BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Gharafa clinch late 1-1 draw INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-10, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 Doha witnesses debut REGION 11, 12 BUSINESS 1-7, 13-16 against of Gulf region’s largest 24,917.77 8,454.18 61.60 ARAB WORLD 11, 12 CLASSIFIED 8-12 +379.71 -275.88 +1.35 INTERNATIONAL 13-25 SPORTS 1-8 exchange traded fund Al Ahli +1.55% -3.16% +2.20% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10749 March 6, 2018 Jumada Il 18, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir arrives in Brussels

Qatar’s actions show respect for international law

HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, Director of the Government Communications Off ice, has underlined Qatar’s eff orts to move the UN Human Rights Council to take measures against the siege reflected Doha’s belief and respect for international law. He said Qatar had approached the United Nations since the beginning of the blockade to keep it informed and aware of the illegal actions taken and exercised not only against Qatari citizens, but against His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived yesterday in Brussels on an off icial visit to expatriate residents and Gulf Belgium. The Emir and his accompanying delegation were received at Brussels Airport by Belgian Secretary citizens as well. of State for Foreign Trade Pieter De Crem, Qatar’s ambassador to Belgium, Abdulrahman bin Mohamed In an interview with the Spanish His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting with General Anthony Zinni at his Al al-Khulaifi, and members of the Qatari embassy in Belgium. Page 26 newspaper El Pais in London, Bahr Palace off ice yesterday. Sheikh Saif said that the illegal siege had aff ected all sectors of Qatar’s citizens and targeted the society as well as companies and businesses. “We respect international law. We Blockade a ‘complete believe in international law. We have approached the UN from the start GCC-US summit in May to keep them aware of the illegal actions that have been taken, that O US envoys discuss ways to end Gulf crisis failure’: QMC CEO have been taken not just on Qataris but on expats, on Gulf citizens, QNA net’s session yesterday the contents of Lenderking, and the accompanying he ongoing blockade on Qatar by Qatar and the country’s leadership has everyone that has been aff ected by Doha/Kuwait the talks held by the visiting US envoy delegation, at his offi ce in Al Bahr Pal- the Saudi-led quartet is a “com- been able to convince others of the real the illegal blockade. To Page 11 with Kuwaiti offi cials. The talks per- ace. The US team was on an offi cial visit Tplete failure”, said Qatar Media position of Qatar on a number of global tained to “the Gulf crisis and eff orts to to the State of Qatar. Corporation (QMC) CEO HE Sheikh and regional issues,” HE Sheikh Abdul- eneral Anthony Zinni, the spe- contain it, in addition to the arrange- During the meeting, they reviewed Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani. rahman explained. COMMUNITY cial envoy of the US Secretary of ments for the upcoming US- GCC the strategic relations between Qatar He was speaking at a seminar on While reaffi rming that Qatar has The winners and GState, discussed the “Gulf crisis Summit in May”. and the United States of America, as ‘Qatar’s dignity and victory after nine succeeded in overcoming the block- and eff orts to contain it” with Kuwaiti The Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah well as the regional and international months of siege’ hosted by Gulf Times’ ade eff ectively in the last nine months, the milestones leaders yesterday, according to Kuwaiti al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah also met developments. sister Arabic daily Arrayah on Sunday Sheikh Abdulrahman also remembered Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign with General Anthony Zinni. According to earlier reports, Trump evening at The Ritz-Carlton Doha. that the country’s residents rallied be- Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al- Earlier yesterday, His Highness the wants to bring Gulf leaders to Camp “The diplomatic initiatives made by hind His Highness the Emir’s leader- Hamad al-Sabah. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- David for a show of solidarity with the His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim ship and proved to the world that the The Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA) Thani met with the envoys of the US United States. But he wants a break- bin Hamad al-Thani and the series of blockade was a total failure. reported that Kuwaiti Prime Minister Secretary of State General Anthony through in the Gulf crisis before the sojourns he has made to diff erent des- A number of prominent Qataris, Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Hamad Zinni and Deputy Assistant Secretary potential summit of the six-country tinations across the world since the diplomats and residents attended the al-Sabah reviewed during the Cabi- of State for Arabian Gulf Aff airs Tim Gulf Co-operation Council in May. blockade has had a positive eff ect on seminar. Pages 7, 8, 9 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 QATAR Emir receives message from Kuwait Advisory Council approves draft law on national service

he Advisory Council yes- importance of the draft law. gained additional importance fer it along with amendments terday held its weekly The draft law was also the under the current circum- and recommendations to the Tsession under the chair- subject of extensive study and stances in the country, which Cabinet. manship of HE the Speak- deliberation by the joint com- requires mobilising the energies The Council also reviewed er of the Advisory Council mittee formed by the legal and of all citizens, especially young a report on its participa- Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid legislative aff airs committee people on whom the country tion in the North African and al-Mahmoud. and internal and external aff airs depends for its present and Middle East (Mena) regional His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received yesterday a written message from During the session, the committee. future. conference on human rights the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, pertaining to the strong sisterly relations Council discussed the report HE the Deputy Prime Min- In the presence of a number and business held recently in between both countries and means of boosting them. The message also extended Kuwait’s thanks to of the joint committee formed ister and Minister of State for of members of the Advisory Rabat, Morocco. Qatar for its eff ective participation, on an off icial and people’s level, in the national celebrations held in by the legal and legislative af- Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Council and after extensive The Council’s delegation Kuwait. Sheikh Mohamed al-Abdullah al-Mubarak al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti Emir’s envoy and Deputy Minister fairs committee and internal Mohamed al-Attiyah attend- discussions characterised by briefed the conference on the of Kuwaiti Emiri Diwan Aff airs, handed the message during a meeting yesterday with the Emir at Al Bahr and external aff airs committee ed the meeting and answered objectivity, keenness on the na- experience of Qatar with re- Palace. At the outset of the meeting the Kuwaiti minister conveyed to the Emir the greetings of the Emir to study a draft law on national questions raised by members tional interest, full awareness gard to the rights of expatriate of Kuwait, wishing him good health and happiness and to the people of Qatar continuous progress and service. and explained all aspects of the of the necessity and importance workers working in the coun- prosperity. For his part, the Emir entrusted the Kuwaiti minister with his greetings to the Emir of Kuwait, The Speaker initiated the draft law. of the draft law and its positive try, enjoying their rights and wishing him good health and well-being and to the Kuwaiti people further progress and prosperity. discussions, stressing the na- The Speaker said the draft results, the Council approved a secure, stable and decent tional, educational and security law on national service has the draft law and decided to re- life. (QNA)

Melons from Emir ratifi es PM meets Asean ambassadors Australia are several Cabinet safe, says ministry decisions is Highness the Emir fi ed yesterday the Cabinet de- he Ministry of Public Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- cision No.10 of 2018 forming Health (MoPH) has an- Hmad al-Thani ratifi ed lawyers’ admission committee. Tnounced that the labo- yesterday the Cabinet deci- The decision becomes ef- ratory results of rockmelon sion No.8 of 2018 to extend the fective from its date of issue from Australia, which were leasing contracts relating to all and is to be published in the withdrawn from the market, or any part of premises leased offi cial gazette. showed it is free of listeria for non-residential purposes. His Highness the Emir also and other types of bacte- The decision came in to eff ec- issued an instrument of rati- ria such as salmonella and tive on February 15 and is to be fi cation approving a draft air escherichia coli. published in the offi cial gazette. services agreement between The MoPH withdrew the His Highness the Emir also Qatar and El Salvador signed fruit from outlets after re- ratifi ed yesterday the Cabinet in Doha on January 15, 2018. ceiving a global notifi cation decision No.9 of 2018 expro- His Highness the Emir is- that it might be contaminated priating some real estate for sued an instrument of ratifi ca- with listeria. As a precaution- the public good. tion approving a memorandum HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday with ambassadors of the ary measure, a new shipment The decision will come into of understanding in the fi eld of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) accredited to Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed means of developing co-operation of rockmelon which arrived eff ective from its publication humanitarian aid between Qa- between Qatar and Asean to serve common interests in all fields, especially political, economic and security, and promote prosperity, after the notifi cation was also date in the offi cial gazette. tar and Turkey signed in Doha security and stability in Asia and the world. detained. His Highness the Emir rati- on November 15, 2017. (QNA) Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 3 QATAR QFFD and OCHA Foreign Minister meets UN officials sign grant deal atar, represented by Qa- tar Fund For Develop- Qment (QFFD), and the United Nations Offi ce for the Co-ordination of Humanitar- ian Aff airs (OCHA), has signed an agreement whereby the Fund will provide a grant of approxi- mately $4.9mn through the joint humanitarian funds of Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- support high-priority humani- Thani yesterday met with the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Aff airs – Off ice for tarian projects, as well as the the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Aff airs, and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Mark Lowcock, selection and support of highly and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy Dr Ahmed bin Mohamed effi cient institutions in those al-Muraikhi. The meeting discussed means of promoting prospects of co-operation as well countries. as issues of common concern, the off icial Qatar News Agency reported. HE Sheikh Mohamed The agreement was signed also witnessed the signing of an agreement between Qatar Fund for Development and the UN by QFFD director-general Kha- Off ice for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Aff airs to support humanitarian projects in four lifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari and Arab countries at a cost of $4.9mn. UN Under-Secretary-General The agreement being signed in the presence of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for Humanitarian Aff airs and Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. Emergency Relief Co-ordinator at OCHA for Iraq, Syria, Leba- needs in countries with humani- people through humanitarian and Lowcock said the joint funds non and Yemen, Mark Lowcock. tarian needs, QFFD is providing development programmes and it were an eff ective means of sup- The signing was witnessed by two-year grants (2018 and 2019) emphasises the support provided porting the immediate response Al-Sulaiti meets Sudanese minister HE the Deputy Prime Minister and worth $2mn for Iraq, $1.5mn for by Qatar over the years in times and had grown in recent years, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed Syria, $1mn for Lebanon and of crisis through QFFD, which and expressed his thanks and bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. $472,904 for Yemen. supports thousands through gratitude to QFFD for the gener- Under the agreement, which Al-Kuwari said the signing the funding of joint humanitar- ous support of the joint funds in is considered as a fl exible means of the agreement is a renewal of ian funds that hold grants in Iraq, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and to cover the highest priority the commitment of Qatar to help Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Yemen. (QNA) Qatari team attends Terrorist Financing

Targeting Centre HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met in Doha yesterday with Sudanese Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr Tahani Abdullah Attia. The two off icials discussed aspects of co-operation between the two countries in the field of communications and information technology and the means of further enhancing them, the Ministry of Transport and meeting in Kuwait Communications said. A number of matters of common interest between the two countries were also The Qatari delegation led by Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani at the meeting. discussed at the meeting.

QNA Counter-terrorism and confronting new and evolv- ties and imposing sanctions Kuwait Mediation of Confl ict Reso- ing threats arising from against them. lution, Dr Mutlaq bin Majed terrorist fi nancing. The TFTC also aims to al-Qahtani. The TFTC represents a participate in sharing of atar participated in The meeting “construc- “new and creative response” information of common the fi rst meeting of tively and eff ectively” dis- that leverages existing tools interest related to terror- Qthe executive com- cussed the main principles and formalises co-operation ist fi nancing networks, mittee of the Terrorist Fi- of governance within the between the US and its part- co-ordinate actions such nancing Targeting Centre framework of TFTC be- ners in the Gulf to counter as joint classifi cation or (TFTC) in Kuwait yesterday. tween its seven members, terrorist fi nancing. other crackdowns on ter- The high-level delegation which are Qatar, Saudi Ara- The centre aims to sup- rorists and their fi nanc- included individuals from bia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bah- press the fi nancing of ter- ing networks, as well as to national counter-terrorism rain, Oman and the US. rorist activities and take provide expert support to and combating terrorism The centre was estab- appropriate action by clas- centre members to assist fi nancing committees, led lished in 2017 after the US- sifying and publicising in capacity-building to by the special envoy of Qa- Gulf Summit in Riyadh, as individuals and entities combat terrorist fi nancing tar’s Foreign Minister for a collaborative approach to fi nancing terrorist activi- threats.

Al-Hammadi meets Japanese official

Foreign Ministry secretary-general Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi met yesterday with special envoy of Osaka Expo 2025, Japan, Shigeru Endo and his accompanying delegation. Talks during the meeting dealt with means of enhancing co-operation prospects in addition to matters of mutual interest.

MoTC holds training on maritime safety he Ministry of Trans- port and Communi- Tcations (MoTC) has organised a training course on the best practices for handling, reporting and in- vestigating diff erent types of maritime incidents and accidents as well as vessel safety management. The workshop was attend- ed by professionals and em- ployees from MoTC’s mari- time transport aff airs as well as Qatar Coast Guard, Qatar Petroleum and Nakilat (Qatar Gas Transport Company). The training course is a part of MoTC’s ongoing eff orts and endeavours for A training session in progress. developing and sharpen- ing the professional skills of accidents and mechanism They also learned about for safe navigation, as well maritime sector workforce. of handling them through the appropriate procedures as incidents and accidents Participants were in- legal channels laid down that must be taken during reporting and investigation troduced to a wide range in International Maritime maritime mishaps, princi- and maritime safety best of maritime incidents and Organisation’s resolutions. ples and rules to be observed practices. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 QATAR Agritech ’18 to kick off QIC off icials with the certificate recipients. on March 20 QIC Group honours long-serving staff There will be a series of MME Agricultural Aff airs, duction by 2030 by upgrading atar Insurance Group certifi cates to the awardees in refl ects the signifi cance that ployee recognition ceremony. interactive events at Agritex Livestock and Fisheries assistant the local food industries and re- has recently honoured the presence of QIC group chief Qatar Insurance Group has to- It clearly highlights our way of 2018, including the ‘business secretary HE Sheikh Dr Faleh bin ducing the dependence on im- Qits employees with “long administrative offi cer Abdulla wards its employees. treating our human capital as convergence platform’ to Nasser al-Thani noted that Qatar ported products, and this is what service award” certifi cates, for al-Mulla and other QIC offi - “In view of this and in order the ‘most treasured asset’. allow experts and specialists is keen to diversify its economy, the exhibition seeks to achieve,” completing 10, 20, and 30 years cials. to recognise the wide spectrum “It is because of our em- to exchange ideas and towards achieving a sustainable he added. of dedicated service at the com- Expressing his gratitude and of capabilities and skill sets of ployees’ dedication and com- explore new opportunities and comprehensive development The Agriteq 2018 agenda pany, during a ceremony at the appreciation to the awardees our staff , we constantly organise mitment that has shaped and in line with the Qatar National will hold a series of interactive QIC headquarters in West Bay. for their “sincere dedication employee retention initiatives defi ned QIC Group’s growth he sixth edition of Qatar Vision 2030. events, including the “business QIC senior deputy group and collective eff orts” towards to empower them further.” trajectory and has placed us as International Agricultural He added that the country convergence platform”, an ideal president and chief executive achieving the group’s set tar- Al-Mulla said: “We are de- a market leader in the Mena re- TExhibition (Agritech), aims to increase the agricultural venue for agricultural experts Ali al-Fadala handed over the gets, al-Fadala said: “This event lighted to organise this em- gion.” scheduled from March 20 to 22 sector’s gross domestic product and specialists to exchange ex- at the Doha Exhibition and Con- input by more than 4% annually periences, learn about the lat- vention Centre, will feature the and that Agriteq 2018 will be in- est practices, research on major latest innovations in agriculture strumental in promoting eff orts challenges within the sector, and to help the country and the re- to achieve these goals. explore new opportunities in gion implement sustainable food agricultural production in Qatar Purchase Mr Light production. The agriculture sector in and the region. The event, under the patron- Qatar aims to meet 60% Agriteq provides visitors with age of His Highness the Father of domestic demand by an integrated platform for the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa 2024, supported by the latest developments in agricul- goods in Qatar for al-Thani and organised by the government’s eff orts and tural technologies, including Ministry of Municipality and investments to boost agricultural equipment, food Environment (MME), plays a production manufacturing tools, animal key role in meeting food security production and veterinary tools, delivery in Kerala goals, a priority for Qatar espe- “The exhibition off ers a per- crop production machines, ar- cially in the region’s current cir- fect platform for experts and tifi cial light-type plant fac- cumstances, HE the Minister of specialists to directly communi- tory systems, shop design and r Light, a leading elec- la within seven working days. Mr Light products. Municipality and Environment cate with decision makers, gov- equipment, green houses, irri- tronics and appliances The items come with the Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Ru- ernment offi cials, producers and gation and ventilation systems, Mbrand in the Middle standard one-year warranty in an MR 6022 trimmer, are part of in Kerala, hence we launched maihi said. suppliers, and broadly explore logistics, storage services, wa- East with a range of value for Kerala, with after-sales support the campaign. this scheme wherein they do not He said that previously, more local and regional market needs,” ter processing, counselling and money products, has launched a available in all districts of the This promotion is running have to worry about packaging, than 90% of Qatar’s food needs Department of Agricultural Af- many more. new delivery scheme. state. across all Jumbo Electronics cargo charges or custom du- were met through imports, and fairs director Yusuf Khalid al- The agricultural sector in Qa- Customers buying Mr Light Currently, the Phantom se- showrooms, Spark Lifestyle ties or warranties as these have the country is currently seeking Khulaifi said. tar aims to meet 60% of domes- products in Qatar can now opt ries 32” LED TV, the MR 2103 Electronics and select hyper- been taken care of by us,” said C to launch several initiatives and “The ministry adopts a stra- tic demand from local suppliers for delivery to their home in the washing machine, and a family markets. V Rappai, director and chief ex- projects aimed at increasing local tegic agricultural plan aimed by 2024, supported by the gov- southern Indian state of Kerala. pack consisting of an MR 0515 “We noticed that many of our ecutive of Digital Innovations, production and achieving self- to achieving self-suffi ciency in ernment’s eff orts to invest in ini- The products will be delivered blender, an MR 515V6 emergen- customers were buying prod- distributors of Mr Light in Qa- effi ciency in the basic produces. agricultural and vegetables pro- tiatives to increase production. to the customer’s home in Kera- cy light, an MR 6100 torch and ucts to be taken to their home tar. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 5 QATAR 1,700 job openings on QIB aims to attract Qatari off er at QU Career Fair talent to bank E the Minister of Ad- ships and 60 academic spon- ministrative Devel- sorships. atar Islamic Bank (QIB) Hopment, Labour and HE Dr al-Nuaimi said, is currently participating Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad “I would like to thank Qa- Qat the 12th Qatar Univer- al-Jafali al-Nuaimi yesterday tar University for organ- sity (QU) Career Fair, which com- inaugurated Qatar University ising the career fair. This menced yesterday and continues (QU)’s 12th Career Fair. event contributes to rais- until March 8. Organised by the QU Ca- ing student awareness on The annual career fair is organ- reer Services Centre, the the labour market’s needs, ised by the QU Career Services event is being held until whether in the private or Centre as part of the university’s March 8 and aims to provide public sector. eff orts to enrich and diversify the high school and university “At the Ministry of Ad- experience of its students and students with the oppor- ministrative Development, graduates and connect them with tunity to meet and interact Labour and Social Aff airs, we the world of business. with employers and repre- off er the government schol- QIB’s participation in the QU sentatives of companies to arship programme for high career fair “refl ects its strategy seek employment, training school students, which pro- of co-operating with educational and sponsorship opportuni- vides them with sponsorship institutions in the country and at- ties. and then with employment tracting local talents to work in the The career fair was inau- opportunities. bank”, it has said in a press state- gurated by HE Dr al-Nuaimi “Additionally, the minis- ment. and QU vice-president for try’s Department of National The career fair provides an op- Academic Aff airs Dr Omar Human Resources Develop- portunity for the bank’s human al-Ansari in the presence ment serves to provide Qatari resources to meet with students of French ambassador Eric nationals with employment and alumni for four days and in- Chevallier, QU offi cials, opportunities in the private troduce them to Islamic banking The QIB head off ice. deans, department heads and and public sectors.” HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi and activities and the jobs the bank students. QU assistant vice-pres- other dignitaries at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. offers. university graduates. We will The event is open to QU ident for Student Success Khalefa al-Mesalam, QIB’s continue to pursue this strategy male students until today and Development, Haya head of Human Capital Group, and to develop the skills of our and female students tomor- al-Attiyah, added: “The ca- said: “QIB’s long-term strat- Qatari employees through con- row and on March 8. reer fair aligns with QU’s egy focuses on investment in lo- stant training and professional The event features over strategic goals to promote cal human resources. For many development.” 75 information booths from the spirit of entrepreneur- years, the bank has been attract- Al-Mesalam noted that QIB government and private or- ship among students and to ing graduates and young Qatari has a special relationship with ganisations. equip them with the neces- talents for jobs in its various QU, with the bank welcoming a Students can interact sary entrepreneurial skills, business units, in line with Qa- group of students from the uni- with employers and get an which will contribute to tar National Vision 2030. The versity’s College of Business and insight into the labour mar- driving economic develop- board of directors and executive Economics every summer for ket’s needs and employers’ ment and diversifi cation in management aligned the bank’s training. “The career fair pro- expectations as well as the Qatar. business strategies with human vides a good opportunity to meet various training services and “In this regard, the QU resources to help prepare future students, familiarise them with internships they can follow Career Services Centre gath- financial experts who can con- our banking activities, and pro- to develop their skills, abili- ered a number of emerging tribute to the development of the vide them with professional ad- ties and professional experi- companies and business in- banking industry in Qatar. vice to serve the objectives of the ence, QU has said in a state- cubators to raise the student “QIB’s strategy of investment banking sector and our strategy ment. awareness about entrepre- in local talents proved to be a of building a national workforce They will also get a chance neurship and its impact on success over the past few years, capable of leading the bank’s to explore 1,700 employment the country’s sustainable de- as we managed to recruit a large business today and in the future,” opportunities, 400 intern- velopment.” Dignitaries at one of the booths. number of Qataris, particularly he concluded. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 QATAR HMC helps over 5,000 patients with hearing aids

n recognition of World Hear- Qatar is recognised as a leader congenital sensorineural hearing ing Day, held each year on in the early detection of hearing loss, a condition that is present IMarch 3, the Hamad Medical weakness and loss due to the es- at birth, can be either inherited or Corporation (HMC) is holding tablishment of the National Cen- caused by abnormal development this week several events to raise tre for Early Detection of Hearing during pregnancy. More than 600 awareness about the rising global Loss. Established in 2003, the children and adults are treated for prevalence of hearing loss and the centre provides hearing screen- sensorineural hearing loss every importance of preventative ac- ings to all babies born in Qatar year at the Audiology and Balance tions to protect one’s hearing. prior to their discharge from the Unit. “We have arranged a number Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi hospital. Under the programme, Dr Abdul Hadi cited the case The awareness booths are positioned at Villagio Mall until March 10 and Landmark Mall from March 11 to 20. of activities including lectures, all babies are tested again when of a long-term patient, a young school visits, and a commu- the fi rst time, by providing them they have their fi rst vaccination, Qatari girl, who was born deaf in nity day event to raise the pub- with cochlear implants, since normally between two to three 2008 but was able to hear after lic’s awareness of hearing loss, opening in 2003. months of age and children are being treated for sensorineural which aff ects over 466mn people The Audiology and Balance also screened prior to starting hearing loss. worldwide,” said Dr Khalid Abdul Unit provides a comprehensive school. “Rouda was born at Women’s Bowel cancer awareness Hadi, senior consultant, Hearing diagnosis and treatment pro- One of the most diagnosed Hospital in 2008 and a day after and Balance Disorders and direc- gramme, caring for adults and conditions treated at the Audi- her birth received a routine hear- tor of the Audiology and Balance children who are experiencing ology and Balance Unit is sen- ing test off ered to all newborn Unit. hearing loss. The early diagno- sorineural hearing loss. Acquired babies as part of the National drive launched at malls Over 5,000 patients have sis of hearing loss in children is sensorineural hearing loss, which Programme for Early Detection been fi tted with hearing aids by especially important, as hearing occurs after birth, can be caused of Hearing Loss. Hearing loss was the Audiology and Balance Unit impairments can lead to delayed by a number of factors, includ- suspected and her parents were he Primary Health Care cer in Qatar and a leading cause them to schedule an appoint- which also helped 245 patients development of listening and ing ageing, noise, disease or in- advised to return two weeks later Corporation (PHCC) has of death among men and women ment to undergo the screening. hear again, or in some cases for spoken language skills. fection, and trauma. In contrast, for another test,” Hadi said. Tlaunched a month-long if not caught at its early stages. The public will be reminded bowel cancer awareness drive In line with the global bowel that they can carry out the Fecal across major shopping malls. cancer awareness slogan, ‘Screen Immunochemical Test with ease Ford F-150 models Under the tagline ‘Don’t wait For Life’ team will engage shop- in the privacy of their own home for the symptoms,’ the initiative pers with reminder messages and they can collect their com- of 2014 recalled is meant to mark the interna- urging both men and women, plementary kit from one of the tional Bowel Cancer Awareness specifi cally in the target age PHCC screening centres. The Ministry of Economy and Commerce Month, a global campaign to ed- bracket of 50-74, to take a proac- “Strategically positioning the (MEC), in collaboration with Almana Motors ucate people that because bowel tive approach to their health and ‘Screen For Life’ booths in Qa- Compnay, has announced the recall of Ford cancer can be a non-sympto- book an appointment at one of tar’s malls throughout March F-150 models of 2014 because the bolts matic illness, it is imperative not the three dedicated facilities at will allow us to engage with large for the seats and seat belt may have been to wait for symptoms to undergo Al Wakrah, Lebaib and Rawdat Al numbers of people as we seek to improperly hardened. screening as a precautionary Khail Health Centres. capitalise on the great work of The MEC said the recall campaign comes measure. The awareness booths are po- the programme to date and con- within the framework of its ongoing eff orts The message is being conveyed sitioned at Villagio Mall until tinue raising awareness levels. to protect consumers and ensure that to the Qatar public through- March 10 and Landmark Mall The tagline ‘Don’t wait for the automobile dealers follow up on vehicles’ out the month of March, with a from March 11 to 20. symptoms’ is a poignant one and defects and repair them. number of ‘Screen For Life’ acti- ‘Screen For Life’ representa- we are confi dent it will resonate The ministry said that it will co-ordinate with vation booths strategically locat- tives will be on hand to accept with people and encourage them the dealer to follow up on the maintenance ed in lifestyle destinations that on-site registrations where the to take charge of their health,” and repair works and will communicate attract large numbers of people. eligible visitor can write down said Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, with customers to ensure that the neces- Bowel cancer is the second their information and the pro- cancer programme manager, sary repairs are carried out. most commonly diagnosed can- gramme’s call centre will call PHCC.

Barwa Bank picks winners of National Day campaign

arwa Bank has an- Mohamed Abdallah Bani- nounced the winners ata, Amer Tahssen Houss- Bof its ‘National Day ni AbuSheakah, Ahmed Debit & Credit Cards’ cam- Shokry Aborsreea Ramdan, paign, which was launched Yousef Jaber A H, Fatima on November 11, 2017 and Zaid N A al-Dosari, Hind ended on January 31. Khamis A M Saeed, Mo- The bank celebrated Qa- hamed Naeem Barg, Nasser tar National Day by launch- Khalifa K al-Suwaidi, Tarek ing its limited edition debit Ahmad Bilal, Nikhil Vin- and credit cards, off ering odinipuram Krishnan, Mo- customers a host of privi- hamed Rashid A al-Khater, leges. Ahmad Saad R A al-Ku- Using Barwa Bank Mas- wari, Mohamed Shajardeen terCard credit card locally Abul Hassan, Gerry Marin and internationally for eve- Gamboa and Abdulaziz A D ry purchase worth QR1,000 al-Darwish. let customers enter a draw As part of the campaign, and win one of the 18 Barwa Bank off ered 10,000 QR5,000 cash prizes. The loyalty points to new cus- same chance was granted to tomers applying for credit customers using their debit cards. In addition, all pur- cards internationally. chases made between De- The draw took place cember 14 and 23, 2017 of- at Barwa Bank head of- fered existing customers fi ce in the presence of the the chance to double their Ministry of Economy and loyalty points. Commerce representatives Barwa Bank off ers a wide alongside bank offi cials. range of debit and credit The lucky customers cards, all with a variety of were Mohamed Khan Feroz valuable features tailored to Din Khan, Adnan Moham- meet the needs of diff erent ed A al-Hammadi, Anwer customers.

Sustainability fi lm project competition for students launched

nline registration English or Arabic, focused portal is now open on the topic of ‘water and Ofor high school and energy conservation’ or ‘a university students to sign sustainable lifestyle’. Win- up for the Sustainability ners will be announced at a Film Project competition, it ceremony on May 9, and are has been announced. eligible to win prizes such Launched by Cono- as an iPhone X, MacBook or coPhillips’ Global Wa- an iPad mini. ter Sustainability Centre Dr Samer Adham, man- (GWSC) and Qatar Green aging director of GWSC, Building Council (QGBC), said: “The students tak- the competition will show- ing part in the Sustain- case diverse viewpoints on ability Film Project are the a sustainable future, with future of Qatar – we want students working individu- to encourage them to lever- ally or in teams to produce a age their creative skills to short video about sustain- show the wider community ability. how sustainability can be High school students achieved in our daily lives.” will compete in one cat- For this inaugural com- egory, while university petition, the entries will be students will compete in judged by academics and another. Students are chal- professionals. lenged to create a 30-60 The deadline for entries second video, either in is April 22. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 7 QATAR Qatar succeeds in overcoming siege: QMC CEO he ongoing blockade had the National Human Rights The blockading countries ac- ling Qatari nationals who were on Qatar by the Saudi- Committee chairman HE Dr Ali cused Qatar of supporting ter- performing Umrah, and they Tled quartet is a “com- bin Smaikh al-Marri, Supreme rorism without an iota of evi- included sick patients as well. plete failure”, said Qatar Media Committee for Legacy & Deliv- dence and it was clear that their Qatari students were also told Corporation (QMC) CEO HE ery secretary-general Hassan plan was to tarnish the image to leave the country, he said, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Ha- al-Thawadi, Qatari Monetary of Qatar at all levels. They also while recalling that those who mad al-Thani. He was speaking and Economic Policy expert wanted to harm the Qatari cur- lived in Saudi Arabia and other at a seminar on ‘Qatar’s dignity Khalid bin Rashid al-Khater rency heavily, he said. blockading countries who had and victory after nine months and Qatar University assistant “Besides blocking the air, sympathies for Qatar and its of siege’ hosted by Gulf Times’ professor Majid bin Mohamed sea and land routes to Qatar for predicament were prevented sister Arabic daily Arrayah on al-Ansari as the other speakers. creating diffi culties to the peo- from echoing their feelings and Sunday evening at The Ritz- Arrayah Editor-in-Chief Saleh ple of Qatar, including both the sentiments. Carlton Doha. bin Afsan al-Afsan al-Kuwari citizens and other residents, The speaker said people “The main intention of the moderated the event. the perpetrators also hacked there were unable to express blockading countries was to While recalling the inci- the website of Qatar News themselves against the un- take away such a prestigious dents leading to the blockade, Agency to spread rumours and just blockade on Qatar and the event as the FIFA 2022 World HE Sheikh Abdulrahman said their false propaganda,” said media, whether it was print, Cup and create considerable it had its beginning before the Sheikh Abdulrahman, who also visual, broadcast or even social Qatar Media Corporation CEO HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani at the seminar. economic loss to this coun- US-Islamic Forum meeting in recalled that Saudi Arabia and media, were wholly suppressed try, which has spent heavily on the US where there were pro- others wanted to globalise the and could do nothing to oppose blockade has had a positive ef- sembly and later at the Munich the blockade eff ectively in the building a massive infrastruc- tocol violations and editors and whole issue while demanding the blockade. However, the fect on Qatar and the country’s Security Summit have paid rich last nine months, Sheikh Ab- ture as part of its ambitious journalists were not invited for the suspension of Qatar from diplomatic initiatives made by leadership has been able to con- dividends and the eff orts being dulrahman also remembered preparations to host the mega the mandatory press confer- the Gulf Co-operation Council His Highness the Emir Sheikh vince others of the real position made by HE the Foreign Minis- that the country’s residents ral- event,” he explained. ence at the end of the confer- (GCC). Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar on a number of global ter have succeeded in mobilising lied behind His Highness the A number of prominent Qa- ence. “There was a concerted The top QMC offi cial said and the series of sojourns he and regional issues, he said. support for the country’s stand. Emir’s leadership and proved to taris, diplomats and residents campaign against Qatar,” he as- Saudi Arabia also resorted to has made to diff erent destina- “His Highness the Emir’s While reaffi rming that Qatar the world that the blockade was attended the seminar, which serted. the extreme step of expel- tions across the world since the address at the UN General As- has succeeded in overcoming a total failure. All eff orts to strangulate Qatar economically have failed, says monetary expert al-Khater

onetary policy expert Khalid Rashid with in reach and a number of new industrial sector have also come up in recent months. al-Khater has said the economic ventures are coming up in the country now. There has been no adverse eff ect on the in- Mblockade on Qatar has accelerated New investments are coming in such areas frastructural development works happening the pace not only for the diversifi cation of the as steel and petrochemicals and the process anywhere in the country and this itself stands economy but also expedited the process for of diversifi cation is getting faster than before, testimony to the fact that Qatar’s economy the country to become self-reliant. He was he said. is in good shape. The economist maintained speaking at a seminar on ‘Qatar’s dignity and While there was a 4% increase in the over- that Qatar has huge fi nancial reserves and the victory after nine months of siege’ hosted by all food prices at the time of the beginning of policies maintained by the Qatar Central Bank Gulf Times’ sister Arabic daily Arrayah on the blockade, it has now come down to nor- have helped the country overcome any diffi - Sunday evening at the Ritz-Carlton Doha. mal levels, said al-Khater while recalling that culties that would have otherwise occurred on “The Qatari economy has not only over- Saudi Arabia’s decision to close the land bor- account of the economic blockade. He said the come the perils of blockade but it has also der with Qatar has hit only its own exports as pegging of Qatari riyal to US dollar has pro- showed to the rest of the world that it could Qatar has found other ways to source materi- vided adequate security to the local currency. withstand any similar situation as it is neither als from elsewhere and using other channels Al-Khater also recalled that even during agriculture-based nor exporting automobiles, for bringing in goods. the world economic slowdown of 2008 and medical equipment or food products,” he told The huge investments made to develop Ha- the subsequent years, Qatar’s economy had the event moderated by Arrayah Editor-in- mad International Airport, Hamad Port and shaped well and all attempts made by the Chief Saleh bin Afsan al-Afsan al-Kuwari on Logistics City have come handy now as each blockading nations to launch an economic Sunday. of them is contributing considerably to help war on Qatar have failed. “All their eff orts to Maintaining that Qatar has solid reserves of importers and goods movement to the country economically strangulate Qatar have failed,” gas and oil, al-Khater said the country’s eco- is continuing as usual. he said. nomic structure is perhaps the best in the Gulf Essentials such as milk, dairy products The blockading nations had imposed re- region. and similar items are now sourced from strictions on some Qataris from withdrawing “Gas exports have not been aff ected as Economist Dr Khalid Rashid al-Khater. destinations such as Iran, Turkey, India and their money from banks in those countries the blockading countries could not close the Pakistan in adequate quantities and Qatar and many such violations were reported from country’s maritime borders,” said the eco- Al-Khater said Qatar’s gas sector is at its said. But the country is not sitting on its is also expanding its facilities to increase there, he said, while informing that Qatar in- nomic expert while adding that the blockad- best and it is one of the top exporters of the strength in hydrocarbons and has spent sub- the local availability, said al-Khater while jected more than QR23bn during Ramadan ing countries’ moves to target Qatar currency LNG these days. “Qatar has the highest per- stantially to diversify its economy. What could reminding that a number of small indus- last year to keep its economy intact in the have hit their own currencies. centage of reserves of the liquefi ed gas,” he not be achieved in even fi ve decades is now tries to boost the country’s manufacturing wake of blockade. Top dignitaries attend seminar

The panel of speakers at the event.

