BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar’s Abdulla seals T3 Qatar’s merchandise trade balance ‘to scale victory in up to $53.4bn in 2023’ Dubai published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11118 March 10, 2019 Rajab 3, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Sheikha Moza crowns CHI Al Shaqab winner Education can

QATAR | Visit Libyan premier transform arrives in Doha Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord Fayez al-Serraj arrived in Doha societies, says yesterday on a working visit. He and the accompanying delegation were greeted upon their arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of State for Foreign Sheikha Moza Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi and the Libyan charge d’aff aires in Qatar Khalid Abdullah Mazuz. O Silatech leading eff orts to portunity by which they can be active connect young people with in their societies and practise the art of QATAR | Hospitality citizenry that we taught them during employment opportunities their schooling.” Msheireb Downtown’s Replying to a question about Silate- fi rst hotel opens ducation has the power to trans- ch’s contribution, Sheikha Moza said Msheireb Properties celebrated form lives and societies but edu- the organisation (Silatech) is working yesterday the opening of Mandarin Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Ecated young people have to be to fi ll certain gaps. “The problem is that Oriental, its first hotel in the Development, crowned yesterday Pieter Devos, winner of CHI Al Shaqab International Equestrian Competition. President of provided with decent work and em- some of these young people lack skills Msheireb Downtown project. Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani crowned second place winner Nicola Philippaerts, while ployment, Her Highness Sheikha Moza that really can allow them to fi t in an Acting CEO of Msheireb Properties Alistair Routledge President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar crowned third place winner Emanuele Gaudiano. bint Nasser has said. ever-changing market, so Silatech is Ali al-Kuwari expressed his delight PICTURE: AR al-Baker Page 24, Sport Page 7 Five million young people will be training these young people to be em- with the opening of the hotel in entering the job market every year for ployed. Doha, noting that it is the first for the next fi ve years in the Middle East, “So we help them with their em- Mandarin Oriental in the Middle a region already struggling to create ployability, also train them to be entre- East. He added, in remarks made enough jobs for its youth. The IMF es- preneurs. We provide them with loan on the sidelines of the opening, timates 27mn young people will soon guarantees and try to instil in them that the hotel is a partnership be looking for work. their self-confi dence to see themselves between Msheireb Properties Expansion in petrochemicals, One organisation, Silatech (Arabic as productive citizens. and Mandarin Oriental, a leading for ‘your connection’), is leading ef- “We also help certain governments hospitality company. The luxurious forts to connect young people with em- to change certain mindsets, certain hotel is close by to the major ployment opportunities in places such policies to create this ecosystem, by roads of Doha, with its location fertilisers possible: IQ offi cial as Yemen, Somalia and Palestine. which young people can excel or prac- chose after careful examination. Her Highness Sheikha Moza is Si- tise this good citizenry.” Al-Kuwari said that the Msheireb By Peter Alagos chemical segment reported a QR5.8bn latech’s founder and chairperson. She Downtown project has a total Business Reporter revenue in 2018 – a QR0.3bn year-on- is also Chairperson of Qatar Founda- “So we help them with their investment of QR20bn. Page 24 year increase or 5% over 2017 that was tion (QF) and a UN Sustainable Devel- employability, also train primarily driven by the improved sales opment Goals Advocate. them to be entrepreneurs. LATIN AMERICA | Accident ndustries Qatar’s (IQ) investments volumes. Sales volumes in 2018 showed Last week in Geneva, Sheikha Moza We provide them with loan 12 dead in Colombia abroad, if any, will be in petro- a slight growth as the group’s polyolefi n announced an ambitious new target: to guarantees and try to instil Ichemicals or fertilisers according facilities returned to normal produc- connect 5mn young men and women in them their self-confi dence plane crash to a senior offi cial. tion levels following the unplanned with jobs by 2022. to see themselves as A plane crash in Colombia killed Qatar Petroleum Privatised Compa- outage in the fi rst quarter of 2017. Al Jazeera’s Adrian Finighan spoke productive citizens” 12 people yesterday, aviation nies Aff airs manager Mohamed Jaber A Fuel additive sales, on the other with Sheikha Moza about her new ef- and emergency services said. al-Sulaiti said petrochemicals or ferti- hand, remained relatively unchanged forts in job creation. On Silatech’s participation in the The Douglas DC-3 aircraft, a lisers may form the bulk of IQ’s invest- on last year, as fuel additive plants Asked how Silatech is utilising the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals twin-engine propeller plane that ments abroad as part of the group’s operated throughout the year with no opportunities provided by education (SDG) project, Sheikha Moza said the was first produced in the 1930s, plans to “selectively invest in capital shutdowns. The slight increase in the and the challenges faced, in particu- organisation “actually tackles many of crashed in the centre-east of the investment projects.” Mohamed Jaber A al-Sulaiti prices of the products has marginally lar in the Middle East North Africa the SDGs, so from poverty to decent country on a flight between the As the holding entity of Qatar Petro- contributed towards the growth in the (Mena) region, Her Highness said she work, to gender equality to partner- towns of San Jose del Guaviare chemicals, Qatar Fertiliser, and Qatar tilisers,” he pointed out. revenue, the report continued. was really a great believer in educa- ship, we connect these young people to and Villavicencio. “Unfortunately Steel, IQ is currently looking at projects In its report, the board of direc- Revenue in the fertiliser segment tion. “I believe in the power of educa- jobs or train them to be entrepreneurs. there were no survivors,” the across the globe, including many ef- tors said stable production, record amounted to QR4.7bn in 2018 – a tion in transforming lives and societies. Their families also can benefi t from Aeronautica Civil aviation fi ciency projects in terms of facilities sales volumes, modest improvement QR0.7bn increase of QR 0.7bn or 19% Education is the basic building block these businesses or these jobs, and authority said. expansion and capacity increase across in product prices, and the group’s versus 2017, which was primarily driv- for human development; it is the base their society.” the group, al-Sulaiti said. continued focus on cost optimisation en by a notable price increase in both where young people can learn their Sheikha Moza continued: “We are AMERICA | Offb eat “Our international investments, if and effi ciency improvements were the ammonia and urea. skills, their knowledge, the art of citi- in a way activating business in the any, are going to be limited to either main factors that helped the group Fertiliser prices remain bullish in the zenry, and also they will construct their whole community. And also we work No kidding! US town petrochemicals or fertilisers,” he told achieve “commendable results.” second half of the year due to rising en- fi rst world view.” in partnerships. We have international elects goat as ‘mayor’ reporters on the sidelines of IQ’s annual “Product prices across the group ergy costs and tight supplies. The group But she said education alone is not partners, regional partners and also lo- In a divided America where politics general assembly, which was presided have shown modest improvement was able to increase the production enough. “We need to follow that with cal partners. Local partners for us are seems increasingly to get people’s over by HE the Minister of State for En- versus last year. Petrochemical prices, yield in the fertiliser facilities despite decent work and employment. We very essential because they’re the ones goat, a small town in Vermont has ergy Aff airs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, particularly the prices of fuel addi- an increase in the unplanned outage failed to provide our young people with who can lead us towards the right pro- taken the concept to heart — this who is also QP president and CEO. tives, have improved moderately on days and maintained the sales volumes the right environment - economic, grammes. week electing one as “mayor”. He In terms of steel production, al-Su- the backdrop of a notable increase in in the current year, it was reported. social and cultural environment - for “There’s no one-size fi ts all, so we may be a political novice but the laiti said the Qatari demand “currently crude oil prices during most of 2018. The steel segment closed 2018 with their prosperity and their hope. really need to make sure that what goat’s name, Lincoln, brings with it accounts for 60%” of the capacity of “Fertiliser prices have improved due revenue of QR5.8bn, a signifi cant in- “We have a very young population. we’re off ering is appropriate and ad- a storied pedigree. And the leading Qatar Steel, while the remainder of the to rising energy costs and a scarcity of crease of QR1.2bn or 25% versus 2017. One-third of the population is between equate to the culture and the dynam- human off icial in Fair Haven capacity is exported in the region and supply in some markets. Steel prices The increase was primarily due to the 15 and 29 years old. This is a very pro- ics of the society that we operate in. Of hopes the long-eared, the animal’s in some Southeast Asian markets. have shown a modest increase on ac- combined eff ect of increased sales vol- ductive age. This is the generation that course, the regional and international election can serve as a bit of a “When you look at Qatar Steel, count of rising raw material and other umes and selling prices subsequent to can drive the engine of our economic partners help us to transfer certain ex- lesson in democracy. In Tuesday’s this is where we are. We’re not ex- related production costs,” the report changing the group’s sales and mar- growth and lead our positive social pertise and knowledge to these local poll, Lincoln was victorious over 15 panding further in steel; our main said. keting strategy, the board’s report changes. So I believe it’s imperative to people that we’re helping and support- other candidates. Page 13 focus is in petrochemicals and fer- The board reported that the petro- added. invest in them and give them the op- ing.” (Source: Al Jazeera) QM, Shamal Municipality sign pact to preserve Zubarah

atar Museums (QM) and Al The MoU was signed by QM acting programmes,” he added. beauty and cleanliness of the site and Shamal Municipality have CEO Ahmad al-Namla and Al Shamal The historic coastal town, Al Zuba- its surrounding areas, but we will also Qsigned a memorandum of un- Municipality director Hamad Jumaa al- rah, is situated about 100km northwest set up several activities to help spread derstanding (MoU) to enhance co- Mannai. of Doha. Founded in the mid-18th cen- awareness about Qatar’s rich cultural operation and the preservation of Al “We’re pleased to sign this new tury, the town developed into a centre history,” al-Mannai said. “We look Zubarah Unesco World Heritage Site partnership with Al Shamal Munici- of the pearling and international trade forward to seeing the outcomes of this as well as promote cultural awareness pality to help preserve one of the most and rose to become the country’s larg- fruitful co-operation.” among community members. important heritage sites in Qatar, and est and most important settlement. The Department of Archaeology As part of the new agreement, Al promote cultural awareness about its QM oversees its preservation and at QM places great importance on Al Shamal Municipality will be responsi- importance,” al-Namla said. promotion by hosting various tourist Shamal Municipality given its historic ble for cleaning and preserving Al Zu- “Al Shamal Municipality is one of the visits and organising educational cul- signifi cance, the statement notes. Some barah’s beach every month for the next key cultural hubs in Qatar. As such, its tural activities all year-round for peo- of QM’s eff orts to preserve the area in- fi ve years, QM has said in a press state- preservation is key to QM’s Department ple in Qatar. clude the restoration of the iconic at Al ment. of Archaeology in line with its vision. “We’re pleased to partner with Qatar Ruwais Mosque, one of Qatar’s oldest Al Shamal Municipality will also take We hope this partnership inspires other Museums to preserve this historic site mosques, and its surrounding areas. part in QM’s local activities to help pro- entities to form similar agreements to of Al Zubarah in line with our commit- Recently, QM also turned the aban- mote cultural awareness among com- promote cultural understanding within ment to the country and its people. Not doned Al Ruwais police station into a Ahmad al-Namla and Hamad Jumaa al-Mannai shake hands after signing the munity members. their corporate social responsibility only are we going to help preserve the touristic project. agreement. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, March 10, 2019 QATAR Minister of Labour visits Qatar Cancer Society

E the Minister of Ad- ministrative Develop- Hment, Labour and Social Aff airs Yousef bin Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro visited Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), where he was received by Sheikh Dr Kha- lid bin Jabor al-Thani, chairman of QCS. During the visit, HE the Minister toured different sec- tions of the organisation as well as the Ooredoo Cancer Aware- ness Centre, reviewing their role in raising awareness of the disease. He expressed admiration for the efforts of QCS in spreading the culture of early detection of cancer and raising health awareness, as well as support- ing individuals living with can- cer. He also stressed the eff orts of Qatar in supporting the health sector and giving due attention HE Yousef bin Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro with Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani and others at the QCS headquarters. to the human element as the cornerstone of social develop- On his part, Sheikh Khalid lighted its role in spreading tributions of the Ministry of charitable activities. mission to prevent cancer and educate the community and to ment, QCS said in a press state- presented the activities of QCS awareness in the community. Administrative Development, Further, he stressed the con- control its burden in Qatar by support, empower and advocate ment. to HE the Minister and high- He also noted the active con- Labour and Social Aff airs in its tinuation of QCS to achieve its working with its partners to individuals living with cancer.

HBKU students visit library of Dr al-Kuwari Nama launches ‘Be a Social Entrepreneur’ campaign

he Social Development State authorities that will directly tainable development in society Centre - Nama - has contribute to educating the youth through innovation in entrepre- Tlaunched the ‘Be a Social and increasing their awareness of neurship, which calls for the con- Entrepreneur’ campaign as part social entrepreneurship so that solidation of all the eff orts from of its role to qualify the youth. they can contribute positively to the various components of soci- “The campaign is an aware- the development and prosperity ety. “That is where Nama’s keen- ness initiative with numerous of the country. ness lies: on shedding light on the goals that directly serve our so- importance of active and eff ective ciety and qualify our youth to “It is an integrated, social entrepreneurship to social be more active and infl uential to comprehensive campaign awareness through introducing those around them,” Nama said that comes to enhance the centre’s programmes directed in a press statement. the centre’s role in this at the target group in various ar- The campaign continues until area of qualifying and eas,” the statement notes. March 21. empowering our youth to The centre has off ered many The ‘Be a Social Entrepreneur’ interact more positively programmes and projects that Students from the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently visited the library of HE the Minister campaign, which targets both with their society” serve the youth, including the of State Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari. The visiting delegation comprised faculty and students from the Master of Arts in Islam and male and female youths aged ‘Sama Nama’ initiative, which Global Aff airs programme. During the visit, HE Dr al-Kuwari discussed aspects of his ministerial and diplomatic roles, and his nomination 18-35 years, aims to increase The plan also includes aware- aims to develop youth capabili- to serve as director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. He also highlighted the cultural youth awareness of the concept ness and promotional videos, ties and harness their creative diplomacy role played by Qatar since the 1990s, in fostering dialogue and mediation and receiving experts in diplomacy, culture, art, of social entrepreneurship, the along with a social media cam- energy through various activities heritage and media. The meeting concluded with a dialogue session, during which students exchanged their views on international means of realising socially ben- paign conducted in co-operation aimed at stimulating competi- citizenship. The delegation extended their gratitude to him for his insights and hospitality in opening his library to them. HE Dr al-Kuwari efi cial development projects as with the youth centres and me- tion among youth entrepreneurs also signed a copy of his book, The Global Majlis. well as harnessing the role of dia offi ce of the Ministry of Cul- to develop creative initiatives social entrepreneurship projects ture and Sports. that suit the needs and causes in achieving sustained develop- Al-Kaabi said the centre al- of society, and working toward ment, the statement explains. ways aims to qualify the youth their realisation. “We hereby launch the ‘Be a and enhance many of the ben- “The ‘Be a Social Entrepre- Social Entrepreneur’ campaign efi cial concepts they possess, in- neur’ campaign comes within for the fi rst time. It is an inte- cluding social entrepreneurship, the important role the Nama Appointment of NHRC to top positions wins praise grated, comprehensive cam- in order to work toward achiev- plays in qualifying the youth paign that comes to enhance the ing its goals and vision that to play a positive role toward centre’s role in this area of quali- include investment in human achieving Qatar National Vision he Arab Network for Na- historic gain. This came during the fi rst The positions are vice-pres- fying and empowering our youth capital and promising future 2030, according to the centre’s tional Human Rights ANNHRI added that all the na- meeting of the Executive Com- ident, secretary-general and to interact more positively with generations. Nama also aims to vision and in line with the mis- TInstitutions (ANNHRI) tional human rights institutions mittee of ANNHRI, on the member of the Executive Offi ce their society,” Nawal al-Kaabi create an aware generation that sion and vision of the Qatar So- stressed that the appointment of in the Arab countries are proud sidelines of the meetings of the of GANHRI, according to the from Nama said. can fi nd suitable solutions and cial Work Foundation, which HE the Chairman of National Hu- of the move as it motivates them GANHRI at the United Nations results of the elections held on She noted that the initiative alternatives, which will help aims to serve the society and man Rights Committee (NHRC) to promote the status of human in Geneva, Switzerland. the sidelines of the 23rd annual is based on multiple pillars that them achieve a bright future. qualify its youth to lead the fu- Dr Ali bin Samih al-Marri in three rights and work hard to obtain NHRC, represented by HE Dr meeting of the Asia-Pacifi c Fo- support the achievement of its Further, al-Kaabi said social ture and create the best path for leadership positions in the Glo- the classifi cation ‘A’ equivalent to al-Marri, held three leadership rum of National Human Rights goals, with the campaign plan in- entrepreneurship projects play future generations,” the state- bal Alliance for National Human the highest ratings, in accordance positions in the GANHRI meeting Institutions in Hong Kong, Chi- cluding benefi cial visits to some an active role in achieving sus- ment adds. Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is a with the Paris Principles. at the UN headquarters in Geneva. na, on September 18-19. – QNA Ooredoo Myanmar supports women’s empowerment

n celebration of International tive training. Once completed, “We, at Ooredoo Myanmar, Women’s Day, Ooredoo is the 20 outstanding students will are very proud that women make Imain sponsor of this year’s work on individual projects for up 46% of our workforce, 37% ‘Tech Age Girls’ programme in the development of their com- of them being in senior manage- Myanmar by providing digital munities. ment positions. We are commit- devices and Internet connec- The programme is tailored to ted to women’s advancement, tivity to participating libraries, equip young girls with essential not only internally but also em- along with training fees for tech- technology and leadership skills powering women in all facets of nology and leadership courses. that will allow them to become society partnering with initia- The programme is held in female leaders in this tech-driv- tives such as Tech Age Girls and partnership with Myanmar Book en age. Programme subjects in- Connected Women Conference.” Aid and Preservation Founda- clude digital literacy facilitation MBAPF executive director tion (MBAPF) with the goal to skills, project management, and Thant Thaw Kaung said, “We are empower girls and enable them job skills, among others. extremely grateful to Ooredoo to become leaders in technology. Moreover, it will empower Myanmar for its support to our Tech Age Girls is a nine- girls to catalyse positive change Tech Age Girls Myanmar Project month long programme for girls and become role models for in 2019. In fact, Ooredoo My- aged 16 to 20 years selected youth in their communities, anmar has been supporting this from MBAPF project of 150 li- build their skills, increase their project since 2016 by giving free braries that Ooredoo supports employability, encourage them Internet and devices. with connectivity and hardware to pursue education, and gener- “Because of all this support, across the country. ate social capital. TAG Project was able to contin- Two trainers, including one Ooredoo Myanmar acting ue for four straight years and also librarian from each of the par- CEO Alok Verma said, “Women received the prestigious ‘Gender ticipating libraries, will attend leaders are a major force in to- Empowerment and Innovation the ToT (Training of Trainers) in day’s society. We are starting to Award’ in 2018 by Seed Alliance Yangon, and upon return to their see more and more women at the at IGF Conference at Unesco Participants of the ‘Tech Age Girls’ programme. regions, will share the prospec- forefront of the tech industry. headquarter in Paris.” Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 3 QATAR

Sheikh Joaan crowns Day 8 winners of HH the Father Amir Camel Racing Festival

Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday crowned the winners of the eighth day of the annual camel racing festival for the sword of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, being organised by the Camel Racing Committee over 12 days until March 13. HE Sheikh Joaan attended the four main races of the event and handed out trophies to the the winners, QNA reported. There were 18 races in the morning session. Nahab of Rashid Nasser Shibl won the silver Shalfa after finishing the race in 12.29.7 minutes, while Ghait of Ali Zaid al-Buhaih won the second main event and a silver dagger. There were 12 races in the afternoon session. Al Mamlaha of Nasser Abdullah al-Misned won the first main event and the silver Shalfa, and Salhawada of Misfer Mubarak al- Shahwani won the fourth and final main event and a silver Shalfa.

Qatar Biobank reaches new milestone by screening 20,000th participant

atar Biobank, a prevalent in the country. Genome Programme, also a standard medical tests, member of Qatar Dr Asmaa al-Thani, board QF member, have complet- such as blood pressure and QFoundation (QF) and vice-chairperson of Qatar ed the development of the lung function. However, part of Qatar Foundation Biobank and chairperson fi rst Qatari gene chip, ‘Q- the tests carried out also Research, Development and of the Qatar Genome Pro- Chip’. It is the fi rst local gene include new screenings Innovation, has welcomed gramme Committee, said: array designed and based that are not included in its 20,000th participant as “The screening of 20,000 on data from thousands of other large-scale biobanks, part of its unique medical participants is an achieve- Qatari genomes sequenced such as advanced imaging research initiative to under- ment for us all. over the past three years, techniques that measure stand the drivers of main- “We are one step closer to and represents a major step whole-body composition stream health challenges in accomplishing preventative in gaining insights into the and the health of carotid Qatar. treatment for the healthcare health of the local popula- arteries, and a treadmill Launched in 2011, Qatar challenges that our popula- tion, including the preva- test to measure physical Biobank enables research- tion faces. The success of lence of diabetes, obesity, fitness. ers and healthcare profes- the medical research at Qa- and vitamin D defi ciency. All participants receive sionals to access the data tar Biobank, and ultimately Qatar Biobank welcomes feedback within approxi- and biological samples that the realisation of precision registration from Qataris mately two weeks after their it collects from the local medicine, depends on how over the age of 18, and adult initial visit. However, Qatar population, in an eff ort to actively the people of Qa- expatriates who have lived Biobank immediately noti- develop customised medi- tar contribute to our pro- in Qatar for at least 15 years. fi es participants who are cal solutions to the various gramme.” A regular visit to the found to have serious or diseases and health issues Qatar Biobank and Qatar Qatar Biobank includes life-threatening conditions. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, March 10, 2019 QATAR

German parliament member visits Doha Ministry raises awareness about ember of the Ger- man Bundestag M(Parliament) and chairperson of the Sports Committee in the Bun- colorectal cancer screening destag, Dagmar Freitag, visited Doha recently in preparation for Germany’s he Ministry of Public Health the National Cancer Programme people have been screened. Dur- aims to raise awareness about the participation at the IAAF (MoPH) is partnering with at the MoPH, highlighted the need ing March, we have planned several risk factors of colorectal cancer and World Championships in THamad Medical Corporation for all healthcare providers to work initiatives to further deliver on our focuses on the importance of early Athletics. (HMC), Primary Health Care Cor- together during Colorectal Cancer promises and make Qatar a health- detection prevention, diagnosis and She was accompanied by poration (PHCC) and the Qatar Can- Awareness Month in March to en- ier country,’’noted, Dr Shaikha Abu treatment,” said Hiba Nasser, head representatives from DLV cer Society (QCS) to raise awareness courage individuals to think about Shaikha, manager of Screening Pro- of the Health Education Department Marketing and their media Dagmar Freitag with other off icials during the visit to about colorectal cancer and educate their health. grammes at PHCC. at QCS. partner, Schmidt Media. Doha. people about the importance of pre- “The National Cancer Programme Dr Mohamed Abunada, lead Colorectal cancer, also known as The visit was aimed at vention, early detection and aware- team continues to work with all can- colorectal surgeon at HMC, said, bowel cancer, usually starts from promoting the IAAF World Women’s Sports Commit- Freitag is a renowned ness about screening programmes cer care providers across the coun- “The risk of colorectal cancer polyps in the colon or rectum. Over Championships in Athlet- tee, Lulwa al-Marri. politician and sports activ- available in Qatar. try to empower the public to make can be reduced through lifestyle time some polyps can transform into ics to be held in Doha from During the meetings, ist. Her political focus is on According to the Qatar National informed choices regarding lifestyle changes and by detecting at a very cancer. These polyps can be found September 28 to October 6. Freitag presented the sports policy, combating Cancer Registry, in 2015 there were which can help reduce the risk of de- early stage with routine screening. through screening tests and re- Freitag held high-level ‘German House’ concept, doping at the national and 145 newly diagnosed cases of ma- veloping cancer,’’ she said. We hope that during this aware- moved before they turn into cancer. talks with the secretary- which will be a unique ven- international levels and the lignant colorectal cancer. Colorectal “Over the past three years the ness month, people can be encour- Screening tests are the best way general of the Olym- ue for members of the ath- promotion of competitive cancer ranked the second most com- dedication of the Screen for Life aged to undergo this potentially to prevent cancer as they can detect pic Committee, Jassim letics teams, VIPs, media sports. She also focuses mon amongst males with 94 new team has resulted in a unifi ed vision lifesaving measure and immedi- colorectal cancer early and ensure al-Buenain; beIN Media and business representa- on and supports the inter- cases and was the third most com- of reaching out to people in larger ately take the initiative to discuss the cancer is being treated success- Group managing direc- tives as well as visitors ests and needs in top-class mon cancer amongst female with 51 numbers through creating aware- their screening options with their fully. tor (Mena), Tom Keaveny; from all walks of life during sports of persons with spe- new cases. The peak incidence was ness of the importance of timely healthcare provider.” Symptoms of colorectal cancer and president of the Qatar the championships. cial needs. in the age group 50-59 years, more screening of cancer. In 2018, 10,803 “ In our continuous eff orts to re- include unexpected weight loss, than 50% of cases were diagnosed people were screened for bowel duce the burden of cancer in the weakness and fatigue, abdominal over the age of 55 years. cancer and since the launch of this community, we launched the ‘Your pain, blood in the stool, rectal bleed- Catherine Gillespie, director of programme, more than 25,000 food…Your health’ campaign which ing and a change in bowel habits.

