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Monday 5 March 2018 | 17 Jumada II I 1439 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 22 | Number 7456 | 2 Riyals

Freedom to roam with Bill Protection! Terms & conditions apply Qatar celebrates 11th Education Excellence Day Emir honours 64 winners in nine categories of Education Excellence Award

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with the winners of the 11th Education Excellence Award at Sheraton Doha Hotel, yesterday. Other dignitaries and officials were also present .

THE PENINSULA winners to celebrate and For their part, the winners H H the Emir also met of heads of the diplomatic mis- Excellence Day award carries encourage their achievement, in expressed their thanks to H H the with the winners of sions accredited to the State, many meanings and indications DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim view of what this outstanding Emir for honouring them, the 11th Education senior education officials, that reflect His Highness’s great bin Hamad Al Thani honoured group adds qualitatively to the stressing that meeting His Excellence Award at parents of the outstanding stu- attention to the education system the winners of the Education country’s path and scientific Highness is the main motive to dents and guests. and its outputs. Excellence Award for the year progress. The Emir also urged the continue the journey of success the Sheraton Doha Speaking on the occasion, Also to the preparation of 2018. The Emir also met with the winners to continue excellence, and serving the country. The Hotel, where the Minister of Education and Higher young cadres equipped with the winners of the 11th Education successes and to depend on meeting was attended by Prime event took place Education H E Dr Mohammed knowledge and skills to become Excellence award at the Sheraton themselves in order to serve their Minister and Interior Minister HE yesterday. bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi capable to meet the needs of Doha Hotel, where the event country and community. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin underlined that the Emir H H their beloved homeland and its took place yesterday. A total of 64 winners were Khalifa Al Thani. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al aspirations for more progress At the outset of the meeting, honoured in nine different cat- The ceremony of the 11th Thani’s patronage of the cer- and prosperity. H H the Emir expressed his egories of the awards during the edition of the Education Excel- number of Their Excellencies emony and honouring of the delight at meeting the award 11th Education Excellence Day. lence Day was attended by a Sheikhs and Ministers, a number winners of the Education →CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 02 HOME MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 Emir meets winners of Education Excellence Award

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani patronised the 11th edition of the Education Excellence Day ceremony which took place at Doha Sheraton Hotel yesterday. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, a number of Their Excellencies Sheikhs and Ministers, a number of Their Excellencies heads of the diplomatic missions accredited to the State, senior education officials, parents of the outstanding students and guests. H H the Emir also met withhe t winners of the 11th Education Excellence Day award.

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani honouring Mohammed Rashid Al Sulaiti. Hardwork will always be Qatar celebrates 11th Education Excellence Day recognised, says student CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to build national capacities and The award aims to deepen students, graduates, military THE PENINSULA of failure and risks, adopting Minister of Education and achieve the goals of devel- the understanding of excellence officers, academics, researchers, beliefs such as “Faithfulness and Higher Education H E Dr opment in order to enable the and innovation through adopting schools and teaching staff. DOHA: Mohammed Rashid Al Hard Work” have manipulated Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed State keep pace with the global standards, to implement The Ministry of Education Sulaiti, a graduate in the Envi- the variables. Al Hammadi added that the advanced countries. quality programmes and to and Higher Education ronmental Scientist from the He said that certainly for winners of the Excellence Award A film about the march of achieve the comprehensiveness announced submission for the University of Nottingham, United every success there will be and their predecessors represent excellence for the outstanding of individual and institutional 11th edition of the award to start Kingdom has won the Education partners without their support an added value to the national winners of the 2018 award in efforts to improve the practical on October 29 to November 26, Excellence Award. we would not be what we are. capacities in various fields, various categories and their educational results in Qatar. 2017. The Ministry presented the “I am very proud to have “Today, I am extremely grateful stressing that they must shoulder future aspirations to serve their The award also aims to amendments made to a number earned Education Excellence and lucky to have supported the responsibility for partici- country was screened during the inspire the spirit of innovation of the award’s categories, which Award recognising my studying from Qatar Research Leadership pating in implementing the ceremony. During the 11th Edu- in students, researchers and were approved by its board of years in abroad, “said Al Sulati Program (QRLP), putting in my directives of the Emir on cation Excellence Day, a total of educational institutions and trustees led by the Minister of adding that this award represents mind how lucky I am to have development. 64 winners were honoured in honour those educationally out- Education and Higher Education. a milestone station in my life received high quality education On behalf of the honoured, nine different categories. standing and celebrate them, to The changes were seen in the which implies our hard work will and prestigious scholarship,” he excellence award winner in the The nine categories of the encourage all individuals and student, teacher and scientific always be recognised. “Studying added. “Daring is the first step to PhD category, Dr Ali Saleh Al award are master’s level, bach- institutions to develop their per- research categories, which was abroad was the most daring step success.”, the previous quote is Menhali, expressed gratitude and elor’s level, secondary level, out- formance, to promote the pos- based on the educational envi- I have ever taken in my life, in not a wisdom I inherited from my appreciation to the wise lead- standing student award for itive directions towards ronment and positive develop- fact, it was not that easy building grandparents, but it an elite ership for the opportunities, aca- primary and preparatory levels, knowledge and scientific ments associated with it. another home in Nottingham.” knowledge raised from accumu- demic options and human award for distinguished teachers research. The distinguished indi- The awards are a result of However, when you lative experiences including potentials, and for the estab- and outstanding school and sci- viduals in Qatar who are hon- efforts exerted from the family, introduce beautiful and empow- failures followed by recognized lishment of a school envi- entific research awards. The oured annually, represent an school and community. It works ering meanings to yourself, your successes. Strong faith in human ronment that is incubating and award was launched in 2006 with added value to the national as a great encouragement for life — as a result — will begin to potential remains the honest supportive of scientific excel- six categories, where three addi- Qatari competencies in different other candidates to participate bloom. Although standing on the faith that life can be better place lence. l Menhali underlined that tional categories were added over fields, which makes Qatar an in future editions and earn the laboratory and conducting to live. In the end, adopting such high-quality education that the years, ending with an excel- incubator for excellence and honour to shake the hands of the experiments were challenging meanings will not passed meets the needs of development lence award for master’s degree supportive of it. This is con- Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin tasks that have high possibility unnoticed. and its rapid changes is the way holders added in this edition. firmed by the diversity of Hamad Al Thani. MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 HOME 03

Emir to visit Belgium and Bulgaria

QNA

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will head to Belgium for an official visit today, followed by a state visit to the Republic of Bulgaria. The Emir will hold talks with leaders and senior offi- cials of the two countries, on relations of friendship and cooperation between Qatar and each of Belgium and Bul- garia, and ways of boosting them, besides a number of issues of mutual interest. A number of cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding will be signed in various fields during the two visits. The Emir will be accompanied by an offi- Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the 11th Education Excellence Day award yesterday. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E cial delegation as well as a Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, a number of Their Excellencies the Sheikhs and Ministers, and other dignitaries. delegation of businessmen. Officials commend honouring of outstanding Qataris

The Minister of Municipality QNA achieve excellence. contributions in scientific education. He added that Qatar which proves that they follow and Environment said In a press statement, the research and improve aca- granted an appropriate envi- sound path towards success that the celebration of DOHA: The Education Excel- Minister of Municipality and demic standards, to increase ronment for excellence in all that Qatar aspires to achieve. lence Day is an important event Environment said that the cel- patents and launch ideas and fields, which has made this goal She added that the Educa- distinguished Qataris is in in the State of Qatar in which ebration of distinguished initiatives that contribute to the an area of honest competition tion Excellence Award is not line with the goals of Qatar distinguished and outstanding Qataris is in line with the goals scientific progress witnessed required to serve the country only an award for an academic National Vision in which students are honoured in of Qatar National Vision in by the state at all levels. and contribute to its advance- achievement, but an award that human development is a various fields of education, said which human development is The Undersecretary of the ment and progress. proves that excellence should Minister of Municipality and a pillar and seeks to create a Ministry of Education and Fawzia Abdulaziz Al be accompanied by strong will, pillar and seeks to create a Environment H E Mohammed society based on science, Higher Education, Dr Ibrahim Khater, Assistant Undersecre- continuous give back, accuracy society based on science, bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi. It knowledge and continuous Al Nuaimi, said excellence has tary for Educational Affairs at and seriousness in knowledge and continuous encourages those honoured to pursuit of economic, scientific become a major part of the the Ministry of Education and implementation. pursuit of economic, continue to excel, he said, and social development in the educational system in Qatar, Higher Education, said that the Al Khater added that the adding that excellence has country. pointing to the high apprecia- winners of this year’s educa- award has gone through sev- scientific and social become a culture in the Qatari He hailed that the expan- tion given to the award in Qatar tion excellence award have eral stages since its inception development in the country. society as individuals and insti- sion of education excellence in order to achieve its vision achieved many aspects of 11 year ago, making a great dif- tutions each in its field seeks to field in Qatar to make more and improve children excellence and creativity, ference in each stage.

Qatar International Food Festival to Deputy PM & FM meets top US officials begin on March 15 at Hotel Park

RAYNALD C RIVERA uniquely Qatari experience. We are par- spotlight on locally-owned coffee shops THE PENINSULA ticularly pleased to see that QIFF has which have become contemporary sym- paved the way for innovative initiatives bols of cultural and social exchange at in the space of festivals and events.” a dedicated Coffee Zone. DOHA: Qatar International Food Rashed AlQurese, Chief Marketing The main festival stage will host a Festival (QIFF), the country’s longest- & Promotion Officer at Qatar Tourism variety of live performances and cul- running food festival, returns for its ninth Authority (QTA) said, “As an interna- tural shows running throughout the day edition with an even bigger celebration tional food festival that celebrates a host and fireworks displays will light up the of cultural diversity through wide of cultures from all corners of the globe, sky above Doha Corniche at 8pm. ranging food and entertainment, organ- QIFF demonstrates Qatar’s message of The children’s area has been isers announced yesterday. welcoming the world, both to its resi- expanded to include a mini zoo and A mini-zoo, a dedicated coffee zone, dents and visitors. Offering authentic farmer’s market, providing parents and fitness classes and cooking theatre with family friendly experiences through fes- children an opportunity to learn more celebrity chefs including Michellin Star tivals such as QIFF continues to be an about our food’s journey from farm to chef Wolfgang Puck who has been pre- important pillar of the Next Chapter of fork. Children will be provided with paring the post-Oscars feast for 24 years the National Tourism Sector Strategy sports classes as well as creative activ- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin are among the new and exciting features 2030.” ities courtesy of Café Ceramique. Abdulrahman Al Thani met with the envoys of the US Secretary of State, Retired of the festival which runs from March Nine embassies in Doha including Also on offer this year is the QIFF General Anthony Zinni, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Gulf 15 to 31 at Hotel Park. With a 36 percent the USA, South Africa, Vietnam, the Phil- Menu from March 1 to 31, allowing res- Affairs, Tim Lenderking, during their official visit to the State of Qatar. During the increase in the number of participants, ippines, Turkey, Lebanon, Mexico, India idents and visitors to enjoy mouth- meeting, they discussed the developments of the Gulf crisis, the Kuwaiti mediation this year’s festival is expected to offer a and Ethiopia will be inviting festival- watering food groupings of three menu efforts and all illegal measures taken by the siege countries against the State of Qatar. rich mix of culinary delights and enter- goers to savour the flavours of East and items at a pre-set price of QR49 at stand- The meeting was attended by H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani, Secretary tainment to residents and visitors. A total West. Apart from Wolfgang Puck other alone cafes and restaurants; and QR99 of the H H the Emir for Investment Affairs. of 177 stalls, food trucks and trolleys, are internationally renowned chefs taking at hotels. Three of Doha’s top restau- spread over the full 80,000sqm area of part at Live Cooking Theater are US Mas- rants are offering the QIFF Cooking the Hotel Park grounds. terChef Christine Ha, Qatar’s Aisha Al Classes with Food Network’s Anna Speaking at a press conference yes- Tamimi, Kuwaiti cook Fawaz Al Omaim, Olson, Iron Chef Mahsuru Morimoto and terday, Mashal Shahbik, Director of Fes- Indian celebrity chef Ajay Chopra and IDAM’s executive chef Damien Leroux. QU among world’s top electrical & tivals and Tourism Events at QTA, said, Lebanese celebrity chef Ramzi Choueiri. Demonstrating its consideration for “We are very pleased to see QIFF con- Back this year, is the Health Zone the community, QIFF organisers have electronic engineering varsities tinue to grow both in terms of number which encourages conscious eating signed up with Wahab food collection of participants and total area covered in habits and life choices that promote and distribution service for this year’s THE PENINSULA has been advancing across all rankings in its ninth edition. For QTA, it is very overall well-being as well as free fitness Festival to ensure that festival goers can recent years, expressing his pride at being important that entrepreneurs and SMEs classes regularly held throughout QIFF. donate untouched food to be carefully DOHA: Qatar University (QU) was chosen in the latest QS ranking. are engaged in providing visitors with a This year, QIFF is also shedding a repackaged and delivered to those in as one of the top 400 universities world- He said that such recognition reflects need. “Qatar International Food Festival wide in electrical and electronic engineering the great development the university has has become a beacon for Qatar’s in Quacquarelli Symonds’ (QS) World seen in recent years. He also highlighted growing hospitality industry and we are University Ranking by subject. that it was the first time for QU to be honoured to partner with QTA for the QS ranks world’s top universities in indi- involved in the by subject ranking. third consecutive year. Katara Hospi- vidual subject areas, covering 48 subjects as He said that the achievement was also tality is delighted to give back to the of 2018. The rankings aim is to help prospec- in line with the university’s mission of pro- community through its recently opened tive students identify the leading schools in viding high-quality education and preparing Hotel Park, an illustration of our com- their chosen field, with the list of subjects students for creating their own and their mitment to social responsibility and the extended each year in response to high country’s future. QS Intelligence Unit importance of promoting sustainability,” demand for subject-level comparisons. Regional Director — Middle East, North said Salem Ghanem Al Kubaisi, Chief Each of the subject rankings is compiled Africa & South Asia, Ashwin Fernandes said: Corporate Services Officer at Katara using four sources. The first two of these “It is absolutely encouraging to see Qatar Hospitality, QIFF’s strategic partner. are QSs global surveys of academics and University make a debut in QS World Uni- Other partners include Msheireb employers, which are used to assess insti- versity Rankings by Subject 2018 edition Museums, beIN, Doha Film Institute, tutions international reputation in each sub- which is released today. They have featured Qatar Culinary Professionals, Askar, ject. The second two indicators assess for the very first time in the subject — Elec- Mini Zoo Events, AlRayyan Water and research impact, based on research cita- trical & Electronic Engineering, amongst RAW ME. wwQIFF follows the success tions per paper and h-index in the relevant the top 400 universities in the world”. of Shop Qatar 2018, which witnessed subject. These are sourced from Elseviers “QU has also shown steady progress in Rashed Al Qurese (centre), QTA’s Chief Marketing and Promotion Officer; with a 40 percent increase in sales based on Scopus database, the world’s most com- other subject areas which are a good base Mashal Shahbik (left), Director of Festivals and Tourism Events; and Salem the total number of coupons entered prehensive research citations database. for future ranking of QU. I wish to congrat- Ghanem Al Kubaisi, Katara Hospitality’s Chief Corporate Services Officer, during into raffle draws over the month-long President of Qatar University Dr Hassan ulate the faculty and administration for this the press conference yesterday. PIC: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA festival. Rashid Al Derham said that the university feat”, he added. 04 HOME MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 250 new dialysis cases Al Hammadi meets British Ambassador Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H E Dr Ahmed reported each year bin Hassan Al Hammadi met yesterday with FAZEENA SALEEM the Ambassador of THE PENINSULA the United Kingdom to Qatar, Ajay Sharma. During the meeting, they DOHA: With some 250 new discussed the bilateral patients with kidney diseases start relations and ways of undergoing dialysis each year at developing them, in the Hamad Medical Corporation addition to matters of (HMC) and coinciding with the common concern. World Kidney Day (WKD), efforts are taken by the officials to raise awareness of importance of kidney health. At present, a total of 900 QU hosts ‘Teach for Qatar’ talks patients with kidney diseases are on dialysis and some of them are Dr Hassan Al Malki (centre), Head of Nephrology Department, on waiting list for transplant. HMC, with other officials during a press conference yesterday. THE PENINSULA Transplantation is considered as PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA best option for the kidney failure DOHA: Qatar University (QU) as a life saving initiative, say hosted a Teach for Qatar panel experts. At present, a total death in women, with close to discussion recently, dedicated “About 250 new dialysis cases of 900 patients 600,000 deaths each year. The to explore the challenging yet are reported each year and that’s with kidney diseases risk of developing Chronic kidney rewarding nature of the teaching a huge number,” said Dr Hassan disease is at least as high in profession. Al Malki, Head of Nephrology at are on dialysis and women as in men, and may even The event, which took place HMC addressing a press con- some of them are be higher,” said Dr Al malki. at QU, was organised in collab- ference held yesterday on waiting list for From today to March 8, health oration with Teach For Qatar, a announcing the activities for transplant. awareness booths will be set up local non-governmental organ- World Kidney Day (WKD) on at the main entrances of Hamad isation working as part of the QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham speaking at the panel discussion. March 9, to raise awareness General, Women’s, Al Wakra and solution to help address some among the public. “Those who are Al Khor Hospitals. The booths will of the challenges that students at high risks of developing kidney Hemodialysis is a dialysis be staffed by clinical teams from face. It does this by reinvesting campaign, which has been campaign. He urged youth from disorder are advised to do an machine and a special filter called HMC and will provide patients, exceptionally talented leaders launched early this year. various disciplines to join the annual screening. Diabetes, an artificial kidney, or a dialyser, visitors, and other members of the into the government school The campaign allows influ- teaching profession. He said: hypertension, obesity and with a used to clean blood and peri- public with information leaflets system through a two-year ential members of the com- “The teaching profession creates family history of kidney problems toneal dialysis is a treatment for and health education materials. teaching and leadership devel- munity, such as QU President psychological and emotional are at a risk of developing Chronic kidney failure that uses the lining Dietitians and nephrology edu- opment program called the Dr Hassan Al Derham, a chance bonds between the teacher and Kidney Disease,” said Dr Al Malki. of abdomen, to filter blood inside cators will also be available to Leadership Journey. to experience being a teacher, the students. It is one of the most Around 8 to 10 percent of the the body. This year WKD is provide advice and answer ques- The event aimed to raise by entering a real life classroom important professions. A good world’s population is affected by observed on March 8, under the tions. Members of the public are awareness on the importance in a government school to teach teacher needs to make an effort kidney diseases and the preva- theme ‘Kidneys & Women’s also invited to participate in a of teaching as a career through a social studies class. The cam- to develop himself or herself, lence in Qatar is similar. Health: Include, Value, Empower.’ walkathon on 9 March from 3pm a brief panel discussion with QU paign also aims to reestablish and in doing so, this will have a “We have about 650 patients “Chronic kidney disease is a to 6pm at the Doha Corniche. alumni who completed the the respect for teachers and the positive impact on the on hemodialysis and there are worldwide public health problem From March 11 to 13, HMC will Leadership Journey. vital role they play in shaping students.” 250 patients on peritoneal with adverse outcomes of kidney also host various awareness activ- Teach For Qatar as an organ- the future generation, those who Mohammed Al Shaabi, a dialysis. At least 70 percent of failure and premature death . ities at select primary health isation aims to communicate the will then contribute to their Program Manager at Teach For Chronic Kidney Disease are due Chronic kidney disease affects centers and secondary schools, importance of teaching through country’s development and Qatar, said: “Our aim is to to diabetes and hyper tension,” approximately 195 million as well as at Qatar University, the community engagement, out- growth. position teaching as a viable said Dr Essa Abuhelaiqa, Neph- women worldwide and it is cur- University of Calgary in Qatar, reach and social media cam- Dr Al Derham talked about career choice among top grad- rology Consultant at HMC. rently the eight leading cause of and Weill Cornell Medicine. paigns such as “Be a Teacher” his teaching experience in the uates and professionals.” QA expands partnership with UnionPay International

THE PENINSULA special ceremony held at the agreement with UnionPay will benefits we provide for our card- UnionPay head office in Shanghai, provide even more customers the holders in the aviation industry, and DOHA: Qatar Airways announced represented by Marwan Koleilat, opportunity to use UnionPay as will enhance UnionPay’s value yesterday to extend its partnership Qatar Airways Senior Vice-Pres- their preferred payment option proposition and boost our overseas with international bank card ident Asia Pacific; and Larry Wang, when booking their tickets online, expansion”. network UnionPay to an additional UnionPay International Vice Pres- ensuring a convenient and hassle- With about 90 million cards 31 countries and regions, providing ident. Under the expanded free booking experience”. issued outside mainland China, a convenient payment option for agreement, Qatar Airways and UnionPay International Vice UnionPay is offering payment con- even more Qatar Airways UnionPay will embark upon greater President, Larry Wang, said: “As venience to a growing number of passengers around the world when collaboration for various sales and more and more travellers prefer to global customers. Now, UnionPay booking tickets on the airline’s marketing initiatives. Both parties go on free-and-independent is accepted at more than 10 million website. will also look at creating a new and travels, UnionPay International online merchants based in more Customers in countries exclusive co-branded card that will continues to deepen our partner- than 200 countries and regions including Qatar, Kuwait, India, provide UnionPay customers ships with international airlines, to outside mainland China. It is par- Oman, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil exclusive benefits on selected provide safe and smooth online ticularly convenient to make travel and South Africa, among others, will products by Qatar Airways. flight ticket purchase service to our reservations with UnionPay cards be able to take advantage of Union- Qatar Airways Senior Vice Pres- global customers. Our expanded online. Today, passengers are able Pay’s secure payment option when ident Asia Pacific, Marwan Koleilat, agreement with Qatar Airways will to use UnionPay cards to purchase booking tickets on the airline’s said: “We always seek to ensure that increase UnionPay card acceptance flight tickets at the official website website to more than 150 destina- our passengers’ journey is smooth rate in the airline industry, offering of more than 40 international air- Marwan Koleilat, Qatar Airways Senior Vice-President tions on Qatar Airways’ extensive and seamless, from the moment better card-using experiences to lines. In 2017, online flight ticket Asia Pacific, and Larry Wang, UnionPay International global network. they book their tickets until the UnionPay cardholders outside transaction volume of UnionPay Vice-President, at the signing event. The expansion of the agreement point at which they reach their final mainland China. The co-branded grew by 140 per cent was signed on February 28 at a destination. The expansion of our card to be issued will enhance the year-on-year. Exhibition by Ai Weiwei to open from March 15

