BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 8 Misbah to lead Pakistan INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-7, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 Doha Bank set to REGION 8 BUSINESS 1–7, 13-16 in West raise capital by 20% 20,966.40 10,622.54 53.24 ARAB WORLD 9, 10 CLASSIFIED 8-12 -39.31 -98.61 -0.09 INTERNATIONAL 11–25 SPORTS 1–8 through rights issue Indies -0.19% -0.92% -0.17% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10385 March 7, 2017 Jumada II 8, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar sets In brief sights on QATAR | Energy Solar power fi rm’s production by 2020 Siraj Power, the solar energy company for electricity generation a smart in Qatar, would start production by April 30, 2020, said HE the Minister for Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada yesterday. In his report to the Annual General Meeting of the Qatar Electricity and Water future Company (QEWC), Dr al-Sada said Siraj Power would have an initial HE the Prime Minister and Interior foundations to develop the ICT sector production capacity of 200MW of Minister opens the fourth Qatar by providing suitable legal and organi- electricity, with an expansion plan Information and Communication sational framework,” the Prime Minis- of up to 500MW. A memorandum Technology (ICT) Conference and ter said. of understanding for setting up Exhibition (Qitcom) 2017 “Well-trained people are among the the company was signed between priorities of the government. Since QEWC and Qatar Petroleum (QP) in By Joey Aguilar 2013, the country has been keen to train December, 2015. Page 5 Staff Reporter specialised Qatari staff in this fi eld with more than 10,000 trainees,” he pointed HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is being briefed at Qitcom 2017 show which got under way yesterday. out. “In addition, as many as 1,600 QATAR | Food safety he Smart Qatar Programme, electronic services have been launched Warning over Lotus Tasmu, and other digital ini- for the benefi t of the public.” Ttiatives are expected to generate HE Sheikh Abdullah recalled that biscuit spread jars QR40bn over the next fi ve years, HE Qatar has been keen to protect the The Ministry of Public Health the Prime Minister and Interior Min- rights of people with special needs (MoPH) has issued a circular to keep ister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin and provided the necessary legal infra- on hold all imported consignments Khalifa al-Thani announced yesterday. structure that guarantees their rights of Belgian-made Lotus biscuit “Qatar will spend QR6bn across the and integration within the modern ICT spread jars (380gm) following public and private sectors over fi ve sector. reports that metal pieces may years to develop the necessary tech- It was in this connection that Mada be present in the item. All such nological infrastructure as part of Tas- (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre) consignments will not be released mu, which is expected to speed up the was established as the fi rst specialised until samples are tested in the lab to growth of job market in the ICT sec- centre in the Middle East and the sec- ensure that they are safe for human tor by 10% a year,” he explained after ond globally for the benefi t of the peo- consumption, the MoPH has said launching Tasmu. ple with special needs. in a statement. The move comes in HE Sheikh Abdullah was speaking “Qatar Development Bank would the wake of European food safety after inaugurating the fourth Qatar In- continue its support to encourage cre- authorities issuing a circular, which formation and Communication Tech- ativity and business entrepreneurship says the manufacturer has warned nology (ICT) Conference and Exhibi- in the ICT sector,” HE Sheikh Abdullah that the product may contain tion (Qitcom) 2017 under the patronage added. metal pieces. The MoPH has also of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- HE the Minister of Transport and communicated with the dealer of mad al-Thani at Qatar National Con- Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed the product in Qatar, which said vention Centre. al-Sulaiti echoed HE the Prime Min- the warning pertains to a batch “The Qatar Digital Oasis will be ister’s statement, saying that “Qatar is that expires in February 2018 (No created as the main platform for en- strongly engaged in developing a vital 7019109) but has not yet reached HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani launching the Smart Qatar hancing the horizons of co-operation ICT sector to build the smart future we the country. Programme, Tasmu, yesterday at Qitcom 2017 as other dignitaries look on. among multi-national companies, want.” emerging companies, small- and me- “Tasmu will form the cornerstone dium-size enterprises and research in- of our eff orts to realise our aims. Our stitutes,” he said. ministry has identifi ed more than 100 Tasmu, especially designed to ex- smart technological solutions within pedite the realisation of all pillars of the framework of this initiative,” he Qatar Airways to take centre stage at ITB Berlin show the Qatar National Vision 2030, will said. be a launch platform for progress to- Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah atar Airways is set to take the points – including dining, amenities, premium travel on day one, present- fi tting of a truly global airline, the un- wards the digital economy and smart Benkirane, UAE’s Deputy Prime Min- centre stage on the opening day entertainment and service – the air- ing the revolutionary developments to veiling will be live-streamed through future. ister and Minister of Interior Lt Gen- Qof ITB Berlin on March 8 as the line’s already award-winning business our Business Class off ering to ensure Qatar Airways’ popular Facebook page. Qitcom 2017, described as Qatar’s eral Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan, airline unveils its “highly anticipated class cabin is set to challenge industry we continue to provide our passengers The ceremony will precede a noon biggest digital event, supports the a number of Qatar ministers and senior new patented” business class experi- norms and expectations. with the exceptional travel experience press conference to be held at the Cit- progress of the country towards build- offi cials, and stakeholders involved in ence in a world exclusive ceremony to Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive they deserve.” yCube during which international me- ing national economy in general and the ICT sector also attended the cer- international media, travel industry Akbar al-Baker said: “Qatar Airways The unveiling ceremony will take dia will be briefed on the fi ner details the digital economy in particular as emony yesterday. representatives and VIP guests. often uses the platform of ITB Berlin to place on the opening day of ITB Berlin, of the new cabin design. part of the implementation of various The fourth edition of Qitcom, un- The airline’s new and unique seat showcase its latest product designs and at the airline’s stand in Hall 2.2 and will Visitors to the exhibition will be in- major infrastructure projects of global der the theme “Qatar Towards a Smart design, patented by Qatar Airways, is aircraft features to the gathering crowds be attended by international media and vited to relax in the new business class standards. Future,” focuses on the availability of set to revolutionise the business class of international media and airline in- guests of honour, including the Mayor cabin, while sampling the hospitality “Under the wise leadership of HH services, solutions and smart applica- experience for business and leisure dustry representatives. This year is no of Berlin, Michael Müller and the Qa- off ered by Qatar Airways at the airline’s the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- tions for fi ve major sectors in Qatar, travellers alike. Supported by a host exception, and I am particularly proud tari ambassador to Germany, Sheikh booths 207 and 208 in Hall 2.2, home Thani, the government has achieved namely: transportation, environment, of other innovations across touch- that we will be unveiling the future of Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. Be- for the airline at this year’s exhibition. great strides in enhancing the basic health, sports and logistics. Page 4 Thousands of trees to get a new life at 2022 sites housands of trees from public the tree. Residents who contact the trees and keep them under their names lateral and secondary lines of irrigation spaces under construction and MME to have their tree cut are off ered in our sites.” also laid. Tprivate owners will be given a the chance to donate those trees for the Another Qatar resident, Ahmed al- The nursery will supply grass, trees new life at 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar green areas surrounding 2022 stadi- Obaidan, who heard about the pro- and shrubs to the contractors building sites in the coming years, according to ums. gramme, got in touch with MME to the surrounding areas for the diff erent the Supreme Committee for Delivery & “Our motto is give one, take one,” have a tree removed due to plans to sites, ensuring that the communities Legacy (SC). explained Yasser al-Mulla, SC Land- renovate his Dafna home. He was soon around the stadiums have a green space The partnership between the SC and scape & Sport Turf Management senior contacted by the SC, and al-Mulla vis- for recreational activities. the Ministry of Municipality and Envi- manager. “When we receive a tree from ited al-Obaidan’s home to inspect the “We have already started building ronment (MME) allows residents to do- a private home, we give a young Sidra tree. the station where the trees and grass nate those trees which they are looking tree in return,” he added. Almost 5,000 replanted trees are al- will be picked up by contractors. It’s to remove, it was explained in a report Currently, al-Mulla works closely ready fl ourishing at the tree nursery, sort of like a drive-thru, but for trees on the SC website. with public authorities and is informed which will house up to 8,000, and an- and grass,” said al-Mulla. “All trees that The fi rst to be donated, a 40-year- whenever a local family needs a tree other 16,000 new arrivals brought from are taken from our nursery will have a old tree received from Qatar resident removed from their home. “We will Asia and Europe in the coming weeks, tag with all the information about their Abdulaziz al-Taleb, has already been then make the journey to the location as well as 440,000sq m of landscape origin, name and life cycle that will be planted at the site for Al Bayt Stadium in question, rescue the tree and give grass. part of our database.” – Al Khor City, and will form part of an it a new life at one of our sites,” he ex- Works at the tree and landscape “We have many migratory birds that extensive green park area around the plained. grass nursery are progressing quickly are stopping by our nursery, which is stadium. “This is part of our sustainability with completion of the entire facility a sign of how the landscape is already Fans arriving at the proposed semi- commitment to making this tourna- Yasser al-Mulla at the SC tree nursery in Qatar. expected in June 2017. The main line of changing. This project will be a real fi nal host venue will learn about the ment environmentally friendly and irrigation for the trees and landscape legacy for Qatar, as in the future it can tree’s history thanks to a plaque with leaving a legacy of green spaces for Whenever the MME have the request they call us and we go to them and we grass is almost fi nished, with 3.5km of also be used as a park,” concluded al- the name of the family that donated resident families to enjoy post 2022. from private houses to cut their trees suggest to them to transplant their pipes installed, and another 42km of Mulla. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, Mach 7, 2017 QATAR

OFFICIAL Emir meets Moroccan PM

Qatar leaders greet president Logistics areas of Ghana

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad aim to turn al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday met Morocco’s Prime Minister Khalifa al-Thani yesterday sent Abdelillah Benkirane and the accompanying delegation, who are visiting Qatar to attend Qatar cables of congratulations to Information Technology and Communication Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM 2017). Talks Ghana President Nana Akufo- during the meeting dealt with the relations between the two countries. HE the Prime Minister Qatar into hub Addo on the anniversary of his and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani attended the meeting. country’s Independence Day. FM message for S Africa minister Bahrain crown prince ends visit for investments

HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh QNA speed up the completion of de- He reaffi rmed ministry’s keen- Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Doha velopment projects, the Minis- ness to put forward ideas and al-Thani has sent a written try of Economy and Commerce’s initiatives to build a diverse and message to South Africa’s Minister Technical Committee announced competitive economy for the of International Relations and atar’s logistics areas in the completion of preparing the coming generations through Co-operation Maite Nkoana- the southern regions lands allocated for the logistics clear visions aimed at activating Mashabane, pertaining to bilateral Qwhich will include the areas project in the southern the role of the private sector to relations and means to bolster largest development projects in regions ahead of schedule, in play its role in the overall devel- them. Qatar’s ambassador to the country represent an im- preparation to be delivered to in- opment process. South Africa Abdullah Hussain portant step towards achieving vestors in collaboration with the The logistics areas project is al-Jaber delivered the message Qatar’s quest to diversify its eco- Special Economic Zones com- one of Qatari government’s larg- during a meeting with the South nomic base and support com- pany (Manateq). est projects and includes 1,583 African Minister. HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani led well-wishers to bid farewell to petitiveness of the private sector The Committee completed pieces of land. The major project Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifah, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and in order to increase commercial the signing of booking and rental will have a positive impact on the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain and his accompanying delegation movement, support local prod- contracts with investors, and market and the prices of logistics Speaker meets at Hamad International Airport yesterday, after a two-day off icial visit to Qatar. A number of ucts and diversify non-hydro- provided readymade designs for and warehousing in the near fu- ambassadors ministers were also at the airport to bid farewell to the Crown Prince of Bahrain. carbon investments. the construction of warehouses ture. The development projects in and stores to facilitate the work The project also adds a stra- the logistics areas are expected to of the small investors. tegic dimension as it is located HE the Speaker of the Advisory attract QR30bn in direct invest- The large turnout by Qatari close to Hamad Port, Mesaieed Council Mohamed bin Mubarak ments in line with the directives investors and companies to enter Industrial Port and the Orbital al-Khulaifi yesterday met of the wise leadership to launch into investment projects in the Highway, which will serve the separately Oman’s ambassador and follow up the implementa- logistics areas refl ect the extent specifi c investments in this Najeeb bin Yahya al-Balushi tion of development projects of awareness and understanding project. of Oman and ambassador of Qatar rejects allegations of that aim at turning Qatar into a of the economic importance of The project will provide many Romania. The meetings dealt with regional hub for investments and such projects. logistics services, including as- Qatar’s parliamentary relations logistics services, increasing the In statements after announc- sembly services, processing, with Oman and Romania. They competitiveness in the trade sec- ing the winners in the public open storage spaces, the various meddling in Libya confl ict storage applications (refriger- also discussed ways to advance tor, and encouraging the private draw for owning lands in the relations. Secretary-General of sector to participate eff ectively in logistics areas, HE Minister of ated warehouses, frozen prod- the Advisory Council Fahad bin QNA leading allegations that are rations of the brotherly Libyan the State’s development plan in Economy and Commerce Sheikh ucts stores, dry stores), exhibi- Mubarak al-Khayareen attended Doha contrary to the fundamentals people,” the offi cial added. accordance with Qatar National Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed tions, shops and commercial the meetings. and the policy of the State of The State of Qatar was at Vision 2030. al-Thani praised the potentials offi ces, labour camps, car main- Qatar towards the brotherly the forefront of countries that The Logistics Committee of the of the investors, and their ability tenance and storage, assembly he Ministry of For- Libyan state and all countries have supported the Libyan Ministry of Economy and Com- to compete in the interest of na- and processing for light indus- Qatar to attend eign Aff airs expressed of the world. people since the outbreak of merce has set up the general poli- tional economy. try, service centres, supplies and judicial meeting Tstrong condemnation In a press statement, the the revolution in 2011. cies for the logistics areas project The Minister stressed that warehouses. and rejection of allegations offi cial expressed surprise at Qatar also supported out- in order to ensure the participa- the Technical Committee was The project provides a typical about Qatar’s involvement in these claims and said these puts of the political agreement tion of all categories of investors, keen to develop specifi c criteria business environment and in- Qatar will participate in the the internal confl icts between were not helping to consoli- between the parties to the and encourage small investors to in order to encourage investors cludes integrated infrastructure third meeting of prosecutors Libyan parties. date the fraternal ties between confl ict in Libya, the offi cial participate in the project, which towards the diverse economic at global standards taking into and assistants of cassation An offi cial source at the the two countries. underlined. is set for completion in mid-2018, sectors in implementation of the account roads, extension of the and supreme courts in the Gulf Ministry underlined that a “Some parties are hindering The State of Qatar will re- and aims at developing and oper- directives of HH the Emir Sheikh rainwater drainage system, land- Co-operation Council (GCC) statement issued by a number attempts to resolve the Libyan main committed to its posi- ating logistics areas south of the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to scaping spaces, integrated hous- countries. Dr Thaqil Sayer al- of members of the Libyan Par- crisis through peaceful means tions in support of the broth- state, to ensure optimisation of develop integrated programmes ing for workers, services centres Shammari, deputy head of the liament about the military es- for realising military gains. It is erly Libyan people, stemming these investments before organ- to support the private sector and such as mosques, civil defence, Court of Cassation, will head calation in the Libyan oil ports unacceptable that Qatar bears from the links of brotherhood, ising the 2022 World Cup. to direct it towards the most pro- parking, offi ces, supermarkets, Qatar’s delegation to the meeting is completely and absolutely the results of this behaviour historic ties and common des- In the context of facilitat- ductive sectors in line with Qatar pharmacies and other vital serv- in Riyadh. baseless and contained mis- which is contrary to the aspi- tiny, the offi cial concluded. ing procedures for investors and National Vision 2030. ices.

Advisory Council Qatar-Pakistan military ties reviewed discusses draft law Fighting terrorism requires on food control The Advisory Council yesterday held its regular weekly session preventive measures: Qatar under the chairmanship of HE the Speaker Mohamed bin Mubarak QNA and on the agenda of the cur- security was not enough which al-Khulaifi. Geneva rent 34th session of the Human sometimes was counterproduc- At the outset of the meeting, the Rights Council being held in Ge- tive. agenda was read out and the neva from February 27 to March The ambassador explained council ratified the minutes of the atar said terrorism can be 24, Qatar’s Permanent Repre- that accountability was es- previous meeting. combated only through a sentative to the United Nations sential in the fi ght against ter- The council discussed a report Qcomprehensive and in- Offi ce in Geneva Ali Khalfan al- rorism, and praised the Special submitted by the Services and tegrated approach based on se- Mansouri said they agree that Rapporteur’s welcome of the UN Public Utilities Committee on a curity, political, economic and the phenomenon of terrorism is General Assembly’s adoption draft law amending provisions social vision. the greatest threat to interna- of Resolution 71/248, that was of Law no 8 for 1990 on food Qatar also affi rmed the need tional peace and to the security proposed by Qatar and Lich- control, and decided to refer their to diff erentiate between terror- and eff orts to protect and pro- tenstein, to assist with account- recommendations to the Council ism and legitimate resistance mote human rights, as stated in ability for the perpetrators of of Ministers. which is the right for the oc- the report. the crimes in Syria since March The Advisory Council’s Services cupied and oppressed people, He added that the phenom- 2011, especially after the Secu- and Public Utilities Committee and said terrorism must not be enon of terrorism is a real threat rity Council failed to shoulder meanwhile held a meeting, linked with any religion or cul- to the stability of societies and its responsibility to protect the chaired by its Rapporteur ture. reaching the goals of the Sus- Syrian people. HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah yesterday met with Saqr Fahd al-Mereikhi which During the interactive dia- tainable Development Plan for He also hoped that this mech- Chief of Staff of the Pakistani Army Qamar Javed Bajwa. They discussed a number of issues of joint examined a draft law for public logue with the Special Rappor- 2030. anism will have the necessary interest. They also discussed advancing bilateral co-operation, particularly in the military field. cleanliness and hygiene. teur on the promotion and pro- He also referred to the report support to enable it to imple- Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces HE Major General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem They agreed to continue their tection of human rights in the which indicated that an ap- ment its mandate as soon as attended the meeting. consultations on the draft law at context of counter-terrorism proach that is based only on the possible and in the best way. the next meeting. Part of Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street to be closed for nine days

he Public Works Author- via Al Wajbah Street, Al Hamd ity, Ashghal, has an- Street, Al Jassasiya Street, Al Tnounced a major closure Shafi Street, and the Equestrian on part of Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Roundabout. Al Rayyan Munic- Street and two branching streets ipality offices will be accessible for nine days from March 9. via Al Shaqab Street as shown The closure is to enable the on the map. fi nal asphalt works to open two The Public Works Authority main interchanges on Al Rayyan has urged all road users to abide Road Upgrade Phase One. by the speed limit of 50kph along The new interchanges will the diversion routes, and follow provide free fl ow traffi c and di- newly-installed traffi c road signs rect access to commercial and to ensure their safety. residential properties on Al Shafi Ashghal has increased man- and Al Qalaa Street and 2.6km power and resources to expedite of the main carriageway will be works in delivering this signifi - opened on March 18. cant portion of the Al Rayyan The temporary closure will Road Upgrade, Project One. cover parts of Al Rayyan Al The fi nal completion of the Jadeed Street, Al Qalaa Street project which comprises three and part of Al Busayer Street interchanges, dedicated pedes- (at the junction of Al Rayyan Al trian and cycle paths as well as Jadeed Street). the provision of upgraded utili- Access towards Doha and ties is scheduled for the third Bani Hajer will be available quarter of 2017. An aerial view of Al Rayyan Al Qalaa Interchange Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 3 QATAR Deputy PM opens Darfur meeting

QNA mad al-Thani, has worked along Darfur in light of the big gains construction and development Khartoum with its partners on implement- that have been achieved thanks projects in order to go hand in ing and assessing reconstruc- to the remarkable restoration of hand with the peaceful settle- tion and development projects security throughout Darfur and ment eff orts so that people can E the Deputy Prime in Darfur. the importance attached to hu- feel the diff erence between the Minister and Minister The meeting aims to re- man development in Darfur, he horrors of war and the blessing Hof State for Cabinet Af- view the progress that has been pointed out. of stability.” HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud with Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir during a fairs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin achieved in the implementa- He said that work over the The State of Qatar began the meeting in Khartoum yesterday. Zaid al-Mahmoud chaired the tion of Darfur reconstruction past years focused on three pil- implementation of food and fourth meeting of the Darfur Re- projects since the issuance of the lars, namely to meet some of the reconstruction projects to en- ongoing to implement 10 more equivalent to 50% of the UN detailed review on these projects. construction and Development decisions of the International humanitarian needs that have courage stability and voluntary service complexes at a cost of Development Programme’s al- He called on Qatar’s partners Council and the 12th meeting of Donor Conference for Recon- emerged following the adoption return, he said, adding that this $70mn, he said. The construc- location to implement several in Darfur Peace to contribute by the committee for follow-up im- struction and Development in of the Doha Document for Peace included the construction of fi ve tion will start immediately, he projects in the fi elds of recon- paying the remaining $88.9m of plementation of Doha Document Darfur, in Doha in 2013. in Darfur, to garner interna- service complexes in fi ve states said, adding that Qatar has ex- struction, justice, reconcilia- the total amount set by the Dar- for Peace in Darfur, in Khartoum The meeting also explores the tional support in the long-term, with schools, health centres, tended $50mn to support a pro- tion, economic recovery, health, fur Development Strategy, and yesterday. challenges facing the implemen- and not to wait until a compre- water stations and police cen- gramme to address problems education, water, roads, electric- to announce other contribu- He said that the State of Qa- tation and ways to overcome hensive political settlement is tres. facing nomadic people. ity supply using solar energy and tions that show their commit- tar, under the guidance of HH them in order to push forward achieved. “To this end, we did Building on the success of Qatar has also allocated during voluntary return, he said, noting ment to support stability and the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- the wheel of development in all that we can to begin the re- these complexes, preparation is the last period (phase I) $88.5mn that the meeting will provide a development in Darfur.

Personalised ‘medicine to transform healthcare’ Personalised medicine, once genomic coding. Equipped to better understand the causes ‘Qatar leads in precision evolved through the Qatar Genome with biomedical information, of major diseases that aff ect their programme (QGP), will transform it will be possible to develop population and advance the provision the health of Qatari Population, better prevention, diagnosis and of personalised medicine. During a medicine research’ off icials said yesterday. treatment of the serious illnesses media tour of the facility yesterday, QGP, which is incubated under that aff ect Qatar’s population.” the off icials highlighted the activities Qatar Biobank, is leading the Dr Said Ismail, manager, QGP, at the centre and how the samples By Joseph Varghese Qatar Biobank and chairperson of development of personalised noted, “By mapping the genome of were collected at the centre. Staff Reporter QGP, and Dr Nahla Afi fi , acting di- medicine by sequencing genomic the local population, we can help “Qatar Biobank has six rector of Qatar Biobank, were also data from the local population to create a healthcare system in Qatar measurement rooms as well as present at the press conference. Dr Nahla Afifi and Dr Said Ismail at the press conference yesterday. identify genotype and phenotype that addresses medical issues at an imaging room and a fitness atar is ahead of several Dr Afi fi announced that the associations that impact health. an individual level. This will mean room. The first floor of the facility countries in its research Qatar Biobank Conference will illnesses for future generations in makers to design awareness pro- The data derived from QGP will lead treatment options tailored specifically is meant for female and the Qon precision medicine, be held on March 14 and 15. Qatar,” said Dr Asmaa. grammes to prevent such diseas- to advancements in the study of for each patient’s genomic profile, second floor for the male. At the an offi cial of Qatar Genome Pro- “With a growth in the number Dr Afi fi said, “Qatar Biobank es. Mainly diseases such as dia- common diseases, and increasingly increasing eff ectiveness and leading measurement rooms, biological gramme (QGP) has said. of individuals being diagnosed has collected over 6,000 sam- betes, hypertension and Vitamin innovative approaches to treatment to better results.” samples of blood saliva and urine “Qatar is one of the few coun- with life-threatening yet pre- ples form Qatari nationals and D defi ciency are preventable and in Qatar. It will not only improve The upcoming Qatar Biobank are collected,” said Linda Hannigan, tries progressing towards imple- ventable diseases worldwide, longtime residents in Qatar so the fi nding will help the offi cials outcomes, but also mean patients Conference, to be held under the research and training specialist at menting precision medicine,” Dr biomedical scientists are now far. We will announce the results to take appropriate decisions.” will no longer have to travel abroad theme ‘The Impact of Biobanking Qatar Biobank. Said Ismail, manager, QGP, said pursuing new advanced meth- of the analysis of the fi rst 6,000 According to Dr Ismail, precision to seek specialised care. on Precision Medicine Initiatives’ “At the fitness test room, several yesterday. ods to tackle diseases and opti- participants in the Qatar Biobank medicine is a new era of medicine. Dr Nahla Afifi, acting director on March 14 and 15, will serve to fitness tests are done including a tread “QGP, in its pilot phase, was mise treatment. Equipped with programme. It will reveal more “Through the QGP, we will be able to of Qatar Biobank, said, “The advance personalised medicine in mill test. Four retinal images are also started in September 2015. In the biomedical information through about the life style as well as the understand the genetic background knowledge gained from our Qatar by providing leading medical recorded here. A body scan is done at fi rst phase, we have sequenced QGP, it will be possible to devel- diseases that we found during and the eff ect of the treatment to research will help healthcare experts with the opportunity to the imaging room. The whole process 3,000 samples and we will fi nish op better prevention, diagnosis the sequencing. prescribe precision medicine. It will professionals in Qatar develop discuss biomedical research and takes around three hours. At present, sequencing 6,000 genomes hope- and treatment of cardiovascular “Also to be revealed are fi nd- enable specifi c medicine for specifi c better prevention methods personalised medicine in the about 25 people are seen daily. We are fully by June this year,” he added. disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes ings about the types of the dis- person according to the fi ndings of and personalised treatments context of Qatar and the region. now increasing the numbers up to 40 Dr Asmaa al-Thani, vice chair of and a wide range of other serious eases which will help the decision the programme.” compatible with each individual’s Qatar set up its biobank in 2012 per day,” she added. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 QATAR PM welcomes UAE deputy PM Microsoft brings latest innovations icrosoft is showcasing its latest in- Microsoft’s HoloLens partner Trimble op- novations and e-government so- erates the HoloLens Corner, where attendees Mlutions at the fourth Qatar ICT have the opportunity to explore the capabili- Conference and Exhibition (Qitcom), which ties of the device and walk through an inter- opened yesterday at the Qatar National Con- active holographic experience of Qitcom. vention Centre. HoloLens is a fully self-contained, holo- The three-day event, patronised by HH graphic computer, that allows users to inter- the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani act with high-defi nition holograms in the real and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Min- world, bring ideas to life and make real-time ister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa decisions. al-Thani, is organised by Qatar’s Ministry of The Devices Table showcase Microsoft’s Transport and Communications (MoTC). top-of-the-range hardware, such as the Sur- Microsoft is demonstrating a range of so- face Pro 4, with its market-leading security lutions, covering artifi cial intelligence, mixed features and superior productivity capabili- reality, the Internet of Things, machine learn- ties. ing, cyber-security, the cloud and big data, Also on display are an assortment of pow- aimed at empowering Qatari organisations erful innovations in hardware achieved by – regardless of size or industry – to achieve Microsoft’s OEM partners, such as Dell, more through digital transformation. Toshiba, Lenovo and HP. “Microsoft has a strong relationship with Microsoft has also showcased Sadeem, an MoTC and we stand fi rmly behind the min- e-services solution that the company built istry and the government of Qatar as they for the Qatar government based on Microsoft work towards the Qatar National Vision 2030, Dynamics 365 and BI. launched by HH the Father Emir Sheikh Ha- Furthering Qatar’s e-Government 2020 mad bin Khalifa al-Thani,” said Lana Khalaf, strategy, Sadeem will act as a Platform for all public sector director and acting country government entities aiming to better serve manager, Microsoft Qatar. individuals and businesses, and empower The company, in conjunction with its stra- them with the right business intelligence tegic partners, crafted nine pilot solutions tools to monitor their operations. customised for Qatar and the challenges the It will also help enable them to effi ciently nation faces as it builds a smart society. implement e-services driving true Digital The solutions bridged the areas of sport, Transformation. transportation, health, environment and lo- The Cloud Corner at Microsoft’s stand is gistics. dedicated to exploring the technology at the The Surface Hub Wall introduced delegates heart of the modern ICT world. to the power of the enterprise-ready Surface Three counters give demonstrations of Hub and the versatile Surface Pro 4 and Mi- the power of cloud computing – one for Mi- HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani welcomes UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister crosoft HoloLens. crosoft’s Azure cloud platform itself, as well of Interior Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan at Doha International Airport yesterday. The UAE leader visited the Qatar Information Technology and Live demos of ground-breaking solutions, as Windows Server and System Centre; one Communication Conference and Exhibition (Qitcom 2017). The fourth edition of the conference at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) such as Crowd Insights, ChatBot and Social for SQL Server, Power BI, machine-learning under the theme ‘Qatar Towards a Smart Future’. UAE’s Ambassador to Qatar Saleh Mohamed bin Nasrah Alamri was present at the reception. Listening, showed these three devices work- and analytics; and one for productivity solu- ing in harmony. tions. Ooredoo to showcase future of communications

oredoo will present an “exciting in- will demonstrate the power and perform- (SOC) for visitors to test. Ooredoo’s Security international partners to display the latest sight” into the future of communica- ance of 5G to visitors at Qitcom. Operations Centre delivers comprehensive mHealth and Connected Home technologies. Otions in Qatar at the ‘Qitcom 2017’ Ooredoo Qatar CEO Waleed al-Sayed 24x7 security monitoring, incident detec- These will include a virtual health check- exhibition, showcasing its data experience said: “Ooredoo is positioning its operations tion and response. up, where visitors can be tested for up to 29 leadership with a range of advanced solutions. to be an ICT innovation engine for Qatar and Ooredoo will also host an area at its pavil- conditions and a solution to support remote As the offi cial sponsor of the event, Oore- the whole region, and Qitcom provides an ion covering its Sport Venue Management patient monitoring. doo will use its presence at the event to dem- important platform for us to demonstrate Platform. To give a glimpse into the future of con- onstrate some of the cutting-edge solutions our progress in this important area. This presentation will showcase Smart nected living for Qatar’s families, the booth “that will change people’s lives in Qatar,” “Ooredoo has secured a leadership posi- Stadium concepts and the diff erent chal- will include a ‘Smart Home’ mock-up living with an incredible range of digital and data tion in network technology, connectivity, lenges of managing a venue in terms of pub- room, showing smart technology for resi- services. cloud, and security services for businesses lic safety, effi cient control and optimal op- dences in Qatar. This will include a preview of Qatar’s of all sizes, and we will use our presence at erations. Qitcom is one of Qatar’s most important fi rst-ever 5G technology. Qitcom to demonstrate the breadth of our The display aims to off er glimpses at the technology events, as it brings together Ooredoo’s futureproof 5G networks will portfolio.” latest technologies available for a great sta- leading technology organisations and top provide the enhanced speeds and improved To display its “growing prowess” in the dium experience ahead of the upcoming in- players from across Qatar and the region, latency necessary to deliver next generation data centre and cyber security fi eld, the ternational sporting events in Qatar. showcasing the latest innovations and invit- mobile technologies for all of Qatar. Ooredoo booth at Qitcom will include a Following the ‘smart technology’ theme, ing businesses to take part in industry panels Alongside a world-class partner, Ooredoo live interactive Security Operations Centre the company will collaborate with local and and discussions.

