BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar keen to

INDEX continue DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2 – 12, 30 – 32 COMMENT 28, 29 Commercial Bank REGION 12 BUSINESS 1 – 8, 12 – 16 winning 17,655.41 10,452.28 40.17 ARAB WORLD 13 CLASSIFIED 9 – 11 plans to raise $8.5bn -17.56 -38.12 -1.28 INTERNATIONAL 14 – 27 SPORTS 1 – 12 -0.10% -0.36% -3.09% from overseas markets run Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10037 March 24, 2016 Jumada II 15, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Chinese silk art exhibition opens Belgium In brief

EUROPE | Appreciation EU praises Qatar names mediation eff orts The European Union (EU) has expressed thanks to Qatar for its eff orts that led to the release of a group of Djiboutian prisoners of war who were held in Eritrea. bomber In a press release, EU’s off icial spokesman said that the release of a group of Djiboutian prisoners of war who were held in Eritrea was an important step that would provide the basis for reconciliation between Djibouti and Eritrea. Meanwhile, brothers Djibouti has expressed anew its “thanks and appreciation” to HH the Tuesday’s attacks on a city that is His brother Khalid El Bakraoui, 27, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- home to the European Union and detonated a bomb an hour later on a Thani for his decisive role to secure Nato have sent shockwaves across crowded rush-hour metro train near the release of four of the prisoners Europe and around the world the European Commission headquar- of war detained in Eritrea since ters, prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw 2008. In a statement, Djibouti’s Reuters said. foreign ministry said the step was Brussels Both men, born in Belgium, had “the fruit of indirect talks in which criminal records for armed robbery but the brotherly State of Qatar played investigators had not linked them to the mediator’s role”. elgium’s chief prosecutor yes- militants until Abdeslam’s arrest, when terday named two brothers as police began a race against time to track Qatar Museums chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani opening the Silks from the Silk Road – BIslamic State suicide bombers down his suspected accomplices. YEMEN | Confl ict Chinese Art of Silk exhibition yesterday. The exhibition, being held at the Qatar Museums (QM) Gallery in Katara, will run until who killed at least 31 people in the most That seems to have prompted the Warring parties agree May 9. It forms part of the Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture. The exhibition includes 100 selected silk products and modern deadly attacks in Brussels’ history but bombers to rush into an attack in Bel- artistic works of silk garments, as well as other accompanying works such as ceramic tea sets and tea works. Page 31 said another key suspect was on the gium after months of lying low, ac- on April 10 ceasefi re run. cording to the testament found on the Yemen’s warring parties have Tuesday’s attacks on a city that is laptop. agreed on a ceasefire from April home to the European Union and Nato At least 31 people were killed and 271 10 followed by peace talks, a UN sent shockwaves across Europe and wounded in the attacks, the prosecutor envoy said yesterday, raising hopes around the world, with authorities rac- said. That toll could increase further of a breakthrough in a conflict ing to review security at airports and because some of the bomb victims at that has devastated the country. All Qatar residents equal on public transport. It also rekindled Maelbeek metro station were blown to “The parties to the conflict have debate about lagging European secu- pieces and victims are hard to identify. agreed to a nationwide cessation rity co-operation and fl aws in police Several survivors were still in critical of hostilities beginning April 10 surveillance. condition. at midnight in advance of the Washington announced that Sec- The Bakraoui brothers were identi- upcoming round of the peace talks, under law, says minister retary of State John Kerry would visit fi ed by their fi ngerprints and on se- which will take place on April 18 in Belgium tomorrow to demonstrate curity cameras, the prosecutor said. A Kuwait,” UN special envoy Ismail support. second suicide bomber at the airport Ould Cheikh Ahmed told a news QNA The Belgian federal prosecutor told had yet to be identifi ed and a third man, conference in New York. Page 12 Geneva a news conference that Ibrahim El whom he did not name, had left the Bakraoui, 29, one of two men who blew biggest bomb and ran out of the termi- themselves up at Brussels airport on nal before the explosions. PAKISTAN | Diplomacy E the Minister of Adminis- Tuesday, had left a will on a computer Belgian media named that man as Iranian president trative Development, Labour dumped in a rubbish bin near the mili- Najim Laachraoui, 25, a suspected Is- Hand Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad tants’ hideout. lamic State recruiter and bomb-maker to visit Islamabad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi has reaffi rmed the In it, he described himself as “al- whose DNA was found on two explo- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani commitment of HH the Emir Sheikh ways on the run, not knowing what to sives belts used in last November’s Par- will visit Pakistan this week for Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the do anymore, being hunted everywhere, is attacks and at a Brussels safe house talks on improving relations and government to strengthen regula- not being safe any longer and that if he used by Abdeslam. strengthening economic links, the tions and initiatives to protect foreign hangs around, he risks ending up next De Standaard newspaper, however, foreign ministry said yesterday. It workers in Qatar. to the person in a cell” - a reference citing an unidentifi ed source, named said the lifting of sanctions on Iran In a speech to the governing body to suspected Paris bomber Salah Ab- Laachraoui as the second suicide following its nuclear deal with the of the International Labour Organi- deslam, who was arrested last week. bomber at the airport. Pages 21, 28 West “has opened new avenues for sation (ILO), the minister called for- enhancing economic interaction”. eign workers “an important part of Page 25 the fabric of Qatari society” having “rights and duties similar to all other Qatari residents”. HE al-Nuaimi addressing the governing body of the International Labour SPORT | Cricket He confi rmed that Qatar was a state Organisation. India beat built on institutions, the rule of law, transparency and respect for interna- On the sidelines of the session, the country to promote the protection of Bangladesh tional conventions, and that all resi- minister met with Misako Kaji, chair- workers’ rights. Hosts India snatched victory dents of Qatar were equal under law man of the board and vice president, In a report, the ILO delegation said from the jaws of defeat to keep without any discrimination under its and Guy Ryder, director-general of it “acknowledges the recent concrete alive their hopes of reaching Constitution and legislation. ILO. measures taken by the government the World Twenty20 semi-finals The minister stressed Qatar’s com- A high-level delegation from the and other interlocutors” it met in with a dramatic one-run win over mitment to working with ILO and its ILO, led by Kaji, recently visited Qa- Qatar to improve migrants’ working This CCTV image from the Brussels Airport surveillance cameras made available by Bangladesh yesterday. Sport Page 5 governing body. tar and praised steps taken by the conditions. Belgian Police shows what off icials believe may be suspects in the Brussels airport attack. Al Meera signs deal to build six new stores

l Meera Consumer Goods Com- while Al Khayarin will work on estab- standards, using the latest equipment pany has signed an agreement to lishing the new centres at Al Khor and and will live up to Al Meera’s motto of Abuild six new stores out of the 14 Sailiya. being consumers’ “favourite neigh- planned with a total contract value of “Al Meera has started construction bourhood retailer”. nearly QR239mn as part of its expan- works in fi ve branches of the 14 from Al Khayarin’s Anwar said the two sion strategy for 2016 and beyond. last year in Sailiya North (Al Miarad), new state-of-the-art shopping cen- The contracts have been awarded to Leabaib 2, Al Wakrah (west), Umm Slal tres to be built by his company for the Al Muftah Contracting Company and Ali and Bu Sidra, expecting the comple- country’s leading supermarket chain Al Khayarin Group Contracting and tion within the next three months,” Dr will refl ect Al Meera’s innovation and Trading. While Al Muftah is to build al-Qahtani said. modernity benchmarks and will be up four of the new Al Meera shopping “Our expansion plans are a result of to its customers’ expectations. centres, Al Khayarin will construct the a well-researched strategy to march In 2015, Al Meera had announced other two. Al Rayan Partners will pro- with Qatar’s urban plans, as well as to the opening of 10 new stores, with nine vide the project management services drive the company’s future growth,” he covering Muraikh, Al Azizia, Muaither, for all the six stores. explained. Jeryan Njeima, Al Thakhira, Al Wakrah, Dr Mohamed Nasser al-Qahtani, The Al Meera offi cial expressed Al Thumama, Al Wajbah, Rawdat Ek- deputy CEO of Al Meera signed the confi dence that the new stores will be deem and a branch in Gulf Mall. agreement with Khalid A al-Muftah, equipped with “world-class technolo- This is in addition to the works on fi nance director of Al Muftah Con- gies and solutions, and will continue to fi ve new shopping centres in various tracting Company and Mohamed Id- serve customers in diff erent areas of the regions of the country within its plan to rees Anwar, CEO and managing partner Al Meera off icials with other stakeholders after the signing ceremony. country”. complete the 14 new branches to reach of Al Khayarin Group Contracting and Khalid al-Muftah said the four new a total of 55 branches within the next Trading. Al Muftah is to work on the shop- ping centres in Rawdat Aba El Heran, Azghawa, Leabaib and Umm Qarn, stores shall be built to the highest two years. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, March 24, 2016 QATAR

Lankan president meets Qatar’s envoy

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena receiving Qatar’s ambassador to Colombo, Rashid bin Marri yesterday. They reviewed bilateral relations between Qatar and Sri Lanka and ways to further develop them.

Yemeni deputy prime minister hails Qatar’s positive role

QNA their aid amounting to more ever, Saleh and the Houthis ture of Yemen, so he is trying Doha than $220mn. turned against the will of to disable any negotiations, In an interview with Qa- the Yemeni people. and therefore the Houthis tari daily Al Sharq published He emphasised that the will soon abandon him. emeni Deputy Prime yesterday, al-Mikhlafi said future of the relationship Regarding talks about Minister and Foreign that in spite of the prevailing between the Houthis and Yemen’s division, he said YMinister Abdulma- stereotypes about the Yem- the ousted Ali Abdullah that this is a kind of illusion, lik al-Mikhlafi has praised eni people, Yemen’s revo- Saleh will end if the latter stressing that Yemen will the eff orts being exerted by lution was most peaceful continues his transgression. remain united. Qatar’s leadership and the revolution among all Arab He also said that the Houthi He also said in this regard people in the Yemeni crisis. revolutions. rebels seem relatively will- that there is an international He said that the Yem- He explained that the ing to participate in peace agreement between all par- eni people rely heavily on Yemeni people’s decision negotiations because they ties, including Russia, US, Qatar’s positive role in all was to end the revolution know their project will fail. EU, China and France and respects and its bid to host with a historic settlement Yemeni Deputy Prime above all, the GCC, Arab many conferences that bring without excluding any- Minister said that Saleh, as and Islamic countries that Arab and international relief one, including the deposed an individual or family, no what happened in Yemen is organisations together, with Ali Abdullah Saleh. How- longer has a place in the fu- a coup against legitimacy.

Gulf Times 6 Thursday, March 24, 2016 QATAR

Emir greets Top honour for NHRC

Pakistan president The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) received Certificate A from the International Co-ordinating Six writers named to pen HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC), Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy the second time it has received such a status. Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Since its inception, NHRC has steadily moved towards books for children in Qatar al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister transparency and independence as one of the main and Minister of Interior Sheikh conditions of receiving the status, NHRC Chairman Dr Ali Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa bin Samikh al-Marri said in press statements. QNA writers who will author a dates following a selection al-Thani sent yesterday cables of Dr al-Marri said the status would not have been easily Doha series of books for Qatari process which was gender congratulations to President of obtainable had it not been for the genuine will from the children on subjects based neutral. Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain on his State’s leadership and institutions for the promotion of on social development. While Maryam and Shai- country’s National Day. everything that preserves human dignity in all walks. he Supreme Com- Maryam Ahmed Alsub- ma are Qatar nationals, the mittee for Deliv- aiey, Shaima al-Kuwari, Fa- other four authors are re- Tery & Legacy (SC) tima Bakro, Mary Francis, siding in the country. and Doha-based Maktaba Basma Khatib and Johanna This is an initiative by Children’s Library have an- Handley – all women — SC’s Corporate Social Re- nounced the names of six were the successful candi- sponsibility department.

5km stretch on Temporary Truck Route to be closed for six months

six-month closure The second stage takes on both directions of place 24 hours later and in- Athe Temporary Truck cludes the closure of the Route (TTR), stretching 5km northbound lane towards north of Salwa Road towards Lusail while traffi c will be Lusail will be in place from diverted to the new lane (as Saturday. shown in the map). The access to the Doha A new roundabout will be West Sewage Treatment built on the temporary road Plant will also be closed (as to provide safe passage from shown in the map). The clo- both directions to the en- sure will last until September trance of the Doha West sew- 26. age plant. During the period, both The speed limit will be re- directions of the two exist- duced to 80km for light vehi- ing lanes will be closed in two cles and 50km for trucks and phases. Traffi c will be divert- heavy vehicles all along the ed to an alternative road with diversion route to ensure the the same number of lanes. safety of road users and the The diversion will be located project’s workforce. on the left side of the TTR The diversion is required adjacent to the closed road. to allow for the construction The fi rst stage of the clo- of the proposed bridge and sure includes a full closure part of the new road, as part and diversion of traffi c to of the New Orbital Highway the southbound lane toward and Truck Route Project, Salwa Road. (Contract 2).

Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2015 9 QATAR

Ashghal Cleanliness Buildings Complex in Industrial Area ready

he Public Works Authority (Ash- Tghal) announced the completion of the Gen- eral Cleanliness Buildings Complex in Doha Industrial Area, which is one of Ash- ghal’s most signifi cant inte- grated services projects. The project is soon to be delivered to the Ministry of Municipality and Environ- ment – General Cleanliness Department and Adminis- trative Services Department. The project consists of four areas, namely work- ers accommodation, em- ployees’ families accom- modation, administrative An exterior view of the complex. Below: The car parking of the complex. and services buildings, and trucks parking and mainte- nance services, vehicle wash and fuel station. The buildings cover 58,586 square metres of the total project area which spreads across 158,470 square metres. The project also includes entertain- ment and commercial areas for workers, sports facilities and green areas with 707 parking spaces for trucks and buses. The workers’ accommo- dation includes fi ve build- ings for housing workers. It has three fl oors, each having 66 rooms. There are 330 rooms in all fi ve build- ings together. The project of a ground plus two fl oors 99 vehicles. maintenance building and also consists of a com- with a total of 24 apart- The Area (C) includes green areas. mercial and service build- ments in both buildings, 12 an administrative building The Area (D) includes a ing that includes a ground of which are two-bedroom consisting of a ground + gas station with a capacity fl oor with four shops, and and the other 12 are three- fi rst fl oor, water tank build- for 12 vehicles and trucks. other facilities. One of the bedroom apartments. ing, underground pumping There are four buildings main attractions is a medi- The Area (B) also has an rooms, in addition to park- for vehicle maintenance and cal clinic. accommodation building ing spaces for 393 heavy washing with a capacity for It also includes three for employees that con- trucks, 79 medium-sized servicing 15 trucks and ve- courts, a mosque, a covered sists of a ground plus two trucks, four equipment hicles simultaneously. The storage area, and parking fl oors comprising 45 studio transportation trucks, 73 area also includes vehicle spaces for nine trucks. apartments in addition to a vehicles, 12 trucks with wash facility with a capac- The Area (B) includes playground, football pitch, tanks to transport liquids, ity for six trucks to be serv- two family accommodation basketball and handball and 38 light goods vehi- iced simultaneously, and a buildings for employees. courts, prayer room, green cles. There is also a store building for recycling water Each building consists areas and parking space for for spare parts and tyres, a and green areas. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, March 24, 2016 QATAR Quality Retail Group’s 10-day Social media Filipino food carnival begins uality Retail Group, a contest for QIFF part of Quality Group QInternational, has launched Pistang Pinoy – a car- nival of Filipino food and food products. Philippine ambassador Wil- visitors launched fredo Santos and Quality Group International chairman Sham- isitors at the Qatar In- sudheen Olakara jointly inau- ternational Food Festival gurated the festival at Quality V(QIFF) will have a chance Mall, Al Hilal. The festival will to win two air tickets to any continue until April 2. destination in China by sharing A large number of Filipino their festival stories on social expatriates, including the media. cream of the Southeast Asian In partnership with Qatar country’s community in Qatar, Tourism Authority and Ooredoo, attended the inaugural cer- Qatar Airways (QA) launched a emony. week-long social media com- Quality Group has launched petition encouraging visitors to the festival as an initiative to submit their videos or photo- support the envoy’s fl agship graphs that express their expe- project titled Kulinarya, ac- riences or memories from this cording to a press statement. Dignitaries and guests at the inaugural ceremony. year’s festival. “The 10-day festival, high- The most compelling and dis- lighting the best of Filipino food project, Kulinarya,” Olakara said organised a festival of food to ebration, a number of promo- tinctive entry capturing the true that will be available on our store on the occasion. bring people together irrespec- tions have been lined up at all essence of the festival will win shelves, refl ects our company’s “Quality Group provides jobs tive of geography and culture,” Quality Retail outlets in Qa- two return Business tickets to commitment and initiative to and support to hundreds of Santos said. tar, the management said in a Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, QA’s signature Dinner in the Sky is one of the major activities at the QIFF. support His Excellency’s fl agship our citizens. Today, they have As part of the culinary cel- statement. Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong or Shanghai. “We are excited that residents, nity together,” she added. The competition is part of the as well as tourists from around “Thanks to our Supernet, our Qatar-China 2016 Year of Cul- the world attending this event customers and QIFF visitors ture celebration, sponsored by will get to experience the crea- will be able to share their ex- QA. tivity and multi-cultural nature periences, excitement and food Food trucks attract To participate, festival-goers of Qatar. offerings to the world.” should upload their images or We look forward to receiving Running until March 28, the videos using the hashtag #QIFF stories that highlight the di- seventh QIFF is extending its 2016 when submitting through versity of cultures and cuisines run to a whole week and will be crowds at Pearl-Qatar Instagram or Twitter. available at QIFF and captures open to the public from 1pm to People can share their stories the essence of the festival, which 10.30pm. taken across all venues and ac- brings people together.” The culinary celebration will ood trucks at The Pearl-Qatar continue to attract a large number of tivities of QIFF 2016, and echo Ooredoo’s Community and include an expanded range of visitors at this year’s Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), which their voices to the world in a Public Relations director Fa- fun activities and new attrac- Fruns until March 28. visual tribute to the community tima Sultan al-Kuwari noted tions including satellite venues As one of the satellite venues of the annual festival, The Pearl-Qatar can event that celebrates global cul- that QIFF has become one of the at The Pearl-Qatar and Katara– be accessed either by land (limousine, bus or Uber services) or through wa- tures and cuisines. most anticipated events on Qa- the Cultural Village. ter taxis coming from the Museum of Islamic Art Park. “The mobile food “At QA, we embrace opportu- tar’s cultural calendar in a very QIFF also features numerous service was conceptualised nities to engage with people in a short period of time. attractions in addition to the simply because of the growing fun and exciting manner,” QA’s “We are always looking for Museum of Islamic Art Park, demand in the market, which Marketing and Corporate Com- ways to innovate and off er an and promises amazing experi- enables us to reach out to more munications senior vice presi- enhanced consumer experience ences for every member of the people in other parts of Qatar,” dent Salam al-Shawa said. that brings the entire commu- family. Aspire Katara Hospitality CEO Kholoud al-Hail said. He noted that the ‘Burgeri Bus’ project, a fi rst in Doha, is one of the most unique enterprises of Aspire Katara Hospitality. Food trucks also serve as a A food truck with a feminine touch. gateway for local entrepreneurs in developing and realising their dreams, and further supporting the country’s tourism industry, according to al-Hail. Dubbed as ‘A Diff erent Side of Food,’ he said this year’s festival is in line with their aim of bringing unique dining concepts from all over the world. The company wants to develop its own “indigenous concepts” and to promote cultural exchange through QIFF. “We also aim to strengthen our support to Qatar Tourism Authority’s (QTA) initiative in attracting more visitors to Qatar by uplifting the ‘food scene’ and serving premium quality products,” he said. Echoing al-Hail’s statement, Kuwaiti ‘Bustaurant’ Bo- 3ram founder Osamah Shamsaldeen said Qatar’s diverse population off ers much potential for a multinational food scene and brings a lot of interest to young entrepreneurs like him. “Food trucks are widely spread now across many diff erent countries and we hope to introduce this concept in the Mid- dle East through the festival,” he added. QTA’s Public Relations and Communications director Faisal bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi said they present new local and regional culinary talents at Qanat Quartier.Visitors can also play in football and volleyball competi- tions, along with fi lm screenings by the Doha Film Institute. QIFF welcomes visitors at the MIA Park with activities at various zones.

Roadshow focus on healthy eating The Yalla Natural roadshow is once again taking part in Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), showing thousands of visitors that healthy food can still taste great. The roadshow is part of the Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First campaign run by Weill Cor- nell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q) in participation with the Ministry of Public Health. Yalla Natural aims to encourage families and children to get back to basics, using fresh, organic food, taking regular exercise and maybe even growing their own fruit and veg- etables. To help encourage them, the Yalla Natural truck is fitted out with lots of activities for all the family, including a planting desk where families can plant their own vegetable Chef Eric Cousin at the Yalla Natural roadshow at QIFF. seeds to take home, cookery demonstrations, a healthy recipe wall, from which people can choose recipes to cook at home, and the famous blender bikes, where visitors are able to make their own delicious, healthy smoothies while exercising. “The Qatar International Food Festival is a great opportunity to reach out to people and advise them about healthy lifestyles, as good health is one of the core tenets of Qa- tar National Vision 2030,” said Nesreen al-Rifai, chief commu- nications officer at WCM-Q. One of the star attractions of the Yalla Natural roadshow is Chef Eric Cousin, corporate executive chef at AMLAK, who is demonstrating how to cook quick, healthy and tasty meals, before offering visitors a sample of the finished dish. Chef Eric also oversees Chef’s Garden, the first farm-to-table restaurant in Qatar. Chef’s Garden, managed by AMLAK and located in Education City, partners with local farms to bring the most inspiring seasonal ingredients from the farm to the table using the freshest, ripest ingredients nature has to offer, without added chemicals and preservatives. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2015 11 QATAR Draft decision banning export of fi sh by sea endorsed by Cabinet

he Cabinet has endorsed Civic ministry proposal gets Cabinet nod der the presidency of one of the a draft decision by HE the judges at the Court of Appeals TMinister of Municipality The Cabinet yesterday approved a amendment, a decision to shut and the membership of repre- and Environment, which pro- proposal by the Ministry of Munic- down a shop that violates the law sentatives from entities con- hibits the export of fi sh by sea ipality and Environment to amend will be published in two domestic cerned, is to decide on appeals throughout the year. some provisions of Law No 8 of newspapers at the expense of the submitted by taxpayers. At its regular weekly session 1990 on the regulation of human violator as well as on the website Additionally, the Cabinet rati- Dr Khaled B Letaief, provost of yesterday, the Cabinet also ap- food monitoring. According to the of the entity that issues it. fi ed a proposal by the Ministry of HBKU booth at the exhibition area of ARC’16 . HBKU, speaking at ARC’16 . proved a draft law on the reg- Education and Higher Education istration of vessels, the offi cial to amend some provisions of two Qatar News Agency (QNA) re- lifa al-Thani at Emiri Diwan mandatory certifi cation that statutes of the human resources ported. yesterday, HE the Deputy Prime must be on board the ship all the department for employees of The draft decision regulat- Minister and Minister of State time. independent schools and aff airs HBKU plays key role at ARC ’16 ing the export of fi sh stipulates for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin No foreign vessel is allowed of independent schools’ licence that “fi sh of all kinds cannot Abdullah al-Mahmoud said the to sail from any port in Qatar or holders. be exported by sea throughout Cabinet approved a draft law on cross its territorial waters unless It also ratifi ed draft agree- amad Bin Khalifa Uni- Dr Khaled B Letaief, provost tion on “Biomedical and Health the year, and surplus from the the registration of vessels and it meets the safety requirements ments on economic, commer- versity (HBKU), a mem- of HBKU, who spoke about 5G Research in Qatar: Transform- local market - covering speci- their safety conditions. in accordance with provisions of cial and technical co-operation, Hber of Qatar Founda- mobile and wireless networks on ing Challenges into Competitive fi ed types - may be exported by The bill was prepared in order international conventions. The and promotion and protection tion for Education, Science, a panel that focused on cutting- Advantages and Economic Op- land in line with the terms and to replace Law No 18 of 1980 on relevant maritime department of mutual investments, between and Community Development edge computational research portunities.” conditions put in place by the the registration of vessels and is entitled, at any time, to moni- the governments of Qatar and (QF), concluded its successful at the event, noted: “At HBKU, Dr Khalid al-Subai, acting ex- fi sheries department”, QNA re- safety conditions as part of up- tor and search Qatari and for- Cameroon, as well as a draft involvement at QF’s Annual Re- we are committed to building ecutive director of QEERI, was ported. dating legislation to cope with eign vessels that cross or dock in agreement on co-operation and search Forum (ARC ’16). Qatar’s national research capa- featured on the Energy and En- In co-ordination with the developments in the fi eld of Qatari territorial waters or state news exchange between QNA The University has been bilities and propelling Qatar’s vironment panel, and, and Dr Ministry of Economy and Com- maritime transport. ports. and Romanian news agency awarded a total of 15 research knowledge-based economy. Ahmed Elmagarmid, executive merce, the department is re- The draft law includes provi- Meanwhile, the session ap- Agerpres. grants by Qatar National Re- ARC provides an excellent plat- director of QCRI, spoke on the sponsible for specifying the sions related to the registration proved a Cabinet draft decision, Finally, the Cabinet reviewed search Fund’s National Priorities form for researchers to come panel on Computing and Infor- amount that can be exported. of vessels with a load capacity amending some provisions of a letter by HE the Minister of Research Programme, including together to exchange ideas and mation Technology. Also, sharks or any part of them of more than 200 tonnes at the Decision No 17 of 2011 on nam- Culture and Sports regarding three grants to the College of Sci- discuss how to best tackle chal- A number of HBKU faculty (fi ns) cannot be exported or re- Ministry of Transport and Com- ing the chairman and members the Cabinet’s draft decision to ence and Engineering (CSE), one lenges faced by Qatar, the region, members and scientists also exported. munications’ maritime depart- of the tax appeal committee, or- form a co-ordination commit- to Qatar Biomedical Research and the wider world.” presented their work during the After the meeting presided ment, the procedures of sub- ganisation of its work and deter- tee for hosting international Institute (QBRI), and eleven to Three of the fi ve parallel ses- oral presentations on day one over by HE the Prime Minister mitting the registration request, mining its rewards. and regional sporting events, Qatar Environment and Energy sions of the conference were of the conference, including Dr and Minister of Interior Sheikh required data and documents The committee, established and took the necessary deci- Research Institute (QEERI). Re- moderated by offi cials from the Jorge Quiane from QCRI on “A Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- for registration and duration of at the Ministry of Finance un- sion. searchers from Qeeri and Qatar university. System for Big Data Analytics Computing Research Institute Dr Said Ahzi from QEERI Over Diverse Data Processing (QCRI) also won awards for the chaired the session on “Materi- Platforms” and Dr Clinton Fran- best poster presentations. als for Solar Energy Harvesting cis, dean of HBKU’s Law School, HBKU’s three national re- and Photovoltaic Technologies”, on “Crowd Inventing: An Inno- search institutes, QBRI, QCRI, while Dr Mounir Hamdi, dean of vation about Innovation”. and QEERI, as well as HBKU’s HBKU’s CSE, led the discussion Dr Omar El-Agnaf, acting ex- CSE, Law School, and its pub- on “Big Data for Sustainable De- ecutive director of QBRI, also lishing house, HBKU Press, velopment” and Dr Hilal Lashuel spoke about his work on Parkin- played an active role at ARC ’16. from QBRI guided a conversa- son’s disease and disorders. QSTP’s initiatives highlighted

n interactive session de- grammes for young entrepre- voted to innovation and neurs in Qatar. Aentrepreneurship took An informative presentation place as part of Qatar Foundation on QSTP’s popular Accelerator Research and Development’s (QF Programme for aspiring entre- Off icials and dignitaries at the inauguration. The Mannai Quick Service Centre. R&D) Annual Research Confer- preneurs was conducted by Haya ence 2016 (ARC’16). al-Ghanim. Since its inception, Qatar’s primary incubator for the project has served as a bridge technology development, Qa- Hamad al-Kuwari, managing between research and commer- tar Science & Technology Park director, QSTP, speaking at the cialisation, helping aspiring youth Mannai Auto opens new quick service centre (QSTP), part of QF R&D, is fos- event. in Qatar to turn their ideas into tering the environment required feasible prototypes to address to accelerate commercialisation ulated in the Qatar National Re- trending market needs. Combin- annai Auto Group has round and ease of access to Ca- make servicing quick and con- has been launched after run- of research, and supporting in- search Strategy. ing funding and comprehensive inaugurated its latest dillac and GMC owners who venient for owners. ning numerous simulations that novation and entrepreneurship. The session featured a series mentorship, the programme pro- MQuick Service Centre, wish to complete routine vehicle “The Umm Salal branch also enable Mannai Auto to deliver The session, entitled ‘QSTP: of informative presentations vides youth entrepreneurs with for Cadillac and GMC vehicles, diagnostics and servicing”, ac- off ers genuine ACDelco parts the fastest turnaround periods Where Research Goes to Work – from QSTP’s leadership, includ- three month-long training cours- in Umm Salal. cording to a statement. and automotive fl uids, plus a in each service category. Once a How QSTP Addresses the Diff er- ing Hamad al-Kuwari, man- es delivered by seasoned local and The inaugural ceremony was Mohsen Abdul Mohsen, gen- large range of genuine acces- vehicle is logged into the system, ent Needs of the Innovation Com- aging director of QSTP, Haya international experts. attended by senior offi cials from eral manager - aftersales, Man- sories for any Cadillac or GMC customers will have a clear time- munity in Qatar and the Region’, al-Ghanim, QSTP’s innovation During the session, Dr Danny Mannai Corporation, GM Mid- nai Auto Group, said: “We are model.” line for delivery and are closely was held under the overarching director, and Dr Danny Ram- Ramadan also elaborated on dle East and a number of honor- constantly aiming to elevate our The specially equipped Quick supported by the service staff . theme of ‘Investing in Research & adan, acting director for Strate- QSTP’s Incubation programme, ary guests. aftersales off ering and the Umm Service Centres are manned by The centre also features a Innovating for Society’. Delegates gic Research at QSTP. which is off ered to technology- The new Mannai Quick Serv- Salal branch off ers a premium “expert technicians who have modern customer lounge with highlighted innovative technol- The initial segment of the ses- based companies. The presenta- ice Centre is designed with the solution to our customers. We been thoroughly trained to di- various amenities for custom- ogy research, commercialisation sion highlighted QSTP’s stra- tion set out the benefi ts provided “most advanced technology and use the most advanced vehicle agnose and repair a full range of ers who are scheduled to receive and entrepreneurship - main ar- tegic alignment with the main by the park to support start-ups customer service management diagnostics and service tech- vehicles”, the statement adds. their vehicles in a short service eas of focus within the nation’s objectives of QNRS, and its array and create a favourable environ- systems to ensure fast turna- nologies available, allowing us to Abdul Mohsen said the centre period. Research Grand Challenges stip- of initiatives and support pro- ment for businesses to thrive.