THE PENINSULA real privilege to welcome Ai Porcelain Vases as a Weiwei to Doha for his first show Pillar (2016), which DOHA: Thousands of garments in the Gulf. And as home to our represents six themes gathered from refugee camps community of artists in resi- of the refugee con- will be displayed at Fire Station’s dence, the Fire Station is the dition — War, Ruins, Garage Gallery as the main high- ideal venue. We hope that by Journey, Crossing the light of renowned Chinese artist bringing international artists to Sea, Refugee Camps, Ai Weiwei’s first ever exhibition Qatar and exchanging ideas with and Demonstrations, Ai Weiwei (above) with his work Laundromat, in the Gulf. artists from Qatar and the region, and Tyre (2016), a tra- 2016 (left). Presented by Qatar Museums we are able to encourage cre- ditional symbol of (QM), the exhibition, which will ative sparks amongst a young safety turned on its run from March 15 to June 1, will generation in the Middle East. head by being crafted from border, the camp swelled to over feature one of Ai’s most prom- We have seen time and again small village in northern Greece film “Idomeni” (2016) which cap- marble and representing the 15,000 refugees. I started to take inent and poignant projects high- how bringing such figures to and official border crossing to tures the everyday conditions of struggle faced by refugees many photographs, to try to lighting the plight of refugees, Qatar fires the imagination the former Yugoslav Republic of the refugees up to the moment crossing the Mediterranean Sea. record the moment. The harsh Laundromat (2016). amongst our talented young Macedonia. when the camp was evacuated; Artist Ai Weiwei said: “I reality can act as evidence and The exhibition follows Ai artists, supporting the country in Laundromat displays care- and 17,062 Photos Relating to decided to follow the refugees’ make us reflect on these condi- Weiwei’s first visit to Qatar in originating art, culture and her- fully hung clothes and meticu- Refugees 1.12-09.08.2016 – a path. I went to the Idomeni tions. This is a situation many April 2017, when he discussed his itage experiences from within.” lously arranged shoes, each of wallpaper which consists of a refugee camp. It had become a people refuse to see, or try to life and work at a packed public Reflecting Ai Weiwei’s con- which have been washed, hung selection of images taken by Ai bottleneck when the flow of ref- distort or ignore. Many willfully event at the Museum of Islamic tinuing engagement with the to dry, steamed, sorted and Weiwei on his iPhone during the ugees entering Europe was com- believe this isn’t taking place. Art, and met with young artists global refugee crisis, this mon- organised. In all, 2,046 items of filming of his documentary pletely shut off. Before, refugees When you see so many children at the Fire Station. umental work brings together clothing are displayed alongside feature “Human Flow. would travel through Idomeni out of school – 263 million Khalifa Al Obaidly, Director thousands of articles of clothing personal mementos and Other projects by the artist on the so-called Balkan route to children worldwide – you can’t of the Fire Station Artist in Res- collected from a makeshift photographs. will be exhibited in the Fire reach Europe. Once the Mace- easily predict what our future idence Programme, said: “It is a refugee camp in Idomeni – a Laundromat also features the Station, including Stacked donian government closed the holds.” MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 HOME 05

Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Media Corporation, H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani (second right); Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri; Secretary-General of Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Hassan Al Thawadi; Dr Khalid Rashid Alkhater, specialist in monetary policy and political economy; and Dr Majed Al Ansari, Qatar University professor, during the seminar organised by Arabic daily newspaper Al Raya, at Ritz-Carlton Hotel, yesterday. RIGHT: Dr. Khalid bin Mubarak Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula (second right), during the seminar. PIC: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA Qatari media defeated rumours of siege countries

SIDI MOHAMED The media of the siege Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Media Corporation, with these countries.” He said human rights organisations with THE PENINSULA countries repeated Pharaoh’s H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, said: that by the end of this year, the proofs of violations of basic saying “I show only what I can “There is a difference in the way how the Qatari construction works on two sta- rights committed by these coun- see” he said, noting that their media dealt with the crisis and the media of the diums including Al Wakra Sta- tries and have managed to gain DOHA: Qatar has emerged media produced contradictory dium will be completed. their support. Some of the organ- blockading countries. Qatari media resisted and victorious from the nine reports such as Qatar sup- “We won the trust of FIFA izations such as Amnesty Inter- months of illegal siege imposed porting terrorism, Qatar sup- responded the rumours and proved that their and others,” said Al Thawadi national, Human Rights Watch by the blockading countries. ports North Korea, supports allegations were baseless and the Al Haqiqa (Truth) adding that blockading coun- and even the United Nations Speaking in seminar held with America and supports Hamas programme was one of the best examples of this. tries knew very well that the have condemned these countries a theme ‘Qatar Dignity and and Palestinians. construction work is going on so and the measure they have taken Victory after nine months of The siege countries have they failed in their campaign. A against civilians. siege’, officials lauded the even criminalised sympathy present the facts for the public. Supreme Committee for Delivery team from Qatar will visit Russia One of the demands of the balanced approach of Qatari with Qatar and the feeling of But we must differentiate and Legacy stressing that Qatar to take experience in hosting siege countries was closure of media in dispelling the base- someone has become a crime. between the policies of these will host FIFA World Cup 2022. world cup, he added. Al Jazeera Network, therefore less allegations and rumours The media of the siege coun- countries and their people. We He said that allegations of Chairman of the National we hosted a conference on spread by siege countries to tries used electronic flies, said call on citizens of these coun- blockading countries were Human Rights Committee freedom of expression which tarnish the image of Qatar. The Sheikh Abdulrahman, adding tries to express their opinion always responded by the neutral (NHRC), Dr Ali bin Smaikh Al attended by 230 international seminar was organised by that victory in wars cannot be through the Qatari media which entities like FIFA that confirmed Marri, said that When the diplo- organisations and agreed that arabic daily newspaper Al Raya, achieve while losing mind and is open for them, he said. hosting of FIFA World Cup by matic relations were cut off by the demands and the measures which was addressed by six morals. Today, after all this time, Qatar. Al Thawadi emphasised the blockading countries, other taken by these countries were eminent personalities. Their media have touched they have not provided even a that football should be separated measures followed which contrary to freedom of Chief Executive Officer of the symptoms of crisis and cre- single evidence for their allega- from the politics. became collective punishment expression. Qatar Media Corporation H E ated false interpretations and tions. They are only repeating Regarding the rumours mon- for the people of Qatar and citi- Regarding the United Sheikh Abdulrahman bin reasons for the crisis. accusations. This was during a gering that Qatar is unable to zens of these countries. Nations report, he stressed that Hamad Al Thani said: “There is In contrast, the Qatari symposium held by the media at complete the projects related to The siege countries have all these measures by the uni- a difference in the way how the media provided the public with the Ritz-Carlton, attended by a FIFA World Cup, he said “we focused on the term ‘boycott‘ lateral siege countries violated Qatari media dealt with the the correct information large number of media repre- found new suppliers from var- instead of the ‘siege’ and we have all human rights and did not crisis and the media of the including information related sentatives and interested indi- ious countries like Kuwait, proved that it is a siege not differentiate between govern- blockading countries”. to previous events and causes viduals in political affairs . Oman, China and Malaysia for boycott. ments and ordinary people. The Qatari media resisted and of differences with these coun- Hassan Al Thawadi, Secre- primary materials of better Before the siege, the Com- blockading countries were responded the rumours and tries Sheikh Abdulrahman tary-General, Supreme Com- quality at lower prices.” mittee was receiving a total of upset by this report and said it proved that their allegations emphasised. He pointed out mittee for Delivery and Legacy “We had been importing 1,000 complaints throughout a was not neutral. We have were baseless and the Al that this was possible by said: Efforts were made to dis- from blockading countries year, but in the first two weeks repeatedly asked to isolate or Haqiqa “Truth” programme was hosting former Qatari minis- rupt the hosting of Qatar FIFA because Qatar was relying on of the siege, the committee neutralise the humanitarian one of the best examples of this, ters in the Qatar TV program World Cup, said Hassan Al Tha- these countries on the principle received 1,000 complaints. aspects from political dimen- he added. the “Truth”. This was done to wadi Secretary-General, of economic interdependence We have provided the sions in the future.

More than 20,000 standard Training programme for specifications issued in 2017 Qatari imams

The specifications QNA state ports for companies begins today were related to the committed to the approved metal and automotive, DOHA: Qatar General standards to facilitate the DOHA: The training programme electrical and Organization for Standards chemical, spinning and release of containers and its of new Qatari imams will start this and Metrology issued five weaving, construction, non stacking. evening and will continue for two technical regulations and construction materials, In the field of consign- months at Muhammad Ibn Abdul more than 20,000 standard oil and gas, food and ments, the organization Wahhab Grand Mosque. specifications last year. agricultural, standards released more than 35 thou- The training programme is The specifications were and calibration, medical sand consignments to con- organised by the Ministry of Awqaf related to the metal and devices, information and form to the technical regula- and Islamic Affairs and about 20 automotive, electrical and management systems. tions and approved Qatari Qatari youth are participating in it. chemical, spinning and standards, which included The programme aims at developing weaving, construction, con- rebar, bricks, interlock, the participants’ skills. struction materials, oil and its power consumption, gabro, and electrical equip- The programme also was pre- gas, food and agricultural, power-saving tires, ment, cosmetics, tires, toys ceded by an introductory meeting standards and calibration, The programme the and packaging, as well as car attended by the Qatari Imams and medical devices, information survey of SME projects for 276 spare parts, used and others. preachers who are participating and management systems. enterprises, the constraints The organization also in the programme. The Director of The organisation partic- encountered and how to sup- refused entry to 401 consign- Department of Da’wah and Reli- ipated in a number of projects port the national product. It ments of various goods, after gious Guidance at the Ministry of that serve the Qatar National also includes making recom- it was found to be incon- Awqaf and Islamic Affairs attended Vision 2030. These projects mendations to the concerned sistent with the technical reg- the meeting. are in the field of quality and authorities in the State in ulations and approved The meeting reviewed the pre- compliance, including the terms of quality and con- country standards. paratory programme and the legal establishment of a national formity, as well as their par- Also, due to increased materials that will be studied database of all standardization ticipation in other activities awareness among traders on during the programme. activity documents containing and projects related to these introducing restricted goods The two-month training pro- more than 33,000 certificates areas. and products and compliance gramme, which runs from Sunday of conformity to cars, tires and In the field of conformity with the requirements to Wednesday in the evening from motorcycles, conformity ver- verification, several achieve- needed for them to facilitate 4pm to 8pm, is part of the Minis- ification manuals and Qatar’s ments have been achieved by the entry of imported goods try’s plan to prepare the Qatari National Programme for Con- adopting the certificate of and products, this has imams. The course focuses on servation and Energy conformity to national stand- reduced the percentage of Quran and its sciences, Fiqh and Efficiency. ards regulations, certificate rejected consignments. Shariah. The programme includes of conformity of construction The report also included A group of specialised trainers banning of incandescent products, registration of pri- the achievements of the will deliver lectures to enhance lamps to cut 35 percent of its vate laboratories, while organization in the field of the knowledge and skills of imams energy consumption, the adopted in the field of con- laboratories, energy conser- and preachers who will be able to importing of energy efficient formity of imported goods vation, cooperation and prepare comprehensively for air conditioning devices to and products restricted by coordination with relevant public speaking and raise their save more than 38 percent of them, the green path to the authorities in the country. academic level. 06 HOME MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 QU inks MoU with QatarDebate Center to hone skills of youth THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar University (QU) signed a memorandum of under- standing (MoU) with QatarDebate Center (QD) yesterday to strengthen collaboration in youth’s competencies in the art of debate through equipping Abdulla Al-Yafei, QU Director of Student Services & Activities and Jamal Jassim Al Baker, QD Community them with the best skills and Engagement Manager, with other officials during the signing of the MoU to strengthen collaboration high-quality technologies. in youth’s competencies. The MoU was signed by QU Director of Student Services & debating championships. The university, Qatar University “Since its inception in 2008, Activities, Abdulla Al-Yafei and center will also provide an attracts the highest number of QatarDebate Center has built a QD Community Engagement Arabic-language training youth, as the University serves strong relationship with Qatar Manager, Jamal Jassim Al Baker, program on debates to the more than 20,000 students. Our University. In this regard, in the presence of officials from members of QU Arabic for Non collaboration with QatarDebate QatarDebate Center provided Abdulla Al-Yafei and Jamal Jassim Al Baker sign the MoU. both institutions. Native Speakers Center, as well Center has started since many Qatar University’s members with In the terms of the MoU, QU as Arabic and English-language years and has contributed to opportunities to heighten their will provide logistic assistance international championships and specialized workshops and training and specialized sessions many achievements and suc- skills through training provided to ensure the success of the public debates, as well as the training, as well as counseling to QU members. cessful results. Through such by the center’s trainers and ref- workshops and training sessions hosting of Universities Debate and supervision to the members Commenting on the MoU, partnerships, we will continue erees. This MoU will serve to that QD will offer on the QU Championship and Qatar Uni- of QU Debate Club. Additionally, Abdulla Al-Yafei said: “We are in our efforts to support youth strengthen the relationship campus. The institution will also versities Debate League in Arabic QD will assist QU in the selection pleased to partner with activities, events and programs between both institutions and contribute to facilitating the stu- and English. and training of students to QatarDebate Center through this to drive forward QU’s ongoing will contribute to the devel- dents’ participation in training QD will contribute to pro- prepare them to represent the memorandum of understanding. support to youth initiatives.” opment of youth intellectual and camps and local and viding qualified trainers to give University in international As Qatar’s national first Jamal Jassim Al Baker said: communication capacities.”

Qatar participates in Arab League’s Permanent Representatives meeting QNA ministerial level, which was Arab relations with regional and included in the agenda at the international groups such as the CAIRO: The 149th session of the request of the General Arab-African relations, the Council of the Arab League at Secretariat. Arab-European relations and the Level of Permanent Repre- The meeting will discuss the the Arab-Russian cooperation sentatives kicked off at the Arab political developments of the forum, and the strengthening of League General Secretariat Palestinian issue, the Arab- cooperation with the countries headquarters here yesterday. Israeli conflict and the activation of Central Asia and the Republic The State of Qatar is taking of the Arab peace imitative, in of Azerbaijan, and the Arab rela- part in the Permanent Repre- addition to the recent develop- tions with China, India and The representatives of Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College and MME at second consultative sentatives Meeting with a dele- ments in the situation in the Pal- Japan. meeting on disaster response and safety. gation led by Qatar’s Permanent estinian territories, including The Council will also con- Representative to the Arab Israeli violations in Jerusalem, sider the Arab nominations for League H E Saif bin Muqaddam the settlements, the refugees, the positions of the United MME staff trained on disaster response Al Buainain. the UNRWA and others. Nations and its specialised Topics on the agenda of the The meeting will also agencies and other international THE PENINSULA Environmental Operations, the will train the staffs of the Min- meeting include the report of discuss the situation in Syria, organizations and institutions, Department of Administrative istry Municipality and Envi- the Secretary-General on the Libya and Yemen, and the as well as the appointment of DOHA: The Ministry of Munic- Services, the Department of ronment to provide them the activities of the Secretariat, the support for peace and devel- the Chairman of the Arab ipality and Environment (MME), Mechanical Equipment, Al skills and knowledge they procedures for the implemen- opment in Sudan, Somalia and Standing Committee for Arab represented by the Center for Shamal Municipality, the needed for their mission of tation of the intersessional res- the Comoros, as well as the Media and the report and rec- Environmental and Municipal Municipality of Al Khor-and-Al emergency response. olutions of the Council (148-149) peaceful resolution of the border ommendations of the Per- Studies, organised the second Dakhira. The trainees will receive and the scheduling of the 150th dispute between Eritrea and manent Arab Committee on consultative meeting with Ras The programme aims at theoretical and practical both Ordinary Session of the Arab Djibouti. Human Rights at its 43rd regular Laffan Emergency and Safety providing training to human types of training by creating an League Council at the The meeting will discuss session, held on January 31. College to discuss a mecha- cadres to increase their capa- artificial emergency situation nisms to implement a training bility in dealing with crises, A paper was presented by programme on crisis and emergency response, accidents, the Department of Environ- disaster response and security health and environmental mental Operations at the con- WCM-Q invites and safety measures. safety in all cases that fall under sultative meeting explaining the The meeting was attended the Ministry of Municipality and importance of the role of Qatari students by representatives of the Environment and its various planning and training for crises municipalities and departments departments. and disasters and how to for internship concerned at the Ministry of Using the latest techniques implement security and safety Municipality and the Envi- and training models, Ras Laffan procedures in the Ministry’s THE PENINSULA ronment; the Department of Emergency and Safety College facilities. DOHA: Qatari high school and college students with a passion for science are New community invited to apply for an internship at Weill Cornell classes on Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q), a leading biomedical research The preparations under way for welcoming public to the open offer at GU-Q institution. house. WCM-Q launched its bio- THE PENINSULA medical research programme in 2009, focusing on diseases CNA-Q invites public DOHA: Starting the week of prevalent in the Arabian Gulf March 11, members of the public like diabetes and obesity. will have the opportunity to Since then it has gone from to attend open house learn a new skill or explore strength to strength, with its personal interests through a researchers publishing more THE PENINSULA Certificate Program. Each com- diverse range of courses on offer than 800 scientific papers in petition is designed to allow at Georgetown University in some of the world’s leading DOHA: College of the North students to demonstrate the Qatar (GU-Q). The Spring research journals. Atlantic - Qatar (CNA-Q) is skills they have learned in their session of the University’s Qatari high school and opening its doors to the inter- program in practical scenarios Participants during a community class at GU-Q. popular Community Education college students are invited ested public on Wednesday they will encounter in the Program includes a lineup of 17 to apply for a summer morning, March 7. Qatari workforce. As in past courses taught by GU-Q faculty munity class participants. “I think that there is internship in the college’s “We are inviting future stu- years, over 200 high school and staff, industry experts, and “The course will cover the enormous interest in Donald laboratories as part of dents, parents, industry repre- students will join the compe- leading academics in Qatar. impact of physical geography on Trump’s surprise victory and in WCM-Q’s outreach programs sentatives, and any other inter- titions, as a way to expose Community classes are open the history and current events Clinton’s loss. And tremendous and its ambition under the ested parties to attend an open youth to their many vocational to all, with weekly sessions held in various regions of the world, confusion, even in the US, as to Qatar Foundation umbrella house to showcase our and technical learning options in the evenings at the GU-Q including the United States, how this happened,” said to increase local, homegrown incredible campus and the at the College. Additionally, campus in Education City to suit Europe, Russia, China, and the Wilcox. “I hope students will research capacity in Qatar. experiential learning methods post-secondary students from the needs of working profes- Middle East,” explained take away a better under- Yassir Hussain, Assistant in action,” said Shawna Garrett, other institutions in Qatar are sionals. A number of these Reardon-Anderson. “The course standing of American elections, Director of Research College Registrar, joining the Health Sciences classes are taught exclusively in is open to all interested parties on the eve of a set of Congres- Training and Outreach, said “During the open house, the competitions as practice sce- Arabic, including Formal Spoken – no prior knowledge is sional elections that are very the internships are a great annual CNA-Q Skills Compe- narios where healthcare pro- Arabic and Co-Active Coaching. required.” important as well.” opportunity for young people tition will be running where fessionals have to work For the first time this year, Another new course which While registration is open considering a career in the spectators can experience the together in an allied setting. GU-Q’s founding dean, Pro- has already proven popular will until the end of the first week of sciences. To apply or for applied learning that the The CNA-Q Annual Skills Com- fessor James Reardon- be taught by Professor Clyde classes (March 17), GU-Q more information about the College is known for. Come and petition is modeled from Anderson, will be offering a Wilcox, a professor of gov- encourages interested students Research Internship for ‘test drive our campus’!” WorldSkills, which is a global course titled ‘Map of the Modern ernment at Georgetown Uni- to sign up online to book their National High School Students Students will participate in competition with a mandate to World’. The course is an adapted versity. Titled ‘Hillary Clinton, spot early. The classes are open or the Research Internship for 50 Skills Competitions tailored raise the profile and recog- version of the class he teaches Donald Trump, and the to all students over the age of 18, National College Students to their area of study in nition of skilled trades and pro- to Georgetown undergraduate American Presidency,’ it focuses and no previous qualification or please visit https://qatar-weill. Business Studies, Engineering fessions. For more information students, which will be on the 2016 US elections and the degree is required in order to cornell.edu/research/ Technology, Health Sciences, please contact Asma Al Kuwari: enhanced to take into account first year of Trump’s term in the enroll. research-training-programs/ Information Technology, Aca- Asma.AlKuwari@cna-qatar. the broader experiences of com- White House. overview. demic Studies or the Technician edu.qa MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 HOME 07