Free domain registrations off ered to local business Mada puts up unique features for To encourage the uptake of Qatari domains and to enable local businesses to have a unique online and global presence, the Com- people with disabilities in Qatar munication Regulatory Authority (CRA) is off ering complimentary domain registrations to local businesses during Qitcom 2017, which atar Assistive Technol- will run until tomorrow at the Qatar National ogy Centre (Mada), the Convention Centre. Qoffi cial Qitcom ‘accessi- As a Gold Sponsor of ‘Qitcom 2017’, CRA bility partner,’ has set up unique has provided an accessible platform for features for persons with disa- exhibition visitors to get an onsite hands-on bilities (PWD) at the biggest dig- experience on CRA’s many public services ital event in the country, which and initiatives, including e-Spectrum Services opened yesterday at the Qatar Portal, domain registration, complaints National Convention Centre. resolution process, the award-winning mobile “As a nonprofi t organisation, application Arsel, and mobile number port- we are always looking for part- ability. ners to join us in bringing aware- During Qitcom, CRA off ers locally-regis- ness and support to PWDs and tered businesses a “unique opportunity” to helping them reach their maxi- register a Qatari domain without any registra- mum potential,” said Mada CEO tion charges. Maha al-Mansouri in a state- Interested parties will be able to choose ment. from several extensions for.qa depending The senior offi cial noted that on the identity, intent, and purpose of the the event gives them the oppor- domain name to attract both local and global tunity to demonstrate the im- audiences. portance of empowering PWD All interested business owners and manag- through the accessibility fea- ers are invited to approach CRA staff at booth tures Mada had put in place. The Mada stall at Qitcom. A31 to avail of this one-time off er. Al-Mansouri also hopes to CRA will bear the cost of registering encourage entrepreneurs to cre- three award categories, which tive Technology” and “Nurtur- domains. ate and develop Arabic based as- include; Mada Award, Mada ing Accessibility”. The CRA stand also features live stations sistive technology solutions for Direct Grant and Entrepreneur Mada stand will also host a where visitors can lodge telecom complaints PWDs through their initiatives Grant. session where students can ex- onsite, receive face-to-face consultations, and at Qitcom. The innovation program will perience the process of commu- understand their rights and responsibilities. Mada ensures that majority of be part of CodeCamp competi- nicating together using only as- The interactive stations on the stand also the exhibition area is accessible tion which is taking place at Qit- sistive technology as their voice. allow users to experience CRA’s numerous at the event with a special acces- com. It hopes such demonstration services such as tracking and view existing sible registration, sign language Teams of computer program- and experience will help raise license applications or submit applications for interpretation at the opening mers and software developers awareness about disability and issuing, modifying, or cancelling their spec- event, in addition to certifying from high schools, universi- the importance of assistive tech- trum licenses register radio network / area Qitcom website for being acces- ties and professional coders will nology. deployments, view invoices, and make online sible. compete to develop software so- Mada’s strategic goals and op- payments via e-Spectrum Services Portal. Mada will also be putting its lutions that will combat real life erational focus revolve around CRA experts will also be part of a key ple- ‘innovation program’ into ac- challenges including assistive three key areas: education, em- nary session about the future of smart cities, tion, encouraging entrepreneurs technology for PWD. ployment and community, in ad- talking about the smart cities concept, related in the region to create localised The Mada stand, through its dition to its mission to help PWDs challenges, and opportunities for sustainable assistive technology solutions garden theme, will focus this stay connected with the world growth. for PWDs, introduced through year on “Growing Arabic Assis- through assistive technology. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 5 QATAR Solar electricity company to Art for Tomorrow summit starts on Friday in Doha start generation by 2020 he New York Times Art for Tomor- Görgen, director-general for Culture and row Conference will reconvene in Communication, Federal Foreign Offi ce, TDoha from March 10 to 13, taking Germany; Adrienne Clarkson, 26th gov- By Ramesh Mathew place at W Doha Hotel and Residences. ernor-general of Canada and co-chair, Staff Reporter Led by award-winning New York Times Institute for Canadian Citizenship; Prof journalists, this year’s event – convened Dr Hermann Parzinger, president, Prus- in association with Qatar Museums under sian Cultural Heritage Foundation; Vilma iraj Power, the solar energy the patronage of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa Jurkute, director, Alserkal Avenue; Pedro company for electricity gener- bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani – will Gadanho, drector, Museum of Art, Ar- Sation in Qatar, would start pro- explore the tangible contributions art and chitecture and Technology, Lisbon; Sir duction by April 30, 2020, said HE cultural development can make to eco- David Chipperfi eld, architect, David the Minister for Energy and Industry, nomic growth and national identity. Chipperfi eld Architects; Allan Schwartz- Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, said The conference also supports Qatar man, chief curator and creative direc- yesterday. Museums’ position as the nation’s focal tor, Inhotim, and founder and principal, In his report to the Annual General point for connecting cultures, encour- Art Agency, Partners; Daniel Tobin, co- Meeting of the Qatar Electricity and aging cultural exchange and nurturing founder and creative director, Urban Art Water Company (QEWC), Dr al-Sada creative talent, according to a press state- Projects; Barthélémy Tuguo, artist and said Siraj Power would have an initial ment. founder, Bandjoun Studio; Julien Breton production capacity of 200MW of The conference will be introduced by (aka Kaalam), artist; Abdulnasser Ghar- electricity, with an expansion plan of Arthur O Sulzberger, Jr, chairman of The em, artist and founder, Gharem Studio; up to 500MW. New York Times Company and publisher Shaweesh, artist; Julian Payne, creative A Memorandum of Understand- of the New York Times, and is returning design director, De La Rue; Prof Peter ing for setting up the company was under the theme ‘Boundaries, Identity Stone, Unesco chair in Cultural Property signed between QEWC and Qatar and the Public Realm’. Protection and Peace, Newcastle Univer- Petroleum (QP) in December, 2015. In discussions led by New York Times sity; Faig Ahmed, artist; Touria El Glaoui, Upon getting approval from the Su- journalists, the conference will investi- founding director, 1:54 Contemporary preme Council for Economic Aff airs gate the issues that occupy the territory African Art Fair; Dr Zaki Aslan, regional and Investment, Siraj Power would HE the Minister for Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada (fourth left) and other off icials at the QEWC between art and public life. Topics to be representative for the Arab States, The have a capital base of $500mn, of AGM yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma discussed at the conference will include International Centre for the Study of the which QEWC would have 60% part- areas of collaboration and competition Preservation and Restoration of Cultural nership and QP’s share would be 40%. come into being by March 31, and The total operational expense for The total revenue for 2016 among countries of the Arab world in the Property; Amanda Pinatih, art historian The joint venture agreement was other works for implementation of 2016 was QR1.70bn compared to amounted to QR3.58bn compared to creation of a new cultural landscape, the and curator, Design Museum Dharavi; signed by the partners in November the project is expected to start by QR1.69bn the previous year. QR3.50bn in 2015. challenge of heritage protection in the Jorge Mañes Rubio, artist, Design Mu- last year. June 30 this year. The operating revenues for 2016 The general and administrative ex- context of Palmyra and the impact of cen- seum Dharavi; Georgios Kaminis, mayor, The initial agreement with Qatar Meanwhile, as announced ear- were QR3.103bn compared to pense amounted to QR201mn com- sorship on artistic expression. City of Athens; Isabelle de La Bruyère, General Electricity and Water Corp lier the net profi t of the QEWC for QR2.983bn the previous year. pared to QR183mn the previous year. The conference, which will bring to- senior director, chairman’s offi ce and (Kahramaa) and selection of project the year 2016 was QR1.54bn, which The income from joint venture The fi nancing expenses rose to gether more than 200 world-renowned head of Client Advisory, Europe, Middle advisers are expected later this year. showed a rise of 3% from the previ- companies amounted to QR372mn QR106mn compared to QR100mn in art and cultural infl uencers from over 30 East, Russia and India, Christie’s; Nigel The company would formally ous year’s fi gure of QR1.50bn. compared to QR409mn in 2015. 2015. countries, aims to deliver an informative Hirst, gallery director and chief executive, and rich creative experience for partici- Saatchi Gallery London; Amalia Ulman, pants. artist; Kongo, street artist; Cao Fei, artist; In addition to panel sessions, delegates and Zoulikha Bouabdellah, artist. will have the opportunity to take part in Details about the conference can be a number of affi liated events, including found on the event website. Expansion of RAF A3 to be completed soon private tours of the Fire Station Artists For news and updates about the con- in Residence and a visit to the Picasso- ference, one can follow @NYTLive on he ongoing expansion of Ras The whole expansion costs ap- southern side of Wakrah has been 136mgd. This would be the equiva- Giacometti show. Twitter. The hashtag for the conference is Abu Fontas A3 (RAF A3) Project proximately QR1.75bn. complete. lent of nearly 25% of the water ca- Confi rmed speakers include Dia Azza- #NYTAFT. Ton the southern side of Doha is The fi rst phase of the expansion Phase one of the massive project is pacity of the entire country. wi, artist; Tariq al-Jaidah, founder, Katara The 2017 New York Times Art for To- expected to be completed this quarter, was completed in the third quarter of expected to be complete by the mid- When the phase one of the plant is Art Center; Robert Wilson, artist; Chris- morrow Conference is being organised it was reported at the Annual General 2016 and the plant has been supply- dle of next month and approximately complete, it would be able to gener- to, artist; Subodh Gupta, artist; Robbie in collaboration with START Solo and Meeting of the Qatar General Elec- ing 22mgd of potable water. 40mgd of desalinated water would be ate 1,612MW of electricity out of the Antonio, collector and CEO, Revolution supported by headline sponsors Rich- tricity and Water Company (QEWC) The plant is using Reverse Osmosis generated from its facilities. total capacity of 2,520MW. Precrafted Properties; Idris Khan, artist; ard Mille, and Numismatica Geneven- yesterday. technology for water desalination. In the second phase, about 60mgd Besides QEWC (60%), the other Liu Bolin, artist; Lalla Essaydi, artist; Irina sis, bronze sponsors The Federal Foreign With the completion of the expan- It was also reported yesterday that would be generated, and in the fi - stake holders of the plant are Qatar Pe- Bokova, director-general, Unesco; Chris Offi ce, Germany, and AlBahie Auction sion, the plant would be able to gen- more than 75% of the work of the nal phase, expected to be complete troleum (5%), Qatar Foundation (5%) Michaels, head of Digital and Publishing, House as well as airline partner Qatar Air- erate 36mgd (million gallons a day) of 2,520MW Umm Al Houl Power Plant by July 2018, would see the water and a consortium of Mitsubishi Corp The British Museum; Yannis Behrakis, ways. The host sponsors are Jaidah Hold- potable water. in the Qatar Economic Zone on the production rise to approximately and TEPCO, both of Japan (30%). photojournalist, Reuters; Dr Andreas ings and W Doha Hotel and Residences.

Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 7 QATAR

Qatar is a strategic partner: Indonesia

dvisory Council ob- a strategic partner, and lauded server and chairman of the role and contribution of Athe Committee on In- the Advisory Council in en- terior and Foreign Aff airs Mo- hancing relations between the hamed bin Abdullah al-Sulaiti two countries. On his part, received a delegation from al-Sulaiti expressed similar Winners of the competition were recognised during an awards ceremony. the Indonesian Parliament, views - considered Indone- led by the head of the First sia a strategic partner - and Commission of the House of added that ties between the Representatives, Dr H Abdul two countries were marked by Kharis Almasyhari, in his of- shared fraternity and broth- fi ce recently. erhood, religion, culture and The meeting discussed a common interest. Indonesian number of issues and topics of ambassador Mohamed Bassiri mutual concern and al-Sulaiti Sidihabi said the visit provid- Enterprise Challenge also gave a briefi ng on the Ad- ed the right moment for fur- visory Council and its work ther cementing ties between mechanism. the two brotherly nations, Dr Almasyhari expressed noting that it also marked his gratitude and good wishes the 40th anniversary of bilat- to the council, stressing that eral relations between the two Indonesia considered Qatar as countries. Qatar winners crowned total of 46 teams from 40 awarded third place. to balance the economic, environ- towards training and equipping petition was launched in Septem- schools and six universities Carnegie Mellon University mental and social performance of the younger generations to estab- ber 2016, reaching out to more Ain Qatar competed in the in Qatar claimed the fi rst prize their company; a business simu- lish their own business ventures in than 1,200 students from schools grand fi nal competition of Enter- among competing universities lation element, which familiarises the future. and universities across Qatar. prise Challenge Qatar 2017, held and took home QR20,000 to fund students with general business Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Kha- Since its inception in 2012, more under the patronage of HE the their business idea. Second place such as fi nance, sales, and pro- lifa, CEO of Qatar Development than 3,500 students have partici- Minister of Education and Higher was awarded to College of the duction; and the business pitch, in Bank and chairman of Bedaya pated. Education Dr Mohamed Abdul North Atlantic - Qatar with Qatar which participants present their Center, said: “Fostering entre- Michiel Kool, managing direc- Wahed Ali al-Hammadi. University fi nishing third. ideas to a panel of judges from the preneurship is a critical part of tor and chairman of Qatar Shell Among the schools, Newton In- Enterprise Challenge Qatar, business community in Qatar. developing a diverse economy in Companies, said: “Qatar Shell is ternational Academy claimed fi rst running now for fi ve consecutive Fawzia al-Khater, assistant un- Qatar, and at Bedaya we believe very proud to celebrate the fi fth prize of QR10,000 to fund their years, seeks to promote and inspire dersecretary for Educational Af- that by encouraging young peo- year of Enterprise Challenge Qa- business idea and its implementa- the entrepreneurial spirit among fairs, Ministry of Education and ple to consider entrepreneurship, tar. Thousands of students across tion. Second place was awarded to young people in Qatar. The com- Higher Education, conveyed her Enterprise Challenge Qatar will the country have participated Qatar Banking Studies and Busi- petition consists of three parts: continued support for the pro- help create and sustain a thriving during this time, making a tangi- ness Administration School, while the ethical business challenge, gramme and pointed out that en- private sector.” ble contribution to the future of The Indonesian delegation with off icials. Al Rabaa Al Adawiya School was which tests participants’ ability trepreneurship plays a vital rule Preparation for this year’s com- entrepreneurship in Qatar.”

QLM, Turkish Hospital sign partnership agreement

Life and Medical Insur- QIC Middle East and North Af- a healthy life. We at QLM follow sured members with innovative registered QLM, with some ance Company (QLM), rica and Dr Volkan Uygunucar- the customer centric approach healthcare and awareness pro- 200,000 customers, has es- Qa subsidiary of Qatar lar, managing partner and chief to ensure the continuation of grammes that would enhance tablished itself as a pioneer in Insurance Company (QIC), yes- executive of Turkish Hospital. best in class healthcare services its members’ experience for the medical insurance sector in terday joined hands with the “In harmony with Qatar’s for our insured members,” al- being associated with it and to Qatar, with its highly experi- Turkish Hospital. National Health strategy and Mannai said. satisfactorily meet corporate enced in-house team of experts The agreement was signed by vision, QLM has aligned its By leveraging its provider social responsibility, according coupled with innovative tech- Salem al-Mannai, deputy group mission to promote the right of partnerships, QLM aspires to to him. nologies and a wide network of president and chief executive of every individual in Qatar to live exceed the expectations of in- The Qatar Financial Centre- medical service providers. Al-Mannai and Dr Uygunucarlar after inking the pact.

Senior executives at the relocated QIB branch at Q-Mall. Qatar Islamic Bank moves branch

atar Islamic Bank has relo- In keeping with the bank’s custom- areas in Doha, with a large population cated the Al Gharrafa branch er-centric approach, the branch will and a lot of private enterprises, shops Qto a new location at the newly off er customers a full range of QIB and governmental institutions,” said opened Q-Mall. products and services to meet both D Anand, general manager (Personal The new location is near the old every day and specialised fi nancial Banking Group). branch and will provide easy access to needs. Customers can open bank ac- “The location of the branch is part QIB’s banking services to customers counts, apply for a suite of fi nancing of the bank’s on-going eff orts to bring working and living within the area. products and credit cards, and receive QIB’s banking services to customers The new branch will be open from expert and personalised advice about everywhere, and will help to meet the 7:30am to 1pm, Sunday through Takaful services and other Islamic growing demand for Islamic Banking Thursday as well as from 5pm to banking services. services.” 7:30pm, Sunday through Wednesday This move is part of QIB’s strat- The full-service nature of the and 9am to noon on Saturday based egy to renovate and expand its branch new-look branches complements on the bank’s commitment to have a network in order to provide a seam- the bank’s investment into electronic strong presence in the heart of Qa- less banking experience by being banking channels. tar’s most thriving communities. closer to its customers wherever they A technologically advanced Bank, The new branch has a special sec- are. QIB off ers innovative online and tion set aside for the Bank’s Tamayuz “We are pleased to be able to off er mobile banking applications, more clients, and a dedicated centre for QIB customers a centrally located, than 170 ATMs and cash deposit ma- ladies customers to enjoy complete highly accessible branch in Q-Mall. chines, and a 24x7 customer service privacy. Al Gharrafa is one of the important call centre.

Porsche 918 of 2015 recalled

he Ministry of Economy and comes within the framework of its The MEC has urged all customers to Commerce (MEC), in collabo- ongoing eff orts to protect consumers report any violations to its Consumer Tration with Al Boraq Automo- and ensure that car dealers follow up Protection and Anti-Commercial biles Company, has announced the on vehicle defects and repairs. Fraud Department through the fol- recall of Porsche 918 Spyder models The MEC will co-ordinate with the lowing channels: Hotline: 16001, e- of 2015 on account of a defect in the dealer to follow up on the mainte- mail: [email protected], Twitter: @ lower trailing arms fi tted on the front nance and repair works and commu- MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, axle. nicate with customers to ensure that MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: The MEC said the recall campaign the necessary repairs are carried out. MEC_Qatar

Ministry modifi es halal list

he Ministry of Public Health company was added to the list after with wider options, especially in the (MoPH) has modifi ed the list of complying with the set conditions countries exporting meat products to Tthe approved Islamic societies and regulations and submitting the Qatar. and centres of exporting countries to necessary documents proving this. The addition and exclusion of any Qatar that issue halal certifi cates. The total number of the approved centre or society from the approved The new modifi ed list includes the societies and centres is currently list is subject to strict regulations ap- addition of the Australian Halal De- stands at 75 from 46 countries. The proved by the Joint Human Food Con- velopment & Accreditation Company, list of the approved centres facilitates trol Committee in 2015. bringing the total approved centres the movement of trade and business The full list can be viewed at www. in Australia from seven to eight. The and provides importers and suppliers moph.gov.qa/app/media/3361. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 REGION

Abu Dhabi’s new airport terminal opening delayed by two years

UN nuclear chief confi dent The opening of Abu Dhabi Air- ports’ $2.94bn Midfield Terminal has been pushed back by two years, regional newspapers reported yesterday, in the latest setback for a project seen as crucial to the emirate’s wider ex- of US co-operation on Iran pansion into tourism. Abu Dhabi, home to the capital of the UAE, Reuters Amano met US Secretary of gain from the verifi cation point is investing billions in tourism, Vienna State Rex Tillerson in Washing- of view because now we have infrastructure and industry to ton last Thursday. the strongest verifi cation re- diversify its economy away from During his confi rmation gime in Iran, while the nuclear oil. But some projects have been he chief of the UN atomic hearing Tillerson had called activities of Iran are reduced,” hit by delays. The expansion watchdog said yesterday for a “full review” of the deal, Amano said, calling the deal by of its main airport, Abu Dhabi The was confi dent fol- which extends the time Iran its full name, the Joint Compre- International, had already been lowing a visit to Washington of would need to produce a nuclear hensive Plan of Action. delayed by around five months “very good co-operation” with weapon if it chose to. “The new admininistration until December 2017, while the the United States on Iran’s nu- Since Trump took offi ce in of the United States just started opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi clear deal, despite President January, however, his adminis- and they are looking at various museum has also been delayed Donald Trump’s hawkish com- tration has given little indica- issues — not just this issue but to 2017 due to pending construc- ments. tion of what concrete stance it many other issues, so it is very tion work, sources told Reuters The 2015 agreement between will take on the Iran agreement. early for them to give their as- in November. The National, Gulf Iran and major powers restricts Neither the IAEA nor the US sessment,” he added. News and Al Etihad reported Tehran’s nuclear activities in State Department commented The IAEA is in charge of po- the delay, citing a senior Abu exchange for the lifting of sanc- on the content of last week’s licing the restrictions on Iran’s Dhabi official, although no tions against the Islamic Re- meetings, which were Amano’s nuclear activities under the deal reason was given. Sources close public, but Trump has called fi rst with senior members of the agreed between Iran, the United to the project told Reuters in it “the worst deal ever negoti- Trump administration. States, Russia, China, Britain, March that there were com- ated” and said he wants to “po- Amano’s remarks yester- France and Germany. plexities relating to the design lice that contract so tough (the day, the fi rst day of a quarterly Amano also said yesterday he and execution of the roof that Iranians) don’t have a chance”. meeting of the IAEA board of had not discussed with Tillerson were causing the initial delay. “I am confi dent that we can governors, were the fi rst indica- his bid for a third term as head of The terminal had been due to have very good co-operation tion of how the talks in Wash- the IAEA, which is on the agenda open in September 2017. with the United States in the ington had gone, though he did of this week’s board meeting. The Midfield Terminal will future,” Yukiya Amano, chief of not provide specifi c details on The United States is one of be able to accommodate up the International Atomic En- what Tillerson told him. the few countries not to have to 30mn passengers a year International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano addresses a news conference ergy Agency (IAEA), told a news “With respect to Iran I made publicly backed Amano, who is when it opens, the newspapers after a board of governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna yesterday. conference in Vienna. the point that the JCPOA is a net the only candidate. quoted Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed al-Nahyan, deputy chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, as saying. Abu Dhabi International Airport will have passenger capacity of 45mn per year when the Female Saudi horse trainer sees signs of hope Midfield Terminal opens, almost double the 23mn passengers it attracted in 2015. AFP Since last year, a government whether you are preparing a Jeddah plan for social and economic re- horse for show jumping or ro- forms has given more impetus deo. If she were a man, her un- to this trend. orthodox approach would be CONFLICT ana al-Gosaibi’s passion The government wants more taken more seriously, she feels. Two suspected for horses has been hard women in the workforce as part Many Saudi women are now militants killed Dto pursue in Saudi Arabia. of the Vision 2030 plan to di- taking riding lessons, Gosaibi But the kingdom’s tentative versify the country’s oil-based says, “but it’s so much more dif- in drone strike advancement of women’s rights economy, and is trying to ex- fi cult for a woman” with social has given the Saudi horse train- pand sports opportunities for norms seeking to keep them out Suspected US drones killed two er hope that one day she might everyone. of the public eye. suspected Al Qaeda militants in a be able to realise her dream of Saudi Arabia last year ap- Women need permission missile strike in southern Yemen, starting her own business. pointed a princess to oversee from a male guardian to travel tribal sources and residents said “There is this very weird be- women’s sports in the kingdom. or study. yesterday, keeping up pressure on lief that a woman shouldn’t ride Princess Reema bint Bandar Gosaibi’s solution: “Let the group after a push that began a horse,” Gosaibi says, especial- al-Saud in February said au- women ride horses!” last week. US off icials in Washington ly if she is not yet married. thorities would begin granting Gosaibi keeps two horses at said the United States carried out at “It’s amazing how a lot of licences for women-only gyms, stables in the Red Sea city of least one new air strike on Al Qaeda people believe these things,” she local media reported. Jeddah, where her baseball cap, in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) tells AFP ahead of International “Even (in) sport they’re really collared T-shirt, trousers and overnight yesterday and has waged Women’s Day tomorrow. encouraging women, which is a riding boots contrast with the several strikes since Saturday, but Herself unmarried, Gosaibi, very new thing,” Gosaibi says, traditional black abaya robe gave no further details. Residents 35, dreams of opening her own taking heart that the change worn by women. and tribal sources said a drone had stables to focus on “a more gen- heralds a more favourable cli- Other women — as well as fired a missile at a car travelling in tle” way of training horses than mate for starting her business men — use the facility but its Wadi Yashbum yesterday afternoon, the standard approach in the training horses. But the horse owner doesn’t want to draw at- destroying it completely. male-dominated kingdom. trainer, who learned her skills tention to the fact that he wel- They said the bodies of two local But change is under way, says in Britain and the United States, comes both sexes. men believed to be members of Al Gosaibi, who returned to Saudi says she has faced resistance — Saudi Dana al-Gosaibi trains a horse in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. He asked Gosaibi that photo- Qaeda were found charred beyond Arabia four years ago after more “especially with my approach” graphs not feature other visitors recognition.Residents earlier reported than a decade living abroad. to the animals. which the racing thoroughbreds spurs and whips, she says. comes part of the horse’s herd”. or show the name of the stables. that an air strike hit the home of a “I came back and I saw all Horses have been central to are descended. But Gosaibi prefers to take “You need to establish a Gosaibi says progress is hap- suspected Al Qaeda member in the these women” working as cash- Saudi life for centuries, and the The traditional way of train- her time, observing the animal certain relationship and un- pening nonetheless. “Women village of Noufan in central al-Bayda iers, in sales and in offi ces, Go- kingdom is famed for its strong ing horses in Saudi Arabia re- and learning to understand the derstanding because the horse are becoming stronger and they province, while another struck a saibi says. desert-bred Arabians from quires “a lot of force” including way it thinks until she “be- needs to trust you,” she says, have a voice.” mountainous area.

Kuwait govt restores citizenship of opposition fi gures

AFP in mid-2014 stripped at least Kuwait City four opposition fi gures and dozens of their family mem- bers of their nationality as uwait will restore the part of a crackdown on dis- citizenship of opposi- sent. Ktion fi gures and doz- The decision followed ens of their relatives nearly large street protests de- three years after revoking it manding political reforms. in a crackdown on dissent, Those aff ected included lawmakers said yesterday. Islamist former opposition “Our thanks to the emir MP Abdullah al-Barghash for his generous gesture of and more than 50 members restoring the revoked citi- of his extended family. zenships,” Islamist opposi- They also included former tion MP Mohamed al-Dallal spokesman of the opposition tweeted after a meeting with Popular Action Movement Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ah- Saad al-Ajmi, who was later mad Al-Sabah. deported to Saudi Arabia. Several of the 14 MPs who The owner of the opposi- attended the meeting con- tion-linked Alam Al-Youm fi rmed that the Gulf state’s newspaper Ahmad Jabr ruler had ordered the citi- al-Shemmari and Islamist zenships to be restored. preacher Nabil al-Awadhi The Kuwaiti government also lost their nationality.

POLICY Plan to dissolve secular party

Bahrain’s justice ministry said yesterday it filed a lawsuit to dis- solve a secular opposition party, the state-run news agency said, months after the country’s main opposition party was banned. The justice ministry “has filed a lawsuit requesting the dissolu- tion of the National Democratic Action Society (Waed), in light of Waed’s serious violations of the principle of respect for the rule of law, its support of terrorism... and for its promotion of political change by force,” according to a statement carried by state-run Bahrain News Agency. The left-leaning former head of Waed, Ibrahim Sharif, was freed in July after he served a one-year jail term for anti-regime incitement. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 9 ARAB WORLD

Relatives of Bassel al-Aaraj, a 31-year-old Palestinian who was reportedly killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops in Ramallah, mourn during his funeral yesterday, in the West Bank village of Al-Walajah, west of Bethlehem. Palestinian killed in West Bank fi refi ght

AFP property, an army spokeswoman said. ians, 40 Israelis, two Americans, one Jerusalem Two other Palestinians were Jordanian, one Eritrean and one Suda- wounded by gunfi re in subsequent nese, according to an AFP count. clashes with Israeli troops, Palestinian Most of the Palestinians who lost Palestinian was killed in an ex- hospital sources said. their lives were carrying out knife, gun change of fi re with Israeli troops A police spokeswoman said Aaraj or car-ramming attacks, according to Ain the West Bank city of Ramal- was “the head of a cell planning attacks Israeli authorities. lah, the Israeli army said yesterday. against Israeli targets”. Others were killed during protests, The man, identifi ed by Israeli po- Seen as “close to conservatives”, he in clashes or during air raids on Gaza. lice as 31-year-old Bassel al-Aaraj, was had spent several months in a Pales- The Israeli army routinely carries shot dead after opening fi re on soldiers tinian Authority prison, a Palestinian out incursions and arrests in Ramal- who came to arrest him at his home on security source added. lah even though it is in principle un- Sunday night. A wave of violence that broke out in der the full control of the Palestinian Two weapons were found on his October 2015 has killed 254 Palestin- Authority. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 ARAB WORLD

Arab politician defends US-backed Iraqi forces Arafat street sign capture Mosul bridge AFP Reuters in the old city centre which is Jerusalem Mosul/Baghdad still under his followers’ con- trol. But they are also facing top Arab Israeli politician S-backed Iraqi forces setbacks in Syria where US- yesterday defended nam- captured the second of backed Syrian Democratic Aing a street in northern UMosul’s fi ve bridges yes- Forces cut the last main road Israel after the late Palestinian terday, giving a boost to their out of its capital there, Raqqa leader Yasser Arafat, after Prime onslaught on Islamic State’s re- yesterday. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maining stronghold in the west- Islamic State is also fighting vowed to remove it. ern part of the city. off the Russian-backed Syrian The small Arab Israeli town of All of Mosul’s fi ve bridges army as well as and Turkey and Jatt recently inaugurated Yasser have been destroyed but the allied Syrian rebels. Arafat Street in honour of the capture of the remaining parts Lined up against the militants former Palestinian president, a on the West bank of the Tigris in Mosul is a 100,000-strong hero to Palestinians and many facilitates the movement of force of Iraqi troops, Kurdish Arab Israelis but loathed by forces progressing up the river peshmerga fi ghters and Iranian- many Israeli Jews. that cuts Mosul in two. trained paramilitary groups. On Sunday, the Jatt council The bridge seized, al-Hur- More than 40,000 people fl ed decided to remove “all the con- riya, is the second after one lo- their homes in the past week, troversial street signs”, including cated further south. bringing the total number of the Arafat sign, and replace them Its capture shields the back of displaced since the start of the with diff erent names, according the forces advancing towards a off ensive to nearly 210,000, ac- to a report on Channel 10 televi- nearby complex of government cording to the United Nations. sion. buildings. Agencies say camps to ac- “We control the western end commodate them are nearly full “He is a leader of the of the bridge,” said a media of- even though the United Nations national liberation fi cer with Rapid Response, the said last month that more than movement and he chose elite unit of the Interior Minis- 400,000 people still in western peace and negotiations try leading the charge towards Mosul could be displaced. and he won the Nobel the complex. The Iraqi foreign ministry Peace Prize” Rapid Response and Federal meanwhile expressed “deep Police units yesterday took the relief” at US President Donald The local municipality did not court of justice and Nineveh Smoke rises from a car bomb that exploded during a battle with Islamic State militants in Mosul yesterday. Trump’s decision to remove Iraq comment yesterday, but Israeli police directorate buildings, from a list of countries targeted media reported signage had been neither of which were used by tants in the old city and mark a the densely populated old city eastern side of Mosul in Janu- met with sniper, machinegun in a US travel ban. removed after Netanyahu’s threat. Islamic State. symbolic step towards restor- where, the Iraqi military be- ary after 100 days of fi ghting and mortar fi re, as well as ex- “The decision is an impor- Ayman Odeh, head of the pre- “In the coming hours our ing state authority over Mosul, lieves, several thousand mili- and launched their attack on the plosives dropped from drones. tant step in the right direction, dominantly Arab Joint List coali- forces will raise the Iraqi fl ag even though the buildings are tants are among the remaining districts west of the Tigris on Defeating Islamic State in it consolidates the strategic al- tion in the Israeli parliament, said over the governorate building,” destroyed and not being used by civilian population, which aid Feb 19. The militants have bar- Mosul would crush the Iraqi liance between Baghdad and Arafat was a “symbol”. Federal Police Brigadier General Islamic State. agencies estimated to number ricaded streets with civilian ve- wing of the caliphate declared Washington in many fi elds, and “He is a leader of the national Shaalan Ali Saleh told Reuters. The battle for Mosul, which 750,000 civilians at the start of hicles and rigged them with ex- by the group’s leader, Abu Bakr at their forefront war on ter- liberation movement and he chose Recapturing the area would started on Oct 17, will enter the latest off ensive. plosives to hinder the advance al-Baghdadi, in 2014, from rorism,” the ministry said in a peace and negotiations and he help Iraqi forces attack the mili- a more complicated phase in Iraqi forces captured the of Iraqi forces who were also Mosul’s grand Nuri mosque statement. won the Nobel Peace Prize,” Odeh told journalists. “It is completely your right to say ‘I am complete- ly against this man’,” he added, but said streets in Jewish neigh- bourhoods had sometimes been Israel got warning against EU to host Syria conference at named after far-right politicians and even assailants. “I cannot ac- cept this is OK but calling a street annexing West Bank: minister Brussels on April 5: Mogherini after Yasser Arafat is not OK.” Speaking at the start of a Sun- day cabinet meeting, Netanyahu AFP Israeli government since it would be required to AFP vided once a credible political any settlement. He insists he is said, “We will make the arrange- Jerusalem provide services to Palestinians in the West Bank. Brussels transition is in place,” Mogh- going nowhere and backed by ments, including new legislation “We have received a very clear, direct message erini said. heavy Russian military support if need be, so that this does not from the United States stating that the applica- The EU has consistently has re-established his position happen here.” sraeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman tion of Israeli law in the West Bank would pro- he European Union will backed UN efforts to end the with the recapture of Aleppo, Arafat rose to become the leader said yesterday that the United States has voke an immediate crisis with the new adminis- host a conference on the bloody conflict in Syria which Syria’s second city. of the Palestinian movement after Iwarned that annexing the West Bank would tration,” Lieberman said before a parliamentary Tpost-confl ict future of has cost more than 310,000 At the last round of UN- the creation of Israel, leading an lead to an “immediate crisis” with President committee. Syria with the United Nations lives and displaced millions sponsored talks in Geneva on armed struggle against it in which Donald Trump’s administration. His offi ce said he would leave Israel for Wash- in Brussels on April 5, foreign since 2011 when protests Friday, Damascus and the op- thousands died. Lieberman, speaking before his fi rst trip to ington, where he would meet Vice President Mike aff airs head Federica Mogherini against President Bashar al- position agreed a “clear agen- Decades later he disavowed Washington since Trump took offi ce, sought to Pence, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of said yesterday. Assad descended into all-out da” to end the war, according to violence and famously shook push back against those in Prime Minister Ben- State Rex Tillerson “and hold other meetings.” The conference, following civil war. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura. hands with Israeli prime minister jamin Netanyahu’s coalition calling for a declara- Some 2.6mn Palestinians live in the West Bank. on from a similar meeting in Assad’s future is the key He said there had been Yitzhak Rabin on the White House tion of Israeli sovereignty over all or part of the The latest call for annexation came on Sunday, London early last year, “will question, with the various progress and he hoped to be lawn, although the peace the Oslo occupied territory. when lawmaker Miki Zohar from Netanyahu’s assess regional conditions and rebel groups backed by the able to invite both sides back accords were supposed to bring He said annexation would provoke a crisis Likud party said in a television interview that the conditions on which post- United States and Turkey de- to Geneva later this month for never materialised. with Washington and result in steep costs for the “the two-state solution is dead”. conflict assistance can be pro- manding that he step down in a new round of talks.

