BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Lukaku brace lift s Everton past Chelsea INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 3 – 9, 30, 31 COMMENT 28, 29 in FA Cup REGION 10 BUSINESS 1 – 7, 18 – 20 17,091.00 10,386.44 38.50 ARAB WORLD 11 – 13 CLASSIFIED 8 – 18 Laff an Refi nery sets two +191.00 +7.74 +0.66 INTERNATIONAL 14 – 27 SPORTS 1 – 12 quarter-fi nals +1.13% +0.07% +1.74% major safety milestones Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10026 March 13, 2016 Jumada II 4, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals ICT initiative In brief for workers YEMEN | Security President’s troops break siege of Taiz Troops loyal to Yemen’s president have captured the western marks major entrance to the strategic city of Taiz, partially breaking a siege by Houthi fighters allied with Iran, medical and military sources said yesterday. At least 48 people have been killed in heavy clashes milestone in Yemen’s third biggest city, the medics and local fighters said, Inaugurating the 100th ICT and at least 120 people have been facility takes the number of wounded. Witnesses said there worker beneficiaries beyond were bodies scattered in the 50,000 streets. Page 10 E the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim BRITAIN | Study Palestinian mourners carrying the body of Israa Abu Khoussa, 6, during her funeral in Beit Lahiya in the north of the Gaza HSeif Ahmed al-Sulaiti has in- Most French want strip yesterday. augurated an information and com- munication technology (ICT) unit at EU membership vote a Doha Metro compound where Qatar Most French people want to follow Rail labourers live, marking the com- Britain by holding a referendum pletion of the first 100 ICT facilities on the country’s European Union as planned for Phase 2 of the minis- membership, although they would Gaza siblings die try’s Better Connections Programme. likely vote to remain in the bloc, Inaugurating the 100th ICT facility a British study has shown. The takes the number of worker benefi- HE al-Sulaiti addressing the gathering. study polled 8,002 respondents ciaries beyond 50,000 who are now across Germany, France, Poland, able to perceive, use and benefit from that aims to enhance a digital culture Spain, Ireland and Sweden in Israeli air strike information and communication among citizens and residents across about their views on Britain’s technology where they live, the Min- Qatar, particularly those who have EU membership, which will be istry of Transport and Communica- little to no ICT skills. The goal is to decided at a referendum on June Reuters tions has said in a press statement. make sure that pretty much everyone 23, and the possibility of holding a Gaza Having access to ICT tools, the la- has access to ICT tools. That’s what similar vote themselves. bourers learn how to stay connected we could call success based on the with their friends and families, in ad- vision of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim Palestinian boy and his sister dition to learning new digital skills. bin Hamad al-Thani towards building EUROPE | Migrants were killed in Gaza yesterday The event was organised by the a better nation. It also observes our Greece promises to Awhen they were hit by frag- ministry and witnessed by HE the social responsibility commitment to- ments from a missile fi red by an Israeli Minister of Administrative Develop- wards migrant workers.” fix camp overflow aircraft, medical offi cials said. ment, Labour and Social Affairs Dr Reem al-Mansoori, the ministry’s Greece aims to deal swiftly with The incident took place hours after Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi as well assistant undersecretary of Digital the overflow at the Idomeni resistance fi ghters launched rockets as stakeholder and programme part- Society Development, said in a pres- migrant camp on the Macedonian into Israel. ner representatives. entation that it was crucial to remain border where some 12,000 people An Israeli military statement The Better Connections Pro- updated on today’s digital revolution are waiting to cross in miserable claimed aircraft had targeted four gramme is an initiative designed to by enhancing the digital skills of all conditions, a minister said “training camps” belonging to Hamas include migrant workers with little to sections of the society. This would yesterday. Some 200 migrants after four missiles landed in open ar- no ICT skills in Qatar’s digital society help contribute to building the mod- protested against conditions at eas in southern Israel on Friday night. by ensuring that they have access to ern society effectively and boosting the camp yesterday, chanting No casualties were reported from the ICT and the Internet where they live. the smart cities transformation con- “open the border” and sitting on rocket strikes. The event also saw the launch of cept over the coming years. a cross-border railway line. And Residents of Beit Lahiya in the “Hukoomi for Migrant Workers” – a Speaking on the Better Connec- a Syrian refugee began a hunger northern Gaza Strip said Yassin Abu Palestinians looking at the damage to a house where, medical off icials said, portlet within the Qatar e-govern- tions Programme, she said: “It not strike in response to the situation. Khoussa, 10, died after debris from fragments from a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft killed two children. ment portal, Hukoomi, where work- only aims to provide spaces equipped Page 21 the explosion hit his home, which is ers can easily access all informa- with ICT tools and Internet connec- situated next to a “training camp”. Our “patience with the attacks of Palestinian fi ghters killed six Israeli tion and services they need in five tivity where workers live, but also His six-year-old sister, Israa, who the enemy has its limits”, it added. civilians and 67 soldiers. languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, trains them in how to use ICT through SOUTH KOREA | Science was seriously wounded, later died The fatalities from air strikes in Gaza Meanwhile, Israeli boats have Nepalese and Tagalog. a group of volunteers.” Computer wins series in hospital, Gaza health ministry were the fi rst since last October. The bombarded several Palestinian fi sh- The multilingual portlet dedicated Over the past year, al-Mansoori spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said. Israeli army said that since the begin- ing boats near the Sudaniyya shore, to workers is the outcome of collabo- said, the ministry has been keen to against Go champion Senior Hamas offi cial Ismael Rad- ning of the year and including Friday’s northwest of Gaza City. Palestinian ration between the MoTC, Ministry of broaden the scope of the programme A Google-developed computer wan called the Israeli strikes “an es- salvo, seven rockets have been fi red News Agency quoted sources in the Administrative Development, Labour and number of beneficiaries by forg- programme won its best-of-five calation” and placed “full responsi- from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Gaza Strip as saying that Israeli navy and Social Affairs and several other ing partnerships with several public match-up with a South Korean Go bility” on the Jewish state. Gaza rocket fi re has tapered off sig- had fi red a number of artillery shells ministries and government bodies and private institutions and civil so- grandmaster yesterday, taking an “The blood of the children killed nifi cantly since the 2014 war when at the fi shing boats sailing on the four concerned with providing services to ciety organisations. unassailable 3-0 lead to score a in the zionist raid will not fl ow in resistance groups fi red thousands of nautical miles off Sudaniyya damag- the workforce in Qatar. “The programme has been receiv- major victory for a new style of vain,” the movement’s military wing, rockets and mortar rounds into Israel. ing three boats. In his opening remarks, HE al-Su- ing great feedback from beneficiary “intuitive” artificial intelligence the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Israeli attacks killed more than 2,100 The fi shermen were forced to leave laiti said: “All that we see is part of the workers and employers,” she added. (AI). Page 17 warned in a statement. Palestinians, mostly civilians, while the sea due to heavy fi ring. ministry’s Digital Inclusion Strategy Page 8 Authority vows to protect telecom consumer rights

By Peter Alagos are finalising two codes on spam and issue with us right now because the Business Reporter premium rate service,” al-Hanawi ex- service providers comply every time plained. we ask them to do something. She said that most of the consumer “The CRA is a government entity side from the two draft codes complaints the CRA received were re- and they know that we have just been on spam and premium rate lated to premium services, consum- established recently. Nonetheless, Aservice, which are expected to er’s inability to unsubscribe, spam service providers have been support- be finalised in the next three months, and scam (either calls or messages), ive to us.” Qatar’s Communications Regulatory among others. She said CRA staff at City Center Authority (CRA) has vowed to provide “Through these two draft codes, would also be available to provide in- consumers “stronger” protection and CRA intends to empower consum- formation about CRA’s other public regulatory initiatives. ers in Qatar to have full control of the services related to electromagnetic CRA Consumer Affairs Depart- services and messages they want to spectrum and numbering, such as: ment manager Amal Salem al- receive,” al-Hanawi said. Customs Clearance Certificate for Hanawi made the statement on the Once finalised, she said the two clearance of telecommunications sidelines of the CRA’s commemo- codes will further strengthen CRA’s or radio communication equipment ration of World Consumer Rights consumer protection initiatives and from the Customs Authority, Import Day (WCRD) at the City Center Mall ensure consumers have the right to Authorisation Licenses for importing yesterday. receive information and to stop re- and dealing in radio and telecommu- The CRA has put up a booth at the Amal Salem al-Hanawi: CRA Consumer ceiving any such information through nication terminals, Type Approvals mall to help the public better under- Aff airs Department manager. CRA staff talking to a visitor at a booth inside City Center Mall. PICTURE: Jayan Orma a simple process. for new models of radio communica- stand their consumer rights and find Asked if there were any penalties tions equipment or telecom terminal out more how CRA can help address sumers know that we are here. This is According to al-Hanawi, among “The CRA is here to help. Our com- the CRA planned to impose on service equipment for commercial or indi- any concerns about their service pro- a line we repeat all the time: ‘We are the CRA’s objectives is to inform peo- mitment is to give consumers in Qatar providers (Ooredoo and Vodafone), vidual use; and Domain Name Reg- vider. The booth will be open from here for you’, which is why this year ple visiting the booth that they have the power of choice. Already, we have al-Hanawi said: “We are planning to istration for Qatar-specific domains 10am to 9pm until March 15. we are reaching out to consumers,” rights and assure them that these a strong Consumer Protection Policy enhance the powers of the CRA…on names for commercial or personal “Our focus in 2016 is to let the con- al-Hanawi told Gulf Times. rights are protected. and Advertising Code, and now we imposing penalties, it has not been an use. Page 9

Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 3 QATAR Kuwaiti law students visit Qatar Rota team opens two community centres in Nepal

delegation from Reach cational, social, and economic Deukhuri CLRC, constructed in Out To Asia (Rota), a opportunities for communities 2015 in Gadhawa village in the Amember of Qatar Foun- with a special focus on youth. Rapti Zone of the mid-western dation for Education, Science The delegation, led by Rota’s region of Nepal, where 68% of a and Community Development, director of quality, impact, and total population of 12,453 are lit- has opened two community cen- strategy, Abdulla al-Abdulla, erate. In partnership with READ Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) has received a delegation of students from Kuwait University’s tres in Nepal. opened the Deukhuri commu- Global, Rota has provided fi - Faculty of Law. The visitors were introduced to the overall legal system in Qatar, besides the rules of commercial arbitration and how The ongoing project, launched nity library and Resource Centre nancial aid of about QR 455,000 QICCA works in particular. in 2014, is aimed at empowering (CLRC) in the Dang District, and to support the four-year pro- youth and providing informa- the Kalika CLRC Centre in the gramme, which will run from tion and communications tech- Bardiya district on march 5 and 2014 to 2017. nology facilities to help elimi- 6. The second centre to prosper nate ICT barriers. “Through this project, Rota from the Rota delegation is Ka- The project, developed in intends to expand living and lika CLRC, located in Kalika vil- Awqaf Ministry partnership with READ Global educational resources for com- lage in the Bheri Zone, also in the and the Bill & Melinda Gates munities and the youth in par- mid-western region of Nepal. Workers seek health receives three Foundation, will serve an esti- ticular. This is in line with our The village is home to a popula- mated 100,000 people, includ- mission to engage young people tion of 15,910 and has a literacy new mosques ing 35,000 from four rural dis- and diverse community mem- rate of 86%. Rota has provided tricts throughout central and bers to address educational and QR 601,606 to improve local QNA western Terai. developmental challenges both infrastructure, provide train- clinic in Umm Salal Doha With a special focus on ICT at home and abroad,” al-Abdulla ing, enhance education, support skills, the project aims to estab- said. ICT development, build center lish and upgrade 11 community The fi rst centre to benefi t capacity, and create alternative here is a growing demand “As of now, our workers have for introducing bus services to he Ministry of Endow- centres overall, creating edu- as part of the delegation is the energy power resources. from workers in Umm go to clinics in Al Khor or Me- the clinic area in Mesaimeer ments and Islamic Aff airs TSalal and surrounding ar- saimeer, in Doha, for their medi- from Al Sheehaniya and Umm T(Awqaf) has received three eas for a health clinic in the mu- cal requirements,” said the camp Salal in recent weeks. new mosques in Wakrah, Hazm nicipal town. manager of a company that Mowasalat recently intro- Al Markhiya and Um Al Idham, The demand comes in view moved its workers from Doha’s duced more buses from Doha to as part of its plans to double of the steady rise in population, Industrial Area to Umm Salal areas in Umm Salal that house the number of mosques to keep particularly that of construction more than three years ago. several workers’ accommoda- up with population and urban workers, in the town over the past He said it was time-consuming tion units. Gulf Times had earlier growth in the country. three years and the consequent for the workers to travel to Doha reported on the need for better The new mosque in Wakrah need for better medical facilities. or Al Khor, stressing the need for a public transport access to and can accommodate 500 male A number of companies have similar health facility in Umm Salal. from Umm Salal. and 75 female worshippers. The set up housing units for their While the new clinic in Me- Conservative estimates put mosque also has the imam’s res- workers in the town, which lies saimeer is a well-equipped facil- the number of construction idence and a Qur’an memorisa- to the north of Doha, and the ity, accessing it is a big challenge workers in the town anywhere tion centre. The mosque in Hazm population is expected to grow for the workers as there is no di- between 25,000 and 30,000. Al Markhiya accommodates 300 further in the coming days. rect bus service between Umm More than 35 companies are re- male and 66 female worshippers Speaking to Gulf Times, repre- Salal and the clinic, he pointed portedly housing their workers in addition to the residence of sentatives of some of the compa- out. “So, our hope is that a work- in Umm Salal and more are ex- imam and muezzin. The mosque nies with a large workforce said it ers’ clinic will come up in Umm pected to be shifted there in the in Um Al Idham accommodates was high time a workers’ health Salal soon,” he added. coming months, according to 70 worshipers as well as the resi- clinic was set up in Umm Salal. There have also been requests sources. dence of imam and muezzin. A Rota off icial being honoured on the occasion. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, March 13, 2016 QATAR

Emir receives phone call from US secretary of state

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and the US and means of enhancing them al-Thani yesterday received a telephone call as well as regional and international issues, from the US Secretary of State John Kerry. especially the latest developments in Syria HMC team wins top award Talks dealt with relations between Qatar and Libya.

Emir sends message to French president team of senior lead- of diseases. Health educa- ers from Hamad tion is part of our role in HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- delivered by Qatar’s ambassador to France AMedical Corporation promoting a healthy com- Thani has sent a written message to French Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad al-Thani, during a (HMC) received the health munity by giving people the President Francois Hollande, dealing with meeting with the French President’s adviser education leadership award knowledge to take control of relations between Qatar and France and for North Africa and the Middle East David presented by the Arab Hos- their own health,”al-Khater ways of enhancing them. The message was Cvach, at the Elysee Palace. pitals Federation during its said. 17th forum held recently in Speaking during a dis- Egypt. cussion panel comprising The team won the award distinguished Arab Health in recognition of a docu- Ministers, Dr Saleh bin Ali mentary fi lm detailing their al-Marri, assistant sec- experience of trekking to retary general for Medi- the summit of Mount Kili- cal Aff airs at the Ministry manjaro last year. The fi lm of Public Health, noted emphasised the importance that constant migration of of physical exercise for all Arab medical practitioners ages. The fi lm also sends a out of the region is one of message that older people the main challenges fac- can engage in diff erent kinds ing the development of of sports including climbing healthcare systems in the HMC delegation after receiving the award at the Arab Hospitals Federation’s Forum held mountain peak. Arab region. recently in Cairo.

“At HMC, we always urge the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle”

Mohamed Mubarak al- Noimi, chief of communi- cations and chief of staff at HMC’s managing director’s offi ce, received the award on behalf of HMC from Dr Ah- mad Imad Addin Rady, min- ister of health and popula- tion of Egypt and Dr Tawfi k bin Ahmad Khoja, director- general of the executive board of the GCC Health Ministers Council and Sec- retary General of Arab Hos- pitals Federation. Ali Abdullah al-Khater, chief of communications at HMC’s Corporate Com- munications Department and chairman of the HMC delegation to the forum thanked the Arab Hospitals Federation for the award and recognition, saying the award refl ected the impor- tance HMC places on creat- ing health awareness among Qatar’s population. “At HMC, we always urge the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle, especially by en- gaging in activities that contribute to the prevention Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 5 QATAR

A biomedical researcher speaking at a session. Biomedical researchers attend QNRF conference

eading biomedical re- for a variety of processes signalling. “The research and pain. Prof Jens Leipziger, searchers based in Qa- that keep the cell alive and presented by our interna- of the University of Aarhus Ltar, the Mena region, functioning. tional panel of speakers is ex- in Denmark, presented his Europe and the Far East These tiny valve-like tremely exciting with many group’s fi ndings on ion met for a conference on ‘Ion structures are little known opportunities for learning channels in kidney function. Channels and Transporters to most people but are abso- from and working with one Other leading researchers in Health and Disease’. lutely essential for the sur- another,” said Dr Machaca. who presented their fi nd- The conference was or- vival of virtually all life on Eminent scientists who ings included Prof Ivana ganised by Prof Douglas earth. Understanding more spoke at the event includ- Novak of the University Bovell, professor of physiol- about how these ion chan- ed Prof Brian Harvey of of Copenhagen, Prof Karl ogy and biophysics at Weill nels operate sheds light not the Royal College of Sur- Kunzelmann of the Uni- Cornell Medicine-Qatar only on the basic science of geons in Ireland (RCSI), versity of Regensburg, Prof (WCM-Q). The event was animal and plant cells, but who presented fi ndings Sarah Lummis of the Uni- sponsored by Qatar Nation- also on the pathological al- on the gender specifi c na- versity of Cambridge and al Research Fund’s (QNRF) terations that cause disease, ture of cellular functions, Dr Raphael Courjaret, re- Conference and Workshop helping researchers develop and Prof Hsiao Chan of the search associate at WCM- Sponsorship Programme. eff ective new medications. Chinese University of Hong Q, among others. About 16 speakers pre- Professor Bovell wel- Kong, who spoke about Professor Bovell said: “We sented the fi ndings of their comed the researchers to the role of ion channels have learned about some projects to their peers on the the meeting and highlighted in insulin release in cystic excellent research that has intricate biological process- Qatar’s desire to develop a fi brosis-related diabetes. contributed a great deal of es that take place at the cel- knowledge-based economy Prof Deborah Baines of very exciting new knowledge lular level to cause condi- for the future. Dr Bovell also St George’s University of relating to ion channels and tions such as diabetes, brain acknowledged QNRF and London highlighted a rela- the role they play in a variety disorders, gastrointestinal Qatar Foundation for their tionship between glucose of debilitating diseases. We disease and heart disease. support of WCM-Q’s re- concentrations and bacte- now look forward to build- Ion channels are proteins search activities. rial infections in the airways ing on the positive working that form semi-permeable Dr Khaled Machaca, as- of diabetes suff erers, while relationships we have es- gateways across the cell sociate dean of research at Prof Peter McNaughton of tablished with other institu- membrane, allowing essen- WCM-Q, presented the Kings College London pre- tions in order to pursue op- tial ions to pass in and out as fi ndings of his laboratory, sented about the role of ion portunities for collaborative and when they are needed which focuses on calcium channels in infl ammation research in the future.” Gulf Times 6 Sunday, March 13, 2016 QATAR

Municipalities issue 249 permits unicipalities in of Development Planning and Shamal (10) as well. Qatar issued 249 and Statistics has said. Doha and Rayyan issued 75 Mpermits for non- Though no separate and 81 permits respectively. residential buildings in fi gures of building per- The non-residential January and February. mits were available, the buildings include pub- Doha and Rayyan mu- report said permits were lic buildings, commercial nicipalities together ac- also issued from Wakrah buildings, workshops and counted for 156 of them, a (30), Umm Slal (14), Al factories, mosques and report from the Ministry Dayeen (20), Al Khor (19) others. St Regis Doha staff with the awards. St Regis Doha receives ‘GCC Hotel of the Year’ award

he St Regis Doha has The ceremony of the been awarded “The 2016 Food and Travel GCC TGCC Hotel of the Tourism Awards was held in Year”, during the inaugural Bahrain last month. Food and Travel GCC Tour- Since it opened its doors, ism Awards ceremony or- the St Regis Doha, has been ganised by leading industry positioned among the most title, Food and Travel Arabia luxurious hotels in Doha. Its Magazine. St Regis Doha won location, architectural de- the award over four other fi - sign, and butler service add nalists which are among the to its journey of excellence. best hotels in the region. The hotel introduces 11 des- “To be voted the best of tination restaurants and the best is a tremendous lounges that refl ect a proud achievement, a result of heritage and culture of ex- the continuous eff orts that cellence; in addition to a The St Regis Doha devotes signature Remède Spa, fea- to its guests,” Tareq Der- turing 22 private treatment bas, general manager, The rooms. The St Regis Doha St Regis Doha, said, adding: provides over 6,000 sqm of “We aim to off er our guests event space, including the the ‘fi nest address in Doha,’ largest ballroom with natu- and we are delighted that ral daylight in Qatar and a the GCC Tourism Awards terrace with breathtaking has recognised its unique views over the Arabian Gulf. off er and level of service. The St Regis Doha has also The vote is a combination received two more awards, of public opinion and ex- “Best Mediterranean Res- pert judgment and echoes taurant, Gordon Ramsey” the values that we strive to and “Best Asian, Hakas- accomplish through every san”, two major accolades at aspect of our commitment 2016 Food and Travel GCC back to our guests.” Tourism Awards.

