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THURSDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10401 March 23, 2017 Jumada II 24, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir chairs investment council’s meeting FM takes part in meeting of In brief global coalition to defeat ISIS

QNA Washington QATAR | Services 6mn transactions E the Foreign Minister of Qatar via Metrash2 app Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrah- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Economic Aff airs and Investment, chaired the council’s second meeting of 2017 Hman al-Thani participated yester- Around 6mn transactions have been which was held at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, vice-president of the council, attended the meeting along with day in the Ministerial Plenary for the Glo- accomplished through the Metrash2 HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Prime Minister and Interior Minister and the council’s executive member, and members of the council. HE the Finance bal Coalition Working to Defeat ISIS, after application, the Ministry of Interior Minister and secretary-general of the council Ali Sherif al-Emadi said the council discussed topics on its agenda and took the appropriate decisions. It also reviewed the receiving an invitation from US Secretary (MoI) has said. Through a series of latest developments related to investment and energy aff airs. of State Rex Tillerson. posts on Twitter, the MoI said visa The meeting covered the latest devel- services completed through the app opments of Syria and Iraq. amounted to 2.5mn, while 1.5mn exit The participants also exchanged views permits were issued using the app on ways that can permanently defeat ISIS. and there were 453,000 residency Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), permit-related transactions as well. the Foreign Minister said that interna- Also, about 1.5mn traff ic services tional counter-terrorism eff orts and the were completed through Metrash2 ones specifi cally targeting ISIS cannot and 2,600 community police succeed unless the main reasons for ex- services were provided through the tremism are dealt with. Four dead, 20 hurt He said that the political, econom- app. In all, around 8mn queries have ic, and social conditions, as well as the been completed through Metrash2 shocking human rights violations were until now, the MoI informed, adding nurturing the suitable environment for that the number of app subscribers terrorism to grow. had reached 328,000. “Metrash2 Today’s meeting was the fi rst time since provides the convenience of December 2014 that all 68 members of the obtaining MoI services 24/7 on your in London attack coalition took part. mobile phone with least eff ort and Meanwhile, HE the Foreign Minister time,” the MoI said. Reuters bers of the public, also including three Tobias Ellwood, a junior Foreign Of- also participated yesterday in the Paris London police offi cers. fi ce minister, was pictured attempting group meeting on Syria at the French em- “A car then crashed near to parlia- to resuscitate a man lying unconscious, bassy in Washington. ment and at least one man, armed with reported to be the stabbed policeman. The meeting reviewed developments in our people were killed and at a knife, continued the attack and tried Prime Minister Theresa May chaired Syria and means of co-operation to reach a least 20 injured in London yes- to enter parliament,” Rowley said. a meeting of the government’s crisis settlement for the Syrian crisis. Fterday after a car ploughed into Reuters reporters inside parliament response committee. The minister stressed the need to reach pedestrians and an attacker stabbed a during the attack heard loud bangs and “The thoughts of the PM and the a comprehensive political solution in Syria policeman close to the British parlia- shortly afterwards saw the knifeman government are with those killed and to save it from the threat of disintegration. ment in what police called a “maraud- and the stabbed policeman lying on injured in this appalling incident, and Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, ing terrorist attack”. the ground in a courtyard within the with their families,” her offi ce said in a France, Jordan, UAE and Turkey took part. The dead included the assailant and gates of parliament. statement. the policeman he stabbed, while the A Reuters photographer saw at least London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Chances of rain again other two victims were among those a dozen people injured on the bridge. there would be additional police offi c- hit by the car as it tore along Westmin- His photographs showed people ers on the city streets to keep London- There are chances of rain and thunder ster Bridge before crashing into rail- lying on the ground, some of them ers and visitors safe. once again in the country from this evening, ings just outside parliament. bleeding heavily and one under a bus. “We stand together in the face of and strong winds are also expected today, “We’ve declared this as a terrorist in- A woman was pulled alive, but with those who seek to harm us and destroy the Qatar Met department has said. The cident and the counter-terrorism com- serious injuries, from the Thames, the our way of life. We always have, and we weather offi ce has also issued a warning mand are carrying out a full-scale in- Port of London Authority said. always will. Londoners will never be for thundershowers, windy conditions and vestigation into the events today,” Mark Three French schoolchildren aged 15 cowed by terrorism,” he said. high seas in off shore areas. On Tuesday, Rowley, Britain’s most senior counter- or 16 were among those injured in the Parliament’s lower House of Com- the Met department had said the country terrorism offi cer, told reporters. attack, French offi cials said. mons, which was in session at the British police off icers stand on duty would experience another spell of unstable “The attack started when a car was Several members of parliament time, was suspended. outside the Carriage Gates entrance weather and rain – heavy and thundery driven over Westminster Bridge, hit- (MPs) and senior offi cials were caught In a telephone call with May, Presi- of the Houses of Parliament in London at times - from this evening until Monday ting and injuring a number of mem- up in the chaos. dent Donald Trump off ered Britain the yesterday. evening. Page 8 full co-operation and sup- port of the United States, the Qatar condemns UK parliament attack White House said. US Secretary of State Rex Qatar condemned yesterday the attack as all criminal acts that contradict Tillerson condemned the at- which took place near the Houses with humanitarian principles and tack as “horrifi c acts of vio- of Parliament and led to the death of international law. The statement also lence”. two and a number of others suff ering stressed Qatar’s support to the UK German Chancellor An- injuries. The Foreign Ministry released government in all the measures it takes to gela Merkel and Nato Secre- a statement yesterday stressing maintain the country’s security. It off ered tary-General Jens Stolten- Qatar’s rejection of violence in all its condolences to the families of the victims, berg were among foreign forms regardless of its motives as well wishing the injured a speedy recovery. leaders who expressed shock and solidarity. Qatar-UK business forum to facilitate bilateral trade

By Pratap John Qatar-UK relationship and a very conference in one way or another. Chief Business Reporter strong sense of partnership. Just like And nothing like this has happened trade goes two ways to Qatar and between the UK and Qatar before. the UK… at the same time partner- That’s what makes it special.” he Qatar-UK Business & In- ship goes two ways – what we want The other thing, he said that vestment Forum in London to see prosperity and security of the makes the forum special “is the way Tand Birmingham later this UK and Qatar,” Sharma said. we are really drilling down on the ar- month will facilitate an increase in He said what makes the event eas of co-operation.” the bilateral trade between the two special “is the very high level of sen- “For the UK, it is very important countries, which currently stands at iority and the breadth of the partici- that we will have a real and tangible more than £5bn a year, said British pation.” partnership in areas of co-opera- ambassador Ajay Sharma. On the Qatari side, HE the Prime tion.” “We want Qatar to invest more Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nass- On the fi rst day of the forum in in the UK – in diff erent ways. We British ambassador Ajay Sharma er bin Khalifa al-Thani will lead the London, Qatar will showcase what are encouraging Qatari investment speaking to journalists at the British delegation, which comprises six it has to off er. On the second day in outside of real estate into urban re- embassy in Doha yesterday. ministers, top offi cials and lead- Birmingham, Britain will showcase generation, infrastructure, energy ing fi gures from the Qatari business what it has to off er Qatar – invest- and science and innovation. These brate the partnership” between Qa- world. Several hundreds of Qatari ment outside of London in particular. are all opportunities for Qatar in the tar and the UK in the areas of trade delegates will also attend the forum. The UK and Qatar share a strong same way the real estate off ered for and investment. At the same time, it The total number of delegates on and growing trade and investment Qatar,” Sharma told journalists at will “clearly set forward an agenda the fi rst day will be more than 1,000 relationship. In 2015 total UK ex- the British embassy in Doha yester- to enhance that co-operation in a including UK delegates. ports to Qatar totalled £2,613mn, day. really ambitious way over the years “This is going to be remarkable with Qatar exports to UK at Ambassador Sharma met jour- to come - and a practical way that in terms of participation,” Sharma £2.721mn. nalists in the context of the three- benefi ts both the UK and Qatar.” said. He said: “From the UK side Qatar has invested about £35bn in day forum on March 27, 28 and 29. “This conference should be seen that will be matched. You will have the UK, and there are over 600 UK He said the forum would “cele- against the backdrop of excellent six UK ministers involved in the companies operating in Qatar. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, March 23, 2017 QATAR Two Qatar mobile apps win award

wo mobile apps from Qa- mit on the Information Soci- Learning & Education’ category. tar were among the 40 ety (WSIS), and is the only ICT It matches English letters and Twinners selected from event that reaches the mobile sounds with their Arabic coun- 451 nominations for the World community in 178 countries. The terparts. The wheel gives new Summit Award, the Ministry of WSA highlights digital content learners their fi rst taste of the Transport and Communications that helps improve society and Arabic alphabet using engaging (MoTC) said in a statement. focusses on local content with hands-on activities, in which The MoTC said the ‘WSA Mo- global relevance. users can transliterate proper bile 2016’ “brought a diameter of ‘Accessible Qatar’, which won nouns and their names while innovation by choosing the best in the ‘Inclusion & Empower- learning how to connect Arabic of the best from Mexico to Bang- ment’ category, is a smart phone letters from left to right. ladesh, from Qatar to Germany.” application that helps the ‘disa- The app uses sound and also Some of the participants of the TDMF with CRA president Mohamed Ali al-Mannai (left). The two winners were ‘Acces- bled community’ view and de- allows users to customise and sible Qatar’ by Sasol and the termine the accessibility of pub- share their names in Arabic as a Arabic alphabet wheel, ‘Madar lic and touristic locations and digital sticker on social media. Al-Huruf’ by Qatar Foundation outlets in Qatar. The WSA winners were se- International. The information provided by lected by a jury of international The 2016 WSA winners, the ‘Accessible Qatar’ will encourage ICT experts. Each UN member Doha forum tackles key issues MoTC added, “demonstrated public establishments to make state had nominated one prod- the richness and diversity of mo- their premises accessible to all uct per category through a na- bile content globally and proved patrons. The MoTC said ‘Acces- tional pre-selection committee how mobile innovation can im- sible Qatar’ will help promote assigned by Reem al-Mansoori, prove society.” Qatar “as an accessible destina- the assistant undersecretary for in telecoms sector, digital media The WSA is a global initia- tion.” Digital Society Development tive within the framework of The Arabic alphabet wheel, Sector at MoTC and the compe- the United Nations World Sum- ‘Madar Al-Huruf’ won in ‘the tition’s national expert. he Communications sumer protection, OTT serv- tors from diff erent parts of the a smart, connected nation, Regulatory Authority ices, net neutrality principles world including GCC member through eff ective and innova- T(CRA) is co-hosting the and encouraging competition. states, Bosnia & Herzegovina, tive ICT regulations,” said Mo- International Institute of Com- Panel discussions include ses- Germany, Hong Kong, Nigeria, hamed Ali al-Mannai, president munication’s Telecommunica- sions on policy and regulatory Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, of CRA. tions and Digital Media Forum challenges, and opportunities the UK, and Singapore, among The International institute of Brazilian embassy seeks to allay (TDMF), which opened in Qatar is the region as well as on the others. The private sector ex- Communications (IIC) director yesterday. changing roles and responsi- pert speakers from Cisco, Den- general Andrea Millwood said The two-day event has bilities of regulators and the tons, Etisalat, Ericsson, Face- topics of key signifi cance are concerns over tainted meat brought together regional and private sector. book, Nokia, Microsoft, are also being discussed at TDMF. international policy and deci- High-level dignitaries from among panel speakers. “The IIC places itself at the sion makers in Doha to exchange GCC members-states attended “Communications is a key intersection of business and one of the three industrial of industrial units under the Bra- employees from a total of ideas and experiences that will the Forum yesterday, includ- component of the business public policy, recognising the processing units ‘preven- zilian Federal inspection regime,” 11,000. In spite of the massive help the industry to evolve. ing Dr Abdulaziz bin Salem al- and social environment of any value of debate and shared in- Ntively interdicted’ by the ambassador Roberto Abdalla ex- coverage by the press, no mate- The aim of the Forum is to Ruwais, governor of the Com- country and the sector is evolv- terest with the intention of Brazilian Ministry of Agricul- plained in a statement. rial evidence of nonconformi- consider best practice policy munications and Information ing at an incredible speed, so it facilitating ideas to be dis- ture, Livestock and Food Supply “The objective of the ongo- ties has been presented in the and regulatory decision making Technology Commission, Saudi is critical that we have a solid seminated and exchanged and (MAPA) in the ongoing investi- ing investigation is to determine documents submitted by the to drive accessibility, aff ord- Arabia; Sheikh Nasser bin Mo- regulatory foundation to keep common understandings to be gation on the meat industry, has the favouring of producing com- police investigation in course, ability and competitiveness, hamed al-Khalifa, deputy general pace with the ever changing promoted. The market is grow- been exporting poultry or beef to panies by MAPA employees in until now. while ensuring that the digital director of the Telecommunica- dynamics. It is therefore im- ing robustly with untapped de- Qatar, the Brazil embassy in Doha three Brazilian states (Parana, “All the public offi cials who ecosystem is fair and off ers pro- tions Regulatory Authority in portant to learn from the ex- mand for services, among both announced yesterday. Minas Gerais and Goias) in 21 in- have been accounted for were tection to all. Bahrain; and Mohamed al-Ram- perience of others, thus CRA businesses and citizens. This “It is important to emphasise dustrial processing units. temporarily dismissed and are The Forum is tackling a range si, head of Regulatory Aff airs at is continually engaging with richly expanding market and that the announced nonconform- “The investigation cites 21 being subjected to administra- of issues such as, stimulating the Telecommunications Regu- regulators and industry ex- explosion of digital consump- ities are confi ned to a rather small units from a total of 4,837 un- tive procedures, in addition to investment in telecom and dig- latory Authority in the UAE. perts from GCC member states tion provides challenges for number of establishments in der federal inspection of ani- criminal proceedings already in ital media innovation, content The Forum has attracted sen- and other countries to foster regulators and policy makers,” comparison to the total (number) mal products, and 33 MAPA place,” the envoy added. digitisation, convergence, con- ior representatives of regula- the development of Qatar into she added. One-month closure of bridge in Ruwais on Shamal road

one-month closure of the bridge of Al ARuwais Interchange (N93) on Al Shamal Road will be in place from tomor- row (Friday). Ashghal said in a state- ment that apart from the bridge, its entrances and exits from the neighbour- ing areas to Al Ruwais inter- change and vice-versa will also remain closed. Lanes on both directions of Al Shamal Road will re- main open to traffi c. During the closure, traffi c heading from Doha to Bu Anz and Al Zeghab areas in the east of interchange and traffi c heading from Al Shamal to Al Sheehaniya in the west of interchange will be di- verted to two temporary roads. The two roads were constructed recently as alternative entrances and exits to and from the men- Al Shamal to Bu Anz and roundabout or interchange works for constructing the tioned areas (as shown on Al Zeghab areas in the east to take a U-turn then use roundabouts east and west the map). of interchange (which pre- the two mentioned tem- of Al Ruwais Interchange The traffic heading from viously used the bridge porary roads (as shown on and tying them with the Doha to Al Sheehaniya in ramps to travel east and the map). service roads as part of the the west of interchange, west of interchange), will This temporary diversion North Road Enhancement and traffic heading from need to reach the next is required to implement Project. Qatar tops Arab region in Human Development Report 2016

QNA Qatar’s Global State of Hu- from 91.5% to 92.9 in Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Doha man Development value in- 2016, closely competing Hamad al-Thani. creased to 0.856 in 2016 as with Netherlands (93.1%), He also praised the de- opposed to 0.855 in 2015. Finland (92.7%) and UK velopmental work of the atar ranked fi rst in The average life expect- (92%). ministries, managements the Arab region and ancy at birth is 78.3 and Average of the total fertil- and private institutions Q33rd globally in the literacy rate from both gen- ity rate between the years who also provided the sta- Human Development Re- ders increased from 96.7% 2010-2015 decreased to 2.1. tistics that refl ected the port 2016: Human Develop- in 2015 to 97.8% in 2016, However it remains higher advancement shown in the ment for Everyone, issued whereas the rate of enrol- than Norway (1.8), Hong report. by United Nations Develop- ment in higher education Kong (1.2) and Singapore He hoped to achieve ment Program (UNDP). increased from 14% in 2015 (1.3). higher rankings next year The report reveals the to 16% in 2016. HE the Minister of De- and urged all organisations statistics of countries in The labour force par- velopment Planning and to continue providing the the human development ticipation rate for above Statistics Dr Saleh Mo- data required to the Minis- fi eld and explains the 15 years is 84.6% and the hamed Salem al-Nabit try of Development Plan- progress Qatar witnessed rate of unemployment for praised Qatar’s high rank- ning and Statistics to be in the areas of social, eco- the age group 15-24 de- ing, stating that it reflects forwarded to the UN which nomic and environmental creased from 1.1% in 2015 the human development observes and issues reports development. to 0.8% in 2016. The In- witnessed by Qatar under on countries’ develop- According to the report, ternet users rate increased the leadership of HH the ments.

Gulf Times 4 Thursday, March 23, 2017 QATAR

Qatar attends GCC eGovernment panel meeting The State of Qatar participated yesterday response centres of the GCC member FM meets senior US Congress members in the 5th GCC eGovernment Ministerial states to monitor and track suspicious web Committee meeting that opened in the addresses around the world, in order to Kingdom of Bahrain. prevent threats that these addresses may HE the Minister of Transport and cause. The ministerial committee reviewed Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al- the initiatives of the first phase contained Sulaiti headed the Qatari delegation. in the pilot eGovernment Strategy, which Following the opening speech, the ministers was finalised, and discussed the initiatives launched a website system (IP Reputation), of the second phase to start putting them which enables computer emergency into action.

HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has met Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of the US House of Representatives, on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting on ISIS, currently underway in Washington. The meeting reviewed bilateral relations in the political and economic fields as well as education, in addition to Qatar’s eff orts in combating terrorism. Pelosi praised Qatar’s role in fighting violent extremism through education and economic empowerment. HE the Foreign Minister also met Senator Mitch McConnell, majority leader of the US Senate. They discussed bilateral ties and means of developing them in addition to developments in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Cabinet approves draft law on property leasing

QNA The lessor shall, within 30 days of that the Cabinet reviewed topics on authorities in all matters relating to Doha the eff ective date of the lease, regis- the agenda. explosives and raw materials used ter the lease at the Real Estate Lease The meeting approved a draft law in their manufacturing, control Registration Offi ce. amending some provisions of the over the import, export, produc- he weekly Cabinet meeting, Applications submitted by the Law No 11 of 1990 establishing Qa- tion, preparation and consumption presided over by HE the Prime lessee to the committee or to the tar Chamber of Commerce and In- of explosive materials under the law TMinister Sheikh Abdullah bin judicial authorities shall not be con- dustry, and decided to refer it to the on weapons, ammunition and ex- Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, yester- sidered unless the lease is registered Advisory Council. plosives. day approved a draft law amending at the offi ce. The draft law included amend- The committee’s report covered some provisions of the Law No 4 of The offi ce shall charge an annual ment to Articles 4, 6, 13, 15, 17, 22, what has been made, including the 2008 regarding property leasing, registration fee of 0.5% of the an- 27, 28/ Paragraph 1, 29/Paragraph 2, development of the strategic plan and decided to refer it to the Advi- nual rental value as per residential and 38, as well as the table of fees at- and the organisational structure of sory Council. or commercial premises or other tached to this law. the committee. As per this amendment, leases units referred to in the building per- The Cabinet also approved ac- During the meeting, HE the Min- governed by the present law shall be mit not less than QR250 but not ex- cession to the 1961 Rome Conven- ister of Development Planning and drawn up in writing. ceeding QR2,500; the rate of the said tion for the Protection of Perform- Statistics made a presentation on The lease shall incorporate the fee may be amended by a council of ers, Producers of Phonograms and the population situation, control of names, nationalities and addresses ministers’ decree upon a proposal by Broadcasting Organisations. the population-growth rate, pro- of the lessor and the lessee and the the Minister of the Municipality and The meeting reviewed the second posed solutions and implementa- addresses of any person(s) legally Environment.chaired the Cabinet’s annual report of the national com- tion mechanisms, and presented representing the lessor and the les- regular weekly meeting at its Emiri mittee on explosives aff airs for the data and statistics on population see, the lease term, the rent and the Diwan premises. period from 1/1 to 31/12/2016. structure, growth prospects and method of payment, a description of After the meeting, HE Deputy The tasks of this committee, es- population movements within the the leased premises and the purpose Prime Minister and Minister of State tablished within the Ministry of country. of the lease in addition to all terms for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Ab- Interior, include the provision of ad- The cabinet took appropriate de- and conditions agreed upon. dullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud said vice to the competent government cision in this regard.

Gulf Times 6 Thursday, March 23, 2017 QATAR

Turkish delegation calls on al-Marri

Qatar’s Attorney General HE During the meeting, they Mercedes-Benz S Class recalled Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri met exchanged views on a number in Doha yesterday with Bilgin of issues of common concern, he Ministry of campaign comes within The MEC has urged all Basaran, Secretary-General exchanged experiences in Economy and the framework of its on- customers to report any of Turkey’s High Council of the legal and judicial field and TCommerce (MEC), going eff orts to protect violations to its Con- Judges and Prosecutors, and his discussed ways of strengthening in collaboration with consumers and ensure sumer Protection and accompanying delegation. future co-operation. Nasser Bin Khaled Auto- that car dealers follow up Anti-Commercial Fraud mobiles, has announced on vehicle defects and re- Department through the recall of Mercedes- pairs. the following chan- Benz S Class 2016 model The MEC will co-ordi- nels: Hotline: 16001, e- because the belt extend- nate with the dealer to fol- mail: [email protected], ers may not retract as low up on the maintenance Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, intended before starting and repair works and com- Instagram: MEC_Qa- to drive and may remain municate with customers tar, MEC mobile app for extended. to ensure that the neces- Android and IOS: MEC_ An information desk about Down Syndrome at HMC. The MEC said the recall sary repairs are carried out. Qatar HMC marks World Down Syndrome Day

he Child Develop- ous local schools, are ex- and services, includ- ment Center at Ru- pected to attend an educa- ing an early intervention Tmailah Hospital, a tional and awareness event programme at the Child member of Hamad Medi- held at Hajar Auditorium Development Center. cal Corporation (HMC), is as part of activities marking According to her, the holding a series of events the day. Center caters to around 70 to observe World Down World Down Syndrome children with Down Syn- Syndrome Day, focus- Day falls on March 21. drome who are undergoing ing on children living with “The event will provide rehabilitation and devel- the condition and their an opportunity for families opment programmes con- families. of people with Down Syn- ducted by highly qualifi ed Being held for the sev- drome to interact and share multi-disciplinary teams enth consecutive year, the their experiences,” she said. of physiotherapists, occu- theme of the event is “My A number of organisa- pational therapists, speech Voice … My Community.” tions specialising in the therapists, special educa- Highlights will include care of children with spe- tion experts and mental awareness raising activi- cial needs will take part in health services specialists. ties for ensuring the rights HMC’s World Down Syn- Dr Azhar Khattab, con- of individuals with Down drome Day events, includ- sultant in paediatric re- syndrome are protected ing the Special Education habilitation explained and they are integrated into Department at the Ministry that Down Syndrome is the community. Educa- of Education and Higher a group of physical and tional and awareness leaf- Education, Thomas Centre mental characteristics re- lets, posters, and roll-ups at the Ministry of Culture sulting from an abnormal about Down syndrome will and Sports, Qatar Society cell division involving the be on display in the lobbies for Rehabilitation of Special chromosomes. of HMC hospitals to raise Needs, Best Buddies Qatar, “Children with Down awareness of the condition Qatar Voluntary Centre, syndrome are susceptible to among hospital visitors. Shafallah Centre for Chil- congenital heart disease or Fatima Mustafa, assistant dren with Special Needs body disorders such as res- director, Paediatric Reha- and Qatar Institute for piratory system disorders. bilitation, said around 300 Speech and Hearing. They may also suff er devel- healthcare professionals Mustafa explained that opmental delays and nega- and members of the public, HMC provides children tive eff ects on their mobility including individuals with with Down Syndrome with and language capabilities,” Down Syndrome from vari- a variety of programmes he added.

Gulf Times 8 Thursday, March 23, 2017 QATAR LG launches new dualcool ACs with 10-year-warranty

By Ramesh Mathew other AC available right now. Staff Reporter “This is owing to the dual inverter compressor’s fl awless performance,” ex- plained LG Electronics Gulf president lobal major in electronics, home Yong Geun Choi while explaining that appliances and air-conditioning the manufacturers had in mind the inter- Gand air quality systems, LG Elec- ests of the residents of hot regions like the tronics, along with its Qatar distributors Middle East. Video Home and Electronic Centre have LG, said Choi, always presents solutions launched LG Dualcool air conditioners, with innovative technologies at the core Off icials at the launch of Dualcool air conditioners yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram which are backed by inverter technologies and they are carefully crafted and devel- and off er a 10-year-warranty. oped for families who are the company’s durable air-conditioners. pany is extremely happy with region’s peak summer conditions”. surveys carried out by LG found At the launch ceremony yesterday, LG most loyal customers. The LG offi cial added that the its more than three-decade long Video Home and Electronic almost 99% of the households in offi cials said the air-conditioner would “As we launch LG’s latest air-condi- Dualcool ACs would cool faster, partnership with LG and its pred- Centre’s CEO and director CV Qatar have at least one product of not only help customers make an eff ective tioning solutions in Qatar, we are proud better and provide the homes ecessors and are proud to bring the Rappai said LG Dualcool is the the LG brand. energy savings of nearly 60% but would that our solutions bring the best of LG with the cleanest air possible. globally acclaimed South Korean only air-conditioner in Qatar, LG Electronics Refrigeration also function at temperatures up to 65C. families across the country,” said Choi Video Home and Electronic company’s advanced technolo- with 8-star accreditation of the and Air-conditioning Sales Divi- The manufacturers also claimed the who also expressed hope that their com- Centre vice-chairman and man- gies. “With inverter technologies, Qatar General Electricity and sion Middle East general manager new model provides 60% faster cooling pany along with the local partners would aging director Sajjid Jassim Mo- our customers in Qatar will be able Water Corporation (Kahramaa). Changho Lee was also present on and 20% more cooling compared to any continue to ensure families benefi t from hamed Sulaiman said their com- to enjoy a cool atmosphere in the He also disclosed that one of the the occasion.

Qatar University project wins QNRF competition

team from Qatar University (QU) has won fi rst place in Qatar National Research Fund’s (QNRF) 9th An- Anual Undergraduate Research Experience Pro- gramme (UREP) competition. The top 25% of projects completed in 2016 under the UREP – a key capacity-building programme of QNRF, which is part of Qatar Foundation Research and Develop- ment were selected to participate in the competition, from which 13 projects were shortlisted. The four top-scoring projects, all from QU and covering a range of areas including biomedicine and health, engineer- ing, and information and communication technology (ICT), were chosen to produce oral presentations, where each team gave a public presentation in front of a panel of judges. The remaining nine teams presented their work in the form of posters, displayed and judged on the day of the competition. Launched in 2006, UREP is QNRF’s longest-running programme. To date, more than 3,200 students have ben- efi ted from taking part in UREP, which gives them hands- on research experience under the guidance of university faculty and research mentors. Noor al-Merekhi, programmes director, QNRF, expressed her pride in the teams, saying: “The winning projects are truly exceptional - they push the boundaries on all levels, and demonstrate the research talent emerging among Qa- tar’s youth.” First place in the competition was awarded to an ICT- themed project from Qatar University. The project, entitled ‘Scalable Real-time Monitoring System for Medical and Brain Computer Interface Applications’, aimed to develop a scalable health system for eff ective, remote, and real-time patient monitoring. Second place went to a project titled ‘Role of Adiponectin on Diabetic Retinopathy’. The team found that adiponectin, a protein involved in the regulation of glucose and fats, can signifi cantly counteract the eff ects of hyperglycemia. A project titled ‘Involvement of Qatari Undergraduates towards Conversion of CO2 into Solar Fuels’ won third place, while the fourth team of fi nalists investigated how to help Qatar fi nd suitable water resources in a project titled ‘Enhancing the Quality of Produced-water by Activated Carbon and Phytoremediation for Irrigation’.

A student discusses his poster at QNRF 9th Annual UREP competition.