Honda CR-V, Civic and Jazz models recalled

he Ministry of Econ- The MEC will co-ordinate omy and Commerce, with the dealer to follow up Tin collaboration with on the maintenance and re- Doha Marketing Services pair works and communicate Company, (Domasco), has with customers to ensure announced the recall of that the necessary repairs are Honda CR-V, Civic and Jazz carried out. models of 2004-2008 as well The MEC has urged all as Honda City and Stream customers to report any models of 2004-2005 due to violations to its Consumer a fl aw in the passenger air- Protection and Anti-Com- bag. mercial Fraud Department The MEC said the recall through the following chan- campaign comes within the nels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: framework of its ongoing ef- [email protected], Twitter: forts to protect consumers @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: and ensure that car dealers MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile follow up on vehicles’ de- app for Android and IOS: fects and repair them. MEC_Qatar Strong winds forecast

trong winds are ex- areas says it will be relatively pected in some parts hot during the day. Slight to Sof the country by this blowing dust in some places afternoon, the Qatar Met de- and scattered clouds are also partment has said. expected. Off shore areas, too, are Off shore areas will see likely to experience windy slightly dusty conditions conditions along with high with some clouds, and the seas. sea level may rise to 9ft at The wind speed may go up times. to 28 knots (at times) and 26 The minimum and max- knots (in some places by the imum temperatures in the afternoon) in off shore and country today are expect- inshore areas, respectively, ed to be 17C and 30C, re- according to the weather re- spectively, with the fore- port. cast for Doha being 20C The forecast for inshore and 30C. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, March 24, 2016 QATAR/REGION US strike kills 40 militants at Qaeda camp

AFP Aden Ceasefi re ‘ to be followed by peace talks on April 18’ A ceasefire will take hold across talks, which will take place on US air strike on an Al Yemen on April 10 followed April 18 in Kuwait,” Ismail Ould Qaeda training camp in a week later by fresh peace Cheikh Ahmed told a press AYemen has killed at least talks, the special UN envoy said conference in New York. 40 fi ghters in a major blow to the yesterday, raising hopes for a Previous UN-sponsored ne- jihadists who have been expand- breakthrough in a war that has gotiations between the rebels ing their territory in the war- brought the impoverished Arab and government officials failed torn country. country to its knees. to reach a breakthrough, while The extremists have exploited Yemen has been gripped by a ceasefire went into force on a security vacuum in the Arabian violence since September 2014, December 15 but it was repeat- Peninsula nation since Iran- when Iran-backed Houthi rebels edly violated and the coalition backed Houthi Shia rebels seized stormed the capital Sanaa and announced an end to the truce the capital in September 2014, forced the internationally recog- on January 2. forcing the internationally rec- nised government to flee south Only last month the UN envoy Omar Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan, president and CEO of the Alfardan Group Holding Co, cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the showroom. ognised government to fl ee. to the second city of Aden. warned that the warring Tuesday’s strike in Hajr in “The parties to the conflict have parties were unable to agree the vast southeastern province agreed to a nationwide cessa- on terms for a new round of of Hadramawt killed at least 40 tion of hostilities beginning April peace talks, but those divisions militants and wounded 25 more, 10 at midnight in advance of the appear to have been over- a provincial offi cial said. upcoming round of the peace come. Alfardan Motorcycles opens A tribal source, who con- fi rmed the toll, said the casual- ties were new Al Qaeda recruits said Mustafa al-Ani, an analyst responsibility for the deadly training at the camp, adding at the Gulf Research Centre. January 7, 2015 attack in Paris on new showroom at Pearl-Qatar that “other fi ghters survived the He said Tuesday’s strike was French satirical magazine Char- strike.” the fi rst by Washington in nearly lie Hebdo, targeted for its car- Dozens of Al Qaeda militants a year against a fi xed Al Qaeda toons of the Prophet Muham- By Joe Koraith were seen rushing to hospital to position in Hadramawt. mad. Staff Reporter donate blood, according to resi- The Pentagon said the camp The group could strike back dents. was used by more than 70 fi ght- “if the human losses were as Yemen-based Al Qaeda in ers. big as the Americans say,” Ani he relatively small but ever-growing motor- the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) The raid “deals a blow to warned. cycle community in Qatar now has a new des- is regarded by Washington as AQAP’s ability to use Yemen as AQAP, which often attacks Ttination to ogle at and lay their hands on that the network’s most danger- a base for attacks” that threaten both Yemeni loyalists and rebels, dream bike of theirs. ous branch, and has carried out US citizens, Pentagon spokes- has expanded its presence in Alfardan Motorcycles has opened a spacious, deadly attacks on the West in the man Peter Cook said in a state- the country’s south in recent snazzy showroom in Medina Centrale, the fashion- past. ment. months while the Saudi-led co- able centre of The Pearl-Qatar. It has taken advantage of the “We continue to assess the alition was focused on fi ghting This new showroom will showcase motorcycles war between the Houthis and results of the operation, but our the Houthis and their allies. from the massive bouquet of manufacturers that Al- pro-government forces backed initial assessment is that dozens In the past few weeks, Al fardan Motorcycles have under their umbrella. From by a Saudi-led Arab coalition of AQAP fi ghters have been re- Qaeda and the rival Islamic the latest BMW R 1200G S to the mouth-watering to expand in the south, seizing moved from the battlefi eld,” he State group have tightened Ducati Panigale 1299, to the beast KTM 1290 Super parts of Hadramawt including added. their grip on parts of the main Duke – all of these prized two-wheelers are available its provincial capital Mukalla in “It demonstrates our commit- southern city of Aden where here. April last year. ment to defeating Al Qaeda and the government has set up its The extensive bouquet consists of premium man- The US has waged a long- denying it safe haven.” temporary base. ufacturers like BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Triumph, standing drone war against Formed in 2009 when Al The Arab coalition, which KTM, Piaggio, Aprillia, Vespa, Gilera, Moto Guzzi, AQAP militants, killing several Qaeda in Yemen merged with its has waged a nearly year-long Sand X and Artic Cat. of its leaders. Saudi counterpart, AQAP was bombing campaign against the Aside from selling bikes, this new showroom also But Tuesday’s raid by Ameri- behind the 2000 bombing of the Houthis, began targeting jihad- aims to be a meeting point for all the motorcycle en- can military planes was unusual USS Cole in Aden harbour that ists for the first time last week Alfardan Motorcycles has opened a state-of-the-art showroom in Medina Centrale, thusiasts in Qatar. The aim is to become the place because US strikes usually target killed 17 American sailors. in Aden. The Pearl-Qatar. where all riders can meet before and/or after a ride. a small number of suspected Al The group also has a record In Abyan, another southern The fi rst fl oor will feature a lifestyle lounge where Qaeda members while they are of abducting foreigners, includ- province, tribesmen captured endless motorcycle conversations can take place. travelling in a vehicle. ing US journalist Luke Somers a suspected local Al Qaeda The showroom inauguration took place in true “The Americans felt that Al and South African teacher Pierre chief identified as Hilmi al- two-wheeler style with 20 or more riders riding in Qaeda has started to expand its Korkie who died during a failed Zinji before handing him over from the Alfardan Motorcycles showroom in West infl uence in an unacceptable rescue bid by US commandos in to authorities in the govern- Bay. Omar Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan, president and manner after it established fi xed 2014. ment-held region, security CEO of the Alfardan Group Holding Co, did the of- camps to train its supporters,” More recently, AQAP claimed officials said. fi cial ribbon cutting. The premium motorcycles segment has been growing at a rapid rate, informs Ayad As-Siaidi, gen- eral manager of Alfardan Motorcycles and he hopes that this showroom will help cater to that demand. “We are very excited to be able to better serve our customers here in Qatar by giving them a new way to pursue their passion for biking, in addition to pro- viding a central meeting point for all bike enthusi- asts to meet and share their experiences. The pre- mium segment of motorcycles has been expanding at a rapid pace over the last ten years in Qatar, and we are proud to have driven this growth by continually delivering an off ering that meets their expectations,” said As-Siaidi. “With the new showroom, we are looking to yet again enhance the premium ownership experience courtesy of our team of highly skilled professionals. With the signifi cant potential for further growth in the market, the new motorcycle showroom is geared up to deliver total satisfaction and off er riders in Qatar the unmatched experience they deserve,” he added. Motorcycle enthusiasts now have a new, jazzy des- The launch of the showroom was a grand aff air with 20-odd motorcycles riding in tination to frequent in Qatar and it’ll defi nitely be- together and a band regaling the invitees. come a hotspot soon. People look at a hole caused by an air strike on a bridge in Yemen’s capital Sanaa yesterday.

Famine threatens half of Yemen’s provinces

Reuters perspective, 10 of Yemen’s Sanaa 22 provinces are classi- fied as emergency, which is one step before famine,” early half of Yemen’s Adham Musallam, deputy 22 provinces on the director of the WFP office Nverge of famine as in the capital Sanaa, said as result of the war there and the agency launched a food more than 13mn people need voucher programme to help food aid, the UN World Food the most needy. Programme (WFP) says. Fighting over the past Aid groups have blamed year has displaced about curbs imposed by the Sau- 2.3mn people and left more di-led coalition on access than half of Yemen’s 26mn to Houthi-controlled ports population in need of food for the crisis and also ac- aid, Musallam said. cuse Houthis of prevent- “This means that we ing supplies from reaching must not wait until the sit- some areas, including the uation reaches famine but city of Taiz in the south- must act now to provide west. humanitarian aid directly,” “From a food security Musallam said. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 13 ARAB WORLD Calm before the storm at Baghdad protest camp

AFP driving their huge armoured til the expiry of a deadline Sadr bread. They still don’t under- “It’s well organised and we are ruling but I want to say we are a political victory he could never Baghdad cars getting salaries of $12,000 gave Abadi to present names for stand that we are ready to die provided with food.” like dead, we are the worst off ,” achieve alone. or whatever it is, you don’t feel a cabinet of technocrats meant here and go into the Green Zone The protesters, all of them said Jabbar, wagging a fi nger “If he implements our de- good. These people are stealing to replace party-affi liated politi- if Sayyed Moqtada asks us to,” men, only stay three days in the while holding his kettle in the mands, he will liberate himself itting in the shade near Iraq’s money,” he said. cians they accuse of perpetuat- said Raad. camp and rotate with other vol- other hand. from his corrupt political bloc, the protest tents, Raad al- A few steps away, behind coils ing a system based on nepotism As the protesters wait for or- unteers from Sadr’s Shia strong- “Only the parties have bene- it will be a big achievement SHaeri watched as convoys of razor wire and rows of anti-ri- and patronage. ders from Moqtada Sadr from holds in Baghdad and beyond. fi ted, those politicians only rep- for him,” said Ali Hashem, a of armoured SUVs ferried politi- ot police, VIP traffi c through one The protest camps were not his base in the Shia shrine city of At the entrance of the camp, resent themselves, not the Sh- 40-year-old Baghdad city coun- cians and diplomats in and out of of the main gates of the Green authorised but no incident has Najaf, clips of his speeches aired on a patch of grass, cooks pre- ias,” he shouted, to cheers from cil employee who took three days Baghdad’s Green Zone. Zone continued as usual. been reported so far and the by his Al-Taif TV channel play pare huge quantities of baked the little crowd that gathered at off to join the protest. The 27-year-old scrapes to- Sadr’s followers set up pro- demonstrators even bonded on a giant screen. beans in massive pots. his stand. “If he doesn’t, he’s either too gether around $400 a month test camps on Friday at several with the security forces. “There’s a good atmosphere Meanwhile Hossam Jabbar Many protesters are prepared weak or one of them.” working odd jobs and has the entrances to the restricted zone, But the mood could change in a here, it’s a big family. We meet “the teaman” lines up dozens of to see Abadi as an exception in Hashem said Abadi already spare time to join the thousands which houses Prime Minister week when the deadline expires as friends we haven’t seen in a long paper cups of heavily sweetened his party and think he is sincere had strong support from top of supporters of cleric Moqtada Haider al-Abadi’s offi ce, parlia- Sadr has threatened that his sup- time,” said Mohamed Mahmud, tea for the constant fl ow of pro- about reform. Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sadr in their protest against cor- ment and foreign embassies, in- porters will storm the Green Zone a 29-year-old from Zafaraniya, a testers. They see no reason for him al-Sistani and many foreign al- ruption. cluding the huge US mission. if their demands are not met. large southern neighbourhood of “Some Sunnis say the Shias to oppose their movement, lies. “When you see those MPs They have vowed to stay un- “I sit here and struggle to buy Baghdad. have it good because they are which they see as handing him “We can give him the street.” UN and NGOs express fear for Egypt’s rights groups

Agencies The US and other Europe- Cairo an countries condemned the move and evacuated several citizens who were threatened he UN and global rights with arrest. groups including Hu- Under Egyptian law, human Tman Rights Watch and rights groups operating with- Amnesty urged Egypt yes- out legal registration or ac- terday to drop a renewed in- cepting foreign funding could vestigation of rights activists be jailed for life. Life impris- that has also strained ties with onment in Egypt amounts to Washington. 25 years. Since the 2013 ouster of Is- “The Egyptian authorities Secretary of State John Kerry meets with members of the young civil society at the US embassy in Moscow yesterday. Kerry is in Russia for talks on Syria. lamist president Mohamed have moved beyond scaremon- Mursi, the authorities have gering and are now rapidly tak- led a crackdown on all forms ing concrete steps to shut down of dissent - not just Mursi’s the last critical voices in the supporters but also liberal and country’s human rights com- rights activists. munity,” said Nadim Houry, Rights groups have regu- deputy Middle East director at larly accused Egypt’s security Human Rights Watch. services of carrying out illegal US Secretary of State John detentions, forced disappear- Kerry said last week that there US to press Russia ances of activists and torture was a “deterioration in the hu- of detainees. man rights situation in Egypt “NGOs who have played a in recent weeks and months”. valuable role in document- His Egyptian counterpart ing violations and supporting Sameh Shoukry brushed off victims will see their activi- the criticism, saying the au- ties completely crippled if this thorities supported civil soci- continues,” UN High Com- ety in the country. on Assad’s future missioner for Human Rights “But there are laws in all Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said in countries to organise and Kerry wants to get down to now really hear where President cused government forces of re- The Syrian government del- to Islamic State fi ghters. Islamic a statement. guarantee that the organisa- “brass tacks” during talks Putin is in his thinking ... on a newing sieges and stepping up egation said the UN envoy had State is not covered by the truce “This will stifl e the voices tions carry out their responsi- with Putin in Moscow today political transition” in Syria, the a campaign of barrel-bombing handed them a document which agreement. of those who advocate for vic- bilities based on the rules they offi cial said as Kerry arrived in across the country. they would study on their return The Syrian army is trying to tims,” he said. were founded on,” he said. Reuters Moscow. In Geneva, where warring to Damascus. No details of either recapture Palmyra, which Islam- Rights group also raised the The Egyptian Institute for Moscow/ Geneva “Obviously what we are look- sides are a week into talks on paper were disclosed. ic State seized in May, to open a alarm. Personal Rights (EIPR), the ing for, and what we have been ending the confl ict, govern- However, the UN said the Syr- road to the mostly IS-held east- “Egypt’s civil society is be- Arab Network for Human looking for, is how we are going ment offi cials have rejected any ian government had given verbal ern province of Deir al-Zor. ing treated like an enemy of Rights Information (ANHRI) S Secretary of State John to transition Syria away from discussion on the fate of Assad, assurances that aid convoys can Clashes raged around Palmyra the state, rather than a partner and other local rights groups Kerry is expected to press Assad’s leadership,” the offi cial who opposition leaders say must go into three or four areas that its after government forces took for reform and progress,” Said say that the “independent UPresident Vladimir Pu- said, speaking on condition of go as part of any transition. forces are besieging. control of most of a nearby hill Boumedouha, deputy direc- human rights community in tin on how Russia sees a future anonymity. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry UN humanitarian adviser Jan with air cover from Syrian and tor of Amnesty International’s Egypt is at unprecedented political transition in Syria and After fi ve years of confl ict that Peskov said the Syria peace talks Egeland said the UN had been Russian warplanes, the British- Middle East and North Af- risk.” the fate of President Bashar al- has killed over 250,000 people were always going to be long and allowed to enter eight or nine of based Syrian Observatory for rica programme, said in a joint The warning comes a day Assad. and caused the world’s worst diffi cult, and it was too early to the 11 areas it had asked to supply Human Rights said. statement issued by 13 global before a court hearing in With a fragile truce in place in refugee crisis, Washington and talk about patience running out with aid, including three or four Russia has withdrawn around rights groups. which EIPR founder and board Syria and warring sides attend- Moscow reached a deal three on any side. besieged areas. half of its air force in Syria, ac- It said that in recent weeks member Hossam Bahgat, and ing peace talks in Geneva, Kerry weeks ago for a cessation of hos- UN Special Envoy for Syria But it had not been allowed to cording to Reuters calculations the Egyptian authorities have ANHRI director Gamal Eid, wants to “get down to brass tilities and delivery of humani- Staff an de Mistura said on Tues- go into the town of Daraya, where based on state TV footage, some questioned several human face having their assets frozen tacks” on the question of Assad’s tarian aid to besieged areas. day he hoped the US-Russia the World Food Programme has of which was not broadcast. rights workers, barred them at the request of the investi- future, a State Department offi - The State Department offi cial meeting would give an impetus said some people have been re- But Moscow has maintained from travel and also attempted gating judges. cial said. said meetings with Putin and to the peace talks where the divi- duced to eating grass. a group of Su-24 bombers at its to freeze their assets. Both men have already While the US want Assad to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sive issue of a political transition On the battlefi eld, Syrian gov- Latakia air base and deployed “The authorities should been banned from leaving the step aside, Russia says only the would evaluate the status of the is stalling progress. ernment forces and their allies a number of advanced attack halt their persecution of these country, prohibitions they Syrian people can decide his fate ceasefi re and try to “get on the But the State Department of- were reported to have pushed for- helicopters, meaning it is able to groups and drop the investiga- say they only found out about at the ballot box and has bristled same page” about ending viola- fi cial played down expectations ward against Islamic State fi ghters continue a reduced number of tion,” the statement said. when stopped at the airport at any talk of regime change. tions and increasing humanitar- that the meeting would have an to reach the outskirts of the his- air strikes in the country. Five months after the fall of on their way for routine trips Kerry is holding talks with ian assistance. immediate impact on the talks, toric city of Palmyra yesterday. Operating from Russia’s longtime leader Hosni Mubar- abroad. Putin at the Kremlin today, in a Russia this week threatened which adjourn today with the State news agency Sana quot- Shayrat air base southeast of ak in 2011, Egyptian authori- Investigating judge Abdel- meeting arranged after the Rus- to act unilaterally against those next round expected in early ed a military source who said the Homs, the helicopter force will ties began an investigation Meguid on Monday banned sian leader’s surprise announce- who violate the ceasefi re unless April. army and allied militia advanced be used to secure territory gains into the funding of local and any reporting on the case ment on March 14 that he was it reached a deal with the US on A Syrian activist at the talks, in the hills outside Palmyra and around Aleppo and support the foreign groups that led to the in Egypt, apart from offi cial partially withdrawing his forces ways to detect and prevent truce Jihad Makdissi, said De Mistura towards a road junction “after Syrian army off ensive against Is- closure of fi ve international statements, according to local from Syria. breaches. was planning to issue a paper on eliminating the last terrorist lamic State in Palmyra, Western groups, the statement said. media. “The Secretary would like to The Syrian opposition has ac- a “potential common vision”. Daesh groups there”, referring offi cials said.

Palestinians ban goods of five Sisi names 10 ministers in cabinet reshuffl e Israeli firms The Palestinian government has announced products from Reuters the daunting task of strength- days since Ahmed al-Zend was five Israeli companies will be Cairo ening an economy battered by sacked after making comments prevented from entering the an acute foreign currency crisis seen as blasphemous to Islam. occupied West Bank, calling it a that has hampered Egypt’s abil- Other appointments were response to a similar decision by resident Abdel Fattah al- ity to import goods and dimmed ministers for antiquities, the the Jewish state. Sisi named 10 new minis- prospects for attracting direct public sector, labour, irrigation, “In response to the Israeli Pters, including the fi nance foreign investment. The central civil aviation, transport, and decision to ban the entry to and investment portfolios, in bank devalued the pound last tourism. Jerusalem of products from a cabinet reshuffl e yesterday week. The tourism industry was hard five Palestinian companies, the meant to help revive an economy Garhy joins the fi nance min- hit after a Russian airliner was government decided to ban the laid low by years of political tur- istry after serving in leadership blown out of the sky over the Si- entry of products from five Israeli moil and militant violence. positions at various fi nance in- nai Peninsula in October, killing companies” to the West Bank, a Banking veteran Amr el- stitutions including Qalaa Hold- all 224 people on board. Islamic statement issued after the weekly Garhy was appointed fi nance ings, El-Ahli Bank of Qatar and A handout picture released by the Egyptian Presidency shows President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (centre) State militants said they planted cabinet meeting on Tuesday said. minister and Dalia Khorshid in- EFG Hermes, one of the Middle during a meeting with members of the newly appointed cabinet, in Cairo yesterday. a bomb on board the aircraft. The decision takes eff ect vestment minister, a presidency East’s largest investment banks. The civil aviation ministry also immediately, it added. statement said. Sisi also named He replaces Hany Dimian, to prolonged political upheaval, current fi scal year. serving as chief executive of came under criticism for airport The five targeted firms are dairy four new deputy ministers - a who oversaw the fi nance min- along with an increase in Islamist Khorshid takes on the post of Orascom Holdings. security lapses. companies Tnuva, Strauss and deputy planning minister and istry during a period of modest militant attacks. investment minister after serv- Mohamed Hossam Abdelre- The key defence, interior, and Tara, meat firm Zoglobeck and three deputy fi nance ministers economic recovery after years of Egypt’s economy grew around ing as vice president of Citibank him, who served as Egypt’s top foreign ministers all kept their drinks company Tapuzina. for treasury aff airs, tax policy and anaemic growth following the 4.2% in 2014-15 and the govern- for eight years, holding several judge in 2014-15, was appointed jobs as did holders of economic Palestinians have often fi scal policy. 2011 uprising that toppled au- ment has said it expects growth posts at Orascom Construction justice minister, fi lling a role portfolios such as the planning threatened to stop buying Israeli Garhy and Khorshid will face tocrat Hosni Mubarak and led to remain at a similar level in the Industries, and most recently which had been vacant for 10 and supplies ministers. products. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, March 24, 2016 AFRICA Foreign fi rms get one week to comply with Zimbabwe law

AFP prompting the government’s latest cratic Change (MDC) spokesman, Harare decision to order the closure of non- Obert Gutu, also criticised the govern- Kenya Wildlife Services Director General Kitili Mbathi poses in a secure ivory stock room in Nairobi. compliant companies. ment’s decision, saying it would not “The failure to adhere with the help the country attract investment. imbabwe yesterday gave for- laws to the laws of our land must at- “What we want is to resuscitate eign businesses until April 1 tract immediate consequences that the economy, which is virtually dead. Zto comply with controversial must be severe and dire enough to We all know the formal sector has equity laws that compel them to cede ensure that the law is respected and been decimated, capacity utilisation New boss seeks to clean majority stakes to locals or risk clo- adhered to,” he said. is very low,” Gutu said. sure. Compliance with the regulation “The country is already facing a “The law is the law. The law must had been slow, despite the January drought and there is a minister threat- be adhered to,” Indigenisation Min- 2014 deadline. ening the few operating businesses ister Patrick Zhuwao said at a news Critics say the law scares away with closure...Zhuwao must stop up Kenya wildlife service conference. desperately needed foreign invest- whatever he is smoking that is toxic.” The minister said the cabinet had ment. The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday “unanimously passed But Zhuwao dismissed those fears. has urged Zimbabwe to review the By Tristan McConnell, AFP vate sector to revive Kenya’s moribund streamline the convoluted organisation a resolution directing from April 1, “We are a market driven economy indigenisation policy to give poten- Nairobi economy. and said “ranger welfare” is a priority. So 2016, all line ministries proceed to and when there is a vacuum others tial investors confi dence. But they were stymied and after just is choking off corruption. issue orders to licencing authorities will come in,” he said. Major multinational fi rm oper- 20-months Leakey quit his job as head “I come from a background in the to cancel licences of non-compliant “From April 1, 2016, indigenous ating in Zimbabwe include mining enya’s new wildlife chief must of the civil service and Mbathi and his banking sector where there’s zero toler- business.” Zimbabweans will be looking with fi rms, banks and retailers. overhaul a national agency de- colleagues were dismissed. ance for corruption so you can be sure Zimbabwe’s controversial indi- expectation to see the law that ena- This the second deadline gov- Kscribed in a recent government Mbathi returned to banking but now that any incidents of corruption that we genisation scheme, which came into bles them to own their economy be- ernment has issued in two years. A investigation as having “lost its way”. Leakey has persuaded Mbathi to join come across we will tackle with a very eff ect in 2008, forces foreign compa- gin to be eff ectively enforced.” January 2014 deadline attracted little Conservationists welcomed the Feb- him again. heavy hand,” he said. nies to transfer 51% of their shares to According to independent po- compliance. ruary appointment of Kitili Mbathi as “This certainly wasn’t on my career Mbathi pointed to an ex-KWS employ- local entities or individuals. litical analyst Earnest Mudzengi the Mugabe has in the past threatened director general of the Kenya Wildlife plan, but working with Richard (Leakey) ee recently arrested in the Kenyan port of Government says the move is latest announcement will worsen the to nationalise foreign companies Service (KWS) hoping the 57-year old presented a great opportunity,” he said. Mombasa for selling ivory and four police aimed at empowering the majority struggling economy. that refuse to comply. former banker will revive the organi- “I did enjoy working in the public serv- offi cers arrested with ivory in Nairobi. black population who were disad- “That is unnecessary especially Zimbabwe’s economy has been on sation responsible for protecting the ice before, it did end horribly, but that One area where Kenya is already see- vantaged by colonial rule, but critics when our economy is on its knees,” a downturn for more than a decade- country’s world famous parks and re- just reinforced in my mind the need to ing improvements is wildlife protection. say the law has benefi tted President Mudzengi told AFP. “It (the decision) and-a-half since veteran Mugabe’s serves as well as its threatened popula- try to bring private sector expertise into In 2015, 93 elephants were killed, down Robert Mugabe’s allies. will worsen the economy, worsening government oversaw the often vio- tions of elephant, rhino and lion. the public sector to have an impact.” from 164 the year before. Zhuwao said some companies had the situation.” lent eviction of white farmers under “KWS has been going through some Nor was it a fi nancial decision. “The “It is a constant battle,” Mbathi said. “continued to disregard” the law, Opposition Movement for Demo- controversial land reforms. challenges, mainly of a fi nancial nature,” pay cut was huge,” said the formerly “Our challenge is to increase our pre- Mbathi told AFP during an interview in well-paid executive. paredness to deal with poachers, which his breezy corner offi ce at KWS head- The challenges ahead are great too. A means better equipment and better in- quarters, squeezed between a new dual- 2014 Task Force on Wildlife Security re- telligence capabilities.” lane highway and the 117sq km Nairobi port painted a damning picture of KWS It also means tackling demand in the National Park. as an incompetent and bloated bureauc- Far East, where raw ivory fetches $1,100 21 held after Mali EU mission attacked “The challenges are ones that any racy, a “top-heavy organisation” whose a kilo. Next month, Kenya is set to burn chief executive faces: declining rev- “core business... has become shrouded the vast majority of its ivory stockpile - enues, increasing expenditure, a defi cit with confusion”. as much as 120 tonnes - in a highly pub- Reuters The EU mission is comprised of lice, told state radio. Police at the situation. It’s how to balance the books.” It said 57 directors and assistant di- licised display led by President Uhuru Bamako nearly 600 personnel deployed to scene recovered “a sack of grenades”, Mbathi has spent almost his entire rectors drew good salaries for fi lling of- Kenyatta and attended by a gaggle of train security forces as part of eff orts ammunition, a sub-machine gun and professional career in fi nancial services fi ce space at the Nairobi headquarters, celebrities, conservationists and heads to stabilise Mali after the defeat of a Kalashnikov assault rifl e, he added. and banking - most recently as chief ex- while thousands of rangers in the fi eld of state. uthorities in Mali have ar- Islamist militants who had seized the France led the military intervention ecutive of Kenya’s CFC Stanbic Bank. lived in appalling conditions, poorly An audit last year showed Kenya holds rested 21 people in connection country’s desert north in 2012. that drove the Islamists from their But he was persuaded to apply for equipped and earning as little as $123 a a total of 138 tonnes of ivory - mostly Awith an attack on the head- There was no immediate claim control of northern Mail in 2013, fear- the KWS job by his old friend Richard month. The report also cited examples stored in a padlocked low-ceilinged, quarters of an EU military training of responsibility for the attack, but ing that the region could be used as a Leakey, a renowned Kenyan palaeo-an- of corruption with KWS offi cials em- musty cellar at KWS headquarters. But operation there, a senior police offi - Mali and neighbouring West African base for attacks against Europe. thropologist and conservationist, who broiled in poaching and the illegal wild- some of the tusks that are evidence in cial said yesterday. countries have increasingly been the However, violence is again on the was last year appointed chairman of the life trade. ongoing criminal investigations will not In the foiled gun attack on Bama- target of Islamists, some affi liated rise. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Magh- board. KWS, it concluded, required “a major be destroyed. ko’s Nord-Sud Hotel on Monday, one with Al Qaeda. reb, the group’s North African af- The two men have worked together overhaul... to deal with the enormous “We don’t believe there is any intrin- assailant was killed and two others “Two individuals were arrested, fi liate, has claimed responsibility for before. In 1999, during the waning years security threats and the wildlife decline sic value in ivory, and therefore we’re arrested. There were no reports of and later we continued and arrested three attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso of President Daniel Arap Moi’s rule, Kenya is facing.” going to burn all our stockpiles and dem- casualties at the hotel, where the EU 19 other people,” Moussa Ag Infahi, and Ivory Coast that have killed doz- Mbathi was part of Leakey’s “dream Mbathi said that overhaul is under- onstrate to the world that ivory is only Training Mission-Mali is based. director general of the National Po- ens in the past fi ve months. team” of experts drafted in from the pri- way. He is working to restructure and valuable on elephants,” said Mbathi. Searching for the last lions in Nigeria Sassou Nguesso lost presidential By Stephanie Findlay, AFP “Yankari is one of the few areas Yankari Game Reserve, Nigeria where fencing makes sense because the situation is so urgent,” said vote: opposition Henschel, speaking from Libreville. nder a starless night sky in To protect the animals and allow Yankari Game Reserve, Mar- rangers to patrol more effi ciently, Reuters Utial Kiki stands on the back fences need to be built around the Brazzaville of a battered pick-up truck search- perimeter of the park, he added. ing for the last lions in Nigeria. “We know how to conserve cats,” From the white Toyota Hilux, its he said. “We just need money to do pposition candidates in elections in Con- sides lacerated by branches, the it.” go Republic said yesterday that President 31-year-old researcher from the re- Kiki has to go through the whole ODenis Sassou Nguesso placed no better than public of Benin plays the tormented park for his surveys, even though fourth in any major district, rejecting offi cial partial sound of a distressed buff alo calf he knows that in the searing heat results that gave him a commanding lead. over a megaphone. of March, when there is no rain, the Results of Sunday’s ballot announced by the In theory, the lions are supposed lions are probably closer to the river country’s electoral commission on Tuesday, and to hear the buff alo and come for an to hunt thirsty prey. based on returns from 72 of 111 voting districts, easy meal. Then Kiki would shine a Field work is diffi cult. showed Sassou Nguesso with 67% of the vote. fl oodlight on the hungry, nocturnal Unmaintained roads render Charles Zacharie Bowao, the head of a coalition cats and count them for a popula- swathes of the reserve inacces- of fi ve opposition candidates, posted its summary tion estimate. sible to rangers’ patrol vehicles, of preliminary results - showing Sassou Nguesso But despite broadcasting 29 hours which gun-toting, machete- trailing others - on his Twitter account. of calls and trekking 150km through wielding poachers who hunt on It said this was based on results collected from Yankari looking for tracks, Kiki foot exploit. regions representing more than 75% of the elector- hasn’t seen one lion yet. Bloody skirmishes are common, ate, though no exact vote totals were provided. Not even a paw print. so Kiki is escorted at all times by six “It is impossible that the candidate-president “I expected to see more than this,” armed rangers, who have had to de- could claim a victory, even taking into account only Kiki told AFP in the heart of the re- fend him more than once during his the partial results,” the coalition said in a statement. serve, an expanse of savannah the buff alo calls. Bowao did not say which of the opposition candi- size of Luxembourg in Nigeria’s “We shot to scare them but in- dates the summary placed in the lead, or how it was northeast, dubbed the country’s stead of them trying to run away, compiled. The opposition previously said it had de- “richest wildlife oasis”. they shot us,” he laughed before ployed observers to all polling stations to tally votes. “The situation has become worse. adding more seriously: “I used to Sassou Nguesso, who has ruled the oil-produc- There has been no response, no A map indicates checked paths during a lion population count at Yankari Nature Reserve in Nigeria. like camping in the bush but now I ing country for 32 of the last 37 years, must win an tracks,” he said, inadvertently liken- think it’s too dangerous.” outright majority against eight opponents in all to ing the situation to one of the dark- geria home to lions: Kainji Lake Na- prehensive West Africa lion sur- With chronic mismanagement in By the end of his trip, it’s clear avoid a run-off . est scenes from Disney’s The Lion tional Park, in the northwest, where vey in 2009, lions had already lost the past and underfunding, Yankari Kiki’s survey will only serve to doc- The government says the opposition’s publica- King, when the protagonist’s pride some 30 cats are living, and Yankari, 99% of their West African range,” today is struggling to attract the ument the last lions living in Nigeria tion of its own results is illegal and has imposed a is overrun by a pack of mangy scav- where researchers believe there are said Philipp Henschel, a survey co- funds it needs to preserve its last unless a dramatic conservation ef- blackout on internet and mobile phone communi- engers. just under fi ve. ordinator at the lion conservation lions. fort is put in place - and fast. cations since Sunday that it says will help prevent “In fi ve, 10 years, lions can disap- The numbers for West Africa are organisation Panthera. Parks famous for their lions, in- “You know when you are standing unoffi cial results circulating and creating unrest. pear completely from Nigeria,” said equally dire, with just 400 lions re- There is no simple solution to cluding Tanzania’s Serengeti Park on the same ground as the lion, you Police yesterday fi red tear gas to disperse op- Kiki, a languid, boyish man with maining in the region, according to saving the West African lions, and South Africa’s Kruger National feel how strong they are, you can position supporters who had gathered outside one broad shoulders wearing a worn the International Union for Conser- whose males have shorter manes Park, run on a budget of approxi- feel your heart beating. You really candidate’s campaign headquarters to await the re- beige baseball cap. vation of Nature (IUCN), out of a to- than their southern counterparts, mately $500 per square kilometre. feel that this is the king of the jun- sults, witnesses said. “Now everywhere we’re going tal population of 20,000 lions living and in December were listed as en- In contrast, most West African gle,” he said. There was a also a heavy police and military pres- there are hyena prints.” in the wild around the world. dangered by the US Fish and Wild- parks with lions operate on a budget “But not in Yankari. Here you can ence in the economic hub Pointe Noire, where the op- There are only two areas in Ni- “When we started our fi rst com- life Service. of just $36 per square kilometre. only see lions in pictures.” position is well-supported, a resident told Reuters. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 15 AMERICA

