QATAR | Page 28 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar will have a INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2 – 8, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 strong team REGION 10, 11 BUSINESS 1 – 5, 11 – 16 16,967.00 10,136.57 35.92 ARAB WORLD 11 CLASSIFIED 6 – 10 Antiques, art auction by 2022 +48.00 +122.14 +1.32 INTERNATIONAL 12 – 25 SPORTS 1 – 12 +0.28% +1.22% +3.91% house opens at Katara Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10020 March 7, 2016 Jumada I 27, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir arrives in Turkmenistan Woqod eyes In brief

QATAR | Expansion ‘specialised’ New health centres for western region Director of the Western Region at the Primary Health Care Corporation Dr Hiyam Ali al-Sada has revealed a plan to expand primary healthcare services in service centres the western region, including the establishment of five new health By Peter Alagos “It’s the Japanese car dealers who centres in the next few years. Business Reporter are very aggressive on these plans. Au- Speaking to Qatar News Agency, tomated centres are what the car deal- Dr al-Sada announced the opening ers are looking for, which is why these of two new health centres in Al oqod (Qatar Fuel) is now facilities will be built for them. Instead Wajbah and Muaither by the end HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived yesterday evening in in the fi nal stage of secur- of going to the industrial area, we will of 2016 or the beginning of 2017, Ashgabat for a two-day state visit to Turkmenistan. The Emir and his delegation Wing board approval for the build them within diff erent locations followed by a new health centre in were welcomed upon arrival at Saparmurat Turkmenbashi International Airport by establishment of standalone service in Doha to provide comfort and con- Al Waab in 2017, and new health Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Qatar’s centres for major carmakers, an offi - venience to motorists,” he explained. centres in Bani Hajar and Ain Khalid ambassador to Turkmenistan Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Suwaidi and Turkmenistan’s cial has said. “I think we are going to start with in the future. Expansion works ambassador to Qatar Charyev Orazmuhammet Atajanovich. The facilities, which will provide one centre fi rst as we are fi ne-tuning will also include Al Rayyan Health automated full service maintenance the agreements with other car deal- Centre this year because of the along select locations in Doha, will ers,” said al-Kuwari, who added that large turnout, Dr al-Sada added. be tailor-made for leading Japanese, Woqod CEO Ibrahim al-Kuwari at the the facility will carry the name of both American and European auto brands annual general meeting yesterday. Woqod and the respective car dealer. among others, according to Woqod Asked when the project will be ARAB WORLD | Crisis 18 drown as migrant CEO Ibrahim al-Kuwari. could be integrated in Woqod petrol implemented, al-Kuwari said: “The Truck bomb kills 60 “We are thinking of establishing stations. design of the centres is still being de- south of Baghdad automated service centres that will “Whenever we have an area that veloped according to the needs and boat sinks off Turkey provide full maintenance for vehi- we can utilise, we will give it to the specifi cations of the car dealers but A truck bomb at an Iraqi checkpoint cles. These facilities will be stan- big players in the market. So far, we the tentative date for completion of outside the city if Hilla, south of dalone centres that will cater to the are planning to establish three service the service centre would be at the end Baghdad, killed at least 60 people Reuters Aegean Sea near the town of Didim, big players in the market,” al-Kuwari centres within Doha city. of this year if we are lucky.” and wounded more than 70 Istanbul Anadolu said. Eff orts continued to fi nd told Gulf Times on the sidelines of “The plan is almost in the fi nal On profi t growth for 2016, al-Ku- yesterday, medical and security more victims. Woqod’s annual general meeting held stage of submitting the full study to wari said: “So far, the indicators that off icials said, and Islamic State Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Da- yesterday. the board for approval. We are also we have for the fi rst quarter of the year claimed responsibility for the blast. t least 18 people attempting vutoglu will be in Brussels for today’s He said the project, which is ten- seeking the board’s approval to go look good. It seems like we are going The suicide attack, involving an to reach Greece drowned after emergency summit with European tatively set to commence in the latter ahead with the investment costs and to maintain the same growth or even explosive-laden fuel tanker, is the Atheir boat sank off the Turkish Union leaders seeking to reduce illegal part of 2016, “will be joint ventures other procedures,” he noted. better. second deadliest this year after coast yesterday, the state-run Anadolu migration to member states, much of with the big players in the automotive Asked which car dealer has ex- “This year, we have around 18 to 20 one on Feb 28 that killed 78 people news agency reported, on the eve of a which occurs through Turkey. industry.” pressed interest in the plan, al-Kuwari stations to be opened. We also have in Sadr City. This was also claimed European meeting aimed at tackling “Turkey has been carrying this bur- Al-Kuwari said the facilities, which said “all big players” are potential several special projects such as the by the militant group that controls the number of migrants. den pretty much on its own for fi ve would cost around QR50mn each de- partners but he revealed that leading improved transportation fl eets for our vast swathes of territory in Iraq and The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 15 years,” Davutoglu told reporters at a pending on the size of the location, Japanese car brands are keen on in- deliveries, which is another source of in Syria. Page 11 people and recovered 18 bodies in the news conference yesterday. Page 19 could either be separate entities or vesting in the project. income for the company,” he added. Gulf Times 2 Monday, March 7, 2016 QATAR

Emir meets Singaporean deputy PM Qatar-Singapore ties discussed

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani holding talks with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, Teo Chee Hean, at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The Singapore deputy prime minister was HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met the Senior Minister of State for Defence in Qatar to participate in the seventh meeting of the Joint Higher Committee between Qatar and Singapore. Talks dealt and Foreign Aff airs of Singapore Dr Mohamed Maliki bin Osman and his accompanying delegation. Talks during the with bilateral relations between the two countries and means of enhancing them in addition to issues of mutual meeting dealt with bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them. Separately, HE the Minister of Education and Higher interest in economic and investment sectors. The meeting was attended by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi met Singapore’s Minister of State for Education Dr Janil Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. Puthucheary. They discussed issues related to the education sector and means to enhance co-operation. Qatar, Singapore sign pacts to boost relations

QNA memoranda of understanding, the Ministry of Education and Doha one on co-operation on the legal Higher Education in the State of fi eld between the governments Qatar and the ministry of educa- of Qatar and Singapore, another tion in Singapore and the signing he Qatar-Singapore High on co-operation in the educa- of a MoU between Qatar’s Min- Level Joint Committee tion fi eld between the Ministry istry of Justice and the Ministry T(HLJC) held a meeting of Education and Higher Educa- of Law in Singapore. chaired by HE the Prime Min- tion in the State of Qatar and the The two sides also welcomed ister and Minister of Interior Ministry of Education in Singa- the renewal of an MoU on co- Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin pore and a third on co-operation operation in the fi eld of capacity Khalifa al-Thani and Singapo- and exchange in the fi eld of de- building of government offi cials rean Deputy Prime Minister Teo velopment and capacity build- and sectors’ leaders between Chee Hean at the Emiri Diwan. ing of government offi cials and Qatar Leadership Centre and the The two sides discussed bi- sectors’ leaders between Qatar Civil Service College in Singa- lateral relations and means to Leadership Centre and the Civil pore. enhance them in the economic Service College in Singapore. They agreed to hold the com- and investment fi elds. They also HE the Prime Minister and mittee’s next meeting in Sin- exchanged views on regional and Minister of Interior and the gapore at a date to be set later international issues. Deputy Prime Minister of Sin- HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Teo through diplomatic channels. Following the talks, HE the gapore also witnessed the sign- Chee Hean witness the signing of memoranda of understanding between Qatar and Singapore at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Later HE the Prime Minister Prime Minister Sheikh Abdul- ing of minutes of the joint state- and Minister of Interior hosted lah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- ment of the HLJC 7th meeting in the major pillar of co-operation Qatar and Singapore co-operate civil service and urban planning, The two sides welcomed the a luncheon banquet in honour Thani and Singaporean Deputy which the two sides underlined between the two countries. The in various fi elds since the HLJC’s security, civil defence, informa- signing of a Memorandum of of the Singaporean deputy prime Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean their commitment to the contin- two sides welcomed the devel- fi rst meeting, held in October tion technology, communica- Understanding for co-operation minister and the delegation ac- witnessed the signing of three uation of the work of the HLJC as opment of bilateral relations as 2006, particularly in economy, tions and legal. in the fi eld of education between companying him. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 3 QATAR CRA takes steps to protect consumers PM attends global meet s part of its mandate to protect ceive a service before they are charged further strengthen CRA’s consumer and a mobile app – Arsel. consumers of communication for it. protection initiatives and ensure con- The Consumer Aff airs department Aservices in Qatar, the Communi- “Most of the consumer complaints we sumers have the right to receive infor- within CRA is responsible to receive on dual cations Regulatory Authority (CRA) has receive are related to premium services, mation and to stop receiving any such and investigate telecom consumer com- launched an industry consultation on consumer’s inability to unsubscribe, information through a simple process. plaints by working with both consumers draft Codes on spam and premium rate spam and scam, among others. Through The CRA has already spearheaded some and service providers in a prompt and disability services. these two draft Codes, CRA intends to key consumer protection initiatives. balanced way to fi nd mutually accept- The draft codes are expected to be fi - empower consumers in Qatar to have These include a strengthened system able solutions. The Consumer Aff airs nalised in the coming months after both full control of the services and messages for monitoring and enforcing compli- department also responds to consumer QNA service providers - Ooredoo and Voda- they want to receive,” said Amel Salem ance with the rules, and provision for a inquiries about any issues they have re- Doha fone Qatar – have provided their com- al-Hanawi, Consumer Aff airs Depart- dispute resolution process that is inde- garding the services provided by their ments. ment manager. pendent of operators. telecom service provider. Service providers already have a “These Codes will further enhance Amel Salem al-Hanawi A dedicated telecom consumers Consumers can contact CRA if they E the Prime Minister and range of consumer protection obliga- CRA’s consumer protection eff orts to- complaint hotline, 103 (operational are fi rst unable to resolve their disputes Interior Minister Sheikh tions under existing regulations. The gether with the existing initiatives and by CRA from consumers about being 24-hours), an independent complaints with their service provider within 30 HAbdullah bin Nasser bin draft Codes add to these in ways that regulatory instruments. The fi nal docu- charged for services that they have nev- process, which consumers can contact days using a variety of communication Khalifa al-Thani attended the are intended to reduce complaints about ments will be made available to the er requested or received. Through these if they are dissatisfi ed with the way channels: the 24/7 hotline number 103, opening session of the 2nd Doha spam and premium rate services. consumers and other stakeholder in the draft Codes CRA intends to give specifi c their service provider has treated their email at [email protected], International Conference to dis- The draft Code on Premium Rate CRA website,” she added. guidance to service providers on issues complaint, a Code on Advertising, using the CRA’s online complaint form, cuss the problems of the deaf Services proposes a new obligation on The draft Codes are a result of con- that are common sources of concern for Marketing & Branding to monitor ad- by tweeting directly to @CRAqatar, or and blind (Dual Disability) which service providers to ensure that con- tinuous monitoring of reports in the consumers. vertisements and promotions of com- by visiting CRA’s headquarters at Al is organised by the Arab Union sumers have expressly consented to re- media and many complaints received Once fi nalised, these two Codes will munications products and services, Nasr Tower B, Corniche. for the Blind (AUB) which began at Doha Marriott Hotel yester- day morning . The opening session was also attended by senior offi cials and the heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of civil society Qatar Rail launches ‘Metro Art’ exhibition organisations and governments, in addition to experts from Qatar, Arab and foreign countries and atar Rail launched yester- themed art activities, including Metro Art and the power of art the World Federation of the Deaf day “Metro Art” an exhi- sand painting, clay modelling, and creativity to educate, engage Blind. Qbition which uses Qatari Lego building, as well as story- and inspire the people of Qatar Meanwhile, addressing the art to bring Doha Metro to life. telling and puzzle solving. about this landmark project,” he opening session of the confer- The exhibition is being held at the Organised school trips will added. ence, the President of the Arab Qatar Fine Arts Society at Katara also be hosted in addition to re- Metro Art is part of a month Union for the Blind (AUB) Dr Cultural Village, Building 13, and ceptions for business commu- dedicated to arts, creativity and Khalid al-Nuaimi, who is also is open to the public until April 2. nities in which they will learn performance that was launched Chairman of the Gulf Associa- Done in partnership with about the Doha Metro project, by Qatar Rail and kicked off on tion for Human Rights, praised Qatar Fine Arts Society, Metro the major milestones that have February 29th with “Qatar Rail the eff orts taken by Qatar to Art exhibition involves over 35 already been achieved as well as Theatre Festival”, a three-day improve the living conditions of Qatari artists of diff erent dis- future plans. theatrical festival which fea- persons with disabilities in all ciplines. One of the main high- Abdulla Abdulaziz T al- tured productions done by local areas. lights of the exhibition is the Subaie, managing director, students based on their percep- He lauded the support provid- interpretation of the future sta- Qatar Rail, said, “Metro sys- tions of the exciting landmark ed by Qatar’s leadership to the tions of the Doha Metro as seen tems throughout the world use project. Arab Union for the Blind, which through the eyes of four of these art to make the customer ex- Doha Metro will enable people had a great impact on improving high profi le artists. perience more interesting and in Doha to connect more rap- people with visual impairment Metro Art also includes many to celebrate the role of the sys- idly and refl ect the vibrancy and across the Arab world. exciting events and activities tem in the city, and we believe spirit of the city. Those participating in the that are appealing to the en- that this is something that we HE Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications and HE Mohamed Abdul The fi rst phase of the Doha three-day conference include tire family, including spec- can achieve to its full potential Wahed Ali al- Hammad, Minister for Education and Higher Education at the launch ceremony of Metro Art. Metro project, is expected to be representatives of civil society tacular laser light shows, live here in Qatar. Metro Art is part complete in the fourth quarter organisations and the govern- graffi ti art and 3D painting and of our commitment to deliver talented Qatari artists, we are grated railway project that is set Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of 2019. ments of all Arab countries in live entertainment. There will more than just a transportation using this exhibition to reach to change people’s lives in Qatar that all paintings to be used in It will cover the greater Doha addition to several experts from also be children’s workshops system but rather a statement out to the local community, and forever.” the Doha Metro should be de- area and will connect the main Qatar, Arab and foreign coun- every weekend for 4 to 12 years of our country and its people.” particularly the next generation “In response to a recent di- signed by Qatari artists, Qatar commercial and residential areas tries and the World Federation of old which focus on fun, Metro As well as shining a light on to inspire them about the inte- rective by HH the Emir Sheikh Rail intends to use initiatives like throughout the city. the Deaf Blind (WFDB). Gulf Times 4 Monday, March 7, 2016 QATAR HBKU-Difi event to celebrate Qatari women achievers

n the occasion of all spheres of life, we want to International Wom- highlight the achievements Oen’s Day, Hamad Bin and aspirations of younger Khalifa University (HBKU), women, while encouraging a member of Qatar Founda- them to be proactive and tion for Education, Science, take advantage of opportu- and Community Develop- nities that could shape their ment (QF), has invited com- futures.” munity members to attend Featured panellists in- a special panel discussion clude Dr Kholode al-Obaidli, featuring fi ve distinguished former vice-president of female Qatari thought lead- National Talent Manage- ers tomorrow at 9am at ment within the Human Re- HBKU Student Centre. sources Department at Qatar Organised by HBKU’s Dr Amal al-Malki Noor al-Jehani al-Malki Airways, Aysha al-Mudahka, College of Humanities and CEO of Qatar Business In- Social Sciences in collabo- was founded with a remit to er Qatari women from diff er- cubation Centre, Dr Asma ration with Doha Inter- be a catalyst in these fi elds, ent professional backgrounds al-Fadhala, director of Re- national Family Institute employing academia and re- in an attempt to showcase the search at the World Innova- (Difi ), the event, titled “My search to the service of soci- success stories and the chal- tion Summit for Education, Voice, My Future”, will cel- ety. This is the fi rst time that lenges faced by them, and to Hanadi al-Darwish, artist ebrate the accomplishments we are celebrating Interna- state Qatari women’s aspira- and director of the Visual of leading women in Qatar tional Women’s Day in an tions and objectives for the Arts Centre of the Ministry and explore how women can academic setting at HBKU.” future,” she added. of Culture and Sports, and best shape their futures. “The focus of this event is Noor al-Jehani al-Malki, Tahani al-Hajri, columnist. Dr Amal al-Malki, found- to bring Qatari women to the executive director of Difi , The event will be moder- ing dean of HBKU’s College forefront of the conversa- commented: “Driven by ated by Reem al-Harmi, a of Humanities and Social tion and give them the space Qatar Vision 2030 and aim- well-known Qatari column- Sciences, refl ected: “The to represent themselves and ing to enhance women’s ist, and will be followed by a College of Humanities and their unique experiences. capabilities and empower question and answer session Social Sciences of HBKU The event also brings togeth- them to participate fully in and a networking reception.

Outlet closed for selling counterfeit products

The Ministry of Economy and to monitor the market and commercial labels a clear description of goods Commerce (MEC) has closed a company activity in Qatar, in a bid to off set price and their ingredients and refrain for a month in Al Wakrah, for selling manipulation and expose violations from posting any misleading or false counterfeit products of well-known pertaining to counterfeit goods and statements. brands. non-conformance with standard The administrative closure is A pharmacy in Al Aziziyah was also specifications. published on the Ministry’s website closed for a week over the display and Inspectors from the MEC fined both the as well as two daily newspapers sale of expired infant formula. company and the pharmacy, in line with at the off ending company and The closures comes within the article (7) of law number (8) of 2008. pharmacy’s own expense in line with framework of inspection campaigns The law stipulates that suppliers of article (3) of law no (8) on consumer carried out by the Ministry in an eff ort goods shall clearly display on product protection.

Gulf Times 6 Monday, March 7, 2016 QATAR

Bangladeshi man jailed for stealing cell phone

A Bangladeshi man has yesterday that the Public to make several calls. been sentenced to one Prosecution had referred Police found the phone on month in jail for stealing the defendant to the the accused. mobile phone of his co- court, accusing him However, the defendant worker. A Doha Criminal of stealing the mobile claimed that he found the Court also ordered his phone from his room. phone at his company’s Qatar to participate deportation after serving The records of the telecom lounge, asked around if the sentence. provider showed that the someone had lost a phone, Local Arabic daily defendant used the SIM and started to use it when Arrayah reported card of the missing phone no one claimed. in UN Statistical Commission session atar will participate period, according to a state- the statement notes. update the statistical proc- World Bank, Organisation in the 47th session ment from the Ministry of This session’s agenda ess as a prelude to support of Islamic Co-operation, Qof the United Na- Development Planning and covers a number of impor- the agenda of the aforesaid as well as regional and tions Statistical Commis- Statistics. tant issues related to the development. Arab organisations, the sion (UNSD), to be held This membership will en- role of statistical data in In addition, the agenda statement adds. at the UN headquarters in able Qatar to involve in the the development process, covers signifi cant topics He will also meet repre- New York from tomorrow decision-making process the development of meth- pertaining to the national sentatives of the developed until March 11. related to the measurement odologies and data sources, accounts system, price countries in order to con- The Qatari delegation of economic, social and en- the methods of publishing statistics, environmental- sult on the latest develop- will be headed by HE the vironmental phenomena in statistical data and making economic accounting, in- ments on updating statis- Minister of Development the Arab region, the update them available to users in ternational statistical clas- tical process, exchange of Planning and Statistics Dr of statistical systems and a timely manner, including sifi cations, international experiences and learning Saleh Mohamed Salem al- methodologies, the for- the adoption of the frame- trade statistics, climate from successful lessons. Nabit. mulation of eff ective sta- work of the 2030 Agenda for statistics, disability sta- In the Qatari mission of- Qatar’s participation in tistical policies that take Sustainable Development, tistics, information and fi ce, he will meet the man- this session is of special into account national and whose goals and objectives communications technol- ager of the UN Transforma- importance, being elected international needs related have been adopted by world ogy statistics, and big data tive Agenda for Offi cial last year as representative to the sustainable develop- leaders in September 2015. for offi cial statistics, in Statistics Project to discuss of the Asian Group, which ment process, as well as in The session will also dis- addition to other topics. the request submitted by will enable it to obtain assisting Arab countries to cuss the Transformative On the sidelines of the the UN Statistics Division membership of the United benefi t from the techni- Agenda for Offi cial Sta- session, HE Dr al-Nabit is to Qatar to join the project, Nations Statistical Com- cal support provided by the tistics in order to enable to meet a number of offi cials considering it a leading mission for the 2016-2019 UN and its organisations, countries to develop and from UN organisations, the country in this area.

Vodafone begins campaign on spam calls awareness

odafone Qatar sender listed as “Vo- has launched a dafone” or the number Vcampaign to raise 97773. awareness about spam “We will not contact calls and messages that our customers via What- some customers might be sApp and we ask them not Instagram 13 winning pic - Mosque receiving. to answer these messages This is in line with the or return these calls as it company’s commitment may be a scam. Vodafone to ensuring the highest is committed to its cus- levels of customer security tomers’ protection and ‘Mosque’s beauty’ and data protection. is working to block such In a statement, Vo- scams so that they do not dafone Qatar said: “Our receive them in future.” wins Instagram customers may have re- Vodafone Qatar said it ceived a call or message encourages its customers via WhatsApp recently to contact its call centre on Contest 13 from an unknown local 111 to inform the custom- or international number er care team of any such informing them that they numbers. Vodafone will eenager Vaishnavi have won a cash prize then draw all the necessary Senthilkumar is the from Vodafone Qatar. Vo- information related to that Twinner of Gulf Times dafone Qatar would like number and refer it to the Instagram Contest 13. to assure all its custom- law-enforcement authori- Vaishnavi, 15, is studying ers that our competitions ties as appropriate to take in 10th grade at DPS MIS. are SMS-based with the due action. Interested in photography, basketball and art, she is taking part in a photography contest for the fi rst time. Photography is a hobby for the youngster who wants to learn more about it. “My family came to Doha in 2004 when I was four Vaishnavi years old,” she says. Vaishnavi’s father works tures will be posted on the in Qafco and her mother is Gulf Times Instagram ac- a teacher in a kindergarten. count, with the name of the Excited at the opportu- photographer mentioned. nity to show her photogra- The picture that gets the phy skills, Vaishnavi is one maximum number of likes of the youngest winners and unique comments dur- of the contest. Her picture ing a seven-day period will – Mosque’s beauty in the be declared the winner. sunset – drew much inter- A like will get the pic- est from Instagram follow- ture one mark and a unique ers, receiving 239 likes and comment will fetch two 128 comments. marks. Contest 14 The winning picture will The 14th instalment of be published in the Gulf the competition starts to- Times print edition as well day. Send your photos shot as on the web edition of Gulf in Qatar to: tellus@gulf- Times, along with a short times.com Shortlisted pic- bio of the photographer.

Rain and thunder are expected in some parts

ain and thunder, be accompanied by thun- along with strong der at times. The wind Rwinds, are expect- speed may go up to 25 ed in some parts of the knots in some areas during country today, the Met thundershowers. department has said. Off shore areas will re- Al Ruwais, Dukhan and main hazy to misty and see Abu Samra are among the partly cloudy conditions. places that are likely to re- There is also a chance of ceive rain, according to the scattered rain. weather report. The minimum and max- The forecast for in- imum temperatures today shore areas says it will be are expected to be 19C and partly cloudy to cloudy, 27C, respectively, with the and there is a chance of forecast for Doha being 21C scattered rain, which may and 25C. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 7 QATAR

Off icials of Ooredoo and EAC at the donation handing over ceremony. Ooredoo donates QR200,000 to EAC

oredoo has donated QR200,000 place to enrol 6mn children. communities. We thank everyone who to Educate A Child (EAC), a Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, director, ran the Ooredoo Marathon for their Oprogramme of the Education Community and Public Relations, said: contribution.” Above All Foundation (EAA). “Ooredoo believes in the power of edu- Leena al-Derham, senior education The funds will be used for EAC cation to transform people’s lives, and specialist, EAC, thanked Ooredoo for projects in support of children around we are working hard on a range of pro- its support and envisioned the gesture the world with no access to primary grammes that deploy innovative mo- as the beginning of more collaboration education due to poverty, confl ict or bile technology to bring educational in support of the issue of out of school natural disasters. resources to under-served and remote children. Ooredoo raised the donation from entry fees for the different races at the Ooredoo Marathon 2016, which BMS pricing restructured took place in January, as well as con- tributions from its central charity Ooredoo has announced a pricing businesses can subscribe to a range fund. restructure for its Business Messag- packages starting from 500,000 Founded in 2012 by HH Sheikha ing Service (BMS), a mobile market- to 8,500,000 local messages per Moza bint Nasser, EAA aims to build a ing tool that enables companies to month with monthly fees as low as global movement that contributes to send bulk SMS to large groups of QR 30,000. Ooredoo’s BMS ‘Unlim- human, social and economic develop- people. The company has reduced ited’ bundle will now see companies ment through the provision of quality the local price of each package, and send up to 18mn SMS per month, education. increased the number of message an increase of 5mn messages at no Through its partnerships to recipients in each. From today, extra cost. date, EAC has commitments in Gulf Times 8 Monday, March 7, 2016 QATAR

French embassy launching project QC receives donation for Qatari women

he French embassy, tar, we have remarkable under the patronage women in all fi elds. I am Tof Qatar Business honoured to contribute to Incubation Centre (QBIC), creating strong and last- from Soul Riders is launching the fi rst edi- ing bonds between Qatari tion of a programme that and French women. Our ikers’ group Soul Riders has come of the third charity exhibi- to help the needy and attempts aims to create bonding be- people have a lot to learn donated around QR87,000 tion for motorcycles and classical to introduce humanitarian and tween Qatari and French from each other,” said Bfor the establishment of a cars, which was recently organised charity work through its events. women and encourage Chevallier. mosque and the drilling of a well by the team in Qatar. Soul Rid- In return, Soul Riders gave QC a Qatari women to develop Al-Mudahka noted, “I in Bangladesh. ers chose QC because the team certifi cate of appreciation to com- professional initiatives in am truly honoured to be Khaled al-Hammadi, founder wishes to provide drinking water mend its role in charity work. all sectors of activity. part of this noble initia- of Soul Riders, presented the do- to the needy people of Bangladesh Al-Rumaihi thanked Soul Rid- The initiative comes on tive, and to represent the nation on behalf of the group to and support QC’s humanitarian ers for its gesture, which would the occasion of Interna- Qatari women who have Nayef al-Rumaihi, public aff airs projects around the world,” said encourage athletes and youths tional Women’s Day and to made great achievements head, board of directors, QC. al-Hammadi. to be more involved in voluntary celebrate Qatari women, thanks to the support and The mosque, which is to be built He stressed this was neither the work. “We hope to further co- according to a statement. vision of our government on an area of 120sq m, will consist fi rst time – nor the last – for the operate with Soul Riders and other “In September this year, and leaders. of a furnished room for prayers, group to work with QC. The team similar groups,” he said. the French embassy will “We, at QBIC, support a minaret, a loudspeaker, three members are working on expand- Off icials mark the occasion. QC’s offi ce in Bangladesh will launch a call for projects. female entrepreneurs and toilets and a place for wudu (ab- ing their partnership with QC to supervise the construction of the It will be open to all Qa- strive to provide them with lution). In addition, a well will be serve and help develop the Qa- ing to pay fi eld visits in co-or- humanitarian aid,” he added. mosque and the drilling of the tari women, active or a comfortable environ- drilled to provide drinking water. tari community in particular and dination with QC to shed more After receiving the donation, QC well. The project is expected to be students,” the statement ment to help them realise It will have a manual pump. humanitarian work in general. light on the importance of pro- gave Soul Riders a shield of appre- completed within a year from its notes. A committee of their dream of having their “The donations were the out- “The Soul Riders are will- viding relief to people and off er ciation for its eff orts and hard work date of implementation. French and Qatari women own startup businesses. based in Doha will revise At QBIC, we’ve already and select three winners, incubated some very suc- who will be announced on cessful startups, founded March 8, 2017. The laure- and run by Qatari women. ates will partner with a Some of these businesses Engineer evades French woman and, to- are S’ishira, Namoona, HZ gether, they will develop and Faroula. the project. “The French embassy deportation after MoI, The programme will has been a great supporter be announced by French of women in Qatar, and ambassador Eric Cheval- this programme repre- embassy step in lier tomorrow, on the oc- sents only one of the many casion of Women’s Day, in milestone initiatives they the presence of OBIC chief regularly provide for the The police band performing at the camp. ndian ambassador San- dor alerted the MoI for its executive offi cer Aysha al- women of our community. jiv Arora has appreci- intervention. Mudahka al-Mudahka. We look forward to being a Iated the swift assistance Subsequently, Indian em- “In France and in Qa- part of this journey.” rendered by the Ministry of bassy offi cials headed by Interior (MoI) last week to deputy chief of mission R K Safe Spring Camp concludes at Sealine facilitate the stay of an In- Singh and a representative of Yamaha bike models recalled dian national in the coun- Indian Cultural Centre vis- he 6th edition of Safe Conducted from February the camp attracted a great The camp featured a col- try after he was sent to the ited the Deportation Centre. The Ministry of Economy up on the maintenance Spring Camp, organ- 25-27 and March 3-5 under turnout of visitors. lection of various interac- Deportation Centre of the After the intervention and Commerce (MEC), in and repair works and Tised by the Ministry the topic ‘Awareness, educa- Colonel Dr Ahmed Zayid tive activities that helped Criminal Investigation by the Indian embassy, the collaboration with Al Badi communicate with of Interior (MoI) Commu- tion and prevention,’ saw the al-Mohannadi, director of to raise public awareness and Evidence Department MoI made a further review Trading and Contracting customers to ensure that nity Policing Department participation of 32 entities. the Community Policing on traffi c safety, health and (CIED). of the whole situation and Company, has announced the necessary repairs are at the Sealine and Al-Ghar- Brigadier Nasser Jaber al- Department, said that many safety at work, home and The young chemical en- its Drugs Enforcement De- the recall of Yamaha bikes carried out. iyah coastal areas, has con- Noaimi, director of Capital families participated in var- the road and how to handle gineer, who arrived at Ha- partment was convinced of 42F- R1/R1M models of 2015 The MEC has urged all cluded successfully. Security Department, said ious awareness eff orts. risks and dangers. mad International Airport the genuineness of the issue because of an imbalance in customers to report on March 1, was detained and the innocence of the the gear box. any violations to its by the customs authori- young engineer. Following The MEC said the recall Consumer Protection and ties for carrying medicines this, the Drugs Enforce- campaign comes within Anti-Commercial Fraud without a prescription. ment Department released the framework of its Department through He was transferred to the him from Deportation ongoing eff orts to protect the following channels: Deportation Centre. Centre on March 5. consumers and ensure that Hotline: 16001, e-mail: The issue was brought to The young professional car dealers follow up on [email protected], Twitter: the attention of the Indian has also been given the per- vehicles’ defects and repair @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: embassy by the engineer’s mission to continue with them. MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile employers, an oil and gas his assignment with his The MEC will co-ordinate app for Android and IOS: company. The ambassa- employers. with the dealer to follow MEC_Qatar

Expatriate man jailed for 10 years, fi ned QR200,000 for carrying drugs Doha criminal court Arrayah reported yester- heroin were found in his a person whom he would has sentenced a day that the court also or- trousers pocket and around meet at the airport. The ABangladeshi man to dered his deportation upon 4.7kg of marijuana in his convict also claimed he did 10 years in jail and imposed completing the jail term. luggage. not know anything about a fi ne of QR200,000 for The defendant was ar- When confronted with their content and had no attempting to smuggle il- rested at HIA when a cus- the packets at the interro- criminal record during his licit drugs into the country toms offi cer suspected him gation, he claimed that they four years in Qatar. through Hamad Interna- of carrying contraband. He belonged to someone in his However, the court con- tional Airport (HIA). ordered a search of his lug- home country who asked victed him based on the ma- Local Arabic daily gage. Around 99 grams of him to hand over them to terial evidences against him.