Chances of rain this evening

here are chances of rain and thunder once again in the country from this evening, and strong winds are also ex- Tpected today, the Qatar Met department has said. The weather offi ce has also issued a warning for thunder- showers, windy conditions and high seas in off shore areas. On Tuesday, the Met department had said the country would experience another spell of unstable weather and rain – heavy and thundery at times – from this evening until Monday evening. The detailed forecast for today says it will be hazy in the early hours of the day. Cloudy conditions will also prevail and there is a chance of scattered rain, which may be thundery in some places by the evening. Slight to blowing dust is also likely. Similar conditions have been forecast for off shore areas as well, where rain and thunder are expected by tonight. The wind speed may go up to 25 knots inshore and 35 knots off shore during thundershowers, while the sea level may rise to 12ft. A minimum temperature of 17C is expected in Wakrah, Mesaieed and Al Khor today, while in Doha it will be 20C. The maximum, on the other hand, will range from 24C to 28C. Yesterday, a minimum temperature of 14C was recorded in Al Khor, and 19C in Doha (airport area). The maximum was be- tween 24C and 30C. In view of the expected conditions, the Met department has advised people to be cautious and follow latest updates and warnings issued by the department. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 9 QATAR Flying over Doha unique experience: Breitling DC-3 pilot

he legendary Breitling DC-3 aero- is also introducing a 500-piece limited plane landed in Qatar on Sun- edition of its famous Navitimer aviation Tday as part of its record-breaking chronograph, of which 25 models will be world tour to become the oldest plane to made available for the Middle East market. circumnavigate the globe. Enthusiasts will have to wait until the The visit of the Breitling DC-3 harks end of 2017 to get their hands on this back to the early days of international model – all 500 pieces will travel aboard aviation travel – its maiden fl ight took the Breitling DC-3 around the plan- place just a few weeks after oil was fi rst et. Each watch will be delivered with a discovered in Qatar, a statement said. certifi cate signed by the fl ight captain. Speaking after arriving in Qatar, Brei- The fi rst Douglas DC-3 (DC for Douglas Dignitaries and VIP guests welcomed the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital to Doha yesterday with an off icial reception at Doha International Airport. tling DC-3 pilot Francisco Agullo said: Commercial) twin-engine propeller plane “Flying over Qatar at just 2,000ft, far made its maiden fl ight in 1935, at a time lower than commercial aircraft are nor- when Breitling had introduced its fi rst mally allowed to, has been a truly unique on-board chronographs for civilian and experience and a personal highlight of military aircraft. this world tour.” Nicknamed the “Normandy land- The Breitling DC-3 world tour took to ings plane”, the DC-3 seats 20 passengers the skies on March 9, seventy-seven years and has a cruising speed of 241km/h (130 to the day since its maiden fl ight. De- knots). More than 16,000 DC-3 aircraft QA hosts Orbis Flying parting from Breitling’s home country of were built and most major airlines ac- Switzerland, the plane will visit 54 coun- quired them as part of their fl eet. Today tries over seven months, landing back in there are fewer than 150 DC-3 aircraft in Switzerland at the Breitling Sion Airshow fl ightworthy condition worldwide, in- 2017 in September. Qatar is its sixth stop, cluding the Breitling DC-3, which itself following on from visits to Jordan and fl ew for the fi rst time in 1940. It now fl ies Bahrain. under Breitling colours and participates in Eye Hospital at DIA To celebrate the world tour, Breitling a variety of air shows around the globe. atar Airways wel- national Airport vice-pres- “unique experience” – the strongly believes in giving that we can do to improve comed Orbis Fly- ident (commercial and mar- opportunity to explore the back to the global com- access to eye care, which Qing Eye Hospital keting) Abdulaziz al-Mass. ‘hospital with wings’. munity. When you have everyone deserves.” to Doha yesterday with an The aircraft, a medi- While in Doha, the Flying the power to contribute to- Dr Robert Walters, Orbis offi cial reception at Doha cal training facility housed Eye Hospital will be pro- wards making a diff erence, special envoy to the Middle International Airport (DIA). within a MD-10 aircraft, moting Qatar Creating Vi- it is your obligation to do so. East, thanked al-Baker, the The reception was attend- will be on display until sion, an eye health initiative As an airline that connects State of Qatar and the Qatar ed by British ambassador March 29 as part of a tour that brings together three communities and people Fund for Development. Ajay Sharma, Bangladesh to raise awareness about charities and 19 hospitals around the world, we are As a charity, Orbis trains ambassador Ashud Ahmed, preventable blindness and with the aim of providing delighted to have supported eye care teams across the Qatar Fund for Develop- its impact on developing 5.5mn child eye tests and Orbis since 2012. world by providing medi- ment executive director countries. treatments to children in Khalifa bin Jassim al-Ku- cal professionals with Misfi r Hamad al-Shahwani The plane, which touched India and Bangladesh be- wari, director-general, Qa- enhanced skills, ena- and other dignitaries down in London and Ireland fore 2020. tar Fund for Development, bling them to treat people and special guests. over the last few weeks, will Qatar Airways Group noted: “Half of childhood struggling with treat- A welcome speech was off er students, medical pro- chief executive Akbar al- vision loss can be prevented able blindness within their delivered by Hamad Inter- fessionals and partners a Baker said, “Qatar Airways or cured, so there is much community. The Breitling DC-3 and its pilots. New Ford F-150 Raptor launched

By Joey Aguilar the country, the company great vehicles,” he noted. The Raptor’s power, ca- a 360-degree camera with Staff Reporter said in a statement. Saying the vehicle will be pability and effi ciency are split-view display, 400-watt Citing the vehicle’s raw popular among Ford cus- enhanced by the fact it power outlets inside the cab, power, performance, dura- tomers, Partridge said that weighs 200kg less than its TORSEN® front diff eren- lmana Motors Com- bility, stability and the latest they have already sold two predecessor, thanks to the tial, LED headlights and side pany, the exclusive in-car technologies, Almana shipments before the new high-strength steel frame. view mirror spotlights, and Adistributor of Ford Motors Company general model has even reached The vehicle’s new Ter- remote tailgate release. and Lincoln in Qatar, has manager Ian Partridge said: their showroom. rain Management System, “The upgraded features launched the all-new Ford “The Ford F-150 range is huge- The aluminium-bodied complete with six selectable on the all-new 2017 F-150 F-150 Raptor at its show- ly popular for so many reasons. full-performance 2017 Ford modes and the 3-in Racing Raptor, including more than room at Airport Road. You can’t lead the class like the F-150 Raptor is sure to set the Shox that create more sus- 200kg reduced weight, more The latest model of the F-150 for so many years, in- tone in the truck segment, pension travel, gives the suspension and an enhanced legendary performance cluding the past 40 in the US, thanks largely to the new driver the capability to take Terrain Management System, truck, a member of the without exceeding driver and High Output 3.5L EcoBoost® out a whole range of terrain will make this versatile class- F-150 range and known as segment expectations.” V6 engine with 421 PS and challenges. leading truck even more the best-selling pickup in “The F-150 Raptor is a 678 Nm of Torque, driven by In-car advancements popular among our knowl- America annually for the true testament to the pro- an all-new 10 speed auto- have also been made to as- edgeable loyal customers and Almana Motors Company off icials hand over a new Ford F-150 Raptor to a customer on past 40 years, is sure to be duction line of Ford and its matic transmission with Se- sist the driver with class- drivers looking for something Tuesday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil a big draw among drivers in consistency in producing lectShift capability. exclusive features including new,” Partridge said. HBKU off ers internships

amad Bin Khalifa in the fi elds focused on by University (HBKU), Qeeri throughout the year. Ha member of Qatar QBRI’s interns will be se- Foundation for Education, lected based on their aca- Science and Community demic achievements and Development, has invited interest in research, and of- undergraduate students fered a unique opportunity to to apply to its summer re- get involved in the institute’s search internships. research work transforming This year’s two summer healthcare and combating internships will run for Qatar’s health challenges. seven weeks, starting on They will conduct May 7 and concluding on hands-on laboratory re- June 22. The internship is search under the super- to be individually tailored vision of QBRI experts; to fi t each student’s area of directly contributing to re- interest. Students interest- search on cancer, diabetes ed in participating should and neurological disorders. apply by March 31. A range of educational and The programmes, an professional development initiative by two of HBKU’s activities will also be built research institutes – Qa- into interns’ schedules to tar Biomedical Research enhance their training and Institute (QBRI) and Qatar enrich their experience. Computing Research In- At QCRI which seeks to stitute (QCRI), aim to help build innovation and tech- build national research nology capacity in Qatar by capacity by attracting stu- addressing large-scale com- dents to the sciences, off er- puting challenges interns will ing interns the opportunity also be off ered the opportu- to learn directly from in- nity to work with specialists dustry specialists and work on research and development on innovative research projects in Arabic language projects. technologies, data analyt- HBKU’s third research in- ics, social computing, cyber stitute, Qatar Environment security and distributed sys- and Energy Research Insti- tems. A background in com- tute (Qeeri), off ers intern- puter science is preferred, ships to people interested but is not a prerequisite to in pursuing future research apply to the programme. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, March 23, 2017 QATAR

Ferrari remains a leader in Gulf luxury segment, says MENA general manager

By Joey Aguilar of 8,000 cars. How many innovators Staff Reporter are producing Italian cars? No one, just Ferrari,” Zauner said. “We are going to the direction of espite the challenges in the re- quality of sales, to create what really is gion in 2016, Ferrari remained Ferrari,” he added. Dthe leader in the Gulf with a “Our equation is quite diff erent from large percentage of market share in the the others. When you want to buy a luxury segment, the company’s Mena Ferrari, there is just Ferrari, you know region general manager Giulio Zauner the price, you know that it is a car that has said. represents the future. Qatar, he noted, represents a good “It is not selling cars and dreams but fi gure – “a market where clients love selling the future,” noted Zauner, as he bespoke cars so much, and they really stressed the need to have innovative buy ‘supernice’ cars.” people. Speaking to Gulf Times on the side- “In Qatar, let me say it is positive, lines of Ferrari’s 70th anniversary cel- with partners, special product, and ebration at Marsa Malaz Kempinski Giulio Zauner at Ferrari’s 70th service,” he added. recently, Zauner described Qataris ‘as anniversary celebration in Doha. Zauner said they unveiled Ferrari’s super sophisticated clients’ who pre- PICTURE: Jayan Orma new V12, the 812 Superfast, at the Ge- fer the brand’s personalisation pro- neva Motor Show early this year, a tes- gramme wherein they can choose the the special limited-edition LaFerrari tament of the company’s passion for colours, fabrics, leathers, woods, and Aperta. innovation. other materials for their orders. About the rising competition, the “The 812 Superfast is the fi rst with Zauner was joined by Charly Dagher, Ferrari senior offi cial said that they do 800 horse power, and believe me, by general manager of Ferrari Qatar, Al- not compare with others, who normal- the end of the year, we will give you fardan Sports Motors (offi cial importer ly go for the volume. another surprise, but I cannot reveal it Brig Khalifa Abdullah al-Noimi and Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen shake hands after signing the agreement. PICTURE: Jayan Orma of Ferrari in Qatar), at the unveiling of “Last year, we fi nished with a total now,” he added. MoI to set up medical training centre soon

By Joseph Varghese pave way for immediate training for the ture and our internationally accredited Staff Reporter MoI medical staff and the training is standards, we will add more and more likely to start in ‘six weeks.’ courses. We are trying to make the cen- According to Brig al-Noimi, the tre very similar to HITC in all its stand- he Ministry of Interior (MoI) in agreement aims to build up qualifi ed ards,” he explained. collaboration with the Hamad medical professionals who can pro- Dr Saifeldeen observed that in the TInternational Training Center vide quality medical services to the immediate future, the MoI centre will (HITC) of the Hamad Medical Corp will customers of the MoI Medical Depart- be like a branch or venue of HITC. set up a medical training and education ment. “Gradually we will hand it over to centre soon. Most of the services will be related to MoI,” he said. An agreement in this regard was advanced life support programme. The HITC offi cial pointed out that signed between MoI’s Medical Serv- Speaking to Gulf Times on the side- MoI have physicians, nurses, and am- ices Department director Brig Khalifa lines of the ceremony, Dr Saifeldeen bulance staff among others. Abdullah al-Noimi, and HITC director said after providing training in phases, “The programme is almost devel- Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen, yes- the proposed centre will be developed oped and we need to schedule people terday. into an independent facility. and in six weeks or so, we will start the It is expected that the agreement will “So using our expertise, our struc- training,” he added.

Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani at the fair. Gulf English School hosts GES Career Fair

ulf English School (GES) has about changing job market dynam- opportunities they were providing. held the GES Career Fair for the ics across Qatar’s key growth sectors, The participating parties included G10th consecutive year. explore career choices and connect Baladiya, Al Faisal, Aamal and Ezdan The fair was inaugurated with a rib- with the country’s leading players and as platinum sponsors, Tadmur and bon-cutting ceremony by HE Sheikh organisations for future employment Al Ahli Hospital as gold sponsors Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, chairman opportunities, according to a press and Al khaliji and QIIC as silver of Al Faisal Holding, in the presence statement. sponsors, in addition to 37 other of representatives from participating GES invited students from Year 9 parties that included embassies, partners. upwards from other Qatar schools to universities, commercial companies Gulf English School’s annual ca- attend the 10th edition of the fair to and institutions. reer fairs bring together Qatar’s lead- meet with companies and universities Mona El Helbawi, principal of GES ing public and private sector institu- and to understand what they could of- and adviser to the chairman, said: “We tions, off ering them the opportunity fer in terms of careers or courses. are extremely delighted to witness the to showcase career advancement op- The statement noted that a good great participation in the 10th version portunities, vacancies and businesses number of schools attended the fair of GES Career Fair.” to prominent Qatari talents. and ensured that their students ben- The GES Career Fair aimed to give The event serves as a networking efi ted from this opportunity, get to older students in Qatar the opportu- and knowledge-exchange platform, know more about the participating nity meet potential employers and col- whereby local competencies learn parties and have a closer look on the leges where they may choose to study.

AAB brings Waku Doki to Qatar

bdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB) has unveiled a new brand Acampaign highlighting Toyota’s brand promise of Waku Doki — fun to drive, stylish, youthful and innovative. To assist the customers, AAB has tied- up with Qatar Islamic Bank, Qatar National Bank, Commercial Bank and First Finance for off ering ‘the best fi nance terms’ while purchasing Toyota models with ‘attractive prices.’ The bank executives are available in the showroom. AAB is also off ering three years /100,000km manufacturer warranty, op- tional service package up to three years, free registration and in-house fi nance. The off er is valid on 2016 and 2017 mod- els. Toyota has a large line-up of vehicles which includes Corolla, Camry, Avalon, RAV4, Prius, Prado, and Land Cruiser. AAB has a net-work of eight service cen- tres set-up in various parts of the country, including some open seven days a week. AAB showrooms located at the Airport Road and City Center are open seven days a week. The main showroom is open from 8am to 9pm (Sat – Thu) and on Fridays from 5pm to 9pm. City Center showroom is open from 9am to 10pm ( Sat – Thu) and on Fridays from 5pm to 10pm. AAB, established in 1958 and awarded the Toyota dealership in 1964, has grown to be one of Qatar’s leading automobile companies with operations spanning heavy equipment, pre-owned vehicles, rental and leasing. The campaign highlights Toyota’s brand promise of Waku Doki. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 11 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD ‘CSR Leadership Award’ for Sasol nternational integrated chemicals and energy com- Ipany Sasol received a CSR Leadership Award on the oc- casion of the launch of the National CSR Report, during a ceremony held at Qatar Univer- sity (QU).

Offi cial honoured for ‘innovation’

Mohamed Daoud received the CSR Leadership award on behalf of the company from Dr Hassan al-Derham. Jack Saba, general manager of public aff airs at Sasol in Qatar, has won the CSR Innovation Award. Saba is a leader in the fields of innovation, communi- cation and entrepreneurship, Accolade for GWC embarking on many initiatives that have left positive eff ects on the local society, winning local eading logistics provider GWC senior corporate com- the societal ideals put forth in the and global recognition as well GWC has been recognised munications manager Mohamed National Vision and fi nds expres- as numerous prestigious awards. Lfor its “continuing eff orts Daoud received the CSR Leader- sion in the varied initiatives it Saba was behind initiating in serving the local community” ship award on behalf of the com- supports towards cultivating the Sasol’s award-winning initiatives during the launch ceremony of pany from QU president Dr Has- spirit of service to community such as Qatar e-Nature, The the fi fth National CSR (Corpo- san al-Derham. that it promotes both within and Health Park board games and rate Social Responsibility) Re- “GWC understands that part of outside the company,” said GWC Accessible Qatar. port, held during Qatar Univer- achieving its purpose in support- chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Fa- sity (QU)’s CSR Exhibition and ing Qatar National Vision 2030 had bin Jassem bin Jabor al-Thani. Conference. is attending to the aims of its so- The company registered an Sasol was among a select The Qatar CSR Report moni- cial pillar, and we have, therefore, increase of 11% in its net profi t group of companies and NGOs tors and evaluates the progress participated in a variety of initia- in 2016, the statement noted. It active in the fi eld of social re- made each year in the area of tives to ensure the development maintained its growth by “in- sponsibility that were awarded sustainable development in so- of a just and caring society based creasing its operational effi cien- this accolade. The Sasol team at the stand in QU. ciety, with a particular focus on on high moral standards,” said cies, improving its profi t margins The award ceremony was CSR and contributions to Qatar Daoud. and actively seeking new revenue held under the patronage of HE Phinda Vilakazi, president of hibition, greeted the Sasol team to the CSR Award, Sasol’s stand National Vision 2030. In a press statement, GWC streams”, drawing in gross rev- the Prime Minister and Interior GTL Ventures of Sasol, received and the students of QU who were won the fi rst prize from among A CSR award ceremony hon- stressed it has participated in a enues of QR849.5mn at the end of Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin the award from Dr Hassan al- manning the stand and explain- the numerous stands that were ouring those who have made sig- wide variety of initiatives and 2016, representing an 8% increase Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Derham, president of QU. ing Sasol’s numerous innovative participating. The results were nifi cant contributions to these programmes since its inception, from QR787.9mn in 2015. and in the presence of HE the A CSR exhibition was organ- CSR initiatives in Qatar, such attained through a voting sys- causes was held during the con- with a focus on youth, health and The company’s assets also con- Minister of Culture and Sports ised by QU students, adding to as The Health Park with Salem tem developed by QU students, ference, attended by a number of heritage. tinued to develop, with total assets Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser the signifi cance of the day. HE and Sarah board games, Qatar engaging visitors to vote for the dignitaries, industry experts and “GWC’s strong nationalistic reaching QR3.741bn by the end of al-Ali, who was named CSR al-Ali and Canadian ambassador e-Nature, Defi nitely Able and stand that exhibited the most ambassadors. orientation coheres strongly to December 2016. Person of the Year 2016. Adrian Norfolk visited the ex- Accessible Qatar. In addition meaningful CSR initiatives. Iranian navy endangering global Access sought as Yemen suff ers ‘open-air massacre’ navigation in Gulf: US commanders AFP access to airports and ports is Paris very complicated, and bombing by the coalition restricts move- Reuters covered as some of the cameras gramme and confl icts in Syria ments,” said Queau, the group’s Aboard The USS George HW Bush were able to tell. They had some and Iraq. umanitarian groups yes- operations chief. of the weapons manned. We Captain Will Pennington, terday demanded access The presence of Al Qaeda in also have aerial data that they commanding offi cer of the Hto civilians on the brink the Arabian Peninsula poses an S Navy commanders were arming all of these weap- George HW Bush, told Reuters of famine in Yemen, describ- additional security risk, she said. accused Iran of jeop- ons.” that the behaviour of the Ira- ing the two-year civil war in the The coalition’s war against Uardising international Whitesell said Iran’s posi- nian navy had become “more country as an “open-air massa- Iranian-backed Houthi rebels navigation by “harassing” war- tion was that the US-led fl otilla, aggressive and less predictable”. cre”. in Yemen has cost more than ships passing through the Strait which included a Danish frig- He added, “(They have) every “The bombs that rain down 7,000 lives since March 2015 and of Hormuz and said future in- ate and a French destroyer, had right to come out and see who every day in Yemen show an ab- brought the country to the brink cidents could result in miscal- breached its territorial waters, we are and query what our in- solute disdain for civilian life,” of famine. culation and lead to an armed which he denied. tentions are...It is the method Jean-Pierre Delomier of Handi- Sunday will mark two years clash. There was no immediate with which they do that which cap International said in a joint since the coalition launched its They spoke after the US air- comment from Tehran. is unprofessional and adds statement with fi ve other aid armed off ensive in Yemen. craft carrier George HW Bush In another incident, Iran’s greater risk to miscalculation in groups. “We call on the international confronted what one of the Revolutionary Guards said a our need to manoeuvre the ship, “Every day our teams, when community and the belligerents commanding offi cers described An E-2 Hawkeye lands on the flight deck of the US aircraft carrier, USS US Navy ship changed course and often presents a risk to the they manage to reach people, see to step up eff orts to improve ac- as two sets of Iranian Navy George HW Bush in the Gulf of Oman. towards Iranian vessels in the merchant traffi c that’s around the physical and psychological cess,” Queau said. fast-attack boats that had ap- Strait of Hormuz on March 4 us.” distress of the traumatised civil- The country’s health infra- proached a US-led, fi ve-vessel away from the aircraft car- the northern part of the Gulf to and accused Washington of Pennington accused the Ira- ians,” he added. “This open-air structure is on the brink of col- fl otilla as it entered the Strait on rier, ended without a shot being participate in US-led air strikes “unprofessional actions...(that) nian Navy of threatening one massacre is intolerable and un- lapse, with medicines running Tuesday on a journey from the fi red. against Islamic State militants can have irreversible conse- of the helicopters that fl ew worthy or our era.” out and staff going unpaid for Indian Ocean into the Gulf. But it underscored grow- in Iraq and Syria. quences”. A US offi cial told over the Iranian boats as they Some 19mn people, or 60% several months, the groups said. It was the fi rst time a US car- ing tension between the United “What I don’t like about that Reuters on March 6 that multi- approached the fl otilla, some- of the population, face food in- Some 20,000 people are rier entered the narrow water- States and Iran since the elec- is they (Iranian boats) were in ple fast-attack vessels from the times at high speed. security including 3mn women thought to have contracted chol- way, where up to 30% of global tion of Trump, who has con- the middle of international Revolutionary Guards had come “I would say that approach- and children who are suff er- era since October, with nearly oil exports pass annually, since demned the 2015 nuclear deal transit waters (while) we had within 550 metres of the USNS ing at a high rate of speed while ing severe malnutrition, the six 100 deaths reported, said the President Donald Trump took that his predecessor Barack a right to be there as we were Invincible, a tracking ship, forc- loading your weapon and while groups said. groups, which also included Me- offi ce in January pledging a Obama and leaders of fi ve other exercising freedom of naviga- ing it to change direction. essentially threatening a heli- Helene Queau of Premiere Ur- decins du Monde, Care and Soli- tougher US stance towards Iran. world powers struck with Te- tion on our way into the Ara- Years of mutual animosity copter that is part of our group gence Internationale told a Paris darites International. US commanders said Tues- hran and labelled the Islamic bian Gulf,” Rear Admiral Ken- eased when Washington lifted while we are behaving completely news conference that Yemen was They accused the coalition of day’s incident, in which the Republic “the number one ter- neth Whitesell, commander of sanctions on Tehran last year in line with international law..., “one of the countries...where bombing civilian targets indis- George HW Bush sent helicop- rorist state.” the Carrier Strike Group 2, told after the deal to curb Iran’s nu- I wouldn’t call it a grave threat, humanitarian groups have the criminately and of using clus- ter gunships to hover over the The encounter with Iranian journalists aboard the aircraft clear ambitions. that would be an overstatement, most diffi culties.” ter bombs, which were banned Iranian speedboats as some Navy boats occurred as the USS carrier. But strong diff erences remain but it is certainly unprofessional Transport infrastructure is under an international treaty in came as close as 870 metres George HW Bush was en route to “They also had weapons un- over Iran’s ballistic missile pro- behaviour,” he said. “partially or totally destroyed, 2008. Laptop ban sparks ire among Mideast travellers

AFP ban are thousands of travellers don said he was confused by the sparked concern in tourism-de- Shebaab insurgent group. Dubai growing increasingly frustrated new measure. “I mind because I pendent Tunisia, which is trying But experts do not rule out oth- with what they see as an absurd need my laptop or my iPad. It’s a to recover from 2015 militant at- er motives behind the ban, includ- measure. personal thing. Why do I have to tacks that killed holidaymakers. ing business lost to increasingly ravellers across the Mid- “Is there anything else I put them in hold?” said Riadh, 33, “It will have a negative impact popular Gulf carriers Emirates, dle East expressed frus- should know before fl ying back adding he now feared they would on tourism,” said Mohamed Ali Etihad and Qatar Airways. Ttration yesterday at a ban home? Navy blue boxers not al- be damaged or stolen. Toumi, the head of a Tunisian US airlines do not have direct on large electronic devices for lowed? Should I shave?” asked Many were quick to fl ag a lack travel agents federation. fl ights from the airports aff ected fl ights to the United States and an American expat living in Abu of logic behind justifi cations of American offi cials have pub- by its new restrictions. Britain that has sparked confu- Dhabi with a direct fl ight to the the ban. licly cited security concerns. “American airlines are going sion and speculation. United States next week. “Every criminal in the Middle “From what we know, the ban to benefi t simply because airlines From Saturday, passengers on As the March 25 enforcement East: ‘Oh no! We can’t take the is linked to intelligence on Al make their business from the fl ights to the United States and deadline looms, passengers are direct fl ight to the US! I hate con- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula business travellers, so on these Britain from major hubs in Tur- growing increasingly wary of re- necting fl ights! Cancels criminal gathered by the US military,” long fl ights that are in excess of key and the Arab world will have strictions on living in and travel- plans,” Egyptian analyst Moham- said Mustafa Alani, a security eight or 12 hours, time is money to check in any device larger than ling from the Middle East. ed El Dahshan wrote on Twitter. analyst at the Dubai-based Gulf — but there are defi nitely more a smartphone, including laptops “They took my laptop and my A passenger buys a ticket at an airline counter beside a dangerous goods Ankara has said it plans on re- Research Centre. pressing considerations linked and tablets. camera,” said Mustafa, who did warning sign at Los Angeles International Airport, California. questing that the US repeal the The US Department of Home- to security,” said aviation analyst The United States and Britain not give his second name, as he measure. land Security has also cited an Kyle Bailey, president of the US- have cited intelligence indicating boarded a plane out of Dubai to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, nisia and Lebanon. Canada and Turkish Foreign Minister Mev- explosion on a fl ight out of So- based consultancy KL Bailey As- passenger jets could be targeted the United States. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. France have also said they are lut Cavusoglu criticised the ban malia in February last year, in sociates. via explosives planted in elec- The US ban aff ects nine air- The British ban, meanwhile, looking into similar regulations. as a unilateral, temporary move which the suspected bomber The UK ban will aff ect British tronic devices. lines from eight countries: Tur- targets fl ights out of Egypt, Tur- At the Tunis airport, a pas- better replaced by “permanent” was killed. Airways and easyJet, as well as Caught in the middle of the key, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, key, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tu- senger fl ying to Canada via Lon- measures. The British ban has The attack was claimed by the airlines from targeted countries. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, March 23, 2017 ARAB WORLD Coalition vows Dozens dead in US-led victory against IS militants northern Syria strike AFP mind behind the attacks in Washington Brussels, Paris and elsewhere,” AFP yesterday that US troops had Tillerson told delegates. Beirut been airlifted in to back the bat- “It is only a matter of time tle for Tabqa, a key town on the enior diplomats from the before Baghdadi himself meets Euphrates River where senior 68-strong US-led coali- this same fate,” he vowed. US-led coalition strike is IS commanders are based and Stion against the Islamic Earlier this month, a US reported to have killed 33 where the group’s Western hos- State group vowed to seek defence offi cial told reporters Acivilians in northern Syr- tages were once held. a quick and lasting victory that Baghdadi had fl ed Mosul ia, as the Pentagon yesterday an- “US forces and fi ghters from against the militants yesterday and been cut off from day-to- nounced reinforcements to allies the Syrian Democratic Forces at a major meeting. day command of his fi ghters. battling the Islamic State group were helicoptered to 15 kilo- US Secretary of State Rex US forces are keen that he in Raqa. metres west of Tabqa,” which Tillerson welcomed his coun- not repeat the exploit of the The suspected coalition air lies on the southern bank of the terparts from the mainly late Al Qaeda leader Osama raid hit a school being used as Euphrates River, an SDF com- Western and Arab alliance bin Laden and hide out for a temporary shelter for dis- mander said. to Washington with a vow to years even after his group’s placed families between IS’ Allied SDF fi ghters also hunt down IS leader Abu Bakr last known strongholds have main stronghold in Raqa city crossed in boats from their po- al-Baghdadi. fallen. But wherever Baghdadi and Tabqa, a key town it controls sitions on the northern bank of Envoys were keen to hear is, the coalition members plan further west. the river to meet up with the US details of US President Donald to fi nish the liberation of Mo- The US-led coalition has been forces on the southern bank. Trump’s promised tough new sul and to press on with eff orts carrying out air strikes against IS A US defence offi cial said yes- strategy to build on coalition to isolate Raqa and support its in Syria since 2014 and yesterday terday, under condition of ano- battlefi eld successes — de- recapture by local Arab and upped the ante with airlifts and nymity, that US artillery was be- spite concerns about civilian Kurd fi ghters. fi re support for allied forces on ing used in the operation to seize deaths. “The great commonality the ground, the Pentagon said. the Tabqa dam. Even as the ministers gath- among we who have gathered Senior diplomats from the Another offi cial, Pentagon ered at the State Department, today is a commitment to 68-member alliance met in spokesman Adrian Rankine- news was breaking of the lat- bringing down a global force Washington yesterday to hear Galloway, said “coalition forces est coalition air strike to have of evil and I emphasise the details of US President Donald are assisting...with airlift and reportedly killed dozens of ci- word commitment,” Tillerson Trump’s promised tough new A picture taken yesterday in the Syrian town of Tayyibat al-Imam in the countryside of the central province of fi re support in an operation to vilians in northern Syria. said. “The success of our mis- strategy to eradicate the militant Aleppo, shows fighters running amidst destruction down a street past a rising plume of smoke from a burning seize the Tabqa dam.” Few details of Trump’s plan sion depends on a continued group in Iraq and Syria. tyre meant to disrupt warplanes. IS is under pressure from have yet emerged, but he is devotion to our stated objec- As they gathered, the Syrian several directions in northern said to have given US com- tive of defeating this terrorist Observatory for Human Rights Silently,” an activist group that Syria, with Russia supporting manders more leeway to con- organization.” monitoring group said a coali- publishes news from IS-held its Syrian ally President Bashar duct risky strikes on their own Trump has ordered his gen- tion air strike early Tuesday had territory in Syria, blamed the al-Assad on one front and Tur- authority, and civilian casual- erals to craft an accelerated killed dozens near the town of coalition for the strike. key providing air cover for rebel ties are increasing. strategy to “eradicate” the Al-Mansura, about 30 kilome- “The school that was targeted groups battling the militants on The coalition remains de- group, and the allies hope to tres west of Raqa. hosts nearly 50 displaced fami- another. The escalating violence termined, however, to close learn more during the closed- “We can now confi rm that lies,” it said. comes just a day before a new down the Islamic State’s re- door discussions and follow 33 people were killed, and they Earlier this month, the coali- round of UN-brokered peace maining strongholds in west- up talks. were displaced civilians from tion said its campaign in Syria talks in Geneva hosted by UN ern districts of the Iraqi city of The meeting at the State De- Raqa, Aleppo and Homs,” said and Iraq had unintentionally special envoy Staff an de Mistura. Mosul and in the Syrian city of partment also allows Trump’s Observatory head Rami Abdel killed at least 220 civilians, but In Moscow yesterday for fi - Raqa. discreet secretary of state to Rahman.”Only two people were monitors say the real number is nal meetings before the talks, de And as US-led special forc- emerge from the shadows and pulled out alive.” far higher. Mistura said the developments es and planes, along with Iraqi stamp his authority on the dip- A statement from the coali- In addition to its aerial sor- “raise concerns”. forces and local Syria militia lomatic side of the joint eff ort. tion said it had carried out 18 ties, the US has several hundred “We must seek to achieve a groups close in on these priz- But Trump’s plan to slash strikes near Raqa on Tuesday, Members of a Syrian family, displaced due to air strikes, travel with their troops on the ground in Syria political process as quickly as es, talk is of tracking down the 28% from the State Depart- and a Pentagon spokesman said belongings in a farming vehicle along a road near the town of Tayyibat supporting the anti-IS off ensive possible,” he said. Islamic State’s mysterious so- ment’s budget for diplomacy the coalition would investigate al-Imam in the countryside of the central province of Hama. by the Syrian Democratic Forces, De Mistura will travel to rebel called “caliph”. and foreign aid has raised eye- the reported deaths. an alliance of Kurdish and Arab backer Ankara today and will “Nearly all of Abu Bakr al- brows, suggesting fewer re- “Since we have conducted provide this information to our investigation,” he said. fi ghters. then return to Switzerland to Baghdadi’s deputies are now sources for post-confl ict stabi- several strikes near Raqa we will civilian casualty team for further “Raqa is Being Slaughtered An SDF commander said lead the talks. dead, including the master- lisation.

UN chief heads to Arab summit amid row over Israel ‘apartheid’ report Aid convoys bring Egypt camel racers hope desert UN Secretary-General Antonio relief in Mosul Guterres travels to Jordan next sport will spread to fresh pastures week to attend an Arab summit following a row over the release Reuters among the Mosul popula- of a UN report accusing Israel of Mosul tion say it could be the fi rst Reuters being an apartheid state. Guterres sign of Shia parties trying to Ismailia, Egypt arrives in Amman on Monday for extend their infl uence as the talks with King Abdullah II and to id convoys linked to battle against the militants visit a refugee camp ahead of the paramilitary groups winds up. n a desert track in eastern Arab League’s annual summit near Ahave begun making Perversely, they say, the Egypt camels race across the Dead Sea on Wednesday, said regular deliveries to Mosul humanitarian help raises the Othe sand, urged on by a UN spokesman yesterday. districts recaptured from Is- spectre of sectarian strife in their young jockeys and a convoy Last week, Jordanian diplomat lamic State, bringing much- a country torn apart by it. of cars speeding alongside them. Rima Khalaf resigned in protest needed relief but also fears The PMF says the convoys The race is part of an annual after Guterres asked her to with- that their backers are en- are charitable and nothing camel festival outside the city draw a report accusing Israel of croaching into the mostly more, and that the weapons of Ismailia which has attract- imposing apartheid on the Pales- Sunni city. are to protect those bringing ed participants from 13 Arab tinians. Khalaf was head of the UN The columns of trucks supplies on long drives from countries this year, as well as Economic and Social Commission and cars carrying food, wa- the south. enthusiasts from France, Ger- for Western Asia (ESCWA), a Beirut- ter and blankets from Shia The tension the armed many, Italy and Austria. based UN body comprised of 18 cities in southern Iraq are presence can create, how- While the prize money is Arab countries. The United States welcomed by hungry and ever, is already visible. modest — 100,000 Egyptian had expressed outrage over the war-weary residents of Mo- During a terse exchange pounds ($5,500) split between report’s findings and demanded sul, Islamic State’s last ma- on Sunday with Iraqi po- the winners of several races — that it be scrapped, but Guterres’ jor Iraqi stronghold. lice, gunmen on a convoy competition among bedouin spokesman has denied that the But their affi liation with from the Shia holy city of tribes is strong. request to Khalaf to withdraw the the Hashid Shaabi, or Pop- Kerbala jumped off their Organisers hope interna- study was made under US pres- ular Mobilisation Forces vehicles at a checkpoint tional interest is growing, sure. UN spokesman Stephane (PMF) — a state-run um- south of Mosul carrying as- pointing to the presence this Dujarric said the report had been brella including Shia mili- sault rifles, some with fin- year of Europeans who came to Jockeys, most of whom are children, compete on their mounts at the starting line during the opening of the taken off the ESCWA website at tias — is clear, as they fl y the gers on triggers. see how the festival was organ- International Camel Racing festival at the Sarabium desert in Ismailia, Egypt. Guterres’ request because it was fl ags of those groups and are A policeman mounted ised, though they did not take done without consultations with often accompanied by heav- the gun turret of an ar- part in the races. Abu Shukri, whose tribe extends Around 150 camels competed in or three laps of the 5km circuit. the UN secretariat. ily armed men. moured car in case the ar- “It’s the fi rst time they have from Egypt’s Sinai peninsula races ranging from the relatively The jockeys were mostly small Local leaders and many gument escalated. come,” said Sheikh Suleiman into neighbouring Saudi Arabia. short 3km course to a 15km race, children aged 11 or under.