Ministry declares Education ministry offi cial stresses school safe after importance of performance evaluation minor fi re he Ministry of Education QNA fi culties facing the issue Also, Dr Farid Elsahn, organised by the Centre for and Higher Education Doha of evaluating the per- Director of Excellence Educational Development Tsaid that today will be a formance of teachers and Centre for Executive Edu- and Training in co-opera- regular school day for Al Saili- complaints reaching the cation at Doha Institute for tion with DI, witnessed the hya High School for girls. The E the Undersecre- ministry regarding school Graduate Studies (DI) and participation of 206 public ministry’s announcement comes tary of the Minis- administrations. Hessa al-Ali, Director of school directors. in the wake of a small fi re which Htry of Education In a speech during the Training and Educational It aims to provide partic- broke out on the school’s roof. and Higher Education Dr programme, al-Naimi said Development Centre at ipants with a range of skills The ministry said that Civil Ibrahim al-Naimi has un- that the evaluation is not the Ministry of Educa- and experience that allows Defence had contained the fi re in derlined the importance of personal desires and in- tion and Higher Education them to adopt the latest which there were no injuries. holding the fi rst training dividual impressions, but stressed the importance techniques and method- The education ministry and the programme on the “per- science based on real and of the programme, tak- ologies in the fi eld of in- Ministry of Interior reassured the formance evaluation man- organised pillars, calling ing into account the needs ternational performance public that they have taken all the agement” for the directors for the need to develop of the trainees and trans- assessment, training and precautions in dealing with the of public education schools concepts in the issue of forming the performance practical application on a incident, the ministry stressed. in the state. performance evaluation. evaluation process from number of modern global The decision to resume the classes He explained that the He praised the directors judgments to a sustainable standards adopted in the followed an evaluation that took training programme comes of schools as the real bond process. area of performance ap- into consideration the safety of in the context of the dif- of the ministry. The 3-week programme, praisal. the students, it said. - QNA

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, March 10, 2019 QATAR New application centre opens in Doha for Schengen visas to Czech Republic

itizens and expatriate sions since 2008. The new residents of Qatar can centre in Qatar is yet another Capply for Schengen vi- milestone adding to the port- sas to the Czech Republic at a folio of visa application cen- new visa application centre, it tres we manage on behalf of has been announced. the Czech Republic govern- The centre has been jointly ment through 100 application launched by the embassy of centres across the world.” the Czech Republic in Qatar All applications submitted and VFS Global, a leading at the visa application centre outsourcing and technology in Qatar, as well passports services specialist for diplo- entrusted with VFS Global, matic missions worldwide. will be transferred to the visa Located on the third fl oor application centre in Kuwait, (301) of Jaidah Square, Air- which will handle all entry port Road, Doha, the visa ap- permit submissions to the plication centre will provide Czech Republic. outbound travellers from Qa- Passports submitted for tar with “a convenient chan- visa stamping will be de- nel ensuring enhanced qual- livered back to the visa ap- ity of services and seamless plication centre in Qatar for procedures”, a press state- collection or couriered to the ment noted. address provided by the visa Applicants will also com- applicant during the applica- plete their biometric enrol- tion submission process. VFS ment at the same applica- Global will take all relevant tion centre. “Managed and measures to safely handle the operated by VFS Global, the applications and facilitate centre has started accepting smooth and timely process- visa application submissions ing. from residents and citizens Managed by profession- of Qatar. Applicants need not als trained to provide secure approach the embassy for visa services in an effi cient man- applications any more,” the ner, the centre also off ers statement explained. optional Premium Lounge VFS Global has been asso- services to visa applicants ciated with the client govern- for more personalised service ment of the Czech Republic as well as door-step delivery since 2008 and currently of passports, the statement serves applicants through a added. network of 100 visa applica- Visa applicants to the tion centres across 24 coun- Czech Republic can direct tries such as India, Jordan, their queries and appoint- the Philippines, Russia, South ment requests to the call Africa, the UK and others. centre number, 44231188, or Vinay Malhotra, regional communicate with the centre Group COO for Middle East, at info.czechdoha@vfshel- South Asia & China, VFS pline.com. Global, said: “VFS Global has For general information a successful relationship with and application tracking, visit the Czech Republic, handling https://www.vfsglobal.com/ its visa application submis- czechrepublic/qatar/ Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 7 QATAR HMC doctors perform Achievements of Qatari women surgery on patient with highlighted at advanced oral cancer Bedaya Centre’s urgeons from the Oral and Khalil and after he conducted Cranio-Maxillofacial Sur- a series of tests he diagnosed Sgery Department at Hamad me with stage 3 oral cancer and panel discussion Medical Corporation (HMC) explained the recommended have successfully removed a tu- treatment plan and the prog- he Bedaya Centre for of their traditional work. mour from the tongue and jaw nosis. He recommended I have Entrepreneurship and The discussion also shed the of a patient with advanced oral surgery within one week and Dr TCareer Development light on how leading women cancer. al-Khalil explained surgery was (Bedaya Centre), a joint ini- achieve balance between work Dr Moustafa al-Khalil, sen- necessary to save my life and I tiative by Qatar Development and family. ior consultant and head of trusted him.” Bank and Silatech, hosted yes- Bedaya Centre general Carnio-Maxillofacial Surgery “Thanks to God and HMC’s terday an elite group of Qatari manager Reem al-Sowaidi Department at HMC’s Rumailah medical team, the surgery was women at a panel discussion, said, “We are honoured to host Hospital, said the 40-year-old a success. I was able to speak which highlighted the most an elite group of women from Egyptian man, who had been di- within ten days and after about important achievements of the Qatar society in conjunc- agnosed with stage 3 oral cancer, a month I returned to most of Qatari women. tion with the International is expected to make a full recov- my normal activities, and will The activity, held at Marsa Women’s Day to highlight ery. soon return to my profession as Katara, coincides with In- their most important achieve- Dr al-Khalil said the com- a lawyer. I am so grateful for the ternational Women’s Day, ments and to inform guests of plex 10-hour surgery involved high-quality of care I received. which is celebrated globally on the importance of the vital role removal of the tumour from the In addition to providing great March 8, Bedaya Centre said in played by Qatari women in patient’s tongue and jawbone medical care, myself and my a statement. various fi elds and diverse sec- and reconstruction of the sur- family received a lot of psycho- HE Lolwah Alkhater, tors. This meeting is a unique gical site. The patient, Ahmed logical support from the doctors spokesperson for the Minis- opportunity to share with the Hammam, underwent 30 ses- and nurses who cared for me,” try of Foreign Aff airs; Nisrine participants the achievements sions of radiation therapy post- added Hammam. al-Malak, Institutional Pro- made by Qatari women and surgery. “HMC’s Oral and Cranio- gramme Manager at Qatar their contribution to society. “Shortly after surgery the pa- Maxillofacial Surgery Depart- Leadership Centre; leading “Thanks to the wise leader- tient began undergoing rehabili- ment conducts around 600 entrepreneur Samia al-Saleh; ship and the enlightened vi- tation and was able to speak and surgeries each year on patients and counsellor and coach Sha- sion of His Highness the Amir swallow 10 days after the op- with advanced diseases and dis- fa Ali discussed the important Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad eration. Head and neck cancers orders of the head and neck, with role of women in society and al-Thani and our esteemed and their treatment frequently around 30% of these cases in- its impact in all fi elds to stim- government, Qatari women cause changes in both speech volving the removal of tumours. ulate Qatari women’s leader- have been able to reserve a and swallowing. In the case of It is important for the public to ship in various sectors. privileged position in vari- Hammam, both the surgery and be aware of the potential warning Based on the guests’ im- ous political, economic, so- rehabilitation have been very Dr Moustafa al-Khalil with Ahmed Hammam. signs of oral cancer, which can pressive track record, draw- cial, sporting and other sec- successful and we expect him to include a sore that does not heal ing on their experiences and tors, thus translating Qatar make a complete recovery,” said of cases involving aggressive tu- ing damage to the mouth. Dr al- an ulcer on my tongue. Later within two weeks, a lump, bump, successes in various fi elds, in National Vision 2030, which Dr al-Khalil. mours, including those that re- Khalil said Hammam’s story is I started to feel pain in my jaw or mass in the head or neck area, addition to the impact they seeks to fl ourish the country According to Dr al-Khalil the quire reconstructive surgery. He signifi cant because it highlights and I went to my health centre a persistent sore throat, and pain have achieved in advancing through the development of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery said with the treatment of oral the importance of prompt treat- where I was referred to Al Wakra or diffi culty chewing, swallow- the overall development and human resources and women Department has had great suc- cancers the aim is to remove the ment. Hospital,” said Hammam. “I was ing or moving the jaw or tongue,” developing the local economy are one of the strongest pillars cess in the surgical management aff ected tissue while minimis- “A year and a half ago I noticed later referred to Dr Moustafa al- said Dr al-Khalil. by re-crystallising the tasks of the growth.” AFG College hosts conference on International Women’s Day

FG College with the University of Aber- Adeen marked Inter- national Women’s Day with its inaugural Women’s Day conference on March 8, at Sharq Village & Spa. Having given the keynote speech last year at Uni- versity of Aberdeen on In- ternational Women’s Day, A panel discussion during the conference. chairperson and founder of Al Faleh Group Dr Sheikha all levels is fundamental to a diabetes prevention and sumers, but as designers, Aisha bint Faleh al-Thani, healthy and prosperous na- treatment. creators and leaders of the said: “I was so inspired tion, which is why I am so Sheikha Alanoud bint innovation revolution.” by the event last year in happy that such an eclectic Hamad al-Thani, managing Qatar Olympic Com- Scotland that I decided to mix of women have joined director – business devel- mittee’s director of mar- hold our own conference. us in inaugurating such a opment at Qatar Financial keting and communica- Women’s role in society has wonderful event,” added Centre, said: “The United tions Sheikha Asma bint always been an area that Sheikha Aisha. Nations has defi ned the Thani al-Thani spoke about I’ve been concerned with Speakers at the event theme for this International her recent expedition to and followed closely. We included Prof Lora He- Women’s Day as ‘Think the North Pole, as well as in Qatar have been fortu- isler who fl ew in from the equal, build smart, innovate other sporting achieve- nate to have inspirational University of Aberdeen, for change.’ The selection of ments which included be- role models such as Her who was recently awarded this theme is apt consider- ing part of a team that Highness Sheikha Moza the Outstanding Scientifi c ing the global wave of inno- raised QR2.1mn for building bint Nasser, Chairperson Achievement Award from vation that is shaping and schools in Gaza. of Qatar Foundation, who the American Diabetes As- changing the way we live Ibtihaj al-Ahmadani, Qa- has captured the hearts and sociation, one of only three and function in every part tar Chamber board mem- minds of women of all women to have been rec- of the world. We must en- ber; Sheikha Anwar bint generations.” ognised for her research in sure – in Qatar and every- Nawaf al-Thani, CEO of Al “Being a strong pro- the association’s 60-year where else – that the rapid Faleh Educational Hold- ponent for women, par- history. Prof Heisler spoke pace of technological devel- ing; and Dr Karen Foster, ticularly in business and on the ground breaking re- opment is inclusive and ca- provost of AFG College with education, I believe that search she and her team ters adequately for women the University of Aberdeen, empowerment of women at have been undertaking on and girls – not only as con- also spoke at the event.

British artist delivers lecture at MIA

Paul Ahmed Keeler, a noted British Islamic artist, presented a lecture on ‘Traditional Worlds and Modernity’ yesterday at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). The lecture, organised by Caravane Foundation, was attended by HE Lolwah Alkhater, off icial spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs; Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Qatar’s ambassador to Russia; and Michalle al-Naimi, president of Community Development at Qatar Foundation, among others. During the lecture, Keeler spoke about his journey from childhood and how he organised the Islam Festival in London in 1976, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth and had the participation of 32 nations. The festival also featured 6,000 objects from 250 public and private collections. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, March 10, 2019 QATAR Ooredoo sponsors Ride of Champions oredoo has announced Longer distances head further that it is the title sponsor The routes out into the surrounding areas Oof the Ride of Champi- and, while the routes feature no ons, Qatar’s community cycling z The long route of 137.5km is the true Ride of Champions; suitable climbs, organisers say the full- event aimed at promoting cy- for experienced riders with a high level of fitness distance Ride of Champions cling as part of a healthy, active z The medium route of 78km is suitable for riders with good fitness course takes riders out into ex- lifestyle. and cycling experience posed, fl at areas of Qatar that Off icials representing Ooredoo and the event organisers mark the occasion. A press conference was held z The short route of 48km is a good challenge for fit participants can be windy this time of the in this regard at the Ooredoo who want to challenge themselves year. Dr Abulazziz al-Kuwari, presi- event. Also, special thanks to in a statement. Backup vehi- headquarters in West Bay last z The family, beginners and youth rides are aimed at families who Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi dent of Qatar Cyclists, noted: Qatar National Tourism Council, cles will be available behind Thursday. want to ride together, young riders and riders who are new to the – director of PR and Corporate “We are delighted to reach this Qatar Foundation, Qatar Cycling the last riders, and medical The Ooredoo Ride of Champi- sport Communications at Ooredoo – agreement with Ooredoo. They Federation, the Ministry of Cul- services will be on hand behind ons, set to be held at Ceremonial z The kids’ ride is for children aged between 3 and 8 years, with said: “Ooredoo is committed to spare no eff ort in endorsing ture and Sports, and of course each ride group and at the start Court of Qatar Foundation on parents welcome to accompany their little ones supporting sports and commu- sports and community events in the police, without whose sup- and fi nish areas. March 15, is organised by Qatar nity events as a key part of our Qatar. This partnership will al- port the event would be logisti- There will be an ROC Fan Zone Cycling Centre, the offi cially corporate social responsibility low us to deliver a superb edition cally and structurally impossible at Ceremonial Court with food recognised cycling centre under The ride includes fi ve diff er- youth rides will be held in a se- strategy, and the Ooredoo Ride of Ride of Champions, the big- to deliver.” and beverages and a host of ac- the umbrella of the Ministry of ent distances so that all family cure, sheltered area around of Champions is an excellent gest cycling event in Qatar and The event will enjoy a full tivities for all the families, and Culture and Sports in Qatar. members and participants of all Qatar Foundation and the Al opportunity for us to show our one of the biggest three events in service of vehicle support to plenty of lucky draw prizes from 2019 is the third year of the fi tness levels can join in, from Shaqab Arabian horse breeding support. Staying active is an in- the region.” ensure safety on the longer sponsors throughout the day. event, and this year’s ride is youngsters trying out bikes for area, providing a safe place in tegral part of a healthy, balanced Ali M al-Kuwari, manag- routes, with support vehicles Registration closes today. expected to attract a “record the fi rst time to seasoned cycling which those new to the sport and lifestyle and it’s wonderful to see ing director of Ooredoo Ride of (including tech support) along For more information on the number of participants and enthusiasts taking on the full less confi dent can enjoy their events such as these promoting Champions, added: “We would the route and police cars and Ride Of Champions event and spectators”, the organisers have 137.5km Ride of Champions. day. The kids’ ride will be held at sports and fi tness. We hope all like to thank Ooredoo and all our lead vehicles in front of groups to register, one can visit https:// said. The family, beginners and Green Spine in Oxygen Park. riders enjoy a great day out.” partners for their support to the on the road, Ooredoo has said www.rocdoha.qa/registration/ CNA-Q hosts Women’s Day event

ollege of the North At- lantic – Qatar (CNA-Q) Crecently hosted its sig- nature International Women’s Day event, ‘Fit & Fabulous’. The event hosted inspiring women from the Doha commu- nity and the college community to speak about personal growth, empowerment and well-being, CNA-Q said in a statement. “We are redefi ning what fi t and fabulous means, in the context of empowering wom- en’s lives and well-being,” said Aljazzi Fetais, vice-president – Student Aff airs. “We want Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General (Pilot) HE Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem during a meeting. our students to be strong and successful in their studies, in their personal lives, in their careers and of course in their physical and mental health. Qatari chef Noor Ahmed al-Mazroei spoke at the event. Qatari force attends joint excercise Today’s session covered all these topics, and empowered couraging you to cook and make speakers as well, including men as it was focused on shared our women to be well equipped the kitchen your zone. Find al- counsellor Nadine Humber, life lessons everyone could learn QNA force as part of the GCC land, The drill included command to shape fabulous futures for ternatives, don’t make things along with health and fi tness from, the statement noted. Dammam naval, and air forces. centre and fi eld training, and themselves.” diffi cult and do what works for trainers Kristen Rendall and ‘Fit & Fabulous’ was one of Chief of Staff Lieutenant- was concluded by an exercises Qatari chef Noor Ahmed you,” chef Noor said. Megan Skeels. many women-focused events General (Pilot) HE Ghanem bin for regular and irregular warfare al-Mazroei spoke at the event Other speakers from the Sponsored by Qatar Petro- hosted over the course of a few he 10th Joint Exercise of Shaheen al-Ghanem attended using live arms. about her passion for food, day included businesswomen chemical Company, the event weeks on the CNA-Q campus. Al Jazeera Shield drills the fi nal day of the drill, in re- The aim of this drill and similar spirit for entrepreneurship and Elisabete Reis, founder of Glam was timely as it was held dur- Recently, Marie Quigley gave a Tconcluded yesterday af- sponse to an invitation he received ones is to enhance co-operation, how to live a healthy and happy Your Image; and Elizabeth ing the week in International lecture titled ‘Dare to Lead’, and ter taking place north of Jubail from Saudi Arabia’s chairman of exchange expertise between GCC life. Wood, founder of Inspire Me Women’s Day fell, March 8. next week she will return to give region in the eastern province, the General Staff Major General forces and raise the level of training “I do not advocate for a cer- Consultancy. A decision was made to open a presentation on emotional with the participation of a Qatari Fayyad Hamed al-Ruwaili. among all joint armed forces. tain type of lifestyle. I’m en- The college profi led its own the event to both women and intelligence. MG Motor celebrates 2018 as ‘landmark year for sales’

G Motor has said it is proved by MG Middle East to Tom Lee, managing director male motorists; 21% of all MG marking a “milestone be the ‘Standard Reference MG for SAIC Motor Middle East, owners in the Middle East are Myear of sales success” Showroom’ for the region. said: “Our commitment to female, and around half of our in the Middle East, as it closes “With a network of dedicated the region has been cemented all-new MG6 owners are wom- 2018 with an overall increase of retail partners across the Mid- by the very positive results of en. We can almost certainly at- 453% across the region. dle East boasting of 20 modern 2018, and we intend to build tribute these statistics to our Having launched three new showrooms and 21 service cen- on this success further as we fresh, contemporary approach models – the MG RX5, face- tres, MG Motor’s presence is establish MG as a household to car design which has a clear The event was attended by the ambassadors of Canada and South Africa. lifted MG GS and the all-new growing apace, with the MG 360 name in the years to come. As appeal to our female customers. MG6 – in the Middle East in and RX-5 proving its most popu- a relatively young brand in the “In terms of quality, we are 2018, the British-born brand lar models. And, with a further Middle East, and with the cur- very confi dent that our cars are “is celebrating a major renais- three new models joining the re- rent challenging market condi- ready for the region. We put our sance in the region”, MG Motor gion’s model lineup in 2019, the tions, we are very encouraged products through rigorous chal- HBKU seminar outlines role has said in a statement. brand is primed to continue its by the acceptance of the brand. lenges including extreme weath- In Qatar, Auto Class Cars, a expansion,” the statement notes. “We are determined to lead er testing, which takes place right subsidiary of Nasser Bin Kha- Arriving in the third quar- the way in delivering smartly- here in the Middle East.” led Group and the authorised ter of 2019 will be another designed, performance-fo- Besides three new models, of diplomats in foreign aff airs distributor of MG in Qatar, has compact sedan to bolster the cused and, importantly, reliable the brand also launched a new accomplished a “big achieve- brand’s C-segment off ering, cars to our customers. Our ex- app called ‘MG iLink’ in 2018, ment” with a 274% growth in followed later in the summer tremely competitive warranty which is the fi rst smartphone he College of Law and in a theoretical context by ex- resources and human rights. sales - marking a new record with a new SUV packed with package, which covers our cars app in the Middle East to com- Public Policy (CLPP) at amining new ways of consider- HBKU’s CLPP off ers a multi- and positioning MG as one of the latest cutting-edge tech- for six years or 200,000km, is a bine both dynamic and service THamad Bin Khalifa Uni- ing international law beyond disciplinary graduate program the top-selling brands. nology. And fi nally, MG will compelling off er which makes features in one easy-to-use versity (HBKU) recently hosted a the traditional state-centric that equips students with the Acknowledging this eff ort, enter a brand-new segment in us stand out from competitors. interface, it is also the only ap- colloquium with ambassadors to approach. skills to navigate complex civil the Auto Class Cars/MG show- 2019 as it launches its fi rst-ever “We have noticed a very plication in the market to off er Qatar that addressed ‘Interna- Commenting on the col- law, common law and Shariah room in Qatar has been ap- seven-seat SUV. strong brand appeal among fe- ‘punch sensor’ technology. tional Law and Foreign Relations loquium, dean Karamanian systems. The college’s Juris Doc- in a Turbulent World’. said: “CLPP was honoured to tor programme is the fi rst gradu- Susan L Karamanian, dean of welcome ambassadors McCol- ate law degree of its kind in the CLPP, chaired a panel discus- lum and Moosa, who engaged region. sion with guest speakers Ste- in an open dialogue on the key HBKU’s core mandate is to fanie McCollum, ambassador of role of diplomats in informing instil knowledge and nurture Canada and Faizel Moosa, am- international law and policies. a conducive learning environ- bassador of South Africa who is Attendees obtained fi rst-hand ment. In doing so, it regularly also a lawyer. Joining them on insights into the importance of invites to campus thought lead- the panel was Dr Ilias Bantekas, dialogue in diplomacy, in par- ers and experienced profession- professor of law, CLPP. ticular, and the challenges of als in their relevant fi elds, ac- Ambassadors McCollum and maintaining it when core val- cording to a press statement. Moosa explored the nature of ues are at issue.” The university off ers 26 aca- foreign policy decision-making During the event, panellists demic degrees, each addressing in an increasingly unsettled recognised the foundational issues that are of utmost impor- world, while refl ecting on the role of international law in tance and relevance to Qatar, the intricacies of diplomacy, includ- foreign policy, and discussed region and the world. ing the qualities and skillsets how diplomats, lawyers, and For more information about required for the eff ective reso- foreign ministries represent CLPP and the college’s up- lution of international disputes. sovereign states in specifi c coming events, one can visit A line-up of MG models. Prof Bantekas put their remarks areas, such as trade, access to clpp.hbku.edu.qa. Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 9 QATAR