Court reviews GCC man’s cheque book theft case

Doha Criminal him unconscious. Later he Court has been re- underwent a life-saving Aviewing the case surgery. It was only when of GCC man accused of he recovered that he re- using the cheque books alised the loss of cheque of another person while books. he was injured in a car Later, he received a SMS accident. from his bank indicating The victim lost three that a sum of QR950,000 cheque books when his was withdrawn from his vehicle overturned in an account through a cheque. accident, local Arabic dai- He reported the issue ly Arrayah reported yes- to the police who arrested terday. The accident left the defendant.

Qataris, driver die in Saudi accident

wo middle-aged volved in a collision with Qatari men, from another vehicle near Al TMaither, and their Hessa township. No other Indian driver died in an details of the accident were accident in Saudi Arabia’s known. eastern province yesterday, The Indian victim was sources said. identifi ed as 26-year-old The accident occurred Shahaf, hailing from the when their vehicle was in- southern state of Kerala.

Gulf Times 10 Monday, March 7, 2016 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Kuwait celebrates Independence Day Iran tycoon sentenced to die in graft

crackdown Fireworks light the sky around Kuwait’s landmark towers during celebrations marking the 55th anniversary of the Gulf emirate’s independence and the 25th anniversary of its liberation from Iraqi occupation in February 1991, in Kuwait City on Saturday night. AFP ministry was that sanctions had prevented a Tehran planned transfer from taking place. However, the case follows repeated dec- larations from the current government of ran’s billionaire tycoon Babak Zanjani has President Hassan Rouhani that corruption been sentenced to death for corruption, and the payment of illegal commissions Ia judicial offi cial said yesterday, after a thrived under Ahmadinejad’s rule. Other tri- long trial in which he was accused of fraudu- als are ongoing. lently pocketing $2.8bn. Zanjani had repeatedly said in media in- Veteran Sudan opposition Zanjani became notorious during the era terviews that in return for commissions paid of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fi nd- by Ahmadinejad’s government he was tasked ing ways to channel hard currency from oil with circumventing sanctions to get money sales to Tehran despite fi nancial sanctions back to Iran. imposed on the Islamic republic’s banks as In October last year, however, Rouhani’s leader Turabi laid to rest punishment for its nuclear programme. oil minister Bijan Zanganeh signalled the The 41-year-old was convicted of fraud shifting political balance in Iran, hitting out AFP and economic crimes and as well as facing at the use of middlemen such as Zanjani, Khartoum the death penalty he must repay money to who before being arrested had boasted of his the state, judiciary spokesman Gholam Hos- personal wealth. Iranian media have put it as sein Mohseni-Ejeie said at his weekly press high as $13.5bn. enior Sudanese offi cials yesterday joined conference. Speaking after Iran concluded a nuclear some 3,000 mourners at the funeral of vet- The trial was held in public, a rarity for deal with world powers, paving the way for Seran Islamist leader Hassan Turabi, an ally such a major case in Iran, and two other ac- increased foreign activity in Iran’s oil sec- turned outspoken critic of the regime. cused were also convicted of “corruption on tor, Zanganeh urged investors to deal directly Police were out in force as Turabi’s shrouded earth”, the most serious off ence under the with his ministry and avoid third parties. body was laid to rest in the Burri cemetery in the country’s criminal code, meaning they too “We despise the corrupt parasites that east of the capital. will face the death penalty. want to suck the nation’s blood even in this Mourners from his Popular Congress Party, “The preliminary court has sentenced situation,” Zanganeh said, to loud applause many of them wearing traditional robes and tur- these three defendants to be executed, as at an oil and energy industry event in the bans, paraded banners bearing his photograph well as paying restitution to the plaintiff ,” capital while Zanjani’s trial was under way. and paying tribute to his life. Mohseni-Ejeie said, adding that that was the “I recommend foreign companies stay First Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh was oil ministry. away from these corrupt individuals,” who among several members of the government who They must also pay a “fi ne equal to one know nothing but “deceitfulness”. attended the ceremony but President Omar al- fourth of the money that was laundered”, “They will tell you that until you give us Bashir was absent after fl ying out to Jakarta for an the spokesman said, without specifying the our commission you can’t get your work Islamic summit that opens today. Mourners attend the funeral of veteran Sudan opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi in Khartoum yesterday. sum. done. Don’t believe them,” Zanganeh said. Bashir visited Turabi’s family on Saturday Zanjani, who can appeal, had denied any Zanjani was among Iranian individuals evening to off er his condolences on the 84-year- that hosted Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden An ideologue with infl uence beyond Sudan’s bor- wrongdoing, insisting that the only rea- blacklisted under US and European sanc- old’s death from a heart attack earlier in the day. from 1992 to 1996. A power struggle between ders, Turabi was one of the driving forces behind the son the money had not been paid to the oil tions. The two men were once close allies. Turabi was them saw Turabi dismissed from the ruling Na- introduction of Shariah in 1983, which sparked a 22- a leading force behind the 1989 coup that brought tional Congress Party leadership a decade after year civil war with the mainly Christian south that Bashir to power, ushering in an Islamist regime the coup. He later formed his own party. cost an estimated 2mn lives and led to its secession. Egypt, France conduct Mediterranean military drill gypt and France yes- ing the French aircraft carri- bat jets and F-16 warplanes. terday began joint ma- er Charles de Gaulle, which In 2015, Cairo signed a Enoeuvres in the Medi- is being used to launch air multi-billion euro deal to terranean in which French strikes on the Islamic State purchase from France 24 Netanyahu plays down US rift ahead of Biden visit Rafale warplanes purchased group in Syria and Iraq, Rafale fi ghters, of which six by Cairo last year are tak- would also take part. have been already delivered. ing part, the Egyptian army The drill is aimed at On December 19, the AFP the US,” Netanyahu said at the start Israel and the US have been seeking has killed 181 Palestinians as well as said. “sharing our expertise with Charles de Gaulle carrier Jerusalem of a cabinet meeting. to move past deep disagreement over 28 Israelis. Most of the Palestinians The “Ramses 2016” mili- the Egyptian military... one took command in the Gulf of “There are those who have pre- the Iran nuclear accord, which Netan- who died in the violence were killed tary and naval exercise is of our main Middle East the naval contingent oper- dicted the collapse of these rela- yahu strongly opposed, and work out while carrying out knife, gun or car- being held off the coast of partners,” the French de- ating as part of the interna- sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin tions. It is not so. The relationship is a new 10-year defence aid package. ramming attacks, according to Is- the Mediterranean city of fence ministry said at the tional coalition fi ghting the Netanyahu yesterday spoke of strong in all areas and also in face of The current deal grants Israel raeli authorities. Others were shot Alexandria and are expected time. militant IS group. I“strong” ties with the US ahead the challenges that we are standing some $3.1bn annually, in addition to dead by Israeli forces during clashes to last for several days, the The Egyptian army said a The French-Egyptian of a visit by Vice President Joe Biden, together against in our region.” spending on other projects such as or demonstrations. army said on its Facebook French multi-mission frigate manoeuvres are taking place despite deep disagreement over the Biden is set to arrive tomorrow for missile defence. The White House said on Friday page. purchased by Cairo last year amid Western concerns over nuclear accord with Iran. talks with Netanyahu as well as Pal- Biden’s visit comes amid a fi ve- that Biden would not be pursuing Paris announced the ma- would also take part in the the growing infl uence of IS “This visit expresses the strong estinian President Mahmoud Abbas month wave of violence in Israel any major new peace initiatives dur- noeuvres last Tuesday, say- drill along with Rafale com- in neighbouring Libya. relations between Israel and our ally in Ramallah. and the Palestinian territories that ing his visit.

Yemen confi rms priest abducted

AFP Aden

n Indian priest missing after an attack on a care home run in Yemen is being held by the assailants, Alikely militants from the Islamic State group, offi - cials said yesterday. Yemeni authorities have blamed IS for the Friday attack on the refuge for the elderly operated by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in main southern city Aden. “According to our information, the extremists who at- tacked the elderly care home in Aden have kidnapped priest Tom Uzhunnalil, a 56-year-old Indian, who was taken to an unknown location,” a Yemeni security offi cial told AFP. “We are aware that no group has yet claimed the crimi- nal attack... but information points to the involvement of Daesh,” said the source, who asked to remain anonymous, using an Arabic acronym for IS. Gunmen stormed the refuge killing a Yemeni guard be- fore tying up and shooting 15 other employees, offi cials said. Four foreign nuns working as nurses were among those killed. The Vatican missionary news agency Fides identifi ed the nuns as two Rwandans, a Kenyan and an Indian, add- ing that the mother superior managed to hide and survive while an Indian priest was missing. India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday tweeted: “Father Tom Uzhunnalil - an Indian national has been abducted by terrorists in Yemen.” “Yemen is a confl ict zone. We do not have (an) embassy there. But we will spare no eff orts to rescue Father Tom Uzhunnalil,” she wrote. The internationally recognised government in war-torn Yemen is grappling with both an Iran-backed rebellion and a growing militant presence. The Vatican’s Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has said Pope Francis “was shocked and profoundly saddened” to learn of “this act of senseless and diabolical violence.” Al Qaeda and IS have stepped up attacks in Aden, target- ing mainly loyalists and members of a Saudi-led coalition battling Houthi rebels and their allies since March last year. Al Qaeda distanced itself from the mass shooting Friday, saying it was not responsible. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 11 ARAB WORLD Brotherhood, Hamas accused of assassinating Egypt prosecutor

Reuters erhood cell aimed at undermin- Egypt’s modern history. pledged allegiance to Islamic the following day as Barakat’s Cairo ing security through a series of The Egyptian judiciary says State. Egypt makes no distinc- motorcade passed by. attacks. Fourteen of them had it is independent of the govern- tion, describing such groups as “As soon as the motorcade confessed to killing Barakat. ment and military, but some an existential threat. moved (near the car bomb) I gypt has accused exiled He said Yehia Moussa, health judges have been accused by hu- The interior ministry showed pressed the button and we took a Muslim Brotherhood of- ministry spokesman during man rights groups of bias after video clips of men, most in their photo then moved in a red hatch- Efi cials of conspiring with Mursi’s presidency, had planned handing down lengthy jail terms early 20s, confessing to joining back car,” said another young Gaza-based Hamas militants to the operation. Moussa is now liv- and mass death sentences. protests and later attacking po- man. assassinate public prosecutor ing in Turkey. The crackdown, which has in- lice with fi reworks, destroying Authorities have repeatedly Hisham Barakat last year and ar- “This is a very big conspiracy cluded restrictions on freedom electricity towers, and going to paraded on video what they say rested 14 people in connection that started a long time ago and of protest, has angered many op- Gaza for military training from are militants confessing to vio- with the attack. continued,” he said. ponents of Sisi who has struggled Hamas. lence. It was not immediately Barakat, 64, was killed by a car Judges and other senior offi - to suppress an insurgency that is “I received a fi rearms course, possible to verify the authentic- bomb in Cairo in June 2015. He cials have been targeted by radi- raging in the eastern Sinai Penin- a car bomb course, and a mili- ity of the confessions. was the most senior state offi cial cal Islamists since then-military sula, which borders Hamas-con- tary tactics course. I returned Human rights groups have assassinated since the toppling chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ousted trolled Gaza and Israel. to Egypt three months later and documented many cases of “en- in mid-2013 of elected president Mursi following mass protests Barakat’s assassination cast remained in contact with Hamas forced disappearances” since the Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Egypt’s Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar addresses a news against his turbulent rule. doubt on Egypt’s ability to con- intelligence offi cers,” one young end of 2013. Brotherhood. conference in Cairo yesterday. Sisi, who went on to win a tain the insurgency, which has man told the camera. Detainees are prevented from There was no claim of respon- presidential election in 2014, seen hundreds of police and sol- “I was later told to prepare for seeing lawyers or families for sibility for the attack at the time. ment and coordinated with fel- calling them groundless and in- banned the Brotherhood and diers killed since Sisi took over. an operation with others where weeks or months and rights Interior Minister Magdi Abdel low Islamist group Hamas, which correct. There was no immedi- jailed thousands of its followers. The Brotherhood has been desig- we would assassinate the public groups say they are sometimes Ghaff ar told a news conference he said provided training and ex- ate comment from the Muslim Shortly after Sisi took power, nated terrorist. The group says it prosecutor.” tortured to extract confessions. yesterday that the attack was or- plosives. Brotherhood. security forces killed hundreds rejects violence. The young men said they Egypt’s interior ministry de- dered by Turkey-based leaders Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Abdel Ghaff ar said Egypt had of Mursi supporters in a single The most active militant group planted a car fi lled with explo- nies accusations of systematic of Egypt’s oldest Islamist move- Zuhri denied the accusations, arrested 48 members of a Broth- day in the bloodiest episode in is Sinai Province, which has sives and detonated it remotely abuse. UN chief sends envoy in Morocco peace push

Reuters “I asked my special envoy Chris- chance in a long time to reset negotia- Algiers topher Ross to resume his shuttle di- tions, but many in the Sahrawi camps plomacy to create the appropriate at- are deeply frustrated over the long-de- mosphere for the resumption of talks,” layed referendum and lack of progress. N chief Ban Ki-moon said yes- Ban said in Algiers after visiting the Polisario, backed by Morocco’s re- terday he had asked his envoy Sahrawi refugee camps where Polisario gional rival and neighbour Algeria and Ufor the disputed Western Sa- Front is based in southern Algeria, near a number of other African states, wants hara territory to meet the Polisario in- the Moroccan border. to hold a referendum promised in the dependence movement and Morocco Ban has said he wants to relaunch ceasefi re deal on the region’s fate. to bring the two sides back to negotia- negotiations to resolve the confl ict so But Rabat wants Western Sahara, tions to end their confl ict. Sahrawi refugees can return home to which is rich in phosphates and possi- Morocco took most of Western Sa- Western Sahara. He said yesterday that bly off shore oil and gas, to be an auton- hara in 1975 following the withdrawal he would call for a donors’ conference omous part of Morocco and disagrees of the colonial power Spain. to raise funds for the Sahrawi camps. with Polisario over who should take The Polisario Front, which says the Many of the Sahrawi refugees, who part in the referendum. territory belongs to ethnic Sahrawis, fl ed the fi ghting in Western Sahara, Morocco’s king insisted late last year waged a guerrilla war until a UN-bro- have been living in mud brick houses that only the autonomy plan was ac- kered ceasefi re in 1991. in the harsh Tindouf area in southern ceptable. Rabat has invested heavily in UN attempts to hold a referendum on Algeria for some 40 years. Western Sahara, hoping to calm unrest the future of the region have failed since Polisario leader Mohamed Abdelaziz and ease independence claims from An Iraqi soldier stands guard at the site of yesterday’s suicide attack at a checkpoint in Hilla, south of Baghdad. then, with the two sides deadlocked. last week called Ban’s visit the best the Sahrawi living there.

Muslim concern Libya pounds IS 47 killed in Iraq suicide attack

AFP Offi cials said the vehicle was a truck 80km south of the capital, killed 50 positions in Sirte Baghdad packed with explosives and was deto- people and wounded more than 150. nated after being pulled over by check- When Iraqi forces began their coun- point security as it tried to enter the ter-off ensive against IS in late 2014, ibyan forces based in the city of Misrata have truck bomb exploded yesterday town of Hilla. securing the Shia shrine cities of Najaf carried out air strikes against Islamic State at a crowded checkpoint outside Pictures posted on social media and Karbala, south of Baghdad, was a Lmilitants in their stronghold of Sirte, a military Athe city of Hilla, south of Bagh- showed vast destruction around the priority. source said yesterday. dad, killing at least 47 people, offi cials checkpoint, where cars are usually The militant group has been losing As many as 18 people were killed in the strikes, and medical sources said. bumper-to-bumper at that time of day, territory in Iraq for almost a year. In the including senior Islamic State members, said Jamal Faleh al-Radhi, the head of the se- queueing to be checked by security per- most recent operation, Iraqi forces are Zubia, foreign media spokesman for Libya’s self-de- curity committee at Babil provincial sonnel. retaking areas west of the city of Sa- clared government in Tripoli. The claim could not im- council, said “the attack was carried A doctor at Hilla hospital said at least marra. mediately be confi rmed with other offi cials. against a checkpoint at the northern 11 of the wounded were in a very serious In the cities the group retains control A resident in Sirte told Reuters that air strikes yes- entrance to Hilla.” condition. over, internal tension appears to be on terday had targeted districts in and around the city, A doctor at Hilla hospital put the The Islamic State group, which car- the rise and the lack of supplies is tak- and that at least one civilian had been killed. number of people killed by the blast at ries out nearly all such attacks, has not ing its toll. A spokesman for military forces loyal to Libya’s 47, including around 20 members of the had fi xed positions south of Baghdad Observers have warned that, as their eastern government, Akram Bouhalika, said yesterday security forces, and said at least 72 peo- since security forces and allied militias self-proclaimed “caliphate” shrinks Indonesian President Joko Widodo greets Palestinian troops had clashed with suspected Islamic State mili- ple were also wounded. began their fi ghtback against the mili- towards extinction, IS fi ghters are likely President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the 5th tants for the past two days about 120km south of the Radhi and police offi cers confi rmed tants in late 2014. to revert to their old guerrilla tactics Extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation city of Ajdabiya, east of Sirte. the casualty toll, the heaviest from any A March 2014 suicide bombing at a and ramp up suicide car bomb attacks Summit on Palestinian issues, in Jakarta yesterday. Eleven militants were killed and two soldiers car bomb attack in Iraq this year. checkpoint on the outskirts of Hilla, on civilian targets. wounded in the clashes, Bouhalika said. Egypt replaces head of quarantine authority

Reuters quarantine authority,” a statement relies on highly subsidised bread. Cairo from the ministry said. Traders welcomed the decision to The ministry said Imbabi’s appoint- replace Moussa and some said pur- ment was part of a plan to “restructure chase tenders would return to normal gypt has appointed a new head the ministry of agriculture and its vari- as a result. of its agriculture quarantine ous sectors, to develop and improve its “I can say that for the majority of Eauthority, the ministry of agri- performance”. suppliers they will be more willing to culture said yesterday, replacing Saad One source close to the matter who participate in tenders now,” one Cairo- Moussa, who has been at the centre of asked not be named due to the sen- based trader said. a controversy over the country’s wheat sitivity of the issue said Moussa was On Thursday, sources told Reuters imports. relieved of his post due to the contro- the agricultural quarantine authority As head of the agricultural quaran- versy he caused over ergot. was considering halting inspections of tine agency, Moussa imposed a zero Many traders, who say guaranteeing imported wheat abroad. tolerance policy on ergot, a common zero ergot is impossible, have declined Egypt, the world’s largest importer grains fungus. in recent months to make off ers in state of the grain, typically sends its inspec- This was at odds with the ministry wheat tenders, saying it was too costly tors to ports abroad to clear wheat that of agriculture and supply backing a to risk having their shipments later the government has purchased ahead more common international standard turned away by Moussa’s quarantine of its shipment. Cancelling this would that allows trace levels. authority. have increased the risk to traders that “Essam Fayed the minister of agri- The disrupted wheat tenders have wheat would be rejected after it had culture has appointed Ibrahim Ahmed raised the possibility of a shortage been shipped. Imbabi, head of the Plant Pathology of grain which could pose a political On Friday, the Agriculture Ministry Research Institute, to head the cen- problem for President Abdel Fattah said it would continue to send its ex- tral administration of the agricultural al-Sisi as the impoverished population perts abroad as normal. Gulf Times 12 Monday, March 7, 2016 AFRICA SA: Ailing Boko Haram-IS link miners win tenuous, say experts settlement Agencies fi rm Leigh Day have worked on Fears over Islamic State linking Johannesburg the case since 2012, collecting up with Boko Haram are probably the stories of miners in rural exaggerated South Africa and neighbour- old miners infected ing Lesotho. About 400 min- AFP with lung diseases ers died before the settlement Lagos Gbrought on by repeated was reached, she said. exposure to the dust of South Claimants will undergo a Africa’s mines have won a medical exam to determine the hen Boko Haram pledged alle- multimillion dollar out-of- compensation they should re- giance to the Islamic State group court settlement, their lawyer ceive, Mbuyisa said. The fami- Win Iraq and Syria last year, there said Saturday. lies of the deceased miners will were fears the deadly insurgency in north- Anglo American South Af- also be compensated. east Nigeria would take on an internation- rica and AngloGold Ashanti Binyana Benson Qubeka al dimension. have agreed to pay the equiva- plans to use his compensa- The world’s deadliest designated terror- lent of $32,595,800 to claim- tion to rebuild his home in the ist organisations — notorious for the indis- ants aff ected by silicosis, set- Eastern Cape province and criminate slaughter of tens of thousands of tling the case before it went send his children to school. people — were now offi cially linked. to court, said lawyer Zanele Qubeka, born in 1952, es- Speculation and concern mounted Mbuyisa, who represents timates he was around 18 about a potential infl ux of foreign fi ghters 4,365 claimants. when he began working in the to the countries surrounding Lake Chad Silicosis, caused by the in- mines. and an escalation of a previously localised halation of dust particles, “I can’t say just how happy confl ict. makes victims vulnerable to I am,” said Qubeka, who was But 12 months on that hasn’t happened. diseases like tuberculosis. diagnosed with silicosis in If anything, Boko Haram appears a consid- Most of the claimants worked 1998. erably weaker force and apparently in dis- in South Africa’s gold mines The mining companies said array after a year-long military counter- during apartheid, when min- the settlement was reached off ensive. ers rarely had the proper pro- without an admission of li- Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau tective gear, according to the ability from the operators. has only been heard from twice since his miners’ lawyers. “Both companies and the audio message published on March 7, 2015 “Thousands of silicosis vic- plaintiff s have a common in- pledging an oath to his IS counterpart Abu tims must have died uncom- terest in settling this highly Bakr al-Baghdadi. pensated during a period when complex case that could Nigeria’s army has since then increas- the industry should have been take several years to resolve ingly claimed crushing blows against the Soldiers looks at burnt houses in the village of Dalori, some 12km from Borno state capital Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria. well aware of their predica- through litigation,” Anglo- militants and their strongholds plus the ment,” said Mbusiya. Gold Ashanti CEO Srinivasan liberation of thousands living under Boko A Nigerian security source said IS was sending military trainers to northeast Since West African and sub-Saharan She and human rights law- Venkatakrishnan said in a Haram control. “only a marketing label which Boko Haram Nigeria. fi ghters operating in Libya are now thought yers from the London-based statement. This week, dozens of rebels reportedly wants to use to deceptively project itself as Nigeria’s secret police meanwhile an- to have dispersed, diff erent groups in the surrendered because of hunger. Nigeria a formidable terrorist group”. nounced the arrest of seven members of region have been working together to pro- now wants many of the two million people Shekau’s declaration and the subse- Ansaru, the Boko Haram off shoot that vide funding, equipment and personnel, internally displaced by the confl ict to re- quent re-branding of Boko Haram as kidnapped several Westerners and which he added. turn home. “Islamic State West Africa Province” or is more aligned ideologically to Al Qaeda. “Hence the belief that AQIM (Al Qaeda - ‘Marketing label’ - ISWAP caused a reported rift in the Boko The Department of State Services said in the Islamic Maghreb) and some BH Armed men Many analysts have long viewed the an- Haram hierarchy. it had also arrested an IS recruiter, two constellation groups are increasing their nounced tie-up as propaganda for both Few, if any, wanted to go against his “ISIS agents operating in Nigeria and the collaboration despite BH having offi cially sides. Boko Haram was at the time strug- word but dissenters have reportedly ex- West African sub-region” plus four others pledged to IS,” he said in an email. kill 12 in CAR gling against regional forces and IS suff er- plored closer ties with other jihadi groups heading to join IS. But despite such apparent links, the fo- ing setbacks to its territorial ambitions. in the wider Sahel region. Six of those detained were said to be cus does not appear to be on Nigeria for “Nothing has changed in the Boko Some security consultants predict Boko heading or preparing to go to Libya, where now, said Africa security specialist Ryan Reuters same family had their throats Haram camp since Shekau’s declaration,” Haram in Nigeria could this year be re- Nigerians are said to be in the IS ranks in Cummings. Bangui slit six kilometres (four miles) Nigerian security analyst Abdullahi Bawa duced to a largely criminal, regional threat territory it controls. “I fi rmly believe that if operational links from the town,” Amassaka Wase told AFP. along the lines of the Lord’s Resistance Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Bu- between Boko Haram and Al Qaeda in the Topi, a local counsellor and “It has failed to bring in IS fi ghters. It Army in central Africa. hari, who has claimed Boko Haram is Islamic Maghreb was happening, there rmed men killed 12 youth leader in Bambari told has not attracted IS weapons and cash, But with the United States this week “technically” defeated, has increasingly would be more clear evidence of this,” he people in villages in Reuters by telephone. which many feared would happen. including Nigeria on its updated “World- pointed to lawless Libya as a potential se- said. ACentral African Repub- The constitutional court … wide Caution” list, Western governments curity “time bomb” for Europe and Africa. “It was quite telling that in a recent ISIS lic, local offi cials said yester- confi rmed former mathemat- “On the contrary, Boko Haram is weaker clearly still view Boko Haram as a serious Yan St-Pierre, of the Modern Security communique, the group’s leadership had day, in the fi rst violence since ics professor Touadera’s vic- than it was before the declaration, which threat. Consulting Group (MOSECON), said there allegedly requested that its adherents in Faustin-Archange Touadera tory on Tuesday following a is evident from the drastic drop in deadly US military drones recently began was no doubt that Boko Haram had been the Sahel and Maghreb travel to Libya, and was confi rmed as president run-off election on February attacks. Even the rate of suicide bombings operating from a base in northern Cam- reaching out to other jihadi groups for not to ISWAP in the Lake Chad basin, to last Tuesday after an election 14., setting the stage for him has slowed.” eroon while the Pentagon is considering “business and logistics” in the last year. assist in combat operations.” many hoped would help end to be sworn in later on March attacks. 25. The attacks took place near Touadera has pledged to the central town of Bambari make peace and disarmament and were likely linked to live- his priorities. stock rustling or an inter- Bambari has seen numer- ethnic dispute involving the ous attacks in the last year Abducted Peuhl, or Fulani, ethnic group, despite the presence of UN Benin votes in election as the offi cials said. peacekeepers. The Unit- The violence did not ap- ed Nations designated it a pear directly connected to the weapons-free zone last Sep- children political, communal and reli- tember, but the former rebel gious killings involving militia group called the Seleka and incumbent steps down groups that since 2013 have the anti-Balaka militia re- left thousands dead, forced tain an armed presence in the AFP rescued many more to fl ee their homes town. Benin and left the northern half of The country suff ered the the country eff ectively parti- worst crisis in its history in tioned. early 2013 when the mainly enin went to the polls yesterday to in Lagos In the latest attack late on Muslim Seleka fi ghters toppled choose a new president from a record Saturday, six people were the then president. Christian Bfi eld of 33 candidates but with con- killed in three diff erent vil- so-called anti-Balaka militias cerns about the distribution of voters’ AFP lages, the authorities said. responded by attacking the cards that already forced a two-week delay. Lagos “Three women from the Muslim minority. Polling began at 0600 GMT in the tiny West African nation, with international observers assessing the atmosphere as hree secondary school stu- “very calm and very relaxed”. Voting was dents who were kidnapped due to end nine hours later. T from their school in Ni- Mathieu Boni, an offi cial from a civil so- geria’s biggest city, Lagos, have Census in Burundi ciety group which has deployed more than been found, police told AFP yes- 3,000 election observers, said “more than terday. half” of the nearly 8,000 polling stations “We have rescued the three girls in sparks fears opened on time. the early hours of today (Sunday)... President Thomas Boni Yayi is bowing in Igbokuta village,” said Lagos State out after serving a maximum two fi ve-year police spokeswoman Dolapo Bad- AFP as well as Indians — will be terms, marking him out among some Afri- mus. Burundi required to attend police sta- can leaders who have tried to change con- “The girls are in good condition. tions in person and carry their stitutions to ensure third terms. Some of the suspected kidnappers travel documents. The fi rst results are expected within 72 were arrested when our policemen urundi has launched a “We don’t know how the hours of the vote. stormed the location.” drive to register all for- police will use this data and Prominent candidates include Lionel The three girls were seized from a Beigners, sparking fears with the violence that has Zinsou, the Franco-Beninese fi nancier who A woman checks a voters’ list at a polling station in Cotonou, yesterday. dormitory last Monday at the Bab- among overseas nationals that already struck the Rwandan stepped down as head of France’s biggest ington Macaulay Junior Seminary the scheme could be a pretext community... I think that I will investment bank to become prime minister enee Koupaki, both 64, who were voting in and distribution of the 4.7mn voters’ cards. School in the eastern suburb of Iko- for government surveillance. also have to leave the country,” last year. the northern town of Djougou and Pomasse On Saturday evening, distribution of rodu. All non-Burundians in the said a Rwandan national born The 61-year-old is standing for the rul- in the south. new voters’ cards had not started in two The abduction sparked a mas- crisis-hit country will be in Burundi 40 years ago. ing Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin With so many candidates, political ana- central states (Zou and Plateau) and had sive search for the teenagers and the required to report to border Thousands of Rwandans (FCBE) party and is widely viewed as Boni lysts predict no decisive result and believe not been completed in several of the 10 prompted the state government to police offices in the com- who lived in Burundi have fl ed Yayi’s chosen successor. whoever wins in the northern region will others that make up the country. tighten security at schools across the ing two months, according the country since the start of He already has the support of two op- determine the overall result. The head of the independent electoral megacity, which is home to some 20 to a public security ministry the crisis after several arrests position parties but critics view him as an Key issues in the election include commission, Emmanuel Tiando, told re- million people. spokesman. within their community. outsider “parachuted” in by former colo- job creation, tackling corruption, im- porters that both old and new cards would Igbokuta village is some 15km Several foreigners told AFP Relations between Burundi nial power France. proving health and education, and the be allowed “to avoid any tense situations from the school and about 25km they feared it was a pretext and Rwanda are at a low ebb, Zinsou, who in the 1980s was a speech- economy in the country, a major cotton and allow all voters to take part in the bal- from Ikorodu. to track them, and Rwandans with Bujumbura and the Unit- writer for France’s socialist former prime producer. lot”. Police have previously refused to said the process could lead to ed Nations accusing Kigali of minister Laurent Fabius, cast his vote Farmer Emile Sosa was one of the fi rst to In Zou and Plateau, voting would be al- comment on local media reports of their community being vic- supporting Burundian rebels. shortly before midday in the Cocotiers area vote in Cocotiers, Cotonou, and said lack of lowed with identity cards rather than voter demands for a 200-million-naira timised. Burundi was plunged into of Benin’s commercial hub, Cotonou. opportunities for the country’s young peo- cards, he added, promising that all election (nearly $1mn) ransom. But public security minis- crisis following over President Two of Benin’s leading businessmen, ple was a major problem. material was available in polling stations Badmus said investigations were ter Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a Patrice Talon, 57, and Sebastien Ajavon, 51, “I want the next president to encourage across the country. continuing and did not rule out fur- insisted last month that the third term which he went on to are also front-runners, pitching for the top the youth to take to agriculture,” said the Voter Franck Tokannou said after casting ther arrests. move was aimed at granting win in a July election. job after previously bankrolling presiden- 49-year-old father of four. his ballot in Cotonou: “This morning has Abductions from schools are rare foreigners a biometric ID card. More than 400 people have tial bids. The fi rst round of voting had been due to been diffi cult for those who are organising in Lagos, although kidnapping for Foreign nationals — who been killed since the violence Other favourites include economist Ab- take place on February 28 but was resched- it all but it seems that it’s going OK. Every- ransom by armed criminals is com- also include people from West erupted in April and more than doulaye Bio Tchane and fi nancier Pascal Ir- uled because of delays in the production thing is in order.” mon in southern states. Africa including Congolese, 240,000 have fl ed. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 13 AMERICAS Former fi rst lady Nancy Reagan dies aged 94