World Trade Center defends Belgian tribute New York’s World Trade Center was lit black, yellow and red in solidar- ity with Belgium over the Brussels attacks, a spokesman said yesterday Cruz gets Bush despite confusion that the lights looked wrong. Governor Andrew Cuomo an- nounced on Tuesday that the 124m spire on the tallest building in the US would be lit in the colours of the Belgian flag after dark. backing after It was to be an especially poignant tribute given the World Trade Center is built on the site of the 9/11 attacks on New York. But a series of photographs published by AFP and other media showed the colours to be blue, white key Trump, and red - those of the French flag that lit up the Trade Center after the November attacks in Paris. It sparked remarks on social media from observers, and media speculation that the Trade Center had made a mistake. “Making lights Clinton wins appear black is always tricky,” Steve Coleman, spokesman for the Port AFP another opportunity to pile up del- But Trump and Cruz seized the Authority, which owns and runs the Washington egates on the way to the party nomi- moment to bash President Barack World Trade Center site, told AFP in nating conventions, but it did not Obama’s foreign policy - and tout their an email yesterday. dramatically alter the basic outlines own tough stances on immigration. “The World Trade Center was hite House contender Ted of the race. Anyone who tries to attack the initially lit at 10% white, which was Cruz yesterday scored the “Much bigger win than anticipat- US will “suff er greatly,” Trump said, intended to appear dark grey/black, Wcritical endorsement of ed in Arizona. Thank you, I will never in typically blunt tones that have but was then darkened even more af- ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush, af- forget!” Trump posted on Twitter. shaped his populist run for the White ter dusk to make it look more black,” ter the Republican and Democratic Trump corralled all 58 delegates House, propelling him from outsider he added. frontrunners scored key victories in at stake in winner-take-all Arizona, to fi rm favourite for the Republican Cuomo on Tuesday posted a the western state of Arizona. where he left Cruz and Ohio Gov- ticket. picture on twitter of the spire in the After dropping out of the presi- ernor John Kasich in his wake, and “Belgium is a horror show right correct colours. dential race last month following a amid controversy over very long now. Terrible things are happening,” An AFP photographer also said disappointing campaign, Jeb Bush, lines at polling stations. he said. He also told CNN that Bel- the colours appeared correct to the whose father and brother are both But Cruz bounced back in neigh- gian authorities could have thwarted naked eye, but did not translate so former presidents, said the Republi- bouring Utah, as he appeared on the attacks if they had used torture accurately to film, saying cameras can Party has to unite or face certain track to win the state by more than against a terror suspect captured are sensitive to diff erent colour tem- defeat in the election, probably to 50%, which means he secures all of days earlier. peratures. Hillary Clinton. its 40 delegates. Cruz used similarly strong lan- Uptown, New York’s iconic Empire In doing so, he took a pot shot at At this point in the Republican guage, calling for US law enforce- State Building remained dark, forego- frontrunner Donald Trump, who race, Trump’s main objective is to ment to be empowered to “patrol ing its traditional white, in sympathy leads Cruz comfortably in the polls. amass the 1,237 delegates needed to and secure Muslim neighbourhoods The lighted spire of One World Trade Center photographed yesterday in New York City. for the lives lost. “For the sake of our party and win his party’s nomination outright, before they become radicalized.” country, we must overcome the divi- and thwart a bid by the party estab- Clinton thanked Arizona for her siveness and vulgarity Donald Trump lishment to stop him. victory, but she also forcefully de- has brought into the political arena Following Tuesday’s votes, Trump nounced her Republican rivals for or we will certainly lose our chance stood at 741 delegates, compared to their strident talk about how they to defeat the Democratic nominee, 461 for Cruz and 145 for Kasich, ac- would respond to the Brussels at- most likely Hillary Clinton, this fall,” cording to a CNN tally. tacks. Atlanta airport evacuated the statement said. On the Democratic side, Clinton’s “What Donald Trump, Ted Cruz “That is the only way we can re- Arizona victory was tempered by and others are suggesting is not verse President Obama’s failed do- Sanders’ impressive performance in only wrong, it’s dangerous. It will Reuters US offi cials said on Tuesday that eight living in Belgium, also were missing af- mestic and foreign policy agenda and Idaho, where he won the caucuses not keep us safe,” she said. “The last Washington Americans, including three Mormon ter having dropped off a relative at the turn our country around.” by a staggering 78% to 21%, and in thing we need are leaders who incite missionaries and a US Air Force airman airport shortly before the blasts, Justin Trump and Clinton won their re- Utah, results which allowed him to more fear.” and four members of his family, were in- Shults’ brother, Levi Sutton, said in an spective parties’ primaries in Ari- cut into Clinton’s delegate lead, if Arizona has long been roiled by S offi cials yesterday sought to jured in the bombings. electronic message. zona on Tuesday and maintained only slightly. passions over immigration, an issue confi rm the whereabouts of State Department spokesman Mark “We haven’t been able to contact steep advantages in the presidential They were Sanders’s fi rst state Trump has seized on since launch- UAmericans missing in Brussels Toner told CNN yesterday that it now them going on 30 hours,” Sutton said. nominations race, despite victories victories since March 8 in Michigan. ing his campaign with infl ammatory following Tuesday’s suicide bombings appeared that about a dozen Ameri- “Stephanie’s mom is fi ne but she was by rivals in other states. Sanders praised the “tremendous” accusations that Mexico was sending and Atlanta’s airport was briefl y evacu- cans were injured. He could not confi rm separated from Justin and Stephanie.” Trump extended his lead over voter turnout, saying that “these rapists and other criminals across ated because of a suspicious package as whether any US citizens had been killed. Sister and brother Sascha and Alex- nearest competitor Cruz in the all- decisive victories in Idaho and Utah the border and his promise to build a travellers remained on edge. “We’re still getting information. ander Pinczowski, who had been living important delegate race, although give me confi dence that we will con- border wall. Public areas of the domestic terminal We’re still trying to seek out the wherea- in New York, remain unaccounted for, the arch-conservative senator from tinue to win major victories in the The dynamics are diff erent in at Atlanta’s Hartsfi eld-Jackson Inter- bouts of American citizens,” Toner said. the New York Daily News reported. The Texas made a night of it by resound- coming contests.” Utah, a predominantly Mormon national Airport, the nation’s busiest by “Obviously, Brussels on any given day is Pinczowskis’ citizenship was unclear. ingly winning the Utah caucuses. But the delegate math looked bleak state where polling showed strong passenger volume, were briefl y evacu- chock full of American citizens.” A woman who identifi ed herself on Clinton’s challenger Bernie Sand- for the self-described democratic opposition to Trump. ated yesterday morning while police in- Apart from the eight Americans con- social media as Alexander Pinczowski’s ers, whose grassroots campaign has socialist from Vermont. Clinton was Republicans also held caucuses in vestigated a suspicious package, airport fi rmed as wounded on Tuesday, US me- girlfriend said she had been unable to refused to yield to the former secre- fi nished the night with 1,711 del- the Pacifi c territory of American Sa- offi cials said on Twitter. The site was dia reported yesterday that relatives of contact him since Tuesday morning. tary of state, snatched much-needed egates, compared with 939 for Sand- moa. quickly cleared and airport operations at least four other Americans who had Major transportation hubs were on victories in Utah and Idaho, blunting ers. To win the Democratic nomina- The next contests are the Demo- resumed. been traveling in Belgium are still trying high alert following the attacks, al- Clinton’s momentum just as she be- tion, 2,383 delegates are needed. cratic votes Saturday in Alaska, Ha- The evacuation came a day after to track them down. though Homeland Security Secretary gan to project an image as the inevi- The US political mood was damp- waii and Washington state, and pri- at least 31 people were killed and 260 Husband and wife Justin and Steph- Jeh Johnson said there were no known table Democratic nominee. ened by Tuesday’s deadly bombings maries for both parties in Wisconsin wounded in the attacks on Brussels’ air- anie Shults, originally from Tennessee specifi c and credible threats to the US as The voting gave the candidates in Brussels. on April 5. port and subway. and Kentucky, respectively, but now of Tuesday. Wreck washed ashore in Oregon Garland goes ahead with Senate meetings may be from 2011 Japan tsunami Reuters Garland will hold private ses- Washington sions with the relatively small number of the Senate’s 54 Repub- By Shelby Sebens, Reuters licans who have agreed to meet Portland, Oregon resident Barack Obama’s him. Supreme Court selection McConnell has pledged to pre- PMerrick Garland on Tues- vent any Senate fl oor vote on lgae and an oyster are among the day resumed meetings with US confi rming Garland and opposes clues Oregon biologists believe senators in a push to convince Judiciary Committee hearings. Amay link the vestiges of a sea- Republicans who have vowed to Garland, while considered a ravaged boat that washed up on a state block the nomination to reverse centrist, could tilt the Supreme beach on Tuesday to the devastating 2011 course and hold confi rmation Court to the left for the fi rst time tsunami in Japan. hearings this year. in decades. Five years after Japan’s magnitude 9.0 “It’s crystal clear after talk- Following Tuesday’s bombings earthquake set off a series of massive tsu- ing to him that Judge Garland has in Brussels that killed at least 30 nami waves that demolished a swath of both a brilliant legal mind and a people, Schumer noted Garland Japan’s Pacifi c coastline and killed nearly heart of gold,” New York Sena- led the US government’s prosecu- 20,000 people, debris - and sea crea- tor Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s tion of the two men convicted in tures - from the disaster are still fi nding second-ranking Democrat, told the 1995 Oklahoma City federal their way to the Oregon shore, said Chris reporters after huddling with the building bombing that killed 168 Havel, a spokesman for the Oregon Parks nominee. people. and Recreation Department. Those qualities, Schumer pre- “That kind of habitat attracts living dicted, will convince Republicans “It’s crystal clear aft er animals even if it’s fl oating out in the to launch the confi rmation proc- talking to him that ocean,” Havel said. “We should not be ess required to elevate Garland, an Judge Garland has both surprised to continue to see debris from appellate judge and former pros- a brilliant legal mind Japan wash up on the shores.” ecutor, to the Supreme Court. and a heart of gold” The state has provided US and Japa- Senate Majority Leader Mitch nese offi cials with the boat’s ID number McConnell, backed by most of his “As someone who lives in New and could hear back within a couple of fellow Republicans, has insisted York who has experienced the days. the Supreme Court vacancy re- horrors of terrorism close up Barring a clear offi cial identifi cation, sulting from conservative Jus- and personal, the idea of having research on the animals tucked inside tice Antonin Scalia’s February 13 someone on the Supreme Court could help confi rm whether the fl otsam death be fi lled by whomever suc- who understands those issues, as originated some 8,000km away - more ceeds Obama next January after well as their horrible human ef- than double the distance from Canada the November 8 presidential elec- fect, is very comforting,” Schum- to Mexico, said John Chapman, a biolo- tion. er said. gist from Oregon State University who is Garland on Tuesday also met If the Senate does not act on testing the samples. with Senator Robert Casey in Garland, the court vacancy could In addition to the oyster and algae, bi- the Pennsylvania Democrat’s of- remain unfi lled at least until the ologists took a barnacle shell and a planes fi ce, and will continue a string of early months of next year, leav- crab for testing. An Oregon Parks and Recreation Department photo released yesterday of the bow of a derelict boat, possibly from the March “courtesy calls” with Democrats. ing it divided between four liberal The biology of the mollusks shows 2011 tsunami in Japan, that washed ashore near Portland on Tuesday. “I hope that if we can stay at it, justices and four conservatives. Asian origin, and the wreckage “does maybe we will get a breakthrough That creates the possibility of look like something that would have north of Newport, Oregon, southwest of Tuesday morning near Coos Bay, about Parks and Recreation Department. where folks (Republicans) will 4-4 split decisions, the fi rst of come from the tsunami,” Chapman said. Portland. A year ago, remains of a boat 320km south of Portland, and was ex- A US Coast Guard helicopter crew be willing not just to meet but to which came on Tuesday and left In 2012, a massive, 20m long dock fi lled with live fi sh native to Japanese wa- pected to be disposed of in a landfi ll by spotted the boat fragment in the Pacifi c actually cast a vote” on Garland, in place a lower court ruling that ripped from its moorings in Japan and ters washed ashore. the end of the day, said Calum Stevenson, Ocean earlier this month and attached a Casey told reporters after the two women could not sue a bank fl oated up 15 months later on a beach The 5m long chunk of boat landed on ocean shore specialist for the Oregon tracking buoy to it. meeting. for loan discrimination. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, March 24, 2016 ASEAN

Couple convicted of Mahathir sues Najib starving their maid AFP holiday, Chong made sure to Singapore pack white bread and instant noodles for her maid. Gawidan had no access to Singaporean couple her mobile phone and was not were convicted yester- allowed to go out on her own to Aday of violating em- buy food, court papers showed. over 1MDB scandal ployment laws for starving About a year into her em- their Philippine maid until her ployment, she was made to DPA/AFP/Reuters Malays National Organisation totalling 2.6bn ringgit ($660mn) weight dropped to 29kg (64 use a bathroom next to the Kuala Lumpur (UMNO) who say they were to be paid to the Malaysian gov- pounds). condominium’s swimming kicked out of the party for ques- ernment. Trader Lim Choon Hong and pool whenever she had to re- tioning Najib over the 1MDB is- It remains to be seen wheth- his wife, Chong Sui Foon, both lieve herself or take a shower, ormer Malaysian prime sue. er the case will have any eff ect 47, admitted failing to provide and had to be accompanied minister Mahathir Mo- Najib’s offi ce did not imme- against Najib, who has taken enough food for a foreign do- by a family member. She was Fhamad has fi led a lawsuit diately reply to requests seeking a number of heavily criticised mestic worker over a 15-month only allowed to shower twice a against current leader Najib Ab- comment. steps to tamp down the aff air. period. week. dul Razak for breach of public But the minister of commu- These included sacking Cabi- They will be sentenced at Gawidan ran away in April duties linked to a scandal over a nications in Najib’s government net members, including his a later date. The off ence is 2014 and called a compatriot state investment fund. said Mahathir’s accusations were deputy prime minister, who punishable by up to a year in for help. Mahathir, 90 years old and still false. had called for transparency and jail plus a maximum fi ne of She was taken to a migrant infl uential in Malaysia, has been “He is clutching at straws ... replacing Malaysia’s attorney S$10,000 ($7,300). worker shelter which helped one of Najib’s most vocal critics Mahathir has run out of options,” general with the appointee who A district court heard that her fi le a complaint with the regarding the hundreds of mil- the minister said. abruptly halted his predecessor’s Thelma Oyasan Gawidan, 40, manpower ministry. lions of dollars found in the pre- Mahathir, who was the pre- investigations. lost nearly 20kg, shed hair and Many Singapore households mier’s personal bank account, mier for 22 years before he retired Whistle-blowers have been stopped menstruating while depend on foreign domestic and has repeatedly demanded his Mahathir: has called on Najib to in 2003, quit the party in protest Najib: has taken steps to stifle arrested or faced other threats, working for the couple at their help. resignation. resign. last month. dissent. while media outlets reporting on condominium in the posh Or- In 2015 there were 231,500 The money had come from He joined an anti-government the allegations also have come chard Road area. foreign maids working in the companies linked to beleaguered The Saudis are yet to confi rm protest last year, where he called hands, (we) have material, wit- under pressure, raising grow- Gawidan was only allowed affl uent city-state, mostly state fund, 1Malaysia Develop- that alibi, which is widely reject- for a “people’s power” move- nesses and we are confi dent of ing concerns over rights and free two meals a day, usually a few from Indonesia and the Philip- ment Berhad (1MDB), according ed in Malaysia as implausible. ment to topple Najib. the outcome,” he said. speech. slices of white bread and small pines. to US newspaper the Wall Street Mahathir’s lawyer Haniff On March 4, he joined hands But political analysts weren’t Swiss authorities said recently portions of instant noodles Lim and Chong will appear Journal. Khatri said that Najib had “ac- with long-standing foes, includ- optimistic. that up to $4bn may have been prepared by Chong. before the court again on April Najib has confi rmed that he tively and deliberately” taken ing the party of the jailed Anwar “The real impact is very lim- stolen from Malaysian state fi rms Even when Gawidan went 22 after a psychiatric assess- received the money but denied it steps to “obstruct, interfere, im- Ibrahim, to crank up pressure on ited in the sense of legal terms,” including 1MDB and that they with the family on a Hong Kong ment of them is completed. was from 1MDB, and the Malay- pede and derail” investigations Najib to stand down. said Ibrahim Suffi an, director of were investigating possible fraud sian attorney general exonerated into 1MDB and the money in his Mahathir’s lawyer, Khatri, told independent opinion polling fi rm and money-laundering. him of any criminal wrongdoing. bank account. Reuters that it would take three Merdeka Centre. “This is going US, British, Singaporean and The money was a political do- Two other plaintiff s are join- months for the court to decide if to be battle that is drawn out for Hong Kong authorities also are nation from the Saudi royal fam- ing Mahathir in the lawsuit, both the case would be heard. a longer period.” looking into 1MDB-related fund ily, he said. members of the ruling United “We don’t go with empty The three are seeking damages fl ows. Nations take new steps against people-smuggling

AFP “We believe that this will give Nusa Dua, Indonesia us that opportunity to do so,” she said of the new arrangement. The UN refugee agency said forum of mainly Asian arrangements that shared re- countries agreed yester- sponsibility were “the only way” Aday on new contingency forward, adding no country was measures to better respond to immune from such crises at a refugee crises, and vowed to re- time when tens of millions have view the region’s much-criti- been displaced around the world. cised handling of a major migrant Indonesia, which hosts more infl ux last year. than 13,000 refugees, had been The announcement at a con- stressing the need for all coun- ference on Indonesia’s Bali island tries in the region to share the on people smuggling and illegal burden in the lead up to this migration was welcomed by the year’s conference. UN refugee agency, which de- The issue of asylum-seekers clared it the fi rst agreement of its has long been a fl ashpoint be- kind in the 14-year history of the tween the co-hosts of the peo- regional forum. ple-smuggling forum, which is Australian Foreign Minister known as the Bali Process and Julie Bishop – who co-chaired began in 2002 to address the fl ow the meeting of the forum, which of illegal migrants around the re- has 45 member states – said that gion. regional offi cials could now con- A large number of asylum- vene emergency meetings and Delegates including Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (sixth from right), Australian Foreign seekers trying to reach Australia fast-track an “agile and timely” Minister Julie Bishop, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton (fourth from right), Fiji’s Foreign have ended up stranded in Indo- response in the event of an un- Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola (fifth from left), Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi nesia. Flowers are seen below a tribute board for Singapore’s founding folding migrant crisis. (fifth from right), Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders (third right) pose during a photo session for the This was exacerbated after father Lee Kuan Yew to mark his first death anniversary. Offi cials also agreed to review Bali Process conference in Nusa Dua, Bali. Canberra introduced in 2013 Singapore observed yesterday his first death anniversary. the response to the Southeast a tough policy of turning back Asian refugee emergency in May crative smuggling industry Malaysia and Indonesia. Bishop, who chaired the min- boats when it is safe to do so, an last year, when thousands of prompted traffi ckers to abandon Malaysia and Indonesia trig- isterial-level meeting alongside approach opposed by Indonesia. asylum-seekers in rickety boats their human cargo at sea, spark- gered international outrage by her Indonesian counterpart Ret- The Bali Process mainly con- were stranded at sea in the big- ing a crisis that saw more than initially turning away boatloads no Marsudi, said there were con- sists of Asian nations, including Lee Kuan Yew’s death gest regional migrant crisis since 3,500 Bangladeshi economic of the desperate migrants, but cerns that during the crisis, no China and India, but also in- the end of the Vietnam War. migrants and stateless Rohingya eventually relented under heavy mechanism existed to galvanise cludes Middle Eastern countries, A Thai crackdown on the lu- Muslims from Myanmar land in international pressure. the region “in a timely fashion”. such as Iran and Syria. anniversary marked

Vietnam political bloggers jailed for ‘abusing freedom’, says lawyer DPA of no use if it is not followed. Singapore Might as well not make one’,” Vietnam jailed a well-known political blogger and his and that the pair would likely appeal. former speaker of parliament Analysis on MH370 assistant yesterday for “abusing democratic freedom”, “The evidence used during the trial and evidence cited Abdullah Tarmugi said. their lawyer said, in a verdict that stirred public interest in the verdict were diff erent,” Son told Reuters. “The ingaporeans gathered Other commemoration and a mix of concern and criticism from rights groups evidence referred to in the verdict had not been veri- at remembrance events events open to the public in- debris has started and the United States. fied ... there was no time to respond.” Syesterday as the nation cluded walks past Lee’s home Blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh and assistant Nguyen Thi Vinh was once a police off icer and private investiga- marked the fi rst anniversary in Oxley Road, and visits to one Minh Thuy were imprisoned for five and three years tor. He is the son of a late cabinet minister and former of the death of its fi rst prime of three appointed remem- AFP rican offi cials to arrange for the respectively for posts that a Hanoi court said were ambassador to the Soviet Union. minister Lee Kuan Yew. brance sites across the island. Sydney examination of another piece abuses of their freedom and infringements upon state The one-day trial was held under tight security and In a gathering at Singapore’s All secondary school stu- of debris “suspected to be the interests. some protesters were seen gathering at the court. fi rst Parliament venue, past dents were to receive a book cowling from an engine”. Both had denied any connection with the blogs. The verdict is likely to frustrate Western governments and present parliamentarians containing excerpts of quotes nvestigators probing the South African authorities Vietnam has been widely rebuked for its tough moves that have stepped up diplomatic support and engage- recalled their memories of the and interviews from Lee. fate of missing Malaysia said on Tuesday that the frag- to curb online dissent as public appetite for the Inter- ment with Vietnam while urging it to stop the arrest, premier. Pupils at his alma mater, Te- IAirlines fl ight MH370 have ment was picked up near Mos- net soars and Web users turn to blogs to read about imprisonment and intimidation of its critics. “To Mr Lee, everything must lok Kurau Primary School, lis- begun analysis on debris found sel Bay, a small town in West- issues that state-controlled media avoids. The US embassy in Hanoi said the use of criminal laws be done properly, even the tened to quotes from him in a in Mozambique, Australian au- ern Cape province. Their lawyer Ha Huy Son said that the ruling was unfair to stifle free speech was “disturbing”. smallest action or matter. He special assembly session early thorities said yesterday. Mossel Bay is more than once told me: ‘Dollah, a rule is yesterday. So far only a wing part from 2,000km (1,250 miles) from the Boeing 777 recovered from Vilankulo, the Mozambican a beach on the Indian Ocean resort where one of the pieces island of Reunion has been being examined in Australia found. was found. MH370 disappeared on Australia is leading the New Myanmar fi nance chief discovers his PhD is fake March 8, 2014 during a Kuala search for the missing passen- Lumpur-Beijing fl ight with ger jet in the southern Indian 239 passengers and crew on Ocean, where the aircraft was AFP The 68-year-old was one of NLD shortly after the cabinet others in junta-run Myanmar, half-century of isolation under a board. believed to have crashed after Yangon six NLD members in Suu Kyi’s announcement stated he held a he had a thirst for education but military junta. Its growing politi- The two items from Mozam- diverting from its route. big-tent cabinet – which also in- PhD from a college in the United had little opportunity to study cal openness was crowned by a bique have been x-rayed and More than 95,000sq km cludes three army offi cers as well States called Brooklyn Park Uni- abroad. historic November election that cleaned to remove macrofauna, (36,700sq miles) of the yanmar’s incoming fi - as opposition party fi gures. versity. “Education has been my saw the NLD storm to victory. Australia’s Joint Agency Co- 120,000sq km target zone has nance minister said Suu Kyi, who is banned from But social media users quickly dream since I was young. I never Suu Kyi, 70, is the only woman ordination Centre (JACC) said been searched so far, with in- Myesterday that he was becoming president, was con- pointed out that Brooklyn Park stopped studying my whole life. on the incoming cabinet. in a statement. vestigators due to wrap up the shocked to discover his PhD is fi rmed as foreign minister while was one of a number of fake on- But I could not study abroad There is widespread specula- Specialists – including from hunt in June-July if the plane is fake after netizens pointed out he the other roles are expected to be line organisations created by a because I did not have enough tion that she will take on four Australia, Malaysia and Boe- not found in the area. had been a victim of a high profi le formally announced later in the Pakistani group that ran a global money,” he said. ministerial portfolios: foreign af- ing – were “conducting an ex- Australian search offi cials scam run out of Pakistan that en- week. fraudulent degree empire out of Kyaw Win said he did not dis- fairs, education, energy and the amination which will include added that a second “towfi sh”, snared thousands of others. However local media widely Karachi until its exposure last cover the degree was fake until president’s offi ce. seeking to identify specifi c an underwater sonar vehicle Kyaw Win was one of 18 peo- published a leaked list of ear- year. the news spread on Facebook Blocked from becoming presi- features that may be consistent pulled behind a search ship and ple named on Tuesday to the marked roles, with Kyaw Win, a “I openly admit it that I stud- after his cabinet nomination on dent by a junta-era constitution with the items coming from an fi tted with survey instruments, incoming cabinet of democracy career bureaucrat and adviser to ied at this fake online university Tuesday, an experience he de- because she married and had aircraft, and if possible, from had been lost to the ocean fl oor veteran Aung San Suu Kyi, whose the NLD’s economics committee, in my older age,” Kyaw Win, who scribed as “really painful”. children with a foreigner, she has MH370”, the JACC added. on March 21. National League for Democracy taking the infl uential fi nance and confi rmed he would take on the Myanmar has undergone a vowed to rule through a proxy The JACC added that Malay- Options to recover it are be- (NLD) will take offi ce at the end planning portfolio. fi nance portfolio, told AFP. dramatic political transforma- president, the recently elected sia was working with South Af- ing considered. of the month. An offi cial CV issued by the He explained how, like many tion since 2011 after almost a Htin Kyaw. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 17 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Wind farm Seoul heading for miserable end: N Korea