A view of the audience at the seminar on ‘Dignity and victory after nine months of Gulf Times Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka (third from left) at the meeting. blockade’. PICTURES: Jayan Orma, Jayaram, Noushad Thekkayil and Ram Chand. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 QATAR Qatar’s commitment to host 2022 World Cup reaffi rmed

By Ramesh Mathew record many a time that the tour- Hamad Port and goods are eff ec- Our country is economically Staff Reporter nament would be held in Qatar. tively delivered to the contrac- competent and it is now demon- The world football body’s of- tors. strating its capability to deliver fi cials have said over and again Al-Thawadi said prior to the a fl awless World Cup,” said al- upreme Committee for that politics has nothing to do blockade, goods were mainly Thawadi. Delivery &Legacy sec- with the conduct of the World coming from the Gulf countries The opening of the Khalifa Sretary-general Hassan Cup. but now new suppliers have Stadium, which is one of the ven- al-Thawadi has reiterated Qa- Like some of the other panel- been found and new channels for ues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup tar’s commitment to hold the lists, the SC also offi cial said one bringing goods have been found. by His Highness the Emir Sheikh 2022 FIFA World Cup, not- of the main reasons for some Gulf “Adequate number of mate- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, withstanding the rumours and States imposing economic block- rials are now arriving and con- stands testimony to Qatar’s com- false propaganda engineered by ade on Qatar was to thwart Qatar struction of stadium and other mitment to hold the tournament some Gulf countries and their from hosting the World Cup. related projects are in full swing,” in a big way, he said while ex- associates working from other Al-Thawadi said Qatar’s prep- he said. tending a grand welcome to foot- places. arations for hosting the tourna- The SC offi cial said Al Wakrah ball fans from across the world to He was speaking at a seminar ment are going on in full swing and Al Bayt stadiums, which are come to the country. on “Qatar’s dignity and victory and works of most of the venues venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cautioning people against after nine months of siege” host- are in an advanced stage. Cup, will be completed next year misleading stories by vested in- ed by Gulf Times’ sister Arabic The offi cial said though the and the Qatar Metro would be terests, the SC secretary-general daily Arrayah on Sunday evening country faced some issues with operational two years before the said such false propaganda would at the Ritz-Carlton Doha. the vendors of construction ma- World Cup. have no eff ect on the hosting of Insisting that Qatar would terials at one stage, the admin- “A large number of new world the 2022 FIFA World Cup. host the World Cup impeccably istrators here have found eff ec- class roads are in various stages He also said SC’s teams would four years from now, the SC of- tive alternatives and the country of construction and each of be there in full strength at the fi cial recalled that the FIFA has is now quality getting materi- these works has shown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia repeatedly dispelled all fears and als at competitive prices and all world that our preparations for three months from now to learn Al-Thawadi speaking at the seminar. their top offi cials have been on imports are arriving on time at the World Cup are in full swing. from that experiences.

Survey fi nds high level of trust in government response to illegal blockade of Qatar

By Ayman Adly full support and solidarity of the man Rights Committee, were im- blockade failed to achieve its ul- he said that the issue is not Staff Reporter people, unlike the other coun- mensely active on various levels timate target due to various fac- easy as many imagine that tries of the blockade who fear to address the consequences and tors such as Qatar’s refusal to America could resolve it with their people and do not maintain deal with the crisis accordingly. compromise, which perplexed such ease. he ongoing blockade im- open communication with them. All government sectors and the blockading countries, in ad- He expected that there are posed on Qatar by Saudi Dr al-Ansari recalled that QU’s departments took the necessary dition to the soft political power three scenarios for the outcomes TArabia, the UAE, Bahrain Social and Economic Survey Re- steps in time to avoid any ad- of Qatar and its strong media of the meeting, with strong pres- and Egypt have affi rmed that the search Institute’s study on ‘Qatar verse consequences of the block- presence. sure from the US administra- Qatari leadership is very close counteracting the blockade’ with ade on the lives of people, which In this respect around 79% tion, a road map could be reached to the people and communicate a sample of around 800 Qataris doomed the blockade to a com- of the participants in the survey among the parties of the crisis to with them eff ectively, Dr Majid clearly showed the political ma- plete failure. agreed that Al Jazeera Channel resolve it successfully; the meet- bin Mohamed al-Ansari, Profes- turity of the citizens. Around 62% of the partici- supports Qatar’s interests. ing could be become partly suc- sor of Political Sociology at Qa- The study showed that around pants at the survey stressed that Other reasons for the failure of cessful with a partial lifting of the tar University (QU), pointed out 98% of the participants are Qatar is able to maintain com- the blockade are great humani- blockade measures; or it could at a seminar on ‘Qatar’s dignity satisfi ed with the government plete independence from the re- tarian eff orts of Qatari charitable result in no positive development and victory after nine months of performance throughout the gional alliances and 86% agreed and humanitarian organisations at all. siege’, hosted by Gulf Times’ sis- blockade, and around 88% in- that Qatar should look for new worldwide. Besides, Qatar has He said that the second stage ter Arabic daily Arrayah on Sun- dicated that Qatar could endure alliances with regional powers in displayed high ethical values in of the survey study on the block- day evening at the Ritz-Carlton such blockade even if it goes on the area, with Turkey and Kuwait adopting the strategy of not tak- ade will be launched in April. Doha. for years. taking the lead. ing any steps against the citizens In addition, QU is preparing The academic pointed out that Dr al-Ansari said that imme- The participants agreed that of the blockading countries and to launch a digital platform that the blockade has proven that diately after the blockade, the Qatar should maintain the neces- did not succumb to the political have all the researches, studies both the government and peo- government, in particular the sary alliances with world powers blackmail of other powers. and information related to the ple in Qatar enjoy great harmony Foreign Ministry, the Ministry to protect its interests. Regarding the anticipated blockade, which will be available and the government enjoys the of Defence and the National Hu- Dr al-Ansari believes that that meeting in Camp David, US, online to the public as well. Dr Majid bin Mohamed al-Ansari speaks at the event. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 9 QATAR NHRC chief recalls international co-operation after illegal blockade was imposed on Qatar

By Ayman Adly hotline allocated to receive the ade, there were attempts to iso- countries to hear from them, but Staff Reporter complaints of those hurt due to late Qatar internationally, with was eventually denied. the blockade, whether Qataris or the Saudi foreign minister visit- Delegations from the UK Par- expatriates. ing many capitals to get support liament, the US Congress and he National Human Rights “In previous years, we used for cutting relations with Qatar, the EU all condemned the prac- Committee (NHRC) had to receive around 1,600 com- a move that eventually did not tices of the blockade as collective Tacted quickly after the plaints a month, but we received succeed. punishment of the people. blockade was imposed on Qatar as many grievances within the The NHRC also exerted great The NHRC has taken all the on June 5, 2017 by Saudi Arabia, fi rst two weeks of the blockade,” efforts and managed to organ- necessary legal and judicial pro- the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, to he said. ise an international conference cedures to protect the rights of stress that cutting diplomatic Dr al-Marri pointed out that on the freedom of expression the people harmed by the block- and political relationships should the NHRC contacted various in- in Doha on July 24, which was ade. not aff ect the human rights of ternational human rights organi- a great success in spite of the Dr al-Marri stressed that be- people. sations immediately after the various attempts to make it a fore any potential political solu- NHRC chairman HE Dr Ali bin blockade was fi rst imposed, and failure. tions for the Gulf crisis, which Smaikh al-Marri was speaking managed to get the Offi ce of the Representatives of more than could be worked out at a forth- at a seminar on ‘Qatar’s dignity United Nation Commissioner for 230 world organisations related coming meeting in the US, all and victory after nine months of High Human Rights, the Human to free speech and journalism practices causing human rights siege’ hosted by Gulf Times’ sis- Rights Watch and Amnesty In- condemned the practices of the violations should be stopped. ter Arabic daily Arrayah on Sun- ternational to condemn the prac- blockading countries and had Asked about the practical day evening at the Ritz-Carlton tices of the blockading countries then stressed that Al Jazeera outcomes of the international Doha. against the people of Qatar. Channel should not be closed condemnations of the practices He recalled that the NHRC had These world organisations and this demand is neither rea- of the blockading countries, the convened a press conference on alongside other countries in Eu- sonable nor justifi able in any NHRC chairman pointed out that June 6, 2017, and stressed that rope and the US stressed that way. these helped in making some of the blockade should not be a tool such measures are considered Representatives from the them revise their illegal practic- of collective punishment for the fl agrant violations of the human United Nations’ Offi ce of the es, such as when Saudi Arabia al- people. rights. High Commissioner for Human lowed Qataris to perform the Haj Accordingly, a crisis manage- He pointed out that during Rights visited Qatar and a request and further curbed any potential NHRC chairman HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri makes a point at the seminar. ment team was formed and a the initial phase of the block- was made to visit the blockading expansion of these violations.

‘Transparent media’ helped communicate Qatar stand to global audience

By Ayman Adly Speaking at a seminar on blockading countries eventu- of the National Human Rights were politicised and Qatari pa- people. In this way, they sup- Staff Reporter ‘Qatar’s dignity and victory ally failed due to the strong po- Committee in highlighting the tients and students in the block- pressed the rights of their own after nine months of siege’ sition of Qatar across different various human rights violations ading countries before June 5, people to express their feelings, hosted by Arrayah on Sunday, areas, including a transparent committed by the siege countries 2017 were expelled without any he explained. he blockade imposed on he observed that the siege na- Qatari media and its major role against the people of Qatar. humanitarian considerations, The Arrayah Editor-in-Chief Qatar since June 5 last tions wanted to usurp Qatari in explaining facts to the inter- He pointed out that the block- while Qatar continues to open its gave a brief summary of the Tyear by Saudi Arabia, the wealth after draining the wealth national community. ading countries have politicised doors to welcome all. events that led to the blockade UAE, Bahrain and Egypt is aimed of their own people by imple- All government departments sport and attempted to impede Al-Kuwari said they went so and how it was preplanned based at undermining Qatar’s sover- menting policies that created concerned have also made in- the implementation of projects far in their aggression against on fabricated news. He said while eignty, usurping the fortunes of havoc in various Arab countries stant as well as extensive eff orts related to the 2022 FIFA World the Qatari people that they the other countries insulted and the Qatari people and bringing and also through supporting to address the crisis at various Cup. even expelled Qataris who were tried to abuse the symbols of Qa- about a change in the regime, certain parties there. levels and won the praise of the They have also politicised arts performing their religious rites tar, Doha maintained its ethical Gulf Times’ sister Arabic daily Al-Kuwari, who moder- entire world due to their high and tried to use it to falsely de- in Makkah, and issued laws to integrity and overcame the situ- Arrayah’s Editor-in-Chief Saleh ated the event, noted that all ethical stands and approach. fame Qatar. ban and criminalise any show ation, never resorting to such un- Arrayah’s Editor-in-Chief Saleh bin Afsan al-Kuwari has said. the plans and measures of the Al-Kuwari praised the role Even education and health of sympathy with Qatar and its ethical practices. bin Afsan al-Kuwari at the event.

Military college, Microsoft sign deal Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College and ‘UAE lobbied for Tillerson removal’ Microsoft have signed a strategic partnership agreement to meet the demands of the labour market and enhance he BBC has obtained a number of Arab countries he prepared of the meeting, Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown knowledge - both practical and academic - leaked e-mails that show cut diplomatic ties with Qa- Broidy urged continued support prince of Abu Dhabi. across diff erent educational institutions of Ta lobbying eff ort to get tar in June 2017 over its alleged of US allies the UAE and Sau- “I off ered that MBZ [the the armed forces. Maj Gen Fahad Mubarak US Secretary of State Rex Till- support for terrorism, a claim di Arabia and advised Trump crown prince] is available to al-Khayareen signed the agreement on erson sacked for failing to sup- which it denies. The unprec- against getting involved in last come to the US very soon and behalf of the college, while Harb Bou-Harb, port the United Arab Emirates edented move was seen as a ma- year’s row with Qatar. preferred a quiet meeting in Microsoft’s Middle East and Africa senior against Qatar. jor split between Gulf countries, Broidy called Qatar “a tel- New York or New Jersey. Presi- director for education, represented the Major Trump fundraiser and who are also close US allies. evision station with a country” dent Trump agreed that a meet- company, QNA reported. The Ministry of UAE-linked businessman El- Broidy’s defence company - alluding to broadcaster Al ing with MBZ was a good idea,” Defence’s Directorate of Defence Commu- liott Broidy met US President Circinus has hundreds of mil- Jazeera - and said it was doing Broidy wrote in an e-mail. nication said the agreement aims to benefit Donald Trump in October 2017 lions of dollars worth of con- “nothing positive”, according to He also said he advised the from Microsoft curricula and adopt them and urged him to sack Tillerson, tracts with the UAE, according the e-mails. president on Tillerson - who as reference sources in teaching while also the e-mails reveal. to the New York Times newspa- He said he touted a regional was “performing poorly and providing the necessary software for these In other e-mails, he calls the per. counter-terrorism force being should be fi red at a politically curricula to benefit students of the college. top US diplomat “a tower of Jel- He had recently returned from set up by the UAE that his com- convenient time”. The agreement is the first of its kind at the lo”, “weak” and says he “needs the UAE when he met Trump at pany was involved with, and Tillerson had criticised the level of military colleges in the Middle East. to be slammed”. the White House in October. suggested that the US president blockade of Qatar and called for Saudi Arabia, the UAE and According to a memorandum “sit down” with Mohamed bin it to be eased. - BBC Coast Guard drills for marine disaster

he General Directorate of Coasts and Border Secu- Trity yesterday carried out a mock marine disaster exercise to measure the readiness of the authorities concerned to deal with accidents at sea, as well as to improve the co-ordination, training and effi ciency of the participating entities. The scenario was an operation to contain a fi re and an oil spill due to the explosion of a maritime vessel (Dibel). A rescue operation for the ‘injured’ vessel crew was The exercise in progress. also part of the exercise. The drill was conducted with the co-operation of a number of entities, such as General Direc- torate of Industrial Security, Qa- tar Emiri Air Force, the operation centre at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Qatar Petroleum (QP), the MoI said in a statement. Staff Brigadier (Marine) Ali Ahmed Saif al-Baidid, director- general of Coasts and Border Se- curity, said that the exercise comes within the annual plans prepared by the department for the pur- pose of practical training in order sels and oil tankers, confronting ess indicated that the operation to cope with various incidents and fi shing and smuggling in Qatari was “excellent and completed in perform maritime tasks. waters by non-Qatari maritime record time”, the statement not- He stressed that the General vessels as well as the protection ed. As part of the drill, search and Directorate of Coasts and Border of gas and oil stations and other rescue personnel of the General Security was keen to always be in maritime functions. The fi refi ght- Directorate of Coasts and Border a state of readiness to deal with ing exercise was carried out by the Security rescued the ‘injured’ and various incidents occurring in boats of Coast Guard and QP. then pulled the vessels of QP to a the maritime fi eld, whether they The assessment from QP about safe area to avoid other maritime A helicopter rescues an ‘injured’ person during are accidents of commercial ves- the fi refi ghting and cooling proc- accidents. the exercise. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 QATAR ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution and cloud’ transforming media

By Joseph Varghese Forum and former Staff Reporter director-general of the Al Jazeera Me- dia Network, spoke he Fourth Industrial Revolution about how the me- (4IR) is shaping the future and dia landscape has Teyseer Motors president Adel al-Mannai receives the certification from Tcloud is revolutionising the media been “radically and Mohamed Abuagla, British ambassador Ajay Sharma during a recently-held awards ceremony. industry, the second annual Al Jazeera chaotically” trans- executive director, Future of Media Leaders’ Summit (FMLS) formed, and a new Technology & was told yesterday. paradigm emerged, Operations, Al “4IR, the current industrial revolution with the newsroom Jazeera Media we are living in, is digital, and it is about HE Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani, HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari and being integrated Network. ISO certifi cation empowering people and empowering other dignitaries at the opening of the forum. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam digitally and tech- minds. Cloud is just a bunch of intercon- nologically. In addition, he talked about the nected computers, accessible from any- reality, the Internet of Things, sensors and of Al Jazeera Media Network. “We are role of the media in curating and presenting for Teyseer Motors where. That is why we have gathered us- robotics. It is likely that robots will be our here in order to exchange insights with knowledge, not just information - in a world ers and makers of technology and media co-workers in the coming days,” he ex- a constellation of experts who are meet- awash with the latter. at the summit so that we can empower plained. Abuagla described the evolution ing together to envisage the future. I am Mark Harrison, managing director of lobal ISO Management ity service and products to their each other” said Mohamed Abuagla, ex- of human communications from stone confi dent that what you are working with the Digital Production Partnership, spoke Systems certifi cations clients. I off er my congratula- ecutive director, Technology & Opera- tablets to drones. He also spoke about contribute to that future,” he noted. about ‘What’s Shaping the Media Cloud’. Gentity, BSI has recently tions to Teyseer Motors on this tions, Al Jazeera Media Network. cybersecurity and noted, “The world is Waleed al-Sayed, CEO of Ooredoo Qa- He predicted that the collaborative ap- awarded Teyseer Motors with achievement,” Sharma said. Demystifying cloud computing, Abuag- only as safe as the measures that you take” tar who spoke about the digitisation of proach between media and technology the ISO 9001 Quality Manage- “I’m glad to be here to mark la said: “Cloud allows you to access any - emphasising that “we need to work to- telecommunications and how media con- will continue to deepen and numerous ment System certifi cation after this occasion and announce that kind of information anywhere, at any time gether to develop those measures”. sumption is shifting radically across gen- traditional media structures and organi- completing an extensive quality Teyseer Motors has achieved the and collaborate with other people who are The Fourth Industrial Revolution is erations, said: “Seventy-four per cent of sations will fragment under new realities. audit of the company’s opera- ISO 9001:2015 Quality Man- doing the same. The new revolution will described as a range of new technologies those aged between 20 and 40 years spend Yousef al-Khalidi, corporate vice- tional processes. agement System certifi cation. make us collaborate to tell stories.” that are fusing the physical, digital and up to four hours a day on their smart- president, Microsoft, spoke on the sub- The certifi cation was handed I congratulate Adel al-Mannai, “The 4IR is a combination of technol- biological worlds, and impacting all dis- phones. This generation does not watch TV ject of digital transformation and Mi- over to Teyseer Motors presi- Medhat Greiss, and Teyseer sen- ogy and technological innovations that ciplines, economies and industries. and listen to bulletins. We need information crosoft’s Azure programme. Microsoft dent Adel al-Mannai by British ior management and employees includes several factors such as cloud The summit was opened by HE Sheikh to reach audiences in an innovative way.” estimates that by 2025, 60% of all infor- ambassador Ajay Sharma, in the for their commitment to achieve computing, artifi cial intelligence, mixed Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani, chairman Wadah Khanfar, president of the Al Sharq mation will be held on the cloud. presence of BSI Qatar Business compliance with this interna- Development manager Jamal tional standard,” Dalli said. Dalli during a high profi le cer- “Teyseer Motors has always emony. demonstrated an unwavering Ooredoo is ‘gold partner’ for Future of Media Leaders’ Summit Teyseer Motors general man- commitment to quality in all fac- Ooredoo has announced that it is the dia and Cloud – Limitless Possibilities’. tive off icer of Ooredoo Qatar, said: “At the need for media companies ager Medhat Greiss, senior ets of its operations. The com- off icial telecommunication partner for International speakers, industry experts Future Media Leaders’ Summit, we will to deliver more immersive management, and employees of pany’s ISO 9001 Quality Man- the Future of Media Leaders’ Summit, and media practitioners are participating exchange best practices on how media content than ever before. Our state-of-the- Teyseer Motors, and prominent agement System certifi cation is a “supporting the digital transformation in keynotes, panel discussions, round ta- companies can use emerging technolo- art network infrastructure and digital busi- business personalities also at- natural outcome of this ongoing of Qatar’s media companies to enhance bles and workshops to share, inspire and gies to deliver content in new and innova- ness solutions will help optimise content tended the event. commitment. We rightfully ac- audience engagement”. shape the future of the media industry. tive ways, at any time and on any mobile and enhance Qatar’s standing as one of “This certifi cate recognises knowledge that quality is a key The summit is being hosted by Al Jazeera The two-day summit concludes today. device.” “All eyes will be on Qatar for the the world’s leading countries for media Teyseer Motors for their eff orts driver behind our success in cre- Media Network under the theme of ‘Me- Waleed al-Sayed (pictured), chief execu- football championships in 2022, with a innovation,” added al-Sayed. to improve the way they operate ating a portfolio of highly satisfi ed at all levels and to provide qual- clientele,” al-Mannai said. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 11 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Qatar’s actions show respect for international law, says GCO chief From Page 1 made by HE the Deputy Prime tions and to pay compensation far there are no signs that they in sports. We will be hosting sions made us a target we have The blockade has meant that our Minister and Minister of For- for damages suff ered by Qatar, are willing. We have said from the 2022 World Cup. We are a been moving too fast for some.” routes in and out have been il- More than 26,000 people have eign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed provided that the value of such day one that negotiation is the major global player in invest- Sheikh Saif reiterated that the legally limited by the blockading been aff ected. Families have bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, compensation is determined only way out. The region is safer ments. We are a very active UN blockade aimed at depriving Qa- countries. That doesn’t mean we been aff ected. when he said that the reason through a fair judicial process. when the Gulf Co-operation member that believes in the UN tar of its sovereignty and inde- don’t have diff erences of opinion “The blockade has targeted for this siege is “racism”, Sheikh He pointed out that Qatar did Council (GCC) works together mechanisms. Internally we have pendence and its control over its with Iran, diff erences in the re- the public. It has targeted the so- Saif said: “What HE the Depu- not demand things that were for confl ict resolution and policy developed many sectors from own decisions. He stressed that gion among other issues.” ciety, families, brothers and sis- ty Prime Minister and Foreign not its right. co-ordination. We appreciate strengthening our private sec- this will never happen and Qatar Asked about His Highness ters, businesses. We are pursuing Minister was referring to was a The siege countries closed the role of Kuwait and the wis- tor to reaching the number-one will maintain its independence the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin legal actions, through the UN or component of a number of dif- their airspace, sea and land to dom of the Emir of Kuwait HH ranking of highest income per and sovereignty . Hamad al-Thani’s recent state- other mechanisms to make sure ferent reasons. Summarising Qatar, which caused the country Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber person. On relations with Iran, he ment that what is happening that blockading countries are all, whether it’s racism, whether heavy losses, Sheikh Saif said. al-Sabah, for his role in leading The leadership throughout said: “As I said earlier on, the in Al Ghouta in Syria is a crime held accountable for their ac- it’s other words you want to use, Sheikh Saif stressed that Qa- the mediation eff orts and con- the past two decades has worked blockade is in place to outsource against humanity, Sheikh Saif tions.” their main aim is to curtail our tar was a sovereign country and tinuing to call for dialogue.” hard in creating an overall gen- our decisions, to take our inde- said: “We have always had a He pointed out Qatar fol- independence and take con- “will remain sovereign and that On the importance of what eral high standard of living for pendence away from us. This public voice, a loud public voice lowed legal procedures, whether trol of our decisions. And they its sovereignty is not for sale, is happening in Qatar for Saudi the citizens of Qatar. We have will never happen. We will hold in Syria. We will continue to do through the United Nations or thought they could do this by whether for the siege countries Arabia and other siege countries, further focused on education on to our independence and so. We respect the Syrian peo- through other mechanisms to putting pressure on our society, or any other country”. He noted Sheikh Saif said: “Qatar is a ma- and healthcare as key compo- sovereignty as a nation from ples’ quest for their rights and ensure accountability and pun- by putting pressure on the fami- that all that Doha wants is sim- jor energy player. We are a major nents for the people of Qatar and anyone who tries to do so, either their dignity. We have provided ishment of the countries of the lies, on people trying to practice ply adherence to international supplier of gas. We are a major for the future of Qatar. These are the blockading countries or any and will continue to provide hu- blockade for their actions. “Qa- their religion.” law and its responsibilities and supplier of other by-products all things we have worked over other country. Over the last few manitarian aid in regards to ref- tar would not like to see what Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin the principle of accountability. of gas. We are a key player in the the last two decades to achieve, months the relationship with ugees. We support the decision happened to it to be repeated to Saif al-Thani stressed the need Asked whether he believed region when it comes to media- all of these achievements did not Iran has developed specifi cally of the UN for a ceasefi re to stop another country.” for the siege countries to bear the siege countries were ready to tion, when it comes to humani- happen overnight, and maybe all in economic relations, especially the violence toward the Syrian Asked about the statement responsibility for their ac- negotiate, Sheikh Saif said: “So tarian aid. We are a major player of these achievements and deci- in trade and transport routes. people.” QNA

Germany Aid convoy quits Syria enclave urged to

AFP Sonia Khush, the group’s Syria extradite Douma director. “The items (removed) in- cluded trauma kits and other Kurdish n international convoy life-saving supplies,” Linda cut short its mission to Tom said, calling for a solution ASyria’s rebel enclave of ahead of a planned Thursday aid leader Eastern Ghouta yesterday after delivery. The United States on delivering desperately needed Sunday condemned the assault, aid as the regime pounded the accusing Moscow of killing “in- Reuters region, killing dozens as it seized nocent civilians” and ignoring a Istanbul more ground. UN resolution calling for a 30- At least 68 civilians were day cessation of hostilities. killed yesterday, a monitor said, Moscow has off ered safe pas- urkey said yesterday while the United Nations re- sage to non-combatants wish- it had issued a second ported dozens of trucks carrying ing to leave Eastern Ghouta dur- T extradition request for aid had reached the main town ing daily “humanitarian pauses”, Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh of Douma. but the UN and the Observatory Muslim, calling for his tem- The government removed say no Syrian civilians have left porary detention and extra- medical supplies from the fi rst the enclave since the fi rst break dition from Germany after a aid convoy to arrive since the in fi ghting took eff ect last week. Czech court released him last start two weeks ago of a bloody Damascus and Moscow have week. Russian-backed assault that has accused rebels of preventing ci- Muslim, who formerly sparked outrage but little action vilians from leaving in order to headed the PYD, Syria’s main from the West. use them as human shields. Kurdish party, was detained in The 46 aid trucks arrived French President Emmanuel Prague last week at Turkey’s after fresh air strikes hit the Macron yesterday urged his Rus- request. shrinking rebel-held zone and sian counterpart Vladimir Putin Ankara considers the PYD a regime troops rapidly advanced, A Syrian Red Crescent ambulance arrives in Douma in the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, yesterday. to “take real and concrete steps” terrorist organisation and says leaving them in control of 40% to push Damascus to accept a Muslim is linked to two bomb- of the region. said fi ghting and air strikes had and 70 wounded in strikes “be- added. Armed groups there, one Yesterday’s convoy was deliv- truce. In remarks broadcast on ings in the capital Ankara that An AFP reporter in Douma continued during the convoy’s lieved to be Russian” on the town of them made up of fi ghters from ering “health and nutrition sup- state television on Sunday, Syr- killed dozens. said warplanes were fl ying over- deployment, “including on of Kafr Batna, said the Britain- Al Qaeda’s ex-affi liate, have been plies, along with food for 27,500 ian President Bashar al-Assad A Czech court later ruled for head and explosions from could Douma city while the convoy based monitor, which relies on a fi ring mortar rounds and rockets people in need,” OCHA said. said his forces would push on. his release, a move Turkey de- be heard even as the aid was be- was offl oading”. network of sources inside Syria. on adjacent neighbourhoods of But the UN and aid groups “The majority (of people) in scribed as political, against in- ing unloaded. More than two weeks of air The UN Human Rights Coun- Damascus, killing around 20 ci- said the Syrian government had Eastern Ghouta want to escape ternational law and “clear sup- The UN’s refugee agency UN- strikes, artillery and rocket fi re cil yesterday ordered inves- vilians in two weeks. blocked medical supplies from the embrace of terrorism. The op- port for terror”. HCR said the aid convoy had on the last major rebel-held en- tigators to examine the latest The off ensive has sent hun- entering. eration must continue,” he said. Ankara has said it would pur- been in the town of Douma for clave near Damascus have killed violence and condemned “the dreds of civilians fl eeing from Save the Children said the Observers have said advances sue Muslim “wherever he goes”. nearly nine hours. hundreds and devastated towns. indiscriminate use of heavy their homes away from the regime had removed surgical on the ground might spark fresh Muslim has said the allegations But yesterday evening it cut At least 19 people were killed weapons and aerial bombard- moving front line, compound- kits and insulin, exacerbating eff orts to negotiate an evacua- are false. short its mission and left the in the town of Hammuriyeh, ments against civilians, and the ing a humanitarian crisis and the acute lack of medical care tion to Idlib, a northern prov- He has also said he will remain enclave, the UN said. said the Syrian Observatory for alleged use of chemical weapons echoing the regime’s devastat- in the enclave. “Doctors say ince now hosting defeated anti- in European Union territory and “We delivered as much as we Human Rights. in Eastern Ghouta”. ing 2016 assault to retake sec- they have to reuse bandages and regime forces from across Syria. cooperate in any further pro- could amidst shelling,” UN- Another 49 died elsewhere Regime troops and allied ond city Aleppo. A suff ocating, needles on multiple patients as The rebels “saw what hap- ceedings. HCR’s Syria representative Saj- in the enclave, it added, bring- forces have advanced rapidly years-long government siege there simply aren’t enough to go pened in Aleppo, they don’t Ankara requested Muslim’s jad Malik tweeted. “Civilians are ing to around 760 the number of across farmland in the east of has forced Eastern Ghouta’s es- round,” it said. stand a chance,” said Fabrice temporary detention and extra- caught in a tragic situation.” civilians killed since the assault the enclave in recent days, the timated 400,000 inhabitants to “Some 400,000 innocent ci- Balanche, a visiting fellow at dition from Germany on Friday Linda Tom, spokesperson for began, including at least 170 Observatory said. scrape by on smuggled goods, vilians are trapped with no food, Stanford University’s Hoover but Berlin has yet to comply, the UN’s humanitarian co-or- children. By yesterday evening they had produce from local farms and water or medicine. Institution. “I doubt they can Deputy Prime Minister Bekir dination offi ce OCHA in Syria, At least 15 civilians were killed retaken 40% of the enclave, it rare aid deliveries. They must be protected,” said hold out several months.” Bozdag said yesterday. Iran rebuff s demands to curb missile programme