Agencies cratic president Jimmy Carter Washington in 1980. Her most publicised project as fi rst lady was the “Just Say ancy Reagan, the No” anti-drug campaign. Af- former actress who ter her husband developed Nwas fi ercely protec- Alzheimer’s disease, she be- tive of husband Ronald Reagan came an advocate for discov- through a Hollywood career, ering a cure. eight years in the White House, She was diminutive and an assassination attempt and publicly soft spoken but Nancy Alzheimer’s disease, died yes- Reagan’s strong will, high- terday at age 94, the Reagan tone tastes and clout with her library said. husband made her a contro- Reagan became one of the versial fi gure during his presi- most infl uential fi rst ladies in dency. US history during her Republi- As Reagan’s wife, political can husband’s presidency from partner and adviser, she be- 1981 to 1989, came one of America’s most Her husband, who aff ec- potent fi rst ladies, alongside tionately called her “Mommy” the likes of Franklin Roosevelt’s while she called him “Ron- wife, Eleanor, Woodrow Wil- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the media during a press conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. nie”, died in 2004 after a long son’s wife, Edith, and Bill struggle with Alzheimer’s, the Clinton’s wife, Hillary. progressive brain disorder that “I see the fi rst lady as an- destroys memory. other means to keep a presi- As Nancy Davis, she was a dent from becoming isolated,” Hollywood actress during the she said in 1985. “I talk to peo- 1940s and 1950s and married ple. They tell me things. And if Reagan, a prominent fi lm ac- something is about to become tor, in 1952. She then served as a problem, I’m not above call- fi rst lady of California during ing a staff person and asking Cruz, Trump win as her husband’s stint as Califor- about it. I’m a woman who nia governor from 1967 to 1975 loves her husband and I make before moving into the White no apologies for looking out House after his decisive vic- for his personal and political Rubio draws a blank tory over incumbent Demo- welfare.” The Republican old guard is caught rival Bernie Sanders, a US senator from cabinet agencies and to enact a balanced tional convention, outpacing Cruz, who between Trump and Cruz Vermont, won in Kansas and Nebraska, in budget amendment. had 226 delegates. results that did not substantially change “The scream you hear, the howl that On March 15, the delegate-rich states of Reuters Clinton’s big delegate lead. comes from Washington, DC, is utter terror Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and North Washington Mainstream Republicans have blanched at what ‘We the People’ are doing togeth- Carolina will vote. Both Florida and Ohio at Trump’s calls to build a wall on the bor- er,” Cruz told supporters in Coeur d’Alene, use the winner-take-all method to al- der with Mexico, round up and deport Idaho, after his early win in Kansas. locate Republican delegates, making the epublican presidential hopeful Ted 11mn undocumented immigrants and “What we’re seeing is the public com- stakes in those states particularly high. All Cruz split victories in four nomi- temporarily bar all Muslims from entering ing together, libertarians coming together, of the Republican contests on Saturday, Rnating contests with front-runner the United States. men and women who love the Constitu- and through March 14, award delegates Donald Trump on Saturday, bolstering But the party’s establishment has not tion coming together and uniting and proportionate to the popular vote, al- President Ronald Reagan and vice president George Bush, Cruz’s argument that he represents the been much happier with Cruz, who has al- standing as one behind this campaign,” though some states set minimum thresh- accompanied by their wives Nancy and Barbara, join hands party’s best chance to stop the brash New ienated many party leaders in Washington. Cruz said. olds to qualify for any delegates. after Reagan endorsed Bush’s run for the presidency at York billionaire. “It looks like it will be the angry Trump Trump, 69, has a substantial lead in the If Trump takes both Florida and Ohio he Washington, DC in May 11, 1988. The results were a repudiation of a Re- voters against the purist conservative delegates needed to secure the nomination would be nearly impossible to stop. There publican establishment that has bristled Cruz voters,” said Washington-based Re- at the Republican National Convention, are a total of 358 delegates at stake in the at the prospect of either Cruz or Trump publican strategist Ron Bonjean. “The es- but since winning seven of the 11 con- fi ve states voting March 15, including 99 in winning the party’s nomination and has tablishment is just being left out.” tests on Super Tuesday he has come under Florida and 66 in Ohio. largely lined up behind US senator Marco A spokesman for Rubio, who spent the withering fi re from a Republican estab- On the Democratic side, Clinton has Rubio of Florida, who was shut out in all past week launching harsh personal at- lishment worried he will lead the party to opened up a big delegate lead and Sand- Man charged for four contests. tacks on Trump, said the senator would defeat in November’s election. ers might have a tough time making up “I think it’s time that he dropped out of push on with an eye on the March 15 con- But endorsements from establishment the diff erence. All states in the Democratic the race,” Trump said of Rubio after the test in Florida. Republicans have failed to sway voters. race award their delegates proportionally, 1980 murder of girl contests. “I want Ted one on one.” “After we win the Florida primary, the Rubio won the backing of Kansas Gover- meaning Clinton can keep piling up del- Cruz won Kansas and Maine on Satur- map, the momentum and the money is nor Sam Brownback but still came in third egates even in states she loses. day, while Trump won the bigger states of going to be on our side,” spokesman Alex there. The three states holding Democratic Reuters His arrest resulted from a Louisiana and Kentucky, holding onto his Conant said in a statement. The four Republican contests on Satur- contests on Saturday had a total of 109 Maine combination of historical in- lead in the race for the Republican nomi- Cruz, a fi rst-term US senator from Tex- day together accounted for just 155 dele- delegates at stake. The early estimates terviews, testing, re-inter- nation for the November 8 presidential as who has promoted himself as more of gates. Cruz won 64 delegates on Saturday, were that Clinton, who appeared headed views and forensics, said Steve election, even though Cruz captured more a true conservative than Trump, said the while Trump took 49. to a smashing nearly 50-point win in Lou- central Maine man was McCausland, a public safety delegates on Saturday. results showed he was gaining momentum The races on Saturday were open only to isiana, had won at least 48 delegates on under arrest on Satur- department spokesman who The next big contest, and a crucial one, in the race to catch the real estate mogul. registered Republicans, excluding the inde- Tuesday and Sanders 37. Aday after being charged declined to say if any specifi c will be tomorrow’s primary in the indus- Cruz, 45, has run as an outsider bent on pendent and disaff ected Democratic voters But Sanders made it clear he was not with the cold-case murder of evidence recently emerged in trial state of Michigan. Republicans in shaking up the Republican establishment who have helped Trump’s surge to the lead. planning to end his White House quest a teenage girl found beaten to the investigation. three other states, Mississippi, Idaho and in Washington. A favourite of evangelicals, The anti-Trump forces have a short anytime soon. death behind a local high school On Aug 8, 1980, McLain, Hawaii, also will vote. Puerto Rico Repub- he has called for the United States to “car- window to stop the caustic businessman, “We have the momentum. We have a in 1980, state authorities said. a high school soccer player, licans will vote on Sunday. pet bomb” the Islamic State militant group who ahead of Saturday had accumulated path toward victory. Our campaign is just Philip Scott Fournier, 55, of left her home to go jogging. In the Democratic race, front-runner and has pledged to eliminate the tax-col- 319 of the 1,237 delegates needed to win getting started,” he said in a statement af- East Millinocket, was taken Two days later she was found Hillary Clinton won in Louisiana, and her lecting Internal Revenue Service and four the nomination at July’s Republican na- ter his wins on Saturday. into custody on Friday in the behind the school, about 60 murder of Joyce McLain, 16, miles north of Bangor, lying also of East Millinocket, ac- with her hands tied behind her cording to a statement from back and wearing only socks the Maine Department of Pub- and jogging shoes, according lic Safety. It was the second to court documents. Her skull longest homicide investigation was fractured after being hit ever conducted by state police repeatedly with a hard object. National Guard may join cyber that resulted in an arrest. A federal judge identifi ed Fournier, who was 19 at the Fournier as “a person of in- time of the murder, had been terest” in McLain’s homicide questioned by police on several when he was sentenced in occasions over the years, and 2009 to 6-1/2 years in prison off ensive against IS, says Carter made statements about his in- for possession of child por- volvement in McLain’s death to nography, the Bangor Daily Reuters by Snohomish County Public Utility Dis- relatives, the statement said. News reported. Fournier also Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord, Washington trict in Washington state, which helped It was not immediately has at least three burglary the utility strengthen its security, and a known who was representing convictions between 1979 and 2010 case in which the US Air Force briefl y Fournier. 1984, the paper reported. S defence secretary Ash Carter lost contact with 50 Minuteman III inter- said the National Guard’s cyber continental ballistic missiles. Usquadrons will play an increasingly The 2010 assessment cost about Church opposes assisted suicide important role in assessing the vulner- $20,000, much less than the $150,000 abilities of US industrial infrastructure that a private sector company would likely The head of Canada’s biggest Catholic group opposed the and could be asked to join the fi ght against charge, said Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth country’s pending doctor-assisted suicide legislation in a statement Islamic State. Borchers, deputy commander of the 252nd to be read at 225 Toronto churches, saying it was “unjust” to force The National Guard - a reserve military Cyber Operations Group, which oversees doctors to act against their conscience. force that resides in the states but can be the 262nd squadron. “It is unjust to force people to act against their conscience in order mobilised for national needs - is a key part Borchers said the squadron is the only to be allowed to practice as a physician,” cardinal Thomas Collins, of the military’s larger eff ort to set up over National Guard group that currently as- head of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Toronto, said in the 120 cyber squadrons to respond to cyber sesses industrial control systems, but it is text of his statement. Canada’s supreme court struck down a ban attacks and prevent them. now looking to train others. It is also stud- on assisted suicide in 2015 and gave lawmakers a year to come One such unit, the 262nd squadron, is ying the security of big weapons programs, up with legislation to regulate the practice. The newly elected a 101-person team that includes employ- such as the B-52 bomber. Liberal government was given a four-month extension this year ees of Microsoft Corp and Alphabet Inc’s Using National Guard units for such to a develop a national law for the practice, under which doctors Google. The unit is “famous throughout Ash Carter is briefed on the capabilities of the National Guard Cyber Unit at Joint base work made sense because it allowed the opposed to assisted suicide have to recommend someone willing the country” for several high profi le vul- Lewis-McChord, military to benefi t from private sector cy- to perform it.Collins who is expected to deliver his statement nerability assessments, Carter said at the ber experts, Carter said. personally during mass at St Paul’s Basilica, home to Toronto’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, “Units like this can also participate in need to do and will do,” Carter said. “We’re “It brings in the high-tech sector in oldest Catholic congregation, said while assisted suicide is “never Washington late on Friday. off ensive cyber operations of the kind that looking for ways to accelerate that, and cy- a very direct way to the mission of pro- justified”, those with terminal illnesses could refuse treatment. He told reporters the squadron was not I have stressed we are conducting, and ber’s one of them.” tecting the country,” he told reporters. Collins also criticised what he says is the broadness of the currently engaging in off ensive cyber mis- actually accelerating, in Iraq and Syria, to The 262nd squadron’s work includes a “And we’re absolutely going to do more proposed law, which off ers assisted suicide to minors and those sions but could be in the future. secure the prompt defeat of ISIL, which we study last year on the control system used of it.” with psychiatric conditions. Gulf Times 14 Monday, March 7, 2016 ASEAN

Spectacular sight Myanmar police in $30mn drugs seizure

AFP Yangon

olice in Myanmar seized more than $30mn worth of Pheroin and methampheta- mine, a senior investigator said yesterday, a bust that highlights the country’s continued role as a major global drugs manufac- turer. Myanmar sits at the heart of the infamous “Golden Triangle”, which also covers parts of Thai- land and Laos, and has been a hotbed of narcotics production for decades despite repeated government vows to tackle the scourge. “It’s worth about 37bn kyats ($30mn),” a senior police offi - cial of the anti-drugs squad in Naypyidaw said on condition of anonymity. “This is the biggest seizure of 2016.” Police found a smorgasbord of Tourists enjoy a view of Mount Bromo from Penanjakan, Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia yesterday, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. narcotics in a container vehicle on an industrial zone in Man- dalay including 82 kilograms of methamphetamine, 24 kilograms of heroin, 6.8mn stimulant tab- lets and 15 kilograms of opium. The offi cial said the main sus- pect was still not apprehended. Myanmar has struggled to stem the tide of narcotics from its remote and violence-scarred border regions despite political Two years on, MH370 kin reforms that saw Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party win his- toric elections in November. The impoverished nation re- mains the world’s second largest opium producer after Afghani- stan while cartels increasingly churn out methamphetamine want search extension tablets. The UN Offi ce on Drugs and AFP up on the French-held island doesn’t mean other areas may Some also allege Malaysia Crime has said methampheta- Kuala Lumpur of La Reunion last year, and not come up with something. wants to stop searching to pre- mine dominates the global new debris that is yet to be Just sit down and ask, ‘OK, what vent embarrassing information market for synthetic drugs and confi rmed as from MH370 was next’?” said KS Narendran, from emerging, which the air- is expanding signifi cantly in amilies devastated by found on a Mozambique beach an Indian national whose wife line and government strongly Southeast and East Asia. the loss of fl ight MH370 last week. Chandrika was aboard. deny. “It’s scary as drugs traffi cking Fvowed yesterday never to But the fi nds came thousands Authorities hope to detect Yesterday’s ceremony in- has been increasing and spread- quit fi ghting for answers in the of kilometres from the suspect- debris far down in the ocean cluded prayers, musical per- ing around the country,” said the aviation mystery and said the ed crash zone and have yielded depths and eventually recover formances and the release of senior drugs investigator in Nay- huge search for the Malaysia no clues. and analyse the black boxes for 240 white balloons, one for each pyidaw. Airlines plane should continue In one of aviation’s greatest clues. passenger and another for the Last July Myanmar has seized until something is found. enigmas, the plane inexplicably Martin Dolan, chief com- plane. more than $100mn worth stimu- Families gathered for a poign- vanished during an overnight missioner of the Australian Relatives say acceptance of lant tablets from a private con- ant ceremony in Kuala Lumpur fl ight from Kuala Lumpur to Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) their unexplained loss remains tainer vehicle in northern Yan- ahead of tomorrow’s second an- Beijing, carrying 239 passengers and head of the challenging impossible two years on. gon. niversary of the jet’s disappear- A woman takes pictures of balloons with names of the missing and crew. operation, said last week he re- “We don’t have anything to Last month clashes broke ance and to argue for an expan- Malaysia Airlines ill-fated flight MH370 during a memorial event in Citing imprecise satellite mained “very hopeful” some- accept. We still know nothing out in remote northern Kachin sion of the search if the current Kuala Lumpur yesterday. data, search authorities believe thing can be found before the and we are all in limbo. If any- state between local farmers and area being scoured comes up it fl ew for hours to the remote 120,000-square-kilometre thing I am worse than before,” Christian anti-drug vigilantes empty. The unprecedented Austral- Australian, Malaysian and southern Indian Ocean and search zone is fully scanned. said Grace Nathan, a Malaysian who were trying to destroy pop- “We are fi ghting to search on ian-led hunt for wreckage from Chinese authorities plan to end went down. Many next-of-kin accuse the attorney who lost her mother. py fi elds. because our loved ones are not the Boeing 777 is expected to the search — projected to cost Many relatives remain un- airline and Malaysian govern- Added Gonzales: “We will Both ethnic militias and the home yet. So how can we say it’s fi nish its high-tech scanning of up to $130mn — at that point convinced that authorities are ment of letting the plane slip fi ght on to make sure that we get Myanmar military or its allies the end?” said Jacquita Gonzal- a designated swathe of seafl oor if no compelling new leads searching in the right place. away through a bungled re- the truth of exactly what hap- have tapped the lucrative multi- es, wife of fl ight steward Patrick in the remote Indian Ocean by emerge. “If they have exhausted one sponse and covering up what pened to all of them. We will not billion dollar trade to fi nance Gomes. July. A piece of the plane washed particular line of inquiry, that caused the disappearance. give up.” their long-running wars. Scarred by traffi cking abuses, Rohingya stay put in camps

Thomson Reuters Foundation children and an asthmatic hus- What began decades ago as a faced by the Rohingya, who are powerful deterrent. Win Naing, Thet Kel Pyin, Myanmar band — is struggling to make ends journey that would take weeks viewed with suspicion by many a 43-year-old with three young meet. But Husaina says Rohim’s on rickety boats, has in recent in Myanmar. children under the age of fi ve, plight continues to haunt her. years become a mass people traf- Nevertheless, Sultan, 65, said said: “What would my children fter Husaina’s 20-year- “Even though I want to send fi cking and smuggling business. the NLD government now off ers and my wife do if something old son boarded a boat to other children on the boat so The traffi cking grew to such a the best hope for change. He says happened to me on the boat or Aescape poverty and dis- they could fi nd jobs, I’m re- scale that it lead to a crackdown he is too old to go anywhere and in Thailand? I would rather die crimination in Myanmar’s Ra- ally worried about the brokers by Thai and Malaysian authori- refuses to countenance send- here.” khine State, she heard nothing so I dare not,” she told Myanmar ties last year. ing his daughters away, even Kawri Mullah, Husaina’s from him for seven months. Now, an independent news serv- In Thet Kel Pyin, home to though life in the camp is a far neighbour, agreed. About six Then, in a shocking phone ice supported by the Thomson some 5,600 displaced people, cry from his old life as the owner weeks ago, the 25-year-old fa- call, she was told the young Ro- Reuters Foundation. most of the Rohingya who have of three small businesses and a ther of two decided to leave the hingya Muslim was in the hands Waves of Rohingya Muslims stayed behind have now settled brick house in Sittwe. He now camp, desperate for a stable in- of people smugglers in Thailand, have fl ed sectarian violence and down to a life of daily survival goes around selling 150-kyat (12 come that odd jobs cannot pro- and had fallen severely ill. The apartheid-like conditions in and a feeling that segregation is cents) tooth powder in the vil- vide. But he has abandoned the only way for him to be released Myanmar in recent years, many becoming permanent. lages and camps, driving a mo- plan for now after thinking it was to somehow fi nd the money of them swept up in traffi cking Displaced teenagers go to a torcycle a friend has bought for over. to pay a ransom. rings, some of which hold men high school near the camp that him. His decision was infl uenced “The man said: ‘If you don’t like Rohim for ransom, making did not exist two years ago, “I feel really desolate over by what happened to his broth- pay money, he will die ... I was threats to their impoverished and aid agencies as well as the losing our right to vote, but I er-in-law, who left the camp a so upset. How did he get into the families that their loved ones Waves of Rohingyas have escaped sectarian violence and apartheid-like government have set up more have hopes that things would year and a half ago and was sold hands of the brokers? How did he will be killed. conditions in Myanmar in recent years. schools and clinics in and near improve under the new govern- by his broker to a butcher in become so ill?’” she said, sitting But human rights groups say the camps. Despite continued ment,” he said, with his wife Thailand for $850. in her dank and crumbling one- there has been a dramatic drop Experiences such as Rohim’s Matthew Smith, executive government restrictions, some and seven daughters gathered “He left with only two packs room temporary home in Thet in the number of Rohingya leav- are common among the Ro- director of Thailand-based hu- Rohingya have not left because around him. of energy biscuits. When they Kel Pyin displacement camp, a ing Myanmar this year. They at- hingya, confi ned to the squalid man rights group Fortify Rights, they are holding out hope for The outgoing government of reached Thailand, a butcher ap- few kilometres from the Rakhine tribute this to a crackdown on displacement camps outside agrees numbers leaving Rakhine the new government led by Aung President Thein Sein took away parently liked that my brother- state capital of Sittwe. human traffi cking by countries Sittwe. The stories are shared have dropped, even though it is San Suu Kyi’s NLD, said Smith of the Rohingya’s last offi cial iden- in-law looks big and strong,” They found an employer in such as Thailand and Malaysia among residents, making many diffi cult to quantify the decrease Fortify Rights. tity papers last year, and with it Mullah said. Malaysia willing to pay about and political changes at home fearful of the multi-day journey. in departures due to the clandes- “Many Muslims in Rakhine their right to vote, prompting After months of no pay and $1,600 in exchange for Mamed following the National League “There have been very few tine nature of the voyages. State tell us they hope Daw Suu an outcry from the international little to eat, the brother-in-law Rohim’s labour. That was over a for Democracy’s landslide elec- boats since the sailing season He warned, however, that the will usher in a better day for community, who provide aid to ran away to fi nd another em- year ago and Rohim is still work- tion win in November. started in October and none at transnational traffi cking rings them. Anything, they say, will be the Rohingya. ployer, but the butcher found ing to repay the debt. The Myanmar government all this year, 2016,” said Chris have not been dismantled and better than the past,” he said. “We are really thankful for him and took him back, accord- He only manages to send does not recognise the 1.1mn Lewa of the Arakan Project, a “are poised to resume their ac- This hope is held despite the the international community for ing to Mullah. home about $50 every two or Rohingya as citizens and has Rohingya advocacy group which tivities at the fi rst opportunity.” fact that the Rakhine State par- helping us and I know we are still That was nearly fi ve months three months, which the family referred to them as “Bengalis”, tracks migration. Since 2012 — when commu- liament is dominated by the alive because of their help. But ago and the last time they heard uses to repay their own debts — to suggest they are illegal im- “The key reason is that smug- nal violence between Rakhine Buddhist nationalist Arakan Na- we want to stand on our own two from him. run up since they fl ed communal migrants from Bangladesh. The glers have no option for disem- Buddhists and Rohingya dis- tional Party (ANP). feet. We just want to go back to “I’m really scared after hear- violence and their home in Sit- group cannot travel freely within barkation due to Thailand being placed some 140,000 people, an The NLD itself did not fi eld a where we were before,” said Sul- ing his story,” said Mullah. “How twe for the camp. Buddhist-majority Myanmar virtually closed. Another is the overwhelming majority of them single Muslim candidate in the tan. can you live like that? I have two Now barred from returning and faces restrictions on access situation in Malaysia (where) there Muslims — tens of thousands November elections and has re- For others, the tales of abuse children and a wife. Here, even if home, the family — seven other to education and healthcare. are regular immigration raids.” have left Rakhine State by boat. mained quiet on the persecution during the boat journey are a I die, I have my family near me.” Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Another ‘missing’ bookseller back in Hong Kong

AFP Cheung Chi Ping’s return to Hong lice said. During the meeting, Cheung been able to confi rm when Lam will thorities. In the Phoenix TV interview, sometimes tearful interviews. The Hong Kong Kong comes a week after he appeared requested to have his missing persons return to Hong Kong. The fi ve book- Lee said he had “resorted to illegal im- cases have heightened fears of increas- on Chinese television with four of his case closed and requested his case to be sellers from Hong Kong’s Mighty Cur- migration” to get to the mainland as he ing mainland Chinese interference in colleagues, where some admitted to dropped. “He refused to disclose other rent publishing house, known for its did not want to draw attention to his visit Hong Kong and sparked international he second of fi ve “missing” smuggling illicit literature into the details,” the statement added. salacious titles critical of Beijing, went and that he made the trip so he could co- condemnation. Hong Kong booksellers who mainland. Cheung had been missing His return to Hong Kong follows missing last year, only to turn up in operate in an investigation. Britain had said the disappearance Twas detained on the mainland since October. fellow bookseller Lui Por’s arrival in mainland China. The other four booksellers, who are of Lee, a British citizen, was a “serious returned to the city yesterday, authori- “Hong Kong Police Force met with the city Friday. Chinese media said One who apparently disappeared under criminal investigation on the breach” of an agreement signed with ties said, in a case that has triggered Cheung Chi Ping who has returned to last week Cheung, Lui and colleague from Hong Kong, Lee Bo, appeared on mainland, also appeared on Phoenix Beijing before the city was handed fears of increasing Chinese interfer- Hong Kong from the mainland,” the Lam Wing Kee would all be released television last week and insisted he had last week, admitting to smuggling il- back to China in 1997 which protects ence in the semi-autonomous region. statement issued by Hong Kong’s po- on bail. However, authorities have not not been abducted by mainland au- licit books into China in sombre, its freedoms for 50 years. China warns Seoul set to announce HK not to politicise issues new sanctions on North Reuters lent means to demand greater Beijing autonomy. China maintains AFP Hong Kong is an insepara- Seoul ble part of China and as such hina’s third-ranked resolutely opposes any moves Communist Party towards independence. outh Korea will soon an- Cleader Zhang Dejiang Reuters was not able to nounce its own tougher said Hong Kong shouldn’t contact Zhang for comment. Ssanctions on North Korea, “politicise everything” and Calls to China’s Hong Kong an offi cial said yesterday, a move should instead focus on inte- and Macao Affairs Office in set to further heighten tensions grating its economy with Chi- Beijing after regular business as Seoul and Washington pre- na’s, according to members of hours went unanswered. pare to launch their largest joint China’s parliament who met “They worry about the rise military exercise. with him yesterday. of separatism,” said Lau Siu- The new measures - following A day after Premier Li Ke- kai, a former senior Hong Wednesday’s decision by the UN qiang pledged greater eco- Kong government adviser Security Council to slap unprec- nomic support for Hong who met with Zhang on Fri- edented sanctions on the North Kong at the opening of an- day with other members of - will be announced this week, nual parliamentary sessions the Chinese People’s Politi- a Seoul government offi cial said in Beijing, Zhang said that cal Consultative Conference, on condition of anonymity. while a recent riot in Hong a top parliamentary advisory The Security Council an- Kong was a concern, it was body. nounced its toughest sanctions one the city’s government “If something big happens yet to punish the North for its could handle. in Hong Kong that is seen as latest nuclear and missile tests in “He (Zhang) said one need- threatening national secu- violation of UN resolutions. ed to take a broader perspec- rity, I don’t expect China to The North responded within tive to look at it, and to not wait, they may take the ini- hours by test-fi ring rockets into politicise everything,” said tiative to protect national se- the sea. Its leader Kim Jong-Un Rita Fan, a standing commit- curity,” Lau told Reuters. ordered the nation’s nuclear ar- tee member of China’s par- Hong Kong was returned senal to be readied for pre-emp- liament chaired by Zhang. from British to Chinese rule tive use at “any moment”. Chinese media has blamed in 1997 under a “one coun- The Seoul offi cial did not the riot in early February on try, two systems” framework elaborate on the South’s separate “radical separatists” seeking granting it broad freedoms sanctions. Yonhap news agency This photo released from North Korea’s off icial Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows West Pyongyang railway workers protesting against to destabilise Hong Kong. and an independent judici- said they would include banning United Nation Security Council’s resolution on North Korea. Other delegates who met ary, though with Beijing hav- any ships which have previously with Zhang said that while ing ultimate authority. docked in the North from South Today, South Korea and its nuclear-powered submarines hard to turn the Korean Penin- ment quoted by the North’s of- Zhang didn’t single out As for the disappearances Korean ports. close ally the US will begin their — is also expected to be far big- sula into the theatre of a war, ficial news agency. anyone for blame, there re- of five Hong Kong booksell- A group of North Korean in- annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle ger than before. Seoul says the not content with slapping its In the first move to enforce mained concern among Bei- ers who published gossipy dividuals and organisations be- military drill. drills, which continue through unreasonable ‘sanctions’ against the UN sanctions, a North jing’s top leaders towards an books of China’s leaders, the lieved to be involved in weapons This year’s will be the largest- April 30, are defensive in nature the DPRK (North Korea) over its Korean cargo ship is being de- embittered cluster of youth issue wasn’t raised by Zhang development will also be added ever, with the US reportedly but Pyongyang has habitually self-defensive H-bomb test and tained by the Philippines, a groups in Hong Kong using despite lingering questions to a blacklist, it said, citing a sending more than 15,000 troops slammed them as a preparation satellite launch for peaceful pur- close US ally. increasingly radical or vio- about the cases. government source. — four times as many as last year for war. poses,” according to a statement Its 21 North Korean crew In February, in an unprece- — to the Key Resolve drill, which Last month it warned it would by a foreign ministry spokes- members remain on board the Xi won’t allow Taiwan to be ‘split’ off again dentedly tough move, the South is largely a computer-simulated attack the South and the US man. ship at Subic Bay while offi cials announced the total shutdown exercise. mainland in case of any armed “No one can vouch that the await the expected arrival of a China will never allow the tary elections. Meeting with of a jointly-run industrial park in Foal Eagle — a fi eld exercise provocation during the exercise. do-or-die confrontation be- UN team to inspect it. tragedy of Taiwan being Shanghai delegates to the North Korea, saying Pyongyang also involving US strategic as- Yesterday, the North said the tween the DPRK and the US will The new UN sanctions re- “split” off from the rest of the annual meeting of parliament, had been using it to fund its nu- sets including a naval fl eet US would be to blame if war not spill over to a global ther- quires states to inspect all cargo country to happen again, Xi made apparent reference clear weapons programmes. led by an aircraft carrier and broke out. “The US is working monuclear war,” said the state- to and from North Korea. state media yesterday quoted to the Qing dynasty’s loss of President Xi Jinping as saying, Taiwan to Japan in 1895, who off ering a strong warning to then ruled the island as a the island against any moves colony until the end of World towards independence. War Two. “We will resolutely China considers self-ruled and contain ‘Taiwan independ- Woman found dead after month trapped in elevator democratic Taiwan a wayward ence’ secessionist activities province, to be brought under in any form, safeguard the its control by force if neces- country’s sovereignty and AFP ing elevator in the northern city of Xi’an ror by the maintenance company for not no evidence of trauma and have ruled out sary. Defeated Nationalist territorial integrity, and never Beijing on January 30, Beijing Youth Daily cited opening the car before cutting the power, homicide, Beijing Youth Daily said. forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 allow the historical tragedy of local authorities as saying. and not verifying after the power was off Last July, a woman was killed after she after the Chinese civil war. the nation being split to hap- The crew found the elevator stuck be- whether there was anyone inside. plunged through fl ooring over an escala- Beijing has repeatedly warned pen again,” Xi said. Chinese woman died after being tween the 10th and 11th fl oors, shouted to The deceased woman, 43, reportedly tor in a Chinese department store. against any moves towards “This is the common wish and trapped in an elevator for a month ask if anyone was there, and cut the pow- lived alone in the building. Security camera footage of the incident independence since January’s firm will of all Chinese people. Abecause maintenance workers shut er, it said. The workers left for the week- China is prone to safety accidents as posted online showed a panel in the fl oor landslide win by Tsai Ing-wen It is also our solemn commit- off the power supply after failing to prop- long Lunar New Year holiday and did not regulations and standards are often fl out- giving way as the woman stepped off the and her Democratic Progres- ment and our responsibility erly check if anyone was inside, state me- return until March 1. ed and enforcement is lax, sometimes due escalator. As she fell half-way through sive Party (DPP) in Taiwan’s to history and the people,” he dia reported yesterday. The government said the investigation to corruption. she pushed her son forward, and a nearby presidential and parliamen- added. Workers came to repair a malfunction- found the death was due to a grave er- Police investigating the incident found shop assistant dragged him to safety.