Gulf Times 8 Sunday, March 13, 2016 QATAR Transport Ministry signs pacts Oriental Auto Parts to open with three new partners new showroom today riental Auto Parts, a new division of Speed he Ministry of Trans- ter Connections Programme OLine Printing Press port and Communi- and aim to enhance the Group, will open its new Tcations (MoTC) has communication channels showroom at Wakalath street welcomed three new part- between workers and the of Industrial area today. ners for its Better Connec- outside world by boosting Usman Muhammed, tions Programme: Ooredoo, their digital skills and ena- group managing director the Public Works Authority bling them to use ICT (infor- said “The new three shutter (Ashghal) and Qatar Ports mation and communication showroom with its hi tech Management Co (Mwani technology). That collabo- facilities will cater to the Qatar). ration also backs the State of requirements of individuals Three memorandums of Qatar’s development plans and corporates. The show- Off icials of Oriental Auto Parts announcing the launch of understanding (MoUs) have in order to further improve room will work from 7am the new showroom been signed in this regard, Dignitaries, off icials and MoTC partners at the event held to mark the completion of the first workers’ conditions.” to 7pm on all weekdays and under which Ashghal and 100 ICT facilities as part of the Better Connections Programme. The MoTC, in the earlier will deal in all Japanese and parts, suspension parts, automobile requirements. Mawani Qatar will make stages of the programme, Korean car spare parts.” A/C parts, engine parts, Major brands that we are sure that their contractors ital inclusion programme, shared services aff airs di- developing their skills and had signed MoUs with a Muhammed Shereef, and Auto electrical parts.” dealing in, are KYB, Exedy, provide facilities equipped which will expand the edu- rector at Ashghal, said: “We abilities to use technologies number of institutions and manager of the showroom The new showroom, lo- Depo and Tyc” added with ICT tools and Internet cational, employment and are delighted to co-operate and digital communication companies, aiming to cover noted that quality products cated at Al wakalath Street Shereef. connection for their mi- entertainment horizons of with the Ministry of Trans- from their residences. The as many worker benefi ciar- at competitive prices is the No 29 in Industrial Area, Group vice chairman, grant workers, while Oore- migrant workers in Qatar. port and Communications authority will encourage ies as possible. These in- slogan of the fi rm. He ex- has four delivery vehicles Abdul Azeez Abdulla al- doo is the free Internet con- “Working with the Min- through this memorandum, the contractors to provide clude RAF, Rota, Microsoft plained “We are focusing and three stores to en- Ganem, general manager, nectivity provider. istry of Transport and Com- which refl ects the author- information technology and Qatar, Supreme Committee on customer satisfaction sure prompt service.“We Shameem Usman and busi- Waleed al-Sayed, CEO of munications, we will pro- ity’s keenness to enhance communication facilities in for Delivery & Legacy, Qa- by providing them quality are open even on Fridays ness development manager, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Oore- vide incredible connectivity workers’ welfare and im- the workers’ residences to tar Foundation, National brands. Automotive spare facilitating families and Shaheen Usman also at- doo believes in the power of for this programme on the prove their conditions. support their needs.” Human Rights Committee, parts include vehicle body bachelors to procure their tended the press conference. mobile communication to Ooredoo Supernet and sup- “The memorandum aims Mohamed Abdullah al- Qatar Rail, Ezdan Holding provide opportunities for port eff orts to provide basic to enhance communica- Maadeed, support services Group, Msheireb Proper- everyone and we are de- ICT skills training.” tion between workers and CEO at Mwani Qatar, added: ties, Qatar Fuel (Woqod), lighted to support this dig- Meshaal Sultan al-Hetmi, the world around them by “We are glad to join the Bet- CH2M and QDVC. Starlink launches Oppo smartphones

tarlink has unveiled the latest launched in Qatar and, most impor- fl agship smartphones of its part- tantly, the R7 series - also called the Sner Oppo at an event in Doha. ‘Smartphone of Champions’ - as it is The event was attended by VIP the fi rst of its kind that has a three- guests and partners from around the year agreement with FC Barcelona.” region. Equipped with a 4100mAh battery The evening included an entertain- and Oppo’s the VOOC Flash Charging ing programme with art performances technology, the R7 Plus fl agship de- and hi-tech presentations refl ecting vice also off ers 4G LTE. “It has already the new products’ combination of contributed to a wave of success for “fl exibility, innovation and style”, ac- Oppo, helping it garner the number- cording to a statement. two position in China’s offl ine smart- Hassan Marafi ah, CEO of Star- phone sales as of July 2015,” the state- link, said the company’s partnership ment notes. The phone comes with with Oppo was a strategic decision, a laser focus technology to quickly taken to affi rm its focus on provid- capture the focal point within 0.3 sec- ing quality products and services to onds, a RGBW sensor that is able to consumers in Qatar. shoot high-clarity photos in low-light Ivan Wu, general manager of environments and an optimised anti- Oppo, said on the occasion: “Qa- shake image stabilisation function. tar is a very strategic market for Along with a 2.5D curved screen, 3GB our business. We strive to grow our of RAM and 32GB of memory, it also market share here and off er our cus- features a pressure-activated fi nger- tomers products that magnify their print recognition module on the back. expertise and enrich their lives. In Now in its 10th year, Starlink has designing the Oppo smartphones, Hassan Marafiah and Ivan Wu at the launch event. always focused on the diversity of we wanted to develop smartphones its product portfolio and customer that off er a personalised experience breaking approach and recreated that enhance picture taking, func- satisfaction as the main pillars of the with usage fl exibility. how people interact with their de- tionality and creativity. We have a implementation of its strategy, the “We once again took a ground- vices, adding innovative features wide range of phones that will be statement adds. Six-month jail term for bid to smuggle drugs

A Doha Misdemeanour Court has sentenced an Egyptian expatriate man to six months’ suspended jail term for trying to smuggle a small amount of the illicit drug hashish and tramadol pills. Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday that the man was trying to enter Qatar with the drugs when the custom off icers suspected him and ordered a thorough search. During the investigation, he admitted having such drugs for personal use only. However, the court ordered his release on a bail of QR3,000 and ordered him to pay a fine of QR5,000.

Jail, deportation for stealing cash

An expatriate Arab man has been sentenced in absentia to three years in jail and subsequent deportation for stealing a sum of QR8,000 from the wardrobe of his colleague at work. According to local Arabic daily Arrayah, a Doha Criminal court convicted the man of stealing the money from the wardrobe of his roommate who is also his colleague at work. The victim discovered the theft when he returned from work and found the money missing from his wardrobe, so he asked his roommate about it. The defendant accordingly admitted to his colleague that he took the money and wrote a confession indicating so, promising return it back. However, the issue was brought to the police and then the court and the defendant did not appear before both. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 9 QATAR

CRA seeks to address Singapore team visits concerns on regulation ollowing the Passive Civil of this public consultation. Infrastructure Access All interested parties are in- FRegulation issued by the vited to provide their views and Communications Regulatory comments on the draft of the Authority (CRA) earlier this year, standard access off er for devel- sewage treatment plant the CRA has launched a public opers at the CRAconsultations@ consultation to address concerns cra.gov.qa by March 30. high-level delega- by the developers likely to be af- The CRA is the communica- tion from Singapore fected by the regulation. tions regulator in Qatar estab- Arecently visited the The access regulation man- lished by virtue of Emiri Decree Doha North Sewage Treat- dates all entities owning or con- (42) in 2014. The CRA regulates ment Plant, one of the larg- trolling a telecommunications the communications and infor- est in the Gulf region. civil infrastructure to grant ac- mation technology sector, postal The delegation which cess to service providers. The services, and access to digital was headed by Singapore’s regulation ensures a consistent media. Deputy Prime Minister and and effi cient access to these in- The CRA uses its regula- Co-ordinating Minister for frastructures in Qatar. tory powers mandated by the National Security Teo Chee It requires any access provider Emiri decree to protect con- Hean, included the Minister that receives a request from a sumer rights, ensure competi- for Environment and Water service provider for access to tion, manage the resolution of Resources Masagos Zulkifl i, passive civil infrastructure to disputes, and manage the elec- Senior Minister of State for produce and maintain a standard tromagnetic spectrum. In all its Law and Finance Aff airs In- access off er. activities, the CRA seeks to en- dranee Rajah, Senior Minister The developers likely to be sure the provision of advanced, of State for Defence and For- affected by this requirement in innovative and reliable ICT and eign Aff airs Mohamed Malki the regulation have requested postal services across the State Othman, Minister of State CRA’s assistance in drawing up of Qatar. in the Ministry of National this standard access offer, and a For more information, visit Development & Ministry of Senior Ashghal off icials briefing the visiting Singapore delegation of the advanced features of the Sewage Treatment Plant in Umm Slal. draft of this offer is the subject http://cra.gov.qa/en Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon, Parliamentary Secre- sistant under-secretary for technologies to produce high struction of a Thermal Dry- minimise the impact on the tary of the Ministry of Home Public Service Aff airs Sheikh quality treated water which is ing Plant (TDP) within the surrounding environment. Aff airs Wong Kook Bon and Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani used in irrigation. Doha North STW to proc- The Buff er Zone surround- Singapore ambassador Amrin and director of Municipal The fi rst phase of the esses sludge, the solid ma- ing the STW will be carefully Amin. Qatar’s ambassador to Control Department of the project includes the con- terials generated from the landscaped to form a lush- Singapore Abdullah bin Ibra- Municipality of Umm Slal struction of the main treat- sewage treatment process. green oasis that includes ap- him al-Hamar accompanied Mohamed Lahdan al-Kaabi, ment plant for the reception The TDP will receive and proximately 95,000 trees and the delegation. were also present. and treatment of sewage, treat sludge generated from 50 picnic areas with inter- Public Works Authority Al-Mawlawi recalled the which has been designed to not just Doha North STW but connecting roads and a bird (Ashghal) president Nasser co-operation between Qatar treat up to 245,000 cubic me- also from all the other sewage watching lagoon. bin Ali al-Mawlawi received and Singapore in sewerage tres of sewage daily, serving a treatment works in the coun- The roads, picnic areas the delegation at the plant treatment and recycling. He projected population of over try. The sludge is dewatered, and bird watching lagoon along with Infrastructure hoped there would be fur- 900,000 residents by 2020. processed through the ther- are under construction and Aff airs director Jalal Yousif ther co-operation with Sin- The STW started receiving mal dryers to fi nally produce the remaining irrigation al-Salhi, Assets Aff airs act- gaporean companies in dif- sewage fl ows from the main dried pellets. pipe work and planting are ing director and Drainage ferent projects similar to the pumping station in North- The construction of the in progress as well as the Networks Operations & Doha North Sewerage Treat- ern Doha (PS70) located in Al TDP is substantially com- construction of artifi cial Maintenance Department ment Plant Project which Kheesa. The sewage fl ows are pleted and is currently go- mounds across the area. manager Ahmed Sharif, is being implemented by estimated to be 46,000 cu- ing through fi nal commis- The Doha North Sew- Drainage Networks Projects Keppel Seghers Engineering bic metres per day. The Doha sioning. The TDP includes age Treatment Plant Project Department manager Khalid Singapore Ltd. North STW became fully op- four thermal dryers which is worth approximately Saif al-Khayarin and Public The Doha North Sewage erational in December 2015 are currently being tested QR3.63bn, including the Relations and Communica- Treatment Works (STW), lo- after completing mandatory utilising sludge generated design and build contract, tions Department manager cated in Umm Slal Ali, is ap- inspection and testing proc- at the Doha North STW and which is worth approxi- Abdullah Saad al-Saad. proximately 25km north of esses by the Qatari Civil De- the Doha West STW. mately QR2.49bn and the A delegation from the Doha. It uses advanced treat- fence and other entities. The Doha North STW is the operate-and-maintain 10- Ministry of Municipality & ment techniques such as ul- The second phase of the fi rst facility with comprehen- year contract which is worth Environment, including as- tra-fi ltration and ultra-violet project includes the con- sive odour control system to approximately QR1.14bn. QU to launch interdisciplinary sporting and science event

atar University’s College Monèm Jemni explained that the “The content of the production of Arts and Sciences (QU- event will start with a football fi t- should be around football, prefer- QCAS) has announced the ness coaching workshop from ably around the scientifi c/medi- launch of the International Sci- March 19 to 23 as part of the Isafa cal/technical/physical fi tness as- ence and Football Association courses to train candidates aiming pects of the game (or footballers) event (Isafa), to be held at QU from to gain professional football fi tness in Qatar.” March 19 to 25. coaching certifi cate. The entries, including details “A fi rst for an Arab country, “Key world fi gures represent- of the applicants should be sent this interdisciplinary sporting and ing several football schools will be to Dr Monèm Jemni at m.jemni@ science event engages key Qa- providing the course which will be qu.edu.qa no later than March 15. tar institutions and several other followed by an International Con- A committee will review the sub- partners across the globe,” CAS ference in Science and Football on missions and select the winners. associate dean for outreach and March 24 and 25,” he said. The winners will be announced engagement Dr Khalifa al-Hazaa Dr Jemni also announced that and the prizes presented on March said. the event will feature a ceremo- 18 at 7pm. Senior academics, scientist ny to award three media fi gures, QU-CAS Sport Science Pro- guest speakers, medical special- who have signifi cantly contrib- gramme director Dr Ruben Goebel, ists, world football coaches and uted to football-related coverage. Department of Mass Communica- fi tness experts representing dif- “There is an award each for tion acting head Dr Abdulrahman ferent schools, technicians, foot- print, audio and visual media for al-Shami, Al Jaish Football Club ball practitioners and local and 2015-16. Journalists, broadcasters manager Sabri Lamouchi and Saif overseas students will attend. and media specialists are invited to Mohamed Abdull lteef al-Naemi Isafa chair and Qatar Olympic submit a production (written, au- from Qatar Olympic Academy Committee Professorial Chair dio and visual) that has been per- were also present at the Isafa event Dr Khalifa al-Hazaa (right) announcing the Isafa in Sport Science Programme Dr formed in 2015-16. announcement ceremony. event as Dr Monèm Jemni looks on.

Rain, strong winds likely

t may rain in some parts of the country today, the IQatar Met department has said. Strong winds and high seas are also likely in off - shore areas, towards the north, by this afternoon. The forecast for inshore areas says moderate tem- peratures are expected during the day and it will be partly cloudy at times. There is also a chance of rain in some places at times. Off shore areas, meanwhile, will remain partly cloudy and there is a chance of scattered rain there, according to the weather report. The wind speed in these areas may go up to 22 knots by the after- noon towards the north, with the sea level rising to 7ft. The minimum and maxi- mum temperatures today are expected to be 19C and 29C, respectively, with the forecast for Doha being 21C and 29C. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, March 13, 2016 REGION President’s troops break Taiz siege US raises the possibility of there were bodies scattered in The rival Houthi-run news The UN has accused the a Syrian-style ceasefire in the streets. agency acknowledged heavy Houthis of obstructing the deliv- Yemen Supporters of President Abd- fi ghting in Taiz but said fi ght- ery of humanitarian supplies to Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by ers from the group had killed 27 civilians in Taiz, saying residents Reuters a Saudi-led Arab coalition, have fi ghters loyal to Hadi. had been living under “virtual Cairo/Aden been trying for months to lift the Yemeni Vice President Kha- siege”. siege of the southwestern city led Bahah, who is also the prime The Houthis and troops loyal and open up supply routes. minister, told a news conference to their ally, former president orces loyal to Yemen’s The coalition has been trying in the southern port city of Aden Ali Abdullah Saleh, remain en- president have broken a for a year to roll back gains by the that the Yemeni government was trenched in much of the north- Fsiege by the Iranian-allied Houthi militia and restore Hadi, preparing an aid convoy to Taiz ern half of Yemen, including the Pro-government fighters ride on a tank in the Bir Basha neighbourhood after they took the area from Houthis around the strategic who is currently in Saudi Arabia. to leave soon, but gave no further capital Sanaa. Islamist militants Houthi rebels in Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz on Friday. Yemeni city of Taiz, local fi ghters The reported capture of the details. have exploited the chaos to wid- and residents said yesterday, as western entrance to Taiz, nearly Bahah also said the govern- en their infl uence. ment that has been imple- held for two weeks in Syria. “We reiterated to the secre- the US raised the possibility of a half of whose 250,000 residents ment had prepared 1,000 men US Secretary of State John mented in Syria. Jubeir said Saudi Arabia be- tary of state our commitment as Syrian-style truce in Yemen. had been trapped since May, to impose security in Taiz im- Kerry, who met Saudi Foreign “We both agree that it would lieved a political settlement that expressed by the GCC (Gulf Co- At least 48 people were killed was hailed by the pro-Hadi news mediately to avoid a repetition of Minister Adel al-Jubeir at Hafr be desirable to see if we can would ensure the Houthis abid- operation Council) heads of state in heavy clashes in Yemen’s agency as a breakthrough. It said the lawlessness that had gripped al-Batin in northern Saudi find a similar approach, as ed by common understandings to embark on a long-term recon- third biggest city, medics and lo- Hadi had telephoned the local Aden after pro-Hadi forces cap- Arabia, said they discussed we did in Syria, to try to get a reached before the Houthi cap- struction and development plan cal fi ghters said, and at least 120 military commander to congrat- tured the city from the Houthis in the possibility of a ceasefire in ceasefire,” Kerry said, referring ture of Sanaa would pave the way for Yemen once the hostilities were wounded. Witnesses said ulate him. July last year. Yemen similar to the arrange- to the truce that has largely to a solution. have ended,” Jubeir said. Rouhani slams ‘revolutionary’ opponents

Reuters nei have accused him of be- Dubai traying the anti-Western values of the 1979 revolu- tion that toppled the US- ran’s President Hassan backed Shah. Rouhani defended his But Rouhani said the Inuclear deal with world election results were new powers and his policy of de- vote of confi dence for his tente with the West, saying policies and promised to yesterday that his “revolu- push for more political and tionary” opponents sought social reforms. their own interests, not “We had a revolution to those of the people. promote morality, national The remarks showed a unity, and brotherhood... widening rift between Rou- You are a revolutionary hani and hardliners, espe- when people feel safe from cially the supreme leader your words and actions,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Rouhani said. who has called himself a Last week Khamenei proud revolutionary in re- told Assembly members cent months. to choose a “revolution- “What’s the use of say- ary” successor to him when ing I am a revolutionary ... the time saying, saying the Why don’t we seek people’s next supreme leader should comfort and our country’s not compromise on Iran’s glory?” Rouhani said in a stance against the US. speech broadcast live on the Khamenei said Iran’s state television. economy had not yet ben- Rouhani has championed efi ted from the Western the nuclear deal with six delegations visiting Iran major powers that put an after the lifting of sanctions end to international sanc- as they had failed to deliver tions on Tehran in January, on their promises. He added and has been since trying he saw some of the visits as to revive Iran’s business and suspicious as the West was political ties with the West. trying to send “infi ltrators” Moderates and reformers in disguise. also saw big gains in Feb- During the nuclear talks ruary elections for parlia- led by the US, Khamenei ment and for the Assembly repeatedly told his support- of Experts - a body that will ers that he did not trust the choose the next supreme West and that he was “still leader. a revolutionary, not a dip- Hardline allies of Khame- lomat”.

Four on death row for terrorism

Death sentences against four ment the first group of 47.” It Saudi men convicted of terror- said a total of 13 judges had ism have been confirmed by 13 considered the cases in three judges, a Saudi newspaper re- levels of hearings, but did not ported, raising the possibility identify the four men. of a new round of executions In November last year, two two months after 47 people Saudi newspapers reported were put to death. that Saudi Arabia was planning Saudi newspaper Okaz said: to execute more than 50 peo- “The four terrorists awaiting ple for “terrorist crimes” that the implementation of the killed more than 100 civilians death sentences comple- and 71 security personnel. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 11 ARAB WORLD Top Hamas leaders seek ‘new era’ with Egypt

Reuters the border since 2013, citing of Gaza have made it diffi cult for Protesters carry Lebanese flags and banners as they take part in a protest against what they say is the government’s failure to resolve a Gaza City precarious security conditions goods and people to move in and crisis over rubbish disposal near the government palace in Beirut yesterday. in neighbouring Sinai where Is- out of the territory, increasing lamist militants have launched hardship for its 1.95mn people. hree senior leaders of Pal- many deadly strikes on Egyptian Hamas wrested control of the estinian Islamist group soldiers. territory in a brief 2007 civil war THamas travelled to Cairo The 12-member Hamas dele- with forces loyal to Western- yesterday to try to repair relations gation headed for Cairo included backed Palestinian President Lebanese govt approves with Egypt after years of tension. three top fi gures, Mahmoud al- Mahmoud Abbas, who holds The visit comes a week after Zahar, Khalil al-Hayya and Imad sway in the occupied West Bank. Egypt accused Hamas of involve- al-Alami. An Egyptian border Its relations with Cairo have ment in last year’s assassination offi cial said they were escorted worsened since 2013, when of Public Prosecutor Hisham Bar- under heavy security. Egypt’s army ousted Islam- plan to solve trash crisis akat. Hamas rejected the claim as Hamas spokesman Sami Abu ist leader Mohamed Mursi, the “politically motivated”. Zuhri said the offi cials were hop- country’s fi rst elected president. Egypt, historically the Pales- ing to turn a new page in rela- Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood AFP Yesterday, Information Min- test movement was the fi rst by organisers said in a statement tinians’ major backer, has bro- tions with Egypt. was Hamas’s strategic ideologi- Beirut ister Ramzi Jreij said authori- civil society groups in several yesterday. kered several truces between Is- “Hamas stresses its interest in cal ally. ties would reopen the Naameh months and had been touted as Earlier this month “You rael and Gaza factions and tried preserving the security and sta- Some Cairo security offi cials landfi ll as part of a “four-year” a “fi nal warning” to the govern- Stink” posted on its Facebook to heal past rifts between rival bility of Egypt and we are look- have accused Hamas of aiding ebanon said yesterday it plan to resolve the crisis. ment to take action. page a jarring video of moun- Palestinian factions. ing forward to a new era in rela- militants in Sinai, but Hamas lead- would temporarily reopen Naameh would be reopened The demonstrators carried tains of trash festering across But it has intensifi ed a block- tions,” he said in a statement. ers have repeatedly denied med- La landfi ll to ease an eight- for two months “to take in the banners calling for the “fall of Lebanon. ade of Gaza by largely sealing Egyptian and Israeli blockades dling in Egypt’s internal aff airs. month rubbish crisis as thou- trash that has already piled up”, the government”. In one of the shots fi lmed by sands of people demonstrated he told reporters after an emer- In past demonstrations, pro- a drone, plastic bags containing in Beirut against the waste pile- gency cabinet session. testers have repeatedly rejected rubbish can be seen stretching Bid to woo striking Palestinian teachers back to work up. Two other “temporary” the reopening of the Naameh for miles like a fl owing river. Rubbish has piled up on landfi lls equipped to treat the landfi ll, calling for a compre- The footage, which was Palestinian president Mahmoud pay rise, a management review been pleading with teachers beaches, in mountain forests waste would be opened in Bei- hensive and long-term solution widely shared ahead of the Abbas pledged yesterday to and the implementation of a 2013 to return to class, warning that and river beds across Leba- rut’s suburbs, he added. to the crisis. demonstration, mocked the improve conditions for teachers work agreement. The average pupils otherwise risk a “lost year.” non since the closure in July of As the cabinet met, around Naameh was set up in the tourism ministry over a video it whose three-week-old strike has monthly salary for a teacher Most of the promises given by the country’s largest landfi ll at 3,000 demonstrators marched early 1990s as a temporary had commissioned to highlight closed several schools in the Israeli- is $600. A school head with a Abbas yesterday are only to take Naameh, just south of Beirut. to central Beirut demanding a measure. Lebanon’s natural beauty. occupied West Bank. In a previously master’s degree and 25 years of eff ect from September 2017 but Since then, government pro- permanent solution to the cri- “The fi nal warning has been In September, the govern- unscheduled television address service can earn $700. he asked them to go back to posals to have the rubbish ex- sis. sent, and we are now in a new ment approved a plan to end the Abbas, flanked by prime minister Abbas’s West Bank-based work today, the first day of the ported or treated in Lebanon The demonstration called phase. On Monday we will par- crisis but it was never imple- Rami Hamdallah, promised a 10% Palestinian Authority (PA) has Palestinian working week. have fallen fl at. for by the “You Stink” pro- alyse the country,” the protest mented. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, March 13, 2016 ARAB WORLD Police guns, cameras at Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate

AFP Israeli policemen line the A web of alleyways where Pal- occupied West Bank killed an and arms apart against the wall. “It’s really annoying,” he adds, a ready-made accusation to kill Jerusalem courtyard beneath the gate, estinians, Israelis and tourists 19-year-old Israeli policewoman One policeman points his gun his face visibly tense. us.” which is fl anked by two towers cross path lie beyond the gate, before they were shot dead. to his head while his two col- A little further on, Bassem Zi- Around him, women and and was built in the 16th century which also leads toward Al Aqsa Since October 1, Palestinian leagues keep an eye on their sur- dan, 29, says: “Sometimes they school students open up their he sniper barrel juts out of by Suleiman the Magnifi cent. mosque compound, the Western knife, gun and car-ramming at- roundings. check us ten times every two me- handbags and school bags to have the ancient wall above Je- Snipers have positioned them- Wall and the Church of the Holy tacks have taken the lives of 27 The young man is patted down tres”. them checked with the security Trusalem’s Damascus Gate, selves on nearby roofs and new Sepulchre. Israelis, an American and an thoroughly from head to toe and “Sometimes, the searches have forces’ guns pointed at them. pointing down towards a young surveillance cameras have been But the gate’s history has been Eritrean, according to an AFP asked to remove his shoes. His no security justifi cation. It’s just Earlier last month, the Israeli Palestinian being searched by Is- set up beside dozens of others al- overshadowed by deadly violence count. backpack is emptied of all its provocation. It depends on the parliament passed a law author- raeli policemen. ready installed. in recent months. Most of the assailants have items, one by one. His identity soldiers’ mood.” ising the police to stop and search A key tourist site and one of Trees that once cast shade over Recently, a 20-year-old Pal- been teenagers or young men papers are checked. “Before, I used to refuse that “any person appearing to be rea- the entrances to the Old City, the green areas nearby have been cut estinian stabbed and wounded and women, and recent security Only then is he allowed on his they search me in public and sonably suspicious” as long as massive white stone gate has be- back or even uprooted to give the two policemen outside Damas- checks have focused on that age way. they’d take me aside to a police they agree to the search. come a backdrop for the violence cameras a clear view. cus Gate before they shot him group. “I live in the Old City so I have station,” he adds. But at Damascus Gate, jour- between Israel and Palestinians Damascus Gate, one of seven dead. Near Damascus Gate, three to go through this every single But “now I don’t dare any- nalists did not hear policemen that erupted almost fi ve months historic gates in the city, leads into And on February 3, three young policemen conduct a body search day,” says the young man who more, I’m too scared they’ll kill ask for the consent of the young ago. Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. Palestinians from the nearby on a young man, who stands legs asked to remain anonymous. me in cold blood, now they have people they were searching. Syria’s govt Funeral view rules out presidency discussion Palestinian girls climb up a tree during the funeral of Israa Abu Khussa, 6, yesterday in Beit Lahiya in the north of the Gaza Strip. Israa Opposition says the Syrian the televised news conference. A UN Security Council resolu- wounded in an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip has died of her injuries, Palestinian medical sources said. Her brother Yassin, 10, died foreign minister halts talks “We will not talk to anyone tion approved in December called earlier in a raid on a base of Hamas’s military wing near their home in the northern Gaza village of Beit Lahiya. Another brother, Ayub, before they start; rebels who talks about the position of for the establishment of “credi- 13, suff ered moderate injuries. Page 1 say they have shot down the presidency ... I advise them ble, inclusive, and non-sectarian warplane that if this is their thinking, they governance”, a new constitution shouldn’t come to the talks,” he and free and fair elections within Reuters said, addressing the opposition. 18 months. Beirut The talks will coincide with HNC chief negotiator Moha- next week’s fi fth anniversary of mad Alloush was cited saying a war that has killed more than they had come to Geneva to ne- yria’s government yester- 250,000 people, created the gotiate a transition body without Egypt to present Italy with day ruled out any discus- world’s worst refugee crisis, and Assad in power. Another HNC Ssion of the presidency or allowed for the expansion of the member, Monzer Makhous, said presidential elections at peace Islamic State group. Moualem was “putting the nails talks and criticised the UN envoy It is part of the fi rst diplomatic in the coffi n of Geneva”. overseeing next week’s negotia- push since the Russian air force Moualem indicated that a “na- fi les on slain PhD student tions. intervened in September to sup- tional unity government” was The opposition in turn ac- port President Bashar al-Assad, the most on off er - an idea ruled cused Damascus of trying to stop reshaping the war his way and out by the opposition HNC. DPA the Egyptian capital nine days list of places Regeni frequented, Egypt to do academic research. the talks before they had started helping Damascus reclaim sig- Moualem said de Mistura must Cairo later. and people who used to visit his The date he went missing co- - an exchange that refl ected the nifi cant areas in the west. be neutral and objective. The Al-Ahram, citing an un- house or meet him outside. incided with the fi fth anniver- huge challenges facing diplomats The ceasefi re agreement, bro- government delegation would be named judicial source, re- “The prosecution is willing sary of the 2011 uprising that trying to build on a ceasefi re deal kered by the US and Russia, has willing to discuss the agenda, he gypt will provide Italy ported that Egyptian prosecu- to share all the case information ousted longtime dictator Hosni that has cut violence since Feb 27. been more widely respected than said, and would travel to Geneva with documents related to tors had sent the results of its with the Italian investigation Mubarak and was marked by ex- Foreign Minister Walid al- many expected, though fi ghting on Sunday. But it would return to Ethe investigations into the investigations to the Ministry team,” the source was quoted as treme security measures to pre- Moualem confi rmed his govern- has continued on some impor- Damascus within 24 hours if the brutal killing of an Italian PhD of International Co-operation saying. vent anti-government protests. ment’s participation in the talks tant frontlines, including near other side did not show up, he student, state-run Al-Ahram ahead of presenting the find- There was no offi cial confi r- Italian media have suggested but said they would fail if the the Turkish border. added. Online reported yesterday. ings to Italy. mation in Cairo. that he was kidnapped and mur- opposition had “delusions that The opposition High Negotia- As far as the government was The death of Giulio Regeni, The documents include state- On Thursday, the European dered by Egyptian security forc- they will take power in Geneva tions Committee (HNC) has also concerned, “political transition” whose body showed signs of tor- ments made by Regeni’s friends Parliament in a resolution urged es for having links with trade that they failed to take in battle”. confi rmed its attendance and meant a transition from the exist- ture, shocked Italy and sparked in Egypt as well as statements Egypt to share with Italy “all unions and other opposition He also heaped criticism on praised an agenda outlined by de ing constitution to a new one, and international outrage. from the last person he spoke the documents and informa- groups. UN envoy Staff an de Mistura for Mistura focused on governance, from the existing government to a The 28-year-old disappeared with before his disappearance, tion necessary to enable a swift, Denying the suggestion, the already presenting an agenda for a new constitution and elections. new one with participation from after leaving his house to meet according to the report. transparent and impartial joint Egyptian Interior Ministry has the talks and for his comment The HNC wants to focus on a the other side, he added. up with a friend in central Cai- They also include a call log investigation.” said that Regeni’s killing may that presidential elections would transitional governing body with Diplomacy has been com- ro on January 25. His body was acquired from an Egypt-based Regeni, a student at Britain’s have been motivated by personal take place in 18 months. full executive powers as outlined plicated by disputes over who found on a highway outside of telecommunications company, a Cambridge University, was in vengeance. “The government delegation in a 2012 Geneva communique should be invited to negotiate will reject any attempt to put this drawn up in an early bid to end with the government. on the agenda,” Moualem said at the confl ict. The Kurdish PYD party, which exercises sway over wide ar- eas of northern Syria, has so far been excluded from the talks in Man jailed for unfaithful wives comments line with the wishes of Turkey - which sees the PYD as an exten- sion of the PKK Kurdish rebels Reuters country were unfaithful. to encourage them,” said Sobky, Sobky’s comments included fi ghting for autonomy inside its Cairo Taymour el-Sobky was ar- whose Facebook page called the suggestion that arranged territory. rested last month and accused “Diaries of a Suff ering Hus- marriages in traditional southern Moualem said the Syrian by prosecutors of slandering band” has more than 1mn fol- Egypt exacerbated the problem of army and the Kurds were in “one n Egyptian court yester- Egyptian women and damaging lowers. infi delity because women ended trench” fi ghting Islamic State, day sentenced a promi- their honour. His comments on “These days, it is very normal up with men they didn’t know. apparently in reference to the Anent Facebook user a popular evening talk show in for women to cheat on their hus- After the claim a masked man YPG militia that has been bat- to three years in prison with December caused a furore. bands and seek it out ... Many from the region appeared in a tling the jihadist group in north- hard labour after he asserted “Thirty per cent of Egyptian women are involved in extra- video carried on YouTube armed Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem speaks during a news ern Syria with support from US- on television that many mar- women are ready for immoral- marital aff airs while their hus- with an assault rifl e, and issued conference in Damascus yesterday. led air strikes. ried women in the conservative ity, they just can’t fi nd someone bands are abroad,” he claimed. a death threat against Sobky.

Israel calls for punishing Iran for its missile tests

Israeli Prime Minister instructed the Foreign Benjamin Netanyahu Ministry to appeal to the yesterday called for world five permanent members powers to take “immediate of the UN Security Council punitive steps” against Iran, and Germany, the powers following its ballistic missile who negotiated the nu- tests last week. clear deal with Iran, to act. A series of tests conducted “(The powers) must take by Iran’s Revolutionary immediate punitive steps Guards caused interna- following the repeated tional concern, with the US, gross transgressions by France and other countries Iran in the matter of the saying that, if confirmed, rockets,” the statement the launch of nuclear-capa- said, adding that it would ble ballistic missiles would be “a test for the pow- violate UN Security Council ers’ ability to enforce the resolution 2231. nuclear agreement.” Netanyahu has been The US said it would raise vehemently opposed to the issue during closed the international deal with door UN Security Council Iran which led to the lifting consultations next week of economic sanctions in and is urging countries January, and his position to co-operate on under- has put him at odds with US mining Tehran’s missile President Barack Obama. programme, Samantha A statement from Netan- Power, the US envoy to the yahu’s off ice said he had UN, said on Friday. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 13 ARAB WORLD Iraq PM vows to avenge IS chem attack

AFP which lies just south of the city of Abadi promised a ground opera- Baghdad Kirkuk and is around 220km (135 tion to retake the village from IS miles) north of Baghdad. soon, pro-government militia Abadi promised that medical commander Abu Ridha al-Najjar raqi Prime Minister Haider support would be provided to the said. al-Abadi vowed yesterday to town, where hundreds of people Bashir lies in an area that is of- Iretaliate against the Islamic were treated following the chem- fi cially under federal administra- State group after it launched a ical attack. tion but is controlled by Kurdish A handout picture released by Guinness World Records on Friday shows, Marco Frigatti (right), Head of Records for Guinness World chemical attack on a town near Iranian Health Minister Has- forces that de facto expanded Records, presenting Israel Kristal (second) with his certificate of achievement for oldest living man, in the presence of his daughter (top), Kirkuk. san Hashemi said yesterday a their autonomous region on the son (left) and grandchildren. Kristal claims the title at the age of 112 years and 178 days as of March 11, 2016, and was awarded his certificate The suspected mustard gas medical team from the Islamic back of the militants’ 2014 of- at his home in Haifa. attack on Taza that left a three- republic had arrived in Kirkuk fensive. year-old girl dead “will not go after an “urgent request” from Tension has been high be- unpunished”, the premier said in his Iraqi counterpart, Iran’s ISNA tween Kurdish forces and Shia a statement. news agency reported. militias in the area, impeding A large number of rockets Hundreds of people attended military co-operation against IS. were fi red at Taza on Wednesday the funeral on Friday of Fa- In February, US Director of Oldest living man confi rmed from the nearby village of Bashir, tima Samir, the girl who died of National Intelligence James which is held by the jihadists. wounds suff ered in the attack. Clapper and CIA Director John Intelligence experts are still Some of the mourners carried Brennan for the fi rst time openly analysing samples, but local of- placards demanding protection. accused IS of using chemical fi cials believe mustard agent The Iraqi air force carried out weapons, including mustard gas, as an Israeli living in Haifa was used in the attack on Taza, a strike on Bashir overnight and in Iraq and Syria.

Guardian News and Media Asked about his longevity in the family confectionery his second wife and their son. Tunisia calls for day’s wages to fight terrorism Jerusalem Kristal said: “I don’t know the business. Despite his great age, Kristal secret for long life. I believe that He continued to work as a is not the oldest documented Tunisia’s premier called initiative to support the national On Monday, militants launched everything is determined from sweet maker in the ghetto there person on the planet, a record yesterday for civil servants and eff ort in the fight against the a wave of attacks on army and he world’s oldest docu- above and we shall never know when it was established by the claimed by 115-year-old Susan- the general public to donate plague of terrorism.” police posts in the border town mented living man has the reasons why. Nazis in 1940. Four years later nah Mushatt Jones of Brooklyn, part of their wages to an anti- The statement came after of Ben Guerdane in southeast Tbeen confi rmed as an Is- “There have been smarter, he was sent to Auschwitz, where New York. terrorism fund, following a President Beji Caid Essebsi Tunisia. raeli Auschwitz survivor living stronger and better looking men he lost his wife. Individuals over 110 are deadly assault on a town near donated a month’s salary to The assault and ensuing clashes in Haifa. than me who are no longer alive. Kristal himself survived de- tracked by the Gerontology Re- the Libyan border. the fund at a post off ice in around the town have killed Israel Kristal, aged 112 and 178 All that is left for us to do is to spite being used as a slave la- search Group which provides Habib Essid “invited members of central Tunis, in what his off ice 49 militants, 13 members of days on March 11, was handed keep on working as hard as we bourer in Auschwitz and other Guinness World Records with government and high-ranking described as “a symbolic gesture the security forces and seven a certifi cate at his home by a can and rebuild what is lost.” concentration camps. data on documented individuals state off icials to donate a to support security and military civilians. representative of the Guinness Kristal was born in Zarnow, He was rescued from the brink of that age and older. day’s work to the ‘Fund for the institutions”. There has been no claim of World Records confi rming him Poland, on September 15, 1903. of death by the Allies in May Marco Frigatti of Guinness Fight against Terrorism’”, in a The president called on “all responsibility for the attacks, as the oldest known man on the When the fi rst world war broke 1945, weighing only 37 kilos. A said of Kristal: “This record government statement. Tunisians in and outside the but the authorities have blamed planet. out in 1914, he saw Kaiser Franz sole survivor of his family - his category continues to be one of The prime minister “also called on country to support the state’s them on the Islamic State militant Kristal succeeded 112-year- Joseph in person but became children also died during the particular human interest and civil servants, the state’s agents eff orts in its fight against group present in neighbouring old Yasutaro Koide of Japan, separated from his parents, later Holocaust - he emigrated in 1950 we have been able to verify that and citizens to take part in the terrorism”. Libya. who died earlier this month. moving aged 17 to Lodz to work to the city of Haifa in Israel with he is the new oldest living man.” Gulf Times 14 Sunday, March 13, 2016 AFRICA ‘Uganda Local flavours violated rights’ in elections

Reuters ed the results as fraudulent, has Nairobi been under virtual house arrest for weeks. A second challenger, former prime minister Amama ganda has persistently Mbabazi, has fi led an offi cial violated the rights of its challenge to the results. Ucitizens and media in the Mbabazi said his lawyers’ of- aftermath of last month’s presi- fi ces were raided soon after fi ling dential election which saw Presi- the challenge. The government dent Yoweri Museveni retain his has denied any involvement. hold on power, the US has said. Responding to Kirby’s com- The comments are the lat- ments, Shaban Bantariza, deputy Ivorian traditional performers dance outside the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan during the Market For African Performing Arts festival . est sign of deteriorating rela- spokesman for the Ugandan gov- tions between Western powers ernment, said yesterday that Be- and Uganda, an ally in the fi ght sigye had been detained because against Islamists in the region. “he has indicated he wants to stir US State Department spokes- trouble on the streets”. man John Kirby said in a state- “We take exception to another ment late on Friday that Ugan- government condemning us based da’s repeated detention of on rumour and hearsay, and this is opposition fi gures and harass- what the Americans are doing,” he Dos Santos to step down in 2018 ment of their supporters, and the said. “People who have been ar- government’s interference in a rested are suspected to have com- Reuters on Friday. He did not elaborate. Angola, a struction of infrastructure devastated But another analyst said the president challenge of the poll results are mitted crimes. They have not been Luanda former Portuguese colony, holds its next by a 27-year-long civil war that ended in was grooming his son, Jose Filomeno de “unacceptable activities in a free arrested for nothing.” parliamentary election in 2017 and the 2002. Sousa dos Santos, to succeed him. The and democratic society”. Museveni has endeared him- leader of the winning party will then be- Critics accuse him of mismanaging younger Dos Santos currently heads An- “The US and Uganda have a self to the West by contributing ngolan President Jose Eduardo dos come president. Angola’s oil wealth and making an elite, gola’s sovereign wealth fund. long standing and strong part- thousands of troops to a peace- Santos, who has been in power MPLA leader Dos Santos was re-ap- mainly his family and political allies, “It may mean the succession is in nership that has contributed to keeping mission in Somalia. Asince 1979 and is one of Africa’s pointed to a new fi ve-year term as An- vastly rich in a country ranked amongst progress and that it will be a dynastic the stability and prosperity of He has also been credited with longest-ruling leaders, said over the gola’s president in August 2012 after his the world’s most corrupt. one,” said Nelson Bonavena, an econom- the region,” the statement said. bringing relative peace and eco- weekend he intends to step down in 2018, party scored a landslide win. Dos Santos is Africa’s second long- ics lecturer at the Catholic University of “We are concerned that the nomic growth to Uganda, a pro- but gave no reason for his decision and It was not immediately clear whether est ruling leader after Equatorial Guin- Angola and political analyst. Ugandan government’s recent spective oil producer. did not name a preferred successor. Dos Santos would retain his post as MPLA ea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Another Angola expert, Ricardo Soares actions could endanger the eco- But critics say Museveni has Angola, a member of Opec and Africa’s leader during the next election or take Mbasogo. de Oliveira of Britain’s Oxford University, nomic and political progress that not done enough to raise more second largest oil exporter after Nigeria, part in the campaign. Vice-President Manuel Vicente - said the news of Dos Santos’ planned exit has enabled our relationship to Ugandans out of poverty or ad- has been hit hard by the slump in global A year of weak oil prices has hammered former head of state oil fi rm Sonangol - is should be treated cautiously. grow.” dress widespread corruption. crude prices. Oil export revenues account Africa’s third largest economy and the seen as a likely successor to Dos Santos. “Dos Santos’ departure from power Uganda’s electoral commis- Monitors from the European for more than 90% of foreign exchange government is in discussions with the “(Dos Santos) has been grooming Vice- has been the talk of the town in Luanda sion declared Museveni, 71 and Union (EU) have criticized Ugan- revenues. World Bank and International Monetary nte for quite a while now ... He has depu- for 15 years. He has always hinted that he in power since 1986, the winner da for creating an “intimidating “I took the decision to leave active po- Fund about possible fi nancial assistance. tised for him on a number of important wanted to leave but this is the most spe- of the February 18 election with atmosphere” around the vote litical activity in 2018,” Dos Santos, 73, Dos Santos’ mild, inscrutable public occasions, which sent a strong signal,” cifi c commitment he has ever made,” he 60% of the vote. and have said the electoral body said in a speech to members of his rul- demeanour belies his tight control over said Gary van Staden, a Johannesburg- said. “The fact that he put a date to it is a Kizza Besigye, who came in lacked transparency and inde- ing MPLA party’s key decision-making Angola, where he has overseen an oil- based political analyst with NKC African powerful marker and would come back to second with 35% and has reject- pendence. organ that was broadcast on radio late backed economic boom and the recon- Economics. haunt him if he were to renege on it.”