AFP it unless tough new restrictions limited to 2,000 kilometres. ropean allies to “fi x” the nuclear Tehran were placed on Iran before May 12. His statements have not been deal, removing “sunset clauses” Rouhani issued a statement warmly received in Iran, with that mean it expires in 2026 and after meeting Le Drian, saying: Zarif telling yesterday’s reformist reining in Iran’s missile pro- ran rebuff ed French Foreign “Preserving the nuclear accord Etemad newspaper: “In order to gramme and regional activities. Minister Jean-Yves Le Dri- will prove to the world that ne- keep the United States in the Iran Iran has refused any re-negoti- Ian’s calls to curb its missile gotiation and diplomacy are the nuclear deal, European countries ation or additional clauses, argu- programme after a day of tense best option for solving problems, are suff ering from extremism and ing that the US has already failed discussions in Tehran yesterday while its collapse will signify that this will ultimately undermine to keep up its end of the bargain on aimed at salvaging its historic nu- political negotiations are a waste Europe’s policy.” the existing accord. clear deal. of time.” The hardline Javan newspa- Despite Le Drian’s tough talk Le Drian said there was “still a Le Drian has insisted he is not per welcomed Le Drian with the on missiles, France remains fi rmly lot of work to do” on Iran’s missile “an emissary of Trump”, but he headline: “Trump’s Parisian lack- behind the agreement. programme after meeting with has taken a fi rm line on Iran’s ey in Tehran”. “We want to preserve the nu- top offi cials, including President missile programme and regional Le Drian also pressed Iran on clear deal because it is working, Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Min- interventions that mirrors the the activities of its ally, the Syr- it’s robust and because the Ira- ister Mohamed Javad Zarif. rhetoric from Washington. ian government, amid the ongoing nians are respecting it,” his team Zarif countered that Europe “There are programmes for bombardment of civilians in the said ahead of the visit. needed to “play a more construc- missiles with ranges of sev- rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta The International Atomic En- tive role to preserve” the nuclear eral thousand kilometres which near Damascus. ergy Agency has repeatedly found deal. are not in line with UN Security “The Iranian authorities told Iran is abiding by its commit- “And above all to put pressure Council resolutions and go be- me of their heavy concerns on the ments, which curbs its nuclear on the United States to meet its yond what is needed to secure humanitarian situation in Syria programme in exchange for a lift- commitments under the deal and Iran’s borders,” Le Drian told Le and their desire to see an end to ing of international sanctions. not to allow it to present illogical Journal du Dimanche on the eve of this catastrophe,” Le Drian told IAEA director general Yukiya and illegal demands,” Zarif added, his visit. reporters. Amano said yesterday that losing according to an account by the France has ballistic missiles Rouhani re-emphasised Iran’s the nuclear deal “would be a great foreign ministry. with ranges of more than 6,000 position that the only way to re- loss for nuclear verifi cation and The visit comes in the midst of kilometres, which can be launched solve the Syrian crisis was to for multilateralism”. a scramble by European govern- from submarines, but Le Drian “support its central government”. If the political track looks ments to salvage the 2015 deal said Iran was risking fresh sanc- But the key focus has been the tricky, France is hoping its cultural after US President Donald Trump tions if it did not curb its missile 120-day deadline set by Trump in diplomacy can off er a more posi- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meets with French Foreign Aff airs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, threatened he would abandon programme, which is currently January for US lawmakers and Eu- tive fl avour to the trip. Page 12 in Tehran, yesterday. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD Louvre brings ‘unprecedented’ show to Tehran

AFP 2,400-year-old Egyptian “This completely unprec- certain issues to other countries, Tehran sphinx, a bust of Roman emper- edented exhibition...allows us to and cultural aff airs ended up or Marcus Aurelius and drawings make the link between this glo- largely with France. by Rembrandt and Delacroix. rious moment and relations that “As a result of that, it was the ournalists fl ooded Iran’s Na- “Some were defi nitely easier date back to the 19th century.” French that set up the antiquities tional Museum yesterday for to transport than others,” said France has deep cultural ties service here in 1930,” said Cuny. Jthe arrival of more than 50 Judith Henon, one of the experts with pre-revolutionary Iran, That helped preserve France’s artworks from the Louvre — the sent by the Louvre. and the National Museum itself reputation among Iranians even fi rst major show by a Western “Our Iranian partners really was built by a Frenchman, Andre as that of Britain, the United museum in the country’s history. liked the sphinx, but it weighs Godard, in 1938. States and Russia plummeted in The show refl ects France’s close to a tonne and was ex- While Britain and Russia bat- the years ahead of the 1979 Is- determined use of cultural di- tremely complicated to put in tled for political infl uence in lamic revolution. plomacy as it seeks to rebuild place.” 19th century, it was the French “Back in the day, the British traditional ties with Iran, even The show marks the culmina- who led the way in archaeologi- were looking for oil while we as their offi cials hold tense talks tion of two years of work since cal aff airs. were doing archaeology, so our over political and security is- a cultural exchange agreement “France had priority on cul- relations have focused on posi- sues. was signed during a visit by tural questions in the late 19th tive things. The doors were unsealed for President Hassan Rouhani to century and was the only one It’s an image that has stuck,” journalists at the National Mu- Paris in January 2016. doing digs in Iran,” said Julien said a French diplomat. An exhibition of 50 artworks from the Louvre, yesterday at the National Museum in central Tehran, the seum in central Tehran, which “Relations between France Cuny, one of the Louvre’s cura- The cultural domain off ers a first major show by a Western museum in the Iran’s history. is currently celebrating its 80th and Iran are old and profound tors for the Tehran show, and an chance to focus on the positive anniversary, a day ahead of the because France was a pioneer of expert on Iran. re-engagement between France makers Peugeot and Renault as branch, with some 1,700 Irani- relations. We want to say that public opening. archaeological exploration here,” So as not to hand over every- and Iran, which has also been well as energy giant Total since ans currently studying in France. Iran is coming back to interna- Among the items shipped Jean-Luc Martinez, president of thing to Britain and Russia, the seen in a number of trade and the 2015 nuclear accord. “This exhibition refl ects the tional normalisation,” said a dip- over by cargo plane were a the Louvre, said. monarchs handed control of investment deals involving car- University links are another shared ambition to bolster our lomat accompanying Le Drian. Govt orders Storming male bastion seizure of assets of Saddam-era offi cials

AFP ters, security bosses and offi cials Baghdad from the Baath Party, includ- ing some who are in prison, who have been executed or have died. raq has ordered the seizure of Among those named is Ali assets that belonged to exe- Hassan al-Majid, a cousin Icuted dictator Saddam Hus- of Saddam better known as Lebanese mechanic Rana el-Hayek, 22, poses in a car repair garage where she works in Qannabat Brummana, northeast of Beirut. Hayek followed her childhood sein and more than 4,200 offi - “Chemical Ali”, who was hanged dream to become a mechanic and she is studying electrical engineering as she believes that the future of the automotive industry lays there. Hayek gained the cials from his former regime, an in 2010 for ordering the 1988 trust and respect of her colleagues in the male-dominated garage where she works through her extensive knowledge of mechanics and hard work. offi cial statement said yesterday. gassing of thousands of Kurds. The list of ex-regime bosses Tareq Aziz, a veteran foreign was drawn up by the Iraqi agen- minister who held the post of cy charged with tracking down deputy prime minister before former offi cials from Saddam’s Saddam was ousted in the US- Baath Party, and includes their led invasion, is also on the list. relatives.Saddam’s name ap- Sentenced to death in 2013, peared at the top of the list and Aziz, the only Christian in Sadd- Trump may travel to Israel for embassy move it also said it included “his chil- am’s inner circle, died two years dren, grandchildren, relatives”. later in prison. After the fall of the Saddam His son Ziad, who lives in Jor- Reuters to Jerusalem as president. greatest challenge in the Mid- regime following the 2003 US dan, has condemned the list as Washington/Jerusalem The opening of the US em- dle East to both our countries, Palestinian govt condemns Guatemala’s plan invasion, property belonging to nothing more than “a stunt to bassy is planned for May. “We’re to our Arab neighbours, it’s en- the former ruler and his cronies win votes” in Iraq’s May 12 leg- looking at coming,” Trump said. capsulated in one word: Iran,” Guatemala will relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem this May, was snaffl ed up by Iraq’s new islative election. S President Donald “If I can, I will.” Netanyahu said. two days after the United States shifts its mission, the Latin American leaders, armed forces and multi- “We’ve been subjected to Trump said yesterday he Mired in corruption investi- Trump has threatened to pull country’s president announced. ple militias.This new order now pressure and injustice for 15 Umight travel to Israel for gations threatening his political out of the agreement unless Eu- Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales told a cheering crowd on Sunday seeks to put an offi cial stamp on years, it’s enough,” he said ahead the opening of the US embassy survival, Netanyahu — ques- ropean allies help “fi x” it with a that “as a sovereign decision, we recognise Jerusalem as the capital of the confi scation of the assets. of the offi cial announcement. there as he and Israeli Prime tioned at his home by police on follow-up accord. Israel.” Speaking at the annual conference of the American Israel Public The list of names includes “When will the spite of this so- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday — stepped into a diff er- An Israeli offi cial said Netan- Aff airs Committee (AIPAC), an influential pro-Israeli lobbying group, he Saddam-era government minis- called government end?” presented a united front against ent spotlight during his fi ve- yahu and Trump were likely to said: “Under my instructions, two days after the United States moves its Iran in White House talks. day US visit. talk about how to overcome Eu- embassy, Guatemala will return and permanently move its embassy to Trump’s decision for the Trump’s push to change or ropean resistance on the matter. Jerusalem. The Palestinian government condemned the Guatemalan LEGAL United States to recognise Je- scrap Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal Israel has accused Tehran move. In a statement on the off icial Palestinian news agency WAFA, Egypt TV host released on bail rusalem as the capital of Israel with world powers and con- of seeking a permanent mili- it called on Arab and Islamic nations “to take a firm stand against this and move the embassy there cerns over Tehran’s foothold in tary presence in Syria, where move, which violates international law.” Only seven small countries — An Egyptian TV talk show host was released on bail yesterday after being from Tel Aviv reversed decades Syria topped the agenda of his forces support Syrian President including Guatemala and Honduras — sided with the United States and detained for allegedly defaming the police. A Cairo prosecutor ordered on of US policy, aggravated Arab talks with Netanyahu, US and Bashar al-Assad in a civil war. Israel on a non-binding December 21 UN General Assembly resolution Sunday that Khairy Ramadan, who hosts a show called Egypt Today on allies and has complicated his Israeli offi cials said. Trump suggested that the rejecting Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Channel 1, be detained for four days for questioning. The order came days af- administration’s attempt to re- Both leaders have long railed Palestinians are eager to return ter President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said insulting the security forces amounted vive long-stalled Middle East against the deal, citing its lim- to negotiations and said if they to treason, and after the public prosecutor urged legal action against media peace talks. ited duration and the fact it does do not, “you don’t have peace.” ed States on Middle East peace, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, outlets deemed to be publishing “false news”. Ramadan paid 10,000 Egyp- Trump, with Netanyahu at not cover Iran’s ballistic missile Palestinian President Mah- prompting Trump to delay the who has been on the defensive tian pounds ($570) bail yesterday. A website claimed the accusation against his side in the Oval Offi ce, said program or its support for anti- moud Abbas, angered by rollout of peace proposals. amid investigations into alleged Ramadan came after an episode of the programme in which he said he had he was considering making Israel militants in the region. Trump’s Jerusalem move, has Participating in the talks meddling by Russia in the 2016 spoken to the wife of a police off icer who was struggling to get by financially. what would be his second visit “If I had to say what is our refused to engage with the Unit- was Trump’s senior adviser presidential campaign. Hotel hunting: mission impossible in Iraq province

AFP After getting lost on the way to nature of cities like Ramadi accept”. The tribal opposition, Ramadi a meeting, he decided to knock when explaining the importance combined with the area’s deli- on a door and ask the family if placed on hospitality. “Under cate political and security situ- they knew the man he was look- these circumstances, it is in- ations, means “it is diffi cult to n Iraq’s Anbar province, visi- ing for. conceivable that a visitor should imagine any tourist movement tors can be hard pressed to “They said yes and invited me be looking for a hotel, where lo- in Anbar,” said Dhahi. Ifi nd a hotel room as tribal in. cal traditions dictate the duty of Militant fi ghters still maintain tradition makes housing guests a After dinner and tea — and hospitality. a presence in the province, par- point of honour. after I repeatedly asked about This is the case with other cit- ticularly along the Syrian border. The western region along the the person — they told me they ies in the province as well,” ex- It was in Anbar that a large Syrian border was long held by didn’t know him, but would send plained Hosham, author of The section of the community re- Islamic State (IS) group mili- someone to look for him and that Tribes and Power in the Land of volted against the government tants, and few outsiders man- I should spend the night at their Islam. In the centre of Ramadi in Baghdad and welcomed IS aged to venture into its capital place.” lies an abandoned concrete as protectors, as they had done Ramadi until the extremists were Tribal traditions of hospital- structure, the only attempt in with Al Qaeda 10 years before. pushed out in 2016. ity transcend community affi li- 2013 by a Turkish company to Although they quickly grew But today, traders, inves- ation. erect a hotel in Anbar. disillusioned, it was already too tors, contractors and construc- Karim, is the visitor in the An- But construction stopped late: the extremist group had tion workers are rushing in to bar province. with the Islamic State group’s taken over the province and im- the desert province, as business “Hospitality is a red line for takeover of the large swathes of posed its ruthless law. begins to resume after years of us. We respect guests as we re- In Ramadi, it is inconceivable that a visitor should be looking for a hotel, where traditions dictate the duty the country in 2014. But for Sheikh Mohamed al- stagnation. spect God,” said Sheikh Moham- of hospitality, says French anthropologist Dawood Hosham. According to residents, even Shaabani, the province’s suff er- Karim al-Basrawi, a car-parts ed Khalef al-Shaabani, leader the militants stayed away from ing in the past 15 years does not salesman in Ramadi on business, of the powerful Shaabani tribe, said the 45-year-old, wearing a sleep in one room,” he added. take him to the right person. He the building. negate the importance of pre- was hoping to stay in a hotel dur- who lives in Ramadi. red and white chequered keffi yeh Omar al-Nimer, a barber, said must eat and drink and relax at Anbar provincial council serving tradition. ing a recent trip. In Anbar, hotels are out of the headscarf. many families host guests even if ours, otherwise people will talk member Athal Obeid Dhahi said “Generosity is courage, and “When I arrived, I was sur- question. “When we build our homes, they do not know the person. about us.” there is an urgent need to cre- hotels nullify that courage,” he prised that there were no hotels,” “We will never allow their we fi rst think of the diwaniya “If he has the wrong address, French anthropologist Da- ate hotels for “weddings, parties said. “We always tell our visitors: said the 35-year-old from the construction. We’d sell every- (reception hall), which must be for example, he’ll stay with us wood Hosham, who is of Iraqi or receptions”, but “it is useless you are the boss of the house, southern province of Basra. thing we have to honour a guest,” big, even if it means we must for one night at least before we origin, highlights the “tribal” because the tribes here do not and we are the guests.” Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 13 AFRICA

CORRUPTION PROTEST BUDGET TERROR ATTACK Isabel dos Santos denies Ethiopians strike over Ivory Coast announces Burkina investigates Sonangol fraud claims state of emergency $7bn infrastructure plan if ‘G5 Sahel’ was target

Angolan businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, Businesses closed yesterday in Ethiopia’s capital and The West African state of Ivory Coast said Burkina Faso and French investigators yesterday daughter of former president Jose Eduardo its largest region to protest a state of emergency yesterday it was earmarking 3,760bn CFA francs pushed ahead with a probe into deadly extremist dos Santos, yesterday denied claims that she declared after the prime minister’s resignation ($7.07bn) in infrastructure spending over the attacks last week suspected to have targeted a presided over corruption when she ran state oil last month. Shops were shut and roads deserted next five years, especially in transport. The major anti-terror meeting. Forensic teams were giant Sonangol. Prosecutors have opened an in Addis Ababa and in towns in the surrounding announcement was made by the minister for at work at the scenes of last Friday’s twin attack investigation into possible graft at Sonangol and Oromia region, a hotbed of anti-government economic infrastructure, Amede Koff i Kouakou, in Ouagadougou, and two suspects were being will probe “irregular financial transfers”. “I can dissent. “The strike is a response to our fear” of at ceremonies to launch a business fair to be held questioned. The attack on the military headquarters only share my total indignation at the serious the state of emergency, a resident of the Oromia in the economic capital Abidjan in November. appears to have been aimed at a scheduled meeting accusations and innuendoes made against me,” town Burayu told AFP. Standing together with like- “Investment of around 3,760bn CFA francs has of the so-called G5 Sahel — a French-backed group she said in a statement. Sonangol’s new chief minded neighbours, the resident said: “If they see been scheduled over the five years,” he said. Chief of five countries fighting extremism in the volatile executive Carlos Saturnino angrily criticised us in a group like this, the police will come and areas of investment include a bridge in Abidjan Saharan region. The room where the meeting was A woman pays homage to a Burkinabe soldier the financial management of his predecessor shoot us.” Roads leading out of Addis Ababa were and completing half of a 650km of highway that to have taken place was wrecked by the car bomb killed at the country’s military headquarters Isabel last week, alleging that $38mn had been lined with parked trucks and buses whose drivers Ivory Coast has to build under a scheme linking — however, the venue of the meeting was swapped during a terrorist attack on March 2 outside the suspiciously transferred to a company in Dubai. feared being assaulted if they defied the strike. Abidjan to the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou. at the last minute, which prevented carnage. soldier’s home in Ouagadougou.

Buhari to tour S Africa blames food fi rms for hotspots after kidnappings world’s worst listeria outbreak and clashes Reuters Reuters not said when they could conclude tests Lagos Johannesburg on RCL Foods, which has a plant under investigation. Rhodes said it produced processed igerian President Mu- outh Africa said yesterday pro- canned meat, diff erent from the cold hammadu Buhari will ducers of cold meat products were processed meat made by rivals. Nvisit the state where 110 Sto blame for delays in tracing the Astral said it produced fresh and fro- schoolgirls were abducted by cause of the world’s worst listeria out- zen chicken, not polonies and items suspected Islamist militants last break, which has killed 180 people in the linked to the outbreak. month, his offi ce said, as his secu- past year. Both those fi rms said their products rity record comes under scrutiny As shoppers queued up to return were safe. less than a year before elections. processed meat items and demand re- The minister told South Africans not The 75-year-old former military funds, shares in the biggest food fi rm to consume any ready-to-eat processed ruler will also tour other hotspots, in Africa’s most industrialised econo- meat due to the risk of cross-contami- including areas hit by bloody my, Tiger Brands, tumbled because of nation. clashes between semi-nomadic its link to the outbreak that has spread The announcement prompted a fren- herders, the presidency added. since January 2017. zied clearing and cleaning of the shelves The former general, who came The government, which has been by local supermarkets chains Shoprite, to power in 2015 vowing to crush criticised for taking too long to fi nd the Pick n Pay, Spar and Woolworths, which Boko Haram’s insurgency, has cause, had on Sunday linked the out- also urged consumers to return the not stated whether he will seek break to a meat product known as “pol- meats for refunds. re-election in February 2019. ony” made by Tiger’s Enterprise Food. Neighbouring states acted swiftly. But a surge in violence has It also said it was investigating a plant Zambia banned imports of South Af- cast a shadow over his term. He owned by RCL Foods that makes a simi- rican processed meat, dairy products, has repeatedly declared the in- lar product, whose shares also slid yes- vegetables and fruit. surgents’ defeat for more than terday before recovering. Mozambique and Namibia halted im- a year. That was undermined by Both companies, which say they are ports of the processed meat items and mass the abduction in the town co-operating with the authorities, sus- Botswana said it was recalling them. of Dapchi in Yobe state on Febru- pended processed meat production at Malawi stepped up screening of ary 19 and an attack on Thursday their plants after health authorities or- South African food imports. that killed at least 11 people, in- dered a recall of cold meats associated Dozens of customers lined up outside cluding three aid workers in an- with the outbreak from outlets at home a Tiger Brands outlet with bags of cold other part of the northeast. and abroad. A worker looks at empty shelves after removing processed meat products at a Pick n Pay Store in Johannesburg yesterday. meat products and demanding their His tour will begin in the The UN World Health Organization money back. “Middle Belt” state of Taraba, called the outbreak the largest ever re- “The meat processing industry was He said all fi rms in the industry were ger Brands, said there was no direct link “I lost trust with Enterprise. I’ll be where herdsmen have farmers corded globally, after 948 cases were not co-operating for months. They did being examined. between the deaths and its cold meat scared even if they say this problem is have fought over dwindling ar- reported since January 2017. not bring the samples as requested. We South Africa’s processed meat mar- products. solved. I would rather go back to peanut able land, his offi ce said. Listeria causes fl u-like symptoms, had long suspected that listeria can be ket grew about 8% in 2017 to a retail “We are unaware of any direct link,” butter and jam,” said call centre agent He will also visit the central nausea, diarrhoea and infection of the found in these products,” the ministry’s value of $412mn, according to Eurom- he told a media briefi ng. Tshepo Makhura, 37. state of Benue and Zamfara in the blood stream and brain. communications director, Popo Maja, onitor International. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi Deline Smith, a 57-year-old northwest — both hit by fi ghting South Africa’s Health Ministry said told Reuters. Tiger Brands, Eskort, RCL Foods, had said on Sunday the outbreak had housewife with three full bags, said: over grazing in recent weeks, the source was found after pre-school “It is not that we are incompetent, or Rhodes and Astral said they had com- been traced to a Tiger Brands factory in “I hope my grandchildren are go- along with Rivers state in the children fell ill from eating polony that we have inadequate resources,” Maja plied with all requests from the health the northern city of Polokwane. ing to be okay because we gave them south, and Yobe. products traced to processed meat pro- said when asked why it had taken more authorities. The authorities are also examining a food over the weekend from these “The president has decided ducers. than a year to fi nd the cause of listeria. Lawrence McDougall, the CEO of Ti- second Tiger Brands factory and have parcels.” to undertake an on the spot as- sessment of the various occur- rences and to meet and console the communities aff ected,” the presidency said. The presidency did not say Mugabe acolyte forms new whether Buhari would visit Dap- chi on his trip to Yobe. Buhari’s predecessor, Good- party, challenges Mnangagwa luck Jonathan, was criticised for failing to quickly visit Chibok, the scene of another mass abduction Reuters Infighting dogs opposition of schoolgirls in 2014. That was Harare seized upon by his detractors in Discord is growing in the ranks of Zimba- the 2015 election campaign. bwe’s main opposition party, the Move- The opposition People’s Dem- retired Zimbabwean general and ment for Democratic Change, after the ocratic Party (PDP) had already acolyte of ex-president Robert death of its long-time leader and ahead of called on Buhari to visit Dapchi in AMugabe has formed a political pivotal elections this year. the days following the abduction. party to challenge President Emmerson Nelson Chamisa, picked by the MDC to At least 10 people were killed Mnangagwa at the polls later this year, lead the party after the death of Morgan in several days of violence be- the new grouping said yesterday. Tsvangirai, appealed for unity yesterday tween herdsmen and farmers in Mugabe, 94, was forced to step down after several members were injured in eastern Nigeria, police said yes- last November following a de facto military fighting between rival factions over the terday but the cattle drivers gave coup. Sources close to the former leader say weekend. a higher toll. he is bitter over his departure after 37 years “We’ve hoped, fought and cried to- Clashes broke out in a number Supporters of the ruling All Peoples Congress party attend a rally yesterday ahead of the presidential election in in offi ce and has given his support to the gether in pursuit of freedom and a better of remote herding villages in the Makeni, Sierra Leone. New Patriotic Front (NFP) party. Zimbabwe. What binds us together is far Mambilla district of Taraba state Ambrose Mutinhiri, a veteran of Zim- greater than the little that seeks to set us last Thursday and continued babwe’s 1970s independence war, quit apart,” Chamisa wrote on Twitter. throughout the weekend. the ruling ZANU-PF party and gave up Chamisa’s comments came after his “So far we have established his parliamentary seat last Friday, then backers and supporters of MDC deputy the deaths of 10 people in the met Mugabe on Sunday to brief him about leader Thokozani Khupe clashed in the city violence between herders and the latest developments, an NPF state- of Bulawayo on Sunday, with stones thrown farmers in the Mambilla area,” Sierra Leone prepares said state police spokesman ment said. and some people taken to the hospital. The NPF said it was formed by ZANU- Khupe told DPA yesterday that eight David Misal. “Security person- PF members and Zimbabweans “outraged people were hurt in the violence. “Our nel have succeeded in restoring by the unconstitutional and humiliating party members were injured when thugs... normalcy in the area and there manner in which President Mugabe was disrupted our meeting,” she said. “I call is ongoing security operation to to vote for new leader consolidate peace.” criminally ousted from leadership...by upon the police to arrest these thugs.” real criminals who have shamefully dam- According to herders, Mam- Reuters a 2014 Ebola outbreak and a sharp drop two ruling parties since independ- aged Zimbabwe’s fl edgling democracy”. billa militia armed with ma- Freetown in the price of its vast iron reserves. ence from Britain in 1961: the rul- Mugabe’s policies are blamed by many Mutinhiri, an ethnic Zezuru like Mu- chetes and spears stormed fi ve The epidemic and the global com- ing All People’s Congress, which is for the decline of Zimbabwe from bread- gabe, has no known political base. herding settlements of Nyiwa, modities downturn shrank the coun- fi elding ex-foreign minister Samura basket to basket case, with unemploy- The state-owned Herald newspaper, Yerimaru, Wuro-Mogoggo, ierra Leone will vote tomorrow try’s economy by a fi fth in 2015. Kamara, and the Sierra Leone Peo- ment above 80%, dilapidated public in- which refl ects government thinking, as- Leme and Gagarum between for a successor to President Er- Since then growth has been lack- ple’s Party behind Julius Maada Bio, frastructure and severe shortages of hard serted that Mutinhiri was a stalking horse Thursday and Saturday. Snest Bai Koroma in an election lustre and many crave a sharp de- who briefl y ruled as head of a military currency that spawned hyper-infl ation. for Mugabe, his wife Grace and the van- “From our records, 19 people dominated by an economic crisis parture from Koroma’s 10-year stint junta in 1996. Mnangagwa said in January Zimbabwe quished ZANU-PF G40 group that had have been killed and 23 injured in caused by a collapse in iron ore prices that they say did little to improve or- Disenchanted young voters may look would hold transparent elections by July opposed Mnangagwa’s political rise. the unprovoked attacks in these and an Ebola epidemic. dinary lives. elsewhere, raising the possibility that and he would respect the result if the oppo- It was Grace’s tilt at power that trig- fi ve villages by armed Mam- Sixteen candidates are vying for “The country lacks so many things. the polls may go to a second round. sition won — a pledge crucial to unlocking gered the military intervention in No- billa tribe militia,” said the head the top job and four are seen as hav- We need somebody who is going...to Apart from Yumkella, the Coali- urgently needed fi nancial assistance and vember. of the Nigerian herders union ing a realistic chance of following prepare for the future, but as for now tion for Change (C4C) party, whose repairing relations with Western powers Quoting an unnamed government MACBAN, Mohamed Keruwa. Koroma, who has served his maxi- we are not anywhere (able) to compete candidate is Samuel Sam-Sumana, and international fi nancial institutions. source, the Herald said Mugabe and his Nyiwa was worst hit with nine mum two terms. with the next phase of the world,” said has also garnered strong support Still, the NPF said it would soon chal- wife were also anxious about their invest- herders killed by the attack- A civil war in the 1990s, fuelled 28-year-old Jeremiah Bangura. for denouncing both major parties’ lenge the legality of Mnangagwa’s gov- ments, including a dairy fi rm and several ers who also “killed 318 cows, by confl ict diamonds and fought in He spoke at a rally for the newly records on corruption. ernment at the Constitutional Court. farms. stole 38 cows, 158 sheep and 308 part by child soldiers, killed tens of formed National Grand Coalition A mudslide in the capital Freetown The High Court ruled in November “Essentially, what it means is it’s the fowls,” he added. thousands of people and wrecked the where thousands blew whistles and last year killed 500, restarting a debate that the military intervention was lawful, former president who is trying to stage a Mambilla lies on Nigeria’s West African country’s economy. held up pictures of their candidate, over unsafe housing in crowded cities. as it halted a bid by people in his entou- ‘second coming’ behind the person of the border with Cameroon and is a An iron ore boom this millennium former United Nations Under-Sec- Sierra Leone stands at 179th out rage to take over his duties, and African dutiful and beholden Ambrose Mutin- herding and farming hub reputed enabled years of double digit growth retary Kandeh Yumkella. of 188 countries on the UN’s Human and Western countries have since accept- hiri,” the source was quoted by the Herald for fertile land, lush vegetation after the war, but this was cut short by Politics has been dominated by Development Index. ed Mnangagwa’s presidency. as saying. and abundant water. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 AMERICAS Trump ups Horseplay! Nafta ante with steel tariff threat

Reuters statement. Trump has touted the tariff s as Washington a way to revive the US steel and aluminium industries. White House Director of Trade and S President Donald Trump yester- Industrial Policy Peter Navarro repeated day increased pressure on Canada this point yesterday, telling Fox News: Rider Josh Abbott races down Harrison Avenue while skier Mike Fries airs out off the final jump of the Leadville ski joring course during the 70th Uand Mexico over trade, saying the “As the president said, we can’t have a annual Leadville Ski Joring weekend competition in Leadville, Colorado. Ski Joring, which has its origins as a competitive sport in Scandinavia, has two could avoid being caught in his planned country without an aluminium and steel been adapted over the years to include jumps, slalom gates, and spearing rings for points. Leadville has been hosting Ski Joring contests since 1949. hefty tariff s on steel and aluminium imports industry.” if they ceded ground to Washington in talks Trump has long bucked the Republican on a new Nafta trade deal. Party’s broad support for free trade, prom- Trump also said, after a weekend of ising both on the campaign trail and in the tweets in which he threatened to hit German White House that he will seek deals that automakers with tariff s, that Mexico needed better favour American workers. to do more to stem the fl ow illegal drugs to That has included the threat that Wash- the United States, something not encom- ington will withdraw from Nafta if it is not Uncertain future for ‘Dreamer’ passed by the talks over the North American satisfactorily renegotiated. Free Trade Agreement. He withdrew from a proposed Pacifi c Trump’s determination to push ahead trade pact on his fi rst day in offi ce. with a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% In another comment yesterday on the duty on aluminium, which he announced Nafta talks, Trump reprised two running immigrants as deadline passes on Thursday, has prompted threats of re- criticisms of Canada and Mexico. taliation from the European Union, Canada, Last year Trump came close to withdraw- China and Brazil among others. ing from Nafta after he visited American AFP Supreme Court declined to accept the of proposals addressing Dreamers, into the shadows, and make us all Trump has been criticised by a swath of dairy farmers in Wisconsin who say they Washington administration’s request to intervene. and House Speaker Paul Ryan has less safe as a result,” Democratic senior lawmakers from his own Republican have been hit by Canadian rules that dis- Both those developments have not brought a legislative solution to National Committee chairman Tom Party, but has won support from some Dem- criminate against US milk exports. taken the pressure off lawmakers. the fl oor for a vote. Perez said in a statement. ocratic legislators. “Also, Canada must treat our farmers he hopes of hundreds of With courts unlikely to rule de- Among the Senate bills that did Congressional Hispanic Caucus “We have large trade defi cits with Mexico much better. Highly restrictive. Mexico thousands of “Dreamers” fi nitively on the issue before sum- not advance was a Trump-backed chairwoman Michelle Lujan Gri- and Canada. Nafta, which is under rene- must do much more on stopping drugs from Twere on hold yesterday as mer, and the case expected to head plan that would provide a pathway sham urged “all our colleagues to gotiation right now, has been a bad deal pouring into the US They have not done lawmakers missed an initial dead- to the Supreme Court after that, to citizenship for 1.8mn Dreamers support the fair, permanent, and for USA. Massive relocation of companies what needs to be done. Millions of people line for resolving the fate of immi- Congress is not expected to act be- — the 700,000 DACA registrants, narrow bipartisan bills that protect & jobs. Tariff s on Steel and Aluminum will addicted and dying,” Trump tweeted. grants brought to the United States fore Election Day in November. plus 1.1mn who did not register — in Dreamers and which have the votes only come off if new & fair NAFTA agree- The Mexican and Canadian ministers illegally as children. Lawmakers had every opportu- exchange for extra border security to pass the House and Senate.” ment is signed,” Trump tweeted yesterday. were likely to press Trump’s trade envoy for The Deferred Action for Child- nity to legislate a fi x, but the fate of funding and dramatic curtailment Immigration advocates also have Trump is expected to fi nalise the planned more details on how their countries could be hood Arrivals (DACA) programme Dreamers has proved too divisive for of legal immigration. used the March 5 deadline as an in- tariff s later in the week, posing a tough excluded from the blanket tariff s. that shields nearly 700,000 of the Congress to resolve. Several congressional Democrats fl ection point to pressure Congress challenge for US Trade Representative Rob- Offi cials have so far been evasive when immigrants from deportation was Last month, Democrats essen- and immigration advocates have and the White House. ert Lighthizer, Canada’s Foreign Minister asked how the three nations can continue to expire yesterday, six months af- tially forced a brief government warned that despite the court in- The American Civil Liberties Un- Chrystia Freeland and Mexican Economy trying to update Nafta at a time when the US ter President Donald Trump an- shutdown over the issue, demand- junction, DACA recipients remain ion has partnered with immigration Minister Ildefonso Guajardo. president is about to take a highly protec- nounced he was ending it. ing that the Senate’s Republican in legal uncertainty thanks to a cri- rights groups to launch a campaign They were meeting in Mexico City yester- tionist measure. But a US District Court judge is- leaders set aside time to debate im- sis of Trump’s making. on social and online media that de- day to wrap up the latest round of discus- Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau sued a nationwide injunction that migration. “Without a permanent solution, mands Trump support viable legis- sions on revamping the 1994 Nafta deal. said yesterday the country was negotiating requires the government to allow re- They agreed, but despite one Trump’s cruel and reckless decision lation that protects Dreamers. A White House representative did not re- on Nafta with a partner that has “changed cipients to renew their permits to live week of fl oor debate last month, the will tear more families apart, shat- “Fix what you broke before it’s spond to a request for comment on Trump’s the terms of the discussion.” and work in the country, and the US Senate failed to pass any of a series ter communities, drive immigrants too late,” the group said in a new ad.