Qatar to take Event boosts cooperation among govt bodies part in 49th

SIDI MOHAMED partnership with the ministries UN Statistical THE PENINSULA and institutions of the State. The strategic partnership Commission DOHA: The Ministry of Awqaf programme includes training and Islamic Affairs yesterday officials, public relations and THE PENINSULA started the “Strategic Partner- media officials in various min- ships between Government istries of the state (Ministry of DOHA: The Ministry of Institutions” programme with Interior, Ministry of Justice, Min- Development Planning and the participation of 40 trainees istry of Economy and Commerce, Statistics (MDPS) will partic- from 13 ministries. and Ministry of Public Health ipate in the 49th session of “The aim of this training pro- among others. the United Nations Statistical gramme is to exchange experi- The strategic partnerships Commission which will be ences and strategic partnership between various state institu- held at the UN Headquarters between government entities, tions are an important factor in in New York from March 6 and the main goal, which all the success and overcoming the to 9. these entities share, is to achieve challenges through cooperation The Minister of Develop- Qatar vision 2030. Holding such and coordination with each ment Planning and Statistics programmes and workshops will other to carry out a specific H E Dr Saleh bin Mohammad help us to achieve this vision,” project with a common compe- Al Nabit will lead the MDPS’s said the Human Resources tency and interest. delegation, and will meet a The participants during the “Strategic Partnerships between Government Institutions” programme Department Director at the Min- Dr Mohammed Khalifa Al number of heads of interna- organised by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. istry, Mohamed bin Hassan Al Kubaisi, Head of Training Sec- tional and regional organi- Malki. tion at the ministry, said, “The sations and heads of partic- The programme will con- programme is organised and to increase cooperation between He also said that the pro- achieving the goals. ipating delegations to tinue until Thursday at the Mil- supported by the Ministry of all these entities”. gramme is comprehensive and Among other goals of the discuss cooperation, coor- lennium Plaza Hotel. Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to The ministry has achieved include what the participants programme is to discuss the dination and exchange of It also came in the frame- enhance the strategic partner- many success in this regard need from experiences and challenges which institutions experiences as well as suc- work of the ministry’s external ship between governmental enti- through partnership with many skills, adding that he hopes the face and the phases of devel- cessful experiences related training programmes in ties because we need such things intuitions. outcomes will contributes of oping strategic partnership. to the modernization of national statistical systems. The State of Qatar repre- sents the Asian Group in the United Nations Statistical Qatar Committee for the Commission until 2019. MoU signed to enhance The 49th session will dis- Alliance of Civilization cuss a number of reports, including the new handbook arbitration environment launches award of statistical organisation which deals with the mech- QNA educational institutions that anisms of official statistics, THE PENINSULA implement outstanding pro- open data as well as eco- DOHA: Qatar Committee for the grams, activities and projects that nomic statistics and their DOHA: Qatar International Alliance of Civilizations launched promote a culture of dialogue evolution in national Court and Dispute Resolution the Alliance of Civilization award and respect for others, and those accounts, along with the Centre (QICDRC) signed a in cooperation with Qatar that instill the spirit of coexist- International Comparison memorandum of understanding National Commission for Educa- ence between the people of the Program and price (MoU) with the Foundation of tion, Culture and Science, during Qatar community including cit- statistics. Qatar Sports Arbitration to begin an event yesterday at the Ministry izens and expats. This comes in Topics related to social their cooperation in the field of of Foreign Affairs. hope that secondary schools and demographic statistics alternative dispute resolution. Foreign Ministry Secretary react to the discovery and will be of major interest to The memorandum provides for General H E Dr. Ahmed bin encouragement of practical the Statistical Commission joint cooperation to strengthen Hassan Al Hammadi and Vice- talent and to foster the spirit of this year, in particular with the international arbitration President of the committee said scientific research among stu- regard to household surveys, environment in the State of the award comes in line with dents, which is an important ele- population statistics and sci- Qatar and co-ordinate the Qatar National Vision 2030 and ment in building the knowledge ence and technology statis- organisation of events, semi- Qatar’s Second National Devel- economy that QNV 2030 seeks, tics. Forums held by the nars, training workshops and opment Strategy (2017-2022) in in order to enhance Qatar’s com- United Nations and the role conferences on arbitration, addition to Qatar’s plan for civi- petitiveness globally, His Excel- of countries participating in conciliation and mediation. lizations’ alliance (2017-2022). lency added. these forums will also be Ibrahim bin Khalil Al Mohannadi, President of Foundation of Qatar QICDRC opened official He explained that the award On her part, Qatar National highlighted. Sports Arbitration, and Faisal bin Rashid Al Sahouti, CEO of QICDRC, premises of Foundation of Qatar covers all the programmes, activ- Commission for Education, Cul- During the session, Sports Arbitration (FQSA) to exchanging the documents. ities and different projects in four ture and Science Secretary-Gen- member states will shed light benefit from the international priority areas of alliance of civi- eral Dr. Hamda Al Sulaiti said on statistical capacity- arbitration environment avail- instruments for the common dispute resolution environment lizations: education, youth, there are several schools affili- building mechanisms in their able in court facilities, which will interest, the creation of an inter- in Qatar.” migration, media, including the ated with the Alliance of Civili- respective countries and be reflected positively on the national dispute settlement For his part, Ibrahim bin launch of encouraging awards zations award, which are part of coordinate the efforts of the organisation’s performance of environment. Khalil Al Mohannadi said that for researchers and students. The the commission’s programs to State and international its arbitration functions in sports Al Sahouti stressed the the partnership with the Qatar award is the result of coopera- promote dialogue among organizations in training sta- disputes. The Foundation of importance of the MoU to focus International Court will enhance tion between the Qatar Com- civilizations. tistical cadres. Qatar Sports Arbitration was on mutual cooperation between the legal environment for the mittee for the Alliance of Civ- established in accordance with the two parties in supporting alternative means of conflict in ilization and Qatar National international standards applied and enhancing the arbitration the sports sector and will allow Commission for Education, in the sports sector to be com- environment in the Qatar, rec- Foundation of Qatar Sports Culture and Science, he said. petent in the consideration of ognising that arbitration is a Arbitration to start operations HE the Foreign Ministry sports disputes. successful and effective means in facilities equipped with the Secretary General said the Faisal bin Rashid Al Sahouti, of settling disputes in a quick latest technological means. Alliance of Civilizations CEO of QICDRC and Ibrahim bin and confidential manner. Al-Mohannadi added that enjoys special attention from Khalil Al Mohannadi, President “Our partnership with the the Foundation of Qatar Sports the State of Qatar, which was of Foundation of Qatar Sports Foundation of Qatar Sports Arbitration is looking to benefit highlighted in the Qatar Arbitration, signed the MoU. The Arbitration will consolidate our from the expertise of the Qatar National Vision 2030 which MOU also included the exchange efforts in the field of alternative International Court and to emphasized the support for of experiences and information dispute resolution, which will enhance the arbitration envi- dialogue of civilizations and on various dispute settlement contribute to enhancing the ronment in Qatar. coexistence between dif- ferent religions and cultures. His Excellency referred to the aim of the Qatar Com- Best Buddies Qatar Village opens at Gulf Mall mittee for the Alliance of Civilization which is to pro- mote the role of the State of THE PENINSULA Qatar in highlighting the contribution of the Islamic DOHA: Best Buddies Qatar cele- civilization and other civili- brated Best Buddies Interna- zations, in addition to pro- tional Month along with 60 moting dialogue, resolving chapters around the world in disputes, confirming the March. values of forgiveness,peace, Marking this international exchanging expertise month Best Buddies Qatar Vil- between peoples on bases lage was opened at Gulf Mall, righteousness, justice and where its members and visitors equality in order to achieve can enjoy different activities, noble goals for the human which includes colouring, sto- community. ries telling, collecting puzzles, His Excellency said the memory games and question award which will be given mazes. this year to distinguished On opening ceremony Laalei research aims to develop Abu Alfain, Best Buddies Qatar youths’ writing skills, instill Executive Director, commented: Activities being held at Best Buddies Qatar Village at Gulf Mall. the concepts and contents of “Best Buddies Qatar holds the Alliance of Civilizations, numerous activities across the arts, meanwhile,the community Administration Manager of Gulf as well as encouraging stu- whole country in March yearly. can get aware about Best Bud- Mall, highlighted: “As Gulf Mall dents to provide the best We are very glad to bring joy to dies Qatar mission. We express Management we do believe that research in various areas of the organization’s members and appreciation to Gulf Mall man- its part of our social corporate the Alliance of Civilizations, involve more children and their agement for making a place responsibility to support Best and to honor the distin- families to our event”. where we can showcase our Buddies Qatar.” Ibrahim Al- guished secondary school “Best Buddies Qatar Village mission and program”, she Bashri. Qatari story teller was students in Qatar. He said the is a great initiative where any added. invited to hold classes in Best award will be presented for child can play games and do Mohammed Mournir Shahin, Buddies Qatar Village, the year 2019 at the level of 08 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 Syria seizes quarter of rebel enclave as civilians flee

AFP The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime forces had advanced to within 3km of DAMASCUS: Syria’s regime Douma, the enclave’s main town, after retaking seized control of over a quarter of rebel-held Eastern Ghouta on “more than 25 percent” of Eastern Ghouta, in the edge of Damascus after two operations mostly through farmlands. weeks of devastating bombard- ment, sending hundreds of civil- They have reached the centre said 35-year-old Abu Khalil, car- ians into flight, a monitor said of the enclave, to the edge of Beit rying a little girl in his arms yesterday. Sawa, according to the Observa- wounded on the cheek. As the United States, Britain tory, a Britain-based war On Saturday, 18 civilians, and France stepped up pressure on monitor. including three children, were Damascus and Moscow to end the After advances in recent days killed in regime bombardment of bloodshed, the United Nations said that saw the regime seize control Eastern Ghouta, according to the it plans to deliver much-needed of 10 percent of Eastern Ghouta, Observatory. humanitarian aid to Eastern rebel fighters clashed with regime At least 76 pro-regime Ghouta’s besieged residents. forces on Sunday in the eastern fighters and 43 rebels from Jaish The Syrian Observatory for part of the enclave, the Observ- al-Islam have also been killed in Human Rights said regime forces atory said. clashes since February 25, it says. had advanced to within three kil- Rami Abdel Rahman, head of Encircled by regime-con- A general view of the destruction in the town of Al Nashabiyah in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region ometres of Douma, the enclave’s the Observatory, said at least 12 trolled territory and unable or outside Syria’s capital Damascus, yesterday. The Syrian regime has regained control of  percent main town, after retaking “more regime fighters had been killed unwilling to flee, Eastern Ghouta’s than 25 percent” of Eastern in two areas, Al Rihan and Shi- 400,000 residents have in recent of the rebel enclave in Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, taking over Ghouta, in operations mostly foniya, in overnight clashes with weeks suffered one of the most areas of the towns of Nashabiye and Hazarma, south-east of the rebel stronghold. through farmlands. the Jaish Al Islam rebel group. ferocious assaults of Syria’s civil The advance into the last Jaish Al Islam shares control of war. major opposition enclave near rebel-held parts of Eastern Under siege since 2013, they the capital, on the back of 15 days Ghouta with Faylaq Al Rahman had already been facing severe UK, US leaders urge Russia of air strikes, artillery fire and and Ahrar Al Sham. shortages of food and medicine. rocket attacks that are reported Hamza Bayraqdar, a The region’s over-burdened med- to have killed more than 640 spokesman for Jaish al-Islam, ical workers have been struggling to use influence in Syria civilians, sent hundreds into flight said on Twitter that the group’s to cope with the rising number of to western parts of the enclave. forces had launched “surprise wounded. ANATOLIA heart-breaking human suffering 400,000 people, has been Regime backer Russia last attacks” against regime While falling short of a lay with the Syrian regime and completely cut off. week announced daily five-hour positions. 30-day ceasefire demanded by LONDON: Russia must influ- Russia, as the regime’s main In the past eight months, “humanitarian pauses” in the The Observatory, which relies the United Nations, Russia’s ence Bashar Al Assad’s regime backer,” the statement added. Assad regime forces have inten- enclave. But while the air cam- on a network of sources on the announcement of daily human- in Syria to end violence and to May and Trump also sified their siege of Eastern paign has eased, fighting has ground, said rebels had retaken itarian pauses in fighting had protect civilians, British and US “agreed that Russia and others Ghouta, making it nearly impos- intensified on the ground. some parts of Shifoniya. A cor- raised hopes of some aid deliv- leaders agreed yesterday. with influence over the Syrian sible for food or medicine to get With the support of Russian respondent inside Eastern Ghouta eries and evacuations. British Prime Minister regime must act now to cease into the district and leaving warplanes, the Syrian military has saw hundreds of civilians on A convoy of “46 truckloads Theresa May and US President their campaign of violence and thousands of patients in need of advanced on several fronts, Sunday fleeing from the town of of health and nutrition supplies, Donald Trump discussed the to protect civilians.” treatment. During the phone retaking control of farms and vil- Beit Sawa in the southeast of the along with food for 27,500 people latest situation in Syria, on a The attacks carried out by call, May also raised the U.K.’s lages, a military source told state enclave. in need” would finally enter the phone call, a government state- the Assad regime and its sup- “deep concern at the President’s media. The Observatory said some battered enclave on Monday, the ment said. “They discussed porters in Eastern Ghouta have forthcoming announcement on The source said government 2,000 civilians had fled regime UN Office for the Coordination of Syria, and the appalling human- killed more than 700 civilians steel and aluminum tariffs.” forces seized a number of districts shelling and clashes in eastern Humanitarian Affairs said. itarian situation in Eastern according to reports. She told Trump that “mul- including Al-Nashabiyeh and areas to western parts of the The OCHA said further deliv- Ghouta,” it said. “They agreed Eastern Ghouta has been tilateral action was the only way Otaya, and had “eradicated ter- enclave. eries would follow and that it had it was a humanitarian catas- under siege for the last five to resolve the problem of global rorist groups” on the eastern out- “Everyone is on the road. “approval” to help 70,000 needy trophe, and that the over- years; humanitarian access to overcapacity in all parties’ inter- skirts of Damascus. There’s destruction everywhere,” residents. whelming responsibility for the the area, which is home to ests,” the statement said. UN plans to deliver aid Turkey holds nearly 1,000 to Eastern Ghouta today undocumented AFP that the convoy may proceed as planned and will be followed by migrants DAMASCUS: The United Nations other convoys.” said it plans to deliver much- “Our teams on the ground ANKARA: Turkish security needed humanitarian assistance are ready to do all that is needed forces held nearly 1,000 today to Syrians besieged in the to make this happen,” Zaatari undocumented migrants as rebel-held enclave of Eastern added. Russia-backed regime they were attempting to ille- Ghouta near Damascus. forces have since February 18 gally cross the country’s A convoy that would enter killed more than 640 civilians -- borders, the military said. the enclave would consist of including over 150 children -- in Border Guards arrested “46 truckloads of health and a ferocious bombardment of 881 people as they attempted nutrition supplies, along with Eastern Ghouta, one of the to enter Turkey from the food for 27,500 people in armed opposition’s last strong- Syrian border, a daily report need”, the UN Office for the holds in the country. issued by the Turkish General Coordination of Humanitarian Fighting on the ground has Staff said.In addition, 86 Affairs, or OCHA, said yesterday intensified, with government migrants were held while in a statement. forces reportedly advancing on they were trying to illegally Eastern Ghouta’s 400,000 several fronts since Thursday cross into Greece and four Protesters chant slogans as they hold placards and wave former Syrian ‘independence flags’ (now residents have lived under and are said to have recaptured more were rounded up when adopted by forces fighting Syrian pro-government forces) in front of the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul. regime siege since 2013, facing two areas in the east and south- they attempted to cross into severe shortages in food and east of the enclave. Turkey, it added. Nine others medicine. Ali Al Zaatari, the UN’s The clashes between regime OCHA said the aid would be assistance for 70,000 people in supplies for all approved people were also held at the Turkey- humanitarian coordinator in forces and rebels come after taken in to Eastern Ghouta by the need in the besieged enclave”. in need will be delivered on 8 Bulgaria border. Syria who will be leading Mon- Russia on Tuesday started a daily UN and its partners, after they “The UN has received assur- March 2018,” the statement At the border with Iran, day’s operation, said: “We hope five-hour “humanitarian pause”. “received approval to deliver ances that the remaining added. nine people were detained while they were crossing into Turkey and two others were held as they were attempting to cross into Iran. Turkey has been Burkina Faso captures likely key attack suspect the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, espe- cially since the beginning of the AFP “aware of the typical routines who tried to go through a road- The government has said the out the twin attacks, in a mes- civil war in Syria. and practices” at army head- block late morning near the attack on the military HQ was a sui- sage cited by Mauritania’s Al- OUAGADOUGOU: A suspected quarters, which explains the heavily fortified HQ. cide car bombing and that a regional Akhbar news agency. key figure in the deadly Burkina “ease” with which they reached The suspect in custody was anti-terrorism meeting may have The group said the Ouaga- Iran rejects France’s Faso attacks has been arrested, their target. arrested several hours after Fri- been the intended target. The car- doudou strikes were a response a government source said Yesterday saw further unrest day’s twin attacks on the French nage could have been even worse to the deaths of some of its concern over missile Sunday, adding the assailants when one man was shot dead embassy and the country’s mil- as the car bomb all but destroyed a leaders “in a French army raid ANKARA: Iran said France’s had seemingly benefited from after three people attempted to itary HQ in the capital Ouaga- room where the G5 Sahel anti-ter- in northern Mali two weeks ago” concern over Tehran’s inflitrating the army. storm a roadblock in the early dougou, a government source rorism military staff were to meet which French military sources ballistic missile programme The suspect could be “one hours near the presidential com- said. The toll of seven dead sol- only for the venue to be changed at said saw some 20 jihadists was “wrong”, the semi-offi- of the brains” behind Friday’s pound, a government source said. diers was a revised figure after the last minute. “killed or captured.” cial Fars news agency attacks which left seven soldiers Two of the trio managed to eight had been earlier declared Visiting the HQ on Saturday, Investigators are pondering reported yesterday ahead of dead, the source said. flee but the third was arrested dead. A government source also Prime minister Paul Kaba Thieba if the attack on the French the arrival of French Foreign He noted “very strong sus- and gunned down after said other assailants “were per- condemned “with the utmost embassy was meant to serve as Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian picions” that “army infiltrators” attempting to seize a guard’s haps able to flee” the scene of severity this terrorist attack, cow- a diversion for the attack on the in Tehran. had passed information to the weapon, according to the source army HQ assault given it is near ardly, which attacks our country, army HQ. Situated at the heart “Iran is an independent assailants for the coordinated said, who added that there was a busy market. The source once again, which sows death, of the diplomatic quarter, the country... Its defensive mis- attacks in the capital claimed by no apparent link to Friday’s added nine assailants were unnecessary destruction”. embassy is well protected and sile work will continue... GSIM, a jihadist group allied to attacks. killed, one more than previously GSIM, which has admitted the attack there saw four jihadis France’s concern over our Al Qaeda. Another government Troops were patrolling the reported. One had reportedly responsibility for previous killed after they were unable to missile programme is wrong,” source had Saturday indicated area following the incident and worn military gear. At least 80 attacks in the troubled Sahel get in, a government source Foreign Ministry spokesman the assailants appeared to be fired warning shots at bystanders people were injured. region, claimed to have carried noted. Bahram Qasemi told Fars. MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 AFRICA 09 South Africa traces listeria outbreak to processed meat

South African health are sold as ready-to-eat,” Motsoaledi nity. The outbreak has caused 180 fatal- spokeswoman Tamra Capstick-Dale leading to 180 deaths. officials said yesterday that said, adding that, due to the risk of cross- ities and 948 reported cases since Jan- said in a statement. The death toll stood at 172 as contamination, all such foods were a uary 2017. Meanwhile, South African health recently as February 22. The United listeriosis has killed 180 potential health hazard. Tiger Brands spokeswoman officials said yesterday that listeriosis Nations has previously said South Afri- people since the start of “We can now conclude scientifically Nevashnee Naicker said: “We are all has killed 180 people since the start of ca’s listeriosis outbreak is believed to be last year and originated at a that the source of the present outbreak extremely concerned by listeriosis - last year and originated at a food fac- the largest-ever worldwide. food factory in the country’s is the Enterprise Food production facility we all want to find the source or tory in the country’s northeast. The disease mainly affects children located in Polokwane,” Motsoaledi told sources of listeriosis, together with the Listeriosis is caused by a bacteria and has a three-week incubation period, northeast. a briefing at the offices of the National government.” RCL Foods chief legal found in soil, water, vegetation and animal making it difficult to track. Most of the Institute of Communicable Diseases. officer Stephen Heath said the com- faeces, and can contaminate food, espe- current cases have been in Gauteng prov- Tiger Brands said it was cooperating pany was recalling its polony products cially fresh meat, dairy, seafood. It is pre- ince, which includes the cities of Johan- REUTERS with authorities and RCL Foods said it even though test results were still vented by basic hygiene and washing food. nesburg and Pretoria, with other cases would suspend all production of its pending. “The source of the present outbreak concentrated in Western Cape and Kwa- JOHANNESBURG: South Africans were Rainbow Polony brand. “RCL Foods is sharing all results can be confirmed to be the Enterprise food Zulu-Natal provinces. told yesterday not to consume ready- Motsoaledi said although RCL Foods from its testing, both internally and production facility in Polokwane,” said Contamination in humans can result to-eat processed meat as the govern- had not been identified as a source of externally, with the relevant authori- health minister Aaron Motsoaledi in a in flu-like illness, infection of the blood- ment identified the source of a listeria the outbreak, a facility owned by the ties,” Heath said. “We will continue to statement. Products made at the plant stream and, in severe cases, infection of outbreak that has killed 180 people as firm was under investigation. Inquiries take every precaution to safeguard our would be subject to safety recalls, he the brain which can prove fatal. People a cold meat product made by the coun- were ongoing at a second facility run by products as well as our consumers. added. Enterprise could not immedi- with compromised immune systems, try’s biggest consumer foods group. Enterprise Foods to establish if it too had South African supermarket operator ately be reached for comment. like some of those living with AIDS and The meat, known as “polony”, made contributed. Pick n Pay said it had withdrawn the “We advise members of the public pregnant women, are at a heightened by Tiger Brands unit Enterprise Food Listeriosis, the infection caused by products from its shelves. to avoid all processed meat products risk, according to the World Health and by RCL Foods, would be recalled the bacteria, causes flu-like symptoms, “All fridges and food preparation that are sold as ready-to-eat,” said Organization (WHO). It advises people from stores, Health Minister Aaron Mot- nausea, diarrhoea and infection of the areas in our stores will now be re- Motsoaledi. The National Institute of to wash hands and kitchen surfaces, soaledi said. blood and brain. It poses a higher risk cleaned to prevent any cross-contam- Communicable Diseases (NICD) con- keep raw and cooked food separate, to “We advise members of the public for newborns, the elderly, pregnant ination. Recalled meat is being isolated firmed that 948 cases of listeriosis had cook food thoroughly and store it in the to avoid all processed meat products that women and people with weak immu- and will be safely destroyed,” been confirmed since January 1 2017, fridge. SA opposition leader Malema launches bid for presidency

AFP last month of president Jacob him to do the right thing,” said Zuma, long the target of Male- Malema. JOHANNESBURG: Radical ma’s ire, the EFF has switched Malema founded the EFF in South African opposition leader its attentions to the main oppo- 2013 when he was expelled from Julius Malema launched sition DA, accusing it of being a the ANC along with a number of yesterday his campaign to be racist party that promotes the allies, and the party now has the elected president in 2019 by interests of whites. third largest number of MPs in aggressively distancing his party “All white people who are the National Assembly. from a one-time coalition voting DA, who are angry with In his speech, Malema wel- partner. what we are going to do in PE... comed the ANC’s recent resolu- The Economic Freedom all of you can go to hell, we don’t tion to seek to expedite the Fighters (EFF) leader used a care about you. We don’t care process of redistributing land to speech at a packed arena in about white feelings,” he said to “rightful owners” that is widely Johannesburg to confirm that he loud applause and cheering. understood to mean transfer- would seek to unseat the mayor “We don’t hate white ring land owned by whites to of Port Elizabeth whose admin- people, we just love black economically disadvantaged istration his party propped-up people.” blacks. since 2016 elections. Malema has sought to “We want to give land to our South African opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema (second right), The mayor of the south rebuild ties with the ruling people, it is going to happen, it talks to the press in Cape Town. coast city, Athol Trollip, is a African National Congress (ANC) will happen in our lifetime, member of the Democratic Alli- since President Cyril Ram- whether they like it or not. The ance (DA) party which has gov- aphosa succeeded Zuma last land will be returned,” he said. are going to listen to the people of to Foreign Secretary Boris voter registration drive for EFF erned Port Elizabeth as well as month. “We are not going to listen to South Africa,” Malema added. Johnson calling on London to supporters. “All fighters in all Johannesburg and Pretoria with “Ramaphosa must do the any Britain, we are not going to He was referring to a letter “step in” over the issue of land branches must be registered to the support of Malema’s EFF. right thing. We don’t care about listen to European Parliament, we sent Tuesday by right-wing redistribution in South Africa. vote. If you are not registered, But since the resignation him being a billionaire, we want are not going to listen to UN -- we British UKIP MEP Janice Atkinson Malema also announced a then you are a criminal.”