AFP CPRK said, according to the Seoul KCNA news agency. Seoul urged the North to stop “base and vulgar” threats orth Korea threatened and warned of a “relentless a “miserable end” for retaliation” against any future NSouth Korea’s presi- provocations. dent and her American allies “It would be a clear mis- yesterday, in its latest colour- judgement on the North’s side fully worded attack. if the North believes that it can Pyongyang declared it unnerve our government... would wage a “retaliatory bat- with such ridiculous threats,” tle of justice” against Park Seoul’s unifi cation ministry, Geun-Hye, with its artillery which handles cross-border units standing ready to turn aff airs, said in a statement. her offi ce into a “sea of fl ames In recent weeks, Pyongyang and ashes”. has maintained a daily barrage “What the DPRK warns is of nuclear strike threats against not hot air. It will be clearly both Seoul and Washington proved by the miserable end over the drills it sees as a pro- the US and the Park group will vocative rehearsal for invasion. meet while going reckless,” Tensions have been running said the Committee for the high since the North carried out Peaceful Reunifi cation of Ko- an atomic test in January, fol- rea (CPRK), using the formal lowed by a long-range rocket Sheep graze in front of wind turbines that are part of Infigen Energy’s Capital Windfarm located on the hills surrounding Lake George, near the Australian capital city of name for North Korea. launch that was widely seen as Canberra. The latest volley comes as a disguised ballistic missile test. Seoul and ally Washington The UN Security Coun- stage their annual Key Resolve cil responded by slapping its and Foal Eagle military drills, toughest-ever sanctions on which this year are the largest the North for violating UN ever, in the wake of a recent sanctions that ban the isolated North Korean nuclear test and state from conducting any bal- long-range rocket launch. listic missile test. The massive drills -- which In an apparent show of an- include air strike exercis- ger, the North has launched a es targeting key facilities in series of short-range and me- the North -- are a “thrice- dium-range missiles into the Taipei provides tour cursed provocation” against sea off its east coast since last Pyongyang’s leadership, the week. of disputed island Australian PM Taiwan’s claim flies in the face of Charles Jose urged caution, calling on all Beijing has reclaimed more than 2,900 uses Veep slogan opposing claims by Vietnam and sides “to refrain from taking actions that acres of land from the South China Sea in Philippines will further complicate the situation in the less than two years in an intensive island- South China Sea”. building campaign and has deployed sur- AFP usually known for more col- AFP China, which claims almost all of the face-to-air missiles on a disputed island Canberra ourful language, whether it’s Taipei sea, said it too would invite foreign jour- there, according to Taipei and Washing- a lawmaker threatening to nalists to visit the Spratlys “when the ton. kill Johnny Depp’s pet dogs, time is ripe”, according to foreign ministry Australian prime minister Malcolm he writers of American aggressively “shirtfront” aiwan yesterday gave its fi rst ever spokeswoman Hua Chunying. Turnbull yesterday called China’s mili- political comedy Veep Vladimir Putin over the down- international press tour of a disput- “The Nansha islands (Spratlys) have tary deployments on the South China Sea Tthought it was the most ing of MH17, or get the PM in a Ted island in the South China Sea to always been China’s territory. Chinese “counterproductive”, an unusually force- meaningless slogan they could “squirrel grip”. boost its claim, less than two months after Itu Aba in the South China Sea. people on both sides of the strait have the ful rebuke against the country’s biggest conjure up, but in Australia But Turnbull is trying to a visit by its leader sparked protests from responsibility to safeguard our heritage,” trading partner. PrimeMinister Malcolm Turn- convince voters how his gov- rival claimants. of an arbitration case against China at the she said. Australia has consistently supported bull looks to have adopted it ernment is diff erent to that of Taiping is the largest island in the Sprat- Hague over the South China Sea. A ruling As part of eff orts to strengthen defence US-led freedom of navigation activities with relish. his conservative Liberal Party lys chain and is administered by Taiwan, on the case is expected before May. capabilities on Taiping, Taiwan last year in the South China Sea, where Beijing has In a strange case of life ap- colleague Tony Abbott who which sees it as part of its territory. As part of its case, the Philippines ar- inaugurated a solar-powered lighthouse, been adding reclamation to islands and parently imitating art, Turn- he removed from offi ce in an But the Spratlys are also claimed in part gues that Taiping and other islands are an expanded airstrip and a pier, all stops reefs in waters claimed by several regional bull has taken to explaining internal party room coup last or whole by China, Vietnam, the Philip- just “rocks”, a categorisation which helps on Wednesday’s press tour. The island is countries. his government as providing September. pines, Malaysia and Brunei and have been its broad claims in the area. 0.51sqkm. The United States has accused China of “continuity” and “change”. “There is continuity,” he at the centre of escalating rows. Taiwan disagrees, saying Taiping is a The trip aimed to highlight the island is raising tensions in the South China Sea by The line is eerily close to admitted on Monday to the A visit to Taiping by Taiwan’s president fully fl edged island, a categorisation which self-suffi cient, giving the press tours of a its apparent deployment of surface-to-air the “Continuity with Change” Australian Broadcasting Cor- Ma Ying-jeou in January triggered criti- entitles it to a 200-nautical-mile exclu- farm and a water well. missiles on a disputed island, a move Chi- slogan used by the fi ctional poration. cism from the United States which de- sive economic zone. Journalists were shown other facili- na has neither confi rmed nor denied. politician Selina Meyer in the “So, as you go from one Lib- scribed it as “extremely unhelpful”, as well After the tour, Ma insisted yesterday it ties including a hospital, post offi ce and “They are ... counterproductive, re- political satire Veep. eral prime minister to another, as protests from Vietnam and the Philip- was not provocative. temple, as well as visiting a monument gardless of the legal merits, on which we “I am dumbstruck,” the star you have continuity and you pines. “Filipino lawyers have provided wrong engraved with the words “Taiping Island” do not express a view nor make a claim,” of the show, Julia Louis-Drey- have change and there has been But Taiwan remains undeterred in as- information misleading the world, so we during the three-hour visit. Turnbull said in a speech in Sydney, refer- fus, tweeted in response on a lot of change,” he said. serting its claim. feel we have to come out to rebuff their Most of the island’s inhabitants work for ring to China’s military deployments. Tuesday. He followed up the next day “We hope that the international com- claims,” he said. the coastguard, which has about 160 staff The Chinese government last month Veep writer Simon Blackwell with a radio interview in which munity will understand our position in “To see is to believe,” Ma added. there. expressed its displeasure with Australia’s was more severe. he said: “There is continuity safeguarding our sovereignty in the South “We hope journalists can see for them- Rival claimants in the South China Sea new defence spending plan. “In S4 of Veep we came up and there is change and there China Sea and our eff ective administration selves that Taiping is an island, not a rock.” have been beefi ng up their military pres- China has repeatedly accused the US with the most meaningless are many areas of change.” of Taiping Island,” deputy foreign minister Taiwan Wednesday formally invited the ence in the disputed region, and other of militarising the South China Sea with election slogan we could think And he repeated it again Bruce Linghu said as the group visited the Hague arbitration panel and representa- countries have complained China is be- its freedom of navigation patrols in the of. Now adopted by Australian Tuesday to reporters: “The island. tives from the Philippines to visit Taiping. coming increasingly aggressive in pressing region, and boosting of military alliances PM,” he tweeted. bottom line is there is continu- The Philippines is currently in the midst Philippine foreign ministry spokesman its case. with countries like the Philippines. Australian politicians are ity and there is change.” Runaway zebra Kiwi jailed over baby powder threat dies after chase AFP They also launched a mas- Auckland sive investigation into the threat to New Zealand’s dairy AFP The failed attempt to recapture the sector, which was worth Tokyo creature came just a month after a To- n Auckland business- NZ$11.5bn ($7.8bn) in 2015, kyo zoo held a drill practising this very man who threatened making it the country’s biggest eventuality. Ato poison baby formula export earner. runaway zebra led police on a Every year, a zookeeper dresses as bound for China in a bid to Police interviewed 2,600 dramatic chase across a golf an animal and stages an escape, giv- blackmail New Zealand’s mul- people, eventually arresting Acourse in Japan, until its bid for ing colleagues the opportunity to hone ti-billion dollar dairy industry Kerr last year after DNA evi- freedom ended in death when it col- their techniques. was jailed for more than eight dence linked him to the letters. lapsed in a water trap. This year’s creature was a zebra, years yesterday. Prosecutors said he owned The creature’s odyssey, which was which was successfully collared and Jeremy Kerr, 60, pleaded the rights to a pesticide that broadcast live on national television, returned to its pen. guilty to two counts of black- was a market rival to 1080 and saw offi cers in hot pursuit as they tried But as if to prove that practice mail after sending threaten- would gain fi nancially if a ban — in vain — to recapture it alive. doesn’t always make perfect, this ing letters containing a pesti- was implemented. After unsuccessfully attempting week’s real life response didn’t quite go cide called 1080 to dairy giant A high court hearing was told to corral the stripy animal, vets shot to plan. Fonterra and the NZ Farmer’s last month that he was under it with a tranquilliser dart — only to According to Ueno Zoo, which staged Federation in 2014. fi nancial pressure and suff ering watch as it plunged into a small lake on the zebra escape drill last month, the In the letters, he threatened mental health problems fol- the golf course. animals are easily panicked. to lace baby formula destined lowing his wife’s death when “It collapsed in the pond, so we hurried- Japan has previously had more suc- for various markets -- with the threats were made. ly pulled it ashore, but its heart had already cess with animal escapes. China the only country spe- He told police after his arrest stopped beating,” said Takahiro Taniguchi, In 2012 a penguin on the run from cifi cally named -- unless New that reference to the Chinese a police spokesman in central Gifu. a Tokyo aquarium outwitted au- Zealand stopped using 1080. market was just to “add some “Veterinarians performed car- thorities for 82 days before being The threat to supplies bound impact”, the hearing was told. diac massage,” he said, but it was not caught. for China, a major importer of Judge Geoff rey Venning yes- enough to prevent the “bitter after- There were more than 30 sightings Kiwi baby formula, was not terday accepted Kerr never taste” of the animal’s demise. of the 60cm bird, known only as Pen- initially disclosed publicly by meant to carry out the poison The zebra had bolted on Tuesday guin 337, who was spotted around vari- New Zealand authorities, who threat but said it was still one of from the Mikuni West Farm in neigh- ous locations, including swimming in Zookeepers during a drill to practice what to do in the event of an animal escape at the tightened access to baby pow- the most serious cases of black- bouring Aichi. Tokyo Bay. Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. der in domestic shops. mail to come before the courts. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, March 24, 2016 BRITAIN Johnson exaggerating Brexit arguments: lawmakers

Reuters paign ahead of a June 23 referendum on may view his arguments as “exaggera- previously cited of EU restrictions to arguments, writing on Twitter during London Britain’s membership of the EU. tion to the point of misrepresentation”. coffi n sizes could not be backed up, tell- the session that he was “Bombastic, full During three hours of often testy ex- “You are illustrating ... a very partial, ing the mayor “the story is a fi gment of of character, armed with an argument, changes, parliament’s Treasury Select busking really, humoresque approach to your imagination”. but devoid of any facts”. ondon mayor Boris Johnson was Committee quizzed Johnson over his a very serious question for the UK,” said He also questioned whether Johnson’s Johnson said he stood by his argu- rebuked by lawmakers yesterday claims of EU interference in everything Tyrie, who has not announced which claims in several areas, including over ments and accused the ‘In’ camp of Lfor putting forward what they de- from the recycling of tea-bags to pre- way he plans to vote. the impact of EU membership on wages, scaremongering. scribed as exaggerated and misleading venting children under eight from blow- “What we really need is a much more the economic eff ect of leaving the bloc “There is a great deal of eff ort be- arguments for why Britain should leave ing up balloons. balanced (approach) in which people and the amount of British legislation ing made at the moment to deprecate the European Union. Committee chairman Andrew Tyrie, make an eff ort to qualify and represent that comes from Brussels, could be mis- the views of those who think we should Johnson, tipped as a potential succes- a fellow Conservative, accused Johnson the points that they make and represent leading. leave, to undermine their point of view sor to Prime Minister David Cameron, is of presenting only the costs and not the each others’ views with some accuracy.” Labour lawmaker Wes Streeting said and to say that everything we say about Johnson: rebuked the de facto fi gurehead of the ‘Out’ cam- benefi ts of membership and said many Tyrie said an example Johnson had Johnson did not have facts to support his the EU is somehow mythical,” he said. ‘Out’ campaign Farmers stage rally takes lead ahead of EU vote, states poll

Reuters to protect themselves from the London uncertainty of Britain’s up- coming vote on whether to stay in the European Union. he campaign for Brit- The three-month sterling/ ain to leave the Euro- dollar options GBP3MO=, cov- Tpean Union has taken ering the period that includes a two percentage point lead, the upcoming “Brexit” vote on according to an ICM poll, June 23, soared to 14.50%, its indicating a dispute in the highest level since mid-2010. Conservative Party may have Polls such as ICM’s sug- dented confidence in Prime gest just under a fi fth of voters Minister David Cameron’s are undecided though betting push for the country to stay odds indicate the chances of a in. Brexit has risen in recent days Support for Britain to leave to as much as 45%. the EU rose to 43%, up two Companies such as BP and percentage points from a simi- GlaxoSmithKline have cau- lar poll a week ago and the tioned that Britain’s $2.9tn Cows and sheep are led along Whitehall during a march to Downing Street by the farming community to promote British farming, in central London, yesterday. highest proportion in favour of economy would face years of The march was organised by campaign group Farmers for Action. The farmers say they want the prime minister to acknowledge that there is ‘a major problem’ in the a British exit since ICM started uncertain negotiations if vot- agricultural sector. “Falling prices across the industry are making production unsustainable. People cannot take this any longer,” said one of the organisers of the rally. its referendum tracker in May ers chose to divorce, while 2015. Goldman Sachs said sterling Three months before a could fall by as much as a fi fth. June 23 referendum, the poll London Mayor Boris John- of 2,000 people carried out son, a Conservative lawmaker March 18-20 showed the “In” who is supporting a British campaign on 41%, down from exit, said that London, the only 43% a week ago. fi nancial centre to rival New Cameron faces one of the York, would prosper outside deepest crises of his decade- the EU. long leadership of the Con- “I think the City would con- Trump’s remarks on servatives after senior cabinet tinue to fl ourish outside the EU minister Iain Duncan Smith, and fl ourish mightily,” Johnson who opposes EU membership, told parliament’s Treasury Se- resigned last week over plans lect Committee. to cut spending on welfare. Pro-Europeans, including Divisions over EU member- former prime ministers Tony ship - an issue that helped sink Blair and John Major, have Muslims wrong: May the Conservative premierships warned that an exit could also of Margaret Thatcher and John trigger the break-up of the UK Agencies Good Morning Britain that Mus- A senior counter-terrorism of- unlike in some other places in people to feel safe and confi dent Major - have amplifi ed such by prompting another Scottish London lim communities were not doing fi cer too has hit back at Trump the world we do have integrated to come forward to the police and disputes within the party. independence vote if England enough to prevent attacks like the comments. communities and we have people report what they have to report.” “The Tories are overtly split pulled Scotland out of the EU. carnage in Brussels. Deputy assistant commis- living side by side. More than half a million peo- and that is never a good look,” Members of Britain’s “Out” ome Secretary Theresa “When they see trouble they sioner Neil Basu from the UK “If we demonise one section of ple signed a petition calling for Martin Boon, director at ICM, campaign say such warnings May yesterday said US Re- have to report it. They are not re- Counter Terrorism Policing the community that is the worst Trump to be banned from the said. are overblown and that Britain Hpublican presidential can- porting it. They are absolutely not Network said the comments by thing we can do, we are abso- UK after he demanded a block on “It’s possible that the split would prosper if it broke free didate Donald Trump was “just reporting it and that is a big prob- the tycoon-turned-politician lutely playing into the terror- Muslims entering the US. and the budget is creating EU from what they say is a doomed plain wrong” to say that Muslims lem,” he told the programme’s pre- risked playing into the hands of ists’ hands of making people feel He told Good Morning Britain: dissatisfaction by proxy but German-dominated bloc that in Britain were failing to report senter Piers Morgan. the terrorists by demonising the hate.” “I would hit IS (Islamic State) so equally it could be the public punches way below its weight suspicious activity by extremists. Trump said it was “a disgrace” very people the police needed to Basu warned that the such hard you wouldn’t believe it and moving toward a more pro- beside rivals such as Russian “I understand he said that Mus- that one of the suspects behind last help them. comments could lead to a surge I would get the people over there Brexit position or just normal President Vladimir Putin. lims were not coming forward November’s attacks in Paris had “He is wrong,” he told the BBC in hate crimes against Muslims. to put up their soldiers because sampling variation in the polls. Johnson was quizzed over his in the United Kingdom to report been found in an area of Brussels Radio 4 programme. “When events like this happen it’s about time that somebody Only time will tell,” he said. claims that the EU had banned matters of concern. This is abso- where he lived. He also claimed “There is a generational prob- in Brussels and Paris very unfor- did it. The cost of hedging against the recycling of tea bags and or- lutely not the case - he is just plain people in the Muslim community lem here. Without a doubt we tunately we do see a spike in hate “But I would have such back- sharp swings in sterling surged dered that children under eight- wrong,” May said in parliament. in California had known in ad- have to encourage more reporting crime,” he said. up like you’ve never seen before to its highest in six years yes- years-old should not be allowed Trump, the front-runner for the vance about an attack that killed 14 from the Muslim community and “We don’t want that to hap- in terms of air power, air strikes terday as investors stepped up to blow up balloons. Republican nomination, told ITV’s people in December. from all communities, because pen in our communities, we want etc.” Angry Labour MPs lash Police response to out at Corbyn loyalty list missing kids faulted Agencies to National Crime Agency fi g- London ures. A total of 128,000 inci- Agencies Asking MPs to raise their The core group has 19 names dents were recorded in relation London hands if they were core support- listed but they include Corbyn to these children. ers, the premier, along with many and Michael Meacher, who died ome children are being Most children who go miss- of his backbenchers, laughed as last year. Among the other names left unprotected and at ing are found or return of their abour MPs have branded a they put up their own arms. No are shadow chancellor John Mc- Srisk of serious harm be- own accord but someone who list ranking their loyalty to Labour MPs put up their hands. Donnell, Clive Lewis, shadow cause of “unacceptable incon- runs away from home or care LJeremy Corbyn “particularly Michael Dugher, who was energy minister and Diane Ab- sistencies” in police investiga- is vulnerable, the report said. stupid”. sacked as shadow culture secre- bott, shadow international de- tions into missing children. By prioritising missing chil- The list divides MPs into fi ve tary in Corbyn’s reshuffl e earlier velopment secretary. The Her Majesty’s Inspec- dren and targeting resources, categories from “core” to “hos- this year, said: “That ‘list’ is par- Among those in “core group torate of Constabulary (HMIC) police forces will help to ad- tile” and was reportedly drawn up ticularly stupid”. plus” are Emily Thornberry, report on the police response dress “the cause rather than by key allies of the party leader. Wes Streeting, who was classed shadow defence secretary, Keir to missing and absent children the symptom” of issues such as Chief whip Rosie Winterton as “neutral but not hostile,” said: Starmer, shadow home offi ce also described runaway teen- child sexual exploitation, child and Sadiq Khan, the party’s can- “Dismayed by this. We’re weeks minister and shadow energy sec- agers being sworn at by police, abuse, traffi cking and mental didate for mayor of London, are away from elections across coun- retary Lisa Nandy. blamed for other people get- ill-health”, said Williams. identifi ed as “hostile”, according try. That should be our focus, es- Shadow business secretary ting raped, pushed to the fl oor In the youngsters’ quotes in- to the document leaked to The pecially those at top.” Angela Eagle and shadow Com- and threatened with a Taser. cluded in the report, a 17-year- Times. Asked if he was “hostile” to mons leader Chris Bryant are In the Missing Children: old girl said “I’ve been, like, Former Labour leader Ed Mili- the party leader, a spokesman for ranked as “neutral but not hos- who cares? report, inspector sworn at. I’ve been told that it’s band, shadow culture secretary the mayoral candidate said: “No. tile”. Wendy Williams states: “Our my fault people are out there Maria Eagle, shadow education Sadiq Khan is his own person and A spokesman for Corbyn said: inspection found unaccept- getting raped because they (the secretary Lucy Powell and shad- is fi ghting his own campaign to “It doesn’t come from this offi ce able inconsistencies between police) can’t stop them.” ow environment secretary Kerry be mayor of London. Corbyn’s and we have no knowledge of it.” and within forces, across all A 13-year-old girl said: “I’ve McCarthy are among those listed name is not on the ballot paper.” Former frontbencher John aspects of the approach to been threatened with a Taser. as negative. A shadow minister classed as Woodcock tweeted that the missing children, whether in They said because I was trying David Cameron used Prime “negative” told the Press Asso- list made the party a “laughing respect of assessing risks, in- to run away, they said ‘if you Minister’s Questions as an op- ciation: “I have no idea why I’m stock” but later deleted the post. vestigating or supporting chil- carry on running away, we are portunity to mock the opposition in that column. Not had any rows Woodcock, who was ranked as dren.” gonna Taser you and restrain over the list, telling the Labour with him or his team, my policy “hostile”, describes himself on Nearly 67,000 children went you’ and I was just like ‘no, leader, “I thought I had prob- brief doesn’t bring us into con- Twitter as “increasingly angry missing on one or more oc- I’m trying to get away from lems” and putting himself as a fl ict. I just get on with my job. All with people who think politics a casions in England and Wales the problem, that’s just gonna “core” supporter of Corbyn. seems a bit random.” parlour game”. Jeremy Corbyn: mocked by Cameron between 2014-2015, according make the problem worse’.” Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 19

BRITAIN

PEOPLE TRAGEDY APPEAL LEGAL DECISION Adele pays tribute Surfing teacher drowns MPs urge Osborne to Trinity Mirror appeal over Ukip suspends to Brussels victims in Bali holiday accident keep Crossrail 2 on track hacking charges dismissed Evans for ‘disloyalty’

British singer Adele paid An experienced surfing teacher has drowned in Twenty-five Tory MPs have appealed to George The Supreme Court has rejected an attempt Ukip’s leader Nigel Farage has confirmed tribute to the victims of the an accident while on holiday in Bali. Cameron Osborne to keep London’s vital Crossrail 2 by Trinity Mirror to reduce the amount of that the party’s former welfare spokeswoman Brussels terrorist attacks Munro, 21, from Patcham in Brighton, Sussex, project on track. They wrote to the chancellor compensation it must pay eight people who Suzanne Evans has been suspended from during a concert at London’s died on Saturday while he was visiting the amid fears that the proposed north-south rail had their phones hacked by staff working for the party for six months for “disloyalty”. “I’ve O2 Arena. Adele urged Indonesian island. The full circumstances of link could be threatened by rival schemes the newspaper group. Trinity, which publishes watched as she’s gone from being a popular thousands of fans to show how he died are currently unknown and a sucking away funds. “Crossrail 2 is not a the Daily Mirror tabloid, had sought permission figure in Ukip to become a very unpopular their solidarity with the post mortem is due to take place. Munro, who luxury — it is vital for the future of rail travel to appeal an earlier ruling ordering it to pay figure by constantly criticising, not just the Brussels victims by flashing taught surfing for the Algarve Surf school and in London and the South,” said the MPs who £1.2mn in damages to victims, a much higher leader, but the party (and) its direction,” their mobile phones while she performed Bob camp in Portugal, was a regular visitor to Bali. include Zac Goldsmith, Mayor Boris Johnson sum than those awarded to other claimants in Farage said. “It’s sad but these things happen: Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love. “I want you to Zara Mata, from the centre, said: “Everybody is and former transport minister Stephen earlier settlements. The Supreme Court said in families we all see it. In life, these things all sing it with me, alright, so they hear us,” Adele just in shock because we were expecting him Hammond. They stated that the £27bn project yesterday it had refused Trinity’s appeal. “The happen,” he said, while denying he was behind told the crowd. “I don’t think I’ve ever actually to come back. He died doing what he loved. would also “unlock 200,000 new homes and court ordered that permission to appeal be the executive council’s decision. The high- been so moved before in my life at one of my “But he was such an experienced surfer, we are 200,000 new jobs” and was vital for London’s refused because the application does not raise profile board member of Vote Leave had once shows,” she said after she finished the song. all trying to figure out what happened.” population to grow. an arguable point of law,” it said. been touted as a future leader of the party. “That was just so beautiful.” Hinkley Sensational Butterflies exhibition nuclear Govt ‘yet to plant will go ahead: EDF chief fi nalise’ cost

Agencies London linked to nuke he delayed multi-billion pound Hinkley Point nu- Tclear power station will defi nitely go ahead, the head of French giant EDF assured British MPs yesterday. Vincent de Rivaz, chief ex- submarines ecutive of the fi rm behind the project, admitted it had been a Reuters suggest it could reach £167bn. “That arrogant refusal to ac- “long road”, but insisted confi - London “The department does not hold count to parliament and the pub- dence in the £18bn project re- a cost forecast for the whole capa- lic is simply unacceptable,” she mained. bility,” the defence ministry said said in a statement. He told the Energy and Cli- he defence ministry has not in response to the Reuters request “It is high time that the Nation- mate Change Committee “clear- yet established the over- under the Freedom of Informa- al Audit Offi ce (the public spend- ly and categorically” Hinkley Tall cost of replacing and tion Act asking for the estimated ing watchdog) and the Public Ac- Point C will be built. maintaining its ageing nuclear cost of replacing Trident over 30 counts Committee conducted full French economy minister weapons system, it told Reuters, years. investigations into the costs and Emmanuel Macron has said EDF prompting opposition charges “The government needs a safe management of the Successor will make a fi nal investment de- of mismanagement of a mega- space away from the public gaze programme, and forced the min- cision on Hinkley Point in early project expected to be given the to allow it to consider policy op- istry of defence to start answering May. go-ahead this year. tions for delivering the deterrent the legitimate questions they are De Rivaz said the project had In response to a request by in the most cost-eff ective way, being asked.” successfully passed regulatory, Reuters about an estimate of the unfettered from public comment Labour is deeply divided over political, commercial and opera- total price tag for the new Trident about the aff ordability of particu- whether to replace Trident - its tional milestones. submarine fl eet - Britain’s sole lar policy options, some of which leader opposes it but many in the EDF had invested £2.4bn in nuclear weapons system - the many not be at a mature stage of party believe it is necessary. It is the project and continued to ministry said it was still working development.” however keen to put more pres- spend £55mn a month, he said. on “policy options” and gave no It did not elaborate on the pol- sure on a government torn by Asked about a date for the overall fi gure. icy options. divisions over EU membership long-awaited final investment The replacement of Trident, The main opposition Labour and forced after just two days to decision he said it would be which was backed in principle by Party criticised the government abandon welfare cuts in its 2016 “soon”, referring MPs to the parliament in 2007 and is expect- for refusing to off er any detail budget. early May date announced by ed to be formally approved this over what is called the “Successor The ministry of defence said: the French minister on Tues- year, has raised questions about programme”. “The government is committed day. national security as Britain heads Its defence spokeswoman, to maintaining the UK’s inde- He told the committee that for a referendum on European Emily Thornberry, said it was pendent nuclear deterrent - the EDF had the expertise to build Union membership that may de- clear costs were “out of control” ultimate guarantee of our nation’s the power station, the supply cide its future status on the world at a time when the Finance Minis- safety.” chain was ready and commercial stage. ter, George Osborne, is struggling The ministry has been working partners were in place. The Conservative government to balance his budget. on replacing Trident for a decade De Rivaz said everyone was says the deterrent is vital to keep “It is astonishing that the min- and has tracked the rising costs working on the fi nal stage to Britain safe in an increasingly istry of defence still cannot say in speeches to parliament, which “make it happen” but, despite hostile world, but some leading what the total costs of the Suc- have been criticised by opposition being pressed by MPs, he de- opposition fi gures say it is inde- cessor programme will be, de- lawmakers for being too vague. clined to give an actual date for fensible to commit a signifi cant spite the massive implications of Initially, in 2006, the cost of the fi nal investment decision. portion of the public purse to re- this programme for government producing the submarine and “This project is absolutely newing the programme at a time spending in the coming decades,” warheads was put at around critical and has the full support of deep austerity cuts. said Thornberry, who is leading £15bn-£20bn. of the French government and This makes the precise cost Labour’s Defence Policy Review In its response to Reuters, the the British government. Every- of replacing Trident a politically and has in the past been a critic of ministry gave some of its latest thing is aligning at the moment charged issue. replacing Trident. costs that had already made pub- - it is very positive.” The government has indicated She accused the government lic: the replacement of Trident EDF will bear any risk from the price tag for replacing the fl eet of a lack of transparency over the would cost £31bn to produce the the project, he said. has risen since 2007 but has not costs and arrogance in demanding four submarines, with a con- De Rivaz reiterated that the Adam, aged 6, pulls a face as he poses with butterlifes during an event to launch the Sensational given a full cost over its expected more time to develop policy when tingency of £10bn, and another cost of the project would defi - Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London yesterday. 30-year life. Calculations by Reu- it has already spent 10 years and £3.9bn had been already allocated nitely be £18bn. ters and a Conservative lawmaker “more than £3bn”. to their design. ‘Flash Crash’ trader loses Pubs to open longer US extradition legal fi ght for Queen’s birthday AFP Queen and her husband Prince London Philip in St Paul’s Cathedral AFP the help of programmers spe- ularly intense in the hours lead- which will coincide with his 95th London cifi cally designed to help him ing up to the Flash Crash” of May birthday. repeatedly issue and cancel si- 6, 2010, when the Dow Jones nglish pubs will be allowed There will also be a street party multaneous sell-and-buy or- Industrial Average plunged 600 to open longer during the on The Mall in front of Bucking- judge yesterday ruled ders in key securities to make points in a matter of minutes, Eweekend in June celebrat- ham Palace on June 12. that a British fi nancial the prices go in the direction he wiping hundreds of billions of ing Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th The Queen became Britain’s Atrader accused of manip- wanted. dollars from share values. birthday, Prime Minister David longest-serving monarch on ulating markets and causing the In an e-mail cited in the in- Playing E-Minis, he made Cameron told parliament yester- September 9 last year, overtaking 2010 “Flash Crash” in US stocks dictment, he complained of the and then modifi ed bogus orders day to cheers from MPs. her great-great-grandmother can be extradited to face trial in slowness of the programme, thousands of times in a short “We will be extending pub Queen Victoria. the US. telling the programmer that “I period, ultimately cancelling opening hours on the 10th and “Inevitably, a long life can pass Navinder Singh Sarao, a need to know whether you can them without ever executing 11th of June this year to mark by many milestones. My own is 37-year-old working out of do what I need, because at the any. At the same time he raked Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th no exception,” she said on the a modest suburban London moment I’m getting hit on my in $789,000 in profi ts on real E- birthday. I’m sure that will day, adding that the landmark home, allegedly made millions spoofs all the time and it’s cost- Mini contract trades made that be welcomed right across the was “not one to which I have ever of dollars with a computer pro- ing me a lot of money.” day. House,” he told the House of aspired”. gramme that could automati- The indictment said Sarao fo- The indictment said Sarao Commons. Pubs in England and Wales are cally manipulate prices. cused on certain securities like had repeatedly rebuff ed probes Pubs in England and Wales, only allowed to open late if they Interior Minister Theresa May the E-Mini S&P futures con- by regulators, insisting that he which normally have to close at have special licences, although has to formally authorise the ex- tract on the Chicago Mercantile was just a fast-fi ngered normal 11pm will be allowed to open un- extended hours are granted on tradition and Sarao’s lawyers Exchange to move prices, espe- trader not relying on computer til 1am, the government said later particular dates such as New said they would appeal if she cially in moments of high mar- programmes for trading. He also in a statement. Year’s Eve and some public holi- Separate laws apply in Scot- days. does so. ket volatility. brushed off warnings that his land and Northern Ireland. Past national celebrations A grand jury in Chicago in- “Sarao’s large, bogus orders activity was illegal and contin- The British monarch turns 90 in which late hours have been dicted Sarao last year, accusing had a tendency to eff ect artifi - ued to trade. on April 21, although her birth- granted include Prince William’s him of earning $40mn through cial movements in the E-Mini The indictment set 22 counts days are traditionally celebrated wedding to Kate Middleton in techniques including market market price by creating a false of wire fraud, price manipula- in June with the Trooping the 2011, the Queen’s Diamond Ju- “spoofi ng” - making fake orders appearance of substantial sup- tion and spoofi ng against Sarao. Colour military parade. bilee celebrating the 60th an- - between 2010 and 2014. ply and demand,” it said. Sarao was arrested in London This year the ceremony will niversary of her accession to The indictment detailed how Sarao’s use of the dynamic in April and was granted bail in Navinder Sarao arrives at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for an be held on June 11, a day after a the throne in 2012 and the 2014 the trader built a system with layering technique “was partic- mid-August. extradition hearing in London yesterday. Thanksgiving service with the World Cup. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, March 24, 2016 EUROPE Germany budgets for more spending on refugees