Palestinian’s home sealed in Jerusalem

AFP of the Rock came amid a wave Jerusalem of Palestinian lone-wolf as- saults that began in October 2015. sraeli forces are sealing off Prime Minister Benjamin the east Jerusalem home Netanyahu suggested at the Iof a Palestinian who killed time that the attack was in- four soldiers in a truck-ram- spired by the Islamic State ming attack before being shot group, which had carried out dead, police said yesterday. similar attacks in Germany and Fadi al-Qunbar, 28, France. rammed his vehicle into a Qunbar’s relatives said he group of soldiers visiting a had nothing to do with the popular tourist site near his militant group. Jabal Mukaber home on Janu- Israeli authorities frequently ary 8, killing four and wound- punish the families of Palestin- ing 15. ian attackers by demolishing He was shot dead by secu- their homes or sealing them rity forces. up — evicting the residents, The attack at the Armon blocking the entrances and Hanatziv promenade over- pouring in cement to make the looking the Old City’s Dome dwellings uninhabitable. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 13 AFRICA

BREAKTHROUGH POLICE STATEMENT ROADS FOR OIL REGION UNICEF REPORT FRAUD 3 held over break-in at top 46 died this month in Uganda seeks $500mn loan ‘One in four children will live Kenyan hacks tax agency, South Africa judge’s off ice Nigeria ethnic clashes from China for infrastructure with water shortages by 2040’ steals $40mn : report

South Africa’s police chief said yesterday three At least 46 people were killed and almost Uganda says it has asked China for a $500mn Approximately one in four children worldwide A 28-year-old IT expert has been charged with men had been arrested over a mysterious 100 others wounded in clashes between rival loan to help build almost 600km of roads in the will live in regions with extremely scarce hacking into the Kenya Revenue Authority weekend break-in at the off ices of the country’s ethnic groups in southwest Nigeria earlier this country’s oil-rich west, amid concerns that the water resources by 2040, Unicef said in a and stealing almost $40mn, local newspapers top judge, where 15 computers were stolen. The month, police said yesterday. Special forces country’s heavy reliance on foreign borrowing report yesterday. In research released on reported yesterday. State prosecutor Edwin crime caused a public and political storm with were deployed to the city of Ile-Ife in Osun state could lead to a spike in debt. Uganda has World Water Day, the United Nations children’s Okello accused Alex Mutunga Mutuku of the opposition calling it a attack on the judicial following two days of violence that broke out discovered an estimated 6.5bn barrels of crude agency warned that in just over two decades belonging to a syndicate of electronic fraudsters system, as the theft occurred hours after the between local Yoruba and Hausa people on reserves on its Albertine rift basin along the nearly 600mn children will be living in areas who steal money from various institutions and Constitutional Court headed by Chief Justice March 7, Nigeria’s national police spokesman border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. with severely limited safe water sources, as companies in the East African nation, according Mogoeng Mogoeng delivered a scathing ruling Moshood Jimoh told AFP. “The casualty figures However, lack of infrastructure, such as roads population growth and surging demand for to newspaper The Standard. “The information we against the ANC government over welfare are 46 dead and 96 wounded in the violence and an export pipeline, have repeatedly delayed water clash with the eff ects of climate change. have is just a tip of the iceberg. The racket is big payments. Police chief Khomotso Phahlane said in Ile-Ife. Of those injured, 81 had been treated production. The Uganda National Roads Authority More than 36 countries are currently enduring and involves people outside the country,” Okello the suspects were arrested over the past few while 15 are still in the hospital,” Jimoh said. needs the money to build 580km of roads around extreme water stress, the report said. Rising was quoted as saying. Mutuku, who pleaded not days in Mamelodi, a township outside the capital Police arrested 20 suspects following the the area, said Mark Ssali, head of public and temperatures and droughts can leave children at guilty, allegedly hacked into the tax authority’s Pretoria. violence, Jimoh said. corporate aff airs at the state-run UNRA. risk for dehydration, according to Unicef. computer systems over the past 24 months. Three killed as suicide blasts rock Nigeria migrant camp

AFP Muna camp is home to tens of Yesterday’s blasts were the lat- Kano thousands of people who have fl ed est blamed on suicide bombers, who the Boko Haram insurgency. continue to pose a threat to civilians The Islamist group has continued despite military claims of success t least four suicide blasts to target internally displaced peo- against Boko Haram. rocked a camp for migrants ple and there have been several at- Four people were killed on Saturday Afl eeing Boko Haram insur- tempted suicide bomb attacks near when suicide bombers blew them- gents in restive northeastern Nigeria the Muna camp, which is not fenced selves up in a village near the city. yesterday, killing at least three peo- off and is easily accessible. The Borno state capital of Maid- Supporters of Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai gesture at a demonstration in Harare yesterday. ple and wounding 20, offi cials said. Aid workers said last week that the uguri is the birthplace of Boko Har- The bombings triggered fi res camp residents are facing a severe lack am, a radical Islamist group that has which burned down tents in the vast of water, compounding widespread killed over 20,000 people and forced Muna camp on the outskirts of the food shortages and security fears. 2.6mn from their homes since taking city of Maiduguri, camp coordinator “The camp is vulnerable and this up arms against the Nigerian gov- Tijjani Lumani told AFP. worries every one of us in the camp ernment in 2009. Zimbabwean opposition “There were four explosions which is the last settlement on the The violence has triggered a dire inside the camp. The bombers outskirts of the city from the north,” humanitarian crisis in northeast struck at diff erent locations around said Lumani. Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad re- 4.30am,” he said. “We are the fi rst settlement one gion, which has also been hit by the Emergency services put the reaches on entering the city. And confl ict. wants poll panel scrapped number of bombings at fi ve. the fact that several suicide attacks Nigerian troops, with the help “A total of fi ve suicide bombers, have occurred near the camp in re- of regional forces from Cameroon, all male adults, were involved in the cent months adds to our unease,” he Chad and Niger, as well as Benin, AFP up to next year’s general election. er Mugabe to join forces and forge a coa- incidents, killing three persons,” added. have since early 2015 managed to Harare The parties include the main opposi- lition to fi ght his ZANU-PF party in next Abdulkadir Ibrahim of the National “We are vulnerable to Boko Har- claw back most of the territory lost tion Movement for Democratic Change year’s elections. Emergency Management Agency am. They can strike in the camp at to Boko Haram in 2014. (MDC) led by former prime minister “We are demanding fundamental (NEMA) in the region told AFP. anytime. All the suicide bombers Boko Haram’s elusive leader Abu- coalition of Zimbabwean oppo- Morgan Tsvangirai and ex-vice president electoral reforms,” said Biti. He said 20 people were wounded who attacked the Muna garage just bakar Shekau made his fi rst appear- sition parties yesterday staged a Joice Mujuru’s National People’s Party “We are sending a message that we as and taken to hospital. across the road from the camp and ance in months earlier this month, Aprotest ahead of next year’s polls, (NPP). political parties can work together, as The police said four people were surrounding areas came in through claiming responsibility for a spate of demanding the disbanding of the state- “This country cannot be a country political parties we will put the interest killed while eight were injured. the city gate.” suicide bombings. appointed electoral commission they that every time we go for an election it is of Zimbabwe fi rst.” accuse of hindering free-and-fair elec- contested and there is dispute,” Tsvangi- Zimbabwe’s opposition parties are in tions. rai told the protesters before representa- talks to form an alliance to face ZANU- A group of around 200 protesters tives handed over the petition to the PF in next year’s general elections. gathered at an open space outside the electoral commission. Mugabe,93, who has been in power central business district after police “Why should we have a character of since independence in 1980, has been banned a planned street march to the an election which is violent and which endorsed by his party to stand again in electoral commission head offi ce. is always dependent on coercion and in- the polls. “Having failed the fundamental test of timidation?” His ZANU-PF party is entangled in impartiality and independence required Previous elections in Zimbabwe have bitter factional fi ghts over who should of an election management board, the been marred by violence against op- succeed him. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission must ponents of President Robert Mugabe as Mugabe’s wife Grace and vice presi- forthwith be disbanded and disman- well as intimidation and alleged fraud dent Emmerson Mnangagwa have been tled,” the parties said in a petition. including the stuffi ng of the electoral roll named as possible successors. Riot police armed with truncheons with phantom voters including names of Among other reforms the opposition and water cannons patrolled the central long-deceased people and children too parties want biometric voter registration business district to prevent the protest young to vote. to rid the electoral roll of phantom vot- march that had been organised by a loose Former fi nance minister and leader of ers, fair media access to all political par- coalition of more than 10 parties that are the People’s Democratic party Tendai ties and the deployment of international demanding electoral reforms in the run Biti called on opponents of veteran lead- observers to monitor the 2018 elections.

ICC jails Bemba for bribing witnesses

AFP “My own motivation was to show and Bensouda said prosecutors will now The Hague send a strong and loud message that “very carefully” study the sentence these kind of crimes...will be taken seri- before deciding on the next steps, but ously by my offi ce and something will be added: “I’m not excluding appealing the udges yesterday sentenced former done about it,” she said. decision.” Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Found guilty last year of bribery, the Bemba’s lawyer Melinda Taylor said A Turkana tribesman walks past burning goats’ carcasses in a village near Loiyangalani, Kenya. JBemba to a year in jail and fi ned him verdict and sentence are the fi rst of their her client would defi nitely appeal. 300,000 euros for bribing witnesses kind in the history of the ICC. “Mr Bemba was...sentenced on the during his war crimes trial in an unprec- Bemba, wearing a dark suit and light basis of factual fi ndings that are unsup- edented case before the International blue shirt, showed no emotion as the ad- ported by direct evidence,” she said in a Criminal Court. ditional sentence was imposed by Sch- statement. Fearing disease, Kenyans burn “The chamber imposes on you an ad- mitt in the heavily protected courtroom Set up in 2002 to prosecute the world’s ditional 12 months, one year, imprison- in The Hague. worst crimes where national courts are ment,” presiding judge Bertram Schmitt The year-long sentence will run con- reluctant or unable to act, the ICC goes to animal carcasses as drought deepens told Bemba, adding a “substantial fi ne” secutively to his 18 years’ jail time. great lengths to try to protect witnesses was necessary “to discourage this kind of Bemba’s lawyer Aime Kilolo received and its trials from any interference. behaviour”. the heaviest sentence among four of The charges against Kenyan President By Goran Tomasevic, Reuters people are aff ected by the drought. where. When they cannot be moved, Prosecutors had asked for eight years the former vice president’s associates, Uhuru Kenyatta and his vice-president Loiyangalani, Kenya It estimates 20% of livestock has the animal is slaughtered so the for Bemba, who is already serving 18 handed two years and six months for William Ruto had to be abandoned by died in the arid and semi-arid coun- community can benefi t from more years after being convicted of war crimes “abuse of trust” as well as “abuse of the the ICC due to a lack of proof amid al- ties, an area comprising about 80% food,” said Oduor. by his marauding troops, who he sent lawyer-client privilege”. He was also or- legations of serious witness tampering. illagers in northern Kenya of Kenya’s landmass. “It is the worst Villager Lokuukwi Achembe said into the Central African Republic in dered to pay a 30,000-euro ($32,000) Bemba was sentenced in June 2016 have begun to burn piles of drought since 2011,” said James Odu- his village lost around 2,000 goats. 2002 to 2003 to put down a coup against fi ne. to 18 years in jail on fi ve charges of war Vanimal carcases, hoping to or, head of Kenya’s National Drought “This is our food and our way of the then president. Bemba’s legal case manager Jean- crimes and crimes against humanity head off an outbreak of disease as Management Authority. living,” he said sadly. In a separate trial, Bemba was found Jacques Mangenda received two years; committed when his troops went on a their livestock starve to death in the The government is running a On the southern short of Lake guilty in October of masterminding a Narcisse Arido, a defence witness was rampage in neighbouring CAR between region’s worst drought in fi ve years. “destocking” programme, which Turkana, famed for the harsh beauty network to bribe and manipulate at least given 11 months and Congolese lawmak- October 2002 to March 2003. The smell of death hangs heavily pays herders for animals they would of its landscape, residents are burn- 14 key witnesses, and had “planned, au- er Fidele Babala was given six months. Once a wealthy businessman-turned- over Lake Turkana and dried animal struggle to sell. ing carcasses to stop the bodies from thorised, and approved the illicit coach- All the sentences were well below warlord, Bemba became one of four vice corpses dot the cracked mud where It pays 2,000 Kenya shillings ($20) infecting water supplies if the rains ing” of the witnesses to get them to lie at what the prosecution had requested and presidents in the transitional govern- the lake has receded, leaving boats for a goat or a sheep, and 15,000 shil- come. his main trial. none except for Bemba will spend any ment of DR Congo’s President Joseph stranded on the dry land. lings for a cow. Village elder Lowake Alishu said, Speaking to AFP after yesterday’s sen- time behind bars, as the three-judge Kabila. Nomadic communities store their That’s half of the price of a healthy “We are collecting the goats around tences were handed down to Bemba and bench gave them credit for time already In 2006, he lost to Kabila in presiden- savings in animals rather than banks animal. the manyatta (group of thatched four of his associates, ICC chief pros- served in the ICC’s detention centre. tial elections and fl ed to Europe. and each carcass is a major loss. “If they are in good condition, huts) to stop the spreading of dis- ecutor Fatou Bensouda these were “very The judges also suspended Kilolo and He was arrested in 2008 in Brussels The Kenyan government said 2.7mn they can be moved to graze else- ease.” serious crimes”. Mangenda’s sentences for three years. and handed to the ICC. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, March 23, 2017 AMERICAS

Firms warned against Anniversary of Affordable Care Act working on wall

AFP investment practices should Los Angeles refl ect the values of our state,” state representative Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, who co-au- hree California lawmak- thored the bill, said. “It’s clear ers have introduced leg- the people of California don’t Tislation that would pe- want to invest in the hateful nalise fi rms keen to take part in values that the Trump wall rep- President Donald Trump’s plan resents.” to build a wall along the US- The bill follows similar pro- Mexico border. posals across the country and The legislation announced beyond. on Monday calls for California’s A lawmaker in New York, two public pension funds — the Nily Rozic, earlier this year in- largest in the nation — to divest troduced a bill calling for the from companies involved in the state to boycott fi rms that work construction of the controver- on the wall. sial barrier. Local offi cials in San Fran- “Californians build bridges cisco on Tuesday submitted a not walls,” Phil Ting, one of the similar proposal. three Democratic lawmakers, Mexican construction fi rms said in a statement. have also been warned against “This is a wall of shame and taking part in the project. we don’t want any part of it. On Tuesday, the French con- Immigrant stories are the struction group Vinci said it history of America, and this is a was not interested in helping nightmare.” build the wall. Assembly Bill 946 was sub- “I have to take into account mitted after the US Customs the reality of my company, our and Border Protection last week culture, our way of doing things requested design proposals for and our sensitivities, not only the wall set to be about 2,000 those of my American col- miles long. leagues, but around the world,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at an event marking the seventh anniversary of the passing of the Aff ordable Care Act outside the Capitol Building in If approved, it would require the company CEO Xavier Huil- Washington, yesterday. the California Public Employee lard told French television. Retirement System and the “For these reasons, and this California State Teachers Re- is not at all a value judgement tirement System — with invest- on the United States, we prefer ments of $312bn and $202bn, not to touch this wall.” respectively — to liquidate The barrier that Trump has within a year any investments vowed to erect along the US- in companies involved in build- Mexico border to stem illegal ing the wall. immigration is expected to cost “The state’s contracting and at least $15bn. Trump seeks to nail ING sells Dakota pipeline loan share support for health bill Trump has actively Paul Ryan, the measure’s leading considerable eff ort into shoring American health insurance sys- have more opportunities to pur- campaigned with lawmakers proponent, can aff ord to lose only up the bill, actively courting con- tem and aimed to reduce the sue changes later. Even if the leg- Reuters dialogue” with tribes in major for his healthcare bill about 20 Republican votes or risk servative lawmakers who say the numbers of Americans with no islation gets through the House, Washington infrastructure project transac- failure, since Democrats are unit- bill is too similar to Obamacare. health insurance. its fate is uncertain in the Sen- tions. Reuters ed against it. By some estimates, In a trip to Capitol Hill on Twenty million people gained ate, where a number of Republi- “We are heartened that ING Washington 26 House Republicans have sig- Tuesday he warned Republicans insurance under the law, but Re- cans have spoken out against the utch bank ING Groep has made the conscious deci- nalled their opposition. that the political consequences publicans have long targeted it as House version. on Tuesday said it sion to remove itself from a Trump’s promises during his of failure could be steep in next government overreach because Senator John Thune, head of Dhas agreed to sell its project that tramples on the S President Donald election campaign and his fi rst year’s congressional midterm of its mandates on individuals the Senate Republican Confer- $120mn share of the loan for rights of sovereign nations,” Trump and Republican two months in offi ce have lifted elections. and employers, and they have ence, said on Fox & Friends that the Dakota Access Pipeline, Standing Rock Sioux Chair- Ucongressional leaders US stock markets to new highs. Trump was expected to con- criticised rising costs of insur- “This is the beginning of a proc- the fi rst bank to offl oad its debt man Dave Archambault said in worked yesterday to try to secure But stocks fell back on Tuesday tinue trying to sell the plan, ance premiums. ess, not the end of a process.” from the project, which faced a statement. enough support in the House of as investors worried that a rough called the American Health Care The nonpartisan Congression- Ryan said he expected the Sen- fi erce opposition from Native Under the agreement, the Representatives to win passage ride for the healthcare legislation Act, to hard-line conservatives al Budget Offi ce estimated 14mn ate to work on the bill next week Americans and environmental undisclosed buyer of the ING of their Obamacare rollback bill, could have an eff ect on Trump’s when members of the House people would lose medical cover- and another House vote on the groups. loan said it would “support the watched by wary investors in fi - ability to deliver on other big Freedom Caucus visit the White age under the Republican plan by fi nal measure the week of April The announcement came importance of a respectful dia- nancial markets. pieces of his agenda, from cut- House on Wednesday. next year. 3, with it headed to the White one month after ING’s head logue with the Tribe and other Repealing and replacing ting taxes and regulation to “Big day for healthcare. Work- Ryan, in several radio inter- House for Trump to sign it into of business ethics met with a aff ected groups.” Democrat Barack Obama’s 2010 boosting infrastructure. ing hard!” tweeted Trump, who views early yesterday, pressed law by Easter, April 16. representative of the Standing “ING is grateful to the buyer Aff ordable Care Act is the fi rst The S&P 500 and Nasdaq stock took offi ce in January. his case that Republicans had to That optimistic timeline Rock Sioux tribe, which had for playing an important role in major test of Trump’s legislative benchmark indexes were little At rallies in Nashville, Tennes- keep their campaign promise to would depend on a rapid end to led a months-long protest to enabling a solution that allows ability and whether he can keep changed yesterday. see, and Louisville, Kentucky, jettison Obamacare and that all Republican resistance to the bill. stop completion of the $3.8bn, ING not to breach its contrac- his big promises to business. “The Trump agenda is like a this week meant to drum up sup- factions of the party should unite Republican leaders made some 1,885km pipeline. tual obligations under the loan The current House Republi- one-lane road with this big truck port for the bill, Trump spent lit- to deliver the bill. changes to the bill this week to At that meeting, ING said it while at the same time deliver- can rollback plan, scheduled for a called ‘healthcare’ in the lead,” tle time discussing specifi cs and “We can get it done,” Ryan said try to satisfy critics from their would either continue to “posi- ing a valuable message in sup- fl oor vote on Thursday, faces stiff said Brookings Institution senior made clear he saw it as a step on on The Jay Weber Show. own party but that and Trump’s tively infl uence” the course of port of the Tribe,” ING said in a resistance from some conserva- fellow William Galston.”If that the road in a broader agenda. He said conservatives who visit to Congress on Tuesday did the project, or to distance itself statement. tive Republicans who view it as truck breaks down, everything He said Congress and the ad- oppose the bill need to recog- not appear to sway members of by selling its stake in the loan,” ING was one of 17 banks fi - too similar to Obamacare, and else will back up.” ministration needed to “get the nise that the House bill has to be the hard-line conservative House the company said in a press re- nancing the Dakota pipeline, from moderates who fear its im- While paying little attention healthcare done” to “start the tax crafted so it can pass the Senate, Freedom Caucus who said they lease. led by Citibank, for a total of pact on voters. to the details of the House Re- reductions.” where Republicans hold a slim- have enough votes to defeat the With oil set to start fl owing $2.5bn in credit. Trump and House Speaker publican eff ort, Trump has put Obamacare overhauled the mer majority, and that they will bill today. through the pipeline as soon as Law enforcement late last this week, after a US judge last month swept through an en- week ruled against the tribes campment occupied since Au- seeking to stop its completion, gust on US Army Corps of En- ING said there was less room gineers property at the edge of for lenders to infl uence the the Standing Rock Sioux Reser- El Chapo healthy and project. vation near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, after President Donald Board members ING was one of 17 banks fi - nancing the Energy Transfer Trump had issued an executive learning English Partners LP pipeline, which will order directing the Corps to move crude from the Northern grant an easement allowing the Plains to the Midwest and then project to proceed. AFP through a slot in the door, the Some protesters have turned back Uber chief on to the Gulf of Mexico. New York light is always on and Guzman ING said it would send “a their focus to divestment cam- never goes outside, it said. valuable message” by selling its paigns targeting banks with a Guardian News & Media her career and completely unac- porters that Kalanick’s decision But in a 40-page response loan and calling for “respectful stake in the pipeline. London ceptable treatment.” to hire a chief operating offi cer ailed Mexican drug lord released on Tuesday, Brook- The news conference came would help reform leadership Joaquin El Chapo Guzman lyn prosecutors said Guzman’s a month after former engineer and the company culture. Jis healthy and even learning tough terms of imprisonment op executives at Uber de- Susan Fowler went public with But they repeatedly refused to English, US prosecutors argued, must continue. fended its CEO, Travis claims of sexual harassment and answer questions about whether dismissing allegations from de- “While the defendant com- TKalanick, on Tuesday, discrimination, alleging that the CEO would step down if an fence lawyers that the terms of plains about his prison condi- First bee added to claiming that the company management protected a repeat ongoing investigation, led by his confi nement are too harsh. tions, one of his own Mexican roiled by scandals can “funda- off ender and threatened to fi re former attorney general Eric The 59-year-old, accused attorneys, Silvia Delgado, told mentally change” its culture her for speaking up. Over the Holder, recommended his de- of running one of the world’s the press that the defendant’s endangered list with the embattled founder at weekend, Uber’s president, Jeff parture or if the board asked him biggest drug empires and who treatment in the United States the helm. Jones, also announced he was to resign. escaped from prison twice in has been far better than it was Board member Arianna Huff - leaving the company after just “The board is confi dent in Mexico, has been held in soli- in Mexico, to the point that the Reuters the only insect pollinator of to- ington and two executives re- six months, saying: Travis,” said Huffi ngton, praising tary in New York since being defendant’s health is improv- Washington matoes in the United States, ac- peatedly said they supported “The beliefs and approach his recent “evolution”. “Uber and extradited on January 19. ing,” the prosecutors’ statement cording to the US Fish and Wild- Kalanick during a conference call to leadership that have guided the whole ride-sharing industry In a letter sent to Judge Brian said. life Service. with reporters. my career are inconsistent with would not be where it is today Cogan on March 13, Guzman’s And as for the charge that he rusty patched bumble Conservation groups that had The call was the latest dam- what I saw and experienced at without Travis.” court-appointed lawyers said Guzman was starting to hear bee became the fi rst wild called for the new classifi cation age-control eff ort at the ride- Uber.” Kalanick was not on the call, the isolation he is subjected to things, a prison psychologist Tbee in the continental welcomed the move. sharing company, which has In addition to the departures because, the executives claimed, at a federal prison in New York determined he was just hearing United States to gain federal pro- “The listing helps mediate faced weeks of turmoil and of two vice-presidents and a top he was doing COO interviews. is harming his physical and the radio of a prison staff er, it tection on Tuesday when it was threats for this species and for public relations crises includ- security researcher, Amit Sing- “The focus of the company mental health. added. added to the government’s list of all of those other animals out on ing a massive sexual harassment hal, Uber’s top engineering ex- has been on the business and They said Guzman has trou- They also denied that Guz- endangered and threatened spe- the landscape that are suff ering scandal, a series of high-profi le ecutive, stepped down just fi ve not the employees,” said Liane ble breathing and suff ers from a man is totally isolated, say- cies. similar setbacks,” Rich Hatfi eld, departures, an explosive intel- weeks after his appointment due Hornsey, chief human resources sore throat and headaches, and ing 30 people are authorised to The bee, once widely found in senior biologist at the Xerces So- lectual property lawsuit and rev- to allegations he failed to dis- offi cer. had been experiencing auditory visit him and on average he has the upper Midwest and North- ciety for Invertebrate Conserva- elations that the company used close a past accusation of sexual “It’s time to rectify that bal- hallucinations — he complains 21 hours per week of meetings eastern United States, was list- tion, said by phone on Tuesday. secret software to deceive law harassment at Google. ance … Travis has given me full of hearing music in his cell even with lawyers and paralegals. ed after US President Donald The rusty patched bumble enforcement. The exodus of top executives license to do what it takes.” when his radio is turned off . And during evening meetings Trump’s administration lifted a bee, or Bombus affi nis, is one “There’s a real appetite for has increased scrutiny on Kalan- Rachel Holt, head of US and In a previous letter in Febru- “the paralegals appear to be hold it had placed on a plan for of 47 varieties of native bumble change internally,” said Huffi n- ick, who has been at the centre Canada business, also vowed ary, the lawyers said Guzman is teaching the defendant English, federal protections proposed bees in the United States and gton, founder of the Huffi ngton of a string of scandals, includ- to “bring more humanity to the kept alone in a small window- as well as reading to the defend- last fall by the administration of Canada, more than a quarter of Post.”I want to make sure that ing when footage emerged of him way we interact with drivers” less cell and leaves only for an ant in Spanish”. former president Barack Obama. which face risk of extinction, the company we build at Uber berating an Uber driver for ques- and said the company was doing hour of solitary exercise in an- Mexican news reports have Bumble bees are key pollina- according to the International refl ects really the best in the tioning him about the company’s so by improving its app and re- other cell with a treadmill and said Guzman is practically il- tors of crops such as blueberries Union for the Conservation of workplace, so no woman ever treatment of drivers. forming its process for address- stationary bicycle Monday to literate, having failed even to and cranberries, and are almost Nature. has to choose between advancing The Uber executives told re- ing rider complaints. Friday. His meals are passed complete elementary school. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 15 ASEAN

SENTENCED NO CASUALTIES ACCIDENT NUMBER CRUNCH 9 drug traff ickers get death Tourists panic as Elephant electrocuted after Ponzi scammers jailed for penalty in Vietnam court quake rattles Bali wandering out of mountains conning 120,000 people

A northern Vietnamese court has sentenced nine Tourists fled their hotels in panic on Bali yesterday An elephant in southeast Cambodia was A Thai court yesterday sentenced nearly two people to death for traff icking nearly half a ton after the popular Indonesian holiday island was killed yesterday morning when it walked dozen people to at least 20 years in jail for of heroin following a 23-day trial, an off icial said rattled by an early morning earthquake. The into an electricity pole, according to a local conning up to 120,000 people for billions of yesterday. The defendants not sentenced to death 5.5-magnitude quake struck inland about 10km environmental organisation. The elephant had baht in Ponzi schemes, local media reported. in the Hoa Binh province courtroom on Tuesday northeast of the Balinese capital, Denpasar, wandered down from the Cardamom Mountains A Bangkok criminal court indicted 22 of 43 included nine sentenced to life, four sentenced and not far from the concentration of holiday and died outside Kirirom National Park, defendants operating under Ufun, a South-East to between 17 and 20 years and one sentenced resorts in the south of the island. There were no according to Suwanna Gauntlett, founder and Asian investment firm spanning across Thailand, to 18 months, court spokeswoman court Nguyen reports of casualties and damage after the quake chief executive of Wildlife Alliance. “It apparently Malaysia and Singapore, for transnational Thi Quyen said. Ringleader Tran Duc Duy, 33, was struck just after 7am at a depth of 118km, but tried to push down a high-voltage electricity organised crimes and embezzlement. Those arrested in 2015 while driving a truck containing some holidaymakers got a shock. “Dozens of our poll,” Gauntlet told DPA. Gauntlet described the convicted have been sentenced to between 20 Drug traff ickers in civilian clothing are flanked 33kg of heroin, the Vnexpress online newspaper guests ran out of their rooms when the quake elephant as “older” and said it was travelling and 50 years each, according to the Bangkok Post. of policemen as they attend a trial at a local reported. An investigation ensued, leading police happened,” Nyoman Pasek, a staff member at the with four other elephants. The elephant will The scammers are believed to have embezzled people’s court in the northern Vietnamese to 22 other co-conspirators accused of traff icking Hotel Sayang Maha Mertha in the popular tourist receive a Buddhist funeral ceremony prior to the victims of between 20bn and 38bn baht province of Hoa Binh. nearly half a ton of heroin worth $700,000. area of Kuta, told AFP. burial, she said. ($578mn to $1bn), according to media reports. Rafale leads Visiting dignitary as Malaysia seeks new fi ghter jets