Zambia taps climate Zambia gets Turkish aid to fund to battle drought fight cholera

REUTERS flooding have been a problem. ANATOLIA Zambia, like many of its LILONGWE: Zambian farmers southern African neighbours, ISTANBUL: The Zambian facing more extreme weather is struggling with strengthening government received human- are set to get better early climate impacts in the face of itarian aid sent by the Turkish warning and weather informa- already widespread poverty. Red Crescent for its fight tion to help them cope, as part According to the 2016 against cholera, according to of a new grant from the Green UNDP Human Development a statement yesterday. Climate Fund. Report, about 60 percent of the The aid, including hygiene In a funding round country’s people live below the kits and liquid chlorine, was announced this week, the inter- poverty line, more than 40 per- distributed to 150 children at national climate fund approved cent of those in extreme poverty. an orphanage, 1,500 children $32m towards a broader effort The report says 70 percent of at a primary school, and by the United Nations Develop- Zambians rely on agriculture for 16,000 refugees from the ment Programme (UNDP), the a living, and agriculture, forestry Democratic Republic of the Supporters of Sierra Leone’s All People’s Congress (APC) presidential candidate Samura Kamara UN Food and Agriculture Organ- and fishing contribute 24 percent Congo, Rwanda, Angola, and hold a campaign poster during a rally in Kambia yesterday, ahead of the country’s general election. ization (FAO) and the World Food of the country’s Gross Domestic Mozambique living in camps. Programme to help shore up Product. A team of experts from the food security and keep farmers Eric Chipeta, an energy and Turkish Red Crescent also Sierra Leone leader defends from slipping into poverty. environmental analyst in gave trainings for hygiene and The UN agencies had already Zambia for UNDP, said the sanitation along with Turkish raised $125 million toward the effort would, for instance, pro- Cooperation and Coordina- presidential candidate effort, which aims to help fight vide Zambian farmers with tion Agency (TIKA). poverty among about 940,000 insurance that issues automatic AFP Peoples Congress (APC), would red sun icon of the APC, farmers hit by extreme weather payouts when certain rainfall not act as “his master’s voice”, Koroma looked at ease as his in Zambia, according to Janet or temperature thresholds are 76 Somali prisoners KAMBIA: Sierra Leone’s adding: “He is definitely going last day in power approaches. Rogan, a UNDP representative passed, and crops are presumed outgoing leader has defended to be himself.” “I’m campaigning so that in the country. dead or damaged. freed from Indian the presidential candidate The president is staying on our APC party will remain in The effort aims to help “The initiative will go a jails return home widely seen as his handpicked as party chairman after stepping power to continue the good farmers plan for climate risks, long way to strengthen the successor on amid accusations aside, leading to accusations he work we have started,” make their farming more resil- capacity of farmers to plan for MOGADISHU: A total of 76 of personal interference, and wants to retain control of the Koroma told the small crowd, ient and diversified and give climate risks (and) provide the Somali nationals, who had hit out at opponents of an elec- APC from behind the scenes via arguing against the influence them better access to markets, opportunity for weather index been in Indian jails over tion day vehicle ban. his former foreign minister. of social media and for conti- said Simon Pollock, a spokesman insurance even in times of poor piracy-related offenses, The West African nation Koroma also defended his nuity of his road building for the Green Climate Fund rains,” he told the Thomson returned to their homeland goes to the polls on Wednesday record, admitting he was “not programme. (GCF), in an email interview. “In Reuters Foundation. yesterday. to choose a replacement for saying we got it all right” with Sierra Leone’s president addition, this intervention is spe- Zambia has seen increas- The returnees were wel- Ernest Bai Koroma, who is step- an economy hit by the twin also addressed concerns by cifically designed to create eco- ingly unpredictable weather, comed at the Mogadishu Inter- ping down after 10 years as blows of Ebola and slumped rights groups that a ban on all nomic opportunities for women,” including drought this year that national Airport by Deputy president, along with a new commodity prices, but also vehicles without a government Pollock told the Thomson Reu- hit at the time when maize - the Prime Minister Mahdi parliament. tarred by successive corruption pass on voting day could disen- ters Foundation. country’s staple crop - began Mohamed Guled Khadar and Koroma said at a rally on allegations. franchise large swathes of the The project targets 16 par- putting out tassels, Chipeta said. other government officials.The Saturday in the western town of Surrounded by hundreds population reliant on public and ticularly climate-vulnerable Drought at that point can cut prisoners smiled and some of Kambia that Samura Kamara, of supporters waving red flags private transport to reach provinces in the country, where harvests significantly, experts them kneeled to kiss the soil as the candidate of the ruling All and covered top to toe in the polling stations. worsening droughts and say. they got off the plane. 10 VIEWS MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 ‘Mass psychosis’ in Eastern Ghouta?

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI HALIM SHEBAYA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AL JAZEERA DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected] ADIES and gentlemen, there is ACTING MANAGING EDITOR nothing to worry about in Eastern Ghouta. Keep calm and MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED Lcarry on, we are being told. It is [email protected] just a matter of “mass psychosis”. Welcome to the “post-truth” age where there is an actual debate about whether or not we should rally around the International Committee of the Red Cross’ (ICRC) (among other organisations) call for restraint and EDITORIAL access to the wounded. The ICRC called the situation “madness” that had to be stopped. Yet, we are being told that it’s mere “fabrications”, “propaganda” and “mass Water security delusions”. Before proceeding, it is worth noting atar has taken several initiatives and made that indiscriminate targeting of civilians hospitals, and blocking humanitarian objectives, and must be proportionate.” plans in the field of water security. Water is on all sides of the conflict is aid. Two plus two equals five? a scarce resource and all the countries are reprehensible. The ICRC statement Indeed, wars by their very nature Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s permanent working hard to ensure water security. mentioned that, “on the other side of the bring about human casualties. And the representative to the United Nations, Q Qatar’s water production capacity front line, people in Damascus are in argument on the part of the Assad described the media coverage as increased by 15 percent in 2017 with the constant fear that their children will be regime is that it is a military battle of propaganda-driven, a campaign of opening of phase one of the Integrated Water and Power hit by falling mortars”. self-defense “inside Syria’s borders”, as disinformation disseminating rumors Project (IWPP) in Umm Al Houl according to Qatar Why, then, a focus on Eastern its UN envoy told the Security Council. and a condition of “mass psychosis”. General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa). Ghouta? What we are dealing with is Thus, to use International According to the Russian Federation, In a speech on the occasion of the Arab Water Day, more than 520 dead and 2500 wounded Humanitarian Law (IHL) terminology, recent attention on Ghouta is meant to which is celebrated on March 3 each year, Minister of (according to Medecins Sans Frontieres ) it is a battle justified on the grounds of damage the reputation of Syria and Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al in five days. And the numbers are “military necessity”. Russia. Sada said Qatar attaches great importance to the water seemingly set to rise. However, and this is a point that is I do not contest the fact that political sector within framework of Qatar National Vision 2030. Silence is a sign of consent, according lost in said argument, military players and affiliated media do their According to Kahramaa President Eng Essa bin to an Arabic expression. But when necessity has to be balanced by utmost to embellish their own image and Hilal Al Kuwari the interconnectivity of resources and UNICEF issued a blank statement for humanitarian considerations. As the to besmirch their opponents. However, their connection with sustainable development is “lack of words” to describe the suffering International Court of Justice affirmed the use of the term “psychosis” is compatible with Kahramaa’s mission in sustainably in Eastern Ghouta, it was anything but an in the Advisory Opinion on Nuclear revealing and, in a sense, emblematic of providing high-quality electricity and water in Qatar. expression of consent. Weapons (1996), there are two cardinal “post-truth” logic. The corporation is putting a lot of effort in increasing It does not take a genius to decipher principles that constitute the “fabric of It reminded me of George Orwell’s the state’s strategic water reserves, as well as planning its intended message. The appropriate humanitarian law… because they 1984 when he wrote that: “In the end the how to meet the increasing the demand for the words had already been used throughout constitute intransgressible principles of Party would announce that two and two resources. the Syrian conflict. international customary law” — one of made five, and you would have to The Corporation has taken several steps to meet Indeed, the situation is one of a “deja them being the protection of the believe it”. the requirements of vu”, as a Syrian writer described it — and civilian population. In other words, we are being sustainability development a bleak reminder of what Bashar Al Now it is of course an issue that presented with two diametrically including the Water Security Assad’s faces increased difficulties in the opposed conceptions of reality. On the Mega Reservoirs project that “victory” in context of armed conflicts taking place one hand, we have the ICRC, UN aims at building 15 tanks for Syria has meant involving non-state actors who make it agencies, human rights organisations - Water plays an water storage, the largest one when it comes harder to distinguish between military and even the Catholic Pope! - calling for important role in in the country with the to the military and civilian targets. But IHL provisions a ceasefire and allowing humanitarian capacity of 1,500 million strategies nonetheless apply in such aid into the besieged territory. achieving sustainable gallons to increase the employed circumstances, including — to give Conversely, we are being nudged to development in the strategic water reserve in the it is easier to under the examples relevant to Eastern Ghouta — consider all those warnings as country. Kahramaa country. condemn war patronage of the protection of civilians (Article 13 of “psychosis” or “propaganda” simply is committed to Kahramaa has laid pipes crimes, genocides Vladimir Putin. the 1977 Additional Protocol II to the because they happen to paint two of different sizes in a stretch “Hell on Geneva Conventions), provisions leaders in a bad light. providing high of about 650 kilometres to and human rights earth”, a “living against starvation (Article 14) and The grave danger in Nebenzya’s quality water as per connect the tanks with water violations in nightmare”, protection of the wounded and medical discourse is that it risks voiding any the international desalinating plants. hindsight. It is “exceptionally personnel (Article 7-11). discussion of human suffering in the standard to According to Kahramaa utterly depressing, deplorable The terminology of “lice and rats” context of a political quagmire or armed President phase one project developments”. and other calls for obliteration of a conflict simply on account of one its customers will add about 1,500 gallons albeit not surprising, The problem is region that is inhabited by civilians is a powerful country claiming that and to develop water to the strategic water that we have not with finding reminder of the worst atrocities uncomfortable news is just #fakenews the necessary reserve of the country that not witnessed the right words, humanity has witnessed, where people (and of course, it is not just Russia that is infrastructure to will be enough to cover the an unequivocal but with a were robbed of their humanity and guilty of such behaviour in the Security need by 2026. realisation that their killing justified on ethnic, Council). meet the water Kahramaa continues its condemnation of words have not religious, or national grounds. Consequently, if we accept such demand of the plans to establish new such vile language helped. Indeed, it is easier to condemn war argumentation, we are robbing country. stations and maintain the and in defence UNICEF’s crimes, genocides and human rights ourselves from an indispensable tool existing ones in order to of human lives in statement had a violations in hindsight. It is utterly for advocating for oppressed people provide better services that footnote: “Do depressing, albeit not surprising, that and just causes, including Palestine meet the needs of development. Eastern Ghouta, those inflicting we have not witnessed an unequivocal — the irony being that many pro- The Corporation is also working through its National regardless of one’s the suffering condemnation of such vile language Palestine voices fall prey to such Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency position on the still have words and in defence of human lives in propaganda. “Tarsheed” to increase the awareness level of the Syrian regime or the to justify their Eastern Ghouta, regardless of one’s To be clear, I am not presenting a community on the importance of adopting preventive barbaric acts?” position on the Syrian regime or the blanket defense of the UN and human steps to reduce the consumption of electricity and water. armed groups now Apparently, armed groups now in control of the rights/humanitarian agencies due to a Tarsheed programme aims at cutting the per capita in control of the some do. And territory. belief in their infallibility or their ability consumption of electricity by 25 percent and water by territory. the chosen One of the arguments presented by to “save the world”. But a cursory look at 35 percent by 2022. words were supporters of the Syrian regime is that the reports since 2011 categorically Water plays an important role in achieving “lice” and “rats” the Armed Forces are providing negates a prevalent view in some circles sustainable development in the country. — written (later civilians with a chance by dropping that such agencies/organisations only Kahramaa is committed to providing high quality deleted from leaflets indicating evacuation routes. target Putin and Assad. water as per the international standard to its customers his Facebook page but still available Without getting into a discussion about Just to give one example, an Amnesty and to develop the necessary infrastructure to meet the here) by Nabil Saleh, a member of the whether this is indeed a viable option, International report on Ghouta accused water demand of the country. Syrian parliament in reference to those such leaflets are a clear indication that the regime of committing war crimes but the regime is fighting. the Syrian government is aware of the also said: “non-state armed groups, While some will argue that the words presence of civilians in the targeted particularly the Army of Islam, are guilty were exclusively in reference to the area who are caught up in the midst of of an array of abuses including fighters, Saleh also considered the the bloodshed; and as such, said abductions, arbitrary detentions and “chorus of ‘Ghouta is being annihilated’ warnings do not absolve its forces from indiscriminate shelling. Their use of as liars who are using pictures of responsibility vis-à-vis civilians. imprecise weapons such as mortars and Palestinians in the Occupied Territories”. The leaflets reminded me of the Grad rockets in populated areas QUOTE OF THE DAY It is thus not for sensationalism that I ones dropped in Eastern Aleppo (2016) amounts to war crimes.” am highlighting these words. Rather, I by Syrian and Russian aircrafts: “This is In Orwell’s 1984, we also read how refer to them as an example of a type of your last hope….Save yourselves. If you “the heresy of heresies [for the Party] Both sides must discourse that becomes “acceptable” and do not leave these areas urgently, you was common sense”. recognise the “very “justified” on account of the will be annihilated… You know that The question remains: Is it still important role” that “complexity” of war zones. everyone has given up on you. They possible to appeal to “common sense” Nothing “complicated” about left you alone to face your doom and amidst the madness we are witnessing Britain’s financial targeting civilians nobody will give you any help”. that has made us numb to human services industry plays However, as we grapple with making And what Human Rights Watch tragedies? Or are we all victims of mass for the EU and the UK. sense of a complex situation, and in the noted at the time is applicable today in psychosis where “two and two make midst of the foggy and tortuously Ghouta, namely: “telling civilians to five”? Theresa May complicated political and military scene leave does not give the military a carte in Syria, there is absolutely nothing Britain’s Prime Minister blanche to attack as though they have The writer is a Beirut-based political “complicated” when it comes to left. With or without a warning, attacks analyst and multi-disciplinary indiscriminate targeting of civilians, may be carried out only on military researcher. MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 OPINION 11 US, North Korea shouldn’t let their Olympic truce end

OW that the winter Koreans have no intention of several reasons to feel insecure. choice has prompted the US to Olympic Games in surrendering the relative Though more than 60 years intensify its own threats. Since South Korea have security which they believe have passed since the end of the North’s first nuclear test in ended, it’s unclear their nuclear program has the Korean War, there’s still 2006, annual US-South Korea N military exercises have reached To make progress, how long the recent diplomatic ensured. The US has added yet only an armistice agreement in thaw on the Korean Peninsula more sanctions, provoking yet place on the peninsula, not a a scale unseen since the end of both sides need to try FU YING will last. It’s not in anyone’s another angry response from peace treaty between warring the Vietnam War. The United harder. The US is the BLOOMBERG interest — America’s least of all the North. parties. Confronted with a US Nations Security Council has relatively stronger and — that it should soon dissolve. To make progress, both military presence across the adopted 10 sanctions Even though US and North sides need to try harder. The US border — not to mention the resolutions that have almost more capable party in Korean representatives refused is the relatively stronger and nuclear shield extended to entirely halted North Korea’s this dispute. As such, to meet at the Games, despite more capable party in this South Korea — the North has, foreign trade. All of this has the responsibility falls sitting only meters away from dispute. As such, the over the years, wavered only made the North even on America to show one another, both sides have responsibility falls on America between pursuing negotiations more determined to cling to its indicated directly or through to show greater foresight — and to win security guarantees and nuclear weapons. greater foresight — and South Korea that they’re open empathy — toward its smaller developing nuclear weapons No outside party can solve empathy — toward its to talks. How to start those rival. Weak nations, too, for self-protection. this problem. The North Koreans smaller rival. discussions is the question, as deserve their dignity and won’t The 1994 Agreed regard the US as the central both are trying to portray any long abide being denied it. Framework — in which the threat to their survival — so only meeting as a victory for their Ignoring this reality will only North agreed to abandon its the US can address their security missile tests. Yet, both parties uncompromising strategy. The return the situation to the nuclear program in exchange concerns. China can only essentially implemented such a US insists that the North vicious cycle of provocation for heavy fuel and light-water encourage the two sides to take “freeze-for-freeze” scheme Koreans demonstrate their and retaliation which has reactors provided by the US steps towards dialogue. The during the Olympics, which sincerity and peaceable dominated the nuclear standoff and its allies — fell apart parties should be confident that, suggests that there is some intentions by offering to for so long. because neither side fully as with a car that’s been idle for flexibility in their stances. They negotiate away their nuclear Looking back at the history honored the deal. After 2003, too long, just getting discussions should exploit that ambiguity to arsenal. Meanwhile, the North of this dispute, North Korea has the Six-Party Talks managed to started is the hardest part. Once extend this state of calm and reach several more important the car is on the road, progress begin talks soon, hoping to agreements. Those all collapsed will become easier. build momentum. as well because of lack of good Remember, five of the The US has every right to be faith on both sides. If the North North’s six nuclear tests took concerned about its national deserves blame for reneging on place when there was a setback security. But peace can’t be its 2005 pledge to abandon all in talks or no talks at all. The achieved on one side alone nuclear weapons, the US, too, evolution of this confrontation and, in the current situation, undermined mutual trust by tells us that as long as the door the US will have a hard time imposing financial sanctions on for negotiations is open, truly feeling safe unless North Macau-based Banco Delta Asia tensions can be controlled and Korea does, too. That’s why just as the parties had begun to the North’s nuclear program is China calls for building implement the agreement. less likely to be accelerate. In common security in the region In its years of back and that sense, entering peace talks and the world at large. forth with the US, North Korea would itself qualify as an has concluded that America’s achievement. The writer is chairperson of the only real goal is to bring down So far, neither side has Foreign Affairs Committee of its government. Having lost officially accepted China’s China’s National People’s Congress, confidence in gaining security proposal that the US freeze its and of the Academic Committee of through dialogue, it’s pinned its joint military drills with South China’s Institute of International hopes on developing a full- Korea in exchange for North Strategy at the Chinese Academy of fledged nuclear capability. That Korea suspending nuclear and Social Sciences.