Syrian militias cut last road out of IS stronghold

Reuters across the Euphrates to Raqqa Beirut city, the British-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said. S-backed Syrian militias The Observatory said families cut the last main road out brought recently by Islamic State Uof Islamic State-held Raqqa to Raqqa from areas to the west had yesterday, severing the highway be- been forced to cross the river by tween the group’s de facto capital boat, reflecting the problem facing and its stronghold of Deir al-Zor IS in reaching the city. province, a militia spokesman said. The Syrian army’s advance to- The development, confi rmed by wards the Euphrates River from a British-based organisation that Aleppo has added to the pressure monitors Syria’s war, marks a major on Islamic State. blow against the Islamic State group One of the targets of the army’s that is under intense military pres- advance appears to be to secure sure in both Syria and Iraq. the water supply to Aleppo, which It is losing ground to three sepa- is pumped from the village of Al- rate campaigns in northern Syria by Khafsa on the western bank of the the US-backed Syrian Democratic Euphrates. Forces (SDF) militias, the Russian- The Observatory said yesterday backed Syrian army, and Turkey and the army had advanced to within allied Syrian rebels. eight kilometres of Al-Khafsa. “Cutting the road between Raqqa The Syrian army push has also and Deir al-Zor means that practi- had the effect of deterring further cally the encirclement of the Daesh advances south by Turkish forces (Islamic State) capital is complete and Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels by land,” a Kurdish military source as they carve out an effective buff- told Reuters, adding that the only er zone near the border in areas remaining way out of the city was seized from Islamic State. south across the Euphrates River. People stand in front of a damaged building in the northern Syrian town of “The army will not stop in its “It is a big victory but there is still Al-Bab yesterday. military operations against Daesh, a lot to accomplish,” the source said, and will certainly reach its most speaking on condition of anonymity. wards the Euphrates. way to the Iraqi part of its self-de- important strongholds in Raqqa The SDF is an alliance of militias The Syrian army last week cap- clared caliphate. The SDF has been and Deir al-Zor. including the Kurdish YPG and Arab tured the ancient city of Palmyra the main US partner against Islamic This is a national Syrian deci- groups. from Islamic State — an operation State in Syria.”The road is under the sion,” the Syrian military source It launched a multi-phased cam- Russia said it had planned and over- control of the SDF,” spokesman Talal told Reuters. paign in November to encircle and seen. Silo said in a voice message sent to The source said the army was ultimately capture Islamic State’s A Syrian military source told Reu- Reuters. “The road between Raqqa advancing at a rapid pace and there base of operations in Raqqa city, ters the army would press on to reach and Deir al-Zor.” was “great dysfunction” in Islamic with air strikes and special forces the jihadists’ main strongholds in There was no immediate word State’s leadership. support from a US-led coalition. Raqqa and Deir al-Zor. from Islamic State on the social me- Turkey, a Nato member, wants its Further west, the Syrian army has Islamic State still controls swathes dia channels it uses to communicate Syrian rebel allies to lead the Raqqa made its own, rapid progress against of Syria, including much of the cen- news. off ensive, and US support for the Islamic State in the last few weeks, tre and nearly all the eastern prov- Air strikes by the US-led coali- YPG is a major point of contention advancing east from Aleppo city to- ince of Deir al-Zor stretching all the tion have destroyed the bridges between the two states. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 11 AFRICA Zimbabwe protest ends

Akon: I want to leave a legacy. Africans work harder in everything and they work with payment promise harder to live and to sustain themselves. Reuters/DPA/AFP lic service and labour minister, by social media groups. of the suff ering patients. The Harare confi rmed the bonus agreement Meanwhile, medical union mortality rate in the hospitals with the unions. representatives said the govern- was going up and it appeared Finance Minister Patrick Chi- ment had partially met their de- the government was not con- imbabwe’s government namasa has previously said the mands for better pay and work- cerned,” he added. Rapper has agreed to pay out- government requires $180mn ing conditions. No mortality fi gures were Zstanding cash bonuses, for bonuses. They said doctors also re- available from the government bringing an end to a brief sit-in The southern African nation turned to work because they or the doctors’ union. Akon protest by public workers, union had failed to pay civil servants were concerned about high mor- The strike centred on de- leaders and a government minis- their bonuses due to a lack of tality levels at hospitals during mands for higher allowances ter said. funds. the strike. and job guarantees for junior lights up “The issue that we were clam- An off er to substitute the bo- Hospitals in Zimbabwe have doctors. ouring for, which is the cash nus with land was rejected by been at a standstill since the The state-owned Herald payment of bonuses, has been unions. middle of February with admis- newspaper said some allowances two more accepted,” said Raymond Ma- Reuters earlier saw signs that sions suspended, many wards had been increased for medical jongwe, secretary general of the sit-in was not being adhered cleared of patients and non- staff . Progressive Teachers Union of to everywhere. critical casualty cases turned An AFP correspondent in African Zimbabwe. At the government registry in away after nurses joined the ac- Harare observed last week that “Payments for our bonuses the capital Harare, offi cials were tion. most wards at Parirenyatwa, in cash will be starting in April, issuing passports and birth cer- State hospitals cater to the Zimbabwe’s main state hospital, nations so we have called off the strike,” tifi cates as normal, while teach- majority of Zimbabweans who were empty. Richard Gundeni from the Zim- ers taught lessons at schools in cannot aff ord private hospitals. At the Mpilo hospital in the babwe Teachers Association told the city centre. The country had one of Af- second city of Bulawayo, a small AFP DPA. Some teachers said they had rica’s best healthcare systems, number of senior doctors at- Banjul Doctors called off a three- not joined the strike after it but many health professionals tended to patients. week strike on Sunday after the started today to give negotia- have left during the country’s Zimbabwe’s economy shrank government approved increased tions a chance. economic crisis over the last 15 by an estimated 0.3% last year lichéd rappers spend allowances and created 250 new Unions said 90% of rural years. and will contract by 2.5% in money on bling and jobs, the same day President teachers participated in the “We have resumed our duties. 2017, according to the Interna- Mugabe, who returned from medical leave in Singapore on Sunday, Ccars, but Senegalese- Robert Mugabe returned from strike. All the doctors are back at work,” tional Monetary Fund (IMF). used his security forces to quell street protests last year. American artist Akon is looking medical leave in Singapore. Union offi cials were not avail- Edgar Munatsi, president of the The southern African coun- skywards to splash his cash, in- Civil service unions said the able to comment on how many Hospital Doctors Association, try is still struggling to recover with the US dollar in 2009. creasing protests about the state vesting in solar power projects 2016 bonuses would be stag- other civil servants heeded the told AFP. “We came to the deci- from the 1999-2008 recession, More than 80% of the work- of the economy. across Africa. gered, starting with the army, strike call. sion on compassionate grounds sparked partly by the expropria- force scrape a living in the in- Last year, his security forces The rapper added Gambia and doctors and nurses being paid in Last July government opera- after our meeting with the gov- tion of experienced white farm- formal sector, a situation that quelled a series of street protests Cape Verde to his Akon Lighting April, police in May and teachers tions were brought to a halt after ernment failed to address our ers, which cut the economy by deprives the government of tax in Harare against his regime and Africa initiative this weekend, a in June. a public sector strike coincided grievances. half and forced the government income. the country’s dire economic fund that already helps popula- Prisca Mupfumira, the pub- with a stay at home rallying call “We were moved by the plight to replace the infl ated currency Mugabe, 83, has faced in- plight. tions who struggle to connect to limited or absent national grids in 25 African countries. Eight killed in Zambia stampede over food aid The Gambian village of Sareh Pateh, population 4,000, turned Future tense At least eight people were killed and 28 Five of the victims died on the spot and on solar street lights for the fi rst others injured in a stampede in Zambia’s three later at hospital. time on Sunday night, along capital Lusaka yesterday as thousands Police had ordered the church that had been with power for a mosque and a of poor people struggled to claim food distributing the corn meal, cooking oil and pharmacy. handouts, police said. salt, to halt the handouts. “I want to leave a legacy,” Police have opened an inquiry into the Hundreds of people, however, stayed there Akon told AFP in the Gambian deadly crush that followed 35,000 people hoping that the organisers would resume capital of Banjul. “Africans work trying to enter a sports complex where the distribution, with some saying that the harder in everything and they Church of Christ was giving out food parcels. country’s president should ask millers to cut work harder to live and to sustain “Eight people died while 28 others were meal prices. themselves.” injured in a stampede which happened at “We cannot aff ord to buy it, so we come Akon, real name Aliaume the Olympic Youth Development Centre here,” Memory Chisanga, a 64-year-old Damala Badara Akon Thiam, around 6am (0400 GMT) today as a crowd woman, told AFP. spent part of his childhood in jostled to enter the premises,” police said in A member of the church declined to a Senegalese village without a statement. comment. electricity before settling in the “We have since dispersed the gathering Sixty per cent of people in Zambia live below United States. and an inquiry into the matter has been the poverty line and 42% are considered to Best known for his singles instituted,” the police statement said. be extremely poor, the World Bank says. Locked Up and Smack That, Police spokeswoman Esther Mwata-Katongo Southern Africa has been hit by a severe Akon has devoted more of his said the dead were six women, a man and drought since 2015, and food prices in time in recent years to attending a boy. Zambia have risen steeply. renewable energy conferences and visiting schools to provide adequate lighting to study. In Cape Verde on Saturday the musician met Economy Minis- ter Jose Goncalves and said he considered the poor but stable island nation to be his next in- vestment prospect. He has identifi ed investment Internally-displaced Somali children eat boiled rice yesterday outside their family’s makeshift shelter at the Al opportunities and hopes to Cadaala camp in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. launch a mini-grid solar project when possible, he told journal- ists in the capital, Praia. The musician’s visit comes alongside a wider push for solar power on the continent. Several African nations held Drought emergency spirals in Ethiopia a renewable energy summit in Guinea on Saturday to raise funds for 19 projects. Reuters tarian Aff airs (OCHA) said yester- drought, including 2.7mn in Kenya, The African Renewable En- Nairobi day. “Each day without food assist- 2.9mn people in Somalia and 1.6mn ergy Initiative, launched at ance exponentially increases human people in Uganda, the OCHA said. the Paris COP21 summit in suff ering, lengthens the recovery The situation is expected to wors- 2015, aims to bring large-scale illions of drought-stricken period of aff ected people, puts in- en across the region as the “belg” projects to the continent. Ethiopians needing food, creasing pressure on humanitarian spring rains are predicted to fail. Consumers are increasingly Mwater and emergency and development systems, and the “The expected below normal opting for their own off -grid so- medical care are not receiving it due interventions become that much rainfall will negatively impact belg lar solutions like Akon’s to pow- to funding shortages, the United more expensive.” land preparation and planting, as er homes and small businesses, Nations said, warning the crisis will It is three times cheaper to treat well as water and pasture avail- alongside larger but costly gov- worsen if spring rains fail as pre- children who are moderately, rather ability; with a spiral eff ect on food ernment investments. dicted. than severely, malnourished, it said. and nutritional security of aff ected According to International Some 5.6mn people need food aid But it takes at least four months communities,” the OCHA said. Energy Agency projections, al- in the Horn of Africa nation, which to procure, ship and deliver emer- At least $2.7mn is required each most 1bn people in sub-Saharan has been hit by a series of back-to- gency supplies to Ethiopia, it said. week to provide water via more than Africa will gain access to the grid back droughts. The UN appealed for more than 600 trucks to millions of people, by 2040, but by that time 530mn “The needs relating to the devel- $900mn in aid for Ethiopia in Janu- mostly livestock herders in south- will remain off -grid, almost oping emergency exceed resources ary. ern Ethiopia, but there is only fund- comparable with the 600mn available to date,” the UN’s Offi ce Almost 13mn people across the ing for 300-odd trucks, the OCHA who cannot access power today. for the Co-ordination of Humani- Horn of Africa need aid due to said. Poachers kill rare giant elephant in Kenya

AFP “Luckily, through the work we park, the second to die in less than a They are so named for their im- Nairobi do with the Kenyan Wildlife Serv- month at the hands of poachers, ac- pressive tusks which nearly scrape ice (KWS), we were able to fi nd the cording to the wildlife authority. the ground. carcass before the poachers could According to the International About 15 of these are in Kenya. ne of Africa’s oldest and recover the ivory,” said Moller. Union for Conservation of Nature Moller said one of Satao II’s tusks largest elephants has been The elephant, believed to be about (IUCN) the number of African ele- weighed 51.5kg (112 pounds), and the Okilled by poachers in Kenya, 50 years old, was beloved by visitors phants has fallen by around 111,000 other 50.5kg. according to a conservation group to the Tsavo National Park. to 415,000 over the past decade. “I am pretty gutted really. This that protects the dwindling group of Not long after his carcass was The killing shows no sign of abat- particular elephant was one that giant “tuskers”. spotted in routine aerial reconnais- ing with around 30,000 elephants was very approachable, one of those Richard Moller of the Tsavo Trust sance of the park, two poachers be- slaughtered for their ivory every easy old boys to fi nd. Many of the told AFP that Satao II, named after lieved to be responsible for the kill- year, mainly to satisfy demand in the others are much more diffi cult to another famed giant killed in 2014, ing were apprehended. Asian market. see” and stay in remote areas, said was found dead yesterday and was The incident comes just two days According to Moller, there are Moller. “He has been through lots believed to have been shot with a after a KWS offi cer was killed dur- only about 25 of the giant tuskers of droughts and probably other at- poisoned arrow. ing an anti-poaching incident in the remaining in the world. tempts at poaching.” Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 AMERICA Court sidesteps ruling in transgender rights case

Reuters Trump administration’s Febru- school’s refusal violated federal their gender identity. in November had agreed to hear, lican-backed law last year that That action infuriated many Washington ary 22 action. anti-discrimination law and the Obama’s guidance said that would have been the Supreme required people to use bathrooms conservatives and prompted a The court previously had set US Constitution’s guarantee of transgender students were pro- Court’s fi rst case on discrimina- that corresponded to their gen- Republican-led legal eff ort to arguments in the case for March equal protection under the law. tected under a federal law barring tion against transgender people. der at birth in government build- fi ght it. he US Supreme Court 28. The 4th Circuit in April 2016 sex discrimination in education. It was among the most impor- ings and public schools. A total of 23 states sued to avoided a ruling on trans- The brief court order said that sided with Grimm based on the The Trump administration’s tant cases the justices were due The North Carolina law also block the guidance. Tgender rights by sending the case was sent back to the Obama administration’s inter- move left the decision to the to hear during their current term, blocked local measures protect- That lawsuit was dropped after a closely watched case involving Richmond, Virginia-based 4th pretation of the anti-discrimina- states. which ends in June. ing lesbian, gay, bisexual and Trump rescinded the guidance. bathroom access at a Virginia US Circuit Court of Appeals, tion law. The law involved in the case The issue of allowing trans- transgender people from dis- In the Virginia case, the Su- high school back to a lower court which last year ruled in favour It now gets a second chance to is Title IX of the Education gender people to use public bath- crimination. preme Court in July 2016 voted yesterday after President Donald of Grimm, “for further consid- rule on the dispute, with its ear- Amendments of 1972, which ap- rooms that correspond to their The Obama administration in 5-3 to temporarily block the ap- Trump rolled back protections eration in light of the guidance lier decision wiped off the books. plies to federally funded schools. gender identity rather than their May 2016 issued its nationwide peals court decision from going for transgender students. document” issued by the Trump The Trump administration re- The question of whether it birth gender has become the lat- guidance telling public schools into eff ect, a move that prevent- Lawyers for a transgender stu- administration. scinded landmark protections for covers transgender students re- est fl ashpoint in the long US bat- that transgender students should ed Grimm from using the boys’ dent named Gavin Grimm, who Grimm sued the Gloucester transgender students ordered by mains unresolved and is likely tle over lesbian, gay, bisexual and be allowed to use the bathroom of bathroom when the new school was born female and identifi es County School Board to win the former president Barack Obama to reach the high court at some transgender rights. their choice, and indicated that year began in September while as male, had asked the justices right to use the public school’s last year that had permitted them time. The matter heated up after states could lose education fund- the case remained under appeal to decide the case despite of the boys’ bathroom, saying the to use bathrooms that matched The case, which the justices North Carolina passed a Repub- ing if they did not comply. by the school district. Wyoming Vigil for Kuchibhotla wolves stripped of protections

Reuters reasonable way” in concluding Wyoming that Wyoming’s management plan would provide wolves with suffi cient protections. olves in Wyoming “The record demonstrates should be stripped that the Service reasonably Wof Endangered Spe- and adequately responded to cies Act protections and man- concerns about the reliabil- agement given to the state ity of Wyoming’s management rather than the US govern- plan,” the court said in the ment, a federal appeals court opinion. ruled on Friday, a decision that The decision was quickly opens the door for hunting of hailed by Wyoming’s Republi- the animals. can governor, Matt Mead, who US wildlife managers in said in a written statement, 2012 determined that wolves “This is the right decision for in Wyoming had rebounded wolves and for Wyoming.” from the threat of extinction Mead said the state will once and that the state plan to over- again assume management of see the creatures was adequate wolves once the 2012 delisting to ensure their survival. rule is formally reinstated but But conservation groups the time frame was not imme- Members of the South Asian community and others attend a peace vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla, the 32-year-old Indian engineer killed at a bar Olathe, Kansas, in Bellevue, sued, contending the US Fish diately clear. Washington. and Wildlife Service had acted Conservationists decried in an arbitrary and unlawful the ruling, which they said fashion in fi nding Wyoming’s they were still reviewing. plan acceptable. “But we’re going to con- They argued the state would tinue to fi ght to protect wolves fail to maintain the animals at from hostile and extreme state certain population levels and management policies where would subject a portion of they exist,” Tim Preso, attor- them to being shot on sight. ney for the environmental law A US district judge sided fi rm Earthjustice, told Reuters with environmentalists in a by telephone on Friday. 2014 decision and the several Wolves were hunted, Detained Afghans hundred wolves in Wyoming trapped and poisoned to near were once again placed under extinction in the Lower 48 federal safeguards. states before coming un- The state, US Fish and der federal protections in the Wildlife Agency and others 1970s. They were re-intro- appealed that ruling and, on duced to the Northern Rock- Friday, the US Court of Ap- ies in the mid-1990s over the peals in the District of Colum- objections of ranchers and await court decision bia reversed the lower court, sportsmen, who feared wolves fi nding that the US Fish and would prey on livestock and The Afghan family is being held detained the family shortly af- requiring proof of having worked ferring to US Customs and Border said Talia Inlender, a lawyer with Wildlife Service had indeed game animals favoured by despite having valid visas ter their arrival at Los Angeles for the US Armed Forces or the Protection. Public Counsel who is part of the “exercised its judgment in a hunters. International Airport (LAX) last American diplomatic mission CBP declined to comment on family’s defence team. Reuters Tuesday, and held them in incom- for at least 12 months, “as well as the matter. The mother was being detained Santa Anna municado without access to legal proof of completion of a back- Immigrant advocates are in- in downtown Los Angeles with counsel, according to the petition. ground check and screening”. It creasingly concerned about her children, while the father was The petition, fi led in US Dis- was not clear on what grounds the tougher scrutiny of visitors, even in a maximum-security deten- federal judge was due to trict Court in Santa Ana, Cali- government detained the family. those with the proper documen- tion facility in Orange County, consider a petition seeking fornia, south of Los Angeles, As of Sunday night, the CBP tation and visas, as part of Presi- California, Inlender told Reuters. Athe immediate release of an says the family was taken into had declined to comment on the dent Donald Trump’s crackdown When asked to comment about Afghan family of fi ve said by their custody, apparently without ex- matter, which was set for a hear- on illegal immigration on national the judge’s order, Carl Rusnok, lawyers to have been detained by planation, and “with absolutely ing before a US District Judge security grounds. a spokesman for US Immigra- US agents upon their arrival in no justifi cation whatsoever”. The Josephine Staton in Santa Ana. “The betrayal of this family by tion and Customs Enforcement, California, despite having valid fi ling on their behalf said the fam- The judge barred a move by the US government shocks the said in an e-mail: “ICE will fully visas to enter the country. ily’s incarceration is a violation of the government on Saturday to conscience,” the petition said, comply with the March 4 judicial The couple and their three constitutional guarantees of due separate the family by sending the adding the father, who was not order and all other legal require- young children were granted the process and equal protection, as children and their mother, who named, was employed by the US ments.” visas and resettlement assistance well as a breach of the US Admin- cannot speak or read English, to government in Afghanistan. The government may explain Wolves have lost off icial protection in Wyoming in return for work the father per- istrative Procedure Act and immi- Texas. The wife and children, aged 7 its reasons for detaining the fam- formed for the US government gration laws. “Despite this record of serv- years, 6 years, and 8 months, were ily at a hearing in federal court in that put the family’s lives at risk, The petition did not state the ice on behalf of our country, CBP also not named. Orange County, Inlender said. the International Refugee Assist- exact nature of the father’s em- has detained this brave family and “It is extremely unusual if not “We think it is going to be hard ance Project said in its court fi ling ployment with the US govern- denied them access to counsel,” entirely unique” for someone if not impossible to justify keep- on Saturday. ment in Afghanistan. said the petition, fi led on Satur- with this type of visa to be de- ing a family in custody for days on However, US Customs and But it said he qualifi ed for a day with the US District Court tained upon arrival. The visas end without access to their law- Border Protection (CBP) agents special visa under a programme Central District of California, re- require extreme vetting to get,” yers,” she said.

Confi dant of Christie to be sentenced in airline scheme

Reuters to reverse its cancellation of a known as Bridgegate. Fallout Samson, a former state attor- overseen by the Port Authority, New York route between Newark, New from the case rocked Chris- ney general, was not charged in unless United began fl ying to Jersey, and Columbia, South tie’s administration and dam- the Bridgegate case, though his Columbia again. Carolina. aged the Republican governor’s name came up at trial as one of United agreed to pay more former confi dant of New He entered a guilty plea in once-promising political career. several offi cials who appeared to than $4.6mn to settle criminal Jersey Governor Chris federal court in Newark last Two former Christie aides be aware of the lane closure plot and civil investigations without AChristie is to be sen- year. were convicted of orchestrating as it unfolded. admitting wrongdoing. tenced for pressuring United The route, which Samson pri- the closures to create massive The bi-state agency that The scandal led to the resig- Airlines into operating a fl ight vately referred to as the “chair- traffi c jams as political pay back Samson led is the operator of nation of United Continental to an airport near his vacation man’s fl ight” made it easier for for a local mayor who declined the bridge, one of the world’s Holdings Inc Chief Executive home, a case that grew out of him to get to a summer home he to endorse the governor’s 2013 busiest, which spans the Hud- Jeff Smisek and two other senior the “Bridgegate” investigation. owned in South Carolina, ac- reelection bid. son River between Manhattan executives. David Samson, 77, a former cording to prosecutors. Christie, who has not been and Fort Lee, New Jersey. A consultant who was facing chairman of the Port Author- The case emerged from the charged, has denied any knowl- In the airline case, Samson charges in the scheme for al- ity of New York and New Jersey, investigation into the shutdown edge of the Bridgegate scheme, was accused of threatening to legedly acting as a middleman, faces as much as two years in of access lanes at the George but the aides testifi ed that he block United’s plans for a new former state transportation prison on charges that he used Washington Bridge in Septem- was aware of the lane closures at hangar at Newark Liberty In- commissioner Jamie Fox, died his position to coerce United ber 2013, a scandal that became the time they occurred. ternational Airport, which is in February. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 13 AMERICAS Accused Al Qaeda man to watch trial from cell

Reuters the nom de guerre Spin Ghul, or born defendant has insisted he He has refused to speak with while in jail. a refugee ship headed for Italy along the Afghanistan-Pakistan New York White Rose in the Pashto lan- is a “warrior” who should face his court-appointed lawyers for But Cogan declared Harun before Italian authorities seized border, including one that killed guage, is accused of conspiring a military tribunal rather than two years. competent, fi nding that his be- him and notifi ed US federal a US Army private and an Air to kill Americans and provid- criminal proceedings and has At their request, US District haviour was a deliberate act of agents, who interviewed him in Force airman, US authorities n accused Al Qaeda oper- ing support to a terrorist group, registered his dissent through Judge Brian Cogan is permitting protest. Italy, according to court papers. said. ative charged with engag- among other charges. increasingly aggressive court- Harun to monitor his trial by “His lack of respect for this Prosecutors say Harun, who Eventually, Harun travelled Aing in attacks on US forces An anonymous jury will hear room behaviour. video from a jail cell. court and his rejection of these says he is a citizen of Niger, ad- to Nigeria, where he plotted to that killed at least two American the case, which is not uncom- Before one appearance last At a hearing in February to de- legal proceedings does not dem- mitted he joined an Al Qaeda bomb the US embassy there, ac- servicemen in Afghanistan is set mon in national security trials. May, Harun scuffl ed with US termine if Harun was mentally onstrate his incapability of as- training camp in Afghanistan cording to court papers. to face trial in federal court in Harun, 47, is not expected to marshals, tore off his clothes, fi t to stand trial, a psycholo- sisting in his defence,” Cogan shortly before the September 11, Harun faces life in prison if Brooklyn, New York. be in court. then disrupted the hearing by gist called by the defence testi- said. 2001, attacks on US soil. convicted, but cannot be ex- Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Since his extradition from screaming from an adjacent fi ed that Harun was delusional, Harun was captured in Libya Harun engaged in numerous ecuted under terms of his extra- Adam Harun, also known by Italy in October 2012, the Saudi- holding cell. pointing to his refusal to shower in 2005 and released in 2011 to attacks against American troops dition. Pawnee tribe sues fi rms over quakes

Reuters west of Tulsa, the Pawnee Na- Oklahoma tion has 3,500 enrolled tribal citizens. It has a separate earthquake- he Pawnee Nation fi led related lawsuit pending in fed- a lawsuit on Friday in eral court against the Bureau of Ttribal court in Oklaho- Indian Aff airs and the Bureau ma against 27 oil and gas pro- of Land Management. ducers, seeking damages for One tribal building was de- an earthquake they said was clared structurally unsound caused from man-made activ- after the earthquake, forcing ity related to hydraulic fractur- offi cials to move two depart- ing, or fracking. ments and a branch of govern- The Native American group ment, the lawyers said. claimed that wastewater in- “We’ve already been forced jected into disposal wells out of our homelands in Ne- helped trigger a 5.8-magni- braska,” Pawnee Nation Ex- tude earthquake in September, ecutive Director Andrew Knife the strongest on record in the Chief told reporters. state, that damaged several “Our home is now here in Pawnee Nation buildings, in- Oklahoma and has been since cluding several that are more the 1870s. The destruction of than 100 years old. our buildings is too high a price Lawyers for the Pawnee Na- for our nation to bear,” he said. tion said they believe the case In December, Oklahoma said President Donald Trump walks from Marine One as he returns to the White House in Washington. is the fi rst of its sort fi led in a it was imposing guidelines to tribal court. reduce the risk of earthquakes They are seeking at least caused by hydraulic fractur- $250,000 in damages. ing in its oil-rich shale forma- Most of the companies were tions, the fi rst rules in the state listed as “John Does” in court to target the energy production papers. technique. Attorneys for two of the The move by the Oklahoma companies named in the suit, Corp Commission’s Oil and President Trump signs Oklahoma City-based Cum- Gas Conservation Division and mings Oil and Tulsa-based the Oklahoma Geological Sur- Eagle Road Oil, could not be vey came as earthquakes in the reached for comment. state have risen sharply since The American Bar Asso- the shale boom and the use of ciation said the civil powers of fracking. tribal courts extend to “con- Oklahoma has been shaken new travel ban order sensual relations” with non- by a series of earthquakes that members and non-Indians, in- the state has said are tied to Six countries are on a list into the country because of this and already have been approved cluding contractual relations. disposal of wastewater from banned from travel to the US executive order.” would be able to travel to the Headquartered about 100km fracking. Thousands of Iraqis have United States. Reuters fought alongside US troops for Trump’s original order barred Washington years or worked as translators travellers from the seven nations since the US-led invasion in from entering for 90 days and all 2003. refugees for 120 days. resident Donald Trump Many have resettled in the Refugees from Syria were to Challenge to Libor signed a revised executive United States after being threat- be banned indefi nitely but under Porder for a US travel ban ened for working with US troops. the new order they are not given yesterday, leaving Iraq off the list The White House offi cial said separate treatment. indictment rejected of targeted countries, after his the new executive order also en- “This executive order has controversial fi rst attempt was sures that tens of thousands of scrapped that division and the blocked in the courts, senior ad- legal permanent residents in the indefi nite suspension and has Reuters ruling by the New York-based ministration offi cials said. United States — or green card collapsed them into a single cat- Washington 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals. The new order, which the holders — from the listed coun- egory of a 120-day suspension,” Darin has remained in his White House said Trump had tries would not be aff ected by the the White House offi cial said. home country, meaning he can- signed, will keep a 90-day ban US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks on visa travel at the US travel ban. The FBI is investigating 300 he US Supreme Court yes- not be arrested. Darin has never on travel to the United States by Customs and Border Protection Press Room in the Reagan Building More than two dozen lawsuits people who were admitted into terday rejected a bid by a appeared in US court, and Swit- citizens of six Muslim-majority in Washington, DC. were fi led in US courts against the United States as refugees as Tformer trader with Swiss zerland does not extradite its citi- nations — Iran, Libya, Syria, So- the original travel ban and the part of 1,000 counter terrorism global fi nancial services compa- zens. Libor, or the London inter- malia, Sudan and Yemen, the of- mestic security. heightened visa screening and state of Washington succeeded investigations involving Islamic ny UBS AG to dismiss a criminal bank off ered rate, is a short-term fi cials said. His Secretary of State, Rex data sharing, and because of its in having it suspended by the 9th State or individuals inspired by indictment fi led by US prosecu- rate that underpins hundreds White House spokeswoman Tillerson, told reporters yester- work with the United States in Circuit court of Appeals by argu- the militant group, congressional tors over his alleged role in Libor of trillions of dollars of fi nan- Sarah Huckabee Sanders had said day: “As threats to our security countering Islamic State mili- ing that it violated constitutional sources told Reuters yesterday, benchmark interest rate manipu- cial products from mortgages to earlier yesterday that the new or- continue to evolve and change, tants, a senior White House of- protections against religious dis- citing senior administration of- lation. credit card loans. der would take eff ect on March common sense dictates that we fi cial said. crimination. fi cials. The court’s decision not to According to the US justice 16. continually re-evaluate and re- “There’s going to be a very or- Trump publicly criticized Department of Homeland Se- hear the appeal brought by Swiss department, Darin was primarily The new directive delays im- assess the systems we rely upon derly process,” a senior offi cial judges who ruled against him and curity offi cials did not provide citizen Roger Darin means the focused on trading yen-domi- plementation to limit the disrup- to protect our country.” from the Department of Home- vowed to fi ght the case in the Su- details of the investigations or 2012 charges will not be thrown nated short-term interest rate tion that created havoc for some Iraq was taken off the list in land Security said.”You should preme Court, but then decided to the current immigration status out, leaving in place a March 2016 derivative products. travellers when Trump issued his the original order, which was is- not see any chaos so to speak, or draw up a new order with chang- of those 300 individuals dur- original order. sued on January 27, because the alleged chaos at airports. es aimed at making it easier to ing a briefi ng with congressional Trump had said the restrictive Iraqi government has imposed There aren’t going to be folks defend in the courts. staff ers, according to the sources, order is necessary to ensure do- new vetting procedures, such as stopped tonight from coming Refugees who are “in transit” who requested anonymity. Twin Rhode Island sisters die in falls Hispanic man acquitted over juror’s biased remarks

Reuters discovered Martha Williams. Reuters upheld the conviction of Miguel four liberals in the ruling. challenge the jury deliberations. erations that Pena Rodriguez, Boston She appeared to have fallen Washington Pena Rodriguez, who was ac- The two competing issues in “When jurors disclose an in- a Mexican-born lawful perma- while leaving her vehicle, po- cused of sexually groping two the case were the racially biased stance of racial bias as serious as nent US resident, “did it because lice said in a statement released teenage sisters in a bathroom juror statements that Pena Ro- the one involved in this case, the he’s Mexican, and Mexican pair of 97-year-old twin on Sunday. he Supreme Court, delv- in 2007 at a Colorado race track driguez argued undermined his law must not wholly disregard men take whatever they want”. sisters died over the When police entered the ing again into the some- where he worked. Pena Rodrigu- right to an impartial jury un- its occurrence,” Kennedy added. Pena Rodriguez was working Aweekend after one fell garage, they found the body Ttimes pernicious role of ez could face a new trial. der the US Constitution’s Sixth Pena Rodriguez’s appeal fo- as a horse keeper at the Ara- while exiting her car and the of Williams’ twin sister, Jean race in US criminal justice, ruled Justice Anthony Kennedy, Amendment, and a Colorado cused on whether the trial’s pahoe race track in 2007 when other appeared to trip while Haley, who apparently tripped yesterday in favour of a Hispanic writing for the court, described policy that keeps jury delibera- outcome was infl uenced by the he was arrested after the two rushing into their Rhode Island while trying to call for help. man who argued he did not re- racial bias in the US criminal tions generally off -limits in any comments made by a former law teenage sisters, the 14-year-old home to call for help, police Police said extreme weather ceive a fair trial on sex off ence justice system as a “familiar and attempt to overturn a verdict. enforcement offi cer who served and 16-year-old daughters of a said. might have been a factor in the charges due to a juror’s racially recurring evil that, if left unad- Kennedy said when there is as a juror in the proceedings in jockey, identifi ed him as the man Barrington police responded women’s deaths. biased remarks during trial de- dressed, would risk systemic evidence a juror made a “clear Arapahoe County, near Denver. who groped them in the wom- to a Saturday morning call that Temperatures in the region liberations. injury to the administration of statement that indicates he or After the trial, other jurors en’s bathroom of a barn at the an elderly woman was lying dropped into the low 20° Fahr- The justices, voting 5-3, threw justice”. Kennedy, a conserva- she relied on racial stereotypes said the one juror, identifi ed horse racing track where they face-down in her driveway and enheit (below -6°C) that night. out a state court decision that tive, was joined by the court’s or animus”, the defendant can as “HC,” stated during delib- had gone to take showers. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 ASEAN