By Joseph Sipalan, Reuters ernment of Malaysia the confi - Langkawi, Malaysia dence in us that they may go with us...,” said Osborne. An industry and a government rance’s Rafale fi ghter jet is source with knowledge of the ne- emerging as the frontrunner gotiations said any decision would Fas Malaysia looks to replace take at least two more years, as its ageing fl eet of combat aircraft, a Prime Minister Najib Razak is fo- source in the Southeast Asian na- cused on more domestic concerns tion’s defence ministry said yes- in the run up to national polls that terday, despite narrowing its de- must be held by 2018. fence spending this year. Malaysia cut its total defence French President Francois Hol- budget by 12.7% to 15.1bn ringgit lande is expected to make a pitch ($3.41bn) this year, as Najib grap- for the Rafale, made by Dassault ples with growing public discon- Aviation SA, when he and his tent over rising living costs. team visit Malaysia next week, the Besides Dassault and BAE, other source said. suitors courting Malaysia are Russia’s Ho Ching, wife of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, visits a trade centre in Ho Chi Minh city yesterday. “The ministry’s top leadership Sukhoi and Sweden’s SAAB, which is have been promoting the Rafale,” selling its single engine Gripen. said the source, who was not au- Two industry sources said Su- thorised to speak to media on the khoi was also in talks with Indone- negotiations. sia, potentially to deliver up to two “It’s been done in promotional full squadrons of the new SU-35 material for LIMA, and even at top planes. government meetings,” the source An Indonesian ministry offi cial said, referring to this week’s bien- said in November that the ministry nial Langkawi International Mari- was looking to buy “nine or 10” of time and Aerospace Exhibition. the planes, though the award had China blocks Myanmar Malaysia was looking to buy up not been fi nalised. to 18 jets in a deal potentially worth SAAB, which is proposing a lease more than $2 bn, the source said. arrangement with Malaysia for use Defence Minister Hishammud- of the Gripen, is also in the run- din Hussein was reported in me- ning for a deal to deliver 36 single dia as saying that the race for new engine multi-role combat aircraft fi ghter jets has narrowed down to to the Philippines, according to rebels’ bank account the Rafale and the Eurofi ghter Ty- an industry source who has direct phoon, built by BAE Systems. knowledge of the negotiations. Reuters fusing to join a major peace conference. “We consistently persevere in not in- transactions, which compliance experts said The plan is to replace the Royal “We’re expecting a decision by Yangon Relations with China have been terfering in other countries internal af- could point to a weakness in controls aimed Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) the Philippine government be- strained by the ethnic confl icts spilling fairs and respect the entirety of Myan- at stopping the global fi nancial system being squadron of Russian MiG-29 com- tween 2018 and 2020. Their pro- over the border, and some observers say mar’s sovereign rights and territory. We used to fund terrorism or facilitate crime. bat planes, nearly half of which are curement process is scheduled to yanmar’s government yester- Beijing uses ethnically Chinese insur- will not allow any group or individual to There is no evidence that Agbank, grounded. happen between 2021 and 2024,” day praised China for suspend- gent groups as a means of leverage over use China’s territory to undermine Chi- or other fi nancial entities that handled Dassault, which declined com- the source said. Ming a Chinese bank account Myanmar. na-Myanmar relations and the border transactions for the MNDAA, have bro- ment when approached, has kept a Defence spending in the Asia used by ethnic rebels fi ghting Myanmar The decision to suspend AgBank was regions’ stability,” she said. ken Chinese law. low profi le in the race. Pacifi c region is expected to hit troops, in a move to prevent potential welcomed by Suu Kyi’s government. “For any illegal activity, we will deal Earlier this month, insurgents from BAE has been on a consistent $250bn from 2016-20, IHS Janes damage to diplomatic ties. “We appreciated this action. Stability with it according to law.” the predominantly ethnic Chinese and public campaign over the past Defence Weekly said in Decem- Reuters has revealed that an ethnic and peace in border area is common inter- Over nearly two years, the Myanmar MNDAA attacked government troops in six years to win the Malaysia con- ber, spurred by rising tension in rebel armed group fi ghting Myanmar est for both sides,” Myanmar’s presiden- National Democratic Alliance Army northeastern Myanmar. tract, even establishing a regional the South China Sea where China forces near the Chinese border had been tial spokesman, Zaw Htay, told Reuters. (MNDAA) raised more than $500,000, Some 20,000 people fl ed across the offi ce in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. has created several islands, worry- openly soliciting funds via China’s giant “(It was a) very positive move from China.” deposited directly in an AgBank account border to China to escape the fi ghting, Steve Osborne, BAE’s sales di- ing the United States and some of state-owned lender Agricultural Bank Zaw Htay shared the Reuters story on or sent it via two mobile payment serv- prompting Beijing to call for a ceasefi re. rector for military air and informa- China’s neighbours. Of China (AgBank).Myanmar’s peace his widely-followed Facebook page and ices — Tencent Holdings’ WeChat Pay In a rare move, Myanmar army chief tion for the Asia Pacifi c region, said China claims most of the South process — started under the previous Twitter accounts, tagging key negotia- and Alipay, part of Ant Financial, which Senior General Min Aung Hlaing dis- the Typhoon had a good chance of China Sea, through which $5tn in semi-civilian administration — has lost tors in Myanmar’s peace process. is affi liated with US-listed Chinese e- closed on his offi cial Facebook page that landing the deal as the company ship-borne trade passes every year. momentum after Nobel Peace Prize In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry commerce giant Alibaba. he had summoned the Chinese ambas- already supplied defence equip- The Philippines, Vietnam, Ma- winner Aung San Suu Kyi came to power spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she The account was suspended over the sador and defence attaché on Tuesday to ment to Malaysia. laysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have in 2016, with some of the militias accus- was not aware of the specifi cs about the weekend, shortly after Reuters had sent discuss the confl ict, and how to co-op- “We believe this gives the gov- claims. ing her of a one-sided approach and re- decision on AgBank. AgBank a list of questions regarding the erate to bring about peace and stability. Children fuelling Myanmar’s economic boom

By Hla-Hla Htay, AFP to be able to wear the same But experts say there is little “I left this factory to search Hmawbi, Myanmar clothes as other people.” awareness of the laws and many for a new job, but I could not He was paid 2.5mn kyat children are sent to work even fi nd any as I was underage and ($1,800) by the Chinese-owned younger in a country where one had to come back,” said the now ourteen-year-old San Min 999 Iron processing plant in the in four people live below the pov- 15-year-old. Hteik had worked at the Myaung Dagar industrial zone as erty line. “I want to go to back to school Fsteel factory for less than a a settlement for his injury. The issue is problematic for but it’s not possible, so I still week when his hand got caught in His mother Tin Tin Htay said reputation-conscious West- work. My dream is to be a clothes a machine, a casualty of the eco- they took the money to pay for his ern companies looking to take designer.” nomic boom driving more chil- medical bills and to make sure his advantage of Myanmar’s cheap A spokeswoman for H&M said dren into Myanmar’s factories. two siblings could stay in school. labour — the minimum wage is the company was working with Two of his fi ngers were lost after “When we were given the cash I equivalent to around 33 cents an suppliers and industry experts the rod-cutter sliced them down felt sad, as if we were buying my son’s hour, below Thailand, Cambodia, to ensure young workers are em- to the bone and weeks later doctors hand with this money,” she said. China and Indonesia. ployed according to the law and are still unsure whether they will AFP journalists were unable Zinmar is just one of many treated with “respect”. The My- be able to save the others. to enter the 999 Iron processing young girls and boys in Myanmar anmar Garment Manufacturers He is one of thousands of plant when they visited. who used fake documents to cir- Association last week disputed young factory workers fuelling An employee reached by phone cumvent the law and land a facto- allegations child labour is rife in Myanmar’s rapid growth as for- they said no one was available to ry job at age 12, washing and iron- the sector. eign investors pile into the coun- comment. ing clothes for eight hours a day. Selim Benaissa from the In- try after the end of half a century San Win, a local union leader But the owners cut her shifts in ternational Labour Organisation of military-governed isolation. who helped negotiate San Min half once they found out her real said children working outside With one in fi ve kids aged 10- Hteik’s settlement, said many age. factories often end up in more 17 in work, impoverished Myan- parents push their children into “I want to work full-time like dangerous jobs, such as rubbish mar is one of the worst countries work to help support the family. before,” said the now 14-year- collecting or sex work. in the world for child labour. “We have no stomach to ask old, who asked AFP use a diff er- “Children will work anyway... Many support their families them not to send their children ent name to protect her identity. this is something that is totally sweeping shop fl oors, serving in Fourteen-year-old San Min Hteik babysits his sister at their home in the Myaung Dakar industrial zone in to work. They have their diffi cul- “I can work a full day because accepted, even by the children,” tea shops or working as domestic Hmawbi Township in Yangon. ties,” he said. I am healthy but the law doesn’t he said. helpers. Legally children can start work- allow me.” “Removing children from a Others labour in the increasing mies in the region, with growth do, so I feel depressed,” San Min commercial capital Yangon. ing at 14 in Myanmar, although Ei Thae also started working workplace without appropriate number of foreign-owned facto- expected to average about seven Hteik told AFP, staring at his “I want my family to have a de- they are meant to be restricted to aged 12 for a factory that supplies support and follow up may push ries that has made Myanmar one % in the coming years. bandaged hand inside his home cent standard of living. I want my four hours a day and are barred garments for Swedish clothes re- them to more exploitative or haz- of the fastest-expanding econo- “I cannot do what I want to in Hmawbi township outside the family to be able to eat enough... from hazardous industries. tailer H&M. ardous forms of child labour.” Gulf Times 16 Thursday, March 23, 2017 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

HOMECOMING WILDLIFE CALAMITY POLITICS CRIME Killer croc trapped and Thousands of Sydney N Korea’s parliament Man held with diamonds in euthanised in Australia homes without power to hold rare meeting shoes at Chinese customs

Australian police and wildlife rangers have Thousands of Sydney residents are facing North Korea will hold a rare parliamentary A man who was trying to smuggle more than captured and killed the crocodile that is blackout conditions after a severe storm that session next month, state media reported, 1,000 diamonds into mainland China by hiding believed to have been responsible for the death destroyed power lines and damaged houses as regional tensions intensify following the them in his shoes was caught by customs of a spear fisherman earlier this week, off icials and cars late yesterday, off icials said. Streets nuclear-armed state’s recent missile tests. The off icials, state media reported. The man was said. The crocodile was euthanised after being flooded within minutes of the downpour. Trains country’s legislative body meets only once crossing from Hong Kong into the southern trapped late Tuesday night at Russell River in and flights were delayed for hours and traff ic or twice a year, mostly for day-long sessions Chinese city of Shenzhen through Luohu port northern Queensland, close to where Warren was in chaos in the city centre due to heavy to rubber-stamp budgets or other decisions on March 13 when he was apprehended, Xinhua Hughes, 35, had disappeared after he went rainfall and damaging winds. The New South deemed necessary by the ruling Workers’ news agency said. “The man was suspicious as diving on Saturday. His body was found Monday Wales emergency services received 418 calls for Party. The last meeting was held in June he sometimes tiptoed,” a customs off icer named Chinese honour guards receive caskets morning. Matt Brien, an operations manager help, mostly to report falling of trees on roofs 2016 when North Korean leader Kim Jong- Wang told Xinhua. “When he realised we were containing the remains of Chinese soldiers in with the Queensland’s environment and and cars. “It’s been quite a quick, fast, intense un was elected chairman of a new, supreme looking at him, he quickly shifted to a normal Incheon. The remains of 28 Chinese soldiers heritage protection department, said rangers storm that’s come... It was pretty chaotic,” governing commission – underlining his walking posture.” The customs off icers asked killed during the 1950-53 Korean War returned were confident they had captured the right emergency services spokeswoman Becky absolute control over every aspect of state him to take off his shoes and found 212.9 carats home for permanent burial. animal. Gollings said. policy. of diamonds under his insoles. South Korea begins raising sunken ferry

AFP Donggeochado, South Korea

alvage operators began raising South Korea’s sunk- Sen Sewol ferry yesterday, offi cials said, nearly three years after the disaster killed more than 300 people and dealt a crip- pling blow to now-ousted presi- dent Park Geun-hye. Emotional parents of victims A Chinese salvage vessel (centre) undertakes recovery operations on the wreck of the submerged Sewol — the vast majority of the dead in ferry, off the island of Donggeochado yesterday. the country’s worst-ever mari- time tragedy were schoolchildren cables attached to bring it pains- for seven hours in the crucial packed with reporters yesterday — urged people to pray for a suc- takingly towards the surface. initial phase of the sinking. She and at least one outside broad- cessful recovery. Once two-thirds of it is ex- has never specifi ed what she was cast truck. The vessel was lying more than posed, a semi-submersible will doing, sparking wild rumours Investigations into the dis- 40m below the waves off south- be positioned underneath to raise including a tryst and cosmetic aster, in which 304 people died, western South Korea and the op- it out of the water and transport surgery. A permanent Sewol pro- concluded it was largely man- eration, originally scheduled for it to the port of Mokpo to carry test site targeting her was sub- made — the cumulative result of last year, had been pushed back out investigations and search sequently set up in the centre of an illegal redesign, an overloaded several times because of adverse A relative of a victim watches a salvage operation of sunken ferry Sewol at the sea off Jindo, South Korea. for the missing. A senior offi cial Seoul, with effi gies of the head cargo bay, inexperienced crew weather. It is thought that nine from the maritime ministry said of state on display alongside pic- and a questionable relationship bodies still unaccounted for may est port to the wreck, since the ter — hang on nearby trees, their the operation. Some 50 bereaved it took three hours to raise the tures of dead schoolchildren. between the ship operators and be trapped inside the sunken accident. “We will be grateful if colour faded by the course of family members went out to sea wreck 1m off the seabed in what Negligence over the sink- state regulators. ship, and raising the ferry intact you pray with us so that the last time. by boat to watch the proceed- was initially a feasibility test. ing was one of the grounds for Even though the vessel took has been a key demand of the vic- remaining victims can return to “My heart is pounding,” said ings, he added. Two enormous The ministry then decided which parliament impeached around three hours to sink, those tims’ families. their families,” she said, break- father Jung Seong-wook of the barges were positioned on either to go ahead with the full lifting, Park in December, although the on board were never ordered to “I am a mother who just really ing down. Other bereaved family decision to go ahead with the lift. side of the 6,825-tonne ship and it said in a statement. The op- constitutional court ruled that it evacuate, while the crew escaped misses her daughter. Please pray members have been maintaining “I have mixed feelings that I can- air bags inserted for the salvage eration is expected to take three was not an impeachable off ence to safety. Captain Lee Jun-seok for us so we can go home with a vigil at a camp on a hilltop on not put into words. I’m also a lit- eff ort, which is being led by a days. when it upheld her dismissal on was sentenced to life in prison Eun-hwa,” said Lee Keum-hui, Donggeochado, the nearest is- tle scared.” In a tense atmosphere Chinese consortium. Beams were The disaster and its after- other charges earlier this month. for “murder through wilful neg- one of a handful of relatives who land to the site, just 1.5km away. during the day, another father installed by digging through the math gripped South Korea and Donggeochado island has a pop- ligence” and 14 other crew mem- have been living in makeshift Yellow ribbons — a symbol for nervously watched through bin- seabed underneath the wreck, overshadowed the presidency of ulation of only around 300, but bers given terms ranging from homes at Paengmok, the clos- the victims of the deadly disas- oculars, trying to get a glimpse of which was lying on its side, and Park, who stayed at her residence the once-a-day ferry to it was two to 12 years.

N Korea missile test In bloom fails, tensions simmer

Reuters weapons programmes. Just last Seoul week US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Japan, South Korea and China and how to North Korean missile ap- handle North Korea was a major peared to have exploded issue in his talks. Ayesterday just after it was Speaking in Seoul last week, launched, the US and South Ko- Tillerson said a policy of strategic rean militaries said after detect- patience with North Korea had ing the latest in a series of weap- ended and all options, including ons tests by the nuclear-armed a military one, were on the table state that have alarmed the re- if North Korea threatened South gion. Korean or US forces. The launch attempt was made North Korea has conducted from near the city of Wonsan, two nuclear tests and a series of on North Korea’s east coast, missile launches since the begin- the same place from where it ning of last year in defi ance of launched several intermediate- UN resolutions. It is believed to range missiles last year, all but be working to develop nuclear- one of which failed. tipped missiles that can reach the “US Pacifi c Command detect- United States. ed what we assess was a failed US President Donald Trump North Korean missile launch rebuked Kim on Sunday, say- attempt ... in the vicinity of Ka- ing the North Korean leader was lma,” Commander Dave Benham, “acting very, very badly”. A sen- a spokesman for US Pacifi c Com- ior US offi cial in Washington mand, said in a statement, refer- told Reuters on Monday that the ring to an air fi eld in Wonsan. “A Trump administration was con- missile appears to have exploded sidering sweeping sanctions as within seconds of launch,” Ben- part of a broad review of meas- ham said, adding that work was ures to counter North Korea’s being carried out on a more de- nuclear and missile threat. tailed assessment. The United States is also de- Cherry blossoms are seen as they start blooming in Tokyo, Japan. A South Korean military offi - ploying an advanced missile- cial said the missile appeared to defence system in South Korea. have exploded just after it was But China objects to the Termi- launched. “It may have explod- nal High Altitude Area Defense ed right after it took off from a system, saying its powerful radar launch pad,” said military offi - can penetrate deep into its terri- Japanese navy gets a boost with new helicopter carrier cial, who declined to be identi- tory, undermining its security. fi ed. It was not clear what type of Undaunted by the possibility missile it was. The South Korean of even tougher sanctions aimed Reuters Defence Takayuki Kobayashi ters earlier. China claims almost defence ministry said it was con- at cutting North Korea off from Yokohama said at the ceremony attended all the disputed waters through ducting analysis to determine the global fi nancial system, a by about 500 people Japan’s two which around $5tn of global sea- further details. North Korean diplomat said his biggest warships since World borne trade passes each year. The increasing frequency of government would pursue an apan’s second big helicopter War II are potent symbols of Beijing’s growing military pres- the missile tests has fuelled a “acceleration” of its nuclear and carrier, the Kaga, entered Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ence there has fuelled concern in growing sense of urgency over missile programmes. Jservice yesterday, giving the push to give the military a bigger Tokyo and Washington. how to respond to the isolated, This includes developing a nation’s military greater ability international role. Japan has no claims there, but unpredictable state. North Ko- “pre-emptive fi rst strike capa- to deploy beyond its shores as They are designated as heli- is locked in an territorial dispute rea launched four ballistic mis- bility” and an inter-continen- it pushes back against China’s copter destroyers to keep within with China over a group of islets siles from near its west coast on tal ballistic missile, said Choe growing infl uence in Asia. the bounds of a war-renouncing in the neighbouring East China March 6 and this week conducted Myong Nam, deputy ambassa- Accompanied by a military constitution that forbids pos- Sea. a rocket engine test that its lead- dor at the DPRK (North Korean) band, Maritime Self Defence session of off ensive weapons. The addition of the Kaga er, Kim Jong-un, said opened “a mission to the United Nations in Force commanders took pos- In its biggest show of naval means Japan will be able to new birth” of its rocket industry. Geneva. session of the 248m (813.65 ft) power in foreign waters in more mount overseas operations The latest launch came as the Japan’s Nikkei index and South long vessel at the Japan Marine The JMSDF’s latest Izumo-class helicopter carrier DDH-184 Kaga . than 70 years, Japan plans to more often in the future. It will US envoy for North Korea pol- Korean stocks extended losses United shipyard in Yokohama dispatch the Izumo in May on a be based in Kure in western Ja- icy, Joseph Yun, met his South slightly after news of a North Ko- near Tokyo, where it was docked changes in the South China Sea status quo, raising security con- three-month tour through the pan, which was home to Japan’s Korean counterpart in Seoul to rean launch broke but trade was next to its sister ship the Izumo. with bases and through acts that cerns among the international South China Sea, sources with most famous World War II bat- discuss a response to the North’s steady overall. “China is attempting to make exert pressure is altering the community,” Vice Minister of knowledge of the plan told Reu- tleship, the Yamato. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 17 BRITAIN/IRELAND

POLITICS VIOLENCE DECISION DEMAND CRIME Holyrood referendum Police targeted in Plusnet fined £880,000 for Tougher sentences for Boy, 19, shot dead debate suspended N Ireland bomb blast charging ex-customers knife crime sought in car after fight

The Scottish Parliament has suspended a debate A bomb exploded in the town of Strabane in BT-owned Plusnet was yesterday fined Ministers yesterday faced calls to bring in far A teenage boy has been shot dead in a car after on whether to call for an independence referen- Northern Ireland in an apparent attempt to kill £880,000 for continuing to bill more than tougher sentences for knife crimes to stop so a fight in an east London street. The 19-year-old dum following an attack outside the UK Parlia- police off icers, the police said yesterday, but no in- 1,000 former landline and broadband custom- many teenagers being stabbed to death. Keith was found slumped unconscious with a gunshot ment. Presiding Off icer Ken Macintosh said the juries were reported. An attempt was made to kill ers. Ofcom found the firm carried on charging Vaz MP, former chairman of the Commons home wound in the vehicle, on a busy road in Ilford. incident in London was aff ecting the contributions police off icers in Strabane,” the Police Service of the customers after they had cancelled, to a aff airs committee, proposed a Bill to lengthen jail Paramedics battled to save him but he died at of MSPs, and that the debate would resume at Northern Ireland said. An explosive device deto- total of £500,000. The £880,000 fine must be sentences dramatically. He believes adults caught the scene. It was the second London shooting another time. MSPs had been spending a second nated as off icers were on patrol in the town, PSNI paid to Ofcom within 20 working days and will in possession of a knife should automatically in three days. On Sunday David Adegbite, 18, day debating whether or not to seek permission superintendent Gordon McCalmont said. “The be passed on to the Treasury. Lindsey Fussell, face three to five years in prison, rather than six was shot dead after being ambushed by a gang from the UK government for a second referendum investigation is at an early stage and we have had Ofcom’s consumer group director, said: “There months. Vaz, MP for Leicester East, said: “We need who surrounded him on the St Ann’s estate, in on Scottish independence to be held when news to ask some residents to leave their homes while can be no margin for error, and no excuses, to show zero tolerance and a tough sentence will nearby Barking, shortly after 7pm. Scotland Yard of the London attack broke. A vote had been due we carry out our enquiries,” McCalmont said. Last when it comes to billing customers correctly. send out a powerful message.” His proposed Bill yesterday said it was too early to say if the two to be held at 17:30, but politicians including Scottish month, a bomb exploded outside a police off icer’s This fine should serve as a reminder to telecoms has been dubbed Tyler’s Law and would also see shootings were linked. A cordon was still in place Conservative leader Ruth Davidson called for the home in Derry as army off icers were moving to companies that they must adhere to Ofcom’s people aged 17 and under facing more time in as forensic off icers searched for evidence. There session to be suspended. defuse it. billing rules at all times.” youth detention centres. have been no arrests.

McGuinness tributes Princess Anne supports GM crops, livestock

Guardian News and Media gument.” GM crops are not com- London mercially grown in the UK and few have been licensed in the EU due to opposition in many other rincess Anne has strongly European countries. The UK gov- backed genetically modi- ernment is looking at allowing GM Pfi ed crops, saying she crops to be sown after the nation would grow them on her own leaves the EU. land and that GM livestock Asked if she would grow GM would be a “bonus”. crops on her land, Princess Anne Her stance puts her sharply said: “Yes, I mean arguably I think at odds with her brother Prince we’re already doing that to some Charles, who has long opposed extent.” GM food and has said it will cause She also said she would wel- the “biggest disaster environ- come GM animals: “I have rare mentally of all time”. breeds livestock, so genetic modi- fi cation would be a bonus, if I could just fi nd a way of making them a little more robust in terms of survivability.” Sinn Feinn leader Michelle O’Neill and Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionists, watch as members of the Northern Ireland Assembly sign the book of She said the increased selection condolences for Martin McGuinness who died yesterday, in Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland. on specifi c bloodlines in cattle was already a form of genetic modifi - cation, though she said there had been downsides in some breeds. Prince Charles has long op- posed GM crops, calling them the “seeds of disaster” in 1998 and saying in 2008 that having “one “I do think that in the form of clever genetic engineering future gene technology has after another then … will be guar- got real benefi ts to off er, anteed to cause the biggest disas- Four new ‘supersized’ which will maybe have an ter environmentally of all time.” occasional downside, but I Some environmental groups have suspect not very many” also remained staunchly against the use of GM crops. Princess Anne, who has farmed It is not the fi rst time the roy- on her estate in Gloucestershire als have clashed on the issue, with since the 1970s, told BBC Radio 4’s Princess Anne saying in 2014 that prisons set to be built Farming Today programme: “GM GM crops had a role to play in is one of those things that divides the “serious business (of) feed- Guardian News and Media ing a new generation of “super- last fi ve years in a system with an new prisons are to be built, fi ve by prisons has happened on a piece- people but surely if we are going to ing people” in a world with a fast London sized” prisons. “operational capacity” of just a the next general election. meal basis, with Wandsworth be better at producing food of the growing population. She said then The Justice Secretary, Liz thousand more. HMP Berwyn near Wrexham, prison in south London, for ex- right value, then we have to accept that she “seldom” discussed the Truss, said: “We cannot hope to Peter Dawson, director of the which opened last month, is ex- ample, now holding 1,560 in- that genetic technology is going to issue with the future king. he justice secretary has reduce reoff ending until we build Prison Reform Trust, said the pected to become one of the larg- mates in a jail supposed to hold be part of that. GM crops are grown widely announced plans to build prisons that are places of reform “massive investment in new pris- est prisons in Europe, holding fewer than 1,000. Nearly 30 pris- “I do think that in the future outside Europe, covering 180mn Tfour new “supersized” where hard work and self-im- ons is not matched by a credible more than 2,100 inmates when it ons now hold more than 1,000 gene technology has got real ben- hectares in 2015, with the US, Bra- jails in England and Wales, cre- provement fl ourish. plan to reduce our reckless over- is full to capacity. inmates each. efi ts to off er, which will maybe zil and Argentina the leading pro- ating a total of 5,000 modern “Outdated prisons, with dark use of prison in the fi rst place”. Most of the prisons built over Ministry of Justice offi cials say have an occasional downside, but ducers. In 2016, the US National prison places. corridors and cramped condi- He added: “The prison estate the last 30 years had an original the fi nal decisions on the new I suspect not very many,” she also Academies of Science, Engineer- Sites at Full Sutton in east tions, will not help off enders certainly needs an overhaul, but capacity of about 600, so yes- prisons will be subject to planning said. ing and Medicine concluded GM Yorkshire, Hindley in Wigan, Ro- turn their back on crime – nor do reducing demand would mean terday’s announcement marks a approvals as well as considera- “Most of us would argue we food was generally safe for hu- chester in Kent and Port Talbot in they provide our professional and closing prisons, not opening change of scale in British penal tions of value for money and af- have been genetically modify- mans and the environment and south Wales have been earmarked dedicated prison offi cers with the them. The government has ad- architecture. Announcements fordability. It will be open to the ing food since man started to be could prove health benefi ts, but it for development as part of the right tools or environment to do mitted that it has no idea when are also expected later this year public prison service to bid to run agrarian, but everybody would say said GM crops were not delivering government’s £1.3bn programme their job eff ectively.” overcrowding will cease, and this on the closure of old Victorian the new prisons alongside private it doesn’t happen so quickly via substantially increased yields, as to transform the prison estate. But the plans dismayed pe- announcement takes us no closer inner-city jails as part of the gov- prison operators. conventional selective breeding.” proponents promised. Although the individual ca- nal reformers who said the new to an answer to that crucial ques- ernment’s “new for old” policies. They also stressed that the However, Princess Anne said A study in 2012 found that crops pacities of the new jails will not be building programme was not be- tion.” HMP Holloway women’s prison, new jails would create 2,000 jobs she opposed the avoidance of GM genetically modifi ed to poison decided until they go through the ing matched by a plan to reduce The four new prisons are part which shut last summer, is the in the construction and manu- crops as a precaution: “To say, no, pests can deliver signifi cant en- planning process it is expected the use of prison in the fi rst place. of a wider building programme to latest to close under the “new for facturing industries and provide no, we mustn’t go there just in vironmental benefi ts, by cutting each will have a capacity of more The prison population has sta- create up to 10,000 modern pris- old” policy. a boost to regional economies case is probably not a practical ar- pesticide use. than 1,000 inmates, consolidat- bilised at about 85,000 over the on places by 2020. A total of nine The expansion in the size of across the country.

Envoy visits Queen Top bosses earn close to Homeless crisis 400 times minimum wage ‘at breaking point’ Thomson Reuters Foundation on housing is needed to combat London growing homelessness and cuts by Reuters to reduce economic inequality, which gave its CEO and founder the ruling Conservative govern- London the chief executives of com- Martin Sorrell £70mn in 2015 ment. panies in the FTSE 100 share through pay, bonuses and share ngland will not be able to “This report is local councils index take home on average plans, 5,154 times greater than keep vulnerable families saying, ‘We are at the complete he heads of Britain’s top £5.3mn, 386 times more than a the minimum wage. Eand young people off the end of our tether.’ Their hands are 100 listed companies worker on the minimum wage Sorrell, who regularly fea- streets unless the government so, so tied in terms of that they Tearn on average almost and 190 times the average sal- tures among the list of best drastically changes policies that can do,” Downie told the Thomson 400 times more than a worker ary in Britain. paid execs, responded to a 2016 shut low-wage earners out of the Reuters Foundation. on the minimum wage, accord- investor rebellion over pay by housing system, according to a “What people are saying is we ing to analysis that will add fuel In the wake of Britain’s saying that during his 30 years report released yesterday. just don’t know how the system to the fire of a debate about in- vote to leave the European in charge he has invested his can continue as it is,” he said. The equality in the country. Union, Prime Minister own money in the firm and re- “This report is local councils government has invested £550 In the wake of Britain’s vote Theresa May vowed to invested nearly all his income in saying, ‘We are at the over the next three years to help to leave the European Union, bridge the gap between WPP stock, meaning his inter- complete end of our tether.’ prevent homelessness, a spokes- Prime Minister Theresa May those at the top of society ests are tied completely to the Their hands are so, so tied in man said. The report said half of vowed to bridge the gap be- and those at the bottom company. terms of that they can do” local authorities surveyed found tween those at the top of soci- Other companies at the top of it diffi cult to fi nd homes for single ety and those at the bottom by “The result is that the UK is the list include consumer goods A lack of aff ordable homes, young people, and large families forcing companies to disclose one of the most unequal coun- group Reckitt Benckiser, Euro- along with government funding face similar diffi culties due to caps pay ratios and put workers on tries in the developed world and pean pay-TV group Sky, phar- cuts and restrictions on welfare on welfare. boards to curb excessive behav- there is, rightly, great concern maceuticals fi rm Shire and oil benefi ts, has helped increase the Government limits have left iour. about excessive rewards at the giant BP. country’s homeless population by people ineligible for services that But May has since been forced top end of the pay scale com- The Equality Trust said it 6% over the last year to 58,000 few years ago they would have to tone down her initial plans as pared to the amounts most peo- wanted all medium and large people, said a report by the housing received, Downie said. A govern- she works instead to keep big ple take home,” it said. companies to disclose their top- charity Crisis. The government set ment plan to cut housing benefi t business on side during Brexit. The average FTSE 100 CEO to-median and top-to-bottom out long-term plans in February to payments for people under age 21 The outcome of a public con- pay is 165 times more than the pay ratios to increase transpar- tackle England’s chronic shortage will be a “straightforward disas- sultation on encouraging better salary of a nurse, or 140 times ency around corporate pay. Queen Elizabeth II greets Thailand’s ambassador to of housing, largely blamed on fail- ter,” he said. corporate behaviour is due to be the salary of a teacher. “We believe this will be a the United Kingdom, Pisanu Suvanajata, and his wife ures to ensure homebuilding has The government has said the published in the coming weeks. The company with the big- great incentive for companies Thipayasuda Suvanajata, during a private audience at kept pace with demand. reform is needed to ensure that According to the Equality gest pay gap is WPP, the world’s to bear down on their pay dif- Buckingham Palace in central London. Matthew Downie, policy di- those with jobs have the same op- Trust, a campaign group set up biggest advertising group, ferentials,” it said. rector for Crisis, said fast action portunities as those without work. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, March 23, 2017 BRITAIN Gangs fl ood capital with drugs hidden in luxury cars

London Evening Standard nel. A senior Met detective said derground car park off top-end After police swooped on the of the drug at a time. of knowledge and expertise is Belsize Lane, Camden, and offi c- London police and Customs offi cials were fl ats in Southwark. pair and arrested Gonzales at the Detective chief inspector required to alter vehicles with- ers found a hidden compartment discovering increasingly com- The Belgian, who is of Span- hotel, a specialist Border Force Spencer Barnett of the OCP re- out damaging them. You have in the dashboard used to carry plex hiding places for drugs in- ish origin, drove from his home search team discovered the hid- vealed that offi cers were fi nding organised crime groups spe- cash. Two men were later jailed rganised crime gangs are side cars. He spoke as a traffi cker in Brussels to London via the Eu- den compartment in the Bent- drugs concealed in cars’ false cifically designing and building for money-laundering. customising cars and lor- faced jail for smuggling 30kgs rotunnel in September last year ley’s roof and seven packages of footwells, dashboards or panels. concealments. These are more In February last year NCA of- Ories on an “industrial” of cocaine with a street value of unaware that he was under sur- cash worth a total of £250,000. He said garages like “factories” and more sophisticated, so in a fi cers found fi ve kilos of cocaine scale to smuggle Class A drugs £3.6mn to London in a custom- veillance by police. An examination of Eurotun- were producing cars with false routine stop they are unlikely to hidden in a space between the worth millions of pounds to Lon- made cache in the roof of his Offi cers from the NCA (National nel records found that Gonzales’ compartments on an “industrial” be detected. rear seats and the boot of a car in don, the Standard revealed. Bentley Flying Spur. Crime Agency) and the Met’s Or- Bentley had travelled to the UK 13 scale. “We are learning all the time Barnet. Last month a car stopped The gangs are using garages in Convicted Florentino Gonzal- ganised Crime Partnership (OCP) times in 2016. “We’re seeing complex con- and trade information with the in Fulham Palace Road had 6kgs Europe “like factories” to adapt es, 48, was arrested by a joint po- watched as he gave packages to two Investigators believe that the cealments where vehicles are Border Force about how they of cocaine hidden in compart- vehicles for transporting cocaine lice and National Crime Agency men before travelling to the four- car was used to smuggle cocaine altered to hide drugs,” he went work.” ments cut into the side panels of and heroin to Britain on ferries team after he was seen exchang- star Britannia International Hotel into the UK on each occasion on. “It is an industry in itself to Last October two men were the front doors and behind the and through the Channel Tun- ing the drugs for cash in the un- in Canary Wharf. and could have held up to 60kgs build these into vehicles. A lot stopped in an Alfa Romeo car at seats.