Charter change Zimbabwe looks to the sun as drought hits hydropower

By Andrew Mambondiyani, Zimbabwe currently imports investment of $113mn to produce Reuters power from South Africa and 50 MW, according to De Green Mutare, Zimbabwe Mozambique to help meet de- Rhino Energy CEO Francis Gog- mand. we. But to lower the risk of a crip- The head of the Zimbabwe imbabwe is pushing for- pling long-term energy crisis, Energy Regulatory Authority, ward with plans to build the government has stepped up Gloria Magombo, told an energy Zfour new solar power eff orts to lure investors into solar conference in Harare in Decem- plants, amid a drought that has power. ber that Zimbabwe needs invest- battered its ability to generate The Zimbabwe Power Com- ment of at least $9bn to increase hydroelectricity. pany says feasibility studies and its power generation capacity to Severe dry conditions - linked engineering procurement are 5,000 MW by 2030 from around to the El Niño weather phenom- underway for three solar projects 1,300 MW now. enon bringing extreme weather at Gwanda, Insukamini and The country aims to ensure around the world - are aff ecting Munyati. access to aff ordable, reliable and big and small producers of hy- Construction is expected to modern energy services for all dropower alike. start this year, at a combined citizens by 2030, in line with UN Phillip Muwungani of Chi- cost of $635mn. Each solar power goals, Magombo said. pendeke village, 70km southeast plant will generate 100 MW. Meanwhile, the government of Mutare city, said his commu- The projects have been on the plans to produce 300 MW from nity’s vision of producing its own cards for some time now as part solar by 2018. Senegalese demonstrate yesterday in the Guediawaye suburb of Dakar ahead of a referendum on revising the constitution, including clean electricity using water is of government eff orts to boost Other energy projects to be reducing the presidential mandate from seven to five years. fading. solar energy, but the tenders completed by that date include Drought has aff ected water were cancelled in 2014 due to ir- extensions at Hwange Thermal levels in Chitora River which regularities in the bidding proc- Power Station and Kariba South powers the Chipendeke micro ess. Hydro Power Station, a new hy- hydro plant, making electricity The contracts were re-issued dropower plant at Gairezi, and generation erratic. to new companies last year, as refurbishment of small thermal The plant, which supplies the current drought-induced plants. Niger candidate back in jail after visit to doctor electricity to villagers, a school, a power crisis jolted the govern- There is high demand for solar clinic and a business centre, was ment into action. energy systems, especially in re- built under a sustainable energy In October, the government mote off -grid areas. AFP ceive treatment in the presence of his doc- ing charges he says are politically motivated. initiative backed by the ZERO signed a deal with Intratrek Zim- But economist Eddie Cross, Niamey tor, and then taken back to his cell”. He nevertheless picked up nearly 18% of Regional Environment Organi- babwe to construct the Gwanda who is also a legislator for Bu- Ousseini Salatou, spokesman for the op- the vote in the fi rst round of the presidential sation, the Zimbabwe Energy solar project in partnership lawayo South, says the cost re- position coalition known as COPA 2016, race on February 21, coming second to Is- Council and international devel- with Chinese company CHINT mains prohibitive as much of the ailed Niger opposition leader Hama which backs Amadou for the presidency, soufou who took 48% - failing to clinch an opment groups. Electrics, backed by a $202mn equipment is imported, and stor- Amadou, due to stand in a presidential said he had “been suff ering for quite some outright fi rst-round majority victory. “The situation doesn’t look loan from the Export-Import age options for solar power are Jrun-off next week, was back behind bars time, but his condition worsened yesterday”. The COPA 2016 coalition called for Ama- good,” Muwungani said. “We are Bank of China. limited. late on Friday after receiving medical treat- The confusion came as COPA 16 an- dou’s release on March 2 to allow him to not sure if it will improve any Tenders to build solar power The government is encourag- ment, his entourage said, as his coalition nounced an “active boycott” of the election, campaign fairly against Issoufou. His law- time soon.” plants at Munyati and Insuka- ing local production of solar sys- vowed to boycott the vote. which it said had been agreed “in connec- yers said the judicial authorities would hand At the national level too, mini have also been awarded to tems to make them cheaper. Sources close to Amadou - who has been tion with Mr Amadou”, with Salatou vowing down a ruling on the case Monday. drought has taken its toll on hy- Chinese fi rms. In Zimbabwe, hydro is the in jail since November on baby-traffi cking that Issoufou would face “a phantom candi- The opposition has accused the govern- droelectric production. Construction at a fourth so- most cost-eff ective way to pro- charges - said the opposition leader had date” on March 20. ment of fraud in the fi rst round, claiming Experts say the Kariba Dam on lar power project in Marondera, duce electricity at a cost of 1.5 been treated locally, going back on an ear- The coalition had announced on Wednes- “unfair treatment between the two candi- the border with Zambia, which about 70km east of the capital US cents per kilowatt hour, fol- lier statement that he had been taken to the day that it was dropping out of a race it said dates” and complaining that the Constitu- provides almost 60% of Zimba- Harare, will start in September lowed by coal at a cost of eight to capital. was “unfair”, but Amadou’s lawyer insisted tional Court has yet to offi cially confi rm the bwe’s power, could lose its ability this year. 12 cents per kilowatt hour, Cross “Contrary to what we believed, Hama the following day that he would still be tak- results. to generate electricity in around De Green Rhino Energy, a Zim- said. That compares with 20 to Amadou has not left his prison in Filingue ing part. The government maintains the polls were six months’ time unless water babwean joint venture set up by a 30 cents per kilowatt hour for for the hospital in Niamey,” a source told Salatou, however, told a press conference “free and transparent” while the African levels improve. London-based consultancy, will solar. AFP on condition of anonymity. on Friday night: “We have asked our activ- Union, which sent observers, said it was With an installed capacity of invest $400mn from German in- De Green Rhino Energy says Salah Amadou, a senior offi cial of the ists and all patriots not to campaign and not generally satisfi ed with the organisation of 750 megawatts (MW), Zimba- vestors in the project, which will its solar project will augment jailed candidate’s party, earlier said Amadou to go out on March 20.” the vote, despite logistical glitches and de- bwe’s Kariba power plant is now start selling electricity to the na- government eff orts to expand was suff ering from eye problems and was He added: “Hama will not vote on March lays. generating less than 285 MW. tional grid from the end of 2017 if clean power sources and reduce being transferred to Niamey from his jail in 20, COPA will not vote on March 20.” A total of 7.5mn people were eligible to Lake Kariba - the world’s largest all goes to plan. Zimbabwe’s reliance on energy Filingue, about 180km from the capital. Amadou, a 66-year-old former premier vote in the country, which lies on the edge of manmade reservoir - is a little over The Marondera solar project imports, bringing wider benefi ts. The lawmaker later said the opposition and ex-speaker of parliament, has cam- the Sahara desert, where security is a grow- 10% full, down from around half at should be able to generate 150 “Our project will help acceler- leader had been “taken to the clinic in Fi- paigned from behind bars, where he has ing concern after attacks by militants from the same time last year, according MW when it reaches full capac- ate economic development in the lingue under a heavy security escort to re- been held since November on baby-traffi ck- neighbouring Nigeria, Mali and Libya. to the Zambezi River Authority. ity, but will start with an initial country,” said boss Gogwe. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 15 AMERICAS

Obama ‘has Trump blames ‘thugs’ for narrowed Supreme Court cancelled Chicago rally pick to three ’ AFP Agencies Washington Chicago S President Barack Obama has nar- S Republican presidential rowed his choice to fi ll the nation’s front-runner Donald Trump USupreme Court vacancy down to three Uyesterday blamed organised judges, the Washington Post has reported. “thugs” for protests that shut down The president is considering DC-based his Chicago rally and said the inci- Merrick Garland and Sri Srinivasan, and Cal- dent had “energised America.” ifornia-based Paul Watford, the Post said late Trump, who was to be at a cam- Friday, citing people familiar with the vetting paign rally in Dayton, Ohio, yester- process. day, cancelled the Chicago event on Much is at stake in the struggle over who Friday after it turned chaotic, with will replace Antonin Scalia, the conservative scuffl es breaking out between pro- justice who died unexpectedly February 13 - testers and backers of the real estate and whose successor could potentially tip the magnate. court towards a liberal majority. “The organized group of people, Republicans in the Senate, which must ap- many of them thugs, who shut down prove any nomination, say it should be left to our First Amendment rights in Chi- the next president to choose the new justice, cago, have totally energised Ameri- while Obama says it is his constitutional duty ca!” Trump said on Twitter. to act now. The First Amendment to the US A favourite of Washington’s legal estab- Constitution protects freedom of lishment, Garland, chief judge of the US speech and assembly. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia The Chicago rally was scheduled Circuit, came to prominence by prosecuting ahead of fi ve primary elections on the case of anarchist Ted Kacynski, known Tuesday, including contests in Ohio as the “Unabomber”, and the 1995 Oklahoma and Illinois. City bombing. Trump has drawn fervent sup- Srinivasan, a highly respected appellate port as well as criticism for his calls judge from the same court as Garland, is of to build a wall along the US-Mexico Indian origin and would be the fi rst Asian- border and to impose a temporary American justice if nominated and approved. ban on Muslims entering the country. And Watford is a judge on the US Court of His rallies often attract small Appeals for the 9th Court, in California. groups of protesters, but Friday’s was On Friday, White House spokesman Josh the fi rst at which there may have been Earnest said Obama’s announcement would as many protesters as supporters. “not necessarily” be made before he leaves Asked by CNN interviewer Don Demonstrators stand outside the University of Illinois venue of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s scheduled rally in Chicago on Friday. for his landmark trip to Cuba just over a week Lemon if he would take back any- from now. thing he had said, Trump said: “Now, him to halt his speech repeatedly. Throngs of protesters, many of One sign held by a protester inside was responsible for whipping up ten- getting back to before tonight, when In statements, Republican rival them blacks and Latinos angered by the arena said “We are not rapists,” sions. In a statement, Trump’s cam- I talked about illegal immigration, I candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Ru- Trump’s incendiary anti-immigrant referring to Trump’s characterization paign said he had determined that “for have no regrets whatsoever.” bio both called the incident “sad” rhetoric, had massed outside and in- last year of Mexicans as rapists. the safety of all of the tens of thou- “If I didn’t bring up illegal immi- and said the protesters should have side the venue in Chicago, mingling Police made a total of fi ve arrests sands of people that have gathered in gration, it wouldn’t even be a subject let the rally happen. with the candidate’s supporters. and two offi cers were taken to area and around the arena, tonight’s rally Canadian in of the campaign,” he added. Trump has a signifi cant lead in pri- Pundits said the chaos at the rally hospitals after sustaining minor inju- will be postponed to another date.” At the University of Illinois- mary contests over the three remain- was reminiscent of violent protests at ries, the Chicago Police Department “Please go in peace,” it added. Chicago stadium rally the two sides ing Republicans vying for the White the 1968 Democratic National Con- confi rmed to AFP. The sudden security concerns court over bid shouted at each other until a Trump House. He is looking to cement it on vention, also in Chicago, held when Critics have accused Trump of mark a major test for Trump as he staff er appeared and said the event Tuesday. the US was torn apart by opposing fuelling the toxic atmosphere. seeks to lock up the nomination and would be put off until an unspecifi ed Ohio Governor John Kasich, also views on the Vietnam War. On February 1, as protesters inter- turn his attention to doing battle to go to Syria date for security reasons. battling Trump for the Republican CNN estimated there were be- rupted a rally in Iowa, he encouraged against Hillary Clinton, the Demo- Police said fi ve people were arrest- presidential nomination, told re- tween 8,500 to 10,000 people in supporters to “knock the crap out of cratic frontrunner. ed, including CBS News reporter So- porters before a campaign event in the arena in Chicago when tensions them,” and pledged to pay their legal Clinton was quick to strike out at anadian authorities have charged a pan Deb. Two offi cers were injured, Cincinnati that Trump had “created erupted into chaos. fees. Trump over the Chicago violence, Quebec man for attempting to leave with one requiring stitches, police a toxic environment.” “I don’t want to see anybody hurt,” When a protester disrupted releasing a statement late Friday in Cthe country to take part in a terror- said. “And that toxic environment has Trump told CNN afterwards. “I think Trump’s speech in Las Vegas, the which she said “we all have our dif- ist group, the Royal Canadian Mounted Po- The cancellation followed an ap- allowed his supporters, and those we made the right decision (to can- brash billionaire said he would like to ferences, and we know many people lice said Friday. Ismail Habib, 28, was also pearance by Trump in St. Louis on who seek confrontation, to come to- cel)... even though our freedom of “punch him in the face.” across the country feel angry. We charged with making a false statement to ob- Friday during which protests forced gether in violence.” speech was violated.” Trump dismissed the notion that he need to address that anger together.” tain a passport, the RCMP added. He faces 10 years in prison. “This case clearly demonstrates that the RCMP and its partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who threaten Canada’s national security,” police Wave of suicides roils President pushes case for access to device data Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said. Habib, who has an Afghan father and a Canadian mother, was trying to reach Syria, Canadian aboriginals Reuters at all, then how do we apprehend the be found. That solution would likely where his wife and 5-year-old daughter have Austin child pornographer, how do we solve be a system with strong encryption been living for a year, local media reported. or disrupt a terrorist plot?” he said. and a secure “key” that is accessible The authorities had revoked his passport in AFP is lost to suicide, particularly a “What mechanisms do we have to the “smallest number of people 2012 after he was detained in Turkey and de- Toronto young person, the entire commu- resident Barack Obama on Fri- available to even do simple things like possible” for issues that were agreed ported to Canada. nity experiences the repercussions day made a passionate case for tax enforcement because if in fact you to be important. Habib was charged under Canada’s ter- collectively,” said Dawn Lavell- Pmobile devices to be built in can’t crack that at all, government “Setting aside the specifi c case rorism act, which enables the authorities string of suicides among Harvard, president of the Native a way that would allow the govern- can’t get in, then everybody is walk- between the FBI and Apple ... we’re to bring charges against anyone suspected young people has hit an Women’s Association of Canada. ment to gain access to personal data ing around with a Swiss bank account going to have to make some decisions of participating in the activity of a terrorist Aimpoverished aboriginal “More robust services are re- if needed to prevent a terrorist attack in their pocket.” about how do we balance these re- group. reserve in remote central Canada, quired immediately in our com- or enforce tax laws. Last month, the FBI obtained a court spective risks,” Obama said. It also applies to cases in which a person leading to calls on Friday for more munities to stop these tragedies Speaking at the South by South- order requiring Apple to write new soft- “My conclusion so far is you can- “leaves or attempts to leave Canada.” social services support for native from re-occurring - that means west festival in Texas, the president ware and take other measures to disable not take an absolutist view.” The authorities have detained several Ca- communities. acknowledging the structural op- said he could not comment on the le- passcode protection and allow access to Adding to his argument, the presi- nadians, including minors, during the past Five teenagers and a young pression our communities are gal case in which the Federal Bureau Farook’s iPhone. Apple, which declined dent listed airport security and stops two years for attempting to join the Islamic mother at Pimicikamak Cree Na- subjected to and putting forward of Investigation is trying to force Ap- to comment on Obama’s remarks on for drunk drivers as examples of State group (IS). tion have killed themselves in re- stronger services now.” ple Inc to allow access to an iPhone Friday, has not complied. measures that were intrusive but ac- In March last year, a 17-year-old was de- cent weeks and the reserve’s leader In an interview with the Winni- linked to San Bernardino, California, Obama’s comments were his most cepted. He also warned against “fet- tained in the western province of Alberta. A has said more than 140 people have peg Free Press, reserve acting chief shooter Rizwan Farook. expansive on the subject since the ishizing” phones. “This notion that month later, a girl and her companion, both attempted suicide or had suicidal Shirley Robinson blamed the sui- But he made clear that despite his dispute. He acknowledged scepti- somehow our data is diff erent and can 18, were indicted for attempting to leave the thoughts in the past three months. cides on the community’s 80% un- commitment to Americans’ privacy cism about the government in the be walled off from those other trade- country to commit a terrorist act abroad, the About 100 young people are employment rate and overcrowd- and civil liberties, a balance was wake of the revelations about US off s we make I believe is incorrect.” RCMP said. on suicide watch at the reserve ing due to a housing shortage. needed to allow some government surveillance programs by former Na- The FBI says Farook and his wife The two were enrolled in the same Mon- of 8,000 people, located 500km Offi cials said the community intrusion if necessary. tional Security Agency contractor were inspired by Islamist militants treal high school attended by fi ve students north of Winnipeg. needed at least six mental health “If technologically it is possible to Edward Snowden. when they shot and killed 14 people from a group of seven second-generation im- “Indigenous communities are experts to help support the lone make an impenetrable device or sys- But he pressed his point that a on December 2 at a holiday party in migrants who boarded a fl ight bound for Is- facing a suicide epidemic. When qualifi ed therapist serving the re- tem where the encryption is so strong compromise that respected civil lib- California. The couple later died in a tanbul and eventually Syria to join IS fi ghters, a member of our community serve, local media reported. that there is no key, there’s no door erties and protected security had to shootout with police. according to the authorities. Obama praises Nancy Reagan for Alzheimer’s work

AFP Alzheimer’s disease,” Obama In addition, Obama called her Washington said in his weekly radio address. a staunch supporter of America’s Nancy Reagan died on Sunday veterans and an advocate for of heart failure at the age of 94 at mammograms after her own bat- S President Barack her home in the Bel Air suburb of tle with breast cancer and a mas- Obama yesterday praised Los Angeles and was buried be- tectomy. UNancy Reagan’s eff orts side her husband at the Reagan In his address, Obama said to raise awareness about Alzhe- presidential library. that he has “never been more op- imer’s and stem cell research, The former fi rst lady not only timistic that we will one day fi nd one day after the former fi rst lady became a tireless advocate for a cure for devastating diseases was buried in California next to Alzheimer’s research but also like Alzheimer’s.” her husband. stem cell research. “When I “And I can think of no better Former US president Ronald signed an order to resume federal way to honour our former fi rst Reagan, whose White House tenure stem cell research, I was proud lady’s legacy than by working to- stretched from 1981 to 1989, suf- that she was one of the fi rst gether, as one nation, toward that fered from Alzheimer’s disease after phone calls I made,” Obama said. goal,” he said. leaving offi ce and went into a long While in the White House, The former fi rst lady’s funeral decline until his death 12 years ago. Nancy Reagan actively par- brought together Hollywood “We were inspired by how, in ticipated in her husband’s cam- stars and political powerbrokers, their long goodbye, Nancy be- paigns, approved members of the including First Lady Michelle came a voice on behalf of mil- president’s cabinet, and was the Obama, former fi rst lady Hillary Reverend Stuart A Kenworthy, Vicar, Washington National Cathedral, speaks at the funeral for former first lady Nancy Reagan at the Ronald lions of families experiencing face of the administration’s Just Clinton and former president Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. the depleting, aching reality of Say No drugs campaign. George W Bush. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, March 13, 2016 ASEAN Thai deputy premier shrugs off Thaksin’s criticism

Agencies National Council for Peace and Order’s the will of the people and he did not ex- Chan-o-cha was welcomed and accept- vote to reject the draft at the referen- Thailand but did not respect Thai laws, Bangkok (NCPO) credibility. pect it to be accepted by the internation- ed by the international community. dum. They don’t have to come out and adding that Thaksin was just a fugitive Speaking in New York this week, al community, Bangkok Post reported. He stressed that the public at large instigate chaos,” he said. and the government did not give him Thaksin condemned the draft consti- His remarks were seen by some po- was satisfi ed with the government’s NCPO spokesman Piyapong Klin- any credibility. eputy Prime Minister Prawit tution as a step backwards and a tool by litical observers as a signal for his sup- performance. Prawit also said people phan yesterday hit back at Thaksin, Commenting on Thaksin’s attack on Wongsuwon has shrugged off the military council to cling to power porters to oppose the draft charter. who opposed the new constitution saying he only cared about his and his the draft charter, the NCPO spokes- Dousted prime minister Thaksin and serve its own interests. Prawit said Thaksin’s remarks would could make their voices heard by vot- family’s interests and fed foreign media man said the draft charter was being Shinawatra’s criticism of the military According to the former prime min- not undermine the military government’s ing in a planned referendum without misinformation to discredit the NCPO. reviewed by the Constitution Drafting junta, saying it would not aff ect the ister, the draft charter failed to represent credibility, noting Prime Minister Prayut having to take to the streets. “They can He said Thaksin wanted to return to Committee (CDC). Amid repression, art scene in Bangkok blooms

Reuters expatriate artists turning shop Bangkok houses and disused spaces into galleries. On a recent Friday night a crowd packed into a room n a wall in a north- at the WTF Bar and Gallery to ern suburb of Bangkok see ‘This is Not a Political Act’ O“Asin Acid” puts the by Jirawut Ueasungkomsate, an finishing touches to a spray- exhibition on cases of enforced painted picture of a colourful disappearance that have taken giant chicken holding a broken place under successive govern- loudspeaker. ments. “The loudspeaker represents In the pitch-black room audi- the media. The media is trying ence members shine fl ashlights to say something but is being in- on black and white photographs terrupted,” said Asin, who uses a of people, including prominent pseudonym for his street art to rights activists, whose wherea- protect his identity and said he is bouts are not known. inspired by Cranio, a graffi ti art- Though not a direct commen- ist from Brazil. tary on the junta, it speaks about “The rainbow colours repre- the impunity enjoyed by state sent freedom,” he said. offi cials, said Jirawut, adding Thailand’s military seized that he was initially scared about power nearly two years ago and holding the exhibition. has censored media, hauled in The junta, formally known as hundreds of critics for sessions the National Council for Peace of “attitude adjustment” and and Order, has shut down some snuff ed out protests. political lectures and talks. Junta leader Prayuth Chan- “It is because I am afraid that I ocha has threatened to shut have to do it,” said Jirawut. down news outlets critical of his At ‘The Respectables’, an ex- government and regularly scolds hibition by British artist Rich- journalists who he considers ard Mead, paintings - of fashion straying from the offi cial line. models, the media and political But state repression has un- protests - depict diff erent forms leashed a wave of artistic ex- of power. File photo shows Yangon chief minister Myint Swe (left) and an unidentified off icial leading a campaign rally of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Yangon ahead pression, say artists and art “The theme of power and ‘The of the historic November 2015 general elections. Myanmar’s military members of parliament have nominated Myint Swe as their vice presidential nominee. lovers, and the Thai capital’s art Respectables’ really goes with scene is blooming in response to the context of Thailand right life under junta rule. now. Especially with the type of “It’s because they can’t talk government we are under,” said about it that they’re creating,” Teerapa Pirohakul, an art lover said Gili Back, a cafe and gallery and history lecturer at Bangkok’s owner, referring to Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University. artists. Across town, as his exhibition “You’ll see a lot more graffi ti fi lls with the after-work crowd, and street art where people are Jirawut refl ects on the city’s art Myanmar army’s VP having their say on walls.” scene. “No matter whether we Bangkok’s art scene has tra- are under a military or a civilian ditionally been overlooked in government we need this space,” favour of places like Hong Kong he said. but in recent years venues have “Society cannot exist if every- nominee faces fl ak mushroomed with Thai and one thinks the same.”