Chevrolet Qatar sponsors fourth Al Adaid Desert Challenge

hevrolet Qatar, distribut- thanks to the eff orts of the Qa- ed by Jaidah Automotive, tar Cyclists Centre and other Cwas the offi cial sponsor local entities, and we’re glad to of this year’s Al Adaid Desert support it.” The Al Adaid Desert Challenge in Khor Al Adaid. Challenge highlights fi tness and This year’s challenge conclud- sports development in the coun- ed with more than 500 partici- try through the participation of pants taking part in the event, female and male athletes during cycling and running across the the event. site. The Al Adaid Desert Challenge During the sports event, was organised by Qatar Cyclists Chevrolet Qatar set up a photo Centre in co-operation with the booth display that participants Qatar National Tourism Council, used to save photographic mem- supported by the Ministry of Cul- ories of their achievements and ture and Sports and the Qatar Cy- success. cling Federation. Chevrolet spon- Commenting on Chevrolet’s sors several local events “as part of sponsorship of the event, Maud its commitment to support vari- Daniel, Group Marketing direc- ous industries in Qatar and engage tor of Jaidah Group, said: “It community members”, according was a privilege to be part of such to a press statement. an amazing event that brought The most recent sponsorship people together from all over its fourth year, was even more the fi rst time. “This is a testa- this year was Chevrolet’s offi cial the world for a friendly chal- memorable as there were several ment to the growing popularity sponsorship of the Chocolate, Snapshots from the Al Adaid Desert Challenge. lenge. This year’s event, now in Qatari women participating for of cycling and sports in Qatar, Tea & Coff ee Festival. Brisk sale for music icon Tasmeem Doha Rahman’s concert tickets

he countdown to Qatar’s Art & Design “largest entertainment Tevent” has begun as glo- bal music icon AR Rahman gets ready to take centre stage at Khalifa International Stadium in less than two weeks. Conference to Fans of Rahman “did not waste any time getting their concert tickets since the an- nouncement was made”, a press statement noted. Corroborat- ing this, Q-Tickets COO Aarti open this week Mahajan said all tickets for the Royal and Upper stand catego- asmeem Doha 2019, the ries have already been sold. international art and de- “We have never seen tickets Tsign conference hosted by sell at this rate for a music event Virginia Commonwealth Uni- in Qatar, which is a testimony versity School of the Arts in Qa- to the popularity of A R Rah- tar (VCUarts Qatar) in Education man,” Mahajan said. City, will take place from March According to event organ- 13 to 15. isers Katara Studios, news of The event will feature work- Rahman’s concert in Doha has shops, exhibitions and promi- travelled far. nent speakers from all over the “We have been seeing tick- world, and is free and open to the ets purchased from across the are expected to attend the con- known for the 2009 Hollywood Tourism Council as part of the public, VCUarts Qatar has said in region, and even some from as cert, “in what is to be the larg- production ‘Slumdog Million- Qatar-India 2019 Year of Cul- a statement. far as the United States,” said est music event ever in Qatar”, aire’ and has earned numer- ture, which is intended to pro- Tasmeem Doha will have three Hussein Fakhri, CEO of Katara the organisers have said. ous international accolades mote mutual understanding, exhibitions as part of the confer- Studios. “This concert will be and awards. In addition to his recognition and appreciation ence and these will take place at a real treat for A R Rahman fans “We have never seen Grammy and Oscar awards, between the two countries. VCUarts Qatar and at the Fire as this is his fi rst performance tickets sell at this Rahman also has a Bafta and Katara Studios, a state-of- Station: Artist in Residence. in Qatar and will be unlike any rate for a music event Golden Globe Award. The mu- the-art production facility in ‘QAL, the anti-carpet’, an concert performed anywhere in Qatar, which is a sical genius of India has also Doha, was established to ad- exhibition by media artist and Tasmeem Doha 2019 will take place from March 13 to 15. else due to the sheer size of the testimony to won multiple awards in his vance the local fi lm and music interaction designer Ali Phi, stage production.” the popularity of homeland, including including industry. will take place at the Gallery at impossible to recreate the same Tasmeem Doha 2019 (Tas- The Oscar- and Grammy- A R Rahman” six National Film Awards, 15 Their collaboration with VCUarts Qatar. The opening re- one,” the statement explained. meem is the Arabic word for de- winning composer, singer, Filmfare Awards and 17 Film- Rahman is the start of many ception in the presence of the ‘Elemaun’, a performance- sign) will be a creative event that songwriter and producer will Internationally acclaimed fare Awards South. other joint eff orts that have artist will take place on March driven audiovisual project by Ali will focus on ‘Hekayat’ (stories) perform on March 22 with his Rahman is known for revolu- The musical fest in Doha is been planned to bring some of 13 at 5.30pm and the exhibition Phi, concentrating on Persian as its central theme. Hekayat will troupe of over 80 performers tionising the Indian fi lm music a collaboration with the Su- the world’s biggest names in will run until April 13. ‘QAL’ is motifs and including the region- provide a platform where story- on a “world-fi rst” 90m-long industry with his unique East- preme Committee for Delivery the industry to Qatar, the state- an interactive, generative, au- al music of Iran, will also take telling can be explored through stage. More than 30,000 fans West blend. He is also famously & Legacy and Qatar National ment added. diovisual installation exploring place during Tasmeem Doha. various mediums, and stories environmental design in futur- The ‘-162° Trading Power’ can be shared and celebrated in a istic architecture with roots in exhibition at the Fire Station: multitude of forms. Persian motifs. Artist in Residence will explore Many projects developed in The carpet is created by an the signifi cance of liquid natural the classroom embrace story- accumulation of patterns on a gas relations between Japan and telling as a method for creation J Walter Thompson wins Msheireb Properties’ account transparent vertical screen. Qatar by using 40 fl oating print- and inspiration, resulting in The laptop’s screen projects ers that source text and images various forms, mediums, per- white light towards the hands from the Internet. The result is spectives, and pedagogies. And Walter Thompson (JWT) from human insight, creativ- tivation on Msheireb Down- ments represented. We believe of the viewer, which starts to a choreographed performance of the ‘Tasmeem In the Classroom Doha has announced that ity, local knowledge and global town Doha (MDD). JWT has that collaborative ca- generate patterns made by its prints making information tan- - Behind the Scenes’ exhibition Jit has been appointed by resources” secured the pres- JWT will be positioning pability and shares our values movements. The result is a new, gible. The opening reception will in the Project Space at VCUarts Msheireb Properties, Qatar’s tigious business, the company the flagship project to gener- of excellence and innovation.” highly detailed, physical carpet be on March 14 as part of Tas- Qatar during the conference, leading sustainable developer said in a press statement. ate visitor footfall as the de- JWT Doha managing director in very high resolution. Over meem Doha, and the exhibition will take viewers on a journey and a subsidiary of Qatar Foun- JWT Doha is part of the J velopment is activated, and Chady Janho added, “We are 60 patterns can be generated in will be open until March 22. through the diff erent perspec- dation for Education, Science Walter Thompson Company, continue to drive residential, excited to partner with such one second. Some of them have The project is a collaboration tives of VCUarts Qatar’s faculty and Community Development, a leading global marketing commercial and retail tenants, an innovative company, shar- been captured and are printed on between faculty and students and the ways in which they guide to act as their lead advertising communications brand and a the statement noted. ing our passion for modern the 1.5m by 2m canvases within at VCUarts Qatar, Texas A&M their students to imagine, cre- communications partner. WPP company. Clark Williams, marketing technology while being com- the exhibition. “Because of the University at Qatar and the Ad- ate, interact and locate stories in A full roster of nine major J Walter Thompson will de- director at Msheireb Proper- mitted to retaining cultural countless possibilities of dif- vanced Institute of Industrial their creative work. international and local agen- velop a communications strat- ties, said: “We were seeking a heritage.” ferent parameters, such as the Technology at Tokyo Metropoli- Registration for the conference cies had pitched for the high- egy and creative campaign to communication partner that The launch communica- amount of light in the gallery, tan University. ‘-162° Trading and workshops are now open. profile account, and JWT’s support Msheireb Properties’ was up to the challenge and tion and first tactical cam- the sizes and the positions of Power’ originally exhibited at Those wishing to attend are invit- “powerful combination of in- development project in 2019 opportunity that promoting paigns will be unveiled hands and skin colours, the pat- the W+K gallery in Tokyo in De- ed to visit http://www.tasmeem- novative brand solutions built as it prepares for a year of ac- our firm and our develop- shortly. terns are unique and it is almost cember 2018. doha.com/ for more details.

Qatar Red Crescent Society donates computers to CDC patients

atar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) our top priority, including patients who has donated a digital library to Ha- receive treatment at hospitals. Those need Qmad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) special care from society, particularly Communicable Disease Center (CDC) as NGOs and charities. part of its socio-psychological support “QRCS has the lead in this respect. A programme, which is designed to boost series of digital libraries have already been patients’ morale and help them respond inaugurated at HMC to make the patients well to treatment. feel better, educate them on their specifi c The new library consists of seven lap- cases and explain to them the procedures tops with all supplements, including edu- of treatment and preventive practices. cational and informative material in vari- These laptops will be available 24/7 to ous fi elds of knowledge, for the benefi t of serve the patients.” in-patients, QRCS has said in a statement. He promised to keep on the initiative This is the sixth in a series of similar of providing HMC facilities with digital donations starting from 2010, with a to- libraries in pursuit of a stronger bilateral tal of 42 computers, given to the Paedi- partnership in medical, awareness and so- atric Emergency Center, Fahad Bin Jassim cial activities. Kidney Centre, Mental Health Service and “We work closely with the Ministry other HMC medical facilities, the state- of Public Health to improve community ment noted. health standards, towards the human de- Ibrahim A al-Maliki, executive direc- velopment goals of Qatar National Vision tor of QRCS, said: “Vulnerable groups are 2030,” he added. The new library consists of seven laptops with all supplements, including educational and informative material. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, March 10, 2019 QATAR HBKU Press helps local authors hone their talents

he Hamad Bin Khalifa “Our experts are able to give University (HBKU) Press aspiring local Qatari and Arab Thas held a creative writ- authors insight into exactly what ing workshop open to the public makes for a successful piece of in an eff ort to engage the literary literature. By supporting local community in Qatar. authors in honing their talents During the workshop, HBKU we are helping to produce more Press senior editor and author works of literature that are pub- HE Yousuf bin Mohamed al-Othman Fakhroo being briefed by Yousef bin Ahmed al-Kuwari at the event. Jameela Sultan al-Mass al-Jas- lished in Qatar and well-received sem took participants through around the world.” the short story writing process Al-Jassem, an expert in the while highlighting techniques field of children’s and young and mechanisms for producing adult literature and former distinguishable creative works. Supreme Education Coun- The participants were then in- cil employee once involved in vited to practically apply what drafting curricula for schools, they had learned and outline led the workshop held at the 16 associations take their own stories with immediate Student Centre in Education feedback and support. City. Participants from various “As an author published with backgrounds attended the work- HBKU Press myself, I have seen shop which was organised as a fi rst hand how editorial support part of HBKU Press’s commu- can help a good writer become a nity outreach campaign to help great writer,” explained al-Jas- part in QC exhibition promote local literature, literacy, sem. “From the participants here discovery, scholarship and learn- today, it is obvious that there atar Charity (QC), in co- tive role of these institutions in ing, a press statement noted. is a lot of local talent in Qatar operation with other or- society. “HBKU Press off ers these work- and hopefully they have learned Qganisations, sponsored Accompanied by Yousef bin shops to the community in order some important skills that will the fi rst annual exhibition of Ahmed al-Kuwari, CEO of Qatar to cultivate local talent, engage the hone their talents.” private associations and institu- Charity, HE the Minister paid a public and promote a love of lit- HBKU Press said it plans to tions. visit to its pavilion, which in- eracy,” explained Muneera al-Ro- host several more literary work- The event was organised by cluded many of its publications maihi, HBKU Press’s Community shops for various audiences in the Ministry of Administrative and a video on its accomplish- Outreach offi cer. the future. Development, Labour and Social ments and activities across the Aff airs (MADLSA) at Katara over globe. three days. HE the Minister listened to Some 16 associations work- a detailed explanation by al- ing in diff erent fi elds, includ- Kuwari on the nature of QC’s ing the professional, awareness, efforts in the field of com- educational, cultural and social munity service within Qatar, spheres, participated in the ex- humanitarian action in part- hibition. nership with international or- Sponsorship of the exhibi- ganisations and the significant tion “comes as part of its eff orts role played by supporters and to stimulate social and volun- benefactors in Qatar, which teer work in Qatar”, QC said in a contributes to easing the suf- statement. fering of millions of those in HE the Minister of Admin- need worldwide. istrative Development, Labour Al-Kuwari expressed pleas- and Social Affairs Yousuf bin ure at QC’s sponsorship of the Mohamed al-Othman Fakhroo fi rst annual exhibition of private inaugurated the exhibition, associations and institutions. The exhibition aimed to gather private institutions at one place to highlight their activities and to make them which aimed to gather private He noted that Qatar Charity’s more accessible for various sectors of society. institutions at one place to participation in the exhibition highlight their activities and to aimed to enhance the partner- role of QC in serving the com- partment, signed a co-operation by Assistant Undersecretary for make them more accessible for ship between private associa- munity. Earlier, the MADLSA, agreement with QC to support Social Aff airs at the MADLSA, Jameela Sultan al-Mass al-Jassem took participants through the short various sectors of society, in tions and institutions, and focus represented by the Private As- Qatari civil society organisations. Ghanim Mubarak al-Kuwari, and story writing process while highlighting techniques and mechanisms addition to advancing the posi- on highlighting the work and sociations and Institutions De- The agreement was signed QC CEO al-Kuwari. for producing distinguishable creative works. Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 11 REGION/ARAB WORLD More civilians leave IS enclave, delaying fi nal assault in Syria

Reuters ness said. On Friday, Bali said the After suddenly seizing Baghouz SDF would resume the assault if swathes of land straddling the no more civilians had emerged Iraqi-Syrian border in 2014 by yesterday afternoon. and declaring it their caliphate, he US-backed Syrian Those emerging from Baghouz Islamic State was beaten back Democratic Forces (SDF) are screened by the SDF and by numerous local and foreign Tpaused military opera- most are sent north to the Al- forces in both countries, suf- tions against Islamic State (IS) Hol camp, already overcrowded fering major defeats in 2017. militants holed up in the group’s with uprooted Syrians and Iraqis However, the militants re- Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, meets with Syrian refugee children at a camp in the village of fi nal enclave in eastern Syria, from years of war. main a threat. In Iraq they have Mhammara in the northern Lebanese Akkar region, yesterday. expecting more civilians to be More than 62,000 people dis- gone to ground, staging waves evacuated from the area yester- placed by fi ghting around the of killings and kidnappings. day, an SDF offi cial said. IS enclave have fl ooded al-Hol In Syria, their comrades hold Thousands of people — many camp, with 5,200 arriving be- out in remote desert areas and of them the wives of IS fi ghters tween March 5-7 and thousands have carried out bombings in and their children — have been more expected, the United Na- areas controlled by the SDF. UN agency calls for more streaming out of besieged en- tions said on Friday. Islamic State yesterday said clave at Baghouz for weeks, forc- The weather is cold and it had carried out a suicide ing the SDF to delay the assault rainy and there is a shortage car bomb attack near the Syr- to wipe out the last vestige of the of tents and supplies. Dozens ian town of Manbij to signal to militants’ territorial rule. of children have died on the foreign troops that they are not access to help refugees return The SDF has said it wants to way to the camp. The Inter- safe in the country. make sure all civilians are out of national Rescue Committee Manbij is controlled by a mi- the enclave before launching its fi - (IRC) on Friday said Al-Hol litia allied to the SDF. Reuters try — including the more than ders. Grandi said there are “big in some areas. I myself could go nal assault. Hundreds of IS fi ght- was at “breaking point”. “No “The crusaders on Syrian Beirut a million in neighbouring Leb- challenges” preventing people to Homs and Hama (this week) ers have also surrendered, but the one could have guessed that soil shall know they are being anon — are now considering from returning to their homes it was not complicated. In other SDF believes the most hardened such a large number of women watched and will not be secure whether to go home. including security, legal and areas such as the Damascus foreign militants are still inside. and children were still living in while our blood beats,” a state- he United Nations refu- “It is important that in ar- administrative issues, housing, (countryside), to get the au- “There are a number of fami- Baghouz,” IRC spokeswoman ment published by the IS-affil- gee agency should have eas of return, organisations like schools, water and healthcare. thorisation to visit is more dif- lies...military operations are Misty Buswell said. iated Amaq news agency said. Ta bigger presence inside UNHCR are present and can He said UNHCR was work- fi cult.” paused now for their evacua- Those arriving in Al-Hol In an e-mail to Reuters, a Syria to observe and help refu- observe the return, can have ing with the Syrian government Britain’s foreign offi ce minis- tion,” Mustafa Bali, head of the are in “extremely poor health” spokesman for the US-led coa- gees returning from abroad and access to the returnees and can and its Russian ally on these ter for the Middle East Alistair SDF media offi ce, told Reuters. with malnutrition, diarrhoea lition backing the SDF, Colo- from displacement within the help them address some of the matters. “The complicated one Burt said yesterday the Syrian Trucks used for the evacua- and skin diseases. Many of the nel Sean Ryan, denied Islamic war-torn country, UNHCR problems they face,” Grandi like legal issues and amnesties, government had not so far done tions went into Baghouz yester- women arriving at the camp are State’s claim that the blast had Commissioner Filippo Grandi said in Beirut, as the Syrian these are Syrian issues the Syri- enough to make Syria a safe day and four have so far emerged either heavily pregnant or have killed three US armed forces said yesterday. confl ict approaches its eighth an government decides. But the place for returnees. carrying people, a Reuters wit- recently given birth, IRC said. members and injured others. After almost eight years of anniversary next week. Russian government has been “It is clear (Assad) does not fi ghting, President Bashar al- “Without that presence there part of an important discussion want to see many of his refugees Assad now controls most of is an element of confi dence that creating better conditions for return,” Burt told the BBC’s To- Syria and the front lines appear is missing in the return of the refugees to return,” Grandi said. day radio programme. stable for now between govern- people,” he added. Grandi, who was in Leba- “It is essential there will ment territory and two big en- Syria’s war has killed an es- non after spending three days be no reconstruction support claves in the north and east still timated half a million people, in Syria, said he had passed a from UK and EU until there is Troops strike Gaza in outside Damascus’s control. driven some 5.6mn people out “very strong message” about a political settlement that goes Many Syrians scattered of the country and displaced UNHCR access to the Syrian some way to meeting the needs within and outside the coun- around 6.6mn within its bor- government. “We are present of those people,” he added. response to ‘projectile’ TENSION Airport closed due to unidentified drone AFP Gaza City Women protesters to The airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli was closed yesterday due to an unidentified drone flying in the area, the airport’s director said. Residents have repeatedly spotted drones flying over Tripoli in the past few days sraeli forces said yesterday they had launched get lashes, jail term but the reason is not clear. Flights from Tripoli’s Matiga airport have several strikes against Hamas sites in Gaza in been halted until further notice, said its director Lutfi al-Tayeb. People in Iresponse to a projectile launched from the be- the capital have been on edge due to rumours that the eastern-based sieged coastal territory the night before. Reuters that convicted the nine women. Libya National Army (LNA) loyal to Khalifa Haftar might seek to take it “IDF fi ghter jets and aircraft struck several mili- Cairo The Democratic Alliance of after gaining control of much of the south. Haftar has not said he wants tary targets in a Hamas compound in the south- Lawyers, part of the Sudanese to march on Tripoli but a LNA website carried an unsourced report this ern Gaza Strip and underground structures in the Professionals’ Association, the week saying it could happen. The United Nations, alarmed about the northern Gaza Strip,” it said in a statement. ine female Sudanese main organiser of the protests, possibility of a military escalation, is mediating between Haftar, who is “The strike was conducted in response to the protesters were sen- has said more than 800 people allied to a parallel government in the east, and Tripoli premier Fayez projectile that was launched from the Gaza Strip at Ntenced yesterday to 20 have been tried in the emergen- al-Serraj who heads the UN-backed administration. Israeli territory” as well as the “balloons carrying lashes and one month in prison cy courts. Protests against Ba- explosive devices” into Israel and attempts to dam- Relatives of Palestinian Samah Mubarak mourn for rioting, the Democratic Al- shir and his National Congress age “security infrastructure”, it said. during her funeral in Ramallah in the occupied liance of Lawyers said, a day Party have taken place almost DIPLOMACY Security offi cials in Gaza said the strikes had not West Bank, yesterday. after President Omar al-Bashir daily since Dec 19 in towns and Rouhani set for three-day visit to Iraq caused any casualties. A Palestinian was killed and at ordered the release of all women cities all over Sudan, in what least 45 others wounded by Israeli fi re Friday in new and clashes since late March last year. detained in anti-government has become the most sustained Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is scheduled to make a three-day protests and clashes along the Gaza border, the en- Demonstrators have been calling for Palestinian demonstrations. popular challenge to him since off icial visit to Iraq, QNA reported Rouhani will hold talks with his Iraqi clave’s health ministry said. refugees and their descendants to be allowed to return Bashir declared a state of he took power 30 years ago. counterpart Barham Salih and Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi An Israeli army spokesman said around 8,400 to former homes now inside Israel. emergency last month that pro- On Friday, International tomorrow, adding that these talks will focus on ways of relations be- demonstrators had gathered along a barrier between At least 253 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli duced a raft of measures includ- Women’s Day, Bashir ordered tween the two countries and a number of regional and international the blockaded territory and Israel, throwing explosive fi re since the rallies began, the majority shot during ing the establishment of emer- the release of all women ar- issues of common concern, Iranian news agency (IRNA) quoted devices and rocks and setting fi re to tyres. weekly border protests and others hit by tank fi re or gency courts across the country rested in connection with the Iranian president’s deputy chief of staff for communications and The Gaza Strip has been the scene of mass protests air strikes in response to violence from Gaza. such as the one in Khartoum demonstrations. information Parviz Esmaeili as saying.

Algeria orders early university holiday as students spur protests

Reuters ers were poised to win — started at Algiers university premises before spilling out onto the streets. The ailing Boutefl ika is in hos- lgerian authorities yester- pital in Geneva and has rarely been day ordered an early start to seen in public since suff ering a Athe spring university holi- stroke in 2013. day, an apparent attempt to weak- On Thursday he issued his fi rst en two weeks of student-led pro- warning to protesters, saying the tests against President Abdelaziz unrest, now entering its third Boutefl ika. week, could create chaos in the oil- The Higher Education Minis- and natural gas-producing North try’s decision came a day after tens African country. of thousands of demonstrators Boutefl ika has off ered to limit packed central Algiers to challenge his term after the election and has the veteran leader’s 20-year-old vowed to change the “system” that rule in the biggest protests in the runs the country, but the protest capital in 28 years. movement has galvanised dis- Without giving a reason for the content among diff erent sectors, move, the Ministry said in a de- particularly students and young cree that the spring break would be families. brought forward by 10 days, start- Some long-time allies of Boute- ing today instead of March 20. fl ika, including members of the Algerians desperate for jobs and ruling party, have expressed sup- angry at unemployment, corrup- port for the protesters, revealing tion and an elderly elite seen as out cracks within a ruling elite long of touch with the young have taken seen as invincible. to the streets since Feb 22 to pro- Friday’s protests were largely test the 82-year-old’s plans to seek peaceful but some clashes between a fi fth term in an April 18 election. youths and police broke out in the Many of the demonstrations evening and state media said 110 — the largest since 1991 when the protesters and 112 policemen had A police vehicle is pictured outside the National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts, a day after clashes between protesters and anti-riot police in Algiers, army cancelled elections hardlin- been hurt in the unrest. yesterday. Right: People take part in a protest against the Algerian president, in Tunis, Tunisia. Placard reads: “Free Freedom”. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, March 10, 2019 AFRICA Fear reigns in heart of separatist Cameroon region

AFP enterprises and public buildings ured by separatists who accuse “Informants could see that I larly declared by the rebels. clashes, attacks and a govern- In the local schools, teachers Buea, Cameroon – anything that is a recognisable her of being an informant for the was disobeying the Amba Boys’ The cost of living is mounting. ment crackdown, the Interna- have got used to pupils turning symbol of the state. army. ban on working for the govern- One woman selling mangoes tional Crisis Group (ICG) think up wearing uniforms from other Gunfi re is heard frequently, On Tuesday, the EU issued a ment.” at a crossroads for 1,000 francs tank says. establishments. n the capital of Cameroon’s despite army patrols introduced statement warning about Cam- Nearby, his camp bed was (about $2) apiece said the price At least 437,000 people have “They come from nearby vil- Southwest Region, people as part of a wide-ranging crack- eroon’s political and security sit- folded in one corner, just beside of the fruit was rising “because fl ed the two regions, according lages,” said a teacher at one sec- Idrily say the streets are so down, and kidnapping is ram- uation, pointing especially to the his suitcase. there are few people to go and to UN estimates, with another ondary school. dangerous that even the dogs are pant. two restive anglophone regions, Two jackets were hung up harvest them.” 32,000 fl eeing across the border “We put up with it.” too scared to go outside. Last month, around 15 rebels where there were “persistent nearby while the remains of the The authorities in the Cam- to Nigeria. Around a fi fth of Cameroon’s The city has been stalked by entered the city, fi ring into the air violence and violations of human previous day’s meal sat on a hot- eroonian capital Yaounde have Many people in Buea have fl ed population of 24mn are English violence for 18 months, after and burning cars. rights”. plate. The town, once known as a responded to the rebellion by to the port of Limbe, around speakers. English-speaking separatists de- After they left, people found One civil servant, who asked peaceful haven nestled at the foot stepping up the security presence 30km away. The road between The roots of the confl ict to- clared an independent state and a decapitated head left on the not to be identifi ed, told AFP he of Mount Cameroon, has been in the region. the two towns is littered with the day date back a century, when took up arms against the French- pavement. had been living in his offi ce for transformed by the confl ict. Troops and rebels alike have burnt-out remains of cars. post-World War I Germany sur- speaking authorities. The victim has so far not been fi ve months out of fear of being Some businesses say they are been accused of targeting ci- As night falls on Down Beach, rendered Kamerun, its principal In Buea, barely a day goes by identifi ed. A disturbing video be- attacked. struggling to survive. vilians. At least 500 civilians the view over the bay comes with colony in West Africa, which was without the “Amba Boys” at- ing shared on social media shows “I spend the night at the offi ce Fearing reprisals, they do not and more than 200 members of an incessant roar of armoured then taken over by Britain and tacking police stations, state-run a woman in her 30s being disfi g- to avoid the trip home,” he said. dare defy the shutdowns regu- the security forces have died in vehicles carrying troops. France. Ex-president seeks help on peace accord