Household People fl ee Parliament building gloom Thames Water deepens as infl ation hit with record starts rising

Guardian News and Media London £20mn fi ne for K households are the most downbeat about Utheir fi nances since 2013, as families start to feel the pinch from rising infl ation and weak wage growth, according to a new sewage leaks survey. This suggests consum- Guardian News and Media said. Describing the breaches as Richard Aylard, from Thames er spending, until now the London “wicked” and noting the compa- Water, said outside the court: main driver of UK economic nies “continual failure to report “We have failed in our respon- growth, will weaken in com- incidents” and “history of non- sibility to the environment and ing months. hames Water has been compliance”, he said: “One has that hurts both personally and An index measuring house- hit with a record fi ne of to get the message across to the professionally because we do hold expectations for fi nances in T£20.3mn after huge leaks shareholders that the environ- care. But in the three years since 12 months’ time dropped sharp- of untreated sewage into the ment is to be treasured and pro- the last of those incidents we ly to 45.3 in March, from 48.1 Thames and its tributaries and tected, and not poisoned.” have learnt our lesson – there in February, according to eco- on to land, including the popu- Anne Brosnan, the EA’s chief have been sweeping, far-reach- nomic consultancy IHS Markit. lar Thames path. The prolonged prosecutor, said: “Thames Water ing changes across the waste wa- This signals the greatest degree leaks led to serious impacts on was completely negligent to the ter business.” He insisted the fi ne of pessimism since November residents, farmers, and wildlife, environmental dangers created would not increase customers’ 2013. killing birds and fi sh. by the parlous state of its works. bills: “This fi ne will be paid in full People living in the east The fi ne imposed yesterday Our investigation revealed that by shareholders only.” Midlands were the most was for numerous off ences in we were dealing with a pattern In 2013, the Observer revealed downbeat about their finan- 2013 and 2014 at sewage treat- of unprecedented pollution in- that the nation’s 10 biggest wa- cial prospects, followed by ment works at Aylesbury, Didcot, cidents which could have been ter companies were the most those in the north-east and Henley and Little Marlow, and a avoided if Thames Water had persistent polluters of England’s London. large sewage pumping station at been open and frank with the EA rivers and beaches. They com- Inflation has picked up Littlemore. as required.” mitted more than 1,000 inci- sharply in recent months as The Environment Agency Water companies have been dents between 2005-2013 but the weak pound has pushed (EA), which brought the pros- the most frequent polluters of were fi ned a total of just £3.5mn, up the cost of imported goods. ecution, said the enormous beaches and rivers in England a sum described at the time as Data released on Tuesday volume of untreated sewage and past fi nes were criticised “pitiful” by a senior MP. showed that inflation hit an discharged was unprecedented as too low to deter these highly Thames Water was the most annual rate of 2.3% in Febru- – 1.4bn litres – as was the length profi table companies that of- heavily fi ned company in that pe- ary, with food and motor fuel of time over which the discharges ten off ended repeatedly. But a riod, paying £842,500 for 87 inci- becoming more expensive. occurred. change in sentencing guidelines dents. Fines have soared since the This contrasts with near-zero The sewage caused long-term in 2014 is now leading to far change in sentencing guidelines inflation a year ago. Coupled pollution in the Thames and heavier penalties. but it remains too early to deter- with slowing wage growth, some tributaries, revolting riv- Thames Water, which is the mine if pollution incidents are fall- this leaves households worse erside users and wiping out the UK’s biggest water company ing, due to the time it takes pros- off. season for a commercial cray and serves about a quarter of ecutions to come to court. Tim Moore, a senior econo- fi sherman. The EA said it was the the population, was fi ned £1mn However, one source close to mist at IHS Markit, said: “UK biggest freshwater pollution case in 2016 for repeated discharges the issue told the Guardian re- households reported greater it had ever undertaken. of sewage into the Grand Un- cently: “The courts have basi- pressure on their fi nancial well- “This is a shocking and dis- ion canal in Hertfordshire and cally added a nought. Once it being in March, as rising infl a- graceful state of aff airs,” said £380,000 later the same year, gets to that level, the boards and tion has started to erode in- judge Francis Sheridan, who de- after a sewage leak in an area of shareholders of water companies comes and reduce cash available livered the sentence at Aylesbury outstanding natural beauty in the start to take notice.” to spend. On average in the fi rst crown court. “It should not be Chilterns. The previous record fi ne was quarter of 2017 survey respond- cheaper to off end than to take Thames Water made an oper- the £2mn penalty imposed on ents have reported the sharpest People leave after being evacuated from the Houses of Parliament in central London yesterday. appropriate precautions.” ating profi t of £742mn in 2015-16 Southern Water in December for increase in their everyday liv- A policeman was stabbed, an assailant shot and several people injured close to the Houses of “I have to make the fi ne suf- and paid out £82mn in dividends. fl ooding beaches in Kent with ing costs for three-and-a-half Parliament in what police said they were treating as a terrorist incident. fi ciently large that (Thames It is owned by a consortium of raw sewage, which left them years.” Water) get the message,” he institutional investors. closed to the public for nine days. Millionaires fi ght over Support for charity TV pundit, actress 30cm of car parking jailed in drugs charge London Evening Standard meth, mephedrone and cocaine. London There was evidence both ad- London Evening Standard that the way the neighbours cur- Bradbury’s space.” dresses were being used for London rently park means there is not The court heard that when the chemsex parties. Detectives re- even enough room for a motorbike properties were built in the Sev- TV fi nance pundit began a turned to the Drury Lane fl at in the middle space used by her enties, the deeds included three fi ve-year jail term yester- a month later and Bleta and a community of millionaires daughter. “The tragedy is there’s parking spaces side by side in front Aday after being unmasked fourth accomplice were found in are at war in a “trivial and enough space on site to accom- of them. At the time the area was as the head of a drugs ring sup- possession of an even bigger haul Apointless” row over 30cm modate parking spaces of 2.4m,” enclosed by walls on two sides but plying crystal meth and cocaine of class A substances. of car parking space, a court has she said. one has since been demolished. to West End “chemsex” parties. Enquiries led offi cers to a fl at heard. Sebastian Kokelaar, represent- McSpadden, 47, and his wife, Economist James Shugg, 53, linked to Bleta in Beaufort Gar- The dispute in Hampstead has ing the Haninas, added: “The dif- 49, insist the parking area is the who made regular appearances dens, Chelsea, where two men gone on for years and now involves fi culty that arises is that, if the space between the inside of the on the BBC, stashed class A sub- were found with GHB and crystal bankers, art dealers, a company position is as the McSpaddens say, original walls. However their stances at his Covent Garden meth. At Southwark crown court boss and a doctor. then there’s not enough room for neighbours say the width of the fl at where he hosted the drug- this week Shugg, of Drury Lane, Central London county court all three cars to park conveniently. walls should now be included in fuelled sessions. Bleta, of Richmond, and Mon- heard how Andrew and Penny It would just about be possible for the measurement. Working with accomplices in- tes-Bailon, of Newton Street, McSpadden and their neighbour three professional drivers to park, McSpadden said problems be- cluding Sara Bleta, a 20-year-old were jailed for fi ve years, four Sheriar Bradbury have argued over but they would have great diffi - gan in 2009 when cars in Brad- actress who appeared as an extra years, and two years respective- the right to park cars outside their culty getting out of the car. bury’s space began to squeeze in a Harry Potter fi lm, he built up ly. Each admitted conspiracy to home. “It is simply not possible for out those in the middle: “The ap- a large client base through social supply class A and class B drugs. The dispute escalated in 2013 three modern vehicles to be parked proach to parking came to be ‘take media and word-of-mouth refer- Shugg, an Australian national, when art dealers Mary and Yuval conveniently in the space the Mc- what you can get, what’s conven- rals. was a senior economist at West- Hanina paid £1.45mn for the third Spaddens say was allocated.” ient to you.’” The gang supplied “whole- pac bank’s London HQ for 20 house in the converted church He claimed the McSpaddens But Gary Cowen, barrister for sale” quantities to vulnerable years and had presented market development, as a buy-to-let for have been trespassing by parking Bradbury, 53, insisted his client users, which police blamed for reports for Australian news net- their doctor daughter Sophie. “in accordance with their mistak- was using the space he was enti- a spike in drug-related medical work ABC. He often gave eco- The Haninas and fi nance com- en understanding of the location tled to. “He purchased the prop- Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, patron of UkHarvest, arrives emergencies in the West End. nomic analysis for organisations pany boss Bradbury, 53, insist each of the boundary. Their continuing erty with the benefi t of a parking to attend the UK CEO Cook Off in support of UkHarvest and Shugg and associate Alejandro such as the BBC and Bloomberg. house has a 2.4m wide parking trespass has eff ectively prevented space,” said Cowan, adding that the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation in London. UkHarvest is a Montes-Bailon, 26, were arrest- According to Bleta’s online spot. But the McSpaddens, who any meaningful use being made Bradbury had the right to encroach perishable not-for-profit food rescue operation that collects ed when offi cers raided proper- biography, she was an extra in are both bankers, say the space is of Sophie Hanina’s parking space. into Dr Hanina’s space because quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it, ties in Newton Street and Drury Harry Potter And The Deathly 2.1 metres. It is physically impossible to use it he had done so for more than 20 direct and free of charge, to charities. Lane in August 2015 and seized Hallows and had roles in Hair- Mary Hanina, 70, told the court when there is also a car parked in years. substances including crystal spray and We Will Rock You. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 19 EUROPE

MUSIC GOVERNMENT TERROR CRIME AVIATION Chuck Berry exudes classic Germany to increase state German teen admits to Moldova probes Russian Father of Germanwings pilot flair in posthumous song pension by up to 3.6% acting as translator for IS money laundering racket seeks to clear son’s name

Days after Chuck Berry died at 90, a new song came Germany’s 21mn pensioners will see their state A 19-year-old admitted to a German court Prosecutors in Moldova said yesterday they Two years after the Germanwings plane crash in out yesterday from the legend — a tune driven by the benefit rise by up to 3.6% from July, Labour yesterday that he proofread and translated were investigating a crime ring alleged to have southern France, the father of the pilot is seeking sort of rollicking guitar riff s that he used to define Minister Andrea Nahles said yesterday, in line propaganda texts on behalf of the Islamic State laundered nearly $21bn of Russian origin with the to restore his son’s name, telling a German rock ‘n’ roll. Big Boys is the first song from the rock with solid wage increases secured by German terrorist group last year. German citizen Mikail S, help of local courts. The sum was funnelled out of paper that Andreas Lubitz’s actions were not pioneer’s Chuck, his first studio album in nearly 40 workers this year. The increases to the state whose name was withheld in line with German Russia between 2011 and 2014 in a scheme a team premeditated. Investigators have concluded that years. His label said the full album will come out on pension will not be as big as unusually large laws, was arrested on July 14 on charges of of investigative journalists of the Organized Crime Lubitz deliberately flew the Germanwings A320 June 16. The first single starts with a signature guitar increases last year but could still help boost supporting a foreign terrorist organisation by and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) have jet into a French mountainside on March 24, 2015 solo that has echoes of his legendary hit Johnny B private consumption in Europe’s largest proofreading and translating propaganda texts called the “Russian Laundromat”. The report said on a flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf, killing Goode — an electric bolt of energy that seamlessly economy, which is increasingly relying on for it. Investigators have linked the teen to at the money came from 19 Russian banks and was all 150 people on board. “He had no reason to marries blues and country music. Over a rockabilly household spending to drive growth as exports least nine texts in German, English and Turkish allegedly distributed to thousands of accounts in plan and carry out suicide, let alone take 149 piano, Big Boys heads into a classic rock ‘n’ roll time have weakened. The pension in western that later appeared in Islamic State propaganda. 96 countries through a scheme of fake debts ruled other people with him,” Guenter Lubitz told signature before closing with a solo contributed by a Germany will rise by 1.9%, while in former East Before his arrest, Mikail S corresponded with on by Moldovan judges. The prosecutor general is the weekly newspaper Die Zeit in an interview much younger guitar great — Tom Morello. Germany it will increase by 3.6%. Austrian jihadist Mohamed Mahmoud. probing 16 judges. released yesterday.

Europeans may not Foggy weather be safe, says Erdogan

Agencies ism and Islamophobia. Ankara Erdogan warned Europe that Turkey was “not a country to push, to prod, to play with its urkish President Recep honour, to shove its ministers Tayyip Erdogan warned out of the door, drag its citizens Tyesterday that Euro- on the fl oor”. He said the world peans risk being unsafe on was watching Europe’s actions the world’s streets, as a crisis “very closely”, adding: “We as between Ankara and the EU Turkey urge Europe to respect showed no signs of abating. democracy, human rights, “If you continue to behave freedoms.” like this, tomorrow in no part Tensions with Germany have of the world, no European, no been further heightened after Westerner will be able to take Deniz Yucel, the Turkey corre- steps on the street safely and spondent of the German news- peacefully,” Erdogan said dur- paper Die Welt, was jailed last ing a speech in Ankara. month on terror charges. He is Erdogan did not expand on awaiting trial. what he meant by his com- The president accused Ger- ments but appeared to imply man consular offi cials of allow- that Europeans risked receiv- ing Yucel to take refuge in the ing the same treatment that, he residence of the German consul says, is endured by Turks and in Istanbul for a month to evade Muslims in Europe. arrest. Relations between Turkey Erdogan again condemned and Europe have been severely German Chancellor Angela strained since Turkish minis- Merkel, who he previously Foggy, unsettled weather with temperatures around 10 degrees near the lake Ammersee in Herrsching, southern Germany. ters were thwarted from cam- claimed is “supporting terror- paigning on the continent for a ists”, after she urged the Turk- ‘yes’ vote in next month’s refer- ish-German journalist be freed endum on expanding Erdogan’s and gave her support to the powers. Dutch during the height of the Ankara has said such behav- crisis over rallies. iour was reminiscent of Nazi “You say ‘I am with the Germany and also raised alarm Netherlands’. Well, I am with over what it sees as rising rac- my people,” Erdogan said. Eurogroup chairman Mobster sought for German killings held refuses calls to quit AFP Inside the fourth one they Rome searched, on the top fl oor of The Eurogroup chairman has poorer indebted south. has obligations. I can’t spend all to be appointed and he could lose chasm between north and south the building, they found a trap- courted controversy before “Europe will only be credible my money on booze and women his job as fi nance minister. and lays out the carpet for ex- door leading to another bolt- as a common project on the day and then ask you for your sup- A senior ally of Dutch Prime tremist views, not to mention talian police yesterday cap- hole, where they found Vottari Reuters when Mr Dijsselbloem stops be- port. This principle holds at per- Minister Mark Rutte said Dijssel- sexist overtones”. tured a notorious Calab- squashed into a space just big Lisbon ing head of the Eurogroup and sonal... and even European lev- bloem still had the government’s Austerity measures unleashed Irian mobster wanted over a enough to hold someone hiding apologises clearly to all the coun- els,” he was quoted as saying. backing. anger and frequent protests in 2007 mafi a massacre in which out for a few hours. tries and peoples that were pro- Dijsselbloem said yesterday A spokeswoman for Ger- southern Europe during the cri- six people died in the German “I’d like to congratulate the urogroup chairman Jer- foundly off ended by his remarks,” that he had no intention of quit- man Finance Minister Wolfgang sis, often directed at Germany city of Duisburg. police... oen Dijsselbloem rejected Costa said. ting. Schaeuble sought to play down and Chancellor Angela Merkel. Santo Vottari, 45, was cap- for bringing one of Italy’s Ecalls for his resignation Former Italian prime minis- He said that he regretted any the remarks. In Greece this week several tured in a tiny hideout in a fl at most wanted and dangerous led by Portugal’s prime minister ter Matteo Renzi and a Spanish off ence caused by the comments “We expect, so long as this booby-trapped packages, in- at Benestare, near the southern men to justice,” Minniti said. yesterday, but said he regretted lawmaker in the European Par- but they could be explained by (Dutch) government is in of- tended for eurozone offi cials Italian city of Reggio-Calabria. Vottari was one of 31 people comments suggesting southern liament, Esteban Gonzalez Pons, “strict Dutch, Calvinistic cul- fi ce, that we will have a fully including Dijsselbloem, were The Calabria region is home sentenced to prison terms in European countries had squan- echoed Costa. ture, with Dutch directness”. functioning Eurogroup chair,” intercepted by authorities. to the ‘Ndrangheta organised 2009 in connection with the dered their money on “booze and The Spanish legislator called “I understand that this is not she said, adding: “I don’t award Dijsselbloem has been in crime syndicate, now consid- Duisburg killings, which hap- women”. the remarks “a racist and male- always well understood and ap- marks for style in interviews.” trouble previously for his out- ered Italy’s most powerful ma- pened after a vendetta between Prime Minister Antonio Costa chauvinist insult to the southern preciated, elsewhere in Europe,” Europe’s debt crisis started spoken comments. In 2014, he fi a group. two clans based in the same described Dijsselbloem’s re- countries, and their women”. Dijsselbloem said. “That is an- with a bailout for Greece in called European Commission Vottari was convicted in ab- village, San Luca, spiralled out marks as “racist, xenophobic and Renzi said: “If he wants to of- other lesson I take on board.” 2010. Portugal, Cyprus and Ire- head Jean-Claude Juncker a sentia in 2009 of being one of of control. sexist” and said Europe would fend Italy he should do it at the Dijsselbloem has been Euro- land also received emergency heavy drinker and smoker. the heads of an ‘Ndrangheta The feud between the Nir- lose credibility if the Dutchman sports bar under his house, not in group head since 2013 and his loans, while Spain sought rescue He also spooked markets in clan whose feud with local ri- ta-Strangio and Pelle-Vottari did not step down. his institutional role.” term ends in January next year. funds for its banks. Greece has 2013 when he said the Cyp- vals culminated in the Duis- clans reportedly began with an The spat has reawakened sim- In the weekend interview, Di- Eurozone fi nance ministers are still not recovered and is cur- riot bank rescue plan, in which burg killings. egg-throwing prank in 1991. mering anger in southern Europe jsselbloem said that wealthier however due to discuss whether rently seeking new loans. depositors with more than He was given a prison term of Reprisals escalated after over the harsh austerity some northern European countries had he should stay in the post until Greek government spokes- 100,000 euros faced losses 10 years and eight months, two the killing, on Christmas Day, of their countries went through showed solidarity with the south then after his centre-left party man Dimitris Tzanakopoulos along with shareholders and years after he went on the run. 2006, of Maria Strangio, the under bailouts during the euro- during the eurozone crisis by suff ered heavily in this month’s said the comment was “com- bondholders, would be the new Interior Minister Marco wife of clan leader Giovanni zone debt crisis, pitting creditor giving them fi nancial aid. Dutch elections. pletely misguided, it adopts template for eurozone bank res- Minniti praised the police team Nirta. The feud was blamed for nations in the north against the “But whoever demands it, also A new formal coalition is yet stereotypes that widen the cues. that tracked him down to a at least 16 deaths in total, with building which had no fewer the killings in Germany bring- than four concealed bunkers ing it to international atten- in it. tion. Greed and graft grip Bulgaria

Norway asylum for AFP election, the third in four years. noted last month. Romania — recently visited Sofi a, Democracy (CDS), a Sofi a-based Sofia Although the major parties — Since joining the bloc in 2007, many senior magistrates refused think tank.”Corruption controls spearheaded by the Socialists and both Bulgaria and Romania have to meet her, much to judge Panov’s the government.” Turkish offi cers the conservative GERB party of been subject to a special EU moni- despair. This “privatisation of govern- op Bulgarian judge Lozan ex-prime minister Boyko Bori- toring mechanism overseeing their “They will have us believe that ance” has aff ected all major sec- Panov cuts a lonely fi gure in sov — have all campaigned against anti-corruption strategies. there’s a witch-hunt going on Ro- tors including state administra- DPA fi ed, told Oslo daily VG: “I was Tthe crusade against the ram- embezzlement of public funds, few But while the EU praised Bucha- mania. tion, healthcare, education and Stockholm fi red here in Norway and my pant corruption gripping his coun- voters believe that whoever wins rest’s progress in its latest report But while guilty politicians end the media, the CDS said in a report passport has been cancelled. try, the European Union’s poorest the election will make good on in January, Sofi a remains bottom up in jail in Romania, they’re inevi- released last July. If I go back, I’ll be immedi- member state. their promises. of the class when it comes to com- tably acquitted in Bulgaria,” Panov One in fi ve Bulgarians admitted orway has granted po- ately arrested and risk torture Pointing to neighbouring Ro- A new anti-corruption party, batting graft, particularly in senior said. to paying a bribe last year — the litical asylum to four and would be forced to make mania, which saw huge anti-graft launched by ex-justice minister ranks. Bulgaria’s complex web of cor- highest fi gure in 15 years. NTurkish offi cers and false confessions.” protests erupt last month, Panov Hristo Ivanov to “conquer the state Judicial reforms demanded by ruption and grinding poverty can Corruption has also acted as a a military attache who feared Turkey declared a state of deplored the “lack of courage” back from the mafi a”, is not expect- the EU fi zzled in 2015 when law- be traced back to the early 1990s. deterrent to foreign investment. reprisals after last year’s failed emergency after the failed coup among his fellow countrymen. ed to even pass the four-percent makers pushed through a massive- When communism collapsed in Between 2007 and 2015, a ma- coup in Turkey, an attorney said and then proceeded to crack “We’re in the same boat as Ro- threshold to enter parliament in ly watered-down version, prompt- 1989, Bulgarians’ dreams of a bet- jority of all public tenders were yesterday. down on alleged supporters mania but they have rowers and we the March 26 ballot. ing Ivanov to resign in protest and ter life were soon crushed when awarded to just 10% of the con- All fi ve were in Norway dur- of US-based Islamic preacher don’t,” said Panov, who heads the “Bulgarian citizens are disap- launch his new party. the country’s wealth and power tenders, the independent Institute ing the July 15 attempted coup Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara Supreme Court of Cassation, Bul- pointed with the functioning of Bulgaria has also failed to follow became concentrated in the hands for Market Economics in Sofi a and deny any involvement, at- blamed for the putsch. garia’s highest court for criminal institutions,” said Transparency in the footsteps of Romania, which of oligarchs. found. torney Kjell M Brygfj eld told The Norwegian Foreign Min- and civil cases. International in a statement ahead now has one of the EU’s most pow- And although the EU accession “Bulgaria is a post-soviet model DPA. istry said asylum decisions are Panov is one of the only senior of the vote. erful anti-corruption agencies, the helped boost the economy, it also of oligarchy which has taken over Brygfj eld represents four of handled by Norwegian migra- judges to openly accuse magis- “Persistent unaddressed prob- DNA. exacerbated corrupt practices, the country’s resources, coupled the fi ve asylum applicants. tion authorities, and that it trates of political interference and lems include dirty money in poli- The body has brought hundreds with public funds fl owing into the with a pitiless media propaganda Due to attorney-client privi- would not speculate on possi- to campaign for reforms in a sys- tics, unregulated lobbying, a lack of ministers, senators, lawmakers pockets of shady businessmen and machine,” said journalist Atanas lege he was unable to off er more ble “international reactions” to tem governed by greed rather than of uniform anti-corruption poli- and other public offi cials to justice bent offi cials. Tchobanov who runs the investi- details at present. those decisions, Foreign Minis- justice. cies in public institutions and non- in recent years. Oligarchy has “captured all gative news website Bivol.bg. Earlier this year, one of the try spokeswoman Gurli Solberg His uphill battle is unlikely to get transparent appointments to key But when DNA head Laura Ko- key public institutions”, accord- Nonetheless, he says a glimmer offi cers, who was not identi- said. fresh impetus from Sunday’s snap public offi ces,” the campaign group vesi — nicknamed “Mrs Justice” in ing to the Centre for the Study of of hope remains. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, March 23, 2017 INDIA

LEGISLATURE APPEAL SECURITY VIOLENCE POLITICS Manipur Congress MLA TN wants bodies of Secure borders to stop 6 hurt as villagers clash Tejaswi taunts Modi faces disqualification fishermen from Saudi infiltration: Congress over caste remarks for ‘hollow’ greetings

Manipur Speaker Y Khemchand told the assembly Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami urged The Congress yesterday voiced concern over Six people were injured when members of two Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav yesterday that a notice has been received seeking the Indian government to bring back the bodies the increased infiltration of terrorists in India communities clashed yesterday in a Gurugram yesterday taunted Prime Minister Narendra Modi the disqualification of T Shyamkumar, who was of three Indian fishermen who reportedly died and asked the government to “match its village over caste remarks on a social networking site for greeting people on “Bihar Diwas” without elected on a Congress ticket but shifted his while fishing off Saudi Arabia. In a letter to Prime rhetoric over the issue” by securing borders in and WhatsApp chat, police said. Two of the injured either according special category status or allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minister Narendra Modi, Palaniswami said the three a foolproof manner. “Prime Minister Narendra suff ered gunshot wounds during the clash in nearby providing any special package to the state. “It is a the recent assembly elections. Khemchand said fishermen from Kanyakumari reportedly lost their Modi keeps talking about terrorism at all Begumpur Khatola village following a panchayat good thing that Modi has extended his greetings the notice was under process. The speaker was lives while fishing off the Saudi coast. George, Nevil forums in the country and world, he should meeting called to discuss the issue. Later, members of to the people of Bihar, but he failed to grant special replying to K Meghachandra of the Congress who and Joseph along with a Saudi Arabian national now match the rhetoric with actions,” Congress one community allegedly got help from outside and category status or special package promised by said: “Ten MLAs had submitted a notice seeking went fishing from Darin in Saudi Arabia on March MP Gaurav Gogoi said in New Delhi. He said the vandalised over a dozen vehicles in the village. Police him. Three years have passed (since Modi made disqualification of Shyamkumar. Everybody 17. An accident occurred the next day. The bodies data presented in the Lok Sabha on infiltration said members of both communities had been posting the promise), but nothing has happened so far, knows that he had defected. It must be the first of George and Joseph were recovered while Nevil painted a “serious picture” and accountability remarks on social media and sending WhatsApp except ‘jumlas’ (hollow words),” Tejaswi, the in the country for an MLA who was elected on remains missing. The chief minister urged Modi to should be fixed for it. “It seems that no lesson messages against each other, which were shared by younger son of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu a party’s ticket to become a minister of another direct the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia to arrange has been learnt from Pathankot incident,” he some village youths. Police said after the panchayat Prasad Yadav said. Tejaswi, 27, said the people of party. There has been no response from the for search and rescue operation and transport the said, adding that “we want our borders to be meeting ended with no positive outcome, the youths Bihar had been betrayed by the Bharatiya Janata speaker.” mortal remains of the deceased. secured.” from the two communities clashed. Party (BJP)-led central government.

Krishna joins BJP Congress leader who criticised Govt warns Rahul quits

By Ashraf Padanna Thiruvananthapuram protesting

prominent Youth Con- gress leader in Kerala, Awho criticised party vice- president Rahul Gandhi for elec- toral debacles, has said he was “quitting active politics.” doctors of C R Mahesh, the Youth Con- gress vice-president who an- nounced his decision at a press conference in Kollam, however added he still had a lot of faith in Gandhi and that he was capable of leading the party. Following his criticism, the salary cuts Youth Congress national lead- ership suspended him from the party. Agencies Boosting the agitating doctors’ ior doctor who was beaten by “Rahul Gandhi is the only Mumbai cause, the IMA extended sup- relatives of a patient on Sunday leader from whom I have a lot port to the medicos’ demand for evening. According to witnesses, of expectations,” he said. “The implementation of the Violence about 15 people attacked Kumar time would prove me right.” three-day protest by jun- Against Doctors Act, 2010 and after the death of a woman he Mahesh blamed the Kerala ior doctors in Maharash- adequate provisions for their se- was treating, who was suff ering leaders who wanted to por- Atra’s government hospital curity as per court directives. from chronic kidney failure. tray him as someone following escalated with 40,000 members Expressing support to MARD News of the assault on Kumar, the far-right Hindu ideology, of the Indian Medical Associa- from New Delhi, the AIIMS Resi- the third of its kind in a week, “which I never was”. tion joining their strike yester- dent Doctors Association said spread through WhatsApp and “They ran such a silent day. that instead of providing security Facebook over the weekend, and campaign during the assem- The state government mean- to the medicos, the government shocked India’s medical com- bly elections last year when I while served an ultimatum ask- was threatening to cut salaries munity. was the party’s candidate in ing doctors to resume duty im- and evict them from hostels. Ajay Kumar, a second-year Kayamkulam,” said the leader mediately failing which they “We resident doctors of AIIMS junior doctor, said doctors in who lost by a slender margin of could face a six-month pay cut. are forced to work with helmets Mumbai’s state-run hospitals 1,759 votes. “We have given them the fi nal in emergency as we don’t want to work an average of 14-18 hours “I’m fed up with the dirty ultimatum,” Medical Education lose our vision and life as well as a day, and at least one 36-hour politics of factionalism in the Minister Girish Mahajan said in our hard earned degrees,” the as- non-stop stretch every week. Congress, which is in no mood to Mumbai. sociation said in a statement. “After all that work, this is change or reform itself. I am not Individual hospitals in Mum- He said there was no discus- what we get? We’re not even safe going to join any other party.” bai and other parts of Maharash- sion on compensation for the in our workplace. Then what are On Tuesday, Mahesh in his tra also initiated their own action doctors who were beaten. we doing all this for?” he said. Facebook post told Gandhi that of slapping show-cause or sus- Despite a strong rap by the Aniket Wadal, who witnessed he must make way for others if pension notices on the agitating Bombay High Court on Tues- the attack against Kumar on he did not want to lead the party doctors. day, MARD made it clear that the Sunday, said the doctor was too and came down heavily on An- According to a spokesperson agitation would continue till the traumatised to return to work. tony, whom he termed as a “si- for the Maharashtra Association government ensured security in “He is not even leaving his room. lent monk” and demanded that of Resident Doctors (MARD), hospitals against violence by pa- He is not talking to anyone. He he break his silence. suspension notices were served tients’ relatives. is very distressed. He has fi led He criticised the leadership on 370 resident doctors in Nag- IMA Youth president Sagar a police report against the rela- for indecision following the res- pur and 114 in Solapur. Mundada said its 45,000 mem- tives.” ignation of V M Sudheeran as the The Brihanmumbai Municipal ber-doctors in Maharashtra and Wadal described how a mob of state party chief who was appar- Corporation served notices to over 200,000 in India also op- people stormed the hospital and ently nominated at the behest of around 500 doctors asking them pose any punitive action against started verbally abusing Kumar. Antony and Gandhi which in- to resume work as per the Bom- the agitating resident medicos. “They started swearing, and that tensifi ed internal squabbles. bay High Court directive imme- High Court Chief Justice sort of thing we are very used to. “The party remains headless diately or face action. Manjula Chellur and Justice G S We get verbal abuse on a daily for the past two weeks,” he said IMA president Ashok Tamble Kulkarni made strong observa- basis. But then they started man- in his post. said that from yesterday, all the tions on the doctors and asked handling him and slapping him. “The leaders who are expected 40,000 member-doctors have them to join duties, failing which One of them hit him hard, and to fi ght the anti-people policies Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah congratulates former Karnataka chief minister struck work in government hos- the government was free to act because he has polio in one leg, of (Prime Minister Narendra S M Krishna who formally joined the party in New Delhi yesterday. The former Karnata chief pitals across the state, but only against them. he fell to the ground. There were Modi’s) BJP and (Kerala’s ruling) minister and foreign minister resigned from the Congress recently to join the BJP. essential or emergency medical The protests started after an two security (guards) there but CPM are not seen anywhere.” services would be maintained. attack on Rohith Kumar, a jun- they were outnumbered.” Telangana govt cracks BJP demands arrest of Trinamool leaders down on child marriages IANS tion against the present state Kolkata government is unprecedent- ed. Everyone involved in this Reuters if they are caught supplying to or “And illiteracy is not always (Narada sting case) corruption Hyderabad performing a child marriage,” said the reason. We had a case of a he West Bengal unit of should be arrested and pun- Prem Kumar, a senior offi cial in 13-year-old girl getting married the Bharatiya Janata Party ished,” he said. Vikarabad district, west of Telan- to a 15-year-old boy, and parents T(BJP) yesterday organised Ghosh said that although there riests, card printers, fl ower gana capital and Indian tech hub of both were educated.” a massive rally here demanding was a “minor tussle” between the decorators and tent sup- Hyderabad. Activists say there is growing the arrest of Trinamool Congress police and the BJP party work- Ppliers are among the many “There are many auspicious awareness of child marriages. leaders allegedly seen taking ers near Esplanade, they had no players in the lucrative wedding days for weddings between March The nonprofi t Mamidipudi money in the Narada sting op- complaints against the role of the industry being enlisted to help and May. We held a meeting with Venkatarangaiya Foundation in eration footage. police. authorities in southern India people in the business before the Telangana, which campaigns The rally, led by state BJP state The police requested them to crack down on child marriages. wedding season started.” against child marriage, said most president Dilip Ghosh, started rally peacefully as high school Priests in Telangana state have Wedding industry players have calls on their child helpline are from north Kolkata’s College board examinations are going on, been told to request proof of age also been asked to take a declara- from adults alerting them to chil- Square up to Esplanade in central the leader added. for the bride and groom before tion from parents that their chil- dren being married in their neigh- Kolkata. It broke police barricade On Tuesday the Supreme marrying them, while offi cials dren are of legal age for marriage bourhood. at the Esplanade crossing and got Court refused to interfere with there are checking in villages to and submit it to the government Last year, tent suppliers in involved in a “minor tussle” with the Calcutta High Court order see if any child marriages are be- with proof of identity for the northern Rajasthan state started the police. that asked the Central Bureau of ing planned or performed. bride and groom. demanding to see the birth cer- One of the woman supporters Investigation to conduct a pre- The legal age of marriage in Child marriage is common in tifi cates of the brides and grooms present in the rally was injured. liminary inquiry into the sting India is 18 for a women and 21 for rural, poor communities in India, for whom they supply tents. Terming the rally as “histori- operation. men. where a girl is seen as a fi nancial In eff orts to raise awareness, cal”, Ghosh claimed that people In the video footage, a number The drive to stop child marriage, burden. Bhagwat’s team is counselling “spontaneously” joined them of senior Trinamool Congress timed for the peak wedding season Girls are also married young parents and priests. as his party has been constantly leaders were seen accepting in the summer months, is focused because of fears for their safety. India’s Child Marriage Prohibi- fi ghting against corruption. money on the promise of dis- on rural parts of Telangana, where “It is a tradition in these parts tion Act imposes a Rs10,000 fi ne “This is a historical rally. To- pensing favours. more than 30% of boys and girls for parents to get their children and two years in prison for par- day, the people joined us in such The bench of Chief Justice married as children, according to married soon after they clear high ents caught marrying their un- huge numbers, because we are Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice D Y government data for 2015-16. school, particularly girls,” said derage children. constantly raising our voice Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay “We have warned printers, Mahesh Bhagwat, a police com- The government registered against the ongoing corruption Kishan Kaul found no infi rmity priests, decorators and owners missioner who initiated the drive nearly 800 child marriage cases West Bengal BJP leaders stage a demonstration against the in the state,” Ghosh said. with the high court order direct- of marriage halls of legal action on the outskirts of Hyderabad. between 2013 and 2015. Trinamool Congress government in Kolkata yesterday. “The charges of corrup- ing inquiry by the CBI. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 21 INDIA