AFP away from confi rming a presi- Zaw Linn posted, “I can’t of political reforms. But doz- The 70-year-old Nobel lau- Yangon dent after sweeping to power understand why the military ens of business tycoons and reate — whose sons have British in November elections, but the chose someone who the people senior military fi gures, includ- citizenship— has long said she still-strong army has the right so strongly do not want.” ing Myint Swe, have been kept would circumvent the ban by yanmar’s army to nominate a candidate. The US State Department on the treasury department’s ruling “above” the president. sparked public criti- Though the NLD’s nominee confi rmed that Myint Swe, list of “Specially Designated Her choice for a proxy, re- Mcism yesterday after it Htin Kyaw is all but guaran- now Yangon chief minister, still Nationals” and Americans are spected writer and long-time nominated a retired general still teed to clinch the top post, the faces sanctions but did not say barred from doing business friend Htin Kyaw, is highly blacklisted by the US to be vice army’s Myint Swe would still whether this would aff ect dip- with them. likely to assume the role after president of the country’s fi rst become one of two vice presi- lomatic relations. Questions also remain about sailing through a parliamentary civilian government in decades. dents. “We have made our concerns the retired general’s eligibility vote this week. Hardliner Myint Swe, 64, is Social media sites and com- known about this individual for the role, as he was disquali- A military spokesman declined seen as a close ally of former ment boards were fl ooded with and this process, quite frankly, fi ed from the vice presidency in to comment on how the army’s junta leader Than Shwe and criticism after his nomination and we’ll monitor it going for- 2012 for having a son-in-law nominee would evade the foreign comes from a military estab- was announced, with many ward,” spokesperson John Kirby with Australian citizenship. citizenship clause, which many lishment that pummelled the expressing regret over the said in a Washington briefi ng The country’s army-scripted suspect was written specifi cally Southeast Asian country into military’s continuing politi- Friday. charter bans anyone with close to sideline Suu Kyi. poverty under decades of isola- cal infl uence. “Even though we The US began easing eco- foreign relatives from the top “We can only confi rm to you tionist rule. hoped to see a civilian govern- nomic sanctions on Myanmar offi ce, which is why Suu Kyi that he is who the military chose A parliament dominated by ment, we have to accept a thief after a quasi-civilian govern- herself is unable to offi cially as vice president and we can’t Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s National anyway,” wrote Facebook com- ment took over from the junta take the helm despite her wide- comment on the other issues,” League for Democracy is days mentator Aung Kyaw Oo. in 2011 and unleashed a wave spread popularity. Colonel Khin Maung Cho said. A wall mural painted by graffiti artist Asin Acid in Bangkok.

Cambodian museum tells of forced marriage under Khmer Rouge

DPA and Khieu Sampan, the former prime ran away. I was arrested. I was sent to be kona, minister of culture and fi ne arts, Phnom Penh minister and president of Democratic (re-educated) a few times. In early 1975, spoke of how she escaped such mar- Kampuchea, for crimes against human- I was arrested again,” her testimony riages on several occasions as a young ity. reads. woman under the Khmer Rouge. genocide museum in Cambodia According to court testimony, while Sao Sek also describes how she was “Around me a lot of young people in the fi rst week of March opened men and women were divided into sep- raped by her husband with the assist- were forced to marry. I thought that Aits latest exhibition document- arate work camps, they would on oc- ance of two female cadres, and subse- I’m so scared (but) I always escaped, I ing the practice of forced marriage un- casion be brought together, paired off quently gave birth to a baby that died of always made myself really not look very der the Khmer Rouge, which ruled the with total strangers and then forced to malnutrition several months later. good,” she said, describing how men country from 1975-1979. consummate the relationship the same In a deeply conservative society that were often allowed to select women to The exhibit at the Tuol Sleng Mu- night -- often with loyal soldiers listen- abhors divorce, Sao Sek chose to stay marry in her collective village. seum of Genocidal Crimes showcases ing. with her husband until his death in She later chose to fi ght on the front how the Maoist regime attempted to re- Pol Pot, who headed the Khmer 1994. They had fi ve more children to- lines rather than marry against her engineer social relationships between Rouge, allegedly created the policy to gether. will. Two of Phoeng Samoan’s friends, men and women — one of the lesser increase the work force to 20mn over 10 Other women chose to break this so- however, were less lucky. One was later known crimes outside of the country. to 15 years. Yet, in the end, some 20% of cial convention. executed alongside her new husband The Sorrow and Struggle of Women the population, or 2mn people, died in “For some women, the forced mar- when he was deemed a traitor by fellow features the testimony of eight survi- under four years from execution, star- riage experience made them terrifi ed of cadres. vors, including one couple, to explain vation and overwork. men, and these women chose to leave The Sorrow and the Struggle of life under the catastrophic social policy Sao Sek, who is now 57 and attended their husbands and live alone rather Women was organised with the assist- that aff ected as many as 250,000 wom- the exhibition’s opening, described her than ever marry again — a departure ance of the German Embassy and the en. experience of being married alongside from Cambodian tradition in which a German development offi ce (GIZ), who The exhibition comes as the Extraor- 50 other women. women’s primary social role is as a wife helped to train museum staff in co-or- dinary Chambers in the Courts of Cam- “After the ceremony they brought and mother,” according to the exhibit. dinating the exhibit. They also fund the Yum, 57, reveals her testimony in a new exhibition on forced marriage under the bodia hears testimony on forced mar- us to our houses. When my husband Going off her pre-planned speech at court’s victim aff airs section, which as- Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. riage as part of its trial of Nuon Chea tried to embrace me, I screamed and the exhibition’s opening, Phoeng Sa- sists individuals in giving testimony. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 17 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Google AI program takes Go match competition

AFP/Reuters rience in playing the game of Go, Previously, the most famous ultimate goal in AI – something of potential moves that human Seoul but there was never a case where AI victory to date came in 1997 resembling human reasoning players would instinctively know I was under this much pressure ... when the IBM-developed super- based on a variety of inputs and, were pointless. and I was incapable of overcom- computer Deep Blue beat Garry crucially, self-learning. It also employs algorithms Google-developed com- ing it,” he added. Kasparov, the then-world class In the case of Go, Google de- that allow it to learn and improve puter program won its For AlphaGo’s creators, Google chess champion, in its second at- velopers realised that a more from matchplay experience. Abest-of-fi ve match-up DeepMind, victory went way tempt. “human-like” approach would Lee said AlphaGo was not with a South Korean Go grand- beyond the $1mn prize money, But a true mastery of Go, triumph over brute computing perfect and had weaknesses, master yesterday, taking an un- to prove that AI has far more to which is said to have more pos- power. although he did not elaborate assailable 3-0 lead to score a off er than superhuman number- sible move confi gurations than Google executives say Go of- on them, holding out hope that major victory for a new style of crunching. there are atoms in the universe, fers too many possible moves for someone might beat it. “intuitive” artifi cial intelligence “To be honest, we are a bit had long been considered the a machine to win simply through “Lee Sedol is the one who lost (AI). stunned and speechless,” said exclusive province of humans – brute-force calculations, unlike today, not humanity,” he said. The program, AlphaGo, took a smiling DeepMind chief ex- until now. chess. A top player in China fancies a little over four hours to secure ecutive Demis Hassabis, who AlphaGo’s creators had de- The 3,000-year-old Chi- his chances. its third consecutive win over stressed that Lee’s defeat in Seoul scribed Go as the “Mt Everest” of nese board game, most popu- Ke Jie, an 18-year-old Chinese Lee Se-Dol – one of the ancient should not be seen as a loss for AI, citing the complexity of the lar in countries such as China, player who has already achieved game’s greatest modern players humanity. game, which requires a degree of South Korea and Japan, involves the highest possible professional with 18 international titles to his “Because the methods we have creativity and intuition to prevail two contestants alternately lay- rank of 9-dan, told media this name. used to build AlphaGo are general over an opponent. ing black and white stones on week he had a 60% chance of Lee, who has topped the world The world’s top Go player Lee reviews the match after the third match purpose, our hope is that in the AlphaGo fi rst came to promi- a chequerboard-like grid of 19 beating AlphaGo. ranking for much of the past dec- of the Google DeepMind Challenge Match against Google’s artificial long-run we will be able to use nence with a 5-0 drubbing of lines by 19 lines. Google co-founder Sergey ade and had predicted an easy intelligence program AlphaGo in Seoul. these techniques for many other European champion Fan Hui last The winner is the player who Brin, who was in Seoul to wit- victory when accepting the Al- problems,” Hassabis said. October, but it had been expected manages to seal off more terri- ness AlphaGo’s victory, said that phaGo challenge, now fi nds him- think I have to express my apolo- tations. I kind of felt powerless,” Applications might range from to struggle against 33-year-old tory. watching great Go players was self fi ghting to avoid a whitewash gies fi rst,” a crestfallen Lee told a Lee said, acknowledging that he making phones smarter to “help- Lee. AlphaGo uses two sets of “deep like “watching a thing of beauty”. in the two remaining dead rub- post-game press conference. had “misjudged” the computer ing scientists solve some of some Creating “general” or multi- neural networks” that allow it to “I’m very excited we’ve been bers today and Tuesday. “I apologise for being unable program’s abilities. of the world’s biggest challenges purpose, rather than “narrow”, crunch data in a more human- able to instill this kind of beauty “I don’t know what to say, but I to satisfy a lot of people’s expec- “Yes, I do have extensive expe- in healthcare and other areas”. task-specifi c intelligence, is the like fashion – dumping millions in a computer,” Brin said.

Taiwanese demand immediate Pyongyang issues threat phase-out of nuclear as US, S Korea stage drill power Reuters/AFP has been missing for days off its lated state’s latest nuclear test. Pohang, South Korea east coast. Kim also said his country had The unknown class of vessel miniaturised nuclear warheads AFP/DPA had been reportedly operating to mount on ballistic missiles, Taipei S and South Korean off the North Korean coast ear- although the US and South troops staged a big am- lier in the week when it disap- Korean governments have ex- Uphibious landing exercise peared. pressed doubts about that too. n annual anti-nuclear yesterday, storming simulated The submarine may be adrift The South Korean and US rally in Taiwan yesterday North Korean beach defences under the sea or have sunk, per- militaries have said they had Asaw a much lower turn- amid heightened tension and haps after a technical problem notifi ed the North of “the non- out than previous years as presi- threats by the North to annihi- during an exercise, CNN quoted provocative nature” of the ex- dent-elect Tsai Ing-wen vows to late its enemies. US offi cials with intelligence ercises involving about 17,000 abolish the use of atomic energy The landing and assault drills of secret US monitoring of the American troops and more than on the island by 2025. on South Korea’s east coast were North’s activities as saying. 300,000 South Koreans. Hundreds of people gathered part of eight weeks of joint ex- The US Naval Institute (USNI) The United States has about outside Taipei’s Presidential ercises between the allies which News said the submarine was 28,500 troops stationed in South Palace in the rain, many wear- the South has said are the largest presumed sunk. Korea. ing yellow ribbons and stickers ever. “The speculation is that it bearing the slogans “Say good- The North has denounced sank”, an unidentifi ed US offi cial Right: South Korean (with blue bye to nuclear” and “Nuclear go the exercises as “nuclear war was quoted as telling the USNI headbands) and US Marines zero”. moves” and threatened to re- News. “The North Koreans have take part in the joint landing However, the crowd was no- spond with an all-out off ensive. not made an attempt to indicate operation drill in Pohang. ticeably smaller than the thou- Tension on the Korean pe- there is something wrong or that sands who joined last year’s pro- ninsula has been high since they require help or some type of Below: Amphibious assault test. the North conducted its fourth assistance.” vehicles of the South Korean Organisers chalked up the nuclear test in January and fol- North Korea’s navy operates Marine Corps fire smoke bombs demonstration’s small showing lowed that with a long-range a fl eet of some 70 submarines, as they move to land on the to the Democratic Progressive rocket launch last month, trig- most of them being rusting die- shore in Pohang. Party (DPP)’s victory at the polls gering new UN sanctions. sel submarines that are capable in January. About 55 US marine aircraft of little more than coastal de- The DPP has promised, along and 30 US and South Korean fence and limited off ensive ca- with a slew of new political par- ships, including the USS Bon- pabilities. ties set to enter parliament, to homme Richard and USS Boxer, But the old, low-tech sub- phase out the use of nuclear en- which carry AV-8B Harrier at- marines still pose substantial ergy. tack jets and V-22 Osprey air- threats to South Korean vessels. “Whether it’s the DPP or the crafts, took part in the assault on In 2010, a South Korean cor- New Power Party, those that beaches near Pohang city, the US vette was reportedly torpedoed agree with creating a nuclear- navy said. by a North Korean submarine free home have become the ma- “They will penetrate notional near their sea border. jority [in parliament],” Shu-Hsin enemy beach defences, establish In August last year, Seoul said Tsui, secretary general of Green a beach head, and rapidly tran- 70% of the North’s total subma- Citizens’ Action Alliance, told sition forces and sustainment rine fl eet – or around 50 vessels AFP. ashore,” the US military based in – had left their bases and disap- Tsai, who will take offi ce in South Korea said in a statement peared from South’s military ra- May, reiterated yesterday her before the exercise. dar, sparking alarm. party’s plan to make Taiwan nu- The North’s military said North Korea has said it is de- clear-free within a decade. that it was prepared to counter veloping submarine-launched “To accomplish this goal, in the US and South Korean forces ballistic missiles although addition to promoting energy “with an ultra-precision blitz- doubts about that were raised effi ciency we need to more im- krieg strike of the Korean style”. after Western experts said pub- portantly adjust the energy mix,” “The revolutionary armed licly released footage of tests ap- the president-elect said in a Fa- forces of the DPRK holding peared to be fake. cebook post. tightly the arms to annihilate the On Thursday, North Korean The DPP says it will put for- enemies with towering hatred leader Kim Jong Un watched as ward a raft of new energy poli- for them are waiting for the dig- his forces fi red two short-range cies once it takes offi ce, includ- nifi ed Supreme Command to is- ballistic missiles into the sea. ing plans to increase the use of sue an order to launch a preemp- This month the North con- clean energy on the island. tive strike of justice,” it said in ducted drills with what it said Taiwan currently generates comments carried by the state were newly developed large cal- about one-fi fth of its energy KCNA news agency. iber rocket launchers. from three nuclear plants. DPRK stands for the Demo- Kim has ordered the country In 2014, authorities were cratic People’s Republic of Ko- to improve its nuclear attack forced to seal off a nearly-com- rea. capability by conducting more pleted fourth nuclear plant after CNN reported yesterday that tests, in defi ance of a UN Secu- public opposition. North Korea has been searching rity Council resolution adopted The DPP has said it has no for one of its submarines that last week in response to the iso- plans to restart the project. The rally comes a day after Ja- pan marked the fi fth anniversary Roosters rounded up in Hobart of a major nuclear disaster when the Fukushima energy plant was Roosters running rampant in an Australian city were rounded up hit by a tsunami following an China trumps success on tackling pollution yesterday in a campaign to curb the crowing cocks. earthquake, knocking out power The Tasmanian state capital of Hobart, and its southern fringe in to its cooling systems and send- particular, has been plagued by feral fowls for the past five or six ing reactors into meltdown. Reuters caused by more than three dec- Large parts of China suff ered veloped countries,” he said. “I years, according to resident and Southern Tasmanian Bantam Club Taiwan, like Japan, is prone to Beijing ades of economic growth, and at a three-week bout of heavy believe that on the treatment of secretary Steven Baldock. frequent quakes as the island lies this year’s full session of parlia- smog in November and Decem- smog, we will also do it well and “They’re crowing and carrying on,” Baldock said by telephone. on a number of fault lines. ment it promised to cap energy ber, but the situation had im- our development will become People who keep chickens for their eggs often abandoned roosters, “We should not try our hina, often hit by choking use and draft new laws to de- proved in the fi rst two months of increasingly green.” which do not produce eggs, he said. chance,” Tokyo-based Taiwan- smog that blankets the contaminate its soil. 2016, Minister Chen Jining told China said this week that it “We’ve got people dumping them on the side of the road,” Baldock ese writer Liu Li-erh, who has Cpopulous east and north, Beijing frequently features reporters. would aim to pass a law aimed at said. “They’re particularly a traff ic hazard. It’s also an animal welfare lived in Japan for decades, said to is doing a better job at control- near the top of the list of China’s Brushing off suggestions that tackling soil pollution. issue, because they’re suff ering predation by dogs and cats and not the crowd. ling pollution than developed most polluted cities as emis- the improvement only came Chen said the legislation was being fed properly.” In the south, more than 1,000 countries at similar stages of sions from vehicles and heavy about because of heavy winds, taking a long time because the An “amnesty” organised by the Bantam Club and the Royal residents marched in the port development, the environment industry combine with weather Chen said China had already issue was complex, but he in- Tasmanian Agricultural Society yesterday to encourage people to city of Kaohsiung, according to minister said on Friday. conditions to raise smog levels. made huge eff orts to tackle pol- sisted that even without the hand in unwanted birds, no questions asked, resulted in more than organisers. China has been under in- The worst bouts of air pollu- lution and acid rain. law, the government was work- 150 fowls being brought in, he said. Smaller events were also held creasing pressure to halt pol- tion tend to coincide with peri- “We have solved the prob- ing hard to improve agricultural Some would be re-homed with breeders, while the rest would be in Tainan and Taitung. lution of its air, soil and water ods of low wind. lems earlier and better than de- land. euthanised. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, March 13, 2016 BRITAIN Tree surgeon Harlesden shooting: two men detained

Evening Standard London

olice investigating the murder of a man shot Pdead in a north-west London street have arrested two men. The victim in his late 20s, named as Oliver Tetlow, 27, was gunned down at close- range from a blacked-out hatchback in Harlesden just Oliver Tetlow before 10pm on Wednesday in an alleged case of mistaken entered an address in Langdale identity. Gardens, Perivale, at 3.55pm Passers-by had tried to re- on Thursday, March 3. vive him before paramedics The victim was then arrived at the scene in Church punched before the burglars Road and pronounced him fl ed with a quantity of jewel- A tree surgeon hangs from and balances on branches as he removes branches from a tree belonging to St Matthews church in Westminster, London, yesterday. dead from multiple gunshots lery. to his chest and stomach. Police today released de- A 29-year-old man was ar- scriptions of at least two sus- rested at around 11.50pm on pects and have appealed for Friday in the Shepherd’s Bush witnesses. area on suspicion of murder The fi rst is described as a Several hours earlier at 4pm, light-skinned black man with an 18-year-old man was ar- a stubble goatee, aged in his rested in Harlesden on suspi- 20s or 30s, around 5ft 8ins in cion of robbery. height and of average build. A post-mortem examina- He was wearing a black tion held at Northwick Park tracksuit top which had a Gear being pilfered hospital mortuary gave Tet- white line down the arm and low’s cause of death as gun- black tracksuit bottoms. shot wounds. The second man is also de- Tetlow’s aunt, Kamilla Ri- scribed as a light-skinned chards, 21, told the Standard: black man, aged in his 20s or “He had nothing to do with it, 30s, and of average build. he was an innocent bystander. He is around 5ft 7ins in The situation has nothing to height and was wearing a black from ambulances do with him. tracksuit top, black tracksuit “It’s a feud in the area. bottoms and white trainers. Critical equipment is being taken from Someone was looking for re- Police added there may be emergencies venge and he was the only one a third suspect, a black male around. who is younger than the two Evening Standard “Everyone else in the area men. London knew about it and was stay- A brave passenger nar- ing away, but he’s not on social rowly escaped serious injury media. If he knew he wouldn’t when an alleged fare-dodger staggering £86,000 worth of have been out there. Obviously lunged at him with a knife as equipment has been stolen from they saw he was the only black he tried to wrestle him off the ALondon Ambulance Service (LAS) male on the road.” train. vehicles in just fi ve years. Richards added: “He was al- British Transport Police A Freedom of Information request by ways such a sweet person. An have launched an appeal to the Standard found there were 37 cases innocent soul has been taken trace a man wanted in con- of thefts from ambulances and paramedic from us in such a horrifi c way. nection with the incident cars reported between April 2011 and Oc- He was well-educated and he at St James Street station in tober 2015. loved his family very much.” Walthamstow on February 20. The total cost of items stolen, including A Metropolitan Police Detectives said the mem- expensive kit and personal items, totalled spokesman said: “Although ber of the public intervened £86,370 – with some thefts costing the offi cers await formal identifi - to remove the youth from the ambulance service in excess of £20,000. cation, they are satisfi ed that train after he became aggres- In one instance in April 2014, an ambu- the deceased is Oliver Tetlow, sive when challenged by ticket lance was stolen in the Islington area and 27, from the Harlesden area. inspectors. was taken on a joyride for 16 minutes be- “Detective Chief Inspector Detective constable Paul fore the vehicle was recovered. Mark Lawson of the Homicide Cudby said: “The youth react- Paramedics and fi rst responders were and Major Crime Command ed by pulling a knife and lung- also targeted by thieves, with 15 personal has appealed to anyone who ing at the man who had forced bags stolen from LAS vehicles within the may have images or footage him from the train. fi ve year time period. of the shooting to contact the “Fortunately, the man was Only one of the bags was later recov- incident room or Crimestop- able to dodge the knife but this ered, with the total cost of personal be- pers.” was obviously a serious inci- longings stolen reaching £700. Police are hunting at dent. The most expensive thefts include: least two suspects after a man “I need to speak to the per- • A defi brillator, tech drug and response £86,000 worth of equipment and personal belongings have been stolen from London Ambulance Service vehicles in five years. was attacked as he slept during son in the image we are issuing bag stolen in Edmonton in April 2011 – a burglary in west London. today as I believe he has infor- worth up to £26,100 • Two London Ambulance Service re- ambulance service backpack worth £50 are treating sick and injured patients is Intruders placed a pillow mation about this incident. • A defi brillator, oxygen cylinder and sponse bags were taken from Islington taken. putting lives at risk. over a man’s face when they Who is he?” tech drugs taken from a vehicle in Edmon- in July 2014 and February 2015 – worth The data shows that the crimes occurred “Our vehicles hold vital emergency ton in October 2011 – worth up to £25,200 £1,000 each at a range of locations across London, but equipment and these actions impact on • A Lifepak 15 monitor/defi brillator Other items taken include Entonox almost one-fi fth of the thefts occurred in the care we deliver. taken in Romford in June 2015 – worth cylinder [medical nitrous oxide and Islington. “There is also the fi nancial cost to our £24,000 oxygen mixture], a Sat Nav, a para- All of the six thefts recorded between service of replacing the equipment. • Two response bags taken in Chiswick medic’s uniform, stab vests and blue April 2014 and April 2015 happened in Is- “Theft or damage to our vehicles will Britain First stage in November 2012 – worth up to £2,000 paper roll. lington, data shows. not be tolerated and we will work with • Radio handset taken in Brent in No- There was also one theft recorded from Paul Woodrow, director of operations at closely with the Met police to ensure any- vember 2011 and Wimbledon in December the Olympic Park in Stratford during the LAS, said: “Stealing equipment from our one who is caught stealing or vandalising second protest 2012 – worth £1,000 each London 2012 Olympic Games, with an ambulances and cars while our clinicians will be prosecuted.” outside mosque