AFP A Tutsi, he came to power in Nairobi a 1987 coup with the help of Bu- rundi’s army. He stepped down in 1993, when ormer Burundi president Ndadaye, a Hutu, was elected, Pierre Buyoya, the subject but Ndadaye was killed just four Fof a government arrest war- months later in an attempted coup rant, has urged the international by hardline Tutsi soldiers. community to intervene over That led to several years of what he termed breaches of the civil war between the two ethnic country’s peace accord. groups, in which an estimated The warrant against him was 300,000 people died. one such violation of the Arusha In the letter, Buyoya accuses agreement of 2000 that ended current President Pierre Nku- a brutal civil war in Burundi, runziza of “violating the Arusha Buyoya claimed in a letter to the accord and the constitution that pact’s guarantors. fl owed from it.” It also amounted to “a hin- The country, he added, was in a drance to the process of national political crisis, “aggravated by the reconciliation,” he warned in the massive and daily violation of hu- letter seen by AFP yesterday and man rights.” authenticated by an African dip- He urged the guarantors “to lomat. intervene resolutely, using all the Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari casts his vote during the governorship and state assembly election in Daura yesterday. The document, dated March 1, means at their disposal, to redress was addressed to Ugandan Presi- the wrong that is being infl icted dent Yoweri Museveni, who medi- on the Burundian people and to ated the peace deal and supervised make President Nkurunziza see it, as well as fellow guarantors reason”. Burundi was plunged into South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, crisis in 2015 when Nkurunziza Tanzania, the UN, African Union sought – and went on to win – a and the European Union. controversial third term. In November, Burundi issued At least 1,200 people are esti- an international arrest warrant mated to have died in the ensuing Vote counting begins in against Buyoya, 11 former senior turmoil, with more than 400,000 offi cials and fi ve civilians close to displaced. him over the 1993 killing of the The International Criminal country’s fi rst democratically- Court launched an investigation. elected leader, Melchior Ndadaye. Nkurunziza’s rule has been Buyoya is the African Union’s characterised by growing au- representative in Mali and a re- thoritarianism, intimidation and key Nigeria state polls spected fi gure on the continent as abuse, according to human rights well as overseas. groups. AFP The Situation Room umbrella Five journalists and two staff fi nances and responsible for key tancy, a public aff airs and me- Lagos group of more than 70 civil so- from the CoolWazobiaInfo FM areas from education to health. dia group in Abuja, said: “Local ciety monitoring organisations Radio station were abducted for They can also provide a strong elections matter. But what we Politician draws fire for journalist tweet recorded seven deaths yesterday, four hours by gunmen in military collective voice in Abuja. are witnessing today are signs of ote counting began after just weeks after 53 people were camoufl age in the Rivers state Political scientist Jibrin Ib- eroding faith in the democratic An American NGO defending Fighters party, South Africa’s third- polls closed yesterday in killed in presidential polls. capital Port Harcourt. rahim, from the Centre for De- order.” journalists targeted South African largest. Some threatened to rape Vkeenly fought governor- INEC meanwhile said some They were later released un- mocracy and Development, said Most domestic and inter- radical leftist opposition leader her, or burn her alive. ship and state assembly elec- of its staff had been abducted by harmed. governorship and state assembly national observers said last Julius Malema yesterday after “We are concerned about Karima tions in Nigeria, held against a “thugs” in the southern states of Many voters as well as oppo- elections mean more to many vot- month’s presidential vote was he tweeted the personal phone Brown’s safety given the threats backdrop of political tensions Rivers and Akwa Ibom. sition parties complained about ers than the presidential ballot. credible, despite well-docu- number of a reporter who has since instigated by the malicious and insecurity. “We are working with the the “militarisation” of the vote, “Most of governance func- mented problems. received a flood of threats. publication of her contact For the second time in a fort- security forces to ensure they given the strong presence of tions at the state level where it But tensions remain high as “The Committee to Protect information,” said Angela Quintal, night, Nigerians went to the are rescued,” INEC spokesman troops on the ground. has the most impact on people’s the PDP challenges the result in Journalists today expressed CPJ’s Africa programme co- polls to elect governors in 29 of Rotimi Oyekanmi told AFP, The beaten presidential elec- lives,” he said. court. grave concern about threats and ordinator. South Africans vote in a Nigeria’s 36 states, all state as- without specifying how many tion candidate for the Peoples “The choices people make in Accusations from the two harassment against veteran South general election in May, with the semblies and administrative were seized. Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku these elections really determine main parties, accusing the other African journalist Karima Brown,” ruling ANC party widely expected councils in the Federal Capital “When thugs invade our poll- Abubakar, said the involvement the level of governance they get.” of conspiring with INEC to rig said the organisation which runs to conserve its absolute majority. Territory of Abuja. ing units and kidnap our staff of the military was “unconstitu- Voting patterns are often pre- the result, have not gone away. a global network from New York. “The electoral commission must The Independent National there is nothing we can do but tional”. dicted to broadly mirror presi- Two people were killed and 35 The statement came after Malema send the Economic Freedom Electoral Commission (INEC) is rely on security forces,” he add- The PDP is hoping for victory dential polling. vehicles destroyed in violence tweeted Brown’s telephone Fighters and all political parties a expected to announce the results ed. in some of the 22 states currently But initial indications were of between party supporters in the number, also calling her a “mole” strong message that using social in a few days. Some election workers pro- run by President Muhammadu a low turn-out, with the military southwest state of Lagos on Fri- for South Africa’s ruling ANC party. media to threaten and intimidate Voting was mostly peaceful tested at the non-payment of Buhari’s ruling All Progressives blamed as well as voter apathy day, the Situation Room said. Brown said that within hours she journalists will not be tolerated and but there were reports of abduc- their 10,000-naira ($28) sala- Congress (APC). after a disorganised and delayed In the southern states of Eb- received a flood of messages she is a breach of the Electoral Code tions, violence and vote buying, ries, and technical issues with Governors are powerful and presidential vote in February. onyi and Bayelsa, two people believes were sent by activists that could impact the credibility of as well as at least 10 deaths be- biometric card readers delayed infl uential fi gures in Nigeria’s Adewunmi Emoruwa, an ana- were killed in each state, accord- of Malema’s Economic Freedom the vote,” she said. fore and on polling day. voting elsewhere. federal politics, controlling state lyst for the Gatefi eld Consul- ing to local reports. WHO chief denounces latest deadly attack on DR Congo Ebola centre

AFP community, they are attacks on This was the third attack on the “They do not deserve to suff er in Butembo, DR Congo the community.” centre, the mayor added, branding their homes while infecting their While it broke his heart to hear the attackers as “terrorists” who loved ones, they do not deserve to of the latest casualties, “...we wanted to “kill the sick”. suff er in inadequately resourced he head of the World Health have no choice except to continue On Thursday, medical charity health centres while infecting Organisation denounced a serving the people here, who are Doctors Without Borders (MSF) health workers.” Tdeadly attack yesterday on among the most vulnerable in the warned that eff orts to curb the Ghebreyesus was completing an Ebola treatment centre in east- world”, he added. DR Congo’s worst Ebola outbreak a three-day visit to the country ern DR Congo, during a visit to the The Butembo facility only reo- were stumbling, blaming security along with other senior WHO staff site hours after the raid. pened last Saturday after an attack forces and their “toxic” relations and US offi cials. Gunmen attacked the centre at by gunmen the previous Wednes- with local communities. During his visit he met Presi- Butembo, North Kivu province, day forced its closure. More than 40% of deaths had dent Felix Tshisekedi, other agen- earlier yesterday, killing a police- “Shooting started at about six occurred in communities rather cies working in the fi eld and local man and wounding a health work- in the morning (0400 GMT) and than in Ebola treatment centres, organisations tackling the out- er, local offi cials said, the latest in a resumed 30 minutes later with MSF pointed out. break. series of attacks. resistance from the army and the Repairs were set to begin on an- Both the Katwa and Butembo WHO Director General Tedros police,” Butembo mayor Sylvain other North Kivu treatment cen- centres had been jointly run by the Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speak- Kanyamanda Mbusa told AFP of tre, in Katwa, that was set ablaze health ministry and MSF, but after ing after his four-hour visit to the the latest attack. on the night of February 24. the fi rst attacks, the aid agency an- Butembo clinic, told reporters that The health worker who was shot “The people of Katwa and nounced it was suspending its ac- the violence in the region was un- was being treated in hospital. Butembo, as in the other commu- tivities in both facilities. dermining the early progress they “The army and the police nities aff ected by Ebola, want and The Butembo centre is now run had made in fi ghting the outbreak. caught one of the attackers,” he deserve a place to receive care and by the health ministry in collabo- In a statement issued later, he said, saying he was a member of a chance of survival,” said Ghe- ration with the WHO and the UN Health workers are seen through a bullet hole left in the window of an Ebola treatment centre, which was said: “These are not attacks by the the Mai-Mai rebel group. breyesus in his statement. children’s agency Unicef. attacked in the early hours yesterday in Butembo. Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 13 AMERICAS

JUSTICE CLEARED RENT WOES WINTER FARE WOMEN’S DAY GRAFFITI Canadian behind mosque Newark flights resume after Iconic Chrysler Building to Canadian rescued after massacre appeals sentence fire report shuts runways sell for $150mn: report snow traps him at home

A Canadian man sentenced to 40 years in prison Flights at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty The owners of the Chrysler Building have Canadian off icers have rescued an elderly man without the possibility of parole for the killing of six International Airport resumed yesterday after reached a deal to sell the iconic New York City who was trapped in his home for weeks by worshippers at a Quebec mosque in January 2017 the airport closed its runways due to reports building for “a little more than $150mn,” The Wall snow accumulated in his driveway and around has launched an appeal, local media reported on of a possible fire in the hold of a Boeing 737 Street Journal reported yesterday. The sale price his house, police and local media said. Called Friday. Alexandre Bissonnette was convicted on cargo plane that was diverted there, off icials of the tower in midtown Manhattan, considered by worried neighbours upon their return from February 8 to life imprisonment for the murders, the said. Air Transat Flight 942 was headed to Fort an Art Deco masterpiece, marks a significant vacation in Florida, the police in the Canadian deadliest attack on a Muslim place of worship in the Lauderdale, Florida, from Montreal, Canada, loss for Emirati investment firm Mubadala, which capital “found a winter’s worth of snow piled West. On January 29 2017, Bissonette opened fire when it made an emergency landing in Newark paid $800mn for a 90% stake in 2008. Real high in the driveway with no tracks and no signs on around 40 men and four children, killing six men. at around 8.30am EST, the Federal Aviation estate group Tishman Speyer, which had bought of life” at the house, they tweeted on Friday. After At the Quebec courthouse, Bisonnette’s lawyers Administration said. Firefighters responded the building outright in 1997, retained a 10% forcing their way into the house and fearing the argued that Judge Francois Hout had imposed “an and passengers were evacuated on emergency stake. The Journal reported that the owners do worst, the police found the man alone and alive. illegal punishment, manifestly unreasonable and not slides, the FAA said. There were two minor not own the ground beneath the building and He told them that he had been subsisting on Graff iti adorns the pavement during a rally on indicated in ordering 40 years imprisonment before injuries “unrelated to any smoke condition,” the pay annual rent that went up to $32mn in 2018 what he had in the pantry, rationing and eating Friday to commemorate International Women’s being eligible for parole,” Radio-Canada reported. airport said on Twitter. and was set to increase again to $41mn in 2028. canned food. Day at Union Square Park in New York City.

Trump brands Democrats as ‘anti-Jew’ party

AFP Washington

S President Donald Trump on Friday blasted Democrats Uas “anti-Israel” and “anti- Jewish” after they passed a con- gressional measure opposing hate speech in general instead of spe- cifically condemning alleged anti- Semitic comments by a Muslim con- gresswoman. His remarks follow days of tense de- bates in Congress addressing sensitive questions about national allegiance, discriminatory tropes aimed at Jews, and accusations of show votes that failed to call out a member for contro- versial comments. “I thought yesterday’s vote by the House was disgraceful,” Trump said at the White House. The resolution was originally in- tended to deliver a direct rebuke of anti-Semitism following comments by Muslim Democratic congresswoman, Ilhan Omar, that were deemed anti- Semitic and off ensive by many col- leagues. But after blowback from progres- sives, it was revised to broadly con- demn discrimination against Muslims and other minorities as well. Trump seized on the shift, inject- President Donald Trump meets residents during a tour on Friday of tornado-aff ected areas of Beauregard, Alabama. ing a new angle of attack as he read- ies a 2020 re-election bid and fellow Republicans seek to claw back ground they lost in the House in last year’s mid-terms. “The Democrats have become an anti-Israel party, they’ve become an anti-Jewish party,” he said. The issue has caused a deep rift. Trump sees ‘unbelievable’ Some Democrats wanted to include language condemning other forms of bigotry, and expressed concerns about singling out Omar. The resolution, which made no mention of Omar, ultimately passed 407 to 23. Alabama tornado damage Republicans who voted against it complained it had been watered down. By Steve Holland, Reuters knocked down like kindling and homes survivors, volunteers, and fi rst re- doing an “A-plus job.” Mobile homes were tossed over and The debate made clear that Demo- Beauregard, Alabama scattered in pieces. sponders. “We’re gonna take care,” Trump ripped open, their contents strewn crats’ growing diversity in Congress — “This is unbelievable,” Trump said Tables at the church were piled high said. “We couldn’t get here fast across a landscape littered with debris in ethnicity, religion, gender, age and as he and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey with donated clothes, toiletries and enough...I wanted to come the day it and uprooted trees. ideology — has created new challenges S President Donald Trump on surveyed the devastation. other items. happened.” In some places, shreds of houses for the party. Friday visited communities He said he had seen “unbelievable” Twenty-three crosses were set up He also signed Bibles brought by had hung from the limbs of the few Among those is policy about Israel. Uin eastern Alabama devas- destruction from the air, too. on a lawn outside. some of the volunteers. trees left standing. Omar, a Somali refugee who reset- tated by tornadoes that tore through Relatives of one victim, Marshall Trump met privately with more vic- Sunday’s tornadoes were the dead- The worst of the twisters, stirred tled in Minnesota, had sparked fi ery homes and businesses, killing 23 Lynn Grimes, showed the president tims’ families inside the church. liest to hit the state since 2013. up by a late-winter “supercell” thun- debate with her repeated criticisms of people. the 59-year-old’s cherished motorcy- He said he talked with one woman All 23 victims, including four chil- derstorm, were ranked by forecasters Israel and how a powerful pro-Israel Trump and his wife Melania Trump cle vest and the family Bible. who lost 10 people in the storm. dren and seven members of one family, at step four of the six-step Enhanced lobby in Washington exerts infl uence took a helicopter tour of the area be- Trump hugged members of the fam- “I said how did it go, and she said I were killed in or around Beauregard, in Fujita scale of tornado strength. on US politicians. fore going to the homes of some vic- ily. lost 10,” Trump said. “I’ve never seen rural Lee County about 16km south- It was the greatest loss of life from “I am told everyday that I am anti- tims in the tiny and especially hard- The president and Melania Trump anything like it.” east of Auburn. a tornado since an EF-5 storm ripped American if I am not pro-Israel. I fi nd hit community of Beauregard, near the then visited a disaster relief center He told dozens of community vol- Dozens of people were injured and through Moore, Oklahoma, in May that to be problematic and I am not border with Georgia. at the Providence Baptist Church in unteers gathered in the church audi- about 100 houses were destroyed by 2013, killing 24 people and injuring 375 alone,” Omar tweeted. “Our nation is Their motorcade passed trees Opelika, the county seat, to meet with torium that the fi rst responders were 264kph winds, offi cials said. others. having a diffi cult conversation.”

2018 was California’s worst year You’ve got to be kidding! of fi re ever, says federal report Town elects goat as ‘mayor’ DPA what we’ve been living through.” land with the rest on a mix of pri- Los Angeles The last time California had vate, county and state lands, the In a divided America where politics seems the most acres burned of any report said. increasingly to get people’s goat, a small town state in the nation was 2003, California accounted for 21% in Vermont has taken the concept to heart — o state had it worse with when a series of fi res killed doz- of all acres burned in the United this week electing one as mayor. wildfi res last year than ens and scorched more than States last year. He may be a political novice but the NCalifornia, a federal re- 750,000 acres in a matter of The fi res were stoked by winds goat’s name, Lincoln, brings with it a storied port has confi rmed. weeks. and fed on dead brush and trees pedigree. According to the National In- Last year’s Carr fi re in Shasta left over from years of severe And the leading human off icial in Fair Haven teragency Coordination Center’s and Trinity counties killed eight drought. — population about 2,500 — hopes the long- year-end statistical roundup, people and burned 230,000 acres This year’s wet winter is pro- eared, three-year-old animal’s election can more than 1.8mn acres of Cali- in late July. moting even more fuel to grow, serve as a bit of a lesson in democracy. fornia were burned by wildfi res The Mendocino Complex fi re McLean said. In Tuesday’s poll, Lincoln was victorious in 2018, compared with the pre- in Lake and Mendocino coun- Federal and state fi re agencies over 15 other candidates including Crystal the vious year’s total of 1.3mn acres, ties blackened 459,000 acres and have said they are redoubling gerbil and many dogs and cats. offi cials said. killed one fi refi ghter. their eff orts to reduce the wild- Fair Haven has no off icial mayor but the “That’s the highest in the re- It was the largest fi re in state fi re threat in California with pre- Town Manager, Joseph Gunter, holds similar corded history of California,” history. scribed burns and treatments. functions. said Scott McLean, spokesman Then, in early November, the In a report released this past When Gunter read in a newspaper that the for the California Department of Woolsey fi re broke out in Ventura week, Cal Fire listed dozens of village of Omena, Michigan, had made Sweet Forestry and Fire Protection. and Los Angeles counties while forest management projects it Tart the cat its “top” off icial, he got the idea to More than 100 people were thousands of Northern Califor- wants to complete around vul- organize a similar election to raise funds for A handout photograph, obtained courtesy of the Rutland Herald, shows Lincoln, a killed and 17,000 homes and 700 nia residents in Paradise fl ed for nerable foothill and mountain building a playground. Nubian goat, who was elected ‘Mayor’ for the town of Fair Haven, Vermont. businesses were destroyed in the their lives from the Camp fi re, communities to stave off the next Lincoln’s 13 votes were enough for him to state. which killed 85 people. Paradise or Santa Rosa. squeak past Sammie the dog. Friday in the summer,” Gunter says. With 53 votes cast the turnout was low, Firefi ghters were called to Those two fi res burned a com- “It’s not going to stop when The goat, which belongs to a school math Although the playground fundraising eff ort Gunter admits, “but it was the first time, we more than 8,000 fi res last year. bined 250,000 acres and de- we complete these projects,” teacher, will get an education in the town’s ma- only generated about $100, at five dollars per expect it to be better next year.” “It’s a surprise it’s that stroyed most of the homes lost in McLean said. jor festivals which it will represent during its candidate, Gunter isn’t bleating because he That happens to be the year that US voters amount, but in a sense because of California last year. “This program has to continue one-year mandate: “Memorial Day parade, the says the animal election was also “a good way will also elect a human president, in a contest what I’ve seen over the last year, About half the acres burned in forever. It’s an ongoing process Apple Fest and the events we organize every to get the kids involved in local government.” expected to shake out like a barnyard brawl. no it’s not,” McLean said. “It’s the state in 2018 were on federal from here on out.” Gulf Times 14 Sunday, March 10, 2019 AMERICAS

SHOOTOUT CRACKDOWN DIPLOMACY POLITICS DEHUMANISED 15 people dead in Mexico Nicaragua pledges to free Brazil’s Bolsonaro to visit Peru PM quits as approval Californian told of coming nightclub gun battle protesters, begin reforms Trump later this month for Vizcarra govt slips death via a video-link

At least 15 men have died following a shooting at Nicaragua’s government said yesterday it would US President Donald Trump will host his Brazilian Peru’s Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva has stepped A septuagenarian Californian learned of his a nightclub in central Mexico, prosecutors said release prisoners rounded up in months of counterpart Jair Bolsonaro on March 19, the White down, the government said on Friday, amid calls impending death through a video link, outraging yesterday. Another four people, three men and protests and implement electoral reforms, as talks House said on Friday, the first meeting between for President Martin Vizcarra to shake up his his family, which protested the dehumanised and a woman, suff ered injuries, public prosecutor’s continue with the opposition to end the country’s the two rightwing leaders who have lavished government and revive falling approval ratings. robotic way in which the news was delivered. Ernest off ice spokesman Juan Jose Martinez told AFP by worst political crisis in three decades. At least 320 praise on each other. The visit was announced by Villanueva, the prime minister for the past year, Quintana received the news last Monday from an telephone. The nightclub lies in Guanajuato state, people have been killed, many more wounded, Brazil’s foreign ministry last month but a firm date handed in his letter of resignation to Vizcarra, the on-screen doctor in a hospital in Fremont. He passed where authorities have launched an operation and several hundred detained in a crackdown had not been finalised. Bolsonaro, who entered president’s off ice said in a statement, confirming away the following day. “That Robot Dr may be against criminal gangs involved in fuel theft. on protests that were triggered last April by a off ice in January, has vowed to forge close ties media reports earlier on Friday. The statement OK for some situations but not to tell a Man he is The attack took place before dawn yesterday as social security reform but quickly swelled into a with Washington after over a decade of leftist rule did not say the resignation was accepted but said going to Die,” a family friend wrote on a Facebook several heavily armed men opened fire at the La national call to oust President Daniel Ortega. The in Brazil, and has been dubbed “South America’s Vizcarra thanked Villanueva for his services. A new post that included a screenshot of a video taken Playa nightclub in Salamanca before making off government said it was committed to the “release Trump.” “President Trump and President prime minister has not yet been chosen but two by the patient’s granddaughter, Annalisia Wilharm. in a vehicle, the spokesman said. The four injured of prisoners in the context of criminal acts that Bolsonaro will discuss how to build a more government sources who asked not to be named Wilharm was alone with her grandfather when the people were taken to a nearby hospital. None of occurred as of April 2018 against the state of prosperous, secure, and democratic Western told Reuters that Justice Minister Vicente Zeballos doctor remotely told Quintana that his lungs were the victims have been identified. Nicaragua, who have not yet been tried.” Hemisphere,” the White House said. was under consideration for the position. failing and he would not be going home.

Philadelphia Protesters, police scuffl e rejects totally cashless future

AFP as Venezuela lights fl icker Philadelphia ith an increasing number of Reuters US businesses no longer ac- Caracas Wcepting cash, Philadelphia is taking a stand to protect the so-called “unbanked” and will force merchants enezuelan opposition activists to accept greenbacks. scuffl ed with police and troops It will be the fi rst major US city to Vyesterday morning in the run- outright reject a trend that has seen up to a rally intended to keep up pres- more and more retail outlets, espe- sure on President Nicolas Maduro, as cially restaurants, move to only accept electricity remained intermittent after payments via credit or debit cards and the country’s worst blackout in dec- mobile phones. ades. Consumers and businesses who Dozens of demonstrators attempted support digital payments say they are to walk along an avenue in Caracas but faster and more practical, but oppo- were moved onto the sidewalk by po- nents say such practices exclude the lice in riot gear, leading them to shout “unbanked” — those without bank ac- at the offi cers and push on their riot counts or credit cards. shields. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney re- One woman was sprayed with pep- cently signed into law an amendment per spray, according to a local broad- to the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance caster. prohibiting stores and restaurants The Opec nation was plunged into from refusing to accept cash, calling it darkness on Thursday evening in what “unlawful discrimination.” the governing Socialist Party called an The measure will go into eff ect on act of US-sponsored sabotage but op- July 1. position critics derided as the result of Despite the cashless trend, the two decades of mismanagement and United States remains far behind oth- corruption. er countries in terms of digital pay- Much of the country remained ment technology. In China, paying by without power yesterday morning, smartphone is widely used. including the presidential palace of According to data published by the Mirafl ores, which was running on Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, back-up power generators, according 32% of all consumer transactions were to Reuters witnesses. made with cash in 2015, down from “We’re all upset that we’ve got no 40% in 2012. power, no phone service, no water and According to a study by the Fed- they want to block us,” said Rossmary eral Deposit Insurance Corp, 6.5% Nascimiento, 45, a nutritionist at the of American households were “un- Caracas rally. “I want a normal coun- banked” in 2017 — a fi gure that has try.” steadily declined since 2011, but which The Socialist Party has called for a still accounts for nearly 8mn house- competing march to protest what it holds. calls imperialism by the United States, Beyond the action taken in Phila- which has levied crippling oil sanc- delphia, state lawmakers in New Jersey tions on Maduro’s government in ef- passed a bill in February that would forts to cut off its sources of funding. make it illegal to run a cashless store, Several hundred people gathered but Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in central Caracas for a march to de- has not yet signed it. nounce US pressure on Venezuela, In New York and San Francisco, ini- which the president says is the cause Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido gives the thumb up during a demonstration in Caracas yesterday. tiatives are working their way through of the country’s economic situation. legislative channels, but no city coun- “We’re here, we’re mobilised, be- The Information Ministry did not in a major political crisis since oppo- Guaido has asked foreign countries and Bosnia and places the onus on the cil votes are scheduled for now. cause we’re not going to let the gringos reply to a request for comment. sition leader Juan Guaido invoked the to ramp up pressure on Maduro and international community to protect Lawmakers in Washington and Chi- take over,” said Elbadina Gomez, 76, Clinics in the sweltering western constitution to assume the interim to help get humanitarian aid into the populations from crimes against hu- cago have passed similar legislation, who works for an activist group linked state of Zulia, which suff ers chronic presidency in January, calling Maduro country. manity and ethnic cleansing. but they have not yet been ratifi ed. to the Socialist Party. regional blackouts, had scaled back a usurper following the 2018 election, Opposition activists last month at- “President @jguaido, (you should) That makes Massachusetts the only The power fl ickered on and off in operations after nearly 72 hours with- which Maduro won but was widely tempted to bring food into the country formally request Humanitarian Inter- US state so far which has a law on the parts of Caracas yesterday morning. out power. considered fraudulent. via Colombia but the aid convoys were vention, applying the concept of R2P, books forcing all merchants to accept In much of the country, it has re- “We’re not off ering services and we “They’re planning to tire us out, halted at the border and two aid trucks to stop extermination, genocide and cash. mained out since Thursday. don’t have any patients staying here but they no longer have a way of con- went up in fl ames. destruction of what’s left of our coun- But the measure, adopted more than Julio Castro, a doctor who heads a because the generator is not working,” taining the people, who have decided Former mayor and exiled opposition try,” Ledezma wrote via Twitter. 40 years ago, has not been applied in nongovernment organization called said Chiquinquira Caldera, head of ad- to ensure the end of the usurpation,” activist Antonio Ledezma yesterday Trump has said that a “military op- practice. Doctors For Health, said via Twitter ministration at the San Lucas clinic in Guaido tweeted yesterday. called on Guaido to seek United Na- tion” is on the table with regard to Fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen, that a total of 13 people had died amid the city of Maracaibo, as she played a Maduro says Guaido is a puppet of tions intervention in Venezuela by in- Venezuela. which no longer accepts cash in any of the blackout, including nine deaths in board game with doctors who were Washington and dismisses his claim voking a principle known as “respon- But Guaido has avoided discussion its restaurants, declined to comment emergency rooms. waiting for power to return. to the presidency as an eff ort by the sibility to protect.” of any foreign troops in Venezuela, and when asked by AFP how it would im- Reuters was unable to independent- Venezuela, already suff ering from administration of US President Don- The UN doctrine sometimes re- Latin American neighbours have em- plement the measure passed in Phila- ly confi rm the deaths or whether they hyperinfl ation and widespread short- ald Trump to control Venezuela’s oil ferred to as R2P was created to prevent phatically opposed a US intervention delphia. were a product of the blackout. ages of basic goods, has been mired wealth. mass killings such as those of Rwanda as a way of addressing the situation.