30 dead in Myanmar Najib chides North Korea, rebel raid

AFP Yangon

‘rude’ envoy sent packing t least 30 people were killed yesterday in a day Reuters Aof intense fi ghting in a Kuyala Lumpur town on Myanmar’s border with China, authorities said, after rebels dressed in police uniforms alaysian Prime Minister Na- launched a surprise raid. jib Razak yesterday rebuked Artillery and small arms fi re MNorth Korea as his government continued throughout the day expelled its envoy for casting doubt over in Laukkai, a main town in the the impartiality of the investigation into Kokang region of the northeast- the bizarre murder of the North Korean ern state of Shan. leader’s estranged half brother. The clashes are some of the If North Korean agents did kill Kim worst to break out in the Chi- Jong-nam, as US offi cials and South Ko- nese-speaking Kokang region rean intelligence suspect, the decision to since fi ghting in 2015 left scores assassinate him on Malaysian soil could dead and forced tens of thou- cost the isolated, nuclear-armed state sands to fl ee across the border one of the few friends that it has. into China. Malaysia’s outrage over last month’s Myanmar is already torn by killing of Kim Jong-nam at Kuala various ethnic insurgencies. Lumpur International Airport was But the Kokang confl ict has heightened by the assassins’ use of VX raised tensions with its giant nerve agent, a chemical so toxic that it neighbour. is on a UN list of weapons of mass de- Aung San Suu Kyi’s govern- struction. ment is desperate to end the North Korea has refused to ac- decades-long borderland con- cept that the victim of the February 13 fl icts, but intensifying fi ghting murder was leader Kim Jong-un’s half threatens peace eff orts. brother, and ambassador Kang Chol ac- Rebels from the Myanmar Na- cused Najib’s government of colluding tionalities Democratic Alliance with external forces and said the inves- Army (MNDAA) launched an at- tigation could not be trusted. tack early yesterday against po- Najib had branded ambassador Kang lice and military posts, accord- “diplomatically rude” and, angered by ing to Suu Kyi’s offi ce. the lack of an apology, the Malaysian A separate group of fi ghters government on Saturday gave him 48 later attacked locations in the hours to leave. main town. “They should have apologised. So “According to initial infor- based on principles, we have declared mation, many innocent civil- him persona non grata,” Najib told re- ians including a primary school porters at parliament yesterday. teacher...were killed because of “There is no one who can undermine attacks by the MNDAA armed us or disrupt us as they please.” group,” the State Counsellor’s The expelled ambassador fi red a part- Offi ce said in a statement, add- ing shot at the Malaysian authorities as The 15th king of Malaysia, Sultan Mohamed V, inspects a ceremonial guard of honour during the opening session of the Parliament in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. ing some attackers wore local he prepared to leave from the same air- police uniforms. port where Kim Jong-nam was killed. leave the country within 48 hours of Kim Jong-nam. But police have identi- Until this week Malaysia was one of Korea to be moved to a neutral venue as The statement, accompanied “I express grave concern over the ex- 10am on Sunday. The move appeared fi ed eight North Koreans, including a the few countries that North Koreans tension escalated. by grisly pictures of the dead and treme measures taken by the Malaysian to be a tit-for-tat formality as Malaysia senior embassy offi cial and state airline could enter without a visa. “The relationship has already been wounded, said at least fi ve civil- government, doing great harm to the had already recalled its envoy on Febru- employee, wanted for questioning in But that privilege has been revoked. aff ected, it won’t be the same,” Deputy ians and fi ve local police were bilateral relations which have a history ary 20, a week after the killing. the probe. Asked whether Malaysia, which had Foreign Minister Reezal Merican told killed in the fi ghting. of more than 40 years,” he told reporters. Kim Jong-nam, who had been living Police say that four of the North Ko- recalled its ambassador to Pyongyang reporters. It added that a further 20 Kang said his statements were a stand in the Chinese territory of Macau un- reans they want to interview left Malay- for consultations, would be reviewing The case has also cast a spotlight “burned bodies” had been found taken against a “pre-targeted investiga- der Beijing’s protection, had spoken out sia in the hours after the murder. diplomatic ties with North Korea, Najib on North Koreans living in alongside weapons. tion by the Malaysian police.” publicly against his family’s dynastic Only one North Korean suspect was was noncommittal. Malaysia, with authorities vowing to Government spokesman Zaw The North’s KCNA news agency said control of North Korea. apprehended, but after several days in “We will see. We’ll take it one step at investigate North Korea-linked com- Htay told AFP those casualties late yesterday the Malaysian ambas- So far, Malaysian prosecutors have custody, Ri Jong-chol was deported on a time.” panies that are suspected of operating were MNDAA fi ghters. sador to Pyongyang had also been des- charged an Indonesian woman and a Friday after being released due to insuf- Malaysia also asked for an Asian Cup a sanctions-busting arms business in Unverifi ed video shared on ignated persona non grata and had to Vietnamese woman with the murder of fi cient evidence. soccer qualifi er match against North Malaysia. social media appeared to show parts of the town still ablaze yes- terday afternoon while civilians scurried to safety amid the rattle of small arms fi re. An army source told AFP Communities are fi ghting was continuing as dark- ness fell. “Residents in town are fl eeing. tourist attraction We do not know exact fi gures yet,” the offi cer said. The Northern Alliance, an in Thailand umbrella group of rebels includ- ing the MNDAA which has yet to join national peace talks, con- IANS fi rmed its members were fi ght- Bangkok ing in Laukkai. But in a Facebook post it said they carried out the attack “to couple of small-sized communities resist an enemy off ensive in self- in the neighbourhood of Pattaya in defence” and cited Myanmar AThailand are being promoted as one- military operations since De- day tourist spots besides the world-famous cember. beach resort, an offi cial said yesterday. The latest fi ghting raises the Thaweepong Wichaidit, deputy direc- spectre of a fresh refugee exodus tor of the Designated Areas for Sustainable into China. Tourism Administration (DASTA), said the In early 2015 tens of thousands agency has launched a campaign to promote fl ed there when dozens of civil- Chak Ngaeo and Takhian Tia community, (From left) The secretary general of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) K V Bhagirath greets South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Co- ians, rebels and army troops died both located in Pattaya, as the new tourist operation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane as Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Australian Minister for Foreign Aff airs Julie Bishop look on during a in months of fi ghting across the attraction, especially for day trippers. group photo call for ministers at their meeting in Jakarta. remote and mountainous region. While Pattaya has tropical sea, sand and China said Myanmar war- ritzy nighttime entertainment venues to planes dropped bombs on its draw the tourists, Chak Ngaeo and Takhian side of the border during that Tia display the traditional way of life of lo- bout of fi ghting. cal villagers and their indigenous goods for Indonesia hosts Indian Ocean Rim Association summit Kokang has strong bonds with sales, Xinhua news agency quoted the offi - China — local people speak a cial as saying. Chinese dialect and China’s Tourists may visit the communities in IANS resentatives from the 21 IORA mem- among the member states, according Today’s agenda includes the IORA yuan is the common currency. the day and need not spend the night, es- Jakarta ber countries that border the Indian to the offi cial IORA website. Leaders’ Summit hosted by Indonesia Observers say Beijing holds pecially on Saturdays when a pedestrian Ocean were seen at the meeting, which Some of the senior delegates at- — the current chair of IORA — organ- considerable sway over the street is open to visitors for indigenous celebrates 20 years since the associa- tending yesterday’s proceedings were ised under the theme “Strengthening rebels. goods shopping, Thaweepong said. ozens of foreign delegates and tion’s founding, Efe news reported. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Maritime Co-operation for a Peaceful, Skirmishes with the Northern He said an estimated 3,000 tourists are offi cials yesterday attended For yesterday’s portion of the three- Marsudi, Australian Foreign Aff airs Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean”. Alliance have intensifi ed across expected to visit Chak Ngaeo and Takhian Dthe Indian Ocean Rim Asso- day summit, which concludes today, a Minister Julie Bishop and South Af- The international association was Shan state since late last year, Tia daily and each visitor is tipped to spend ciation (IORA) summit in the Indone- Council of Ministers meeting was on rican International Relations and Co- formed in 1995 and brings together claiming more than 160 lives as much as 1,000 baht ($28.57) on shopping sian capital. the agenda, as well as a business sum- operation Minister Maite Nkoana- countries across Asia, Oceania and across an arc of land in the long at the communities. About 100 people, including rep- mit aimed at boosting co-operation Mashabane. Africa. border region.

Thai vets remove nearly a thousand coins from a turtle’s stomach Aung San Suu Kyi urges women to A team of Thai veterinary surgeons by many to bring good luck, and, in the turtle to be swimming sideways join in Myanmar’s development yesterday successfully removed ponds with turtles, longevity, as the without using her left leg. nearly a thousand coins from a animals can live well over 100 years. “At first I thought the turtle might yanmar’s de-facto Present at the forum were turtle’s stomach, the world’s first Some also believe they are “making have been paralysed. But an X-ray leader, Aung San ministers, representatives such surgery. merit” for the animals, which is a and a CT scan revealed a massive MSuu Kyi, yesterday from the ministries, wom- Five veterinarians at Bangkok’s Buddhist tradition. chunk of objects,” Nuntarika said. called on women to actively en’s rights advocates and Chulalongkorn University Omsin is a 25-year-old green turtle “It was quite a diff icult and participate in Myanmar’s female entrepreneurs. conducted a six-hour surgery sent from a local turtle pond in challenging task,” said Pasakorn development, opening a After her speech, Suu Kyi on Omsin, Thai for “piggy bank,” Sriracha, a town 120km south-east Briksawan, one of the surgeons week-long series of events held talks with nine women to remove a total of 915 coins of Bangkok, to the Thai navy’s Sea operating on Omsin. ahead of International with leading roles in the weighing 5kg from the 59kg female Turtle Conservation Centre nearby “After we removed the coins one Women’s Day on March 8. country’s private sector. turtle. after the local operator closed down by one, it became obvious the Speaking in the capital Nay- When taking over power “The coins came from many in June. turtle was breathing much better,” pyitaw, Suu Kyi said: “With a almost one year ago, Suu countries, mainly from Asia,” In February, veterinarians at the Nuntarika added. commitment to take responsi- Kyi’s National League for Nuntarika Chansoe said in a press Bangkok university asked the navy Once Omsin recuperates, she will be bility and carry out their duties, Democracy was criticised briefing following the surgery. to send Omsin to its animal hospital sent back to the navy before being A screen show Thai veterinarians operate on Omsin at the Fac- I urge our women to work for for appointing only one fe- Tossing coins into ponds is believed for a check-up, after the team found released back to nature. ulty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. not only the development of male cabinet member: Aung the country but for the world.” San Suu Kyi herself. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA China has right to ‘step into’ Hong Kong poll: offi cial

Reuters former British colony since its weekend that allegations of in- itics to dominate life in the city. freedoms not enjoyed on the times” that the next chief execu- had the right to voice its opin- Hong Kong return to Chinese rule in 1997, tervention were only rumours. He added that it was unfor- mainland. China bristles at dis- tive needs to be “extraordinary, ions. autonomous Hong Kong has the Zhang Dejiang, chairman of tunate that “street politics” had sent, however, especially over outstanding” and have Beijing’s “As a stakeholder, the central right to choose its chief execu- the National People’s Congress, become a part of everyday life in issues such as demands for uni- trust, said Hong Kong delegate government has a right to express hina’s third most power- tive via a 1,200-strong election said it was important for the Hong Kong while the neighbour- versal suff rage. and election committee member its views, and it hopes people can ful leader said yesterday committee stacked with Beijing election to proceed smoothly ing Shenzhen city was catching This month’s election is the Michael Tien. take its opinions into considera- Cthat Beijing had the right loyalists. The committee is due and stressed the signifi cance of up economically. fi rst since mass pro-democracy “The implication is that being tion,” Fan said. to “step in” to Hong Kong’s lead- to vote at the end of this month the chief executive’s role as a link “It is quite possible that Shen- street protests rocked Hong Kong a secretary for 10 years doesn’t But critics say Zhang’s com- ership contest, according to local to decide between two former of- between Beijing and the Asian zhen can overtake Hong Kong in in late 2014. necessarily mean the person is ments just weeks before the politicians who met him, in re- fi cials and a retired judge to lead fi nancial hub, according to the two years,” Tam cited Zhang say- Beijing’s support means qualifi ed as a chief executive,” polls would further undermine marks fuelling fears of meddling the freewheeling city of 7.3mn convener of the Hong Kong del- ing. former Hong Kong civil service Tien said. Tien added some com- the “one country, two systems” from Communist Party leaders. people. egation to the congress, Maria Calls to the central govern- head Carrie Lam is tipped as the mittee members expected the principle, which has come under The comments by Zhang De- But the independence of the Tam. ment’s Hong Kong and Macau favourite in the contest despite Beijing leadership to make its strain, especially since the shad- jiang, the head of China’s parlia- election has been questioned, “It is a very important role, so Aff airs Offi ce seeking comment losing popularity polls to an ex- fi nal preference known closer to owy detention of fi ve Hong Kong ment and its leading offi cial on with several election committee the central government has the went unanswered. China’s For- colleague, former Financial Sec- the election. The central govern- booksellers in late 2015. Hong Kong issues, came after members telling media they had right to step in,” Tam told report- eign Ministry, the only depart- retary John Tsang. ment is legally required to offi - “The central government other offi cials played down ru- received phone calls from people ers in her summary of Zhang’s ment which regularly answers Tsang had previously rejected cially appoint the winner of the might as well just tell us directly mours that Beijing was interfer- with ties to the Chinese govern- comments. questions from foreign reporters, speculation that Beijing did not committee’s election. who to vote for and we all be- ing in a race pitting China’s pre- ment trying to infl uence their Zhang also warned the del- declined to comment. trust him despite his almost Another delegate, the former come rubber stamps,” said pro- ferred candidate against a more votes. The head of Beijing’s rep- egation during the annual parlia- Hong Kong returned to Chi- decade-long tenure as fi nan- head of Hong Kong’s legislature, democracy legislator and elec- popular fi gure. resentative offi ce in Hong Kong, mentary meetings in Beijing that na under a “one country, two cial secretary. But during the Rita Fan, denied that Beijing was tion committee member Lam Under laws governing the Zhang Xiaoming, said over the Hong Kong should not allow pol- systems” formula that allows meeting Zhang stressed “many intervening in the race, adding it Cheuk-ting.

Contenders for party elite play it safe at N Korea missiles draw China parliament

Reuters Beijing global condemnation

voiding controversial AFP North is barred under UN reso- questions and stick- Seoul lutions from any use of ballistic Aing closely to the script, missile technology. three leading candidates jostling But six sets of UN sanctions for a spot on the Communist uclear-armed North since Pyongyang’s fi rst nuclear Party’s apex of power made rare Korea launched four test in 2006 have failed to halt public appearances on the side- Nballistic missiles yes- its drive for what it insists are lines of China’s annual meeting terday in another challenge to defensive weapons. Three years of parliament yesterday. President Donald Trump, with ago, Barack Obama ordered the China is gearing up for a Chongqing Communist Party three landing provocatively Pentagon to increase cyberat- tricky leadership transition in Secretary Sun Zhengcai (centre) close to America’s ally Japan. tacks against North Korea to try the autumn, when President speaks during the Anhui province Seoul and Washington began to sabotage its missiles before Xi Jinping will seek to cement opening session. annual joint military exercises launch or just as they lift off , the his power and get many of his last week that always infuriate New York Times reported at the supporters on to the Politburo porter, cutting him off mid-sen- Pyongyang, with the North’s weekend. Standing Committee, a group tence once he realised he was not military warning of “merciless Several of the North’s devices currently of seven men who from a mainland media outlet. “I nuclear counter-action”. have failed soon after launch. have ultimate power making think in future (years) we can let Under leader Kim Jong-un, Kim Dong-yup, an analyst decisions in the world’s second- the press conference run later Pyongyang has ambitions to at the Institute for Far Eastern largest economy. but factoring in the time on the develop an intercontinental bal- Studies at Kyungnam Univer- Much of the horse-trading road here and back, time is very listic missile (ICBM) capable sity, noted that unlike previous for who will get in, and who precious,” Chen said. “We’ll end of reaching the US mainland launches the three missiles that will miss out, happens behind the press conference here.” — something which Trump has reached Japan’s EEZ were fi red closed doors, with generally Sun, meanwhile, answered vowed will not happen. Replicas of a North Korean Scud-B missile and South Korean Hawk surface-to-air missiles are displayed at in diff erent directions. speaking none of the overt cam- three questions from Chinese Seoul said four missiles were the Korean War Memorial in Seoul. “North Korea may have at- paigning that happens in places media focusing largely on eco- fi red from Tongchang County tempted to show it can strike US like neighbouring Taiwan, the nomic matters, including one on in North Pyongyang province EEZ. After an emergency meet- bases in Japan simultaneously,” proudly democratic self-ruled progress on one of Xi’s key eco- into the East Sea — its name ing of South Korea’s National he said. Trump has described island China claims as its own. nomic strategies, the Yangtze for the Sea of Japan. The mis- Security Council, acting presi- the North as a “big, big prob- Guangdong provincial party Economic Belt. siles travelled around 1,000km dent Hwang Kyo-ahn called lem” and vowed to deal with the secretary Hu Chunhua, Chong- “Chongqing plays a special and reached an altitude of 260 the North’s nuclear and missile issue “very strongly”. qing boss Sun Zhengcai and and important role in develop- kilometres, said a spokesman provocations “immediate and Yesterday’s missile fi rings Guizhou’s Chen Miner, all born ing the area and in opening up for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of real threats” to his country. were unlikely to be testing a in the 1960s, are considered to outside China,” Sun said. No Staff , adding they were unlikely “Considering the North Ko- newly developed device but prime contenders out of the so- foreign journalists were given to be ICBMs. rean leadership’s brutality and were aimed instead at protesting called sixth-generation leader- the opportunity to ask questions Regional and world pow- recklessness shown through the the military drills in the South, ship candidates to be promoted at the Chongqing delegation ers lined up to condemn the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the analysts said. Seoul and Wash- into the Standing Committee at meeting. launches. results of the North having a nu- ington launched the annual Foal the fi ve-yearly party congress. The Chongqing delegation is Japanese Prime Minister clear weapon in its hands will be Eagle exercises last week.North But with disagreements and a particularly sensitive one due Shinzo Abe said three of the gruesome beyond imagination,” Korea has regularly taken action competition amongst China’s to the graft scandal that envel- North Korean missiles came he said. to protest against the drills, fi r- ruling elite normally happen- oped the charismatic former down in Tokyo’s Exclusive Eco- Seoul has blamed Pyongyang ing seven ballistic missiles dur- ing out of sight, and indeed with party boss Bo Xilai, jailed for nomic Zone (EEZ) — waters ex- for the killing of the half-broth- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said three of the four missiles ing the exercises last year. public argument frowned upon, life in 2013. The party’s anti- tending 200 nautical miles from er of the North’s leader by two launched from North Korea landed in Japanese-controlled waters, Beijing has become in- Hu, Sun and Chen gave little corruption watchdog last month its coast. women using VX nerve agent calling the development a “new stage of threat”. creasingly frustrated with away. criticised Chongqing for failing “This clearly shows North at Kuala Lumpur International Pyongyang’s nuclear and mis- Of the three, Chen, who is to “suffi ciently dispel the poi- Korea has entered a new stage of Airport last month. launches, saying the US was ahead of a trip to Japan, China sile activities, and last month close to Xi having worked with son” of Bo.It was much the same threat,” Abe told parliament. Hwang called for “swift ready to “use the full range of and South Korea by new US announced a suspension of all him in Zhejiang province, is at the Guangdong delegation, The North’s repeated launch- deployment” of a US mis- capabilities at our disposal Secretary of State Rex Tillerson coal imports from the North un- considered the outside shot where Hu did not even speak es “clearly violate UN Security sile defence system, THAAD, against this growing threat”. this month, pointed out Dong- til the end of the year — a crucial candidate for promotion by until he was asked the fi rst and Council resolutions”, he said. a proposal which has infuri- “We remain prepared — and guk University professor Kim source of foreign currency. sources with ties to the leader- only question allowed to him “We can never tolerate this.” ated neighbouring China, the will continue to take steps to in- Yong-hyun. China’s foreign ministry said ship and diplomats. from media present. Pyongyang carried out two North’s key diplomatic protec- crease our readiness — to defend Pyongyang was “trying to it remained opposed to mis- After fi elding pre-arranged “Overall, Guangdong has atomic tests and a series of mis- tor and main provider of trade ourselves and our allies from at- send a message early on in sile launches by the North that questions from Chinese state passed the phase where part of sile launches last year, but yes- and aid. tack,” acting spokesman Mark Trump’s term that North Korea violate UN resolutions, but also media, Chen declined to answer the districts became more well terday was only the second time In Washington, the State Toner said in a statement. will not be dragged around by voiced concern about the mili- a question from a Hong Kong re- off fi rst,” he said. its devices had entered Japan’s Department condemned the Yesterday’s launch came his administration”, he said. The tary exercises.

ACCIDENT Chinese hardliners have parts of Nine dead in Japan Window hiring brain missing, says Dalai Lama helicopter crash Chinese hardliners have and its off icially atheist Com- All nine people aboard a parts of their brains miss- munist leaders have the right helicopter that crashed during ing, exiled Tibetan spiritual to approve the Dalai Lama’s a mountain rescue drill in Japan leader the Dalai Lama said in successor, as a legacy inher- over the weekend were killed, an interview aired this week, ited from China’s emperors. police said yesterday. Six bodies comments likely to infuriate The Dalai Lama has suggest- were found in the morning Beijing, which views the Nobel ed previously the title could inside the wreckage in the Peace laureate as a danger- end with him, when he dies. central prefecture of Nagano, ous separatist. China accuses him of betray- a police spokesman told AFP. The Dalai Lama, who fled into ing, and being disrespectful of, Three others, including the exile in India after a failed the Tibetan religion, by saying pilot, were confirmed dead on uprising against Chinese rule there might be no future Sunday after a police helicopter in 1959, denies espousing reincarnations. located the crash site on a snowy violence and says he only Asked if he was worried China mountainside. wants genuine autonomy for might appoint its own Dalai Tibet. The animosity between Lama, the spiritual leader said MISHAP the two sides, and their rivalry it would be foolish. for control over Tibetan Bud- “Our brain usually, you see, Australian man dhism, is at the heart of the has the ability to create com- debate about reincarnation. mon sense,” he said. “The dies at Everest Speaking to US comedian Chinese hardliners, in their base camp John Oliver in India’s northern brain, that part of the brain, is town of Dharamsala, where missing.” An Australian man has died after the exiled Tibetan govern- China’s Foreign Ministry did falling ill at Mount Everest base ment is based, he also said he not immediately respond to a camp in Nepal, Australian media might be the last Dalai Lama. request for comment. Tibet’s and off icials said yesterday. The “Very possible,” he said. “If I delegation to the annual father-of-two from Melbourne become the last Dalai Lama, I meeting of China’s parliament, was returning on Friday from feel very happy.” which opened on Sunday, is the camp, which is 5,380m Tibetan Buddhism holds that likely to hold a news confer- above sea level, when he the soul of a senior lama is ence sometime this week. started experiencing breathing reincarnated in the body of a Such meetings tend to be diff iculties. Customers at a local cafe are seen through a window displaying a job vacancy notice in central Sydney, Australia. child on his death. China says dominated by the issue of the He died on Saturday. the tradition must continue Dalai Lama. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 BRITAIN/IRELAND

REVEALED RULING POLICY CRIME VERDICT Sexual harassment rife Asda fined over dead mice Town halls ‘delaying Teen shot in head by Mugger jailed for in universities: report and flies at Enfield depot sending of bills’ ball bearing gun on bus attack on clubber

Sexual harassment, misconduct and gender Supermarket chain Asda has been fined £300,000 London town hall chiefs yesterday warned of A student was shot in the back of the head with A teenager who plunged a broken bottle into a violence by university staff across the UK are at for food safety breaches after inspectors found delays in collecting millions of pounds in business a ball bearing gun as he sat on the top deck of shipping executive’s head to steal his Rolex after epidemic levels, a media report said. A Guardian dead mice and flies at its north London home rates following the revaluation. They said some a London bus. Victor Cataraga, 19, was sitting ambushing him as he left a West End nightclub has report said Freedom of Information (FoI) requests delivery depot. Council off icers found mouse local authorities had put off sending bills, which in one of the front seats of the Route 25 bus in been jailed for 12 years. Mowleed Abdullahi, 18, and sent to 120 universities found that students made droppings on the shelves and cereal and sugar usually go out in late February or early March, Manor Park when he was hit. Police believe he an unknown accomplice staked out Tiger Tiger on at least 169 such allegations against academic packets gnawed by rodents during a visit to the or were preparing to reissue them after the was targeted because he was wearing a baseball Haymarket, waiting for a wealthy-looking customer and non-academic staff from 2011-12 to 2016-17. Enfield site in May 2016. Asda admitted three food Budget tomorrow. Chancellor Philip Hammond is cap emblazoned with “Police”, a fashion brand. to emerge before singling out Guy Broadley, 41, Another 127 allegations about staff were made by safety and hygiene breaches at Highbury Corner expected to respond to uproar over soaring bills Cataraga, a student at Waltham Forest College, was and following him to a quiet street. He was caught colleagues. But scores of alleged victims told the Magistrates’ Court in January. It was fined and for some firms by off ering measures to lessen the sitting on the bus when he felt a stinging pain in the on CCTV plunging the bottle into Broadley’s head, daily they were dissuaded from making off icial ordered to pay £4,843 in court costs. “It beggars impact of the changes, at least on those hardest back of his head. He said: “It felt like someone had before rifling through his pockets and stamping complaints and either withdrew their allegations or belief that a national retailer would allow food hit. Claire Kober, chairwoman of umbrella group thrown a rock or a stone at me. I turned around on his head twice. The attack on January 6 was settled for an informal resolution. Many others said to be stored in an environment where rodents London Councils, said there had been “confusion and everyone was looking at me but no one was captured in full because a CCTV operator had they never reported their harassment, fearful of are running riot,” said Daniel Anderson, Enfield and uncertainty” for town halls as well as for obviously suspicious.” The student approached the spotted Broadley defacing a wall and had zoomed the impact on their education or careers. Council’s cabinet member for environment. businesses. driver, who called an ambulance. in on him while deciding whether to call the police. Big Brother star charged over fake gun in car boot

London Evening Standard the car, so that doesn’t make London sense. “Nobody’s had that reaction before. I’ve had fi lm sets where millionaire former Big there have been 20 guns, and po- Brother housemate fi lm- lice turn up and just say: ‘What are Aing a gangster movie you fi lming?’” sparked an armed police re- Moseley said offi cers had con- sponse after two fake guns were fi scated his camera equipment, allegedly found in the boot of his adding: “They did me over. They Bentley. put me out of work. I run youth Nightclub owner Chelsea projects with kids, I’m not the guy Singh, a contestant on last year’s they’re trying to portray me as.” series of the reality show, was din- Rock Island, a Cypriot restau- ing with director Wayne Moseley rant, opened last year on the site after a day on set when armed po- of the Thomas A Becket pub. lice stormed the restaurant in Old Singh, 49, was the fi fth con- Kent Road. testant to be evicted from the Big Sinn Fein party president Gerry Adams (third left), Sinn Fein’s Northern leader Michelle O’Neill (second left) and the party’s elected members of the legislative assembly, pose The pair had allegedly been Brother house on last year’s series for a picture outside the Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast yesterday. spotted outside Rock Island plac- of the Channel 5 show. He ap- ing two guns, used as props, in the peared yesterday on new Channel boot of the black Bentley convert- 4 programme How Did You Get So ible, leading a member of the pub- Rich?, with comedian Katherine lic to call 999. Ryan. The two men said the replica A promotional video for the fi rearms — an Uzi and a handgun show features a clip of Singh sit- — had been used earlier in the day ting in a black convertible, be- while fi lming Singh’s cameo in a lieved be the car involved in last Sinn Fein insist Foster gangster fi lm. week’s incident. The director, who works under He describes himself on his the name “Yuppie Wayne”, said: website as a “multi-millionaire “We took a couple of shots with with business interests ranging the guns in Camberwell, and then from photographic studios to res- went to have dinner down Old taurants to consultancy to hotels Kent Road. We put the guns in the to new inventions”. must go as talks begin boot, rather than leave them on When contacted by the Stand- the seat of the car. ard, he said: “If I saw two people, Reuters have dramatic implications for “Arlene Foster’s position is a But Foster, who survived an of the two-decade old peace “We’d just fi nished our meal and I thought there were fi rearms, Belfast Northern Ireland’s politics and matter for herself. Our position IRA bomb attack on her school deal, have urged the parties to and they rushed through with I would have reported them. In the constitutional status. is on the record and very clear in bus and whose father narrowly engage quickly, particularly as guns.” world that we live in with all the The two parties have shared relation to what we think needs avoided being killed in an IRA Britain is preparing to launch Pictures from the raid on terrorism, if they didn’t take ac- alks to save Northern Ire- power for a decade in a com- to happen,” Sinn Fein’s North- shooting, has said she will not formal divorce proceedings Thursday show at least six offi c- tion, then think about what could land’s devolved govern- pulsory coalition that is a key ern Ireland leader Michelle be dictated to by Sinn Fein, a from the European Union. ers, some carrying machine guns, have happened?” Tment ran straight into an part of the 1998 peace deal that O’Neill told reporters. position so far overwhelmingly Northern Ireland is the poor- surround the pair inside the res- He said he was rankled by the obstacle yesterday as Irish na- ended three decades of sectar- Sinn Fein, the former politi- shared publicly by her party. est region of the United King- taurant. arrest, but added: “I’m still going tionalist party Sinn Fein repeated ian violence. cal wing of the Irish Republican Sinn Fein, whom O’Neill said dom and potentially the one They were taken to Walworth to do the fi lm. I think it’s a good its demand that Democratic Un- Their government collapsed Army, has for weeks insisted would meet all other parties most economically exposed to police station where they were fi lm.” ionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene in January after Sinn Fein with- among its demands that it will throughout the week, also wants Brexit, as its frontier with the charged with possession of an Moseley said the fi lm was due Foster not return as fi rst minister. drew support over Foster’s han- not support the nomination of Northern Ireland to set rights Republic of Ireland is the UK’s imitation fi rearm. Both men have out this year, featuring former A snap election on Friday dling of a controversial energy Foster as fi rst minister while for Irish language speakers into only land border with the EU. been bailed. bare-knuckle boxer Paddy Doher- saw Sinn Fein surge to within scheme. months of investigations get law, another demand Foster has “The North doesn’t have a The director, 45, said the guns ty and Judith Jacob, who played one seat of the DUP and deny They now have three weeks underway into the abuse of the said she will never accede to. voice really on Brexit at the mo- were an Uzi-style BB gun and a Carmel Roberts in EastEnders. pro-British unionist politicians to form a new power-sharing heating subsidy she established The DUP leader did not speak ment because there is no execu- silver handgun. He added: “We The two men were both charged a majority in the British prov- government to avoid either de- as a minister. to the media after meeting Brit- tive so it really does behove the had a convertible Bentley out- with one count of possession of an ince’s local assembly for the fi rst volved power returning to Lon- That would not stop it back- ain’s Northern Ireland Minister parties to come together. This side and the guns were in the imitation fi rearm and have been time since Ireland was parti- don for the fi rst time since 2007 ing another DUP nominee for James Brokenshire. isn’t a time for red lines,” Irish boot. We couldn’t shoot up the bailed to appear at Camberwell tioned in 1921. or the prospect of a third elec- fi rst minister while Foster stays The Irish and British govern- minister Leo Varadkar told na- restaurant — the guns were in magistrates’ court on March 30. The election result could tion in less than a year. on as party leader. ments, who are co-guarantors tional broadcaster RTE. Zoo where 500 animals Martin McGuinness ‘seriously ill in hospital’ died refused new licence not discuss it further. The sources Guardian News and Media London in Derry said the former IRA chief Guardian News and Media home to more than 1,500 animals, been terminated, the zoo will stay of staff , who established a warm London found 486 inhabitants died of open until a decision is made this friendship with the Democratic causes including emaciation and summer on a licence application he health of Martin Unionist (DUP) founder, Ian Pais- hypothermia between December by Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd, McGuinness, the former ley, after power sharing was re- he founder of a zoo in 2013 and September 2016. which now runs the attraction. Tdeputy fi rst minister of stored in 2007, was taken to the Cumbria, where nearly Inspectors recommended the The zoo was fi ned £255,000 last Northern Ireland, is seriously city’s Altnagelvin hospital when T500 animals died in less local authority refuse to renew the June for health and safety breaches deteriorating, reports have sug- the side eff ects of his treatment than four years, has been refused zoo’s licence and that Gill, who after the death of keeper Sarah gested. became severe. Previously he was a new licence to run it. founded the zoo in 1994, be pros- McClay, 24, who was mauled by As talks aimed at restoring being cared for at home. The chair of Barrow council’s li- ecuted under the Animal Welfare a Sumatran tiger in 2013. Gill was Northern Ireland’s power-sharing McGuinness, who has been a censing committee, Tony Callister, Act for allowing animals to suff er. criticised for saying McClay died government got under way in Bel- pivotal fi gure in Irish republican- said the unanimous decision was The inspectors, who are ap- because she failed to follow the fast, sources in McGuinness’s na- ism over the last 40 years, was made because councillors were pointed by the government, found correct procedures. tive Derry confi rmed a story in the replaced as Sinn Fein leader’s in not satisfi ed conservation matters “overcrowding, poor hygiene, Among a catalogue of animal Irish News yesterday which said Northern Ireland by Michelle referred to in the Zoo Licensing poor nutrition, lack of suitable an- deaths in the report were those he had been in hospital for the last O’Neill. Meanwhile, the secre- Act would be implemented. imal husbandry and a lack of any of two snow leopard cubs named two weeks. tary of state for Northern Ireland, Callister said the committee sort of developed veterinary care” Miska and Natasja, who were dis- McGuinness, who was Sinn James Brokenshire, said there was had taken into account David Gill’s when they visited. covered partially eaten in their Fein’s chief negotiator during the a “limited window” to reach a conviction under the Wildlife and The zoo was awarded a six-year enclosure. An African spurred tor- peace process, announced his re- power-sharing deal. Countryside Act 1981 regard- licence in June 2010 and the coun- toise named Goliath died after be- tirement from politics at a press The Stormont assembly met ing the escape into the wild of a cil received Gill’s application for ing electrocuted by electric fenc- conference in January where he yesterday for the fi rst time since number of ibis. renewal in January 2016. In July ing, and the decomposing body of appeared frail. It is understood he Thursday’s election, which saw a The committee heard inspectors 2016 the council rejected the ap- a squirrel monkey was discovered has a rare condition that attacks resurgent Sinn Fein come within had visited South Lakes Safari zoo plication, agreeing with inspectors behind a radiator. the heart and other vital organs. just one seat of matching the in January and were “dismayed by that Gill was “not a fi t and suitable Following the publication of the The 66-year-old made no ap- DUP’s 28. the obvious defi ciencies in the ac- person” to manage the zoo. inspectors’ report, a spokeswoman pearances during Sinn Fein’s suc- Theresa May and her Irish commodation, the overcrowding But the law dictates that if the for the Captive Animals’ Protec- cessful assembly election last counterpart, Enda Kenny, were and the lack of proper welfare and licensee reapplies for a new li- tion Society said the zoo licensing week and did not attend his lo- monitoring developments, and husbandry”. cence, the existing licence contin- system was failing to protect ani- cal polling station with his wife, were expected to discuss Northern Last week, a damning report on ues to apply until the application mals and accused local authorities Bernie, to vote. Ireland when they met at the Eu- conditions at the tourist attraction has been processed or withdrawn. of neglecting to punish zoos that Sinn Fein has said McGuinness’s ropean Council summit in Brus- in Dalton-in-Furness, which is Although Gill’s licence has now fell below required standards. McGuinness: health fears health is a private matter and it will sels on Thursday. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 17

BRITAIN Police have thwarted 13 terror plots: top offi cer

Guardian News and Media prevented since the murder of Lee simple to the complicated.” dence for the public to report any in other parts of world, Al Qaeda who tried Cox’s killer, Thomas cases, look at our website, listen London Rigby in 2013. The fi gure 13 is one higher than suspicions. is still very, very signifi cant. Mair, said he had been inspired by to these adverts, and if you pick up Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s the previous tally in October. TV adverts have been launched “And of course in the UK … ex- an admiration for Nazis. anything at all suspicious don’t be Today programme, Rowley said As part of the Action Counters appealing for members of the treme right-wing groups are very Rowley also said the threat of cautious please.” errorist plots on the scale many of the disrupted attacks Terrorism campaign, a podcast public to report any suspicious provocative and can cause signifi - terrorism from those inspired by The offi cial threat level for in- of those carried out in Paris involved only one or two indi- has been produced revealing pre- conversation they might overhear. cant risk to our communities, and IS would continue despite the ternational terrorism has been Tand Brussels have been viduals. But he added: “Some viously untold stories of how UK Rowley, the National Police indeed there are extreme right- group’s military setbacks in Iraq at severe – meaning an attack is foiled in Britain in the past four of them have been more so- terrorist attacks were prevented, Chiefs’ Council lead for counter- wing-related issues which led to and Syria. “This threat is going to highly likely – for more than two years, Britain’s most senior coun- phisticated planning looking to featuring accounts from detec- terrorism, urged the public to be the tragic murder of Jo Cox.” continue in diff erent forms and it years. ter-terrorism offi cer has revealed. attack public spaces, or police tives, bomb disposal and surveil- wary of far-right terrorist plots. Rowley conceded that such going to keep metamorphosing,” Rowley said: “We are likely to Launching an appeal for pub- offices or the military, not that lance offi cers. He said: “Sometimes reporting cases were not of the same mag- he said. face a severe threat for some time lic help in combating terrorism, dissimilar to some of the at- Rowley said the aim of releas- oversimplifi es things and says ter- nitude as extremism but denied “The reason for this appeal is to to come. And we need the missing assistant commissioner Mark tacks we have seen in Belgium ing new material was to give an rorism is about IS (Islamic State) that bracketing the two forms of say to the public: ‘Trust your in- piece in the jigsaw in the investi- Rowley said the thwarted attacks and France and elsewhere. insight into how terrorists might or Daesh and it’s about Syria. Ac- terrorism confused the public. stinct, we are already getting lots gations we are running that often were among 13 plots that had been There is a whole range from the prepare and provide more confi - tually there are many IS off shoots He pointed out that the judge of information on a third of our the public have.”