Evening Standard ering, which are spilling out London onto Whitechapel Road. Police in race row after ‘banning “The cycle lane is com- pletely blocked, which is dan- ar-right protesters gerous in itself. It’s completely have staged their sec- ridiculous. Fond demonstration “It’s the same argument Jamaican music’ at nightclub in less than two weeks out- as the other day – they have side one of London’s largest come to save our souls,” Farsi mosques. added sarcastically. Evening Standard Seda told the Guardian: “We’ve lost A Metropolitan Police spokesperson Around 15 Britain First Farsi said Christian rever- London business. We’ve had some birthday book- said: “We have submitted a request to the members, carrying union end Alan Green, of The St John ings that have cancelled when they’ve Croydon Council for a review of the Dice jack fl ags, crosses and a ban- on Bethnal Green church, had asked if we play bashment and we’ve had Bar. We have not requested a ban on any ner, formed a protest outside abandoned a shopping trip in olice have banned a London night- to tell them no.” type of music at this venue, however the the East London Mosque at Whitechapel to come and rea- club from playing a form of Jamaican Describing how some customers licensee volunteered not to host Bashment around 1.30pm, staff said. son with the protesters. Pmusic because they claim it is “un- thought the music ban was racist, he told music events in order to tackle the issues A handful of demonstra- “He has been talking to acceptable” and linked to crime, the owner the newspaper: “They’re in the bar and in his venue and make it safer. tors from the same group had members of the community, has alleged. asking can you play bashment and when “It would be inappropriate for us to stood in the rain chanting “we saying that Britain First don’t Roy Seda, who runs Dice Bar in Croy- we tell them no, they think I’m a racist.” comment further until after the licensing want our country back” while represent Christians,” Farsi don, alleged police offi cers have told him Dice Bar is now facing a review of its hearing as this is the right and proper place a young primary school pupils added. to stop playing bashment music, which is licence after police poured resources into for these issues to be aired.” were on a tour of the centre on “He is challenging them and performed by the likes of Sean Paul, Shag- The Dice club proving the venue is linked to crime and A Croydon Council spokesman said: March 1. has denounced them com- gy and Beenie Man. disorder, Seda said. “Neither the council or the licensing com- East London Mosque pletely.” Sergeant Michael Emery, a Croydon a backlash from customers after comply- He believes up to 20 people have been mittee has a policy banning any particular spokesman Salman Farsi told Police said offi cers were licensing offi cer, is said to have sent an ing with the ban in an eff ort to stop the arrested outside his venue, which has the kind of music. The committee is an in- the Standard: “I think they called to the demonstration in email to Seda to tell him his venue was nightclub from losing its licence. capacity for 400, in the last 15 months. dependent body that makes all licensing are trying to make up for their Whitechapel Road at around playing “what this borough fi nds unac- He has even gone as far as sacking a DJ Police have been accused of racial pro- decisions. These decisions are based on poor performance the other 1.30pm and were dealing with ceptable forms of music”. for playing bashment music - an alterna- fi ling for targeting Jamaican music and the four licensing objectives, not on music day. the incident. There were no Former special constable Seda has faced tive name for dancehall - inside the venue. suggesting it is linked to crime. types. “There are big crowds gath- arrests. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 19 BRITAIN

Skydiver SNP gearing leaps from Shard

Evening Standard for another London base jumper leapt from the top of the Shard yes- Aterday morning. Shocked passers-by watched as a man attached to a large, campaign to green parachute jumped from the capital’s tallest building. Merchants Philglas & Swiggot captured photographs of the mo- ment and tweeted: “Just saw this guy #basejump from #london #shard #boroughmarket. Abso- ditch the UK lutely mental!!” The daredevil landed in St The SNP has not set a Thomas Street, not far from timeframe for a referendum Borough Market, police said. Witness Justin Knock, 41, told Reuters the Standard: “He had a very Glasgow, Scotland tight loop to follow to land in St Thomas Street. “He landed and someone he Scottish National Party helped him pack his chute then (SNP) will start building Scotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney and Scottish politician he bolted for the Tube. Ta new case for independ- Mhairi Black delivers their speeches in Glasgow, yesterday. “Minutes later police and ence from the United Kingdom Shard security were right there this summer, party leader and that if Britain votes to leave the that we will get what we want looking for him.” Scottish government head Nicola European Union in the June ref- eventually is just great,” said Lor- Witness Brian Smith told The Sturgeon said yesterday, without erendum on that issue, but Scots raine Alexander, a 57-year-old Sun: “I haven’t seen anything committing herself to a time- show they want to stay, this SNP campaigner, decked out in like that before, I have no idea frame for a new referendum. could provide a trigger for a sec- the party’s yellow T-shirt. what he was thinking. Scots voted 55 to 45% against ond Scottish secessionist drive. Polls show that the SNP is “He was moving quite fast independence in 2014, but the The SNP will be campaign- favourite to win May’s election and kind of swinging or swaying collapse of the Labour and Con- ing for a vote to remain within for the Scottish parliament by a from side to side. servative parties vaulted the the EU and polls shows Scots long chalk. “He landed in the road here SNP to unprecedented gains in broadly support that view. “I won’t always get everything and sprinted off and that was the subsequent British national But there is division within right,” said Sturgeon. “Even if it, everyone around just looked election in 2015, where it won the party about whether that you don’t always agree with me, Gas engineer Tony Smith holding the giant rat. around and laughed. almost all the seats assigned to is a coherent stance, as well as I’ll strive to be a First Minister “They couldn’t believe it.” Scotland in the parliament at about how a British vote to leave you have confi dence in.” And traffi c signal engineer Westminster. the EU, or a Brexit, would aff ect One of the party’s Westmin- David Hilton told the paper: “I “We want to be in the driving Scotland. ster lawmakers said her popu- just looked up and saw him cir- seat of our own destiny,” Stur- Success would depend on the larity rests on a public under- Giant rat found near playarea cling, he was kind of moving from geon told 3,000 delegates at the SNP’s ability to present more standing that she is genuine. side to side in the air as if to keep SNP’s spring conference. compelling arguments for in- “Nicola’s personal qualities his parachute under control. “This summer the SNP dependence this time around, are a big bonus and her very ob- Evening Standard The giant rat, which weighed He said: “This is the largest “I saw the whole thing and will embark on a new initia- Sturgeon said — a nod to the vious personal belief is some- London almost two stone, was spotted rat I’ve ever seen in my entire was totally dumbstruck. tive to build support for inde- fact that some SNP insiders have thing that connects with peo- lying in a bush next to a popular life. “He landed in the road, pendence,” Sturgeon said, to a criticised the last breakaway ple,” said Peter Grant, an SNP children’s playground. “I’ve got a cat and a Jack Rus- picked-up his parachute, and standing ovation. “We will not drive for being too dependent on lawmaker in Westminster, who est controllers found a rat The rodent, which was found sell and it was bigger than both of then ran off .” achieve our dream of independ- the value of North Sea oil. was at the conference. the size of a small child yards dead, was discovered near to the those put together. A police spokesperson said: ence just by wishing that the Many believe that much of He estimated that it could Pfrom a kids’ play area on a play area which backs onto a rail- “I’d say it was about four foot. “We were called at 10.18am to outcome of the referendum had the SNP’s success is due to the take fi ve to 10 years for another housing estate in east London. way track on Thursday. “We were going to stick it in reports of a man parachuting been diff erent. Or wishing we popularity of Sturgeon herself, Scottish independence referen- Gas engineer Tony Smith, 46, Smith snapped a picture of the bin, but before we did we from the Shard. could do it all again next week.” who took over the party leader- dum to take place, depending spotted the four foot long rat the rat being held by electrician thought we better take a pic- “We did attend. We are not Senior British politicians, ship from Alex Salmond in 2014. on what level of support for in- while working at a block of fl ats friend James Green, 46, to the ture of people won’t believe it’s aware of any injuries and there including Sturgeon, have said “Her positivity and confi dence dependence is seen in polls. Hackney Downs. glee and disgust of his friends. real.” have been no arrests.” Gove refuses to rule out leaking Queen’s remarks on Brexit

Evening Standard he replied: “I don’t know. I wouldn’t speculate on London a matter like that.” Gove spoke to reporters as he knocked on doors canvassing for the Vote Leave campaign. ichael Gove yesterday refused to rule out Quitting the EU is “not a leap into the dark, it is being the source of reported comments a stride into the light”, he insisted. Mmade by the Queen on the EU. The cabinet minister also gave a speech to sup- During a Brexit campaign visit in Hampshire, porters in Southampton, urging them to fi ght an the justice secretary said he did not know where optimistic campaign. The Sun got its information from after specula- Told by one campaigner that David Cameron tion he had leaked the comments. must not be allowed to carry out exit negotiations Buckingham Palace has lodged a formal com- with Brussels following a vote backing Brexit, plaint with the Independent Press Standards Or- Gove insisted he wanted the prime minister to The changes were announced the week before Chancellor George Osborne delivers the budget. ganisation (Ipso) about the report which appeared take charge of the talks. under the headline ‘Queen Backs Brexit’. “I want David Cameron to stay as prime minis- “I don’t know how The Sun got all of its infor- ter. I want him to lead a strong team to negotiate a mation,” Gove said. better deal. We must respectfully disagree on that Gove said the Ipso investigation into the leak one. was a “matter for them” and refused to say if he “I’m a big fan of his. This is the only thing I can Disability benefi ts changes to would co-operate with it. think of where I disagree with him.” Pressed on whether it was unfair to drag the The comments prompted some members of the Queen into the row about Britain’s future in the audience to shake their heads and say “no” while EU, he replied: “I’ve already said that enough has others murmured and hissed. been said about this story so I don’t think it’s ap- Sources close to Gove said: “Michael did not hit hundreds of thousands propriate to say any more than I’ve already said brief this story.” and others have already said.” His spokesman has previously insisted: “We Asked if he thought the Queen would be pleased don’t comment on private conversations with the Evening Standard they have “minimal to no ongo- for dressing and managing toilet options in the consultation. PIP to see him when he next has an audience with her, Queen.” London ing daily living extra costs”. needs, will make it more diffi cult needs change, but PIP does not Health professionals carry- for some. need this change.” ing out the reviews found that in In a statement, the charity Justin Tomlinson, minister undreds of thousands of almost all of the cases it looked said: “Halving the point value of for disabled people, said: “The people face losing up to at people were being awarded ‘aids and appliances’ descriptors introduction of Personal Inde- H£150 a week in disability points for aids and appliances make it harder for many disabled pendence Payment to replace the Woman student ‘slashed’ benefi ts payments. that were either already found people and people with long- outdated Disability Living Al- The changes will make it in the home or could be provided term conditions to qualify for PIP lowance for working age claim- harder for many people with dis- free or at a low cost, the DWP in future. The government’s own ants has been a hugely positive Evening Standard “My friend was in the library when the girl ran abilities and long-term condi- said. response confi rms that this will reform. London in and said she’d been attacked,” he said. tions to qualify for the Personal PIP replaced Disability Liv- aff ect around 640,000 people by “But it is clear that the as- “I was walking in just behind. The doors, the Independence Payments (PIP) in ing Allowance and is designed to 2021.” sessment criteria for aids and windows and the fl oor were covered in blood. future, a charity has warned. help people with the extra cost of The organisation said the cur- appliances are not working as student left a trail of blood in the entrance “The girl had run in to security on the right But the government, which disability. rent PIP assessment fails to con- planned. Many people are eli- hall of her university library when she hand side [of the entrance] and then security sat said 640,000 people will be af- The DWP launched a consul- sider the extra costs for house- gible for a weekly award despite Astaggered in for help after being slashed in her down on the other side. fected by 2020/21, said changes tation on a range of options to bound people who will have having minimal to no extra costs the face in a street. The woman stumbled into the “So, I don’t want to sound too dramatic, but blood will ensure the system is fairer as change how scores are calcu- higher heating bills, or those and judicial decisions have ex- London Metropolitan University’s Holloway Road had splattered from one side of the room to the other.” money goes to those who need it lated to assess how much people with incontinence who will have panded the criteria for aids and campus on Tuesday evening. Mullineaux-Davis said the woman’s face was most as it announced them the should be entitled to. bigger water bills due to washing appliances to include items we She had suff ered “lacerations to her face” and covered in blood. week before chancellor George Disability Rights UK wel- their clothes more often. would expect people to have in was taken to hospital, police said. He added: “For me what was diffi cult was that Osborne delivers the budget. comed the fact that four of the It said: “We would like to see their homes already. Today witnesses described the moment she the girl was on the fl oor covered in blood, sur- The department of work and fi ve options put forward were not an assessment which accurately “We consulted widely to fi nd entered the library in Hornsey Road. rounded by people. pensions (DWP) said a review of introduced, but said the fi nal op- refl ects these additional costs. the best approach. And this Second-year theatre student Jordan Mulline- “Security were with her but people were step- cases revealed that a “signifi cant tion, to reduce from January next “However, the current system new change will ensure that PIP aux-Davis, 22, said he entered the building mo- ping over her. The barriers were left open so peo- number” of people are likely to be year the points awarded to peo- represents a signifi cant improve- is fairer and targets support at ments behind the victim, who it is thought was ple were just walking over her. They should have receiving the benefi t even though ple who need aids and appliances ment over all of the suggested those who need it most.” targeted on Holloway Road. shut the library.” Gulf Times 20 Sunday, March 13, 2016 EUROPE Italian left, right feud over Rome vote campaigns

By Crispian Balmer, Reuters revolt over his leadership. moving the PD into centre-right parliamentary elections slated The League originally backed portal. “Enough! I am not going will face a daunting task. Rome Disputes over who should territory. for 2018. the decision, but took a swift U- to be treated like this.” Dozens of city offi cials are on stand as mayoral candidates have “The PD has fallen into the Renzi loyalists hit back, con- turn when Bertolaso, who stands The feuding on both right and trial on Mafi a-related charges fl ared across the country, but the hands of an arrogant, self-cen- demning D’Alema for saying he trial later this year for allegedly left could hand city hall to Ita- and magistrates say that the lo- taly’s main left and right- old, established blocs have both tred group,” former leftist prime would not back the PD candidate rigging public work contracts, ly’s anti-establishment 5-Star cal administration is riddled with wing parties have succumbed run into particular problems in minister Massimo D’Alema told in Rome. told an interviewer that he had Movement (M5S), whose mayoral graft. Ito savage in-fi ghting ahead Rome, where the previous cen- Corriere della Sera newspaper on “He has knifed his own party,” once voted for the centre-left in candidate is 37-year-old lawyer In an EU survey released in of municipal elections slated for tre-left mayor was forced out Friday in an angry interview that said Ernesto Carbone, a senior the capital. Virginia Raggi. January on quality of life in the June, with fi erce divisions in both following an expenses scandal. sent shockwaves through a party PD politician. Berlusconi has refused to Victory in Rome would give European Union’s 28 capital cit- blocs pointing to a possible shake The PD held a primary vote last he helped create. Any centre-right glee over the abandon his man and has de- the M5S, which lies second in the ies, only Athenians were less up in national politics. weekend to select its candidate, “Lots of voters are abandon- PD bust up has been tempered nounced Northern League leader national polls, its biggest test at happy than Romans. Leftist veterans in Prime duly picking an ally of Renzi. ing us ... No one can rule out that by internal woes, with the larg- Matteo Salvini as “utterly unreli- governing. When it came to satisfaction Minister Matteo Renzi’s ruling Howeber, turnout was down in the end someone will trans- est party on the right – the anti- able”. If it proves itself in the capi- about public transport, public Democratic Party (PD) are openly almost 60% on the last such form this unhappiness into a euro Northern League – in open “He only cares about his own tal, it will signifi cantly boost its administration, cleanliness and warning of a schism, while al- ballot in 2013, giving party dis- new party,” he added, hinting at rebellion against Berlusconi’s party at the expense of his allies,” chances of winning the next par- the general state of streets and lies of former conservative prime sidents ammunition against a the creation of a leftist force that choice for Rome mayor, Guido Berlusconi was quoted as saying liamentary election. buildings, Rome was rock bot- minister Silvio Berlusconi are in prime minister they accuse of could bleed votes from the PD at Bertolaso. by the Huffi ngton Post’s Italian Whoever takes charge of Rome tom.