Reuters and integrating the newcomers helping migrants – all without Germany is setting aside drawn up by Schaeuble’s minis- ment wants to hike spending by cial security system are rising so Berlin without jeopardising its cher- (net) new borrowing,” he told re- €10bn ($11.2bn) to deal with the try envisage a €30.9bn increase €8.6bn to €325.5bn, including nicely that Germany can aff ord ished balanced budget. porters. migrant crisis in 2017. in spending to €347.8bn by 2020. €33.7bn for investment. the extra spending without hav- But Schaeuble, a veteran con- That drew criticism from It expects 800,000 new arriv- With unemployment running Economists said Germany was ing to run a defi cit.” he German cabinet ap- servative member of Chancellor the opposition far-left Linke’s als this year, and 600,000 next, at 6.2% – the lowest since Ger- still profi ting from reforms in- Enzo Weber of Germany’s In- proved fi scal plans for 2017 Angela Merkel’s cabinet, insisted budget expert, who said that the Schaeuble said. man reunifi cation in 1990 – and troduced more than a decade ago stitute for Employment Research Tyesterday that Finance that goal would be met. government’s focus on balancing It will also provide extra funds the economy growing steadily, by former Social Democrat (SPD) (IAB) said that the number of Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble “We are keeping our word and the budget was inappropriate at a for labour market programmes he expects that rise to be covered chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. people out of work would gradu- said catered to higher spending remain true to our solid fi nancial time when Europe faced its worst and more day care centre places without new net borrowing due “Germany continues to reap ally rise this year as a growing on migrants, security and infra- policies in a diffi cult environ- crisis since World War II. for children. largely to rising tax revenues. the rewards of its 2004 ‘Agenda number of refugees seek jobs, structure without having to bor- ment,” Schaeuble said. “The European Union looks Economy Minister Sigmar “It is essential that we refrain 2010’ labour market reforms,” with few able to fi nd work im- row more money. “We are investing in infra- like it might fall apart due to the Gabriel said this was a key signal from (net) new debt in the up- Berenberg Bank economist, mediately. An infl ux of 1.1mn migrants structure, education and re- current confl icts but the German for “social cohesion”, and it was coming year and in our fi nancial Holger Schmieding, said. “With The cabinet will approve fi nal last had year raised questions search, we are doing what is government is continuing to view important that everyone in Ger- planning until 2020,” Schaeuble core employment ... up 750,000 details of the 2017 budget and fi - about whether Germany could needed to guarantee domestic the world through a balanced many benefi ted. said. year-on-year, German tax re- nancing plans up to 2020 on July cover the cost of accommodating and external security and we are budget,” Gesine Loetzsch said. Overall, the fi nancing plans In 2017 alone, the govern- ceipts and revenues of the so- 6. Amnesty says 30 Aid agencies quit Greek Afghans forcibly camps over migrant deal returned Reuters cil, a major non-governmental Reuters Lesbos, Greece organisation, said it was sus- Ankara pending most of its activities at a detention centre on the Greek ore aid agencies helping island of Chios. mnesty International has refugees and migrants “We are extremely close to be accused Turkey of forci- Marriving in Greece have in a position where this site is Ably returning some thirty said that they were joining a boy- dangerously overcrowded ... we Afghan asylum-seekers to Af- cott of detention centres, an- have a large number of refugees ghanistan despite them fearing gered at an EU deal they say runs including pregnant women and Taliban attacks, soon after a mi- roughshod over human rights. children lying on the concrete gration agreement was reached Human rights organisations fl oor in the reception hall,” said with the European Union. reject the pact between the Eu- Dan Tyler, a protection adviser Last week, the European ropean Union and Turkey to fast- for the council. Union sealed a deal with Tur- track registration and asylum Tension in the facility was key, criticised by human rights applications, under which hun- building up and there had already groups, that was intended to halt dreds of new arrivals have been been demonstrations, he told illegal migration fl ows to Europe detained since Sunday. Reuters. in return for fi nancial and politi- Refugees or migrants whose Thousands of people have cal rewards for Ankara. applications fail will be sent back been stranded in Greece since a “Turkey’s forcible return of to Turkey. cascade of border shutdowns in around 30 Afghan asylum-seek- Aid agencies said that co-op- the Balkans started in February. ers just hours after the Euro- erating with the Greeks at deten- There are almost 50,000 refu- pean Union-Turkey refugee deal tion centres would make them gees and migrants stranded in came into force shows that im- complicit with an “unfair and Greece, the vast majority of them plementing the deal would risk inhumane” practice. not detained in camps since most refugees’ lives from the word go,” Two aid agencies said yester- arrived before the new EU ar- the human rights group said. day that they were following the rangement came into eff ect on The Turkish foreign ministry UN refugee agency UNHCR and March 20. was not immediately available aid organisation Medicins Sans Some 12,000 are at Idomeni, for comment. Frontieres (MSF), a major con- a complex of tents on the Greek Amnesty said it had credible tributor to the relief eff ort, which border with Macedonia. information indicating that Tur- both announced on Tuesday that Since Tuesday, MSF medical key violated European and inter- they would cut back assistance. personnel have been absent from national law by forcibly return- “The IRC alerted the (Greek) the camp, citing security reasons ing the asylum-seekers, who fear coastguard on Monday that we after two migrants tried to set attacks by the Taliban, to Kabul would not transport the world’s themselves on fi re. without granting them access to most vulnerable people to a place Migrants living at Idomeni Children hold placards yesterday at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the Greek-Macedonian border near the Greek village of an asylum procedure. where their freedom of move- blocked a motorway and a cus- Idomeni. The UN refugee agency has harshly criticised an EU-Turkey deal on curbing the influx of migrants to Greece, saying that reception “This latest episode high- ment is impeded upon,” said Lucy toms checkpoint yesterday, centres had become ‘detention facilities’, and suspended some activities in the country. lights the risks of returning Carrigan, a regional spokeswom- demanding that the border be asylum seekers to Turkey – and an for the International Rescue opened. sistance to us. Naturally we want gration Minister Yannis Mouza- Mouzalas, a physician, was ex- More than 147,000 people, the knock-on eff ects the deal is Committee (IRC). Greek authorities said they it to stay, under certain rules, of las was trying to coax aid organi- tensively involved with aid agen- many fl eeing confl ict in the Mid- likely to have for refugees tran- The IRC will continue to sup- needed help. course,” Citizen Protection Min- sations back. cies and participated in relief dle East and Asia, have arrived in siting through Turkey. It’s like port those at another makeshift “We need these international ister Nikos Toskas told Greek ra- “He is the best placed to medi- missions before his cabinet ap- Greece by sea this year. watching a train wreck in slow camp, she said. organisations, particularly the dio. ate with these groups,” the source pointment in Greece’s leftist-led Almost 1mn arrived in Europe motion,” said John Dalhuisen, The Norwegian Refugee Coun- UNHCR, which is of great as- A government source said Mi- said. government last year. via Greece in 2015. Amnesty International’s direc- tor for Europe and Central Asia. One of the Afghans in the group told Amnesty that he had been part of a group trying to Finland, Russia agree reach Greece by boat. Poland ‘not prepared’ to take They were apprehended by the Turkish coastguard and then to ‘close’ Arctic border detained in the western coastal city of Izmir. When contacted by Amnesty in anyone now, says premier AFP ties still need to be sorted out. International about the returns, Helsinki Over the past four months, the Turkish Directorate Gen- more than 1,700 asylum-seek- eral of Migration Management AFP/DPA migrants at all,” Szydlo told pri- Among these migrants “there cism from other countries in ers, mostly from Afghanistan acknowledged the return of 27 Warsaw vate television Superstacja. are also terrorists”. what we call the old EU, who inland and Russia have and Syria, have crossed the bor- Afghans, but insisted that all Her conservative and euro- The fi rst refugees were due hastily agreed to this infl ux of signed an agreement to der into Europe’s passport-free were returned voluntarily and sceptic Law and Justice (PiS) to arrive in Poland in late March migrants into Europe,” she said, Fclose their northern border Schengen zone through two of that none of them had requested olish Prime Minister Beata government had earlier been or early April, after EU leaders adding: “This carelessness is the crossings to migrants, blocking Finland’s northern entry points. asylum. Szydlo said yesterday that willing to welcome the 7,000 ref- forced through a one-off con- source of the problems we now off the Arctic route into the EU, Last year, around 5,500 people A December 2015 report by PWarsaw would not take in ugees agreed by its liberal pred- troversial deal last September to face.” Helsinki said yesterday. took the Arctic route into Nor- the Amnesty had claimed that its share of migrants under an ecessors under Ewa Kopacz. relocate 120,000 refugees among After the attacks in Brussels “Only citizens of Finland, way, a Schengen member, but the refugees and asylum-seekers EU plan because of the terrorist Europe is grappling with its member states. and earlier in Paris, “I regret to Russia and Belarus ... can use fl ow shifted towards Finland in were apprehended at the west- attacks that killed 31 people in worst migrant crisis since World The Czech Republic, Hungary, have to say that the EU is not the border crossings of Salla and late November after migrants on ern border, detained without ac- Brussels. War II. Romania and Slovakia had voted drawing lessons from what is Raja-Jooseppi located in north- bikes were barred from entering cess to lawyers, and then forcibly Poland is the fi rst EU member Last year alone some 1.2mn against the deal, while Poland happening”, she added. ern Finland,” the Finnish govern- Norway’s far North. returned to Syria and Iraq after to take such a step after Tues- people fl ooded into the EU, most had been in favour under its then President Andrzej Duda’s se- ment said in a statement. “The purpose of these restric- being forced to sign “voluntary day’s bombings at the Brussels of them Syrians fl eeing via Tur- Civic Platform (PO) government. curity adviser Pawel Soloch also The agreement, which is tem- tions is to prevent organised il- return” papers. airport and metro, which also left key and Greece. Szydlo defended the careful warned against rising numbers of porary and would hold for 180 legal immigration,” the govern- “Returns to Turkey cannot 270 wounded – including three “We’re forced above all to en- approach to migrants taken by refugees in Poland. days, was announced a day after ment said. proceed on the basis that Tur- Poles – and were claimed by the sure the security of our fellow Poland and its fellow Visegrad “Let’s be careful that 10,000 President Sauli Niinisto met in Finland, a country of 5.4mn key is a safe country for refugees. Islamic State (IS) group. citizens,” Szydlo said, urging countries (Czech Republic, Hun- don’t turn into 100,000,” he told Moscow with his Russian coun- people, received some 32,000 The EU should adopt an inde- “After what happened in Brus- Europe against accepting “thou- gary, Slovakia) as well as Croatia TV station TVN24 yesterday, terpart Vladimir Putin. asylum-seekers last year, as Eu- pendent resettlement plan and sels yesterday, it’s not possible sands of migrants who come here and Romania. adding that a large number of It was not immediately clear rope struggles with its biggest work with its partner Turkey to right now to say that we’re OK only to improve their life condi- “Our stance is very cautious, refugees could increase the threat when the agreement would take migrant crisis since World War end the abuse of refugee rights,” with accepting any number of tions”. which gives rise to major criti- of terrorism in the country. eff ect because legal technicali- II. said Dalhuisen. Ukraine president says new govt must be formed next week

AFP tainty over its future and a sharp to support from his own party about the government’s future “I stress that it is in Ukraine’s cal crisis can be resolved as soon Kharkiv drop in the popularity of both and lawmakers that Ukrainian saw International Monetary interests to see the government as possible”. Poroshenko and Prime Minister media have linked to three pow- Fund (IMF) chief Christine La- confi rmed next Tuesday.” “I am waiting for further deci- Arseniy Yatseniuk. erful tycoons who enjoy great garde note that she could not see But Ukrainian law stipulates sions to be made both by the par- krainian President Petro Poroshenko attempted to re- political sway. a way that lending to Kiev could that parliament cannot hold two liamentary coalition and – most Poroshenko has urged solve the political strains by But two junior members of continue under current circum- votes of no confi dence in the importantly – the president’s Poroshenko: it is in Ukraine’s Uparliament to approve a asking Yatseniuk to step down the pro-Western coalition that stances. government in the same ses- party and the president himself.” interests to see the government new government next week that on February 16 due to his seem- formed in the wake of October Poroshenko told reporters in sion and can only pick the prime Poroshenko controls parlia- confirmed next Tuesday. could end a raging political crisis ing failure to tackle government 2014 parliamentary elections the eastern city of Kharkiv yes- minister’s replacement after the ment’s largest faction. and unlock crucial Western aid. graft. broke ranks with the government terday that he was ready “to serving one resigns – something The one headed by Yatseniuk Yatseniuk’s party has until now The economically-depressed Yatseniuk refused and that after that vote. support any candidate for prime Yatseniuk has not done. closely trails in second and has supported his position but has and confl ict-riven country has same day survived a no-confi - The confl ict between Ukraine’s minister submitted by the (par- The premier himself said yes- previously voted in line with the also indicated that it was willing been roiled by weeks of uncer- dence vote in parliament thanks two main leaders and doubts liamentary) coalition”. terday that he hoped “the politi- president’s group. to engage in political talks. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 21 EUROPE Brothers-in-terrorism – when fraternal bonds lead to extremism

AFP “You develop your social iden- Brothers Khalid and Ibrahim El in Indonesia, Northern Ireland, one close to you, naturally. And something a little mad, a little ir- Once the radicalised bubble Paris tity fi rst by talking to those close Bakraoui were identifi ed as two Middle East,” said University of when it’s a matter of getting rational in this process. It’s risk- forms it acquires its own internal to you. And at fi rst those close to of the suicide bombers in Tues- Massachusetts Lowell criminol- someone to join you, the most taking that is a bit adolescent, logic and resistance to any exter- you are of course your brothers day’s attacks in Brussels, while ogy professor John Horgan. logical target is your little brother even if they are not always ado- nal challenge. he Brussels attackers in- and childhood friends,” Sageman other brother duos were identi- Family names by twos, threes or your older brother. It’s the lescents.” “It can be enlarged to include cluded a pair of brothers, told AFP. “It’s what I call the ac- fi ed in the January and November and even fours are common on same thing with street gangs. His colleague at the associa- close friends,” Amoyel added. Tthe latest in a long string tivation of the social identity. It’s attacks in Paris last year and at- terror watch lists, especially in Less brainwashing and indoctri- tion, Amelie Boukhobza, adds: “Then you have a ... consolida- of sibling duos involved in violent a question of proximity. That’s tacks in Toulouse in 2012. France and Belgium, as security nation is needed.” “It’s often the younger one with tion that is very solid, hard to religious extremism – something why there are so many brothers, The 2013 Boston marathon offi cials track their travel to and Patrick Amoyel, a psychoana- more to prove, a place to fi nd for break up. We have seen it very that experts say can occur when sometimes sisters, neighbour- bombers were also brothers – from Islamic State (IS) group ter- lyst in the French city of Nice who himself, who infl uences the older often. And it doesn’t come from close childhood bonds “spin out hood friends.” and no fewer than three pairs of ritory in Iraq and Syria. works for a centre specialising in one. The older one is not neces- mental illness.” of control”. “They grow up together. They brothers were among the 19 hi- To beat the tight surveillance de-radicalising youths attracted sarily the dominant one.” The complicity can eventu- “It’s a completely natural phe- invent for themselves an identity jackers involved in the Septem- put in place since September 11, to Islamic militancy, said he often The rest of the family is typi- ally “spin out of control” as the nomenon,” said Marc Sageman, as defenders of an Islam under ber 11, 2001, attacks in the United 2001, these family dyads or tri- comes across sibling pairs. cally aware only that the broth- brothers egg each other on, he a psychiatrist and former CIA attack, of women and children States. ads retreat into their own small “The infl uence goes both ers are close, spend a lot of time said, stoking a “desire to exceed agent who was among the fi rst to killed in air strikes. They radi- “We have plenty of examples worlds. ways,” he told AFP. “They quick- together and may lower their limits, to go towards absolute re- identify it in his 2003 book Un- calise and reinforce each other,” across the terrorism spectrum, “It’s a matter of trust,” Sage- ly lock themselves into a sort voices when others come within bellion. And that can end up in derstanding Terror Networks. he said. of multiple kinds of terrorism man said. “You confi de in some- of psychic confusion. There’s earshot. terrorist action”. Dutch military police to carry heavier weapons Dutch military police protecting borders and high-risk sites will be armed with heavier weapons Belgium mocked again in response to the attacks in Brussels, security authorities said yesterday. The Netherlands’ National Co-ordinator for Security and Counter-Terrorism (NCTV) agency did not elaborate on what sort of arms the off icers would be over security ‘failings’ carrying. But it said the measure would AFP “thought that to encourage good apply to forces guarding Paris integration, communities should government ministries, be left to develop on their own”. parliament and Jewish Speaking to French TV station institutions, as well as at border elgium’s approach to im- LCI, he added: “We know ... that crossings and major transit migration and security has this is not the right answer. When points. Bagain come under fi re after a neighbourhood is in danger of The Netherlands on Tuesday the Brussels bombings, but many becoming sectarian, we should said it was increasing security at say the country is being unfairly (implement) a policy of integra- train stations and airports after singled out and the timing of the tion.” Islamist militants detonated criticism is crass. Belgium has faced much criti- bombs at Brussels airport and Among the more bizarre un- cism over its security failings, an underground railway station, kind statements was that of Is- particularly in the wake of No- killing at least 31 people. raeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael vember’s Paris attacks that were The Netherlands and Katz. largely planned in the Brussels neighbouring Belgium are part of “If in Belgium they continue to suburb of Molenbeek, considered the European Union’s 19-nation eat chocolate, enjoy life and pa- a hotbed of Islamist radicalism. Schengen open-border zone, but rade as great liberals and demo- But the timing of Sapin’s in recent months the Dutch have crats while not taking account of comments, just hours after the Queen Mathilde of Belgium meets soldiers during a visit yesterday stepped up frontier patrols in the fact that some of the Muslims bombings at a Brussels airport to Brussels Airport, in Zaventem, a day after triple bomb attacks at response to an unprecedented who are there are organising acts and metro station, was consid- the Brussels airport and at a subway train station killed 31 people and flow of refugees from Syria. of terror, they will not be able to ered highly inappropriate. wounded more than 200. fi ght against them,” Katz told Is- “It is indecent when people are raeli public radio. suff ering, are in shock. We need lecture our Belgian friends”. from a population of only 11mn, No passenger But it was criticism closer to solidarity, not lectures,” said Bel- “We closed our eyes, every- offi cials say. home that triggered particular gian Socialist politician Laurette where in Europe and including Its political divisions have pre- flights for airport outrage, after French Finance Onkelinx. France, to the rise of extremist vented eff ective coordination be- until Saturday Minister Michel Sapin accused A member of Sapin’s own Salafi st ideas in neighbourhoods tween security services, and have Brussels of “naivety” over the French Socialist party, Francois where a mix of drug traffi cking also been blamed for allowing There will not be any passenger spread of Islamist extremism in Lamy, described the fi nance and radical Islam have led astray radicalisation to fester. flights arriving in or departing their country. minister’s statement as “just ... some of the youth,” Valls told A brief moment of elation fol- from Brussels Airport through “I think there was ... a lack of shameful”. Europe 1 radio. lowed the arrest of Paris sus- Friday, the airport says in a will, on the part of some (Bel- French Prime Minister Manuel Belgium has spawned more pect Salah Abdeslam last week statement. gian) authorities ... perhaps also Valls also sought to distance Muslim militants per capita than in Brussels, but that was quickly “At the moment the crime scene a kind of naivety,” Sapin said on himself from his colleague’s any other EU country, with some snuff ed out by Tuesday’s car- investigation is still ongoing at Tuesday, suggesting that they words, saying he did not want “to 500 leaving for Syria and Iraq nage. the terminal of Brussels Airport,” Nonetheless, experts have Police control the access to Brussels central train station following it says. warned against singling out Bel- Tuesday’s bomb attacks. “We are unfortunately unable to gium for criticism. give any indication on further “I’d caution against focusing happens to be in Belgium, but a pen in other countries. timing about when the terminal too much on Belgium and blam- similar situation could be repli- Belgium’s ambassador to Brit- will be cleared and ready for ing them,” said Thomas Heg- cated elsewhere,” he said. ain, Guy Trouveroy, said it was inspection by airport staff to ghammer, a terrorism expert at Hegghammer noted that sav- “not entirely right” to suggest determine the damage and to the Norwegian Defence Research vy militants were increasingly some areas of his country had start reconstruction.” Establishment. skilled at fl ying under the radar been abandoned by the authori- “This is about networks and by using encrypted communica- ties. where they are strong. Today, it tions – and that this could hap- “It is always easy afterwards to say ‘We should have, we should Extremists attack have’,” Trouveroy told the BBC. mosque in Madrid “At the time, the threats were not there and this Syria issue is rela- Right-wing extremists in Madrid tively new. We had to move up to have attacked a mosque with the challenge and we went maybe incendiary devices, police in the pace-by-pace, haphazardly. It is Spanish capital said yesterday. not easy. An extremist group had called “These are professionals and for the attack on Madrid’s largest they know how to put up com- mosque following Tuesday’s mando operations.” terrorist attacks in Brussels. Meanwhile, an aide to Sapin Police investigating the case told AFP that the minister had are hoping to identify the not wanted to single out Belgium perpetrators using CCTV footage and was talking more generally of the incident. A woman and her daughter are seen yesterday on the Place de la Bourse in central Brussels to pay tribute about the terrorist threat. The Islamic Cultural Centre in to the victims of the Brussels attacks. The aide said Sapin had sent a Madrid has condemned the message to his Belgian counter- attack. Right: Members of the press gather at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels part, Johan Van Overtveldt, apol- No significant damage to the yesterday. ogising for the “controversy”. mosque has been reported. ‘Life goes on’ after Belgium’s worst-ever attacks

AFP/Reuters Brussels resident Aurelie Car- bags at entrances to the subway “Solidarity”, “We are one”, stay indoors because you worry it “I guess my time hadn’t yet for the minute’s silence. Brussels don says she will avoid taking the stations in Europe’s symbolic “Love Brussels”, said messages could happen again.” come,” he added. “We are showing our compas- metro from now on. Or maybe capital, where some entry points left beside candles, fl owers and At Schuman metro station at A 40-year-old secretary who sion,” said Brussels mayor Yvan move abroad. had been closed to enable tighter notes to the families of victims. the foot of the European Union’s gave her name only as Valerie said Mayeur. “We need to reach out ff we go! Life goes Her eardrums were perforated security. “Last night I came to leave a headquarters and just one station she had no time to worry. today to all those who were hurt.” on!” said the Brus- when a bomb exploded in the The usual morning rush hour candle and I’m back this morn- from the Maalbeek stop where “I’m too busy fi guring what’s Stepping off a train from Eng- “Osels subway driver, metro carriage next to hers on crowds on underground train ing out of solidarity,” said Lat- the attack took place, travel- working and what’s not, what hien, some 30km away, a super- slamming the cabin door and Tuesday and doctors had to pull a platforms were noticeably thin- ifa Charaf, 50, a teacher. “We lers seemed more confused by stations are open, what trains are market employee who gave his pulling away from the station. piece of burned plastic out of the ner, however, and there were thought it couldn’t happen here, changes to the usual schedule running,” she said. name only as Vasco said “people Barely 24 hours after Belgium’s corner of her eye. fewer cyclists on the streets but it did and it’s terrible.” than fearful. “And I don’t want to be para- are not as calm as they like to worst-ever terror attacks, under- “There will be other attacks, above. Across the city, people laid One passenger who stepped noid. People here are looking seem”. ground metro services resumed so I want to fi nd a way not to take As workers headed for work fl owers and candles at memori- onto a train and then off again, out for our security,” she added, “But we’re still smiling and in the capital as life began to re- this (metro) line anymore. Maybe in the city centre many stopped als. During a minute of silence, asking: “Where’s that one head- pointing to the three soldiers making jokes, even about what turn to normal yesterday. I’ll buy a bike or a motorcycle,” off to leave fl owers at the his- one man held a copy of a news- ed?” armed with assault rifl es on pa- happened yesterday. The Belgian Part of the line where a suicide she told Reuters from hospital, toric Place de la Bourse square in paper front page reading “Hang “I haven’t yet fully realised trol nearby. spirit lives on.” bomber killed around 20 passen- using Facebook because she can- the heart of Brussels, which has in there!” what’s happening, I’m still stuck Cries of “long live Belgium” There were worries about the gers on Tuesday remained closed, not hear. become a centre for public out- On the unusually quiet Grand in my daily problems, but per- and defi ant applause broke out impact on local businesses. but most trains, trams and buses “What happened yesterday pouring of grief. Place in the city centre, Brit- haps it’s better that way,” said after the symbolic display of soli- In the middle of the cobbled ran to schedule – even if some was really horrible. As a citizen of By midday, a huge crowd had ish visitors Darren Smith, 45, Pierre Pardon, a social worker. darity at noon at the central Place square, horse-drawn carriage commuters seemed reluctant to Brussels, it really hurts to experi- gathered there to observe a na- and Anne Stocks, 46, said they However, he said that fear was de la Bourse. driver Thibault Dantine, 46, said use public transport. ence something like this ... But tional minute of silence in mem- would carry on with their trip as at the back of everyone’s minds. However, the mood remained trade was slow. “I’m a bit afraid, especially for we are not going to let our lives ory of the 31 people killed and the planned. “Obviously! We heard that sombre at EU headquarters “There would usually be much my little brothers,” said Domi- be dictated by the terrorists,” 270 hurt, some seriously. “We were due to stay until Fri- the son of one of my wife’s col- where Belgium’s King Philippe more people,” he said. “I’m very nique Salazar, 18, as he took his said Linda van den Bosche, who With Belgium clear of rain yes- day and we’ll stay until Friday,” leagues died during the night. I and his wife, and Prime Minister worried for the future, I’m afraid siblings, aged three and six, to lives in an apartment next to the terday, chalk messages scrawled Stocks said. “You just have to myself was only 20 minutes away Charles Michel, joined offi cials tourists won’t come back,” he school. “But we don’t have any Maelbeek station. on the pavements testifi ed to a carry on, what happened is re- from the Maalbeek attack,” said led by European Commission said, a Belgian fl ag fl ying from his other choice to get around.” Soldiers checked passenger people coming together. ally horrible but you can’t just Pardon, 43. President Jean-Claude Juncker carriage. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, March 24, 2016 INDIA

DECISION PROJECT TRAGEDY PROTEST CRIME Government hikes Cabinet approves Delhi Three killed in Rajasthan Irom Sharmila says she Manhunt in Punjab after DA and DR by 6% convention centre firecracker factory blast wishes to meet PM car snatched at gunpoint

The cabinet yesterday approved a 6% hike in The cabinet yesterday gave approval for the Three people were killed and seven suff ered Irom Sharmila, who has been campaigning Punjab police and other security agencies Dearness Allowance (DA) to central government transfer of 89.72 hectares of land to the department burn injuries in a blast in a firecracker against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act have launched a manhunt after a car employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to of industrial policy and promotion for setting up factory in Rajasthan’s Kota district late (AFSPA) by undertaking a “fast unto death”, was snatched from a person at gunpoint pensioners, eff ective from January 1. The decision, a world-class convention centre at Sector 25 in Tuesday evening, a police off icial said. “The wants to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sujanpur town in Punjab’s Pathankot over the existing rate of 119% of basic pay/pension Dwarka in New Delhi. The project will be developed explosion occurred late in the evening on while visiting Delhi. Sharmila expressed her district, police said yesterday. The incident of the employees to compensate them for general on a public-private partnership basis. “The land Tuesday. Three persons lost their lives on desire while interacting with reporters when took place late Tuesday, police said. Police price rise, was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired ownership, being given at a nominal cost of Re1, the spot while treatment of seven others she was brought before a court in the Manipur off icials, however, ruled out the possibility by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will benefit will remain with the department for the state-of- who sustained burn injuries is going on in capital Imphal on Tuesday. She is to appear of a terror angle even though the whole about 5mn government employees and 5.8mn the-art exhibition-cum-convention centre,” an hospital in Kota,” the senior police off icial before the Patiala House court on March district has been put on high alert. “Three pensioners, an off icial release said. It said the off icial said. The proposed centre will have facilities said yesterday. The factory is located near 29 and 30 in connection with a case under men approached the Ford Figo car and increase was in accordance with the accepted like exhibition, convention and banquet halls, Chainpura area in the district, 255km from Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt hijacked it at gunpoint after forcing the formula, based on the recommendations of the auditoriums, arena, financial centre, restaurants, here. “We have started investigations into to commit suicide). “I want to tell the prime owner out of it. Two people drove the car sixth Central Pay Commission. The combined food and beverage outlets and retail services. The the cause of the explosion,” the police off icer minister that only talks could solve all the and the third one fled on a motorcycle,” a impact on the exchequer on account of DA and DR Pragati Maidan is the only organised large space said, adding that prima facie it looks there burning problems. Besides, I want to highlight police off icer said in Pathankot. Sujanpur would be Rs67.96bn per annum and Rs79.29bn used for exhibitions for years, but faces severe was mishandling of inflammable materials in the objectionable policies of the Indian is about 6km from Pathankot on the crore respectively. capacity and traff ic constraints. the factory. government,” she said. Pathankot-Jammu highway.

Journalist arrested New alliance over online message

Agencies to take on New Delhi

journalist in the insur- gency-hit state of Chhat- Atisgarh was arrested after he posted what police called an AIADMK in “objectionable” message on so- cial media, reports said yester- day. Prabhat Singh, who works in a Hindi daily in the central state, was arrested on Tuesday and de- tained while police completed TN elections their investigation, NDTV net- work reported. Vijaykant seals poll deal with was designated the principle op- Singh allegedly shared a mes- Vaiko, Left, Dalit party position party. sage criticising a senior police However, soon after, the rela- offi cial on several Whatsapp IANS tionship between the AIADMK groups and faces charges of cir- Chennai and the DMDK soured. Eight culating obscene material, the DMDK legislators turned rebels report said. and supported the ruling AIAD- Chhattisgarh is one of the ctor-turned-politician A MK. states worst aff ected by a left- Vijaykant yesterday an- Yesterday, Vaiko said a revolu- wing Maoist insurgency. Jour- Anounced that his Desiya tion took place in Tamil Nadu on nalists critical of police actions Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam March 6, 1967 when DMK found- to contain militants are often (DMDK) will contest assembly er C N Annadurai became the seen by the authorities as sup- elections in Tamil Nadu in alli- chief minister after defeating the porting the rebels. ance with Vaiko’s Marumalarchi Vijaykant: King or kingmaker? Congress. In past months, two other Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam “Similarly, a day will come journalists have been arrested (MDMK), the Left and Dalit party will be a coalition government in when Vijaykant will be the chief for allegedly helping the mili- Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Tamil Nadu if the front wins the minister,” he said. tants. (VCK). elections. CPM leader G Ramakrishnan Local press association chief The new alliance said Vijaykant, Vijaykant said he had gone to and CPI leader R Mutharasan said Kamal Shukla said attacks on popularly known as “Captain” PWF as it was a “people’s party”. March 23 would be a golden day in journalists both by Maoists and and who even the Bharatiya Janata “My cadres wanted me to be the state’s politics. police had increased in the past Party was wooing, would be the the king. All the alliance part- After being wooed by the DMK, fi ve years. chief ministerial candidate of the ners have asked me to be the chief BJP and PWF, Vijaykant chose the “Prabhat was critical of both People’s Welfare Front (PWF). ministerial candidate,” he said. PWF, said VCK leader Thirumala- the police and the Maoists in his The announcement makes the In a state where cinema has al- van. stories,” he said. PWF, which until now was made ways cast a long shadow on poli- Vijaykant was actively pur- The association has called on up of the MDMK, Communist tics, Vijaykant fl oated his party in sued by the DMK, which has tied state authorities to immediately Party of India, Communist Party 2005 as an alternative to the two up with the Congress. Its leader release Singh, describing the ar- of India (Marxist) and the VCK, a the AIADMK and DMK. M Karunanidhi had publicly ex- rest “another sign of the dete- major force in the May electoral When he fought the polls alone pressed the hope that the DMDK riorating climate for the press in battle. without aligning with any party, would join the DMK-led alliance. Chhattisgarh”. While the DMDK will put up the DMDK notched up an impres- The BJP too actively wooed the Yesterday the National Hu- candidates in 124 seats, the re- sive vote share, better than even DMDK. But the DMDK was miff ed man Rights Commission issued maining 110 seats will be contest- the established MDMK and PMK. that while BJP national leaders a notice to the Chhattisgarh gov- ed by the MDMK and the other As the DMDK’s vote share can met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister ernment over the arrest. three parties. add muscle to any alliance, he J Jayalalithaa when they came to The state chief secretary and “This is the alliance the people was the most sought after alliance Chennai, they ignored Vijaykant. director general of police have were looking for,” Vaiko, co-ordi- partner by all opposition parties Reacting to the development, been asked to submit a factual nator of PWF, told reporters. this time, the BJP included. BJP leader and federal minister report in the matter within two “The election (in Tamil Nadu) Called “Karuppu (Black) MGR” Pon Radhakrishnan termed the weeks. will now be like a Kurukshetra or Captain after his movie Cap- DMDK-MDMK-VCK-Left alli- According to the commis- war,” said one of the leaders in the tain Prabhakaran, Vijaykant has ance as “anti-people”. sion, Singh was picked up by the alliance. acted in over 150 Tamil movies. DMK leader M K Stalin made police in plainclothes from his Referring to DMDK supporters’ Though he was never the No1 light of the DMDK move. “This is shop without a notice or warn- demand that Vijaykant should hero, he charted his own style in not going to aff ect us,” he said. ing. be the king and not a kingmaker, the movie world - a fi ghter van- The ruling AIADMK will now “He was taken to the Parpa Vaiko said the leaders of PWF quishing terrorists and bad guys. face multiple contests in virtually police station, beaten up and would be the kingmakers who The DMK was routed in the all the 234 constituencies. The tortured all night and even de- would make Vijaykant the ‘king’ 2011 elections winning just 23 BJP and the Pattali Makkal Katchi prived of food and water,” a com- (chief minister). seats. The DMDK, then an ally of (PMK) are contesting the elec- mission said in a statement. MDMK chief Vaiko arrives for a meeting with actor-turned-politician A Vijaykant in Chennai yesterday. According to the alliance, there the AIADMK, won 29 seats and tions separately.