OFFBEAT CONTROVERSY POLITICS EDUCATION INVESTIGATION Police blame rats for No problem with Sidhu’s Remove ‘Aam’ word CBSE brings in ‘uniform’ SBI off icials arrested for missing marijuana show if it’s legal: CM from govt schemes: EC assessment for Classes 6-9 alleged misappropriation

Police came up with a novel explanation Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Ahead of municipal elections in the national capital, The Central Board of Secondary Education The Central Bureau of Investigation has for a missing haul of marijuana yes – rats. A yesterday said his party had no problem with the Delhi Election Commission has asked the is bringing in a revised assessment structure arrested two senior State Bank of India (SBI) senior off icer blamed the furry rodents for Navjot Singh Sidhu working in a TV show if Aam Aadmi Party government to remove “Aam” following its decision to restore Class 10 Board officials for misappropriating funds of around the disappearance of a haul of drugs from a it was constitutionally permissible. Asked word from all forms of display of its schemes. The examination from the 2017-18 academic session. Rs1.2mn by violating the central bank’s warehouse at Nagpur railway station. “Rats are a about Sidhu’s comment that he will keep commission directed the Delhi Chief Secretary and “To increase confidence in students to start guidelines imposed during demonetisation, huge menace here, they keep nibbling at plastic on working in The Kapil Sharma Show, all the three city municipal commissioners to remove preparing for Class 10 board examination when an official said yesterday. Senior Special wrappers containing marijuana and alcohol Singh said he did not have a problem “if it the word “Aam” from hoardings, banners, name they join the upper primary stage in Class 6, the Assistant M Sultan Mohiuddin and Deputy bottles,” Abhay Panhekar, a senior railways is permissible constitutionally and legally. plates, billboards, in Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic and CBSE has decided to implement the uniform Manager I J Raja Sekhar, employed at SBI’s police inspector said. Panhekar said illegal I am sure Sidhu has also contacted some Aam Aadmi Bypass Express Service or anywhere system of assessment, examination pattern and Buchireddypalem branch in Andhra Pradesh’s stashes of cannabis and bootleg liquor had been constitutional expert. Everyone has the right within the jurisdiction of the Delhi government. The issue of report cards for Classes 6 to 7 also on the Nellore district, were held during a raid piling up in the warehouse over the last decade to run their business and earn money.” Singh commission also demanded a “compliance report” similar pattern,” the CBSE said. “This new scheme conducted at their official and residential as off icers cracked down on smugglers. They are who was in New Delhi met Prime Minister within 48 hours. The action comes after the Bharatiya will bring uniformity in the system of assessment premises on Tuesday. The Central Bureau not allowed to destroy seized narcotics without a Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Janata Party sought removal of “Aam Aadmi” from and examination for classes 9 and 10 in all the of Investigation also recovered several court order, he claimed. Jaitley. the names of the government-run schemes. CBSE aff iliated schools,” the board said. incriminating documents. ‘Anti-Romeo’ squads in UP stir fears of moral policing

DPA “The crackdown aims to weed Lucknow out hooligans, lumpen elements and roadside romeos who hang around malls, colleges and coach- olice in Uttar Pradesh have ing centres, tease or stare at girls, begun deploying “anti- thus making public areas insecure PRomeo” squads who con- for them,” Srivastava said. duct surprise checks in public The move has also stirred con- areas to counter the sexual har- troversy because it is linked to assment and taunting of women, BJP’s campaign against “love ji- offi cials said yesterday. had”– described by Adityanath The campaign launched on as a ploy through which young Tuesday has already rounded up 15 Muslim men lure young Hindu men in the state capital Lucknow women into marriage and con- and other districts, police spokes- version to Islam. man Rahul Srivastava said. BJP president Amit Shah re- Boys standing outside girls’ jected the accusation in an inter- schools and colleges were also view with the News18 network. hauled up and questioned. “In Uttar Pradesh, people have The move comes days after stopped sending their daughters Butchers and traders with family members gather outside a closed illegal slaughterhouse at Naini in Allahabad yesterday. Hindu hardliner and priest Yogi to colleges because the girls get Adityanath took offi ce as state harassed. We have promised that chief minister following the BJP will form an anti-Romeo Bharatiya Janata Party’s emphat- Squad to save these girls. This is ic victory in assembly polls. not communal.” The squads were a key promise During a public meeting in in BJP’s election manifesto. Meerut in February, Shah had “The idea is to reclaim public repeated the promise. “In Uttar spaces and make them safe for Pradesh, every college would be Butcher shops razed women,” state police chief Javeed provided with the anti-Romeo Ahmad told NDTV, following in- squad. Our girls would be safe- structions by Adityanath to im- guarded. These anti-Romeo prove law and order in the state. squads would allow the girls to All police stations have been study without fear in college asked to form “anti-Romeo” campuses.” squads and told that public plac- Each squad consists of a sub- amid beef crackdown es need to be made safe, particu- inspector and four constables larly for young girls. (which include two women con- The fire comes just days Police were investigating the tar Pradesh after Prime Minis- is a crackdown on unlicensed nority populations – including India’s most populous state stables as well). after Adityanath was sworn “mysterious” overnight blaze ter Narendra Modi’s right-wing vendors. Muslims, Christians and low- Uttar Pradesh is also among its The members of the squad in as chief minister of Uttar that reduced the three butcher Bharatiya Janata Party swept Meat traders fear legitimate er-caste Hindus – eat beef, al- most lawless. would be deployed both in plain Pradesh shops to ashes in Hathras dis- state polls earlier this month, businesses could be swept up in though it is not widely available. Government data shows the clothes and uniform. trict, local police chief Dilip Ku- in part on a pledge to close un- the hysteria. India has witnessed a rise in state reports the maximum The idea of “anti-Romeo” Agencies mar said. licensed traders and illegal beef “The way the entire issue vigilantism by Hindu extremists number of cases of crimes against squads was fi rst implemented in Lucknow “We are not ruling out any- outlets. is being twisted is hurting our since Modi was voted to power in women, including sexual violence. Gujarat in the late 1990s when thing,” he said. India is a significant global business. There is fear in the 2014. The move has been praised as a the BJP was in power but the The fi re comes just days after exporter of meat from buffa- minds of the public,” said Imran Armed gangs have been big step towards safety of women campaign later fi zzled out . olice said yesterday they Adityanath was sworn in as chief loes, which are not seen as sa- Qureshi, whose abattoir in Uttar known to enforce an unoffi cial but the domestic media has also “Initially such squads were were not ruling out ar- minister of Uttar Pradesh, In- cred beasts, with Uttar Pradesh Pradesh exports buff alo meat to beef ban in some parts, forcibly raised concerns, saying the drive formed in late 1990s but by Pson after fi re gutted three dia’s largest state with a bloody housing half the country’s ab- Europe and the Middle East. inspecting trucks for any sign of could lead to harassment by cops 2002-03 the campaign fi zzled butcher shops in Uttar Pradesh, history of violence between attoirs. Only eight of India’s 29 states livestock or carcasses. or turn into moral policing. out as such complaints of eve- where fi rebrand Bharatiya Janata Hindus and Muslims. But most butcher shops in allow cow slaughter. Drivers accused of transport- Footage on news channels teasing were less in Gujarat and Party leader Yogi Adityanath has The hardline priest-turned- the powder-keg state are run by The rest have slowly stiff ened ing cows to slaughterhouses showed police questioning there were staff problems also,” taken offi ce promising a crack- politician is known for his po- Muslims, and Hindu hardliners penalties, including life impris- have been lynched. young men outside malls, parks said offi cials in Ahmedabad. down on slaughterhouses. larising and infl ammatory have alleged that beef is being onment, as Hindu hardliners Even rumours of transgression and colleges. Police said though there are The meat industry is a magnet speeches against Muslims, and passed off as buff alo. agitate for a total bans. can spar deadly violence. Female students who were inter- no specifi c anti-Romeo squads for religious violence in India, has called for harsher penalties Since the BJP’s thumping Modi’s home state of Gujarat In 2015 a 50-year-old Mus- viewed welcomed the measures. in Gujarat with dedicated staff where Hindus consider cows sa- for the slaughter of cows, which election victory less than a fort- yesterday proposed raising the lim man accused of eating beef Srivastava said the drive “will at present, police patrol outside cred and accusations of beef be- is already illegal in most Indian night ago, dozens of butcher penalty for cow slaughter to ten was dragged from his home and not be allowed to degenerate into schools and colleges and public ing sold by Muslims can trigger states. shops have been sealed off across years prison. beaten to death by a mob. moral policing.” places continue. violent mob reprisals. He was chosen to lead Ut- the state in what authorities say Millions from India’s huge mi- Police later said it was mutton. 19 Maharashtra MLAs Two get life in jail for Ajmer blast suspended for 9 months Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Agencies Jaipur Gupta pronounced sentence yesterday. IANS members voting in favour after submitted a memorandum Special public prosecutor Mumbai which the speaker issued the demanding his directions to court in Rajasthan yes- Ashwini Sharma said their suspension orders. the government to revoke the terday jailed two Hindu motive was to create commu- On Saturday Mungantiwar suspension. Aextremists for life over nal disharmony. n a drastic move, 19 oppo- presented the budget for 2017-18 They also urged him to ask the a deadly bombing at a Sufi “Their motive was to hurt sition legislators were yes- amid chaos and unruly scenes as government to issue directives shrine. religious sentiments of Mus- Iterday suspended for nine the combined opposition con- for announcing writing off all Police had initially blamed lims during the month of months by Maharashtra Speaker tinued its demand for a complete farm debts to bring relief to the Pakistan-based extremists Ramzan (Ramadan) by the Haribhau Bagade for creating waiver of farm loans. farmers who were committing for the 2007 attack on the re- bomb blast,” Sharma said. ruckus over farm loans in the The speaker’s suspension suicide. vered 12th-century Sufi shrine Gupta and Patel’s lawyer J state assembly. order was greeted with pro- Among the legislators sus- at Ajmer in Rajasthan, which S Rana told journalists they The combined opposition tests, a silent sit-in outside pended for nine months in- killed three people and injured would appeal the verdict in a cried foul over the move, term- the legislature by opposi- clude nine from the Congress 15. higher court. ing it “an unconstitutional step tion legislators wearing black and 10 from NCP who are also But earlier this month a spe- “We are innocent and it is and a murder of democracy” bands. barred from entering the leg- cial court in Rajasthan found a political conspiracy against and later met Governor C V They alleged that the govern- islature precincts at Nariman Devendra Gupta and Bhavesh us,” Gupta told the media Rao. ment took the step to avoid de- Point. Patel guilty, the fi rst time in while coming out of the court The house, which reassem- feat over a cut motion which re- They include several heavy- living memory that Hindu Local media reported the bled after three days, adopted quires voting in the house. weights as well as former minis- radicals have been convicted two convicts were members a resolution moved by Parlia- Condemning the move, op- ters from both parties including for such a crime. of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak mentary Aff airs Minister Girish position leader Radhakrishna Bhaskar Jadhav, Vijay Vaddeti- A third man who was shot Sangh that has been blamed Bapat, seeking suspension of Vikhe-Patil accused the govern- war, Jitendra Awhad, D P Sa- dead in the months after the for stoking fears and hatred the Congress and Nationalist ment of being insensitive to the want, Abdul Sattar and Avdhoot attack and tried posthumously against the Muslims. Congress Party (NCP) legislators farmers’ plight and attempting Tatkare. was also convicted. The court had on March 8 who disrupted Finance Minister to muzzle the opposition by re- They were among the op- All three were convicted on acquitted RSS leader Swami Sudhir Mungantiwar’s budget sorting to undemocratic meas- position members who raised charges related to explosives Aseemanand and six others. speech that day. ures. slogans in the house that day, and conspiracy to commit The RSS is the ideological The resolution was adopted Later, Vikhe-Patil led an carried banners, sang songs and unlawful acts over the blast, fountainhead of Prime Minis- with both the ruling Bharatiya all-party opposition del- later made a bonfi re of budget Maharashtra opposition leaders stage a demonstration outside the which came just before the ter Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and ally Shiv Sena egation to Governor Rao and copies. assembly in Mumbai yesterday. Muslim festival of Eid. Janata Party. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, March 23, 2017 LATIN AMERICA Guatemala gang attacks police after raid on detention centre

AFP offi cers and wounded seven, ac- outside Guatemala City, was or- President Jimmy Morales had day, at the height of the hostage under considerable public pres- suspicions of a prostitution ring, Guatemala City cording to Interior Minister Fran- dered after dozens of Barrio 18 in- hailed the raid on Monday that stand-off and before the police sure and criticism over the poor according to the prosecutor’s of- cisco Rivas. mates rioted and killed two guards freed the four guards. But that raid, that the four guards “are well conditions and treatment of mi- fi ce for human rights. Thirteen suspected gang mem- and took four others hostage. congratulatory message soon — beaten up, but OK.” nors held in government-run fa- Although the head of the social ne of Guatemala’s most- bers have been arrested in the The building was technically a turned sour. Hospital offi cials on During the storming of the cilities. welfare ministry responsible for feared gangs, Barrio 18, wake of the attacks, and weapons detention centre for juvenile of- Tuesday confi rmed that two of blue-and-white detention cen- That is because of a fi re in a both facilities and several minis- Ohas launched a wave of including a grenade launcher, fi ve fenders, but many of the nearly the guards had died from their tre, journalists outside its barbed children’s shelter close to the try offi cials were arrested follow- murderous attacks on police assault rifl es, four pistols and two 200 males held inside were aged wounds. wire-topped fence had heard det- Stage II detention centre in the ing the March 8 fi re, anger is still across the country following the bulletproof jackets seized, along over 18. Of the two others, one was in a onations and screams inside the same town less than two weeks being directed at Morales in the storming of a detention centre with several vehicles, he said. Twenty of the tattooed Barrio critical condition and the other in building. ago that killed 40 teenage girls. form of frequent protests. overrun by its jailed members, of- He called the attacks a “reac- 18 inmates linked to the guards’ a stable condition. The deaths, and the subsequent The minors being held in the The ministry runs fi ve chil- fi cials said. tion by organised crime” to Mon- murders appeared in court on Offi cials said the fatal wounds attacks on police, robbed Morales Virgin of the Assumption Safe dren’s homes and four juvenile Police are on “maximum alert” day’s raid on the detention centre. Tuesday, wearing white T-shirts had been infl icted on the guards of a relatively successful denoue- Home had long complained of detention centres across the after at least nine assaults on po- The storming of the Stage II and with their hands cuff ed. Po- by the inmates. ment to the detention centre riot. mistreatment by staff , includ- country, together accounting for lice stations that have killed three facility in San Jose de Pinula, just lice stood guard behind them. But Castillo had said on Mon- He and his administration are ing sexual abuse. There were also around 3,000 minors. Beatlemania Teachers seek pay rise blooms belatedly in Cuba

AFP leg trousers, miniskirts and long Havana hair were also banned. But times have changed. The Yellow Submarine, opened hile their American in 2011, is one of at least six and European peers Beatles tribute bars across the is- Wtwisted and shouted to land — all of them run by the cul- The Beatles in the 1960s, in Cuba ture ministry. childhood sweethearts Gisela and One of them, in the eastern city Hector kept their Beatlemania a of Holguin, is said to be an ini- naughty secret. tiative of the ruling party leader Now, still Beatles-crazy after Miguel Diaz-Canel — widely all these years, but with the com- touted as the country’s possible munist island’s Cold War-era next president. censorship of rock music a thing On a bench near the Yellow of the past, they are making up for Submarine sits a bronze statue lost time. of late Beatle John Lennon. Fi- “We are very happy that Cuba del Castro himself inaugurated is becoming reconciled to the the statue in 2000. In footage of Teachers march during a 48-hour nationwide strike demanding pay rises, in Buenos Aires yesterday. Beatles,” says Gisela, 64. the ceremony, the late leader can She and Hector, 65, have deco- be heard bewailing the former rated their home with pictures, censorship of Beatles songs. “I posters and souvenirs dedicated greatly regret not having met you to the British band. sooner,” Castro told the statue. Whenever they can, they join The censorship was not his crowds of fellow Cubans in their idea, Castro went on: he delegat- 60s and 70s, singing and dancing ed cultural policy to underlings at the Yellow Submarine bar — El while he was busy leading Cuba Submarino Amarillo — in down- through the Cold War. Pinera poll win likely as town Havana. Fidel Castro’s death last No- “This is not nostalgia,” says the vember marked the end of an era artistic director of the club, jour- in Cuba. nalist Guillermo Vilar, 65. “This is His brother Raul, in charge now about them claiming their right to for more than a decade, has been experience what they could not gradually opening up the econo- experience before because of all my and foreign relations. Chile’s left in disarray the contradictions of the time.” The bronze Lennon has become Fidel Castro’s revolutionary an attraction for locals and the Reuters Recent polls make him the since then, with the exception of Riven by disagreements over worst idea possible if they want regime banned songs in English, growing number of foreign tour- Santiago frontrunner to win the vote, with Pinera’s fi rst term. policies such as loosening Chile’s to win the election,” said political the language of its enemy the US, ists visiting the island. The stat- around 40% of support versus “There exists a risk for the fi rst strict abortion laws and reforming scientist Kenneth Bunker. for fear such music would spawn ue’s spectacles have been stolen 30% for his nearest rival, inde- time that (the coalition) could fi n- the labour code, and emboldened The Christian Democrat can- ideological deviance. several times and a guard has been hile’s left-leaning gov- pendent leftist Senator Alejan- ish, bringing to an end a long 30- by a 2015 electoral reform that will didate is Carolina Goic, who in Gisela Moreno and Hector Ruiz appointed to take care of them, erning coalition is in dro Guillier. year cycle of its grip on power,” potentially make it easier for par- polls is trailing far behind Guil- would listen to The Beatles on US getting them out for passers-by Cdisarray ahead of No- Whereas the diff erent strands former centre-left minister and ties outside a bloc to gain traction lier, a former journalist who en- radio stations they captured on when they want to take photos. vember’s presidential and con- of Chile Vamos appear to be ral- political veteran Sergio Bitar said. in Congress, some on the left are tered politics in 2013. short-wave radios. Fans trace the rise of Beatle- gressional elections, leaving a lying behind Pinera, unity is President Michelle Bachelet’s suggesting they should bypass Ex-president Ricardo La- Records lent by the occasional mania in Cuba to 1990, when clear path to victory for the more proving elusive for the left. Nueva Mayoria coalition is be- nominating primaries in July. gos is also in the running for the returning traveller were copied Vilar organised a tribute concert organised conservative opposi- As a result, the likelihood that ing pulled in diff erent directions “We Christian Democrats centre-left vote, although he has in state recording studios, with to mark the 10th anniversary of tion, lawmakers and analysts say. Chile will follow other Latin by its component parties, which should take our candidate struggled to gain traction. Oth- the complicity of staff , onto low- Lennon’s murder. On Tuesday night, Sebastian American countries with a tilt to range from centrist Christian straight to the fi rst round. The ers in the bloc are appealing for quality metal discs. For many Cubans, that marked Pinera, who was Chile’s presi- the right in 2017 is rising. Democrats to Communists. electoral reform changes reality,” unity. “You put it on the record play- the belated birth of rock on the is- dent from 2010 to 2014, declared The coalition of the left, pre- “Pinera’s candidate an- tweeted former Christian Demo- “I think that the best thing ers we had back then and you just land — for the old generation and his intention to run again, rep- viously the Concertacion, was nouncement is showing up how crat leader Soledad Alvear earlier would be to go with one candidate heard noise with the music in the the new. At the Yellow Submarine, resenting the conservative Chile formed in 1988 as Chile returned the Nueva Mayoria is very divid- this month. and not be divided in November’s background,” Ruiz recalls. “It was gentlemen’s bellies bulge under Vamos coalition. to democracy after the dark years ed and how united the right is,” But a split between the socially elections,” Christian Democrat terrible, but hey, at least it was black Beatles T-shirts and grey He launched his bid at a lav- of the Augusto Pinochet dicta- Cristian Monckeberg, the presi- conservative Christian Demo- senator Jorge Pizarro said. The Beatles.” ponytails, while the ladies show ish rally broadcast on primetime torship. dent of Pinera’s centre-right crats and more progressive ele- “Divided, I think we will ease At their high school, skinny- off their miniskirts and long boots. television. It has provided every president party, said yesterday. ments of the bloc would be “the the triumph of the right.” Ordinary Venezuelans Moise calls on Haiti govt to fi ght graft

AFP members of parliament overnight help to feed the hungry Monday to Tuesday before obtain- Port-au-Prince ing support from 95 lawmakers. Reuters Concerned individuals, busi- myself will bring it to your house. There were six “no” votes and Caracas nesses, church groups and high- National production should go to aitian President Jovenel two abstentions. end restaurants have started the people in order to defeat the Moise yesterday urged his Last week, the senate approved projects across the country to imperialist war,” Maduro said at Hnewly-installed govern- the new government programme heir clothes torn and dirty, serve food, donate clothing and an event this month to promote ment to fi ght against corruption after 16 hours of debate. nine barefoot children yell help with supplies for struggling the distribution of subsidised at a time of economic woes in the Lafontant has vowed to fund Tand applaud as a convoy of hospitals. food. Caribbean country. his government plan — which cars approaches on a busy street Long accustomed to living in In Caracas, six upscale restau- “I ask you to hate corruption includes new roads, schools and in Venezuela’s capital. one of Latin America’s wealthi- rants and chefs have formed a and admire the culture of results,” hospitals — by battling corrup- Volunteers emerge handing out est nations, many Venezuelans charity — “Full Stomach, Happy Moise told ministers during their tion, broadening the tax base and soup and clothes to the delight have been shocked by seeing more Heart” — that provides food for swearing-in ceremony at the cutting back on unneeded expen- and excitement of the children and more people trying to salvage a geriatric home and a children’s presidential palace in the capital. ditures. who have come from a town a food from the trash. hospital. “Our meagre resources will now Faced with infl ation exceeding couple of hours outside Caracas. According to a recent study by They take turns to cook and be used to solve the problems of 14% and unbridled currency de- “We started this because we see three Venezuelan universities, serve meals there. the population and not to enrich a valuation over the past four years, people every day hunting for food 93% of the Opec nation’s resi- “We serve large portions so that few,” he added to applause, warn- the premier knows his work will be in the trash, not only the homeless dents do not have enough money the children can share the food ing there would be “real diffi cul- far from easy. but people on their way to work,” to buy suffi cient food and 74% with their parents,” said chef and ties to overcome.” “I inherit the premiership as said Diego Prada, a 28-year-old have lost around 18 pounds (8kg) blogger Elisa Bermudez, adding Moise spoke just hours after the Haitian people are hungry, entrepreneur who began a charity in the last year alone. salt to a broth ready for the hos- lawmakers approved the new Cab- hungrier than ever and desperate in December in response to Ven- Critics say 18 years of socialist pital. inet following a 19-hour session, about their future...while corrup- ezuela’s dire economic crisis. rule, exacerbated by a fall in oil At a nursing home, 55-year-old despite criticism over the lack of tion has become the rule and eth- His ‘Make The Diff erence’ prices, are to blame for Venezue- Maria Ramirez is grateful for the details on the fi nancing of the new ics the exception,” said Lafontant. initiative is one of a plethora of la’s economic collapse. outside help she receives. government’s programme. Worn down by an electoral cri- solidarity projects springing up But President Nicolas Maduro “Sometimes we worry that Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafon- sis that has paralysed the coun- around Venezuela, in the fourth says he is the victim of an “eco- we’re down to our last bag of spa- tant, a doctor and political novice, try’s economy for nearly two years, year of a crushing recession that nomic war” waged by the coun- ghetti but thankfully in our most A volunteer of Make The Diff erence (Haz La Diferencia) charity was named for the job a month ago most Haitians do not believe gov- has forced many to skip meals and try’s elite and the US government. critical moments, we always re- initiative gives a cup of soup to a homeless man in a street of by his friend Moise. ernment action can lift them out jostle for scarce subsidised food. “If the bourgeoisie hide the food, I ceive a donation.” Caracas. He answered questions from of extreme poverty. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Pak parliament votes to reinstate military courts