DISAPPOINTMENT Aussie church abuse victims Ageing, indebted Japan debates right to ‘die with dignity’ return dismayed

Australian victims of child sex abuse Reuters point in terms of attitudes,” ily members fi ling suits. Health help promote the concept of in the Roman Catholic Church re- Tokyo said Teruhiko Mashiko, an op- Ministry guidelines issued in “living wills”. Others, though turned home yesterday disappoint- position lawmaker and head of 2007 call for an informed deci- acknowledge the role of the fi s- ed they did not meet Pope Francis a parliamentarians group set sion by the patient or a proxy cal burden. and angry with the evidence a sen- etired Japanese airline up a decade ago to discuss a and say a decision to withdraw Japan’s total spending on na- ior Vatican off icial gave to an inquiry employee Tarou Tanzawa law giving legal protection to aggressive treatment should be tional healthcare topped 40tn investigating the abuse. The Vatican Rsaid he hadn’t thought doctors who withhold life-pro- made by a healthcare team. But yen ($350bn) for the fi rst time in said it did not grant a meeting with much about his own death un- longing care with the patient’s these and other guidelines have the year to March 31, 2014. the group of about 15 abuse victims til his 84-year-old mother consent. not erased physicians’ con- Spending on those aged 75 because they had not made their was diagnosed with malignant “The view that it is not dig- cerns. and over exceeded a third of the request through the proper chan- lymphoma and decided against nifi ed as a human to simply be “We doctors want some total, a percentage set to grow as nels while they were in Rome to costly and invasive life-pro- kept alive by medical treatment guarantee not to be accused the population ages. observe Cardinal George Pell testify. longing treatment. is becoming more common,” criminally or civilly if we stop “We cannot say clearly that Pell, who is now the Vatican’s treas- He watched his mother die Mashiko said in an interview. such treatment,” said Toshi- it is a problem of cost, but it is urer, became the highest ranking peacefully at a nursing home The lawmakers’ group drafted haru Furukawa, head of the a problem,” the LDP’s Furukawa Vatican off icial to give testimony on where she received only pal- a new version of a bill last year ruling Liberal Democratic Par- said. the issue of systemic abuse within liative care after checking out A man off ers flowers at a grave in a cemetery in Odawara, Japan. but it has yet to be introduced ty’s health, welfare and labour Groups representing the the church. His evidence to the of the hospital where she was in parliament, largely because panel, and a lawyer-doctor handicapped say such talk Australian Royal Commission into diagnosed. Although Japan has one of the among advanced countries due of opposition from disability who has treated terminally-ill simply confi rms what they Institutional Responses to Child Sex Soon after, Tanzawa made his world’s fastest ageing popula- partly to rising expenditure rights groups who fear it could cancer patients. fear - public fi nancial woes are Abuse on cases involving hundreds own “living will”, stipulating he tions, the country has no laws on medical care, the taboo on be a fi rst step toward legalising The sensitivity of the topic driving the push for legislation of children in Australia from the did not want life-prolonging regarding “living wills”, let avoiding life-extending care is euthanasia. was underscored by the outcry that could be a fi rst step toward 1960s to the 1990s has taken on treatment if he became terminal- alone assisted suicide, which is eroding. Traditional Japanese views that greeted remarks by Finance legalising euthanasia of those wider implications about the ac- ly ill or was in a vegetative state. legal in a few US states such as The topic of “natural death” that families are obliged to care Minister Taro Aso in 2013 when society deems a burden. countability of church leaders. “I felt it was too soon (for my California and some nations in- is increasingly being tackled in for elderly relatives have long he said the ailing elderly should “They say people want to die “The simple fact is it’s the Pope’s mother to die) but I also thought cluding Canada and Belgium. TV shows, newspaper and mag- been an obstacle to rejecting or be allowed to “hurry up and die” in a dignifi ed way ... but because loss,” abuse survivor David Ridsdale ‘Ah, there is this way of dying,” Japanese like the Tanzawas azine articles and books; semi- withdrawing life-prolonging and linked the issue to the high of the cost, they want people to told reporters at Melbourne airport Tanzawa, now 68, told Reuters. with “living wills” are a small nars on preparing for death are treatment. Many families fear cost of medical care. have ‘living wills’ and reduce regarding the lack of a meeting, “My generation of baby- minority. But as ageing baby- popular; and health experts say being accused of callous aban- Most advocates of the legal medical expenses,” said Shoji according to the Australian Associ- boomers ... are reaching old age, boomers ponder their own the use of feeding tubes for fee- donment, whatever the pa- change say respect for indi- Nakanishi, president of the ated Press. “He misses out. It’s not and we must confront death as a demise and the country strug- ble elderly patients is declining. tient’s wishes. vidual rights, not cost, is the non-profi t Human Care Asso- our loss.” practical issue.” gles with the worst public debt “I think we are at a turning Doctors worry about fam- key factor and legislation would ciation. Gulf Times 16 Monday, March 7 , 2016 BRITAIN/IRELAND

School rugby-tackling ban campaigners receive ‘vile’ abuse

Guardian News and Media White, a board member of the He said: “I am extremely disap- is free to express his opinions, al- the campaign as “a motley scrum number of e-mails … along the of people and I have published London England Rugby Football Schools pointed that there already is the though it should be emphasised of lefties, gender obsessives and lines of ‘you are a pervert, I can’t research on that and praised rug- Union (ERFSU), said he had been closing down of discussion in the that he is not speaking on behalf of gay campaigners”. believe our taxpayer’s pounds are by for that capacity. I am not at asked not to attend a prestigious RFU (Rugby Football Union) of the ERSFU board.” Messages sent to him included being wasted on this’.” war with rugby. I am at war with ampaigners seeking a rugby schools event at the Alli- some voices. It is quite evident that While the campaign has one which read: “From an arti- Anderson said that many other concussion and have respectful ban on tackling in school anz Stadium, the home of Sara- they are trying to lead the narrative sparked passionate debate, a lead cle in today’s Daily Mail it would messages of support had been exchanges of views with those Crugby have been on the cens, where he was due to act as on this and are perhaps not happy signatory to the letter said some appear that you are a pervert of sent, in some cases from those who disagree with me.” receiving end of a backlash which a safeguarding offi cer. to listen to opposition.” of the criticism he had received extraordinary proportions and involved in playing, coaching and Allyson Pollock , public health included homophobic and sex- White told the Guardian on The RFU said White had off ered included homophobic abuse. should be prosecuted for abusing running rugby at a local level. doctor, academic and author ist abuse, while one supporter Wednesday that restrictions to step down from the safeguard- Eric Anderson, professor of young boys and men.” He added that the abuse did of Tackling Rugby: What Every claims that he was told not to at- along the lines of those proposed ing duties, adding: “This was not sport, masculinities and sexuali- Anderson said the Mail article not refl ect the culture of rugby Parent Should Know , said some tend a key event this weekend. in an open letter signed by 70 instigated by the ERFSU or the ties at the University of Winches- had attacked him using com- today, adding: “My research into of the criticism directed at her on In what he views as a punitive doctors, health experts and aca- RFU. There is no action presently ter, was targeted for abuse after a ments which he said had been rugby shows, in fact, that rugby social media since she signed the measure after speaking in sup- demics were the only way to keep being taken against Adam as a re- Daily Mail article on Thursday taken out of context and mis- players are collectively a very letter had crossed the line into port of the proposed ban, Adam young people safe. sult of his media interviews. He which described those behind represented. “I have received a gay-friendly, progressive group “foul sexist abuse”. Green party Dangerous stunt activist set to make Irish election history

Twenty-two-year-old vows to est supporters since she won fight ‘homophobia blighting the nomination for the Greens local politics’ in Gerry were her parents. “My mum and Adams’s old constituency dad fully supported me when I changed gender in 2013 and Guardian News and Media they are totally behind me in this Belfast election; as are my two brothers who also are going to campaign for me,” Murray said. young green activist born Born in the working-class re- in the heart of republican publican district of Ladybrook AWest Belfast is to make - a one-time stronghold of the history as the fi rst transgender Provisional IRA - Murray said person to stand in an election an- she had no concerns about can- ywhere on the island of Ireland. vassing in the area where she Ellen Murray, who made the grew up. transformation from male to fe- “I’m actually looking forward male, will represent the Green to going around the old streets party in one of the most conten- just as much as I am looking tious constituencies in Britain or forward to canvassing for the Ireland. Greens in every part of West The 22-year-old is standing in Belfast, whether it’s the loyal- her home constituency - an area ist Lower Shankill or republican A man balances as he walks on the support structure of the Millennium Bridge, over the River Thames, in London, yesterday. dominated by Sinn Fein and once Lower Falls. The Greens will go represented by the party’s leader, to every area across the sectarian Gerry Adams. divide. Murray told the Guardian she “The ordinary people are way decided to put herself forward ahead of some of the politicians due to the “continued homopho- up at Stormont when it comes to bia blighting local politics”. issues to do with equality. They Northern Ireland is the only are more liberal than the likes of part of the UK where gay marriage the DUP who block every move is still not legal. Unionist parties towards equality for the LGBT at Stormont, and particularly the community here. I have no prob- London mayor steps Democratic Unionist party, have lem rapping on doors seeking blocked legislation in the regional support all across West Belfast parliament aimed at making LGBT because I am certain the people marriages equal in law. DUP poli- will give you a fair hearing.” ticians have also stirred contro- The former Catholic grammar versy by denouncing homosexual- school pupil said she was part ity as being sinful. of a new post-war generation up anti-EU rhetoric Arriving at a Belfast hotel on a standing up for “a new kind of traditional black delivery-boy- politics”. Reuters to remain inside the 28-nation a “huge weight lifted from Brit- maintaining ... our free trade increasingly acrimonious de- style box bike, Murray admitted Murray said: “I was only two London bloc when Britons vote in a June ish business” and he did not be- advantages with the European bate, another leading ‘Out’ she had concerns standing for years old when the fi rst IRA cease- 23 referendum. lieve banks’ “threats” to relocate Union.” campaigner, Justice Secretary the Greens as an openly trans- fi re and then the loyalist ceasefi re His comments came as Ger- from London if it happened. Cameron has said he will not Michael Gove, told the Sun- gender young woman. (1994) were both declared. Al- ondon’s infl uential mayor man Finance Minister Wolfgang “For the last few years I have run again at the next election day Times that the EU’s treat- “Of course there were bul- though it was a tough area I grew yesterday denied personal Schaeuble warned Brexit would said clearly if we didn’t get re- due in 2020, and many believe ment of Greece in its debt crisis lies both in school and more re- up after the Troubles so many of Lambition was behind his lead to years of tortuous nego- form we should be prepared to Johnson took the gamble that had fuelled the rise of far-right cently on-line directing abuse the issues I want to address are not decision to campaign for Britain tiations and create insecurity walk away. I think we now have campaigning for ‘Out’ would “Hitler worshippers” across the at me. Yet the surprising thing is related to the confl ict.” to leave the European Union and that would be “poison” to the a golden opportunity to shrug boost his chances of succeeding bloc. that since I came forward about The Green candidate works said it was a “golden opportu- British, European and global off a regulatory legislative him. Twice elected to run Lon- In the same paper, Johnson standing for election even some as a volunteer for a charity that nity” for the country to forge its economies. burden that is profoundly un- don, he is among the country’s said the EU made it harder for of the people who used to bully looks after transgender teenagers own trade deals with the world. No country has previously democratic,” he said in a BBC most popular politicians and Britain to carry out surveillance me at school have got in touch. and young people as well as their Boris Johnson, whose back- quit the EU, and a British depar- interview. seen as one of the Eurosceptic on terrorists. He criticised as They said that they want to work families. One of the reasons why ing for a so-called ‘Brexit’ has ture would deprive the bloc of its “We have got a once in a life- camp’s chief assets. “scandalous” reports that the on my campaign and said they she is standing for elections to angered Prime Minister David number two economy and lead- time opportunity, which will Asked if he expected to be head of the British Chambers thought it was great I was going the assembly is (to) raise aware- Cameron and highlighted the ing fi nancial centre. Cameron not come again, to strike a new the next prime minister, he re- of Commerce, which represents forward for election,” Murray ness of the high rates of suicide deep splits within his Con- says leaving would be a risky series of relationships, free trade sponded: “Certainly not.” thousands of businesses, had said. and self-harm within the young- servatives over Europe, said he “leap in the dark”. deals with the growth econo- As both sides accuse each been suspended for backing However, she said her great- er transgender community. believed the risky option was But Johnson said it would be mies around the world, whilst other of scaremongering in an Brexit. Fall in special constable Bard festival N Ireland police fi nd numbers strains police explosives in park Agencies any particular grouping” among Belfast Northern Ireland’s Catholic or London Evening Standard the Met under “immense strain”. by the time he leaves offi ce. Protestant militants. London She said the decline had left “In 2012 Boris recognised the Northern Ireland has been on the mayor’s pledge to double vital link specials played in bol- orthern Ireland police high alert since a bomb exploded numbers “in tatters” and was stering our police service. Now said they had found a on Friday as a van driven by a he number of people vol- adding to the pressure on full he looks set to leave a much- N“signifi cant terrorist prison offi cer drove over it, in- unteering to become spe- time offi cers. reduced police force for his suc- hide” containing bomb-making juring him and a passenger. Tcial police offi cers in Lon- McCartney said: “Specials cessor.” components and explosives yes- Following the explosion, PSNI don has fallen dramatically in have a commitment to do 16 Scotland Yard said it was carry- terday, one day after they report- assistant chief constable Stephen recent years, putting “immense hours a month but many do a lot ing out a review of the Met’s spe- ed fi nding two “viable devices” Martin warned that the territory strain” on regular offi cers, it was more than that and they are vital cial constabulary to understand in Belfast. faces a “severe threat” from “people claimed. to borough policing. why the number of specials had “Police uncovered signifi - within dissident republican group- Figures from the Met show the “They can be used to make up fallen. The Met said 30% of those cant terrorist hide contain- ings” in the run-up to the 100th an- number of special constables on street patrols or in some bor- leaving the specials were going to ing bomb-making components niversary of the Easter Rising. patrol in the capital fell by 43% oughs they help police the night become full-time offi cers. and explosives at Carnfunnock The 1916 Easter Rising be- in the last four years, from an all- time economy, they help make Commander Lucy D’Orsi, of Country Park, near Larne,” the gan when Irish republicans rose time high during the Olympics. the police more visible.” the Met’s Territorial Policing, Police Service of Northern Ire- against occupying British troops in A total of 3,253 volunteer spe- She said the Met’s £600mn said: “We are considering how land (PSNI) said on Twitter. Dublin. It led to self-government cials, who have full police pow- budget cuts had led to a 2,800 re- to make the recruitment, train- The country park is some from 1921 and the recognition of ers, are enlisted by the Met to- duction in the number of PCSOs ing and role of special consta- 30kms north of Belfast, where po- southern Ireland as an independ- day compared with 5,677 in May employed in central London and bles more fl exible and attractive lice found bombs in two residen- ent republic in 1949, although the 2012, despite a pledge by Boris in neighbourhoods. in order to increase recruitment tial streets in the west of the city six counties of Northern Ireland Johnson to double the number to She added: “Despite Boris’s and retention.” on Saturday after investigating remaining under British control. 10,000 in his last manifesto. promise to double their ranks In 2015, the Met’s volunteer An actor from the group ‘Burn the Curtain’ takes part reports of “suspicious objects.” Northern Ireland was riven by Labour’s London Assembly what we’ve actually seen is a dra- offi cers put in 570,078 hours of in “Desperately Seeking Shakespeare”, as the character The bomb parts were discov- sectarian confl ict for 38 years as policing spokeswoman Joanne matic and continuing fall in the policing London while holding Christopher Mountjoy, as part of the “Barbican Shakespeare ered in a largely British Protestant Catholic nationalists sought a McCartney said the fall in num- number of special constables — down regular jobs. About a third Weekender: Play On” event, at the Barbican Centre, in area, and detective chief inspec- united Ireland and Protestant bers of special constables, PCSOs at this rate he may well have less of offi cers who left the special London, yesterday. tor Gillian Kearney said adding “it Unionists sought to remain in the and regular offi cers was putting than half of what he started with constabulary joined the Met. is too early to link these items to United Kingdom. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 17 BRITAIN

Existing laws on online abuse don’t serve victims: police chief

Guardian News and Media Essex police, argues it is neces- “The levels of abuse that now ices has suffi ciently adapted to The draft legislation, being in- and the organisation which drew ment) Act 1992, Crime and Dis- London sary to consolidate and simplify take place within the Internet are the new threat and harms that troduced by Liz Saville Roberts, up the bill, said there was a con- order Act 1998, Computer Mis- off ences committed online to on a level we never really expect- the Internet brings,” Kavanagh a Plaid Cymru MP, calls for a re- fusing array of more than 30 use Act 1990, and the Criminal improve the chance of justice for ed. If we did try to deal with all of told the Guardian. Recently in- view and consolidation into one pieces of legislation currently Justice Act 2003. he chief constable lead- tens of thousands of victims. it we would clearly be swamped.” troduced new off ences such as act of all the legislation currently being used against online crimes. Harry Fletcher, criminal jus- ing the fi ght against dig- “There are crimes now taking Kavanagh said the range of leg- revenge porn were welcome, he being used against digital crime. These include the Contempt of tice director at Digital-Trust, Tital crime is calling for new place - the malicious use of in- islation used against online abus- added, but piecemeal. It also calls for new powers to Court Act 1981, Protection from said: “Criminals and abusers legislation to tackle an “unimag- timate photographs for example ers did not serve victims well. It A group of cross-party MPs will outlaw the use of spyware or we- Harassment Act 1997, Mali- readily use technology and it is ined scale of online abuse” which - which we never would have im- includes at least one law that dates introduce a private member’s bill bcams on digital devices without cious Communications Act 1988, imperative that the criminal jus- he says is threatening to over- agined as an off ence when I was a back to the 19th century. into parliament on Wednesday to permission. Communications Act 2003, Of- tice system catches up. Existing whelm the police service. PC in the 80s. It’s not just the na- “No police chief would claim update the law on cyber-enabled Digital-Trust, a charity work- fences Against the Person Act laws are fragmented and inad- Stephen Kavanagh, who heads ture of it, it is the sheer volume. the way we deliver police serv- crime. ing with victims of online abuse 1861, Sexual Off ences (Amend- equate.”

Bid to end Kung Fu Panda 3 premiere payouts for inmates No chance of launched

Agencies party victory London

crackdown on prisoner compensation has been Alaunched after it was revealed the bill to taxpayers in 2020 polls: jumped to nearly £10mn. Ministers have ordered an audit of personal injury claims submit- ted to the Prison Service in a drive to identify where payouts and le- gal costs could be slashed. It follows a string of attempts Labour MP to secure payouts by high-profi le prisoners. Yvette Cooper warned ficers axed and the NHS going he hears when people speak. Records show that in the last the party and trade union backwards, with longer waits He and the people around him fi nancial year a record £28.8mn movement risked being “left and financial crisis. only seem to hear: ‘You’re was spent handling claims. The behind” unless it changed “Labour will ... stand up amazing - can I have a selfie?’ sum includes damages, legal ad- to deal with the challenges for working people to build The polls are terrible, aren’t vice and representation in cases facing modern Britain an economy which works for they? But I’d like to hear him that reached court, with £9.3mn all - one where prosperity is raise that. spent on compensation and costs Agencies shared, pay is fair and jobs are “I’d like to hear him say: for claims involving inmates. The London secure. ‘What are we going to do about overall fi gure for the previous them?’ That might give us year was £21.1mn, with £7.4mn “He and the people around more confidence that this isn’t for claims relating to prisoners - him only seem to hear: just about him and his project, meaning the bills jumped by more abour will “absolutely ‘You’re amazing - can I but about the country.” than a third (36%) and a quarter not” win the next general have a selfi e?’ The polls are Cooper, who ran against Cor- (26%) respectively in a year. Lelection, a critic of Jeremy terrible, aren’t they? But I’d byn for the party leadership in Recent cases include a claim for Corbyn warned, as the party like to hear him raise that” 2015, said the Labour move- £20,000 from one of the killers of launched its campaign for the ment had to adapt to the chal- Fusilier Lee Rigby. local contests with an attack on “We will stand up for families lenges of the digital revolution. It emerged last year that Michael the Google tax deal. and individuals struggling to She told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Adebolajo was suing for compen- Outspoken MP Jess Phillips buy or rent a home, by deliver- Pienaar’s Politics: “We as a sation after he had two front teeth dismissed Labour’s chances ing more and better housing. movement are going to be knocked out in an incident in the of victory in 2020 as former And we will stand up against the left behind if we are not deal- high security Belmarsh prison. cabinet minister Yvette Coop- unfair Tory cuts to protect the ing with the challenges of the Adebolajo claimed he was as- er warned the party and trade vital public services we all rely digital revolution, how you saulted by fi ve prison offi cers, but union movement risked be- on. We will protect the police get greater equality, how you all were told they would face no ing “left behind” unless it from deep Tory cuts. And we tackle exploitation.” charges. changed to deal with the chal- will invest in the NHS to rescue Asked if she was concerned The ministry of justice said lenges facing modern Britain. it from Tory neglect. about the party’s direction she other cases - which were ulti- Their interventions came “That’s the choice at this said: “ It’s no secret that Jer- mately dismissed - include: as the party launched a series election: a Tory government emy was not my choice for La- z Terrorist Abdul Miah of advertisements - and an which is putting the living bour leader this summer. But launched a claim for racial dis- online animation - targeting standards of millions of work- we’ve had those debates over crimination after he was searched George Osborne over the con- ing families at risk, or a La- the summer. by a female prison offi cer. He was troversial agreement reached bour Party that will stand up “I think the challenge for seeking £2,000. by HM Revenue and Customs for you.” the whole party now has got z Liquid bomb plotter Abdulla and Internet search giant But Phillips told The Ob- to be focusing on this EU ref- Ahmed Ali sought £1,250 follow- Google. server that the party faced no erendum, because that is go- ing an allegation that two boxes One of the posters pub- chance of taking power at the ing to be incredibly important containing his personal posses- lished online said “The Tories next general election. Asked determining the future of the sions, including legal mail, were don’t seem to understand fair if Labour could win she said: country. opened, searched and removed in tax contributions. Perhaps “The honest answer is: ‘no, “Also we have the local elec- 2013. they should Google it”, with absolutely not’.” tions coming up, the mayoral z Burglar Noel Jennings at- an image of the chancellor in a The Birmingham Yardley election coming up.” tempted to claim £6,000 after dodgem. MP said: “I think Jeremy wants She added: “ Of course, that banging his head while play- Corbyn told The Independ- to be the leader. If he didn’t, I is a challenge to our leader- fi ghting with another prisoner. ent On Sunday: “Deep Tory don’t imagine he would do it. ship and to show that we as He tried to claim he had slipped US actress Kate Hudson poses for photographers as she arrives for the European premiere of cuts are putting the public But I’m not sure he wants to be a party are going to be up to on water caused by a leak at HMP Kung Fu Panda 3 in London yesterday. services we rely on at risk, prime minister. those challenges, responding Manchester. with thousands of police of- “What I worry about is what to them and taking it forward.” Tycoons clash over plans Hunt pledges to make for basement dig at villa UK dementia-friendly Agencies ices will also improve for dementia London patients in hospitals, with patients London Evening Standard A second application is due to wants to restore the “wedding in high dependency care seen and London go before the council’s planning cake” fi ve-storey villa — close reviewed by a consultant twice committee on Tuesday with a to David and Victoria Beckham’s he UK should be the most a day, every day of the week, by recommendation from offi cers £31.5mn London base — as a dementia-friendly coun- 2020. He said: “ A dementia diag- wo of London’s wealthi- for approval, despite continued family home to share with his Ttry in the world by 2020, nosis can bring fear and heartache, est hedge fund bosses are opposition from the Tacchis. wife and three children. the health secretary has said. but I want Britain to be the best Tlocked in a legal battle over Deitz’s wife Marina Nacheva, Oxford-educated Tacchi em- Jeremy Hunt said the govern- place in the world to live well with plans for a huge basement under who also works for VR Capital, ployed lawyers from two City law ment wanted to boost the num- dementia. Last parliament we a £30mn Holland Park home. said: “The situation is obviously fi rms — Norton Rose Fulbright bers of people with dementia get- made massive strides on diagnosis Richard Deitz, president of regrettable but we have been try- and Watson Farley Williams — to ting a diagnosis, raise awareness rates and research - the global race Moscow-based VR Capital, ing to fi nd middle-ground. Tac- fi ght the plans. In letters submit- of the condition and encourage is now on to fi nd a cure for demen- wants to dig out a 3,500 sq ft chi unfortunately has unrealistic ted to the planning committee, more research. Under new plans, tia and I want the UK to win it. extension including swimming expectations in terms of what we his legal team states: “The pro- if a pilot scheme proves successful, “I want us to make big progress pool, changing room, gym, sauna should do about protecting his posed basement construction everyone aged 40 and over will be on the quality of care and treat- and steam room under the garden property. We are never going to be will lead to substantial ground given information about dementia ment. of his Grade II listed villa. the best of friends but it’s not all- movements, causing damage to and memory problems when they “Hospitals can be frightening However, his neighbour, Tim out war, and we are not shouting neighbouring properties. have their free NHS health check and confusing places for people Tacchi, founder of hedge fund TT at each other. That we ended up in “Our own assessments indi- with their GP. with dementia, so our new plan International, and his wife Beti- the High Court is disappointing. cate that the movements gener- Current information on which will guarantee them safer seven na, have hired two top law fi rms “I come from Bulgaria and ated will cause cracking of up to regions are good at diagnosing de- day hospital care, as well as tack- to oppose the “totally unaccept- grew up in a village where your 5mm in the Tacchis home in Hol- mentia will be strengthened with ling unacceptable variations in able” scheme — even taking the neighbours are the most impor- land Park. Ofsted-style ratings, enabling quality across England through dispute as far as the high court. tant people in your life. My un- “The same damage can be an- people to make more meaningful transparent Ofsted-style ratings.” The application was given derstanding of neighbours from ticipated to the Greek Embassy comparisons about the quality of Dementia aff ects 850,000 peo- planning consent by Kensington there is totally diff erent to my on the opposite side. Smaller dementia care in their area. ple in the UK, resulting in the loss & Chelsea council in October but experience of them in London.” cracks would be anticipated in There is a new aim for 10% of all of brain cells. The most common the Tacchis had it quashed by the The Deitzs bought the former the next adjoining properties people diagnosed with dementia type is Alzheimer’s disease. court in January when their law- residence of the Greek consul adjacent. Such a level of damage to take part in research, while the Early symptoms include prob- yers successfully argued that not general from the Greek govern- to a listed building is totally un- Care Quality Commission (CQC) lems with memory and thinking. enough weight had been given to ment for £23mn at the height of acceptable, as are the potential will include standards of dementia As the disease progresses, peo- the risk of “harm to a heritage as- the country’s debt crisis in 2013. fi nancial implications for our cli- care in their inspections. ple can experience diffi culty with set”. The Yale-educated banker ents and the Greek embassy.” Hunt: plan to improve for dementia care Hunt also said seven-day serv- walking, balance and swallowing. Gulf Times 18 Monday, March 7, 2016 EUROPE

Italy seeks United Nations cultural heritage listing for Neapolitan pizza making Italy has put forward the Neapolitan pizza as a candidate for Climate change poised to hurt food supplies: study inclusion in Unesco’s cultural heritage list for next year. The national commission for Unesco said in a statement that it had voted unanimously to protect the Neapolitan pizza as part AFP culture Organisation has said. Even these projections may be Low- and middle-income diff erent projections for green- of the country’s cultural and gastronomic tradition. Paris With the global population set overly optimistic, it warns, be- countries will probably be hit house gas emissions and develop- If Unesco accepts the bid it will win a place on the world body’s to increase from seven to nine bil- cause they only count calories and hardest, with almost three-quar- ment forecasts to evaluate the im- list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as “The Tradi- lion by 2050, food production will fail to anticipate a worsening in ters of all climate-related deaths pacts on global food production, tional Art of Neapolitan Pizza Makers”. he eff ects of climate change have to expand even more rapidly the balance of future diets. expected to occur in China and trade and consumption in 2050. Traditional Neapolitan pizza has a relatively thin crust with on food production could if all the world’s people are to have “Our results show that even India. Experts evaluating the research the exception of the rim, which, when baked, bloats like a tiny Tcause 500,000 extra deaths enough to eat. modest reductions in the avail- Even if the world’s nations suc- said it was worthwhile, but cau- bicycle tyre. by 2050 compared to a world But global warming – on track ability of food could lead to ceed in holding the rise in glo- tioned that projections are uncer- It is religiously made in a wood-burning brick oven and has two without global warming, accord- to boost temperatures 3° Celsius changes in the energy content and bal temperature to 2° C (3.6° F), tain. classic versions: Marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano and oil) and, ing to a study released this week. (5.4° Fahrenheit) by 2100, com- composition of diets,” said Marco there would still be an additional “It is very diffi cult to estimate the most famous, Margherita (tomato, mozzarella, oil and basil). If greenhouse gas emissions pared to pre-Industrial-Era levels Springmann, a researcher at the 150,000 climate-related deaths exactly what climate change im- According to tradition, the Pizza Margherita was created in continue at current rates, this – is threatening to make that dif- Oxford Martin Programme on the due to changes in diet and calorie pacts will be,” commented An- 1889 by a local chef in honour of Queen Margherita, who was would cut projected increases in fi cult or impossible, experts warn. Future of Food at the University intake, the researchers found. drew Challinor, a professor at the visiting the city. food availability by a third before “Climate change eff ects are ex- of Oxford, and leader of the study. “Climate change is likely to University of Leeds in England. It has the red, white and green colours of the Italian flag. mid-century, the study found. pected to reduce the quantity of “These changes will have major have a substantial negative impact “Year-to-year variability of food Food culture already on the Unesco list includes Turkish coff ee As of 2015, some 800mn people food harvested, which could lead consequences for health.” on future mortality, even under production will become greater, culture and tradition, Gingerbread craft from northern Croatia in the world are undernourished, to higher food prices and reduced The proportion of fruits and optimistic scenarios,” Spring- which will make global food mar- and the traditional ancient Georgian method of Qvevri wine- meaning they cannot meet daily consumption,” according the vegetables in diets, for example, mann said. kets more unpredictable.” making. minimum dietary energy require- study, published in the medical will decline in a climate-change- The study used agricultural Extreme climate events will also ments, the UN’s Food and Agri- journal The Lancet. addled world, he said. economic models coupled with become more common, he added.