Relief for CPM ahead of polls Kerala’s Malampuzha as Jayarajan freed on bail constituency ‘decked up’

By Ashraf Padanna elections. That was the bomb CBI lawyer S Krishnakumar for Achuthanandan Gulf Times Correspondent (Congress president V M) Sud- said the agency would challenge Thiruvananthapuram heeran kept ready for the cam- the bail in the Kerala High Court IANS with the campaign,” said a CPM paigning.” as it was against Supreme Court Palakkad, Kerala worker. However, sessions judge V G directives in similar cases. The It was in 2001 that Kerala court yesterday Anil Kumar made it clear that he court had earlier extended Jayara- Achuthanandan started to treat granted bail to top Com- was granting bail, despite CBI jan’s judicial custody till April 8. hough the Communist Malampuzha as his second home Amunist Party of India objections, considering Jayarajan He surrendered to the court on Party of India (Marxist)’s after suff ering a shock defeat in (Marxist) leader P Jayarajan, giv- poor health and the court would February 12 after the high court Tfi nal list of candidates is the 1996 polls at his home turf in ing a huge relief to the party ahead cancel it if the CPM leader tried to rejected his anticipatory bail plea. yet to be out, Malampuzha as- Mararikulam in Alappuzha dis- of May 16 elections to the state threaten or seek to infl uence wit- BJP leader Manoj, who was out sembly constituency near here is trict. assembly. nesses. on bail after being sentenced to ten all decked up for 92-year-old V Starting in 2001, in Malam- The Central Bureau of In- The judge also barred Jayarajan, years in jail along with fi ve others S Achuthanandan, amid high ex- puzha he won with a slender mar- dia (CBI) arrested Jayarajan last who heads the party in its strong- for the attempt on Jayarajan’s life, pectations of his win for a record gin of 4,703 votes, and increased month accusing him of mas- hold of Kannur, from entering the was killed on September 1, 2014. fourth successive term. his lead to 20,017 votes in 2006 terminding the killing of a lo- district for two months and asked A close confi dant Pinarayi Vi- Kerala goes to the polls on May and went on to become the chief cal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) him to appear before the investi- jayan, widely seen as the chief 16 to elect 140 members to the minister. leader, E Manoj, to revenge a 1999 gators whenever they wanted. minister if his CPM-led Leftist legislative assembly. In 2011, he returned again to attempt on his life. A cardiac patient, Jayarajan was coalition comes to power, Jayara- CPM workers have already contest and further improved his Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the moved to the prison after treat- jan was expected to contest elec- started their work. They are margin to 23,440 votes. CPM secretary in the state, wel- ment at the Kozhikode Govern- tions from one of the party’s bas- painting the walls announcing the All eyes are now on who his comed the conditional bail the ment Medical College. tions in Kannur. candidature of the veteran, who rival would be and also what the court inThalassery granted. He was again shifted to District The Congress-led United will arrive in the constituency on margin of victory would be. “With this, the conspiracy Ayurveda Hospital in Kannur on Democratic Front (UDF), BJP-led Saturday for the fi rst time since Overall this is the eighth time hatched by (Chief Minister) Oom- Monday after he complained of National Democratic Alliance and the poll dates were announced. the veteran is going to contest the men Chandy and (BJP president) joint pain and swelling. the Left Democratic Front (LDF) “The writings have begun and assembly polls. The fi rst was way Kummanam Rajasekharan has Jayarajan is also facing charges of the CPM are currently engaged A woman uses a cellphone to photograph a sand sculpture of a many walls have already been back in 1967 from Ambalapuzha, fallen through,” Balakrishnan said. of conspiring to kill a young Indian in fi nalising their candidates for voting machine created as part of an election awareness campaign booked. The party committees at then followed in 1970 against “Their game plan was to keep Union Muslim League (IUML) pro- a three-cornered contest in the in Chennai yesterday. State assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, West all levels have had a few rounds of from Ambalapuzha, and then in him behind the bars during the tester who allegedly blocked his car. state. Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry and Assam will be held in April and May. discussions on how to go ahead 1991 from Mararikulam. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 23 INDIA Kanhaiya not allowed to Family of Jet employee in enter Hyderabad varsity blast photo to Our fight will continue, says Appa Rao’s return from leave be- student leader cause he was the “main accused” in the suicide of Vemula. It also claimed that Rao returned as fl y to Belgium IANS Hyderabad vice chancellor to infl uence the ongoing judicial inquiry into the Agencies suicide. Mumbai awaharlal Nehru Univer- The JAC vowed to continue its sity student leader Kanhaiya fi ght for justice, saying the po- JKumar was yesterday not lice brutality only strengthened he family of a Jet allowed to enter University of their resolve. Airways employee Hyderabad as police sealed off The Communist Party of India Twounded in the Brus- the campus for outsiders amid (Marxist) demanded the release sels attacks whose image was continuing tension over the re- of the students and the dismissal pictured on newspaper front adding that “it has been a very turn of P Appa Rao as the vice of Rao. pages around the world will traumatic experience”. chancellor. “The vice chancellor should soon fl y out to join her, a rela- Jet Airways said that both Kumar and other student and be removed forthwith,” the tive said yesterday. Chaphekar and another em- political leaders accompanying CPM said in a statement. “The Three bombs ripped ployee who was also hurt in him were stopped by police at Telangana police must proceed through Brussels airport the blasts, Amit Motwani, the main gate when he arrived in on the registered cases against and a metro train on Tues- were both recovering well and the evening to address protest- him.” day leaving 31 people dead that it had made arrangements ing students on the campus. The CPM alleged “brutal po- and 270 wounded, including for both families to fl y to Brus- Since the university authori- lice attack on students, faculty Jet Airways employee Nidhi sels. ties barred the entry of outsid- Kanhaiya Kumar speaks to the media outside Hyderabad University yesterday. members and others” at the Chaphekar (pictured), a fl ight “Based on latest updates ers, police stopped Kumar’s con- Hyderabad University on Tues- attendant from Mumbai. from #Brussels, our col- voy. ily of Vemula, a Dalit research It alleged that the security dents and professors to be picked day. A haunting photograph of leagues Nidhi and Amit are re- Talking to reporters, Kumar scholar who committed suicide personnel not only beat up men up. “The police resorted to very a dazed Chaphekar covered in covering well. We look forward said no student was being al- on January 17. and women students but hurled It alleged that Rao conspired intense lathi-charge on the debris, that surfaced soon af- to welcome them home soon,” lowed on the campus. He said Earlier, the JNU student leader abuses, branded them “anti- with ABVP students, a section students who were protesting ter two massive suicide blasts the airline posted on Twitter such actions by police and the met Vemula’s mother Radhika nationals” and threatened to fi le of faculty and non-teaching staff against the return of Appa Rao, hit Zaventem Airport, became yesterday. government can’t suppress their and consoled her. sedition charges. to return to the university and who is facing criminal cases for one of the most widely pub- Separately, an Indian em- voice. Earlier, student groups con- “Women students were beat- resume duties as the vice chan- creating circumstances leading lished images of the bombings. ployee of Infosys is said to be He said the government was demned police ‘brutality’ and en and grabbed by male police cellor. to the suicide of Rohith Vemula,” In the photo, also shared missing in the aftermath of the not ready to listen to the stu- ‘sexual assault’ on students pro- offi cers. After the forcible evic- The JAC said it was opposing it said. by millions on social media, attacks, the Bengaluru-based dents. He made it clear that po- testing against the vice chancellor. tion from the lodge compound, the mother of two is pictured software fi rm said yesterday. lice ‘lathis’ (canes) can’t silence The Joint Action Committee police chased us for another Court refuses to cancel Kanhaiya’s bail in the tattered remains of her “We are trying to reach one their voice. for Social Justice, an umbrella 2km, and grabbed and arrested yellow Jet Airways jacket, employee with whom we have “Our fi ght will continue till grouping of 14 student bodies, students. Students suff ered The Delhi High Court yesterday lawyer Rahul Mehra said the missing a shoe and with blood not been able to connect,” the the dreams of Rohith Vemula, B said an emergency like situation grievous injuries and were taken declined to cancel the interim petitioners must first place the running down her face. IT outsourcing fi rm said in a R Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh has been imposed on the campus to hospitals,” it said. bail granted to JNU student facts and grounds against Kumar. “Depending on when the statement. are realised,” he said, demand- with the authorities closing the According to the JAC, the union president Kanhaiya “The petitioners have not shown next earliest fl ight out of the Infosys said it was in touch ing enactment of what he called canteen and disconnecting wa- phones of several students were Kumar for now. Justice Suresh a single act by which there is country is, my brother and with the missing worker’s ‘Rohith legislation’ to ensure so- ter and Internet. confi scated while they were vid- Kait adjourned the hearing violation of bail condition,” he I will be leaving by tonight family and authorities in the cial justice on the campuses. The JAC in a statement alleged eorecording the brutality. to April 28 after the Delhi added. There were two petitions or tomorrow morning,” the Belgian capital in an attempt to Kumar raised slogans against that the police, the Rapid Action It said 36 students including police said they were verifying seeking cancellation of Kumar’s 40-year-old fl ight attend- locate Raghavendran Ganesh. caste discrimination, untouch- Force (RAF), the Central Reserve three professors were picked up, whether Kumar violated interim bail. Another petition sought ant’s brother-in-law, Nilesh External Aff airs Minis- ability and for social justice and Police Force (CRPF) and other brutally beaten in a police van, bail conditions. The Delhi direction for initiation of perjury Chaphekar, said. ter Sushma Swaraj yesterday equality. security personnel unleashed and detained in unknown loca- government said it was not in proceedings against Kumar for “We haven’t been able to spoke to Ganesh’s mother. He also expressed solidarity brutal physical and sexual as- tions all night. favour of cancelling Kumar’s filing a false aff idavit to obtain speak to her directly yet. All “I have spoken to Raghav- with students of the university sault on students and teachers The JAC claimed that Appa bail. Senior government interim bail. we know is that she is in sta- endran’s mother Mrs An- fi ghting for justice to the fam- on Tuesday. Rao had provided the list of stu- ble condition now,” he said, napoorni,” Swaraj tweeted. WHO calls for larger health warnings on cigarette packs

Reuters sued a report saying the size of warn- as Australia and Thailand that top the New Delhi ings should be reduced to 50% in the list. interest of the industry and tobacco The parliamentary panel’s report farmers. is not binding on the government but ndia must implement rules on Henk Bekedam, the WHO’s India lawmakers have the political clout to printing larger health warnings on representative, said the current de- infl uence decisions, as is evident from Icigarette and other tobacco packs, bate on reducing the size of tobacco last year’s delays in implementing the the World Health Organisation said health warnings in India was “worri- rules. yesterday, days after a parliamentary some”. Activists fear the report will again panel called for reduction in the pro- “Any reduction in size of pack risk delaying adoption of stiff er warn- posed warnings size to protect the in- warnings will be a great setback for ings on the packs. dustry. public health in the (Southeast Asia) The Tobacco Institute of India, The government last year delayed region,” said Bekedam, adding that an industry lobby that has called the implementation of new rules that larger pack warnings were a cost-ef- new rules drastic and impractical, has asked manufacturers to cover 85% of fective way of reducing tobacco con- called the panel’s latest recommenda- a cigarette pack’s surface in warnings, sumption. tions “excessive”. up from 20% now, as the panel sought Smoking kills about 1mn people in India’s cigarette market was worth time to assess how the industry would India each year, BMJ Global Health $10bn in 2014, Euromonitor Inter- be impacted. estimates. The Canadian Cancer So- national estimates. The industry is While the health ministry later de- ciety ranks India 136th out of 198 dominated by ITC Ltd and Godfrey cided to implement the rules from countries that use pack warnings to Phillips India Ltd, which is partner of April this year, the panel last week is- deter smokers, lagging nations such US-based Philip Morris International.

IndiGo fl ights Govt to build 10mn houses searched after for rural poor in three years bomb threat

IANS - Gramin - for construc- quirement” of nearly Rs- Reuters New Delhi tion of brick and mortar 220bn will come as loan New Delhi houses for all houseless from India’s apex devel- and households living in opment bank NABARD. en million houses temporary shelters. The The loan will be “am- ine of the 10 planes will be built with houses will also be pro- ortised through budg- operated by IndiGo Tthe government’s vided with basic ameni- etary allocations after Nairline, which received committed fi nancial as- ties like electricity and 2022”, he said. a bomb threat yesterday, were sistance for India’s rural water at cheaper rates. The minister stressed checked but nothing unusual poor over the next three Prasad said every poor that “transparency in the was found, a police offi cial said. years, as part of its ambi- family living in the plains selection of benefi ciar- One domestic fl ight that tious programme to pro- will get Rs120,000 and ies” will be maintained earlier landed in New Delhi vide shelter for all by 2022 those living in “hilly and in the implementation from Jammu was still being - the 75th year of India’s diffi cult” areas will re- of the scheme which will checked, said Dinesh Kumar Independence. ceive Rs130,000 to con- be executed all over In- Gupta, deputy commissioner Communications and struct houses. dia except for Delhi and of police at the capital’s Indira IT Minister Ravi Shankar “This programme will Chandigarh. Gandhi International airport. Prasad announced the run for six-seven years,” Masons to be employed IndiGo, an airline operated “very important deci- the minister told report- for building the houses by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, sion” after a cabinet ers, adding the scheme should be trained prop- said in a statement that it had meeting chaired by Prime will run in two phases. erly so that the construc- put in place additional security Minister Narendra Modi In the fi rst phase, he tion is done as the per the measures and all its passen- yesterday. said, “the government regional requirements, gers were safe. A spokeswoman The minister said that will provide assistance for Prasad said. said only three fl ights were 3mn houses will be built construction of one crore For identifi cation of searched. by 2022 and for this a fi - houses in rural areas over benefi ciaries, the gov- The company had received a nancial assistance of up the period of three years ernment will depend on phone call about a bomb threat to Rs130,000 will be pro- from 2016-17 to 2018-19”. the Socio Economic and on some of its planes earlier in vided to each homeless For this, the govern- Caste Census data that the day. family in rural areas of the ment would need to was issued recently, ac- The bomb threats came a day country. spend nearly Rs820bn. cording to an offi cial after two brothers carried out The measure is part of Out of this, Rs600bn will statement. The Census suicide bombings at Brussels the government’s rural be provided by “budget- identifi ed poor house- airport and on the Belgian cap- housing scheme - Prad- ary provisions” and the holds living in temporary ital’s metro on Tuesday, killing han Mantri Awaas Yojana “additional fi nancial re- shelters. at least 30 people. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, March 24 , 2016 LATIN AMERICA

APPOINTMENT OUTBREAK ENTERTAINMENT ECONOMY DISCOVERY New Haiti prime Brazil microcephaly Rolling Stones promise Brazil unemployment 95mn-year-old minister named cases rise to 5,200 ‘historic’ Cuba concert hits seven-year high dinosaur fossils found

Haiti’s interim president named a new prime min- The number of confirmed and suspected cases The Rolling Stones took to Cuban media to promise Brazil’s unemployment rate hit 8.2% last month, Dinosaur fossils aged between 70mn-95mn ister after the last one was essentially rejected by of microcephaly in Brazil associated with the a “historic” occasion when they give their first the highest level for February since 2009, off icial years were discovered in the northern Mexican parliament in the latest chapter of the poor coun- Zika virus rose to 5,200 in the week through Havana concert tomorrow in a communist country data said yesterday, as the country struggles state of Chihuahua, the media reported. Accord- try’s chronic political instability. The new premier March 19, from 5,131 a week earlier, the health where rock ‘n roll was long considered subversive. through twin political and economic crises. Latin ing to the National Institute of Anthropology is Enex Jean-Charles, a civil servant and professor ministry said. Of these, the number of con- Speaking in Spanish, Stones’ frontman Mick Jagger America’s largest economy is mired in a deep and History (INAH), 17 different areas with fos- of administrative law. He has also served as an ad- firmed cases climbed to 907 from 863 a week says: “We’ve performed in many incredible places, recession and weighed down by political uncer- sils were found scattered across the municipali- viser to several presidents. His appointment was earlier, while suspected ones increased to 4,293 but this concert in Havana is going to be an historic tainty as President Dilma Rousseff faces impeach- ties of Ojinaga, Coyame del Sotol and Aldama, announced by acting President Jocelerme Privert from 4,268 in the same period. Cases that have event for us. We hope it will be for you too.” The ment proceedings and the fallout of a massive EFE news reported. They could determine the on Twitter. Haiti has been mired in political crisis been ruled out hit 1,471 in the week through concert is due to start at 8.30pm tomorrow in Ha- corruption scandal. The unemployment rate rose limits of the sea during the Cretaceous period, since a runoff presidential election in January was March 19. Brazil considered most of the cases vana’s Ciudad Deportiva, a sporting complex where sharply from the 7.6% registered in January. The which was between 65mn and 145mn years suspended amid allegations of fraud on the part of babies born with abnormally small heads a vast crowd is expected to gather on the playing economy shrank by 3.8% last year, its worst reces- ago, in this region of the planet. INAH said in a of the government. Jean-Charles needs to form a to be related to Zika, though the link between fields. The band is not charging for tickets and state sion in 25 years. The government estimates it will statement that “most fossils are marine inver- government and get his government programme the virus and the birth defects has not been news media estimate that as many as 500,000 to a shrink by 3.05% this year, while the markets are tebrate animals: various species of shells, snails approved by parliament. scientifically established. million people. betting on a contraction of 3.6%. and ammonites”. Colombians fear more trouble after peace

AFP Farc in 1964 and ground into an Bogota entrenched territorial confl ict, drawing in various rebel groups and drug gangs. olombia is on the verge It has killed 260,000 peo- of ending half a century ple and left 45,000 missing and Cof confl ict, but bereaved 6.6mn displaced, according to locals in ruined regions such as offi cials and NGOs. Cauca struggle to believe that The confl ict has driven fami- peace will come easily. lies from their homes. In the mountain town of Tori- Mariela Patino, 56, is still bio, bullet holes in the walls show looking for her son, who she says the violence that has ravaged this was abducted by guerrillas in region, in fi ghting between state 2003. Threats drove her to aban- forces and guerrillas. don the farm where she lived and “Between 1982 and 2015 there move to another town. were 6,000 armed clashes,” said “I reported it and started local leader Mauricio Casso, a putting up notices everywhere. member of the Nasa indigenous The Farc told me if I didn’t leave group. they wouldn’t be responsible for “There are thousands of wid- my life or my family’s.” ows, orphans and people maimed, Cauca’s mountainous ter- US President Barack Obama and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri deliver a joint press conference at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires yesterday. and hundreds dead. The park used rain also draws the drug trade to be deserted. The streets were which has fuelled the confl ict. Its closed off . The children did not winding roads are lined by coca play outside,” he said. and marijuana plantations. At peace talks hosted by Cuba, Among the local people sort- the Colombian government and ing marijuana leaves by the the leftist Farc rebel force are roadside is Fernanda, 21. She gets closing in on a peace deal to end paid about 90 dollars for helping the confl ict. pick a crop of the herb, which is Obama meets Macri amid They had hoped to sign a deal harvested four times a year. today, but that deadline now looks “If the state helped us, we like it will pass with key issues in would plant something else,” she the negotiations still unresolved. says. “But here we get nothing. Progress in the talks has eased the We are abandoned.” atmosphere in Cauca since the Farc Locals fear that if the rebels declared a ceasefi re in July, but se- and the government make peace, regional political shift curity forces remain on alert. the drug gangs will move in—or The local police station lies be- other groups such as the left- Reuters president Nestor Kirchner. tween Argentina and the US,” Mazzakalli, a 32-year-old lock- Left-wing political parties hind high green walls pocked with wing ELN, a rival rebel force not Buenos Aires Obama and Macri shook the Clarin newspaper said in a smith, referring to Venezuela’s have promised protests during bullet holes, its entrance protected party to the peace talks. hands warmly at the Casa Ro- headline. former socialist president, Hugo Obama’s visit, which coincides by a bunker of sandbags. “Here in the north of Cauca, sada presidential palace before Under the sunny skies of a Chavez. with the 40th anniversary of the “The mountains are nearby. in recent months we have been S President Barack heading into their talks. crisp Southern Hemisphere In his fi rst 100 days in offi ce, coup on March 24, 1976, that in- The guerrillas used to fi re from seeing a big presence of ELN. Obama met Argentina’s Obama’s two-day visit marks fall day, Obama will also lay a Macri lifted capital and trade stalled the “dirty war” military there. They are still around there. They have painted on the walls Unew centre-right leader a rapprochement after more wreath at the Buenos Aires Met- controls, slashed bloated power junta. But we haven’t heard any shoot- and held rallies,” said Giovani Mauricio Macri yesterday on a than a decade of sour relations ropolitan Cathedral and meet subsidies and cut a debt deal Some are wary of too warm ing for more than a year,” said Yule Zape, representative of a visit to reset diplomatic rela- and is a sign of support for young entrepreneurs before at- with “holdout” creditors in the a detente with Washington, Major Rodriguez, head of the lo- grouping of indigenous groups in tions and strengthen trade ties Macri’s investor-friendly re- tending a state dinner. US. which was an early supporter cal brigade. “I hope it lasts.” northern Cauca. after years of tension between forms aimed at opening up Latin French President Francois US offi cials say Obama has of the bloody 1976-1983 dicta- The road in front of the police On Tuesday the Offi ce of the the two countries. America’s No 3 economy. Hollande and Italian Prime been impressed by the pace of torship. station is still torn up from where UN High Commissioner for Hu- Thousands of people cheered US offi cials have been keen Minister Matteo Renzi also re- reform. “The timing of the visit is a attackers blew up a bus there, man Rights hailed progress towards Obama’s motorcade as it made to promote Macri as a leader in cently visited Argentina, quick Macri still has to grapple with provocation,” said Miguel Fu- wounding 70 people and kill- peace in Colombia. But it warned its way along Buenos Aires’ a region where for the past 10 to reach out to a South American double-digit infl ation, a yawn- nes, 39, a lawmaker from former ing a policeman. The blast was the deal risked leaving a power vac- tree-lined boulevards, hand- years a socialist bloc turned its leader whose predecessor forged ing fi scal defi cit and a shortage President Cristina Fernandez’ blamed on the Farc. uum that other armed groups would ing the US leader a friendlier back on the US and once high- closer ties with Venezuela, Iran of hard currency. Front for Victory party. Nearby mud houses damaged fi ll, fi ghting over drugs and other reception than his predecessor fl ying leftist governments now and China. Luring foreign investors is a The US initially backed the by the explosion are now covered sources of criminal revenue. George W Bush, whose pres- face corruption scandals and “It’s good that Obama is vis- cornerstone of his strategy to dictatorship, which killed up to in paintings calling for peace. It said the breaking up of vari- ence at a Summit of the Ameri- economic weakness. iting. Closing ourselves off in revive the economy, and Obama 30,000 people in a crackdown The Colombian confl ict start- ous armed groups posed a “per- cas in 2005 was met with pro- Obama’s visit represents “a a Chavez-like system was not arrives with a large business del- against Marxist rebels, labour ed as an uprising by the Marxist manent challenge to peace.” tests and snubbed by the-then 180 degree turn in relations be- the way to go,” said Claudio egation in tow. unions and leftist opponents. Vatican prepares to open Hungry migrants Oil fi rm’s ex-offi cials ‘Dirty War’ archives admit graft charges Reuters owned multiple US-based ener- Houston gy companies, pleaded guilty on AFP “dirty war”, as well as political crimes, including former Buenos Tuesday. One of his employees, Vatican City and legal documents and refer- Aires police chaplain Christian Moises Abraham Millan Esco- ences to the disappeared. Von Wernich, sentenced to life hree former offi cials at bar, pleaded guilty under seal to The country’s bishops were in prison in 2007 for six killings, Venezuela’s state oil com- a conspiracy charge in January, he Vatican yesterday said divided, with many supporting 31 cases of torture and 42 abduc- Tpany have pleaded guilty prosecutors said. it is well on the way to the military over the socialist op- tions. to US charges related to a scheme Lawyers for Rincon, president Topening its archives on position. The famous Grandmothers of by two businessmen to corruptly of Tradequip Services & Marine, Argentina’s “Dirty War”, which Defenders of Pope Francis, for- the Plaza de Mayo organisation, secure energy contracts, the US and Shiera did not respond to re- could bring new evidence to light merly cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, founded in 1977 to help locate justice department said yesterday. quests for comment. Lawyers for on the fate of missing victims. insist he was among those Cath- children kidnapped during the The former offi cials at Petroleos the ex-offi cials could not be im- Cataloguing the records olic clergy who quietly resisted military era, have accused Ber- de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) pleaded mediately identifi ed. “could be completed in the com- the brutal regime, which tortured goglio of failing to do enough - guilty under seal in December to Assistant US attorney gen- ing months, after which the and killed scores of priests, nuns then or now. conspiracy to commit money laun- eral Leslie Caldwell in a statement times and conditions for their and others. At the general audience in dering. Their pleas were unsealed by called the PDVSA case the “result consultation will be studied,” Critics insist Bergoglio failed Saint Peter’s Square yesterday, a federal judge in Houston. of a tenacious and co-ordinated ef- Vatican spokesman Federico to speak out on bishops and top the pontiff met with mothers of The ex-PDVSA offi cials are Jose fort by our prosecutors and agents Lombardi said. church offi cials who turned a blind disappeared people and kissed Luis Ramos Castillo, 38; Christian to unravel a complex web of bribes The announcement came on eye to the abuses or openly sided Francoise Tisseau, the mother Javier Maldonado Barillas, 39; and paid to Venezuelan offi cials.” the eve of the 40th anniversary with the military dictatorship. of French victim Marie Anne Alfonzo Eliezer Gravina Munoz, 53. The indictment said Rincon, of a coup on March 24, 1976, Two Catholic priests and a Erize Tisseau, who disappeared The US justice department 55, and Shiera, 52, conspired to which installed the military dic- layman murdered during the re- in 1976. said each has admitted to ac- pay bribes to offi cials to secure tatorship that would hold sway gime in 1976 are being consid- “This kiss is for all the mothers cepting bribes from two Ven- contracts from PDVSA. until 1983 and kill an estimated ered for sainthood under a proc- who have suff ered the disappear- ezuelan businessmen, Roberto It also said fi ve PDVSA offi cials 30,000 people. ess launched by Bergoglio when ance of their children,” she told Rincon and Abraham Jose Shi- received hundreds of thousands The archives contain reports he was the archbishop of Buenos Francis. Cuban migrants wait for donated food at an old hotel used era Bastidas, who were charged of dollars in bribes made through by the Vatican’s ambassadors Aires. Tisseau’s sister Marie Noelle as a provisional shelter in Paso Canoas, at the border with in December with violating the wire transfers, mortgage pay- to Buenos Aires on the stances But other priests have been said: “it was a very emotional Costa Rica, in Panama. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. ments, airline tickets and, in one taken by Argentine bishops in the implicated in the regime’s moment, we all cried”. Shiera, who lives in Miami and case, alcohol. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 25 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, accompanied by other dignitaries, watches the parade on Pakistan Day in Islamabad yesterday. Above: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shakes hands with President Mamnoon Hussain as he arrives at the venue for the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad. Military might displayed at Pakistan Day parade

Islamabad Agencies

resident Mamnoon Hus- sain presided over the mil- Pitary parade to mark Paki- stan Day in Islamabad yesterday morning, praising the security forces, and pledging to continue the fi ght against terrorism. During the rally, attended by several thousand people, Paki- stani armed forces displayed nu- clear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems. Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the Lahore Reso- lution, when a separate nation for the Muslims of The British Indian Empire was demanded on March 23, 1940 as well as the declaration of the republic on the same day in 1956. Camel-mounted soldiers stage a parade during Pakistan Day The celebrations commenced celebrations yesterday. with a pledge to make the coun- try stronger by wiping out the menace of terrorism, achieving sustainable economic growth and political stability. The highlight of the day was the joint military parade which was held at the Parade Ground The Shaheen-III missile is displayed during the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad, Below: Pakistani schooldhildren stage a parade. near the Shakarparian hills in Is- lamabad. repeated that Operation Zarb- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, i-Azb, the anti-terror operation President Mamnoon Hussain, started after the Karachi airport Chief of Army Staff General Ra- attack, will not be stopped until heel Sharif, Chief of Naval Staff the elimination of last terrorist Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah from Pakistani soil. and Defence Minister Khawaja He reiterated the country’s Asif witnessed the parade, and stance that Pakistan’s nuclear were later joined by Chief of the stockpile is for country’s safety Spectators watch an aerobatics show performed by Air Staff Air Chief Marshal So- and it does not intend to go to Pakistan Air Force. hail Aman on the podium. war with any country unless President Hussain delivered forced to take such a route.“We a speech to the participants of are a peaceful nation and have the parade in which he lauded never participated in any arms Pakistan Army’s sacrifi ces and race,” the president said. Page 31

Pakistani, Indian armies exchange sweets on LoC The Indian and Pakistani armies yesterday exchanged sweets and greetings on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir to com- memorate Pakistan Day. Meanwhile in New Delhi, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar yesterday attended the Pakistan Day function at the high commission as the off icial representative of the Indian government. Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar and eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani were also present. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Pakistan on their National Day.“Greetings to the people of Pakistan on their National Day,” he tweeted.