Judge may force Trump to reunite more Women’s Day march migrant families separated at the border

Reuters Human Services’ Inspector General, The IG report said prior to the offi - San Diego which identifi ed potentially thousands cially announced zero-tolerance poli- more families that had been separated cy, the government began ramping up as early as July 1, 2017. separations in 2017 for other reasons n a blow to the Trump administra- The administration’s “zero toler- related to a child’s safety and well- tion’s US-Mexico border strategy, ance” policy did not take eff ect until being, including separating parents Ia federal court judge in California May 2018. with criminal records or lack of proper has expanded the number of migrant “The hallmark of a civilized society documents. families separated at the border that is measured by how it treats its people A Department of Homeland Se- the government may be required to and those within its borders,” Sabraw curity spokeswoman said in January reunite. said in his ruling. after the IG report came out that the San Diego-based US District Court Sabraw said that report was “a sig- practice of separating apprehended Judge Dana Sabraw late on Friday is- nifi cant development in this case” and minors from adults to protect the sued a preliminary ruling that would its contents “are undisputed.” interests of the children has been potentially expand by thousands the The Justice Department did not im- standard practice “for more than a number of migrants included in a mediately respond to calls for com- decade.” class-action lawsuit brought by the ment. The report also said more than 100 American Civil Liberties Union. The administration of US President minors, including more than two dozen Sabraw already ordered the Trump Donald Trump implemented the zero- under age 5, were separated after the administration last year to reunite tolerance policy to criminally pros- President’s executive order. more than 2,800 migrant children who ecute and jail all illegal border crossers “The court made clear that poten- were separated from their parents at — even those travelling with their chil- tially thousands of children’s lives are the US-Mexico border under the ad- dren — which led to a wave of separa- at stake and that the Trump adminis- ministration’s “zero tolerance” policy. tions last year. tration cannot simply ignore the dev- But he will allow more separated The policy sparked outrage when it astation it has caused,” Lee Gelernt, families to join the class-action law- became public, and the backlash led ACLU lead attorney in the class-action suit after a report released in January Trump to sign an executive order re- family separation lawsuit, said on Fri- Indigenous women take part in a march on Friday to mark the International Women’s Day in Guatemala City. by the US Department of Health and versing course on June 20, 2018. day. Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 15 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

87 injured N Korea may be ‘preparing in ferry collision

AFP missile or space launch’ Tokyo

AFP and North Korean leader Kim researcher at the Middlebury lack of progress in its bid to In return, Pyongyang off ered good”, despite the setback in t least 87 passengers in a Seoul Jong-un met in Hanoi for their Institute of International Stud- get the North to give up its only to close part of the Yong- Hanoi. high speed ferry were in- high-stakes summit, which ies at Monterey, was quoted as atomic arsenal, especially af- byon complex, a sprawling site US offi cials have said Wash- Ajured in an apparent colli- ended in failure. saying by NPR on Friday. ter the February 27-28 sum- covering multiple facilities. ington believes the “fi nal, fully sion with a marine animal in the orth Korea may be pre- The photos by the fi rm The Sanumdong analysis mit between Trump and Kim The North is also believed to verifi ed denuclearisation” of Sea of Japan yesterday, coast- paring for a missile or DigitalGlobe show the presence comes days after the special- collapsed without so much as have other uranium enrichment North Korea is still possible by guards and media said. Nspace launch, US news of cars and trucks at the site on ised website 38 North and a joint statement - let alone plants. the end of Trump’s fi rst term. Five people were seriously in- outlet NPR has reported, based February 22, said NPR - which the Center for Strategic and an agreement on nuclear But North Korean foreign Kim released his fi rst public jured in the accident, which oc- on satellite image analysis of a has exclusive access to the International Studies said disarmament. minister Ri Yong-ho dis- message since the Hanoi sum- curred just before the hydrofoil key facility near Pyongyang. imagery. Pyongyang may have resumed According to senior US offi - puted the US account, saying mit on Saturday earlier this was due to arrive on Sado island NPR said the images of Sa- It added that rail cars and operations at its long-range cials, in the week leading up to Pyongyang off ered to disman- week, instructing propaganda after a short trip from the main- numdong, one of the facilities cranes can also be seen at a yard. rocket launch site at Sohae, the Hanoi summit, the North tle all “nuclear production fa- offi cials to conduct “posi- land, the Japan Coast Guard Pyongyang has used to pro- “When you put all that to- based on their study of satellite Koreans had demanded the lift- cilities in the Yongbyon area” in tive information” activities to said. duce inter-continental bal- gether, that’s really what it imagery from March 6. ing of eff ectively all UN Security exchange for partial sanctions spur scientifi c and technologi- It is likely the ferry hit a whale, listic missiles and space rock- looks like when the North Kore- The development is likely Council economic sanctions relief. cal development, according to as both humpbacks and minkes ets, were taken days before ans are in the process of build- to further compound Wash- imposed on Pyongyang since Trump said on Friday that his a report by North Korean state are often found in the area, pub- US President Donald Trump ing a rocket,” Jeff rey Lewis, a ington’s frustration over the March 2016. relationship with Kim “remains media outlet KCNA yesterday. lic broadcaster NHK quoted a marine wildlife expert as saying. “It was a huge impact,” a passenger told public broad- caster NHK. “One person was bleeding.” Hotel group There was damage to the back Japanese woman confi rmed as of the vessel, local media said, but the ferry - with 121 passen- gers and four crew on board - to probe racial reached its destination without outside help, local media said. profi ling claims world’s oldest person aged 116 AFP morning at 6am and passes the Tokyo afternoons by studying math- AFP bookings at the Ibis, one with ematics and practising callig- Malaysian Sydney Aboriginal guests and the raphy. other non-indigenous. 116-year-old Japa- “One of Kane’s favourite pas- It found that both were be- nese woman who still times is a game of Othello and jailed for rench hotel group Ac- ing charged the same amount, Aenjoys studying math she’s become an expert at the cor said yesterday it was but Aboriginal clients were di- and playing board games classic board game, often beat- Finvestigating claims one rected to an inferior room, as has been recognised as the ing rest-home staff ,” Guinness insulting of its Australian hotels was di- per the leaked email. world’s oldest person, the said. recting staff to check Aborigi- The national broadcaster Guinness World Records said Japan has one of the world’s nal guests into poorer-quality said the rooms were starkly yesterday. highest life expectancies and religion rooms. diff erent, with the Aboriginal Kane Tanaka was born on has been home to several people An investigation by the group given the dirtier and January 2, 1903, the year when recognised as among the oldest AFP Australian Broadcasting Cor- less well-maintained accom- the Wright brothers launched humans to have ever lived. Kuala Lumpur poration (ABC) uncovered a modation. humanity’s fi rst powered fl ight, They include Jiroemon leaked email advising staff at The ABC report prompted according to Guinness. Kimura, the longest-living man the Ibis Styles Alice Springs the government to take its own Tanaka’s recognition was on record, who died soon after Malaysian citizen was given Oasis to move people from action. celebrated at the nursing home his 116th birthday in June 2013. more than 10 years in jail “the communities” into one of “That sort of behaviour where she lives in western Ja- The oldest verifi ed person Afor insulting a religion on six designated rooms. from Australian businesses pan’s Fukuoka by city mayor ever - Jeanne Louise Calment of social media, police said yester- The national broadcaster is completely unacceptable,” Soichiro Takashima and other France - died in 1997 at the age day, one of the country’s harshest said the term is used locally minister for indigenous aff airs well-wishers. of 122, according to Guinness. such sentences in recent years. to refer to indigenous people Nigel Scullion told reporters. Asked what moment she was Issues related to race, religion living in remote communities Scullion said he was looking the most happy in life, she re- Right: Kane Tanaka holds and language are very sensitive outside of Alice Springs, in into the claims, warning Aus- plied: “Now.” a Guinness World Records topics in multiracial Malaysia. northern Australia. tralia’s racial discrimination She married Hideo Tanaka in certificate naming her as the The person found guilty, known “Following an investigation act held “serious compliances 1922, giving birth to four chil- world’s oldest person living only as Facebook user “Ayea Yea”, released on the Ibis Styles Al- and sanctions”. dren and adopting a fi fth. during a ceremony in Fukuoka was jailed for 10 years and 10 ice Springs Oasis, the Group “Let’s have a look at the Kane normally wakes each yesterday. months after pleading guilty to 10 has opened its own internal evidence but that sounds very charges of anti-religious activity probe,” a spokesperson for concerning to me.” and the misuse of communica- Accor said in a statement. Aboriginal Australians tions networks, said national po- Accor, which operates make up about 3% of the total lice chief Mohamed Fuzi Harun. worldwide with a portfolio in- national population of 25mn, In a statement, Mohamed did cluding the Pullman, Raffl es, but remain the country’s most Vietnam probing cause of boat’s sinking not specify the number of charg- Novotel and Mercure brands, disadvantaged community. es for each off ence, but said they said it would take “prompt and Canberra has consistently would be served consecutively. decisive action in this case”. fallen short on health and ed- Reuters energy-rich stretch of water, been rammed and sunk by a cial islands and reefs, unnerv- Under Malaysian law, those “The group, which is present ucation measures to improve Hanoi called East Sea by Vietnam. Chinese vessel. It did not say ing the region and angering found guilty of anti-religious ac- in 100 countries, has a diver- the livelihoods of Aboriginal The boat sank on Wednesday if the latter was civilian or Washington. tivity can be punished with a jail sity and inclusion policy that people, after vowing to “close near Da Loi island in the Paracel military. In addition to Vietnam, the term of two to fi ve years. respects cultures, heritage and the gap” between indigenous ietnam is seeking clar- Archipelago, the ministry said A spokesman for the foreign Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei The misuse of communica- local law,” the spokesperson Australians and the rest of the ifi cation of how a fi sh- in an e-mailed statement. It ministry in Beijing was cited and Taiwan also claim parts of tion networks carries a maxi- said in a statement. country over a decade ago. Ving boat came to sink said all fi ve fi shermen on board by Chinese media as saying on the sea. mum one year in jail or a fi ne of An unnamed staff member The Australian Bureau of this week in the contested were rescued by another Viet- Thursday that the fi shing boat On Friday, the Vietnam- up to 50,000 ringgit ($12,200), at the Australian hotel told the Statistics says the unemploy- South China Sea, the Foreign namese fi shing boat. had sunk when the Chinese ese ruling Communist Party or both. ABC the profi ling had hap- ment rate for Aboriginal Aus- Ministry said yesterday, days “Vietnamese authorities are vessel approached, and that the expelled an academic it ac- Three other social media us- pened hundreds of times since tralians is three to four times after a local rescue agency continuing to clarify the cause Chinese crew had rescued the cused of posting untruths on ers have also been charged with the initiative was handed higher than the national aver- said it was rammed by a Chi- of the incident,” the ministry fi shermen. Facebook. He had been criti- insulting the religion, as well as down last June, where anyone age, while suicide rates for Ab- nese vessel. said, without elaborating. China claims 90% of the cal of what he perceived as a causing racial disharmony. who “appeared Aboriginal” original children are fi ve times Vietnam and China have On Wednesday, Vietnam’s South China Sea, where it has soft stance by Vietnam to- One who pled guilty will be sen- was given the “worse rooms”. higher than for the rest of the long been embroiled in mari- national search and rescue steadily expanded military and wards China over the South tenced next week, while the other The ABC arranged two population. time disputes in the potentially agency said the boat had other installations on artifi - China Sea. two will be held without bail. Flag flying high Traditional Balinese mud bath draws the crowds

AFP Denpasar

day after Indonesia’s holiday island of Bali fell quiet for the annual “Day of Silence” Afestival, hundreds joined a mud bath pu- rifi cation ritual which has been recently revived after a 60-year hiatus. The mud bath, known locally as Mebuug-bu- ugan, is believed to purify and remove negative energy. Men, women and children, wearing sarongs and traditional head gear, collected lumps of mud from a mangrove forest in Kedonganan village, just out- A boy puts mud on his body during a traditional side the town of Denpasar on Friday, and smeared mud bath known as Mebuug-buugan, in themselves as part of the ritual. Kedonganan village, near Denpasar, yesterday. It comes a day after Nyepi, a Balinese festi- val where locals and tourists on the island are nearest beach together to rinse the dirt. expected to stay home and self-refl ect, while The ritual has been popular since its return, fl ights, lights and the Internet are all stopped. and dozens of tourists watched on the sidelines In the past, participants were naked during the and snapped pictures to capture the moments mud festivities, but in the mid-20th century locals which once disappeared for decades. grew more uncomfortable with public nudity. On Wednesday, a day before Nyepi, the island held The festivities were halted for six decades, until its annual ritual to ward off evil spirits. being revived three years ago - on the understand- In the parade, colourful effi gies known as ing that the concept of the ritual would change so Ogoh-Ogoh were paraded through the streets Members of a Socialist Women’s Union propaganda troupe perform a dance and music routine in front of the Ryugyong hotel in participants were allowed to wear clothes. before being burned, representing renewal and Pyongyang yesterday. All non-working North Korean women are members of the Socialist Women’s Union, whose propaganda troupes Villagers of all ages smeared mud on anyone purifi cation. are a familiar fixture performing flag-waving and drum routines at intersections and landmarks around Pyongyang during the morning in the vicinity, after praying for safety and good Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country but rush-hour period. fortunes. more than 80% of Bali’s population identify as After the mud bath ritual they headed to the Hindu and practice a local version of the religion. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, March 10, 2019 BRITAIN

SECURITY FORCAST TRANSPORT IN THE DOCK STABBINGS Police briefly close roads Weather to remain wet, Minister considering end Man charged with Leeds Asda to stop selling single near parliament windy for second week to road ban on e-scooters terror off ences in court knives after hike in crime

Police yesterday briefly shut London’s Britain faces another week of rain and wind, with Ministers are considering overturning a decades- A man accused of possessing instruction manuals The supermarket chain Asda will stop selling Westminster bridge and roads close to parliament forecasters predicting strong gusts will sweep across long ban on electric scooters, Segways and on making weapons and killing techniques single kitchen knives in its stores by the end and the capital’s police headquarters due to the country, potentially bringing down trees and hoverboards as part of a wide-ranging review appeared yesterday at a Westminster court. Pawel of April. The decision comes at a time of rising a suspicious vehicle. A spokesman for the power lines and causing disruption to travel. The Met of the future of urban transport. Jesse Norman, Golaszewski, 33, from Leeds, faces six charges concerns about knife crime in the UK. Last Metropolitan Police said off icers had sealed Off ice has issued two yellow warnings for high winds, the transport minister, said he would “look quite under the Terrorism Act. He is charged with week, a senior police chief said the recent spate off roads at Victoria Embankment next to the one covering much of Northern Ireland on Tuesday, closely” at finding a way of allowing e-scooters “possession of a document or record containing of deadly stabbings involving young people River Thames and close to New Scotland Yard, coming into eff ect at 3pm and finishing at midnight. and similar vehicles on the road – potentially information of a kind likely to be useful to a person should be treated as a national emergency. the head off ice of the Metropolitan Police, and The second warning aff ects most of England and through a permit or licensing system. E-scooters committing or preparing an act of terrorism”. Nick Jones, the senior vice-president at Asda, by Parliament Square. Images on social media runs from midnight to 3pm on Wednesday. Yellow have become a common sight in many cities in The charges allege that Golaszewski was found said: “We strongly believe that we have a showed a heavy police presence at the central is the lowest on the Met Off ice’s matrix but is issued the US and Europe, but in Britain people have with copies of 21 Silent Techniques of Killing by responsibility to support the communities that London location that is popular with tourists. when it is likely weather will cause “low level impacts, been prosecuted for riding them on public roads Master Hei Long, The Anarchist Cookbook and we serve. We know single knives are the most The roads were later reopened. “The incident in including disruption to travel”. A band of heavy rain and footpaths. “E-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds, The Big Book of Mischief on February 23 in Leeds. common knife products to be stolen and that Victoria Embankment has now concluded,” police would also move south-eastwards, followed by e-skateboards – we’re thinking about those Golaszewski’s lawyer indicated not-guilty pleas on is why we have chosen to remove these items said on Twitter. “All roads will now be reopened.” heavy showers on Tuesday and Wednesday. modes of transport,” Norman told the Observer. his behalf and made no application for bail. from our stores.” Corbyn urged to sack MPs Govt under fi re after IS against ‘People’s Vote’ teen’s baby By Severin Carrell Guardian News and Media dies in Syria leading pro-European Labour MP has called on Jeremy Corbyn to Asack any shadow ministers who By Kate Holton, Reuters held in a Kurdish detention cen- refuse to support a second Brexit refer- London tre in northeastern Syria. endum. After giving interviews to the Ian Murray, a prominent supporter of media in which she said she did the People’s Vote campaign, said the La- decision by Britain to strip not regret travelling to Syria and bour leader needed to prove his commit- a teenage girl of her citi- had not been fazed by the sight ment to a referendum by telling his MPs Azenship, after she joined of severed heads, she asked to be to back the measure in any Westminster Islamic State in Syria, was yes- able to return to London to bring vote, or face sanctions if they do not. terday described as a “stain on up her baby. Many pro-EU Labour MPs suspect the conscience” of the govern- However Home Secretary Sajid Corbyn has been forced into reluctantly ment after her three-week old Javid withdrew Begum’s citizen- supporting a second referendum and baby died. ship, saying his priority was the could fail to properly enforce the policy Shamima Begum was stripped of safety and security of Britain and when the amendment calling for one is her citizenship on security grounds the people who lived there. put to the Commons. last month, leaving her in a deten- Polls suggested the move was It has been proposed by two Labour tion camp in Syria where her baby popular with a majority of Brit- backbenchers, Peter Kyle and Phil Wil- died, the third of the 19-year-old’s ons but it drew criticism from son. infant children to die since she opposition parties and human “The problem with the Kyle-Wilson travelled to Syria in 2015. rights lawyers, and disquiet amendment is this: it will only pass if the The opposition Labour party among some lawmakers within Labour frontbench enthusiastically sup- said the move to leave an in- Prime Minister Theresa May’s port it, whip it, then we win it,” Murray nocent child in a refugee camp, party who felt that Britain was told a fringe event at the Scottish Labour where infant mortality rates are exporting its own problems. party conference in Dundee yesterday. high, was morally reprehensible. Phillip Lee, a former justice Corbyn off ered only lukewarm support A lawmaker in the ruling Con- minister and member of May’s for a referendum in his Scottish confer- servative party said it smacked of party, said he had been deeply ence speech on Friday, and is being lob- populism over principle. concerned by the decision. bied hard by competing groups at West- “The tragic death of Shamima “Clearly Shamima Begum minster. Begum’s baby, Jarrah, is a stain holds abhorrent views,” he told Many Labour frontbenchers and MPs on the conscience of this govern- BBC Radio. have expressed doubts about a second ment,” Diane Abbott, the opposi- “But she was a child. She is referendum and some shadow minis- tion home aff airs spokeswoman a product of our society...and I ters who fear alienating pro-Brexit vot- said. “The Home Secretary (interi- think we had a moral responsi- ers have suggested they would resign if or minister) failed this British child bility to her and to her baby, Jar- forced to back it. and he has a lot to answer for.” rah. More than a dozen shadow cabinet Found in a refugee camp in “I was troubled by the deci- ministers, including the shadow housing February, an unrepentant Be- sion. It seemed driven by a pop- minister, Melanie Onn, and the shadow gum sparked a debate in Britain ulism, not by any principle that I justice minister, Gloria De Piero, warned Pro-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside Downing Street yesterday. and other European capitals as to recognised.” against backing the fresh vote in January. whether a teenager with a extrem- Two senior members of the Equally, Corbyn has been told to expect Pro-referendum strategists want to communications, said the vote on Tues- Leonard told the last two Scottish ist fi ghter’s child should be left in a government said yesterday that up to 10 frontbench resignations if he fails delay a Commons vote on it until MPs see day “ must belong to Mrs May being made MEPs, David Martin and Catherine Stih- war zone to fend for herself. the death was a tragedy but that to press for it. it as the only feasible alternative to a no- to see her deal will not — and cannot — ler, “you are a credit to our party, so I More broadly it has shown the the home secretary took the de- Support at Westminster for a second deal Brexit if Theresa May, as expected, fl y”. thank you from the bottom of my heart”. predicament that governments cision on grounds of national referendum is delicately balanced, with loses the fi nal vote on her deal. Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour As yet, no Labour MP or MSP has face when weighing the ethical, security. its supporters acknowledging they do The Kyle-Wilson amendment was leader, sought to reinforce his pro-Europe joined the breakaway Independent Group legal and security ramifi cations “Any baby dying is an absolute not yet know whether they would win a originally expected to be tabled on Tues- credentials and heal the splits in the party of dissident MPs. of allowing militants and their tragedy, and that was a British Commons vote on the amendment. day, when May’s deal is put to a vote. by telling conference delegates he sup- Leonard said he disliked splits, and that families to return. baby,” the leader of parliament Much hinges on the votes of the Scot- That option is now in doubt, although ported a second referendum. Labour was a tolerant and democratic Begum left London aged 15 Andrea Leadsom told Reuters. tish National party, which has 35 MPs, the amendment could resurface later next After an angry dispute about the lack of party which welcomed dissent. with two other schoolgirls to join “But nevertheless the home and Tory MPs who are anti-Brexit. week. a conference event to mark the contribu- However, he also warned critical MPs Islamic State. secretary’s core job is to protect The timing of the amendment is seen In an article for the Guardian, Alastair tion of Labour MEPs who face losing their that they were not elected on their own, She married Yago Riedijk, a the people of the United King- as crucial. Campbell, Tony Blair’s former head of posts after Brexit, and owed a debt to the party as a whole. Dutch IS fi ghter who is being dom. I support his decision.” Climate activists throw ‘blood’ outside Downing Street

Guardian News and Media protesting at an oil industry din- renting out its building for the London ner at the National Museum of event. Scotland in Edinburgh. Extinction Rebellion, which About 30 members people has spread to a number of coun- xtinction Rebellion activ- staged a sit-in at the museum tries after being launched in ists have thrown buckets before hundreds of oil company London last year, argues govern- Eof ‘blood’ outside Downing executives gathered for the an- ments and industries are failing Street to call for greater action on nual dinner of the Scottish Oil to address the climate crisis with climate change. Club. enough urgency. About 400 demonstrators, in- The protesters hung two ban- They believe the UK needs to cluding families with children, ners from the balcony of the mu- rapidly cut carbon emissions, spilled more than 200 litres of seum’s main hall which read “cli- with the aim of no net carbon red paint to make the severity of mate emergency” and “smash emissions by 2026, about 25 years climate change the patriarchy — save the planet”. earlier than its current target. “viscerally clear”. They were asked to leave by They argue the UK’s oil indus- The blood was meant to sym- Police Scotland, but 13 protesters try, which is based in Aberdeen, bolise “the death of our children” remained in the building, six of enjoys £10.5bn a year in subsidies and the hellish future young them joined together with bicy- and is continuing to develop new people faced, the group said in a cle locks. oil fi elds, despite evidence of in- statement. They were arrested and re- creased global warming. Paolo, 61, a translator, said: moved from the museum at Mim Black, an Extinction Re- “We are here to mourn the loss of about 8pm. bellion Scotland spokeswoman, life, and for the life that has not It was the latest in a series of said: “Climate chaos is already yet been born; and to protest the direct action protests and occu- under way across the planet and injustice of this for future gen- pations by Extinction Rebellion we know that the fossil fuel in- erations. I have no children of my activists in Scotland, including a dustry is a major driver of this. own but I haven’t stopped loving sit-in at the Scottish parliament We must immediately start the world.” and a demonstration in Glasgow. putting safety before profi t.” Hector, a 10-year-old, said: The campaign group said Police Scotland said its offi c- “Many animals will go extinct if about 300 people staged a party ers were deployed at 4.30pm on we do not act now. We have in- on Chamber Street outside the Friday. vested all our support in the gov- museum before executives from After the museum closed to ernment. But in our time of need, oil fi rms including Shell, BP and the public, the protesters were they have deserted us. We need Total arrived. asked to leave but refused. the press and the government to “When guests started arriv- “Following a period of nego- tell the truth.” ing, protesters lined the entrance tiation police provided a propor- The protest follows a demon- to the museum and sang, chanted tionate response to the protest stration in Edinburgh on Friday, and spoke to them about the cli- and 13 people, a mix of men and Protesters from the climate change pressure group Extinction Rebellion demonstrate by pouring fake blood onto the street outside Downing when police arrested 13 Extinc- mate emergency,” the group said, women, have been arrested,” the Street in London yesterday afternoon. tion Rebellion activists who were before criticising the museum for force said. Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 17 EUROPE