Fico wins election Opposition newspaper but faces tough task turns pro-government to form Reuters/AFP tained images of the funerals of “There are many media out- “I hope we will obtain a result majority Istanbul “martyrs” killed in the military lets in Turkey that criticise our as soon as possible,” the prime clashes with Kurdish rebels in government. None of them are minister said. the southeast. subjected to legal procedures,” Some 50 people stood outside Reuters day after Turkey’s top- In one corner of the new edi- Davutoglu told A Haber televi- of the paper’s Istanbul offi ces Bratislava selling newspaper Zaman tion Erdogan is seen holding the sion yesterday. again yesterday, witnesses said. Awas taken over by the hand of an elderly woman and “But what’s in question here The atmosphere was calm. state, it dropped its criticisms of the newspaper announces the is not merely a press activity Yesterday’s edition was a slim lovak Prime Minister Rob- the government and published president is due to host a re- but rather an operation target- version of its previous self, at ert Fico won Saturday’s fl attering stories on President ception to mark International ing a legitimate government just 12 pages and with sparse Sparliamentary election, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Women’s Day and his visit to the that came to power with popu- content. nearly complete results showed, The episode is the latest twist site of a bridge being built across lar support,” he said referring to Zaman’s website was offl ine, but gains by opposition parties in a long-running confl ict be- Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait. Gulen loyalists. with a message that read: “We including the far right will make tween Erdogan and US-based There was no mention of pro- Erdogan and Davutoglu ac- will provide you, our readers, it very hard if not impossible to Islamic preacher Fethullah Gu- tests by Gulen’s supporters on cuse Gulen of plotting to topple with a better quality and more form a new government. len. Friday and Saturday when police their government in 2013 after objective service as soon as pos- If Fico fails to put together Police raided the offi ces of used tear gas and water cannon police suspected of belonging to sible.” a government led by his leftist Zaman, which is affi liated with to disperse large crowds gath- the religious movement leaked “Internet has been cut off , we Smer party, a group of centre- Gulen, late on Friday after a ered outside of the newspaper. a corruption investigation into are unable to use our system,” right parties could try to form a court approved a request by a Rights groups and European Erdogan’s family and ministers. one of the newspaper’s journal- broad but possibly unstable an- prosecutor to appoint a state ad- offi cials criticised the seizure, Gulen has been based in the ists told AFP. “The Sunday edi- ti-Fico coalition, a repeat of the ministrator to the daily. saying that it infringed on press US since 1999 when he fl ed tion was not produced by Za- A photo taken yesterday shows the front page of the first new 2010 election. The prosecutor is investigat- freedom in the EU candidate charges against him laid by the man’s staff .” edition of Zaman, which had staunchly opposed the president, Fico, a leftist whose anti- ing whether funds have been di- country. former secular authorities. The website of the English- now with articles supporting the government since its seizure by immigration and socially con- verted to Gulen. Prime Minister Ahmet Da- Turkey has asked the Unit- language Today’s Zaman, which authorities. servative views are in line with Zaman headlined an ambi- vutoglu, who is fl ying to Brus- ed States to extradite him but was also confi scated, featured neighbours Poland and Hungary, tious $3bn government project sels for an emergency summit Washington has shown little in- stories about the takeover and between 2003 and 2014 before Abdulhamit Bilici, was fi red on took 28.3% of the vote, far ahead to connect Asian and European on refugees today, rejected that terest in doing so. the EU’s critical response but winning the presidency, but dif- Saturday, editors said. of others but less than he had sides of Turkey’s mega city Is- charge, saying that a legal proc- Davutoglu said that talks with had not been updated since Sat- ferences emerged over foreign In its last edition that went hoped for, results from 99.98% tanbul by a third bridge. ess was under way to investigate the United States were under urday. policy and a government plan to to print before its takeover, the of voting districts showed. In common with tradition- illicit fi nancing of a “terrorist” way “within the frame of inter- Zaman’s editors were once shut schools run by Gulen’s fol- newspaper warned of the “dark- With eurozone member Slo- ally pro-government newspa- organisation and that there had national law” for Gulen’s extra- largely supportive of Erdogan, lowers. est days” in the history of the vakia due to take over the Euro- pers, the front page also con- been no political interference. dition. who served as prime minister The paper’s editor-in-chief, Turkish press. pean Union’s rotating presiden- cy from July, giving it a bigger role in EU policy discussions over the bloc’s migration crisis, the election is being watched closely in Brussels. Russian Fico bet on a combination of popular welfare measures such as free train rides for students embassy and pensioners and his opposi- tion to accepting refugees to se- cure a third term, after ruling in protests 2006-2010 and 2012-2016. The results showed eight groups won seats in the new property parliament, including four that were not in the outgoing one. Some factions rule out work- damage ing with each other, especially with a far-right party that gained representation. Reuters Fico, who had hoped to rule Moscow/Kiev with one smaller coalition part- ner, said that building a new coalition in a highly fragmented ussia’s embassy in Kiev parliament would take time and has sent a note of protest be tough, given the “very com- Rto Ukraine’s foreign min- plicated” election results. istry about attacks on the em- A protester throws a bottle containing green colouring towards a “As the party that won the bassy’s cars, the RIA news agen- building within the Russian embassy compound in Kiev during a rally election we have the obligation cy quoted embassy spokesman demanding the liberation of Savchenko. to try build a meaningful and Oleg Grishin as saying. stable government,” Fico told re- Grishin said three cars parked Right: People take part in a rally in central Kiev demanding liberation porters. “It will not be easy, I am outside the embassy were “se- of Savchenko. saying that very clearly.” riously damaged” overnight by a group of unidentifi ed people who also threw fl ares and smoke Moldova court rules next president fl ares to the embassy. Kiev police said that it had Hunger-striking Ukrainian pilot in to be chosen by popular vote launched a criminal investiga- tion into the case which it pre- Crisis-hit Moldova’s constitutional court has ruled that the country’s liminarily described as hooli- next president must be elected by a national vote, meaning a poll ganism. ‘satisfactory condition’, says lawyer will be held after the current leader’s term runs out later this month. “At night ... unidentifi ed peo- The surprise decision will see the impoverished ex-Soviet state ple started smashing parked – rocked by mass protests against elite corruption – switch from cars, so a total of three vehicles AFP her lawyers, Nikolai Polozov, said Ella Pamfi lova had informed and Ukraine celebrate Women’s having parliament choose the head of state to a popular ballot were damaged: mirrors and the Moscow on Facebook, using the Russian Savchenko’s sister Vera of her Day, a public holiday. within three months of President Nicolae Timofti’s tenure ending on glass had been shattered,” the version of her name. condition after her representa- “Do not humiliate Russia, its March 22. police said in a statement. He said that she was being tives visited her in a detention men, its offi cers who still know “The current president will complete his mandate, then the next A video with a slogan “Free- jailed female Ukrain- constantly monitored and there centre. what honour is about,” she wrote president will be voted in through a popular direct ballot,” court dom to Nadia Savchenko” and ian pilot, who this week was no need to force-feed her. A group of Ukrainian doctors on Facebook. “And even if you president Alexandru Tanase told journalists on Friday after ruling footage of few men smashing Arejected food and water Savchenko has not been drink- are waiting for permission to also consider the Ukrainian offi cer on the legal challenge from a political party. cars in darkness appeared on the to protest delays in her contro- ing water or eating since the trial visit her, he added. defending the sovereignty of her A parliamentary democracy where lawmakers wield more power Internet, while hundreds of peo- versial murder trial in Russia, is was adjourned on Thursday. Savchenko has fasted before to country an enemy, respect an than the president, Moldova has been in crisis since a $1bn ple have massed near the embas- in “satisfactory condition”, her Her supporters are concerned protest the accusations against enemy! I also consider you my (€925mn) corruption scandal erupted last year, triggering protests sy in Ukraine’s capital yesterday lawyer said yesterday. that by refusing to drink water her but has never before refused ideological enemy but let me at and the arrest of former prime minister Vlad Filat in October. with similar slogans. Nadiya Savchenko, 34, is she may damage her health ir- both food and water. least consider the president of A loose coalition of pro-European and pro-Russian demonstrators Protesters have urged Mos- demanding she be repatri- reparably or not live long enough “She counts only on her pres- my country a man!” have been calling for early parliamentary elections as anger over cow to free Nadezhda (Nadia) ated to Ukraine after a judge in to attend the next hearing set for sure on the Kremlin,” her sister Putin’s spokesman Dmitry graft among the ruling elite has boiled over. Savchenko, a Ukrainian pilot the southern Russian town of Wednesday. Vera told AFP earlier this week. Peskov declined this week to Protestors had also been pushing for a referendum to switch to a on trial in Russia on charges of Donetsk on Thursday unexpect- Refusing both food and water “She does not believe politi- comment on Savchenko’s deci- directly-elected head of state. complicity in the killing of two edly postponed her fi nal address is known in Russia as a “dry hun- cians.” sion to refuse food and water, However, it remains to be seen whether the court’s decision will Russian journalists. to court as her trial over the 2014 ger strike” and was a method of Irena Lesnevskaya, the found- saying that the issue was not on defuse the demonstrations. Savchenko, 34, was captured killing of two Russian journalists last resort for some Soviet dissi- er of Russia’s REN TV channel, the Kremlin agenda. Wedged between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova is often seen in by pro-Russian rebels in eastern in east Ukraine nears an end. dents under Communism. appealed yesterday to President The US State Department has terms of a tug-of-war between Russia and the West, especially after Ukraine in June 2014. She denies “Nadezhda Savchenko is now Polozov said that Russian Vladimir Putin to let Savchenko reiterated its call for Savchenko it inked an historic EU association agreement in 2014 despite bitter any wrongdoing. in satisfactory condition,” one of human rights ombudsman go ahead of March 8 when Russia to be released “immediately”. opposition from its former master Moscow. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 19 EUROPE Austria urges Germany to cap refugees

Reuters summit with Turkey today on gees will continue to head off in in which she repeatedly rejected posing daily limits on the num- Zurich handling the worst refugee crisis the direction of Germany,” Fay- the introduction of such a na- bers it processes. in generations. mann was quoted as saying. tional cap. In a separate newspaper inter- Austria – the last stop before “If you take the Austrian In a newspaper interview, view, Austrian Defence Minister ustrian Chancellor Wern- Germany, the top destination for guidelines, Germany could give Merkel defended her decision to Hans Peter Doskozil said Aus- er Faymann has urged migrants fl eeing war and poverty its quota at around 400,000. As keep Germany’s borders open tria did not want to take part in AGermany to set a clear in the Middle East and beyond – long as Germany does not say and reaffi rmed her push for a a quota system for distributing limit on the number of asylum- has already come under fi re from that, it is clear what will hap- joint European solution, includ- refugees among European coun- seekers it will accept to help stem the European Commission and pen. The refugees will continue ing strengthening the continent’s tries because it had done enough. a mass infl ux of refugees that is human rights groups for capping to believe that they will be waved external borders and cooperation “We are taking the lion’s share severely testing European cohe- its own intake of refugees. through.” with Turkey to stop refugees and taking in 37,500 asylum- sion. “Germany too must give a In Berlin, a government from travelling on to Europe. seekers this year alone. Now The comments by the Social number for the refugees it is pre- spokesman declined to com- Austria, a country of 8.5mn the others are called upon. Why Democrat to the Kurier newspa- pared to take from the Syria and ment directly on Faymann, but people, got 90,000 asylum re- should Austria take refugees Faymann: Germany must finally create clarity or else refugees will per threaten to make even more Turkey region. Germany must referred to previous statements quests last year and has curtailed from Greece?” Doskozil told the continue to head off in the direction of Germany. complicated an emergency EU fi nally create clarity or else refu- from Chancellor Angela Merkel the number this year while im- Oesterreich newspaper. EU aims to push for ‘large-scale’ deportations AFP Macedonia allowed just 240 Brussels people to cross the border with Greece between Saturday and early yesterday morning, Greek uropean leaders will push frontier police said. Turkey at a summit today Meanwhile, there are already Eto agree to “large-scale” over 5,000 refugees and mi- deportations of economic mi- grants waiting to cross to the grants from Greece which is Greek mainland from the Aegean bracing for a fresh surge of mi- islands facing Turkey, Greece’s grant and refugee arrivals by the state agency ANA reported yes- end of March. terday. The European Union’s 28 Donald Tusk, the European leaders are hoping for new com- Council president and summit mitments from Turkish Prime host, said in his invitation letter Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at that success depended largely on their talks in Brussels in order to securing Turkey’s agreement at curb the chaos on the west Bal- the summit for the “large-scale” kans route that begins in over- readmission from Greece of eco- stretched Greece. nomic migrants who do not qual- The EU will also push Ankara to ify as refugees. drastically reduce the huge fl ow of Syrians, who top the infl ux of migrants into Europe, as Turkey people into Europe, are considered A boy with his father receive food yesterday in the makeshift camp at A boy play with a stick by a bonfire at the makeshift migrant camp near the Greek village of Idomeni, is the launch pad for most of the genuine refugees requiring admis- the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni. where thousands of migrants and refugees are stranded. more than one million refugees sion under international law. and migrants who have come to Brussels has meanwhile un- but added that too many people rently holds the bloc’s rotating tious” plan to resettle refugees Sea from launching a new anti- pressure on Greece by following the continent since early 2015. veiled a plan for saving the pass- were still heading from Turkey to presidency, told reporters that directly from camps in Turkey, smuggling mission. through on commitments to take On Saturday, European Mi- port-free Schengen zone, which Greece, the main entry point to he hoped Turkey would agree to- which hosts 2.7mn Syrians. Under their deal, Turkey ex- in asylum seekers stranded there. gration Commissioner Dimitris has been jeopardised by several Europe. day “to accelerate readmission of Under the action plan, the EU pects to accelerate its bid for EU Since adopting a scheme last Avramapoulos said that Greece countries closing their borders to The European Commission, the third country nationals and eco- will give Turkey €3bn ($3.3bn) to membership and see Brussels September to relocate 160,000 – already struggling with a stop the huge infl ux of people. EU executive body, said in a report nomic migrants”. aid refugees on its territory and ease visa requirements for Turks asylum-seekers from frontline build-up of 30,000 migrants – “For the fi rst time since the that the daily average of irregular Rutte added: “I think that Turkey will crack down on people visiting the Schengen area. states Greece and Italy, European was expected to receive “another beginning of the migration crisis, arrivals in February amounted to would be the minimum outcome.” smugglers. Lingering tensions between Union countries have taken in 100,000” by the end of March. I can see a European consensus just under 2,000, which is “high” The commission report urged In its report, the commission Brussels and Ankara fl ared when just over 600 people. EU leaders will also try to in- emerging,” Tusk said in his letter. for a winter month. Ankara to “swiftly negotiate and urged Turkey to “take decisive Turkish police seized an opposi- Chancellor Angela Merkel of crease aid for Greece which has Following their lunch with Da- In the report to EU summit conclude readmission agree- action against migrant smug- tion newspaper at the weekend Germany – which has by far ad- seen non-EU Macedonia and EU vutoglu in Brussels, EU leaders participants, the commission ments with the relevant third gling” by stepping up police and Brussels warned Ankara it mitted the most asylum-seekers countries on the Balkans route are to meet by themselves. said encouragingly that Ankara countries”, which would then work, coast guard patrols and co- had to respect media freedom in in Europe – said that Greece tighten their borders, strand- The EU said that Turkey has on February 26 approved 859 re- take back economic migrants operation with Nato. its decade-long bid for EU mem- should have been quicker to ing asylum-seekers desperate to made progress toward imple- admission requests from Greece. from Turkey. Turkey on Wednesday de- bership (see report on page 18). provide lodgings to host 50,000 head northward to wealthy Ger- menting a co-operation-for- Prime Minister Mark Rutte In return, Rutte said, Europe nied claims it was blocking Nato EU leaders will press mem- people under an agreement with many and Scandinavia. aid deal clinched in November of the Netherlands, which cur- could implement a more “ambi- vessels deployed in the Aegean ber states anew to relieve the the EU in October. Merkel slams anti-immigrant Zeman fl oats idea of Greece paying off AfD, defends refugee policy its debts by hosting migrant centres

Reuters Reuters entry point for refugees into Eu- Berlin Prague rope, would be a priority. Zeman has limited policymak- ing power but has been outspo- erman Chancellor Angela reece could pay down its ken on the migrant issue. Merkel has criticised the foreign debts by host- He has said the integration of Ganti-immigrant Alterna- Ging deportation centres, Muslim communities is “practi- tive for Germany (AfD) party, giving Europe another option in cally impossible” and called the saying that it stirs up prejudice tackling the migrant crisis, Czech infl ux an “organised invasion”. and polarises society. President Milos Zeman said yes- The Greek foreign ministry Her comments, made in an terday. declined to comment on Zeman’s interview with the Bild am Son- Zeman, speaking in a broad- remarks. ntag newspaper, refl ect growing cast interview with Czech televi- Greek Prime Minister Alexis unease among Germany’s main- sion channel Prima, said that the Tsipras, lashing out yesterday stream parties amid rising popu- idea came from one of his advis- at border restrictions that led to lar support for the right-wing ers and called it “an original idea logjams, said that Greece would AfD and its fi erce opposition that could kill two birds with one press for solidarity with refugees against Merkel’s refugee policy. stone”. and fair burden-sharing among Merkel faces one of her tough- “Detention centres would be European Union states at today’s est electoral tests in three re- Merkel: We can only meet this challenge together. built on Greek islands to where summit. A photo taken yesterday shows tents staged in the makeshift camp gional elections on March 13. migrants from Europe would be Tsipras has accused Austria next to the border fence near the Greek village of Idomeni. The AfD is set to win almost Merkel said government offi - ning to spend €3bn pledged by deported ... and Greece would, and Balkan countries of “ruin- 20% in the eastern state of Sax- cials and mainstream parties had EU member states to stem the by maintaining these detention ing Europe” by slowing the fl ow sis,” Tsipras told his leftist Syriza elsewhere, and fear Turkey will ony-Anhalt and match the ruling to challenge the AfD in public fl ow of migrants to Europe, she centres, pay its otherwise uncol- of migrants and refugees heading party’s central committee. “Will not manage to stem the number Social Democrats in the south- debate by clearly distinguishing said. lectible foreign debt,” he said. north from Greece, where some a Europe of fear and racism over- of people crossing the Aegean western state of Baden-Wuert- themselves from its anti-immi- Leaders should also discuss The European Union is holding 30,000 are now trapped, wait- take a Europe of solidarity?” Sea. temberg, according to the most grant stance. how EU member states could a summit with Turkey today on ing for Macedonia to reopen its Central European leaders have They have said a back-up plan recent polls. The centre-right chancellor help Greece to cope with “this how to handle the migrant crisis. border so they can continue to been sceptical about Greece’s to provide help to Balkan coun- “The AfD is a party that is not defended her decision to keep diffi cult situation”, Merkel add- Germany has said that fi nding Germany. ability to limit migrants, many of tries along the migration route is bringing together society and not Germany’s borders open de- ed. ways to help Greece, the main “Europe is in a nervous cri- whom are fl eeing war in Syria and important. off ering the appropriate solu- spite the infl ux of migrants and Austria, one of the last step- tions for the problems, but it is reaffi rmed her push for a joint ping stones to Germany for hun- German experts say refugees could fill huge staff ing gaps in care industry stirring up prejudice and polaris- European solution, including dreds of thousands of migrants, ing,” Merkel said. strengthening the continent’s recently imposed border restric- Refugees could plug the gaps in the German times the previous year’s figure. Graalmann said that many refugees did not The elections in Saxony-An- external borders and co-opera- tions, setting off a domino eff ect care industry, the director of German’s main Refugees who stay in Germany could help understand care for the elderly as it was halt, Baden-Wuerttemberg and tion with Turkey to stop refugees in Europe and leaving tens of nursing conference told DPA yesterday. close the huge staff ing gaps in the care practised in Germany, but in the regions Rhineland-Palatinate states are from travelling on to Europe. thousands stranded in poor con- “I see an opportunity in the refugee crisis for industry, Graalmann said, adding that the where many of them come from – such as Germany’s fi rst since last May “We can only meet this chal- ditions in Greece. care in Germany,” Juergen Graalmann said government needed to make a long-term plan Afghanistan or Syria – “there is still a very, very and will serve as a litmus test of lenge together,” Merkel said. The move, which was publicly ahead of the annual convention in Berlin for the future of nursing. strong concept of family care”. popular feeling after more than The EU emergency summit criticised by Berlin, reduced the March 10-12. “Of course it is a prerequisite that the refugees “Care has a significantly higher and social one million migrants arrived in with Turkey scheduled today will number of new arrivals to Ger- There were more than 1mn new applications have a willingness and an aptitude for the significance as is the case here with us,” he Germany last year. focus on how Ankara was plan- many. for asylum in Germany in 2015, more than four demanding career of nursing,” he said. said. Gulf Times 20 Monday, March 7, 2016 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup CBI raids several places over forex scam

By Umaima Shafiq IANS manent account number) cards import of goods and software remittances abroad, mostly to were made to Hong Kong,” Singh offi cer of the foreign exchange New Delhi and various incriminating docu- from Hong Kong and Dubai. Hong Kong, of foreign exchange said. department of the bank’s Ashok ments, including pen-drives “The investigation revealed worth approximately Rs60bn in He said the amount was re- Vihar branch for their alleged and hard discs connected to the further involvement of around 11 an illegal and irregular manner mitted as advance for import involvement in facilitating the Government he Central Bureau of In- case were recovered during the private persons or entities.” in violation of the established and in most cases the benefi ci- remittances by violating the opens startup vestigation yesterday searches,” the spokesman said. The agency on October 9 reg- banking norms under the garb ary was the same. guidelines and thereby facilitat- Traided 10 locations in In addition, foreign curren- istered a case under sections of of payments towards imports “Most of the foreign exchange ing the accused persons in mon- warehouse Delhi and the National Capital cies of China, the US, Europe, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and that were suspected to be non- related transactions were car- ey laundering. Region (NCR) as part of inves- the United Arab Emirates, Ni- the Prevention of Corruption existent. ried out in newly opened current The agency had also fi led a in Chennai tigation into the alleged Rs60bn geria, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka Act, dealing with criminal con- Earlier, the CBI conducted accounts wherein heavy cash charge-sheet against the two Bank of Baroda foreign exchange were also found, Singh said, spiracy and criminal breach of searches at 53 locations, includ- receipts were observed but the employees of Bank of Baroda in In a pioneering move, the Tamil scam. adding the documents recovered trust, against 59 current account ing a Bank of Baroda branch in branch did not generate Excep- December 2015. Nadu government has opened CBI spokesman Devpreet are being scrutinised. holders along with “unknown” Delhi’s Ashok Vihar, various tional Transaction Report (ETR) “Further investigation is a startup warehouse under the Singh said the raids were con- CBI offi cials privy to the in- bank offi cials and private per- companies and other accused and did not monitor the high continuing with reference to aegis of the National Association ducted at the offi cial and resi- vestigation say the agency has sons on a complaint from Bank persons. value transactions,” the spokes- the role of other accused per- of Software and Services dential premises of some people. so far found that around 8,500 of Baroda. “It was also alleged that the man said. sons, including bank offi cials as Companies (Nasscom) in Chennai “Rs40 lakh (Rs4mn) in cash, foreign remittance transactions It was alleged that 59 current amount remitted in each trans- Following the case, the CBI on well as alleged 59 account hold- last week. rubber stamps of about 44 dif- were made from 59 bank ac- account holders and “unknown” action would be kept at less than October 13 arrested the assistant ers and private persons,” Singh The 80,000sq ft facility would ferent companies, 15 PAN (per- counts of various fi rms against bank offi cials conspired to send $100,000. All the remittances general manager and another said. help entrepreneurs set up companies with benefits like subsidised power, e-connectivity, labour, crowd funding and marketing link-ups with leading conglomerates. Minister’s Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa said: “We are extremely pleased to be son grilled, partnering with Nasscom to scale up the entrepreneurial growth of the city. Chennai is emerging remanded as an important location for the startup ecosystem and we hope that this initiative will bring a new in custody dynamism to its entrepreneurs.” Startups are new companies IANS in search of scalable business Hyderabad modules, mostly online. They became popular in India after 2006, due to its large number of olice yesterday ques- smartphone users and software tioned the son of an And- programmers. Phra Pradesh minister after he surrendered in a molestation case. A court later sent him to 14 Self-styled days judicial custody. godman Ravela Susheel, Social and Tribal Welfare Minister Ravela arrested Kishore Babu, appeared at Ban- jara Hills police station and sur- A 21-year-old self-styled godman rendered after his lawyer failed to was thrashed for threatening get him bail. a pregnant woman in a village Police also arrested Susheel’s near Goomidipoondi in suburban driver M Ramesh alias Appa Chennai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets women legislators at the Central Hall of Parliament in New Delhi yesterday. Rao. Deputy Commissioner of Police said the man and his friend Police Venkateswar Rao told had visited Rajeshwari while she reporters that both Susheel was alone at home and forced her and his driver were questioned to have an exorcism. The two men about the complaint lodged by demanded Rs10,000 as fees and a woman. threatened to return the next day Venkateswar Rao said the to collect it. police were also examining the Angered by this, Rajeshwari’s CCTV footage of the car in which husband and other villagers Women empowerment Susheel was travelling. The po- caught the men the following day, lice offi cer also asserted that the tied the ‘godman’ to a post and government was taking all steps beat him before handing him over for the protection of women. to police. “There is no question of shield- In a separate incident, a pregnant ing anybody involved in a crime, woman was forced to take no matter how powerful he may abortion pills by her husband’s crucial for nation: PM be.” family, after an astrologer told The accused were later taken them she would give birth to a girl Modi says the country must “women development,” and “Women are better in adopt- said: “I thank prime minister for of sustainable development to the government-run Osmania at Usilampatti village in Madurai think beyond “women move towards “women-led de- ing technologies than men. ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (save through gender equality. Hospital for examination. They district. development,” and move velopment.” They are specially gifted by god girl child, educate girl child) Vice President Hamid Ansari were later produced before a towards “women-led Modi said multitasking, con- in this aspect.” programme”. and the Lok Sabha speaker said magistrate who remanded him in development” sidered to be a very important The prime minister urged He said that to ensure over- women’s representation in par- judicial custody for 14 days. The Film comedian element of modern day man- the women legislators to en- all development of the country liament and state legislatures accused were shifted to Chan- Kumarimuthu IANS agement, comes naturally to gage with their constituents and society, the country must has to be corrected as they play chalguda Central Jail here. New Delhi women. using technology. He described recognise and encourage ‘stree a crucial role in society. Police on Saturday issued a dies aged 77 Congratulating Lok Sabha his own experience in this re- shakti’ (women’s power) and Observing that the theme of notice to Susheel, asking him to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for gard, and spoke of the enriching this could only be possible by the conference was “appropri- appear before them within 48 Veteran film comedian rime Minister Narendra her leadership and vision to thoughts and views he has been giving them their due represen- ate and timely”, Ansari called hours. Kumarimuthu died of old age in Modi yesterday said a na- organise the conference, the receiving through the MyGov tation in parliament and state upon all political parties to help Both Susheel and Ramesh Chennai on February 28. He was Ption is always empowered prime minister said in addition platform and Narendra Modi legislatures. in ensuring women’s represen- were booked on Saturday under 77. by its women. to the structured component App. “How can there be empower- tation as it was in the national the Nirbhaya Act for stalking the He acted in nearly 500 films over “Nation is always empow- of such events, experiences On the fi rst day of the con- ment of women without proper interest. woman and trying to pull her into three decades. With his squint ered by its women. It is she who shared informally among del- ference on Saturday, President representation,” he asked. “Women must have votes their car. eyes, Kumarimuthu entertained nurtures a citizen as a mother. egates are also extremely en- Pranab Mukherjee stressed the Pointing out that the Indian and equal legal status, but the The incident occurred in the his fans with his facial expression These empowered citizens riching. need for appropriate women Constitution provides for equal problem does not end there. It posh Banjara Hills neighbour- and iconic laugh. He debuted in eventually make an empowered “Women have higher success representation in parliament rights for men and women, the only commences at the point hood on Thursday when the Tamil film Ival Oru Seethai in 1978 country,” Modi said, addressing ratio despite the fewer opportu- and state assemblies, and said president said the UN has de- where women begin to aff ect woman, a teacher, was walking and continued it with memorable the National Women Legislators nities they get in comparison to women’s empowerment was clared the theme of Interna- the political deliberations of on the road. She alleged that the films like Idhu Namma Aalu, Conference in the Central Hall men. Women need to recognise impossible in the absence of tional Women’s Day of 2016 as the nation,” he said, adding men passed lewd comments and Sahadevan Mahadevan, Oru Oorla of Parliament. themselves and their strength their representation in legisla- “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it that the present situation with tried to drag her in by grabbing Oru Rajakumari, Marumagan and Women representatives from and feel confi dent about it,” tive bodies. up for Gender Equality”. regard to their representation is her hand. others. His last film was Villu in both houses of parliament, Modi said. “It’s unfortunate (for the Observing that the global “certainly not very encourag- Citing the victim’s complaint, 2009. state legislative assemblies and “You will recognise your country) for not being able to community has to rededicate ing”. the two were booked for harass- councils attended the two-day strength only when you en- ensure 33% representation of itself to gender equality and Mahajan hoped that when ment and misbehaving but were conference that concluded yes- counter a challenge. So, our women in parliament,” he said. women’s empowerment, the women legislators would sit not arrested. Car catches terday. women must use the challenges Praising Modi for giving due president said the conference together, they would come out On Friday, some television fire on bridge The prime minister said the they face to empower them- importance to the cause of was a step in the right direction with new provisions and an- channels reported how the police country must think beyond selves,” he added. women and girls, the president to carry forward the UN agenda swers to various problems. tried to hush up the case. Traff ic came to a standstill when a high-end SUV vehicle caught fire due a technical snag on the night of March 3 on the Dr Gurusamy Bridge at Chetpet in Chennai. Passersby rushed to rescue Ganesh, the owner and sole Kerala’s ecotourism project occupant before alerting police. Fire personnel took nearly 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze. In a separate incident, four members of a family, including a faces wrath of green activists doctor were killed after their SUV car burst a tyre, jumped a road By Ashraf Padanna tivated paddy fi elds. tances from overseas workers. 2006-2011. median and hit a truck at Ambur Gulf Times Correspondent Another project, the Rs10bn “The company got in-princi- Meanwhile, Chandy who is about 188km from Chennai. Thiruvananthapuram Kochi Health City spread across ple clearance from the previous in the midst of a campaign pro- Dr V Kumarasamy was an 47 acres promoted by non-res- government (to go ahead with jecting himself as a man of de- ex-director of Chennai-based ident Indians, is also facing the the project in 2009),” Chief Min- velopment and job creation and National Institute of Research in n ecotourism project pro- wrath of environmentalists. ister Oommen Chandy said. welfare, has been jolted by Con- Tuberculosis. moted by Ras Al Khaim- Kumarakom is a globally rec- “I’ll look into the issue and do gress leaders who have joined the Aah’s investment arm Ra- ognised responsible tourism whatever necessary (to prevent dump-the-project campaigners. keen in Kerala is in trouble with destination, and Rakindo was farmland reclamation).” The issue is now in the Kerala Temple for environmentalists and a section planning to create a host of facil- However, the Communist High Court. Jayalalithaa of politicians opposing the plan. ities for visitors there, including Party of India (Marxist) which The state hopes the project to The 420-acre Kumarakom farm tourism, limiting construc- leads the opposition alleged bring in an investment of Rs22bn A ‘devoted’ fan has decided to Ecotourism Village was part of tion activities to 15% of the land. “corruption to the tune of mil- and create jobs for thousands of construct a temple for Chief the $5bn (Rs325bn) investment Trouble started following re- lions of rupees” and vowed to villagers, besides a better visibil- Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa plan its Indian joint-venture ports that the state’s revenue de- scrap the project if it comes back ity for the Kumarakom responsi- at Iyyepeddu village in Vellore Rakindo announced eight years partment had last week granted to power after the May 16 elec- ble tourism brand globally. district about 160km from back. permission to “reclaim the 420- tions. The controversial land cov- Chennai. The opponents, including acre paddy fi eld.” “We’ll not allow this,” ers backwaters, lagoons, canals A P Srinivasan, a Chennai-based president of the state’s Congress The government hopes the said CPM secretary Kodiyeri and mangroves creating a per- advocate, said he was building Party, say the project does not project would bring in huge in- Balakrishnan, who had aggres- fect setting for an international the temple on 1,200sq ft with have statutory clearances and it vestments and create a large sively promoted the Kumarakom holiday destination for families private funds and donations of would destruct the ecosystem, number of jobs in the state, ecotourism destination as the which the company compares Rs5mn. including a vast extent of uncul- which heavily depends on remit- state’s tourism minister during with Mexico’s Acapulco. Kumarakom is a globally recognised responsible tourism destination. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 21 INDIA Kanhaiya an aberration, says Rudy