Racial Early commuter inequality Hammond infl uencing gender pay urged to tackle gap: study

Thomson Reuters Foundation London ‘catastrophic’

akistani and Bangladeshi women in Britain are paid Pthe least compared to men while white Irish women have overtaken male peers in terms of infl ation eff ect salaries, according to a study of the gender pay gap by ethnicity Guardian News and Media by 2020, or £3.6bn over the par- Bell said the money could yesterday. London liament compared with what was be found without undermin- The study released by wom- expected in the 2016 budget. ing public fi nances by stopping en’s rights group Fawcett Society Bell said Hammond could planned reductions to inherit- found women from almost every hilip Hammond is being consider Wednesday’s budget ance, corporation and income tax minority ethnic group experi- urged to scrap cuts to in- “a walk in the park” because worth billions of pounds because enced a pay gap with white British Pheritance, corporation and forecasts on borrowing would they “overwhelmingly benefi t men. Research by the University of income tax in order to plough be “less grim than the truly aw- better-off households”. Manchester found Pakistani and money into benefi ts, as fi gures ful ones set out a little over three In contrast, they point out that Bangladeshi women hardest hit, reveal the extent to which liv- months ago”. two-fi fths of the benefi t freeze earning 26% less than white Brit- ing standards are going to be He pointed out that the chan- losses come from the poorest ish male peers, while black African squeezed by rising infl ation. cellor would be able to fi nd mon- 20% of households, with many women had made little progress Analysis by the Resolution ey to ease social care pressures of those aff ected in work. since the 1990s and earned 20% Foundation, shared exclusive- and soften the blow on business The group’s fi gures show that less. Figures from the Offi ce of ly with the Guardian, shows a rates for some fi rms. But he said a couple with one person work- National Statistics show on aver- “double-whammy” for lower- the impact of infl ation must not ing, and two children, were go- age women earned about 18% less income working families who the be ignored, especially if the gov- ing to be £495 worse off each than men in Britain in 2016. government has said it wants to ernment was serious about tar- year as a result of the benefi t The women who had seen the target. geting “just about managing” freeze, but will now lose £680 as most progress since the 1990s It fi nds that real wages could families. a result of higher infl ation pre- were white Irish women who are start falling by the end of the year “The eff ect of a renewed pay dictions. now paid 17.5% more than white while the government’s welfare squeeze would be broadly felt For a single parent in work with Irish and British men. freeze will infl ict far more pain across the population. But in one child the fi gure lost has risen “But this is largely due to gen- than has been predicted, taking many ways the worst aff ected from £365 to £500; for a single erational factors as they are more £3.6bn more than expected from group might be those ‘ordinary parent out of work from £300 to likely to be older, working full- some of the poorest people in the working families’ on lower in- £415 and for a single unemployed time or in senior or managerial country by 2020. comes who will face a double person from £170 to £235. roles,” Sam Smethers, chief exec- Torsten Bell, the thinktank’s whammy of lower pay growth A Treasury spokesperson said: utive of the Fawcett Society, said director, warns that the pattern and benefi t cuts,” said Bell. “Getting people into work is the in a statement. of external forecasts since No- “That’s because the tax cred- best way to sustainably raise liv- Chinese women have also have vember suggests that the Offi ce its and other benefi ts they rely ing standards, and our welfare managed to reverse the pay gap for Budget Responsibility could on are frozen for the next three reforms are designed to make in the past 20 years and are now revise up its infl ation forecast to years as part of the government’s sure that work always pays. More earning 5% more than white Brit- 2.6% this year and next. He said attempt to cut the social security people are employed than ever ish men when working full-time. the impact on wages could be bill. Every time infl ation rises it before, and living standards are But they still earn less than catastrophic. increases the size of this cut. If forecast to rise over this parlia- Chinese men. Indian women The Resolution Foundation the OBR’s forecast matched that ment.” have seen the gender pay gap with fi gures show infl ation rises could above it would mean that this They stressed that the gov- white British men narrow to about result in: benefi t freeze would amount to ernment was concerned about 6% from 26% in the 1990s for O Average earnings in 2020 a 6.5% real-terms cut over the the cost of living and had taken those working full-time. being only just higher in real parliament.” several steps in order to support Smethers said the charity’s terms than those 15 years earlier The group is calling on the families including “cutting taxes breakdown of the gender pay gap in 2005-06. chancellor to reverse cuts to uni- for millions of people”, a “sig- by ethnicity — released ahead of O Real pay falling by the end of versal credit – inherited from the nifi cant pay rise” through the International Women’s Day on 2017 as price increases outstrip previous Tory administration – national living wage, doubling March 8 — tracked progress over a pay rises. that were part of the reason that free childcare for nearly 400,000 25-year period with largely nega- An early commuter is silhouetted by the rising sun on the Millennium Bridge across the Thames. O The government’s benefi t Iain Duncan Smith resigned as working parents and freezing tive results but some positive. freeze raising an extra £1bn a year work and pensions secretary. fuel duty.

Art exhibition Uber taxis may soon Supporters of Unite ferry NHS patients

Guardian News and Media the move would “radically inte- leadership rivals clash grate care and transport through London technology”, adding: “Older peo- Guardian News and Media executive council. “I’m a member of Unite and a ple and those with disabilities will London Some of McCluskey’s sup- member of the Labour party and ber taxis could soon be now have access to the highest- porters were seen attempting to I care dearly about both of them. used to transfer non- quality drivers, while carers will be remove skeleton masks worn by The direction Len McCluskey’s Uemergency patients with able to effi ciently travel to ensure lashes broke out yesterday Coyne campaigners, pulling down taking it is unfortunate because illnesses ranging from cancer to they can provide services in the between supporters of ri- placards and using phones to fi lm he’s taking it away from the mem- dementia back and forth from right place at the right time.” Cval candidates for the Unite them. bers and turning it into a vanity NHS hospitals in a deal that could “These partnerships tackle ma- leadership outside the union’s Coyne, the union’s West Mid- project for Corbyn’s leadership.” play a part in “cracking down” on jor challenges in the NHS, crack- London headquarters. lands regional secretary, claims But Richard Allday, a McClus- bedblocking, according to the so- ing down on bed-blocking and de- Backers of Gerard Coyne had McCluskey used Unite funds to key supporter and member of cial care company behind it. layed discharges, while providing planned a peaceful protest, but the fi nance Jeremy Corbyn’s leader- Unite’s executive, said: “Coyne’s The agreement with Barts high-quality and effi cient care.” atmosphere became heated when ship campaign and has increased campaign has stalled. He’s made health NHS trust in London will As well as the fi ve London hos- supporters of Len McCluskey, the members’ subscription costs by a no headway with the activists allow patients to use Uber for pitals that make up the trust, clini- incumbent general secretary, ar- total of £10mn. within the union so he’s decided to journeys including hospital ap- cal commissioning groups in Har- rived for a counter-demonstra- McCluskey’s supporters, wield- resort to smears. That’s always the pointments, the care service star- row, Brent and Hillingdon in north tion. ing placards reading “Beware! Fake mark of a losing campaign.” tup Cera said. London will also use the service. One Coyne supporter claimed news invasion. Coyne campaign The confrontation is the latest The fi rm will use UberAssist The Unison general secretary, he was assaulted, while McClus- beware!”, signifi cantly outnum- turn in a bitter leadership con- disabled access cars and the Dave Prentis, said: “Social care key’s backers said the protest was bered the Coyne team. test that has seen Unite withdraw UberWav service for wheelchair and the NHS are in such a state poorly timed given the acquisi- One Coyne supporter, a Unite funding from Labour’s mayoral users. Carers will also be able to of crisis that any initiative to ease tion of Vauxhall – although its new and Labour party member from candidate in the West Midlands, use the system alongside tradi- the pressure will be welcomed by owners tried to assuage concerns London who was dressed in a skel- Sîon Simon, over his alleged sup- tional forms of transport to deter- patients and staff . over job losses for Unite members eton mask and did not want to give port for Coyne. mine the most effi cient method “But the funding chasm be- working there on Monday. his name, said he was assaulted. The clashes came as the chief for moving people, Cera said. tween what is needed and the The Coyne campaign arrived “I was punched. It was clearly executive of the French com- Patients will be looked after pitiful amount councils currently with lifesize skeletons to highlight assault. They were pushing and pany behind Peugeot and Citroën by Ceracarers under the London have to commission care is too “skeletons in Len’s closet”, in a nod shoving and all sorts,” the man vowed to turn Opel and Vauxhall scheme, which uses a smartphone deep. Nothing short of an emer- to claims the general secretary had said. “We didn’t come here to around without factory closures or An employee poses next to a print of Ed Ruscha’s ‘Standard app to co-ordinate care, book driv- gency injection of cash in the borrowed union funds to help him cause any harm or any trouble, we job cuts after agreeing to buy Gen- Station’ at the exhibition “American Dream: Pop to the present” ers, and keep relatives informed. budget, followed by the sustained buy a £700,000 central London came here to prove a point that Len eral Motors’ lossmaking European at the British Museum in London yesterday. Dr Ben Maruthappu, a former and realistic funding of health fl at, with the authority of Unite’s McCluskey is draining Unite. arm for €2.2bn (£1.9bn). doctor and Cera’s co-founder, said and care will be enough.” Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 EUROPE

UN court hauling Germany urges calm in Turkey to Security ‘Nazi’ row with Turkey Council AFP AFP/Reuters Berlin The Hague

hancellor Angela Merkel UN court has criticised has called for calm in an Turkey for failing to free Cescalating row with Tur- Aone of its judges rounded key, a day after President Recep up in Ankara’s post-coup crack- Tayyip Erdogan labelled a Ger- down and said it would report man ban on rallies by his minis- the country to the Security ters “Nazi practices”. Council. While fi rmly rejecting Erdog- “The government of Turkey an’s claims as “absurd and out of has failed to comply with its ob- place”, Merkel’s offi ce sought to ligations” in the case of detained draw a line under a dispute that judge Aydin Sefa Akay, the court is further fraying ties between ruled. the two countries. “This matter shall be reported “To our Turkish partners, let to the UN Security Council,” us talk openly and critically, presiding judge Theodor Meron but let us remember the special added in his ruling. meaning of our close relation- Akay was one of more than ship and let cool heads prevail,” 40,000 people who have been Merkel’s spokesman Steff en arrested in the aftermath of the Seibert said. failed July putsch against Turk- Sharply rejecting Erdogan’s ish President Recep Tayipp Er- Nazi jibe, Seibert said: “Nazi dogan. comparisons are always absurd The UN court ordered in late and out of place, because they Merkel (above) making remarks January that Akay should be re- lead only to one thing – the triv- Mevlut Cavusoglu pressed the Seibert, the government about German-Turkish relations leased by mid-February so he ialising of the crimes against hu- attack yesterday, accusing Berlin spokesman, repeated Merkel’s during her visit yesterday to the can return to his work in The manity committed by the Nazis.” of working to scupper the rallies. stance that campaign rallies by Bosch Foundation to mark the Hague, where the appeals case The row erupted late last “The hotels, the conference Turkish ministers, in general, 15th anniversary of the social of a former Rwandan minister week after three local German halls are being put under pres- should not be banned. organisation ‘wellcome’ in has been paralysed by the judge’s authorities banned the Turkish sure, police are being sent to “Yes, rallies are possible with- Berlin. absence. ministers’ scheduled appear- the owners of these places: it’s in rules and regulations,” he said. Defence lawyers for Rwan- ances ahead of an April referen- systematic pressure, a manoeu- Ties between Ankara and Ber- Erdogan (right) warned dan Augustin Ngirabatware dum on a plan to scrap the prime vre aimed at erecting systematic lin have been strained by a series Germany on Sunday not to had called on the tribunal to minister post in Turkey, thereby barriers,” he said. of disputes, particularly since hinder him from making an report Turkey to the UN Secu- boosting Erdogan’s powers. “The state and the state-run the failed coup against Erdogan appearance if he wished, saying rity Council for non-compliance The German authorities cited institutions are all implicated. in July. that ‘if you don’t let me in, or with the court’s order. capacity problems in hosting That’s unacceptable. As for us, Berlin has emerged as a stri- if you don’t let me speak, I will Ankara has snubbed repeated the events, which they said were we will take the necessary meas- dent critic of Ankara’s crack- make the whole world rise up’. requests by the United Nation’s likely to attract large crowds. ures, we have no fear of anyone,” down in the aftermath of the Mechanism for International Merkel has said that her gov- said Cavusoglu, who is due to failed putsch, which has seen Turkey launches vast security operation in restive southeast Criminal Tribunals (MICT), ernment did not have a hand in make a campaign appearance in more than 100,000 people ar- which is hearing the case, to ex- the decisions, which fell under Hamburg today. rested or dismissed from their Turkish security forces launched last night one of rights and autonomy for Turkey’s Kurdish minority – plain its actions. the jurisdiction of local offi cials. He will also meet his German posts over alleged links to the their largest “anti-terrorist” operations in recent years and the army. Meron has insisted that Akay, But Ankara responded with counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, to- plotters or to Kurdish militants. in the restive southeast against Kurdish militants, Fighting renewed after a two-and-a-half-year ceasefire a former diplomat who was fury to the cancellations, accus- morrow in Berlin. Given the signifi cant Turkish security sources said. collapsed in the summer of 2015. nominated to the bench by An- ing Berlin of working against the Germany is home to the big- and Kurdish populations in Ger- Some 7,000 gendarmerie – who look after domestic When PKK youths launched an insurrection move- kara, has diplomatic immunity referendum. gest population of Turkish peo- many, Berlin is anxious to pre- security – 600 special forces and dozens of tanks ment in several towns in the troubled region, Turkish and has repeatedly voiced con- On Sunday, Erdogan told a ple abroad with about 3mn peo- vent Turkish domestic disputes and helicopters were used in an operation in Lice in security forces were sent in with tanks to dislodge cern over the conditions of his rally in Istanbul: “Germany, you ple of Turkish origin, the legacy from spilling into the country. the largest Kurdish-majority province of Diyarbakir, them. detention. are not even close to democracy. of a “guest worker” programme Most recently, Ankara’s arrest sources told AFP. Kurdish separatists launched multiple attacks in the “Because Turkey refuses to Your practices are not diff erent mainly in the 1960s and 70s. of Deniz Yucel, a Turkish-Ger- In Lice, 18 villages were placed under strict curfew country in response, including in Istanbul and the release Judge Akay, Dr Ngira- from the Nazi practices of the With 1.4mn Turks in Germany man dual national who is a cor- until further notice, the Diyarbakir governorate said in capital Ankara. batware’s case is at a standstill,” past.” holding the right to vote in Tur- respondent for Germany’s Die a statement. Since an attempted putsch last July, over 100,000 defence lawyer Peter Robinson He also warned Germany not key, it is not uncommon to see Welt newspaper, has sparked an The aim of the operation, the governor’s off ice said, people including journalists have been dismissed or wrote in his February motion. to hinder him from making an politicians travelling there from outcry in Berlin. was to “neutralise” members and accomplices of the detained by police, accused of links to coup-plotters “He remains in prison for a crime appearance if he wished. Ankara to try to sway voters. An Istanbul court has charged outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). and also Kurdish militants. he did not commit, waiting for a “If you don’t let me in, or if Undeterred by the cancella- Yucel with spreading terrorist The PKK is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by The new off ensive comes over a month before a hearing he cannot have.” you don’t let me speak, I will tions last week, Turkish Econ- propaganda and inciting hatred. Turkey, the European Union and the United States. referendum on whether to create an executive presi- Ngirabatware is presently make the whole world rise up,” omy Minister Nihat Zeybekci Gabriel has said the case will More than 40,000 people have been killed since 1984 dency which would expand President Recep Tayyip serving 30 years for inciting he said. made a campaign appearance in make “everything harder” for in the conflict between the PKK – which seeks greater Erdogan’s powers. genocide. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Cologne on Sunday. Turkish-German relations. The MICT, which is based in The Hague, said it had been un- able to reach Akay. The successor to tribunals that tried crimes committed during the Yugoslav wars and the Rwandan genocide, the court EU ministers approve plans has no enforcement powers of its own. The UN Security Council can decide to pressure Turkey dip- lomatically or via sanctions or for military headquarters even force, though it very rarely acts in such cases. Turkish media reported that AFP tary training missions in Mali, “This is one of the fi elds eastern Europe such as Poland Akay had been arrested for hav- Brussels the Central African Republic where traditionally we have had and Hungary have argued con- ing a messaging application on and Somalia – which do not in- in the history of the European sistently that Nato must come his phone that was allegedly volve the use of force, other than Union more divisiveness – since fi rst, given the need for US sup- used by many of the plotters in he European Union has in self-defence. the 1950s we were struggling in port in facing a more assertive the coup, blamed by authorities approved plans for a The EU has also mounted the defence fi eld,” she said. Russia. on followers of exiled Muslim Tmilitary headquarters to Operation Sophia in the central Britain’s vote to leave the EU, “It is not a European army cleric Fethullah Gulen. co-ordinate overseas security Mediterranean, which can use stripping the bloc of one of its – I know this is the label going Turkey was a strong early operations, foreign aff airs head force to stop migrant smugglers, most powerful and nuclear- around – it is a more eff ective backer of the international Federica Mogherini said. and Operation Atalanta, part of armed countries, plus doubts way of handling our military courts set up in the 1990s to try Mogherini, who has pushed international anti-piracy forces about US President Donald work,” Mogherini, a former Ital- mass crimes from the Yugoslav hard for the EU to take on an in- off the Horn of Africa. Trump’s Nato commitment ian foreign minister, said as she wars and the Rwandan genocide, creased military role, said that These executive operations have given fresh impetus to ef- went into the meeting. but it has taken a more unilater- foreign and defence ministers of have their own command cen- forts to step up military co-op- European Commission head ally nationalist stance under Er- the 28 member states “unani- tres which will remain separate. eration. Jean-Claude Juncker called for dogan. mously” backed the project. Mogherini said the decision But top EU offi cials, including a common EU defence head- Critics of Erdogan say he is “Today we decided to estab- was a huge step forward for Mogherini, have had to repeat- quarters in September after the using a crackdown on suspected lish a MPCC (Military Planning the EU after decades of divi- edly issue reassurances that the Brexit vote, resurrecting an idea supporters of the failed coup as Conduct and Capability) facility sion over what defence role the bloc is not going to undercut the that had circulated in the EU for an excuse to purge political ri- which will command the EU’s bloc should take on – with exit- North Atlantic Treaty Organisa- years. vals, a charge he denies. non-executive military mis- bound Britain having long op- tion (Nato) as the primary de- The new facility will initially Gulen, who lives in exile in the Mogherini: Today we decided to establish a MPCC (Military Planning sions,” she told reporters. posed it. fence for Europe. have a small staff of around 30 United States, has condemned Conduct and Capability) facility which will command the EU’s The facility will initially run She spoke of a “certain pride” Besides Britain, many of the and come under the EU’s exist- the coup and denied any in- non-executive military missions. three operations – civil-mili- about the agreement. former Communist states of ing military structures. volvement. French family of four murdered in apparent inheritance dispute

By Anne-Sophie Laserre, AFP others, prosecutor Pierre Sennes He is to be charged with mur- downstairs upon hearing noise killed her brother and the other about an hour’s drive away, “as a found at the Troadecs’ home and Nantes told a news conference. der, while his partner Lydie – on the ground fl oor, with Pascal three Troadecs. sort of diversion”, Sennes said. then in Sebastien’s car. Pascal Troadec and his wife Pascal’s sister – faces charges wielding a crowbar, he said. He returned on February 17 to “Much more work remains Caouissin and Lydie Troa- Brigitte, both 49, had gone miss- of tampering with evidence and “A scene of great violence” clean up the house and remove to be done,” Sennes said, not- dec had already been quizzed for crowbar was the murder ing along with their son Sebast- abetting the crime by helping ensued, with Caouissin wresting the bodies, which he loaded into ing that investigators still do not nearly 21 hours at the start of the weapon in a French family ien, 21, and their 18-year-old him dispose of the bodies, Sennes the crowbar from Pascal and us- Sebastien’s car the following day. know where the body parts are probe, when Caouissin told in- Adrama that left four peo- daughter Charlotte on Febru- said. ing the tool to kill both him and Caouissin and Lydie Troadec buried. vestigators that he had fallen out ple dead in an inheritance dispute ary 16, sparking a mystery that Caouissin told investigators Brigitte. spent the next two or three days Suspicions in the case had ini- with the family over the inherit- over gold coins, the prosecutor of gripped the nation. that he sneaked into the home in He then killed Sebastien and trying to dispose of the bodies. tially centred on Sebastien Troa- ance dispute. the western city of Nantes said Caouissin told investigators he the Nantes suburb of Orvault on Charlotte, both students who “It appears the bodies were dec, who suff ered psychological The pair were taken into cus- yesterday. thought Pascal kept gold coins the evening of February 16, hid- were visiting during school holi- dismembered, some buried and problems and had been ordered tody in the northwestern port of The father’s brother-in-law for himself that “should have ing in the garage until the four days, Sennes said. others burned,” Sennes said. to carry out community service Brest on Sunday. Hubert Caouissin, who has con- been shared with the rest of the went to bed with the original Caouissin stayed until dawn They cleaned Sebastien’s car, in 2013, when he was a minor, for Sennes said last Friday that the fessed to the gruesome killings, family”, Sennes said, adding that intention of “obtaining informa- before returning to his home “trying to get rid of the blood” making death threats on his blog. perpetrator might have sought to went on to cut up the bodies, he harboured “great rancour” tion”, Sennes said. in Brittany some 300km away, and then left it in a church car But the focus shifted after plant clues in a “morbid treasure burning some parts and burying over the decade-old dispute. Pascal and Brigitte came where he told Lydie that he had park in the port of Saint Nazaire, traces of Caouissin’s DNA were hunt”. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 19 EUROPE

Balkans becoming chessboard Fillon keeps bid alive as for major powers: EU rival rules himself out AFP Reuters/AFP Brussels Paris

he EU has warned that rancois Fillon has urged the Western Balkans risk his conservative party to Tbecoming a “chessboard” Frally around him, saying in a game between major pow- that he was the only legitimate ers, as Britain accused Russia of candidate despite calls by many meddling in the region. in his camp for him to pull out of Federica Mogherini, the Eu- the French presidential race over ropean Union’s foreign policy allegations of misuse of public chief, said that there was “pro- funds. found” concern about a region “It is time for everybody to where dangerous historic ten- get their act together and come sions were also fl aring up. back to their senses,” he told The 28 EU leaders are to dis- senior party members gathered cuss the situation in the Western to discuss the crisis, according Balkans at a summit on Thurs- to a text. day amid growing concern over Fillon, who overwhelmingly instability and alleged Russian won primaries organised by The involvement. Republicans party and their al- “I have seen in the Western lies in November, added: “I call Balkans in these days much more on all the women and men of Fillon: No one today can prevent me being a candidate ... it is time than ever before a region ex- goodwill to rally, respect the for everybody to get their act together and come back to their posed to diff erent layers of chal- message our voters sent during senses. lenges and tensions,” Mogherini the primaries and unite behind said after EU foreign and defence my candidacy, which is the only France’s next leader but his cam- the European Union, analysts ministers met in Brussels. legitimate one.” paign is mired in accusations he caution against bold predic- Asked about Russia’s role in Earlier yesterday, Alain Juppe, used public funds to pay his wife tions. the region, Mogherini replied: another former prime minister, hundreds of thousands of euros Juppe, now the mayor of Bor- “The Balkans can easily become ruled out replacing the scandal- for fake parliamentary jobs. deaux, voiced yesterday his crit- one of the chessboards where the hit Fillon in the coming election “No one today can prevent me ical view of the state of the elec- big power game can be played. but off ered no alternative can- being a candidate,” Fillon told tion campaign. So the concern is there ... and it didates, leaving conservative France 2 television late on Sun- “Never under the fi fth repub- is profound.” heavyweights scrambling to fi nd day, emboldened by a rally of lic have we had an election in Mogherini said renewed eth- a way to get their party back in tens of thousands of supporters such confused conditions,” Ju- nic and territorial tensions in the race. in Paris earlier in the day. ppe said, stressing the dangers a region that in the 1990s saw Juppe, 71, was the most like- Party leaders met for crisis of National Front leader Le Pen’s This picture taken on Sunday Europe’s worst bloodshed since ly candidate to replace Fillon talks yesterday evening, with al- “anti-European fanaticism” and shows supporters of Fillon World War II in the former Yu- and unite their deeply divided lies of former president Nicolas Macron’s “political immaturity”. at the rally on the Trocadero goslavia were “extremely dan- Republicans party only seven Sarkozy still pushing Fillon to Fillon’s defi ance and accu- square, across from the Eiff el gerous”. weeks from the start of the two- step aside and name a replace- sations that the government, Tower in Paris. Tens of The EU diplomatic chief ex- stage election. ment. justice system and media were thousands turned up to support perienced the tensions herself Polls suggested Juppe would “He’s got some breathing plotting against him have “led Fillon. last week when she faced pro- be more popular with voters, but space but he needs to ask himself him into a dead-end”, Juppe Russia chants as she addressed the centrist is considered too if he can still win the presidential added in one of several criti- “They want a free, safe and the Serbian parliament on a visit soft on immigration and other election,” one lawmaker known cisms of his colleague. prosperous France, not a France to the region. social issues for many of Fillon’s to be close to Sarkozy told AFP Both Le Pen and Macron – one that is subjected to the most Earlier, British Foreign Sec- supporters on the right fl ank of on condition of anonymity. a far-right anti-establishment brutal winds of globalisation,” retary Boris Johnson said Russia the party. The infi ghting among Repub- fi gure, the other an independ- he told LCI television. must halt its “completely unac- “I confi rm for a fi nal time that licans and Fillon’s chaotic cam- ent who founded a new politi- Current President Francois ceptable” meddling in the EU’s I will not be a candidate to be paign have made an already un- cal movement last year – have Hollande also warned in an in- backyard. president of the republic,” Juppe predictable election even harder tapped into widespread anger at terview published yesterday that “Let us be very clear, Rus- said in a downbeat statement to call. France’s political class. the threat of a Le Pen presidency sia is up to all sorts of no good,” that criticised Fillon and said The disarray appears to have “French people want a pro- was real but that he would fi ght Johnson said as he arrived for the France was “sick” and suff ering benefi ted centrist, pro-business found renewal of their politics,” to prevent it happening. meeting in Brussels. from a “profound crisis of con- candidate Emmanuel Macron in Juppe, a veteran politician with Fillon, a devout Catholic, beat “They are engaged in cyber fi dence”. particular, as well as far-right a conviction over a party fi nance Juppe in the Republicans’ pri- Juppe: I confirm for a final time that I will not be a candidate to be warfare, engaged in undermin- His decision removes a major leader Marine Le Pen, who are scandal, told a press conference mary in November, pulling off a president of the republic. ing countries in the Western Bal- rival for Fillon, who is sticking shown in polls to be the likely in Bordeaux. “Evidently I do not surprise victory by campaigning kans – you have seen what hap- with his bid for power despite top two candidates in the fi rst embody this renewal. as a “clean” candidate. ($950,000) as his parliamentary The former president urged pened in Montenegro – to say the prospect of criminal charg- round of voting on April 23. National Front (FN) vice- He was the frontrunner in the assistants. the two men to meet “to fi nd a nothing of what has happened in es later this month as well as Polls suggest 39-year-old president Florian Philippot said presidential race until Le Canard Ahead of the crisis meeting dignifi ed and credible way out eastern Ukraine,” he said. mounting criticism within the Macron would beat Le Pen in the yesterday that many French Enchaine newspaper revealed of Republicans party leaders, of this situation which cannot A Montenegro prosecutor said party and falling poll numbers. decisive second round on May 7 people who were thinking of in late January that he had paid Sarkozy had piled pressure on continue and which is creating last month that “Russian state The conservative 63-year- – but after Donald Trump’s vic- voting Fillon would now opt for his wife Penelope and two of Fillon to meet Juppe and fi nd a serious problems for the French bodies” were involved in a coup old was once the favourite to be tory and Britain’s vote to leave Le Pen. their children nearly €900,000 way out of the crisis. people”. attempt during October elec- tions with the aim of stopping the Balkan country from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Or- ganisation (Nato). EU eff orts to forge closer ties with the Balkan states mean- Polish govt lacks backing to unseat Tusk while have stalled, with Brus- sels seen as failing to deliver on promises of membership and Reuters Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. Over a Sunday dinner in Brus- economic progress. Brussels Many in Brussels dread open- sels, Waszczykowski had sought ing another feud at a time when to persuade his peers from Hun- the bloc faces daunting challeng- gary, the Czech Republic and push by Poland’s euro- es including handling the pend- Slovakia, as well as Belgium, France drops sceptic government to re- ing departure of Britain, facing Luxembourg and the Nether- electronic voting Amove fellow-countryman up to an assertive Russia and get- lands. Donald Tusk from one of the top ting to grips with US President The leaders of four former France’s government has jobs in the European Union failed Donald Trump. communist eastern EU states dropped plans to let its citizens to win any public support yester- But Poland’s ruling party boss met in Warsaw last week, but abroad vote electronically in day as EU foreign ministers met Jaroslaw Kaczynski is implacably failed to agree on opposing Tusk Saryusz-Wolski: the preferred legislative elections in June to discuss it in Brussels. opposed to Tusk, holding him together. candidate of the Polish ruling because of concern about the But Poland, which is also at “morally responsible” for the The Czech minister, Lubomir party. risk of cyber attacks, the foreign loggerheads with Brussels over death of his twin brother, presi- Zaoralek, said yesterday that the ministry said yesterday. climate change, migration and its dent Lech Kaczynski, in a plane easterners had much to lose. give him a new term is expected The National Cybersecurity treatment of judges and the me- crash in Russia in 2010, when “If there were other candi- this Thursday. Agency believed there was an dia, was signalling that it would Tusk was Polish prime minister. dates, it could have a very un- While unanimity would have “extremely high risk” of cyber not budge – possibly setting the Polish and Russian probes pleasant result ... I am afraid been the preferred option, a ma- attacks. stage for a showdown at a sum- blamed pilot error. that this can result in central and jority vote is enough to keep him. “In that light, it was decided mit of EU leaders on Thursday. Polish Foreign Minister Witold eastern Europe losing its repre- Waszczykowski suggested the that it would be better to take Tusk’s fi rst term expires this Waszczykowski, in Brussels for sentative, and I would consider decision could be delayed, but no risk that might jeopardise May and he enjoys the comfort- talks with his EU peers, said War- that a serious mistake,” he said. Zaoralek said that would risk the legislative vote for French able backing of most EU states to saw was insistent on Saryusz- The fact that the bitter political opening a Pandora’s box. citizens residing abroad,” the be reappointed for another 2-1/2 Wolski, a centre-right European rivalry between Kaczynski and No third candidate has ministry said in a statement. years as president of the Euro- Parliament member. Tusk has spilled over to Brussels emerged so far. Concern about foreign pean Council, responsible for “This is our candidate and he has raised many eyebrows in the “There is a majority for Tusk, interference in western elections chairing summits of EU leaders. is in the game. This is the only European capital. and pleasing Kaczynski is not has surged amid allegations of But Poland, where the head of Polish candidate right now for A soft-spoken centrist, Tusk on everyone’s mind in Brussels,” Russian hacking – which Moscow the ruling party is Tusk’s arch- the post of the European Coun- is widely seen in the EU as a safe said a senior diplomat from one denies – in the US presidential An activist stands near an eff igy with an image of Tusk during a foe, wants to oust Tusk and re- cil head. There is no other Polish pair of hands. of the other states that took part ballot. protest yesterday calling for migrants’ rights in Brussels. place him with another Pole, candidate,” he said. The decision on whether to in the Sunday dinner. Work on brain’s reward system wins three scientists €1mn reward

Reuters disorders such as addiction and ning almost 30 years, found that at work,” said Schultz, a German- don, added to Schultz’s fi ndings by the Lundbeck Foundation in Dolan, director of the new Max London obesity. dopamine neurons are at the born professor of neuroscience with research showing how hu- Denmark, is awarded annually Planck Centre for Computation- Peter Dayan, Ray Dolan, and heart of the brain’s reward sys- who now works at the University mans update and change their and recognises scientists for out- al Psychiatry and Ageing, and Wolfram Schultz, who all work in tem, aff ecting behaviour in eve- of Cambridge. goals through a dopamine-driven standing contribution to neuro- Dayan, cracked open a bottle of hree neuroscientists won Britain, said that they were sur- rything from decision-making, He said dopamine neurons are system “reward prediction error”. science. champagne in London after be- the world’s most valuable prised and delighted to receive risk-taking and gambling, to like “like little devils in our brain He showed that our future be- Colin Blakemore, chairman of ing told of the prize. Tprize for brain research the Brain Prize, which they said drug addiction and schizophre- that drive us towards more re- haviour is dictated by constant the selection committee, said the Schultz described the news as yesterday for pioneering work on was a recognition of their per- nia. wards”. brain feedback on whether antic- three scientists’ work had helped a fantastic reward. the brain’s reward pathways – a sistent curiosity about how the “This is the biological process Dayan, director of the Gatsby ipated rewards are as expected, or decipher the way people use and “I can hear our dopamine neu- system that is central to human human brain works. that makes us want to buy a big- Computational Neuroscience better or worse than expected. respond to rewards across many rons jumping up and down,” he and animal survival as well as The scientists’ research, span- ger car or house, or be promoted Unit at University College Lon- The €1mn Brain Prize, given aspects of life. said. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 INDIA

CONTROVERSY SURVEY PROTEST BUDGET POLITICS SP leader questions Indian women earn Lucknow jewellers down No new taxes in Haryana, Andhra CM’s son files Johar over surrogacy 25% less than men shutters after ‘biggest’ heist economy in ‘pink of health’ nomination for election

Even as Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan Gender continues to be a significant parameter The bullion market and all jewellery shops in The Haryana government yesterday proposed no Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu said his friend Karan Johar’s decision to become in determining salaries in India, as men earned Lucknow observed a shutdown yesterday in protest new taxes in the annual budget which has crossed Naidu’s son N Lokesh yesterday filed his nomination a single father via surrogacy was personal and a median gross hourly salary of Rs345.8 against a multi-million rupee heist in the Uttar Rs1 lakh crore for the first time and said the state papers for the legislative council elections. must be respected, Samajwadi Party leader compared to women’s Rs259.8, a survey has Pradesh capital. “The decision was taken in view of economy was in the “pink of health”. Finance Minister Assembly members will elect seven members to the Abu Asim Azmi yesterday questioned the showed. The overall gender pay gap across the continued crimes against jewellers and soaring Abhimanyu, presenting his third consecutive budget, council in the biennial elections on March 17. Besides Bollywood filmmaker’s decision. “What is this India in 2016 amounted to 25% – a 2% drop from cases of loot and dacoities,” Amarnath Mishra, senior proposed a budget of Rs1,02,329.35 crore for fiscal the ruling Telugu Desam Party’s general secretary drama of surrogacy? He could have adopted the 27% gap in 2015, noted the Monster Salary general secretary of the Lucknow Vyapar Mandal year 2017-18, an increase of 13.18% over revised Lokesh, Karnam Balram, P Sunitha, D Manikya children if he wanted to become a father,” Azmi Index on gender, released by online career and said. The shutdown was sparked by a robbery late estimates of Rs90,412.59 crore for 2016-17. The Varaprasad and B Arjunudu filed their nominations. said in Mumbai. He wanted to know why Johar, recruitment solution provider Monster India. “In Sunday night in which Mukund Jewellers in the minister said no new taxes had been proposed in Naidu, the TDP national president, finalised the 44, didn’t marry. Johar announced on Sunday India, the gender pay gap story holds true and Chowk bullion market was robbed off 40kg gold and the budget. He said the GSDP (Gross State Domestic names of the candidates on Sunday night. After that he had become a father to a baby girl and the overall gap across India Inc is at 25%. This Rs130mn, an off icial said. The owner Pravin Rastogi Product), which is estimated to have logged a growth his election to the upper house, Lokesh is likely to a baby boy through surrogacy. He has named primarily is a manifestation of the underlying and his son Jitanshu Rastogi were the only persons rate of 8.7% in 2016-17, was poised to touch 9% in be inducted into the cabinet. Talking to reporters the daughter Roohi – in a rearrangement of his diversity challenges that organisations currently present in the shop when five masked men barged in. 2017-18. “Haryana has made significant strides in all following his nomination, Lokesh said he was happy mother Hiroo’s name – and the son has been face,” Sanjay Modi, managing director at The robbers pulled off the “biggest heist” in the city key parameters that constitute the economic and to be the TDP candidate within five years of working christened Yash – after his late father. Monster.com, said in a statement yesterday. just a few yards away from the local police station. fiscal space,” he said. as a “disciplined party worker”.