Arkansas sets out Medicaid work requirements Show of support Arkansas yesterday became the able Care Act, former Democratic More human remains third US state to require that president Barack Obama’s signa- Medicaid recipients work or ture domestic policy achievement participate in employment activi- commonly called Obamacare. discovered in Canadian ties as a condition of receiving The law extended insurance to health insurance as the Trump 20mn Americans. administration continues to ap- The Trump administration has serial killer case prove state requests that funda- also approved requests in Ken- mentally change the 50-year-old tucky and Indiana to add work programme. requirements. AFP “Steps are ongoing in an attempt to Arkansas’s waiver would Kentucky’s work requirements Ottawa identify these victims,” he said. require beneficiaries to work or go into eff ect in July. At least eight The man in the victim photograph participate in job training or job other states have similar propos- appeared to be in his 40s or early 50s, search activities for at least 80 als awaiting approval. forensic search uncovered with dark hair and a beard, and bruis- hours per month as a condi- Democrats and health advo- more human remains hid- es on his face. tion of receiving Medicaid, the cacy groups have called the work Aden in large planters used by Idsinga said the image is believed government health insurance requirements cruel and said it a Toronto landscaper and alleged se- to have been taken after his death, but programme for the poor and will make it harder for the most rial killer charged with murdering would not comment on its origin. disabled. vulnerable to access healthcare. Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest outside the AIPAC Policy gay men, Canadian police announced And now a seventh murder charge Those who fail to meet the Kentucky faces a lawsuit at- Conference in Washington yesterday in this picture obtained from social media. yesterday. is expected to be laid when McArthur requirements for three months of tempting to block the require- Authorities appealed to the pub- returns to court later this month. a plan year will not be able to re- ments. lic for help in identifying one victim Ontario’s chief forensic pathologist enrol until the following plan year. Some individuals are exempt from a photograph seemingly taken Michael Pollanen told a press confer- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchin- from Arkansas’s requirements, post-mortem. ence this case has “challenged” his son said he believes Arkansas will including the medically frail, Bruce McArthur, 66, was arrested team. be the first state to implement the those served by the Indian Health in January following an investigation “We have used a multidisciplinary requirements, but did not specify Service or tribal facilities, people Mushers set off on Iditarod race into the disappearances of two men approach to try to fi nd the truth be- when they would go into eff ect. in school, those caring for an in- from a neighbourhood in downtown hind what happened,” he said. He said the state already had capacitated person or child under Toronto last year, which led police to Pathologists compared the body most of the systems in place to six, pregnant women and those in DPA companions gathered in Anchorage on the planters at a property that he used parts found in the planters to the administer the requirements. substance abuse treatment. Washington Saturday for the ceremonial start of the for storage. fi ngerprints, dental records, and the “This is good news for The rules apply to people almost 1,600km expedition which or- The latest discovery brings the to- medical histories of missing per- Arkansas because it’s not about between 19 and 64 years old. ganisers have called the last great race on tal number of victims in the grisly sons going back decades, for possible punishing anyone. It’s about Arkansas submitted a federal he Iditarod, the world’s longest an- Earth. murder case to seven, although so far matches. giving people the opportunity to waiver to the US Centers for Medi- nual sled dog race, began on Sun- After leaving Willow, the teams will spend only three have been identifi ed. “At this time, the cause of deaths work,” Hutchinson told a news care and Medicaid Services last Tday in the north-western US state of about eight days travelling along coastal and “We have recovered the remains are pending further studies,” he said. conference. year that also would roll back Alaska, organisers said. inland parts of the Iditarod National His- of at least seven individuals from the “You can imagine that the state of Arkansas and 30 other states part of Obamacare’s Medicaid The 46th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race left torical Trail. planters seized at the (east side To- decomposition and the dismember- expanded Medicaid to those expansion, proposing to limit the the town of Willow, about 115km north of This year’s race follows a period which ronto) home,” lead investigator Ser- ment process requires us to recon- earning up to 138% of the federal Medicaid expansion to those at Anchorage, at 2pm. Iditaford Trail Committee chief Stan Hooley geant Hank Idsinga told a press con- struct remains and then collect all of poverty level under the Aff ord- 100% of the federal poverty level. Nearly 70 mushers and their canine acknowledged had been “tumultuous.” ference. the relevant data.” IS video of Niger attack highlights US troops’ vulnerability

By Thomas Watkins, AFP cludes graphic footage taken by a Pentagon said in a statement. lage of Tongo Tongo, near the ing under heavy fi re. In a frantic killed along with at least fi ve Ni- attack, and why the soldiers did Washington solder wearing a helmet camera. The nine-minute video, set border with Mali. They were at- bid to fi nd some sort of conceal- gerien troops. The body of one not get immediate back up or air It shows the chaos of the at- to Islamic chanting, includes an tacked by a group of some 50 IS- ment, the troops deployed red US soldier, Sergeant La David support. tack, including the solider wear- image of IS leader Abu Bakr al- affi liated fi ghters equipped with smoke grenades but the parched Johnson, was not recovered until The Americans had been on a propaganda video released ing the camera being shot dead, Baghdadi and footage of pick-up small arms, grenades and trucks landscape of scrub and dirt pro- the following day. joint patrol with Nigerien coun- by the Islamic State group with apparent IS fi ghters stalking trucks rolling through a desert mounted with guns. vided no eff ective cover. “Knowing that they were asked terparts they were training when Ashowing the deadly am- past his body. landscape. One of the vehicles is The mission was supposed to At one point in the video, a US to try and complete and execute they were ambushed by motor- bush of US troops in Niger yes- The Defense Department “is fl ying an IS fl ag and other trucks be a low-risk patrol and the sol- soldier is shot and a comrade at- this type of mission with that type cycle-riding and car-driving terday raised fresh questions as aware of alleged photos and IS are packed with what appear to diers were clearly ill-equipped tempts to pull him to cover be- of equipment, I just could not be- gunmen in the Tillaberi region in to the nature of the mission and propaganda video from the Oc- be fi ghters. for the scale of the attack. hind the SUV. As their position lieve it,” Republican Congressman the Niger’s southwest. why the soldiers had been left so tober 4, 2017 terrorist attack in The October 4 attack occurred Footage shows the US troops is about overrun, they have no Marc Veasey told CBS news. The Pentagon is set to release vulnerable. Niger. The release of these mate- as a unit of 12 American special wearing only light body armour, choice but to try to run away, but Questions remain about what the fi ndings of an investigation The distressing video, distrib- rials demonstrates the depravity forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien desperately seeking cover behind there is nowhere to hide. intelligence failures may have oc- into the incident in the coming uted by a pro-IS news agency, in- of the enemy we are fi ghting,” the troops returned from the vil- an unarmoured SUV while com- Four American soldiers were curred that allowed such a large days. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 15 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA South Korea delegation meets Kim for talks about talks

Reuters made no secret of its pursuit of ter Olympics. The South Korean Minister Chun Hae-sung. The Jong-un said in his New Year’s Seoul a nuclear-tipped missile capable delegation was later invited to government hopes the visit will address that he wanted to engage of reaching the mainland United join Kim Jong-un for dinner, the create “a positive atmosphere”, the South. States in defi ance of UN Secu- South Korean spokesman added. Unifi cation Ministry spokes- North Korea later sent ath- South Korean delegation rity Council resolutions, is also The South Korean offi cials are man Baik Tae-hyun told a regular letes to the Olympics, as well as met North Korean leader concerned about joint US-South the most senior offi cials from the briefi ng. Chung and Suh are due a high-ranking delegation that AKim Jong-un yesterday, a Korea military exercises, which South to meet Kim Jong-un since to fl y to Washington later in the included Kim’s sister, Kim Yo- South Korean offi cial said, after it sees as preparation for war. he took power in late 2011 follow- week to brief US offi cials on their jong. Impoverished North Korea arriving in the North on a visit South Korean offi cials have said ing the death of his father, Kim discussions in the North. and the rich, democratic South aimed at encouraging North Ko- the drills will start next month as Jong-il. Thawing relations between the are technically still at war be- rea and the United States to talk. planned, after being postponed “We will deliver President Korean neighbours have prompt- cause their 1950-53 confl ict end- Both North Korea and the for the Winter Olympics held last Moon Jae-in’s wish to bring ed speculation about direct ed in a truce, not a peace treaty. United States have expressed a month in South Korea. about denuclearisation of the talks between Washington and The North regularly threatens willingness to talk, but the long- The 10-member South Ko- Korean peninsula and permanent Pyongyang after months of ten- to destroy the South and its main held US position is that the North rean delegation, led by National peace by extending the goodwill sion and exchanges of bellicose ally, the United States, which sta- fi rst give up its nuclear weapons Security Offi ce head Chung Members of the South Korean delegation pose before boarding and better inter-Korean rela- insults between US President tions 28,500 troops in the South, programme. Eui-yong, was greeted by North an aircraft as they leave for Pyongyang at a military airport in tions created by the Pyeongchang Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un a legacy of the Korean War. The North, which has vowed Korean offi cials after landing Seongnam, south of Seoul, South Korea. Winter Olympics,” Chung said in fuelled fears of war. North Korea “Neither sanctions nor provo- never to give up its nuclear de- in Pyongyang, said Kim Eui- South Korea before the delega- has not carried out any weapons cations nor threats can ever un- terrent against what it sees as US kyeom, a spokesman for South of the Committee for the Peace- the North Korean offi ce respon- tion’s departure. tests since late November, when dermine our position of a nuclear hostility, says it will not sit down Korea’s presidential offi ce. The ful Reunifi cation of the Country, sible for handling inter-Korean Chung’s team includes Na- it tested its largest interconti- weapons state,” the North’s Ro- to talks under preconditions. Re- North Koreans at the airport in- and Kim Yong-chol, who heads aff airs. Both visited South Ko- tional Intelligence Service chief nental ballistic missile. Inter- dong Sinmun newspaper said re- clusive North Korea, which has cluded Ri Son-gwon, chairman the United Front Department, rea last month during the Win- Suh Hoon and Vice Unifi cation Korean talks began after Kim cently. Historic meet lauds lifetime power for Xi

AFP yond 2023, when his second Beijing term is due to end. “I support Xi Jinping. I support the constitu- tion change,” Zhou Feng, a del- housands of Chinese egate from Shanghai, told AFP. Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during the opening session legislators erupted into Another delegate from central of the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature, at the Great Tenthusiastic applause Henan province said “Xi Jinping Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. yesterday over plans to give is great”, but several other leg- President Xi Jinping a lifetime islators refused to answer ques- amendment says that opinions to the party and state. To do this, mandate to mould the Asian gi- tions about the amendment. had been sought at the “grass- it is not enough for him to serve ant into a global superpower. Censors have worked furiously roots level” and that “the mass- only two terms,” Hua told AFP. China’s parliament met in the to stamp out dissenting voices es, party members and cadres “The Chinese system is a system imposing Great Hall of the Peo- on social media, blocking doz- in many regions” had “unani- that requires strong leaders, but ple for an annual session that ens of words from “disagree” to mously called” for the revision it’s not easy to train a strong- will make Xi the most powerful “emperor” on the Twitter-like of term limits. man. Xi needs more time to fi nd leader since Mao Zedong, con- Weibo website in recent days. The parliament will also vote and train the right successors,” centrating the growing might of Yesterday, some Weibo users on constitutional amendments he said. “If Xi transfers power on the military, economy and state defi ed censors to post comments that will inscribe Xi’s name in time, it is likely that the power in the hands of one man. such as “shall we say, long live the state constitution and cre- will be returned to the hands of As Xi looked on from a stage the king?” or “history will judge ate a new national anti-corrup- the corrupt groups and the elite dominated by mostly male party him harshly”. tion agency. Xi will get a second class and all his eff orts in the re- leaders in dark suits, a constitu- State media outlets masked fi ve-year term during the ses- cent years will be wasted.” tional amendment to scrap the the comments sections on the sion. Remaining in power be- While the NPC is expected to two-term limit for the presiden- stories they posted about the yond 2023 gives him a chance approve the amendment, ana- cy was read out to the chamber, amendment on Weibo yesterday. to push through his vision of a lysts say legislators could voice prompting fervent applause. Analysts have warned that rejuvenated China with global their displeasure by abstaining The legislators are all but certain A live image of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is seen on a screen as he delivers his work report during the the move carries risks as it ends clout, a prosperous society and or voting against the appoint- to approve the amendment this opening session of the National People’s Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. a “collective” model of leader- a powerful military. He has also ments of certain Xi allies to top Sunday, as the Chinese Com- ship that maintained stability pursued a relentless but popu- posts. “We don’t hear about munist Party (CCP) leadership leadership system”. The amend- pectations but lower than the any separatist schemes” amid after Mao’s chaotic reign from lar campaign against corruption opposition to his life tenure be- sets the agenda for the National ment was presented after Pre- 6.9% GDP increase in 2017. tensions between the mainland 1949 to his death in 1976. NPC that has punished more than a cause of censorship,” said Willy People’s Congress (NPC). mier Li Keqiang delivered a re- It announced an 8.1% increase and the self-ruled island. But spokesman Zhang Yesui has million party offi cials. Lam, politics professor at the The text says the change “will port warning that the country is for the defence budget to 1.11tn the spotlight was squarely on downplayed its signifi cance, Hua Po, a Beijing-based po- Chinese University of Hong be conducive to safeguarding the fi ghting “three critical battles” yuan ($175bn) this year, giving the party’s most powerful leader saying on Sunday it would litical commentator, said Xi was Kong. “But there is opposition authority and the unifi ed leader- against fi nancial risk, poverty the world’s largest armed forces in more than four decades. merely align the presidency with handed “a mess” when he took within the regime from people ship of the CCP Central Com- and pollution. a boost after spending growth Lifting term limits would al- the titles of Communist Party offi ce fi ve years ago and needs who think that this is outra- mittee with Comrade Xi Jinping The government set an eco- slowed in the previous two years. low the 64-year-old leader to general secretary and Military more time to fi nish the job. “One geous, that he is going too far, as the core and to strengthen- nomic growth target of around The report also warned Taiwan stay on as party chief, head of Commission chairman, which of the greatest tasks after he took that he has launched a coup ing and perfecting the national 6.5% for 2018, in line with ex- that China “will never tolerate the military and president be- do not have term limits. The offi ce was to remove all threats against the party.”

Protests as USS Carl Vinson sails into Danang Myanmar PNG quake toll rises parliament to 67 as aftershocks mulls curbs on demonstrations leave locals terrifi ed Hundreds of people marched through Myanmar’s largest city Yangon yesterday to oppose AFP cieties Udaya Regmi told AFP changes to a protest law being Sydney from the capital Port Moresby. discussed in parliament which “Around 143,000 people are activists warn would limit free aff ected and 17,000 people speech. Amendments to the t least 67 people were have been generally displaced 2011 Peaceful Assembly and killed by an earthquake because their homes are either Peaceful Procession Law could Athat devastated Papua fully or partially damaged and bring three-year prison terms New Guinea’s remote high- not in a condition to live in.” for those supporting, financially lands last week, the Red Cross No offi cial government death or otherwise, a demonstration said yesterday, with thousands toll has been released. that harms “security, rule of more homeless and without Regmi added that water and law and stability of the state, food and clean water. sanitation were major con- and the moral interests of the The recovery eff ort has cerns for local communities, people”. been slow as aid workers grap- with relief workers unable to The amendments would also ple with blocked roads and get bigger food trucks through require any protest organisers power outages to reach cut-off to some areas because of dam- to provide details of the budget villages after the 7.5-magni- age to roads by landslides. and source of their funds for a tude quake struck on Febru- Relief eff orts are slowly be- demonstration. ary 26 in the Pacifi c nation’s ing expanded, with millions of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu mountainous interior. dollars in aid pledged by the Kyi’s ruling National League for Terrifi ed locals in the government, ExxonMobil and Democracy (NLD) is backing Southern Highlands, West- the Australian energy produc- the changes, which come amid ern, Enga and Hela provinces ers, Oil Search and Santos, Military aircraft F/A-18 fighter jets are seen parked on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), the US Navy’s nuclear-powered rising concern that her two- have also been hit by strong which are involved in the gas Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, anchored off the coast in Danang, Vietnam. year-old administration is failing aftershocks, including two project. to protect human rights. 6.0-magnitude tremors early The Australian and New Monday. Zealand defence forces have Compounding the fallout began delivering aid, while the was an announcement yes- China Red Cross and Beijing terday that the impoverished have pledged fi nancial assist- country’s biggest-ever de- ance, according to the PNG Cardinal Pell faces Australian court for sex off ence charges velopment — the PNG LNG Post-Courier. project operated by US energy Oil Search managing direc- giant ExxonMobil — would be tor Peter Botten, who travelled Reuters ing into charges of his- of the hearing. Pell was not required to enter a for- tioned via video link from an assistant and a support offl ine for up to eight weeks as to the Highlands to survey the Melbourne torical sexual off ences summoned by Australian mal plea until a magistrate a remote facility, which is dog next to them for com- the quake-hit facilities are re- damage, said the impact “has because of his age and ill police last year and is the determines if prosecutors normal under Australian fort. Both requests were paired. been enormous, with many health. most senior Catholic of- have enough evidence for rules for cases involving granted. Coop, a black “The death toll reported deaths in the region as well awyers for Vatican Pell, 76, a top adviser fi cial to face such charg- a case to be committed to sexual off ences. Labrador, is used by courts by the National Disaster Cen- as the destruction of houses, treasurer Cardinal to Pope Francis, did not es. Details have not been a full trial. The court was The hearing was ex- in Victoria state, of which tre and disaster management schools, roads and bridges”. LGeorge Pell asked an speak as he was escorted made public. open to the public for less pected to remain closed Melbourne is the capi- teams on Friday is 67,” the “Many communities are with- Australian court yesterday by police through a group His lawyers have said at than half an hour for legal for up to two weeks. tal, to ease the trauma for PNG country head of the In- out basic necessities, such as to allow a support person of media and protesters past administrative hear- arguments after it began. Prosecutor Mark Gib- people testifying in sexual ternational Federation of Red food, clean water, shelter and to sit with him through a into Melbourne Magis- ings that he will plead not It was later closed while son asked the court to al- assault and family vio- Cross and Red Crescent So- medical support.” four-week pre-trial hear- trates’ Court for the start guilty to all charges. He is Pell’s accusers were ques- low Pell’s accusers to have lence cases. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 BRITAIN/IRELAND Ex-spy critically ill after exposure to ‘unknown substance’

Guardian News and Media planted by Moscow in the US. an unknown substance. Both are two people falling unconscious the Millennium hotel in Mayfair, from Moscow. across London – after discover- London Wiltshire police said that a currently in a critical condition in and clarify whether or not central London. A painstaking investigation ing radioactive traces in hotels, man in his 60s and a woman in intensive care. any criminal activity has hap- The pair were Andrei Lugovoi by Scotland Yard revealed that restaurants and a nightclub in her 30s were found unconscious “Because we are still at the pened.” – a former KGB offi cer turned the assassins took three at- Soho. The killers disposed of ne of the two people on a bench in the Maltings shop- very early stages of the investi- Skripal’s sudden and unex- businessman, who is now a tempts to kill Litvinenko, with excess polonium by pouring it critically ill in hospital ping centre in Salisbury on Sun- gation, we are unable to ascer- plained illness will invite com- deputy in Russia’s state Duma – two botched plots the previous down the u-bend of their hotel Oin Salisbury after “sus- day afternoon. tain whether or not a crime has parisons with the poisoning in and Dmitry Kovtun, a childhood month. sink. pected exposure to an unknown Temporary assistant chief taken place. A major incident 2006 of another Russian spy, Al- friend of Lugovoi’s from a Soviet They eventually succeed- Christopher Steele – then a substance” is a Russian man who constable Craig Holden said: has been declared and a multi- exander Litvinenko. military family. ed by putting a tiny amount senior MI6 officer and the sub- was exchanged in a high-profi le “The pair, who we believe are agency response has been co- Litvinenko – a former offi cer Litvinenko’s murder caused of polonium-210 in a teapot. sequent author of the Trump “spy swap” in 2010, the Guardian known to each other, did not ordinated. with the FSB spy agency – fell ill international scandal and led to Litvinenko drank only three or dossier – led an inquiry by understands. have any visible injuries and were “Alongside our partner agen- after drinking a cup of tea laced years of estrangement between four sips and died in agony 23 government into the killing. Sergei Skripal, 66, was one taken to Salisbury district hos- cies, we are conducting some with radioactive polonium. He Moscow and London. Putin de- days later. He swiftly concluded that the of four Russians exchanged for pital. They are currently being extensive enquiries to deter- met his killers on November 1, nied all involvement and refused Detectives were able to recon- Kremlin was behind the assas- 10 deep cover “sleeper” agents treated for suspected exposure to mine exactly what led to these 2006, in a ground-fl oor bar of to extradite either of the killers struct the killers’ movements sination. Top charity ‘helped target rough sleepers to deport’

Guardian News and Media fi cult climate we’re operating in.” London Asked about the work described in the 2016 document, Salva de- scribed how offi cials from Home leading homelessness Offi ce enforcement teams “go up charity has worked with to individuals sleeping in sleeping AHome Offi ce patrols as they bags and interview them, some- go out on the streets in search of times they end up arresting them”. rough sleepers deemed to be in the Asked to clarify whether its UK illegally to arrest and deport, teams still worked with Home the Guardian has learned. Offi ce patrols, a spokesperson for St Mungo’s is one of the largest the charity said: “We don’t be- providers of homelessness out- lieve our outreach staff have ac- reach services in the UK, with 17 companied Ice teams this year.” Prime Minister Theresa May visits a housing development in east London yesterday. outreach teams across the south It continues to work with the and south-west. On its website Home Offi ce by passing on de- it says it is “here for every step tails of people from other coun- of the journey away from home- tries who wish to return home. lessness” and says its outreach The disclosure of its past work teams work to “gradually build with the Home Offi ce drew criti- up trusting relationships” with cism from elsewhere in the charity people who are sleeping rough. sector. The North East London Mi- But St Mungo’s has admit- grant Action group said: “The role ‘National eff ort’ vital to ted to the Guardian that it has of homelessness charities should co-operated with Home Offi ce be to uphold the rights of vulnera- immigration, compliance and ble people. St Mungo’s have forfeit- enforcement (Ice) teams when ed the trust of asylum seekers and they go looking for rough sleep- other migrants who sleep rough by ers who are in the UK illegally. working with the Home Offi ce who The Home Offi ce’s approach have people deported from the UK. fi ght housing crisis: PM has been deemed unlawful in “Our advice to the rough sleep- some cases. The mayor of Lon- ers we support will be to think Guardian News and Media buying more goods online, and with younger people justifi ably than sitting on land as an invest- is working well and is not a bar- don, Sadiq Khan, has suspended twice about engaging with com- London one of the elements of the new angry at being excluded, in- ment. rier to building,” he said. co-operation with the Ice patrols. missioned outreach services and, planning rules we’re setting out creased exploitation of renters May dismissed calls to let Porter said the government A September 2016 Home Of- where possible, to seek help in- is to make it easier for shops to and a problem of rough sleeping. councils borrow more easily to proposal to put independent in- fi ce training document obtained stead from independent charities.” ormer shops could be be turned into housing if that’s Overcoming this required a construct further social hous- spectors in place where councils by the Guardian, which features Crisis, one of the UK’s leading turned into homes as on- appropriate, but also for devel- united eff ort, she continued. ing, and she faced criticism from were seen to be blocking hous- the St Mungo’s logo, states: homelessness charities, referred Fline shopping reshapes opment above retail units to take “It’s so important, not just for the Local Government Associa- ing development was “unhelpful “This teamwork which sees both the Guardian to a statement from high streets, Theresa May has place,” she said. individuals, and for that Brit- tion, which rejected her argu- and misguided”. the charity referring eligible June last year that did not refer said, as she called for a “great “Often there’s a very good ar- ish dream, but for communities, ment that councils were a sig- The primary way to increase people to immigration enforce- to St Mungo’s but stated: “If it national eff ort” by the govern- gument for having homes being and people’s stake in the com- nifi cant part of the problem. the number of homes being built ment (IE) for help with voluntary is true that people are avoiding ment, developers and councils built in the centre of town, ac- munities, that they’re able to Gary Porter, who chairs the was to allow councils to borrow returns and IE referring people help from outreach teams for fear to tackle the housing crisis. cessible to shops, accessible to feel that they do have a home of LGA and is the Conservative money to construct their own, to St Mungo’s has already proved of encountering the Home Of- Answering questions after a transport infrastructure as well. their own. leader of South Holland coun- he said. This was suggested last benefi cial for both bodies.” fi ce, then these people will be- speech in London yesterday, the And greater extension upwards “What I’m encouraging people cil in Lincolnshire, said that in year by the Housing and Com- Asked about its work with the come more vulnerable, not less.” prime minister said fresh ap- can be, I think, one of the solu- to do is to see this as a great na- the past 12 months councils had munities Secretary, Sajid Javid, Home Offi ce, St Mungo’s said The Home Offi ce uses various proaches were needed, including tions for ensuring we’re building tional eff ort – all of us coming to- granted nearly twice as many but blocked by the Treasury. some of its contracts with local methods to remove people con- using disused buildings of vari- enough homes.” gether, playing our role to ensure planning permissions as the In a section of the speech authorities specifi ed that it should sidered to have no right to be in the ous types to create new homes. In a 25-minute speech to the that we do deliver those homes.” number of new homes that had targeting developers, May criti- work with Ice teams. “I get why UK. These include encouraging Asked whether this should Royal Town Planning Institute The speech contained only been completed. cised the “perverse incentive” that can be seen as strange and migrants to return home voluntar- include retail spaces, May said conference, May described what limited solutions, mainly based “The truth is that councils of bonuses to bosses of such unpopular for some people,” said ily, sometimes with a package of it was important to prevent high she called a broken housing on streamlined planning process are currently approving nine in companies being based on prof- Petra Salva, the charity’s director of support, and enforced removal for streets from being hollowed out. market and a resultant loss of and eff orts to press housebuild- 10 planning applications, which its rather than the number of rough sleeping services. “It’s a dif- those who will not leave willingly. “Retailing is changing, with social mobility and community, ers to construct homes rather shows that the planning system homes they build. Met police appoints new Irish PM rules out counter-terrorism chief three-way Brexit talks London Evening Standard with the EU — prompting Varad- London kar to make clear Ireland would Guardian News and Media CT policing at such a point in He was the favourite for the not take part separately from the London our history. It is both a challenge top job in counter-terrorism and EU side. “That’s not in our inter- and a duty that I accept with hu- is well regarded by others in po- reland’s Prime Minister Leo est and not the way that this can mility and a sense of great pur- licing as well as by MI5, the do- Varadkar yesterday ruled be concluded,” he said. cotland Yard has appointed pose. mestic security service, which Iout three-way talks between He added that more detail was a new counter-terrorism “I will lead to the best of my works closely with the police to Britain, Ireland and the EU about now needed from the UK gov- Schief, viewed by many as ability, the most extraordinary thwart attacks. Brexit. ernment, saying: “What we want the toughest job in British polic- people I have ever worked with as During the wave of terror- Instead he insisted that Ire- is not so much principles and ing. they work night and day to coun- ist attacks in Britain last year he land would only stage detailed aspirations and red lines. What Neil Basu, a Metropolitan po- ter terrorism.” would have been under pressure talks on the border issue as a we want is detail, written down lice deputy assistant commis- He took up his current role as by senior security offi cials as well representative of the 27 remain- in black and white, that can be sioner, is to succeed Mark Row- senior national co-ordinator for as the home secretary and prime ing EU states. “There won’t be codifi ed into law and that is what ley, who retires this month, as counter-terrorism in October minister. tripartite or three-way talks,” the is required.” assistant commissioner respon- 2016, in which he was responsi- Despite holding senior ranks Taoiseach told broadcaster RTE. Meanwhile a Labour MP has sible for leading counter-terror- ble for delivering the police re- he has not seen that as a bar to “We will, of course, have ne- said the prime minister and Jeremy ism policing nationally. sponse to pursuing terrorists and being outspoken on controver- gotiations about what could be Corbyn want to “have their cake Basu is a former Met com- the Prevent strategy. sial issues. He criticised plans done to avoid a hard border but and eat it” on Brexit. Ian Murray mander overseeing organised He has worked as a detec- to stop armed officers confer- what we won’t be getting into is has founded new group, Scottish crime and gangs. He has spe- tive in all ranks to detective su- ring and more recently said a negotiation with the UK, or a Labour for the Single Market. cialised in counter-terrorism perintendent in a range of areas government funding cuts jeop- three-way negotiation.” Murray said: “It’s very diffi cult policing for the past three years including anti-corruption and ardised national security and His comments come after as the EU keeps saying to have and was in effect Rowley’s dep- homicide for the anti-gangs called for reforms to Prevent, Theresa May announced, in her your cake and eat it and that’s uty. unit Trident. He has also held the official anti-radicalisation keynote speech on Friday, that what the prime minister and the In the last year of Rowley’s ten- the posts of area commander for programme. Varadkar had agreed to begin leader of the opposition seem to ure as head of counter-terrorism south-east London and head of Basu, whose father is of Indian detailed talks at offi cial level on want to do.” there were fi ve terrorist attacks armed policing within the Met. origin and who has described ways to prevent a hard border The MP for Edinburgh South including atrocities at Westmin- He will take over as assistant himself as Asian, is the fi rst of- between the Republic of Ireland said Corbyn was “further ahead” ster Bridge, London Bridge and commissioner for specialist op- fi cer of Asian heritage to be ap- and Northern Ireland. of Theresa May in his Brexit po- Borough Market, Finsbury Park erations on March 21. pointed to the role. The Met has Her words were taken by some sition, and welcomed the re- mosque, Parsons Green station Basu has been groomed for the come under fi re for its lack of to mean Dublin and London cent announcement that Labour and Manchester Arena. top of the Met for years, serv- diversity across ranks so Basu’s would try to settle the problem would seek to form a new UK-EU Basu said: “It is a privilege to ing as staff offi cer to the former appointment to a key senior role between them. In an interview customs union to ensure tariff - be asked to join the management commissioner Sir Paul Stephen- will be seen by some as a positive on Sunday, May suggested that free trade after Britain leaves the board of the Met and to lead for son. step. Leo Varadkar: setback for May there would be three-way talks union. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 17

BRITAIN Days of tax cuts are fi nished in UK, think-tank warns

Reuters set to rise by £20bn a year in to- consider raising more revenues caused by spending on health as to be people who were born be- pensions while bearing the brunt can’t delay that debate any long- London day’s money by the end of the through taxes. the population ages — a demo- fore the mid-1960s. Underlining of weak wage growth since the fi - er.” next decade and by £60bn a year Finance Minister Philip Ham- graphic timebomb that means the why baby-boomers will need to nancial crisis. Willetts added that politically by 2040. mond, who is due to deliver a half- “age of tax cuts is over”, David Wil- shoulder more of the tax burden, As a result, wealth has become diffi cult reforms on wealth, in- he days of tax cuts in Brit- Britain has steadily brought yearly budget statement on March letts, chair of the Resolution Foun- the Resolution Foundation said increasingly skewed towards old- heritance and local council taxes ain are over and the baby- down a budget defi cit that stood 13, has cut Britain’s budget defi cit dation and a former Conservative millennials — born between 1981 er people. “For many years, higher would be needed. Tax as a share Tboomer generation should at 10% of economic output in faster than expected this fi nancial government minister, said. and 2000 — spend more of their wealth taxation has been off the of economic output in Britain prepare for higher wealth taxes to 2010 mostly through spending year. “The time has come when we income on housing costs than political agenda,” Willetts said. rose to 33.2% in 2016, the high- fund an inevitable surge in health- cuts for many government de- But the Resolution Foundation boomers are going to have reach any generation since the late 19th “But unless we act, at some est level since 2011, according to care costs, the Resolution Foun- partments. report showed the government into our own pockets. The alter- century. point we will face a choice be- the Organisation of Economic dation think tank said yesterday. But many of the easier-to- will have its hands tied by rising native could be an extra 15 (pence) But home ownership in Britain tween changing our approach to Co-operation and Development The new research showed make cuts to spending have public spending over the coming on the basic rate of tax, paid large- has plummeted over the last 20 taxation, or cutting access to the (OECD). Still, this stands slightly spending on education, social se- already been made, putting years. ly by our kids.” years among young adults, who NHS and letting social care get below the average of OECD coun- curity and above all health looks pressure on the government to Most of the increase will be Baby-boomers are considered have had to pay more towards into an even deeper crisis. We tries of 34.3%.