Reuters signed one by the military. However, Sharif’s ruling Karachi There is no access for the me- PML-N was not able to extend dia and the venue and timing of the courts’ tenure on its own as the trials is withheld until a ver- it does not have the two-thirds akistan’s parliament yes- dict is announced by the mili- majority required to amend the terday amended the con- tary. constitution, leading to two Pstitution to reinstate secret The courts have delivered 275 months of consensus building military courts that try civilians convictions, including 161 death between the major parties. charged with terrorism off ences, sentences, and carried out 17 ex- “The bill has been adopted to- something activists have warned ecutions. day, our suggestions including will lead to human rights abuses. the parliamentary oversight of The government and Paki- “The bill has been the military courts have been in- stan’s powerful military say the adopted today, our cluded in the bill,” Senator Saeed Women in Pakistan will be able to call the cab service — called Pink Taxi — by phone, a mobile app, SMS or simply by hailing one on the country’s civilian judicial infra- suggestions including the Ghani, from the opposition Paki- street. structure is ill-equipped to deal parliamentary oversight stan People’s Party, told Reuters. with such cases, partly as judges of the military courts have Judicial experts have argued fear becoming victims of revenge been included in the bill” that the courts do not address attacks by militants. the problem, with a criminal jus- Military courts were fi rst set These courts do not allow the tice system badly in need of re- up by the parliament in early right to appeal and judges are not form, and instead act as a stop- Women-only ‘pink taxis’ 2015 in response to an attack by required to have law degrees or gap measure. Pakistani Taliban fi ghters on a provide reasons for their verdicts. “The worrying thing is the military-run school that killed Prime Minister Nawaz Shar- conviction rate and the lack of 134 children. if’s offi ce said in January that it representation for people being Under the system, defend- would seek to keep them in place tried. It fails every single test set to hit Pakistani streets ants are not allowed to hire their after the two-year legal mandate of natural justice,” Furkan Ali, a own lawyers, instead being as- expired. lawyer, said. Thomson Reuters Foundation Commuting in the sweltering cated, acknowledged that large number of working wom- Lahore city of 20mn is often an ordeal women faced hostility and en who go out to work daily... for women. harassment when using public since such women will not be A report by Karachi’s Urban transport. able to aff ord relatively pricey omen in Pakistan’s Resource Center found most fares in these private cabs.” Afghanistan housing project commercial hub Kara- female commuters experience “Women-focused Sheikh said the Pink Taxi Wchi are set to ride taxis some form of sexual harass- transport initiatives service would be extended to driven by women in an initia- ment while using public trans- are important in that the cities of Lahore and Islam- underlines China’s growing role tive to protect female customers port. they serve a growing abad in the next three to four from the sexual harassment they Noor Jehan, a newly recruited demographic of mobile months, followed by other parts commonly face when travelling Pink Taxi driver, fi rst worked as women” of the country. Reuters “So far, the project is the larg- ing profile as a major player in around the teeming city. a maid and then as a driver for That would be welcomed by Kabul est Chinese-supported project the region. From today, women will be her female employer. “Having a mode of pub- Kainat Chaudhry, a content in Afghanistan,” Hamid Jalil, a “For donors what is important able to call the cab service — She said there was a need for lic transport catering to them writer with an IT fi rm in Lahore deputy minister at the Ministry is visibility so that people can see called Pink Taxi — by phone, such a service as most women alone can solve many of their who uses auto rickshaws or tax- fghan authorities expect of Urban Development said. their assistance and housing is a mobile app, SMS or simply “think thrice” before getting in transport issues,” he said on Pa- is to get to work. work on the fi rst phase “We hope that within two to one of the most visible projects,” by hailing one on the street, a vehicle driven by a man. kistani television. “A woman cannot sit in a taxi Aof a multimillion dol- three months, we’ll be able to Jalil said. said Ambreen Sheikh, who is The majority of women in But Zebunnisa Burki, a Kara- driven by a male driver and start lar housing project fi nanced by fi nalise procurement and start,” Past construction projects fi - launching the service with her conservative Pakistan do not chi-based journalist, said many a casual conversation without China to begin within months, he said. nanced by foreign donors have husband Zahid Sheikh. participate in the workforce, women in the city cannot aff ord the fear of it being mistaken as Beijing continues to raise its China is investing heavily in sometimes run into trouble “Our pilots (drivers) wear with a lack of safe transporta- to take taxis. for some sort of inclination to- development profi le in the re- the region, with the $57bn Chi- in Afghanistan, running over a pink scarf and black coat as tion one of the main obstacles, “Women-focused transport wards him,” she said. gion. na-Pakistan Economic Corridor budget or failing to match local their uniform. They include according to a study by the In- initiatives are important in that “The taxi driver reserves the The project, originally an- (CPEC) project to link its land- conditions and requirements but housewives, young women ternational Labour Organisa- they serve a growing demo- right to set the rear-view mir- nounced in 2015 during a visit locked northwest to the Ara- Jalil said he was confi dent the and students,” Sheikh told the tion. graphic of mobile women,” she ror to scan whatever you are to Kabul by Chinese Vice-Pres- bian Sea and projects such as the current project would be a suc- Thomson Reuters Foundation Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, said by e-mail. wearing — the stress makes one ident Li Yuanchao, is expected massive Mes Aynak copper mine cess. by phone after the soft launch minister for transport in Sindh “I do feel, though, that such cringe and hide in the corners of to see construction of 10,000 in Afghanistan. The Afghan government will of the service. province where Karachi is lo- ventures will still not cater to a the taxis away from his gaze.” housing units for Afghan civil Although it has been very select the main construction servants after the project was cautious about taking an active contractor from a list of Chinese cleared by both governments security role in Afghanistan, it companies provided by Beijing Child sex abuse last week. has promised to help build up the but he said Afghan authorities The fi rst phase will see 1,400 economy which has been shat- and local companies would be on the rise in units built near the old Darula- tered by decades of war. closely involved in running the Sindh province launches project for Pakistan: report man palace in the capital Kabul, While the housing project project. with China agreeing to provide counts as development aid “The design is made by us, The number of reported child 500mn yuan ($73mn) in fi nance. and has no direct links to in- not by the Chinese government. video surveillance of worship places sexual abuse cases in Pakistan has Two further phases are ex- vestments like Mes Aynak, Supervision will be by us, not by risen by 10% in the last year, with pected to follow, depending on which has been hit by wran- the Chinese government. And roughly 11 children abused every successful implementation of gling over contractual issues, also the sub-contractors will be Internews — have been selected for the part of the project. day, according to new statistics the fi rst stage. it underlines Beijing’s grow- Afghan companies,” he said. Karachi project,” said Athar Baloch, Last week while addressing a released yesterday. The report, deputy director at the IT min- function organised by his part’s compiled by Sahil, a non-govern- istry that has designed and minority wing in connection ment organisation (NGO) working n the fi rst project of its kind launched the project offi cially with the Hindu festival of Holi against child sexual abuse, says in the country for religious named “installation of security in Karachi, Prime Minister Na- that a total of 4,139 cases were Iminorities, the Sindh prov- surveillance cameras at wor- waz Sharif had said people of registered in 2016, an increase Ex-WWE wrestlers to brawl in ince government in Pakistan ship places of minorities.” all faiths enjoyed equal rights from 3,768 in 2015. The report has started working on a plan “There are hundreds of such according to the Constitution says that 2,410 girls and 1,729 boys to bring hundreds of worship places across the province and the and no one would be allowed were victims of sexual exploitation Pakistan as security improves places of non-Muslims under plan is to bring all of them under to create religious disharmony last year. Some 45% of the victims video surveillance across the video surveillance. For this, we and instability in the country. were between the ages of six and province for their security and are in the process of hiring an ex- The PM’s speech and then 15. Sex is a taboo subject in the AFP Pakistani fi rm Pro Wrestling said they came from countries monitoring of their infrastruc- pert private company that would the Sindh government’s ini- country. Karachi Entertainment said the fi ght- including the US, Canada, Ire- ture, offi cials said yesterday. guide us in fi nalising the plan and tiative are believed to be moves Activists working to fight child ers would take to the ring in the land, France, the UK and Algeria. The provincial government’s its design. The project is expected from the two major parties be- abuse have said the problem cities of Karachi, Lahore and Is- “Most of them have fought project has surfaced almost to [be] completed within the next fore the general elections to win is widespread but diff icult to ore than two dozen pro lamabad starting in May. under the aegis of WWE and are a week after Prime Minister four months.” the hearts of thousands of non- quantify because victims are often wrestlers will be ready “We have signed contracts big names,” he said. Nawaz Sharif had assured re- However, he said, several Muslim citizens. unwilling to speak out. Mto rumble in Pakistan with as many as 25 wrestlers of The Pakistani fi rm had worked ligious minorities in the coun- such places of worship situated But Dr Sikandar Ali Shoro, Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi, the National this summer as security im- international repute to come to for a year to persuade fi ghters try in general and in Sindh in in far-fl ung areas of the prov- the special assistant to the chief Commissioner for Children, said at proves, including former fi ght- fi ght in Pakistan for the fi rst time to come to Pakistan, which has particular of “equal access to ince were not visited by devo- minister on information, sci- the report’s launch that the govern- ers from major US conglomerate ever,” Pro Wrestling Entertain- been largely deserted by inter- progress and development”. tees anymore. ence and technology, said that ment’s own research shows that World Wrestling Entertainment ment director Imran Hussain national sports stars during its “[Worship] places of four According to initial planning, the PPP had always been at the at least 40mn children in Pakistan (WWE), organisers said yester- Shah told AFP. fi ght against militancy lasting religious minorities — Chris- he said, such abandoned wor- minorities’ side when it came to living below the poverty line were in day. Without disclosing names, he more than a decade. tians, Hindus, Parsis and Sikhs ship places would not be made their rights and justice. dire need of protection. Afghanistan music fans hail trailblazing talent show

AFP Zulala Hashemi, 18, burst into and, to wild cheers from the au- other user, Nasima Sadat. Kabul tears as the result — decided by dience, handed her the award. Mubarez, the sole breadwin- public vote — was announced “I’m proud Zulala has made it ner of his family, shut down his during the fi nal aired Tuesday. to the fi nals. I want to give this hair salon in the northern city of usic fans in conserva- Her rival Sayed Jamal Mubarez, award to her — she deserves it,” Mazar-i-Sharif for three months tive Afghanistan yes- a 23-year-old from the persecuted he said. to take part in the show, borrow- Mterday hailed the Hazara minority who became the A woman came in third place ing $8 from his neighbours for groundbreaking fi nale of a pop- fi rst rap artist to win the contest, in 2008 but since then no female the bus ride to Kabul. ular television singing competi- was gallant in victory. singer has gone beyond seventh “Rap is a new thing in Af- tion, in which the fi rst woman to As Hashemi took refuge in the or eighth position. ghanistan, people don’t know it reach the last round lost to an- arms of her biggest supporter, The 12-week competition was yet, but I will continue to rap till other avant-garde competitor. Afghan pop star Aryana Say- watched by millions of view- it fi ts in society,” said Mubarez, Afghan Star, an adaptation eed, Mubarez dismissed his own ers and fans on social media who raps about poverty, injus- of American Idol, has become achievement to praise the young Wednesday said the fi nal had tice, women and even expensive a huge hit in a nation where woman. been groundbreaking, no matter marriages. the Taliban regime once con- “I am very happy I won the who won. Zulala Hashemi is a native of fi ned women to their homes and fi rst position, but would have “Mubarez is a great talent. He the eastern city of Jalalabad, a banned music and cinema. been happier if Zulala had come sings for justice, pain and misery stronghold of Taliban and Is- But since its launch in 2005, fi rst, because the women here of people,” wrote Facebook user lamic State insurgents. four years after the fall of the live with a lot of restrictions,” he Hussain Gulzar. “I want to convey a message to Taliban, it has also suff ered a told an audience sprinkled with “By giving the award to Zulala, Afghan women: they must claim backlash from mullahs for the celebrities as he accepted his Mubarez said no to the face of all their rights and explore their tal- way it features unveiled women award. those who are against women ents,” she told AFP ahead of the This file photo taken on March 9, 2017 shows young Afghan singer Zulala Hashemi (right) alongside singing and dancing. Mubarez then turned to Zulala and national unity,” wrote an- fi nal. competitor Sayed Jamal Mubarez as they perform during the television music competition Afghan Star. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, March 23, 2017 PHILIPPINES

China Govt says drug war media denies plans to build on reports hurting tourism shoal AFP have also died. Duterte briefly Bangkok suspended all police from the crackdown in January after it AFP was revealed anti-drugs offic- Beijing he Philippines tourism ers used the drug war as cover secretary urged the me- for kidnapping and murdering Tdia yesterday to “tone a South Korean businessman. hina yesterday denied down” coverage of President But, after describing the plans to build an environ- Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug police force as “corrupt to the Cmental monitoring sta- war, complaining that reports core”, Duterte brought it back tion on a disputed shoal near the on extra-judicial killings were a month later and vowed to Philippines’ coastline, after a lo- scaring away foreigners. continue the crackdown until cal offi cial last week announced On a trip to Thailand ac- all drug traffickers were off the the plan. companying Duterte, Tourism streets or killed. “As we have learned from rel- Secretary Wanda Teo insisted Duterte has over the past evant authorities, the report on the Philippines was a safe year become a well-known establishing an environmental destination but said journal- figure internationally because monitoring station is false. ists were making the country a of the drug war and his caustic This is not true at all,” foreign hard sell because of their focus rhetoric against critics. ministry spokeswoman Hua on the killings. Duterte this week boasted Chunying told reporters at a reg- “Help us because you know, that calling then-US presi- ular briefi ng in Beijing. it’s really difficult for me to dent Barack Obama a “son of a The comments came after the sell the Philippines, especially w****” had made him famous. committee secretary of China’s when extra-judicial killings He then used more foul lan- Sansha city reportedly said his becomes the topic,” Teo told guage to respond to criticism country was “continuing to Filipino reporters following from European lawmakers of carry forward early-stage work the Duterte entourage. the drug war, and called them on environmental monitoring Teo said tour operators “crazies”. The Philippines, de- stations” on six reefs and shoals abroad were “always” asking spite picturesque tropical is- in the South China Sea includ- her about the issue, citing Asia lands and spectacular moun- ing Scarborough Shoal — which and Europe as regions where tains, has long lagged behind China seized from the Philip- people were particularly con- its neighbours as a tourist des- pines in 2012. cerned. tination. The statement was deleted “I would always say it’s safe This is partly due to dec- from the website of the pro- in the Philippines,” Teo added. ades-long religious and com- vincial government, which ad- “To the media, please tone munist insurgencies, as well as ministers China’s claims to the down a little the extra-judicial File photo shows Analyn Roxas, 26, and her sister, crying as her partner, Valien Mendoza, a suspected drug dealer, was gunned down by frequent kidnappings of for- islands, after being reported in killing (reports),” she said. unidentified assailants in Manila. eigners by militants. Chinese media. Duterte was elected last year About 5.9mn tourists visited Beijing has already reclaimed after promising during the sands of people. reported killing 2,594 people have been killed in a state- While most of those killed the Philippines last year, com- large areas around several islets campaign to eradicate drugs in Since he took office nearly in the drug war while rights sanctioned campaign of mass have been poor people liv- pared with 32.6mn for Thai- and reefs in the Spratly archipel- society by killing tens of thou- nine months ago, police have groups say thousands more murder. ing in slums, some foreigners land. ago elsewhere in the South China Sea, and built airstrips and mili- tary facilities on some. But analysts warn that build- ing on Scarborough Shoal would radically change the situation Transport groups to hold strike since it is just 230 kilometres Palace slams from the main Philippine island of Luzon. Outposts on the shoal would against modernisation programme put Chinese jet fi ghters and missiles within easy striking NY Times distance of military bases in By Reicelene Joy Ignacio ment will provide free rides to commuters the Philippines, some of which Manila Times if the transport strike pushes through. could host US troops. Under the jeepney modernisation pro- The shoal also commands gramme, the Department of Transporta- the northeast exit of the South report on ransport groups are planning to tion will phase out old jeepneys and re- China Sea, so a Chinese military hold a three-day strike nationwide place them with better managed fl eet with outpost there could stop other Tto protest the planned transporta- environment-friendly engines. countries’ navies from using the tion modernisation programme that will Transport groups such as ‘Stop and Go’ waters. see the phaseout of rickety passenger and the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper On Sunday Philippine Presi- Duterte’s life jeepneys. “When will that dialogue be held? The at Operator Nationwide however said that dent Rodrigo Duterte said in Jun Magno, president of the Stop and Go modernisation (programme) will be im- the implementation of the programme will response to the Sansha reports Transport Coalition, said they have yet to plemented soon, and yet we have not re- lead to “corporatisation” and strip small that Manila could not prevent By Catherine S Valente According to the article, Du- decide when to hold the transport strike. ceived any notice from them, no schedule. jeepney operators and drivers of their live- such construction because Bei- Manila Times terte’s psychological assessment “We still have to set the right date for Totally, we got zero,” Magno told Manila lihood. jing was too powerful. in 1988 showed he had “narcis- this three-day transport strike,” Magno Times. The government had said that it will “We cannot stop China from sistic personality disorder” and a said during a news conference in Quezon Land Transportation Franchising Regu- provide assistance to operators and drivers doing (these) things,” Duterte alacanang yesterday “pervasive tendency to demean, City. latory Board spokesperson Aileen Lizada to allow them to adapt to the new system. told journalists. slammed the New York humiliate others and violate He added that President Rodrigo Du- said that the planned transport strike is il- The Transportation department said “What do you want me to do? MTimes (NYT) for releas- their rights.” terte has expressed willingness to talk with legal and a nuisance to the public. early this month that the Land Transpor- Declare war against China? I ing its “cynical and unfair” re- “Violence in the house, vio- transport groups concerning the mod- “They are doing it the wrong way. They tation Franchising and Regulatory Board can’t. We will lose all our mili- port about the life of President lence in the school, and violence ernisation programme, but they have not are inconveniencing the public,” Lizada will need two to three months to come tary and policemen tomorrow Rodrigo Duterte and his begin- in the neighbourhood… That is received any notice from the government said. up with the fi nal version of the Omnibus and we (will be) a destroyed na- nings as mayor of Davao City. why he (Duterte) is always angry. for a dialogue. She gave assurances that the govern- Franchising Guidelines. tion.” In a statement, Presidential Because if you have pain, when spokesman Ernesto Abella said you are young, you are angry all it seemed “well-heeled clients the time,” it read, quoting the with shady motives” paid the president’s brother, Emmanuel New York Times to publish an in- Duterte. depth article against the presi- The New York Times said Du- dent. terte may have helped people in Road rage suspect in Cebu City “One would expect more from need when he was the mayor of the New York Times. Their ar- Davao City but since he assumed ticle, ‘Becoming Duterte: The the presidency and waged war on Making of a Philippine Strong- drugs, “he has already surpassed man,’ sounds like a well-paid the death toll of President Fer- surrenders to regional police hack job for well-heeled clients dinand Marcos, whose forces with shady motives,” Abella said. killed about 3,300 political op- “One gets the feeling NYT ponents and activists during his Agencies mother, Bebong, two relatives ently advised Lim’s mother to more in his gesture but good- Salatandre, in a press con- is not interested in presenting harsh 20-year rule.” Cebu City and lawyer Orlando Salatandre surrender her son. will. “I just showed goodwill to ference Tuesday, claimed Lim the whole truth, only that with The Palace official, howev- Jr when he went to the offi ce of “Sir Bong, the family decided help bring justice to the victim.” acted in self-defence. which they can bully those who er, downplayed the report and Chief Supt Noli Talino, Central to follow your advice to sur- Dela Rosa said it was “nor- He said video of the shooting, attempt an independent foreign emphasised that Duterte “does t took a top Palace offi cial’s Visayas regional director (RD). render my son David Lim Jr to mal” for Lim’s mother to reach which had gone viral on social policy,” he added. not engage in Western liberal intervention to bring in a Talino, in a text message, in- the regional commander Chief out to Go to facilitate her son’s media, was edited to make it ap- The article published on niceties to promote his agenda, Iroad rage suspect here, scion formed Secretary Bong Go, spe- Supt. Noli Talino tomorrow surrender. pear Lim was the aggressor. Tuesday narrated the life of Du- to rebuild a nation with com- of one of the city’s wealthiest cial assistant to the president, (Tuesday),” said a text message “If that can be considered “My client is very sober and terte as a young man and Davao promised internal structures.” families, in a surrender arrange- about the surrender. from Bebong to Go that the lat- special treatment, then that calm,” said the lawyer, who City mayor before he became the “NYT cynically and unfairly ment that caught city police and Go, who was with Duterte in ter forwarded to reporters. special treatment becomes an gained fame for defending Ru- Philippines’ most powerful. narrates the president’s rise to offi cials by surprise. Bangkok, forwarded Talino’s “Please help us facilitate his advantage to us police because ben Ecleo Jr, a cult leader who “President Rodrigo Duterte power in the context of vio- While most Cebuanos slept, text to reporters in Davao City. surrender and safety—Mrs. he surrendered,” he said. remains at large after his con- relishes the image of killer- lence,” Abella said, noting that David Lim Jr turned himself in Talino’s text, according to Lim,” it said. The PNP chief said it was the viction for the killing of his saviour. He boasts of killing the New York Times also “de- to the regional police at 2am on what Go forwarded, read: “Sir continuous “hot pursuit” police wife, Alona. criminals with his own hand. On liberately” failed to mention Tuesday, Philippine Daily In- good am. Please be informed “If that can be considered operations that pressured Lim He said the full video record- occasion, he calls for mass mur- Duterte’s accomplishments quirer reported. that David Lim Jr, the road special treatment, then that to surrender. ing should be presented to show der,” said the lead of the piece, during his stint as mayor in Lim was identifi ed as the rage suspect, has surrendered special treatment becomes The Department of Justice that Lim was merely defending written by Richard Paddock. Davao City. driver of a Mercedes Benz to RD-PRO 7 at around 2am., an advantage to us police has placed Lim on its travel bul- himself. who shot and wounded nurse March 21. 2017 at PRO 7 accom- because he surrendered” letin. The video was taken by a Ephraim Nunal on a narrow panied by his mother Bebong, Lim’s surrender was kept dashboard camera of another street here. He is a nephew of two relatives and lawyer Jun How was Lim’s mother able under wraps that even Sen- motorist who witnessed the businessman Peter Lim, who Salatandre.” to reach out to Go? ior Supt. Joel Doria, city police road rage. A clip showed Lim had met with Duterte to deny “He is currently under my In Bangkok, Go, who denied chief, was unaware of. confronting Nunal, after Lim that he was the drug lord Pe- custody at RID pending the fi l- personally knowing the Lim Told by Cebu Daily News at went back to his car to get his ter Lim that the president had ing of the case in court. FYI sir,” family, said Davao-based busi- 6 am on Tuesday that Lim had gun and shoot Nunal twice. named. it added. nessman Peter Go brought to already surrendered, Doria said: It showed Lim and girlfriend, The road rage suspect was In an interview with a TV his attention the concerns of “I didn’t know.” Tamae Takahashi, fl eeing in the detained at the Philippine Na- network on Tuesday morning, Lim’s mother. Doria said that if procedure Mercedes Benz after the shoot- tional Police Regional Intelli- Talino admitted that Lim was “Peter Go called because he had been followed, Lim should ing. gence Division (RID) in Camp staying in his offi ce at PRO 7 wanted a friend—Mrs Lim who have been detained at the city Salatandre said it was not the Sergio Osmena, headquarters of while charges were being read- asked for help on what to do police stockade or the Mabolo complete story. Nunal, the law- the Provincial Regional Offi ce in ied against him. with her son. So, Mrs Lim called police station, which has juris- yer said, were with two other Central Visayas (PRO 7), instead On Monday night, Talino told me up and I advised her to sur- diction over the road rage scene. men who were “bigger” than of the stockade of the city police reporters that he was asked by render her son ASAP to the RD Lim’s stay in jail, however, Nunal. Thinking that he might offi ce, which is investigating the PNP Director General Ronald of the PNP and assured his safe- may be short-lived. His lawyer, be overpowered by Nunal’s two road rage case. He was moved “Bato” Dela Rosa to co-ordinate ty,” the secretary said. He was Salatandre, said he would post companions, Lim got a gun and later to the city police stockade. with Secretary Go for the sur- referring to Talino. bail once charges were fi led in fi red to scare Nunal and his two Duterte: unfair portrayal? Lim was accompanied by his render of Lim. Go had appar- He said there was nothing court. companions, Salatandre said. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Rohingya ‘refugees need BNP slams PM for ‘poll shelter as cyclones loom’ campaign’ Thomson Reuters Foundation military began a security opera- Azmat Ulla, Bangladesh head Cox’s Bazar, located on the Around 30,000 are registered New Delhi tion last October, in response to of the International Federation southeast coast, is prone to the as refugees and are living in the By Mizan Rahman He said without a level- what it says was an attack by of Red Cross and Red Crescent cyclones formed in the Bay of two offi cial camps in Cox’s Ba- Dhaka playing fi eld for all the parties Rohingya insurgents on border Societies, in a statement. Bengal – and some of the most zar. But most are in makeshift and restoration of people’s ens of thousands of posts. “Shelter is also a big issue. vulnerable residents are the camps or with host communi- democratic rights and politi- Muslims who have fl ed Many refugees are living in Many are living in substandard thousands of displaced Ro- ties, said the Red Cross, where he main opposition cal parties’ right to hold rallies Tviolence in northern My- “unplanned and overcrowded temporary structures. We need hingya people who live in make- they lack access to basics such as Bangladesh Nationalist and carry out political activi- anmar are living in “extremely settlements” in Bangladesh’s to scale up our support, particu- shift camps in the district. toilets and healthcare. TParty (BNP) yesterday ties, the election will turn out poor” conditions in neighbour- Cox’s Bazar district, said the Red larly as there will be additional Rohingya Muslims have been A UN report last month, based alleged that Prime Minister to be meaningless. ing Bangladesh and need better Cross, and do not have adequate challenges ahead with the onset fl eeing apartheid-like condi- on interviews with survivors in Sheikh Hasina is unilaterally The BNP leader urged the shelter as the country’s cyclone food, clean water, shelter of the fl ood and cyclone season.” tions in northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, said the Myanmar conducting electioneering in government to allow politi- season approaches, the Red materials or medicines. Bangladesh’s April to December where they are denied citizen- army and police had commit- favour of her party symbol ‘boat’ cal parties to carry out their Cross has said. “Most don’t have access to cyclone season often causes mass ship, since the early 1990s. ted mass killings and gang rapes keeping opposition parties political activities and hold Some 75,000 Rohingya people regular medical services and evacuations from coastal low- There are now at least 300,000 of Rohingya in a campaign that confi ned to homes. rallies to ensure a proper at- from Rakhine state have arrived they are not getting enough food lying villages and widespread crop who have crossed into Bangla- may amount to crimes against “A party and its chief are mosphere for a credible and in Bangladesh since Myanmar’s or suffi cient nutrition,” said and property damage. desh, according to the Red Cross. humanity and ethnic cleansing. holding rallies and conduct- neutral election. ing election campaign using The prime minister re- the state machinery. She (PM) cently joined rallies arranged is going to rallies in helicop- by Awami League in Bogra, ters spending public money. Laxmipur and Magura, and It proves there’s no democracy sought votes for ‘boat’. Ex-minister on hunger strike in the country,” said BNP sec- Sought comment on Awa- retary general Islam Alamgir. mi League general secretary He further said, “The prime Obaidul Quader’s comment IANS Rajapakse regime, reports Weerawansa has gone on minister is carrying out uni- that militancy can be an ob- Colombo Xinhua news agency. hunger strike. lateral election campaign by stacle to the next general elec- This caused a loss of Rs91mn The former minister launched force to establish a one-party tion, Fakhrul said their party ($599,000) to the state. a “fast unto death” campaign rule. But, they (government) does not have any such appre- ri Lanka’s former housing A spokesperson for the former in 2010 outside the UN offi ce have kept all the opposition hension. “In fact, the election minister Wimal Weer- minister said Weerawansa’s ar- in Colombo demanding that political parties confi ned to is still uncertain.” Sawansa, currently in rest was a political witch-hunt former UN General Secretary homes. We’re not even al- About a report that many prison on allegations of mis- and he had started a hunger Ban Ki-moon dissolve a three- lowed to hold any public rally extremists are entering India using state vehicles, has begun strike in prison after his bail ap- member panel looking into hu- and take out procession.” from Bangladesh, he said, “We a hunger strike demanding his plication was rejected by a high man rights abuses in the fi nal Alamgir made the allega- earlier said the government is release. court on Tuesday. stages of the war against Tamil tions while talking to reporters using militancy issue with a Weerawansa, a strong ally of Prison authorities confi rmed Tigers that ended in 2009. after placing wreaths at BNP political motive. A deep-root- former president Mahinda Ra- Weerawansa had refused to have He ended his fast four days founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave ed conspiracy is going on to japakse, was arrested on January his breakfast yesterday and they later after then president Ra- together with leaders and ac- brand Bangladesh as a militant 10 over allegations of misusing were monitoring the situation. japakse visited him and gave him tivists of Zia Parishad, mark- country due to propaganda by state vehicles during the former This is the second time water. ing its founding anniversary. the government in this regard.”

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, right, shakes hands with Chinese State Councillor, Defence Minister Chang Wanquan in Colombo. Nepal PM leaves on Sirisena heads China visit today to Russia IANS his other engagements to make plan and participation of Nepal Kathmandu time for it. in China’s fl agship foreign policy As Dahal’s visit to Nepal’s initiative. IANS expected to review progress northern neighbour will be Likewise, issues related to Colombo made in the longstanding bi- epal’s Prime Minister keenly followed and watched in Nepal-China Transit and Trans- lateral relationship, including Pushpa Kamal Dahal is New Delhi, it is almost offi cial portation Agreement, its pro- the way forward to further Nto leave for China today that no accord or understanding tocol and expansion of cross- ri Lankan President promote trade and investment to attend the Boao Asia Forum will be signed during the visit, border transmission line in Maithripala Sirisena left between the two countries. in China’s Hainan province announced Dahal a day ahead of northern border would be Syesterday on an offi cial Several bilateral agreements during which he will also meet his China visit. discussed. visit to Russia, the president’s in the areas of fi sheries, tour- Chinese President Xi Jinping, “We are not going to sign any On OBOR, the foreign min- offi ce said. ism, cultural and education the foreign ministry announced deal in this visit,” said Dahal at ister said Nepal and China President Sirisena is the co-operation, including co- yesterday. a CPN (Maoist Centre) Central have discussed in length about fi rst Sri Lankan leader to operation in the science and Dahal will travel to Beijing to Offi ce meeting. it and its possible advantage to visit Russia since 1974, when technology sector, are sched- meet Xi. This is his fi rst offi cial “My visit will be to lay the Nepal, but “we cannot agree then prime minister Sirimavo uled to be signed. visit to China after becoming ground for the visit of Chinese on free trade with China as Bandaranaike visited Moscow, In order to actively promote the prime minister in August President Xi Jinping to Nepal Nepali side is still consider- Xinhua news agency reported. trade and business linkages last year. and the objective of my China ing its merits and demerits”, The visit takes place as both between the two countries, “The prime minister will meet visit is focused on bringing him he added. countries celebrate the 60th a Sri Lanka-Russia Business the Chinese president on March to Nepal,” he said. Mahat said Nepal had pre- Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal: “My visit will be to lay the anniversary of the establish- Forum will be held in Mos- 27 (Monday) at the Great Hall of Foreign Minister Prakash pared to sign at least fi ve agree- ground for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal.” ment of diplomatic relations cow, and Sri Lanka will be the People where both leaders Sharan Mahat also said that ments with China on various this year, the foreign ministry represented by a delegation of will discuss matters of mutual Nepal is not going to sign any issues, but they wouldn’t be border transmission line, and al- to harnessing Chinese invest- said earlier. the Sri Lanka Russia Business interest,” the foreign ministry deal with China but will dis- signed this time as Chinese lowing the Chinese companies to ment in Nepal on various sec- During the visit, President Council. said. cuss some crucial bilateral Prime Minister Li Keqiang and conduct detailed project reports tors, establishing cross-border Sirisena is scheduled to hold Minister of Foreign Aff airs The Chinese side has already issues. Foreign Minister Wang Yi will of railway projects that will con- economic zone and capability- a bilateral meeting with Rus- Mangala Samaraweera and fi ve communicated that the meet- He said that discussions not be available in Beijing during nect Nepal-China border to the enhancing the National Planning sian President Vladimir Putin other cabinet ministers are ac- ing between Xi and Dahal will would take place on matters Dahal’s visit. southern plains and Pokhara via Commission. today. companying the president on a brief one – no longer than 20 pertaining to the China-initiat- The Nepali side had prepared Kathmandu. Dahal will return to Nepal on The offi cial discussions are the trip. minutes – and Xi had cut short ed “One Belt One Road” (OBOR) to sign agreements on cross- Other agreements related March 29. Baby’s day out UN rights chief blasts Lanka over war probe

AFP Geneva

he UN rights chief yester- day condemned Sri Lanka’s Tpersistent failure to probe war-era atrocities, suggesting the government was afraid of punish- ing soldiers who committed abus- es during the confl ict. The criticism from Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein is the latest Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein speaks during a press conference on Sri Lanka. volley in an escalating war of words between the United Na- But earlier this month, Sri judges in order to be “credible”. tions and Sri Lanka over impu- Lankan President Maithripala At least 100,000 people were nity for crimes committed dur- Sirisena rejected the appeal, killed during the separatist war ing the 37-year civil war, which saying he would not “allow between government forces ended in 2009. non-governmental organisa- and rebels from the Tamil Ti- “The consistent failure to ef- tions to dictate how to run my gers group, with atrocities fectively investigate, prosecute government”, nor heed calls to recorded by both sides. and punish serious crimes ap- “to prosecute my troops.” Sirisena, a member of the ma- pears to refl ect a broader re- Colombo has also asked the jority Sinhalese community, re- luctance or fear to take action UN for two more years to set up ceived the support of the Tamil against members of the securi- a war-era probe, after Sirise- minority after promising account- ty forces,” Zeid said in a speech na’s government agreed to the ability for excesses carried out by to the UN rights council. terms of an October 2015 UN the largely Sinhalese military. Zeid and the council have resolution calling for an inquiry But Sri Lanka’s main oppo- called for international judges to be formed within 18 months. sition Tamil party has accused A father buys a balloon for his child from a street vendor in Dhaka yesterday. to help investigate possible war Zeid said any justice mechanism Sirisena of failing to deliver on crimes to guarantee impartiality. set up by Colombo would need foreign accountability. Gulf Times 26 Thursday, March 23, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko After McGuinness, peace