Tainted liquor death toll Potential child suicide bomber Iranian president to rises to 40 in Pakistan surrenders to Afghan forces visit Pakistan this week

Reuters “It’s a Holi celebration-re- AFP Pakistan Prime Minister Islamabad lated incident as mostly Hindus DPA said police spokesman Hazrat how to surrender,” said Mashri- Islamabad Nawaz Sharif visited Iran in have been aff ected,” he said. Kabul Hussain Mashriqiwal. qiwal. May 2014 and in January this Deaths from tainted liquor, According to the spokesman, Some Pakistani madrasas are year to try to ease tensions be- t least 40 people, often home-brewed, have Abuzar hails from the Pakistani considered hubs of extremism. ranian President Hassan tween Iran and Saudi Arabia. mostly from Pakistan’s occurred periodically in Pa- 12-year-old boy named city of Peshawar and had been According to reports, suicide Rouhani will visit Paki- Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic Aminority Hindu com- kistan, where it is illegal for Abuzar, who was alleg- trained at a madrasa to carry out bombers might be recruited Istan this week for talks ties with Iran in early January munity, have died and dozens Muslims to buy or consume Aedly trained as a suicide a suicide mission against secu- and trained in these religious on improving relations and after protesters burned Saudi were taken to hospital after alcohol. Minorities need per- bomber in Pakistan, has sur- rity forces in Afghanistan. schools. strengthening economic links, diplomatic missions in Iran. drinking tainted liquor days mits to buy alcohol in restrict- rendered himself to Nangarhar However, the boy then decid- According to a report pub- the foreign ministry said yes- Pakistan is counting on a ahead of a major festival, po- ed quantities. police, a police offi cial said yes- ed to surrender to Lal Pur police lished by Human Rights Watch terday. joint project with Iran to solve lice said yesterday. Non-Muslims make up only terday. on Friday, Mashriqiwal said. in late February, the Taliban and It said the lifting of sanc- a long-running power cri- Most of the victims were about 3% of the 190mn popu- According to the police, the “He was here to carry out a Haqqani extremist networks in- tions on Iran following its nu- sis that has sapped economic from the Hindu Kohli com- lation of Pakistan. boy had crossed the border near suicide bombing against Afghan creasingly have been recruiting clear deal with the West “has growth and left its 200mn munity who had been drinking In 2014, 23 people, mostly the eastern Afghan town of security forces, but went against children to their forces. opened new avenues for en- people fuming at incessant on Monday ahead of today’s young Muslims, died and 22 Torkham and was waiting for his that decision when he saw that The report says, “Taliban have hancing economic interaction”. electricity cuts. Holi festival, which marks were admitted to hospital after handler. Afghan security forces are Mus- been training and deploying Rouhani would also discuss A $7.5-bn Iran-Pakistan gas the beginning of spring, Irfan they consumed home-made “The boy was waiting for a lims and pray,” Mashriqiwal children for various military op- co-operation on regional and pipeline intended to feed Pa- Baluch, a senior police offi cial toxic liquor in diff erent parts man who was supposed to bring added. erations including the produc- international issues during his kistani power plants was in- in Tando Mohamed Khan dis- of Karachi during the Eid holi- him a suicide vest in Lal Pur dis- “Abuzar then asked the Mul- tion and planting of improvised visit tomorrow and Saturday, augurated with great fanfare in trict, east of Karachi, said. days. trict of Nangharhar that day,” lah of the mosque to show him explosive devices (IED).” the ministry said. March 2013. Gulf Times 26 Thursday, March 24, 2016 PHILIPPINES Thousands of Tight security at airport overseas workers to be displaced : labour dept

By Nelson S Badilla the OFWs’ claims before they Manila Times leave and pay the remaining 80% through the Philippine Embassy under a special power he Department of La- of attorney (SPA) as previously bour and Employment agreed upon by the Filipino T(DOLE) has virtu- labour offi cials and the fi rm’s ally admitted that thousands offi cials. of overseas Filipino workers As for Saudi Oger, Lagunzad (OFWs) from the Kingdom of and Valenciano said they got Saudi Arabia (KSA) will be dis- an assurance that the company placed. will pay the OFWs’ delayed But DOLE Secretary Ro- salaries, which will start by the salinda Baldoz however gave end of March until the salaries assurances that the aff ected will become current by June OFWs from three big fi rms will this year. receive their wages, including While waiting for the pay- back pay and their benefi ts. ment, the aff ected workers can The fi nancially troubled request fi nancial support for fi rms are the Mohamed Al Mo- their daily needs, according to jil Group of Company (MMG), the two labour offi cials. Saudi Oger Ltd and the Saudi Saudi Oger president Farid Binladen Group (SBLG). Chaker said that some 224 Baldoz said Filipino labour OFWs will receive their sala- offi cials headed by Undersec- ries and end-of-service ben- retary Ciriaco Lagunzad and efi ts by April 2016. Philippine Overseas Employ- For SBLG, Filipino labour ment Administration (POEA) offi cials said the aff ected OFWs Director Albert Valenciano will have to execute individual have sought assistance from written complaints so that the Saudi Arabian labour offi cials company will recognise them and also requested the three and the Filipino labour offi cials Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) aviation security group with a sniff ing dog inspect baggages of an airline passenger outside the Ninoy Aquino International beleaguered fi rms’ offi cials to based in KSA could legally refer Airport in Manila yesterday. pay the wages and benefi ts of them to Saudi Arabian labour the aff ected OFWs. ministry offi cials for proper She said the OFWs will get processing of their documents their exit visas (for workers and payments of their salaries whose contracts have expired) and benefi ts. and the payment of penal- A team from the Labour de- ties for expired work permits partment also worked on the (Iqama). fi nal exit visas of 152 OFWs Lagunzad and Valenciano from eastern KSA. informed Baldoz that the Mo- DOLE offi cials said 260 hamed Al Mojil Group of Com- more OFWs recently manifest- pany is expected to pay 20% of ed their wish to be repatriated. Poll candidates take Robredo to intensify campaign in Luzon Holy Week break Manila Times grimage site for many Filipinos marginalised, lost,” he said. Their eldest son, Ferdinand and fi nd meaning in our Lord’s Manila and is believed to be a “holy Similarly, vice presidential Alexander, also known as San- sacrifi ce and make it our anchor Manila Times that those visits are making a mountain”, as it is a spiritually- candidate Sen. Ferdinand Mar- dro, 22, is in the country and for our own trials and suff erings San Fernando, Pampanga dent in those areas,” Robredo charged location. cos Jr will spend Holy Week with sometimes pitches in as speaker with the hope that in the end told reporters here. ven those running for na- The mountain and its envi- his family. He said he is excited every time the senator is not there is joy, resurrection and sal- In the latest Pulse Asia survey, tional positions in the May rons are considered sacred by lo- because his two sons who are available. He works in the Senate vation for each one of us,” Mar- iberal Party (LP) vice Robredo trailed Escudero and Eelections are taking a break cal residents; the water from its studying in London are com- offi ce of his father. cos said. presidential candidate Marcos badly in the National for Holy Week. sacred springs are also deemed ing home. Marcos said the Holy Marcos has almost covered The tandem of Senators Grace LLeni Robredo will be fo- Capital Region (NCR) where United Nationalist Alliance “holy” for supposedly having Week is a good break after six the entire Luzon after six weeks Poe and Francis Escudero will cusing her campaign in Luzon there are 6mn registered voters. (UNA) standard bearer Je- benefi cial qualities. weeks of sorties and taking his of campaigning. He had been in also be taking a break from cam- for most of the time as she Robredo only scored 12% in the jomar Binay will be on the mys- Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Unity campaign to every nook Mindanao and Cebu. paign activities to spend time plays catch up to her seasoned NCR, a far cry from Escudero’s tic Mount Banahaw in Quezon Duterte will be keeping his yearly and corner of the country. Immediately after Holy Week, with their respective families. rivals, Senators Ferdinand 35% and Marcos’ 30%. province where he will refl ect ritual of praying, refl ecting, and “Just by coincidence, two of he will bring his Unity team to According to Poe, she plans to “Bongbong” Marcos Jr and “That’s why for the last few and meditate before returning to spending time with his fam- my sons are coming this Thurs- Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac. visit her family and spend more Francis Escudero. weeks, I will concentrate on rigid campaigning. ily during Holy Week, said his day and Friday. We will stay to- A staunch Catholic, Marcos time refl ecting and praying. She Robredo disclosed this ma- Luzon. It’s really hard work. I According to Joey Salgado, spokesman, Peter Laviña. gether in Manila. We used to be spends a few minutes saying a is also planning for Visita Ig- noeuvre after the Pulse Asia know the limitations because UNA’s campaign communica- “Like most Filipinos, he (Du- either in Ilocos or in Baguio, but short prayer inside the church of lesia, a Catholic Lenten tradi- survey conducted from March by many miles, my rivals pre- tions director and one of Binay’s terte) will spend it privately, rest, now I am excited to experience a city or town he visits like Man- tion to visit seven churches and 8-13 showed Robredo still at pared long ahead of me so I am spokesmen, the vice president pray and refl ect,” Pete Lavina traffi c-less Manila,” Marcos told aoag Shrine in Pangasinan and to pray the Stations of the Cross. third place with 20%, behind really working hard,” Robredo usually treks up the “holy” told Manila Times in a text mes- reporters. the shrine of Our Lady of Piat in It is done during Maundy Thurs- Escudero with 24% and Mar- pointed out. mountain every Maundy Thurs- sage. Two of his children, Joseph Cagayan. day. cos topping the fi eld for the “As much as possible, I want day. “He (Duterte) said in jest, he Simon, 21, and William Vincent, In his Holy Week message, he Poe said there are a lot of fi rst time with 25%. to personally go and cover all “He has been doing this even will be nailed to the cross.What 19, are now in college in separate exhorted Filipinos to refl ect. things she wanted to pray for, in- “I will pay more attention places. I can do that with hard before becoming vice president. he meant was to embrace and schools in London. The senator “Let us celebrate the Holy cluding the opportunity to serve to Luzon because for the past work, but given the time, it is He visits various places, lights embody the suff erings of Jesus himself is a product of schools in Week in the spirit of forgive- and help to uplift the living con- several months, I have been in physically impossible. And so candles and says prayers,” Sal- Christ because this is the same England. ness, love of family and our fel- dition of the people, particularly the Visayas and Mindanao and my children are helping me gado told Manila Times. suff erings of many of our people. Marcos is married to Louise lowmen and unity towards the the poor, in accordance to what we have seen in survey results out,” Robredo added. Banahaw is a traditional pil- They are persecuted, neglected, Cancho Araneta, a lawyer. greater good. May all of us revisit God wants. Penitent seeks renewal in painful, peculiar Easter rite

DPA Enaje said the experience is encourage the practice, which San Pedro Cutud, Philippines uplifting when his cross is hoist- began in 1962, but neither does ed. it act to stop the rituals that have “I feel like there is a big man, become a major tourist draw. or each of the past 30 years, embracing me and covering me Every year, church leaders re- Ruben Enaje has had him- from the heat and the pain,” mind the faithful that there are Fself nailed to a cross as part he said. “Later, when the nails other ways to do penance, such of the highlight of Easter cel- are moved and my wounds are as going to confession, attending ebrations in the predominantly cleaned, I feel light and re- Mass and helping neighbours. Catholic Philippines. newed,” he added. A spokesman for the Catholic Enaje, 56, takes the lead role in Enaje began his penance as a Bishops Conference of the Phil- the annual re-enactment of Je- thanksgiving one year after he ippines, Jerome Secillano, said sus Christ’s suff ering and cruci- fell from a scaff olding from the that it was not the institution’s fi xion in the village of San Pedro third fl oor of a building but es- place to praise or condemn peo- Cutud in San Fernando City, caped unharmed. ple like Enaje. Pampanga province, about 60 He later off ered penance for “Only God I think can make a kilometres north of Manila. the quick recovery of a daughter proper determination on wheth- He said he does not consider and his wife who got sick. er a person is good or bad,” he himself a particularly devout Filipino Ruben Enaje undergoes ceremonial crucifixion each year. Right: Enaje holds up the steel nails used to nail the signwriter to a cross each year As he continued to join the said.“The Church recognises man, but he has not missed a in a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. crucifi xion, Enaje said his life that culture and popular belief year since 1986. improved and he met people who play a great part in the prolif- Thousands of people from crucifi ed as the visitors watch, crucifi ed every Good Friday as ties and guidance for their lives ous already,” he said. “I pray for helped him get more work and eration of this practice ... Hence, around the Philippines and some in awe and prayer and oth- long as his body allows him, in to get better. strength, I pray for those who save money.Soon, people were the Church simply respects this abroad fl ock to a dusty hill in ers as mere spectators to the gory hopes of reminding people about “I don’t pray for money. will nail me and I pray for those asking him to pray for them. peculiar expression of faith,” San Pedro Cutud to watch Enaje annual show. Jesus Christ’s sacrifi ce. Can you imagine the trouble it who will visit us.” “Every time he contem- Secillano said. and several other penitents get The grandfather of fi ve said “Beyond the spectacle, I hope would cause if God showers me The worst and most pain- plated stopping, something bad Enaje’s wife, Juanita, 52, nailed on wooden crosses every he used to watch the nails being the people who come to see the with cash?” he said, jokingly. “I ful part in the ritual for Enaje is would happen,” said EJ, Enaje’s shrugged off any criticisms of Good Friday, usually under the hammered through his palms, re-enactment will also refl ect on ask him for work, I ask him for when the nails are removed from 30-year-old daughter who be- her husband. scorching sun. but lately he has been closing his how Jesus Christ saved us from health.” his palms and feet. came critically ill when she was “The important thing is that Dozens of other penitents, eyes to help deal with the pain. our sins,” he said. “I hope they Enaje, who has four children, “Sometimes the nails get pregnant with her fi rst child 12 we believe in God and we may walking barefoot and their backs “It has become more painful also remember to pray.” said he does not carry out any crooked and end up gouging years ago. have diff erent ways of showing bloody from being whipped, because the nails pass through The signpost painter said he special preparations ahead of more fl esh from the wound as “I know it’s hard for him, but our faith, and this is our way, so I tread a path through the village. the same spot every time,” he also wants to remind people that the crucifi xion, except to pray as they are pulled out,” he said. But he does it for us,” she said, her hope they respect that,” she said. Each time, Enaje carries a said. they should not expect God to much as he can. he noted that he has never expe- eyes tearing up. “I got well be- “No one gets hurt. Many peo- heavy wooden cross for more Despite the pain, Enaje said he shower them with money, and “Months before Good Fri- rienced any infection or compli- cause he was nailed to the cross.” ple even ask our help to pray for than a kilometre before he is plans to continue his vow to be instead to give them opportuni- day, I already feel a little nerv- cation from the nailing. The Catholic Church does not them, and we do.” Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 27 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Kathmandu Man in cyber heist ‘to signs deal answer everything’ with Beijing There is no trace of those behind the cording to Fernandez. He declined to give went missing while he was assisting a a motorised rickshaw by people in plain hack more details on Wong, including his oc- police investigation into an attempted clothes who blindfolded him and drove off for petrol cupation. $951mn electronic theft from the central with him in a vehicle, his wife said. Reuters Unknown hackers breached the com- bank’s computers, returned home early Kamrun Nahar said at the time that Manila puter systems of Bangladesh Bank in early yesterday, his wife said. police had refused to investigate her hus- Reuters cording to a joint statement February and attempted to steal $951mn Tanveer Hassan Zoha disappeared last band’s disappearance and she appealed to Beijing from the two governments. from its account at the Federal Reserve Thursday, two days after he accompanied the government for help to free him. China will also build oil stor- Chinese man settled in the Phil- Bank of New York, which it uses for inter- special police to the offi ces of the Bangla- On Thursday she thanked reporters for age facilities for Nepal, and will ippines who is suspected to have national settlements. desh Bank and told reporters that he knew putting pressure on the government to hina has agreed to sup- send experts to Nepal to carry Areceived part of the $81mn stolen Some attempted transfers were blocked, three of the user IDs that hackers deployed fi nd her husband. ply petroleum products out a feasibility study on oil from the Bangladesh central bank will but $81mn wound up in the Philippines. to carry out the largest cyber heist in his- The government has also fi red two Cto Nepal, a landlocked and gas resources research. reveal all he knows about the heist next The Philippines’ anti-money launder- tory. deputy central bank governors, but is no and impoverished country The two countries will also week, his lawyer said yesterday. ing council described Wong as the presi- Police delivered him to their Dhaka closer to solving the attack on its com- which has been trying to lessen set up an energy cooperation According to a complaint fi led by a gov- dent and general manager of Eastern Ha- home, his wife Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury puter systems. It has blamed the New its dependence on India, its mechanism to study longer- ernment agency in Manila, Kim Wong, waii, a company that runs a casino resort said, although his disappearance was still York Fed for lapses and said it has hired a large neighbour to the south. term projects such as a trans- described as a Chinese casino resort man- in the northern Philippines, in a criminal a mystery. lawyer for a potential lawsuit against it. After a visit to Beijing by border power grid, hydro ager, received around $21mn of the funds. complaint fi led at the Justice Department She said the police told them he was Bangladesh’s central bank has hired a US Nepali prime minister K P Oli, power and solar power, the Victor Fernandez, a lawyer for 53-year on Tuesday. found loitering around Dhaka airport. “He lawyer for a potential lawsuit against the the two countries said yester- statement, carried by China’s old Wong, told Reuters his client would re- According to the 9-page complaint, a was very tired and is sleeping now,” she Federal Reserve Bank of New York after day they have “agreed to con- offi cial Xinhua news agency, spond to the complaint at a senate hearing copy of which was seen by Reuters, P1bn, said. hackers stole $81mn from its account with clude a commercial deal on the added. next week. or $21mn, of the $81mn ended up in a Phil- Hackers breached the computer sys- the NY Fed, according to an internal report supply of petroleum products Nepal, which serves as a Wong was summoned by the Senate last ippine bank account of Eastern Hawaii tems of Bangladesh Bank in early Febru- by the Bangladesh bank. from China to Nepal”. natural buff er between China week but Fernandez represented him at between February 10-11.Reuters made re- ary and attempted to steal $951mn from After the report surfaced on Tuesday Kathmandu says it wants to and India, adopted its fi rst the hearing and said his client was in Sin- peated attempts to contact the company, its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, US import 33% of Nepal’s annual post-monarchy constitu- gapore. He returned on Sunday, Fernandez but there has been no response. New York, which it uses for international Representative Carolyn Maloney called demand of 1.8mn tonnes of pe- tion in September hoping this said. Wong made several withdrawals settlements. Some transfers were blocked for a probe of last month’s cyber attack on troleum products from China, would usher in peace and sta- “He will answer everything. He will not from the account totalling P900.48mn but $81mn was moved to accounts in the Bangladesh Bank. but trade offi cials say poor bility after years of confl ict. invoke his right to remain silent,” Fernan- ($19.45mn) between Feb 10-26, the com- Philippines. “This brazen heist from the Bangladesh connectivity and logistics, But protesters oppos- dez said. “He will answer these questions plaint said. The theft has already led to the resigna- central bank’s account at the New York Fed high costs and transportation ing the new constitution in open session.” It did not give full details but said the tion of Bangladesh’s central bank governor. threatens to undermine the confi dence through diffi cult Himalayan blocked trucks from India, Wong is scheduled to appear when the transfers included one on Feb 10 to Wong’s Before his disappearance, Zoha spent that foreign central banks have in the Fed- terrain pose a challenge to any leading to acute shortages Senate resumes its hearing into the scan- personal account in the same bank. The several hours with members of a special eral Reserve, and in the safety and sound- fuel trade between the two of fuel and medicine. Nepal dal on March 29. next day, he withdrew 400mn pesos in police force at the central bank trying to ness of international monetary transac- countries. blamed New Delhi for siding Wong is a Chinese national but has lived cash from that account, it said. identify the culprits behind the theft. tions,” Maloney, a New York Democrat, Under the agreement, com- with the protesters, a charge in the Philippines for nearly 50 years, ac- A Bangladeshi cyber crime expert who Two days later, he was taken away from said in a statement. panies will be encouraged to India denied. speed up negotiations on is- The border blockade ended sues including transportation, last month but supply of oil quality control, and customs and cooking gas has yet to re- Prince Harry extends Nepal trip and frontier formalities, ac- turn to normal. Sri Lanka’s airline to help earthquake victims unable to repay

AFP Kathmandu $1bn debt, says PM

ritain’s Prince Harry announced AFP A mounting debt crisis of during an offi cial visit to Nepal yes- Colombo its own has forced the govern- Bterday that he would extend his trip ment to request a bailout of by six days to help rebuild a village school its own from the International damaged during last year’s earthquake. ri Lanka’s loss-making Monetary Fund. During his stay, the prince met with national carrier will not The beleaguered national families still living in camps after a devas- Sbe able to repay its debt carrier has drawn controversy tating 7.8-magnitude earthquake last April of nearly $1bn, Prime Min- in recent years after an inde- destroyed their homes and killed nearly ister Ranil Wickremesinghe pendent investigator last year 9,000 people. told parliament yesterday. found evidence of serious cor- “The people I have met and the beauty With its own fi nances in a ruption in a $2.3bn deal to buy of this country make it very hard to leave. rocky state, the government Airbus aircraft. Thankfully however, I’m not leaving just will decide within six weeks Wickremesinghe said yes- yet,” he said at a reception hosted by the whether it can aff ord to take terday he was still review- British embassy in Kathmandu. over SriLankan Airlines’ debt ing the deal, reached under “I will be spending the next six days repayments, the premier the administration of former in a remote village with a charity called said. president Mahinda Rajapakse Team Rubicon. The team I’m joining will State enterprise develop- despite huge losses at the air- be working with a community to rebuild a ment minister Kabir Hashim, line. school damaged in the earthquake.” who oversees the carrier, ear- The deal is also being Harry, 31, also visited quake-hit heritage lier this month put its debt probed by the police Finan- sites and relief projects led by Gurkha sol- at $933mn but yesterday it cial Crime Investigation Di- diers on his fi rst trip to the country, which Prince Harry poses with staff at Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu. emerged the fi gure could be vision. celebrates 200 years of joint relations be- higher. Last month ratings agency tween Nepal and Britain. “What happened in this country a year the Himalayas and a trip to Bardia National mountaineering industry, key revenue- “The minister says the ac- Fitch cut Sri Lanka’s credit rat- His visit to a makeshift school -- set ago was a tragic disaster but the people I Park, famous for its tiger conservation ef- earners for the impoverished Himalayan tual debt is likely to be much ing by one notch to B+ with a up after the quake damaged the original met showed me that everyone’s focused on forts, would encourage tourists to travel to nation. more than what we initially negative outlook over its debt building -- coincided with Holi, the Hindu the work ahead,” he said. the country. Nepal, a former kingdom, has been visit- feared,” Wickremesinghe said crisis. festival of colours, and he joined in cel- A member of the British army for 10 “You have to come and walk in the ed by Q ueen Elizabeth and Prince Philip as during a parliamentary debate Negotiations are also un- ebrations, covering fellow revellers with years before retiring in June, he served foothills of the Himalayas - watching the well as Prince Charles and Princess Diana. on the economy. derway for a $1bn currency red powder. along with Gurkha troops in Afghani- sunrise over those majestic mountains is The British army’s 2,500-strong Gurkha “SriLankan Airlines will swap with a Chinese state- The prince’s tour also included a night in a stan. something I will never forget,” he said. brigade is made up of soldiers recruited in not be able to repay this debt. owned bank to shore up the village where he was hosted by a Gurkha sol- The prince had said on his arrival that Following the earthquake, Nepal is Nepal and has been part of the military for We will have to take a deci- country’s dwindling foreign dier’s widow who lost her home in the quake. he hoped his visit, which included a trek in desperate to revive tourism including its 200 years. sion on this.” reserves. Bangladesh local election violence kills 11

AFP ing and offi cers fi red at thousands of and fraud in the polls, including ballot- “Also a lot of ruling party candidates Dhaka unruly people who attacked us with stuffi ng by ruling party supporters. were elected unopposed, which is quite machetes, rocks and sticks,” district The BNP boycotted a general elec- abnormal. police chief Walid Hossain told AFP. tion in 2014 but returned to politics “We suspect that they intimidated t least 11 people have been killed “Three people died on the spot and last year after three months of crip- their rivals. Unfortunately, the Elec- in local election-related vio- two on the way to hospital,” he said, pling protests failed to unseat the tion Commission is reluctant to inves- Alence in Bangladesh, seven of adding that another fi ve people were prime minister. tigate these unopposed elections.” them shot dead by security forces, po- hurt. “They are holding another farcical Bangladesh’s election commission lice said yesterday as a political crisis Another police offi cial said all the election,” party spokesman Ruhul Ka- has faced criticism in the past and last deepened. victims were supporters of the ruling bir Rizvi told AFP yesterday. year the main opposition party pulled The opposition said there had also Awami League who had apparently “Ruling party supporters controlled out of mayoral elections saying the been widespread vote-rigging in the attacked police fearing a local loss for voting centres and stuff ed ballot boxes polls were rigged. elections for thousands of local coun- their party. even before the polls began. It’s noth- The council elections will be held cils across the country, which began on Security forces also shot and killed ing short of vote stealing,” he added. in six phases and will not change the Tuesday and will run for four months. two people in the southeastern coastal Both the ruling party and the elec- political landscape of the country, but Impoverished Bangladesh has been town of Sabrang when supporters of tion commission said the polls had a sweeping victory would consolidate plagued by unrest since 2014 elections a rebel ruling party candidate tried to been fair. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s hold that the opposition boycotted and ex- snatch ballot boxes from paramilitary But one independent election ob- on power. perts say the gridlock has led to a rise in forces, local police chief Kabir Hossain server called the violence “unprec- Local newspapers said Hasina’s radicalism in the conservative nation, told AFP. edented” and said as many as 3,000 Awami League had won more than two which has seen a spate of killings of Four more died in other parts of the people had been wounded in the run- thirds of the councils in the fi rst round atheist bloggers, religious minorities country as voting began Tuesday in up to the polls, a fi gure AFP could not of the polls. and foreigners. the elections for more than 6,000 local immediately confi rm. Authorities were forced to suspend Much of the latest violence was in councils across the country. “What we’ve learnt is that some 20 procedures in around 60 centres, but the southern coastal town of Math- Even before the polls opened on people were killed during election and the election commission said the vot- abria, where clashes broke out when Tuesday local media had reported that pre-election violence and as many as ing was largely fair. thousands of ruling party support- 10 more people had died in pre-elec- 3,000 people were injured,” said Ab- “There were some stray incidents in ers attacked police and border guards tion violence. dul Alim, director of the independ- some places,” said chief election com- taking ballot boxes to the government A spokesman for the opposition ent Election Working Group which missioner Kazir Rakibuddin Ahmed. headquarters. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is funded by the US charity the Asia “There has been violence and irreg- “A magistrate ordered the shoot- said there had been widespread rigging Foundation. ularities. It was unfortunate.” The relative of a man killed during post-election violence reacts in Pirojpur. Gulf Times 28 Thursday, March 24, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed The new generation gap and Production Editor: C P Ravindran

P.O.Box 2888 changing political landscape Doha, Qatar [email protected] Today’s young university job security, to marry young, to buy These struggles mean that young centre-right parties in Europe are Telephone 44350478 (news), graduates are burdened with a house – perhaps a summer house, people are not thinking much about losing. 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) too – and fi nally retire with reasonable retirement. If they did, they would America is in a strange position: Fax 44350474 debt – the poorer they are, security. Overall, they expected to be only be frightened by how much while the Republican presidential the more they owe better off than their parents. they will need to accumulate to live candidates compete on demagoguery, While today’s older generation a decent life (beyond bare social with ill-thought-through proposals By Joseph E Stiglitz encountered bumps along the way, security), given the likely persistence that would make matters worse, both New York for the most part, their expectations of rock-bottom interest rates. of the Democratic candidates are were met. They may have made more In short, today’s young people proposing changes which – if they on capital gains on their homes than view the world through the lens could only get them through Congress GULF TIMES omething interesting has from working. They almost surely of intergenerational fairness. The – would make a real diff erence. emerged in voting patterns found that strange, but they willingly children of the upper middle class Were the reforms put forward by on both sides of the Atlantic: accepted the gift of our speculative may do well in the end, because Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders SYoung people are voting in markets, and often gave themselves they will inherit wealth from their adopted, the fi nancial system’s ability ways that are markedly diff erent from credit for buying in the right place at parents. While they may not like to prey on those already leading a their elders. A great divide appears to the right time. this kind of dependence, they dislike precarious life would be curbed. And Gender pay row have opened up, based not so much on even more the alternative: a “fresh both have proposals for deep reforms income, education, or gender as on the Words like socialism start” in which the cards are stacked that would change how America voters’ generation. against their attainment of anything fi nances higher education. There are good reasons for this do not convey the approaching what was once viewed as But more needs to be done to make is not restricted divide. The lives of both old and a basic middle-class lifestyle. home ownership possible not just young, as they are now lived, are meaning they These inequities cannot easily be for those with parents who can give diff erent. Their pasts are diff erent, and explained away. It isn’t as if these them a down payment, and to make so are their prospects. once did young people didn’t work hard: these retirement security possible, given to tennis alone The Cold War, for example, was over hardships aff ect those who spent long the vagaries of the stock market and even before some were born and while Today, the expectations of hours studying, excelled in school, and the near-zero-interest world we have others were still children. young people, wherever they are did everything “right”. entered. Most important, the young Sport is not much good at keeping pace with social and Words like socialism do not in the income distribution, are the The sense of social injustice – that will not fi nd a smooth path into the cultural change. But sometimes it can help make change convey the meaning they once did. opposite. They face job insecurity the economic game is rigged – is job market unless the economy is happen, casting unexpected light on attitudes that are If socialism means creating a society throughout their lives. On average, enhanced as they see the bankers performing much better. where shared concerns are not given many college graduates will search who brought on the fi nancial The “offi cial” unemployment rate kept hidden in other arenas. short shrift – where people care about for months before they fi nd a job – crisis, the cause of the economy’s in the US, at 4.9%, masks much higher Take domestic violence in the world of football–both other people and the environment in often only after having taken one or continuing malaise, walk away with levels of disguised unemployment, kinds on both sides of the Atlantic–where sport has been which they live – so be it. Yes, there two unpaid internships. And they mega-bonuses, with almost no one which, at the very least, are holding a catalyst to changes of attitude. This week it may be the may have been failed experiments count themselves lucky, because they being held accountable for their down wages. turn of tennis to do likewise. under that rubric a quarter- or half- know that their poorer counterparts, wrongdoing. Massive fraud was But we won’t be able to fi x the When Ray Moore–now the former chief executive of century ago; but today’s experiments some of whom did better in school, committed, but somehow, no one problem if we don’t recognise it. Our bear no resemblance to those of the cannot aff ord to spend a year or two actually perpetrated it. young do. They perceive the absence of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home of the eponymous past. So the failure of those past without income, and do not have the Political elites promised that intergenerational justice, and they are tournament–said the ladies should get down on their experiments says nothing about the connections to get an internship in the “reforms” would bring unprecedented right to be angry. - Project Syndicate knees to give thanks for the brilliance of Roger Federer new ones. fi rst place. prosperity. And they did, but only for and Rafael Nadal because otherwise no one would pay Older upper-middle-class Today’s young university graduates the top 1%. Everyone else, including zJoseph E Stiglitz, recipient of the any attention to female tennis players at all, he was Americans and Europeans have had are burdened with debt – the poorer the young, got unprecedented Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic a good life. When they entered the they are, the more they owe. So they insecurity. Sciences in 2001 and the John Bates talking the kind of gibberish usually heard from people labour force, well-compensated jobs do not ask what job they would like; These three realities – social Clark Medal in 1979, is university who haven’t thought about the subject at all. were waiting for them. The question they simply ask what job will enable injustice on an unprecedented scale, professor at Columbia University, co- Novak Djokovic–who ought to be a little more sensitive they asked was what they wanted to them to pay their college loans, which massive inequities and a loss of trust chair of the High-Level Expert Group to the issues–underlined the ignorance by pitching in do, not how long they would have to often will burden them for 20 years or in elites – defi ne our political moment, on the Measurement of Economic with some dim ideas about hormones and the failure of live with their parents before they got more. and rightly so. Performance and Social Progress at a job that enabled them to move out. Likewise, buying a home is a distant More of the same is not an answer. the OECD, and chief economist of the women to play fi ve sets and, according to him, to appeal That generation expected to have dream. That is why the centre-left and Roosevelt Institute. to viewers. In the past couple of days, these eccentric sporting ramblings have gained a wider signifi cance as two separate reports confi rm, again, the depth and stubbornness of discrimination against women at work. First, MPs on the UK’s House of Commons women and equalities committee reported that the gender pay gap is still stuck at just below 20%, and is signifi cantly worse for older women and, in particular, older women working part time. When Moore They blame the motherhood gap, with and Djokovic its impact on women’s earning potential say women are of taking time off to diff erent, what care for families and– having criticised the they really government for failing to develop a strategy mean is inferior to ensure women do not repeat the pattern created by their mothers–they recommend better rights to fl exible working and non-transferable parental leave for fathers and “second parents”. That’s good; but not good enough. Hours after the MPs’ report, the Equality and Human Rights Commission published government-backed research showing that three-quarters of pregnant women and new mothers report harassment, which is getting worse, not better. That gives the lie to hopes that caring’s value will slowly become better appreciated. Clearly, stronger rights to ask for fl exible hours will not be enough to deliver the revolution in attitudes that is needed. Security off icials outside the damaged front of Zaventem airport in Brussels yesterday. That’s where the tennis Neanderthals might have a part to play. When Moore and Djokovic say women are diff erent, what they really mean is inferior. They mean, say, that most Brussels bombs expose transport vulnerabilities top male players could easily defeat most top female ones. But, fi rstly, many tennis fans claim a good women’s match is better viewing than the kind of power shootout By Sonia Wolf and is greater when the perpetrators target “If you set up checks at the entrance Europe is the “big missing piece” in that men’s tennis sometimes becomes. That may be why, Helene Duvigneau unsecured areas such as the check-in to airports you going to clog up the transport security, Savary said, urging Paris security analysts say area of the departure hall in Brussels’ airports, you are going to make it the bloc to enact ground transport as Serena Williams pointed out the other day, the US Zaventem airport, prior to the passport impossible for the economy to work,” security legislation such as that women’s fi nal sold out before the men’s last year. and baggage controls, he said. Cazeneuve said. implemented in the air industry after And, secondly, women are willing to play fi ve sets. It he Brussels bombings “This causes a headache for “If you create queues in front of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New is TV that wants to keep sports events short. Another exposed the vulnerability of security agencies that have focused airports, you also create targets for York and Washington. criticism of women, that their results are uneven, might publically-accessible zones primarily on the passenger screening terrorists,” he added. A foiled militant attack in August in crowded airports, railway checkpoint, with some success as Extremists will always fi nd a weak last year on a high-speed Amsterdam- be negated if they were allowed to play fi ve sets, as longer T stations and subway systems to terror terrorist organisations seem to have spot, said David Bentley, British Paris train operated by Thalys, matches tend to favour the stronger player. attacks, and it is a risk that can never altered their modus operandi,” Vogel aeronautics expert, in a written reply followed by the November 13 Paris The important point is that, as long as diff erent is be completely eliminated. said. to questions from AFP. attacks, prompted Thalys to install seen as synonymous with inferior, the idea that treating Islamic State-linked militants “They will attack people arriving passenger metal detectors and baggage women equally isn’t fair to men is legitimised. See targeted that weak spot when they “Aviation and public in vehicles, on public transport etc.,” X-ray scanners for access to its detonated bombs that tore through the Bentley said. platforms in December. diff erence as the source of strength it is, however, and main hall of Brussels airport and blew transport in general “The logistics of locking down an France’s national railway operator discrimination stops being just morally wrong, and up a city-centre metro train, killing airport like that is contrary to the free- SNCF said this week that it spends becomes practically indefensible too. about 30 people and wounding more remain an attractive fl ow of traffi c by which it sustains itself. more than 400mn euros ($450mn) a than 200. Imagine if cars were stopped kilometres year on security. The bombers carried out their target for terrorist from the airport to be searched. Where, The SNCF is also developing attacks in high-profi le transport hubs exactly, without causing huge traffi c new systems to detect explosives To Advertise in the Belgian capital, home of Nato groups” jams?” Bentley added. and weapons, as well as behaviour headquarters and the European Union, “Realistically, only better analysis software, in co-ordination [email protected] during a period when the country was In Europe, most airport arrival and intelligence will prevail.” with the French regulator of personal Display under a high security alert just four departure halls are freely accessible French lawmaker, Gilles Savary, data protection, management said. Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 days after the arrest in Brussels of outside of the secured zone that proponent of a new transport security Extending the high security Salah Abdeslam - the prime suspect in lies beyond baggage, passport and law passed by parliament this month, perimeter right up to the entry and Classified the Paris attacks four months earlier customs controls. said the aim was to “tighten the net as exit points of airport terminals Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 that killed 130 people. Security at airport arrival, departure far as possible, knowing that someone would require a complete “While aviation and public and check-in areas can be improved, can always get through”. reconfiguring of terminals at a high Subscription transport in general remain an experts said, but it is diffi cult to “If Zaventem was an inaccessible financial cost and would mean even [email protected] attractive target for terrorist groups, restrict access without paralysing ever bunker they would have hit a market in longer waits for passengers, said the risk can never be 100% eliminated larger airport terminals. Brussels. So we have a choice between Vogel of IHS Janes. as the threat remains,” said Ben Vogel, “You have to be rational and seek ‘bunkerisation’ and daily life, and “The security challenge for land 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved editor of IHS Jane’s Airport Review. maximum effi ciency,” said French between the two there is a risk,” he transport, particularly rail modes, is The challenge of stopping an attack Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. told AFP. even harder,” Vogel added. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 29 COMMENT The perils of excessive dieting