Financer awarded No water for £100,000 over fl at ‘noise’ thousands of

London Evening Standard London homes as wealthy fi nancier who complained “intoler- Aable” noise from her up- stairs neighbours was ruining the tranquillity of her £2.6mn apartment has won more than £100,000 in damages. pipes burst Sarvenaz Fouladi, 38, said the constant bombardment of Reuters customers to cut their usage. had been left isolated and could sounds from the family-of-fi ve London “Where possible, take short remain so for another 48 hours. above her Kensington home was showers rather than baths, do not Yesterday morning, the council keeping her up at night and had leave taps running unnecessarily tweeted a picture of a Chinook hel- aff ected her ability to work. ondon’s Mayor Sadiq Khan and only run washing machines icopter at Carlisle airport prepar- She said Sarah and Ahmed El yesterday said it was “unac- and dish washers when you have ing to deliver supplies – including Kerrami held late-night parties, Lceptable” that thousands of a full load,” the company said in a food, coal and logs for heating, and including singing and drum- people across the capital were left statement on its website. electrical heating appliances. ming, while their children treat- without water after pipes burst as Severn Trent, a supplier of Stewart Young, the council ed the fl at like a playground. normal weather conditions re- water to 4.3mn homes and busi- leader, said: “We have some com- Fouladi, who lives with her turned following a cold snap. nesses in the middle of England, munities who have now been mother in St Mary Abbots Court, The worst snowstorms in Brit- said the number of burst pipes was stranded for fi ve days and we have sued over “noise nuisance” and ain for nearly 30 years froze water up 4000%, while in Wales, Welsh to do all we can to ensure that they judge Nicholas Parfi tt, at Cen- in pipes last week, water suppli- Water said “unprecedented chal- are safe and well. tral London county court, ruled ers said, during a blast of Sibe- lenges” had aff ected 4,500 homes. “Despite our very best eff orts the El Kerramis and the compa- rian cold dubbed “the Beast from Farther north, Scottish Wa- and our crews working day and ny which owns their fl at should the East” which ground planes, ter said there was no signifi cant night we are experiencing ongo- have put down carpets on the stopped trains, blocked roads impact on its customers because ing signifi cant challenges in ac- wooden fl oors in living areas. and shut schools. Scotland had not suff ered the cessing some of our communities. Judge Parfi tt said: “Those At least 23,800 households, same rapid thaw. The depth of snow and the chal- noises include, on occasion, late including 12,000 households in Meanwhile, the military was lenging nature of the terrain is night parties, but ... such par- London, were left without wa- called in to take emergency sup- making progress on clearing roads ties — even if they do include ter when pipes burst when tem- plies to isolated parts of Cumbria exceptionally slow. singing and drumming — are not peratures rose and snow thawed, that have been cut-off for fi ve “As a result it is estimated that it frequent. Noises include those prompting suppliers to advise days by heavy snow. will be at least 48 hours before we of children playing and running customers not to waste water. The county council said that reach many more of these com- around, including late at night. “It is unacceptable that thou- despite its “best eff orts” to clear munities, hence the need to bring The impact is suffi ciently loud to sands of Londoners remained the roads, areas including Fell- in military assistance and we are be invasive and disturbing to an without water yesterday morn- side, South Stainmore and Alston very grateful for their help.” objective standard.” ing,” Khan said on Twitter. “I Fouladi told an earlier hear- have sought assurances from ing she had lived happily in the Thames Water that they are do- Jaguar Land Rover closes plant Twenties block, which has 24- ing everything possible to fi x hour porters, for years but this the problems and get the supply Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) she said. Severn Trent said that changed when major alterations switched back on for everyone.” has halted production at a car it was also facing challenges as to the fl at above — including At a supermarket in Balham, plant in central England aft er water it worked to keep schools and changing the wooden fl oor — south London, Thames Water supplies in Britain were disrupted hospitals open. “Due to the recent were made before the El Ker- employees distributed crates of by burst pipes, the carmaker and thaw we’ve experienced, our ramis arrived in 2010. She could bottled water to a waiting queue water company Severn Trent teams are dealing with a huge now hear the boiler, fridge, taps of people, while in Hampstead to said yesterday. A spokeswoman number of burst pipes across our and fi replace, she said, disturb- the north of the capital, they fer- for JLR said the company closed region which is putting pressure on ing her sleep and relaxation. ried crates to residential streets in its Solihull site, near Birmingham, our network,” Severn Trent said in She and her mother Fereshant their own cars. and she was unable to say when a statement. “We’ve worked closely Salamat kept a diary of noise, Suppliers warned disruption it would reopen. “Due to a water with Jaguar Land Rover which has which included complaints would continue as they worked shortage, we have had to stop agreed to stop production to help about “angry breathing” and Local residents collect bottled water distributed by Thames Water after mains supplies to homes were to fi x leaks and refi ll pipes and production yesterday aft ernoon,” us target our supply.” dishes being washed. cut off following bad weather, in Balham, south London, yesterday. Thames Water advised its 15mn Patients urged to go Aid agencies report online for advice

London Evening Standard geries in the borough have adopted more abuse cases London new technology — either on their websites or via the NHS Online app — that enables patients to Thomson Reuters Foundation world reeling. staff , volunteers and benefi ciar- atients are being urged to communicate with a doctor and London The sector has been further ies, including children,” it said in contact doctors online for get a response within 24 hours. rocked by allegations that wom- a statement. Pmedical advice rather than The UCC is open 24/7 and sees en in Syria have been exploited by Some of the 80 reports related turning up at hospital. about 200 patients a day. It is run id agencies in Britain have men delivering aid for charities to procedural lapses that led to A trial is under way at Queen by GPs and nurse practitioners, reported 80 cases where and UN agencies. protection risks rather than to Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, that many with an A&E background. Athey have caused harm, Mordaunt, who co-hosted actual incidents. seeks to deter patients from at- Dr Murray Ellender, a partner in or a risk of harm, since a sexual yesterday’s summit with the DFID’s beefed-up standards tending its urgent care centre the Hurley Group, which runs abuse scandal broke last month, Charity Commission, told aid aim to ensure better protection of without fi rst seeking other ways the UCC, said about two-thirds a watchdog body said yesterday agencies the government would some of the world’s most vulner- of obtaining treatment. of patients “don’t need to be at a summit to tackle sexual ex- not fund those that failed to meet able people. “Our standards will An expanded UCC was un- here”. He wants more to contact ploitation in the sector. its tough new “safeguarding be world-leading. They will be veiled last September as part of their GP in the fi rst instance, Some reports related to allega- standards” introduced yesterday. tough and exacting,” Mordaunt a £30mn refurbishment of the rather than setting off for the tions of sexual abuse of people The department for interna- said. hospital following the axing of “shiny new hospital”. receiving aid, including children, tional development (DFID) has The summit will brainstorm its A&E department in 2011. Pa- He added: “We are trying to the Charity Commission said. asked 179 aid agencies to provide ideas around improving staff vet- tients are required to log symp- triage people from home — to en- Most of the 80 cases were his- assurances regarding their op- ting, supporting whistleblowers toms and personal details on a courage people to go online, ei- toric, but seven were from the erations, and confi rmation that and abuse survivors, addressing tablet computer on arrival. ther to their GP practice website past year. they have referred any concerns internal power imbalances, and The system gathers a “patient or through the app. We have got Aid Minister Penny Mordaunt to the relevant authorities. creating an independent body to history”, saving time at the start too much activity coming in here challenged aid agencies to up All have replied, but DFID is promote external scrutiny. of each appointment, and en- that really should have gone to a their game at the London meet- seeking further clarifi cation from DFID also announced yester- sures that the most poorly are GP. But patients are ringing their ing and said there would be “no 37 of them, Mordaunt said. day that an internal review that seen fi rst. Doctors want to go GP and can’t get an appointment hiding place” for predators. The charity commission, examined allegations of sexual further and encourage patients until Friday, or they are not sure “We will fi nd you. We will which regulates charities in Eng- misconduct by its staff showed to log on before leaving home — if they have a ‘GP-type problem’. bring you to justice. Your time is land and Wales, said 26 of the 179 there had been 14 substantiated believing that many visits can be About 60% of people who walk up,” she said. organisations had made 80 “seri- cases since 1995. The majority avoided. through the door here could have Reports that staff at British ous incident” reports. related to sexual harassment be- Bexley is piloting a national been dealt with by a GP. The big- charity Oxfam paid for sex with These included “reports of al- tween staff members, DFID said. initiative to modernise the way gest question is: can we make GP prostitutes in Haiti after the legations or actual incidents of None involved sexual exploita- patients interact with the health practices more effi cient, so it can 2010 earthquake have left the aid abuse, including sexual abuse of tion in exchange for aid. Mordaunt: warns aid agencies service. A total of 25 of 27 GP sur- cope with the volume?” Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 EUROPE

Russia has thwarted hundreds of foreign Populists battle over spies, says Putin

Reuters kov said that Moscow had evi- Moscow dence that the United States was trying to interfere in Rus- sia’s presidential election, but right to govern Italy resident Vladimir Pu- did not say what that evidence tin boasted Russia had was. AFP Pthwarted more than 400 US intelligence agencies Rome foreign spies last year and yes- have accused Russia of hack- terday he called on the FSB, the ing and meddling in the 2016 domestic intelligence agency, presidential election, while ival populist leaders fought to act to block further foreign European politicians have ac- yesterday for the right to attempts to obtain political, cused it of trying to interfere in Rgovern Italy after their economic and military infor- several elections. surge in a general election left the mation. Russia denies the allega- country in political limbo. Putin, who polls show tions. The anti-immigrant League should be comfortably re- Putin last week announced party and the anti-establishment elected on March 18, made the an array of new nuclear weap- Five-Star Movement (M5S) each comments in a speech to FSB ons, in one of his most belli- claimed Sunday’s vote gave them employees in Moscow where cose speeches in years, saying a mandate to lead the nation of he also spoke of the need to they could hit almost any point 60mn. step up Russia’s cyber-defenc- in the world and evade a US- League leader Matteo Salvini es and strengthen the security built missile shield. said that he had “the right and of confi dential communica- Yesterday he thanked the the duty” to form a government tions systems used by Russian FSB for what he said was its after its surprise success at the offi cials. successful counter-intelli- heart of a right-wing coalition. Putin once ran the FSB him- gence work in keeping the But M5S, which won the big- Salvini: N. O. No (to forming a coalition with the M5S), underlined Di Maio: the party now feels the responsibility to form a government, self and his comments played arms projects secret. gest share of the vote of any sin- three times. and so is open to discussion with all political actors. into one of his core narra- Putin said that the threat of gle party, claimed it was the win- tives, which depicts Russia as terrorism meant that Russia ner. prime minister Silvio Berlusco- According to polling company bility for change,” he said. ter, is on the ropes after his elec- a fortress besieged by hostile had to remain open to co-op- Its leader Luigi Di Maio said it ni’s Forza Italia (Go Italy) party, YouTrend, the M5S was set to Prominent British pro-Brexit toral fl op. foreign powers and him as its eration with foreign spy agen- had a “responsibility” to form a which collapsed to 14%. gain 231 seats in the lower house fi gure Nigel Farage congratulated The billionaire, who won his defender-in-chief. cies, however, even with those government. Salvini’s party surged in the Chamber of Deputies and 115 in M5S, his allies in the European fi rst election in 1994, has re- “In recent years, as you from countries with whom The boost for far-right and polls after promising to shut the upper house Senate. Parliament, “for topping the turned to the limelight at the age know very well, there has been Moscow had disagreements. populist parties has prompted down Roma camps, deport hun- It could therefore form a ma- poll” as by far Italy’s biggest sin- of 81 despite a career overshad- an increase in foreign intelli- He said Russia had prevent- comparisons to Britain’s vote to dreds of thousands of migrants jority with either one of the gle party. owed by sex scandals and legal gence agency activity,” he said. ed 25 acts of terrorism last year leave the European Union and and tackle what it calls the “dan- League, Forza Italia and the Marine Le Pen, leader of woes. “They are working diligently and 68 terrorist crimes, and the rise of US President Donald ger” of Islam. Democratic Party (PD). France’s National Front, tweeted But he has turned out to be the on Russia, using the most told the FSB that he wanted it Trump. However, much depends on Given its heated rivalry with that it was a “bad night” for the big loser alongside Renzi. modern methods, spy craft and to protect young people from Former White House adviser M5S, which has drawn support the PD and Berlusconi, M5S’s EU. The election campaign was technical espionage means.” extremism. Steve Bannon – the man who from Italians fed up with tradi- most likely ally looked to be the Resentment at the hundreds of marred by clashes between far- “During the course of last “Radicalism, whatever po- helped Trump ride a populist tional parties and a lack of eco- eurosceptic League. thousands of migrant arrivals in right and anti-fascist activists, year alone, the activities of 72 litical or ideological nature it wave to power – described the nomic opportunity. However Salvini swiftly ruled Italy in recent years fi red up the as well as a racist shooting spree career intelligence offi cers and has, is in essence destructive, results as “an earthquake” in an It won 32% of the vote. out the prospect of forming a campaign, along with frustration by an extreme-right sympathiser 397 agents of foreign spy serv- and we’re obliged to protect interview with Swiss weekly Die The M5S had previously re- coalition with the M5S. about social inequalities. last month. ices was thwarted,” he said. the country and people’s fu- Weltwoche. fused to align itself with other “N. O. No, underlined three “These are historic results,” Yesterday German Chancel- Earlier yesterday, Deputy ture from this threat,” said Pu- “The tremor is going to con- parties, which it considered part times,” Salvini told reporters. Giancarlo Giorgetti, deputy head lor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Foreign Minister Sergei Ryab- tin. tinue ... there’s really a populist of a “corrupt” system. Negotiations could take weeks, of the League, told reporters in wished post-election Italy suc- national revolt (against the EU), But Di Maio said his party now or even months. Milan. cess in forming a “stable gov- it’s building steam,” Bannon, “feels the responsibility to form a “We won’t have a government Alessandro Di Battista, anoth- ernment”, adding that he hoped who was in Rome for the elec- government”. any time soon,” Antonio Risconi, er senior M5S leader, said: “Eve- Rome would not take six months tion, said. To that end, he said he was a resident of Milan, said as ballot ryone is going to have to come as Berlin just did. With most ballots counted, the “open to discussion with all po- counting continued. and speak to us.” “Italy is our friend and part- League was leading the dominant litical actors”. Andrea Leo, also from Milan, PD leader Matteo Renzi looks ner, and we wish those respon- right-wing coalition, which won “This election was a triumph said that if Italians had voted doomed after his party dropped sible success in forming a stable roughly 37% of the vote overall. for the Five-Star Movement. We for traditional parties “nothing to 19% of the vote. government, for the benefi t of The League by itself was clos- are the winners,” a joyous Di Maio would have changed for sure”. Berlusconi, a fl amboyant Italians as well as of our common ing in on 18%, ahead of former told a news conference yesterday. “At least now there is a possi- three-time former prime minis- Europe,” said Steff en Seibert. Anti-mafi a witness elected to Italian parliament

AFP Piera Aiello, 51, had to do her Aiello witnessed two mafi a Aiello turned in the assassins equality and because she wanted A driver looks out of a bus near a billboard advertising the Rome campaigning as candidate of the hitmen kill her husband, the son and provided evidence against her identity back after being election campaign of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a street anti-establishment Five-Star of Sicilian mafi a boss Vito Atria, dozens of mafi a members to cru- forced to move to a diff erent part in Stavropol, Russia. Movement (M5S) behind closed in 1991. sading prosecutor Paolo Borsell- of Italy. he widow of a man killed doors as her face cannot be Atria was been shot dead in ino. “If I am elected to parliament, by the Sicilian mafi a who shown in public for fear of mafi a 1985 and his son, Nicolo, had Borsellino was himself killed I will fi nally re-appear in public Thas to live under armed reprisals. spoken publicly about wreaking in a car bomb attack just months and I will no longer be the woman protection after turning state She won almost 53% of the vote revenge. later in 1992. who was ‘deported’ 26 years ago,” witness has been elected to the in her constituency in Marsala in That was enough for a rival Aiello has said she decided to she was quoted as saying in an Serbia’s ruling party Italian parliament, offi cial results western Sicily, far ahead of her mafi a clan to send hitmen to kill run because of the movement’s interview with Sicilia Oggi Noti- showed. centre-right rival with 26%. him too. commitment to tackle social in- zie newspaper. wins Belgrade vote

7.3mn population lives in the Reuters capital, which has budget of France’s far-right Belgrade around €850mn ($1.05bn) or 2.6% of gross domestic prod- uct (GDP). erbia’s governing party The opposition accused the National Front to fi rmly defeated the op- Progressives of rigging the vote Sposition in the high-pro- in some polling stations, pres- fi le election for Belgrade city suring political opponents and council on Sunday in a show stifl ing media freedoms ahead change its name of strength for President Ale- of the vote, claims that Vucic ksandar Vucic, a pollster said dismissed. late on Sunday. “The people have clearly By Ingrid Melander, Reuters as we’re somewhat weakened. According to an unoffi cial shown they want continuation Paris But each time they buried us, we vote count by the pollster Ip- of reforms,” Vucic, a former came back stronger,” said Le Pen, sos, Vucic’s Serbian Progres- nationalist fi rebrand who later 49, who got 33.9% of the vote in sive Party won 46.2% of votes, adopted European values and rench far-right leader Ma- the presidential run-off . while an opposition alliance wants to lead the country into rine Le Pen will this week- “The name change will mark led by former mayor Dragan the EU, told his supporters. Fend unveil a new name for the end of a chapter and the start Djilas trailed with 18%. The Progressive Party now the 45-year-old National Front of a new one, that of a party suit- Final and offi cial results by has 60 days to nominate a can- and a refocus on immigration as ed to being in power and strik- the election commission are didate for the mayor of Bel- it searches for more voters and ing alliances,” she told the APE expected later in the week. grade, which is considered the relevance in a political landscape foreign press association last This picture taken last month shows Le Pen speaking during a FN rally in Laon, France. Another opposition alliance fourth most important posi- transformed by President Em- month. of Aleksandar Sapic, the mayor tion in the country, behind the manuel Macron. While Jean Marie Le Pen has a watering down of its stance tism rather than ideology. Doubts about Le Pen’s capac- of the Novi Beograd munici- president, prime minister and At the helm of the National warned that altering such a against the European Union’s Le Pen counters: “Macron ity to broaden the FN’s popular pality and Socialists of the For- parliament speaker. Front (FN) since 2011, Le Pen has well-known brand could be po- common currency. gathered around him a hub of base more than she already has eign Minister Ivica Dacic, gar- Although Progressives now taken it further than her mav- litical suicide, local FN offi cials Though popular with the FN’s shameless globalists ... it’s time may be hard to overcome, say nered 8.2% and 6.3% of votes have a comfortable majority of erick father, FN founder Jean- said that their experience on the core electorate, anti-euro cam- for those who defend the nation analysts and even some party respectively. 65 deputies in the 110-seat city Marie Le Pen, ever did, winning ground argued strongly for such paigning has proved a turn-off to get together.” sympathisers. The remaining 20 parties council, it will forge a coalition municipalities and EU elections a move. for most French voters. Among potential allies she “Maybe Le Pen’s name is and groups failed to pass the with Socialists, a co-ruling by making the party more palat- “The name change is essential “We’re keeping our funda- is sizing up is Nicolas Dupont- putting off some people. I 5% threshold to enter city hall. party in country’s government, able to mainstream voters. to enable us to strike alliances mentals, our basis: security, im- Aignan, leader of a small nation- wouldn’t mind that much if she Around a quarter of Serbia’s Vucic said. However, a disastrous TV de- and talk with voters without migration,” said FN lawmaker alist party who backed Le Pen resigned,” 16-year-old Enzo Ni- bate before last year’s presiden- what is often an almost automat- and party spokesman Sebastien between the two rounds of the ant said at a Le Pen rally in the tial run-off against Macron, a ic negative reaction,” said Davy Chenu. “But new faces will ap- presidential election, and others northeastern region of Alsace Catalan parliament seeks new leader lower-than-expected score in Rodriguez, the 24-year-old dep- pear, and we have changed our heading fringe right-wing par- last month. that second round and a disap- uty head of the National Front’s line on Europe, on the euro.” ties. “Part of the FN’s rank and fi le The political parties that make up Catalonia’s regional parliament pointing number – eight – of FN youth movement. The objective is to break the FN offi cials say that the party doubt she can live up to their ex- began their consultations yesterday to find a replacement for lawmakers elected afterwards, “We meet people who agree FN’s isolation from the main- will also pursue case-by-case pectations,” said Ifop analyst Jer- deposed president Carles Puigdemont. shook Le Pen and the party. with us on everything ... but stream. deals for local elections with ome Fourquet. Puigdemont, living in self-exile in Belgium and wanted in Spain, She quickly pledged to over- when we say ‘Hi, we are the Na- Le Pen seeks to head a more in- conservatives or others without a But Le Pen’s FN is likely to be a announced last week that he was abandoning his bid to return as haul the FN. tional Front’, they say, ‘No, no, clusive “patriotic” camp as small political affi liation. force to be reckoned with against regional president in an attempt to unblock Catalonia’s political And an FN congress on March not the National Front!’” and large parties alike scramble The question is whether this Macron in coming years, most crisis. 10-11 will be a chance for her to The National Front brand re- to reinvent themselves after the will yield signifi cant gains at the analysts say. The regional assembly’s head, Roger Torrent, was scheduled to reassert her leadership and win mains very much associated in unprecedented election victory ballot box, especially at a time “The inequalities and anger meet with representatives of the seven parliamentary groups to approval for a shift away from the many voters’ minds with Le Pen’s of newcomer Macron’s neither- when Wauquiez is openly target- that are at the heart of the FN pick a new candidate to replace Puigdemont. unpopular anti-euro focus of her fi rebrand father, who has been left-nor-right recipe for politics. ing FN voters. vote will not go away,” said Four- The only name put forward so far – by Puigdemont himself – is presidential run to better take on convicted several times for in- Macron defeated long-estab- He has dismissed Macron as quet, citing worries about losses Jordi Sanchez, head of the hugely influential pro-independence conservative Les Republicains citement to racial hatred. lished left and right parties by out of touch with rural France, of famously secure French jobs to ANC citizens’ group. leader Laurent Wauquiez. The second key aspect of the pledging reforms, particularly to weak on security and overly in fa- globalisation, Europe’s migrant But this is likely to be diff icult as Sanchez has been in prison for “In France, there is a habit of FN rebranding is, as other Euro- liberalise the economy and rigid vour of closer EU integration – all crisis and the Islamist militant more than four months as he is investigated for sedition, one of announcing our death as soon pean far-right parties have done, labour laws, based on pragma- hot button issues for the FN. threat. four separatists jailed over their role in the independence drive. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 19 EUROPE Merkel pledges swift return to govt work AFP from Germany, along with that of many Germans frustrated over to the Islamophobic protest par- on issues that “aff ect people in Berlin France and other member states, the arrival of more than 1mn asy- ty, Merkel’s conservatives and Germany in a practical way”. is necessary,” she said, pointing lum-seekers in Germany since the SPD have recognised that For now, Merkel is hanging to key issues such as world trade 2015 voted for the far-right Al- “more of the same” will not suf- on and is due to be re-elected erman Chancellor Angela and the war in Syria. ternative for Germany (AfD). fi ce. as chancellor by parliament on Merkel promised yester- All that “requires us to begin The AfD, taking aim at the two They have also agreed to re- March 14 as President Frank- Gday that her new govern- work quickly in the government”, mainstream parties’ decision to view their co-operation in two Walter Steinmeier, according to ment would start work swiftly the veteran leader said. renew their partnership, predict- years. procedure, nominated her yes- and lend a strong voice to Europe, European partners had been ed that “the bill will come at the The joyless partnership was terday for the post. a day after she secured a coalition anxiously watching during Mer- latest in 2021”, when Germans are evident in the sombre faces of Merkel, who has governed for her fourth term. kel’s months-long struggle to again due to go to the polls. leading SPD members on Sun- for 12 years, is heading into her Germany’s second biggest fi nd partners to govern with. The far-right party, which day when they announced that fourth term weakened, with her party, the Social Democrats But just as the EU’s biggest garnered nearly 13% in the Sep- their card-carrying members had party baying for renewal. (SPD), on Sunday fi nally gave the economy fi nally emerged from tember election, also vowed to go signed off on their plan to again Her conservatives are also all-clear to renew their partner- paralysis, another European after Merkel’s Christian Demo- join Merkel in government. smarting after losing control of ship with Merkel’s conservatives, heavyweight, Italy, sank into po- cratic Union (CDU) over its “con- The Frankfurter Allgemeine the fi nance ministry to the Social ending a political impasse that tential political limbo. tinuation of the immigration Zeitung daily questioned how Democrats as part of concessions had plagued the country since And just as in Germany, Italy’s policy without imposing a limit”. long the pact would last. to woo back the centre-left. September’s inconclusive elec- election campaign was dominat- The presence of the AfD has “This government has a To tamp down the criticism, tion. ed by anger against immigration, shaken up the Bundestag as the lengthy to-do list but lacks im- she has had to name one of her Merkel giving a statement at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) “Almost six months after with results showing a surge for anti-immigration group’s law- agination – that’s the public’s most outspoken critics, Jens headquarters in Berlin. the election, the people expect populist and far-right political makers challenge post-war Ger- perception,” it noted. Spahn, to her cabinet. something to happen now,” Mer- parties. many’s culture of remembrance General secretary of Merkel’s Seen as the fl ag-bearer for the slamming Merkel’s centrist poli- door refugee policy, Spahn has kel said in a brief statement. Both Merkel’s conservatives of the Nazi era and fuel heated party, Annegret Kramp-Karren- right wing of the CDU, outgoing cies, particularly on immigra- advocated a sharp conservative “We see that ... Europe faces and the centre-left SPD took a debates on national identity. bauer, insisted however that the deputy fi nance minister Spahn tion. shift to coax back voters from the challenges and that a strong voice hammering at the ballot box as Wary of ceding further ground coalition has concrete proposals has made a name for himself Fiercely opposed to her open- AfD.

Merkel rejects plea to change national anthem Angela Merkel does not want Germany’s national anthem to be changed, her spokesman said after a member of the chancellor’s Turkey detains Iraqis over US embassy attack plot Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partner said words such as “father- land” and “brotherland” should be made gender neutral. The SPD’s Kristin Rose-Moehring, equality commissioner for Ger- AFP It did not indicate when it many since 2001, wrote to family ministry staff to suggest striking Ankara would reopen: “The embassy will male-specific references in the Song of Germany, which has been announce its reopening once it Germany’s national anthem since 1922, media reported on Sunday. resumes services.” The reports surfaced shortly before the SPD announced that two- urkish police have de- A US embassy spokesman said thirds of its members had voted in favour of joining an alliance with tained four Iraqis suspect- the embassy would be closed for Merkel’s conservatives, with whom they have been in power since Ted of planning an attack on visa and American citizen serv- 2013. the US embassy in Ankara, media ices specifi cally. That paves the way for a new government to start work in mid- reports said. “We appreciate the continuing March. The group were held during strong support we receive from Rose-Moehring proposed replacing “Vaterland” (fatherland) in the anti-terror raids in the Black Sea the Turkish national police and anthem with “Heimatland” (homeland) and ditching “brotherly with province of Samsun, the Hur- Turkish security services in mak- heart and hand” in favour of “courageously with heart and hand”. riyet daily reported, after the US ing our facilities as safe as possi- But Merkel deems any such tweaks unnecessary. mission in the capital announced ble,” the spokesman said. “The chancellor is very happy with our nice national anthem as it is yesterday that it would close for Turkish Deputy Prime Min- in its traditional form and doesn’t see any need for change,” spokes- the day because of a “security ister Bekir Bozdag told reporters man Steff en Seibert told a regular news conference yesterday. threat”. yesterday that 4,045 “IS terror- The mission’s website urged ists” had been arrested, includ- Americans to “avoid large ing 1,858 “foreign terrorist fi ght- crowds” and “keep a low profi le”. ers” since 2011. Bread roll helps identify theft suspect Two of the suspects were de- Turkish police frequently tained on a bus on the Samsun- conduct raids against IS across Police in the German city of Kiel were able to identify a man who is Ankara highway while the other the country, including one last accused of stealing a mobile phone after collecting DNA evidence two were taken into custody in month when 29 foreigners were from a partially-eaten bread roll. the Samsun district of Ilkadim, detained in Istanbul over alleged The 30-year-old was already known to police and had previously the newspaper reported. links to the group. been identified as a suspect in the case. They were being held over al- Employees set up a fence outside the US embassy in Ankara as part of security measures set after the A series of terror attacks in The smartphone was stolen from an employee of a local bakery on leged links to the Islamic State embassy was closed to the public over a ‘security threat’. 2015 and 2016 as well as one in November 19. (IS) extremist group. 2017 were blamed on IS and out- She described having seen a man who often hung around near the As a result of the security alert, They were trying to recruit for taken “extra security measures” The mission issued a second lawed Kurdish militants. bakery, and when he returned a week later, she notified the police. 12 foreigners were detained ear- IS, it reported, adding that the after US sources provided Turk- statement on its website, say- The last attack IS claimed was After taking a DNA sample from the suspect, the lab findings found lier yesterday over alleged links suspects were in contact with as- ish intelligence with informa- ing that the embassy would re- in January 2017 when a gunman that his DNA was on a poppy-seed roll that was found in one of the to IS after the Ankara prosecutor sociates in “confl ict zones”. tion on the possibility of terror main closed to the public today killed 39 people at an Istanbul back rooms of the bakery on the day the phone was stolen, the issued 20 arrest warrants, state The Ankara governor’s offi ce attacks against the embassy and because of a “security threat” nightclub during New Year’s cel- statement said. news agency Anadolu said. said in a statement that it had American homes. again. ebrations.

A fi nal trial, and soapbox, for Carlos the Jackal Slovak PM fi ghts pressure

By Sofia Bouderbala, AFP Paris to shake up government

elf-styled revolutionary Reuters from the president, opposition an attempt toward total desta- Carlos the Jackal was back Bratislava politicians and many people for bilisation in this state”. Sin a French court yesterday government changes. The prime minister also for what is expected to be his fi - Fico rejected Kiska’s propos- asked the Slovak president to nal trial, appealing the life sen- lovak Prime Minister als on Sunday. explain why he met Hungarian tence handed down last year over Robert Fico is ready to Yesterday the prime minister fi nancier George Soros during a deadly 1974 bombing in Paris. Sdiscuss political issues said that he stood ready for talks his trip to New York last Sep- It was the third life term for with his two coalition partners with parties in his ruling coali- tember. the 68-year-old Ilich Ramirez following the murder of an in- tion. “Why didn’t he take any rep- Sanchez, who became one of the vestigative journalist but will “I want to say that we are resentative of the foreign min- world’s most notorious fugitives not be pressured by the presi- able to solve political issues in a istry with him? What was this in the 1970s and 80s during his dent to shake up his cabinet, he short time and I want to convey meeting about?” Fico said. pro-Palestinian campaign of ter- said yesterday. this message also to our coali- He did not elaborate and de- ror. President Andrej Kiska called tion partners, that we are ready clined to answer any questions True to form, Carlos seized his in a televised address on Sunday for such talks,” Fico said. on the matter. chance to turn the courtroom either for substantial changes “Should we have any prob- Soros has been a source of into a stage for theatrical dia- to the government or for early lems, we will solve them on our controversy in neighbouring tribes, raising his fi st in defi ance This combination of file pictures shows (from left) Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, also known as ‘Carlos the Jackal’, elections to rebuild public trust own, by no means do we need Hungary, where Prime Minis- as he took the stand before blow- in the early 1970’s, in 2001, and on December 9, 2013. following the killing of Jan Ku- the president that all of a sud- ter Viktor Orban accused him ing a kiss towards journalists. ciak and his fi ancee Martina den talks about a substantial of eff orts to undermine his gov- “I am a professional revolu- services, liars, fake evidence,” national security services. the Popular Front for the Libera- Kusnirova. reconstruction of the govern- ernment. tionary; revolution is my job,” said Francis Vuillemin, Carlos’s French police fi nally arrest- tion of Palestine, of which Carlos Kuciak, 27, was investigating ment, including a confi dence Kuciak had been looking into he said, stating his nationality as long-time lawyer along with ed him in the Sudanese capital had become one of the main op- tax fraud cases and links be- vote, or him speaking about suspected mafi a links among “Venezuelan and Palestinian”. Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, who has Khartoum in 1994, and he has eratives in Europe. tween businessman and politi- early election,” the prime min- Italian businessmen in eastern He had already bragged at last since become his partner. “We been imprisoned ever since. Several witnesses appeared cians. ister added. Slovakia before the journalist year’s trial that “no one in the are going to break it all down, and He was given a life sentence for to back this theory at last year’s The incident has shaken Fico also said that events was found shot dead with Kus- Palestinian resistance has ex- ask for an acquittal.” the murders of two police offi cers trial, in particular one of Carlos’s the nation and prompted calls since the murder “suggest it is nirova. ecuted more people than I have”. The trial recalls an era when in the French capital in 1975, as former associates, Hans Joachim But he has denied any re- Europe was repeatedly targeted well as that of a former comrade Klein, who said Carlos told him sponsibility for the attack at the by professed revolutionary mili- who betrayed him. that he had thrown the grenade. Eight arrested in Belgium anti-terror raids: prosecutors Publicis Drugstore at Saint-Ger- tants, including some claiming to He was later found guilty of The “Jackal” himself, a nick- main-des-Pres, in the heart of support the Palestinian cause. four bombings in Paris and Mar- name that came from a fi ctional Eight people were arrested in Brussels following found in the raids carried out at the request of a Paris’s Left Bank, more than 40 Little known at the time of the seille in 1982 and 1983, some tar- terrorist in the 1971 Frederick counter-terror raids as part of an investigation into judge specialised in terror cases. years ago, when a grenade was Drugstore attack, Venezuelan- geting trains, which killed a total Forsyth novel, The Day of the what one source said yesterday appeared to be The judge will decide later whether to formally thrown from the mezzanine res- born Carlos shot to the front of 11 people and injured nearly Jackal, claimed responsibility in preparations for an attack. charge the suspects and whether to continue taurant into the crowded gallery pages the following year when 150. a 1979 interview with the maga- All eight were arrested on Sunday in Molenbeek, holding them, the source close to the probe said. below. his commando group burst into a Prosecutors say that the gre- zine El Watan Al Arabi. an immigrant district in the Belgian capital linked The arrests took place following raids in Judges determined that all meeting of the Opec oil cartel in nade at the Publicis Drugstore But Carlos later claimed that to the Paris and Brussels terror attacks, the federal Molenbeek as well as in Geraardsbergen and evidence pointed to Carlos, even Vienna, taking 11 people hostage. – now located on the Champs- he had never given such an inter- prosecutor’s off ice said. Mechelen, both in northern Dutch-speaking areas though no DNA or fi ngerprints Three people were killed. Elysees – was part of several at- view. “In all, eight persons were arrested and taken of Belgium. were found after the bombing His singular portrait – with tacks aimed at pressuring French At the trial last year, he had for questioning,” the prosecutor’s off ice said in a Molenbeek was home to several members of the which killed two people and in- heavily tinted black glasses and authorities to free a member of argued that he should not be statement, adding the arrests were not connected cell that carried out the November 13, 2015, attacks jured 34. a sardonic smile – would cap- the Japanese Red Army who had required to testify against him- to the Paris or Brussels attacks. in Paris and the March 2016 suicide bombings in “There are incredible weak- ture the public imagination as been arrested at Paris’s Orly air- self, while claiming that he faced A source close to the probe said investigators Brussels. nesses in this case: witnesses he spent 20 years on the run, re- port. death if he divulged operational suspected an attack was in preparation. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility manipulated by the security peatedly giving the slip to inter- The group was aligned with information. The prosecutor’s off ice said no explosives were for both attacks which killed a total of 162 people. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 INDIA

INVESTIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE DECISION EVENTS EDUCATION Fresh tests show governor NHAI orders strict HP to set up medicinal 71st edition of music Suggestions sought not suff ering from H1N1 monitoring of roads plant board centre festival to be held on NCERT curriculum

Rajasthan state health medical department The National Highways Authority of India The Himachal Pradesh government yesterday A music festival that is almost as old as The Ministry of Human Resource Development is facing criticism for incorrectly diagnosing (NHAI) yesterday said it had asked off icials approved the setting up of a regional-cum- Independent India is all set to return to the (HRD) yesterday invited suggestions from the Governor Kalyan Singh with swine flu. New tests to strictly monitor road conditions and take facilitation centre of the National Medicinal national capital for its 71st edition. Several public on changes they want done in the NCERT at Delhi’s Apollo Hospital yesterday showed the action for rectification of damaged stretches. Plants Board of the Ministry of Ayush in the young as well as veteran musicians will be curriculum for classes 1 to 12. The ministry is governor was not suff ering from H1N1. The false NHAI chairman Deepak Kumar has warned that state. The centre will be set up in Jogindernagar playing side-by-side to make it a memorable seeking to halve the school syllabus prescribed reports have raised questions about the working penalties would be levied and action taken if town in Mandi district, a government experience for the visitors. The lawns of by the National Council of Educational Research of the state health medical department, with a contractor fails to fulfil its obligations. “The spokesman said. The aim of the centre is to Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) will and Training (NCERT) and CBSE in schools, the the governor requesting the state government NHAI is taking all eff orts to ensure that national provide inputs for conservation, cultivation, resonate with the musical genius of legendary HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said last month. to launch a probe into the carelessness of the highways are of good quality, safe, reliable, technology upgrade, sale of medicinal plants, maestros at the Shriram Shankarlal Music A total of six workshops were also organised hospital. Singh rushed to Delhi for treatment comfortable for road users, and are maintained training and research, and development of Festival 2018. The festival, curated by Shobha which included NGOs, education experts, state after he was diagnosed with swine flu in Sawai well,” an off icial statement said. In case of the region-specific planting material. To enable Deepak Singh, festival director and vice government off icers, and many teachers, to Man Singh hospital on Sunday night. The reports public funded projects (non-PPP projects) people to get approvals of building plans fast, chairperson of SBKK, will be held from March discuss the changes, he had said. “There is an in Apollo rubbished that diagnosis. Singh will where operations and maintenance is the direct the cabinet decided to delegate powers of 8 to 10. “The Kendra’s musical journey began urgent need to rationalise the school curriculum be travelling to Aligarh today to attend his responsibility of NHAI, the project directors the Town and Country Planning Department in 1947 on the day India got independence - to because the objective of education is to prepare granddaughter Poornima Singh’s wedding. Earlier, and regional off icers have been directed to directors to the executive off icers or panchayat celebrate freedom from bonded music,” Singh a good human being from the system. Along Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Amrita Meghwal periodically inspect highways and take measures secretaries. The people in these urban local said in a statement. The festival, for the first with academic education, life skills, experiential was declared H1N1-positive by the assembly’s to ensure that the highway is in traff ic worthy bodies will now get all the approvals through a time in its long journey, will include morning learning, physical education and creative skills are clinic when she was attending the session. condition. single window system. performance on the final day. needed,” the minister said.