LG praises Kejriwal govt, lists Mumbai attack achievements

IANS New Delhi carried out by

t Governor Anil Baijal yes- terday praised the Delhi Lgovernment’s achieve- ments in health, education and our own group: other sectors and said 1,000 Mo- halla Clinics will be set up within six months. Addressing the Delhi assem- bly on the opening day of the budget session, Baijal listed all the work done by the Aam Aadmi ex-Pak NSA Party (AAP) government in the last two years. Durrani calls carnage a Pakistan government and the Durrani also hit out at Saeed – This was Baijal’s fi rst address ‘classic trans-border terrorist Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) a terrorist commander who car- to the house after he assumed event’ have “nothing to do” with the ries a $10mn reward announced offi ce in December – and it came mayhem masterminded by Saeed by the US. as a contrast to the times when IANS and LeT operations commander “Hafi z Saeed has no utility. I the AAP and former Lt Gover- New Delhi Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who got hope they (Pakistan government) nor Najeeb Jung were locked in a bail in 2016 after years of an al- will punish (him).” perennial confl ict. leged sluggish trial in Pakistan. Saeed was put under house ar- Focusing on the health and ormer Pakistan National rest on January 30. The Lashkar education sectors, Baijal said Security Adviser (NSA) founder, who now runs a banned over 100 Mohalla Clinics – FMahmud Ali Durrani yes- Jamaat-ud-Daawa charity, was where people have access to terday admitted that a terrorist detained after the Mumbai terror doctors, tests and medicines for group from his country carried attack but was freed by a court in free – were working and their out the 2008 Mumbai terror at- 2009. number would go up to 1,000 in tack and hoped Islamabad would Pakistan has also listed the six months. act against detained Lashkar Lashkar founder under the coun- In his 25-minute address, pe- founder Haafi z Saeed, the mas- try’s Anti-Terrorism Act – a tacit riodically welcomed by thump- termind. acknowledgement of his links to ing of desks by the AAP-dom- Durrani’s admission came at terrorism. inated house, Baijal said the the 19th Asian Security Con- Terror sanctuaries in Paki- clinics had earned global acclaim ference held at the Institute of stan and cross-border terrorism including from former UN sec- Defence Studies and Analyses “I made a statement emanating from there remained retary-general Kofi Annan. (IDSA) here and is the fi rst by any on Pakistan television at the centre of the three-day Baijal, who succeeded Jung in high-ranking Pakistani offi cial which the (then) Pakistan security conference that was also December, added that 122 poly- that confi rms India’s stand that government did not like attended by Defence Minister clinics – secondary healthcare the Lashkar-e-Taiba plotted and and I was sacked” Manohar Parrikar and Afghan centres – would also be com- executed the carnage nine years NSA Hanif Atmar. pleted in the next one year. ago, killing 166 Indians and for- Durrani said as the then top Durrani also admitted that Pa- He said the Delhi government eigners. security offi cial in Pakistan, he kistan had given shelter to lead- had also made radiology tests “I hate to admit that the 26/11 had off ered assistance to India to ers of the Haqqani Network – an like MRI, CT and PET scans free Mumbai attack carried out by a probe the Pakistani link into the Afghan guerrilla insurgent group for Delhi’s residents. terror group based in Pakistan strike but “unfortunately mis- that was also alleged to have “My government is focused on on November 26, 2008 is a clas- trust overruled common sense” masterminded at least one attack providing aff ordable healthcare sic trans-border terrorist event,” at that time. on an Indian mission in Afghani- services to its citizens.” said Durrani, who was the NSA “I called my counterpart in stan in 2008. Baijal said 10,000 additional when 10 Pakistani terrorists India (Shivshankar Menon) and “(Jalaludin) Haqqani was in beds would soon be added to sailed into Mumbai and commit- said if you allow, we will send two Pakistan. I don’t know whether Delhi’s healthcare system. ted mayhem over three days. people for investigation to sit he is still there or not.” The Lt Governor said work While nine of the Pakistani with you in Mumbai. But because He said terror groups like was underway to build 8,000 terrorists were killed, one, Aj- of mistrust it was not allowed.” Haqqani Network “are not our new classrooms and 20 new mal Kasab, was caught, tried and India downplayed Durrani’s friends, they are our enemies”. schools, out of which 14 schools hanged. remarks, saying there was noth- Parrikar called on Asian coun- were ready. Weeks after the attack, Dur- ing new. tries to act against the “most For higher education, con- rani told a national TV that “India’s stand is very well pervasive and serious challenge” struction of new campuses for Kasab was a Pakistani citizen – a known. There is nothing new in of terrorism. Ambedkar University had start- remark that cost him his job on this revelation,” Minister of State “The threat of terror is tran- ed at Rohini in north-west Delhi January 7, 2009. for Home Aff airs Kiren Rijiju snational. The response doesn’t and Dheerpur in north Delhi. “I made a statement on Paki- said. seem so,” he said. “A collective For skills development, the stan television which the (then) Pakistan’s failure to conclude action should come from Asia.” Delhi government will set up fi ve Pakistan government did not the trial in the case has been one The Afghan NSA asked Pa- new polytechnics. like and I was sacked. Is that not of the major strains in bilateral kistan to act against “all terror Baijal praised the govern- enough proof for you?” Dur- relations. groups without distinction”. ment for its “reading campaign” rani, also a former Pakistan army New Delhi has maintained that This, he said, “will certainly that he said had transformed commander, told reporters at the it has shared evidence to prove produce great benefi ts not just 100,000 children from non- Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrive to attend the first day of Delhi IDSA. that the 10 attackers were trained for Pakistan but also for the re- readers to readers. Assembly’s budget session yesterday. However, he insisted that the at a Lashkar camp in Pakistan. gion”.

Protest against corruption 58% children anaemic, Jayalalithaa got best health survey shows

DPA to age and underweight as low medial care: TN govt New Delhi weight for age. Child health experts said that although India has improved on IANS mary received from Apollo Hos- hypothyroidism, but clearly the ver 58 per cent of children internationally accepted param- Chennai pitals and the medical reports treatment report of Apollo Hos- below fi ve years of age in eters of child health since the last from the All India Institute of pitals as well as of AIIMS do not OIndia are anaemic and the NFHS survey in 2005-2006, it Medical Sciences. mention any evidence of trauma country still has high levels of still had severe levels of under- he Tamil Nadu govern- Earlier in the day, the AIIMS or any other event as alleged by stunting, an offi cial survey said. nourishment among its children, ment yesterday made handed over its documents re- certain political leaders,” said Data from the National Fam- mainly due to poverty. Tpublic records of Apollo lated to Jayalalithaa to the Tamil Radhakrishnan. ily Health Survey 2015-16, pub- “There is an improvement in Hospitals here and AIIMS in New Nadu government. These allegations surface amid lished in the domestic media some areas, such as incidence Delhi to show that chief minister Jayalalithaa died at the Apollo a major row that led to a split yesterday, showed that 58.4% of anaemia, that dropped from J Jayalalithaa got the best medical Hospitals on December 5 75 days in the All India Anna Dravida or around 72mn children were 69.4% in 2005-6, but on pa- treatment till she died. “Certain after she was admitted with mul- Munnetra Kazhagam, with sup- anaemic. rameters like complementary insinuations have been made that tiple complications. porters of former chief minister O Anaemic children have lower feeding (giving an infant foods in administration of wrong drugs The statement said an Apollo Panneerselvam alleging foul play than average levels of haemo- addition to milk) after the baby over a period of time prior to Hospital ambulance found that leading to Jayalalithaa’s death. globin in their blood, which has completed six months, there hospitalisation had led to health Jayalalithaa was breathless with AIADMK leader and former leaves them exhausted, vulnera- has not been much progress,” complications for the late chief low oxygen saturation resulting speaker P H Pandian had alleged ble to infections and likely aff ects Unicef nutrition specialist Gay- minister,” J Radhakrishnan, prin- in drowsiness at about 10pm on that Jayalalithaa was pushed down their brain development. atri Singh said. cipal secretary in the Health and September 22. at her residence and demanded a The survey showed 38% of Poor economic conditions as Family Welfare Department said She was admitted to Apollo and probe in the circumstances leading children in the same age group well as food quality, women’s in a statement here. diagnosed to be suff ering from in- to her hospitalisation. were stunted, 21% wasted and low social status, early marriage He said in order to put to rest fection and dehydration, accom- According to Radhakrishnan, 36% were found to be under- leading to low birth weights and needless speculation over her panied by respiratory distress. while in hospital, Jayalalithaa re- Advocates stage a demonstration in front of the Patna weight. poor sanitation and hygiene have hospitalisation, treatment and “There were pre-existing co- sponded well to the multi-disci- High Court protesting against corruption in judiciary Wasting is described as low been identifi ed as key reasons death, the government decided to morbidities like diabetes, hyper- plinary care in the Critical Care yesterday. weight compared to height, behind child undernutrition in make public the discharge sum- tension, asthmatic bronchitis and Unit. stunting as low height compared India. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 21 INDIA My reputation sullied over DDCA allegations: Jaitley

IANS Kejriwal’s counsel and senior The minister replied: “There However, the court as well as good things for someone”. “damage to his reputation has utation is based on the opinion New Delhi advocate Ram Jethmalani was are overlapping areas in the Jaitley’s counsel raised objec- However, the minister raised caused pain and mental distress”. of his friends, well-wishers and cross-examining him in a defa- meaning of the two words and tion on Jethmalani’s question objection to the reference - Replying to Jethmalani’s que- other people including media. mation case fi led by the minister the counsel’s (Jaitley’s) letter and said that a witness cannot be which was allowed by the court ry on “unquantifi able damage”, Jaitley got emotional during inance Minister Arun Jait- against the chief minister and fi ve dated December 21, 2015 in that confronted with a dictionary. observing that such questions Jaitley elaborated: “I believe that the hearing, and also said that he ley turned emotional in the other Aam Aadmi Party leaders. sense uses them ‘interchange- Targeting Jaitley on the two did not have any relevance to the considering my stature, back- countered AAP leaders’ defama- FDelhi High Court yesterday Jethmalani, referring to a letter ably’.” words, Jethmalani again asked case. ground and reputation, the loss tory statements, but when they stressing that his reputation has written by Jaitley to the Deputy Jaitley rejected Jethmalani’s whether the fi nance minister Jethmalani questioned Jaitley caused to me and my reputation continued with their allegations suff ered “irreparable damage” Registrar seeking defamation suggestion that the words agrees that “men in power do over the Rs100mn damage he has was so enormous that it could be of corruption in DDCA he then due to allegations of corruption proceedings against Kejriwal, “goodwill” and “reputation” are good things for their friends and sought from Kejriwal, and asked: considered ‘unquantifi able’.” fi led the case alleging irreparable levelled by Delhi Chief Minister asked him: “You have used the “totally diff erent”. enjoy a lot of goodwill”, and that “You do not claim in this fi gure of Jethmalani then posed: “It was loss to his image. Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Dis- word ‘goodwill’ in the letter Jethmalani then confronted “reputation does not suff er from Rs10 crore that there is any loss your own personal feeling about “I never complain against po- trict Cricket Association (DDCA) fi led along with the plaint. Are Jaitley with Webster’s Compre- a defamatory statement as much of income or property (from Ke- your own greatness that it cannot litical criticism, but for the fi rst case. you aware about the diff erence hensive Dictionary and told him as goodwill suff ers”. The senior jriwal’s defamatory statement). be quantifi ed in fi scal measure. time personal imputation ques- Jaitley was present in the court between ‘goodwill’ and ‘reputa- about the diff erence of the two counsel also said that “goodwill What do you have to say?” What do you have to say?” tioning my integrity was made,” of the Registrar General when tion’?” words. is enjoyed by a crook who does Jaitley answered that the Jaitley responded that his rep- he said. Police fi nd 19 foetuses dumped in plastic bags, probe ordered

Agencies woman died after undergoing Mumbai an abortion at the clinic of the homoeopath,who was not li- censed to terminate pregnan- olice found 19 aborted cies. foetuses dumped in Their investigation led them Pplastic bags in Mahar- to the foetuses in a sewer near ashtra while they investigated the clinic, local media reported. a woman’s death after an abor- “We our presuming these tion - uncovering what offi - could be female foetuses and cials suspect is an inter-state our investigation is on this Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav waves to his supporters as he arrives for an election campaign rally in Jaunpur yesterday. female foeticide racket. line,” said Satish Pawar, direc- Police said yesterday they tor of health services in Ma- had teamed up with health of- harashtra. fi cials to launch a major inves- The recovered foetuses have tigation into the case in a vil- been sent for DNA testing to lage in Sangli district near the determine their sex. border with Karnataka. “We suspect radiologists in A homeopathic doctor, sus- major cities would determine Time to change fortunes pected of performing illegal sex of the baby and direct cases sex-selective abortions in the to this doctor,” Pawar said. basement of his dispensary in Investigation teams reached the village, was on the run, po- the village yesterday to seek lice said. out families who may have Indian laws ban doctors and used abortion services at the health workers from sharing an dispensary and could direct of Uttar Pradesh: Modi unborn child’s sex with the par- them to ultrasound clinics they ents, or carrying out tests to de- visited for sex determination. IANS corrupt like the Bahujan Samaj Urging people to come out farmers, the poor and the hon- have failed will now get them re- termine the child’s gender. Maharashtra offi cials said Varanasi Party, SP and Congress and in- in large numbers to vote and est. placed free of cost under a cen- Only registered medical all health facilities in rural ar- stall a majority BJP government break all past records of bal- “There was an acute problem tral government scheme. Target- practitioners are allowed to eas in the state would now be in UP,” he said. loting, Modi said the central and shortage of urea in previous ing BSP chief Mayawati, Modi perform abortions. surveyed. rime Minister Narendra Modi said the state was in the government was harbouring years but ever since we came, said she had lost the faith and Nevertheless, female foe- A Maharashtra minister an- Modi yesterday sought “throes of anarchy” as crime was dreams of making the country by ensuring that all urea in the confi dence of the people. ticide continues in parts of nounced she would work with Psupport and votes for the shooting through the roof and progress and to ensure that country is neem-coated, we have Campaigning for the final India, where a preference for the Karnataka government Bharatiya Janata Party, and at- law and order had crumbled un- the poor and the homeless ensured that the urea meant for phase of the seven-stage as- sons runs deep. to crack down on a trend of tacked Uttar Pradesh’s ruling der the SP government. “Mining in India get a roof over their the fi elds of the farmers goes to sembly elections came to an Indian wedding customs women seeking sex-selective Samajwadi Party, saying the mafi a, liquor mafi a....they are head by 2022 and also double them and not to chemical fac- end yesterday, bringing the mean girls are often seen as a abortions in border towns of state was in the “throes of an- ruling the roost in the state and the income of farmers by 2022 tories,” Modi said as people ap- curtains down on one of the huge cost with very little re- the two states. archy” and law and order had the police stations have been when India completes 75 years plauded. most caustic and bitterly- turns, partly because the prac- “This matter is extremely crumbled. turned into offi ces of the ruling of freedom. He also said that the BJP- fought political battles ever tice of demanding dowries re- heinous and condemnable,” At an election rally in Ro- Samajwadi Party,” he stated. “All this is possible, we have led government has ensured seen in recent times. mains the norm, despite being Maharashtra Women & Child haniya, the prime minister said In an attempt to connect with made a roadmap for this and are that hundreds of thousands of The last round of balloting illegal. Welfare Minister Pankaja the time was ripe to change the the milling crowds, the prime taking strong and robust steps in households have got LPG cyl- tomorrow for the 403-member Sons, on the other hand, can Munde said. “taqdeer” (fortunes) of Uttar minister said he felt fortunate this direction,” he said. inders and connection and was assembly comprises 40 constit- inherit property, continue the Urging parents to save Pradesh and sought support for to have been born in Gujarat, the Modi also detailed many wel- trying to ensure than 50mn uencies in Poorvanchal or east- family line, and play a vital role daughters, Munde emphasised candidates from alliance part- land of Mahatma Gandhi and fare schemes rolled out by his people get these gas connec- ern Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, in important Hindu rituals. the need to motivate parents ners Apna Dal and the Bharatiya then coming to Varanasi, making government and reiterated his tions. Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Police were alerted by vil- to support their children irre- Samaj Party. the Poorvanchal as his ‘karmab- personal commitment for the The prime minister said that Bhadohi, Sonebhadra and Jaun- lagers after a 26-year-old spective of the child’s gender. “In this election vote out the hoomi’. prosperity of the people in need, farmers whose water pumps pur districts. Maharashtra suspends waqf Kingfi sher house board chief over land misuse and villa auction fails fourth time Reuters chief executive but was still an “Waqf properties are Mumbai offi cer on the waqf board. meant for the welfare of the The board’s current chief entire community,” said Sal- IANS executive, A R Qureshi, said he im Baig, a social worker who Mumbai did not wish to comment. has filed lawsuits against he Maharashtra govern- Waqf is an endowment of waqf boards. ment has suspended a land or property by a Muslim “A few bad managers are ttempts by a consortium of banks to Tformer head of a Muslim for a religious, educational or ruining the purpose of these auction properties of industrialist Vi- organisation in charge of land charitable purpose. lands, and the entire commu- Ajay Mallya to recover loans made to his endowments, amid growing Under Indian law, it can- nity is suff ering, as a result.” Kingfi sher Airlines, failed again yesterday as concern that waqf land and not be transferred or sold, and India will have the world’s these had no takers despite around a 10% cut property set aside for religious must be used for the commu- largest Muslim population by in their reserve price. or charitable use is being ille- nity’s welfare. 2050, according to a recent Yesterday’s reserve price for Kingfi sher House, gally sold on to developers. It is estimated that waqf forecast by the Pew Research once the defunct Kingfi sher Airline’s corporate The state land department, boards in India hold nearly Center. offi ce, was Rs103.5 crore, which was 10% lower in an order last week, said Na- 500,000 registered proper- Yet the community, which than the failed third auction held in December, seem Banu Patel misused her ties and tracts of land, making makes up about 13% of India’s when the minimum sale price was fi xed at Rs115 power as chief executive in them among the top landown- population, lags the national crore. All three previous auctions failed as bid- declaring waqf land endowed ers in the country. average on indicators such as ders found the reserve price too high. for religious or charitable pur- Yet several state boards have education, employment and The reserve price for the third auction of the poses, as non-waqf for sale to a been accused in recent years of political representation. Kingfi sher Villa in north Goa, where the cur- developer. selling waqf land to developers Maharashtra state last week rently absconding Mallya hosted lavish par- Patel’s mobile phone was and private buyers for low rates launched a survey to determine ties, was kept at Rs73 crore - also around 10% switched off . in return for illegal kickbacks the extent of waqf properties lower than the December auction price of Rs81 She had stepped down as as demand for land soars. and encroachments. crore.

Haryana mulls pension for widowers

AFP Khattar said the plan was to roll out ceive no such payout, prompting chrouli had complained that the Chandigarh the changes next year once laws had calls for the scheme to be revised. scheme was unconstitutional as it been amended. Local politician Ravinder Mac- discriminated on the basis of gen- “We are seriously considering chrouli argued that like widows, der, a local newspaper reported. aryana said yesterday it was granting a pension to widowers in line husbands also suff er when they lose Most states in India pay monthly considering giving monthly with the pensions provided to wid- their loved ones and were entitled to cash payments to widows from Hcash handouts to men who ows,” Khattar told the state assembly. the payments. poorer backgrounds due to concerns lose their wives, a fi rst for a country Haryana pays a monthly pen- There are no fi gures on the that some widows, especially in ru- that traditionally only provides such sion of Rs1,600 ($24) to the state’s number of widowers in the state of ral areas, may be abandoned by their payments to women. 650,000 widows every month. 27mn people. families who consider them a fi nan- State Chief Minister Manohar Lal But men who lose their wives re- A widower who wrote to Mac- cial burden. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

ACCIDENT COMMENT PEOPLE LAW AND ORDER TRAGEDY Panama bus crash kills Peru president a State funeral for Police free 31 Cubans Blast kills three 18, many injured ‘coward’: Venezuela Haiti ex-president Preval held captive in Mexico in Mexico town

At least 18 people died and 33 were injured in Venezuela’s leftist government yesterday called Haiti’s late ex-president Rene Preval, a champion Federal police in Mexico’s Riviera Maya resort Three people were killed when a house where Panama when a bus veered off a highway and Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski a of the poor who served two terms as the coun- area freed 31 Cubans being held by gunmen in fireworks were being made blew up in the same flipped into a ravine and then a river, the authori- “coward” and “dog” servile to the US for his an- try’s leader, will be honoured with a state funeral, a house, authorities said. The Cuban migrants town recently hit by a devastating explosion of ties said. Civil Defence off icer Jose Donderis said tagonism to socialism. Kuczynski, a 78-year-old a source close to his family said. The viewing for said masked gunmen held them in the home a fireworks market, local authorities said. The the bus headed from the Bocas del Toro province former Wall Street investment banker who won Preval, who died Friday aged 74, will be held on near the Caribbean coast demanding money house, in a residential neighbourhood of Tultepec on the Caribbean Sea to a ranch in Chame — a election last year, has been one of the most Friday at a museum on the Champ de Mars, the the Cubans did not have. Police received outside Mexico City, was destroyed by the blast, town on the Pacific Ocean some seven hours vocal critics in the region of Venezuela’s ruling capital Port-au-Prince’s main park. His funeral is multiple reports on the situation before moving which sent a large plume of smoke into the air, ac- away — crashed near Cienaga Vieja in Anton, “Chavismo” movement named for late social- set for Saturday. The former president died after in to free the 22 Cuban men and nine Cuban cording to TV images. Two children and a woman Cocle province, southwest of Panama City. “It is ist leader Hugo Chavez. He particularly irked a cardiac arrest, according to local media reports women, said Mexico’s National Public Safety were killed, the government said in a statement, a really dramatic accident,” he said, adding that President Nicolas Maduro’s government with citing Preval’s sister. With a reputation as an Board. After the US policy allowing Cubans who noting that fireworks were being made in the the cause was not yet known. “The entire bus, the a recent speech in the US where he said Latin honest and eff icient administrator, Preval served reach American soil to get near automatic US home. Seven more people were injured, it said. inside part of the bus, was squeezed into the part America was in general like a well-behaved dog as president of Haiti, the poorest country in the residency ended, hundreds of Cubans who left The cause of the explosion was not immediately where the driver would be and a lot of people on the carpet except for Venezuela which was western hemisphere, with a long history of politi- their country for US shores have become stuck clear. The state’s Red Cross said on its Twitter ac- were trapped there.” “a big problem.” cal violence, in 1996-2001 and 2006-2011. in several Latin American countries. count that there had been a gas leak. Farc women Chile students’ protest rebels plan for life after war