SPRING IS IN THE AIR RIFT REMEBERED HUMAN INTEL SECURITY European EPP leader to Russia honours Yuri Gagarin More far-right soldiers in ‘Mortar shell’ found on meet Orban: report on 85th birth anniversary Germany than known US embassy staff er

Manfred Weber of the centre-right European Yuri Gagarin, the first person to go into space, was The German Military Counterintelligence Service Security staff at Moscow’s main airport yesterday People’s Party will meet Hungarian populist Prime honoured in Moscow yesterday on what would (MAD) has exposed more far-right soldiers than confiscated a “mortar shell” from a US embassy Minister Viktor Orban to discuss his Fidesz Party’s have been the Soviet cosmonaut’s 85th birthday. previously known publicly, according to a report staff er in what the foreign ministry described as a dispute with the EPP, a Germany newspaper has Gagarin earned his title as space-travel pioneer on in the Spiegel news magazine. A MAD department “provocation,” local media reported. Security staff reported. Weber last week set Fidesz an ultimatum April 12, 1961, when he spent 108 minutes in space. head admitted in mid-February that intelligence at Sheremetyevo airport, the biggest in Russia, if it wanted to avoid being expelled from the largest He died seven years later at age 51 while piloting had communicated “to the outside” and to the found an object resembling a mortar shell while group in the European Union parliament. Orban had a doomed test flight for a fighter jet. Dmitry Bundestag only the number of clearly recognised checking the man’s luggage, the Ria Rovosti agency to stop his government’s anti-EU campaign; let the Rogozin, head of Russia’s Roscosmos space “right-wing extremists,” the news magazine reported, citing a foreign ministry source. “Bomb CEU university founded by the liberal US-Hungarian agency, was joined by former cosmonauts and reported. Four soldiers were classified as a right- disposal experts confirmed that it was a shell billionaire George Soros stay in Budapest; and agency staff at the Kremlin wall, where Gagarin’s wing extremists last year and three others as with a detonator but no explosives,” the source An artist performs at a fair on Manezh square apologise to other member parties of the EPP. “I ashes were interred. ISS crewmember Oleg Islamists. Since 2013, about 10 other “suspects said, adding that it amounted to a “provocation”. during a celebration of Maslenitsa, also known will again in the coming days personally hold talks Kononenko made his remarks from Earth orbit via with an extremist attitude” have been exposed The United States appeared to be testing Russia’s as Pancake Week, marking the end of winter in with Viktor Orban in Budapest,” Weber told Welt am video message, quoting Gagarin with the words: each year. Most had been removed from the security not just abroad but inside the country’s Moscow yesterday. Sonntag, due to appear today. “Space serves the people.” German army, the intelligence man said. borders, the foreign ministry source told Ria Novosti. Rome defuses row over rail link, for now

By Giuseppe Fonte and discussing” the project. price tag at more than 20bn eu- Elvira Pollina, Reuters Conte published a response ros ($22.6bn). Milan from TELT, which said it would His French counterpart, Elisa- only launch the tenders tomor- beth Borne, said last week the row for the French portion of the European Commission had let taly’s prime minister yes- rail link in order to avoid losing it be known it was willing to in- terday halted the launch of European Union funding. crease its share to 50%, leaving Itenders for a high-speed rail Conte said that Italy would France and Italy to fi nance 25% link to France, defusing a dispute hold discussions with France and each. within the ruling coalition over the EU in light of a recent cost- A European Union offi cial had the project that had threatened benefi t analysis commissioned told Reuters the project could to bring down the government. by the Italian government, which lose up to 300mn euros of EU The multi-billion-euro TAV found the TAV was a waste of funds if the tenders were not project (Treno Alta Velocita) public money. launched by the end of March. is backed by Matteo Salvini’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi The long-running dispute League party but strongly op- Di Maio, who is leader of the suddenly escalated late on posed by its coalition partner, 5-Star Movement, said earlier in Thursday and raised the risk of 5-Star Movement, which argues a Facebook post that the dispute a government collapse, with Di that Italy’s share of the funding was “being resolved positively.” Maio accusing Salvini of acting would be better spent upgrading “Let’s talk about something irresponsibly by insisting the existing roads and bridges. else and carry on,” he wrote. train link should go ahead. Tensions between the two The TAV is a joint venture Salvini reiterated on Friday sides had escalated ahead of a between the Italian and French that the League would “never” deadline tomorrow for the com- states to link the cities of Turin vote in parliament to block the pany overseeing the project, and Lyon with a 58km tunnel project, as 5-Star wants. ‘Pink Vests’ (Gilets roses) protesters take part in a demonstration to protest against the government’s reform project of the French TELT, to launch tenders to carry through the Alps on which work But yesterday, he sought to unemployment insurance sector near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris yesterday. out works on it. has already begun. The EU has quell fears that the government Prime Minister Giuseppe pledged to fund up to 40% of the could fall over the rail link. Conte said in a post on Facebook costs of the TAV, Italy up to 35% “Italy needs a government... he had asked TELT to halt the and France up to 25%. There won’t be a crisis,” he said tenders because his government Italy’s transport minister, a in an interview with news chan- had committed to “totally re- 5-Star offi cial, puts the total nel Sky TG24. ‘Pink vest’ childminders Hungary scientists fear for academic freedom join ‘yellow vest’ protests

Reuters my (MTA) is solely funded by the The deal fails to guarantee the Reuters at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, waving also sought to defuse the unrest with a series Budapest government but self-managing independence of research, the Paris French fl ags and dancing in one of the termi- of town hall-like meetings across France. with a network of scientifi c re- Forum of Academy Workers, a nals, television footage on BFM TV showed. Consultations with local representatives search bodies employing about movement founded in January What started out last November as a are due to draw to a close next weekend, he staff of the historic 5,000 people. by staff of the MTA’s research undreds of “yellow vest” protesters backlash against Macron’s plan to hike fuel coinciding with calls by some ‘yellow vest’ Hungarian Academy of Last week, MTA president institutions, said on its Facebook yesterday began marches in Paris, taxes — part of his bid to push a cleaner en- campaigners to up the pressure on the gov- TSciences said their aca- Laszlo Lovasz and Innovations page. Hmarking the 17th straight weekend ergy model — has morphed into a broader ernment throughout March. demic freedom has been threat- and Technology Minister Las- “The points in the letter of of anti-government demonstrations despite movement decrying the government as out The movement has no single leader. ened by a new deal giving the zlo Palkovics announced that intent do not include any guar- attempts by French President Emmanuel of touch with the hardships faced by some After protests descended into riots in De- nationalist government infl u- they had reached an agreement antee that can be taken seri- Macron to quell discontent with a nation- households and low-income workers. cember, recent demonstrations been largely ence over its research institu- to separate the science research ously...about maintaining the wide series of debates. Turnout has dwindled since nearly peaceful. tions. network from the academy’s scientific and organisational Protesters wearing the neon high-visi- 300,000 people took part in road blockades Some 54% of French people backed or had Prime Minister Viktor Orban, teaching institutions. integrity and professional in- bility vests that have come to symbolise the and marches across France on November 17, sympathy with the ‘yellow vests’, an Ifop a conservative leader who came The deal ends several months dependence of the research movement were joined by others donning coming in at 46,600 last Saturday according poll taken on March 7-8 for online news site to power in 2010, has tightened of uncertainty over how the MTA network,” the Forum said in a pink tops, as child-care workers turned out to the interior ministry. Atlantico showed yesterday. control over Hungarian pub- would be reorganised. post. against a reform of their unemployment But protesters have carried on nonethe- That was up from 50% in mid-February lic life, including the courts, the The research arm would be run Concerns over the erosion of subsidies. less, with few signs of a halt in demonstra- but down from a peak of 72%. media, the economy, as well as by a new management body, with academic freedom and other Other gatherings were planned in several tions any time soon. The latest turnout fi g- Macron’s popularity has also improved education and now scientifi c re- members selected by the gov- democratic rights in Hungary French cities such as Bordeaux and Toulouse ures were not yet available. in recent weeks. An Ipsos poll released on search. ernment and MTA, according to have triggered several anti-gov- as well as smaller towns such as southerly Macron, who dropped the fuel tax in- March 6 showed his ratings improved by Hungary’s oldest and largest a joint letter of intent signed by ernment demonstrations in re- Puy-en-Velay. crease and budgeted an extra 10bn euros eight percentage points since December of academic institution, the acade- Lovasz and the minister. cent months. Some demonstrators staged a “fl ashmob” ($11.24bn) to help the poorest workers, has 2018, to a 28% approval level.

Merkel’s successor responds to Macron’s Europe vision Protests against Serb

AFP Macron also renewed his argument for president continue Berlin greater security co-operation and stressed the need for a common asylum policy to deal with the migrant crisis. DPA media and a framework for fair erman Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “Never since the Second World War has Belgrade elections. anointed successor outlined her vi- Europe been so necessary. And yet never The latest rally marked the Gsion for Europe, a German paper has Europe been in such a danger,” Macron protests’ 14th weekend in a row, reported yesterday, aligning with recent said, in what many see as the start of his rotests against Serbian and they have also spread to more French proposals on security but disagree- campaign for May’s European Parliament President Aleksandar Vucic than 20 cities and towns across ing on key social issues. elections. Pentered their fourth month the country. CDU party chief Annegret Kramp-Kar- AKK broadly aligned with the French yesterday with another large rally Sparked by an assault on oppo- renbauer, the likely future conservative leader on security, agreeing with his view in Belgrade. sition politician Borko Stefanovic candidate for the chancellery, sets out her that Europe should share a common border The protests in the capital, in late November, the protest was vision in an article to be published in the force. which have been held every Sat- initially held under the motto Sunday newspaper Welt an Sonntag. She also called for a common, permanent urday since December 8, routine- “stop to bloody shirts.” The paper released extracts yesterday. seat for Europe on the United Nations Se- ly draw more than 10,000 people. It has since adopted the slogan Her response to recent proposals from curity Council, a long-standing demand of This weekend once again saw “one of 5mn,” in a jab at Vucic, French President Emmanuel Macron in- Germany, although France is keen to keep its protesters marching with ban- who said after the early rallies cludes a call for a banking common market seat. ners and whistles, while thou- that he would not bow to a single and a pan-European climate pact. While she advocated boosting prosper- sands of people blockaded the demand “even if there were 5mn “Our Europe must become stronger” said ity in the bloc, she disagreed with Macron’s entrance to the headquarters of of you.” the politician often known simply as AKK, idea for a Europe-wide minimum salary. Serbian state broadcaster RTS for So far, the organisers have not as European fi gures grapple with rising pro- European centralism and the “European- one hour. lined up behind any opposition tectionist and nationalist forces. isation of social services and the minimum The march was halted for a group, which refl ects the mis- Her comments came after President Ma- wage would be the wrong way”, she argued. speech by Branislav Lecic, an ac- trust and disillusionment in Ser- cron set out his ideas for Europe’s future, in Merkel has said she won’t run again when tor and politician who was one of bian politics. an opinion piece published by several top her current term ends in 2021, and some ex- the leaders of Serbia’s fi rst mas- The protest is, however, backed European newspapers on Monday. pect she won’t last that long if her unhappy sive pro-democracy protests on by the largest opposition bloc, He called for reform of its passport-free left-right “grand coalition” implodes before March 9, 1991. the Alliance for Change, a broad Schengen area and the creation of a new then. At the core of the latest protest coalition grouping more than agency “for the protection of democracies” She has not issued a reaction to Macron’s CDU party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer: “Our Europe must become movement are demands for an 20 parties and movements from against cyber-attacks and fake news. comments, which were published on March 4. stronger” end to Vucic’s stranglehold of the across the political spectrum. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, March 10, 2019 INDIA

PEOPLE EDUCATION JUDICIARY CONTROVERSY DISEASE Former Kerala minister IIT alumni set up award Court orders accused Ramdev slams MNCs Swine flu claims 111 lives Thankappan dies at 84 for graduating students to plant saplings over HUL’s tea advert in 2 months in Gujarat

Senior Marxist leader and former Kerala minister The alumni of the 1969 batch of the Indian In a first-of-its-kind order, a Ghaziabad court Patanjali founder Baba Ramdev has slammed In just a little over two months, swine flu has V J Thankappan died yesterday, his family said. Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have recalled its arrest warrant against a man on multinational corporations after an advertisement claimed 111 lives in Gujarat even though the state He was 84. Thankappan died due to age-related launched an award to provide annual stipend to condition that he would plant five saplings, from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) allegedly Health Department claims it had declined in the issues at his home in in Thiruvananthapuram, a a graduating student of the institute every year. an off icial said yesterday. The court also ridiculed Indian culture. Hitting out at the company past few days. With an average of 500 cases per family member said. The four-time Communist A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has asked him to submit an aff idavit to prove he on Twitter on Friday, he called for a boycott of HUL week, 743 cases of influenza were registered Party of India-Marxist legislator also served been signed for the ‘Batch of 1969 Innovation has complied with the order, Rajiv Kumar, products. “What is the contribution of MNCs to India’s between February 18 and 24. Since January 1, at as the minister for Local Administration in the Fellow Award’ that will carry a monthly stipend Additional District Government Counsellor economic and cultural development?” Ramdev least 3,685 cases have been registered. Of these, E K Nayanar cabinet from 1987 to 1991. He is of Rs1 lakh for one year, a statement said (ADGC), said. The court had issued a non- asked. “What is the stature (aukaat) of these MNCs to 82% have recovered and 15% (562 patients) are survived by his wife and four children. The CPM yesterday. In exceptional cases, the awardee bailable warrant against Raju alias Kallu for be making unsavoury comments on India’s cultural undergoing treatment. “After reaching the plateau, leader began his career as a clerk in the Kerala may be considered for further support for a not attending trial in a four-year-old case of heritage? Is India, merely a market to be plundered?” the trend is now moving downward,” Health State Road Transport Corporation but soon quit maximum of six months. “To set up a special kidnapping and rape of a teen girl. Raju on The advertisement for the Red Label brand depicted Commissioner Jayanti Ravi said. “Casualties are to plunge into full-time politics. He first won fund for this award, the Batch of 1969 has Thursday urged the court to recall the warrant a man abandoning his father at the Kumbh Mela. But around 3%,” Ravi said. “On instructions from the from Nemon in 1983 and completed a hat trick collectively contributed over Rs1 crore with after which the court ordered him to plant five the man realised his mistake after seeing a father Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, we have from the same seat. In 2006, he won from the an aim to promote the spirit of innovation and saplings and submit an aff idavit in the court to caring for his young son and returned to meet his asked district hospitals to equip themselves with Neyattinkara parliamentary constituency. entrepreneurship” ascertain the compliance. father who was waiting with two cups of tea. permanent isolation wards,” she said. Nirav Modi running new business in London: daily

IANS sported a new look – handle bar from the ED and the CBI, the New Delhi moustache and long hair – and Ministry had made the request is seen avoiding questions posed for Nirav Modi’s extradition to him, replying “no comments”. with the UK authorities in Au- ugitive diamond trader The Congress Party slammed gust 2018. Nirav Modi, wanted in a the government for its “failure” “The UK is yet to respond Fmulti-crore bank fraud, to bring him back to justice. and is considering our request Akash Ambani (centre), son of Mukesh Ambani (right) and Nita Ambani (third left), their daughter Isha Ambani (third right) and her husband is living in a swanky Rs75-crore “In 2014, Prime Minister for extradition of Nirav Modi,” Anand Piramal (second right) pose during the wedding ceremony of Akash in Mumbai yesterday. fl at in a posh London locality Narendra Modi had promised Kumar said. “Despite whatever and has a fl ourishing new dia- to bring back Rs80 lakh crore we see on television today, the mond business, a UK daily re- black money, and deposit Rs15 status remains the same,” he ported yesterday. lakh in the bank accounts of added. Accused in the Rs13,500 crore each Indian. But instead he has When asked about the last Punjab National Bank (PNB) ensured that Rs1 lakh crore of communication from UK au- Celebrities gather for wedding fraud case, Nirav Modi is living honest taxpayers’ deposits are thorities, he said: “As far as the openly at a three-bedroom fl at, now being freely used by fraud- Ministry of External Aff airs is occupying half of a fl oor of the sters to lead a luxurious, guilt- concerned, when we make a re- landmark Centre Point tower free life in foreign shores,” Con- quest for extradition then that block, British daily The Tel- gress spokeswoman Priyanka request is sent on behalf of the of Mukesh Ambani’s son egraph reported. Chaturvedi said at a press con- investigative agencies. In the The rent of the fl at is under- ference. last six months, we have not re- DPA school together, according to a but yesterday it was trans- which saw performances by stood to be around £17,000 a Chaturvedi also alleged that ceived any request for any other Mumbai source who knows both families. formed into a fabulous wedding Chris Martin of Coldplay and month, which is approximately the prime minister turned a documents.” Both hold positions in their venue decorated with horses, el- The Chainsmokers, Vogue India over Rs15 lakh, the daily stated. blind eye to the PNB scam for On Friday, authorities in Ma- respective family businesses. ephants, peacocks – all made of reported. The Interpol had issued a more than eight months, there- harashtra destroyed Nirav Mo- ome of India’s top fi lm Among the fi rst guests to ar- fresh fl owers. The pre-celebrations in red corner notice against Nirav by allowing the fugitives a “free di’s 33,000 sq ft Alibaug beach stars, business leaders rive were former British prime The Ambani family – Mukesh Mumbai included a Harry Pot- Modi last July on the request of pass to fl ee India”. bungalow with controlled blast. Sand political personalities minister Tony Blair and his wife and Nita, the groom Akash and ter-themed party at Antilia, the the Enforcement Directorate Earlier in the day, offi cials of On February 26, the ED at- were arriving at a lavishly deco- Cherie, former UN secretary- his siblings Isha and Anant, as 27-fl oor skyscraper residence of (ED) and the Central Bureau of the Enforcement Directorate tached Rs147 crore properties of rated Mumbai venue yesterday general Ban Ki-moon and his well as grandmother Kokilaben the Ambanis near the Mumbai Investigation (CBI). said the UK Home Secretary has Modi and his associate compa- for the wedding of Akash Am- wife Yoo Soon-taek, Bollywood – were clad in sumptuous shades seafront. The report also claimed the referred India’s request to ex- nies in connection with the PNB bani, the scion of India’s richest celebrities Sha Rukh Khan, Priy- of pink with gold and silver. The street in front of Antilia he is involved in a new diamond tradite Nirav Modi to a court for probe. family. anka Chopra, Aamir Khan, Ran- The evening’s ceremonies has been decorated with lights business, run from an offi ce in initiating legal proceedings. Modi and his uncle Me- Akash, 27, is set to tie the knot bir Kapoor, Karan Johar and Sri were to followed by a blessings for weeks leading up to the Soho, just a few hundred yards “The UK Central Authority hul Choksi are under the CBI with his childhood friend Shloka Lankan cricketer Mahila Jaya- ceremony today at the same events. from his new apartment, which of Home Offi ce has confi rmed and the ED probe. The ED fi led Mehta, 28, in extravagant cel- wardene, Bollywood magazine venue and a grand reception at The wedding of Akash Am- was incorporated last May. the extradition request has been money laundering cases against ebrations spanning several days. Filmfare tweeted. the Ambani home in Mumbai to- bani’s twin sister Isha in 2018 However, Nirav Modi is not sent to the Westminster Mag- them and others on February 15 Akash is the son of Mukesh Hindu wedding rituals are to morrow. made headlines with festivities listed as a director at Companies istrate Court for further pro- on the basis of an FIR registered Ambani, whose estimated worth be held at the Jio World Centre One of the highlights of the in Lake Como in Italy, Udaipur House. ceedings,” said an offi cial. The by the CBI. is $50bn, according to Forbes’ at the Bandra Kurla Complex in wedding venue was a sprawling in Rajasthan where Beyonce was The news report claimed request to the court was for- The ED on May 24 and 26, 2019 Billionaires List. Mumbai. musical fountain in the grounds. among the performers and the Nirav Modi has acquired a Na- warded by the UK Home Offi ce 2018 fi led charge-sheets against He is the chairman of the oil- The multi-use convention A special show was planned December wedding at Antilia. tional Insurance number, issued a few days ago, an ED offi cial the two and a court had issued to-telecom conglomerate Reli- complex was recently dedicated today when the movement of the Founded by Dhirubhai Am- by the Department for Work and added. non-bailable warrants against ance Industries. to the city of Mumbai by Nita fountains would be combined bani in 1966 to manufacture Pensions, and has been able to The request for the extradi- them. Shloka is the daughter of Rus- Ambani, the groom’s mother with a performance by musi- fabrics and textiles, Reliance In- operate online bank accounts in tion was sent to the UK authori- Both left India in the fi rst sell Mehta, the managing direc- and chairperson of Reliance In- cians. dustries is today one of India’s the UK while wanted by Indian ties in July 2018. week of January 2018, weeks tor of Rosy Blue, ranked as one dustries’ philanthropic arm Re- The wedding festivities were largest private sector enterprises authorities. Meanwhile, Ministry of Ex- before the scam was reported of the top diamond companies liance Foundation. preceded by a three-day pre- engaged in petrochemicals, re- Earlier, a video released by ternal Aff airs (MEA) spokesman to the CBI. The ED has so far in India. The convention centre is set wedding bash at St Mortiz in fi ning, organised retail and tel- The Telegraph showed Modi Raveesh Kumar too said, based seized Rs4,765 crore properties She and Ambani attended to be completed later this year Switzerland on February 23-25 ecommunications. walking the London streets. He on the information received of Choksi and Modi. Probe into Andhra data Why the hacked BJP site still not up again IANS generated. Central Bureau of Investigation On Thursday, Pratik Sinha, New Delhi “Looks like the BJP is rede- in Gandhinagar in safeguarding who is co-founder of AltNews, signing the whole website as their platform against cyber at- tweeted: “BJP website has been not only the database but the tacks. down for THREE days after theft case gathers pace magine the website of Don- entire backup is also gone – On Wednesday, the Gujarat being hacked. Were they not ald Trump’s Republican only if the daily backups were Congress website was hacked doing daily back-ups of their IANS tory (FSL) for analysis. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) IParty in the “maintenance being done in the fi rst place with an inappropriate content website/database? It would Hyderabad The SIT was awaiting a reply and the YSR Congress party. mode” for over four days after – hence it is taking so long for posted on it. The Chhattisgarh have taken only hours to come from Amazon and Google about In a tit-for-tat, the Andhra some sort of “transgression” or them to up the website again,” BJP website was also hacked back online, if they had a recent the data being used by IT Grids. Pradesh government on Thurs- a full-fl edged hacking. If that Manan Shah, founder and CEO which is also “under mainte- back-up. Did BJP fail to follow probe into the alleged Police had fi led a case against day set up an SIT to probe data appears impossible, imagine of Avalance Global Solutions, nance”. the standard practices followed data theft case against IT IT Grids on March 2 over com- theft case against Telangana. this: The portal of India’s ruling told IANS. On Wednesday, BJP’s IT cell by most websites?” AGrids, a company pro- plaints that sensitive data in- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Bharatiya Janata Party that was “Normally, the security au- head Amit Malviya said the French security researcher viding IT services to Andhra cluding personal information of N Chandrababu Naidu alleged the allegedly hacked on Tuesday dit in case of hacking or some portal was likely to be up “by who goes by the name of Elliot Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam citizens of Andhra Pradesh was conspiracy was aimed at desta- morning was still down yester- sort of transgression takes two- tonight or tomorrow”. Alderson and who published Party (TDP), has gathered pace, being processed illegally by the bilising the state and destroying day after going into the “main- three hours and the portal is While admitting that the site Aadhaar data leaks in the past, an offi cial said yesterday. company without their consent. the TDP. At a news conference, tenance mode”. normally up within a day. This had experienced some sort of also tweeted: “The offi cial web- The Special Investigation The data was allegedly used by Naidu showed some documents The fact is that you can’t looks like serious hacking as it “transgression”, Malviya said site of @BJP4India has been Team (SIT) has stepped up the the company for an app devel- as evidence of the conspiracy. He remain in the “maintenance has wiped out everything from that the site was down due to a hacked. I guess they stole the probe, Inspector General of Po- oped by it for TDP members. claimed it all began on February mode” for so long, unless you static and dynamic content,” “technical glitch”, not hacking. database too”. lice Stephen Ravindra said, after The Telangana government 19 with YSR Congress leader Vijay are redesigning the whole por- Shah added. more searches and scene recon- on Wednesday set up the nine- Sai Reddy writing a letter to the tal from scratch after the data The Congress Gujarat struction at the company’s offi ce member SIT. Election Commission alleging the bases have been compromised, website was also hacked on Earlier hacking attempts on govt websites in Madhapur here. The SIT was on the lookout TDP had illegal access to digital say experts. Wednesday but it was up soon. The SIT along with scientifi c for IT Grids CEO D Ashok to fi nd data of individuals. The message on the BJP web- “Some Indian hacker or O The websites of at least 10 O Over 100 government and technical advisers and ex- out how he had access to data Naidu said on February 22, the site reads: “We’ll be back soon! group may also be behind the ministries including those of websites, including some perts visited the IT Grids offi ce. from government database. The YSR Congress submitted a mem- Sorry for the inconvenience but hacking. It appears hackers are defence, home aff airs, labour managed by the National “As part of the investigation, SIT chief said data of Telangana orandum to the Election Com- we’re performing some main- getting active as elections are and law went down for around Informatics Centre (NIC), were today we are reconstructing the citizens was also found with the mission and the very next day the tenance at the moment. We will near and cyber warfare will only six hours in April 2018 hacked in 2018, the parliament scene here,” Ravindra, who heads company. The police case and police in Hyderabad conducted a be back online shortly!” get intense,” said Shah, who is O Union Home Ministry was informed in December. the SIT told reporters. subsequent developments have raid on IT Grids. According to ethical cyber an ethical hacker. informed parliament last year O Over 90 Indian government He said the investigations were triggered a huge row between the The TDP leader warned that hackers, a portal that is “down” Shah and his expertise in that at least one website run websites and critical systems being conducted from all angles. two Telugu states with Andhra Telangana Chief Minister K for four-fi ve days can only be in cyber forensics has helped Gu- by the Indian government was were attacked by hackers He said devices and other mate- Pradesh alleging that the TDP’s Chandrashekhar Rao would have that mode if the entire coding is jarat and Rajasthan police, the hacked every alternate day within hours of the Pulwama rials seized so far have been sent data was stolen under a conspir- to pay a price for stealing the TDP being done and content being Ministry of Defence and the in 2016 suicide strike on February 14. to the Forensic Science Labora- acy by Telangana’s ruling party data and for fi ling false cases. Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 19 INDIA