Police unearth Polish government won’t ‘shocking’ bribery

DPA accept top court’s ruling Rome

AFP/Reuters/DPA the party was elected to push Warsaw through – charges dismissed by taly’s tax police said on Fri- the court and rights groups. day that it had discovered The changes include upping I“shocking” levels of cor- en of thousands of people from a simple majority of judges ruption within state-owned took to the streets of War- to a two-thirds majority for rul- roadworks agency Anas, as it Tsaw yesterday in the latest ings and requiring 13 judges, announced the arrest of several round of a constitutional row rather than nine, to be present managers, road contractors and that has put the government on for the most contentious cases. one lawyer. a collision course with the coun- The Polish court itself struck In a statement, the Guardia di try’s top court. down the reforms on Wednes- Finanza said it issued 19 arrest Warsaw city hall estimated day, creating a constitutional warrants. that around 50,000 anti-gov- crisis and legal impasse after the However, six concerned peo- ernment protesters rallied out- government refused to recognise ple were already targeted in side the constitutional court the ruling. a fi rst stage of the probe fi ve which is in dispute with the Critics say the reforms, which months ago, including alleged government over reforms which also change the order in which chief bribe-taker at Anas, An- critics say undermine judicial cases are heard at the top court, tonella Accrogliano. independence. have made it diffi cult for judges In October, the tax police had The demonstration came as to review, let alone challenge, 10 people placed in jail or under the government refused to pub- the government’s legislation. house arrest. lish a ruling by the constitution- The Venice Commission – a On Friday, another 11 went un- al court abolishing the new laws. body of legal experts within der house arrest, one was jailed, A government spokesman the Council of Europe – said on and another suspect could not said yesterday that the ruling Friday that the government’s be apprehended as he was said to could not be published because refusal to publish the judgment be abroad. doing so would make it legally “would further deepen the con- The judge who authorised the binding. stitutional crisis in Poland” and latest measures said police work “The Polish government can- render justice ineff ective. had uncovered “widespread rot not publish the verdict of cer- Prime Minister Beata Szydlo in one of the most infl uential tain constitutional court judges says the court, having refused to public bodies for public works as it has no legal foundation,” apply reforms it deems uncon- tenders”, with “shocking” exam- spokesman Rafal Bochenek told stitutional, cannot rule on gov- ples of deep-rooted corruption, media. ernment changes to the judici- the Guardia di Finanza reported. The contretemps came a day ary and media even if Warsaw is Accrogliano and her accom- after Council of Europe legal constitutionally obliged to pub- plices had for “years” taken experts said the government’s lish and apply court decisions. People hold a giant Polish flag as they take part in a march in front of the ministry of education in Warsaw, demanding that their money to steer the awarding reforms to the court would un- Bochenek said that Szydlo government respect the country’s constitution. of road maintenance and road dermine democracy and the rule would pass on to parliament the building contracts, to accelerate of law in the EU member state. Venice Commission’s opinion so state governed by law”. sure publication of the verdict. they don’t suddenly change it.” “I never would have thought payments to contractors, and to The right-leaning Law and all parties could debate the is- Opposition leader Ryszard “Years ago, Poles protested “In contrast to those who that [PiS chief] Jaroslaw Kac- waive penalties for work carried Justice (PiS) government intro- sue. Petru, of the Nowoczesna.pl to change the political system,” write justice in their name, we zynski could achieve something out badly, police said. duced the reforms in December. Many demonstrators yester- liberal party urged President former World Bank economist are the ones standing on the side as big as this,” said opposition The Guardia di Finanza seized It has argued the constitu- day carried aloft Polish and Eu- Andrzej Duda to ensure that the Petru told the crowds, referring of justice,” said former justice politician Barbara Nowacka. €1.025mn ($1.1mn) worth of cor- tional court is too powerful, al- ropean Union fl ags and banners consitution is upheld “at this to Poland’s anti-communist minister Borys Budka of the Civ- “He has succeeded in getting ruption proceeds after conduct- lied to the last administration bearing the text of the court ver- historic moment for Poland” Solidarity movement. “Now ic Platform party, which ran the thousands of Poles to take to the ing searches of more than 50 and determined to block reforms dict and the slogan “Poland is a and for Duda and Szydlo to en- we’re protesting to make sure previous government. streets for the constitution.” premises, including Anas offi ces in Rome, Milan and Cosenza, and placed a national lawmaker Paediatrician under investigation. The Ansa news agency identi- jailed for serial fi ed the politician as Marco Mar- child abuse Slovakia’s Fico closer to securing third term as PM tinelli from the opposition Forza Italia party of former premier A German court has sentenced Silvio Berlusconi. a paediatrician to more than 13 AFP cannot guarantee a functional ist Smer-Social Democracy of Smer, Most-Hid, SNS and to take the European Union’s Martinelli is a member of the years in jail followed by indefinite Bratislava and stable government”, Danko (Smer-SD) and the right-wing Siet,” Baranek said. rotating presidency from July – lower house committee on pub- preventive detention for sexually told journalists in Bratislava. SNS forged a coalition govern- Should Fico fail, centrist a role that will put the health of lic works. abusing 21 boys as young as four. “Should this fi rst round of ment in 2006-10. President Andrej Kiska will ask its democracy under the spot- Anas has reacted to Friday’s The 41-year-old children’s lovakia’s leftist Premier negotiations fail, I prefer a Both campaigned on a stri- the runner-up, SaS leader Su- light. developments, describing them doctor had admitted to all the Robert Fico came a step government of independent dent anti-migrant platform lik, to form a majority govern- Last Saturday’s election as a natural follow-up to original cases – including aggravated Scloser to securing a gov- experts. We are also willing to ahead of the March 5 election. ment. yielded a fragmented result, police raids in October. sexual abuse, rape and false erning coalition yesterday, go to early elections,” Danko With his Smer-SD com- But without Danko’s SNS, with a record eight parties en- It reported that Accrogliano imprisonment – in his trial in the after a right-wing party that added. manding 49 of the 150-seats analysts insist Sulik does not tering parliament including and other suspected employees southern city of Augsburg. emerged as kingmaker from “The SNS has gradually be- in parliament, Fico has until stand a chance. the debut of the extreme right- had since been fi red, and assured He was also barred for life from last weekend’s general election come king-maker in the proc- March 18 to secure at least 26 If coalition talks fail, the wing LS-Nase Slovensko (Our that it was co-operating with the the medical profession after vowed its support. ess of creating the next Slovak others for a majority. president can appoint a care- Slovakia) led by Marian Kotleba investigations. admitting to his 15-year series Andrej Danko, whose con- government,” Jan Baranek, an Analysts believe that aside taker government of independ- with 14 seats. of sexual assaults, reported servative, eurosceptic Slovak analyst with the Polis Slova- from SNS, Fico could woo ent experts. Kotleba is known for harsh public broadcaster Bayerischer National Party (SNS) controls kia think tank told AFP, adding Most-Hid (Bridge) represent- Should it fail to obtain a anti-Roma and anti-migrant Rundfunk and national news 15 crucial seats and is in talks that the SNS “has transformed ing the Hungarian minor- 90-member vote of confi - rhetoric and for leading street Off ice of Kosovo agency DPA. with Fico, yesterday ruled out a itself from a nationalist party ity with 11 seats, and the liberal dence, the president must dis- marches with party member president targeted The unidentified man had worked coalition with election runner- into a traditional conservative Siet (The Net), which debuted solve parliament and call early dressed in black neo-Nazi black at Augsburg Hospital, the Medical up, the liberal Freedom and one”. in parliament with 10 seats. elections. uniforms. Masked assailants broke windows University of Hanover and the Solidarity SaS party. Despite having diff ering “The new government will The political horse-trading All parties have ruled out co- and threw a petrol bomb at the German Heart Centre in Munich. SaS leader “Richard Sulik political stripes, Fico’s left- be created with the cooperation comes as Slovakia is gearing up operating with him. off ice of Kosovo’s president He had also been a board yesterday but failed to set fire to member of the Bavarian Red the building, police said. Cross. No one claimed responsibility He had abused his position of for the 4am attack in the centre trust as a doctor and used drugs of the capital Pristina, which from his emergency medical case Dutroux planned ‘underground city’ of victims: lawyer the government condemned as to sedate his victims, then filmed “dangerous for the constitutional and photographed the boys while order and the country’s stability”. abusing them. AFP Belgium and an overhaul of the and then to create, in a mine June 1995 were found in a base- He also claimed to Sabine Kosovo is facing a political crisis, In August 2014, he lured a five- Brussels nation’s criminal justice sys- shaft, a sort of underground ment at one of Dutroux’s hous- Dardenne that he had kid- with the opposition denouncing year-old into his car, sedated tem. city where good, harmony and es, having died of starvation. napped Laetitia Delhez to an EU-brokered deal with Serbia him and assaulted him in his Julien Pierre, who was security would prevail.” Following the grim discov- “bring her a companion”. to give more rights to local Serbs. apartment before releasing elgian paedophile Marc Dutroux’s lawyer from his ar- He was arrested in August ery, Belgian authorities subse- It was during the kidnapping The issue is highly emotive, eight him back at the spot where he Dutroux planned to “kid- rest in 1996 until 2003, the year 1996. quently found the bodies of An of Delhez that Dutroux’s van years after Kosovo declared abducted him, in Garbsen, Lower Bnap many children” and before he was sentenced, gave Two days later two missing Marchal, 17, and Efeje Lambre- was spotted by people in her independence from Belgrade and Saxony state. create an “underground city” in Belgian weekly magazine Soir teenage girls, Laetitia Delhez cks, 19, buried in a garden at an- hometown, which led to his ar- less than two decades after a war Police caught the man through an abandoned mine to imprison Mag the details of conversa- and Sabine Dardenne, were other of Dutroux’s properties. rest. that drew in Nato. DNA and cellphone data, which them, according to his former tions with the convicted mur- found alive in a hidden cellar in During his trial, Dardenne Dutroux admitted his crimes “Masked people have hurled a connected several crimes of the lawyer. derer. one of his houses in Marcinelle, explained that her tormen- and was duly found guilty of petrol bomb at the president’s paediatrician, who had also lured Dutroux was convicted and Dutroux, now 59, reportedly close to Charleroi in Belgium’s tor had adopted an alternative the kidnap and sexual abuse of off ice,” the police said in a children into basement areas sentenced to life in prison for told his lawyer: “Do you realise southwest. name and insisted that he was six girls, and the killing of four statement. “They broke the Augsburg and Munich. kidnapping, molesting and im- that no one has ever asked why In the following weeks, protecting her from mysterious of them. window with stones but failed to He was sentenced to 13 and a prisoning six girls and murder- I chose that house, that region? the bodies of eight-year-old “wicked” people, all the while He was sentenced to life im- throw the petrol bomb inside and half years jail to be followed by ing four of them, in a case that “My idea was to carry out friends Julie and Melissa who subjecting her to sustained prisonment without the possi- the bottle hit the wall.” preventive detention. sparked demonstrations across mass kidnappings of children had been kidnapped in Liege in sexual abuse. bility of parole. The off ice was empty at the time. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 21 EUROPE Merkel defends policy ahead of ‘Super Sunday’ Reuters arrive in the country last year. one of the three states voting to- and demanding their support. Berlin Merkel’s conservative Chris- day. At the rally in Baden-Wuert- tian Democrats (CDU) have been Already represented in fi ve of temberg, where the CDU can- losing support to the anti-immi- Germany’s 16 regional parlia- didate is trailing the incumbent ith a passionate de- gration Alternative for Germany ments, the AfD looks set to burst Greens state premier in polls, fence of her migrant (AfD) party, which has profi ted into three more today, campaign- she said European leaders were Merkel addresses a Baden-Wuerttemberg state election campaign rally yesterday in Haigerloch, Wpolicy, Chancellor from popular angst about mi- ing on slogans such as “Secure spending too long talking about southwestern Germany, ahead of today’s regional elections in three states where the refugee crisis is Angela Merkel threw herself into grants after her high-risk deci- the borders! Stop the asylum the Turkey deal and that it was a expected to dominate voters’ decisions. Word reads ‘country’. one last campaign push on the sion last year to open Germany’s chaos!” sensible, cost-eff ective solution. eve of “Super Sunday” elections borders to refugees fl eeing war in Now Merkel, in power since “That’s why I think this is ab- CDU stronghold for over 50 years AfD on as much as 19% support, tioned herself as a candidate in three German states that risk Syria. 2005 and facing a federal elec- solutely right,” she said to ap- before turning to a Green-led co- and ahead of the Social Demo- to succeed Merkel one day, has weakening her. “There are situations in life – tion next year, is trying to secure plause. alition with the Social Democrats crats (SPD), Merkel’s coalition seen her lead shrink and one poll Migration is the touchstone and this was the case last autumn a Europe-wide solution to stem Merkel must still seal the Tur- after Japan’s Fukushima nuclear partner in Berlin. this week showed her narrowly issue in the three votes – two in – when you can’t hold a long de- the fl ow of refugees. key deal with EU leaders at their disaster in 2011, the Greens’ state Rhineland-Palatinate, a wine- behind SPD incumbent Malu western states, and one in the bate on principles,” Merkel said, She alarmed many Euro- next summit on March 17-18. premier is poised to pip his CDU growing region, is shaping up as Dreyer. east – with many people worried defending her decision. pean Union leaders at a sum- She will go into that meeting rival. the pivotal swing state. Asked how she would prepare how Germany can cope with a “People are suddenly there and mit this week by gambling on weakened if her party performs In Saxony-Anhalt in the east, There, Julia Kloeckner, a for the election results, Merkel refugee crisis that saw more need protection,” she told a CDU a last-minute draft deal with poorly in the state elections. the CDU is poised to remain the 43-year-old former German told yesterday’s rally: “I will cross than 1mn migrants and refugees rally in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Turkey to stop the migrant flow, In Baden-Wuerttemberg, a largest party but polls put the “wine queen” who has posi- my fi ngers.” Hollande against concessions Greece steps up eff orts to in rush for EU-Turkey deal move migrants to shelters DPA Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. Paris The meeting was aimed at de- fi ning the centre-left message Reuters that regardless of this decision, army, started operating in Ido- from Turkey, with the total on the infl ux of migrants and Athens/Idomeni there are three camps very close meni, the government said in an number of migrants and refugees rench President Francois asylum seekers to Europe, which (to shelter them),” he told Greek announcement late yesterday. stuck in the country reaching Hollande said yesterday brought more than 1mn people Mega television. In the last 24 hours, 629 more about 40,000, government data Fafter meeting with Social to its shores last year, with over reece stepped up eff orts EU leaders and Turkey are due people arrived on Greek islands showed. Democrats from across Europe Hollande: There should be no 140,000 more following since yesterday to move thou- to meet again on Thursday and that the bloc should not rush to concession on the questions of January. Gsands of migrants strand- Friday to seal a deal to stem ille- concessions to strike a contro- human rights or the criteria for Centre-left leaders also dis- ed near the border with Macedo- gal migrant fl ows from Turkey to versial deal with Turkey on mi- liberalising visas. cussed issues that have taken a nia to sheltered camps, as spread Europe through Greece. gration. back seat to the migration crisis, of infections became a concern The squalid, overcrowded “Turkey is committed to tak- in Turkey via official channels. such as spurring lagging eco- with two people in a sprawling conditions of the camp in Ido- ing back refugees and migrants Hollande called for the EU to nomic growth and bringing down tent city diagnosed with Hepa- meni have given rise to infec- that have irregularly reached protect its external borders in or- youth unemployment, as well as titis A. tions. Greece,” Hollande said. “[But] der to maintain free movement in Britain’s planned referendum on At the muddy tent city near the A nine-year old Syrian girl was there should be no concession on the Schengen area, and said that an exit from the European Union. northern border town of Idome- diagnosed with Hepatitis A on the questions of human rights or border protection is also neces- The so-called Brexit has been ni, at least 12,000 people, among Friday, according to Greece’s dis- the criteria for liberalising visas.” sary to avoid drownings in the driven in part by eurosceptic them thousands of children and ease control agency. He added that the questions Medittaranean Sea. parties, on the rise across Europe babies, were waiting to cross the The girl was being treated in a would be a “factor of clarifi cation “Every country has to en- alongside parties with anti-mi- border, although Macedonia and stable condition, the agency said, and transparency between Tur- gage and do its part to receive gration platforms. other nations along the so-called adding that it had already taken key and Europe” during upcom- refugees,” Hollande said, citing Speaking on the eve of critical Western Balkan route have closed action to prevent spreading of ing discussions. a European relocation plan un- regional elections in Germany their borders. the disease across the migrants in Next week, a summit is der which France commitment to where the right-wing Alternative Several scuffl es broke out in Idomeni. planned in Brussels to work receive 30,000 refugees over two for Germany (AfD) is expected to the town this week as migrants A second individual from Ido- through the migration plan. years. make gains, Gabriel said a threat and refugees scrambled for food meni was diagnosed with Hepa- EU lawmakers and human “But in order for [the plan] at the polls would not push his and fi rewood, while many have titis A and transferred to a hos- Migrants and refugees fight for aid received as donations from the rights groups have expressed to be implemented quickly and party to change its politics. been sleeping out in the open, pital yesterday, a disease control Greek people in a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border, concern over the planned deal, entirely, there must be protec- “There is a clear attitude that often in the rain and low tem- offi cial told Reuters. near the Greek village of Idomeni. under which Ankara would tion of the exterior borders,” he we stand for humanity and soli- peratures. To ensure water quality, seven take back migrants arriving in added, after meeting with lead- darity, and we’re not going to Greek authorities handed water transportation vehicles, Below: Children lie on a railway track during a protest near the Greece via the Aegean Sea, in ing European Social Democrats, change our position because of out leafl ets in Idomeni yester- three deployed by the Greek makeshift camp close to the Greek village of Idomeni. exchange for the European Un- including Italian Prime Minis- some 10% right-wing extrem- day, informing the migrants and ion resettling asylum-seekers ter Matteo Renzi and German ists,” he said. refugees that the main passage to northern Europe is shut and urging them to move to buildings and hospitality centres across Greece that had been set aside for the purpose, according to a government offi cial. Leafl ets would also be distrib- uted in ports and islands to dis- courage people from going up to Idomeni, the government offi cial said. “Greece will off er you accom- modation, food and healthcare,” read the leafl ets which were writ- ten in Arabic, Farsi and Pashtun. Deputy Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas, in charge of co- ordinating Greek eff orts to tackle the refugee crisis, said that 400 people were moved from Ido- meni to camps on Friday and the numbers would increase in the coming days. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei helps hold a tarp over a young Syrian as she plays the piano yesterday at the “Many of them are waiting Greek-Macedonian border near the Greek village of Idomeni, where thousands of refugees and migrants for a decision by the (EU) sum- are trapped by the Balkan border blockade. mit on March 17. We are saying Calais police detain 14 Artist brings piano to camp Former minister to sleep rough anti-migrant protesters Police in the northern French city of Calais detained 14 anti-migrant protesters during AFP 12,000 migrants and refugees are image that needs to be relayed to DPA “This kind of brutality is not worthy of Eu- a demonstration yesterday, a spokesman Idomeni, Greece stuck in grim conditions. the world,” he said. Idomeni, Greece ropean culture,” Bluem, who was Germany’s for the local prefecture said. “This is our attempt to create Ai, a thorn in the side of Chi- labour minister from 1982 to 1998, told a DPA Some 80 people blocked two bridges in an opportunity for this lady,” Ai na’s Communist authorities, has reporter at the camp. the city, the spokesman said. hinese dissident artist Ai said at the end of the impromptu repeatedly spoken out in support former German labour minister – not He criticised the miserable living conditions The extreme right-wing group that Weiwei dragged a white performance. “She has been vic- of refugees in recent months and satisfi ed by reports on the dire condi- as “an assault on humanity”. organised the protest, Generation Cgrand piano to a muddy, timised by these wars. She has denounced European politicians’ Ations at Greece’s Idomeni migrant camp A member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Identitaire, said 130 people participated rain-drenched refugee camp on not had the chance to touch a pi- handling of the crisis. – set up a tent there yesterday to experience the Christian Democrat Party, Bluem lashed out at in its call to restore national borders and the Greek-Macedonian border ano in three years. Last month, he draped thou- crisis fi rsthand. Austria and other states along the Balkan route protect “Europe for Europeans”. yesterday, allowing a young Syr- “She and her husband have sands of lifejackets discarded by Norbert Bluem, aged 80, plans to spend the for their unilateral decisions to seal off borders. Police also seized a truck belonging to the ian woman to tinkle the ivories been separated for one-and-a- migrants arriving on Greece’s night camping outside at the overcrowded “What kind of solution is that? They sit back group. for the fi rst time in years. half years.” Lesbos island around the col- camp on the Greek-Macedonian border. comfortably and say Greece should deal with Thousands of migrants have been staying Performing in the pouring rain The stunt was the latest in a umns of Berlin’s Konzerthaus An estimated 40,000 migrants have become it,” he said. in makeshift camps in Calais in a bid to under a plastic sheet held up by series of projects by Ai to shine concert hall. stranded in Greece as a result of border clo- On visiting tented accommodation at Ido- reach Britain via the English Channel. Ai and others, 24-year-old Nour a spotlight on the people caught In January, the artist closed sures along the so-called Western Balkan route meni yesterday, Bluem was greeted by crowds France recently began clearing part of Alkhzam, who has not seen her up in Europe’s worst migrant cri- down an exhibition of his work to wealthier countries in northern Europe. chanting “Thank you, Germany”. the camp and moving people into more husband for over a year because sis since World War II. in Copenhagen in protest after Around 12,000 of those people are thought Under Merkel’s lax migration policy, Germa- permanent accommodation. of her country’s brutal war, “We want to reveal a new im- lawmakers passed a controversial to be living in Idomeni, which has become a ny received 1.1mn asylum-seekers in 2015 and Authorities in the northern region have played for 20 minutes in a fi eld at age of them, to relay possibility, bill allowing authorities to seize symbol of Europe’s inability to cope with the thousands continue to arrive despite pressure reported suspected attacks on migrants in the Idomeni border camp, where art and imagination. This is the valuables from asylum-seekers. migration crisis. on her government to limit the numbers. recent weeks. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, March 13, 2016 INDIA

PEOPLE ACCIDENT CRIME SURGERY POLITICS Tamil actor Selvakumar Truck mows down ten Two killed in firing Nirmala Sitharaman’s CPM holds special dies in road accident in Uttar Pradesh at councillor’s off ice husband recovering meeting in Tripura

Popular Tamil character artist At least ten people were killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Two ex-servicemen working as private security Communications adviser to the Andhra Pradesh A two-day special meeting of Tripura’s ruling Selvakumar died in Chennai on Firozabad district when a speeding truck lost guards were killed in firing after a heated argument government and federal minister Nirmala Communist Party of India (Marxist) began in Friday in a road accident. “On control and mowed down members of a marriage among some guests at a party at a councillor’s Sitharaman’s husband Parakala Prabhakar Agartala yesterday. The purpose of the special Friday night, Selvakumar was procession, police said. The accident occurred at off ice in New Delhi, police said yesterday. The underwent a successful heart surgery in Mumbai meeting “is to make the party members and returning home from an event Kotla road as the driver lost control of the truck incident occurred in west Delhi’s Najafgarh area and is recovering, off icial sources said yesterday. local leaders more ideologically acquainted. This with another actor Kovai Senthil and first rammed into a pavement killing one, and at the Indian National Lok Dal councillor Kishan The surgery was performed on Monday by is more important for those who entered the on their motorcycle, when the then mowed down members of the procession, Pehlwan’s off ice. The victims have been identified a team of doctors led by Ramakant Panda at party in recent years,” CPM state secretary Bijan brake wires got entangled in the front wheel, (and the police said. At least half-a-dozen people as Ashok Kumar, 40, and Fauzi, 42, - both private the Asian Heart Institute (AHI), the sources Dhar said. The closed-door meeting, in which they fell) on the road,” police said. Selvakumar sustained serious injuries and were rushed to security guards of a financier and a property said. Prabhakar is likely to be discharged in a 400 delegates are taking part, would lead to “a sustained head injuries and died on the spot, while Sarojini Naidu Medical College in Agra, a police dealer of the area. Police said Kumar died on the few days, they said. Nirmala Sitharaman, their precise action plan”, he said. The decision to hold his friend suff ered minor injuries. Having starred in off icial said. The victims were among those spot while Fauzi succumbed to his bullet injury at daughter and other family members are with the meeting was taken last year. Tripura Chief nearly 300 films in small roles, Selvakumar is most passing by the road at the time, band players and a private hospital. Deputy Commissioner of Police him, they said. Sitharaman is the Minister of State Minister Manik Sarkar, party’s all seven central popular for his work in Anniyan and Ramanaa. He members of the marriage procession. Three of R A Sanjeev said the deceased were attending a for Commerce and Industry and a senior leader committee members from the state, and other is survived by his wife and two daughters. the victyims have been identified. party a party at Kishan Pehlwan’s off ice. of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). senior leaders would address the meeting.