IANS intellectual cell to endeavour Kolkata for bringing the BJP in power in West Bengal. Standing alongside West Ben- ederal minister and gal BJP president Dilip Ghosh Bharatiya Janata Party who has threatened to “chop FMP Rajiv Pratap Rudy off ” pro-Pakistan sloganeers, yesterday described Jawahar- Rudy said the prevailing situa- lal Nehru University Students tion in the state has made na- Union president Kanhaiya Ku- tionalists agitate. mar as an “aberration”, and said “The BJP’s soul is national- such an aberration will not be ism and integrity of the coun- accepted at the cost of nation- try and no individual would alism. accept any statement made Rudy ridiculed Left parties for against the country. On hear- using the media and universities ing such slogans, BJP people to turn Kumar - who was jailed get charged up and that an- on sedition charges but recent- guish gets reflected. ly granted interim bail - into a “It is desirable that political “momentary hero”. leaders exercise restraint while Using the media, universities expressing their sentiments, but and NGOs, the Leftists sided so far as Ghosh’s sentiments are with anti-national sloganeers concerned, we are with him. Al- and managed to turn Kumar though there are always a diff er- into a hero for the time being, ent way of putting things,” Rudy but the people of the country said. are aware of their intentions, “Political leaders should ex- Rudy said. ercise restraint but the situa- Police check a car in Ahmedabad after the government sounded a high alert amid reports that 10 militants have entered Gujarat, yesterday. “Kanhaiya is an aberration tion in Bengal is such that it will and the nationalism and nation- make anyone agitate. Language alists will not allow this aberra- establishes dignity and is very tion to be part of the country’s important, but the situation on polity,” he said. the ground warrants that the BJP Commenting on the demand take a positive lead as far as poli- for a change in the sedition laws, tics of change in Bengal is con- Rudy said those who are clam- cerned,” he said. ouring intolerance were anti- Rudy also hit out at the Tri- Delhi, Gujarat on alert nationals. namool Congress and the com- “Nationalism cannot be com- munists for political violence in promised at any cost and it can- West Bengal and called for the not be brought to on par with Election Commission to take the debate of intolerance. When cognisance of Chief Minister people are talking of breaking Mamata Banerjee’s recent com- the country, when people are ments. amid fears of attacks raising slogans against the coun- During a TV interview, Baner- try, this debate of intolerance is jee had said the central security Militants likely belonging NDTV reported that the mili- ties feared that the militants The Mahashivratri at the The central agencies are nothing but anti-nationalism,” forces would provide security to LeT or JeM are planning tants likely belonged to the Pa- may have infi ltrated through Somnath Temple every year investigating the discovery said the minister of state for skill only during the polls and people attacks in the two states kistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba Kutch district, which has a land sees a massive gathering of dev- of five abandoned fishing development and parliamentary would have to depend upon her (LeT) or Jaish-e-Mohamed and sea border with Pakistan. otees from across the country boats near Sir Creek on the aff airs. administration for the rest of the Agencies outfi ts, and had also planned The government was galva- and the world. Kutch coast over the last three “It is for the courts to decide year. New Delhi attacks in Gujarat during the nised into action to step up se- Chavda said elaborate secu- months, including one found whether a change needs in the “Bengal has a history of po- Hindu festival of Mahashivratri, curity across Gujarat, especially rity arrangements have been by a Border Security Force pa- sedition laws, but there cannot litical violence with the com- which falls today. Search op- the coastal borders with Paki- made to ensure uninterrupted trol on Friday. be any compromise when your munists, the Trinamool and the he national capital was on erations were being conducted, stan, after a note sent by Nation- ‘darshan’ by the pilgrims on The boat found on Friday is actions are seditious,” he said. Congress being accused for it, so high alert yesterday fol- and commando units were dis- al Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Mahashivratri. 20ft long and 10ft wide. Some Addressing a seminar of the I think the EC should take cog- Tlowing intelligence that patched to the state. The NSA’s note came after Besides, Dwarka and Ak- rations, water jugs, fi shing nets, party’s state intellectual cell, nisance of the chief minister’s militants could have crossed Security has been strength- Pakistan’s National Security shardham temples in Gandhi- crabs, diesel and mattresses Rudy said the BJP was the only comments and ensure all meas- over from Pakistan, news re- ened at all major installations in Adviser Nasir Janjua phoned nagar, which had come under were found on board. political party in the country ures for free and fair polls,” said ports and offi cials said. the coastal state, the state po- him and said 10 militants from terrorist attack on September India blames LeT for the 2008 whose ideals are not personali- Rudy. Intelligence agencies warned lice director-general said. the two Pakistan-based outfi ts 24, 2002, power plants, dams, Mumbai attacks that killed 166 ty-based. He also exuded confi dence of that 10 militants, who entered “A team of NSG (National Se- have entered Gujarat, according defence and security establish- people. Pakistan’s government “The chief character of al- the BJP’s success in the coming Gujarat, had later sneaked into curity Guard) arrived in Gujarat to offi cial sources. ments have been put on alert. has announced a ban on LeT but most all the parties, be it south polls. Delhi, NDTV network reported. last night following the terror Authorities at the Somnath Offi cials said police stations a number of its leaders, includ- India or the east, be it the Sa- “Nobody had thought that The militants were plotting a alert. The state has been put on Temple in Prabhas Patan near in the state have been asked to ing Hafi z Saeed and Zaki-ur- majwadi Party or the Congress, we would form government major strike on shopping malls, high alert,” P C Thakur said. Veraval in Saurashtra said all carry out combing operations in Rehman Lakhvi, remain free. their ideals are based on a cer- in Jammu and Kashmir, but markets or military installa- TV footage showed security cultural programmes to be held hotels and guest houses. Forces Gujarat, the home state of tain personality, but the BJP’s we did. So it will not be sur- tions, and police were directed men frisking visitors outside today have been cancelled. have been moved around shop- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, soul is country, nationalism,” prising if we come to power in to enhance security arrange- hotels, cinema and malls. Somnath Temple Trust’s ping and cinema halls and bus was also rocked by a series of he said. Bengal. Even if we don’t come ments, the report said. In a notifi cation issued by the general manager Vijay Chavda stands. bombings in 2008 which killed Enumerating the various to power, our performance “We are always maintaining an Gujarat home department, all said a ‘nrityotsava’ (dance fes- Besides Kutch district heavy at least 45 people. developmental schemes un- should be such that it is the BJP extra alert ... adequate arrange- top police chiefs were asked to tival), scheduled for yesterday patrolling and checking has be- In 2002 the state was torn dertaken by Prime Minister which will decide who should ments are in place,” Delhi police return to duty immediately and evening and ‘Ras-Garba’ and gun along Gujarat’s border with by religious riots which killed Narendra Modi’s government, form the government here,” he spokesman Rajan Bhagat said, report any suspicious activity. ‘Dayra’ programmes today were Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and more than 1,000 people, most Rudy called upon the party’s added. refusing to give further details. Thakur said central authori- cancelled. Maharashtra. of them Muslims. Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Mani dies

Agencies special jury award at the national “Recently when I saw him looking Kochi and the state level. tired, I asked him what was wrong. He was an auto-rickshaw driver But he just laughed it off . He was in Chalakkudy before he became a genuine human being, a humble opular Malayalam actor Kala- a full time actor. Mani’s death has person who always talked about his bhavan Mani died at a private come as a huge shock for his fans humble beginnings. I did not even Phospital here yesterday, his and the Malayalam fi lm industry. know that he was hospitalized.” family said. He was 45. Superstar Mammooty who has “This is a huge shock. I am not Mani who was unwell for a while acted with Mani in many movies even able to speak. He will live on was admitted to hospital two days said the death was a big loss to him in our memory; I have so many un- ago. personally and to the fi lm industry. forgettable moments I shared with In a career spanning close to “When I asked him why he was los- him. We had been working together a quarter century, Mani acted in ing weight rapidly, he told me he was for a long time on stage shows,” said around 200 fi lms and of late was on a diet. I did not know his condi- another actor Suraj Venjaramoodu. seen more often in Tamil fi lms. tion was not good. He was a friend, “I brought him to the fi lm indus- Beginning his career as a mimicry Mani: big shock an actor, a phenomenal singer, try. He was a person who worked artiste, Mani went on to play seri- whose demise is a great loss to the hard and reached. He climbed the ous and even villain roles and was tally was the fi rst big hit of superstar industry. This is all too sudden and I ladder because of his talents. He a popular singer too, especially of Dileep. am in shock,” Mammootty said. was a great human being. He helped ballads. For his brilliant portrayal as a “He has acted in the most number people around, off ered help though He came to the forefront with his blind man in Vasantiyum Laksh- of movies with me,” said actor he they may not have asked him for role in Sallapam, which inciden- miyum Pinne Njanum, Mani won the Jayaram. it,” said director Sibi Malayil. Woman burnt alive in ‘honour killing’

Agencies But her still enraged brothers Kunwar’s mother-in-law how- Authorities are still searching for Jaipur barged in as she was visiting her in- ever alerted the police who reached an unspecifi ed number of suspects, laws’ house and dragged her outside the spot and doused the funeral pyre Singh added. before setting her on fi re as other in order to collect evidence. Honour killings - where couples woman was burnt to death by villagers watched. are targeted because their families her brothers for marrying a “She thought that her parents “She cried for help but no or communities disapprove of their Aman belonging to a diff erent would now accept her but as soon one came to rescue her. They relationships - have been carried caste, police said yesterday, in the as her brothers came to know that also conducted the funeral out for centuries in India, especially latest incident of a so-called honour she was in the village, they rushed to on the same night to destroy in rural areas. They are carried out killing in India. that house and dragged her out,” Br- evidence” by close relatives or village elders to Rama Kunwar, 30, had eloped ijran Singh, a senior administrative protect what is seen as the family’s with her lover eight years ago offi cer of Dungarpur district, said. The mother-in-law alleged she reputation and pride in a heredi- and returned to her village in Ra- “She cried for help but no one was also beaten up when she tried to tary-based caste system. jasthan state on Friday, hoping came to rescue her. They also con- save Kunwar. The Supreme Court in 2011 ruled her family had forgiven her for ducted the funeral on the same One of Kunwar’s brothers and those involved in honour killings marrying against their wishes. night to destroy evidence,” he said. six other men have been arrested. should face the death penalty. Gulf Times 22 Monday, March 7, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

ECONOMY LAW AND ORDER AGREEMENT FALLOUT CRIME Argentina eyes return Brazil opens probe into Bolivia signs deal for Venezuela, Colombia woes Drug kingpin to global bond market McDonald’s franchisee $300mn nuclear complex hit Panama free trade zone killed in Colombia

Argentina plans to return to international credit A federal prosecutor in Brazil has launched a civil Bolivia and Russia’s state-owned atomic energy Panama’s free trade zone - the biggest in Latin The top leader of powerful Clan Usuga gang markets in April with three bonds sales totalling inquiry into McDonald’s franchisee Arcos Dorados corporation Rosatom said yesterday they America - is in crisis in large part because of was killed in a police raid, authorities said, $11.68bn under US law if Congress swiftly Holdings and other franchise groups over alleged had signed a provisional agreement for the economic woes sapping major export customers in another major blow to Colombia’s most approves a debt deal for holdout creditors, top violations of franchise law, anti-trust provisions construction of $300mn nuclear complex in the Venezuela and Colombia, Commerce Minister important gang. “Body blow to the Clan Usaga finance ministry off icials told Congress. Finance and tax avoidance, the prosecutor’s off ice said. Andean nation. Under the terms of the accord, Augusto Arosemena said. “The patient (the gang. Alias Lorenzo taken out in Uraba. Top Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay said the bonds, which McDonald’s referred questions to Arcos Dorados, which needs to be approved by Bolivia’s Congress, Colon Free Trade Zone) is in a coma because re- gang leader and drug trafficker,” President will be used to finance the payouts to investors which said it had not been off icially notified of Rosatom will help Bolivia develop infrastructure exports have gone down and some companies Juan Manuel Santos said on Twitter. Ruben holding unpaid debt stemming from the country’s the action by Brazilian prosecutor Marcos Jose for its embryonic nuclear programme. The have closed,” he told reporters. “Colombia and Dario Avila, alias Lorenzo, was killed on Friday 2002 default, would carry maturities of five, ten Gomes Correa. “The company provides every centre will include a research reactor, a cyclotron Venezuela were the main markets for the free when police launched a raid on a ranch in and thirty years. Prat-Gay and his deputy, Luis assurance that it complies with all the laws in for radiopharmaceuticals and a multi-purpose trade zone, and a big part of that (the crisis) Arboletes, Antioquia province, national police Caputo, on Friday presented a package of debt all of the markets in which it does business,” gamma irradiation plant. Opposition politicians can be attributed to the situation they have,” public safety chief general Jorge Rodriguez agreements brokered with creditors, including a Argentina-based Arcos Dorados said in a have criticised the project over fears of Arosemena said. The free trade zone is vital to told reporters. The alleged drug “capo” was $4.65bn cash payout to the main holdouts suing statement. Correa’s off ice said the probe had just environmental risks. Morales urged Bolivia’s Panama’s economy but has been in decline since wanted on multiple homicide and conspiracy in a Manhattan court led by billionaire Paul Singer. started and did not provide further details. Congress to greenlight the deal within two weeks. 2012, prompting companies to demand tax cuts. charges, Rodriguez said. Father’s dark Chavez death anniversary legacy threatens Fujimori’s run for presidency

Reuters her virtually tied in a second- Huancavelica, Peru round runoff against Julio Guz- man, a centrist technocrat who has climbed quickly as he galva- eiko Fujimori, the daugh- nises her opponents behind him. ter of Peru’s imprisoned Guzman calls Fujimori a des- Kformer president Alberto pot in democrat’s clothing and Fujimori, is the front-runner in suggested she was behind his this year’s election but her links potential disqualifi cation. to his authoritarian rule could Peru’s electoral board has derail her in a likely run-off vote. gone back and forth over the past Languishing in a prison on the month on whether minor viola- outskirts of the capital Lima, the tions of electoral rules should 77-year-old Alberto Fujimori re- bar him from running. mains a deeply divisive fi gure in A lower electoral panel blocked the Andean nation. Guzman’s candidacy Friday, a He is revered by many for move he said he would appeal. quashing a bloody guerrilla in- “Fujimorism stands to benefi t surgency during his 1990-2000 the most if I can’t participate,” presidency and turning around an he said recently. “What’s at stake (Left to right) Late Venezuela president Hugo Chavez’s parents, Hugo de los Reyes Chavez and Elena Frias de Chavez, and daughters Rosa Virginia Chavez and Maria economy in ruins, but is loathed in these elections is democracy Gabriela Chavez, attend a ceremony marking the third anniversary of his demise at the Cuartel de la Montana barracks in Caracas on Saturday. by others for human rights abus- or a return to dictatorship.” es and corruption convictions. The same tactic helped Presi- Known in Peru simply as dent Ollanta Humala scrape a Keiko, his 40-year-old daugh- second-round win in 2011 when ter is promising to battle rising Fujimori was slower to distance crime and jump-start Peru’s herself from her father. Humala sluggish economy despite a glo- is constitutionally barred from bal slump in commodity prices. seeking a second consecutive A centre-rightist, she plans term. to use a nearly $8bn government Peru’s next president will in- “rainy-day fund” to fi nance what herit an economy underpinned Chile labour reform faces she dubs a “shock” in infrastruc- by surging copper output from ture spending to spur growth, new mines, but no major projects and off er tax breaks to companies are set to come on line in coming training and hiring young workers. years and a persistent slump in On the campaign trail, she the global price is a threat. borrows from her father’s popu- Fujimori proposes “regulatory list style in appealing to the poor. incentives” for exporters, al- delays as govt, allies fi ght But she has softened her once though she has given few details. staunch defence of his decade She says she would direct Reuters loose labour laws and biting in- through the bill’s key provi- bill will pass and what form they would anger leftists, political in power, trying to fi x a problem spending toward public works Santiago equality. sions. will take. analysts say, and likely bolster that cost her victory at the last such as roads, irrigation canals As Congress returned after So the government this week “I don’t know if the votes for criticism of Bachelet, who is election in 2011, and is promis- and water plants. the summer recess this week, off ered to slightly loosen a re- each part are there honestly,” already struggling with low ap- ing to unify a country where one Her economic advisor, Jose hilean President however, centrist senators from striction on replacing striking Manuel Antonio Matta, a sena- proval ratings. in fi ve live in poverty. Chlimper, says she will not spend Michelle Bachelet this Bachelet’s Nueva Mayoria coali- workers and modify a provision tor for the centrist Christian And it could mean Bachelet, “We must work for the people frivolously. “We’re not going to Cweek made concessions tion forced the president to wa- that gives unions, rather than Democrats, said. midway through her four-year who feel forgotten by the indif- have a party. There’s going to on key aspects of a compre- ter down some of the bill’s cen- companies, the power to distrib- Lawyers and lawmakers also term, will fail in her aim to have ference of the state,” Fujimori said be a sense of urgency watching hensive labour reform bill in tral provisions, citing potential ute benefi ts resulting from col- say the changes made in the the labour reform wrapped up between campaign stops in the every dime,” said Chlimper, who response to objections by cen- eff ects on Chile’s economy. lective bargaining agreements. senate mean that the bill may by her annual mid-May address highland region of Huancavelica. briefl y served as her father’s ag- trists in her own coalition, but The reform has been opposed But it largely held fi rm on a need to be reconciled with the to the nation, the lawyers said. In the run-up to the fi rst riculture minister. lawmakers say that may not be by many business leaders, who measure allowing unions from version passed by the Chamber In her fi rst year, Bachelet round voting on April 10, Fuji- It is a far cry from the mass enough to get it through Con- say it will lead to cost increases diff erent companies to join of Deputies nine months ago. achieved passage of education, mori consistently wins the sup- privatisations, lifting of cur- gress. in the country’s largest eco- forces, which mining compa- That would probably lead to tax and electoral reforms, but port of 30% to 35% of voters in rency controls and slashing of The reform is intended to give nomic sectors, notably mining nies say would raise costs. delays of several weeks, if not her second year was overshad- opinion polls, with a double digit subsidies that her father pushed unions more power: Socialist and agriculture. A vote in the Senate on the longer, labour lawyers say, be- owed by scandal, said political lead over her nearest rivals. through to fi x an economy crip- Bachelet and leftist lawmakers With a slim majority in the reform is scheduled for next cause lawmakers would then columnist Kenneth Bunker. But she needs at least 50% to pled by a deep recession, hyper- argue it is necessary to level the senate, Bachelet needs the sup- Wednesday, but lawmakers are have opportunities to make fur- “Now, she needs to present win outright and recent polls show infl ation and a debt default. playing fi eld in a country with port of the centrist bloc to push unsure which sections of the ther modifi cations. That in turn results,” he said. Latam nations to tackle Theatre festival opens Arrest ‘not to derail’ Facebook Brazil plans hunger and obesity: UN service, making compliance Reuters Cambridge, Massachusetts with the request from Brazilian Reuters “dry corridor” running through But changing diets have trig- offi cials impossible. Cambridge, Massachusetts Guatemala, El Salvador and gered a rising tide of obesity, “The way that informa- Honduras, where millions of with nearly a third of women and Facebook executive who tion is encrypted from one cell people have been aff ected by a 4mn children now obese in the spent about 24 hours in phone to another, there is no atin American govern- prolonged drought exacerbated region. Aa Brazilian jail this week information stored that could ments have pledged to by climate change. Programmes aimed at making said authorities treated him be handed over to authorities,” Lwork towards ending hun- “Today, climate change has it easier for family farmers to ac- with respect and that the in- he said. ger within a decade while tack- caused those droughts to be more cess credit, insurance, seeds and cident will not slow the com- His remarks came during a ling an epidemic of rising obesity erratic, prolonged and unpre- fertilisers, to encourage them to pany’s expansion in Brazil. Q&A session after a half-hour in the region - itself considered a dictable,” Graziano da Silva said. grow traditional food crops are Diego Dzodan, a Facebook talk on Facebook’s approach form of malnutrition. He said Latin America and the one way of addressing the prob- vice president based in Sao to innovation. He also said his At a regional meeting of the Caribbean can be the fi rst region lem, Graziano da Silva said. Paulo, was arrested on Tues- detention would not aff ect the UN Food and Agriculture Or- to achieve two of the UN’s Sus- “The rescue of the region’s day due to a dispute over law Silicon Valley company’s plans ganisation (FAO), government tainable Development Goals - traditional crops and food prod- enforcement demands for data for the Brazilian market. representatives from across eradicating hunger and poverty ucts will allow the promotion of from the company’s encrypted “We are extremely commit- Latin American and the Carib- - fi ve years before the proposed better diets and face the double WhatsApp messaging service ted to Brazil. Brazil is a huge bean drew up plans to accelerate target dates of 2030. burden of malnutrition,” he said. for use in a secretive drug traf- market that really likes Face- cuts in hunger, which has halved Since 1991, the number of Initiatives that encourage lo- fi cking investigation. book,” he said. “We are very in the region in the last 25 years. hungry people in Latin America cal governments to buy produce He was released on Wednes- focused on the long term.” At the same time, far more and the Caribbean has halved to directly from farmers to provide day after an appeals judge Brazil’s law enforcement attention needs to be paid to 34mn from 66mn and the region healthy food for school meals, overturned a court order to ar- offi cials have said little about combating obesity, particularly was the only one that met the already well-established and rest him. their demand for data from the among women, in a region where UN Millennium Development hailed as a success in Brazil, will “I was treated with a lot messaging service acquired nearly a quarter of all adults are Goals on reducing hunger by be promoted across Latin Amer- of respect,” Dzodan said at a by Facebook in 2014, saying it obese, the FAO said. 2015, the FAO says. ica, the FAO said. conference on Latin Ameri- could compromise an ongoing “Countries have been very Aid in the form of conditional The agency said more needs can business trends organised criminal investigation. clear: the regional priority is to cash transfers targeting poor to be done to help subsistence by students at the Massachu- A Facebook spokesman on eradicate hunger by 2025,” Jose families, pioneered by some of farmers adjust to the impact of setts Institute of Technology’s Wednesday that the company Graziano da Silva, head of the FAO the region’s biggest economies, climate change, which brings Sloan School of Management. was pleased that Dzodan had said at the meeting in Mexico City. including Brazil, have meant increasing extreme and erratic Acrobats perform during the opening of the 15th He said Facebook has no ac- been released, describing his Eff orts to combat hunger people have had more money to weather from drought to fl ood- Ibero-American Theatre Festival in Bogota, Colombia. cess to data that travels over its detention as “an extreme, dis- will focus on Central America’s spend on food. ing. secure WhatsApp messaging proportionate measure.” Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN US moves to Indian pilgrims arrive in Pakistan seal F-16 deal with Pakistan The US administration has Abbas Jilani as saying. tion also explained that the sale rejected India’s assertion that The notifi cation estimates the would increase the number of transfer of F-16s to Pakistan total cost of the deal to be nearly aircraft available to the Pakistan by will change the military $700mn. Air Force to sustain operations, balance in South Asia However, the Indian govern- meet monthly training require- ment and some US lawmakers ments, and support transition Agencies have criticised Washington’s ra- training for pilots new to the Islamabad tionale that such an arms trans- Block-52, F-16 aircraft. fer will help combat terrorism. Implementation of the pro- They claim the fi ghter jets will posed sale would not require the he US government has for- change the military balance in assignment of any additional US mally notifi ed the intend- South Asia and will ultimately be government or contractor rep- Ted sale of eight F-16 fi ghter used against India. resentatives to Pakistan. There jets to Pakistan, taking a major In a policy justifi cation, post- would be no adverse impact on US step towards fi nalising the deal, ed on the Federal Register, the defence readiness either, it said. the media reported yesterday. US administration rejected this The administration also as- Indian Hindu pilgrims wave their hands as they arrive at Wagah border in Lahore. About 116 Indian pilgrims arrived in Lahore through “This proposed sale contrib- assertion. sured Congress that Pakistan Wagah border to celebrate a Hindu festival. utes to US foreign policy objec- “The proposed sale of this “can provide the same degree tives and national security goals equipment and support will not of protection for the sensitive by helping to improve the se- alter the basic military balance technology being released as the curity of a strategic partner in in the region,” it said, adding US government”. South Asia,” said the notifi ca- that the aircraft would improve The 30-day notice period for tion published in the US Federal “Pakistan’s capability to meet Congress expires on March 11, Register. current and future security after which the deal will be fi nal. “We are grateful to the US threats”. Adviser on Foreign Aff airs Afghan forces’ retreat from key administration and members of The administration also noted Sartaj Aziz said at a news brief- Congress for their acknowledg- that the additional F-16 aircraft ing in Washington earlier this ment of Pakistan’s decisive ac- would facilitate operations in week that Pakistan had initially tions against extremists and ter- non-daylight environments and requested for 18 F-16s, but be- rorists and of the eff ective role “enhance Pakistan’s ability to cause of fi nancing problems it districts stokes instability fears the F-16s play in our counter- conduct counter-insurgency and was purchasing just eight. He terrorism eff orts,” Dawn online counter-terrorism operations”. said the F-16s were a critical tool reported citing ambassador Jalil The Obama administra- in the war against terrorism. AFP “This is a betrayal to all those But many experts reject gov- Afghanistan.” Kabul who have sacrifi ced their lives ernment claims that the with- Shoff ner said the Afghan na- to defend these areas over 15 drawal qualifi ed as a “strategic tional army faces a huge man- years.” retreat”. power shortfall of about 25,000, verstretched Afghan The withdrawal, which “This new strategy is eff ec- making it necessary to cut back Against India’s one, Pakistan has forces are pulling back comes as Afghan forces strug- tively a surrender to the Tali- some outposts. Ofrom violent southern gle to fi ght off the increasingly ban. That’s because there’s no Government forces, which districts without a fi ght, ceding bloody insurgency, has sparked reason to think that this terri- have been fi ghting without the a dozen ‘Aam Admi’ parties key territory to the resurgent concerns that the government tory will be taken back anytime full support of Nato since its Taliban as part of an unprec- is fast losing control of volatile soon,” said Michael Kugelman, combat mission ended in De- edented “strategic retreat” that Helmland. Afghanistan expert at Wash- cember 2014, are expected to Internews came famous in India. short of election symbols now has stoked fears government The Taliban eff ectively con- ington-based think tank the abandon more checkpoints as Islamabad With a free-of-charge and compared to the number of par- control is slipping. trol or contest at least 10 of the Woodrow Wilson International fi ghting intensifi es amid falter- open-for-all registration proc- ties we have.” Beset by record casualties, 14 districts in Afghanistan’s Center for Scholars. ing peace eff orts. ess, people have also registered The ECP has a total of 156 desertions and troop shortages, biggest centre for opium pro- “A strategic retreat suggests Last year was a record for ci- hile the neighbour- parties with funny names like election symbols and double the Afghan troops have recently duction, a lucrative source of that at some later point Afghan vilian casualties, according to ing India has one Aam ‘Aap Janab Sarkar Party’, ‘All Pa- number of parties. Many among abandoned outposts in parts of insurgent funding which makes forces will return to reengage the UN, which reported 11,000 WAdmi Party, Pakistan kistan Bayrozgar Party’. the non-serious parties have re- central Uruzgan province, ex- the province a hotly contested the Taliban and take back con- civilian casualties in 2015 in- has around a dozen parties with While former military ruler served attractive symbols. tending a withdrawal which be- area. trol. cluding 3,545 deaths — the most either a prefi x or suffi x of Aam Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf Under rules, once a symbol is gan last month. But Afghan commanders dis- “Afghan forces are over- since the agency began tabulat- Admi (common man) registered heads his own party with the allotted to a party it cannot be They have already pulled miss claims of any Taliban deal, stretched and under-resourced. ing the statistics in 2009. with the country’s top election name of All Pakistan Muslim allocated to another one unless out of Musa Qala and Nowzad describing the recent withdraw- I can’t see them being in a posi- The Taliban on Saturday re- body. League, there is another party the fi rst party agrees to relin- districts in neighbouring Hel- als as a “tactical” manouevre tion to win back these areas.” fused to hold direct peace talks In the ever-burgeoning list registered with the name of ‘Gen- quish it in favour of the other. mand, bastions that foreign aimed at consolidating forces The plan refl ects a long- with the Afghan government, of political parties, the Election eral Pervez Musharraf Himayat “If it continues like this, we troops struggled for years to de- from isolated, hard-to-defend standing demand from Nato, dealing a blow to international Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tehreek’. In the long list of par- will have to use symbols like fend as the opium-rich region areas. which has been advising Afghan eff orts to revive negotiations has registered 321 recognised ties, names of some known par- two arrows, two tigers or two teeters on the brink of collapse. “Those who are criticising forces—stretched thin across aimed at ending their 14-year political parties while over two ties of the past are still present bats since we are short of dis- The retreat has triggered fe- the plan do not know the art of multiple fronts across Afghani- insurgency. dozen more are in the process of like the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal tinguishing symbols,” said an vered speculation about possi- war,” defence ministry spokes- stan—to reduce its footprint But the new strategy does not registration. and Farooq Leghari’s National Al- offi cial who deals with allocating ble government backroom deals man Dawlat Waziri said. around the country. factor in a crucial element — the A glance at the alphabetically liance that ceased years ago. symbols to parties. with the Taliban at a time when “We are not withdrawing “They (Afghan forces) have plight of the local population. ordered list on the ECP website They are enlisted because “Ultimately serious parties international eff orts are grow- from Helmand; Afghan forces got too many checkpoints and “The Taliban are hunting shows around a dozen similar there is no legal provision to that [actually] take part in elec- ing to bring the insurgents to are being redistributed in order they’ve got too many of their down residents who worked names like Aam Admi Justice delist a party once it gets reg- tions will suff er.” the negotiating table. to mount more eff ective off en- forces strung out on check- for the government,” said Ab- Party, Aam Admi Party of Pa- istered with the electoral body. Among these 321 registered “Once you start pulling out sives against the enemy.” points,” US military spokes- dul Ahad, a local elder in the kistan, Aam Insan Movement, The commission can delist a parties, not more than 50 take troops and surrendering hard- Many of the hundreds of man Brigadier General Wilson Kharkhord area of Uruzgan, Aam Log Party Pakistan, All party only if it gets a court order part in the elections. won territory, you are basically withdrawn forces have been re- Shoff ner told reporters in Janu- from where dozens of Afghan Pakistan Aam Admi Party, Aam that it has been banned. Among the ones that partici- admitting that the Taliban have deployed to beef up a security ary. troops recently pulled out. Admi Party, etc. “The booming business of pate in elections at some level, won,” said Mohamed Ismail, a belt around Lashkar Gah, Hel- “There’s an old military say- “Government soldiers left us All these parties have been getting a party registered is a real hardly two dozen have any vote tribal elder from Musa Qala who mand’s capital which recently ing that if you defend every- here to die,” he told AFP by tel- registered in recent years once headache for us, too,” an offi cial bank in national, provincial or fl ed the area after government came close to falling to the Tali- where, you defend nowhere, ephone from the area, which is a party with a similar name be- of the ECP says. “We are way local governments. troops pulled out. ban, offi cials said. and this is particularly true in home to some 20,000 families. Conquering Pakistan’s ‘Killer Mountain’ against all odds