Court gives bail to Lalu’s daughter and Kerala govt her husband

IANS under attack New Delhi

New Delhi court yesterday granted bail to Rashtriya AJanata Dal chief Lalu Pras- ad Yadav’s daughter Misa Bharti over suicide of and her husband Shailesh Ku- mar in an alleged Rs80bn money laundering case. The couple was, however, barred from leaving the country till further orders after the special Central Bureau of Investigation Gulf returnee court rejected the Enforcement Directorate’s objections on giving IANS “The incident should have politicians had no objection to all them bail. Thiruvananthapuram never happened. Of late, the those constructions,” Sujith said. Bharti, an RJD MP, and her practice of putting up a fl ag Leader of the opposition husband appeared before the where new ventures are com- Ramesh Chennithala said he court after they were asked to do he Congress-led opposi- ing up does not augur well. Such was told by Sugathan’s fam- so. tion yesterday slammed acts will no longer be tolerated... ily that he had pledged gold and On December 23 last year, the Tthe state government for With such incidents going on, got Rs63,000 which was handed ED fi led a third charge-sheet harassing Gulf returnees who we will reach nowhere. The case over to the CPI leaders. against Bharti’s chartered ac- are seeking to set up business will be probed and action will be “Sugathan’s family wants to countant Rajesh Agrawal, her ventures. taken,” said Vijayan. see all the culprits brought to husband and others under the The opposition blamed the The Kerala State Human justice, but at the moment at- Prevention of Money Laundering government for trying to hush Rights Commission last month tempts are being made to hush Act in the money laundering case. up the case of a Gulf returnee ordered a probe into the suicide. up the case. The CPI should see The ED last July had fi led a “who was forced to commit sui- The 65-year-old Sugathan that all the accused are ousted supplementary charge-sheet cide after being bullied” by ac- worked for 35 years in Oman be- from the party,” Chennithala against Agrawal in connection tivists of the youth wing of the fore returning last year to start an said and walked out of the as- with the case in which the agency Communist Part of India. automobile workshop. sembly. named around 35 as accused, in- The CPI is the second largest But he could not to cope with But R Sajilal, the youth wing cluding brothers Virendra Jain partner in the ruling Left Demo- the extortion attempts. His fami- leader of the All India Youth Fed- and Surender Kumar Jain. cratic Front led by the Commu- ly suspects foul play as the police eration, the CPI’s youth wing, Agrawal was accused of con- nist Party of India (Marxist). were not providing them with the told reporters that what Vijayan verting black money into legal Former minister and senior autopsy report. said in the assembly was not true. sources of income through dubi- Congress legislator Adoor Pra- “If one takes stock of the ous transactions with the help of kash accused the state govern- “The incident should have number of instances where fl ags the Jain brothers. ment of trying to hush up the never happened. Of late, have been raised, that would defi - Meanwhile, the hearing in a case of the suicide of 64-year- the practice of putting up nitely go to Vijayan’s party – the fourth multi-million rupee fod- old Sugathan in Kollam district. a fl ag where new ventures CPM, as it’s known to all that it der scam involving the RJD chief “Sugathan leased a plot of land are coming up does not is CPM which always raises fl ags and former Bihar chief minis- near his home to set up his own augur well. Such acts will anywhere and everywhere,” said ter concluded in a Ranchi court, workshop after returning from no longer be tolerated... Sajilal. which fi xed March 15 as the date Oman. When he got the verbal With such incidents going zFamily issues was the ma- for delivering judgment. sanction from the local bodies, on, we will reach nowhere. jor reason for suicides in Kerala The case relates to the fraudu- he set up a shed there,” Prakash The case will be probed and in the past two years, Vijayan lent withdrawals Rs131mn from said in the assembly. action will be taken” said. Replying to a question in December 1995 to January 1996 “But the local activists of the the state assembly, Vijayan said from the Dumka treasury. youth wing of the CPI put up a “I noticed a deep wound in his of the 12,988 suicides that took Besides Yadav, another former fl ag there, stating that it was a leg, and we suspect they had tor- place after his government as- chief minister, Jagganth Mishra, wetland and no construction tured him before his death,” his sumed offi ce in May 2016, a total and 30 others are also accused in would be allowed there. It is al- son Sunil Kumar said. of 4,172 people took their lives this case. leged these activists asked him to “The leaders were demanding because of family issues. Yadav was convicted in the fi rst pay Rs2 lakhs. a huge amount of money to let He also said that 2,325 peo- case in 2013 and was sentenced to “He knocked every door for him start his business in which ple committed suicides on ac- fi ve years in jail. justice but to no avail. Finally, on he had invested all his savings.” count of health issues, while 822 He was convicted by a spe- February 25, Sugathan was found The area has several buildings, took their lives due to paucity of cial CBI court in the second case hanging from a rope in the shed including an auditorium, hospi- money and 28 did it because of on December 23, 2017 and given that he had erected,” said Prakash. tal and a building materials shop mounting debt. warded three-and-a-half-years Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijay- constructed on levelled land. Of the total suicides, 2,946 imprisonment on January 6. He an condemned the incident and “Quite recently, another work- were committed by women, 410 was convicted in a third case on RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Misa Bharti leaves the Patiala House court after she and her said three activists of the CPI had shop was constructed similar to by children and the rest were January 24. husband Shailesh Kumar were granted bail, in New Delhi yesterday. been arrested. our case on a levelled land. The adult males. Parrikar heads to Mumbai Maharashtra speaker faces no-trust move again for further treatment fl outed constitutional norms by IANS Mumbai allowing the government to avoid IANS lice offi cials in the state, where Govind Gawde told reporters af- debates,” Vikhe-Patil alleged. Panaji he gave instructions related to ter meeting Parrikar. Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar governance. The chief minister was rushed aharashtra’s opposition alleged that the government was Among the key cabinet min- to the Lilavati Hospital on Feb- parties yesterday gave attempting to “crush the voice of oa Chief Minister Mano- isters who met him were Agri- ruary 15, where, according to of- Ma notice for a no-confi - opposition members” and “de- har Parrikar left for culture Minister Vijai Sardesai of fi cials, he was diagnosed with dence motion against Assembly mocracy was being reduced to GMumbai’s Lilavati Hos- the Goa Forward Party and Urban “mild pancreatitis”. Speaker Haribhau Bagade, alleg- ‘thokshahi’ (mobocracy).” pital yesterday for further treat- Development Minister Francis Parrikar returned on February ing “partisan” policies. “As elected representatives of ment. D’Souza. 22 to deliver a truncated budget At least 24 members of the the people, we attempt to raise He set up a committee of The two ministers, along with speech. Two days later he was Congress, the Nationalist Con- issues pertaining to the state, but three senior cabinet ministers Public Works Department Min- shifted to the Goa Medical Col- gress Party and other parties injustice is being meted out by to run the state’s administrative ister Sudin Dhavalikar, who was lege and Hospital near Panaji, for have submitted the notice, ac- the speaker which is ‘murder’ of affairs. in Delhi yesterday, will form a dehydration and low blood pres- cusing the speaker of favouring democracy,” Pawar said. The chief minister’s offi ce said committee which will take ad- sure, according to another offi - the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Vikhe-Patil and Pawar listed that Parrikar could be shifted to ministrative decisions in the cial statement. in the assembly. issues like discussion on the gov- a medical centre overseas if doc- chief minister’s absence. Parrikar was discharged from Opposition leader Rad- ernor’s speech, the problems of tors at the Mumbai hospital rec- “He has also told some min- the hospital on March 1 and has hakrishna Vikhe-Patil claimed farmers, the recent unseasonal ommend. isters, who met him today that been recuperating at his private that opposition members were rains and hailstorms in the state, “Today, the chief minister is cabinet meetings would be con- residence near Panaji. not being allowed by the speaker and other topics on which, they travelling to Mumbai for further ducted via video conference,” Earlier yesterday, the chief to raise issues or speak on major said, the Speaker did not permit medical check-up and, based on a cabinet minister who met the minister’s offi ce also released a concerns aff ecting the people of them to speak. his doctors’ advice, may travel chief minister said. photograph of Parrikar wear- the state. Pawar added that instead of overseas for further treatment,” “The three-member team will ing a pair of shorts, meeting “It is the job of the speaker allowing discussions on such a statement issued by his offi ce have the power to sanction works Chief Secretary Dharmendra to allow opposition members to crucial matters since the past said. up to Rs5 crore, while each in- Sharma and Principal Secretary speak and enable them to high- one week in the ongoing budget On a day of hectic develop- dividual minister has been em- P Krishnamurthy at his private light the issues aff ecting the Session, the ruling BJP-Shiv ments, Parrikar conducted a se- powered to sanction work con- residence where he instructed common man. The speaker be- Sena combine was deliberately ries of meetings with top ruling tracts up to the tune of Rs50 lakh them on “urgent and important Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar leaves his residence for the longs to the House and not to the running away from debate by re- politicians, bureaucrats and po- each,” Arts and Culture Minister matters” related to the state. airport, yesterday. ruling party. However, Bagade has peated adjournments. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 21 INDIA Gangs exploit refugee crisis to enslave people: Satyarthi

Reuters rights, Satyarthi said organised most organised crimes. Now than any other nation - previous 10,000 lone migrant children ous Nobel laureates and activists anti-traffi cking law, which may New Delhi gangs involved in other crimes they are intermingled,” he told a global estimates put the number have gone missing since arriving this month to address challenges be passed this month after being had moved in to profi t from slav- workshop on traffi cking run by at 18mn - with men, women and in Europe, Satyarthi said, citing facing children on the move, approved by cabinet last week, ery which is estimated to gener- the Thomson Reuters Founda- children trapped in forced labour fi gures from the European Un- such as migrants, refugees and was a major step forward with he refugee crisis has exac- ate $150bn a year. tion. and sex work. ion’s criminal intelligence agen- traffi cking victims. life sentences for traffi ckers and erbated human traffi cking “This refugee crisis has re- He said there was growing Tens of thousands of chil- cy Europol. “Trafficking and slavery, and a rehabilitation fund to help vic- Tand modern slavery with sulted in traffi cking and slav- recognition that slavery was a dren go missing each year in Satyarthi said he had heard the denial of education com- tims rebuild their lives. global action needed to tackle ery,” said Satyarthi, joint winner global issue with figures from India with authorities now reports of Syrian refugees agree- bined with the refugee crisis, Yet Satyarthi warned that it the criminal gangs now selling of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize the United Nations Interna- trying to set up a facial recog- ing to child marriages for their must be brought to the fore,” was not the end of the fi ght in people as well as fi rearms and with Pakistani schoolgirl Malala tional Labour Organisation nition system to match more daughters to stop them from said Satyarthi, whose char- India. drugs, Nobel laureate Kailash Yousafzai for his work curb- (ILO) and rights group Walk than 100,000 children living in being sold into the sex trade or ity Bachpan Bachao Andolan “The caste system, gender Satyarthi said yesterday. ing child labour and fi ghting for Free Foundation estimating government or private shelters other forms of slavery. says it has freed at least 80,000 discrimination, and the apa- Ahead of a summit of global their right to education. about 40mn people are living with reports of those who have He will meet with leaders from child slaves in India over 30- thetic attitude of government leaders and Nobel laureates in “Human traffi cking, small as slaves. disappeared. Jordan’s King Abdullah to Pana- odd years. offi cials and corruption are the Jordan this month on children’s fi rearms and drugs are the three India is home to more slaves Meanwhile, an estimated ma’s Juan Carlos Varela and vari- Satyarthi said India’s fi rst biggest hurdles,” he said. BJP targets Chidambaram in PNB case

IANS nation wants to know,” he said. New Delhi Prsad said Chidambar- am’s order was subsequently cleared by the Reserve Bank of he Bharatiya Janata India on May 21. Party yesterday accused “Mr Chidambaram, is it Tformer fi nance minister ‘jumla’ or corruption? We P Chidambaram of aiding jew- want that the real picture of ellers Mehul Choksi and Nirav Chidambaram should come Modi, the main accused in the before people. Mr Chidambar- $2bn Punjab National Bank am, please reply is it jumla, fraud case, through an 80:20 blatant favouritism, malafi de gold import scheme. conduct or rampant corrup- The ruling party also target- tion?” ed Congress chief Rahul Gan- He alleged that the Congress dhi and sought answers from was trying to spread misinfor- him on the issue. mation about and fear against BJP leader and Law Min- the BJP among people. ister Ravi Shankar Prasad “The Congress should reply said Chidambaram gave his who were the people lobbying “blessings and benefi ts under for Geetanjali and what was the 80:20 scheme” to seven the cut,” he said. private jewellers on May 16, The Congress has been 2014, the day the results of targeting the government, Relatives of Suhail Ahmad Wagay, a civilian, who according to local media died in a gunbattle between suspected militants and security forces, mourn during his funeral Lok Sabha polls were an- including Prime Minister procession at Pinjoora area of Shopian district, yesterday. nounced. Narendra Modi, in the Rs126bn “These seven jewellers in- Punjab National Bank fraud cluded Geetanjali and Star case and seeking answers from jewellers,” Prasad said. them over Nirav Modi and Me- He said the 80:20 gold im- hul Choksi being able to leave port scheme was started in the country. August 2013 under the Con- Meanwhile, the Central Bu- gress government and was re- reau of Investigation (CBI) said pealed by the BJP government it questioned a general man- Civilians among six three months after it came to ager of the Treasury Division power. of PNB. Prasad said earlier only the “The agency offi cials today Metals and Minerals Trading questioned S K Chand,” a CBI Corporation and public sec- offi cial said. tor companies had the right The offi cial also said that to import gold, but that was a court in Mumbai sent four shot dead in Kashmir changed. people arrested on Sunday to “There was round-tripping the agency’s custody till March Agencies There were no initial reports pouring of anger among locals, the Kashmir police from carry- support of his contention that under the scheme,” he alleged. 17. Srinagar of injuries. who said the civilians were non- ing out any investigation against without government’s sanc- The 80:20 scheme was Two of the four arrested are The unrest was triggered combatants. Major Aditya Kumar following the tion even a complaint against a introduced for nominated from Nirav Modi’s fi rm, one is by the shooting of four peo- Hundreds of people, includ- death of three civilians. serving army offi cer operating banks/ agencies/ entities to an auditor and one an employ- olice fi red teargas when ple in Shopian district on Sun- ing several gun-toting mili- Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in disturbed area was prohibited “rationalise” import of gold in ee of the Gitanjali Group. thousands defi ed a curfew day evening when soldiers tants, attended the funeral of the Justice A M Khanwilkar and Jus- under the law. any form to tame the current Modi, his family and Choksi Pin Jammu and Kashmir and exchanged gunfi re with a sus- Lashkar-e-Taiba commander tice D Y Chandrachud directed However, this was opposed account defi cit. left the country in early Janu- took to the streets yesterday in pected militant at a checkpoint. Ashiq Hussain Bhat at Saidpora the further hearing on the peti- by senior counsel Shekhar Prasad said exit polls had ary. protest at the killing by soldiers The alleged shooter was killed in Shopian. tion by Lt Col Karamveer Singh Naphade, who is appearing for predicted that the Congress The Enforce Directorate of six people including four ci- and a weapon found at the scene, He was missing since Novem- on April 24. Kashmir, who said that the reg- would lose elections and has carried out searches at vilians. army spokesman Colonel Rajesh ber 13, 2017. Singh, a serving army offi cer istration of a case and even fi ling Chidambaram would not have over 198 locations across the Authorities had shut schools Kalia said. Separatist groups called for and father of Kumar, is seeking of charge-sheet did not amount been fi nance minister after the country and seized properties and suspended Internet serv- Three others were found dead widespread protests. the quashing of a case against his to taking cognizance of the of- results were out. worth nearly Rs60bn. ices as tension mounted over the in a car some distance away. Jammu and Kashmir Chief son. fence and thus no prior permis- “It was expected of the >>The CBI yesterday said it shooting of apparent civilians at The army described them as Minister Mehbooba Mufi said At the outset of the hearing, sion was required. then learned finance minis- questioned a director of Kolk- a military checkpoint in south- accomplices but police were in- she was “deeply distressed by Attorney General K K Venugopal Major Kumar and other sol- ter that he will follow con- ata-based RP Info System in ern Kashmir. vestigating this claim. more deaths of civilians caught told the court that the mere fi ling diers of 10 Garhwal Rifl es have stitutional norms (of not connection with a probe into a But thousands of demonstra- Police later found another ap- in the crossfi re” as demonstra- of a complaint against an army been accused of opening fi re on taking important decisions),” Rs5.15bn banking fraud. tors still clashed with police and parent civilian dead in a separate tors took to the streets. offi cer serving in the disturbed a stone-pelting mob which had Prassad said. “Today Shivaji Panja, one troops across the territory, one car. Civilians often break curfews area was barred under Section 7 attacked an army convoy near “Chidambaram should say, of the directors of the RP Info police offi cer said. A sixth victim found yesterday to rally whenever militants are of Armed Forces Special Powers Ganowpora village in Shopian Rahul Gandhi should say why Systems, was questioned at Teargas was fired to dis- was identifi ed by police as a sus- killed, hurling stones and chant- Act without the prior sanction of district on January 27. benefi ts were passed on to the Kolkata branch of the perse crowds who defied an pected militant but no weapon ing anti-India slogans. the central government. The fi ring resulted in the seven private companies under agency,” a CBI offi cial said in official order to stay indoors, was found on his person. In other developments, the Su- Venugopal cited top court death of three in the stone-pelt- 80:20 scheme on May 16. The New Delhi. he added. The shootings sparked an out- preme Court yesterday restrained judgments of 2006 and 2014 in ing crowd.

Hiccups ahead of NPP leader I can off er MGR’s taking oath as Meghalaya CM rule: Rajinikanth

IANS of the 60-member assembly, est party after the Congress Agencies nanidhi and late chief minister J Shillong will be administered the oath of which got 21 seats. Chennai Jayalalithaa were great leaders. offi ce and secrecy along with his Meghalaya is the second state “But after the death of Jayala- council of ministers. He will be after Goa, where the Congress lithaa and with Karunanidhi in ational People’s Party the 12th chief minister of Meg- has not been able to forge a post- ctor-turned-politician poor health, there is a leadership leader Conrad Kongkal halaya. poll alliance with any of the re- Rajinikanth yesterday said vacuum in the state which I can NSangma will be sworn Sources said HSPDP’s Lyn- gional parties despite emerging Ahe can provide the rule of fi ll”, Rajnikanth said. in as the chief minister of Meg- gdoh will be inducted as a cabi- as the single-largest party. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra To thunderous applause, Ra- halaya today as the Hill State net minister. Outgoing chief minister Kazhagam founder and late chief jinikanth said: “For a good leader People’s Democratic Party ex- On Sunday, Sangma staked Mukul Sangma told journalists: minister M G Ramachandran and to capitalise, there is a vacuum in pressed reservation in form- claim to form the government “We have off ered formulas to also fi ll the leadership void that Tamil Nadu.” ing the government with the with the support of six MLAs the UDP for working together - exists in Tamil Nadu. After his speech on the last Bharatiya Janata Party. from the UDP, four from Peo- either the UDP should lead the Unveiling a statue of MGR at day of 2017, Rajnikanth received The HSPDP, which has ple’s Democratic Front (PDF), government or share power for the Dr MGR Educational Re- numerous barbs from both the stitched a post-poll alliance and two each from HSPDP and two-and-half years. But UDP search Institute in Chennai, Ra- AIADMK and the DMK. DMK with the NPP, also objected to the BJP, besides one independ- president Donkupar Roy told jinikanth said he understands leader M K Stalin had written the lone NPP Lok Sabha member ent MLA Samuel Sangma. me that this formula could have politics and can provide the kind to his cadre about “new fl owers Sangma being projected as the Apart from federal Home been discussed much earlier.” of rule that MGR gave. that are now blooming with the chief minister. Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP Asked if the Congress can still Rajinikanth, who is yet to for- changing seasons,” apparently But the HSPDP legislators - president Amit Shah, Assam Fi- turn the tables to lead the gov- mally launch his political party, hinting at the entry of actors Ra- Renikton Lyngdoh and Samlin nance Minister Himanta Biswa ernment, he said: “You must said he knows that the path of jnikanth and Kamal Haasan. Malngiang - have signed a letter Sarma, who is the chairman of go by history of the state and politics is not decked with fl ow- Yesterday, he unleashed what of support, which was handed the North East Democratic Al- the experiences we have gone ers but fi lled with thorns. is being seen as an aggressive ef- over to Governor Ganga Prasad liance, a non-Congress entity, through and look at people who He said he has learnt politics fort to project himself as a recip- on Sunday projecting Sangma will also attend the swearing-in are there in the Congress, the from Dravida Munnetra Kazhag- ient of MGR’s attention and even as their leader to lead the non- ceremony at Raj Bhavan. NPP and others and how in a am leader M Karunanidhi and care. “When I was in hospital Congress government. The NPP, which won 19 as- given situation especially in a Congress leader late G K Moo- following a nervous breakdown, The chief minister-designate, sembly seats in the just-con- football match certain players Rajinikanth speaks to his supporters after unveiling a statue of panar. he used to call up often to inquire who is the non-elected member cluded polls, is the second larg- can always create a turnaround.” MGR yesterday. According to him, both Karu- about my health.” Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 LATIN AMERICA Argentina drought bakes crops, sparks grain price rally

Reuters and soybeans, has not ended a been held in storage for months mano has the opposite point of Rains this growing season soybean meal, used to feed live- for inputs, such as fertiliser Chicago/Chivilcoy, Argentina scenario of global oversupply to take advantage of prices rally- view. have only been a quarter of stock, and soy oil. and seeds which have remained left by years of bumper harvests ing on Argentina’s struggles. His soybean and corn plants normal, Romano said. At most, Soymeal and soybean fu- stubbornly high. driven by good weather and ge- “You never wish a drought on stand at only half their typical he expects his soybeans to pro- tures contract prices on Friday US farmers and traders are rgentina’s worst drought netically engineered crops. another country but sometimes height, starved of rain. duce a third of their normal reached their highest price since profi ting from increased ex- in decades is shrivelling But combined with separate that’s what it takes,” said Illinois Corn ears are 70% smaller yield. the summer of 2016, while corn port demand, with global buy- Afarmers’ fi elds, sending bouts of dryness threatening corn and soy grower Rob Schaf- than normal about a month be- The Buenos Aires grains ex- futures touched an eight-month ers shifting business away from grain prices soaring and forc- crops in US Plains states and fer, who is stepping up sales fore harvest is set to begin. change cut 3mn tonnes off its soy high. Argentina. Over the past seven ing Bunge Ltd and other major South Africa, losses in Argentina of crops to take advantage of “This is going to have a very forecast on Thursday, putting it The rally comes in the nick of weeks, exporters have sold near- crop processors to crush fewer are eating into global reserves climbing US prices. “It’s basi- big impact on the regional econ- about a quarter smaller than last time for US farmers. ly 12.5mn tonnes of US corn to oilseeds into feed that fattens and prompting global buyers to cally been a gift.” omy,” he said, adding that farm- year’s crop. As growers in the Midwest- foreign buyers, in the busiest livestock around the world. accelerate purchases. Thousands of miles away ers were praying for rain to miti- Such losses ripple around ern Corn Belt prepare for spring stretch of sales in 23 years, ac- The drought in Argentina, the Farmers in the US Midwest are in the rural Argentine town of gate more losses to late-planted the world because Argentina is planting, farm land rents are cording to US department of ag- world’s No. 3 exporter of corn scrambling to sell grain that has Chivilcoy, farmer Bernardo Ro- crops. also the world’s top supplier of coming due. So, too, are bills riculture data. Opposition Anti-Trump protest takes lead in Salvadoran elections

AFP banner of the FMLN fought a San Salvador succession of US-backed gov- ernments. ARENA was co-founded in l Salvador’s right-wing 1981 by Roberto D’Aubuisson, opposition party appeared a soldier linked to right-wing Eheaded for victory yester- death squads. day in legislative and municipal At stake are all 84 seats in the elections, dealing a blow to left- single-chamber Congress as ist President Salvador Sanchez well as mayoralties and council Ceren in his fi nal year of offi ce. seats in the tiny country’s 262 The Republican National- municipalities. ist Alliance (ARENA) party be- If the preliminary results hold, gan celebrating as a vote count Sanchez Ceren will be markedly Members of trade unions hold a protest against US President Donal Trump’s import surcharge on Brazilian steel and in defence of their employment, outside the US showed it well ahead of the rul- weakened as he fi nishes his term. consulate in Sao Paulo, Brazil, yesterday. Since announcing last week plans to impose a 25 % tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminium, Trump has shrugged off ing Farabundo Marti National The new elected offi cials will threats from many nations, including China, Canada, Brazil and Mexico among others. Liberation Front party with take up their positions on May 1. 65.1% of the ballots counted. In the current Congress, ARE- The preliminary returns NA has a slight majority, with 35 showed its candidate for mayor seats to the FMLN’s 31. of San Salvador, Ernesto Muy- Three other parties hold 18 shondt, defeating the FMLN’s seats. Jackeline Rivera. That has forced Sanchez Cer- “We are going to put the en to negotiate to pass legisla- mayor’s offi ce of San Salvador tion. at the service of the people and He has succeeded in getting we are going to undertake public the Congress to fund certain Castro and three aides projects that will transform San popular social programmes like Salvador,” Muyshondt said dur- free lunches and school supplies ing a victory celebration at his for public school students. party’s headquarters. But ARENA has blocked bor- Analyst Roberto Canas said rowing for public works pro- the FMLN should “refl ect deeply grammes and forced cuts in on the causes of the defeat.” spending in the 2018 budget. ‘may step down soon’ Police and soldiers were de- Analyst Dagoberto Gutierrez ployed across the Central Amer- said the government functions Tribune News Service “This is goodbye,” Reinaldo “That award ceremony seems tro. Machado and Valdes remain clear the way for Castro’s succes- ican country to provide secu- because it has “the maturity to Miami Escobar, editor of the 14yme- to show Raul Castro’s desire to among the fi ve vice presidents sor as well as a reformist agenda rity for Sunday’s vote, the ninth negotiate, to dialogue and not to dio digital news page, told el leave his top government position of the Council of State and sit to try fi x the island’s grave prob- since a 1992 peace accord ended try to impose its will on a some- Nuevo Herald during a Miami not alone, but with his three old on the PCC’s Political Bureau. lems: an economy stalled by the a bloody 12-year civil war. times capricious opposition.” ccustomed to reading be- visit. “That would mean Ram- cronies,” former political prison- Valdes, 85, served many years crisis in Venezuela, the dual- About 5.1mn voters were eli- “The government is in the fi - tween the lines, Cubans iro Valdes, Machado Ventura er Rene Gomez Manzano wrote in as minister of the interior, in currency system, an aged popu- gible to take part, but turnout nal stretch. So if it wants to fi n- Ahave been speculating and Guillermo Garcia may be a column published in Cubanet, a charge of domestic and national lation, little foreign investments, appeared low — something an ish well, it must be agile and about the fate of three “historic” removed from the Council of digital news site. “If that was not security and Cuba’s intelligence tense relations with Washington electoral offi cial described as dialogue not only with the leg- revolutionary leaders - Jose Ra- State,” the executive body of the the case, this solemn ceremony services. Garcia, 90, is a mem- and younger generations who “normal” for legislative and mu- islative assembly but with the mon Machado Ventura, Ramiro island’s legislature, the Nation- would not make much sense. In ber of the Council of State and want more change. nicipal polls, for which turnout other forces in society,” he said. Valdes Menendez and Guillermo al Assembly of People’s Power. the Communist liturgy, awarding the PCC Central Committee. “The entire historic genera- has never topped 50%. Sanchez Ceren needs the Garcia Frias - all of whom were Castro, 86, has promised to medals is usually the prologue for Machado and Valdes are be- tion is retiring. That’s what was With 65.1% of the total votes support of the legislature to honoured in a recent ceremony. retire from the presidency of the a demotion and retirement.” lieved to be part of a conserva- planned. And that’s healthy and counted, ARENA had 557,671 put through laws aimed at cut- Cuban leader Raul Castro Council of State and the Coun- Machado, 87, is considered tive faction within the govern- important. Let a new generation votes to the FMLN’s 328,818, ting crime that has engulfed the awarded the three men med- cil of Ministers (the Cabinet) in a top infl uential fi gure. He was ment that views with suspicion of young people come up,” said according to the country’s Su- country in recent years. als as “Heroes of Labour” at a April, fueling intense interest fi rst vice president of the Coun- the reforms Castro launched af- someone close to the Cuban preme Electoral Tribunal. El Salvador’s murder rate in ceremony on February 24. The in the succession. The newly cil of State from 2008-2013 and ter he replaced his ailing brother government who asked for ano- The two parties were deadly 2017 was one of the highest in awards generally indicate that elected National Assembly to be remains second secretary of the Fidel in 2006, such as improved nymity for fear of retaliation. opponents during the civil war, the world at 60 homicides per the honorees will soon retire inaugurated in April will select Cuban Communist Party, or U.S. relations. “Whomever becomes (Castro’s when guerrilla groups under the 100,000 people. from public life. the new Council of State. PCC - both posts No. 2 to Cas- Their departure might help to successor), will be a great hope.” Peace under threat in Maduro meets Morales Firm’s ex-chief held in food safety probe