Congress is new address for disgruntled Bihar politicians

IANS More than the ruling Bharatiya cumbent BJP MP from Patna (and former chief minister Rabri pact with the JD-U and decided which the Congress is a part. “Both will join Congress after Patna Janata Party and its major ally, Saheb Satrughan Sinha “is Devi) and (son) Tejashwi Yadav in to contest from 17 of Bihar’s 40 Mahboob Ali Qaiser of the Lok they are assured of tickets,” a the Janata Dal-United of Chief ready to opt for the Congress Patna recently. But it had noth- seats - but not from Purnea. Janshakti Party, a BJP ally, is also party leader said. Minister Nitish Kumar, or the if the party offers him a ticket ing to do with RJD ticket; it was Singh is the brother of N K keen to return to Congress as But both Yadav and Singh are hatrughan Sinha, Uday main opposition Rashtriya Janata as his chances of getting a BJP more to pressure the Congress Singh, a retired bureaucrat who is the BJP is eyeing his seat under known criminals-turned-politi- Singh, Kirti Azad, Arun Dal, the Congress has become ticket is almost nil after he re- to give him a ticket. One thing is the chairman of the 15th Finance the NDA’s seat-sharing formula. cians. If Yadav was once closed SKumar, Mahboob Ali the most sought-after party by peatedly targeted the party and clear: Satrughan Sinha will not Commission and a senior BJP Qaiser,a traditional Congress to Lalu Prasad, Singh was close to Qaiser, Pappu Yadav and Anant well-known disgruntled leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi”, join the RJD as it will annoy his member. member, joined the LJP of Union Nitish Kumar. Singh are all non-Congress pol- of other parties. a close aide told IANS. upper caste supporters,” the aide Arun Kumar, a disgruntled Minister Ram Vilas Paswan in In the last two months some iticians but share one thing in Unlike during the 2014 Lok According to the aide, Sinha explained. member of the Rashtriya Lok 2014 after the party denied him well-known leaders from other common: they are keen to con- Sabha polls, it’s a diff erent Con- may join the Congress after party Senior BJP leader and former Samta Party (RLSP) who repre- a ticket. parties have joined the Congress. test the upcoming Lok Sabha gress this time around. It is ag- president Rahul Gandhi clears a MP from Purnea, Uday Singh, sented Jehanabad in the outgoing Two Bahubali leaders - Pappu Prominent among them is the elections in Bihar as candidates gressive and not ready to fol- ticket for him. who had resigned from the par- Lok Sabha, is also in talks with Yadav, expelled from the RJD and NCP’s Tariq Anwar (Katihar), of the Congress Party. They low the dictate of RJD chief Lalu “Shatrughan Sinha had met ty last January, is also stand- the Congress to contest on its who represented Madhepura and suspended BJP member Kirti are among nearly a dozen non- Prasad, its ally. Lalu in Ranchi (where the RJD ing in line for a Congress ticket. ticket. He is confi dent of victory an independent legislator, and Azad (Darbganga) and former Congress leaders keen on party Bollywood actor-turned- chief is serving time after be- Singh’s turn-around came after with the support of the Grand Anant Singh are also in touch MP Lovely Anand, wife of jailed tickets. politician and disgruntled in- ing convicted of graft), his wife the BJP fi nalised its seat-sharing Alliance or mahagathbandan, of with the Congress for tickets. former MP Anand Mohan. Thakor dispels New recruits speculations, says he is with the Congress

IANS said, adding he was unhappy with Ahmedabad the functioning of some Congress leaders in the state, but this was now a matter of the past. ongress’ maverick OBC The Radhanpur legislators set to lawmaker Alpesh Thakor, rest speculations that he wanted Cwho had been keeping the a Congress ticket to contest the party on tenterhooks amid specu- Lok Sabha elections and scoff ed lation that he was headed for the at questions that he was trying to ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, accommodate his wife in his place cleared the air yesterday saying his while he becomes an MP. concerns had been settled for now. “My wife will never enter poli- Thakor’s announcement came tics,” Thakor said, adding that he as a respite for the Congress, would continue to fi ght for the which faced the twin shocks of rights of poor, unemployed, farm- two of its legislators joining the ers, Dalits and Adivasis. BJP on Friday, with one of them Also yesterday, a senior Con- being rewarded by a cabinet gress leader resigned from the berth in Gujarat Chief Minis- party saying demanding evi- ter Vijay Rupani’s government dence of air strike made him feel Recruits from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment (JAKLI) of the Indian Army take part in a passing out parade after graduating in Srinagar yesterday. The within 24 hours. ashamed. 152 recruits, many of them locals, graduated after completing a one-year training programme in order to be inducted as regular members of the regiment. For nearly a fortnight, Thakor In his resignation letter to party who joined the Congress in the president Rahul Gandhi, spokes- runup to the 2017 assembly elec- man Vinod Sharma said after the tions had been giving sleepless Congress demanded evidence of nights to the party leadership af- air strike, he was feeling ashamed ter his meetings with Rupani and to be known as a Congressman. Gujarat BJP president Jitubhai Va- The Indian Air Force (IAF) had ghani. carried out an air strike in Pakistan’s Addressing a press conference Balakot region on February 22 fol- here, Thakor admitted that he was lowing a suicide attack on a Cen- hankering for a minister’s post but tral Reserve Police Force convoy on Advani, Joshi likely to decided against it later after meet- February 14, which claimed the lives ing the Congress leadership. He of 44 troopers in Jammu and Kash- met senior party leader Ahmed mir’s Pulwama district. Patel in New Delhi on Friday to Thereafter, senior party leader discuss his concerns. Former Gu- Digvijaya Singh had said the gov- jarat Congress president Arjun ernment should release the evi- Modhwadia was also present at dence of air strikes as the US did contest Lok Sabha polls the meeting. after killing Al Qaeda chief Osama “At one point of time, I did as- bin Laden in 2011. IANS The parliamentary board If Advani contests, he would ered the two top leaders of the ducted into Modi’s Council of pire to become a minister to be “I was ashamed to be a Con- New Delhi meeting, attended among oth- become the oldest MP ever to BJP after the late prime minis- Ministers as Micro, Small and able to serve the community better gress member. Thus, I resigned ers by Prime Minister Narendra fi ght the Lok Sabha elections ter Atal Bihari Vajpayee, did not Medium Enterprises Minis- but have now decided to take the from the party,” Sharma said. Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah after Ram Sunder Das of the Ja- fi nd a place in the parliamentary ter but dropped later on age path of struggle,” Thakor said. “The Congress has demoralised here will be no bar of 75 also discussed the criteria for nata Dal-United, who won from board, when Amit Shah took grounds. “If I had to go to the BJP, I would defence forces by demanding evi- years for Bharatiya Ja- ticket distribution to sitting Hajipur in 2009 at the age of 88 charge as the party president. Koshyari, a former chief min- have gone at least six months ago,” dence of the air strike,” he said. Tnata Party leaders will- MPs. and ended his stint at 93. Instead he created a ‘Marg Dar- ister of Uttarakhand, represents ing to contest the upcoming Advani, currently the old- Besides Advani, party veter- shak Mandal’ that comprises Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar Lok Sabha polls, the party’s top est member of the Lok Sabha ans Joshi, 84, Shanta Kumar, 85, Prime Minister Modi, Home constituency. He also served as a Poll dates to be announced decision-making body decided at 91 years, has represented the Kalraj Mishra, 77, and Bhagat Minister Rajnath Singh, Shah Rajya Sabha MP. at its marathon meeting on Fri- Gandhinagar constituency since Singh Koshyari, 77, are also like- himself as well as Joshi and Ad- The change in BJP’s position The Election Commission (EC) big government events, has day night. 1991 and has been winning all ly to be fi elded in the Lok Sabha vani. on veteran leaders is being seen is expected to announce the been booked by the poll panel While there was no offi cial the last fi ve general elections by polls, the sources said. Shanta Kumar has been rep- as a move giving weightage to schedule for 2019 general elec- for preparatory meetings. The statement by the party on the big margins. Joshi, who won in 2014 resenting Kangra constitu- ‘winnability’ of candidates than tions early next week. The EC schedule for the 2014 Lok Sabha decision of the parliamentary In the 2017 assembly polls, from Kanpur, was the BJP ency in Himachal Pradesh. The their age. conducted a review meeting elections was announced on board, sources confi rmed party the BJP faced a tough fi ght from president between 1991 and former chief minister of the hill This also comes in the wake of yesterday as part of prepara- March 5. The elections could be veterans like L K Advani, Murli the Congress and its tally was 1993 and has also represent- state was fi rst elected from there opposition parties joining hands tions for the multi-phase Lok spread over several phases over Manohar Joshi and Shanta Ku- restricted to 99 of the 182 seats. ed Allahabad and Varanasi in in 1989, and re-elected in the ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Sabha polls. Sources said the the next two months. The Lok mar would be allowed to contest The party failed to open its ac- parliament. In 2014, he was 1998, 1999 and 2014. The sources said the move schedule could be announced Sabha elections in India are the the polls if they wish. count in districts like Morbi, shifted to Kanpur after the Mishra, the BJP’s prominent was well-calculated as the BJP tomorrow or on Tuesday. The biggest democratic exercise in However, the age limit of 75 Amreli and Gir Somnath while party decided to field Naren- Brahmin face in Uttar Pradesh, does not want to trigger any Vigyan Bhavan, the venue for the world. would continue to hold for party in Gandhinagar, it won fi ve of dra Modi from Varanasi. is representing Deoria in the controversy by denying the vet- and government positions. the seven seats. Advani and Joshi, consid- current Lok Sabha. He was in- erans tickets.

BJP confident of Play time winning all 10 seats IUML to fi eld 2 sitting MPs Haryana’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party said yesterday it was capa- ble of fighting the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections on its own for elections from Kerala and was focusing on winning all the 10 parliamentary seats in the state. IANS ist candidate and All India Stu- two of them would be fi elded as “The BJP is capable of contesting Malappuram, Kerala dents’ Federation of India presi- LDF supported Independents. and winning the elections on its dent V P Sanu, who is having his “In 2004, the LDF won 18 seats own,” BJP leader Anil Jain said fi rst outing in an election. from Kerala and the Left was the after a meeting. he Indian Union Muslim Basheer, also a former state backbone of the fi rst UPA gov- The meeting was attended by League (IUML), the sec- minister, had won from Ponnani ernment. Our confi dence levels senior party leader Kalraj Mishra, Tond biggest ally of the in 2009 and 2014. This time he are pretty high this time,” said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Congress-led United Democratic is pitted against Left-supported Balakrishnan. Lal Khattar, state BJP president Front in Kerala, yesterday an- Independent candidate P V An- However in the 2014 polls, the Subhash Barala, ministers and nounced its decision to fi eld sit- war, a sitting legislator. LDF won in eight seats with the legislators. ting MPs from two seats for the Meanwhile, the CPM-led Left CPM candidates winning in fi ve, “We are focusing on winning all upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Democratic Front (LDF) an- LDF Independents winning in 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state,” IUML supremo Hyderali Shi- nounced its list of 16 candidates two and CPI winning in one. Khattar said. hab Thangal told reporters that P for the polls. The party’s ally, the This time P Karunakaran who Barala said that the opposition K Kunhalikutty will contest from CPI, had earlier announced its had completed a hat-trick of parties had no issues for the forth- Malappuram and E T Moham- four candidates. wins from Kasargode constitu- coming elections, alleging that the med Basheer from Ponnani. With this, the two communist ency has been dropped and in his Congress and Indian National Lok Kunhalikutty, a former state parties are contesting all the 20 place comes former party legis- Dal (INLD) were even unable to minister, contested from Malap- seats in Kerala, leaving nothing lator K P Satish Chandran. find candidates. puram following the sudden de- for the LDF’s eight other allies. The other candidates include Children play on a statue of a lion at a religious camp as they search for reusable materials The BJP has been in power in mise of sitting member E Ahamed State CPM secretary Kodiyeri sitting members P K Sreemathi following the conclusion of the Kumbh Mela festival, in Allahabad yesterday. The Sangam area is Haryana since October 2014, in 2017. He won a huge victory Balakrishnan told reporters that (Kannur), M B Rajesh (Palakkad), a bathing site, at the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, known while it had won seven out of the then, and this time is facing young the party has decided to fi eld 14 P K Biju (Alathur) and A Sampath for the Kumbh Mela festival which runs from January to March. 10 Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 Communist Party of India-Marx- candidates on their symbol, while (Attingal). parliamentary elections. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, March 10, 2019 PAKISTAN

Iran urges Pakistan to act against group Govt curtails powers behind border attack

Reuters claimed responsibility for the Dubai attack. “We are awaiting your de- cisive operations against these of anti-graft bodies ranian President Hassan terrorists,” IRNA quoted Rou- Rouhani yesterday called hani as telling Khan. Internews Department (S and GAD) while corruption drive of the ACEP. subject “Instructions regarding A source belonging to Punjab Ifor “decisive” action by “We should not allow dec- Islamabad following the federal govern- Prime Minister Imran Khan disciplinary and other proceed- Anti-Corruption Establishment Pakistan against a militant ades of friendship and fra- ment’s instructions instructed had appointed PSP offi cer Hus- ings against the employees of the lamented that instead of ad- group behind a deadly suicide ternity between the two all provincial administrative sain Asghar as ACE Punjab federal government”. dressing the wrongs on part of attack in a border area, and countries to be aff ected by n a major development, the secretaries, commissioners, chief under whose command All the cases of federal civil the NAB, the federal government said inaction by Islamabad the actions of small terrorist Imran Khan-led govern- senior member board of revenue, the provincial anti-corruption servants are dealt with by the has clipped the provincial anti- could jeopardise relations be- groups, the source of whose fi - Iment of Pakistan has barred chairman planning and develop- body launched massive cam- Special Judge Central and in- corruption departments powers tween the neighbours. nancing and arms is known to the provincial anti-corruption ment and all heads of attached paign against corruption in the vestigation is done by FIA as to check corruption and misuse Iran’s state news agency both of us,” Rouhani said. entities, particularly the proac- departments that the provincial province. per law. of authority in the case of federal IRNA said Rouhani’s remarks Iran has blamed its regional tive Anti-Corruption Estab- anti-corruption department has However, this drive upset Sources in the federal gov- employees who hold most of the came in a telephone conver- rival Saudi Arabia and arch- lishment Punjab (ACEP) from no jurisdiction on the federal many infl uential and power- ernment insist that this OM senior positions in the provincial sation with Pakistani Prime enemies Israel and the United proceeding against federal of- civil servants regardless of their ful including politicians from has been issued to save federal setup. Minister Imran Khan, who States for the attack and other fi cers posted in the provinces, posting under the provincial ruling PTI and members of the government employees from The source said that in the said he would soon have “good cross-border raids, an accusa- including those belonging to governments. bureaucracy. unnecessary harassment at the case of Punjab, the vast major- news” for Iran, according to tion rejected by the countries. Pakistan Administrative Serv- Although, the federal gov- It is believed that the pow- hands of the provincial anti- ity of the corruption cases in the the agency. “It is in Pakistan’s own in- ice (PAS, also known as DMG) ernment’s offi ce memoran- ers of the provincial anti-cor- corruption establishments. province belong to the federal A suicide bomber killed 27 terest not to allow our ter- and Police Service of Pakistan dum issued on February 7, on ruption departments have been These sources said that al- employees. The source said that members of Iran’s elite Revo- ritory to be used by terror- (PSP) in cases of corruption and the subject is applicable on all clipped following pressure from ready the bureaucracy is har- the fresh order will frustrate the lutionary Guards in mid-Feb- ist groups, and the Pakistani misuse of authority. the provincial governments, in the powerful quarters in the assed and hounded by the NAB anti-corruption drive launched ruary in a southeastern region army is prepared to confront On March 7, the Punjab Serv- the case of Punjab this order Punjab. On March 7, the S and owing to which the civil servants in Punjab on the orders of Prime where security forces are fac- the terrorists more decisively ices and General Administration will severely dent the anti- GAD issued offi cial letter on the are hesitant to take decisions. Minister Imran Khan. ing a rise in attacks by mili- with the information provided tants from the country’s Sunni by Iran,” IRNA quoted Khan as Muslim minority. saying. The Sunni group Jaish al Khan said Pakistani forces Adl (Army of Justice), which had come close to the terror- says it seeks greater rights and ists’ hideout and there would PIA lost better living conditions for soon be “good news” for Iran, Bodies of the ethnic minority Baluchis, IRNA reported. luggage worth over missing Opening of airspace for Rs20mn in transit fl ights delayed fi ve years climbers Internews Further, Sialkot, Rahim Yar Internews Karachi Khan and Sukkur airports Islamabad which were set to reopen today found will remain closed till March 11 akistan’s airspace will as well. he national carrier, Pakistan remain closed for all For entry and exit into and International Airlines (PIA), Reuters Ptransit fl ights till tomor- out of Pakistan, only spe- Tlost passenger luggage worth Islamabad row, the Civil Aviation Au- cifi c airspace can be used, the over Rs20mn in the last fi ve years thority (CAA) said yesterday. notifi cation added. (2012-2016), an audit report re- The CAA released a new Airports across Pakistan leased yesterday revealed. he bodies of a British and Italian notifi cation as per which the where fl ight operations Luggage worth Rs3,975,000 climber who went missing while as- opening of Pakistan’s airspace were resumed earlier this went missing from Multan Tcending Pakistan’s so-called “Killer has been delayed till 3pm on week will continue to oper- and Bahawalpur airports dur- Mountain” have been found, the Italian March 11. In a notifi cation a ate as per schedule till 5am ing 2012-13, the report added. ambassador to Pakistan said yesterday. day earlier, the aviation au- on March 15. Flight opera- During 2014-15, luggage worth Italian Daniele Nardi and fellow moun- Snow packed mountain of northern Pakistan is seen in this file photo. thority had announced that tions at Karachi, Multan, Rs24,023,000 went missing from taineer Tom Ballard were attempting a rare transit fl ights will be allowed Chitral, Lahore, Islama- Karachi airport, it further said. winter ascent of the 8,126m (26,660ft) stood to be at a high altitude on Nanga Par- scending from the summit of Pakistan’s K2, to resume operations from bad, Peshawar, Quetta and As per the audit report, the Nanga Parbat in the Himalayas, considered bat’s treacherous Mummery route that no the world’s second-tallest mountain. 3pm on Saturday. Faisalabad airports will run luggage belonging to passengers one of the hardest mountaineering feats in one has successfully climbed, meaning their The fi rst successful winter ascent of However, the new notifi ca- as per schedule till 5am on kept going missing owing to the the world. bodies are unlikely to be recovered. Nanga Parbat was made in February 2016. tion stated that the airspace March 15. negligence of the airline. “The “With great sadness I inform that the The two climbers were last heard from on A Polish climber died on the mountain in has been closed for all over- Flight operations at most management was apprised of the search for @NardiDaniele and Tom Ballard February 24, when Nardi, an experienced January 2018, but his female French climb- fl ying fl ights from east to west airports had resumed over the situation in 2017 but no response is over as...the search team has confi rmed climber with a high profi le in Italy, called his ing partner was saved by climbers who had and west to east till 3pm on week, however, the reopening was received,” it added. that the silhouettes spotted on Mummery wife. been airlifted from K2 to conduct a daring March 11 while some transit of the airspace nationwide had The report further stated that at about 5,900m are those of Daniele and Ballard is the son of famed British climber night-time rescue mission. fl ights between the north and been delayed. according to the rules and regula- Tom. RIP #NangaParbat,” Italian envoy Alison Hargreaves who became the fi rst In June 2017, a Spanish man and an Ar- south of Pakistan’s airspace Pakistan had closed its air- tions, the duty offi cer is responsi- Stefano Pontecorvo tweeted. woman to climb Mount Everest unaided in gentinian were killed in an avalanche while have been permitted to fl y over space last week following ble if luggage goes missing. The bodies of the climbers are under- 1995 but died later the same year while de- trying to reach the summit. some routes. escalating ties with India. Sharif refuses For border residents, a sense of to be shifted grave inside their bunkers

Deen’s shelter, a stone’s throw By Sajjad Qayyum, AFP from his house in the village of to hospital Dhanna, Pakistan Dhanna some 5km (3 miles) from the LoC, is as tiny as it is un- comfortable: just 4ft (1m) long Internews “I request the haudhry Hakam Deen and 3ft wide. Lahore Jail authorities has a bunker – a cold, Most adults cannot stand to establish Cdamp hole dug in the beneath its low ceiling, forced an immediate ground – next to his home where to sit or squat on cardboard or enewed eff orts of his resuscitation and he and his family have often tak- carpets, huddled around a mud family have failed as lifesaving unit on jail en refuge amid soaring tensions stove whose smoke makes the Rformer prime minister premises” with India. inhabitants cough. Nawaz Sharif has once again Spending the night inside, “When shelling starts we take refused to be shifted to any her father’s health through her he said, “feels like sitting in a our children... inside the bun- hospital for his treatment. Twitter account. She urged graveyard”. ker,” Deen says, looking down. Pakistan Muslim League- the prison authorities to set The shelter dates from the “They don’t have strength Nawaz (PML-N) leaders up at once a resuscitation and Kargil confl ict, a skirmish be- in their legs to even walk to the Shahbaz Sharif, Maryam Na- life-saving unit for the thrice- tween India and Pakistan in dis- bunker, they don’t eat anything waz, Hamza Shahbaz and elected prime minister of the puted Kashmir in 1999. inside out of fear,” he adds. Khawaja Asif along with the country. Twenty years later, the nucle- For his older brother Chaud- personal doctor of Sharif vis- “Just met MNS. Since he ar-armed neighbours are again hry Maqbool, being in the bun- ited the Kot Lakhpat jail and hasn’t agreed to be shifted to at loggerheads. ker is worse than just being in a tried to convince the former hospital and his heart disease The latest crisis was sparked cemetery: it feels like sitting in a prime minister during their has worsened (according to by a February 14 suicide bomb- grave itself. two-hour-long meeting to cardiologists sent by the govt ing in Indian-administered The white and blue walls of agree to his treatment at the to examine him y’day). I re- Kashmir that killed 40 Indian Deen’s home are studded with Punjab Institute of Cardiology quest the Jail authorities to paramilitaries, and was claimed holes, some the size of a fi st. or any other health facility of establish an immediate resus- by a Pakistan-based militant One shell landed in his kitchen, his choice. citation and lifesaving unit on group. while another broke an outside Chaudhry Hakam Deen (second right) sits with relatives in their bunker next to their house in Dhanna But Sharif did not agree and jail premises,” reads one of her In its aftermath, New Delhi door. village, near the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-administered Kashmir during a cross-border shelling by said he should be treated only tweets. and Islamabad launched tit-for- He has piled sandbags at the Indian troops. at the prison. “I feel comfort- “Being a 3 times prime min- tat air strikes on each other’s entrance to his bunker. But in able in jail. I’m taken to a hos- ister and leader of biggest po- territory, igniting fears of fresh the event of an explosion, the a dozen houses, a health centre at a standstill here,” said Sardar “world has come to an end”. pital but sent back without litical party and of millions of confl ict in South Asia. packed earth walls and the roof and a service station that had Javed, a local journalist. She and her family cannot fl ee, giving any treatment. I cannot people, this is the least he de- The nuclear-armed neigh- of branches and plastic sheets been hit by the Indian strikes. “When people hear a sound however, for fear of losing their tolerate more humiliation and serves,” she argues in another bours regularly send shells and may not be enough to protect The women and children of they become nervous. They two buff alo - their only assets. whatever the treatment they tweet. gunfi re across the de facto bor- those huddled inside. Deen’s family were fi nally evacu- don’t know what will happen to At Bibi’s side, her 35-year- wish to extend to me, give it in Maryam, her grandmother der in Kashmir, known as the Several civilians and soldiers ated to the nearby town of Kotli, them the next moment.” old daughter-in-law, Jameela the jail,” he was quoted as tell- Shamim Akhtar and other Line of Control, or LoC. died in the recent shelling on which was less exposed. Another resident, Ulfat Bibi, Akhtar, is holding her two chil- ing his family. family members’ earlier at- But as they stumbled to the both sides of the LoC. Tensions may have eased for simply fortifi ed her house, rein- dren, aged two and fi ve. Citing a report of medical tempt to convince Sharif for brink of war in recent weeks, In Dhanna, the shelling was so now, but overall the shelling has forcing the thickness of the walls Their eyes look into the dis- specialists sent by the govern- availing healthcare facil- there was a surge in the al- intense that most of the 2,000 increased dramatically since and ceiling. tance, and they appear afraid. ment to examine the ex-pre- ity outside the jail made on ready-heavy fi ring, and fami- villagers fl ed. Only a handful 2016, and locals fear worse is to Still, the grandmother in They “are so terrifi ed that they mier in the jail on Thursday, Thursday also remained lies such as Deen’s found the stayed to protect their property. come. her 50s says, each time the have become psychotic”, their Maryam raised an alarm about abortive. bunkers a miserable refuge. An AFP correspondent saw “This is a valley of fear. Life is shelling begins it feels like the mother says. Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES

Lorenzana Bicol raises red fl ag over rising fears US, China cases of measles and dengue clash

By Rhaydz B Barcia By Dempsey Reyes Manila Times Manila Times

he Department of efence Secretary Delfi n Health-Centre for Health Lorenzana has said he TDevelopment (DoH- Dwas more worried about CHD) in Bicol has raised the red China and the United States fl ag on the region as 10 deaths clashing over the South China from measles and dengue were Sea (West Philippine Sea) despite reported in the fi rst quarter of assurances to the contrary made the year. recently by Chinese Ambassador Ernie Vera, DoH-Bicol re- to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. gional director, said measles “That was also mentioned and dengue cases were rising as to me by ambassador Zhao, parents remain hesitant to have that they will never attack us,” their children vaccinated after Lorenzana told reporters in a text the Dengvaxia controversy. message. He said, poor coverage of “I worry about the two of vaccination across the region them coming to blows because it specifi cally in the province of will involve us,” he said. Albay, was a cause for alarm. On Wednesday, Zhao gave as- The DoH-CHD, through the surances that Beijing would not Philippine Integrated Disease launch any attack against Ma- Surveillance and Response, has nila, especially in the contested recorded 493 measles cases in West Philippine Sea, as he said the region as of March 4. the region should be worried Of this number, 148 cases about “the other side.” were in Albay, 122 in Camarines Although he did not name Sur, 106 in Sorsogon, 86 in Mas- who “the other side” was, the bate, 23 in Camarines Norte, Chinese ambassador was appar- and seven in Catanduanes. ently referring to the US, which At least six affl icted children has been conducting patrols in have died — three in Masbate, the West Philippine Sea. and one each in Albay, Cama- Earlier this week, the Defence rines Sur and Sorsogon. chief said the Philippines does The health offi cial said that The Department of Health-Centre for Health Development (DoH-CHD) in Bicol is concerned as 10 deaths from measles and dengue were reported in the first quarter of the year. not wish to get involved in any while the increasing trend could war as he pushed for a review of not yet be considered as an out- said. He added that the DoH in sles. “We’re personally con- 756 dengue cases from January provinces of Sorsogon, Albay, ders. As outbreaks continue the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty break, they had classifi ed Bi- Bicol was closely co-ordinat- ducting both fixed point and to March 2, with five deaths of Camarines Norte, Masbate and across the US and other coun- between the country and the US. col under those in the red fl ag ing with its partners and other community-based house-to- children from six to 10 years Catanduanes posted the high- tries, and travellers continue Zhao’s statement came days situation, meaning an alarming agencies in the intensive cam- house catch-up immunisation old. est number of cases compared to bring measles to places like after US Secretary of State Mike condition. paign to reduce the prevalence with local government unit Camarines Sur had the to the same period last year. Costa Rica where it was once Pompeo also assured the Philip- “Measles and dengue are of measles and would continue health personnel to ensure that highest incidence of dengue Meanwhile, the United Na- eliminated, the UNF said it pines protection from any armed preventable diseases but we’re providing technical assistance the children are protected. with 425, next is Sorsogon with tions Foundation (UNF) report was clear that this global prob- attack in the West Philippine afraid of the complication of to all areas. That is why we call on the 110, Albay with 88, Camarines said that the measles outbreak lem requires a global solution, Sea, during his recent two-day these diseases and we must be To prevent a possible out- full co-operation of parents Norte with 63, Masbate with was on the rise globally despite which is vaccine. visit to Manila. The Chinese en- proactive. break, the DoH-CHD is en- and everyone to have their 47 and Catanduanes with 22. effective vaccine. It added that measles im- voy said the common interest of We have also established a forcing a three-phase immu- children vaccinated,” Vera But the DoH warned that It said that measles, one of munisation had already saved China, the US and even South- fast lane for measles patients nisation approach to control said. while Camarines Sur had the the world’s most contagious 21mn lives and reduced deaths east Asian countries was to keep in government hospitals,” Vera and prevent the spread of mea- The DoH-CHD has reported highest cases of dengue, the diseases, does not respect bor- by 80% since 2001. peace and stability.

Local NGOs face Belgium, EU probe

By Dempsey Reyes the Philippines. The EU, meanwhile, mitment (to investigate the incidents), Manila Times gave an initial 621,000 euros to the the Philippine government will soon groups. A second tranche of fi nancial provide them necessary documenta- assistance in the amount of 1.3mn eu- tions, offi cial reports, evidences or he European Union (EU) and the ros would follow, Parlade said. whatever administrative actions done Belgian government are poised Last month, a delegation from Ma- on the part of the Philippine govern- Tto investigate non-government nila, which included Parlade, went to ment,” Parlade said in a text message. organisations (NGOs) based in the Brussels to discuss with EU offi cials, He said that in their meetings, offi - Philippines on suspicion that these members of the European Parliament cials of the EU and Brussels said they were being used as fronts of the Com- and the European did not want to be seen as “fi nanciers” munist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Commission the Philippine govern- of a terrorist organisation. and the New People’s Army (NPA), the ment’s concern that some groups be- Parlade said that in January, the EU Armed Forces of the Philippines said. ing funded by the EU maybe involved reaffi rmed that the CPP and the NPA Brig Gen Antonio Parlade Jr, the in communist activities such as radi- were in their list of terrorist organiza- military’s deputy chief of staff for civ- calising the youth and luring students tions. il-military operations, said the EU and to join the NPA. The Philippine delega- He said Gunnar Wiegand, manag- Brussels made the commitment to look tion asked EU offi cials to stop giving ing director for Asia and the Pacifi c of into the report of a Philippine delega- monetary aid to these organisations. the European External Action Service, tion that at least seven NGOs receiving According to Parlade, the Belgian quipped that the CPP and NPA should funding from the EU and Belgium were government was giving fi nancial sup- realise that communism “all over the being used to help recruit NPA mem- port to seven NGOs, while other coun- world is dead.” bers. tries in Europe had been funding all Philippine military offi cials have Parlade said Belgium was pro- groups connected with the CPP. earlier claimed that the CPP and NPA grammed to release 3mn euros a year “The engagement in EU was explor- were trying to recruit college students for fi ve years to seven NGOs based in atory. Now that they gave their com- in 10 universities in Metro Manila. Senator’s call to hire Filipinos over foreigners

By Javier J Ismael Manila Times

mid the reported infl ux of for- eign workers, mostly Chinese, ASen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito called on the government to hire Filipi- nos instead of foreigners. “Filipino workers should be priori- tised in job opportunities, especially in the ‘Build, Build, Build’ programme which is designed to generate jobs for Filipinos,” Ejercito said in a statement. The senator issued the call following reports that throngs of Chinese nation- als work in projects funded by China under the Build, Build, Build programme of the government. Ejercito cited the inherent skills and positive work ethics of Filipinos, which make them excel in various fi elds. Earlier, Anna Mae Lamentillo, head of the committee that oversees the govern- ment’s ‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure Issued in Public Interest by programme, said the Philippine labour force could meet the higher demand for Foreign workers stand at a bridge construction site in Manila. construction workers because of the ris- ing employment rate. years ago. The labour department ear- City mayor and former congressman Lamentillo said the country’s em- lier reported it had issued almost 52,000 representing the lone District of the city, ployment rate went up to 94.6% in July alien employment permits for workers is seeking re-election in the midtern 2018 from 94.4%n the same period two from China. Ejercito, former San Juan polls in May. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, March 10, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Political crisis hurts Trudeau’s image as elections loom Justin Trudeau rose to power in Canada as a champion of feminism and indigenous rights, quickly earning him golden boy status at home and abroad as a progressive leader. But a major political scandal that sparked the resignation of two of his ministers — both women, one indigenous — has tarnished his image just seven months before national elections. Pundits say the 47-year-old premier faces a tough battle just to stay in offi ce, with the latest polls showing his Liberals trailing the Conservatives for the fi rst time. For weeks, Trudeau’s government has been rocked by accusations of meddling in the criminal prosecution of engineering giant SNC-Lavalin, which was charged with Why economics must get corruption over alleged bribes paid to secure contracts in Libya. His attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould, who said she experienced “consistent and sustained” political pressure to shield the company from a trial, stepped down. Budget minister Jane Philpott followed suit, as did longtime Trudeau friend and top aide Gerry Butts. broader before it gets better Last week, Trudeau addressed the allegations head-on, telling reporters in Ottawa that he had learned “lessons” from problem: illusionary precision. The These are just three recent examples models within the fi eld; economists the crisis — but denying any wrongdoing. By Mohamed A El-Erian New York Fed now follows every policy meeting of how economists have dropped also must incorporate insights from For the opposition, that wasn’t enough. with a release of statements, minutes, the ball. In addition, economists other disciplines that the profession has They have renewed their calls for Trudeau to resign. transcripts, blue-dot plots, and a press are struggling to explain recent overlooked. “Trudeau is facing a serious crisis of confi dence in his he economics profession took conference, signalling to markets a productivity developments, the A discipline long dominated by leadership,” said Stephanie Chouinard, a politics professor at a beating after most of its level of sophistication that is scarcely implications of rising inequality, the “high priests” must now adopt a the Royal Military College of Canada. leading practitioners failed to realistic in a world of fl uidity and impact of persistently negative interest more open mindset. That means predict the 2008 global fi nan- heightened uncertainty. rates in the eurozone, the longer- acknowledging and addressing “Seeing not one, but two members of his cabinet slamming T cial crisis, and it has been struggling to Rather than simply going along with term eff ects of other unconventional unconscious biases, not least by the door like that, it’s unheard of for many years in Canada recover ever since. Not only were the the view that more is better, economists monetary policy measures (amplifi ed making a concerted effort to improve and it augurs very badly for years following the crash marked by should be urging the Fed to adopt an by the European Central Bank’s latest inclusion and diversity within the “Trudeau him ahead of the October unusually low, unequal growth; now approach more like that of the Bank of policy pivot), and the sudden slowdown field. It also means focusing more on elections.” we are witnessing a growing list of eco- England, which emphasises scenario in European growth. They also failed to inter-disciplinary approaches and is facing a The Liberals built nomic and fi nancial phenomena that analyses and fan charts. Economists foresee the Brexit saga and the political distributional effects, and less on their brand around the economists cannot readily explain. could also be doing more to inform – explosion of anger and alienation across the purity of mathematical models, serious crisis of Like Queen Elizabeth II, who and perhaps even infl uence – the Fed’s the West in general. average conditions, and just the belly handsome young Trudeau, famously asked in November 2008 ongoing review of its policy frameworks None of this is a huge surprise, given of distributions. Such structural confi dence in his a one-time bartender and why nobody had seen the crisis and communications strategy. After the profession’s embrace of simplistic changes will require more and better snowboard instructor with coming, many citizens have grown all, the economics literature on theoretical assumptions and excessive intellectual and institutional “safe leadership” Hollywood good looks and increasingly sceptical of economists’ asymmetrical information suggests reliance on mathematical techniques zones,” so that analytical disruptions a father who was widely ability to explain and predict economic that greater input from economists that prize elegance over real-world can be managed and channelled in admired when he served as premier. developments, let alone off er sound outside of the Fed is both appropriate applicability. Mainstream economics productive directions. Trudeau brought rock star energy to the job, and his brand guidance to policymakers. Some and necessary for ensuring an optimal has placed far too much analytical Without signifi cant adjustments, surveys rank economists among the policy outcome. emphasis on the equilibrium condition, mainstream economics will remain of progressive politics — he made bold statements on climate least trusted professionals (after A third area of concern is the Sino- while largely ignoring the importance two steps behind changing realities action and helped refugees make a new life in Canada. politicians, of course, whose trust American trade confl ict, which is more of transitions and tipping points, not to on the ground, and economists will be The Liberals’ 2015 victory marked the return of the party, economists have also lost). A solid controversial, owing to its political mention multiple-equilibria scenarios. risking a further loss of credibility and which had governed for most of the last century before being economic training is no longer regarded nature. So far, the vast majority of And the profession has routinely failed infl uence. In an era of concern about relegated to third-place status in a 2006 ballot. as a must-have for candidates for top economists have trotted out the to account adequately for fi nancial climate change, political upheavals, Trudeau was hailed. positions in fi nance ministries and conventional argument that tariff s links, behavioural-science insights, and and technological disruption, the Now, his “virtue is being questioned,” Chouinard said. central banks. This marginalisation has (real or threatened) are always bad rapidly evolving secular and structural shortcomings of mainstream economics further weakened economists’ ability to for everyone. In doing so, they have forces such as technological innovation, must be addressed posthaste. – Project “He promised to do politics diff erently and introduce inform and infl uence decision-making ignored work from their own profession climate change, and the rise of China. Syndicate real change, but (in many eyes) has showed himself to be a on issues that relate directly to their showing how the promised benefi ts All of this should tell economists politician like any other.” expertise (or what they would call their of trade, while substantial, can be that there is plenty of room for zMohamed A El-Erian, Chief SNC-Lavalin was charged in 2015 with corruption for comparative and absolute advantage). undermined by market and institutional improvement, and that they need to Economic Adviser at Allianz, was allegedly bribing offi cials in Libya between 2001 and 2011 The profession owes its deteriorating imperfections. Those who wanted to expand the scope of their analysis to Chairman of US president Barack to secure government contracts during the rule of former reputation largely to excessive make a productive contribution to take into account human interactions, Obama’s Global Development Council. strongman Moammar Gaddafi . reliance on its own self-imposed the debate should have taken a more distributional eff ects, fi nancial- He is the author, most recently, of The orthodoxies. With more openness nuanced approach, applying tools from economic feedback mechanisms, and Only Game in Town: Central Banks, The Montreal-based fi rm openly lobbied the government to interdisciplinary approaches and game theory to distinguish between the technological change. But this cannot Instability, and Avoiding the Next for an out-of-court settlement that would result in a fi ne and the broader use of existing analytical “what” and the “how” of trade warfare. just be about devising new analytical Collapse. agreeing to compliance measures, saying a conviction would tools, particularly those off ered by lead to job cuts. behavioural science and game theory, But Wilson-Raybould, Canada’s fi rst indigenous attorney mainstream economics could start to general, refused to ask prosecutors to settle, and the trial is overcome its shortcomings. set to proceed. She later testifi ed to lawmakers that she had Three recent developments underscore the urgency of this received “veiled threats” over her stance — and Trudeau’s challenge. In the 12 months between inner circle came under suspicion. the World Economic Forum’s 2018 and Since the crisis erupted a month ago, Trudeau has seemed 2019 annual gatherings in Davos, those “disconnected” and “not in control” of his government, said in attendance went from celebrating Eric Montigny, a politics professor at Laval University in a synchronised global growth pickup Quebec City. to worrying about a synchronised The resignations of two tough, successful women who global slowdown. Notwithstanding the deterioration in European growth embodied his values have prompted Canadians to re-examine prospects, neither the extent nor the his bona fi des, especially his commitment to women and speed of the change in consensus seems indigenous people, he said. warranted by economic and fi nancial Also, apparent contradictions in his policies, such as pushing developments, which suggests that for carbon emissions cuts while buying an oil pipeline in support economists may have misdiagnosed the of Canada’s energy sector, are getting more attention. initial conditions. A second area of concern is monetary policy. Professional economists still To Advertise have not spoken up clearly enough about the challenges facing the US [email protected] Federal Reserve’s communication Display strategy, despite the fact that even slight misfi res, such as occurred in the 44466621 44418811 fourth quarter of last year, can trigger severe bouts of fi nancial instability Classified that threaten growth. Instead, they 44466609 44418811 have simply continued to embrace the contemporary view that greater Fed Subscription transparency is always a good thing. We have come a long way since [email protected] the era of former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan’s “Fedspeak” (or, as A WEF logo sits on a glass panel inside the Congress Center on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, he put it, “mumbling with great Switzerland, on January 24, 2019. World leaders, influential executives, bankers and policy makers attended the 49th annual © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved incoherence”). But that raises a new meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos from January 22 - 25. Gulf Times Sunday, March 10, 2019 23 COMMENT How gender parity improves global health

By Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus protection from health emergencies, and Senait Fisseha and better overall health and well- Geneva being. Among other things, we know that gender – that is, the socially ince the start of the year, constructed norms, roles, and we have travelled from expectations placed on men and Afghanistan and Pakistan, women – has a profound impact on Swhere health workers whether one is exposed to unhealthy administering the polio vaccine products and places, or whether are battling snowstorms to reach one engages in health-seeking and children who need it, to North Kivu, health-protecting behaviours. where officials are trying to stop one We also know that gender-based of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in discrimination can have a significant history. impact on the delivery of health Women comprise 70% of these services. and other health workers around the And yet, while focusing on gender world. And yet a new report from as a social determinant of health Global Health 50/50, released on and establishing gender parity at the eve of this year’s International the WHO’s leadership level were Women’s Day, shows that men hold no-brainers, the Global Health a disproportionate share of power 50/50 report shows that we are in the health sector and earn a the exception to the rule. Having disproportionate share of pay. reviewed the policies and practices Having spent part of our careers of nearly 200 health organisations, assembling a force of female health comprising a workforce of more than workers who reduced deaths from Aids, 4mn people across 28 countries, malaria, and tuberculosis in Ethiopia the report finds vast power and by half, we know the contributions pay asymmetries between men and women make to public health. That women. is why, under Ghebreyesus’s tenure For example, Global Health as director-general, the World Health 50/50 finds that over 70% of Organisation has a gender-balanced health organisations are currently cabinet for the fi rst time in its history. headed by men, and that in 40% And with gender parity achieved in of the organisations reviewed, the institution’s senior positions at women occupy fewer than one- headquarters, we will be working third of senior management to ensure that regional and country positions. And few will be shocked offi ces follow suit. to learn that the women working Gender parity is a practical as well in these organisations earn 13.5% as a moral issue. Having more women less, on average, than their male A nurse (right) talks with mothers at their home with polio vaccines after the launching ceremony of the five-day polio vaccination campaign in high risk counties, in leadership positions eff ects positive counterparts. targeting about 2mn children under five years old, in Kajiado, Kenya. change throughout an organisation, Sadly, these fi ndings are in keeping improving performance, innovation, with what one fi nds in boardrooms strong emphasis on measuring gender delivering essential care to national transparency and accountability in government ministries, and national creativity, resilience, and morale. It across the corporate and non-profi t distributions, equity, and rights across health ministries and multilateral health organisations, including on health institutions, gender equality provides role models and informal sectors. But such disparities are all the all of the institutions’ programmes. institutions. gender equality. Only then can we should be embraced not just for its own support systems that have historically more worrying when they show up in That means each department will be First, we need to ensure that gender root out toxic management cultures, sake, but also because it works. – Project been lacking for women in the the global health sector, given its role accountable for upholding gender analysis informs all health strategies improve quality of care, and foster Syndicate workplace. And it reduces tolerance in protecting the well-being and rights parity. and program missions. Without openness and inclusion at all levels. for toxic workplace behaviour such as of all people everywhere. But while putting gender parity at fully understanding the gendered When people of diff erent genders and z Tedros Ghebreyesus is Director- sexual harassment. From the WHO’s experience, the centre of the WHO’s operations factors that drive human health, we backgrounds come together, they bring General of the World Health But gender is also a key social we know that gender parity does is an important fi rst step, the larger cannot possibly achieve universal and their own experiences and wisdom, and Organisation. determinant of health, which makes not emerge organically. Achieving goal is to support our member states equitable outcomes. the result amounts to more than the Senait Fisseha is professor of gender parity in the health sector a it requires deliberate and directed in serving the people whose lives, Second, we urgently need to close sum of its parts. Diverse organisations Obstetrics and Gynecology at the necessary ingredient for reaching the organisational change. Hence, the health, and well-being depend on the power and pay gap between men arrive at better decisions, because they University of Michigan, Chief Adviser WHO’s “triple billion” targets. The WHO’s new corporate strategy, which collective public-health eff orts. To and women in the health sector, by can consider problems from a wide to the Director-General of the World organisation’s goal is to ensure that is geared toward the Sustainable that end, three priorities should pursuing deliberate strategies to level range of perspectives and draw potential Health Organisation, and a member by 2023, 1bn more people than today Development Agenda’s mission of guide our approach to global health the playing fi eld for women. solutions from multiple contexts. When of the Global Health 50/50 advisory have full access to health care, greater “leaving no one behind,” features a at all levels, from the local clinic And, third, we must recommit to it comes to global health organisations, council. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, March 10, 2019 QATAR

Sheikha Moza crowns CHI Al Shaqab winner

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, crowned yesterday Pieter Devos, winner of CHI Al Shaqab International Equestrian Competition. President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani crowned second place winner Nicola Philippaerts, while Alistair Routledge President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar crowned third place winner Emanuele Gaudiano. PICTURES: AR al-Baker Sport Page 7

Mandarin Oriental, Doha unveils its signature fan at offi cial opening andarin Oriental, “We are delighted that guests Doha, centrally locat- can now enjoy the hotel’s five- Med at Msheireb Down- star hospitality and also expe- town Doha, officially opened rience the beautiful architec- yesterday with the unveiling of ture of the overall project,” he its personalised signature fan. noted. The bespoke hotel’s launch The hotel has created two was led by Msheireb Proper- fans, one to be prominently ties acting CEO Ali al-Kuwari, displayed in the hotel and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group the second to be presented to chief marketing officer Jill Her Highness Sheikha Moza Kluge and Mandarin Oriental, bint Nasser whose vision is Doha general manager Martin the driving force in building Schnider. the future of Qatar. To cel- Every Mandarin Oriental ho- ebrate the opening, the ho- tel around the world has its own tel has launched an enticing signature fan which is designed ‘Blossoming in Doha’ open- to reflect the local culture of ing package, which includes each property. Mandarin Ori- a $100 Mandarin Oriental gift ental, Doha’s fan design is a card per night, and a Man- celebration of Qatari identity, darin Oriental, Doha limited with a mix of Middle Eastern edition replica bespoke fan inspired design elements. with an authentic pearl tassel. “This fan is a beautiful Featured on the fan blades representation of our new- are iconic elements which est property in Doha, where showcase this great city – Middle Eastern charm meets paying homage to its distinc- Mandarin Oriental’s legen- tive architecture, tradition, dary oriental hospitality,” hospitality and heritage. Kluge said. “We are delighted The dhow boat on the fan to celebrate the opening of blade symbolises pearl trad- this stylish property in this ing in the region with designs (From left) Msheireb Properties acting CEO Ali al-Kuwari, Mandarin Oriental, Doha general manager Martin Schnider and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group chief marketing off icer Jill landmark destination.” inspired by beautiful calligra- Kluge unveil the hotel’s personalised signature fan yesterday. PICTURE: Nasar TK Created in Qatar and hand- phy and charming hospitality. crafted in France by Maison Mandarin Oriental, Doha is Having grown from its Asian Duvelleroy, artisanal fan maker an intimate and stylish urban roots into a global brand, the since 1827, the burgundy tone retreat located in the centre Group now operates 32 ho- and patterns on each of the of Msheireb Downtown Doha, tels and seven residences in nine fan blades depict a series the new lifestyle and cultural 23 countries and territories, of connected symbols that are heart of the city. with each property reflecting intrinsic to Doha, while the The hotel blends chic and the Group’s oriental heritage tassel is a beautiful reminder of contemporary design with and unique sense of place. the significance of pearling to touches of Qatari heritage, Mandarin Oriental has a the heritage of the city. bringing new levels of luxury strong pipeline of hotels and “The launch of Manda- to Qatar. residences under develop- rin Oriental, Doha represents Guests can expect an invit- ment, and is a member of the a significant milestone for ing ambiance, exquisite decor Jardine Matheson Group. Msheireb Properties. It is the and bespoke service, where Msheireb Properties is a first Mandarin Oriental hotel to traditional Middle Eastern real estate development com- be launched in the region and charm meets Mandarin Ori- pany and subsidiary of Qatar to open in Msheireb Downtown ental’s legendary hospitality. Foundation. Doha, our key development Mandarin Oriental Hotel The company was estab- project that has been designed Group is the award-winning lished as a commercial venture as the world’s first sustainable owner and operator of some to support the Foundation’s regeneration project,” al-Ku- of the world’s most luxurious aims as well as the realisation wari said. hotels, resorts and residences. of Qatar National Vision 2030. Mandarin Oriental, Doha is an “intimate and stylish urban retreat” located in the centre of Msheireb Downtown Doha. Supplied picture

The Pearl-Qatar’s live cooking show a big draw

The Pearl-Qatar has successfully concluded the first-of-its kind” live cooking show series held over two consecutive weeks, which was attended by hundreds of families. Introducing an “inspiring journey into the culinary world”, prominent chefs served their signature dishes and interacted with the large and enthusiastic audience. The cooking events were hosted by chef Aisha al-Tamimi, one of Qatar’s top chefs; celebrity Lebanese chef Richard Khoury; award-winning Indian chef Vineet Bhatia; social media influencer and popular Kuwaiti chef Fawaz al-Omaim; nd chef Asmaa al-Bahr. The event was organised by Hospitality Development Company, a subsidiary of United Development Company and one of the leading hospitality and fine-dining companies in Qatar.