AFP the camouflaged tarpaulin that San Jose de Oriente, Colombia covers the station’s makeshift studio. But her DJ days will soon end. ith their rifles, green She is currently broadcasting fatigues and black from a temporary base in one of Wrubber boots, the the demobilisation zones where women fighters of the Farc the Farc have gathered to disarm. rebel force have become one of Next, she says: “I want to get the international faces of Co- my high school diploma and lombia’s civil war. study philosophy, communi- Soon the photographs that cation or education. There are have fascinated world media lots of things I want to do.” will be for the history books. In a cap and red nail paint, Thousands of them are pre- Erica Galindo, 39, feels she has paring to lay down their guns lived “a whole lifetime” as a and return to civilian life. guerrilla — 24 of her 39 years. After more than half a centu- The Farc taught her nursing ry of conflict, the Farc’s disar- skills. She wants to get an of- mament is due to be completed ficial qualification to continue by May under a peace deal with nursing when she becomes a ci- the Colombian government. vilian again. “It is my dream to They have plenty of plans work with the poorest people, A riot police detains a student as they hold a Chilean flag during a protest against the bankruptcy filing by ARCIS University in Santiago, Chile, yesterday. for what to turn to afterwards, bring them human warmth and other than rifles. heal them,” she said. Manuela Canaveral, 22, Maritzal Gonzalez, 54, has hopes to go back to school. been a member of Farc for 40 years, participating in a war that “I’ll carry on with the authorities say has killed at least political movement 260,000 people. Born across the that the Farc is going to border in Venezuela, she joined become. I’ll go where they the Farc to escape poverty. tell me” She has cooked and cleaned for her fellow guerrillas, and Brazil mining reform bills Having led civil protests has stood guard with gun in while in high school, she hand. Now she smiles as she dropped out after receiving plans to return to the family she threats from right-wing para- left behind. militaries, one of numerous “I am swapping the rifle for sides in the conflict. the broom,” she says. She joined the Farc at 15, she About 40% of the Farc’s ‘may go to Congress soon’ says, “to protect my life.” 7,000 members are women. As part of its campaign for Some of them will stick with Reuters “We are fi nishing the discus- State pension funds led by get smooth passage, he said, That is the same model now rural land rights the commu- the Farc in its new manifes- Toronto sions inside the government, we Previ Caixa de Previdencia, because it will boost the funds used, although little of that nist rebel group has killed and tation: It is due to transform are very near closing the discus- Bradespar SA, Mitsui & Co and going to government. The bill money goes to the regulator kidnapped. But for Canaveral, into a political party under the sion for them to go to Congress,” an investment arm of state de- will set a flexible iron ore rate because it is being spent by the membership in the group af- peace deal. ills to reform Brazil’s min- Fernando Coelho Filho said in velopment lender BNDES are all of 2% to 4%, depending on in- government. forded her freedom as well as “Afterwards? I’ll carry on with ing industry are expected an interview at the Prospectors members of Valepar SA, the in- ternational prices for the steel- The agency’s budget may re- protection. the political movement that the Bto go before Congress in and Developers Association of vestment holding company that making raw material, the min- main at about 300mn to 350mn “As a guerrilla I learned that Farc is going to become. I’ll go late March or early April and Canada conference in Toronto, controls Vale. ister said. reais ($96mn to $112mn), but the we can wear our hair short and where they tell me,” says Adriana could be enacted by 110 days which began on Sunday and Vale, the world’s No 1 iron The current rate is 2%. portion of the royalty rate has it doesn’t make us any less Cabarrus, 38, a Farc guerrilla for after that, the country’s mines ends tomorrow. producer, was partly privatised Royalties for copper will re- not yet been decided, he added. women,” she said. the past 18 years. and energy minister said in an “If we are able to send both in 1997, although the govern- main at 2%, gold will increase Originally proposed by former “We have even more chance She has been entertaining interview. of them, in late March or early ment still wields infl uence to 2% from 1%, potash will drop president Dilma Rousseff in of making it than men, because herself in the demobilisation A remodelled mining code, April, (implementation would through BNDES’ investment to 2% from 3%, phosphate will hopes of increasing government we can do several things at camp by dancing to cumbia aimed at reviving investor in- be) probably 90 to 110 days after arm and the pension funds. remain at 2%, niobium will in- revenue from a then-booming once,” she laughs. music in her boots with her terest, was first proposed in that,” he said. The government pension crease to 2% from 1%, and ag- mining industry while encour- She works on the Farc’s ra- companions. “I just want to live 2009 but stalled in Congress The minister also said a de- funds have “a key role in this” gregate will drop to 1.5% from aging development of mineral dio station, broadcasting tunes in a free country, a country of in 2013. cision on who will replace Vale selection process, along with 2%, he said. claims that had been idle for such as Mother of a Guerrilla. social justice,” she says. “Per- To ease its passage, the bill has chief executive Murilo Ferreira, other partners in Vale, Coelho Funding for the new national years, the code was criticised by “This one is for all the moth- haps I will just stay here in this been broken into two sections whose term expires on May 26, Filho said. “For now, we’re still mining agency will come from industry as a means of tighten- ers in Colombia,” she says into area. This could turn into a new that revise government royalties could come by the end of March looking.” a portion of royalties, Coelho ing state control over natural the microphone, sitting under village.” and establish a new regulator. or beginning of April. The royalty bill will likely Filho said. resources. Castro blasts Trump’s Teachers strike in new Mexico wall, trade policy test for Macri govt Reuters agreements, with teachers de- Buenos Aires manding that wage hikes com- Reuters full review of all US policies to- Seeking to reverse more than pensate for purchasing power Havana wards Cuba.” 50 years of US eff orts using iso- lost in 2016, when infl ation to- Castro said: “The new agenda lation to force Cuba to change, housands of teachers took talled around 40%. of the US government threatens Obama agreed with Castro in to the streets of Buenos “The strike is massive across uban President Raul to unleash an extreme and ego- December 2014 to work to nor- TAires yesterday, delaying the whole country,” Roberto Ba- Castro harshly criti- tistical trade policy that will im- malise relations. the fi rst day of school for millions radel, a Buenos Aires province C cised US President pact the competitiveness of our The two close neighbours have of children, as part of a two- teachers’ union leader, said in an Donald Trump’s immigration, foreign trade; violate environ- since restored diplomatic ties day national strike demanding a interview with local television trade and other policies as mental agreements...hunt down and signed co-operation agree- wage increase to compensate for channel Cronica. Trump reviews a fragile de- and deport migrants.” ments. sky-high infl ation last year. Teachers in Argentina’s largest tente with Communist-run Trump said last month after The strike poses a test for province of Buenos Aires have Cuba begun by his predecessor “You can’t contain having dinner with Florida sen- centre-right President Mauricio demanded wage increases of 35% Barack Obama. poverty, catastrophes ator Marco Rubio, a vociferous Macri’s administration, which for 2017, while governor Maria In his fi rst critical remarks di- and migrants with walls, foe of detente, that he and Ru- is increasingly clashing with the Eugenia Vidal — a close Macri rected at Trump since he took of- but with co-operation, bio had similar views concern- country’s powerful unions ahead ally — has off ered them an 18% fi ce, Castro termed his trade pol- understanding and ing Cuba. of legislative elections in October. raise. icies “egotistical” and his plan to peace” Obama, a Democrat, used ex- Macri’s coalition is banking on In a speech last month, cen- build a wall along the Mexican ecutive orders to circumvent the success in the midterm vote to tral bank President Federico border “irrational.” He said migration was due to longstanding US trade embargo continue its agenda of market- Sturzenegger said salary hikes Castro’s speech to a summit of growing inequality and poverty on Cuba and ease some restric- friendly reforms. “slightly above” the central leftist leaders in Venezuela was caused by an unjust international tions on travel and business. The outcome of Argentina’s bank’s target would not compro- broadcast by state-run televi- economic system and that a wall The embargo can only be lift- annual wage negotiations are mise the monetary authority’s sion. along the Mexican border was ed by the US Congress, which is closely watched by economists ability to meet its target. Before taking offi ce, Trump therefore “irrational” and aimed controlled by Republicans. as salary hikes far above the cen- The bank workers’ union, seen threatened to torpedo the de- at all Latin Americans, not just Travel to the Caribbean island tral bank’s target for 12%-17% as a bellwether for the rest of the tente between the former Cold Mexicans. from the US has increased, with infl ation in 2017 could make it private sector, reached a deal War foes unless a “better deal” “You can’t contain poverty, the start of direct fl ights and more diffi cult for the govern- with employers for a 24.3% wage could be struck, without provid- catastrophes and migrants with cruises and roaming agreements ment to control infl ation. increase last month. ing details. walls, but with co-operation, signed, but no manufacturing or Yesterday’s strike comes after Unions are becoming more The White House said last understanding and peace,” Cas- signifi cant trade deals have yet Teachers march during a 48-hour nationwide strike demanding pay unions and many provincial gov- vocal in their opposition to some month it was in the middle of “a tro said. been agreed. rises, in Buenos Aires yesterday ernments failed to reach salary of Macri’s pro-market policies. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN 5 soldiers killed in raids Many schools defy order across Afghan border on student Reuters tacks last month, in which more travelled to Afghanistan on valid the border,” the Pakistani army’s the raid, the Foreign Offi ce said Peshawar than 130 people were killed, on visas and wish to return. press wing said in a statement. on Monday, urging Afghanistan Pakistani militants taking shel- Relations between the two The Afghan government had to crack down on militants op- ter in Afghanistan. Afghanistan countries are tense, and each no immediate response to the erating on its side of the border. assessment ive Pakistani soldiers were denies the charges. routinely accuses the other of Pakistani statements. Pakistan has blamed a series killed in attacks on north- In response, Islamabad shut doing too little to prevent Tali- A Taliban faction claimed re- of attacks last month that killed Fwestern border check- down border crossings and ban fi ghters and other militants sponsibility for the raid, saying it more than 130 people on Pakista- Internews In future, he said, recom- points launched by dozens of asked Kabul to hand over wanted from operating in its territory. was part of a campaign launched ni militants taking shelter across Islamabad mendation for improvement militants based in Afghanistan, militants believed to be hiding “Dozens” of militants from last month to target “enemies of the border in Afghanistan. in the education sector would Pakistan’s military said yester- on the Afghan side. across the border stormed se- Islam” across Pakistan. In response, Islamabad shut be made in the light of the as- day, as offi cials demanded that “In order to provide an op- curity posts in Pakistan’s Moh- Asad Mansoor, a spokesman down border crossings and he elementary and sec- sessment. “The assessment of the neighbouring country rein in portunity to those nationals of mand Agency on Sunday night, for Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a splinter asked Kabul to hand over wanted ondary education de- grade-VIII from the next year such violence. Afghanistan who had come to said senior security offi cials faction of the Pakistani Taliban, terrorists believed to be hiding Tpartment is reluctant is also under consideration,” Pakistan said yesterday it Pakistan on valid visas, and wish based in the region. claimed responsibility in a tel- on the Afghan side. to take action against private he added. would open border crossings for to return to their country, the Pakistan’s military said 10 ephone call to Reuters. The Tehreek e Taliban Paki- schools for defying its deci- Asked about any discipli- two days to allow through Af- government of Pakistan has de- militants were killed in the en- Only fi ve of its fi ghters were stan – a grouping separate from, sion regarding centralised nary action against the private ghans with valid visas after Is- cided to open the border cross- suing exchange of fi re and asked wounded and none were killed but allied with, the Afghan Tali- assessment of grade fi ve stu- schools for not becoming part lamabad shut the frontier because ings at Torkham and Chaman on Afghan authorities to strengthen in the attack, the Taliban faction ban – has been fi ghting for years dents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of the assessment, the offi cial it said militants accused of a series March 7 and 8,” the foreign offi ce surveillance in border areas. said, however. to overthrow Pakistan’s demo- province and northwest tribal said that education boards of attacks were being sheltered in said in a statement. “Terrorists are common Pakistan summoned the dep- cratically elected government areas, according to offi cials. were waiting for the directives the neighbouring country. The border will also be opened threat and must be denied free- uty head of the Afghan embassy and impose strict Islamic law on They said that the decision of education department in Pakistan has blamed the at- for two days for Pakistanis who dom of movement/action along in Islamabad to protest against the nation of 190mn. should have been implement- that regard. ed by both public and private He said that the boards sector schools in the province couldn’t take any action Major reservoirs and tribal areas. The assess- against private schools with- ment of the grade fi ve stu- out decision of the education Sunshine moment may touch dead dents has already commenced department. level by March 10 on March 2. Minister for Elementary However, the offi cials said, and Secondary Education The Indus River System Authority the administration of more Mohammad Atif Khan, when (Irsa) has warned that the water than half of the private schools contacted, said that explana- level in Pakistan’s major reservoirs refused to accept the govern- tion would be sought from is alarmingly low and could reach ment’s decision and didn’t al- the private schools for not the dead level by March 10. low the students to appear in accepting the decision of the Irsa spokesperson Khalid Rana the examinations. They said department about grade-V said the current water situation that there were around 7,000 assessment. has arisen after three to four private schools only in Khyber “If private schools have years in Pakistan mainly because Pakhtunkhwa. no valid reasons for denial, of last year’s drought which A senior offi cer said that then their registration can be continued for four months. owing to its vision of uni- cancelled,” he said. He added Sharing details, he said the versal and uniform primary that majority of the private current water level in Tarbela education, the department schools didn’t want central- Dam was recorded at 1,400ft made it mandatory for all fi fth ised assessment of their stu- and in Mangla Dam at 1,079ft. graders of public and private dents as it would expose their However, the dead level for primary schools in Khyber inabilities. Tarbela Dam is 1,380ft and for Pakhtunkhwa and Fata to par- The minister said that Mangla Dam 1,040ft, he said. ticipate in the assessment. private schools kept par- The Pakistan Meteorological He said that it was mere as- ents in dark by promoting Department (PMD) has predicted sessment of the students and their children, who obtained light to moderate showers next week promotion to next class had lower marks in the annual but it will not help increase the water nothing to do with it. “From examinations. level in the major water reservoirs. 2017-18, the promotion of He said that centralised He said the PMD has predicted students would be made on examinations for students of a few spells of showers starting the basis of the centralised grade-V would help to stop from today. examinations that would be that practice. “We are hoping ‘ good rain’ would conducted by the relevant ed- Khan said that the admin- help increase the water level in ucation board,” he added. istrations of 3,500 private these reservoirs otherwise it is “The ongoing assessment is schools accepted the govern- feared that the water shortage in all subjects of the grade-V ment’s decision and their stu- would not only aff ect the early including mathematics, Eng- dents were appearing in the sowing period of Kharif crop lish, Urdu, Islamiat, social ongoing assessment. which may aff ect its production study, general science and Pa- He said that provincial by 50 per cent to 60 per cent, shto,” a senior offi cial in Board government was spending but would also cause shortage of Intermediate and Second- Rs250mn on the assessment of drinking water across the ary Education, Peshawar said. to bring improvement in the country,” he said. He said that the assessment education sector. Rana said that hopefully in April snow was focused on the students, Sources in BISE Peshawar will start melting if temperature will curricula and teachers, which said that papers of the grade- increase to that extent which will were the main components V would be checked through An Afghan farmer drinks tea as he rests after work on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif, 427km from Kabul, yesterday. ultimately help increase the water of the education sector to see computers to avoid any level in the reservoirs. where the fl aws existed. human error. Kabul moves against schools Medical care hit by fi ghting linked to Erdogan’s enemy in Afghanistan: rights group Reuters the schools to be placed under Turkish teachers at schools run by Kabul the management of a so-called a body called PakTurk International “Vakif”, a Turkish educational Schools and Colleges to leave the Reuters intimidated, extorted, or de- and Islamic State, with 23 at- occupation, or an order issued and charitable foundation. country. Kabul tained medical personnel; and tributed to Afghan security by armed opposition groups,” fghanistan has ordered a He said there would be a Gulen, a former ally of Erdog- occupied medical facilities for forces, and urged all sides to it said. network of schools run by “gradual transition” of staff but an who nows lives in self-im- military purposes,” it said. stop targeted attacks on health- With government forces in Aan organisation regarded the government would not ex- posed exile in the United States, ospitals and clinics in care. control of less than 60% of with suspicion by the Turkish pel any of the schools’ Turkish promotes a moderate form of Afghanistan have in- Attacks had further As fi ghting has spread, facili- Afghanistan, according to the government to be transferred teachers. Islam, supporting inter-faith Hcreasingly been tar- restricted or even ties in heavily contested prov- latest US estimates, the report to a foundation approved by “Turkish teachers are our communication and Western- geted by armed groups over blocked medical care inces like Helmand or Kunduz underlines the growing prob- Ankara, Afghan offi cials said. guests and there has not been style education and inspiring the past two years, weaken- in a country where have sometimes been over- lems in providing adequate The move against Afghan Turk any decision to expel them,” he schools in diff erent parts of the ing an already degraded health almost a third of the whelmed by people seeking healthcare to the population CAG Educational NGO (ATCE), told a news conference on Sat- world. system, a children’s rights population of more treatment, while at others they outside large cities. the body that runs the schools, ap- urday, adding that the schools In the wake of July’s attempt- group said in a report issued than 30mn lacks have been empty because ac- The report said the prob- pears to be part of Turkey’s cam- would continue to operate. ed coup, the Turkish president yesterday. access to basic health cess is blocked by fi ghting or by lems were particularly severe paign against followers of Fethul- ATCE chairman Numan Er- branded him a “terrorist” and Watchlist on Children and services checkpoints. for more than 1.4mn internally lah Gulen, a US-based cleric it dogan said his organisation had pressed other countries to move Armed Confl ict said attacks Medical staff have also faced displaced people in Afghani- accuses of being behind a coup not yet received any government against him and his supporters. had further restricted or even The report, based on inter- intimidation and threats. stan, many living in camps and attempt in July. notifi cation, and would chal- Turkey has donated around blocked medical care in a coun- views in the provinces of Hel- With many clinics run by temporary settlements with ATCE, which says it is an in- lenge any decision to take away $1bn in development aid to Af- try where almost a third of the mand, Kunduz, Nangarhar and international aid organisations only infrequent visits from mo- dependent organisation, runs management of the schools. ghanistan since 2004, according population of more than 30mn Maidan Wardak, said there were based in areas outside govern- bile clinics. schools in several cities includ- “We have nothing to do with to the ministry of foreign aff airs lacks access to basic health 119 confl ict-related incidents ment control, long negotiations As confl ict has escalated ing the capital, Kabul, Mazar- developments in Turkey, none of and is one of the country’s most services. targeting medical facilities and were necessary with insurgent since the end-2014 withdrawal i-Sharif, Kandahar and Herat our teachers is implicated and any important economic partners, Armed groups had “forced personnel last year, quoting a groups and local elders to en- of most international troops, and has been in Afghanistan allegations against us about that with ethnic and cultural links in temporary or permanent clo- fi gure from the United Nations sure they could stay open. the numbers of those in need since 1995. are baseless,” he said. the north. sure of medical facilities; dam- Mission in Afghanistan. “But despite the negotia- of health and humanitarian as- Acting Education Minister Last year, shortly before a visit It also provides over 500 aged or destroyed medical facil- It said 95 of these were at- tions, some medical facilities sistance has grown, with mal- Shafi q Samim said the Turk- to Islamabad by Turkish President troops to the Nato-led mission ities; looted medical supplies; tributed to anti-government have been closed for days, nutrition among children up ish government had asked for Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistan ordered in Afghanistan. stolen ambulances; threatened, forces, including the Taliban weeks, or months due to either 40% and war injuries up 20%. KP courts dispensing speedy justice through ADR system

Internews tainous and far-fl ung districts of the Peshawar High Court As per the information re- The local people appreciated District and sessions couldn’t be recorded. Islamabad in the province through the (PHC) at Sheringal in Up- ceived from the PHC, civil judge the eff orts of the judge and ADR judge Malakand, Iftikhar PHC Chief Justice Yahya Afri- Alternate Dispute Resolution per Dir and Malakand decided Jamshed Kundi has decided doz- system that delivered speedy and Elahi also disposed of sev- di during his recent visit to these (ADR). dozens of cases through the ens of civil cases through ADR in inexpensive justice and disposed eral cases with the help of areas appreciated the judges for he judiciary in Pakistan’s The ADR system is using ADR. Through the ADR system Sheringal. In most of the cases, of civil cases within a short span video links. The court re- their eff orts. He praised them northwest province of modern techniques of video the courts have decided cases the litigants are poor and illiter- of time. corded statements of the for working to deliver speedy TKhyber Pakhtunkhwa links to record statements in the without delay and record- ate who cannot aff ord to pursue The judges also resolved crim- parties living abroad. In the and inexpensive justice through (KP) has started dispensation cases from abroad. ed statements of the people cases in the courts located at the inal cases through Alternate past the cases were pending the ADR and other modern of speedy justice in the moun- The subordinate courts through video links. district headquarters. Dispute Resolution system. for years as the statements techniques. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Napoles says De Lima tried to extort money Duterte ‘death squad’ inquiry Janet Lim-Napoles claimed yes- terday that senator Leila de Lima tried to extort money from her when she was the secretary of justice, Manila Times reported. The money would have been in exchange for the dropping of ends due to lack of proof the illegal detention complaint filed against her by Benhur Luy, Reuters one of the witnesses in the pork Manila barrel scam that also involved Napoles. The Off ice of the Solici- tor General earlier recommended hilippine senators Napoles’ acquittal in a manifesta- abruptly ended a hearing tion filed at the Court of Appeals. Pyesterday into allegations Solicitor General Jose Calida by a retired policeman that a said the Makati Regional Trial “death squad” operated under Court (RTC) Branch 150 erred in President Rodrigo Duterte when convicting Napoles. he was mayor of Davao City, cit- “No illegal detention happened. ing no proof that it even existed. There was only extortion. The Arturo Lascanas admitted to case was dismissed by the De- lying in October during anoth- partment of Justice a long time er Senate inquiry into alleged ago,” Napoles told reporters. extra-judicial killings by a hit When asked who tried to extort squad linked to Duterte, but said money, Napoles replied, “One of he did so for his family’s safety them was former Secretary Leila and because police had warned De Lima.” The DOJ dismissed him to “deny everything”. the serious illegal detention He said yesterday he had per- complaint filed against Napoles sonally killed 300 people, about in June 2013, prompting the 200 as a member of a “Davao National Bureau of Investigation death squad” of which Duterte to file a motion for reconsid- had full knowledge. eration. The Justice department But few fresh claims emerged granted the motion and filed a in yesterday’s proceedings and case at the Makati RTC. Napoles the senators, several of whom is currently serving life sentence are Duterte loyalists, challenged at the Correctional Institute for his credibility and demanded Women in Mandaluyong City proof. after the Makati court found her “We don’t see any point of Retired police off icer Arturo “Arthur” Lascanas holds some documents as he testifies at a Senator and boxer Manny Pacquiao questions retired policeman Arturo Lascanas during guilty in April 2015. She was at the pursuing the investigation,” Senate hearing in Manila yesterday. a Senate inquiry on alleged extra-judicial killings, in Manila yesterday. Sandiganbayan yesterday for the Senator Panfi lo Lacson, head of pre-trial of the plunder and graft the Senate panel, told reporters. were just “the tip of a bloody and current Davao vice mayor, done and wanted the truth to by the media. Human rights lencing informants, or unre- charges she is facing along with “There’s no independent evi- iceberg”. But little more came Paulo Duterte, had links to the set him free. groups documented about lated murders. former Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada dence other than what he had during yesterday’s inquiry. drug trade. He said he spoke out be- 1,400 suspicious killings in Police reject activists’ al- and several others in connection already testifi ed on.” Lascanas cited one time The president’s allies say the cause of “the fear of God”. Davao while Duterte was may- legations that they are behind with the Priority Development Lascanas broke down when when Duterte had personally testimony is part of a broader “I wanted to clear my con- or and critics say the war on most killings and say they are Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork he told his story to reporters instructed him to kill and said plot to discredit him. science,” he added drugs he unleashed as presi- responsible for 2,555 of the barrel scam. The anti-graft court’s two weeks ago and is the sec- the death squad’s instructions His chief lawyer, Salvadore Duterte denies ordering dent has the same hallmarks. deaths, when suspects had re- Fifth Division reset the pre-trial to ond person to testify before were usually relayed by senior Panelo, said Duterte’s alleged summary executions, either More than 8,000 people sisted arrest. April 17. De Lima is detained at the lawmakers on Duterte’s alleged policemen, or Duterte’s body- involvement in extra-judicial as president or during his 22 have been killed since Duterte Yesterday, dela Rosa an- Philippine National Police’s Cus- links to a clandestine hit squad. guard. Lascanas said he shot killings was “a fabrication”. years as Davao mayor. took office eight months ago, nounced the re-launch of po- todial Centre on charges that she The hearing was much antic- dead nine of 11 arrested Chinese Lascanas had in October de- His top police commander, mostly drug users killed by lice anti-narcotics operations allowed the illegal drug trade inside ipated after Lascanas had writ- drug suspects on orders that nied the death squad existed. Ronald dela Rosa, a former mysterious gunmen in inci- after a month-long suspen- the national penitentiary when she ten in the fi nal line of his sworn came indirectly from Duterte. Yesterday he said he was Davao police chief, calls the dents authorities attribute to sion of police involvement in was justice secretary. affi davit that his allegations He also alleged Duterte’s son tormented by what he had death squad “fiction” created vigilantes, gang members si- the campaign. Cayetano claims plot Police seek ‘men of burning desire’ to oust president

By Jeff erson Antiporda the opposition was to come out for less bloody drugs operation Manila Times big against Duterte during the cel- ebration of the 31st anniversary of the 1986 EDSA “People Power” Reuters roups plotting against revolt, but this did not materialise. Manila President Rodrigo Du- The next target date is in July, in Gterte are busy recruiting time for Duterte’s second SONA, offi cials in government to join a he said. he Philippines police chief planned mass resignation as part Liberal Party (LP) Sen. Paolo announced the re-launch of a bigger scheme to destabilise Benigno Aquino said he did not Tyesterday of police anti- the administration, Sen. Alan hear of moves to unseat the presi- narcotics operations he hoped Peter Cayetano has claimed. dent. would be less bloody, “or even Cayetano said the plan was in If ever there was such plan bloodless”, entering a new phase preparation for a major protest ac- against the administration, the LP in a war on drugs that has caused tion of anti-Duterte forces for the will not have any involvement, he international alarm. president’s ouster during the State stressed. Addressing hundreds of of- of the Nation Address (SONA) in Cayetano said the groups that fi cers, Philippine National Po- July. wanted Duterte ousted were con- lice (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela The key Duterte ally said gov- ducting an inventory of govern- Rosa said the PNP was reform- ernment offi cials, particularly ment executives dissatisfi ed with ing and called on “men of burn- those in holdover capacities, were the president, and those on the ing desire” to join a new task being convinced by anti-Duterte president’s “narco-list.” force, the Philippine Drugs En- groups to join the mass resigna- “We are used to these schemes. forcement Group. tion move to stage a scenario of They want to create a scenario The PNP has been lambasted withdrawal of support for the hoping that the public will join by human rights groups that al- president. their move to oust the president,” lege extra-judicial killings are Cayetano, however, did not dis- he said. systematic in President Rodrigo close his sources of information. Anti-Duterte forces want pub- Duterte’s anti-drugs campaign, He said offi cials who are set to lic outrage similar to that triggered in which more than 8,000 peo- This handout photo released by the Philippine National Police-Public Information Off ice (PNP-PIO) yesterday shows national police chief Ronald retire and those who are about to by the walkout of election offi cials ple have been killed since he Dela Rosa (centre) speaking during a press conference at the national police headquarters in Manila. be fi red are also being targeted by during the 1986 snap election be- took offi ce last June. the groups. tween former President Ferdinand Activists believe police are Jan 30 after it was found that and spare the country of the report on Friday there were se- link reports of abuses to the an- “We have monitored the po- Marcos and Corazon Aquino, behind thousands of unsolved rogue drugs squad police kid- scourge of drugs. “I hope that rious concerns about police im- ti-drugs campaign, which was a litical movement, these groups which eventually led to the ouster killings of drug users, either napped and murdered a South this will be less bloody, if not punity and a growing number of “noble crusade”. are talking to government offi cials of the Marcoses, he claimed. pulling the trigger themselves Korean businessman. bloodless,” Dela Rosa said. vigilante and extrajudicial kill- The New York-based Human not to vacate their respective posts “We are not new to destabili- or in collaboration with hit men. He called last week for some “Men of burning desire, you ings in the Philippines. Rights Watch said in a report on yet and join the planned mass res- sation schemes. I’m not saying The PNP strenuously denies police to return to the campaign can report to the drug enforce- It noted Duterte had repeat- Thursday Duterte was respon- ignation to create an impression that the events in the past are not that and says its offi cers killed because drugs were back on the ment group. You can volunteer edly said he would insulate po- sible for a “campaign of extra- that there’s a massive withdrawal legitimate, but people who want 2,555 people during raids and streets and he had insuffi cient to join the war, with a burning lice from legal action. judicial execution”, and could of support to the administration,” Duterte out are trying to replicate sting operations, and all were in manpower. Dela Rosa gave no desire to help in this campaign Duterte’s spokesman said in be liable for crimes against hu- said Cayetano in an interview these scenarios in a bid to get peo- self-defence. details about the new task force, to help this country,” he said. response the Philippines was manity. Asked to comment on aired over radio station dzBB. The ple’s support and we are keeping A furious Duterte suspended but said it was the PNP’s duty The US State Department committed to human rights, but that, Duterte said criminals had senator said the original plan of an eye on them,” Cayetano said. the PNP from his crackdown on to cleanse itself of bad elements said in its annual human rights also said it was important not to no humanity.

Justice department orders probe into Govt plans solar panels, computers doctor’s killing in Lanao del Norte for schools without electricity

By Jomar Canlas Perlas, 31, was riding his mo- tract to serve for two years in an Manila Times torbike on his way home from a area with no doctors. By Neil Alcober in far-fl ung areas or in areas viness in rural barangays and With P1.4bn funding un- medical mission when he was Perlas chose to be assigned to Manila Times without electricity this year. let them cope with the tech- der the DepEd 2015 Compu- shot from behind in Kapatagan, Sapad town in Lanao del Norte, “The innovation in this ef- nological advancement of their terisation Programme budget, he Department of Justice Lanao del Norte. a place that had seen no doctor fort is that the computer pack- counterparts in the urban area,” the procurement is underway (DOJ) has ordered the Na- Police recovered from the until he arrived there. total of 6,000 public el- age includes a solar panel that Pascua added. through the United Nations Ttional Bureau of Investi- crime scene an empty shell of a His family and friends had ementary and secondary will support the provision of Development Programme and gation (NBI) to conduct a probe calibre .45 and Perlas’ blue mo- feared for his safety but Perlas Aschools nationwide have electrical energy. We hope that “This is the government’s the Department of Budget and of the killing of a barrio doctor in torbike. decided to stay on even after his no access to electricity, a high- these computers will help im- initiative to promote Management-Procurement Lanao del Norte on March 1. The killing of Perlas was con- contract ended. ranking offi cial of the Depart- prove their teaching and learn- tech-savviness in rural Service. Justice Secretary Vitaliano demned by many sectors. On March 4, a suspect in Per- ment of Education (DepEd) said ing activities despite their re- barangays...” Under the DepEd Compu- Aguirre ordered NBI Director Perlas, a scholar of the De- las’ death was killed after resist- yesterday. mote location,” Pascua said. terization Programme, the gov- Dante Gierran, mandating the partment of Health, was a mem- ing arrest in Barangay Tiacon- DepEd Undersecretary for The computer package in- The DepEd estimated that ernment has allotted P6bn to bureau to do a case build-up to ber of Batch 30 of the Doctors gan, Kapatagan. administration Alain Del Pas- cludes one laptop and a seven- 4,000 benefi ciaries will be procure about 188,000 units of identify the perpetrators of the to the Barrios programme of the The Department of Health has cua said the Education depart- in-one tablet. coming from Luzon and Mind- computers for public elemen- killing of doctor Dreyfuss “Toto” DOH. declared Dr Perlas, a hero of na- ment will give computer pack- “This is the government’s anao, while 2,000 schools will tary and secondary schools na- Perlas. As such, he was under con- tional health. ages and solar panels to schools initiative to promote tech-sav- be from the Visayas. tionwide. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL 154 toxic Three killed in fresh tanneries to Nepal charter clash be closed Reuters along the border with India op- Unifi ed Marxist-Leninist (UML) Khanal said the Madhesi pro- political transition after years of Kathmandu pose for failing to accommodate party that opposes any change to testers tried to storm the UML civil war. in Dhaka their interests. the charter. rally despite the use of water The incident in Rajbiraj could More than 50 people died in cannon, baton charge and tear- dim prospects for elections to epali police shot and clashes in 2015 and there were Fresh trouble started in gas shells to disperse them. More local bodies which the Mad- IANS dered these tanneries to relo- killed at least three eth- severe shortages of fuel and Rajbiraj aft er Madhesi than two dozen people, includ- hesis have vowed to boycott Dhaka cate to Savar but the order was Nnic Madhesis in the medicines due to violence at the activists tried to storm a ing police personnel, were in- without their grievances be- not executed. country’s restive southern plains Indian border. The protests end- public rally organised by the jured, he said. ing addressed. Prime Minister Hazaribagh is home to 95% as they tried to disrupt an op- ed after the government prom- main opposition Communist Hridayesh Tripathi, a sen- Prachanda has said he was com- Bangladesh High Court of Bangladesh’s leather tan- position rally, offi cials said yes- ised to amend the constitution Unifi ed Marxist-Leninist ior leader of the Tarai Madhesh mitted to changing the constitu- yesterday ordered 154 neries and none of them has terday, the deadliest incident in to address the grievances of the (UML) party Loktantrik Party, blamed the tion before the voting, which has Atoxic tanneries in the an effl uent treatment plant as more than a year over its post- Madhesis, though no changes UML for ignoring its request to been set for May 14. capital Dhaka to shut down. required by the country’s en- monarchy charter. have been made yet. “We have three people con- cancel the rally and increasing Madhesis say the entire The order came after Bang- vironmental and labour laws. The volatile Himalayan na- Fresh trouble started yester- fi rmed killed,” Home Ministry tension in the region. southern plain region, Nepal’s ladesh Environmental Law- tion, sandwiched between China day in Rajbiraj, 150km (90 miles) spokesman Bal Krishna Panthi With the landlocked nation bread basket, must not be split yers Association (BELA) fi led The tanneries will and India, has been in turmoil southeast of capital Kathmandu, said. of 28.6 million people recover- into more than two federal prov- a writ petition, Xinhua news remain shut until since the September 2015 adop- after Madhesi activists tried to Local television channels said ing from its worst earthquake on inces. It now forms part of six of agency reported. they are shift ed tion of the constitution that the storm a public rally organised by four people had been killed. record nearly two years ago, Ne- the seven states dominated by According to the court, the from Hazaribagh minority Madhesi people living the main opposition Communist Police spokesman Sarbendra pal has struggled to complete its hill dwellers. tanneries will remain shut to a new cluster in until they are shifted from Savar Hazaribagh to a new cluster in Savar. Against this backdrop, The court also ordered rel- Dhaka’s Hazaribagh resi- evant authorities to shut down dents, who often complain US Pacifi c utility services, including gas of skin diseases and respi- Majority of poaching camps line, and power and water ratory illnesses, have been supply, of the tanneries which living in one of the world’s Fleet in damage the environment. most contaminated urban Another High Court bench environments. on Thursday gave two weeks to The workers in the tan- Lanka on in Sundarbans destroyed the tanneries to pay 308.5mn neries also suff er from health taka ($3.75mn) as penalty for problems as they work with not shifting to Savar. extremely hazardous chemi- goodwill By Mizan Rahman force on wildlife traffi cking is in A workshop on DNA testing and exhibits covered nationally In June last year, the court cals with little protective Dhaka full force in Bangladesh, where options led law enforcement in newspapers and on televi- ordered the tanneries to pay equipment. USAID and the Departments of offi cials to adopt certain foren- sion and radio programmes, the 50,000 taka each to the na- Bangladesh exports fi nished mission Defence, Justice, and State col- sics approaches and standards document says. tional exchequer a day in com- leather to over 30 countries, angladesh’s forest de- laborated to protect tigers and for wildlife crime prosecutions, USAID concluded its fi ve- pensation for polluting the including China, France, Ger- partment and coast secure fi sheries and forests in according to a fact-sheet on US year Asia’s Regional Response environment until they shift many, Italy, Japan, South Ko- IANS Bguard jointly patrolled the Sundarbans. Taskforce on Wildlife Traffi ck- to Endangered Species Traffi ck- to Savar. rea, the Netherlands and Vi- Colombo a 2,500km area and detected A tiger hotline received 80 ing: Eff orts to Combat Wildlife ing (ARREST) counter wildlife The tanneries later moved etnam. and demolished a 60-70% anonymous tips, helping au- Traffi cking. traffi cking programme, which the Supreme Court against the According to the Export poaching camps inside the thorities respond to both wild- Local communities and na- trained 2,300 offi cers from 14 order. The amount was then Promotion Bureau of Bangla- he US Pacifi c Fleet Sundarbans sanctuary with US life crime and problem of ani- tional decision-makers were countries across Asia and con- revised to 10,000 taka a day. desh, earnings from export of and its transport ship assistance in 2016. mals, according to a document mobilised by the Tiger Caravan tributed to more than 1,300 ar- One Bangladeshi taka equals leather and its products in Fis- TUSNS Fall River is in Sri The comprehensive ap- of the US Department of State campaign that reached millions rests and the seizure of more 13 US cents. cal Year 2015-16 grew 15.31% Lanka for the fi rst-ever Pa- proach espoused by the task- released in Dhaka yesterday. of people through street theatre than $150mn in criminal assets. In 2001, the high court or- to $1,160.95mn. cifi c Partnership goodwill mis- sion to the island nation from March 6 to 18. Working side-by-side with the Sri Lanka Navy and local Gearing up for festival organisations in the Hamban- Lanka joins South Asian tota region, this multinational eff ort includes free health clinics and disaster-relief ef- forts, the US embassy said partners for child rights yesterday. “Through this Pacifi c Partner- ship mission, the US will con- IANS schooling, with nearly 90% of in policy reform and budgetary tinue to help Sri Lanka respond Colombo the population having access allocation in order to address more quickly to humanitarian to safe drinking water, Xinhua the remaining disparities that challenges,” it said. news agency reported. prevent every child, especially “At the same time, our Sri ri Lankan legislators have However, Unicef noted the most vulnerable and mar- Lankan partners will share joined lawmakers from that violence against chil- ginalised, from reaching their with us their valuable lessons Sacross South Asia to pri- dren, including physical abuse full potential,” she said at a learned from past natural dis- oritise and safeguard children’s at home, remains a concern. children’s regional meeting. asters,” the embassy quoted rights, UN children’s agency While the rate of extreme pov- Unicef said the meeting was US ambassador Atul Keshap as Unicef said yesterday. erty is declining (by 16% be- a milestone in bringing togeth- saying. According to Unicef, despite tween 2002 and 2012), child er lawmakers from all eight Pacifi c Partnership is the larg- economic growth and improve- poverty rates remain higher. countries in South Asia to pri- est multinational humanitar- ments in realising the rights of “Even though our indicators oritise, promote, and safeguard ian assistance and disaster relief children, massive disparities are really good, we still have is- children’s rights. preparedness mission conducted still exist, preventing children sues like child marriage, school It was an opportunity to plug each year in the Indo-Pacifi c from living in dignity, reaching dropouts and migration aff ect- in the critical role that parlia- region. their full potential and making ing children,” said Sudarshani mentarians can play in tackling Military and civilian experts choices about their futures. Fernandopulle, an MP. key development challenges from Australia and Japan will Nepalese people hoist a colourful pole known as “chir” to mark the beginning of the week-long Sri Lanka, home to 8mn “Children remain at the aff ecting children within the participate in the exercise along Holi festival in Kathmandu yesterday. Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is celebrated children under 18, has some of heart of a country’s develop- larger framework of the Sus- with the US and Sri Lanka, the with enthusiasm all over Nepal, marking the beginning of the spring season. the region’s best health indica- ment and future economic tainable Development Goals, embassy said. tors, almost universal primary growth. We need to invest more it said. Bangladesh marks Jute Day US lauds environmentalist IANS Dhaka for green initiatives s part of its continued ef- forts to revive the golden Aera of jute, the Bangla- IANS seconds over 112,000sq yards. deshi government yesterday ob- Kathmandu According to the spiritual served National Jute Day for the leader, planting trees is not only fi rst time in the country. impactful but also an important The slogan of the day is uddhist leader and envi- gesture. “Golden fi bre, golden coun- ronmentalist, the 12th Gy- The Gyalwang Drukpa also try, jute goods of Bangladesh”, Balwang Drukpa – the spir- founded the Druk Amitabha Xinhua news agency reported. itual head of the 1,000-year-old Mountain nunnery in Kath- The day was inaugurated with Drukpa Order – was felicitated mandu which is a unique in- a colourful rally in the capital in a US Congressional resolu- stance of gender reversal with Dhaka attended by Bangladeshi tion for supporting green initia- nuns running the administra- Minister for Textile and Jute Imaj tives and empowering women in tion. Over 300 nuns receive Uddin Pramanik and State Min- Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits the Jute Fair in the Himalayas, his private offi ce modern education, besides ister Mirza Azam. Dhaka yesterday. said yesterday. training in ancient Chinese Various events including The Gyalwang Drukpa was martial arts. decoration of important places goods and creation of more jobs ing of 20kg or more of commodi- presented with a US Congres- Spiritual teachers, monks, with lights and festoons, rally, in the sector from which the ties like onion, ginger, garlic, sional resolution from Carolyn Gyalwang Drukpa nuns and devotees from across cultural programmes, boat rally country in the 2015-16 fi scal year pulses, potato, fl our, chilli, tur- Maloney, the US Congress- the globe gathered in the nun- and displaying of diversifi ed jute earned $919.58mn. meric, coriander seeds and husks woman for New York’s 12th The resolution mentioned his spiritual leader Acharya Lokesh nery to participate in the birth- goods have also been arranged. Export from jute and its goods of rice and wheat. Congressional district, dur- initiatives to protect soil erosion Muni and Mahabodhi Inter- day celebrations. Azam said the day would be in the last fi scal year grew 11.52%. In a similar order, the Bangla- ing his birthday celebrations in and support clean air through national Meditation Center The spiritual head of the observed through various ac- The Bangladeshi govern- deshi government has made use Kathmandu on Sunday. his one million trees project, founder Bhikkhu Sanghasena. 1,000-year-old Drukpa Order tivities to boost domestic use of ment in January made the use of of jute bags mandatory for six The resolution recognises the besides empowering, educating, US administration offi cials based in the Himalayas is as- the golden fi bre. jute bags mandatory for 11 more products – paddy, rice, wheat, Gyalwang Drukpa as a world- protecting and inspiring girls were also in attendance of the sociated with the Earth Awards A three-day fair of jute goods products to boost domestic use corn, fertiliser and sugar. renowned humanitarian, envi- and women in the Himalayas birthday celebrations that will Selection Committee that rec- will be held at Bangabandhu In- of the golden fi bre after the im- India on January 5 imposed ronmentalist and champion of and around the world. culminate on March 8. ognises viable innovations that ternational Convention Centre position of anti-dumping duty anti-dumping duty rang- gender equality, besides rec- Besides Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Just two months after the improve the quality of life. on March 6-8, he said. on jute goods imported from ing from $6.30 to $351.72 ognising his eff orts to provide from the Art of Living Foun- fl ash-fl oods that devastated He is also heading the 17th He said Bangladesh would be- Bangladesh by India. per tonne on imports of jute relief services to tens of thou- dation, the gathering saw the Ladakh in 2010, the Drukpa century famed Hemis monas- come a middle-income country The government has made the and its products from Bang- sands in the Himalayas follow- presence of All India Organisa- Order with around 9,000 vol- tery of Drukpa lineage in La- by 2021 through expansion of use of jute bags compulsory in ladesh and Nepal to protect ing the devastating 2015 earth- tion of Imams of Mosques chief unteers, planted 50,033 willow dakh, the largest such in the export markets of jute and its the preservation and transport- domestic industry. quake in Nepal. Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Jain saplings in 33 minutes and 25 Himalayas. Gulf Times 26 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko World trade truths for