Colombia: Red Cross Reuter the analysis department of Sao Paulo BRF to “falsify” test results re- lated to its industrial process. Thomson Reuters Foundation between armed groups, or be- not been able to secure its pres- Pedro Faria, BRF’s chief ex- Bogota tween them and the security ence in some areas once control- ederal police yesterday ecutive between 2015 and 2017, forces, have given no respite in led by the Farc and provide basic said they have arrested was one of several people target- some areas,” the ICRC said. services. Fthe former chief executive ed in the new phase of the probe housands of Colombi- “We recognise the signifi cant “The implementation of the of Brazilian food processor BRF and was taken into custody in ans are being driven from decrease in armed actions in peace agreement has not ad- SA on charges that he and other Curitiba, Parana, police said. Ttheir homes and dozens various regions of the country, vanced with the speed and am- executives were aware the com- “The fraud had the intention killed despite a peace accord but we are aware that there is bition that was expected,” the pany committed fraud in trying to cheat inspection services so ending half a century of civil still a long and complex way for report said. to evade food safety checks. as to prevent the agriculture war, the Red Cross said, urging us to talk about a Colombia that The government has said it is Shares in BRF, the coun- ministry from controlling the the government to better protect has overcome the war.” addressing the problem, and in try’s largest chicken exporter, quality of the industrial proc- civilians. Some areas, particularly in January sent 9,000 troops — the whose board and management ess of the company under in- A peace deal between the gov- Colombia’s south and Pacifi c largest military unit activated were already under fi re after the vestigation,” the police said. ernment and the left-wing rebel region, have become fl ash- in two decades — to combat il- company posted its worst-ever In a court ruling authorising Revolutionary Armed Forces points for fi ghting among crime legal armed groups moving into annual results, plunged 15%. the arrests, Judge Andre Duszc- of Colombia (Farc) was signed gangs and a smaller rebel group, former Farc-controlled areas. The company did not reply zak said Faria and other BRF of- in 2016, ending a war that has the National Liberation Army The ICRC urged the govern- to e-mails and calls seeking fi cers sought to cover up claims killed about 200,000 people. (ELN), over drug traffi cking and ment to step up eff orts to ndfi comment. of possible food contamina- The Farc has largely demo- gold mines. nearly 50,000 Colombians who The charges open a new chap- tion, as shown in certain labo- bilised and become a political The ICRC said civilians most have disappeared since 1985, ter in the federal police investi- ratory tests, made by a former party. at risk are Afro-Colombian and according to government fi g- gation of the Brazilian meat in- employee in a labour lawsuit. But confl ict continues in areas indigenous communities living ures. dustry — dubbed “Weak Flesh” A lawyer for Faria could not vacated by Farc fi ghters, leav- in remote rural areas. The peace accord provides for — which started in March 2017, immediately be identifi ed. ing a power vacuum, the Inter- Last year, the agency record- a special search unit to fi nd the wreaking havoc on the sector and Mauricio Moscardi Grillo, a national Committee of the Red ed more than 550 human rights missing but it has yet to start temporarily closing export mar- federal police investigator, said Cross (ICRC) said in its latest violations in Colombia, includ- work. kets to Brazil, the world’s largest offi cers “at all hierarchical lev- report. ing murders and sexual violence, “The delay in its implemen- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro shakes hands with beef and chicken exporter. els, from the chief executive to “Peace is still a fragile pos- and helped 3,300 displaced peo- tation is unjustifi able and adds his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales during the Bolivarian In a statement, the police the quality control manager” sibility. Although the confl ict ple. pain to the dramatic situation Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) summit at cited evidence that fi ve labo- had knowledge of eff orts to between the government and the The ICRC said it was con- that many families already face,” the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas yesterday. ratories accredited by the agri- dodge food inspections and Farc-EP came to an end, clashes cerned that the government has the ICRC said. culture ministry colluded with safety checks. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 23 PAKISTAN More than 92,000 visas issued since CPEC launch

Internews abroad issued 29,622 visas to 13,268 visas in 2015, and 6,268 nationals encouraged foreign 110,000 youth, most of whom sonnel) of the MSF for coastal sas to Indian nationals in 2013. Islamabad foreign nationals in 2013, 10,267 visas in 2016. direct investment (FDI) which would be associated with CPEC area, six wings (6,700 person- In 2015, 584 Indians were issued visas in 2014, 22,932 visas in According to informed offi cials jumped 163% to $222.6mn in projects in coming years. nel) of the Frontier Corps, 3,210 visas. 2015, 13,456 visas in 2016, and at ministry of foreign aff airs, an July 2017 on a year-on-year ba- For security of these Chinese police constables and 1,320 Lev- As many as 786 Iranians were ince the start of ground more than 15,927 foreign nation- estimated 12,287 visas were is- sis, offi cial data collected from workers, the government of Paki- ies personnel would guard all the issued visas in 2013, and 945 vi- work on the China-Paki- als came to Pakistan in 2017, of- sued to Chinese nationals last the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) stan has also deputed an estimat- routes. sas in 2016. Sstan Economic Corridor fi cial data/documents, that Geo year. reveals. ed 37,000 security personnel to More than 4,200 police offi c- More than 3,000 Filipinos (CPEC), the fl agship multi-bil- News has had exclusive access to, In addition, offi cials said that The main contributor to this guard Chinese workers engaged ers, 1,290 Rangers, 5,500 private were issued visas by Pakistani lion dollar project of “One Belt reveal. about 91,000 Chinese nationals foreign net infl ows has been in some 22 projects directly as- security guards, and 740 Askari authorities in three years – 2013, and One Road Initiative”, more As many as 7,859 Chinese were visited Pakistan on tourist visas China, which is investing around sociated with the CPEC and 214 Guards would protect various 2015 and 2016. than 39,000 Chinese have visited issued visas in 2013, the starting in past fi ve years. $60bn under the CPEC initiative. other small and mega projects in projects linked to the economic More than 1,027 Turkish also Pakistan. period for the CPEC projects, Some 27,596 visa extensions Pakistan received $2.4bn in Pakistan. corridor in Punjab. arrived in Pakistan in 2013, and More than 92,204 visas were soon after the incumbent gov- were also granted last year to 2016-17, highest since the PML- For this purpose, the govern- Offi cial data also reveals that 631 Turkish nationals were is- issued by the government of Pa- ernment of Pakistan Muslim Chinese on recommendations of N government took charge of the ment has deployed 15,780 mili- Pakistan issued visas to 1,505 sued visas in 2015. kistan to foreign nationals in an League – Nawaz (PML-N) came ministries of interior, foreign af- state’s economic aff airs, while tary personnel trained under Australian nationals in 2013, 549 Similarly, more than 8,200 eff ort to expand foreign invest- into power. fairs, water and power and plan- FDI remained $1.45bn in previ- umbrella of the Special Security visas to Germans in 2013, and 575 British nationals visited Paki- ment, business opportunities Following this development, ning and development, a 34% ous PPP regime. Division (SSD) and the Maritime visas were issued to German na- stan: 1,407 visas were issued to and tourism in the country in the Pakistani missions in China is- increase as compared to 2015-16, The government, under the Security Force (MSF). tionals in 2017. British nationals in 2013, 2,206 past fi ve years. sued 7,859 visas to Chinese citi- added the offi cials. Prime Minister’s Youth Pro- Baluchistan would get more The Pakistani embassy in New in 2014, 2,280 in 2015, and 2,172 Over 120 Pakistani missions zens in 2013, 69 visas in 2014, This frequent fl ow of foreign gramme, also trained more than security, as a few wings (450 per- Delhi also issued over 1,000 vi- in 2017.

Concerns over high legitimate 84% of Pakistani children demand for drug face psychological abuse

Internews Most common form of by the National Commission for The research was carried out high in all settings, and the chil- Meanwhile, 67% children suf- cording to the study. Islamabad violence suff ered by Child Welfare and Development, across Pakistan to assess the dren suff ered more psychologi- fer psychological, 65% physi- In light of its results and se- Pakistani children is working under the ministry of prevalence of violence against cal abuse at home, followed then cal, and 2% sexual violence in verity of the situation, the report psychological: report human rights, highlights the children in the sample age group. by schools and workplace set- school, says the report. stressed upon the need for com- he International Narcot- magnitude of various kinds of The data was collected from tings. Moreover, children who are prehensive national-level inter- ics Control Board (INCB) Internews violence faced by children in Pa- 948 children, of which 475 were “Meanwhile physical violence working as domestic servants, ventions at every tier of society Thas expressed concern Islamabad kistan. in-school and 473 were out-of- was the second most reported garbage collectors, and mechan- for curbing all types of violence over unusually high annual le- The report, on the basis of its school children, while the gen- form of violence, and children ics or involved in any other form against children. gitimate requirements of ephe- fi ndings, indicates that Pakistan der-wise division was 476 boys suff ered less physical assault of child labour suff ered 65% “Society must provide neces- drine in Pakistan. sychological assault is the is not a secure place for children, and 472 girls. in school as compared to other psychological, 71% physical and sary social support to all chil- Unlike other countries, Pa- most common form of as they face violence everywhere Furthermore, the report also settings as home, workplace or 12% sexual abuse at their work- dren, be they victims of mild or kistan’s requirements had re- Pviolence experienced by from schools and workplaces to claimed that most of these vi- community,” reads the report. place. severe violence … no institution mained unchanged in recent children aged between fi ve and homes and markets. cious acts are perpetrated by Statistically, 84% of the chil- The children also faced 46% or individual, no matter how years. 12 years in Pakistan, reveals a The most common type of people familiar to the victims, dren experience psychological psychological, 44% physical and close or culturally sanctifi ed, A court case on the alleged new report. violence experienced by chil- such as teachers, employers, assault whereas 74% fall victim 10% sexual violence by commu- may be allowed to commit vio- domestic diversion of signifi - The study titled Prevailing dren is psychological, followed parents, and peers. to physical violence, while an- nity members including neigh- lence against children under any cant amounts of ephedrine in situation of Violence against by physical violence and sexual “The results indicated that other 3% face sexual abuse in the bours, relatives, shopkeepers, pretext or under any justifi ca- Pakistan has been ongoing Children in Pakistan, carried out abuse. the psychological violence was domestic sphere. strangers and peer groups, ac- tion,” the report concludes. since 2012, with no conclusion emerged yet, the INCB said in its 2017 annual report. The annual legitimate re- Riding along quirements for combined bulk and pharmaceutical prepara- PTI claims winning over angry tions containing pseudoephe- drine for Pakistan was below 50 tonnes between 2013 and 2017, PML-N legislators in Punjab against the global average of an- nual requirements of 14 tonnes in 2017, the report says. Internews war said the PTI would now be Syria and Turkey together Lahore focusing on the general elec- with Pakistan had annual le- tions to defeat the PML-N. gitimate requirements of close to “The PTI will give PML-N a 50 tonnes, while Iran exceeded he Pakistan Tehreek-e- surprise in the general elections beyond 50 tonnes in 2013 but Insaf (PTI) pulled off a and form government in Pun- declined to roughly 16 tonnes in Tsurprise in the Senate jab as well as at the centre,” he 2017. elections on Saturday when one claimed. Four countries whose annual of its candidates, former Punjab Being the third-largest party requirement was less than 12 governor Chaudhry Moham- in the Senate, Sarwar said the tonnes were Saudi Arabia, Yem- mad Sarwar, won a seat. PTI core committee would now en, Afghanistan, and the United According to some PTI decide how to vote for the posi- Arab Emirates. sources, the party managed to tions of Senate chairperson and The INCB asked all govern- pull off this victory by winning deputy chairperson. ments to establish and regularly over disgruntled Pakistan Mus- Meanwhile, contrary to its review all estimates of annual lim League – Nawaz (PML-N) expectation of winning six out legitimate requirements, taking People ride an electric shuttle during a visit to Rawal Lake in Islamabad. members and those rendered of 11 seats, the PTI managed into account the prevailing mar- without seats after the delimi- PTI chief Imran Khan: has to win fi ve seats in Khyber Pa- ket conditions, and inform the tation of constituencies, with instructed KP Chief Minister khtunkhwa. board of any changes. the promise that they would be Khattak to take disciplinary Maulana Samiul Haq and a Furthermore, the board asked granted PTI tickets in the gen- action against the PTI candidate of the Qaumi Watan the governments to list specifi c eral elections. lawmakers who did not vote for Party (QWP), Anisa Zeb Ta- needs and uses for each sub- Sources in the party claimed the candidates fielded by the hirkheli, who were backed by stance and to clearly indicate if Cyber-attacks declared a threat yesterday that the party put in party or those supported by it. the PTI, also lost the elections. there is no need for those sub- extra eff ort to ensure that its The party will now determine stances by inserting a value of members remained united. PML-N members, including how and why this happened. “zero”. to national security, economy The PTI members held un- MPAs from Okara, Rahim Yar On the instructions of PTI Pakistan was also identifi ed as offi cial discussions with inde- Khan and Layyah districts, as chairman Imran Khan, Khyber the origin of some 7,000 ephe- pendent members and those well as those who were either Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister drine tablets that was reported Internews Sustainable Development Poli- Hence, there is a need to take from the Pakistan Peoples Party losing their seats due to fresh Pervez Khattak has initiated an seized by the authorities in Hong Islamabad cy Institute (SDPI). measures to the new techno- (PPP), and remained in contact delimitation of their constitu- investigation to identify party Kong. The experts said that the glo- logical changes around us and with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) encies or those who were unsure members who did not vote for During 2016 and the fi rst 10 bal economy could potentially to fi nd ways to control cyber- and Pakistan Muslim League – about getting PML-N tickets the party-backed candidates. months of 2017, countries in the hile most of Paki- lose around $2tn by 2019 due to threats, since it was becoming a Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) legis- for the general elections. Chief of his own faction of Gulf region were identifi ed as stan’s security ap- cyber-attacks and the vulner- matter of national concern. lators. One MPA each from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana transit countries for shipments Wparatus is geared to- ability of global fi nancial and Recognising the threat, the At a press conference yes- PML-Q and PPP also voted for Sami, who contested the elec- of ephedrine and pseudoephe- wards the precarious nuclear corporate systems to cyber- upper house of Parliament had terday, senator-elect Sarwar Sarwar. tion as an independent candi- drine from India bound for des- balance, a group of cyber-se- theft. set up a task force on cyber- said that the Punjab assembly The source said the PTI date on a seat reserved for tech- tinations in Africa. curity experts have warned that They pointed out that in security, comprising around 40 members voted for him with workers visited Mansoora thrice nocrats, bagged only four votes. The amounts of ephedrine cyber-attacks pose no less of a 2017, owing to lack of thorough experts. their “clear conscience and to ensure that a JI MPA also vot- According to sources, Khan seized in 2016 continued to fl uc- threat to the national economy cyber-security measures, the It was supposed to prepare democratic mindset. There is no ed for the former governor. instructed Khattak to take dis- tuate between 35 and 40 tonnes, and security. global economy lost around a cyber-security policy, strat- question of horse-trading”. The PTI’s vice-chairman, ciplinary action against the PTI much lower than the amounts To mitigate this threat, there $450bn, losses which are ex- egy, laws and a national CERT He said that the PML-N had Shah Mahmood Qureshi, with lawmakers who did not vote for reported seized in the preceding is a need for co-ordinated na- pected to increase substantially (Computer Emergency Re- been worried about the loyalty Sarwar also met JI leader Sirajul the candidates fi elded by the fi ve-year period. tional eff orts to counter the by 2019 if no action is taken to sponse Team). of its members and therefore Haq for the purpose. party or those supported by it. In April and November 2016, problem of unpredictability and counter the threats. It took them two years, but sought their oath before the However, the sources ex- They said the PTI leadership Pakistani authorities objected anonymity enjoyed by cyber- SDPI executive director Dr the task force fi nally managed elections. pressed surprise over the fact had decided that once they were to the delivery of two shipments attackers. Abid Qayyum Suleri termed the to ready a draft of the cyber- The PML-N also employed that PPP got 26 votes “even identifi ed, the legislators who of acetic anhydride, totalling These views were expressed cyber-security threat as a non- security policy. other tactics to put pressure on though there was no attraction did not follow the party’s orders 26,500 litres, from China be- by the experts at a meeting of traditional security threat, add- The policy was presented their members. of party tickets on the PPP plat- would be expelled. cause the importing companies the study group on Information ing that we are living in times to the parliament as a private A senior PTI leader said that form”. The PTI has already expelled were not authorised to import and Technology and Telecom- which can be seen as a new in- member bill but has yet to be his party worked on disgruntled At the press conference, Sar- fi ve MPAs for violating party the substance into the country. munications, organised by the dustrial revolution. passed. discipline. Senators-elect told to submit expenditure details The sources said the PTI leadership believed that about The Returning Off icer for Pakistan’s Senate election has set five-day 20 lawmakers of the party did deadline for the 11 newly-elected senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa not vote for the party-backed to submit details of election expenditure, or else their off icial result will candidates. Mountaineers call off winter K2 summit bid not be released. They said that after forging The Returning Off icer, Pir Maqbool Ahmad, issued notices to the newly an election alliance with the Af- elected-senators to submit the details with his off ice. tab Ahmad Khan Sherpao-led AFP off their bid citing bad weather, that has never been climbed in and old, but K2 is a much lonelier As per the off icial communiqué, the elected senators could obtain the QWP, the PTI leadership had Islamabad after a drama-fi lled expedition winter. place. forms from the off ice of the Provincial Election Commission. expected votes of 69 members which made international head- The Polish team arrived at the Around 300 have made it to Interestingly, the ceiling of campaign expenditure for the Senate elec- for the party’s picks. lines. K2 base camp late last year, en- the top since the fi rst ascent 60 tion has been increased from Rs1mn to Rs1.5mn as per the Election Act A source in the PTI said that olish mountaineers at- The decision means that K2, during sub-zero temperatures years ago. 2017. the chief minister had formed tempting the fi rst winter in northern Pakistan on the bor- and gale-force winds. Pakistan is home to some of In reality however, the candidates end up spending much more than four committees to look after Psummit of K2, the world’s der with China, remains the only Everest has been summited the world’s tallest mountains, the amount they are allowed under the election laws. the PTI aff airs for Senate elec- second highest peak, have called peak in the world above 8,000m by thousands of climbers young including K2 in Gilgit-Baltistan. tions in the province. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 PHILIPPINES Govt lawyer Environment-friendly ride seeks embattled judge’s removal

Reuters ida, an ally of Duterte, said he after she started the job. Manila had asked Sereno’s Supreme “They just want to short- Court peers to cancel her 2012 cut the process, betraying their appointment for violations of anxieties that they will lose in he Philippine govern- court rules and procedures. the impeachment trial,” she ment’s chief lawyer yes- “This is the proper rem- said. Tterday filed a petition to edy to question the validity of In October, Duterte dared remove the Supreme Court’s Sereno’s appointment,” Calida Sereno to open her bank ac- top judge, as an “act of kind- told reporters after filing a count to public scrutiny, ac- ness” to spare her the indignity “quo warranto” case question- cusing her of corruption and of an impeachment trial that ing her right to hold her office. of being used by political op- congress is set to vote on soon. “This is an act of kindness to ponents intent on driving him Maria Lourdes Sereno, a fellow lawyer,” he said, adding from power. the first woman to head the that he did not want Sereno “to Sereno denies wrongdoing 15-member Supreme Court, undergo the indignity” of her and has not responded publicly is on an indefinite leave of ab- predecessor, Renato Corona, to Duterte’s verbal attacks. sence to prepare for a trial in who was removed in a Senate Duterte’s critics believe the the Senate, should the lower trial for concealing assets. impeachment move is motivat- house decide to impeach her for If congress decides to im- ed by the administration being non-disclosure of income. peach an official, then the up- uncomfortable with the fact The case is another public per house, which currently has she is due to hold the Supreme A pair of electric vehicles shuttle commuters in Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, yesterday. challenge to a judge fiercely 23 members, convenes for a Court’s top post until 2030, disliked by President Rodrigo trial. when she reaches the manda- Duterte, who has been unhappy Removal of an official re- tory retirement age of 70. about Sereno voting against quires a two-thirds vote. Minority lawmaker Edcel some of his proposals, which Josa Deinla, a spokeswoman Lagman said Sereno was on the still passed. and lawyer for Sereno, said the receiving end of a “double bar- Sereno was appointed by Du- legal window for Calida to file rel” assault to oust her, adding terte’s predecessor. his case questioning her suit- that she had committed no im- Solicitor-General Jose Cal- ability expired in 2013 a year peachable offence. Duterte to skip regional

Carpio rules out China gas deal summit in Australia AFP Duterte, who last week told police and Manila soldiers not to co-operate with any probe, is also facing a preliminary examination by without sovereignty recognition the International Criminal Court over al- hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte leged extrajudicial killings. is skipping a regional summit in Aus- Roque said Duterte would send Foreign Reuters brought to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Ptralia this month, his spokesman said Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano as his rep- Manila the Hague in 2013. The tribunal, in its 2016 ruling, yesterday, as he faces international censure resentative to the summit, while the presi- invalidated China’s nine-dash line, making clear for Manila’s deadly drug war. dent attends the graduation ceremony of that the Reed Bank fell within the Philippines’ EEZ, Duterte’s decision to snub the meeting the Philippine Military Academy. ny deal between the Philippines and a Chi- and that Manila had sovereign rights to resources comes after he said he would not co-operate Duterte plans to use the event to speak nese fi rm to jointly explore for gas in the there. with United Nations investigators looking to young offi cers about the ght fi against AReed Bank of the South China Sea will be il- China is a signatory to the United Nations Con- into alleged extrajudicial killings during the “modern-day terrorism” among other top- legal unless China recognises the southeast Asian vention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) but it does narcotics crackdown, which has left thou- ics, Roque added. nation’s sovereign rights there, a Philippine judge not recognise the Hague court ruling. sands dead. Duterte is not the only Asean leader feel- said yesterday. “The stumbling block has always been the in- His spokesman Harry Roque confi rmed ing the heat over his rights record. Manila has identifi ed two areas in the crowded sistence of China that we recognise their sovereign that the outspoken leader would not join Last month, Cambodian Prime Minister waterway suitable for joint exploration and the two rights,” Carpio said. fellow Association of Southeast Asian Na- Hun Sen threatened to “shame” Australia countries seek a way to tackle the diplomatic and “We cannot do that anymore because there’s tions (Asean) leaders for the March 17-18 and block the release of a joint statement at legal headache of jointly exploring in the waters, already a ruling. And the (Philippine) constitution summit in Sydney. the March summit if he faces pressure over but without addressing the issue of sovereignty. says the state shall protect its marine wealth in its “Developments at home continue to re- a political crackdown at home. The Reed Bank is claimed by both sides, but in- exclusive economic zone, it’s very specifi c.” quire the president’s presence in the Philip- The strongman has been chastised by ternational law says it falls within the Exclusive The Reed Bank was the site of exploration by pines,” Roque told reporters. Western countries for taking a hammer to Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. the Philippines’ PXP Energy Corp to evaluate the Australia was among several countries Cambodia’s democracy in recent months by China says it falls within the so-called nine-dash block’s gas reserves, until the energy ministry sus- to raise concern about the Philippine anti- dissolving the main opposition party, shut- line on maps recording its historic rights in the area. pended activities there in late 2014 because of the drug war’s death toll at a UN Human Rights tering independent news outlets and pur- Antonio Carpio, the acting top judge of the Su- arbitration case. Council meeting in Geneva last year. Du- Duterte: skipping summit suing critics in the courts. preme Court, said it was legal for the Philippines’ PXP has had talks with CNOOC for possible joint terte was elected in 2016 on a promise to Australia is a dialogue partner of energy ministry to talk to state-owned China Na- exploration and development, but the arbitration eradicate drugs and launched an unprec- However rights groups estimate there Asean, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, tional Off shore Oil Corp (CNOOC) as a possible halted negotiations.Carpio said who should collect edented campaign in which police say they have been more than 12,000 deaths in all, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the sub-contractor. taxes was also an issue between the two companies. have killed more than 4,100 drug suspects including people murdered by shadowy Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vi- “There’s no problem as long as CNOOC will rec- Last week, Philippine presidential spokesman who resisted arrest. vigilante groups. etnam. ognise that that is our exclusive economic zone,” he Harry Roque, said any potential deals between Ma- told news channel ANC in an interview. “But that nila and Beijing should be agreed with a company is the problem, because CNOOC will not recognise and not the Chinese government. (Philippine jurisdiction).” Yesterday, he said the Philippines and China Carpio was speaking as an expert on internation- would have to sign a treaty to enter into joint explo- al law and staunch advocate for the Philippines to ration and development in the Reed Bank. Plan to reduce Mayon volcano’s alert level assert its maritime sovereignty claims. “That’s on the assumption that (the Reed Bank) He was among the lawyers involved in the Philip- is contested territory,” he told reporters. “We have pines’ legal challenge against China, which Manila no treaty on joint exploration as of yet.” By Mary Gleefer F Jalea but standing down from Alert emission of gas from the sum- was measured at an average of Manila Times Level 3 to 2 may take a few more mit crater. The volcano has only 1,403 tonnes per day, equiva- weeks,” said Mariton Bornas, been emitting steam-laden lent to the weight of a large tree. chief of Phivolcs’ Monitoring plumes or a low volume of vol- Phivolcs continues to advise he Philippine Institute and Eruption Prediction Divi- canic gas over the past week ac- the public to refrain from enter- of Volcanology and Seis- sion. cording to Phivolcs. ing the eight-kilometre radius Tmology (Phivolcs) said Alert Level 4 remains in ef- Volcanic earthquakes have danger zone. yesterday that it is monitoring fect over Mayon which means also reduced from 127 to 44 in Citing information from the Suspected militant Mayon Volcano’s continued that hazardous eruption is still the past 24 hours as recorded National Disaster Risk Reduc- inactivity which could lead to possible within days. by Mayon’s seismic monitoring tion Management Council, a possible lowering of the alert As of yesterday, however, network. a total of 23,703 families or level. Mayon’s activity was only Bornas added that any erup- 90,739 persons in 61 barangay “If the trend continues to go characterised by “general qui- tive activity over Mayon is still (villages) are still prohibited arrested over siege down, we may stand down to escence” or a stable behaviour, possible over the amount of from entering the danger zone Alert Level 3 even after a week, gravity-driven lava fl ow, and sulphur dioxide emission that as of yesterday. AFP Manila

hilippine police an- nounced yesterday the Parrest of a suspected pro- Remnants of defeated rebel Islamic State militant accused of killing civilians in last year’s deadly siege of the southern city of Marawi. group mull new attacks: army Hundreds of gunmen fl ying black IS fl ags seized Marawi in May last year, triggering a fi ve- Reuters biggest security crisis since arrested near a train station city, that is a big possibility,” month battle that claimed more Manila World War Two. The United in the crowded Tondo area of Bautista told reporters. than 1,100 lives, in a bid to es- States last week designated Manila. Delays in the reconstruction tablish a caliphate in the country. the Maute as a terrorist group. They were paraded be- of Marawi were helping the Nasser Lomondot was ar- t least 300 militants “They are regrouping, re- fore the media and, accord- hardliners to recruit disgrun- rested on Saturday in Manila, from a pro-Islamic training and recruiting for ing to police, admitted being tled residents, mostly poorly months after he fl ed the fi ghting AState alliance that last another attack,” Suscano told Maute members, but said they educated young men. in Marawi. year held a southern Philip- reporters. were in Manila to hide, not to The head of the separatist “He participated in the killing This handout photo taken and released yesterday shows Philippine pine city for five months have He said the rebels broke launch attacks. Moro Islamic Liberation Front, of innocent civilians and com- National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa speaking next to Nasser regrouped and are planning into smaller groups with some Philippine army chief, which has a peace agreement mitted violence against female Lomondot (yellow), a suspected pro-Islamic State militant, during a similar attacks elsewhere, the slipping into the capital Ma- Lieutenant-General Rolando with the government and ve- and child hostages,” regional press conference at the PNP headquarters in Manila. army said yesterday. nila to carry out bombings. Bautista, said rebels had es- hemently opposes Islamic military spokesman Major Ron- Major Ronald Suscano, Rebels in the south of the caped the battle in Marawi State, yesterday reiterated his ald Suscano told reporters. ners of the attack in Marantao Philippine military warned spokesman for the army’s 1st country have battled the gov- with huge sums of cash looted warning that militants were As government forces battled town...while the fi refi ght was last month that the remaining infantry division, said fight- ernment for years. from homes. regrouping in the south. to wrest back control of Marawi, still ongoing” in Marawi, Sus- militants from Marawi have ers from the Maute group, the Some of them have with That was helping to support He said last month the mili- Lomondot directed a diversion- cano said. mustered a force of about 200 biggest faction in the alliance, links to international groups their recruitment and re-arm- tants’ plan was to take two ary attack by pro-IS gunmen in Lomondot was arrested with gunmen to launch a second at- had managed to escape before such as Al Qaeda and Islamic ing for what could be another southern cities, Iligan and the neighbouring town of Ma- a second pro-IS suspect, Ma- tempt to put up a caliphate in the military retook Marawi State. urban attack. Cotabato, with the help of rantao, Suscano added. nila police chief Oscar Albay- the country’s south. City and killed the core lead- Police said yesterday that “There is still a possibility foreign fighters driven out of “He was one of the key plan- alde said in a statement. The ers, in what was the country’s two Maute rebels had been that they will occupy another Syria and Iraq. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Bangladeshi Lanka imposes curfew women to receive funding for in Kandy after riots protection from AFP “The government appeals to “The government ethnic confl ict in Sri Lanka, a Last November riots in the Colombo all parties and especially the appeals to all parties nation of 21mn people. south of the island left one man general public to act with re- and especially the Mobs set fi re to Muslim- dead and homes and vehicles sponsibility and remain calm,” it general public to act owned businesses and attacked damaged. climate change ri Lanka imposed a curfew said in a statement. with responsibility a mosque in the east of the Religious and ethnic violence yesterday in a central hill Police said there had been ri- and remain calm” country last week after a Mus- can turn deadly in Sri Lanka, Sstation town popular with ots and arson attacks since the lim chef was accused of adding where Muslims account for 10% Thomson Reuters Foundation Funding will also be used to tourists after days of communal weekend in Kandy. launched an investigation into contraceptives to food sold to of the population and Sinhalese Kuala Lumpur build community-managed unrest that saw a man killed and “The curfew was imposed to the conduct of police. Sinhalese. make up nearly 75%. rainwater harvesting systems Muslim businesses set alight. control the situation in the area,” The violence has worsened The government dismissed In June 2014 riots between to provide at least 130,000 Police had been placed on said police spokesman Ruwan since a man from the island’s the allegation as baseless and Buddhists and Muslims left four housands of women in people with clean drinking alert in Kandy, home to famous Gunasekera. mainly Buddhist Sinhalese ma- ordered the arrest of those fo- dead and many injured. Bangladesh will receive water, and it will be directed tea plantations and Buddhist Local offi cials said over two jority died at the weekend from menting unrest in the area. That violence was instigated Tfi nancing to develop towards involving more wom- relics, to ensure that the “situ- dozen suspects had been de- injuries sustained during a riot Prime Minister Ranil Wick- by a Buddhist extremist group livelihoods that can withstand en in fl ood and cyclone early ation does not spiral into inter- tained by police in connection last week. remesinghe also ordered an in- whose leaders are on trial ac- the eff ects of climate change in warning systems. communal confl agration,” the with the spate of arson attacks, Kandy is just the latest region vestigation into alleged police cused of spurring religious one of the world’s hardest-hit About 60% of deaths government said. while senior offi cers had also to be plagued by religious and inaction in handling the clash. confl ict. countries, the United Nations caused by cyclones around the has said. world in the last two decades Women and girls in the dis- occurred in Bangladesh, ac- aster-prone coastal districts cording to the World Bank. of Satkhira and Khulna will The advocacy group Ger- receive assistance from $33mn manwatch ranked Bangladesh Bangladesh, provided by the UN’s Green sixth out of 182 countries most PM visits writer in hospital Climate Fund and Bangla- aff ected by extreme weather desh’s ministry of women and events from 1997 to 2016. Vietnam children’s aff airs. “Women are disproportion- IANS “The rising sea level is a ately aff ected by the impacts,” Dhaka major threat to these areas,” Saleemul Huq, director of the aim to raise Mamunur Rashid, a climate Dhaka-based International change specialist at the UN Centre for Climate Change angladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Development Programme and Development, said in a trade to $2bn Hasina yesterday visited writer (UNDP), said by telephone statement. BZafar Iqbal, who was stabbed by an from Dhaka yesterday. For example, offi cials said attacker at a university last week and was Much of Bangladesh is that women and girls are of- by 2020 hospitalised. comprised of a low-lying ten tasked with collecting Iqbal, known for his secular activism river delta, making the coun- fresh drinking water, produc- and science fi ction writing, was stabbed in try particularly vulnerable to ing foods and tending to the Reuters the back of his head by an assailant while storms that are increasing in household’s animals. Dhaka speaking at a two-day fair on the Shah- frequency and intensity, as “As household managers, jalal University of Science and Technology well as other eff ects of climate women are primarily respon- campus in Sylhet city on Saturday. change like the salinisation of sible for producing food for angladesh and Vietnam The writer suff ered six knife injuries to farmland. the family, as well as securing aim to raise their two-way the head, back and left hand. He was taken With the loss of agricultural household water and energy,” Bannual trade to $2bn over to Sylhet’s MAG Osmani Medical College land, many of the 2.9mn resi- Huq said. the next three years from nearly following the attack but was later shifted to dents of Satkhira and Khulna About 39,000 women and $1bn, a business association of- the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka have switched to shrimp farm- girls will directly benefi t from fi cial said yesterday. on Hasina’s instructions. ing, but that does not provide the six-year project, which “We had a meeting with the Hasina went to see Iqbal in the after- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits Zafar Iqbal at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka yesterday. as many jobs, said Rashid. will be implemented starting visiting president of Vietnam to- noon and “instructed everything possible Women will receive fi nanc- in July, according to UNDP. day and focused on trade and in- be done for him”, said her press secretary Doctors said Iqbal was out of danger and The 24-year-old madrasa student dubbed ing to develop livelihoods that The Bangladeshi projects vestment,” Shafi ul Islam, presi- Ihsanul Karim. “will take some time to recover”. the famed writer as an “enemy of Islam”, due are resilient to climate change, are part of more than $1bn of dent of Federation of Bangladesh “The prime minister was at the hospital The attacker, a madrasa student named to which he attempted to kill him. including growing vegetables funding agreed at a meeting Chambers of Commerce and In- for nearly an hour. She also spoke to the Faizul Rahman, was apprehended by teach- Rahman’s parents were also detained by hydroponically while using of the Green Climate Fund dustries, said. medical board formed for his care,” Karim ers and students and beaten. He was later the police late on Sunday from Sylhet city’s waste produced by farmed fi sh board in South Korea last Vietnamese President Tran was quoted as saying by bdnews24.com. taken into custody by the police. Madina Market area. as fertiliser, Rashid said. week. Dai Quang arrived in Bangladesh for a state visit yesterday. At present, the volume of an- nual trade between two countries is worth $900mn. Islam said the March against abuse aim was to more than double that in coming years. Nepali parliament Bangladesh mainly imports agriculture products, such as rice and livestock products from Vietnam while it imports textiles and cloths, leather and leather holds fi rst session products, plastic products and medicine from Bangladesh. Earlier, the Vietnamese leader IANS presided over the House Last week, Prime Minister met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Kathmandu of Representatives while K P Sharma Oli expanded his Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Taradevi Bhatta presided over cabinet inducting four new sought Vietnam’s co-operation the National Assembly, the ministers including the min- in fi nding a peaceful settlement he fi rst session of the Himalayan Times reported. ister for fi nance and home of the crisis over nearly 700,000 federal parliament of The presiding offi cers of both aff airs, taking the number of Muslim Rohingya refugees arriv- TNepal was held in the the houses are yet to be elected. ministers to seven. ing from neighbouring Myanmar. capital Kathmandu yesterday There are 275 members in The prime minister had Hasina told reporters after the and it endorsed the interim the House of Representatives formed a small cabinet on the meeting that the Vietnamese working procedure of the leg- or the lower house, in which day of his election on Feb- leader has assured Bangladesh islature, offi cials said. 165 members were elected ruary 15 inducting Lal Babu that his country would support The fi rst session took place under the fi rst-past-the-post Pandit as the minister for en- Bangladesh. three months after the Hima- category or direct election vironment and Tham Maya Both Vietnam and Myanmar layan nation successfully held and 110 on the proportional Thapa as the minister for are members of the Association landmark provincial and fed- representation basis. women and social welfare. of Southeast Asian Nations. eral parliament elections si- Similarly, there are 59 Oli, the chairman of the Bangladesh and Vietnam also multaneously in two phases members in the National As- CPN (UML) party, is the 41st singed three memorandums in November and December sembly or the Upper House. prime minister of the Hima- of understanding to promote last year. The members of both the layan nation. Oli succeeded co-operation in fi sheries and As the eldest member of houses were sworn in on Sun- Sher Bahadur Deuba of Nepali Sri Lankan women hold up placards during a march against the abuse and violation of women to livestock, industry and cultural parliament, Rastriya Janata day at a function at the Fed- Congress Party, who had been mark International Women’s Day in Colombo yesterday. exchanges. Party leader Mahanta Thakur eral Parliament Building. in power since June 7, 2017. Marathon monks trade robes for running shoes