ACEBOOK’S self-regulatory I still have my tens of thousands of fake managers because they give them a contortions in the wake of fake “subscribers” who showed up after I specific goal — moving a gauge by any news and trolling scandals have was active in the 2011 protests in means at their disposal. For the same Fgone on, with little visible Moscow and, as far as I’ve seen, reason, they can be useless to effect, for months. Now Twitter founder questionable content from highly consumers, who will get what they see, D-RING ROAD and Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey partisan sources is also still there. which is not necessarily the same thing POST BOX: 3488 has announced his company is going to All that has happened is that, as what’s measured. LEONID BERSHIDSKY DOHA - QATAR THE WASHINGTON POST try a different tack — but Dorsey’s according to a recent analysis of A secondary problem is that Nielsen data by equity research conversation can’t really be engineered [email protected] company Pivotal Research Group, time algorithmically. Not even the Oxford spent by users on Facebook was down Union rules of debate can be 100 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE 4 percent year-on-year in November, percent successful in ensuring a civil TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 2017, and its share of user attention was dialog, especially if the entities FAX: +974 4455 7758 down to 16.7 percent from 18.2 percent engaged in it are often anonymous and No, Twitter: Healthy a year earlier. not always human. Dorsey has chosen MANAGING EDITOR Twitter, faced with a 14 percent to ignore the obvious problems — his TEL: 4462 7505 decline in time spent and a decrease platform’s dedication to full in attention share to 0.8 percent from anonymity, the permissibility of DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR conversation can’t be 1.1 percent over the same period — multiple accounts for the same TEL: 4455 7769 and consequently described by individual, the openness to automation Pivotal Research Group as a “niche — and take the roundabout route of LOCAL NEWS SECTION engineered platform”— needs to do something trying to create a scorecard on which TEL: 4455 7743 that will draw people to it, not repel Twitter can be seen improving. them. This dashboard can be impressively BUSINESS NEWS SECTION So one can understand software high-tech, but human (or half-human, TEL: 4462 7535 developer Dorsey’s need for a as the case may be) conversation really approach is arguably even more bottom-up reevaluation of how his isn’t. “Social engineering” is a term for SPORT NEWS SECTION far-fetched than his Facebook peer software has been working. The starting the low-tech manipulation of people TEL: 4455 7745 Mark Zuckerberg’s: It’s an attempt to point has been provided by a nonprofit into doing something they didn’t plan view Twitter’s social mess as an called Cortico, which grew out of the to do — like revealing their personal ONLINE SECTION engineering problem. Massachusetts Institute of Technology data or perhaps blowing up publicly so TEL: 4462 7501 In a Twitter thread on Thursday, Media Lab. It’s working on a set of they can be shamed. Trolls are good at [email protected] Dorsey admitted that Twitter has been “health indicators” for the US public social engineering. home to “abuse, harassment, troll sphere based on four principles: shared I banned several accounts with PUBLIC RELATIONS armies, manipulation through bots and attention (to what extent people are almost no followers today whose TEL: 4455 7613 human-coordination, misinformation interested in the same subjects?), shared owners were trying to insult me. I do it [email protected] campaigns and increasingly divisive reality (are people using the same set of every day. It’s unpleasant to deal with echo chambers” and that it’s not proud facts?), variety (are people exposed to them, but under Twitter’s current rules ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT of how it has dealt with them. So it different opinions?) and receptivity (are it’s also unavoidable. A brief look at the TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 would try to find a “holistic” solution they willing to listen to those different responses to Dorsey’s thread (“You’re FAX: 4455 7870 through attempting to “measure the opinions?). lying,” “’This is not who we are’ [email protected] ‘health’ of conversation on Twitter.” The If there’s a transparently developed, translates to ‘This is exactly who we metrics, designed in collaboration with openly discussed set of measurements are’,” “I’d tell you what I really think of CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT outside experts, would presumably help to determine the “health of the you but you’d kick me off”) is enough to TEL: 4455 7857 redesign the service so that all the bad conversation” on Twitter or any other see what sort of conversational space [email protected] It’s a bitter pill stuff would be gone without the need social network, the networks could, Twitter is. Metrics? I’m sure they can be for the networks’ for censorship. instead of grappling with macro- designed to show these comments are SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION That’s not how Facebook chose to problems like “fake news” or 77 percent “healthy” — and, for the next TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 engineer founders, handle a similar problem. For starters, it “harassment,” break down their Dorsey thread, to show an improvement FAX: 44557819 who tend to think didn’t ask anyone for advice responses into micro-actions designed to 79 percent. The point is worth [email protected] technology and data (Zuckerberg’s listening tour of the US to move the metrics. Then they could repeating here: Until it’s clear who’s can fix any problem, doesn’t count because he didn’t specify report to the public (and to concerned talking on the social networks, just as as clearly as Dorsey what he was regulators) that the conversation is it’s almost always clear with All thoughts and views but a solution can looking for). Facebook just devised growing healthier. traditional media, and until there are only be found by some possible solutions such as The biggest problem with this real consequences to insults, expressed in these putting people in the working with fact-checkers to identify approach is a bit like the one with the harassment and intentional lies, the columns are those of the same environment fake news and focusing on content from World Bank’s Doing Business ranking, conversation cannot be healthy. writers, not of the friends rather than publishers; it even routinely gamed by authoritarian It’s a bitter pill for the networks’ newspaper. that exists in face- experimented with putting publisher regimes’ officials who want to hit their engineer founders, who tend to think to-face conversation content in a separate newsfeed — a test performance indicators. technology and data can fix any or in the “legacy” it has just ended because users According to this ranking, it’s easier problem, but a solution can only be All correspondence news media — one apparently didn’t want two feeds. It has to do business in Vladimir Putin’s Russia found by putting people in the same regarding Views and also volunteered to reveal more than in some EU countries, despite the environment that exists in face-to- Opinion pages should be that makes outbursts information about who bought political absence of real guarantees that the face conversation or in the “legacy” and lying legally and ads. business won’t be expropriated by a news media — one that makes send to editor-in-chief socially costly. It’s not clear whether these moves greedy law enforcement officer who outbursts and lying legally and office or mailed to the have done anything to fix the problems: happens to like it. Metrics are useful to socially costly. [email protected] 12 ASIA MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 Process begins to form new Tripura govt

IANS Amit Shah and many central “BJP Parliamentary the electoral battle in his maiden Minister Manik Sarkar tendered shops in more than 100 places leaders are likely to be present Board on Saturday attempt. his resignation to Governor Tath- across Tripura. AGARTALA: A day after the during the swearing-in cere- appointed Union The BJP-IPFT coalition agata Roy, who asked him to A woman and a youth were Tripura assembly election results mony, date of which would be Ministers Nitin Gadkari swept the February 18 polls, the continue in office till the next killed in Jirania areas of western were declared, efforts were on finalised after getting the Prime results of which were declared Chief Minister takes over. Tripura and around 300 injured to form the first BJP-led govern- Minister’s schedule,” he said. and Jual Oram as central on Saturday, winning 43 of the “I have submitted my resig- throughout the state after the rival ment in one of India’s last Left Deb refused to name the observers. They are 59 seats for which elections nation to the Governor and he party workers attacked them. strongholds yesterday. probable Chief Ministerial can- likely to meet the newly- were held. asked me to continue in office “Many of the injured were admitted “BJP Parliamentary Board on didate of the BJP. elected MLAs tomorrow The BJP secured 35 seats in until the new Chief Minister took to the hospital,” CPI-M leader Hari- Saturday appointed Union Min- “The party would decide the 60-member assembly over the charge,” Sarkar told the pada Das told the media. isters Nitin Gadkari and Jual everything,” he added. to ascertain their views while its ally IPFT, a tribal media after putting in his papers. He said that a delegation led Oram as central observers. They According to the BJP leader, on government formation based party, won eight seats. The CPI-M alleged that at by the CPI-M’s west Tripura Dis- are likely to meet the newly- a combined meeting of the newly and to elect legislature Elections were held for 59 least two people including a trict Secretary Pabitra Kar and elected MLAs tomorrow to ascer- elected legislators of the BJP and seats and countermanded in one woman were killed and around Lok Sabha Member Sankar tain their views on government its ally — the Indigenous People’s group leader,” BJP (tribal reserve Charilam seat) fol- 300 injured in attacks by rival Prasad Datta met Director Gen- formation and to elect legisla- Front of Tripura (IPFT) — would Tripura President Biplab lowing the death of a CPI-M can- party workers at more than a eral of Police Akhil Kumar ture group leader,” Bharatiya also be held today to discuss the Kumar Deb said. didate a week before the polls. hundred places across Tripura Shukla and apprised him about Janata Party Tripura Pradesh government formation. “BJP leaders would try to since Saturday after the decla- the “large-scale post-poll vio- President Biplab Kumar Deb told Many BJP leaders in the state accommodate women, tribal, ration of the poll results. lence across the state by BJP the media. said that Tripura Pradesh Pres- Communist Party of India-Marxist schedule caste and youth leaders “BJP workers armed with members.” “The BJP ministry in Tripura ident Biplab Kumar Deb is the (CPI-M) nominee and the party’s in its ministry. Regional repre- lathis, sharp weapons and crude “We have asked the DGP to would likely to assume office most favoured leader for the post youth leader Amal Chakraborty sentation would also be kept in bombs attacked many CPI-M take adequate security measures within this week. Prime Minister of Chief Minister. in the Banamalipur constituency mind,” a BJP leader told IANS. party offices, houses belonging all over the state to stop the post- Narendra Modi, party President Deb, who defeated the by a margin of 9,549 votes, won Earlier yesterday, Chief to Left party supporters, small poll violence,” Kar told reporters.

NPP set to Mamata backs KCR’s form next government third front proposal in Meghalaya

IANS work with you),” the CMO IANS quoted her as saying. HYDERABAD: West Bengal KCR, as the TRS chief is GUWAHATI: The National Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee popularly known, said on Sat- People’s Party (NPP) yesterday telephoned her urday that there is a need for a yesterday met Meghalaya Telangana counterpart K Chan- qualitative change in the Indian Governor Ganga Prasad and drasekhar Rao to extend her politics and declared that he is staked claim to form the next support to his plan to cobble up ready to bring together like government in the state. a third front as an alternative minded parties. The NPP, which secured 19 to both the BJP and the Former Jharkhand Chief seats on its own, has the backing Congress. Minister Hemanth Soren also of six United Democratic Party The Tirnamool Congress telephoned KCR and expressed (UDP) legislators, four People’s leader spoke to the Telangana his solidarity. He welcomed Democratic Front (PDF) MLAs, Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief to KCR’s decision to play a key two each from the Bharatiya convey that she is with him in role in national politics. Janata Party (BJP) and Hill State bringing like-minded parties Two MPs from Maharashtra People’s Democratic Party together. and prominent persons from (HSPDP) MLAs and an Independ- According to the Chief Min- different walks of life also ents legislator, taking the com- ister’s Office, Mamata told him spoke to KCR over the phone bined strength of the alliance to that she fully agrees with him and expressed their support. Solidarity with Syrian civilians 34. This leaves the ruling Congress, and is ready to work with him. The TRS chief has been despite retaining 21 seats. People hold placards and roses during a protest in New Delhi yesterday against the ongoing conflict “Ham aap se ek mat hain. receiving support from people Assam Health Minister and in Syria. Aap ke saath rahengey” (I am belonging to different walks of convener of the BJP-led alliance in agreement with you. I will life. North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a delegation comprising the legislators of NPP, UDP, BJP, HSPDP and UDF met the Gov- Bangla writer was attacked as ‘enemy of Islam’: Police ernor yesterday and said they have the required numbers to AFP recent years, blamed “religious “He has said Dr Zafar Iqbal was linked to Al Qaeda in the Indian yesterday. form the government. fanatics” for the assault. an enemy of Islam,” Ahmed Subcontinent — for most of the Hasina urged Bangladeshis “The mandate in Megha- DHAKA: Bangladeshi investi- Iqbal, a longstanding cham- said. attacks. to remain alert to the threat of laya is against the Congress. gators said yesterday that a pion of free speech and secu- Police said Hasan, whose Bangladesh’s government extremism. “Those responsible The role of the BJP is just a young man accused of stabbing larism, remains in a stable con- father was a teacher at an has provided security for top for these incidents have become facilitator. We are facilitating a celebrated secular writer at dition after being flown to a Islamic seminary, may have secular writers and activists religious fanatics,” she said the regional parties in Meg- a seminar had targeted him as military hospital in Dhaka with had links to extremists blamed since Islamist extremists named yesterday. halaya to unite and form a “an enemy of Islam”. stab wounds to his head. for attacks on secular and them in several lists of targets. “They think that they’ll go government in the state to Saturday’s attack on Zafar Police detained 21-year-old atheist writers in the last four Iqbal, 64, is a bestselling to a heaven, but they will actu- keep the Congress at bay,” Iqbal in the northern city of Faizul Hasan, a former Islamic years. author and celebrity speaker ally go to hell, because no one said Sarma. Sylhet was just the latest in a seminary student, and were Suspected Islamist radicals who regularly appears at cam- goes to heaven by killing a series of stabbings of secular investigating any ties to the have killed around a dozen such puses nationwide. The US- human being.” In recent years or atheist authors and bloggers radical groups. writers and bloggers, including trained professor teaches at a Iqbal had supported the execu- in Muslim-majority Colonel Ali Haider Azad an American atheist blogger of state university in Sylhet. tion of top Islamist party leaders Kanam Rajendran Bangladesh. Ahmed from the elite Rapid Bangladeshi origin. The attack was swiftly con- — key opponents of Hasina — Prime Minister Sheikh Action Battalion unit said Police have blamed home- demned by protesters in Dhaka for their part in war crimes in re-elected CPI Hasina, whose government has Hasan told investigators it was grown Islamist extremist group and Sylhet, who staged torchlit the early 1970s, despite allega- waged a fierce crackdown on “his duty as a Muslim to resist Ansarullah Bangla Team — also marches and planned further tions the prime minister was Kerala secretary homegrown extremism in those who work against Islam”. known as Ansar Al Islam and rallies to demand justice later crushing dissent. IANS

MALAPPURAM: Kanam Rajendran was yesterday CBI arranges Karti unanimously elected for a second three-year term as the Kerala secretary of the meeting with Indrani Communist Party of India (CPI). IANS whisked Karti Chidambaram to The 67-year-old veteran the jail around 11am and con- trade union leader is a former MUMBAI: Moving ahead in the fronted him with Indrani Muke- two-time legislator. Rajendran INX Media alleged bribery case, rjea after which they were sub- first became the secretary at the CBI brought Karti jected to interrogation for nearly the Kottayam state conference Chidambaram, son of four hours. in 2015, and yesterday he was ex-Finance Minister P Besides the two and the CBI given another term. Chidambaram, face-to-face officers, nobody was permitted There is a section in the with murder accused Indrani inside the interrogation venue party which is opposed to Mukerjea, here yesterday. and nothing is known of what Rajendran and is headed by A special Central Bureau of transpired therein, according former Kerala Minister and Investigations (CBI) six-member to official sources. former Rajya Sabha member team brought the 46-year-old The CBI has charged Karti K E Ismail. They tried to put Karti Chidambaram from New Chidambaram with using his up a candidate against Rajen- Delhi to Mumbai yesterday father’s clout to get a Foreign dran but failed after former morning and took him to the Investment Promotion Board Kerala Minister and senior Byculla Women’s Jail, where (FIPB) clearance for INX Media, legislator C Divakaran with- Indrani Mukerjea is lodged. then owned by the Mukerjeas. drew from the contest after The wife of former media Indrani Mukerjea spilled the initially agreeing to it. Festival of colours tycoon Peter Mukerjea, Indrani beans on the deal involving Divakaran decided to is accused of killing Sheena Karti Chidambaram while back out after he felt that the A festive reveller holds coloured powders as he celebrates Holi festival in Bengaluru yesterday. Holi Bora, her daughter from a pre- recording her statement before best way to maintain unity in is observed at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month. vious husband. Shortly after a magistrate in New Delhi on the party was to avoid a landing in Mumbai, the CBI team February 17. contest. MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 ASIA 13 Sharif’s party eyes top post in Senate