AFP was sad — but the choice was clear. “I opened, they had the right team and Islamabad said okay, if you go to the top now you were in good shape — and, he says, they will not go home... and I turned around were lucky. and went down.” Three of the world’s most spectacu- imone Moro stood atop Paki- Nanga Parbat’s fearsome Rupal face, lar mountain ranges converge in north- stan’s “Killer Mountain” last rising more than 4,000 metres from ern Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region: Sweek and observed the curve of base to top, presents one of the most the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush and the Earth — a view which had never diffi cult — and tantalizing — challeng- the Himalayas, anchored at their west- been seen by anyone in winter until the es in climbing. ern end by Nanga Parbat. climber and his team conquered Nanga Moro said the team, which climbed The tourism industry there hit a Parbat. without oxygen, had little time to ac- record low when militants stormed The expedition had taken three climatise themselves, spending just Nanga Parbat base camp in 2013. Ten months and came more than six dec- one night at 6,200 metres before mak- foreign tourists and their local guide ades after the mountain was fi rst ing the push toward the summit. were shot dead in the attack claimed by summited, but 10 minutes was all “When you want to go the altitude the Pakistani Taliban. Moro could allow himself to enjoy his of jumbo fl ight without oxygen you Moro, who made his second attempt achievement. need to acclimatise,” he said, admit- at the mountain the following year, “Now you have to come back... But ting that a “big question mark” hung dismissed any security fears, saying you are so completely exhausted,” the over their expedition as they began the the threat of militancy in Pakistan is Italian mountaineer explained in an fi nal climb. not worse than in the United States, exclusive interview with AFP, saying Gusts buff eted them at 45km an Britain or Italy. he was afraid of losing concentration hour, and with the wind chill tem- “This is a utopia... There are thou- on the long, dangerous descent. peratures plummeted to 50 degrees sands and thousands of unclimbed From the peak, 8,125 metres (26,660 below zero, he said, admitting that peaks, untouched mountains,” he said, feet) above sea level, the mountains of Italian climber Simone Moro, one of Italian climber Simone Moro (second right), Pakistani climber Ali Sadpara (right) due to frostbite he still cannot feel his adding that he hopes a cultural shift northern Pakistan and India stretched the world’s leading alpinists, speaks and Spainish climber Alex Txikon (left) posing for a photograph after scaling the toes. will come. out before him — including three more with AFP during an interview. peak of Nanga Parbat which is known as ”Killer Mountain”. “We were shaking all day,” he said. It Meanwhile, he said, he dreams of of the 14 eight-thousanders. took more than eight hours to cover the continuing his climbing adventures. These are the only mountains on “I saw the horizon — the line of before the fi rst successful summit in don her attempt just 170 metres from fi nal 2km, then another four-and-a- “The time of exploration is not fi n- the planet with “death zones” — the horizon — I saw that the line was 1953. the peak. half to come down to the camp. ished... What I did is vertical explora- above 8,000 metres, where it is be- curved,” Moro said. Climbing it in winter’s treacherous She could see Sadpara waving at Moro had already tried — and failed tion, it could be stupid I know because lieved that the amount of oxygen in “When you see these things... you conditions would remain a feat unat- her from the summit, she said, but — to scale Nanga Parbat, which means it is not useful.” the atmosphere is too low to sustain understand how small and at the same tained until Moro and his team—Alex she knew she had pushed her body to “Naked Mountain” in Urdu, three But the spirit could inspire people human life. time how big you could be.” Txikon of Spain and Pakistani climber its limit. “My muscles felt very bad... times before, estimating that he has in other fi elds also, he said, such as a The pyramid of K2, the world’s sec- Nanga Parbat, with one of the high- Ali Sadpara — made their historic I was vomiting the whole day and spent around a year of his life at base young medical student exploring new ond-highest mountain and now the est death rates in the world, earned summit on February 26. everything I ate or drank came out camp. ways to cure cancer. only eight-thousander unsummited in its grisly nickname after more than One member of their team, Tamara again.” This year, he says, everything “This kind of exploration will change winter, was in the distance. 30 climbers died trying to conquer it Lunger from Italy, was forced to aban- Hesitating, she asked herself if she aligned: a window of good weather the history of the world.” Gulf Times 24 Monday, March 7, 2016 PHILIPPINES

Govt waits for UN Call for secret voting in response on North disqualifi cation case Korean ship By Jomar Canlas He will be followed by Jus- magistrates expected to vote for On the other hand, the sourc- AFP Manila Times tices Francis Jardeleza, Marvic Poe. es said those who will likely vote Manila Leonen, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, On the other hand, three sen- to disqualify Poe are senior jus- Bienvenido Reyes and Jose Ca- ior magistrates are also expect- tices Antonio Carpio, Teresita ustices of the Supreme tral Mendoza. ed to vote against Poe. Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo he Philippine coastguard Court (SC) should hold a Except for Mendoza, all of With the swing votes of the Brion and del Castillo. said it was closely watch- J“secret voting” on a dis- the justices were appointed by junior justices plus three votes Carpio, de Castro and Brion Ting a North Korean vessel qualifi cation case against Sena- President Benigno Aquino. from the senior magistrates, have voted to disqualify Poe in and its 21 crew members yester- tor Grace Poe to avoid possible The sources, however, point- there will be seven votes for or a separate disqualifi cation com- day, as offi cials waited for a re- trending of votes, sources at the ed out that once a magistrate against Poe, which is one vote plaint fi led at the Senate Elec- sponse from the UN days after tribunal said. has circulated his or her sepa- shy of the needed eight votes to toral Tribunal. the ship was seized in compli- The sources told Manila rate opinion on or before March notch victory. Del Castillo has already man- ance with new sanctions. Times that if the High Court will 8, that justice will have mani- The sources said those who ifested his position via his 70- The 6,830-tonne cargo ship, hold nominal voting, the junior fested the position he will take are expected to vote for Poe are page draft decision, which dis- the Jin Teng, is being held at justices may set a “trend” even even before the actual voting is Chief Justice Maria Lourdes qualifi es Poe on the ground that Subic port, northeast of Manila, before the senior justices have held. Sereno and Associate Justices she failed to meet the residency where the Philippine coastguard cast their votes. The SC en banc will tackle Jose Portugal Perez, Marvic requirement imposed by law on are guarding the freighter and To avoid trending, a secret Poe’s case during a regular en Leonen and Francis Jardeleza. presidential candidates. monitoring its crew, said coast- balloting should be done, they banc session on March 8, the They added that Associ- Under the election law, a guard spokesman Commander said. deadline set for magistrates to ate Justice Presbitero Velasco presidential candidate should Armand Balilo. The counting of votes and submit their separate concur- Jr. may also favour Poe but “a have resided in the Philippines “We will probably keep it in revelation of each justice’s po- Grace Poe: awaiting verdict ring or dissenting opinions to “change of mind” is always pos- for 10 years prior to the holding Subic pending our request for sition, according to the sources, a draft decision written by the sible. of an election. guidance on its disposition,” he will only be done after all of the Under nominal voting, the be swayed with the votes of the ponencia of the case, Associate Velasco’s son, Lord Allan Ve- Sources at the SC said del said. magistrates have fi nished vot- junior justices are the fi rst to junior justices if the number is Justice Mariano del Castillo. lasco, was blocked by the Liber- Castillo’s decision did not touch The ship’s 21 North Korean ing. cast their votes and make an ex- already prominent,” the sources The High Court also set a spe- al Party from assuming his post on the citizenship of Poe. crew members remain onboard “Of course if the senior jus- planation, followed by the sen- said. cial en banc session on March 9. as Marinduque congressman in Petitioners who fi led several but are otherwise not restricted, tices see that a number has ior justices. In the normal en banc vot- The sources told The Manila favour of Gina Reyes. complaints against the sena- he said. emerged for or against Poe, it is “The junior justices of the ing, the most junior magistrate Times that if at least four jus- The young Velasco was only tor claimed that she is not a “They are just on the ship. possible that they will ride on Supreme Court could set a — Associate Justice Benjamin tices will vote for or against Poe, allowed to sit in January, with natural-born Filipino, another They are remaining there. They the majority vote,” the sources trend. The senior justices who Caguioa — will cast the fi rst these votes will be crucial since only six months remaining in requirement for those seeking have provisions of their own. explained. are in the middle ground can vote whether to disqualify Poe. there are at least three senior the current Congress. the presidency. They won’t try to escape,” Balilo said, adding there was no need to provide them with any supplies yet. Earlier this week, a govern- Learning the ropes ment spokesman said the North First case of Zika virus Koreans would eventually be deported, but there has been no confi rmation when that would detected since 2012 take place. The Philippines said Satur- day authorities had impounded AFP from the patient,” Garin said in the vessel in accordance with Manila a statement. fresh UN sanctions introduced “Currently, we are co-ordi- in the wake of Pyongyang’s re- nating with US-CDC for the cent nuclear and ballistic mis- n American woman was profi le of the patient, including sile tests. infected with the Zika information on places she vis- It was the first reported en- Avirus while visiting the ited in the Philippines,” Garin forcement of the sanctions, the Philippines, health depart- said without giving details of toughest to date, which were ment offi cials said yesterday, the patient. adopted late Wednesday by the the fi rst case detected in the Health department offi cials UN Security Council. country for several years. said they still had no clue how Balilo said the coastguard Health Secretary Janette the American was infected have inspected the ship twice, Garin said the US Centres for while in the Philippines. once using electronic sensors to Disease Control and Preven- The only previous known search for weapons. However, tion (US-CDC) had informed case of Zika in the country was no contraband has been found. her that a US resident who a 15-year-old boy infected in A team from the UN is ex- stayed in the Philippines for 2012. He recovered after three pected to inspect the ship in four weeks in January had ap- weeks. Subic, a former US naval base, parently developed symptoms The mosquito-borne disease foreign affairs spokesman in her last week before return- is usually not life-threatening Charles Jose said earlier. ing to America. but has been linked to a rise The Jin Teng arrived in the “We were informed that in birth defects in other coun- Philippines from Palembang, shortly after returning home tries, where hundreds of babies Indonesia Thursday afternoon, to the US, an evidence of Zika have been born with unusually A police recruit undergoes training at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. just hours after the latest sanc- virus infection was detected small heads in recent years. tions were unanimously passed. Mayor faces dismissal Santiago vows prosecution over Kentex fi re tragedy of offi cials linked to scam Manila Times Manila By Joel Sy Egco against the possible repeti- found Gatchalian, Padayao, Code against the slippers fac- Manila Times tion of the disastrous fi re that Carreon, and Avendan guilty tory. Gatchalian, Padayao and claimed the lives of 72 workers.” of grave misconduct for issu- Carreon were also indicted enator Miriam Defensor- In a decision forwarded to ing a business permit to Kentex for issuing business permit to Santiago reiterated her he Offi ce of the Ombuds- the Department of the Inte- Manufacturing in 2015 despite Kentex in 2014 despite not be- Spromise to prosecute offi - man has ordered the dis- rior and Local Government, the its delinquent status. They ing qualifi ed or entitled. cials involved in the “pork bar- Tmissal of Valenzuela City Ombudsman found Gatchalian were also meted the accessory On May 13, 2015, 72 Kentex rel” scam on top of her avowed Mayor Rexton “Rex” Gatchal- guilty of grave misconduct and penalties of forfeiture of ben- workers died when a fi re razed commitment to abolish all forms ian and six others in connection gross neglect of duty together efi ts and privileges and perpet- the factory. of “pork barrel” such as the Pri- with the deadly Kentex fi re last with Renchie May Padayao, Of- ual disqualifi cation from public On the other hand, the ority Development Assistance year, a move that Malacanang fi cer-in-Charge of the Business offi ce. criminal and administrative Fund (PDAF) and Disbursement hailed as an “opportunity for Permit and Licensing Offi ce The ombudsman directed cases against BFP chief director Acceleration Programme. establishing accountability.” (BPLO); and Eduardo Carreon, the fi ling of criminal charges Ariel Barayuga, chief superin- Santiago’s pronouncement “The Aquino administration Licensing Offi cer IV. before the Sandiganbayan tendents Rodrigo Abrazaldo, came in the wake of last week’s is determined to ensure work- Also ordered dismissed from against Gatchalian and other Lorenzo De Guia, Igmedio Bon- indictment by the Offi ce of the place safety and protection the service were F/Supt. Jose offi cials for violating Section 3 doc and Senior Superintendent Ombudsman of several former of the well being of workers. Mel Lagan, the city fi re mar- (e) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft Louie Puracan were dismissed. members of the House of Rep- Hence, all concerned govern- shal, and his subordinates — F/ and Corrupt Practices Act. Coloma noted that the om- resentatives accused of receiv- ment agencies are tasked to im- Senior Insp. Edgrover Oculam On the other hand, Lagan, budsman is an independent ing kickbacks from Janet Lim- plement laws and rules on oc- and Fire Offi cers Rolando Av- Oculam, Maderazo and Aven- Constititutional body over Napoles. cupational health and safety,” endan and Ramon Maderazo. dan were also indicted for is- which the executive branch has If elected president, Santiago said Palace Communications Also included in the charge suing a fi re safety inspection no authority or jurisdiction. said she will expedite the inves- Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr sheet was Terrence King Ong, certifi cate to Kentex in 2012 “Considering that those in- tigation and prosecution of cases yesterday. the operations manager of and inaccurate inspection re- volved have the right to avail lodged against those involved in The ombudsman resolution Kentex Manufacturing in ports and notice to comply in themselves of appropriate legal the “pork barrel” scam in order on the fi ling of charges against Valenzuela City. 2014. They were also charged remedies under our laws, it is to prevent them from commit- certain offi cials, he stressed, In its decision dated Febru- for their failure to impose sanc- best that we await the outcome ting the same crimes again. Miriam Santiago: pledging action “will be (a) stronger deterrence ary 11, 2016, the ombudsman tions as prescribed by the Fire of their case,” he said. The Offi ce of the Ombuds- man last week ordered the fi l- more government funds will be es for violation of Section 3(e) ing of cases against former Rep. diverted from public use. of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt UNREST Arthur Pingoy of South Cotabato “If these corrupt politicians Practices Act (Republic Act No. Bomb planted by Bangsamoro rebels injures four soldiers in Maguindanao who allegedly received P7.5mn remain at large, they will return 3019), Malversation (Article 217, in kickbacks; former Rep. Marc to power and again steal public Revised Penal Code) and Direct Four soldiers were wounded when an impro- an IED went off at around 9.45 am. Petinglay February 5, when members of the BIFF at- Douglas Cagas of Davao Del Sur funds,” the feisty senator said Bribery. vised explosive device (IED) planted by the did not disclose the identities of the wounded tacked an army unit in Datu Salibo that was who was accused of receiving Out of the 14 senators and The Office of the Ombuds- Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) soldiers pending notification of their families. defusing a bomb planted under a bridge. The P5.5mn; and former Rep. Arrel 120 congressmen implicated man also found probable cause exploded in Datu Salibo town in Maguindan- According to Petinglay, Maj. Gen. Edmundo rebels also stormed an area filled with heavy Olano of Davao del Norte who by “pork barrel” scam whistle- to indict former Rep. Zenaida ao yesterday, belated reports reaching Camp Pangilinan, sixth ID commander has ordered equipment used for flood control projects in reportedly got P3.17mn. blower Benhur Luy in 2013, the Ducut of Pampanga and sev- Aguinaldo, Quezon City (Metro Manila) said, the sweeping of Datu Salibo for explosives the Liguashan Marsh river. In a speech delivered before Department of Justice has only eral officials of the Department Manila Times reported. after the BIFF turned the area into a mine The recent hostilities had displaced more some 3,000 students and faculty managed so far to fi le com- of Budget and Management, Capt. Joann Petinglay, spokesperson of the field, following a series of encounters with than 5,000 families, which are now housed at members of Our Lady of Fatima plaints against three opposition Technology Resource Centre, Philippine Army’s sixth Infantry Division (ID), government forces. A total of 40 IEDs have the various evacuation centres in Datu Salibo University in Valenzuela City, senators and 25 members of the National Business Corp and said members of the Army’s 61st reconnais- been recovered during the continuing sweep and nearby towns, according to humanitarian Santiago underlined the need to House. representatives of non-gov- sance company were sweeping an area in of the area, she added. groups, who were caught in the middle of a speedily convict those involved Pingoy, Cagas, Olano, and ernmental organisations, in- Barangay Tee, Datu Salibo for bombs when The clashes in Maguindanao erupted on firefight on Wednesday. in the scam to ensure that no two others will be facing charg- cluding Napoles. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Khaleda, Lanka brings back war-time Tarique re-elected to top BNP measures to fi ght gangs posts AFP Another suspect on bail Colombo was shot dead at home while a woman was shot and By Mizan Rahman wounded outside the main Dhaka ri Lanka’s police yesterday prison in Colombo Saturday reintroduced war-time after she visited her jailed Sroad blocks and random husband. s expected, Khaleda Zia checks on vehicles following a Gunasekera said 10 special was yesterday re-elected surge in gang-related shootings units were also established Achairperson, and her elder in the capital, a spokesman said. to crack down on gang activ- son Tarique Rahman senior vice- More than 100 police stations ity that had increased in recent chairman of the Bangladesh Na- in Colombo and its suburbs weeks. tionalist Party (BNP) as no one have been asked to erect snap Sri Lankan authorities had else fi led nomination for the blocks, a common practice dur- dismantled road blocks and posts. ing the island’s separatist war stopped vehicle checks after the Jamiruddin Sircar, stand- that ended nearly seven years end of the decades-long Tamil ing committee member of ago, police spokesman Ruwan separatist war in May 2009. BNP, made the announcement Gunasekera said. Even the permanent check yesterday. “The objective is to prevent points at key entry points to the Ahead of BNP’s central council serious crime and drug smug- city had been removed several on March 19, yesterday was the gling as well as to catch those years ago. last date for withdrawing nomi- committing serious crime,” the The new government which nation for the posts of the par- spokesman said. came to power in January last ty’s chairman and senior vice- He said there was a surge in year removed the last remain- chairman. drug smuggling and shootings ing check point at the entrance Khaleda was the two-time that prompted the authorities to the former war zone as a sign prime minister of Bangladesh. to take extraordinary measures. of normality. Tarique Rahman, who has been At least three people were However, the new police staying in London for the past shot dead and many more measure brought back memo- eight years, has been at his post wounded in Colombo in the ries of war-time Colombo when since the last council of BNP nine past week in what police said freedom of movement was cur- years ago. was gang-related violence. tailed due to frequent stops for Until recently, only the chair- Unidentifi ed gunmen had security checks. person’s post was up for voting opened fi re on a prison bus and At least 100,000 people were in the council. BNP amended its wounded a suspect who was be- killed in the 37-year separatist charter in a top-level meeting to ing taken back to jail after a court war which ended after a major add Tarique’s post up for voting hearing in the capital last week. off ensive by the military. At least three people have been shot dead and many more wounded in Colombo in the past week in what police said was gang-related violence. ahead of this council. Meanwhile, Obaidul Quader, road transport and bridges min- ister and close aide of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has dismissed the upcoming sixth 29 Indian national council of the BNP as Opposition BNP slams ministers farce. “The chairman and vice- fi shermen chairman of BNP have been elected uncontested. They held the election silently, forbidding arrested for chief justice comments others from submitting nomina- tion papers for the two posts. We he Sri Lankan navy yes- have intelligence report in this terday arrested 29 Indian By Mizan Rahman isters’ comments are tanta- Strongly condemning the regard,” Quader said. Tfi shermen for allegedly Dhaka mount to contempt of court. comments, Rizvi alleged that The road transport and bridg- poaching in Sri Lankan waters. “Their remarks demonstrated having failed to establish its es minister was addressing an The navy said it assisted the Sri Feni’s Hazari culture.” full control over the judici- extended meeting of the Awami Lanka Coast Guard in arresting ain opposition Joynal Hazari, a former ary the ruling party ministers League Dhaka city unit as part of the fi shermen at two locations in Bangladesh Na- Awami League leader, had set are resorting to threat and its preparations to hold a public the north and north-western seas, Mtionalist Party up his own court in Feni dis- intimidation. rally in Suhrawardy Udyan mark- Xinhua news agency reported. (BNP) yesterday termed trict town and used to pun- The BNP leader said the ing the historic date of March 7, The navy also seized a trawler ‘extremely audacious and ish his enemies in the way he ‘current regime which has no 1971 - the day of Bangabandhu and three small boats. political hooliganism’ the liked. mandate’ is trying to run the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s semi- Indian fi shermen have been comments of two minis- Yesterday, the two min- country’s all institutions and nal speech at the Racecourse arrested over the past few years ters about Chief Justice SK isters at a discussion criti- organs as per its will. Ground in Ramna, that laid the for poaching in Sri Lankan wa- Sinha. cised the Chief Justice for “They (government) are out groundwork for independence. ters and both countries are still “The way Food Minister his reported remarks that to remove the independent “Awami League would never struggling to resolve the issue. Qamrul Islam and Liberation “the prosecution is doing identity of the state organs like hold such a council. In AL, any- Indian media reports last week War Aff airs Minister Mozam- politics with the trial of con- the legislative, the executive one can contest the president and quoted Indian External Aff airs mel Haque asked the chief demned war criminal and and the judiciary to give those general secretary…and the elec- Minister Sushma Swaraj as say- justice to quit is a blatant in- Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Awami colour. tion takes place openly. There ing she had held consultations terference in the judiciary. Quasem Ali.” “The current illegal regime is no scope to bring changes in with top Sri Lankan leadership The comments have once Earlier, during the hearing of has crossed its limit on the way our central committee without to resolve the issue of fi shermen again proved that the one- arguments on Ali’s death row of its march towards one-party Ruhul Kabir Rizvi: “Their remarks demonstrated Feni’s Hazari culture.” council session,” said the ruling from India. party Baksal of 1975 has been review petition on February rule through the two minis- party leader. Last week, fi shermen in the revived with its all aggres- 23, the chief justice purport- ters’ remarks about the chief Asia Cup 2016 fi nal match be- in a clash with police in Mirpur He said the central commit- south Indian state of Tamil Nadu sive manners,” said BNP joint edly expressed dissatisfaction justice.” tween Bangladesh and India at on Saturday. The clash broke tee of BNP can change any- staged protests demanding the secretary general Ruhul Kabir over the activities of the pros- Rizvi also denounced the Mirpur. out over a rumour that all tick- time. Anyone can be included or immediate release of fellow Rizvi. ecution and the investigation baton charge by police on At least 50 people were in- ets for the Asia Cup fi nal were emerge as leader anytime, on the fi shermen from Sri Lankan jails. He also said the two min- agency. ticket seekers for enjoying the jured as ticket-seekers locked sold out. chairperson’s whim.

Lawmaker’s son charged Nepali Congress convention with double murder A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against Bakhtiar Alam Rony, son of ruling Awami League member of parliament (MP) Pinu Khan, Three suspected following an order, in a case filed over shooting two persons to death in the city’s Eskaton area in April last year. The court of second additional metropolitan sessions judge, Dhaka Shamsun Nahar framed militants held in the charges and fixed April 11 for recording deposition of the witnesses. The court also rejected a petition of Rony’s counsel Kazi Mohammad Nazibullah for discharging him from the case. Bangladesh Additional Public Prosecutor SM Jahid Sarkar read out the charges to Rony who pleaded not Reuters ing the killing of a Hindu priest last guilty and demanded justice. Dhaka month, but the government has denied Rony’s counsel Kazi Mohammad Nazibullah said the militant group has a presence in they would move the High Court against the Bangladesh. order. angladesh’s elite anti-terrorism US-based monitoring organisation On February 28, the court after hearing two unit detained yesterday three SITE has reported that the IS group sides fixed March 6 for passing an order whether Bsuspected members of a mili- said in a statement it is behind the to frame charge against Rony or discharge him. tant group believed to be behind a spate murder. Earlier on February 2, the court deferred, for the of recent attacks in the South Asian The government rejects the IS group’s fourth time, the charge framing hearing against country. claims of responsibility for several of the Rony over illness of the accused. Muslim-majority Bangladesh has seen attacks, including the shootings of two On August 13 last year, a Dhaka court accepted a rise in Islamist violence in which liberal foreigners last year. charges against Bakhtiar Alam Rony, in the case. activists, members of minority Muslim Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Detective Branch (DB) of Police pressed charges sects and other religious groups have been secular government instead accuses against Rony for the double murder on July 21, targeted. the JMB, other local militant groups 2015. The detainees were members of the as well as the Islamist-allied political On April 13, Rony, said to be in an intoxicated banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bang- opposition of trying to destabilise the state, allegedly opened fire on people ladesh and were arrested in a raid con- country. indiscriminately near Janakantha Bhaban in ducted in the northwestern district A long-running political crisis has New Eskaton area from his car, leaving two of Rajshahi, said Rumman Mahmud, radicalised opponents of the government people-rickshaw-puller Abdul Hakim and a deputy director of the Rapid Action and analysts say Islamist extremists pose Janakantha’s auto-rickshaw driver Yakub-injured Battalion (RAB). a growing danger. with bullets. Sixteen crude bombs, seven pet- Hindus, the country’s largest minor- Hakim succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka rol bombs and jihadi books were ity, make up nearly 10% of Bangladesh’s Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on April 15 also found in their possession, he add- 160mn people. while Yeakub died at the hospital on April 23. ed. At least five militants of Jamaat-ul- Nepali Congress acting president Ram Chandra Poudel casts his vote in a ballot box during On April 15 last year, a case was filed with Ramna The group is believed to be be- Mujahideen have been killed in shoot- the election of 13th general convention in Kathmandu yesterday. The 13th general convention Police Station against unidentified people in this hind attacks such as the bombings of outs since November, as security forces of Nepali Congress, Nepal’s largest party in the parliament, kicked off on Thursday. The five- connection. a Shia shrine and the killing of two stepped up a crackdown on Islamist day convention will elect a new leadership and amend the party’s charter and endorse party’s Later law enforcers arrested Rony from his foreigners. militants seeking to make the moder- policy and programmes for the next four years. Dhanmondi residence in connection with the Islamic State has claimed responsi- ate Muslim nation of 160mn a Shariah- firing on June 1 last year. bility for some of the attacks, includ- based state. Gulf Times 26 Monday, March 7, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran Turkmenistan: A legacy