By Paavan Mathema, AFP and the only shops are in a Mingma Gyalbo, a member of race was two years ago, a 30km Sindhukot neighbouring village. the monastery who also organ- trail run in a neighbouring vil- Many Buddhist families in Ne- ises races nearby, said the monks lage. But they are yet to win pal send at least one son to join are talented but need more any medals. wapping their maroon the local monastery, where they support to excel. The fastest monk, Man Baha- robes for running shoes, are usually fed, clothed and edu- “They don’t have the technical dur, came tenth in their fi rst ma- Sseven Buddhist monks take cated - relieving their parents of know-how, like for their diet, or jor marathon earlier this month, off at a sprint across the hills the fi nancial burden. even proper shoes for running,” missing out on the top prize surrounding their remote vil- Lama was sent away when he Gyalbo said. of Rs100,000 ($964) - more lage in the foothills of Nepal’s was just eight, but is currently Trail running and ultra-mar- than the average annual income Himalayas. living back at home as the village athons are gaining popularity in in Nepal. They are aspiring ultra-mar- monastery was destroyed in the Nepal, where the Himalayan ter- He said running in fl at and hot athon runners, hoping the sport 2015 earthquake. rain lends itself to extreme tests Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace in will put their remote village on Fellow monk Mingma Lama of human endurance. southern Nepal, was very diff er- the map and provide the funds is matter-of-fact about his new Nepal now hosts a handful of ent to their hilly home terrain. needed to rebuild homes de- pursuit, which he says his mo- races each year, including the “I was quite amazed when I stroyed by a massive earthquake nastic duties in the community world’s highest marathon that fi rst learned that these monks nearly three years ago. have prepared him for. starts at Mount Everest base were running,” said race “We found out that we can “Every day we go up and down camp at a breathless altitude organiser Shekhar Pandey. get many opportunities through the hills. We often have to walk of 5,364m (17,598ft). “They are very self-motivated running and hope to do some- far... So running wasn’t too hard A few Nepali runners have and hardworking, they are train- thing from our monk team - for us,” he said. made their mark internationally, ing by themselves. They are very make a name for our village and These Himalayan monks are like former child soldier Mira Rai young and if they train well they bring development here. That is Buddhist monks running during a training session in Sindhukot village, some 80km northeast of Kathmandu. not the fi rst to take up running. who recently won the gruelling have good potential.” why we are running,” says Man The so-called ‘marathon monks’ 52km Ben Nevis Ultra in Scot- Chuldim Sampo, 24, said the Bahadur Lama, 21, the fastest of a strict regime, praying in the Life is tough in Sindhu- ties in impoverished Nepal of Mount Hiei in Japan are known land and was named National monks were excited. the group. morning before disappearing kot village, which lies just feels totally cut off from the for their superhuman feat of Geographic Adventurer of the He explained: “We want to The monks - most of them into the hills to run up to 40km 80km from Kathmandu, but rest of the world. The near- running 1,000 marathons in Year in 2017. show people that even monks are in their early twenties - follow (25 miles) each afternoon. like many rural communi- est school is a two-hour walk 1,000 days. The Sindhukot monks’ fi rst capable of running.” Gulf Times 26 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES A Real worry as PSG deal with His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is being received upon arrival in Brussels yesterday. The Emir is on an off icial visit to Belgium. Neymar injury

The Auteuil Curve was in fi ne form last week as Paris Saint-Germain lined out against Olympique Marseille Qatar, Belgium enjoy for the “classique” or derby of France’s Ligue 1. Sheets in glittery red and gold covered the railing of the preferred stand of PSG ultras. Boos rang out as the presenter announced the names of the Marseille line- up. Cheers followed for the PSG players - including outstanding relations Brazilian Neymar, the star striker that the club brought from Barcelona for a record-breaking $273mn transfer QNA witness the signing of memorandums of opportunities being opened in Qatar transport and traffic safety. fee last August. Doha understanding and agreements in many thanks to the Qatari Government’s The institute, one of the largest fi elds, pointing out that his country was policy of encouraging foreign direct research institutes in Belgium, carries Neymar’s relationship with the Curve hasn’t always the fi rst European country to sign the investment as well as towards achieving out research in transportation, traffi c been so positive - he got boos himself in January when he Qatari-Belgian relations LNG import agreement with Qatar in self-suffi ciency. safety and sustainable tourism, in co- he pulled rank to take a penalty shot fans thought have been witnessing 2006, stressing that the State of Qatar is De Groof said Belgium is an ideal operation with several governmental, should have gone to Edinson Cavani, during an 8-0 remarkable growth in political the main supplier to the latest liquefi ed country for investments because of regional and international bodies. Tand economic aspects since natural gas station in Zeebrugge, a its open economy and ease of doing It also supervises many victory against Dijon where the Brazilian scored half 2004. gateway to supply LNG to Northwestern business as well as its geographical undergraduate and postgraduate the goals. They were further reinforced after Europe. location, along with excellent transport students in transportation at the the visit of His Highness the Father Belgium currently imports gas by air, sea, railways, roads and pipelines, Hasselt University. There has been something of a mending of fences Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al- from Qatar under two 20-year-long thus making it an ideal centre for The collaboration with Hasselt since then, with the Curve unfolding two somewhat Thani to the Kingdom of Belgium in contracts. distributing products and services University Transportation Research apologetic banners at 2006 and the visit of King Philippe Zeebrugge still has the potential throughout Europe. Institute is part of the active of Belgium in 2007 at the head of a to import more liquefi ed natural gas Co-operation between the State of international activities that the centre The Brazilian star the following match business delegation, and the arrival of (LNG), which is increasingly used in the Qatar and the Kingdom of Belgium was is developing to establish novel and against EA Guingamp. the fi rst Qatari LNG ship to the Belgian transport sector. not limited to economic and political sound research programmes that yield is out of action “Booing our players port of Zeebrugge in 2007. The Belgian ambassador noted that aspects. to economically feasible, socially viable The State of Qatar and the Kingdom LNG will be an important element in In education, Qatar University, and environmental friendly solutions for at least three is the opposite of our of Belgium have signed several energy in the future, given the efforts represented by the Qatar to transportation and traffi c safety values,” one read. agreements and memorandums of of EU member states, including Transportation and Traffic Safety issues in the State of Qatar and the months aft er understanding, including the political Belgium, to reduce carbon emissions. Center, and the Transportation international community. The game on consultations agreement in 2013, the The demand for Qatari gas will Research Institute at the Hasselt The agreement aims at enhancing suff ering a foot Sunday February 25 double taxation avoidance agreement continue to grow, as Belgium is not only University in Belgium signed co-operation between Qatar University looked like a fairly in 2007, and the encouragement supplying it locally but also supplying a co-operation agreement in and Hasselt University. fracture and mutual investment protection neighbouring countries thanks to the uneventful victory for agreement in 2007. very wide gas pipeline network. the Parisians, 3-0 up from the 55th minute. Neymar In a statement to the Qatari Al-Sharq He pointed out that Belgium is the Kingdom of Belgium didn’t score this time, but he put in a creditable newspaper, the Belgian ambassador to third largest partner of Qatar in Europe Qatar, Bart De Groof, commended the and there were trade missions that The Kingdom of Belgium is situated in monarchy with a parliamentary performance as well as a couple of fumbles in the fi rst level of bilateral relations in all fi elds. visited Qatar, noting that its largest the west of Europe. system of governance. half. Then something went wrong that overshadowed He also praised the visit of His trade mission to Qatar was the business Although its area of 30,528sq km Belgium is a key international the scoreline. Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin and trade delegation in 2015, headed by makes it a small country, its location economic player, ranked 13th in the Hamad al-Thani to Belgium, which began the brother of the King of Belgium. has made it the economic and urban world for both exports and imports by Neymar, who had been contesting a ball on the left yesterday, stressing that the Emir’s visit This gave a huge boost to bilateral nerve centre of Europe. the World Trade Organisation (WTO) side of the pitch, stumbled and fell, then remained is a unique and excellent opportunity relations, he added. Brussels is the capital city of Belgium. in 2012. down for several minutes as players gathered around. to evaluate and push forward these The ambassador also highlighted It also have the headquarters of the Moreover, it is one of the most outstanding relations between Qatar and his country’s major exports such as European Union (EU) and of the North popular countries for investors, He was stretchered off the pitch in the 80th minute. Belgium, and to use it as a foundation to machinery, transport materials and Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). attracting billions of euro of foreign And immediately thoughts turned to a more important make them stronger. chemical products, stressing that Belgium is a federal constitutional direct investment each year. fi xture - Paris Saint-Germain’s home leg against Real He pointed out that the visit will Belgium is fully aware of the new Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League. It’s a critical game for the French club, which has never yet gone beyond the quarter-fi nals in the European contest. They are trailing 3-1 after a February 14 away leg dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo rather than Neymar, who has now undergone surgery on a right foot fracture and is facing a long spell on the sidelines. When he presented Neymar to media last August, club president Nasser al-Khelaifi spoke of his ambitions for the Champions League. “Our aim is to win the Champions League, it’s always there,” he said. “We can’t say that this year we’re going to win the Champions League. We’re going to fi ght for it to be sure.” But crashing out without even getting to the fi nal eight would be an embarrassment for the team. Al- Khelaifi made every eff ort to look on the bright side. “We always believe. If not, why play?” he said. “I am very confi dent about this match. Really, we have a team ready for Real Madrid or another club.” We will know shortly.

To Advertise [email protected] Display 44466621 44418811 Classified 44466609 44418811 Subscription [email protected]

© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Tuesday, March 6, 2018 27 COMMENT The Fed should be careful what it wishes for

Major central banks’ the world economy exists, is bigger These observations may explain than it once was, and acts less like the why costs are sticky on the way up; fi xation on infl ation US than it once did. All of this implies but they do not imply that costs betrays a guilty conscience a discipline on costs in a sluggish are stuck forever. With the US economy and a potential accelerant in unemployment rate close to 4% and for serially falling short of an overheated one. headed lower this year, inflation will their targets As for the first observation, total move up, though less than the long- US exports and imports of goods and term record predicts. Fortunately, services relative to nominal GDP (the Fed officials are aware of the role of By Carmen M. Reinhart standard international measure of resource slack in driving inflation, and Vincent Reinhart openness to trade) currently stands with the January minutes noting that Cambridge at close to 30%. This is more than “estimates of the strength of those three times its average in the 40 years effects had diminished noticeably in prior to the break-up of the managed recent years.” mpirical relationships in fixed-exchange rate system, when The discussion, however, would economics are sufficiently the Phillips’ curve yielded more have been more reassuring if it had fragile that there is even a robust guidance. The rest of the included the rest of the world, in E“law” about their failure. world exists. part because doing so will continue As British economist Charles Second, while the US economy to pose a critical challenge for Goodhart explained in the 1980s, remains the largest in the world by policymakers. A more trade-reliant “any observed statistical regularity most measures, comprising one- economy is more sensitive to will tend to collapse once pressure is quarter of global GDP, this share is ten fluctuations in the foreign exchange placed upon it for control purposes.” percentage points lower than in the value of its currency. Central banks in advanced economies 1960s, when US factories produced True, much of global trade is have recently been providing a the most steel, autos, and aircraft invoiced in dollars, but the Chinese few more case studies confirming in the world. Low transport and renminbi is muscling into that turf, Goodhart’s Law, as they struggle communications costs and freer trade and producers ultimately care about to fulfil their promises to raise have knitted markets more closely how their revenues translate into inflation to the stable plateau of their together, implying that this relative domestic purchasing power. The numerical targets. decline in the US share of the global upside risk to US infl ation stems from Major central banks’ fi xation on economy loosens the link between that translation – the value of the infl ation betrays a guilty conscience for domestic capacity constraints and dollar. serially falling short of their targets. It international pricing. The rest of the The legislative one-two punch of also raises the risk that in fi ghting the world is bigger. tax reform and spending increases last war, they will be poorly prepared Third, early in the post- puts the US federal debt on an upward for the next – the battle against too- Bretton-Woods era, US trade was path. If fi scal laxity tarnishes the safe- high infl ation. predominantly with the “Old World” haven status of Treasury securities, Consider the United States Federal Federal Reserve Building, Washington DC. of Europe, Canada, and Japan. Based and the monetary authority is Reserve, which at the beginning of on bilateral trade shares, transactions perceived to be slow in removing policy 2012 quantifi ed its Congressional the mark. Goodhart’s Law still has document) were required to summarise The summary may have with Asian and Latin American accommodation, Fed Chair Jerome mandate of “promoting maximum teeth. three separate staff briefi ngs on the inadvertently revealed part of what economies caught up by 2006, and Powell and his colleagues may get more employment, stable prices, and The Fed’s solution to this failure, subject. Readers learned of alternative the Fed has been getting wrong. The their relative trade significance for of the infl ation they are hoping for. – moderate long-term interest rates.” like that of other central banks, has approaches to forecasting infl ation, description of its eff orts to determine the US has more than doubled since Project Syndicate These goals would be best achieved been to talk more about the subject. of the prevailing low level of infl ation infl ation, with its blinkered focus 1972. by keeping infl ation, measured by the The minutes of the January meeting of expectations, and of the diminished on the domestic economy, is a While over-generalisations are zCarmen Reinhart is Professor Fed’s preferred personal consumption the Federal Open Market Committee pressure that resource slack places on throwback to the 1960s. Nowhere risky, these other important trading of the International Financial price index, at 2% in the long run. (FOMC) reveal an extensive discussion costs (or a less reliable Phillips’ curve). among those thousand words were partners have relatively larger pools System at Harvard Kennedy Since then, the four-quarter growth in among policymakers about how to Fed offi cials wrung their hands about the phrases “trading partners,” “the of lower-wage workers to draw upon School. Vincent Reinhart is Chief that index has been below this target in determine US infl ation. More than missing the target and reaffi rmed their foreign exchange value of the dollar,” and discipline costs along the global Economist and Macro Strategist every quarter but one, as Fed forecasts a thousand words (an enormous commitment to a symmetric goal of “commodity prices,” or “global supply value chain. The rest of the world is not at BNY Mellon Asset Management of infl ation consistently fell short of footprint in a normally succinct 2% infl ation in the longer run. chains” to be found. But the rest of entirely like the US. North America.

Goal-setting, happiness and success Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 310c Minimum Temperature : 200c By S Zuhair Naqvi such as wanting to be rich, successful Doha or happy, and yet we often leave it WEDNESDAY up to luck to fi gure out how we will Maximum Temperature : 320c achieve it. Minimum Temperature : 200c n our busy world, we often get Goals help turn our dreams into THURSDAY so caught up in the motions of reality and allow us to take control of Maximum Temperature : 310c life that time gets away from us our direction, as opposed to leaving Minimum Temperature : 190c before we even realise. When it up to chance. Feeling optimistic I Fisherman's forecast we look at our lives we’re sometimes and excited about the future not only surprised at the progress – or lack increases the likelihood of staying WARNING thereof – that we have made, with focused and motivated to achieve our Inshore : Nil thoughts such as, “By now I should goals, there’s also a direct correlation Offshore : Nil have been promoted/have more with happiness. That is, we feel WEATHER money/be married/own my own happier in the current moment when Inshore : Hazy at places at first becomes relatively hot business,” being frequent occupants in we are working towards clear goals. daytime. our heads. Whatever the benchmark of Evidence has shown that one of the 1) No matter how big your ultimate accomplish, do not leave it to chance. WIND our expectations, we are notoriously most eff ective ways to accomplish any goal is, you can start now: Do some Instead, write yourself a daily, weekly Inshore : Southwesterly-South- easterly 03-13 KT bad at estimating what can done in the goal is to develop a series of micro- research, send an e-mail or buy a and monthly list of micro-goals. For time we have, to quote Bill Gates “we goals. No matter how big your dreams book extra motivation, write a list of all the Offshrore : Southwesterly-South- overestimate what we can achieve in are, you can break them down into bite 2) Ticking off micro-goals one at reasons you want to accomplish it. All easterly 03-12 KT. one year and underestimate what we size, manageable chunks by simply a time helps us feel motivated and that’s left to do is start. Visibility : 4-8 KM/3 KM or less at can do in ten”. asking yourself, “What can I do today/ inspired to continue; and places at first. Many of us make resolutions but too this week/this month to move me 3) It forces us to prioritise and zS Zuhair Naqvi is the Managing SEA STATE few of us set realistically ambitious closer to my goal?” focus, pushing procrastination out of Director of DicoTech Qatar WLL, and Offshore : 1 - 3 FT goals for ourselves. We may have Micro-goals have three major the way to get something done. an EMBA alumnus of HEC Paris, Class dreams and big picture life targets benefi ts: So whatever you want to of 2016.

Around the region Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Live issues Baghdad P Cloudy 28/14 P Cloudy 26/13 Kuwait City Sunny 29/16 Sunny 32/17 Manama Sunny 29/19 Sunny 30/20 Muscat Sunny 26/20 Sunny 27/21 Sodium: How low can we go? Tehran S Showers 19/10 S Showers 18/09

By Barbara Quinn version. “Lightly salted” (nuts, The Monterey County Herald anyone?) means this food has 50% less sodium than the usual product. zChoose less processed foods. s with much of this science (Since sodium is a great preservative, of nutrition, experts don’t it often hangs out in highly processed always agree on what’s best foods.) Instead of instant fl avoured Afor us. Not that they don’t oatmeal, opt for one-minute cooked have good information. Sometimes we oatmeal, says Collins. Choose natural have lots of valid data. But Mr Jones’ cheese rather than processed cheese. response to a dietary change may be And use fresh, frozen (no sauce, entirely diff erent from Mrs Smith’s. please) or no-salt-added canned Around the world Case in point, several respected vegetables. Weather Weather organisations have come up with zSpeaking of vegetables, the today Max/min tomorrow Max/min diff erent recommendations on how now-famous DASH diet (Dietary Athens P Cloudy 19/13 M Sunny 21/12 low we should go with our intake of Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is Beirut Cloudy 24/16 Sunny 20/18 sodium. Depending on which experts rich in fruits and vegetables, whole Bangkok P Cloudy 35/27 P Cloudy 34/27 you listen to, we should be consuming grains and low-fat dairy foods which Berlin Rain 06/-1 Rain&Snow 03/-1 somewhere between 1,500 and 2,300 provide an array of nutrients known Cairo Sunny 31/17 Sunny 35/23 milligrams of sodium a day, according to keep our arteries pliable and our Cape Town Cloudy 24/17 Cloudy 22/16 to an article on this topic by registered blood pressure down. Potassium, for Colombo M Sunny 30/24 P Cloudy 30/26 dietitian Karen Collins. That’s quite example, helps the body get rid of Dhaka M Sunny 34/21 Sunny 33/18 a bit less than the estimated 3,500 excess sodium. DASH is also rich in Hong Kong Cloudy 21/19 P Cloudy 21/17 milligrams we Americans currently calcium, magnesium, nitrate (natural Istanbul Showers 14/11 P Cloudy 17/11 consume. nitrates in food are good for us!), and Jakarta T Storm 31/25 T Storm 32/25 Why do we need to cut back on other substances that keep our arteries Karachi Sunny 34/19 Sunny 34/18 sodium, anyway? Excess sodium from getting stiff and tight. London P Cloudy 10/02 Rain 09/02 throws our body’s balance of fl uids out zLose the love handles. Experts Manila M Sunny 33/24 S T Storms 33/25 of whack and can raise the pressure of calculate that we can bring our systolic Moscow P Cloudy -9/-16 Cloudy -6/-12 blood as it fl ows through our arteries. (the top number) blood pressure down New Delhi Sunny 29/14 Sunny 30/15 This extra force can lead to heart 1 mm Hg for every 2.2 lb(1kg) of weight New York M Sunny 08/02 Rain&Snow 04/01 damage, strokes, and kidney disease. loss. Paris M Cloudy 11/04 Rain 10/03 How do we get off the salt wagon? High in sodium. While experts debate the actual Sao Paulo S T Storms 28/19 M Cloudy 27/19 Believe it or not, most of the sodium numbers, this we know: Any dietary Seoul M Sunny 09/-1 M Cloudy 10/01 we ingest is already in our food even if says the American Heart Association. means less than 140 milligrams change that keeps our intake of Singapore P Cloudy 32/25 T Storm 31/25 we never pick up a salt shaker. Pizza, Here are some ways to cut back on of sodium per serving; “Reduced sodium somewhere between 1,500 and Sydney S Showers 23/19 P Cloudy 22/18 sandwiches, soup and deli meats are salt and bring down the pressure: sodium” means the food has at least 2,300 milligrams a day is probably a Tokyo Clear 14/08 Clear 08/02 some of the saltiest American foods, zRead the label. “Low sodium” 25% less sodium than its regular good thing for most of us. Gulf Times 28 Tuesday, March 6, 2018 QATAR Qatari author chronicles his Ironman journey in memoir s one of the fi rst Qataris needed to overcome any physi- ing director Bader Abdullah al- ever to complete a full cal or mental obstacle, which Darwish said. “Al-Mohannadi, AIronman race in April ultimately supports human de- similar to other wonderfully 2016, Dr Nasser Saqer al-Mo- velopment,” he said. In his book, talented Qataris, is chasing his hannadi marked another mile- al-Mohannadi describes how dreams through an exciting jour- stone recently with the launch of he overcame childhood fears, ney and we are happy to be part his book titled How to Be an Iron- cultural misunderstanding and of it,” he noted. “We are pleased man at the FNAC store at Doha physical injuries to reach his goal. to work hand in hand with HBKU Festival City. Through careful planning, Press, who is also considered as Published by by Hamad Bin persistence and learning through a world-class publishing house Khalifa University (HBKU) Press, mistakes, he achieved what which promotes literary culture al-Mohannadi’s book tells his seemed impossible. in Qatar and the Middle East.” life’s experiences as an athlete. Not only is this book a mile- Citing their commitment to He swam 3.8km, biked 180km stone for al-Mohannadi, but it giving local talents a platform to and ran 42.2km on one of the also marks another important tell their unique stories, HBKU’s most diffi cult Ironman courses achievement for the HBKU Press Outreach and Special Projects in the world. It was the fulfi lment in its commitment to cultivating manager Rima Ismail said al- of a childhood dream and the cli- and supporting local Qatari au- Mohannadi joins a growing list of max of 28 years of preparation thors. The event is also the fi rst Qatari authors who are choosing and training. of many collaborations to come to publish with HBKU Press. Al-Mohannadi, who is the ad- between HBKU Press and FNAC “Not only is How to Be an junct professor at Texas A&M, to engage the local population to Ironman inspiring, reminding senior adviser at Qatar Petro- participate in literary events as us not to give up on our dreams leum, board member of Qatar well as highlight local talents in and the things that really matter Science and Technology Park Qatar. in what has become an increas- and Qatar Cycling and Triathlon “Supporting local talents and ingly materialistic and demand- Federation, in addition to being investing time, eff ort and re- ing society, but it is a written as a renowned athlete, was inspired sources in nurturing them is an an eloquent narrative that both to write this book for many rea- ethos instilled in FNAC’s DNA. engages and informs the reader,” sons. “I wrote this book to share Such talents will defi ne the fu- Ismail noted. “This book refl ects my experiences, my trials and ture and will build upon our the high-quality standard of tribulations and to build aware- ancestors’ heritage and steer work that HBKU Press seeks to ness and share my knowledge on our country forward,” Darwish publish and was chosen because how to acquire the mental skills Holding chairman and manag- of it.” Dr Nasser Saqer al-Mohannadi shows his first book about his life as an athlete at the event. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

Qatari artist al-Kuwari opens solo exhibition at Fire Station Al Jazeera documentary exposes role of Following the successful evolve and delight audiences completion of a prestigious with its unique aesthetic and residency programme at the I’m very excited the people of renowned Cité Internationale Doha have a chance to see for des Arts in Paris, Qatari artist themselves the latest product siege nations in foiled 1996 Qatar coup Abdulla al-Kuwari has opened a of al-Kuwari’s time in Paris,” solo exhibition at the Fire Station Fire Station director Khalifa al- hrough an exclusive doc- overthrow. It also brings to light the UAE armed forces and cur- told Al Jazeera. While the opera- and if the forces had come in - to mark the occasion. Obaidly said. umentary, Al Jazeera has documents belonging to Saudi rent crown prince of Abu Dhabi; tion was planned for February 16, whether from the UAE or the Held under the patronage of Al-Kuwari is the third Qatari Tuncovered evidence of the intelligence and the Saudi mon- Sheikh Hamad bin Issa al-Khali- 1996, those carrying out the op- Emirates or Bahrain - they would Qatar Museums chairperson, artist to have a chance to involvement of Saudi Arabia, the arch about the plot. fah, then crown prince of Bahrain; eration were ordered to execute have had no problem killing HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint work in Paris through QM’s United Arab Emirates (UAE) and The failed coup, dubbed Sheikh Sultan bin AbdulAziz, then the plan two days prior to prevent whoever they see in the street. Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the residency initiative, following Bahrain in supporting a foiled “Operation Abu Ali”, took place Saudi minister of defence and the plot from being uncovered. They have nothing to lose,” re- Paris Residency is an extension two spectacular showings from coup attempt to overthrow the during the month of Ramadan Omar Suleiman, the late Egyptian After taking control over mili- tired Brigadier-General Shaheen of QM’s Fire Station: Artist in Ebtisam al-Saff ar and Nasser Qatari government in 1996. on February 14, 1996, one year intelligence chief and former vice tary and security installations, al-Sulaiti told Al Jazeera. Residence programme in Doha al-Attiya who also hosted solo Airing for the fi rst time this after the former Emir His High- president of Egypt. the coup plotters were to give The airing of the documentary and takes one talented Qatari shows at the Fire Station in 2017. week, the fi rst episode of the in- ness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa “A group of men were ordered the green light for militias to en- comes nine months into a block- artist to Paris for a three-month Al-Kuwari’s work explores vestigative documentary incor- al-Thani assumed the throne. to raid the house of Sheikh Ha- ter Qatar from across the Saudi ade placed on Qatar by Saudi stint. spaces of ambiguity and porates interviews with leaders The documentary reveals that a mad bin Khalifa and place him border. Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Al-Kuwari opened his exhibition fantasy, shifting between the of the coup attempt who give committee was formed to organise under siege at his home, which But the planned coup d’etat Egypt, which have accused Doha at the Fire Station with a public real and the imagined. He is testimony of the role of these the coup led by Sheikh Mohamed was on the Al Rayyan Road [in was discovered and thwarted. of supporting “terrorism” - talk, during which he shared mainly inspired by nature, countries played in plotting the bin Zayed, then chief of staff of Doha],” one of the coup plotters “If they had seized control, claims Qatar vehemently denies. insights from his journey and memories and pop culture. He experience as a resident in Paris. received his BFA in Painting Accompanying the talk, an and Printmaking in 2014 exhibition showcased artworks from Virginia Commonwealth produced as part of the University in Doha, graduating residency in which al-Kuwari with the Highest Honours. He experiments with visuals that participated in exhibitions and Pianist Iwasaki’s Oriental fl air frequently appear in his pieces art events in the Middle East, and speak to a colourful and including Middle East Film & dynamic imagination. The Comic Con 2016. The Qatari dazzles Fifty One East concert artworks merge the abstract and Art Residency Programme is a representational approaches, recurring three-month residency ifty One East, Qatar’s lead- saki performed daily at the Doha calendar, recognised with nu- linking them together to explore open to all Qatari artists, and ing department store, re- Jewellery and Watches Exhibi- merous prizes at international concepts of contradiction and provides one talented individual Fcently presented interna- tion 2018, which was held from piano competitions,” Fifty One juxtaposition in a dream-like with studio accommodation tionally acclaimed pianist Junna February 21 to 26 at Doha Exhi- East chairman and managing setting. The show will be open to space and the chance to be Iwasaki in a special ‘Classical bition and Convention Centre. director Bader Abdullah al-Dar- the public until April 3. fully immersed in Paris’ art and Meets Oriental’ one-night con- Performing on a limited edi- wish said. “Al-Kuwari’s work continues to culture scene. cert at Qatar National Theatre. tion Bosendorfer Liszt Anniver- “At Fifty One East, we are The event was held under the sary Grand Piano, the concert committed to engaging with the patronage of HE the Minister was divided into nine pieces, local community, in particular of Culture and Sports Salah bin with Iwasaki captivating the au- through arts and cultural initia- Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali and in dience for her rendition of the tives, bolstered by the long-term the presence of HE the Minister Qatar national anthem, fol- support and patronage of HE the of State Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz lowed by Beethoven 7 Variations Minister of Culture and Sports,” al-Kuwari, ambassadors and on “God save the King”, Chopin he noted. other dignitaries. Ballade No 1 and 2, as well as “We are proud to be an advocate The audience was treated to Fantasy Impromptu. of nurturing and promoting musi- a blend of classical music with Iwasaki then gave tribute to cal skills and enthusiasm in Qatar an oriental fl air. Qatari students oriental music with pieces from especially young Qatari students from Yamaha Music School Abdul Rahman El Bacha Prel- from the Yamaha Music School Junna Iwasaki performs in Doha. opened the concert for Iwasaki, ude Oriental and Chanson Li- who had the chance tonight to who charmed attendees with banaise, and Kozaburo Hirai’s open a concert for an international tion at Warsaw in 2010. Fifty One East plays a leading dazzling rhythms and oriental fantasy “Sakura Sakura”, to artist,” al-Dawish said. In 2011, she was invited to role in supporting Qatar’s fl our- fusions. then conclude the evening with The much-admired Iwasaki perform in the concert com- ishing cultural scene, and con- Iwasaki is a promising young a Fayrouz Medley. “It gives us received numerous prizes at memorating the 200th anniver- tinues its commitment to present pianist in Japan, who has already great pleasure to present criti- international piano competi- sary of Franz Liszt’s birth at the unprecedented access to global provided recitals at various cities cally acclaimed musicians to tions including a prestigious Musikverein in Vienna. In 2012, musical expertise, to help create across Europe and the Levant. enthral Doha audiences. Iwasaki Diploma Award at the 16th In- she was also chosen as a Chanel unforgettable experiences and Abdulla al-Kuwari experiments with visuals that frequently appear In addition to the concert, Iwa- is a special addition to the yearly ternational Chopin Competi- Pygmalion Days Artist. enrich the local community. in his pieces and speak to a colourful and dynamic imagination. Mathaf presents talk with leading Moroccan artist Mohamed Melehi

eading modernist artist Mo- career, followed by a conversation lah Karroum said. Melehi’s distin- Mohamed Melehi: 1959-1971 fea- hamed Melehi, whose work is with Mathaf curator Laura Barlow. guished career began when he fi rst tures 13 works from the Mathaf col- Lcurrently on show at Mathaf: The discussion will touch on studied fi ne art in Morocco, Spain lection, including Formation (1959) Museum of Modern Art in Educa- insights from the artist’s work in and France in the 1950s and begin- and Al-Maghrib al-Aqsa (The Far- tion City as one of the Focus exhi- education, politics and community ning of 1960s, after which he be- thest West) (1970-71), which trace bitions, will present a lecture on his development that supported the came a professor of painting, sculp- Melehi’s curiosity with ideological, work as a painter, publisher, edu- growth of independent creative ex- ture and photography at the Ecole scientifi c and political systems in cator, and social activist tomorrow pression and critical thinking in ar- des Beaux-Arts of Casablanca. modern society. (March 7) at 6pm. tistic communities in Morocco. Through his work as an artist, This perspective was shaped by The event is a part of Mathaf The Talk is organised in conjunc- teacher and intellectual, Melehi formative periods living in Europe Talks, an ongoing series of public tion with the exhibition Mohamed consistently connected and ex- (1955-1962) and the US (1962- events where invited creative pro- Melehi: 1959-1971 currently on plored language, geography and his- 64), before returning to Morocco fessionals engage in conversations show at Mathaf, which focuses on tory, staking a claim for new forms in 1964, experiences that were and debates on art history and ar- the artist’s work during the 1960s. of creative expression connecting grounded in the context of major tistic practices locally and interna- “Beyond his painting, the breadth the cultural heritage of Morocco’s geopolitical changes and events tionally. of Melehi’s career has been striking, past and future, with his works dis- such as the Cold War, the inde- Melehi will speak on his personal in his teaching, publishing and pol- played as part of Focus speaking to pendence of Morocco and Algeria, Mohamed Melehi’s works displayed at Mathaf: Museum of Modern Art. experiences spanning his 60-year icy roles,” Mathaf director Abdel- some of these motifs. and the 1967 war.