INTERNEWS Political experts the MQM-P and a few independ- foresee more political ents, he said, the PML-N would ISLAMABAD: Encouraged by the easily cross the 60 mark in the results of yesterday’s Senate manoeuvring and upper house. elections, the ruling Pakistan use of money in the The PML-N leader said the Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) coming days. party was ready to offer the is now hopeful of getting the key office of deputy chairman to any office of Senate Chairman with other party for which negotia- the support of its allies. to open and harsh criticism of the tions were expected to start in a However, a group of 15 inde- party by PTI chairman Imran few days. On the other hand, pendents — seven from Balo- Khan. despite getting more than expected chistan and eight from the Fed- The PML-N and its allies, seats in the Senate elections, the erally Administered Tribal Areas including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam- PPP will now have to work hard can play a significant role in the Fazl, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami to woo the smaller parties and coming election for the offices Party, National Party and PML- groups, if it wants to retain the of Senate chairman and deputy Functional, will have 48 mem- office of Senate chairman for the Pakistani opposition candidate, Krishna Kumari Kohli, walking out from Sindh province assembly after chairman. bers in the new Senate that will next three years. the Senate election in Karachi. Pakistan elected its first female Senator from the lowest Dalit caste, in Political experts foresee more emerge after March 12 whereas Political experts believe that polls which also saw the ruling party strengthen its hand ahead of general elections. political manoeuvring and use of the PPP and the remaining oppo- to achieve this objective, the PPP money in the coming days. Besides sition parties will have 40 mem- leadership has no choice but to meetings had discussed the chances of being nominated avoid getting blackmailed from the independents, the support of bers. Independents likely to play nominate incumbent chairman names of Sherry Rehman and again. Interestingly, there is a the smaller parties and inde- the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) a crucial role in elections of Raza Rabbani again for the slot. Salim Mandviwala for the top group within the PML-N though pendents, it seemed highly — which has now become the chairman, deputy chairman of Otherwise, they say, the PPP Senate office. Besides them, in minority which believes that unlikely because the PPP could third largest party in the Senate — upper house of parliament might not get support from the former Senate chairman Farooq in the current situation of polit- face its backlash, particularly in has also become crucial for both When contacted, a senior other parties, including the Naek and former interior min- ical polarisation in the country Punjab, in the coming general the PPP and the PML-N. PML-N leader expressed the MQM-P and the PTI. ister Rehman Malik are also due to the ongoing confrontation elections. It will be interesting to see hope that the party would Sources in the PPP said that among Zardari’s favourites. between the ruling party and the The PPP leader said the party what strategy is adopted by the manage to get the support of at Rabbani had not been in good On the other hand, the establishment, Rabbani is the was almost facing a revolt in PTI. As chances of the PTI sup- least six independents and five books of party co-chairman Asif sources claimed that Rabbani most appropriate person for the Punjab due to the past policy of porting the PML-N are almost Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Zardari and this time, he was not enjoyed support of party office of Senate chairman. supporting the PML-N during the nonexistent, political experts Pakistan (MQM-P) senators, thus in a mood to nominate him for chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari A senior PPP leader said PTI-Pakistan Awami Tehreek believe that the former may not making it easier for the PML-N the office. and if the young chairman was though it seemed an ideal situa- sit-in and it was only after the be in a position to announce its to get the office of Senate According to the PPP leaders, authorised to nominate the can- tion that the PPP and the PML-N Panama Papers case verdict that support for the PPP either, due chairman. With the support of Zardari during the recent party didate, Rabbani had brighter develop an understanding to the PPP had changed its policy. Peace offer to Taliban running into a wall NEWS BYTES Five foreigners AP the Taliban to advance a nego- railed against the idea of telling join negotiations and enter the still raw in Kabul after a wave of tiated solution to the fighting. But the enemy when the US might political mainstream. The gov- brutal Taliban attacks in Kabul injured in WASHINGTON: Despite US diplomacy is a distant second to leave. The US involvement in the ernment would provide pass- in late January, Ghani’s offer was support, the Afghan govern- military efforts right now, and Afghan conflict is now in its 17th ports and visas to Taliban mem- a significant olive branch. Still, helicopter crash ment’s surprising new peace the US isn’t offering carrots of its year, and 10,000 Afghan civil- bers and their families, and work it’s one unlikely to change the offer to the Taliban is immedi- own to persuade the insurgents ians were killed or wounded in to remove sanctions against Tal- calculus of hard-line insurgents, AP ately running into a wall. The to lay down their arms. 2017 alone. iban leaders, he said. The said Michael Kugelman, senior insurgents show no sign of Laurel Miller, who until last All sides are hung up on even Islamist group could set up an associate for South Asia at the KABUL: An Afghan official shifting from their demand that June was a senior American dip- the format for potential negoti- office. Wilson Center think tank. says a helicopter crashed talks for a conflict-ending lomat for Afghanistan and Paki- ations. The Obama administra- Alice Wells, America’s top And Barnett Rubin, a New inside a military academy compromise take place with stan, said the US should be tion’s peace push, which relied diplomat for South Asia, York University expert on in Kabul, wounding five Washington, not Kabul. clearer about what it’s willing to heavily on Afghanistan’s neigh- endorsed the overture and said Afghanistan who advised the foreign nationals on board. The impasse is blocking a negotiate on, including when it bour Pakistan, floundered in the “onus” was on the Taliban to Obama administration, said: Gen Dawlat Waziri, the diplomatic path out of America’s might start pulling forces from 2015. demonstrate they’re ready to “The trouble is that the major Defence Ministry longest-running war and could Afghanistan. “That could set the Afghan President Ashraf talk, “not to me or the United issue the Taliban is interested in spokesman, said the heli- prove as fateful as fortunes on stage for talks,” she said. Ghani’s new effort, announced States, but to the sovereign and talking about is the one he has copter crashed shortly the battlefield. Such a timetable seems a at an international conference legitimate government and no control over - the presence after takeoff yesterday in The Trump administration remote prospect, and President in Kabul this past week, includes people of Afghanistan.” of American troops in what appeared to be an says it’s escalating pressure on Donald Trump has consistently incentives for insurgents that With wounds and emotions Afghanistan.” accident. He did not provide the nationalities of the wounded, but said they were in stable condi- tion. Capt Tom Gresback, A week after PNG a spokesman for interna- tional forces, said it was not a US or Nato heli- copter, and that no Nato quake, 150,000 forces were among the wounded. need urgent aid More rain likely REUTERS and authorities can complete in Pakistan their assessments in the area. SYDNEY: Almost a week after A report by the World Food INTERNEWS a deadly quake struck the Program for the United Nations rugged Papua New Guinea two days after the 7.5 magni- ISLAMABAD: Three to highlands, nearly 150,000 tude quake hit the Southern four rain spells of short people remain in urgent need Highlands on February 26 esti- duration are expected over of emergency supplies as mated 465,000 people were upper parts of the country damaged roads and landslides exposed to the disaster of which along with thunderstorm, have hampered the delivery of 143,000 needed urgent human- gusty winds and high risk aid to isolated communities, itarian assistance and 64,000 of hailstorm this month. agencies have said. were suffering from extreme The Met office has pre- The quake destroyed or food insecurity. dicted that the upper parts damaged the homes of around Anna Bryan, program Protest against conflict in Syria including Potohar region 7000 people, while 147,000 director for CARE International central and northern Pakistani men shout slogans during a protest against the ongoing conflict in Syria, in Karachi, yesterday. were in severe need of food, in PNG, said the impact of the Punjab, Federally Admin- water and sanitation, the earthquake could not be under- istered Tribal Areas, director of the International stood by the initial death toll of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Red Cross in PNG, Udaya 31 people as tens of thousands (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan and Regmi, said yesterday. Land- of people uninjured by the Kashmir are expected to slides have cut roads, pre- actual quake have been cut off receive slightly above venting the delivery of aid to from food, drinking water, Australia’s former deputy premier airs normal precipitation with several places where it’s most communications and medical snowfall over the hilly areas needed. help for a week. of KP, GB and Kashmir. “The challenge is road “Public health and public baby paternity doubts after scandal However, the lower access, it’s still not accessible to hygiene are now concerns,” she half of the country may trucks and four-wheel drives,” said. Bryan said rivers dammed AFP headlines for weeks and raised saga for the embattled govern- receive below normal to Regmi said. by landslides created stagnant questions about whether he had ment. The coalition has a wafer- normal rainfall during the “Big trucks cannot go there. water polluted by silt and bac- SYDNEY: An affair that led to breached ministerial rules. The thin parliamentary majority and month, which may aggra- It’s one of the reasons the food teria, leaving people with the the resignation of Australia’s scandal led Prime Minister Mal- has been hit in recent months vate moderate drought is becoming less and less. There threat of disease. Aid has been deputy prime minister took a colm Turnbull to impose a ban by a series of controversies that like conditions over south- are no fears of starvation yet flown in by aircraft but it is not bizarre twist yesterday after he on sex between ministers and has shaken its grip on power. west Balochistan and but we’ve not got the full yet known if it has been able to questioned the paternity of the their staff, in an overhaul of the But the issue flared up again Tharparker. The average picture.” get to all the people in need. baby carried by his partner and cabinet code of conduct. when Joyce - who left his wife temperatures over the PNG declared a state of Aftershocks terrified vil- former aide. Joyce was the leader of the of 24 years for the former country are likely to be emergency across the earth- lagers for five days after the ini- Barnaby Joyce quit and National Party - which rules adviser - said in an interview slightly above normal as quake-hit region last week but tial temblor and only started moved to the back benches last alongside Turnbull’s Liberals in published late Saturday that the the country faced less rain the scale of the disaster will not subsiding on Saturday, multiple month after his affair with the a governing coalition - and his identity of the biological father in the previous months. be known until relief workers sources said. younger ex-staffer made resignation appeared to end the was “a grey area”. 14 ASIA MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 Top Seoul officials head to Pyongyang REUTERS South Korea’s foreign ministry spokesman was presidential Blue quoted by KCNA as saying “we SEOUL: South Korea will will neither beg for dialogue nor dispatch a delegation led by House said in a evade the military option senior security officials for a statement that claimed by the U S.” two-day visit to North Korea National Security A commentary published by starting today, the presidential Office head Chung North Korea’s official KCNA news Blue House announced agency warned that North Korea yesterday, as US President Eui-yong and would “counter the U S” if joint Donald Trump hinted that he is National Intelligence military drills go forward. ready to talk to Pyongyang. Service (NIS) chief The Winter Olympics in For its part, North Korea said Suh Hoon will Pyeongchang last month gave a it was not begging to talk with boost to recent engagement Washington and denounced be among the between the two Koreas after upcoming U S-South Korean 10-member South more than a year of sharply joint-military exercises, warning Korean delegation rising tensions over the North’s that it would take counter meas- visiting North Korea. missile programme and its sixth ures against the United States if and largest nuclear test in defi- they went ahead. ance of United Nations Spreading messages The drills will take place Trump suggested that the United sanctions. A Japanese girl looks at railway mascots at a train station in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture. Japan next month, a South Korean States will be meeting with South Korean President has thousands of larger-than-life puppets with cutesy but improbable features, which are used to presidential security adviser North Korea but has told Moon Jae-in hopes to capitalise said according to the Yonhap Pyongyang it must first on that thaw in relations by promote everything from regional attractions to public safety messages. news agency. They had been “denuke.” “We will be meeting arranging talks over North delayed until after the Winter and we’ll see if anything posi- Korea’s nuclear weapons and Olympics and Paralympic games tive happens,” he added. ballistic missile programme. in South Korea. It was unclear if Trump was During a phone call on South Korea’s presidential joking or if formal U S-North Thursday, Moon told Trump of China refrains from releasing military spending target Blue House said in a statement Korea talks were imminent. his plan to send a special envoy that National Security Office Speaking in Beijing ahead to North Korea in response to (NSO) head Chung Eui-yong and of the opening of China’s par- an invitation from leader Kim BLOOMBERG start of its session. capable of projecting force fur- National Intelligence Service liament, Vice-Foreign Minister Jong Un. Last year, China’s military ther from China’s borders. (NIS) chief Suh Hoon, a veteran Zhang Yesui said China hoped In sending an envoy to BEIJING: China withheld release budget rose 7.1 percent to 1.044 “China is committed to a of past negotiations with the the United States and North Pyongyang, Moon said he would of its annual military-spending trillion yuan ($160bn), the path of peaceful development North, will be among the Korea could begin dialogue be seeking to reciprocate Kim target during an annual news slowest pace since at least 1991. and China pursues a defense 10-member South Korean del- too. “War and chaos on the Jong Un’s decision to send a conference, breaking with a While that’s about one-quarter policy that is defensive in egation visiting Pyongyang. peninsula in not in the inter- senior delegation, including his practice that provided a key of U S outlays, the Stockholm nature,” Zhang said. “China’s The visit was part of an ests of any side,” Zhang said. sister, Kim Yo Jong, to the Olym- glimpse into the world’s second- International Peace Research development will not pose a effort to lower tensions on the Last month, US Vice-Presi- pics, marking the first visit by a largest defence budget. Institute estimates that China’s threat to other countries.” China Korean peninsula as well as pos- dent Mike Pence was scheduled member of the North’s ruling National People’s Congress actual spending is about 55 per- Defense, Surveillance Stocks Do sibly arrange talks between to meet with North Korean offi- bloodline since the 1950-53 spokesman Zhang Yesui side- cent more than the officially Best Since Xi’s Power Grab Chi- North Korea and the United cials, including leader Kim Jong Korean War. stepped a question about the stated figures. na’s “lack of transparency about States, it said. Un’s sister, while in South Korea The White House has said figure at a briefing yesterday The omission highlights the its growing military capabilities After the visit to North Korea for the Winter Olympics but the any talks with North Korea ahead of the annual legislative general lack of official data and strategic decision-making the envoys will travel to the North Koreans cancelled at the must lead to an end of its session in Beijing, saying about China’s military, as continue to cause concern United States to brief officials, last minute, U S officials said in nuclear programme, and on defense spending had increased defense officials in the U S and among countries in the region,” and Seoul said it would also February. February 23, the United States to make up for past Asia seek more information the Pentagon wrote in its report coordinate closely with officials North Korea reiterated on said it was imposing its shortcomings. about Beijing’s strategic inten- on the country’s military last in Japan and China. Saturday that it was willing to largest package of sanctions The figure could be released tions. Calls for more transpar- year. Unlike China, the U S pro- During a joke-filled mono- talk to the United States but said to pressure North Korea to as soon as today, when the leg- ency are likely to intensify as vides a breakdown of spending logue at a dinner with journal- it would never sit with any pre- give up its nuclear and mis- islature is expected to receive a President Xi Jinping seeks to between the army, navy, air ists in Washington on Saturday, condition. A North Korean sile programmes. Ministry of Finance report at the build a “world-class” military force and other units. China plans US carrier’s visit to Vietnam signals warming ties to recruit REUTERS Washington, according to diplo- as well as the increasingly forti- build-up in the waterway, offi- over-reaction from China.” mats and others familiar with fied Paracel islands, which China cial reaction from Beijing has Zhang Baohui, a mainland civilian HONG KONG/HANOI: The visit discussions. occupies and Vietnam also claims. been relatively muted since the security expert at Hong Kong of a U S aircraft carrier to Vietnamese diplomats and China’s rapid construction stop was confirmed in January. Lingnan University, said he Vietnam for the first time since military officers have repeatedly and build-up of the seven fea- U S carriers frequently ply believed Beijing would not be astronauts the end of the Vietnam War is a stressed the country’s inde- tures it holds in the disputed the South China Sea as part of a panicked by the carrier visit, in powerful symbol of the growing pendent foreign policy and its Spratly group further south has rising pattern of naval deploy- part due to quiet but successful AP strategic ties between the former desire for broad foreign relations alarmed Vietnam and other ments, and are now routinely Vietnamese diplomacy. foes. But the arrival yesterday of — hoping to maintain stable ties regional governments. shadowed by Chinese naval ves- “Beijing has a much better BEIJING: China will begin the USS Carl Vinson also illus- with China while standing up to As it seeks to enforce its sels, regional naval officers say. understanding of Vietnam’s bal- recruiting civilian astronauts trates Hanoi’s complex and it over the South China Sea, the claims to much of the South “Even as it moves forward ancing formula now,” he said. for its military-backed space evolving relationship with sources said. China Sea, China’s navy and with the U S, Vietnam has been The Vinson arrives amid program and plans to increase Beijing over the disputed South The Vinson will mark the big- coastguard now routinely patrol engaging China over South China repeated signals from the the number of crewed missions China Sea. gest U S military presence in the vast swathes of the area through Sea tensions,” said Le Hong Hiep, administration of U S President to around two a year, a top offi- For months now, Vietnamese country since 1975 when it berths which some $3 trillion in trade a Vietnam expert at Singapore’s Donald Trump that it is keen to cial with the country’s space envoys have been working to ease in Danang for a five-day stay. passes annually. ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute. further develop security ties program said. the concerns of their giant Chinese The port city on Vietnam’s While some Chinese com- “They might be irritated but with Vietnam as part of a range China’s third batch of neighbour over the visit and the central coast is close to its Blue mentators have used the Vin- gradualism is the key word here... of political and military rela- astronaut trainees will prospect of broader security co- Whale gas field now being devel- son’s presence to demand an Vietnam will only embrace the U tionships to check the rise of include recruits from operation between Hanoi and oped by U S oil major Exxon Mobil, even greater Chinese military S at a pace that doesn’t cause an China. industry, research institu- tions and universities who will help build and crew Chi- na’s independent space sta- tion, Yang Liwei, deputy Beijing downplays lifting director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, told reporters on the of presidential term limit sidelines of the annual ses- sion of China’s ceremonial parliament. AFP term limits. “It is conducive to New astronauts will uphold the authority of the Cen- include maintenance engi- BEIJING: China sought tral Committee of the party with neers and payload specialists yesterday to downplay the comrade Xi Jinping at the core as well as pilots, Yang, who Communist Party’s move to and also to unify leadership,” became China’s first man in scrap presidential term limits, Zhang said on the eve of the space in 2003, said. a decision that could pave the opening of the NPC’s annual China selected 14 astro- way for Xi Jinping to remain session. nauts, or yuhangyuan in president for life. Zhang revealed that the Chinese, in the late 1990s The National People’s Con- party’s Central Committee pro- and another seven in 2010, gress (NPC), China’s rubber- posed the constitutional including two women. A stamp parliament, will vote on amendments, which include total of 11 have been sent on March 11 on constitutional adding Xi’s eponymous polit- six missions. amendments which include the ical guidelines to the country’s China now operates the scrapping of a rule limiting the charter, in January. Tiangong 2 precursor space top leader to two five-year But the decision was first station facility, while the terms. made public on February 25 in permanent station’s NPC spokesman Zhang a report by the official Xinhua 20-tonne core module will Great Prayer Festival Yesui told a news conference news agency. be launched this year. The that the move will merely align The announcement sparked Tibetan Buddhist monks praying during a ceremony for Monlam, otherwise known as the Great Prayer completed 60-tonne station the presidency with the titles of a rare bout of public criticism, Festival of Losar, the Tibetan New Year, at the Rongwo Monastery, in Tongren County, Huangnan is set to come into full Communist Party general sec- prompting censors to work service in 2022 and operate Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. retary and Military Commission furiously to stamp out dis- for at least a decade. chairman, which do not have senting posts on social media. MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 EUROPE 15 Relief for Merkel as SPD joins coalition AFP Two in three of the SPD decision “good news for the SPD’s rank Europe.” “France and Germany BERLIN: Chancellor Angela will work together starting in the Merkel yesterday vowed to work and file voting in coming weeks to develop new with the Social Democrats for the a make or break initiatives for advancing the “good of Germany”, after the referendum backed European project,” Macron’s centre-left party agreed to join a new partnership office said. her new coalition, but the In a nod to the abbreviation veteran leader will go into her with Merkel’s “GroKo” as the grand right-left fourth term with weaker cards conservatives, coalition is known in Germany, than before. heralding an end European Commission vice pres- Two in three of the SPD’s to the political ident Frans Timmermans wrote rank and file voting in a make or on Twitter: “GroGO! For soli- break referendum backed a new stalemate. darity in Germany and EU!” Fol- partnership with Merkel’s con- lowing the SPD’s emphatic deci- servatives, heralding an end to sion for a new partnership, the political stalemate that has cobble together a government Merkel is expected to launch her plagued Europe’s biggest with two smaller parties failed, fourth government by economy since September’s the SPD relented. mid-March. Andrea Nahles of Social Democratic Party reacts after the results of the voting for a possible coalition inconclusive elections. With the party riven over its But the long-serving leader between the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Berlin, But the chancellor, in power way forward, its leadership faces a far rockier road ahead Germany, yesterday. for 12 years, has had to pay a high promised its more than 460,000 than in the last four years. price to coax the reluctant Social members the final say on any Unlike in their previous part- the SPD has joined the govern- The SPD’s youth chief Kevin as calls grow louder for change. Democratic Party (SPD) back into coalition deal. nership when Merkel’s conserv- ment, the AfD’s parliamentary Kuehnert, who ran an impas- - Renewal sought - Oppo- another loveless “grand “We now have clarity. The atives and the SPD enjoyed a group leader Alice Weidel prom- sioned campaign against the nents of her liberal refugee policy coalition”. SPD will be in the next govern- crushing majority, this time they ised that “the bill will come at the planned coalition known as have grown more outspoken, Congratulating the SPD for ment,” said SPD’s caretaker now have only a slim 56 percent latest in 2021.” Wary of ceding “GroKo”, expressed disappoint- while the conservative wing of its “clear result”, Merkel said chairman Olaf Scholz, adding his (399 out of total 709) of seats in further ground to the far-right ment at Sunday’s vote result. her party is seething at having using her CDU party’s Twitter party plans to send three male parliament. Islamophobic outfit as voters “When criticism is necessary, lost control of the powerful account that she was looking for- and three female ministers to the Both sides had been weak- turn away from traditional par- then it will come from us,” he finance ministry to the Social ward to “further cooperation for cabinet. ened as voters angry about the ties, Merkel’s conservatives and vowed, adding that young Social Democrats as part of the coali- the good of our country”. European partners waiting arrival of more than a million the SPD have inserted a clause Democrats won’t rest until there tion deal. Stung by their worst post- impatiently for post-war Ger- asylum seekers in Germany since to review their cooperation in is a “fundamental renewal” in the For the chancellor,who is war results, the SPD had initially many to end its longest stretch 2015 turned to the far-right party two years. party. under pressure within her party ruled out another four years of coalition haggling heaved a Alternative for Germany (AfD). Dissenting voices in the SPD Within her ranks too, Merkel, to rejuvenate her ranks, the clock under Merkel’s shadow. sigh of relief, with French Pres- Noting that it would be the also promise to keep the long- who once seemed invincible, is is essentially ticking to groom her But after Merkel’s attempt to ident Emmanuel Macron calling biggest opposition party now that time partners on their toes. looking increasingly vulnerable successor.