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar will face renewed pressure [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), The former IRA man forth across the Irish Sea to meet the touched he was the one who would is shaking up identity politics in the 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) made the Good Friday Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, and spiral into an emotional diatribe province once again. Sinn Féin has Fax 44350474 McGuinness in safe houses in Belfast in defence of some Republican been presented with an ideal cause to Agreement work. But now and Dublin, and we eventually got to a shibboleth. Sometimes they would campaign for and even the prospect of lasting peace agreement in 2007. play a good cop, bad cop routine with revisiting the idea of a united Ireland, power-sharing is under McGuinness was the archetypical me – with Adams as the tough one given the majority vote against Brexit. threat, and the stage is set hardman, and a self-confessed IRA and McGuinness as the friendly one. The DUP will be even more member – yet he popped up every The Irish government always believed defensive after unionism’s political for a return to grievance time peace was discussed. In 1972 McGuinness’s principal role was, setback in this month’s assembly GULF TIMES politics he was in the IRA delegation fl own because of his credibility as a hard elections, and reluctant to make by the British government to meet man, to act as a guarantor for IRA any concessions, let alone asking the Northern Ireland secretary, volunteers that they would not be sold their leader to stand down while an By Jonathan Powell Willie Whitelaw, in Cheyne Walk for out, and the taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, investigation is conducted into the London abortive talks. Even more remarkably, would always keep one eye on him to heating scandal. All the ingredients in 1991 he was at the IRA end of the judge his reaction in any discussion. are in place for a long-running New owners secret channel to the John Major More remarkable than political standoff . This in turn leads hen I fi rst met Martin government. He sent the fi rst message, McGuinness’s role as a peacemaker the DUP to question the very basis of McGuinness in October now contested: “Our war is over but was his part in making the peace power sharing – the crucial ingredient 1997 I declined to shake we need your help to bring it to an agreement work. No one could have of the Good Friday agreement. steer F1 into Whis hand. As far as I was end.” And he was the leader of the predicted that the IRA leader from Of course there are major drawbacks concerned he was a terrorist and a Sinn Féin negotiating team with the Derry would be able to work with in a forced coalition. In Bosnia a member of an organisation that had UK government from 1995. the fi rebrand preacher Ian Paisley similar power-sharing system agreed shot and wounded my father, and put In the 10 years I dealt with them as fi rst and deputy fi rst minsters of at Dayton has led to endless corrupt my brother on a death list for eight I was fascinated by the relationship the assembly. Yet from the fi rst day, city governments. But a return to a the fast lane years. between McGuiness and Gerry Adams. the Chuckle Brothers were born. I majoritarian system of government in A few months later McGuinness I think it was probably in the mid-80s sat in the fi rst minister’s offi ce with Northern Ireland is unlikely, at least called me and asked if I would come that McGuinness and his colleagues Paisley, McGuinness, Tony Blair until the province has moved beyond Formula One ventures into the unknown zone of a to Derry incognito without telling fi nally decided to seek peace rather than and Ahern crammed on the sofa as sectarian politics. That means there is long-awaited revamped and high-speed era under new the securocrats. I agreed and fl ew to war. By then, he and Adams were well McGuinness and Paisley competed no obvious way out of the stalemate American ownership this weekend when the engines roar Belfast, took a taxi to Derry and stood past fi ghting age. They knew the British to crack jokes. McGuinness wisely now facing the parties, and indeed it on a street corner feeling foolish. Two army would never wipe out the IRA, deferred to Paisley’s age and showed may actually suit Sinn Féin and the into life at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. men with shaved heads approached but they could see the next generation genuine concern about his well-being. DUP to return to grievance politics for Liberty Media’s takeover and the off -season departure me, pushed me into the back of a taxi of republicans being shot and arrested, As a result, Paisley’s widow and son the foreseeable future rather than to of the sport’s veteran commercial ring-master Bernie and drove me around for an hour until I and realised the war could go on for still have a soft spot for the former agree to form a stable government. If Ecclestone have coincided with an overhaul of the was completely lost. They let me out by ever. They were never going to drive terrorist. And for 10 years McGuinness so, McGuinness has left us at a very technical regulations to usher in a new breed of ‘fatter and a house on the edge of a neat little estate. the Brits out of Northern Ireland, far managed to make the power-sharing untimely moment. faster’ cars. I knocked on the door and less convince the Unionist majority by mechanism in Northern Ireland work He managed to keep the system McGuinness came to the door on physical force of the virtues of a united with successive DUP leaders. together while he was alive. Now he The wider new machines with broader tyres make much crutches, making an unfunny joke Ireland. They then started reaching out: Now a new generation not involved has gone, no one should forget the greater physical demands on the drivers and are expected about kneecapping. I spent three fi rst to John Hume of the SDLP, then in the Troubles has to make the system violence and the victims of his early to provide more noise and spectacle — and hopefully hours in the living room talking to to the Irish, and fi nally to the British work. Many, like DUP leader Arlene Foster, life, but nor should they forget his better racing with more passing moves — as Formula him – the lady of the house had gone government. In doing so they risked not had terrifying personal experiences of remarkable contribution to making One bids to appeal to a younger, global, digital and social out asking no questions but leaving tea just their careers but their lives. the violence, but the question is whether peace and to making peace work and sandwiches. We didn’t make any In the 10 years I dealt with them they can put those nightmares behind in the province. He deserves to be media savvy audience. breakthroughs, but it became clear to I was fascinated by the relationship them and share power, as Paisley and remembered for the risks he took and The retirement of 2016 drivers world champion German me in the course of the conversation between Adams and McGuinness. McGuinness were able to do. the success he achieved in making Nico Rosberg has also triggered change with Finn Valtteri that the only way to make peace is to They had been together longer than This task is, of course, made even Northern Ireland a better place. He Bottas switching from Williams to partner three-time talk to your enemies and treat them as most married couples. Adams was more diffi cult by Brexit. The shadow will have an important and enduring champion and pre-season favourite Lewis Hamilton in you would want to be treated yourself. in command but McGuinness played of a returning hard border between place in Irish and British history. - I spent the next decade fl ying back and a crucial role, and if a nerve was Northern Ireland and the Republic Guardian News & Media the champion Mercedes team. That has been just one of a ripple of moves up and down the pit lane that have added an even greater sense of adventure, and the unknown, to the competition with Ferrari performing well in pre-season testing to suggest they may join Red Bull in mounting a challenge to the dominant German team. Already, Liberty have relaxed restrictions on teams’ paddock use of social media streaming of their live action during testing and made promises that there will be more substantial changes to come as four decades of Ecclestone’s leadership are dismantled and swept aside. The sight of the struggling McLaren The wider new Honda team switching back to ‘retro’ chassis machines with names and team colours, broader tyres with the return of a fl ash of orange, and Force make much India’s bold introduction of pink livery has added greater physical to the sense of a bold new demands on the beginning. But beneath the surface drivers many of the old fears persist amid hushed warnings that only a much-improved ‘show’ with better Gerry Adams (from left) and Martin McGuinness with Tony Blair and Jonathan Powell at Westminster in 2007. ‘He deserves to be remembered for the risks he took and the racing will help the sport halt a slow but sure decline in its success he achieved in making Northern Ireland a better place.’ fan base in a highly-competitive global age of digitalised sport-media. Despite the changes at Mercedes, that included the departure of technical team boss Paddy Lowe to join Williams, the champions will start 2017 as favourites again with Britain Hamilton the man to watch on the Keeping the Balkan ghosts at bay track. Lowe has been replaced by former Ferrari boffi n Briton James Allison. 1990’s, triggering a decade of brutal I spent a lot of time in the Balkans act, by deploying EU Battle Groups Bottas, whose switch from Williams meant that the By Carl Bildt Visby, Sweden wars from Croatia to Kosovo. The in the years after the Bosnian War. to conduct military exercises in the British team had to ask Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa emergence of seven new – and often I was the EU’s Special Envoy to the region. This would send a powerful to make a rapid U-turn after retiring and come back to mutually antagonistic – states made Former Yugoslavia, then Co-chairman message that its military forces partner 18-year-old Canadian rookie Lance Stroll, has uropean Union leaders have it clear that regional stability would of the Dayton Peace Conference, are not paper tigers, and that it is settled in quickly and easily alongside Hamilton. suddenly awoken to new depend on a new framework, namely, High Representative for Bosnia and capable of wielding more than just realities in the Balkans. the EU. Owing to its success in settling Herzegovina, and, fi nally, the United words. But the top pre-season story has been the problems at At a recent summit, they other longstanding national confl icts, Nations Secretary-General’s Special Further EU enlargement is also McLaren where a boardroom upheaval led to the ousting E emphasised the need for increased the EU was tasked with bridging the Envoy for the Balkans. imperative. With only Slovenia and of long-term chief Ron Dennis before testing confi rmed EU engagement to maintain stability region’s longstanding nationalist Last year, when I returned to Bosnia Croatia having joined the bloc so that Honda’s latest engine — in the third season of their – and to push back against Russian divides and quelling its ethnic in an unoffi cial capacity, someone far, securing membership for the much vaunted partnership — lacks both power and infl uence – in the region. confl icts. asked me if war was coming back to remaining Balkan countries obviously But the Balkan countries’ At an EU summit in Thessaloniki the region. At fi rst, I shrugged off will take time. But the reforms needed reliability. geopolitical situation should not come in 2003, delegates solemnly vowed to the question. “No way,” I responded. to make these countries eligible Two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Spain made as a surprise. After all, post-Ottoman bring all of the Balkan countries into But then others kept posing the same for membership can and should be little attempt at hiding his feelings after a frustrating run fractures – stretching from Biha in the bloc as members. That promise question; by the fi fth time, I started accelerated, with interim steps that of failures during testing. Bosnia’s northwestern corner to Basra would be as hard to keep as it was becoming concerned. have credibility with the region’s “There is no reliability and there is no power,” he said. on Iraq’s Arabian Gulf coast – have important to make. When the Balkans’ I was certainly right to say that the people. repeatedly been a source of regional immediate problems had subsided, EU wars of the 1990’s will not come back: For example, we should replicate For one of the sport’s traditional grandee teams, it is an and global instability since the demise leaders assumed that they had secured the conditions today are very diff erent the EU Eastern Partnership, with the embarrassing situation and it would be interesting to see of the old empires a century ago. peace for the region. Henceforth, their from what they were then. But, as creation of a Balkan Partnership, while how they deal with it as the season progresses. When the Habsburg and Ottoman business-as-usual approach to the we have seen many times before, always keeping membership on the empires collapsed at the end of Balkans essentially meant maintaining individual hotheads can ignite fi res table. At the same time, the EU needs World War I, attempts were made to the status quo. that are diffi cult to contain. Once upon to step up its political engagement in To Advertise establish modern nation-states in the After Jean-Claude Juncker was a time in Sarajevo, a single person the region. It can start by mediating Balkans, despite the region’s national appointed European Commission named Gavrilo Princip triggered outstanding minor border disputes, so [email protected] and cultural diversity. Since then, President in 2014, he confi rmed the a world war when he assassinated that these are not left to fester. Display nationalism has repeatedly clashed status quo, by declaring that the EU Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. The EU, in today’s parlance, has a Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 with the region’s enduring mosaic of would undergo no further expansion Today, the region is gradually bandwidth problem: its challenges civil life, fuelling one confl ict after during his fi ve-year term. Juncker’s becoming more combustible, and have multiplied in recent years, as Classified another. statement was technically correct, another spark could be lit, perhaps have the summits it holds to address Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Yugoslavia, like the nation-states but politically disastrous. With the this time in Skopje. them. But European leaders have that were established in the Levant light that had been guiding reform and So what is to be done? For Europe, an obvious choice in the Balkans: Subscription and Mesopotamia, was created to integration eff orts now extinguished, the only way forward is to assert its either deal with the problem, or wait [email protected] manage these political contradictions; nationalism in the region predictably powers of containment, while also for it to deal with them. – Project but atrocities – in Smyrna, Srebrenica, started to rise again. And the EU, accelerating European integration. Syndicate Sinjar, and elsewhere – remained a meanwhile, became fi xated on its To address the emerging risks in the 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved constant feature of post-imperial life. ongoing fi nancial problems, such as Balkans, the EU should demonstrate zCarl Bildt is a former prime minister Yugoslavia collapsed in the early member-state sovereign-debt crises. that it has the will and means to and foreign minister of Sweden. Gulf Times Thursday, March 23, 2017 27 COMMENT The EU’s road to Rome

A celebration of European solution. The Commission’s recent European Parliament and delivering “White Paper on the Future of political legitimacy, as well as more unity may be the ideal Europe” that sets out fi ve possible responsibility, to the Commission. moment to confront the paths forward for Europe, from Virtually nobody is betting on this way narrowing the EU’s focus to the single forward. diffi cult truth of disunity, market to deepening and broadening As for the intergovernmental and chart a way forward integration. It also includes the approach, it should be clear by now seemingly inescapable proposal of that this choice essentially means a building a multi-speed Europe. German-led union, at least for the By Ana Palacio The paper lays out a 10-month foreseeable future. That is not much Madrid timeline for debate and refl ection, to diff erent from the current situation, culminate at December’s European in which any important decision Council meeting, where Europe’s must have Germany’s blessing. And, t the end of this month, leaders would decide which direction in today’s increasingly contentious European Union leaders to take. The new approach would be world, it might not be a bad way (except for British Prime rolled out ahead of the 2019 European forward. AMinister Theresa May) will elections. It all seems very tidy. This is particularly true if – and it gather in Italy to celebrate the 60th European member states have is an “if” – Angela Merkel manages anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. already begun engaging Juncker’s to survive as German Chancellor Anniversary celebrations are always a framework. At a meeting at Versailles, past September. Merkel has, after all, good excuse for self-congratulation, the EU’s four largest economies – managed to consolidate her own unique and the rhetoric fi lling the air in the Germany, France, Italy, and Spain leadership style that, though recalcitrant run-up to the Rome summit suggests – endorsed a multi-speed approach at times, may work for a Europe under that this one will be no diff erent. that would establish them as a unifi ed pressure from all sides. It is not what But EU leaders should also be using core. The Visegrád Group (the Czech the EU’s founders envisioned, but the anniversary as an opportunity to Republic, Hungary, Poland, and it is workable, as long as Europeans refl ect deeply on the project they are Slovakia) have pushed back against acknowledge that this is the approach celebrating. that idea, fearing that they would be they are taking, and set the fl oor for The EU is at a crossroads. The left behind. The Benelux countries cooperation reasonably high. United Kingdom has not even formally (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Whatever way Europe goes, the fi rst launched the withdrawal process, yet Luxembourg) also have misgivings step is to determine which route it will Brexit has already demolished one about such an arrangement, which take. Simply put, Europe must decide of the European project’s founding would exclude them from some whether to collaborate or co-operate. assumptions: that, however slowly, decision-making – and leave Germany This is what should be on the table. integration would always move as the core group’s only creditor In March 1957, Konrad Adenauer forward. Now, rising nationalist country. called Rome the perfect backdrop populism is threatening to unravel six So the debate about Europe’s for “laying the foundation for the decades of progress. future is a vibrant one, just as Juncker common future of Europe.” In March A celebration of European unity may had hoped. But it misses the point, almost no introspection. Vital transnational or intergovernmental. structure, because it allows both the 2017, it could reprise that role. be the ideal moment to confront the simultaneously going too far and not questions – about the Commission’s The approach it chooses will shape the EU institutions and member states The EU may not have many more diffi cult truth of disunity, and chart far enough, for a simple reason: it is performance, the structure of the Union’s structure and the scope of its to skirt responsibility by constantly opportunities to refl ect on its present a way forward. But the honesty, self- not based on frank and comprehensive College of Commissioners, and, most activities. pointing fi ngers at one another – can and clarify its future. It should not let awareness, and clear vision needed to self-examination. Rather than important, the balance among the The choice will require EU leaders they pursue the needed rebalancing. this one slip away. – Project Syndicate use the Rome summit in this way does rearranging the deck chairs on the EU institutions – are papered over or fi rst to assess, with honesty and even True transnationalism off ers a not come naturally to EU leaders, who Titanic, the EU needs to address why ignored. bravery, where the EU is right now. higher ceiling for co-operation, but zAna Palacio, a former Spanish excel far more at lofty rhetoric than the ship is sinking. One absolutely fundamental They must be willing to call a spade a it is also riskier. If Europe chooses foreign minister and former Senior pragmatic solutions. But, beyond noting the gap between question that the white paper fails to spade – or, in this case, to call the EU this approach, it cannot rely on half- Vice President of the World Bank, is a To be sure, European Commission public expectations and the EU’s consider is how authority should be an intergovernmental organisation in measures. It must take real steps to member of the Spanish Council of State President Jean-Claude Juncker capacity (and authority) to act, the distributed within the EU. Here, the transnational clothing. Only after they align authority and accountability and a visiting lecturer at Georgetown has taken a stab at fostering such a Commission’s white paper includes EU does not have fi ve options, but two: recognise that this is a dysfunctional at the EU level, empowering the University. Robotisation without taxation? Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY By Robert J Shiller Discussion of a robot tax should High: 26 C New Haven consider what alternative we have to deal with rising inequality. It Low : 20 C Inshore: Strong wind and expected would be natural to consider a more thundery rain. he idea of a tax on robots progressive income tax and a “basic was raised last May in a income.” But, these measures do not draft report to the European have widespread popular support. If FRIDAY Parliament prepared by MEP support is not widespread, the tax, High: 23 C T Low: 21 C Mady Delvaux from the Committee even if imposed, will not last. on Legal Aff airs. Emphasising how When taxes on high incomes are S T Storms robots could boost inequality, the raised, usually in wartime, it turns report proposed that there might out to be only temporary. Ultimately, be a “need to introduce corporate it seems natural to most people that SATURDAY reporting requirements on the extent taxing successful people to benefi t High: 24 C and proportion of the contribution unsuccessful people is demeaning to Low: 21 C of robotics and AI to the economic the latter, and even the recipients of T Storms results of a company for the purpose fi nance adjustment, like retraining income or expenditures – because it the handout often do not really want of taxation and social security programmes for displaced workers. would fall heaviest on those with less it. Politicians know that: they usually contributions.” Such programmes may be as income, and it would grind the poor, do not campaign on proposals to Fishermen’s forecast who might be unable to pay it at all. confi scate high incomes and pad low The public reaction to Delvaux’s essential as our work is to healthy OFFSHORE DOHA proposal has been overwhelmingly human life as we know it. In his So taxes have to be related to some incomes. Wind: SE-NE 15-25/35 KT negative, with the notable exception book Rewarding Work, Edmund S activity indicative of ability to pay So, taxes must be reframed to Waves: 4-9/12 Feet of Bill Gates, who endorsed it. But Phelps emphasised the fundamental taxes, and whatever activity it is will remedy income inequality induced INSHORE DOHA Wind: SE-NE 05-15/25 KT we should not dismiss the idea out of importance of maintaining a “place be discouraged as a result. by robotisation. It may be more Waves: 2-4 Feet hand. In just the past year, we have in society – a calling.” When many Frank Ramsey published a classic politically acceptable, and thus seen the proliferation of devices such people are no longer able to fi nd paper in 1927 arguing that to minimise sustainable, to tax the robots rather Around the region as Google Home and Amazon Echo work to support a family, troubling taxation-induced distortions, one than just the high-income people. And Weather Weather Dot (Alexa), which replace some consequences ensue, and, as Phelps should tax all activities, and he while this would not tax individual today Max/min tomorrow Max/min aspects of household help. Likewise, stresses, “the functioning of the proposed how to set tax rates. His human success, as income taxes do, it Abu Dhabi P Cloudy 28/22 S T Storms 29/25 the Delphi and nuTonomy driverless entire community may be impaired.” abstract theory has never been a might in fact imply somewhat higher Baghdad T Storms 22/13 S T Storms 20/11 Dubai taxi services in Singapore have started In other words, there are externalities fully operational principle for actual taxes on higher incomes, if high P Cloudy 29/22 S Showers 28/24 Kuwait City Cloudy 28/17 S T Storms 24/16 to replace taxi drivers. And Doordash, to robotisation that justify some tax rates, but it provides a powerful incomes are earned in activities that Manama S Showers 26/18 S T Storms 25/19 which uses Starship Technologies government intervention. argument against presuming that the involve replacing humans with robots. Muscat M Sunny 28/25 M Cloudy 28/25 miniature self-driving vehicles, is Critics of a robot tax have tax should be zero for all but a few A moderate tax on robots, even a Riyadh P Cloudy 29/18 Sunny 31/17 replacing restaurant delivery people. emphasised that the ambiguity of activities, or that all activities should temporary tax that merely slows the Tehran Rain 11/08 Showers 12/08 If these and other labour-displacing the term “robot” makes defi ning the be taxed at the same rate. adoption of disruptive technology, innovations succeed, surely calls to tax tax base diffi cult. The critics also Activities that create externalities seems a natural component of a policy them will grow more frequent, owing stress the new robotics’ enormous, might have a higher tax rate than to address rising inequality. Revenue to the human problems that arise undeniable benefi ts to productivity Ramsey would have proposed. For could be targeted toward wage when people lose their jobs – often growth. example, taxes on alcoholic beverages insurance, to help people replaced by jobs with which they closely identify, But let’s not rule out so quickly at are widespread. Alcoholism is a major new technology make the transition to and for which they may have spent least modest robot taxes during the social problem. It destroys marriages, a diff erent career. This would accord years preparing. Optimists point out transition to a diff erent world of work. families, and lives. From 1920 to with our natural sense of justice, and that there have always been new jobs Such a tax should be part of a broader 1933, the United States tried a much thus be likely to endure. – Project for people replaced by technology; plan to manage the consequences of harsher market intervention: outright Syndicate but, as the robot revolution the robotics revolution. prohibition of alcoholic beverages. accelerates, doubts about how well All taxes, except a “lump-sum tax,” But it turned out to be impossible to zRobert J Shiller, a 2013 Nobel this will work out continue to grow. introduce distortions in the economy. eliminate alcohol consumption. The laureate in economics and Professor A tax on robots, its advocates hope, But no government can impose a alcohol tax that accompanied the end of Economics at Yale University, is might slow down the process, at least lump-sum tax – the same amount of Prohibition was a milder form of co-author, with George Akerlof, of temporarily, and provide revenues to for everyone regardless of their discouragement. Phishing for Phools: The Economics of Live issues Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens Sunny 22/08 Sunny 23/08 Beirut P Cloudy 19/13 M Sunny 19/12 Bangkok P Cloudy 34/27 S T Storms 33/27 Put the rainfall back into trees, scientists say Berlin S Showers 09/03 Sunny 13/01 Cairo S Showers 26/14 M Sunny 26/13 Cape Town S Showers 23/14 Cloudy 21/13 Colombo M Sunny P Cloudy 33/23 Thomson Reuters Foundation — living trees absorb carbon dioxide opportunity”, van Noordwijk said, a “signifi cant revision” of national 33/23 and deforestation releases carbon. particularly as more erratic rainfall and regional strategies to reduce Dhaka M Sunny 31/22 Sunny 33/23 London Hong Kong P Cloudy 23/20 P Cloudy 22/21 While that is important, it should brings droughts and other problems greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to Istanbul Sunny 13/05 M Sunny 14/04 not be the priority, the scientists around the world. climate change. Jakarta P Cloudy 31/24 P Cloudy 31/25 nternational climate and said, while presenting results of Countries are under pressure to curb This includes planting more trees Karachi Sunny 32/19 P Cloudy 33/22 environment agreements have their research at a virtual forestry emissions fast enough to keep global in cities, creating shade that naturally London P Cloudy 13/07 P Cloudy 14/04 Manila M Sunny P Cloudy 36/24 a fl aw which may jeopardise symposium. temperature rise to well below 2 degrees cools areas so people can spend less 35/25 Moscow M Sunny 11/-2 S Showers 09/-3 attempts to curb global warming Trees bring moisture to the air, and Celsius, as agreed under the 2015 Paris money and energy on air conditioning, New Delhi Sunny 37/20 Sunny 35/19 I New York Sunny Cloudy 11/08 quickly: they do not highlight the release chemicals that can lead to Agreement on climate change. the scientists said. 08/01 role trees play in creating rainfall the formation of clouds, Meine van But viewing trees as carbon stores “The energy saving that can come Paris Rain 14/04 S Showers 17/07 and cooling the earth’s surface, 22 Noordwijk, chief science advisor at the alone is not enough to mobilise from having the air-conditioning Sao Paulo S Showers 27/16 S T Storms 26/17 Seoul P Cloudy 14/00 P Cloudy 14/03 scientists have said. World Agroforestry Centre, told the governments and the public to ramp of trees is gradually becoming Singapore S T Storms 33/25 P Cloudy 33/25 Traditionally, international Thomson Reuters Foundation. up forest protection or grow more better known,” van Noordwijk said, Sydney S Showers 21/18 S Showers 22/18 agreements have focused on how trees Considering only their carbon trees as fast as they need to, they said. adding that some cities have begun Tokyo Clear 15/05 Cloudy 12/05 aff ect carbon levels in the atmosphere storage “means we miss a huge The group of scientists called for recognising the role trees can play. Gulf Times 28 Thursday, March 23, 2017 QATAR ‘Supporting Qatari farms is key to attaining food security’

By Joey Aguilar in Qatar more promising from a Staff Reporter business and economic perspec- tive, thereby helping achieve food security,” the minister said. ully supporting Qatari The ministry is also support- farms is key to attaining ing Qatari farms in using mod- Ffood security in the coun- ern technology in agriculture try, HE the Minister of Munici- without increasing water use or pality and Environment Mo- workforce, and using carefully hamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi selected seeds and high-quality said yesterday. biological products. “The ministry’s vision can be Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser al– achieved by providing Qatari Thani , assistant undersecretary farms with agricultural materi- of Agricultural Aff airs, Livestock als, fertilisers, veterinary treat- and Fisheries at the MME, noted ments and consultations with that Qatar’s agricultural indus- experts,” he explained after in- try is seeing remarkable devel- augurating the fi fth Qatar Inter- opment due to eff orts in product national Agricultural Exhibition marketing and pursuing new (Agriteq 2017) at the Doha Exhi- opportunities in fi shery, agri- bition and Convention Centre. cultural and livestock projects, The four-day event, under which address a large aspect of the patronage of HE the Prime the country’s needs. Minister and Interior Minister Latest agricultural products Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin and technologies from inter- Khalifa al-Thani, is organised by national companies, including the Ministry of Municipality and developments in irrigation, live- Environment (MME). It will be HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Agriteq yesterday in the presence of Director General of stock and dairy farms, horticul- open from 9am to 9pm. Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi, FAO director general José Graziano Da Silva, and other dignitaries. PICTURE: Ram Chand ture and poultry feed, veterinary The inauguration ceremony products and fi sh farming, are was attended by Oman’s Ag- Public Authority for Agricul- and international companies curity goals. Agriteq’s main aim in implementing local agricul- sise the role of Qatari farms, to showcased at Agriteq. riculture and Fisheries Min- ture and Fish Resources Aff airs are taking part in this year’s Ag- revolves around off ering exten- ture-related projects, the min- achieve self-suffi ciency in fruits The event will also hold panel ister Dr Fuad bin Jafar bin al- chairman and director general riteq, which aims to raise the sive support to agriculture, live- ister noted. Such initiatives, he and vegetables. discussions aimed at formulat- Sajwani, Food and Agriculture Faisal Saoud al-Hasawi, and a level of agricultural production stock production and fi sheries stressed, will help attract for- “The outcome of Agriteq 2017 ing solutions on key issues and Organisation director general number of ambassadors. in Qatar in line with the Qatar in Qatar in co-ordination with eign expertise, technologies and will contribute eff ectively to challenges faced by the agricul- José Graziano Da Silva, Kuwait’s More than 100 local, regional National Vision 2030’s food se- the Qatar Development Bank businesses, as well as empha- making the future of agriculture ture sector. Nama Center participates in Agriteq

Nama Center is participating in the fifth Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition (Agriteq 2017), as part of the organisation’s eff orts to support Doha Zoo animals attract Agriteq visitors young Qatari entrepreneurs. “Nama’s participation in Agriteq comes in the context of highlighting the state of entrepreneurial projects in Qatar and introducing the largest number of those interested or working By Joey Aguilar in the agricultural sector to the centre’s incubated projects that are Staff Reporter related to agricultural products,” the statement noted. The centre has presented three projects run by youth and exhibited their various products (perfume, incense, spices, cheese and food number of wild animals, items) in order to introduce community members to Nama’s services including chimpanzees, for innovative owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) A and a bird of prey are at- incubated by the centre, as well as presenting and promoting those tracting many visitors at the fi fth projects and products to the public. Qatar International Agricul- The centre provides all necessary services and facilities without the tural Exhibition (Agriteq), which owner facing any financial burdens, in honour of their productive role in opened yesterday at the Doha society. Participation in such major events is also an “ideal way to boost Exhibition and Conventions entrepreneurship awareness in Qatari society”, the centre has stressed. Centre (DECC). Since the launch of the Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition in The four-day event, under 2013, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has supported the patronage of HE the Prime entrepreneurial projects that have benefited from the services of the Minister and Interior Minister centre, through the provision of free promotional spaces to enable Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin these projects to conduct business during the exhibition. Khalifa al-Thani, hosts a large Nama is one of Qatar Foundation for Social Work’s centres. number of local and internation- al companies from the agricul- tural industry across a 12,000sq m area. Among the Doha Zoo animals Doha Zoo showcases a a three-day old ostrich at its booth. at Agriteq, a pair of chimpanzees PICTURES: Joey Aguilar Chimpanzees stare at Agriteq visitors in DECC. seemed to be getting the most attention from passersby while ity in northern part of Qatar, it proper healthcare. “We vac- Qatar, he said, citing a growing he added. Agriteq also hosts a a ‘golden eagle,’ known as one is learnt. “We have been taking cinate and feed animals with demand for more livestock fod- number of stalls that showcases of the largest and fastest raptors very good care of these animals nutritious food such as alfalfa, der in the country. The employee several livestock animals such in North America, charms visi- at their sanctuary, a well venti- green leaves and pellets for dis- said the number of wild animals as cows, goats, sheep, chickens, tors with its elegant feathers and lated and air-conditioned facili- ease prevention, apart from vita- at their facility has also started and buff aloes, among others. stunning look. ty,” an employee told Gulf Times. mins,” he said. increasing. From less than 10 li- The event features fi ve in- Doha Zoo also showcases a There are suitable enclosures “We have a big temperature- ons (from Africa), the zoo now ternational pavilions and hosts large python from India, some for various types of animals, controlled facility to take care of has more than 30, including the some seminars, workshops, and small poisonous snakes, a wild including a carnivorous sec- them during the summer.” new born. panel discussions aimed at shar- frog, a parrot, and some young tion and a clinic with a quaran- The zoo imports some of the “We have specialists and ing and exchanging of experi- goats. The zoo houses more tine section, which treats sick animal food from countries like veterinarians at the clinic to ences and knowledge to further than 1,000 animals at a facil- animals and provides them with the UK while others are grown in monitor their health regularly,” enhance the agriculture sector. Nama Center off icials at Agriteq yesterday. Katara inks MoU with QFSW

atara — the Cultural diverse branches comprising common goals, starting from Village Foundation has theatre, literature, arts, music, the areas of human develop- Ksigned a memorandum conferences and exhibitions to ment to spreading cultural of understanding (MoU) with help meet related development awareness through hosting pro- Qatar Foundation for Social goals within the Qatari society.” grammes, events, workshops, Work (QFSW) yesterday. “Katara is keen on building seminars and exhibitions.” The signatories were Katara communication bridges that Al-Mannai expressed appre- general manager Dr Khalid bin unite people from all walks of ciation at the collaboration and Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and QFSW life through its diverse array said, “It is our utmost pleasure CEO Amal bint Abdullatif al- of events and festivals, while to work with the Cultural Vil- Mannai. preserving our Qatari cultural lage with a noble aim to enrich Commenting on the occa- identity. The aim of the memo- the society with benefi cial cul- sion, Dr al-Sulaiti said the ob- randum of understanding that tural and humanitarian acts in jective is to enhance mutual Katara inks with certifi ed in- line with QFSW’s vision and co-operation and promote the stitutes in the State of Qatar is Qatar National Vision 2030.” exchange of knowledge and ex- to build a society consisting of She also expressed apprecia- perience between the two par- innovative individuals and ex- tion and gratitude to the Cul- HE the Minister of Justice Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul ties. perts in the fi elds of arts and tural Village for its eff orts and Wahed Ali al-Hammadi, and Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Secretary General Dr Ahmad Hassan al-Hamadi join Pakistan ambassador Shahzad “Our aim is to enrich the heritage. support in fulfi lling common Ahmad in cutting a cake at the reception as other dignitaries look on. cultural scene with an array of “The MoU aims to achieve goals. Embassy hosts Pakistan Day reception he Pakistan embassy dul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi, and the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- and exchanged views with the hosted a grand reception Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Sec- mad al-Thani for providing an ambassador and other offi cers Tyesterday to mark the Pa- retary General Dr Ahmad Hassan excellent atmosphere to the dip- of the embassy. On the occasion, kistan Day. It was attended by a al-Hamadi were also present. lomatic staff from Pakistan to Pakistanis expressed their soli- large number of Qatari dignitar- The ceremony began with the enable them to perform their du- darity and love for their home- ies, members of the Diplomatic national anthems of both Qatar ties with dignity. A cake-cutting land. The guests were treated to Corps and prominent Pakistani and Pakistan. It was followed by ceremony followed the speech. a host of traditional Pakistani expatriates. a brief speech by Pakistan am- During the ceremony, guests dishes. HE the Minister of Justice Dr bassador Shahzad Ahmad who from all walks of life interacted Celebrations of Pakistan Day Amal bint Abdullatif Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohan- welcomed the guests and high- with each other and congratu- will be held all over the world to- al-Mannai and Dr Khalid nadi was the chief guest. HE the lighted the historical signifi cance lated offi cers and staff of the Pa- day by Pakistani embassies and bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti Minister of Education and High- of 23rd March. kistan embassy on their National cultural and community organi- signing the MoU er Education Dr Mohamed Ab- He particularly thanked HH Day. They expressed happiness sations. yesterday.