favourable blood pressure merge to cause the ear- dictions like the United States. numbers readings (128.7/76.2 splitting sound. The ability to capture such versus 134.5/79.5 mm Hg) com- Taking a stroll In an intricate maneuver by detailed images of shockwaves pared with those who did not. “rock star” pilots at Nasa’s will be “crucial” to Nasa’s “We obviously don’t want to Horse “Jenny” inspects the baby of Raphael WllsteinJ as he pushes the pram through the Fechenheim Armstrong Flight Research development of the X-59, the encourage people to sleep for district of Frankfurt, western Germany, yesterday. Arab mare “Jenny” is allowed to decide herself where Center in California, two agency said, an experimental hours on end during the day, but she wants to spend her time, as her owner opens the stable door every day for his 22-years old horse. supersonic T-38 jets flew just supersonic plane it hopes will on the other hand, they shouldn’t “Jenny” has fixed a sign on her holster, reading “My name is Jenny. I’ve not escaped, just taking a stroll”. 30 feet (nine meters) apart be able to break the sound feel guilty if they can take a short below another plane waiting barrier with just a rumble nap, given the potential health to photograph them with an instead of a sonic boom. benefits,” said Kallistratos. advanced, high-speed camera, A breakthrough like that The results will be presented 2 Nasa astronauts set for first-ever all female spacewalk the agency said. could lead to the loosening of at the American College of Car- The rendezvous — at an flight restrictions and the return diology’s 68th Annual Scientific IANS / WASHINGTON Koch will share the credit of per- Kristen Facciol. “I just found out altitude of around 30,000 feet of commercial supersonic planes Session in New Orleans. For the forming the spacewalk at the that I’ll be on console providing — yielded mesmerizing images for the first time since Concorde study, the team included 212 Two Nasa astronauts are International Space Station, CNN support for the first all female of the shockwaves emanating was retired in 2003. people aged 62 years on average scheduled to carry out the first reported. spacewalk with @AstroAnnimal from both planes. Some countries and cities with a mean blood pressure of ever all female spacewalk in The two will receive support and @Astro_Christina and I With one jet flying just banned the Franco-British air- 129.9 mm Hg. Further research history on March 29. Nasa astro- on the ground by Canadian cannot contain my excitement,” behind the other, “the shocks liner from their airspace because is needed to validate these nauts Anne McClain and Christina Space Agency flight controller Facciol said in a tweet. are going to be shaped of its sonic booms. findings, the team noted.