Four dead, 24 hurt in Poland Swiss voters poised to defend public media apartment AFP as an unfairly dominant and out- potential, create a more compet- Jutzet argued that people initiatives face a national vote dated relic. itive media sector and ultimately should pay subscription fees only four times a year. The campaigns collapse GENEVA: Swiss voters yesterday SSR, which received about foster more choice. for things that they actually want are often muted in politically look set to reject a proposal that 1.2bn Swiss francs from the The licence fee “doesn’t work to consume. tepid Switzerland, but some- AP would see public broadcasters license fee last year — or three for our generation. It is too “We choose other things — times — as with No Billag — tem- lose taxpayer funding, following quarters of its budget — delivers expensive and it funds a state our food, our clothes — why peratures rise. WARSAW: An apartment a campaign that stirred debate news in the country’s four offi- system that we don’t support”, should it be any different with A broad political coalition block collapsed yesterday in about the media’s role in cial languages: German, French, Nicolas Jutzet, a member of com- media”, said 20-year-old law along with prominent athletes, Poland’s western city of fostering national unity. Italian and Romansch. mittee that initiated No Billag, student, Louise Morand, a filmmakers and even the chief Poznan, killing four people The “No Billag” initiative — Many credit it for guaran- said. Geneva-based member of the No executive of top Swiss bank UBS, and injuring 24 others, offi- a reference to the Billag firm that teeing that all Swiss residents The 23-year-old economics Billag organising committee. Sergio Ermotti, came out in cials said as teams of fire- collects the media licensing fee receive information of crucial student at the University of St Switzerland’s largest party, defence of public media. fighters and rescuers with — divided Switzerland on polit- public interest in all four lan- Gallen was voicing a sentiment the nationalist and anti-migrant The mobilisation was dogs combed the rubble in ical and generational lines. guages, along with a range of shared during the campaign by Swiss Peoples Party (UDC), threw “exceptional” for Switzerland, search of more victims. Led by the youth wing of the opinion and analysis. other millenials — a generation its support behind the said University of Geneva polit- The building contained 18 libertarian Free Democratic But No Billag’s proponents that increasingly consumes initiative. ical scientist Pascal Sciarini, who apartments and 40 residents, Party (PLR), No Billag’s propo- argued that freeing taxpayers of media via the Internet rather Yesterday’s poll is part of noted that apathy is often the according to firefighters nents sought to portray the Swiss the 451 Swiss francs ($477) annual than radio or broadcast Switzerland’s direct democracy only clear winner during spokesman Slawomir Brandt, Broadcasting Corporation (SSR) fee would unlock new economic networks. system, where proposed national votes. who gave the death toll. TVP INFO showed part of a four-story building in a heap and rescuers checking the debris in sub-freezing Le Pen faces expanded temperatures. Police and prosecutors were at the site EU funding probe questioning witnesses. “We heard this loud bang and then terrible cries from AFP think it may have been carried people “Save us! Save us!,” out from July 2009 into 2012. ground floor resident PARIS: Judges are investigating That would mean nearly Krzysztof Sledz told the state whether French far-right leader ¤7m ($8.6m) was potentially news agency PAP. “My wife Marine Le Pen and her party misused, up from a previous and I dressed and left the illegally took more EU parlia- estimate of some ¤5m. apartment to help the neigh- ment money to pay for France- Le Pen was charged last June bours.” He said they pulled based staff than previously with breach of trust over the sala- their neighbour’s two-year- thought, a report said yesterday. ries paid to her chief of staff Cath- old daughter from a bed If confirmed, the claims could erine Griset and her bodyguard strewn with rubble. cast a pall over the National Front Thierry Legier, and for complicity “I thought she was dead, congress next weekend aimed at in breach of trust as FN leader. she was blue. But they say she recasting the party’s image after a She is one of 17 National is in hospital,” Sledz said. series of setbacks since Le Pen lost Front lawmakers —along with Hospital spokeswoman to Emmanuel Macron in last year’s her estranged father Jean-Marie Urszula Laszynska said one presidential race. Le Pen — being investigated young girl was hospitalised The party is suspected of using over salaries paid to around 40 in stable condition, while two money from Brussels earmarked parliamentary assistants. other children were dis- for parliamentary assistants to pay If tried and convicted, she missed after being treated for Pro-unity rally in Barcelona staff for party work in France. faces up to three years impris- bruises. The Journal du Dimanche onment and a fine of up to People attend a pro-unity rally organised by the Tabarnia movement, a fictional region that wants Residents who were not newspaper said the two French ¤375,000, though it is unlikely independence from Catalonia, at San Jaume Square in Barcelona, yesterday. injured were taken to a judges looking into the sus- she would receive a custodial nearby hotel. pected EU funding scandal now sentence. Regional governor Zbig- niew Hoffman said it was too early to determine the cause of the collapse but added that a gas explosion was one pos- ‘Fatherland’ no more, German pens gender-neutral anthem sible explanation. Regional construction REUTERS 2001, made the proposal to strike heart and hand” for “brotherly family ministry in the new gov- wouldn’t hurt, would it? And it inspector, Pawel Lukasze- male-specific references from with heart and hand”, she wrote. ernment, while Horst Seehofer, fits with the new federal min- wski, said the remaining part BERLIN: Germany’s equality the anthem in a letter to staff at The proposal surfaced hours leader of the CSU Bavarian con- istry for interior, construction of the building was closed czar wants to remove words like Germany’s family ministry ahead before Germany’s centre-left servatives, will head an expanded and homeland.” Parts of the down and its gas was cut off. “fatherland” and “brotherly” of International Women’s Day, Social Democrats (SPD) interior ministry that will also “Song of Germany” have been Last April, six people were from the country’s national German media reported announced that 66 percent of its focus on “Heimat” or homeland. the German anthem since 1922, killed and four injured when anthem, following Canada and yesterday. members backed a re-run of the Rose-Moehring said her pro- although since the creation of the a gas explosion caused a Austria in adopting gender Germany should replace coalition with Chancellor Angela posal suits the times. modern federal republic, only small apartment building to neutral phrases. “Vaterland”, or fatherland, with Merkel’s conservatives that has “Why don’t we make our the third stanza has been used. collapse in the southwestern Kristin Rose-Moehring, “Heimatland,” or homeland, and ruled Germany since 2013. national anthem... gender sen- It begins with the words “unity Polish town of Swiebodzice. equality commissioner since substitute “courageously with The SPD is slated to retain the sitive,” Rose-Moehring wrote. “It and justice and freedom”. 16 EUROPE MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 Italians vote in polls; political gridlock likely REUTERS Pollsters have with the 2016 referendum is a good sign for 5-Star, said poll- ROME: Italians waited in long predicted that former ster and data analysis group queues at polling booths prime minister Silvio YouTrend, while a fall in the PD’s yesterday to vote in an election Berlusconi’s centre- central Italian strongholds was that could bring political grid- a bad omen for the party. lock after a campaign marked by right party and his far- Heavily indebted Italy is the anger over the listless economy, right allies will emerge third-largest economy in the high unemployment and immi- as the largest bloc in 19-member euro zone and, gration. parliament but fall though investors have been san- Pollsters have predicted that guine ahead of the ballot, pro- former prime minister Silvio Ber- short of a majority. longed political stalemate could lusconi’s centre-right party and reawaken the threat of market his far-right allies will emerge as instability. the largest bloc in parliament but “She passed so quickly I Exit polls are due out imme- fall short of a majority. didn’t get a chance to see her,” diately after voting ends. The The anti-establishment quipped Berlusconi, who has a election is being held under a 5-Star Movement looks set to be history of being caught up in sex complex new electoral law that the biggest single party, feeding scandals. could mean the final result will off discontent over entrenched Berlusconi also said he was not be clear until late on Monday. corruption and growing poverty, concerned about the queues. Confusion over the new while the ruling centre-left bloc “There will be queues as well system led to 200,000 ballot led by the Democratic Party (PD) this evening. I am worried that papers having to be reprinted is seen in third place. there might be some situations overnight in Palermo, where “I think 5-Star will win... but in which some people will not be some polling stations delayed I’m also worried that there won’t able to vote,” he said. opening amid protests from Silvio Berlusconi, leader of right-wing party Forza Italia, leaves after voting at a polling station in be a winner. Both scenarios look In Rome, many stood in line voters. There were also reports Milan, Italy, yesterday. catastrophic to me,” said for more than an hour before of misprinted ballots at one Giuseppe Ottaviani, who voted voting. City hall invited the capi- polling booth in Rome. of the European Parliament, as Berlsuconi’s Forza Italia party 31-year-old Di Maio, has been in Amelia, central Italy. tal’s residents to show up well The campaign has marked his candidate for prime yesterday. particularly successful at tapping Berlusconi and 5-Star leader before polls close at 2300 (2200 the return to frontline politics of minister. Populist parties have been on into the disaffection in the Luigi Di Maio both had to wait in GMT) so they can be sure of voting. 81-year-old Berlusconi, who was Tajani’s moderate profile is the rise across Europe since the underdeveloped south and has queues to cast their votes as new The turnout by noon was a forced to quit as prime minister aimed at allaying fears in Europe 2008 financial crisis, but main- promised a monthly universal election procedures slowed the little more than 19 percent. That in 2011 at the height of a sover- about his populist allies, notably stream parties in Italy have wage of up to ¤780 ($960) for process at several polling was higher than five years ago, eign debt crisis and was widely the League, whose leader Matteo found it especially hard to con- the poor. stations. when Italians voted over two days, written off after sex scandals, Salvini has promised to deport tain voter anger, with the Although all party leaders At Berlusconi’s voting station but slightly lower than a 2016 ref- legal woes and ill health. hundreds of thousands of boat economy still 6 percent smaller have ruled out any post-election in Milan, a Femen activist bared erendum in which the final A 2013 conviction for tax migrants who have arrived in than a decade ago and unem- alliances with rivals, Italy has a her chest in front of the former turnout exceeded 68 percent. fraud means he cannot hold Italy over the past four years. ployment stuck at about 11 long history of finding a way out premier and shouted, “time’s up” An increase in morning public office and he has put for- Some pollsters say the percent. of apparently intractable polit- before being hauled away. turnout in the south compared ward Antonio Tajani, president League could overtake The 5-Star Movement, led by ical stalemate. Changes urged in Slovak govt amid crisis over reporter Voting in AP Tens of thousands of pro- talks with the country’s leaders An early election would have Prosecutor General Jaromir Belgrade tests testers marched in dozens of in next days. Two coalition to be approved by parliament. Ciznar acknowledged the pre- BRATISLAVA: Slovak President Slovak cities on Friday to honour partners in government, the Kiska said he thinks the vious complaint and said inves- Vucic’s grip on Andrej Kiska called yesterday for Kuciak, with some demanding ultranationalist Slovak National investigators in the case were tigators will re-examine the substantial changes in the coun- the resignation of Fico’s Party and a party of ethnic doing a good job, but added threats. He added, however, that power try’s coalition government or for government. Hungarians known as Most- that “many believe that this he personally didn’t believe the an early election to resolve the “There’s a huge public dis- Hid, said they were ready to tragedy in many aspects case had anything to do with AP “serious political crisis” resulting trust of the state,” Kiska said in meet Kiska. reflects the Slovak reality.” Ear- Kuciak’s death. from the slayings of an investi- a televised speech yesterday. Hours after the president’s lier Sunday, Slovak authorities Ciznar said Italian experts BELGRADE: The Serbian gative reporter and his fiancee. “And many don’t trust law address, Fico said any changes renewed their investigation of will likely join the local investi- capital of Belgrade held a His rival, Prime Minister enforcement authorities... This in the current three-party coa- threats against Kuciak, who gators working on the case. municipal election yesterday Robert Fico, dismissed the pres- distrust is justified. We crossed lition government would have alleged last year that busi- The Slovaks previously have that is being seen as a test of ident’s proposals. the line, things went too far and to be approved by the coalition nessman Marian Kocner threat- said the FBI, Britain’s Scotland the ruling populists’ firm grip For his last unfinished story, there’s no way back.” A junior members and the president has ened him following the publi- Yard, Europol and police forces on power in the country. 27-year-old Kuciak reported on party in the ruling coalition and no say in the matter. cation of a story about him. The from Italy and the Czech The Belgrade vote was for the influence of the Italian mafia opposition politicians have Fico said Kiska’s proposals reporter said he filed a com- Republic are helping them with local authorities only but it’s in Slovakia and its possible ties called for Interior Minister denied the result of the 2016 par- plaint with police and alleged the investigation. considered important because to people close to the prime min- Robert Kalinak to resign. liamentary election. He charged they failed to act. A former Italian anti-mafia of the city’s key role in Serbia’s ister. The journalist and fiancee Kalinak, who was linked to an that the president has sided with Kocner has denied any prosecutor has said that Italy economy and politics. Martina Kusnirova were found earlier corruption scandal, has the opposition. wrongdoing. tried to warn Slovakia about the President Aleksandar fatally shot in their house on refused. “I cannot agree with what During a debate Sunday on increased influence of the Italian Vucic’s governing center-right February 25. Kiska says he will open Mr. President said,” Fico said. the TA3 news television, mafia there. Serbian Progressive Party has led the polls ahead of the vote. But Serbia’s fractured opposi- tion parties hope to mount a challenge in the traditionally Austrian far right liberal capital city. They have accused Vucic’s party of intimidating opposition supporters, regis- comes distant in tering phony voters and slinging mud at political rivals in media outlets that the party Carinthia election controls. The ruling party has rejected the accusations. REUTERS “Of course you always hope Some 1.6 million voters will for a bit more,” the FPO’s leader choose the 110-member city VIENNA: Austria’s far-right in Carinthia, Gernot Darmann, assembly, which appoints the Freedom Party (FPO) came a told ORF, congratulating Kaiser. mayor. Two dozen parties and distant second as the province The national coalition gov- groups are competing but only of Carinthia voted yesterday, ernment has been in place for few are expected to pass the the third regional election this less than three months, during five percent threshold. year in which it has failed to which it has faced growing match its performance in Octo- opposition to its plans to keep ber’s parliamentary election. allowing smoking in bars and Two dead, one Carinthia, a southern prov- restaurants. ince that borders Italy and Slov- A petition for a ban has been missing after People wave Macedonian flags during a protest in a central square in Skopje yesterday. Right-wing and enia, was the stronghold of the signed by more than 460,000 diaspora organizations protested against a possible compromise with Greece on the country’s name. late FPO leader Joerg Haider, people, an embarrassment for Alps avalanches who died in a car crash a the FPO, which has championed decade ago. the idea of direct democracy. AFP Macedonians rally against name deal with Greece It is also the only province Party members have also been where the FPO came first in embroiled in anti-Semitism GRENOBLE: Avalanches in the REUTERS identity, the constitution (and) Nations demanding the country’s October’s parliamentary elec- scandals involving their student French Alps yesterday killed two language are issues over which recognition under its constitu- tion, with 32 percent of the vote. fraternities. skiers, one of them Belgian, SKOPJE: Thousands of flag- we must adopt a (strong) posi- tional name Macedonia. The party came third nation- Kurz’s conservative People’s while a search was launched for waving protestors in the Mace- tion,” Evica Stojanova-Kam- They also accused the gov- ally and went into coalition Party came third with 15.3 per- a missing Swiss hiker, a local donian capital yesterday berova, one of rally organisers ernment and the main opposition with Chancellor Sebastian cent while the Greens fell well official said. The deaths add to chanted “We are Macedonians” told the crowd. nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party Kurz’s conservatives. short of the five percent needed the toll in the French mountains at a rally to protest a possible The small republic and its of betraying the national interest. With nearly all votes for to stay in the local parliament, from avalanches since Friday. change to the name of the southern neighbour Greece have Greece objects to the coun- Carinthia’s regional parliament with 3.1 percent, the projection The two victims died former Yugoslav republic to agreed to step up U N-brokered try’s use of the name Macedonia, counted, a projection by poll- showed. Those two parties are during simultaneous ava- comply with a demand by negotiations this year to solve a arguing it implies territorial ster SORA for broadcaster ORF currently in coalition locally with lanches around lunchtime, Greece. decades-old dispute that has ham- claims over its own northern showed Governor Peter Kaiser’s the Social Democrats. while skiing off-piste from The protestors organised by pered Skopje’s ambition to join region of the same name. Social Democrats in first place “I am very, very happy the Vallorcines resort in the the We are Macedonia move- Nato and the European Union. After it split from the former with 47.8 percent, 11 points about this great result,” Kaiser Chamonix-Mont Blanc region. ment gathered under the statue Protesters demanded that the Yugoslavia in 1991, Macedonia higher than five years ago. told ORF. He later said he would One of the skiers was dug of Hellenic ruler Alexander the government of Prime Minister was admitted into the United The FPO gained six points, invite all three other parliamen- out of the snow alive but died Great in Skopje’s main square. Zoran Zaev halt talks with Greece Nations in 1993 under the name securing 22.9 percent, well tary parties to hold coalition hours later in hospital, The “We are here because ques- over the name dispute. They also Former Yugoslav Republic of short of its target of “clearly talks and said all tie-ups were second, the Belgian skier was tions about the name, the want a resolution to the United Macedonia (FYROM). above 25 percent”. possible. found dead. MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 AMERICAS 17 Police probe Florida MPs debate school safety bill why student AP Democratic proposals to ban assault rifles and improve communication Simmons said people need gunned down large-capacity magazines were rejected, as between schools, law enforce- guns to protect themselves from TALLAHASSEE: The Florida was a Democratic proposal to strip language ment and state agencies. a tyrannical government. Senate spent hours debating a But much of the debate “Adolf Hitler confiscated all his parents bill to increase school safety and from the bill that would create a programme revolved around gun control and the weapons - took all the AP restrict gun purchases in a rare to arm teachers who have gone through law- whether people should have a weapons, had a registry of eve- session that often turned into a enforcement training if school districts choose right to own an assault rifle. rybody - and then on the night CHICAGO: Investigators debate on gun control and to take part in the so-called marshal plan. “Every constitutional right of June 30, 1934, sent out his were trying to figure out why arming teachers in the aftermath that we hold dear has a limita- secret police and murdered all a Central Michigan Univer- of last month’s Parkland school tion,” said Democratic Sen Gary of his political opponents,” Sim- sity student charged with shootings. The Senate began the session legislation doesn’t go far enough Farmer. mons said. “You think it doesn’t fatally shooting his parents The Senate spent nearly at 10am and was originally sup- in some ways and too far in “These are just military-style happen in a free society? It acted so strangely the day eight hours debating dozens of posed to wrap up discussion by others. And while some oppose killing machines and the right of does.” before the killings that he was amendments to the 100-page bill 1pm. But senators extended the the bill, others believe it’s at least self-defense and the ability to The Legislature wraps up its taken to a hospital. before finally approving the leg- session and didn’t wrap up until a first step toward gun safety. hunt will go on.” annual session on Friday. Law- The shooting happened islation for a final vote today. after 6pm. Democrats want to ban Republicans argued that makers are scrambling to take on Friday after James Eric Democratic proposals to ban It was clear that senators weapons such as the AR-15 banning such weapons would some kind of action before then. Davis Jr’s parents picked him assault rifles and large-capacity were divided on the bill, and not assault-style rifle, which was violate the Second Amendment The full House has yet to take up up from that hospital and magazines were rejected, as was just on party lines. While crafted used to kill 17 people at Marjory right to bear arms. its version of the bill. brought him to his dorm to a Democratic proposal to strip by Republicans, some GOP sen- Stoneman Douglas High School “Our founding fathers Republican Gov Rick Scott pack up for spring break. language from the bill that would ators still opposed it because on February 14. weren’t talking about hunting, has been lobbying lawmakers to University police Chief Bill create a programme to arm they don’t agree with raising the Many also oppose arming and they weren’t talking about pass his plan to assign at least Yeagley said the 19-year-old teachers who have gone through minimum age to guy a rifle from teachers. The bill also includes protecting themselves from the one law-enforcement officer for can be seen on video in the law-enforcement training if 18 to 21 or requiring a waiting provisions to boost school secu- thief down the street who might every 1,000 students at a school. dorm’s parking lot with the gun school districts choose to take period to buy the weapons. rity, establish new mental health break in,” said Republican Sen Scott is opposed to arming before he entered the resi- part in the so-called marshal plan. Democrats believe the programs in schools, and David Simmons. teachers. dence hall where his parents were shot around 8:30am. Davis Jr has been charged with two counts of murder and a weapons charge in the Trump calls China’s Xi shootings of his father, Eric Davis Sr, and mother, Diva Davis, university spokes- ‘President for life’ woman Heather Smith said. Davis Sr was a part-time police officer in Bellwood, REUTERS US Representative Ro Illinois, and Yeagley said the Khanna, a Democrat, said on gun used by Davis Jr belonged WASHINGTON: US President Twitter that “whether this was a to his father. At a press con- Donald Trump praised Chinese joke or not, talking about being ference yesterday, Yeagley President Xi Jinping yesterday President for life like Xi Jinping declined to say whether drugs after the ruling Communist party is the most unAmerican senti- were found in Davis Jr’s announced it was eliminating the ment expressed by an American system. He declined to say two-term limit for the presi- President. George Washington what type of gun was used or dency, paving the way for Xi to would roll over in his grave.” whether it was his father’s serve indefinitely, according to US presidents by tradition service revolver. audio aired by CNN. served a maximum of two four- Davis Jr was initially “He’s now president for life, year terms until President Fran- taken to a hospital after his president for life. And he’s great,” klin Roosevelt was elected a arrest early yesterday but will Trump said, according to audio record four times starting in 1932. be moved to a jail once he’s of excerpts of Trump’s remarks An amendment to the US Consti- discharged. It was not imme- at a closed-door fundraiser in tution approved in 1951 limits diately clear when he will Florida aired by CNN. “And look, presidents to two terms in office. make his first court appear- he was able to do that. I think it’s In order to change the current US President Donald Trump salutes as he and First Lady Melania Trump return to the White House, ance. Authorities said Davis great. Maybe we’ll have to give prohibition, it would require ini- in Washington DC, yesterday. Jr fled after the shootings, that a shot someday,” Trump said tial support of two-thirds of both prompting an intensive man- to cheers and applause from houses of Congress or support of to ward off financial risks During the remarks, Trump Trump has often praised Xi, hunt in the area. supporters. It is not clear if Trump, two-thirds of state legislatures - without undermining the praised Xi as “a great gentleman” but in January ,Trump said the He was arrested without 71, was making the comment and then would need to be rati- economy. The Communist party and added: “He’s the most pow- US was considering a big “fine” incident shortly after mid- about extending presidential fied by three-quarters of the states. announced on February 25 the erful (Chinese) president in a hun- as part of a probe into China’s night when someone aboard service in jest. The White House China’s annual parliament end of the two-term limit for the dred years.” Trump said Xi had alleged theft of intellectual prop- a train spotted a person along did not respond to a request for gathering kicks off on Monday president - and the parliament treated him “tremendously well” erty. He has been critical of Chi- railroad tracks in Mount comment. as Xi presses ahead with efforts is expected to ratify the move. during his visit in November. na’s trade policies. Pleasant, and called police. ‘M.A.S.H.’ actor Cosby retrial: Prosecutors want 19 women to testify David Ogden AP Judge Steven O’Neill allowed Jury selection is slated to disease on February 23. His law- ance in more than two years. just one other accuser to take the begin March 29. yers have given no indication Prosecutors are counting on Stiers dies at 75 PHILADELPHIA: Prosecutors witness stand at Cosby’s first Cosby’s lawyers wrote in a they would seek to delay today’s other accusers testifying to show AP in Bill Cosby’s retrial want to call trial, which ended in a hung jury court filing that some of the other hearing. there was a sinister side to Cos- as many as 19 other women to last year. Prosecutors had pro- accusers’ allegations date to the In January, the 80-year-old by’s public persona as “Ameri- LOS ANGELES: David Ogden the witness stand to show he had posed calling as many as 13. They 1960s and are “virtually impos- entertainer was suddenly out ca’s Dad,” cultivated through his Stiers, a prolific actor best a five-decade pattern of drug- added six more to the list for the sible to defend against.” and about in his hometown of role as an affable Jell-O pitchman known for playing a surgeon ging and harming women. retrial, including model Janice “Developing a defense to any Philadelphia in what legal and family sitcom star. on the “M.A.S.H.” television Cosby is due in court for a Dickinson. of these outdated claims will experts said was an effort to Cosby has pleaded not guilty series, has died. He was 75. pretrial hearing today, less than Cosby’s lawyers have said require unusual amounts of rebuild his good-guy image. to charges he drugged and The actor’s agent Mitchell two weeks after his daughter’s they would seek to delay the investigative effort that cannot Over a two-week span, Cosby molested former Temple Univer- Stubbs confirmed yesterday death, as his lawyers clash with retrial if other accusers are given be completed by the present trial emerged from a long period of sity women’s basketball official in an email that Stiers died prosecutors over how many of a chance to testify. They said date,” the lawyers wrote. near-seclusion to have dinner Andrea Constand at his suburban after battling bladder cancer. his accusers are allowed to tes- they would need extra time to Cosby’s 44-year-old with friends at a restaurant and Philadelphia home. He remains No additional details were tify at his April 2 sexual assault. look into the allegations. daughter, Ensa, died of kidney to give his first comedy perform- free on bail. provided, but Stubbs’ agency tweeted that Stiers died at his home in Newport, Oregon, yesterday. In addition to playing the Honduras executive held aristocratic Maj Charles Win- chester III on “M.A.S.H.” beginning in its sixth season, for murder of activist replacing Larry Linville after he left the series. Stiers’ char- AFP construct the dam across a river acter, while arrogant, also upon which indigenous com- showed an empathy and wit LA ESPERANZA: Honduran munities depended. his predecessor lacked. authorities said they have Two masked gunmen fatally Stiers did voice acting in arrested an energy company shot the activist at her home in several Disney animated executive allegedly behind the La Esperanza, northwest of the films, voicing the character high-profile 2016 murder of capital Tegucigalpa in 2016. Her Cogsworth in “Beauty and the prominent environmental murder sparked international Beast” and played characters activist Berta Caceres. outrage and highlighted threats in “Lilo & Stitch” and Police detained electrical to Honduran activists. “Pocahontas.” engineer Roberto David Cas- At least eight other people He was also the voice of tillo Mejia “as the intellectual have been arrested in connec- an announcer in George perpetrator” behind Caceres’s tion with the homicide -- among Lucas’ 1971 feature directo- murder, the prosecutor’s office them employees of DESA -- but rial debut, “THX 1138.” said in a statement. Officials Caceres’s family has repeatedly Stiers received two Emmy said Castillo had served as CEO demanded the masterminds be nominations for his work on of the company Desarrollos brought to justice. “M.A.S.H.” El Salvador elections Energeticos (DESA) at the time In a statement issued after He had more than 150 of the activist’s slaying. his arrest, the company said A citizen looks for his name in the electoral register during legislative and municipal elections in film and television credits, He was “responsible for that “Castillo, like all members San Salvador, yesterday. The legislative elections in El Salvador will test voters evaluation of leftist including appearances on the providing logistics and other of DESA, are totally dissoci- “Mary Tyler Moore Show” and President Salvador Sanchez Ceren as he sees out his final year in office with consequences for his resources to the perpetrators,” ated from the unfortunate several Perry Mason televi- FMLN party. the statement said. Caceres incident that ended the life of sion movies. opposed DESA’s plans to Berta Caceres.” 18 AMERICAS MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 Trump cracks jokes at Gridiron Dinner BLOOMBERG US President Donald the Gridiron dinner by members Trump wrapped of the Cabinet and top military WASHINGTON: The jokes were officials, along with White mostly on Donald Trump as he up his comments House press secretary Sarah spent the evening with a few by lauding the Huckabee Sanders, advisers hundred of his least favourite assembled reporters Kushner and Ivanka Trump, and people - the Washington press “for all you do to others. corps - at its annual Gridiron Trump joked that he was Dinner. The president, though, support and sustain late to the event “because Jared as the guest of honour, got the our democracy. I could not get through security,” last laugh, and even thanked the mean that.” referring to how his son-in-law media. was recently stripped of his top Trump wrapped up his com- security clearance. ments by lauding the assembled club in Palm Beach, Florida, to The president suggested he reporters “for all you do to sup- attend the annual white-tie needed to wrap up his com- Food drive port and sustain our democracy. charity event, a kind of celeb- ments quickly, noting, “I have People participate in the “CHIditarod” shopping cart race in Chicago, Illinois, yesterday. People I mean that.” rity roast at which some of the to be up early tomorrow to design and create their own shopping carts to attend CHIditarod which is Chicago’s 100% volunteer- In a more-than-30-minute country’s best-known print and watch Fox and Friends.” driven epic urban shopping cart race with charity food drive, costumed beauty pageant, talent speech, Trump cracked jokes television journalists perform And in a tribute to his show and chaos generator. about Attorney-General Jeff Ses- musical skits that lampoon favourite news network, he sions, Vice President Mike Pence Washington’s most powerful offered to reduce the carbon -- “he is one of the best straight politicians. footprint of White House travel men you are going to meet” -- While still in Florida, Trump by shrinking the press pool to and son-in-law Jared Kushner. stayed true to form, saying said only Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs He didn’t spare Stephen Bannon, on Twitter that the “Mainstream and Judge Jeanine. the former White House strate- Media in US is being mocked all In an up-to-the-minute Man shoots himself to death near White House gist (“that guy leaked more than over the world. They’ve gone crack about tariffs, Trump said the Titanic”) and even mocked CRAZY.” The comment was that many dying American AP The White House says several rounds from a handgun. his own relentless cable TV- appended to a tweet from his industries come to the White Trump has been briefed on the Brayman says none of the shots viewing habit. oldest son, Donald Trump Jr, House begging for help, “but it WASHINGTON: The Secret shooting. appear to have been directed Trump in 2017 turned down highlighting article from a con- may be too late for print Service says a man shot himself Authorities are seeking to toward the White House. the traditional invitation servative website. media.” to death as he stood near the notify the man’s relatives and Secret Service officers set up extended to the commander in Trump, arguably, warmed Now in its 133rd year, the fence along the north side of the haven’t released his name. a perimeter around the White chief by the journalists’ group, up his comedy chops in Florida dinner, held at a downtown White House. Speaking for the Secret House grounds on Saturday and also skipped the White earlier in the day. Washington hotel, raises money President Donald Trump Service, Mason F Brayman saisd afternoon, limiting access and House Correspondents Dinner. Trump and wife Melania for college scholarships and and first lady Melania Trump the man approached the fence rerouting tourists as they But he flew back from his were joined at the head table for journalistic organisations. were in Florida at the time. shortly before noon and fired investigated.