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] of close ties with Qatar Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) The visit of HH the Emir of mutual interest, particularly in the during 2016-2017, mainly the holding continental. Summers are long (from Fax 44350474 trade and economic sphere. of consultations on bilateral topics, May through September), hot, and dry, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad President Berdimuhamedov discussions of means of enhancing while winters generally are mild and al-Thani to Turkmenistan welcomed HH the Emir’ s visit bilateral relations between the two dry. It has the Karakum Desert as well stressing its role in promoting countries, work within the framework as a number of rivers mainly; Morghab would open new prospects traditional human ties between of international organisations and River in southeast and Amu Darya in for bilateral economic and Qatari and Turkmen peoples based on the UN, co-operation in the fi eld of the east. historical, cultural and spiritual unity trade and economy and consultations Turkmenistan has the third largest GULF TIMES trade co-operation of the two peoples, Turkmenistan on consular matters, in addition to a reserves of natural gas in the world, News Agency (TDH) reported. number of topics of common interest estimated at 23tn cu m while its oil QNA Berdimuhamedov hailed the high between the two friendly countries. reserves are estimated at 600mn barrels Doha level of bilateral relations between The year 2013 also saw the ensuring its energy self-suffi ciency Qatar and Turkmenistan, stressing the fi rst meeting of the Joint Higher of oil and gas. The country exports It’s high time GCC importance of Qatari-Turkmenistani Committee in Ashgabat during which large quantities of gas to Russia, urkmenistan has a rich talks expected in Ashgabat at the the two sides signed a co-operation Iran and China and produces gold, cultural and civilisational highest levels to move the existing protocol for the Qatar-Turkmenistan silver, uranium, tungsten, gypsum legacy which has generated relations between the two countries to High Joint Committee on bilateral and bentonite. Industry represents states boosted eff orts Tan extra-ordinary harmony a qualitatively new level. economic and trade co-operation, about 33.9% of the country’s GDP at all levels and throughout the ages. He stressed that the relationship energy, transportation as well as and the most important industries are The visit of HH the Emir Sheikh between the two countries would education and tourism. fuel, cotton textiles, food and metal to curb smoking Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the contribute to the development Turkmenistan is a central Asian processing industries. capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, of a fruitful partnership between landlocked country, bordering the The agriculture sector contributes would open new prospects for bilateral Turkmenistan and the Middle East. Caspian Sea to the west, Iran and about 24.4% of GDP, cotton is one of A proposal from a senior offi cial of the World Health economic and trade co-operation as At the level of Qatar-Turkmenistan Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan the most important agricultural crops. Organisation (WHO) that all GCC countries should well as promote the traditional human relations, earlier this year both to the north-east, and Kazakhstan to Areas planted with grains and wheat ties between the people of the two ministries of foreign aff airs of Qatar the north-west. have doubled mainly to three times impose more taxes on tobacco products and make countries. and the Republic of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan occupies an area of after the Soviet era. Turkmenistan them more expensive in order to curb the menace of Turkmenistan President signed an executive programme for 491,200sq km. By area Turkmenistan has well profi ted of its economic smoking, makes sound sense. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov bilateral co-operation, guided by a ranks fourth among the former Soviet resources by investing in various As pointed out by Gulf Times last Saturday, quoting emphasised that the visit of HH the memorandum of consultations signed republics, after Russia, Kazakhstan development projects and sectors, Emir to Ashgabat would open new by the two ministries in Doha in and Ukraine. making the country experiencing an Fatimah El-Awa, regional adviser, Tobacco Free horizons to expand and develop October 2010. The great majority of the country’s architectural and cultural renaissance Initiative, WHO-Eastern Mediterranean Regional prospects of bilateral co-operation The programme announces the people are Muslims. Turkmenistan has not only in Ashgabat but also all over Offi ce, imposing more taxes, is one of the best options between the two countries on the basis organisation of various activities a cold desert climate that is severely Turkmenistan. to reduce the use of tobacco, especially among the youth and children. Many studies in Qatar have indicated the alarming prevalence of smoking, especially among school students. According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) released in November 2014, the number of smokers in the 13-15 age group had gone up from 6.5% to 9.8%, marking an increase of 3.3% between 2007 and 2013. During this period the percentage of smokers among boys went up from 13.4% to 14.9% and that among girls more than doubled from 2.3% to 4.7%. The GYTS in Qatar was conducted by the then Supreme Council of Health and the Supreme Education Council. A total of 2,109 students of grades 7-9, including 1,716 in the 13-15 age group, participated in the exercise. It was also revealed that 15.7% of the students aged 13-15 used some tobacco products, out of which boys accounted for 22.8% and girls 8.8%. While 18.4% boys and 6.2% were current Higher prices smokers, 9.4% boys and 3.2% girls used induce cessation smokeless tobacco. The and prevent survey also found that 24.2% of students were initiation of exposed to tobacco Turkmenistan has the third largest reserves of natural gas in the world, estimated at 23tn cu m while its oil reserves are estimated at 600mn barrels ensuring its tobacco use smoking at home, while energy self-suff iciency of oil and gas. 47.9% were exposed to tobacco smoke inside enclosed places. During a recent media workshop in Doha, the WHO offi cial pointed out that most GCC countries impose Closing the investment gap only customs taxes on tobacco products, leaving their prices considerably low. Under conditions of weak aggregate McKinsey Global Institute report, US over the last few decades, the “In the GCC countries, tobacco companies are By Laura Tyson Berkeley demand, stronger public investment the most digitised sectors – ranked proportion of older fi rms has been gaining 70-80% of the revenue from the industry, encourages more private business by 18 metrics on digital assets, digital growing as the startup rate for new whereas the government is getting only about 20- investment. But public investment, usage, and digital workforce – enjoy businesses has fallen. In addition, he weakness of private too, has fallen below pre-crisis signifi cantly higher profi t margins as Fink and others have warned, 30%. In an ideal situation, it should be the opposite investment in the US and expectations, aggravating rather than than traditional sectors. compensation practices that link so that the tobacco companies do not benefi t greatly other advanced economies ameliorating the slump in private In a recent letter to the chief top executives’ pay to measures of from the sale of their products.” Tis a worrisome – and investment. executives of the S&P 500 companies short-term success like quarterly perplexing – feature of the recovery The accelerator explanation of the and large European corporations, earnings per share or annual equity The offi cial maintained that evidence from countries from the 2008 global fi nancial crisis. shortfall in business investment in the Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, performance also encourage “short- of all income levels, shows that price increases on Indeed, according to the International US is consistent with evidence that, the world’s largest investment termism” in corporate investment cigarettes are highly eff ective in reducing demand. Monetary Fund, through 2014, private where projected demand growth has management company, expressed decisions. Higher prices induce cessation and prevent investment declined by an average of been relatively strong – for example, concern that many global fi rms A sliding capital gains tax, with rates 25% compared to pre-crisis trends. in cable, telecommunications, digital may be sacrifi cing value-creating that decline as the holding period for initiation of tobacco use. They also reduce relapse The shortfall in investment has platforms, social networking, and, investments by distributing dividends investments increases, would reduce among those who have quit and reduce consumption been deep and broad-based, aff ecting until recently, energy – investment and buying back their own shares. incentives for short-termism among among continuing users. As pointed out by the WHO not only residential investment but growth has also been relatively strong. Among US nonfi nancial corporations, investors. Among others, Larry Fink, also investment in equipment and Indeed, telecom and cable companies the proportion of investable funds the Center for American Progress, and offi cial tax increase is highly eff ective in high income structures. Business investment accounted for the largest share of used for dividends and share buybacks Hillary Clinton propose this approach. countries too. Between 2000 and 2014, cigarette remains signifi cantly below pre- business capital expenditures during has been trending upward, albeit In his recent CEO letter, Fink also calls prices more than doubled in the UK, while smoking 2008 expectations, and has been hit the last three years, with energy with cyclical ups and downs, since on companies to issue annual “strategic hard again in the US during the last production and mining second on the the 1980s. After a sharp downturn frameworks” for long-term value prevalence and illicit trade decreased and tobacco year by the collapse of energy-sector list. during the 2008-2009 recession, creation, supported by quantifi able excise revenues increased. investment in response to the steep Diff erences in innovation this proportion has now recovered to fi nancial metrics and linking long-term El-Awa described that during the period, tobacco drop in oil prices. opportunities across industries are nearly 50%, a high point relative to executive compensation to performance Interestingly, the investment shortfall also consistent with the changing historical averages. on them. price was increased from £3.88 to £8.47 per pack; in the US coincides with a strong composition of business investment. The macro evidence indicates that These frameworks, Fink notes, smoking was reduced from 27% to 18%; illicit trade rebound in returns to capital. By one During the 2009-2015 period, while the primary cause of disappointing should cover environmental, social, went down from 21% to 9% as of 2012 and government measure, returns to private capital are business investment in equipment business investment in the US and and governance (ESG) factors that are revenue increased from £7.6 to £9.7bn until 2012. now at a higher point than any time in slowed in the US, it accelerated other developed countries in the core determinants of long-term value. recent decades. But extensive empirical in intellectual property products, years following the global fi nancial Companies can use the new evidence- On the face of the above facts, it is high time that the research confi rms that at the macro including research and development, crisis has been anemic demand, not based standards developed by the GCC governments augmented their eff orts to curb the level, business investment depends software, and so-called artistic a lack of investable funds resulting Sustainability Accounting Standards menace of tobacco on public health. primarily on expected future demand originals (the output of artists, from excessive distributions to Board to disclose material information and output growth, not on current studios, and publishers). shareholders. Over the longer about their ESG performance to their returns or retained earnings. According R&D investment usually expands term, however, the upward trend in investors. Strategic frameworks, to the IMF, this “accelerator” theory faster than GDP during cyclical dividends and share buybacks as a along with ESG disclosure, should of investment explains most of the expansions, and the current period is percentage of corporate investable encourage both companies and To Advertise weakness of business investment in the in line with historical trends. Indeed, funds is a symptom of mounting their shareholders to focus more on developed economies since the 2008 as a share of the economy, R&D shareholder pressure on corporations long-term value and less on short- [email protected] crisis. investment is now at its highest level to focus on short-term returns at the term fi nancial performance. But at Display In accordance with this explanation, on record, which bodes well for future expense of long-term investments. the macro level, expected growth in Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 investment growth in the US has productivity growth. In a recent McKinsey survey of demand and associated innovation been in line with its usual historical As the accelerator theory of 1,000 top executives and corporate opportunities will remain the primary Classified relationship with output growth. In investment would predict, much directors, 63% reported that drivers of business investment. – Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 short, private investment growth R&D investment is occurring in shareholder pressure to realise short- Project Syndicate has been weak primarily because the technology-intensive sectors term returns has increased over the Subscription pace of recovery has been anaemic. where current and future expected last several years. Indeed, some 79% zLaura Tyson, a former chair of the [email protected] Businesses have marked down their demand has been strong. There is reported pressure to demonstrate US President’s Council of Economic pre-crisis investment plans to refl ect also evidence that the distribution strong fi nancial returns in two years Advisers, is a professor at the Haas a post-crisis “new normal” of slower of returns to capital is becoming or less. School of Business at the University 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved and more uncertain growth in demand increasingly skewed toward these Shareholder pressure tends to of California, Berkeley, and a senior for their output. sectors. According to a recent be greater in older fi rms, and in the adviser at the Rock Creek Group. Gulf Times Monday, March 7, 2016 27 COMMENT Cameron’s unlikely French love aff air

David Cameron had all his of the Anglo-French alliance within migrant controls in Calais if the UK an enduring European Union in which voted for Brexit, to off er a red carpet eggs in the German both sides want Britain to remain. welcome to Paris for bankers fl eeing basket, but fi nally he sees Cameron has courted appalling London if Britain votes to leave, and danger by putting all his European his insistence that the EU would the mutual dependence eggs, such as they have been, in the focus on cutting UK trade links rather with Paris German basket than renegotiating the new ones that These summits take place so Leave campaigners claim would be regularly these days that it is tempting on off er, were all music to the British By Martin Kettle to dismiss them as largely decorative. government’s ears. London But yesterday’s was signifi cant. It has All this is a reminder of the appalling already become one of the cliches of danger that Cameron has courted by the Brexit debate that Germany and underestimating France and its socialist eography has always France are desperate for Britain to president since 2012, and by putting all had as much to do with remain in the EU, to provide a stability his European eggs, such as they have international aff airs as whose absence might otherwise send been, in the German basket. France is Geconomics or ideology ever the union spinning off into wider certainly a troubled and in some ways a have. So perhaps it is the symbolism instability. What is not said enough failing country, suff ering from economic of being a staging post on the old is how remarkable a turn of events stagnation, high unemployment and route between London and Paris this really is, especially in the case of political paralysis, and seemingly unable that explains why Amiens is a place France. to deal with the challenges of migration where Britain and France - so often Ever since British exit from Europe and terrorism in a border-free Europe. economic and ideological rivals - meet became a realistic possibility, there But you don’t choose your neighbours and do deals. When the British and has never been any doubt that and they don’t choose you. What’s French leaders meet in the northern Germany would be a pivotal player more, in its own way, Britain is also French town, as they did on Thursday, in the negotiations leading up to any a failing country, and so too, in some practical politics always seems likely deal; or that Angela Merkel might even lights, is Germany. to win out over even the deepest play a signifi cant role at some stage What Cameron has discovered in ancestral suspicions. in the referendum campaign. Merkel the course of his EU negotiations, but That was certainly the case when has many problems - not least the can’t admit to, is that the problems the two countries signed their migration crisis and diffi cult regional of Europe are problems that Britain compromise peace treaty in Amiens elections later this month - but it shares, not problems from which in March 1802, in which Henry would be surprising if the chancellor French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Director General of the Commonwealth War Britain is immune. That is why, when Addington’s British government did not make an intervention in the Graves Commission (CWGC) Victoria Wallace speak as they visit the Pozieres British Memorial as part of a Franco-British it came to it, he opposed the fantasy bowed the knee to Napoleon’s Brexit debate before it is over. If she summit in Pozieres, near Amiens, northern France, on Thursday. of an autonomous Britain that the European conquests in the hope that does, few would dispute that she will Leavers still promise. It is why, far too economic prosperity and commerce get a serious hearing. It wasn’t so long ago that no one Obama (who is coming to Britain to to announce a joint deal on drone late, he has discovered that European would revive. In fact, the deal only Hollande’s France, though, has been in the British government had a kind make his opposition to Brexit clear, development which underlines the allies matter. lasted a year because Napoleon - another matter. From almost every word to say for the French president perhaps next month) would have been core reality that Britain and France Britain and France will probably incapable of banking his gains - always point of view the French president or his policies at all. Hollande was for the birds. remain Europe’s two leading players in never entirely trust one another, for all wanted more. might seem an improbable partner for seen in London as a man presiding True, even now Hollande is defence and international security. sorts of reasons. Yet the reality, as the France and Britain have not fought David Cameron’s eff orts to win the over a failed economic model and to be the least likely of the three major Nor was there any mistaking the Amiens summit shows, is that Britain a major war since Napoleon’s fall. But vote in June. As a socialist politician suff ering the electoral consequences leaders to have much impact on boost to Cameron from last week’s needs France more than Cameron they frequently still look askance at in an era of centre-right ascendancy, of his own weaknesses. At the G20 the British public’s thinking about carefully timed Financial Times and the Tory party in their stupid one another’s actions and motives as a believer in state action in an era of summit in 2012 Cameron openly Europe. But he is important because interview with the French economy smugness ever supposed. Even more on the world stage. Nevertheless, a neoliberalism, and eclipsed by Merkel mocked French tax policies, causing France is important. And there was minister Emmanuel Macron. Macron, remarkably, Amiens is also an eloquent 21st-century version of solid Anglo- at the heart of an EU of which France great off ence in France. no mistaking the devotion to one a key fi gure in Hollande’s move to the reminder that France needs Britain French pragmatism was on show again and Germany were for so long joint Back then, the idea that Hollande another’s cause in the run up to the centre following disastrous municipal too, though most French politicians in Amiens yesterday, when David leaders, Hollande might seem to have might be treated during the Amiens meeting, with Cameron elections in 2014, is a French minister would probably do anything rather Cameron and François Hollande met little to off er Britain’s complacent and referendum campaign as an ally calling Britain and France “proud whom London likes. His readiness to than admit it. – Guardian News & to proclaim the stabilising importance careless prime minister. almost on the level of Merkel or Barack allies”, and with the two leaders due reveal that France might abandon its Media Weather report Three-day forecast Time to clear the way for Cruz TODAY High: 25 C forgotten by official Washington, winner-takes-all delegates. Kasich Low : 21 C By John Stoehr Partly cloudy to cloudy with chance Washington might prove to be the turning point is the governor of Ohio and favoured of scattered rain maybe thunder in the GOP nomination. Maine there. Rubio is a senator from Florida at times Governor Paul LePage endorsed and favored there. If they drop out itt Romney was clear Trump, but Romney’s anti-Trump before then, they can release their TUESDAY about who shouldn’t be speech on Thursday may have been current cache of delegates and make High: 28 C the Republican Party’s enough for moderate Republican the way clear for Cruz. Low: 20 C Mpresidential nominee clam diggers who still hold Romney The irony here is the Republican S Showers when he spoke on Thursday in Utah. in high regard. establishment despises Cruz. Bob He was not clear about who he did Cruz knows Saturday’s results Dole, George HW Bush, and George W want to see. He said Ted Cruz, Marco made his case. He intimated that Bush have made public their dim views WEDNESDAY Rubio and John Kasich need to “fi nd now would be a good time for rivals of him. Cruz called Majority Leader High: 26 C common ground” in the push back at Rubio and Kasich to drop out. Mitch McConnell a liar on the Senate Low: 21 C the rising tide of Donald Trump. “We’ll continue to amass delegates fl oor. His public record of personal P Cloudy In the world of Republican but what needs to happen is the peevishness is growing. partisanship, that probably meant field needs to continue to narrow,” But that was before Super Tuesday getting behind runner-up Cruz. Republican US presidential candidate according to PolitiCo. “If we’re and the mathematical threat posed Fishermen’s forecast Deepening this impression was Texas Senator Ted Cruz speaks at the divided, Donald wins.” by Donald Trump. Even if Kasich OFFSHORE DOHA Cruz’s victory in Saturday’s caucuses 2016 Conservative Political Action He added: “The other candidates and Rubio drop out, the odds are still Wind: NW 05-15/18 KT in Kansas and Maine. Kansas wasn’t Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor, are increasing the likelihood that against Cruz. Trump knows Cruz is Waves: 2-4/5 Feet terribly surprising given Cruz’s Maryland on Friday. Donald Trump is the nominee.” being seen as the alternative. Cruz INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 05-15/25 KT nearly identical trajectory to Rick The clock is ticking. There are two did well in Maine, Trump said on Waves: 1-2 Feet Santorum’s 2012 run in which the But Maine was surprising – almost races on March 15 that are must-wins Saturday, because “it’s very close to arch-conservative Catholic appealed stunning - and that small rural for whoever is going be to a viable Canada.” Touché. – Guardian News & Around the region to the Republican evangelical base. rugged Northeastern state, mostly Trump alternative. Both states are Media Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Abu Dhabi P Cloudy 32/21 P Cloudy 31/21 Baghdad Sunny 24/09 Sunny 25/11 Dubai P Cloudy 30/21 P Cloudy 30/22 Kuwait City Sunny 27/17 P Cloudy 27/17 Manama P Cloudy 25/21 S Showers 25/19 Live issues Muscat P Cloudy 28/23 M Sunny 29/23 Riyadh P Cloudy 26/14 Sunny 27/14 Tehran M Sunny 19/07 Sunny 19/08 Discovery into genetics of cancer tumours

By Ian Sample cancer evolution who led the latest Trust, raises two possible routes to The treatment, if it works at all, is Guardian News and Media study at the Francis Crick Institute in treat future cancer patients. In one likely to be most eff ective in cancers London, said the discovery of surface scenario, doctors could take a biopsy that have a lot of mutations, such as proteins shared by all of a patient’s from a patient’s tumour, read its melanoma and smoking-related lung landmark discovery into the cancer cells provided an “achilles genome and work out which fl ags cancer. But the scientists plan further genetic makeup of tumours heel” for future therapies to target. are present on all of the malignant research to investigate whether it has the potential to open The international team, involving cells. If they fi nd immune cells inside could be eff ective against less mutated Aa new front in the war on scientists from Harvard, MIT and the tumour that recognise these cancers, such as bladder, prostate and cancer, delivering potent therapies University College London, found that fl ags, they could be multiplied in pancreatic cancer. Swanton has not that are tailored to individual patients, the patients in their study had already the lab, and then re-infused into the costed the procedure, but conceded scientists have said. launched immune reactions against patient, producing an overwhelming that it not be cheap. The breakthrough comes from their cancers. But the attacks were precision attack on the cancer cells. David Adams, a cancer geneticist at research into the genetic complexity too feeble to destroy the malignant In another scenario, the protein fl ags the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, of lung and skin cancers which found cells. Close inspection of the tumours themselves could be used to make said the research could help doctors that even as tumours grow and spread revealed immune cells buried inside a vaccine against the cancer. Inject work out who is most likely to benefi t around the body, they carry with them them: some had recognised the them into the body, and immune from new therapies that exploit the a number of biological “fl ags” that cancer’s unique fl ags, but were either cells would identify them as invaders immune system. “The greatest use Around the world the immune system can be primed to outnumbered or defeated by the and launch an attack. In practice, of this knowledge is in working out Weather Weather attack. cancer’s defences. the new therapies would have to be which patients are most likely to be today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Because the fl ags, which appear “What we’ve found for the fi rst used alongside existing drugs called treatable,” he said. “The issue with these Athens Sunny 19/14 P Cloudy 19/12 as surface proteins, are found only time is that tumours essentially sow “checkpoint inhibitors” that stop immunotherapies is they are extremely Beirut Sunny 23/16 M Sunny 23/17 Sunny 36/26 on cancer cells, they provide what the seeds of their own destruction. cancers neutralising T cells. expensive and we don’t know who will Bangkok 34/27 Sunny Berlin P Cloudy 07/-1 M Sunny 09/-1 scientists described as “exquisite And that within tumours, there are Swanton, whose study appears in respond and who won’t.” Cairo M Sunny 26/14 Cloudy 29/19 targets” for new therapies that draw immune cells that recognise those Science , hopes to launch the fi rst But he said more patients would Cape Town S Showers 23/17 Sunny 23/16 on the power of the immune system to fl ags which are present in every human trial in lung cancer patients have to be studied before the potential Colombo P Cloudy 32/24 S T Storms 33/24 combat cancer. tumour cell,” said Swanton. in the next two to three years. The for developing a therapy was clear. Dhaka M Sunny 35/24 M Sunny 35/25 Hong Kong P Cloudy 21/17 M Cloudy 21/17 Treatments that harness the As tumours grow, they evolve. Over disease is the UK’s biggest cancer “The opportunity here is to be able Istanbul P Cloudy 16/09 M Sunny 17/10 immune system have shown great time, mutations scramble the DNA, killer, claiming more than 35,000 to identify T-cells within tumours Jakarta S T Storms 31/25 T Storms 31/26 promise against some forms of cancer, and one part of the tumour starts to lives a year. It is unclear whether the that react with trunkal fl ags, to Karachi P Cloudy 33/20 M Sunny 32/20 such as melanoma, but they do not look very diff erent to another. But treatment will work, but scientists expand these T-cells in culture, and London P Cloudy 08/-1 Cloudy 09/07 P Cloudy Sunny 34/23 work in everyone. Swanton found that even complex believe it has a better chance if the re-introduce these cells back into Manila 34/24 Moscow Cloudy 02/-1 M Cloudy 05/02 One approach releases the brakes tumour cells can bear the hallmarks of immune system targets multiple fl ags patients to target the patient’s tumour. New Delhi Sunny 29/16 Sunny 29/17 on the immune system, unleashing their origins. Writing in the journal, on a tumour. “We haven’t proved that This is the epitome of personalised New York M Sunny 16/08 M Sunny 18/08 the full force of killer T cells, which Science, he describes how, in two this can impact on patient care. What therapy,” he said. Paris P Cloudy 06/0 P Cloudy 09/04 are otherwise dampened down by lung cancer patients, surface proteins we have shown is that there are unique “This work is right on the cutting Sao Paulo T Storms 28/20 T Storms 28/20 Seoul P Cloudy 15/0 P Cloudy 07/-3 cancer cells. But to work, the patient’s had mutated early on and appeared therapies potentially present within edge. The next stage will be to expand Singapore T Storms 32/26 T Storms 33/27 immune system must fi rst recognise throughout the tumours. each patient’s tumour,” Swanton said. the approach to larger cohorts and Sydney Sunny 28/20 Sunny 27/20 the cancer as the enemy. The work, funded by Cancer “This is taking personalised medicine to use it as part of clinical trials,” he Tokyo Clear 16/ 12 Cloudy 20/13 Charles Swanton, an expert on Research UK and the Rosetrees to its absolute limit.” added. – Guardian News & Media Ltd Gulf Times 28 Monday, March 7, 2016 QATAR

New addition to Doha art scene as AlBahie auction house opens

QNA hind opening the auction house Doha was to contribute to the revival of Islamic culture and support au- thentic Arab and Islamic heritage, nder the patronage of praising the support extended by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa HE Sheikha Al Mayassa and thank- Ubint Hamad al-Thani, ing her for gracing the opening cer- chairperson of Qatar Museums, emony. the AlBahie Auction House was The auction house, a new addi- inaugurated yesterday at Katara tion to the art scene in Doha, will - the Cultural Village along with be the fi rst of its kind in Qatar and events for the Islamic and Orien- the Middle East. The leading art talist Art auction that will take space will host auctions through- place on April 5 at Katara. out the year. Its main focus will be A fi rst in Qatar and the Middle on antiques and collectibles. East, AlBahie seeks to position it- AlBahie will hold its opening self as a leader in the region for the auction in Islamic and Orientalist sale of antiques, paintings, watch- Art on April 5. The auction house es and clocks, cars and jewellery. will have its permanent location HE Sheikh Abdurrahman bin at Katara and hold regular exhibi- Hamad al-Thani said the goal be- tions leading up to the auctions. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani at the opening ceremony along with other off icials and dignitaries. QP honours 831 employees for their long years of service

atar Petroleum (QP) re- cently recognised 831 Qemployees who have served the corporation for 10 and 15 years. Held under the patronage of Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, presi- The opening of the festival was led by British ambassador Ajay Sharma (fourth, left) yesterday at Katara - the Cultural Village. He was joined dent and CEO of QP, the second by Katara’s marketing and international aff airs director Darwish Ahmed al-Shaibani (third, left), British Council Qatar director Frank Fitzpatrick part of QP’s Continuous Service (second, left) and a number of representatives from festival sponsors. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Awards (CSA) honoured 434 employees who have already recorded 10 years of service and 397 staff members who have been part of the corporation for the past 15 years. Shakespeare lives through The awardees came from QP’s various directorates and departments, working in the corporation’s range of opera- tional areas in Doha, Dukhan, third Great British Festival Mesaieed, Ras Laff an, Halul Island and off shore production stations. By Joey Aguilar Shakespeare’s plays in 97 minutes tunity to share more about what will take place at the Museum of In a speech during the event, Staff Reporter on March 11 to be performed by the UK can off er,” Sharma noted. Islamic Art on March 17. Abdulaziz Mohamed al-Mannai, Reduced Shakespeare Company. Qatari and British schools’ “This festival is not about intro- executive VP for human capital, The Much Ado About Nothing football teams will compete in the ducing people to the UK, it is about said: “There is no doubt that the he third Great British Fes- movie, one of Shakespeare’s best Hadaf football tournament for the deepening the knowledge and un- long service of our employees is tival will highlight Shake- fi lm adaptations starring Ken- Ambassador’s Cup on March 12 at derstanding the people have here the best testimony any organi- Tspeare’s works with three neth Branagh, Emma Thomp- Aspire Dome. Entry is free. in Qatar about what Britain can sation can receive in describing major events in this year’s cele- son and Keanu Reeves, will be Residents, especially students do and it is about celebrating the its standing as an employer. This bration in Doha until March 19 to screened at Katara on March 15. and their parents, will have the relationship between the UK and is also a testimony to the success mark the legendary playwright’s To conclude the festival, the opportunity to speak with rep- Qatar,” Sharma said in his speech. of our human capital policies not 400th death anniversary. Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra resentatives from more than 30 “Not only the friendship but also just in attracting talent, but also The awardees came from various directorates and departments. “I am sure that at the end of will play a selection of famous popular UK universities, colleges about encouraging future co-op- in nourishing and preserving these two weeks, people in Qa- music inspired by Shakespeare, and English-language training eration in other areas.” them.” QP this year to honour its long- in 2016 after serving the corpo- tar will be saying and tweeting, including Tchaikovsky’s Romeo centres at the “Study in the UK He added that the event also Al-Mannai presented the serving employees. It followed ration for fi ve to 40 years. just like they are in the UK, that and Juliet, and Richard Strauss’ Exhibition” on March 13 and 14 at provides a platform for both awardees with a certifi cate of the fi rst CSA ceremony 2016, Organised by QP’s public re- Shakespeare lives,” British am- Macbeth, on March 19 at Qatar La Cigale Hotel. Entry is also free. countries to forge new partner- appreciation and a gift as a to- which was held on February 17 lations and communications bassador Ajay Sharma said at the National Convention Centre. The Doha Baroqe Ensemble ships in commerce, tourism, cul- ken of gratitude for their loyalty to recognise a total of 369 em- department in partnership with opening of the two-week annual The celebration also features and Back Coral Society will per- ture, education and science. and many years of dedicated ployees who have achieved ca- the Human Capital Directorate, festival yesterday at Katara – the numerous activities to promote form Thomas Arne’s Alfred: an To highlight Shakespeare’s service with the corporation. reer milestones of 20, 25, 30, 35, the ceremony was held at the Cultural Village. British culture, education, tourism English Opera at Georgetown contribution to the arts, the en- A number of QP executive and 40 years of service with the convention hall of the new QP The ceremony was attended and business. These include Brit- University in Qatar, Education voy also announced that one vice-presidents and other sen- corporation. headquarters in West Bay. by Katara’s marketing and in- ish spring fêtes such as traditional City, on March 15. festival attendee will have the ior offi cials also took turns to In addition, as part of this The annual event is one way ternational aff airs director Dar- games, craft stall, bouncy castle In partnership with Unesco, chance to win two Qatar Airways distribute the certifi cates and year’s CSA programme, a total by which QP recognises the wish Ahmed al-Shaibani, British and bake sale, among others. a number of British researchers return fl ights with accommoda- gifts, enabling them to congrat- of 368 QP employees will also valuable contribution of its Council Qatar (BCQ) director “Even though we have this from University College London tion to Birmingham to enjoy a ulate the honoured employees receive certifi cates of apprecia- employees in the corporation’s Frank Fitzpatrick and a number shared history that goes back in Qatar, will be sharing recent ar- Shakespeare Experience. from their respective directo- tion for having completed fi ve continued growth and exten- of guests and representatives 200 years, even though Qatar has chaeological investigations about The organisers have also part- rates or departments. years of service thus far. sive operations in the oil and gas from festival sponsors. invested over £35bn in the UK, the origins of Qatar and its historic nered with some of the hotels in Last week’s CSA ceremony A total of 1,568 male and fe- industry, according to a state- Organised by the British em- even though more than 60,000 towns on March 17 at a discussion Doha to off er British dishes, in- was the second to be held by male employees will be awarded ment. bassy in Doha, in partnership with Qataris visit the UK every year, titled “Café Scientifi c: The Origins cluding afternoon teas, British BCQ, the event will showcase all of there is - I think - a real oppor- of Qatar and its Historic Towns”. It brunches, roast dinners and more.

Good France culinary event on March 21

On the back of a successful first edition of Goût de France/Good France last year, the global culinary event will be held again on March 21. Over the course of a dinner, more than 1,500 chefs from across five continents will once again pay homage to the excellence of French cuisine and the value of sharing that it promotes by serving on the same evening more than 1,500 “French-style dinners”. French ambassador Eric Chevallier, along with 10 top chefs of French restaurants in Qatar, yesterday announced the event, which is organised at the initiative of the famous French chef, Alain Ducasse, and the French Ministry of Foreign Aff airs. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Those honoured at the ceremony included 434 employees who have recorded 10 years of service at QP and 397 who have been part of the corporation for 15 years.