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] Trumpians, Brexiteers Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) The UK will need to adopt trade tend to follow two general rules. New Zealand may be a beautiful trade patterns, especially vis-à-vis Fax 44350474 First, the level of trade between two country, but it does not have an China. To be sure, China has a large a far more focused and countries often decreases as the especially large economy, and it is a bilateral trade surplus with the US; but ambitious approach to geographic distance between them very long way from the UK. In fact, it also constitutes an expanding export increases. And, second, a country is despite its massive problems, Greece’s market for US companies. And if trends trade, not unlike that of likely to conduct more trade with big economy is still larger than New from the last 10-15 years continue, China or India, if it is to countries that have strong domestic Zealand’s. China could soon supplant Canada and demand, rather than with smaller Many UK policymakers – and all Mexico as America’s most important GULF TIMES fare well after Brexit countries that have weak demand. members of the “Leave” campaign – export market. The latest German trade data are ignoring the likely costs of exiting As Chinese household income By Jim O’Neill confi rm both rules, but especially the the EU single market. But this factor continues to rise, demand for some of London second one. A big but geographically alone demands serious attention, the US’s most competitive goods and distant country is diff erent not only given the single market’s size and services will only increase. Trump, Enrique never got in size, but also in kind from a smaller close geographic proximity. It is very rather than spewing nonsense about ere’s a reality check for one. This is too often forgotten in important that the UK maintain strong China manipulating its currency, British and American discussions about trade agreements, trade ties with many EU member should be encouraging market forces policymakers, and for especially in such charged political states after Brexit. To that end, Britain to rebalance bilateral trade. the same credit as Hthe many pundits who atmospheres as currently prevail in the should be shoring up its exports of The same can be said for the US’s frequently comment on world trade United Kingdom and the US. services, a sector where it arguably overall external defi cit. Unless the without understanding its realities: In the UK, the House of Commons still has a real net natural advantage. US can boost its savings rate relative data on Germany’s total exports has already adopted a bill to establish At the same time, the UK should to its internal investment needs, it and imports in 2016 indicate that its a process for withdrawing from the urgently be trying to take its will continue to need foreign capital Guardiola at Barca largest trading partner is now China. European Union; but the House of relationship with China – or what infl ows. And this, in turn, will require France and the United States have Lords is now demanding that the bill former British Prime Minister it to maintain a trade and current- been pushed into second and third be amended to protect EU nationals David Cameron called the “golden account imbalance. Luis Enrique’s announcement that he will quit place. living in the UK. In my own brief relationship” – to a new level. If Finally, by pushing for a Barcelona at the end of the season was expected, but This news should not come as contribution to the marathon House there is any country with which renegotiation of the North American a surprise. I have often mused of Lords debate last month, I argued the UK should want to strike a new Free Trade Agreement, Trump is the timing — at the end of a news conference after his that, by 2020, German companies that, even if Brexit is not the UK’s trade agreement, surely it is China. taking a risk similar to that of the side thrashed Sporting Gijon 6-1 — came as a surprise. (and policymakers) might prefer a biggest economic-policy challenge During my brief spell in the British Brexiteers. Despite China’s recent In fact, he had fi rst considered not renewing his monetary union with China to one today, it will likely exacerbate other government, I helped then-Chancellor gains, Canada and Mexico are still contract beyond next summer during pre-season, he with France, given that German- problems, including persistently low George Osborne persuade Cameron close neighbours and crucial trade Chinese trade would likely continue productivity growth, weak education that we should aspire to make China partners. By potentially disrupting said, after a dramatic slide at the end of the second to grow. and skills-training programmes, and our third-largest export market within import patterns with all three campaign. Barca had exited the Champions League and And so it has, driven primarily by geographic inequalities. a decade. Does the new government countries, Trump’s policies are more could only claim a league title that had looked to be Chinese exports to Germany. But Moreover, I warned that the UK still consider this a priority? likely to push up import prices, while German exports to China have also will need to adopt a far more focused Beyond China, Britain also needs to jeopardising US export growth. – sewn up on the fi nal day of the season. been increasing. Notwithstanding and ambitious approach to trade, not be far more focused on its trade ties Project Syndicate That dip in form, which saw Barca lose three a recent slowdown, Germany could unlike that of China or India, if it is to with India, Indonesia, and Nigeria, consecutive league games for the fi rst time in 13 years, soon export more to China than to its fare well after Brexit. Sadly, the UK’s all of which will have signifi cant zJim O’Neill, a former chairman of crucial neighbour and partner France, post-Brexit trade strategy is being infl uence in the world economy and Goldman Sachs Asset Management and was the fi rst sign that the wheels were starting to come and it already exports more to China determined by internal politics, such global trading patterns in the coming former Commercial Secretary to the off a spectacular machine that had rolled to the treble than it does to Italy. For German that it is “patriotic” to focus on new decades. UK Treasury, is Honorary Professor of in his fi rst season. exporters, France and the UK are the trade deals with Australia, Canada, In the US, President Donald Trump Economics at Manchester University only European national markets larger New Zealand, and others in the and his economic-policy advisers need and former Chairman of the British Concern grew when Barca slumped to a 2-1 defeat at than China. Commonwealth, while ignoring harsh to return to reality, especially on trade. government’s Review on Antimicrobial home against newly promoted Alaves after the coach Seasoned observers of international economic realities. They can start by studying Germany’s Resistance. made a string of changes. His much criticised squad rotation came back to haunt him in a 4-3 defeat at Celta Vigo. Barca remained in the fi ght for the There was more league title and on than a hint Wednesday overtook Real Madrid at the of rumbling top of La Liga, but discontent in the they have also failed to convince against dressing room the top sides. Their decline culminated in a 4-0 thrashing at Paris St Germain that left them on the brink of an early exit in the Champions League. There was more than a hint of rumbling discontent in the dressing room. Heavyweights Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta publicly criticised the coach’s tactics in Paris, although the coach found an ally in Gerard Pique. Barca failed to give a fi tting response in their next game against struggling Leganes, rescuing a 2-1 win with a late penalty converted by Lionel Messi, which the Argentine chose not to celebrate. Many UK policymakers – and all members of the “Leave” campaign – are ignoring the likely costs of exiting the EU single market. Luis Enrique’s uneasy relationship with Messi nearly cost him his job in January 2015 after the Argentine reacted badly to being left out against Real Sociedad. In general, he appeared to have little personal connection with his squad. Rewriting the monetary-policy script These underlying tensions mean Luis Enrique will not be remembered with the same reverence as Guardiola, even though he has delivered a similar By Michael Heise It’s easy to see why, despite the to destabilise the expectations narrow marks (“below, but close to Munich data, predetermined formulas are of consumers and investors. 2%”), they end up in an expectations trophy haul as his old teammate, who was seen as the attractive to monetary policymakers. Unfortunately, many central banks trap, whereby markets expect them spiritual heir to Johan Cruyff , the godfather of the The prevailing wisdom holds that have forgotten this. The Bank of to dispense ever higher doses of modern Barcelona. ow long will major central in order to return the infl ation rate Japan, the Bank of England, and monetary medicine in a frantic attempt banks blindly rely on rigid to a preferred level, any slack in the European Central Bank all to reach their target. Sevilla’s Jorge Sampaoli and Athletic Bilbao’s Ernesto rules to control infl ation and the economy must be eliminated. hone to rather rigid policy rules. If Clearly, such monetary policies Valverde are the two main candidates to succeed Luis Hstimulate growth? Given This requires pushing interest expansionary policies fail to have the create soaring costs and risks for Enrique, although the outgoing coach is believed to the clear benefi ts of nimble monetary rates as low as possible, and when desired effect of lifting inflation to the economy. And central banks policy, central bankers need to open these policies have run their course the predefined level of around 2%, themselves are coming dangerously want his assistant Juan Carlos Unzue to take over. their eyes to the possibilities that (such as when rates dip toward the they do not question their models; close to looking like fi scal agents, Argentine Sampaoli has transformed Sevilla into one fl exibility aff ords. negative), unconventional instruments they simply increase the policy which could undermine their of the most exciting teams to watch in Europe with a The rule of thumb for monetary like “quantitative easing” must dosage – which is just what markets legitimacy. policymakers has long been that if be deployed to revive growth and expect. A new and more realistic monetary dynamic, possession-based style of play reminiscent of infl ation is below offi cial target ranges, infl ation. The paradigm has become For now, the US Federal Reserve paradigm would discard overly rigid the enthralling football Guardiola served up. He is seen short-term interest rates should be so universally accepted – and the has the most fl exible toolkit among rules that embody the fallacy that as the fans’ choice, while former Barca player Valverde set at a level that spurs spending model simulations underpinning the major central banks. In addition monetary policy is always eff ective. It and investment. This approach has central banks’ decisions have become to infl ationary pressure, the Fed’s would give central banks more room is reported to be favoured by the board. meant that once interest rates reach so complex – that few are willing to monetary policy must also take into to incorporate the risks and costs Messi’s bond with compatriot Sampaoli could be a or approach zero, central banks have question it. For individual central account employment statistics, growth of monetary policies. With such a deciding factor, however. Whoever Barca do appoint little choice but to activate large banks or economists, to do so would be data, and the stability of fi nancial paradigm, central banks could move will have his work cut out in repeating Luis Enrique’s asset-purchase programmes that are sacrilege. markets. But even the Fed’s fl exibility away from negative interest rates and supposed to stimulate demand. When Central banks do not completely is under siege. Republican lawmakers large-scale asset purchases. They achievements, even though the coach never managed circumstances call for it, policymakers deny the economic costs that these are discussing how to bind the Fed to would defi ne their infl ation targets to satisfy everyone at the club. default to the predetermined scripts of policies imply: exuberance in fi nancial more scripted policy rules to manage more fl exibly, to avoid being forced into neo-Keynesian economic models. markets, fi nancing gaps in funded infl ation (using a formula known as action whenever “uncertainties” such But in too many cases, those pension systems, and deeper wealth the Taylor rule, which predetermines as declining oil prices or required wage scripts have led us astray, because inequality, to name just a few. But changes in the federal funds rate in adjustments cause infl ation to move To Advertise they assume that monetary policy these costs are deemed an acceptable relation to infl ation and an output gap). above or below 2%. has a measurable and foreseeable price to pay to reach the clearly defi ned Needless to say, such a move would be Perhaps most important, a new [email protected] impact on demand and inflation. infl ation level. a mistake. paradigm would acknowledge the Display There is plenty of reason to question Yet the policies pursued in recent Central banks (not to mention limits of central banks’ power and this assumption. years have given no room for the lawmakers), with their strong foresight. That would remove an Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 For starters, households have not intangibles – unstable political attachment to neo-Keynesian alibi that governments too often Classified responded to ultra-low interest rates environments, geopolitical tremors, or theory, are ignoring a major lesson hide behind to avoid introducing the Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 by saving less and spending more. If rising risks on fi nancial markets – that from decades of monetary-policy structural reforms that really matter savings no longer yield a return, people can send models off course. As the experimentation: the impact of for long-term growth. – Project Subscription can’t aff ord big-ticket items or pay for 2008 fi nancial crisis illustrated, the monetary policy cannot be predicted Syndicate [email protected] retirement down the road. Likewise, normal distribution of risk was useless with a high degree of certainty or companies today are faced with so for predictions. accuracy. But the belief that it can zMichael Heise is Chief Economist of much uncertainty and so many risks Keynes never tired of arguing is essential to the credibility of the Allianz SE and the author of Emerging 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved that ever-lower costs of capital have that monetary policy becomes now-standard infl ation targets. If From the Euro Debt Crisis: Making the not enticed them to invest more. ineffective if uncertainty is sufficient central banks keep missing these rather Single Currency Work. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 7, 2017 27 COMMENT Trump’s revolutionary dilemma

Once revolutionaries are in the world virtually. It’s not gonna But the same old problem happen anymore.” emerged. Early 20th-century in power, they quickly And yet these movements’ Russian society was already very come to believe that a immediate enemies tend to be complex. All sorts of administrative domestic rather than foreign. In a skills – whether to manage railroad conservative “deep state,” recent speech to the Conservative networks or to pay and equip the intent on obstructing the Political Action Conference, Stephen military – were needed to ensure Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist, that normal daily life continued. will of the “people,” is declared a revolution for American For Leon Trotsky, Stalin’s accession undermining them sovereignty, defi ned by economic to power after Lenin’s death was a nationalism and the “deconstruction counter-revolution. The revolution of the administrative state.” had been “betrayed” as soon as true By Harold James As with all revolutionary revolutionaries like Trotsky were Princeton programmes, Trump and Bannon’s replaced by chinovniks. approach is fundamentally about The lesson is that revolutionaries rethinking the state and state power. confront an impossible dilemma after he Russian Revolution’s Still, today’s revolutionary leaders seizing state power. If the revolution centennial this year coincides do not fi t neatly into conventional continues apace, it will disintegrate with the Trump Revolution categories of left or right, because into incompetence, disillusionment, Tin the United States, which they promiscuously adopt policies frenzied witch-hunts, and a recurring itself followed the Brexit Revolution from both camps. The New York cycle of violence. But if the revolution in the United Kingdom. Like the Times quoted a Trump “associate” is aborted, its leaders will be Bolsheviks in 1917, the political who claims that the president himself unmasked as empty windbags. movements behind Trump and wonders if Bannon is “alt-right or The fi rst revolution of 1917 Brexit consider themselves to be the alt-left.” toppled Czar Nicholas and created vanguard of an international revolt Regardless of how one categorises a provisional government that, – or what former UK Independence Trump’s domestic agenda, it is clearly headed by the socialist leader Party leader Nigel Farage calls a “great a response to a world in which a Alexander Kerensky, turned out to be global revolution.” principle of openness – to foreign a transitional blip. Lenin described But today’s rebels should consider goods, capital, and people – co-exists Kerensky as the “balalaika” played by the lessons of history. The Russian with a complex system for regulating the old order to continue to deceive Revolution took an enormous toll these fl ows. Foreign goods are subject the workers and peasants. But the in human lives and well-being, and to national safety and product- second revolution – which brought few modern historians think that information standards; capital fl ows Lenin and the Bolsheviks to power – anything constructive came of it. are managed by controls on bank produced a regime that was no less And yet Lenin was a political pioneer lending; and migration is limited by an In the case of Brexit, the original they quickly come to believe that a to get anything done. Ultimately, vulnerable to accusations of betrayal. who understood that revolutionary array of checks and conditions. “Leave” campaigners drew a line conservative “deep state,” intent on the revolutionaries must try to As today’s revolutionaries try to movements focus on an unpopular but Trumpism promises to make life between the “people” and the obstructing the will of the “people,” strike a balance between betraying wield power, we can expect to hear ultimately necessary administrative simpler, less regulated, and free “experts,” and they called for is undermining them. Thus, the their supporters’ radical wishes and much more talk of betrayal at the state or bureaucracy. of dictates from an administrative dismantling large parts of the British Foreign Offi ce is pilloried for escalating their confl ict with the state hands of the administrative state. The new revolutionary movements, class by getting rid of international British state apparatus, where those being sympathetic to European Union to the point that no other policy goals But that state is far more extensive like Bolshevism, are rebelling against entanglements. This is a tempting experts are apparently ensconced. technocrats; and US intelligence can be achieved. and capable than it was a century what they see as an oppressive and proposition for many ordinary citizens As the former Justice Minister and services are accused of leaking This same dynamic characterised ago – and the costs of radicalisation constraining international order. who fi nd globalisation complicated Conservative Party Brexit leader information to a press corps that has the Russian Revolution. Civil would be far higher as well. – Project For Lenin, this order comprised the and bewildering. Most people are Michael Gove famously put it, “People become “the enemy of the people.” servants – chinovniks – were the Syndicate Western powers that had brought frustrated by red tape. But, of course, in this country have had enough But if the revolutionaries take their declared enemy, and concern that Russia into World War I against there is just as much red tape in of experts,” and “big changes” are war against the state too far, they face the bureaucracy would prevent the zHarold James is Professor of History Germany – and against its own domestic interactions, where the state needed to change how the government a diff erent problem, because members revolution from being fully realised and International Aff airs at Princeton interests. For Trump, it is embodied in regulates everything from product and civil service go about their of the old establishment are the only fueled radicalisation, and reinforced University and a senior fellow at the the vague term “globalism”: “We’re quality and safety to fi nancial services business. people who know enough about the idea that a revolutionary party Center for International Governance taken advantage of by every nation and labour markets. Once revolutionaries are in power, specifi c government programmes must supplant the state altogether. Innovation. Weather report Three-day forecast

Is liberal internationalism dead? TODAY High: 27 C It also includes rejection of economic program more like that of Democratic American “exceptionalism.” The Low : 16 C By Tony Smith Inshore: Strong wind and high Medford openness, refl ected in Trump’s US Senator Elizabeth Warren or Nobel claim is not simply that the US is, as sea at first. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacifi c laureate Joseph Stiglitz, featuring Bill Clinton put it, the “indispensable Partnership trade agreement and call an advanced social-welfare system nation,” whose global power makes ne hundred years ago to renegotiate the North American that enables broad-based prosperity. it a party to all major international WEDNESDAY this month, US President Free Trade Agreement. Trump has By contrast, Trump advocates lower issues. It is also that the US can expect High: 27 C Woodrow Wilson was also pledged to back out of the Paris taxes for the wealthy, and seems deference from other states, because it Low: 17 C Oagonising over whether to climate agreement. willing to embrace some form of state looks beyond its narrow self-interest Sunny enter World War I. Just a few months Unlike Wilson, Trump seems to see capitalism – if not crony capitalism to sustain an international order that earlier, Wilson had won re-election no value in maintaining and deepening – via protectionist policies and supports peace, co-operation, and partly by campaigning on a policy ties with other democracies. Instead, special incentives for companies to prosperity, particularly among the THURSDAY of neutrality, which he was now he seems drawn to authoritarian manufacture in the US. world’s democracies. High: 28 C preparing to abandon, along with the leaders – in particular, Russian Wilson might agree with Trump on Not every US president has Low: 17 C slogan “America fi rst.” But now, for President Vladimir Putin – and often another point: we cannot assume that followed Wilson’s lead. The promise Sunny the fi rst time in more than 80 years, leaves democratic leaders watching democracy is a universal value with of liberal internationalism was a US president has taken it up again, from the wings. universal appeal. Like Trump, Wilson snuffed out for three presidential to promote a foreign-policy stance To be sure, if Wilson were alive would probably eschew the idealistic administrations, from the election of Fishermen’s forecast nation- and state-building formulas Warren G Harding in 1920 until FDR that directly controverts the doctrine today, he might agree with Trump OFFSHORE DOHA Wilson embraced. on some issues, though his proposed that animated US foreign policy under took office in 1933. With Trump, it Wind: NW 08-18 KT It was not until 1919, after the solutions would be very diff erent. Presidents George W Bush and Barack is being snuffed out again. “From Waves: 3-5 Feet war was over, that Wilson defi ned For example, Wilson would probably Obama. this day forward, a new vision will INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW 05-15/18 KT his foreign-policy vision of “liberal concur with Trump that the level of But here, too, the differences govern our land,” Trump declared Waves: 1-3/4 Feet internationalism”: support for openness in global markets today is overwhelm the similarities. at his inauguration. “From this collective security and promotion of excessive. It is indeed problematic that Trump has decided that the US day forward, it’s going to be only Around the region open markets among democracies, US banks and businesses can export simply shouldn’t bother with the America first.” Weather Weather regulated by a system of multinational capital, technology, and jobs as they rest of the world, unless it gets But Wilson’s vision may not prove today Max/min tomorrow Max/min institutions ultimately dependent please, with little or no regard for the something concrete in return. so easy to quash. Back in the 20th Abu Dhabi Sunny 22/18 Sunny 24/18 on the United States. Though the domestic costs. Wilson, by contrast, wanted to century, the Great Depression, World Baghdad Sunny 23/08 Sunny 24/09 Dubai US Senate initially rejected Wilson’s But Wilson’s solution would likely spread democracy for the sake of War II, and the Cold War impelled Sunny 24/17 Sunny 27/18 Kuwait City Sunny 26/13 P Cloudy 27/13 vision, particularly his support focus on developing and implementing world peace, but in an indirect US policymakers to embrace liberal Manama Sunny 23/16 Sunny 23/17 for joining the League of Nations, improved regulations through a manner, working through the internationalism. Today, too, a Muscat Sunny 27/19 Sunny 26/21 Franklin D. Roosevelt revived liberal multilateral process dominated by League of Nations. He believed that tumultuous world is likely to vindicate Riyadh Sunny 26/15 Sunny 31/13 internationalism after 1933. It has democracies. Likewise, he would international institutions, the rule its deep and enduring appeal. – Tehran S Showers 12/02 M Sunny 13/02 helped to shape the foreign policies of probably advocate a fi scal policy of law, common values, and an elite Project Syndicate most US presidents ever since – until aimed at advancing the common good, possessed of a democratic vision Trump. with higher taxes on the wealthiest could ensure collective security and zTony Smith is Professor Emeritus of The “America fi rst” approach companies and households funding, peaceful conflict resolution. What political science at Tufts University. that Trump advocates comprises say, infrastructure development, would begin as Pax Americana, he His most recent book is Why Wilson disdain for Nato, contempt for the quality education, and universal believed, would ultimately become a Matters: The Origins of American European Union, and mockery of healthcare. Pax Democratica. Liberal Internationalism and Its Crisis Germany’s leadership role in Europe. In short, Wilson would endorse a This vision lies at the root of Today. Live issues Water. It’s that important

By Barbara Quinn fl ushes unwanted waste from our Can we get too much water? Yes, Tribune News Service bodies. especially if we are slugging down high Around the world Major organs rely on water to function amounts without added food or other Weather Weather at their peak. Your brain and muscles are sources of electrolytes that keep water today Max/min tomorrow Max/min ne reporter wrote that three 75% water, for example. Get low on fl uid balanced within our cells. A marathon Athens S Showers 17/11 Rain 16/09 of the seven planets recently and you won’t think or move very well. runner, for example, who does not Beirut Sunny 19/13 M Sunny 20/16 Sunny 33/26 discovered outside our solar Severe dehydration can cause major replenish sodium, potassium and Bangkok 35/27 P Cloudy Berlin S Showers 05/01 Showers 08/05 system are “the ultimate body systems to shut down. other electrolytes along with water, is Cairo P Cloudy 24/13 Sunny 28/17 O Cloudy 24/18 goal for planet-hunting astronomers.” To maintain adequate hydration, say in for real trouble. Cape Town 28/18 Cloudy That’s because there’s a real possibility experts, we should ideally take in the Water is one of the earth’s most Colombo M Sunny 32/25 S T Storms 32/25 these three have water ... and therefore To maintain adequate hydration, say amount of fl uids that we lose each day. eff ective solvents. It leaches minerals Dhaka Sunny 31/21 S T Storms 28/22 Hong Kong M Cloudy 19/17 M Cloudy 19/17 could support life. experts, we should ideally take in the For most people, that’s somewhere from rocks; it turns boulders to sand. Istanbul Sunny 19/08 P Cloudy 17/07 Water. It’s that important. No, amount of fluids that we lose each day. between 2 to 4 litres (a litre is a little And it’s absolutely necessary for the Jakarta T Storms 28/24 I T Storms 31/24 really, it’s that important. over a quart). proper breakdown and digestion of Karachi M Sunny 31/19 P Cloudy 29/18 Consider this the next time you Lose just 2% and bad things begin to Our total water needs can be met nutrients from our food. London M Cloudy 11/06 Showers 15/09 Manila P Cloudy P Cloudy 32/23 stand at your kitchen sink and take happen. Water losses greater than 10% with plain water, water in food (a Water regulates how effi ciently 33/23 Moscow Cloudy 04/-1 M Cloudy 05/00 a swig of the clear liquid from your become medical emergencies. tomato, for instance, is 95% water) our bodies can produce energy and New Delhi M Sunny 29/17 P Cloudy 28/14 faucet. No living thing can subsist Water does more than just quench and water contained in beverages. may even help control the action of New York S Showers 13/11 P Cloudy 17/05 without water. Humans, animals, our thirst, according to the US Centers We can even count coff ee, tea and our genes, according to researchers Paris M Cloudy 11/06 Showers 14/11 plants – me, my horse, and my herb for Disease Control. It keeps our body other caff einated beverages towards who developed our current dietary Sao Paulo T Storms 26/20 P Cloudy 27/18 Seoul Sunny 03/-5 P Cloudy 06/-4 garden – all require water to sustain temperature normal. It lubricates and our daily fl uid goals, according to recommendations. Singapore S T Storms 33/23 P Cloudy 33/23 us, say scientists. cushions our joints when we exercise. the latest guidelines by the Food This liquid nutrient is truly essential Sydney Showers 21/17 Cloudy 21/17 More than half our body weight It protects sensitive tissues like spinal and Nutrition Board of the National for life ... a holy grail for health- Tokyo Clear 10/06 Cloudy 11/02 (50 to 60% in most adults) is water. cords and growing babies. And it Academies of Sciences. hunting humans. Gulf Times 28 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 QATAR QU organises 11th Career Fair atar University Career Al Khaliji hunts for talent at career fair Services Center (QU- QCSC) is hosting its 11th Career Fair, which aims to pro- Al Khalij Commercial Bank (Al Fair is part of its wider human vide QU students with the op- Khaliji) is participating in the 2017 development and capacity portunity to meet and interact edition of Qatar University (QU)’s building programme, which “aims with employers and representa- annual Career Fair, which kicked to power its network of branches tives of companies to seek em- off yesterday on the QU premises. with the best-in-class staff and ployment and training opportu- The bank’s participation comes in banking professionals, while nities. The four-day event began the framework of its Qatarisation raising the bar for the banking yesterday and continues until strategy and is in line with its and financial sector in Qatar as March 9 and features around 71 social responsibility towards the well as the region.” information booths from gov- community in which it operates, In its 11th year, the QU Career ernment and private organisa- according to a press statement. Fair is expected to attract a huge tions. “Acting as a platform for nurturing base of promising talents and Students have the opportu- and developing young Qatari candidates who are poised to fill nity to interact with employers professionals in the banking and diff erent roles in Al Khaliji and and get an insight into the labour finance sector is an integral part other leading institutions in Qatar. market’s needs and employers’ of Al Khaliji’s recruitment strategy, Al Khaliji off ers scholarships for expectations as well as the vari- which has been designed to promising young students at QU, ous training services and intern- dovetail with Qatar National who are guaranteed employment ships they can follow to develop Vision 2030 and its focus on with the bank after completion of their skills, abilities and profes- human capital development, as their degree. sional experience. its main engine towards building Al Khaliji is hoping to attract The event was inaugurated a knowledge-based economy,” talented Qataris with the by QU president Dr Hassan al- the statement noted. bank’s financial incentives and Derham in the presence of uni- Further, the bank stressed its professional development versity offi cials and students. It participation in the QU Career opportunities. is open to QU male (until today) and female (March 8-9) stu- dents. In his remarks, Dr al-Derham said: “This annual event pro- vides QU students and alumni with the opportunity to interact with the representatives of lo- cal institutions in order to help Dr Hassan al-Derham cutting the ribbon in the presence of other off icials to inaugurate the career fair. them choose the institution in which they want to train and petencies and build their future ation. We hope that this annual management and teamwork time was based on its keen- fi nd appropriate career oppor- career.” event helps our students to fulfi l skills.” ness to train national personnel tunities. CSC director Maha al-Marri their professional goals.” and co-operate with diff erent “The event drew the remark- added, “The event highlights QU College of Business and MEC at Career Fair educational institutions in the able presence of many organi- QU’s commitment to provide Economics student and volun- The Ministry of Economy and country to suitably qualify for sations in the government and the local labour market with teer Refaa al-Qahtani said, “This Commerce (MEC) is participat- the labour market, according to private sectors. We, at QU, are highly qualifi ed graduates. is the fourth time that I partici- ing in the 11th annual Career Fair a Qatar News Agency report. keen to provide students with CSC off ers various services pate in this event as a volunteer. hosted by Qatar University (QU). Last year, the MEC was able to training opportunities that help that prepare QU students to join I have benefi ted from this expe- The ministry said participa- off er opportunities to 18 trainees them uplift their skills and com- the labour market after gradu- rience by developing my time- tion in the event for the fourth in diff erent fi elds. The Al Khaliji headquarters. Qumra talk focuses on digital fi lm distribution

umra Talks, a new initia- The discussion also and TV shows through a multi- tive at the third edition covered the marketing of tude of platforms and devices.” Qof Qumra, the industry fi lm on digital distribution Adding to the argument for event by the Doha Film Institute, platforms, whose natural fi lmmakers to harness the power kicked off with the rstfi session ally is social media of digital distribution channels, focusing on International Dig- Chakra said now there are many ital Distribution and Marketing. Speaking of the value that diff erent ways of distributing a Pierre Alexandre Labelle, digital distribution off ers fi lm- fi lm. The discussion also cov- CEO of Under the Milky Way; makers, Labelle said: “Video on ered the marketing of fi lm on Gianluca Chakra, managing di- Demand is the present and fu- digital distribution platforms, rector, Front Row Filmed En- ture of entertainment. This is whose natural ally is social me- tertainment and Nader Sobhan, the way the industry is evolving. dia. The panel highlighted plat- Ifl ix head of Middle East and Packaged media, DVDs etc., are forms such as Facebook and North Africa, came together to fast disappearing. Instagram, which allow distrib- give their take on the direction “Traditional distribution utors and producers to reach a of digital fi lm distribution and channels, such as movie thea- highly targeted audience. whether the potential power of tres, give fi lmmakers a limited Organised in partnership with online distribution for inde- audience with the constraints the Northwestern University in pendent fi lmmakers had been of time and space while VOD Qatar, Qumra Talks is a series hyped or is a much-needed re- allows for tens of thousands of of three specially curated dis- ality. fi lms to be available all the time.” cussions, open to the public. It Labelle took attendees Discussing the way in which brings together leaders from the through the basics of Video on people watch entertainment fi lm, TV, technology and online Demand (VOD), the role of the now, Sobhan said there has been worlds to off er new perspectives digital distributor and diff erent a seismic shift. “We no longer into areas that are redefi ning the models of digital distribution. have to wait, we can watch fi lms fi lm and media ecosystem. Pierre Alexandre Labelle (left), Nader Sobhan (second left) and industry guests on stage during a session at Qumra.

QRCS provides treatment for scores of Syrians in Jordan Emirates turns the spotlight on women Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) has issued a report on the achievements of its mission in Jordan during 2016. With funding mirates has stressed it is from Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), relief and medical giving centre stage to its projects worth $1.6mn (nearly QR6mn) were implemented, in Ewomen employees on the partnership with Jordan National Red Crescent Society and upcoming occasion of Interna- Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO). tional Women’s Day. Initiated in May 2016, the current phase of the dialysis Women make up close to 44% programme covered 8,555 dialysis sessions and 8,555 secondary of the airline’s workforce and consultations. Also, eight cases were hospitalised for renal have been an integral part of the complications, blood was provided for the cases with decreased success story of Emirates over levels of haemoglobin, and 21 venous catheterisation procedures the last 31 years, the airline has were performed. Over eight months, these services benefited 827 said in a press statement. Syrian patients with kidney failure, including 440 males and 387 Emirates currently employs females. Five service providers were contracted to conduct the more than 29,000 women from programme: the Italian Hospital (Al Karak), Al Maqased Charity over 150 nationalities. Women Hospital, Al Ahli Hospital, Advanced Medical Industries, and the employed at Emirates come from Islamic Hospital (Irbid). diverse backgrounds and work Another programme involved secondary and tertiary referrals across the entire spectrum of for 420 Syrians, including six war injuries who required extended airline operations. surgical treatment. As regards obstetrics and general surgery, the More than 18,000 work as programme covered 116 C-sections, 35 neonatal intensive care cabin crew, while the rest are cases, 11 surgeries, and one referral for secondary consultation. represented across technical as In partnership with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) – Netherlands, well as professional and leader- an advanced ophthalmology centre in Irbid was contracted to ship roles. Close to 2.5% of the off er eye care for Syrian diabetic patients. Till the end of 2016, total female staff occupy mana- a medical examination survey covered 4,000 diabetic patients gerial positions in the airline, for surgical intervention as feasible. So far, 443 surgeries were and women are also increasingly performed. working and advancing in func- tions that were more tradition- ally represented by men. Captain Nevin Darwish from Egypt and First Off icer Alia al-Muhairi from the UAE fly the Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft from Dubai to Vienna. GCC national jailed Over the past decade, the number of women employees sources at Emirates, said: “Emir- and be role models for girls and Egypt is the fi rst woman of Arab nicians for aircraft maintenance A Doha Criminal Court has sentenced a GCC national to one year at Emirates has increased in line ates is committed to providing women across the globe inter- origin to have captained the Air- and repairs. Women also work in jail and a fine of QR30,000 for illegally keeping a machine with the airline’s growth. The equal opportunities at the work- ested in pursuing careers in avia- bus A380, while First Offi cer Alia at critical positions in fl ight op- gun, 27 bullets and a sharp knife. Local Arabic daily Arrayah has proportion of women as part place for both women and men tion.” al-Muhairi, a UAE national, is erations both on the ramp as op- reported that the defendant fired some shots at a residential area of the airline’s total workforce across all business functions. Emirates’ female cockpit crew currently the youngest Emirati erations managers, turnaround and damaged two vehicles owned by others, as he accused them has also grown by 6% during We are proud of our women members come from 24 nation- female pilot operating the Emir- co-ordinators, aircraft loading of attacking his cousin. The court said that the defendant broke the same period, the statement colleagues and their immense alities and are aged between 20 ates A380. supervisors and load controllers the windshields of the two vehicles using pieces of building bricks notes. contribution to the growth and and 59 years, including pilot ca- In Emirates Engineering, as well as in the operations cen- and used the weapons to threaten his opponents. However, the Abdulaziz al-Ali, executive success of the airline. We hope dets. women work as licensed aircraft tre as fl ight dispatchers and duty court acquitted the man of attempted murder and ordered the vice-president of human re- that they can continue to inspire Captain Nevin Darwish from engineers, mechanics and tech- managers. confiscation of the weapons and ammunition.