City planners, scientists unite in battle against climate change

REUTERS organisers said yesterday. greenhouse gases, said Miller. a draft report by the IPCC. leadership is both acknowledged “What this will do ... is signif- The stakes are high: cities About 50% of the world’s and welcomed now.” EDMONTON: Climate scientists icantly advance the science that account for an estimated 75 per- population live in urban areas, US President Donald Trump’s and city planners are to start mayors and city governments cent of carbon emissions, a figure expected to grow to 66% opposition to the Paris accord has charting a global roadmap on need on which to base their according to UN figures. by 2050, according to the UN. lent momentum to initiatives by how cities can best battle climate actions,” said David Miller, North Under the Paris climate The decision by the IPCC to local authorities waging their change, when they gather at a America’s director for the C40 agreement, nearly 200 countries pay special attention to cities own war against climate change, UN-backed summit in Canada’s Cities network, one of the organ- agreed to curb planet-warming was long overdue, Miller said in said Aseem Prakash, founding Edmonton today. isers of the summit. emissions enough to keep the an interview. director of the University of Elton John The three day gathering The panel of scientists’ rise in global temperatures to “It would have been helpful Washington’s Center for Environ- marks the first time cities rather growing interest in cities mir- well below 2 degrees Celsius to have this kind of science ten mental Politics. explains why he than nations are offered a seat rors fledgling recognition above pre-industrial times, ide- years ago,” said Miller, who was Trump announced last year at the table of the Intergovern- among global leaders that ally to 1.5 degrees. mayor of Toronto from 2003 to he was pulling his country, the walked off stage mental Panel on Climate Change breakneck urbanization must But without unprecedented 2010. world’s second biggest emitter (IPCC), the UN’s top scientific be steered on a path toward action temperatures could rise “But the good news from my of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, AFP authority on global warming, reducing planet-warming above 1.5 degrees, according to perspective is that city out of the deal.

WASHINGTON: Elton John (pictured) left the stage in Las Vegas because a “rude” fan was interfering with the Man cleared of murder performance, he said yesterday. seeks compensation “A fan put his hands on the piano keys while I was AP judging me all over again.” playing and continued to do Gavitt’s claim under Mich- so even after I asked him to DETROIT: David Gavitt spent igan’s Wrongful Imprisonment stop,” the 70-year-old British 26 years in prison for the deaths Compensation Act - $50,000 entertainer said in a state- of his wife and two daughters for each year in prison - would ment posted on Twitter. before a prosecutor agreed that seem like a slam dunk. “This guy was rude, dis- the evidence behind his arson The evidence used to con- ruptive and had no care or conviction was no longer cred- vict him was thoroughly dis- respect for our show and so I ible. The case helped inspire a credited through major let him know how I felt, then Michigan law aimed at advances in fire science, and left the stage until they had compensating the wrongfully Ionia County prosecutor Ron removed him,” John said. convicted. Schafer in 2012 declined a The incident occurred Yet the state now is vigor- second trial. during a performance of “Sat- ously resisting Gavitt’s request But Schafer’s successor and urday Night,” for which John for money, going so far as to the Michigan attorney gener- had brought fans onstage. He question whether he’s really al’s office aren’t convinced he later returned to the stage, but innocent. He would qualify for should be paid. the group of fans did not. more than $1m. “Although Mr. Gavitt is no John, who in the 1980s “My reaction? I don’t know longer guilty beyond a reason- became one of the first openly how to put this - anger,” said able doubt of the crime initially gay major celebrities, Gavitt, 59, who works the mid- charged, there certainly is cir- announced earlier this week Tearful reunion night shift at a tub manufac- cumstantial evidence that sup- that he plans “go out with a Javier (centre-left) and Inocencio (right), who haven’t seen their mother, Rosa, for 20 years, give her a turer. “It’s like a slap in the face. ports he is not innocent of bang” with a global tour that hug an event to reunite immigrants with their families from Mexico, in Los Angeles, California, yesterday. ... I thought we lived in America wrongdoing,” prosecutor Kyle will open on September 8 and where the accused doesn’t have Butler said in a letter to last through 2021. to prove innocence. They’re Attorney-General Bill Schuette.

Northeastern US still facing flooding, power outages after storm

REUTERS yesterday with flood watches access to federal resources. affect the coastal areas from according to local media and The storm also snarled trans- and wind advisories in effect The storm carried hurricane- Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode police. Two others died in the portation from the Middle PRINCETON: More than 1.5 until 1pm in northeastern United force winds in excess of 90 miles Island, and Long Island, NY. storm, according to media Atlantic into New England, with million customers remained States even as it moved hundreds per hour, sending seawater “We’re definitely not out of the reports, including a 41-year-old more than a quarter of flights without power throughout the of miles out to sea, hampering churning into streets in Boston woods yet,” said meteorologist man in New Jersey, who came in into and out of New York’s three eastern United States early efforts to restore power. and nearby shore towns - the David Roth at the weather serv- contact with power lines. major airports and Boston’s air- yesterday, and communities on The governors of both Mas- second time the area has been ice’s Weather Prediction Center Private forecasting service port canceled on Friday, tracking the New England coast faced sachusetts and New York flooded this year. in College Park, Maryland. AccuWeather said the storm service FlightAware.com more flooding two days after a declared a state of emergency on The National Weather Falling trees killed seven dumped as much as 18 inches of reported. powerful storm snapped trees, Saturday afternoon, following Service (NWS) said that while people - including two boys who snow on parts of New York state The problems carried over downed wires and killed at least similar announcements by the winds have weakened yesterday died when trees struck their and Pennsylvania. The Massa- into Saturday, with hundreds of nine people. governors of Virginia and Mar- and most of the rain and snow homes - in Connecticut, Mary- chusetts town of East Bridge- flights canceled into and out of The remnants of the storm, yland on Friday. has moved offshore, flooding and land, New York, Pennsylvania, water received nearly 6 inches New York and Boston, according known as a nor’easter, lingered The moves give those states extreme high tides could still Rhode Island and Virginia, of rain, the NWS said. to the website. MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 HOME 19 Nespresso launches two limited edition coffees DPS-MIS debaters DOHA: Last month, Nespresso the region where coffee was first shine at QSDL-II took coffee lovers on a journey commercialised on a large scale of discovery to its origins with and exported globally DOHA: A batch of 9 debaters won two debates and secured two new Limited Edition coffees, To bring these inspiring and from DPS Modern Indian School 18th place among 52 teams. Arabica Ethiopia Harrar and mythical coffee stories to life, (DPS-MIS) participated and In the individual category, Robusta Uganda. Nespresso partnered with proved their stance in the second among 155 debaters, Nakshatra The new capsules take inspi- London based illustrator, Mar- round of QSDL (QSDL-II), held bagged first place followed by ration from the captivating iana Rodrigues who designed the in Sherborne Qatar recently. Sandra and Najah at 5th, Arya myths on where coffee origi- coffee capsule sleeves. The competitive team was 12th, Kanaga 17th, Priyal 21st, nated, featuring coffees from Mariana Rodrigues accompanied byJaya Majumder Sneha and Saumya 28th and Ethiopia, which is the birthplace explained: “I was so inspired by and Somasundaram. Arooj at 44th position. of Arabica coffee and Uganda, the new coffees from Nespresso, The battle of words focused DPS-MIS topped among all one of the alleged birth places especially with their mythical on the recent conflicts in Jeru- 31 schools by earning the highest of Robusta coffee. origins. When creating the salem, monitoring Internet cumulative points and qualified Karsten Ranitzsch, Nes- sleeves, I wanted to clearly activity, celebrities supporting for National Championship 2018. presso Head of Coffee said, “At depict the vibrancy of both these charity campaigns anon- Nespresso, we know the journey cultures and link back to their ymously and requirement of coffee is just as important as beautiful coffee stories and of special needs schools the taste. With the new Limited ingrained heritage.” for special needs Edition coffees, we wanted to Arabica Ethiopia Harrar and children. take people on a mythical Ethiopia Harrar and Robusta enjoyed both as an Espresso and Robusta Uganda will be avail- At the end of the day, adventure to the original birth- Uganda, two coffees that truly as a Lungo: able for a limited period from team Sandra, Kangha and places of coffee. These fasci- demonstrate the sensorial pro- Arabica Ethiopia Harrar – A Nespresso boutiques worldwide, Nakshatra bagged the first nating discovery stories are fun- files from their regions.” delicious espresso with notes of as well as through orders from place in all four debates, damental to the coffee we have There are two delicious cof- ripe fruits, fresh flowers that the Nespresso Customer Care followed by team Priyal, today and allow us to share the fees to try, For Lungo lovers, the boasts a remarkably velvety Centres and online at www.nes- Najah, and Arya. Team incredible tastes of Arabica Arabica Ethiopia Harrar can be body. 100% Arabica from Harrar, presso.com. Arooj, Saumya and Sneha

Sherborne Qatar & Doha College Bollywood Unplugged enthralls Doha

DOHA: Doha had witnessed first centre stage along with finest of voice for first time and it was named joint winners for U13 Games of its kind, a Bollywood musicians to give Doha a melo- Ahir Bhowmick, a gorgeous lady DOHA: Sherborne Qatar and Doha College Unplugged presented by the Red dious night. The musical night mesmerising Doha with her were joint winners of the U13 Qatar Interna- Apple Events and Media at the started with Bobby the Bolly- songs from movie ‘Aap ki Kashish’ tional Schools’ Games, which was held at the InterContinental Doha The City wood pianist along with his tal- , including the most popular chart Aspire Dome during the weekend. recently and it was truly a melo- ented crew giving life to the hits Dil cheez kya hai,pyar karne This is considered as a great achievement dious magical night. evening, followed by the wale, Dum maro dum and Jawani by the whole squad. An engrossed night where renowned singer Priti Vikram. Janeman to name a few. The fantastic festival of sport includes the phenomenal singers took the Doha welcomed a new genre She ended with her mellif- swimming, girls and boys Football, netball, bas- luous voice on a high note with ketball and athletics. The whole event took most-popular hit Illahi and had place in a spirit of sportsmanship and the audience dancing to the song friendship. and ending in cheers and Mum- Sherborne Qatar performed strongly in all bai’s DJ Imtiyaz Shaikh closed events, taking 3rd place in the swimming and the night with audience dancing athletics category, 2nd place in netball and 1st to his beats and tunes unwinding place in basketball. immensely in the musical night The Principal of Sherborne Qatar, Nick to reminisce. Prowse, said, ‘This was an excellent team per- It was billed as “First” of its formance and I am very proud of all the pupils kind in Doha influenced by the involved and the way that represented Sher- MTV unplugged/coke studio and borne Qatar. it lived up to the hype.

CROSSWORD NOVO Pearl Qatar ROYAL PLAZA VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER Death Wish 10:00, 10:30am, 12:15, 12:30, 12:45, 2:30, 3:00, 3:15, 4:45, Captain (2D/Malayalam) 2:30 & 11:30pm 5:15, 6:00, 7:00, 7:30, 8:45, 9:15, 9:45, 11:30, 11:40pm & 12:00midnight Pari (2D/Hindi) 2:30pm Gnome Alone (2D/Animation) 3:30 & 5:00pm Black Panther (2D/Action) 10:00am, 12:45, 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & Black Panther (2D/Action) 6:45pm Special Show 7:00pm 11:45pm Gnome Alone (2D) 10:00, 11:45am, 1:30, 3:15, 5:00, 6:45, The Leisure Seeker (2D/Romantic) 9:30pm 8:30, 10:15pm & 12:00midnight Maya Nadhi (2D/Malayalam) 5:00pm The Shadow Effect (2D) 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pm The Midnight Man (2D) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00pm & 12:00midnight The Midnight Man (Horror) 7:30 & 11:30pm The Leisure Seeker (2D) 10:00am, 2:45, 7:15 & 11:50pm The Shadow Effect (2D/Action) 7:30pm I, Tonya (2D) 12:15, 4:45 & 9:30pm Death Wish (2D/Action) 2:30, 9:00 & 11:00pm Talq Sena3y (2D/Arabic) 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pm Okdat Al I, Tonya (2D/Drama) 9:15pm Kawja (2D/Arabic) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00pm & 12:00midnight Talq Sena3Y (2D/Arabic) 5:00pm Game Night (2D/Action) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnight Black Panther (3D IMAX/Action) 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm ASIAN TOWN MALL Maya Nadhi (Malayalam) 6:00, 7:00, 8:45, 9:45, 11:30pm Captain (2D/Malayalam) 2:00 & 11:15pm Captain (Malayalam) 6:00, 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 & 11:15pm Pari (2D/Horror) 2:30 & 11:30pm Talq Sena3Y (2D/Arabic) 7:00pm Pari (Hindi) 6:00pm Gnome Alone (2D/Animation) 3:00, 4:30 & 6:00pm Death Wish (2D/Action) 5:00, 7:30 & 11:15pm The Leisure Seeker (2D/Romantic) 5:00pm Black Panther(2D/Action) 2:30, 7:00 & 9:00pm AL KHOR The Shadow Effect (2D/Drama) 9:30pm Captain (Malayalam) 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pm The Midnight Man (2D/Horror) 9:30pm Gnome Alone (Animation) 10:30am, 12:15, 2:15 & 4:15pm Veerey Ki Wedding (2D/Hindi) 11:30pm Death Wish 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 & 11:45pm LANDMARK Maya Nadhi (Malayalam) 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45pm

Captain (2D/Malayalam) 2:30 & 9:00pm Gnome Alone (2D/Animation) 2:30, 4:00 & 5:30pm Talq Sena3Y (2D/Arabic) 2:30pm ROXY Black Panther(2D/Action) 4:30pm Maya Nadhi (2D/Malayalam) 5:00 & 11:00pm Gnome Alone (Animation) 10:30am, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30pm The Shadow Effect (2D/Drama) 7:30 & 11:30pm Pari (Horror) 10:30am, 1:10, 3:50, 6:30, 9:10 & 11:50pm Death Wish (2D/Action) 7:00, 9:30 & 11:30pm Death Wish (Drama) 10:30am, 12:50, 3:10, 8:20 & 10:40pm The Midnight Man (2D/Horror) 9:15pm Captain (Malayalam) 10:30am, 4:15 & 10:10pm Maya Nadhi (Malayalam) 1:30 & 7:15pm FLIK Mirqab Black Panther (Action) 5:30, 8:30 & 11:20pm Black Panther (Action) 2D 11:20am, 12:20, 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 9:20, 10:00pm

& 12:05am 3D 3:00, 5:40, 8:20 & 11:00pm Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice. Captain (Malayalam) 3:20, 6:20 & 8:20pm Death Wish (Action) 11:35am, 1:50, 4:05, 6:20, 7:05, 8:35, 8:50&9:25pm Early Man 10:30am, 2:20, 5:25pm PARCHI Ferdinand 11:40am, 1:35 & 4:15pm Game Night 11:25am, 1:30, 4:55, 7:20, 9:05 & 11:40pm Gnome Alone (Animation) 3:35, 12:25 & 6:30pm Mom & Dad (2D/Horror) 8:45 & 11:45pm Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle 2:35pm Maya Nadhi (Malayalam) 12:35, 5:00, 9:20 & 12:10am Maze Runner: The Death Cure 10:45pm Talq Sena3y (Arabic) 7:00pm Talq The Last Flag Flying 4:30 & 11:20pm The Midnight Man 11:10pm

A group of friends find themselves in trouble when one receives a chit from the gangster that he owes money to. 20 HOME MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04.38am SHOROOK 05.54 am

ZUHR 11.45 am MAGHRIB 05.40pm ASR 03.07 pm ISHA 07.10pm WEATHER TODAY

Muqdam Camp health centre inaugurated Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Deputy PM meets Guinea Conakry Minister Mohammed Al Attiyah inaugurated yesterday the health centre of Muqdam Camp. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr Khalid The inauguration was attended by acting commander of medical services of the bin Mohammed Al Attiyah met yesterday with Minister of Defence of the Armed Forces Major-General, Nasser Mohammed Saad Al Kaabi, a number of Republic of Guinea Conakry, Dr. Mohammad Diani, and his accompanying ranking state officials, guests of the country, and a number of ranking officers at delegation, currently visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they discussed the Armed Forces. The medical centre has a number of specialised clinics including relations in the defence and military fields and means of enhancing and internal medicine, nutrition, ophthalmology and ENT, dermatology, orthopedic, developing them. The meeting was attended by a number of senior physiotherapy, family medicine, and dentistry. There is also a radiology department, Armed Forces officers. a lab, a pharmacy, and an emergency department. Maserati Levante SUV helps Jamie to break Guinness record o o THE PENINSULA Maserati’s luxury SUV offers an especially for the Guinness World Record array of high-tech features including attempt. Strict criteria had to be met for 19 C 29 C MODENA: Britain’s fastest snowboarder the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive the record to meet Guinness World Minimum Maximum Jamie Barrow has broken his own Guin- System and the recently developed Record guidelines. These included com- ness World Record, clocking a new EPS producing a highly capable SUV. pleting a timed run in both directions Hazy to misty at places at first becomes fastest speed on a snowboard while With its variable torque control, the with specialist recording equipment, set moderate temperature daytime with scat- being towed by a vehicle on the frozen Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive at 100m by a Guinness World Records tered clouds. lakes of St Moritz. system is always active and responds official. With 400m needed either side Barrow previously broke the same immediately to any variation in the so that the Maserati Levante could accel-

HIGH TIDE 07:00 – 19:45 LOW TIDE 00:30 – 13:30 record in February 2016, when he was driving conditions, providing pre- erate and slow down safely on the snow, COURTESY: Qatar Meteorology Department clocked at a speed of 99.87km/h while mium performance for Barrow’s a total run of approximately 900m was being towed behind a car across the Guinness World Record. prepared. same frozen lake in St Moritz. Despite In conjunction with the Q4 Intelli- On February 19 morning, the very breaking the record in 2016, Barrow was gent All-Wheel Drive System, EPS first out run was recorded at always confident that an even greater improves the car’s handling and com- 151.57km/h. Due to the Guinness World speed was possible, due to the track in fort, better supports the driving modes, Record stipulations, a return run back Britain’s fastest snowboarder Jamie 2016 being slightly shorter than origi- and enables the newly-introduced active was recorded at 147.72 km/h. The two Barrow gestures after breaking his own nally planned and the soft snow not ADAS functions. The advanced tech- runs were then averaged to give the allowing the grip needed. nology allowed the Levante to perform final Guinness World Record speed of record in St Moritz. This time he returned to the lake on the frozen lake surface, without losing 149.65 km/h. with a powerful Maserati Levante SUV, the razor-sharp steering feel expected About his newly set Guinness Jacob Nyborg, Head of Marketing a much faster car than the one used in of any Maserati. World Record, Jamie said: “I’m abso- for Maserati S.p.A. commented, ‘What his last record attempt, fitted with Pirelli With the record attempt taking place lutely delighted to have broken my a fantastic effort from Jamie to break Scorpion Winter tyres. The special on a frozen lake, safety and preparation own record. I always knew there was the World Record.” The Maserati studded tyres have 474 studs per tyre were a major factor when planning the much more speed possible with the Levante was supplied by Kessel Auto, and are 4 mm long to allow the best grip project. The track was closed, fenced off right conditions and crucially the the official Maserati dealer in Lugano, possible on the frozen lake. and piste-bashers groomed the snow right car to tow me.” with a showroom in Sankt Moritz.