Although teenagers may case of nicotine in cigarettes or amphetamines in certain diet pills, have many reasons for they may lead to addiction and dieting, body image overall damage to their health. It has been found that teenagers dissatisfaction and a aff ected by chronic illness such as desire to be thinner are the diabetes, asthma, attention defi cit disorder and epilepsy are more prone usual motivating factors to be dissatisfi ed with their bodies and practise unhealthy weight loss By Cesar Chelala behaviours. New York In addition, teenagers with signifi cant psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety are also ieting, the conscious control more likely to engage in unhealthy or restriction of the diet dieting practices. to lose weight, has a long Teenagers who engage in weight-loss Dand colourful history. One strategies, particularly when they are of the fi rst dietitians was the English unsupervised, are also more likely to doctor George Cheyne. Because he was practice other risky behaviours such as tremendously overweight, Cheyne substance abuse and suicide attempts. began a vegetarian diet, consuming Girls who are overly concerned about only milk and vegetables. their weight or who are dieting are more He lost a lot of weight and soon likely to start smoking. regained his health. In 1724, he wrote a To prevent youngsters from book in which he recommended fresh following dangerous dieting practises, air and avoiding calories-rich foods to parents and teachers should teach lose weight. teenagers the diff erence between In 1903, US president William “healthy weight” and “cosmetically Howard Taft pledged to slim down desirable weight”. Teenagers should be after he was stuck in a bathtub in the encouraged to accept a realistic weight White House. In the 1950s, according for themselves. to legend, the famous Greek opera Parents and teachers should singer Maria Callas dropped around encourage adolescents to engage 30 kilos on the Tapeworm Diet, after in activities such as sports, artistic swallowing a pill containing the endeavours and participation in parasite. community activities that would Lord Byron, the famous English provide them with a positive self- poet, popularised the vinegar diet in image. the 1820s. In order to cleanse his body Although teenagers may have images in the media. As a result, teenagers increase in frequency with may even aff ect their learning process Children like to imitate their he would drink plenty of vinegar and many reasons for dieting, body image adolescents often engage in unhealthy, age and is more prevalent among girls. at school. If food restriction is greater, parents, teachers and other role water daily. dissatisfaction and a desire to be thinner unnecessary and unsupervised However, there is no socioeconomic it may aff ect their heart, bones, models. It is up to them to help Today, dieting to lose weight is are the usual motivating factors. attempts to lose weight. or ethnic group immune to body and other organs and in extreme prevent the abuse of diets or other practised worldwide, including Adolescents, primarily females, To lose weight, many teenagers dissatisfaction and weight loss situations they may even die due to activities to slim down among adolescents and young people. are also targeted by unrealistically engage in a series of behavioural changes behaviours. malnourishment. adolescents, and help them create a Although in many cases it may be thin images in the media that they and alterations in their eating habits When teens do not consume enough Some teens may use diuretics positive image of their own bodies. good for people’s health, when diets wrongly equate with beauty, health such as fad dieting, fasting, skipping calories they may become weak, tired (water pills), diet pills, tobacco or are followed in an unsupervised way and personal success. meals, using laxatives, practicing self- and moody. Also, because insuffi cient other drugs in an effort to control zDr Cesar Chelala is an international – particularly by adolescents who Because society places a high provoked vomiting and using dangerous calories may aff ect the functioning of their weight. However, these public health consultant and the want to be excessively slim- it can be value and youth and physical beauty, supplements or drugs. their brains, they may become unable substances can provoke serious author of Health of Adolescents and dangerous to their health. adolescents try to imitate those It has been shown that dieting in to make the right food decisions which damage to their organs and, in the Youth in the Americas. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Mathematics paper Many questions were quite tricky Mobile phone insist that they want the latest phone High: 30 C and even diffi cult to grasp. They were models. Low : 20 C Relatively hot during the day with shock for students also quite lengthy, especially those ‘addiction’ slight dust to blowing dust at places related to the calculus portion. It Ashfaq Sharif and some scattered clouds. Dear Sir, seemed that CBSE deliberately wanted Dear Sir, [email protected] to fail most of us. FRIDAY The Central Board of Secondary Mathematics marks play a vital Mobile phones have become the key High: 27 C Education (CBSE) mathematics role in choosing our future course element of many peoples’ lives these Low: 18 C question paper for India’s Plus Two of studies. At the moment I feel my days, it seems. I often watch people Please send us Sunny examinations conducted last week future is at stake. I suggest the CBSE busy talking or texting on their mobile your letters came as a huge disappointment. I was may assign the job of preparing phones while driving cars, riding bikes literally in tears at the exam hall. question papers to experienced maths or walking. This is a worrying trend By e-mail SATURDAY Since the maths question paper has teachers and not to Indian Institutes indeed. High: 29 C been tough for the last couple of years, of Technology (IIT) professors who Mobile phones should make our [email protected] Low: 21 C I had spent a lot of time preparing for normally set question papers for lives better and not complicated. The Fax 44350474 Sunny its exam, compared to other subjects. university or post-graduate students. gadgets should serves us; we should Or Post In the past, my elder brother had a The model question paper released not become their salves. I believe Letters to the Editor bitter experience with mathematics by the CBSE didn’t match with its people go for the latest gadgets to Gulf Times Fishermen’s forecast although he had done well in almost all actual paper at all. impress others and not because they P O Box 2888 OFFSHORE DOHA other subjects in the Plus Two exams. Taking into consideration of all these are really needed. Owning the latest Doha, Qatar Wind: NW 18-25/28 KT As CBSE question papers are getting factors, I request India’s education mobile models has become a status Waves:6-8/9 Feet tougher every year, our teachers had authorities to adopt a lenient approach symbol. INSHORE DOHA All letters, which are subject Wind: NW-N 10-20/26 KT taken special eff orts to prepare us, and grant grace marks while evaluating Those using mobile phones when to editing, should have the Waves: 1-3/4 Feet giving us model papers to practise and our answer sheets. driving cars or riding bikes not only name of the writer, address even arranging special coaching. put their lives in danger but also those and phone number. The Around the region Because of these eff orts, I was quite Neda Ashraf of others. Weather Weather confi dent before seeing the question 12th class student The youth are especially addicted to writer’s name and address today Max/min tomorrow Max/min paper at the exam hall. But a glance at Doha their mobile phones. Parents should may be withheld by request. Abu Dhabi Cloudy 26/17 Sunny 29/18 the paper made me a nervous wreck. (e-mail address supplied) exercise some control when children Baghdad M Sunny 28/16 Cloudy 33/19 Dubai Sunny 26/19 Sunny 27/20 Kuwait City Sunny 29/17 Sunny 29/20 Manama Sunny 24/19 Sunny 26/19 Muscat Sunny 28/21 Sunny 30/21 Riyadh Sunny 26/12 Sunny 31/17 Live issues Tehran M Sunny 19/11 Sunny 22/13 The science of stress

By Nancy Cambria cluster and branch off as they grow. The study found the nine-year- St Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS Optimal neural production in old boys living in toxic stress had young children is dependent on telomeres on average 40% shorter positive interaction with adults than those of boys living without such oxic stress occurs when too and the world around them. stress. many stressful events and Cooing, snuggling, reading and Studies suggest that stressed traumas pile up. Children are talking to infants help neurons children perceive anger in facial Tthe most vulnerable. Stress grow. Neurobiologists call the vital expressions that most others perceive hormones - including those passed on interaction “serve and return”. And to be friendly or neutral. This can by a stressed mother in the womb - neglected children often lack it. hinder them from forming healthy can hurt brain development and even The problem snowballs for children relationships. A host of other alter chromosomes. raised amid stress. Such children behavioural problems can develop. Without a break from the stress, build more neural pathways to cope When stress hormones constantly children can develop various social with and respond to danger. When course through the body, the child problems. Even worse, they face a children reach their preteens, the brain remains restless, ready to launch into Around the world higher risk for a wide range of diseases prunes its neural branches, keeping primal fl ight-or-fi ght responses when Weather Weather through adulthood. the pathways that are most used and faced with experiences that seem less today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Toxic stress may transfer from a discarding the ones that are not - threatening to others. Athens P Cloudy 20/12 S T Storms 18/09 mother to her developing baby in the including potentially positive ones. This makes taking turns, sharing Beirut P Cloudy 28/16 P Cloudy 23/18 M Sunny 33/26 womb. For a child living under toxic stress, and sitting still in preschool and Bangkok 38/27 S T Storms Berlin M Cloudy 08/04 Showers 10/04 Researchers have found expectant Brain imaging done by dozens of the brain is, in essence, built around school more diffi cult. Cairo P Cloudy 32/18 P Cloudy 32/24 mothers suff ering from depression researchers has found that children stress. Children with toxic stress are more Cape Town Cloudy 26/17 Sunny 27/17 produce higher levels of stress under extreme stress have less volume Research suggests toxic stress likely to act out or become disruptive Colombo P Cloudy 33/25 Sunny 33/25 chemicals, which reduce fetal growth in both gray and white matter of the can alter gene expression and even to gain control of a situation when Dhaka P Cloudy 34/22 Sunny 35/23 Hong Kong Rain 18/12 S Showers 15/12 and increase risk for premature labour. brain. chromosomes. they feel threatened. Istanbul S Showers 17/08 Rain 09/06 Current studies suggest maternal Particularly troubling are fi ndings One study looked at the length Unhealthy amounts of stress Jakarta S T Storms 32/26 T Storms 31/25 depression may further repress the indicating that stress stunts the of telomeres on the chromosomes hormones alter multiple biochemical Karachi P Cloudy 36/23 P Cloudy 33/19 expression of a gene in the fetus meant hippocampus region of the brain. of nine-year-old boys under processes in the body, everything London Cloudy 12/07 Showers 14/06 Sunny M Sunny 34/24 to control the overproduction of stress The hippocampus, among other toxic stress. Telomeres are the from the immune system to the Manila 35/24 Moscow M Cloudy 01/-6 P Cloudy 03/-4 chemicals. That overproduction can things, helps humans process fear. caps that buffer the long strands infl ammatory response. The following New Delhi M Sunny 37/19 M Sunny 37/21 cause a lifetime of poor health and When it’s smaller, children may lose of nucleotides that extend from maladies have been tied to toxic stress: New York P Cloudy 16/11 Showers 20/06 behavioural issues. their full capacity to diff erentiate the ends of the chromosomes. Mental illness, substance abuse, Paris Cloudy 12/08 Rain 11/08 This is doubly troubling because between threat and safety, so the Telomeres normally degrade during behavioural problems, cancer, obesity, Sao Paulo T Storms 26/19 T Storms 27/21 Seoul M Sunny 13/01 M Sunny 12/0 a mother dealing with her own toxic world feels like a scarier place. aging, causing the ends of the diabetes, autoimmune disease, Singapore S T Storms 33/26 P Cloudy 33/27 stress may not be capable of adequately From birth through age three, the chromosomes to shorten. That asthma, high blood pressure, heart Sydney M Sunny 26/17 Cloudy 25/16 nurturing her infant, causing further brain produces about 700 neural shortening is considered one of the disease, kidney disease, and gastro- Tokyo Clear 1 2 /0 6 Clear 12/04 stress response in the child. connections per second. Neurons key causes of ageing and disease. intestinal problems. Gulf Times 30 Thursday, March 24, 2016 QATAR Doha to host conference on social responsibility

l Faisal Social Respon- government and private sector. Off icials of Samsung Gulf Electronics and Techno Blue Qatar at the launch event in Doha. sibility Centre will or- The conference promises to Aganise the fi rst inter- be highly engaging and it is built national conference on social around three pillars. responsibility in Qatar which The fi rst pillar traces the will take place at the Qatar Na- emergence of social responsibil- tional Convention Centre from ity and related concepts, trends March 26 to 28. and schools of thought em- The conference, under the bodying the philosophical val- Qatar launch for Samsung’s banner “Reality and Future ues and objectives which it aims Outlook”, will be inaugurated to achieve, and the impact they by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al- have on humanities. Thani. The second focuses on the Some of the topics that will measurement of reality, knowl- Twin Cooling Plus refrigerators be discussed include Social Re- edge of opportunities for com- sponsibility Foundations and munities, the internal and ex- The new Twin Cooling Plus erator enables consumers to be Starting Points, Reality of Social ternal challenges for social refrigerators keeps fruit and fl exible with cooling storage de- Responsibility, and Future Out- responsibility, moral obligation vegetables fresher for longer pending on their needs with fi ve look. and the emergence of inter-rela- possible conversion modes. The The conference will target key tionships. amsung Gulf Electronics, true independent cooling system audiences including academics, The third explores the reality in partnership with Techno allows turning the freezer into researchers in educational insti- of social responsibility and its SBlue Qatar, has launched a fridge when required. Or just tutions, graduate students, train- role in the knowledge economy, its new Twin Cooling Plus re- turn off the fridge compartment ing institutions, media and mar- how to avoid obstacles that pre- frigerator line up, designed to when leaving home for a long keting experts, opinion leaders in vent it from playing that role, enhance modern living and de- vacation. The fi ve modes are the community, civil society and and build strategic scenarios to liver a more comfortable home. Freezer-Fridge, Energy Saving, charitable organisations, and so- deal with the horizon of social Samsung is the fi rst manufac- Vacation, Fridge Max, and Mini cial responsibility offi cials in the responsibility. turer to bring its unique Twin mode. Inspired by its slogan “Stand Cooling Plus technology to the The independent cooling sys- up and leave your mark”, Al Faisal Top Mounted Freezer (TMF) re- tem of the Twin Cooling Plus Social Responsibility Centre frigerator category. ensures separate airfl ows in both aims to build bridges between The new Twin Cooling Plus the fridge and freezer, thereby Vinod Nair addressing the peoples and cultures of the refrigerators keep fruit and veg- preventing strong smells from launch event. world. etables fresher for longer, and foods moving between the fridge The centre also takes pride in use the space in the fridge and and freezer, ensuring the origi- up is introduced in up to 18 dif- being the fi rst integrated centre freezer compartments more ef- nal fl avour of ingredients stored ferent models ranging from 850 in Qatar and the region. It is driv- fi ciently. in the freezer is perfectly pre- litres to 390 litres. The RT85K, en by the desire to foster the cul- “This premium product off ers served and odourless. one of the biggest TMF refrig- ture of community service and to unique customisation options No air movement between the erator in the market at 850 litres, build a better human being who that we are glad to be able to of- thanks to the Twin Cooling Plus Qatar with them,” Gopal said. compartments also means the has a spacious storage capacity is responsible for themselves and fer to consumers in Qatar,” said Technology, introduced a whole The independent cooling sys- freezer stays completely frost- enough to easily store a week’s their development. Vinod Nair, head of Consumer new world of optimisation. tem ensures that the right tem- free, prolonging the shelf life worth of grocery shopping for An exhibition featuring com- Electronics at Samsung Gulf “Samsung consistently stays perature and humidity level up to and the fl avour of its contents. It the whole family. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani: panies, centres and individuals Electronics. ahead of the pack when it comes 70% is maintained throughout also prevents the build-up of ice, The Twin Cooling Plus line- to inaugurate the first who are active in social responsi- K V Gopal, general manager of to product evolution, and we are the fridge, so no matter where removing the need to defrost the up is now available in Qatar international conference on bility initiatives will form part of Techno Blue Qatar, observed that happy to be introducing this new food is stored it stays fresh. freezer. for a retail price ranging from social responsibility in Qatar. the conference. the conversion options available, home appliance innovation in The Twin Cooling Plus refrig- The Twin Cooling Plus line QR1,699 to QR3,799. Multiplex at Al Khor Ooredoo is named title sponsor LuLu Mall opens today

By Ramesh Mathew halls from Al Khor residents, of Arab Future Cities Summit Staff Reporter the company official said with the opening of the halls, their company is fulfilling a long- oredoo has been an- of pushing smart initiatives and Ooredoo has an active strategic for our upcoming edition of the he three-screen multiplex time demand of the local popu- nounced as the title the Arab Future Cities Summit and supportive role in shaping Arab Future Cities Summit that at LuLu Group’s Al Khor lation of the northern munici- Osponsor of the fi fth Arab is a great platform to exchange the telecom and ICT strategies promotes the concept of smart TMall will start function- pal town. Future Cities Summit 2016, or- knowledge on smart and sus- of upcoming mega infrastructure city.” ing from today, according to Qa- The opening shows at the ganised by Expotrade Middle tainable cities, and make part- developments undertaken in Qa- Over two days, the summit will tar Bahrain Cinema Company, screens would feature Batman East. nerships that can truly shape the tar. encourage a discussion and ex- which is operating the cinema in Vs Superman (both 3D and Nor- The event, which is sched- future.” Ooredoo is also a global lead change of ideas on eff ective strat- Al Khor, which is the fi rst regular mal) and Bollywood movie Rocky uled to take place on April 11-12 As a title sponsor, Ooredoo will partner at the Smart Cities egies for the implementation of cinema outside Doha. Handsome, said the offi cial. in Doha, will gather more than showcase some of its marquee Council, a coalition of industry smart city technologies in Qatar. Informing this yesterday, a Rocky Handsome will be 20 global and regional indus- next-generation technology at the thought leaders, innovators and The fi fth Annual Arab Future Cit- company offi cial said the three screened at 12.30 pm, 3.15 pm, try leaders to share insights and event, including smart infrastruc- practitioners dedicated to im- ies Summit 2016 will gather more screens together have a seating 6pm, 8.45 pm and 11.30pm. presentations on topics such as ture (5G and Fibre), mega-city and proving the livability, workability than 400 senior-level delegates capacity of over 500, the largest The screening hours of Bat- smart connectivity, smart trans- municipality services manage- and sustainability of the world’s from the public and private sec- being the Screen 3, which has 277 man Vs Superman are (3D) at portation and IoT-driven mobil- Waleed al-Sayed: CEO of ment, intelligent transport and cities. tors across the GCC. seats. 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm and 11pm, ity technologies, IoT economical Ooredoo Qatar smart stadiums, demonstrating Brad Hariharan, regional di- More information on the sum- The other two screens have and (Normal) 12noon, 3pm, 6pm, and sustainable smart vehicles, the company’s leadership in driv- rector of Expotrade Middle East, mit is available at http://www. 146 and 82 seats respectively. 9pm and 12 midnight. smart government, smart energy ship, Waleed al-Sayed, CEO of ing the latest and the best tech- said: “Ooredoo is a valuable part- arabfuturecities.com/ and it can While expressing confidence A brief ceremony is planned and cyber security. Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Ooredoo nology for businesses and con- ner and we are thrilled to receive also be followed on social media of good patronage to the cinema for the inauguration at 10am. Talking about the sponsor- has always been at the forefront sumers, according to a statement. their support as the title sponsor with the hashtag #AFCS2016 Austrian group enthrals Katara visitors with traditional folk performance

he Austrian group, Wach- auer Folkstanzgruppe, has Tenthralled a large number of visitors at Katara – the Cultural Village esplanade with their tra- ditional folk performance. Performers used a number of traditional Austrian musical in- struments such as accordions, fl utes and guitars, among others during the show, jointly organised by the United Nation Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organisa- tion (Unesco) offi ce in Doha and Katara. Speaking on the occasion, Aus- trian embassy charge d’aff aires Sieglinde Fedele said: “We are Performers used a number of traditional Austrian musical instruments pleased to have Austria present- such as accordions, flutes and guitars during the show. ing here a great initiative between Unesco and Katara; it is an oppor- tunity to bring the world to Qatar.” Wachauer Folkstanzgruppe has been performing and joining parades at various international folk festivals in many countries including Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Estonia, Czech Re- public, the Netherlands, China, The Austrian group, Wachauer Folkstanzgruppe, perfroming at Katara. Australia, Mexico, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, the US, Canada, and included in Unesco’s World Her- their hometown Kerms-Stein is the river Danube and the vineyard visitors in May with the partici- Macedonia. itage list since 2001. more than 1,000 years old. It is terraces. pation of more than 20 countries The group came from the Aus- Located about 880km west popular with its old lanes, houses, The cultural diversity festival from all over the world, showcas- trian region “Wachau”, which was of Austria’s capital city, Vienna, churches, abbeys, and especially will continue to entertain Katara ing their traditions and heritage. Gulf Times Thursday, March 24, 2016 31 QATAR Pakistani expatriates celebrate National Day

By Umer Nangiana Staff Reporter

akistani expatriates celebrated their country’s 76th National PDay yesterday. The highlight of the day was a fl ag-hoisting ceremony at the Pakistan embassy. With the national anthem playing in the backdrop, ambassador Shah- zad Ahmad hoisted the national fl ag early in the morning in the presence of dozens of community members and offi cers of the embassy. The ambassador congratulated community members, most attired in Pakistan’s national dress. Following tradition, the ambassa- dor read out Pakistan Day messages from President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. President Hussain acknowledged the formidable threats and challeng- es faced by the country and reiterated the nation’s resolve to never give in. Pakistani community members attend the flag-hoisting ceremony yesterday morning. “It is an unfortunate reality that terrorism has aff ected all segments of On this occasion, the president segments of our society as we be- and prosperity of the country. the Pakistani society. The terrorists said the country and its people pay lieve that each and every Pakistani “Pakistan was envisioned to be have not spared educational institu- tribute to the Father of the Nation is an equal citizen of the land,” he a state where people could freely tions, public places and even places and other leaders of the Freedom added. practice their faith without any fear of worship which demonstrates their Movement who facilitated the crea- The prime minister pointed out or threat. I am optimistic that our negative and destructive mind set. tion of Pakistan by uniting the nation that the Pakistan resolution adopted collective eff orts based on plurality, “I am happy that the Pakistani na- through their earnestness, wisdom in 1940, celebrated every year on equality and justice would make Pa- tion is united against this menace and and unparalleled sacrifi ces. March 23, galvanised the nation and kistan a state as dreamt of by Quaid- is fully determined to eradicate all Extending his greetings to fellow millions of people sacrifi ced their e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” said forms of terrorism. We can win this countrymen, Prime Minister Sharif lives for the sake of independence. the Sharif in his message. battle by putting an end to our diff er- said in his message that Pakistan has Today, he said, Pakistan is con- After reading out the two lead- ences, promoting brotherhood and turned a new leaf and will soon be fronted with unprecedented threats ers’ messages, ambassador Shah- tolerance.” able to overcome all the odds. and challenges in the form of ex- zad joined the guests in the special President Hussain’s message fur- “On this occasion we reiterate our tremism and terrorism but “we are prayers held for the peace and pros- ther went on to say that it is impera- resolves to ensure freedom, equality resolved to defeat these evils. The perity of Pakistan. tive therefore to promote education and social justice for every citizen of menace of extremism and terrorism He also expressed gratitude on be- in the country and transfer the fruits Pakistan as enshrined in the teach- will be completely wiped out from half of the Pakistan embassy to HH of development to every Pakistani in ings of Islam. Our government has our soil.” the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad order to achieve this objective. taken landmark initiatives to safe- The prime minister went on to in- al-Thani and HH the Father Emir He said March 23 is the day to re- guard the minorities living in Paki- vite the nation to pledge to off er equal Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani new “our commitment to develop the stan and empower Pakistani women,” opportunities for every Pakistani for their support and best wishes for country in accordance with the prin- said the prime minister. citizen to achieve a pluralistic society the people of Pakistan. ciples of justice and equality, the real “Our endeavours are aimed at where each and every man and wom- The guests were treated to a tradi- Ambassador Shahzad Ahmad hoisting the Pakistani flag at the embassy yesterday. objective of the creation of Pakistan.” mainstreaming the marginalised an works collectively for the progress tional Pakistani breakfast of halwa puri.

China’s silk ‘art’ goes on show at Katara

he ‘Silks from the Silk Road – Chinese Art of Silk’ exhibition Topened yesterday at the Qatar Museums (QM) Gallery in Katara – the Cultural Village, organised as part of the Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture that runs till May 9. Presented by QM under the leader- ship of its chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al- Thani, the exhibition refl ects the rich artistry of Chinese silk in terms of art, techniques and fashion design over thousands of years. In collaboration with QM, the China National Silk Museum has brought to Doha a range of ancient and modern Bamboo and Birds. A brocade tapestry. Chinese silk treasures which demon- strate the artistry of the Chinese silk- traditional weaving and dyeing tech- given the signifi cance of silk through- making culture and industry. niques; and fourth, the role of Zhang out the history and culture of Qatar,” In a press statement, QM said the Qian, a Chinese offi cial and diplomat QM’s Public and International Rela- exhibition includes 100 selected silk who played a key role in opening China tions director Mohamed al-Othman products and modern artistic works of to commercial trade in the second cen- said. silk garments, as well as other accom- tury BCE by setting up the Silk Road. He added that the exhibition maps panying exhibits such as ceramic tea The exhibition also provides an in- out the history of silk and its cultural sets and tea works. sight into the Silk Road, which was a signifi cance over thousands of years The exhibition explores four diff er- bridge for economic and cultural ex- and also allows visitors to experience ent themes: fi rst, the material proper- change between East and West more the charm of contemporary Chinese ties and diverse uses of silk, as well as than 2,000 years ago. Mulberry silk silk. the products created throughout his- weaving technology spread from China Several public programmes were tory; second, the diff erent techniques to the rest of the world through this held recently to engage with local au- of silk production, traditional embroi- trading route. diences prior to the launch of the exhi- dery, ornamental brocading, the Kesi “This vibrant exhibition is designed bition. These included a talk by curator weaving technique, silk painting, and to enhance the mutual understand- Xue Yan from the China National Silk new silk design concepts; third, the art ing between the people of Qatar and Museum in Zhejiang. of silk, including the new digital tex- China and we are confi dent that it will He explored Chinese silk on the Silk tile technology and the integration of resonate strongly with local audiences, Road from the 10th to the 14th cen- tury throughout the period of the Liao, Song, Jin and Yuan dynasties. At that time, Chinese fashions changed dramatically and a number of interactive tie-dying workshops were also held for adults and families.

Lotus and Egret. A gold brocade. Gulf Times 32 Thursday, March 24, 2016 QATAR

The QC Education Committee in session yesterday. Need for more ‘special’ education centres highlighted

here is increasing demand for equipment and facilities. This also re- treatment and have learning diffi cul- education centres’ services for quires more co-operation from both ties only, and others requiring medical Tspecial needs children, and this the MPH and the ministry of educa- treatment. requires more co-operation between tion and higher education to provide He added the ministry has spe- the ministry of public health (MPH) the necessary approvals and authori- cific requirements for education and the ministry of education and sations, al-Hajari said. centres catering to the first cat- higher education, it was pointed out Bin Tuwar affi rmed the role of the egory while insisting on a resident yesterday at the 10th meeting of Qatar private sector in investing in educa- doctor or nurse for the second Chamber’s (QC) Education Commit- tion and supporting the develop- category. The law does not permit tee. ment of a knowledge-based economy medical treatment services at edu- The meeting, headed by Mohamed in the country. He also stressed that cation facilities. bin Ahmed bin Tuwar, QC vice-chair- co-operation between government The ministry of education and man, stressed the need for giving such entities and the private sector in this higher education is only authorised centres more facilities so as to enable fi eld would considerably improve ed- to give licences to education centres them to off er their much-required ucation in the country and eventually whereas treatment centres could get services effi ciently. boost its economy. licences from the MPH. Dr Saif al-Hajari, deputy head of Khalid al-Saadi, offi cer of the edu- “The ministry of education and the committee, pointed out that the cation centres for the people with higher education would consider the number of children in need of such special needs at the ministry of edu- remarks and recommendations of centres’ services has grown. Accord- cation and higher education, pointed Qatar Chamber’s Education Commit- ingly, more private sector investment out that ministry has classifi ed people tee to arrive at practical solutions in should be attracted in order to open with special needs into two catego- co-operation with the entities con- more new centres with sophisticated ries: those who do not require medical cerned,” he added.