Siddique ‘unaware’ of poll Modi likely nomination

By Ashraf Padanna to address Gulft Times Correspondent Thiruvananthapuram

alayalam actor Sid- dique, widely specu- Mlated to be a Congress 10 poll rallies Party candidate in the May 16 assembly elections in Kerala, says he has received no confi r- mation yet. “As the politicians say, I have no idea about it,” he told reporters in the northern city of Kozhikode, in W Bengal hinting however at his willing- ness to contest from Aroor con- The state will have seven Madhya Pradesh Chief Minis- signed to a polling station, a lady stituency in Alappuzha district. rounds of elections starting ter Shivraj Singh Chouhan will offi cer would be appointed as “I knew about it only from on April 4 and ending on May campaign for the party,” added polling offi cer for identifi cation you. I’ll call you all when I get an 5 Ghosh. and application of indelible ink,” offi cial confi rmation”. In New Delhi the Election it said. Alappuzha district unit chief A IANS Commission directed the au- Special arrangements, facili- A Shukkoor, who was defeated in Kolkata thorities in fi ve election-bound ties and facilitation for old and the last elections by the Commu- states to identify localities pre- infi rm persons and pregnant nist Party of India (Marxist) candi- dominantly inhabited by the women would also be made in date A M Arif by a margin of 16,852 rime Minister Narendra “weaker sections” to help ensure the polling stations. votes, expressed his displeasure Modi is likely to address their participation in the polling Nearly 170mn people will be saying the party should fi eld an Pat least 10 public meetings process. eligible to vote in the staggered active worker instead of a fi lm star. across West Bengal campaigning In an order, the commission elections that will see two-phase “Siddique go back” posters for the Bharatiya Janata Party in said polling stations in these polling in Assam and six-phase also appeared in the constituen- the assembly elections, the par- localities “irrespective of the polling in West Bengal. cy, but Congress leaders blamed ty’s state unit chief Dilip Ghosh number of electors” need to be Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pu- it on CPM rivals. said here yesterday. identifi ed “so that the weaker ducherry will have single day The fi nal list is expected to be “We have sent a proposal to section electors would not have polling. released by the month end. Like in the central leadership urging to go to an area where they might Assam (126 seats) will vote on the CPM, the fi nal decision in the the prime minister to campaign be prevented from voting”. April 4 and 11 and West Bengal Congress also comes from the top. in the state. He is likely to ad- Elections to assemblies in As- (294 seats) on April 4, 11, 17, 21, Arif wrested the constituency dress at least 10 public meetings sam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil 25, 30 and May 5. from K R Gowri, a veteran Com- across various constituencies,” Nadu and Puducherry are to be Kerala (140 seats), Tamil Nadu munist leader who fell out with Ghosh said. held in April and May. (234 seats) and Puducherry (30 the party and allied with the Con- Among the constituen- The order is part of the ini- seats) will go to the polls on May gress in 1996, ending her long in- cies where Modi is expected to tiatives taken by the commission 16. nings in her home constituency. campaign are Siliguri in North “to enhance the quality of vot- Around 600 troopers of She had won the seat in 2001 Bengal, Kharagpur in West ing experience for the esteemed Tripura State Rifl es (TSR) would defeating the CPM candidate K Midnapore district, Asansol in electors, more particularly the be deployed in West Bengal and V Devadas by 12, 342 votes but Burdwan district and Malda. special categories of voters in Assam to facilitate peaceful Arif defeated her in 2006 by The BJP is targeting Chief terms of ease, comfort and fa- elections, an offi cial said. 4,753 votes. He retained the seat Minister Mamata Banerjee’s cilitation”. “The TSR troopers would in the next election improving government over violence in Ka- As part of this move, the com- provide security cover fi rst dur- on his earlier performance. liachak in Malda where a large mission said if there is a leprosy ing the assembly polls in Assam. The party that swears by “dem- mob set on fi re several vehicles sanatorium being located within From Assam, they would move to ocratic centralism” has begun and attacked a police station in a constituency, a separate poll- West Bengal,” Inspector General the process of fi nalising its list of January. ing station will have to be set up of Police Anurag said. candidate, but whether the young Ghosh said Modi was likely to “exclusively for the inmates”. “Around 600 (six companies) apparatchik would get another address a public rally later in the “In certain areas where women TSR jawans, led by senior offi - chance to contest is yet to be seen. month with at least two-three folk feel inhibited in mingling cials, would be posted in Assam In the 2014 Lok Sabha elec- visits in April. with male members due to social by March 28. After the comple- tions, Congress Party’s K C Besides Modi, a host of high practice or custom, in those areas tion of two-phase elections in Venugopal established a slender profi le BJP leaders including separate polling station for men Assam, they would be deployed lead of 963 votes in this segment party chief Amit Shah are also and women with separate queues in West Bengal,” he said. when the Bharatiya Janata Party expected to campaign during the for either gender would be pro- He said the federal home min- (BJP) supported Revolutionary mega poll battle in the state. vided,” the commission said. istry has asked the Tripura gov- Socialist Party (Bolshevik) can- “At least 30-40 BJP leaders “In areas where there are ernment to send the TSR troop- didate A V Thamarakshan, who West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gestures as she speaks to party supporters during an including Maharashtra Chief large numbers of ‘parda-nashin’ ers to Assam and West Bengal as polled 6,907 votes. election campaign rally in Kolkata yesterday. Minister Devendra Fadnavis and (veiled) women electors are as- part of the central forces. India ready to combat Leopard in well Goa minister slams climate change: minister Kanhaiya’s brand of ‘freedom of speech’ IANS Javadekar, addressing the 11th Mantri Ujjwala Yojana under Mumbai National Convention on Sus- which 50mn rural poor house- tainable Development Goals, holds will be given free cooking IANS February 12 on charges of sedition. organised by UN Global Com- connections, the minister said Panaji The saga of his arrest and his lthough India is responsi- pact Network here. as the programme rolls out, over subsequent release on bail has ble for only 3% of the glo- Elaborating on Prime Min- 5,000 new homes will not need sparked a debate on the sedition Abal carbon emissions, it is ister Narendra Modi’s vision to cut down trees for fi rewood. e cannot tolerate that law and freedom of speech. ready to combat climate change on climate change, he said the The convention was attended a person like Kan- “What does this type of free- and the government’s commit- government’s commitment is by over 300 delegates including Whaiya Kumar can say dom of speech mean? Does it ment to sustainable develop- refl ected in every programme 50 top CEOs from Tata Group, anything “just because we have mean you can say anything? ment is full and fi nal, federal being pursued by the country. Reliance, Vedanta, Birla, Adani, the freedom of speech”, Goa En- After the function is over, I will Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar listed the ambi- Essar, ONGC, L&T and others vironment and Forest Minister walk over to the road and abuse Javadekar said here yesterday. tious 175 GW renewable en- who discussed ways to broad- Rajendra Arlekar has said. everyone. Is this my freedom of Stating that climate change ergy programme covering solar, en the horizons of growth and “Those who think that just be- speech? Are the rights of other was “a reality”, he noted that wind, hydro-power and nu- transformation under the theme cause we have freedom of speech people not protected? Freedom the global temperature has clear energy and other proac- ‘People, Plant and Prosperity.’ and a person like Kanhaiya can of speech is in relation to the risen by one degree owing to tive measures to discourage use In a marketing initiative, say anything... that will not be rights of other people,” he said. 150 years of uncontrolled car- of fossil fuels to reduce car- Rahim Greens Srinagar yester- tolerated,” Arlekar told a select The minister also lamented bon emission by the developed bon footprint, as a major step day roped in budding cricketer group of youngsters at a function the fact that a section of the In- world without bothering about in promoting environment- Amir Hussain Lone, who defi ed organised in Panaji by the Nehru dian youth did not put the na- environmental impact. friendly development. the odds after mastering the Yuva Kendra on Friday. tion ahead of other priorities and “While the cumulative con- “The Union Budget 2016- sport despite losing both arms. “All these thoughts come were crooning songs of ‘Azadi’. tribution of the US, Europe, 17 has levied a green cess of The company has signed up from samyavaad (communism). “What are the songs of our Canada is 30%, other developed $6 (Rs400) per tonne of coal. the amputee cricketer from It is important to read Babasa- youth today? Azadi? If this is world accounted for 50%, China This is perhaps the highest levy south Kashmir’s Anantnag dis- heb Ambedkar’s thoughts about the kind of Azadi one speaks of, 10% while India is responsible in the world, as even the US trict as a brand ambassador, it. It is time to introspect and then this country may not last. for only 3% of carbon emissions. taxes coal at around $1. If the Abdul Hameed, CEO of Ra- see where communism is lead- There will not be a nation. What “Though India is not part developed world followed In- him Greens, said. “The idea is ing us... Is communism taking us we owe to this country and soil of the problem, it wants to dia’s example and levied higher to engage people in saving the down the right path,” the minis- and nation is a very big aspect... be part of the solution as it is taxes on coal, billions of dollars environment, climate change ter asked. Songs and thoughts of today’s well aware of its responsibili- would accrue to pursue clean is needed, and we feel Amir can Villages stand near a borewell into which a leopard fell at Kumar, who heads the Jawa- youth have to be nation fi rst, ties, committed to UN Goals on energy programmes,” he said. be a better person to connect Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh yesterday. harlal Nehru University Students everything else is secondary,” sustainable development,” said Referring to the Pradhan with the youth,” Hameed said. Union (JNUSU), was arrested on Arlekar said. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 23 INDIA Experts’ team set to examine atomic reactor after leak

IANS make the entry into the reactor be made as to its cause. the inspection decision to the plant again start operations. armament and Peace urged and thus the tritiated water will Ahmedabad building and identify the loca- “All of us are relieved as there offi cials and will not interfere in “AERB needs to understand the plant operator, the Nuclear be automatically radioactive,” tion of the leak. We are in the is no increased radioactivity in- their decision making process. what failed and why it failed,” Power Corporation of India Ltd the statement added. process of starting the process of side and outside the premises,” “Now things are under control Harikumar said. (NPCIL), to ensure protection of AERB has asked KAPS to keep team of experts is expected accessing the building,” L K Jain, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the situation at the KAPS It is learnt that closed circuit the workers at KAPS who are in- the unit under shutdown till the to inspect the fi rst 220MW site director of KAPS said. (AERB) chairman Shiv Abhilash unit is almost normal. The leak television images of the reactor volved in cleaning up the spilled incident is investigated and cor- Areactor at Kakrapar Atomic “We are maintaining the core Bhardwaj said. has not been isolated and the building is not visible or clear. heavy water. rective action is taken. Power Station (KAPS) in Gu- cooling. There is no increase in “The reactor is stable from a cooling of the reactor continues. The inspection team has to “By its very nature, some of KAPS is part of Indian atomic jarat that shut down on March 11 the radiation levels. Moving for- safety point of view and theo- The reactor safety systems have don special dress and safety gear the heavy water that is in the power plant operator NPCIL. morning due to a leak in the cool- ward, we have to locate the spot retically the inspection team can cooled down,” AERB secretary S before they enter the reactor primary coolant circuit would The company has two 220 ant system, a top offi cial at the of the leak,” Jain said. get inside the reactor building to Harikumar said. building. have been absorbed neutrons to MW units there but the second plant site said yesterday. Agreeing that it is not a small make their study,” he added. However it is not known when Meanwhile in a statement be converted into tritiated water. unit is under shut down since “Today (Saturday), we may leak, he said investigation has to However he said AERB will leave the atomic power plant will the Coalition for Nuclear Dis- Tritium is a radioactive isotope July 2015. Regulator Thai dancers perform at cultural festival gets tough on ‘wilful defaulters’

Agencies has not yet been charged with New Delhi any crime. Alarm bells have sounded in India in recent months over ndia’s market regulator the heavy burden of bad loans yesterday announced a weighing down banks’ balance Iclampdown on “wilful de- sheets. faulters” as the government SEBI said it would also re- tackles mounting bad bank strict deliberate defaulters loans, days after tycoon Vijay from setting up market in- Mallya left the country owing termediaries such as mutual more than $1bn. funds and brokerage fi rms. Under Indian law, business- Sinha also said the criteria owning individuals or fi rms for determining who consti- can be declared wilful default- tutes a “fi t and proper” person ers if they deliberately do not in the regulations were being pay their debts despite having amended. adequate cash fl ow or assets. During the board meeting, In future they will be barred which was also addressed by from raising fresh funds by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, issuing securities on capital offi cials were asked to remain markets and from sitting on alert on the supervision of the the boards of listed compa- markets, particularly in the nies, the Securities and Ex- wake of global developments. change Board of India (SEBI) The issue of loan defaulters said. at the watchdog’s meeting fol- Participants from Thailand perform a dance during the World Culture Festival on the banks of the river Yamuna in New Delhi, yesterday. “Any company who is de- lowed the matter being raised clared wilful defaulter will at the board of governors of be barred from raising fresh the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) money from the day SEBI no- meeting with the top brass of tifi es the new rule,” the regu- the fi nance ministry. lator’s chairman U K Sinha One of the main topics of told reporters in New Delhi discussion at the RBI meet- after a meeting of the board. ing was the issue of non- The move comes as high- performing assets of banks - profi le liquor baron Mallya, which primarily concern loan 300 combination drugs who was named as a wilful defaults and wilful defaults by defaulter by the State Bank of industry. India last year, is being chased “Non-performing assets for Rs90bn ($1.34bn) in un- are of two types,” Jaitley said paid loans. after the RBI meeting, ex- The self-styled King of plaining that one is created Good Times, whose Kingfi sh- as the result of a slowdown sold illegally banned er Airlines collapsed in 2012, that can be recovered once left India earlier this month, the economy turns around, with more than a dozen banks while the other is on account Hundreds of drug combos compliance, as it is easier to get that need further studies, said K Indian cough syrup market, and drugs is bigger than anywhere in scrambling to the courts to try of individual misdemean- in India lack central govt patients to take one drug rather L Sharma, a joint secretary at the its sales are estimated to make the world. and reclaim their money. ours. approval than several. But inconsistent health ministry. up more than 3% of Abbott’s Reuters reported in December It is not clear whether the “We don’t want to create a enforcement of drug laws in In- “Now based on responses $1bn India revenue. Corex is sold how a powerful antibiotic cocktail new rules will disqualify situation by overstating these Reuters dia has led to the proliferation (and) assessment of products, by Pfi zer Inc. being marketed in India by a unit Mallya from the board posi- incidents that, in turn, will New Delhi of hundreds of such medicines more than 300 drugs have been Reuters reported last October of Abbott and many other local tions he holds in his United hamper activities,” he said, al- entering the market based on prohibited,” he said. that Indian regulators were pri- companies did not carry approval Breweries Group and other luding that banks should not approval from regulators of in- He did not name the medi- vately pressuring drug fi rms to from the central government. entities. be deterred from bona fi de ndia has banned the manu- dividual states, rather than the cines, but said an offi cial notice better police the selling of popu- The combination was not ap- A report on Indian business fresh lending. “But the rising facture and sale of more than central government. announcing the ban would be lar codeine-based cough syrups proved for sale in major markets news website LiveMint said levels of NPAs are a matter of I300 combination medicines, In 2014, India set up a com- issued “in a few days.” The Drug to tackle smuggling and addic- such as the US, United Kingdom, the rules would only apply concern for all of us.” including two widely used cough mittee to review more than Controller General of India was tion. Germany, France, Japan and prospectively. RBI Governor Raghuram syrups, being sold without gov- 6,000 combinations that had not immediately available to Neither company responded Australia. Last month the fl amboyant Rajan said a due process will ernment approval, a senior entered the market based only comment. to requests for comment yester- Several medical experts said it businessman stepped down as be followed in defi ning wilful health ministry offi cial said yes- on state regulators’ approval. The banned medicines in- day. did not make sense to prescribe the chairman of United Spir- defaulters. terday. Policymakers gave pharmaceu- clude the codeine-based cough Doctors and public health ex- the cocktail for cold symptoms. its, the Indian arm of Britain’s According to recent RBI The move is aimed at curbing tical companies a chance to ret- syrups Phensedyl and Corex, perts in India and abroad have However, Abbott’s former and Diageo, following allegations estimates, the total exposure the misuse of such medicines roactively prove the safety and the Times of India said in a re- warned that increasing use of current medical representatives of fi nancial lapses at the com- of commercial banks in terms in India, where nearly half the effi cacy of these drugs by sub- port earlier yesterday, citing un- antibiotic combinations in India said the combination was being pany founded by his family. of gross NPAs, the resched- drugs sold in 2014 were so called mitting data on their drugs. named sources. may be contributing to antibiot- promoted and administered as He has been summoned to uled loans and write-off s was “fi xed dose combinations.” The committee was tasked Phensedyl, made by US drug- ic resistance. India is a particular a treatment for a wide variety appear before India’s fi nancial 14.1% of deposits that works Combination drugs are used with classifying the drugs into maker Abbott Laboratories, ac- concern as the market share of of illnesses, including colds and crimes agency on March 18 but out to around Rs9,455bn. worldwide to improve patients’ rational, irrational, and those counts for about a third of the combination drugs versus single fevers. Why was Mallya allowed Dust storm hits Delhi, disrupts traffi c to leave, Kejriwal asks PM The dust storm resulted in IANS New Delhi traffi c snarls between 4pm and IANS A consortium of 17 banks led under the Prevention of Money 7.30pm in many parts of west New Delhi by the State Bank of India wants Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe Delhi including Azadpur, Ja- the liquor baron to be arrested allegations of siphoning of funds massive dust storm ac- hangirpuri and Punjabi Bagh. In for not repaying about Rs90bn to tax havens, and suspected companied by strong south Delhi, the aff ected areas elhi Chief Minister he had borrowed. kickbacks. A winds lashed Delhi yes- included Moti Nagar and Vasant Arvind Kejriwal yester- The United Breweries group It followed up on Friday by issu- terday evening uprooting to Vihar. Dday asked Prime Minister chairman has said that he “re- ing a summons Mallya seeking his trees and disrupting traffi c. Commuters tweeted about the Narendra Modi why beleaguered spects and will comply with the presence before it on March 18 in The dust storm, which came dust storm. business tycoon Vijay Mallya law of the land”. connection with the same cases. after showers in the morn- “Delhi, this is one big was allowed to leave India. Meanwhile, the Enforcement In Panaji, an independent Goa ing, was again followed by rain storm coming. Get yourself “Since the Central Bureau of Directorate yesterday contin- legislator said the delay by the as well as hail in some parts of in people,” Shikha Gautam Investigation directly reports to ued to question the now defunct North Goa district administra- Delhi. tweeted. the Prime Minister, Modi owes an Kingfi sher Airlines’ former CFO tion to possess Mallya’s palatial However the minimum and “Heavy rain and hail storm in answer why Mallya was allowed to A Raghunathan. Kingfi sher villa located at the maximum temperatures re- Delhi, leads traffi c chaos,” Arpit leave India. The CBI couldn’t have He was quizzed for over eight upscale Candolim beach village mained above average. Pal said. allowed without approval from hours on Friday and seven hours should be probed. Traffi c police offi cials said Weather offi cials said the dust top,” Kejriwal tweeted. yesterday. According to Vijai Sardesai, it they received calls about trees storm was due to western dis- Mallya left the country on However details were not should be checked which offi cial falling in Rohini and Pitampura turbances and such conditions March 2, days before a group of available. or politician ensured that the in north Delhi, which led to con- are expected to last till tomor- creditor-banks led by the State Last Thursday, the ED had prime piece of real estate could gestion on roads. Some vehicles row. Bank of India moved the Su- served summonses to top offi - not be taken over by banks, he Three men stand near trees uprooted during a dust storm in Delhi were also damaged when the Power cuts were also reported preme Court to stop him. cials of the airline and IDBI bank said. yesterday. trees fell on them. from many parts. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, March 13, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

Dilma Rousseff ‘benefi tted’ from Peruvians demonstrate Belo Monte dam project graft

Reuters against Keiko Fujimori Brasilia

Reuters Lima raft money skimmed from overpriced con- tracts to build the Belo Monte hydroelectric Gdam in the Amazon funded President Dilma housands of Peruvians Rousseff ’s 2010 and 2014 election campaigns, a marched in downtown Lima ruling Workers’ Party senator has testifi ed accord- Ton Friday to demand the elec- ing to newsweekly IstoE. toral board bar presidential front- If confi rmed and accepted as legal evidence, runner Keiko Fujimori from next the testimony of Senator Delcidio do Amaral will month’s vote after it disqualifi ed deepen a political crisis that threatens to topple two of her rivals in an unprecedent- Rousseff , whose opponents are seeking to impeach ed move that has shaken the race. her or annul her re-election due to corruption. Protesters said the centre-right In plea bargain statements to prosecutors, Ama- politician should be thrown from ral said a graft scheme mounted during the govern- the race because pictures and video ment of Rousseff ’s predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da show her and a running mate hand- Silva, funnelled 45mn reais ($12.5mn) from Belo ing out gifts and prizes at rallies Monte contracts into the campaign coff ers of the in possible violation of a new law ruling Workers’ Party and its ticket partner, the against vote-buying. Electoral au- Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), thorities are investigating the ac- IstoE reported. cusations. A spokesman for Lula declined to comment on Fujimori, the 40-year-old daugh- the report. Calls to Rousseff ’s offi ce were not re- ter of imprisoned ex-president Al- turned while Amaral’s spokesman said the senator berto Fujimori, has dismissed the would not comment of the magazine report. accusations as “absurd.” Lula was charged late last week with money Her press offi cer did not immedi- laundering by Sao Paulo state prosecutors in ately respond to requests for com- connection with the massive bribery and kick- ment outside regular working hours. back scandal surrounding state-run oil company One of Fujimori’s rivals was Petrobras that has led to the jailing of executives thrown out of the race on Wednes- from top engineering fi rms, such as Odebrecht, day for giving cash to poor voters Andrade Gutierrez and OAS, companies that have while campaigning. the biggest stakes in the consortium building Belo Her biggest obstacle to winning, Monte. Julio Guzman, was disqualifi ed be- The controversial Belo Monte dam on the Xingu cause his party did not comply with river, a pet project of Rousseff ’s since she was Lu- electoral procedures - a decision he la’s energy minister, will have an installed capacity called “fraud” that threatens to tar- of 11,233 megawatts when completed in 2019, ex- nish the legacy of the next president. ceeded only by China’s Three Gorges and Brazil’s The electoral board has denied Itaipú dams. Its cost has escalated to over 26bn wrongdoing or political bias. People protest against presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori with a sign that says ‘I will give you a kilo of rice, but swear for your kids that you will vote for reais, mostly fi nanced by the national development The US Department of State said me’ in downtown Lima on Friday night. bank BNDES. it was closely following Peru’s elec- The project has been delayed by environmental toral process and that the ambas- bloody insurgency and fi xing the Running mate says candidate won’t back mines without community support disputes and protests by indigenous Amazon peo- sador to Peru had spoken with Guz- economy in the 1990s. ple whose habitat it threatens. man, a spokesperson told Reuters on But many Peruvians despise her Peru’s presidential frontrunner Keiko “They have to look at their com- shareholders in their projects - a tool IstoE said Amaral testifi ed that the “bribery Friday. for her links to his authoritarian gov- Fujimori would work to push out new munity relations plans and win back to build support for new mines that pipeline” was set up by Lula’s former chief of staff , Protesters chanted “Stop Keiko!” ernment, even after she has softened mines faster if elected, but only for the legitimacy that they lack today,” some companies in Peru have already Erenice Guerra, his fi nance minister Antonio Pal- at the headquarters of the National her once staunch defence of him. companies that have community Chlimper said in an interview with implemented. occi, who was also Rousseff ’s chief of staff until he Jury of Elections, which issued a Alberto Fujimori, who made Keiko backing, her economic adviser said Reuters. Fujimori has railed against resigned due to corruption allegations, and Silas statement urging the news media to Fujimori his fi rst lady at 19 when he on Friday. “We’re going to support the eff ort President Ollanta Humala for fanning Rondeau, of the PMDB party who was Lula’s en- “contribute to a climate of peace.” divorced her mother, is carrying out Jose Chlimper, who is also the of serious companies to make big anti-mining sentiment as a candidate. ergy minister. “People are rising up to say a 25-year sentence for human rights centre-right politician’s running projects viable, but the ones that Humala narrowly defeated her in her Amaral’s 400-page testimony, which must enough of these irregularities and abuses and corruption. mate, said Newmont Mining Corp have not acted properly will not have first presidential bid in 2011. be authorized by the Supreme Court to become the Fujimori ambition of returning A Reuters witness put the number and Southern Copper Corp did not our support,” he said. Peru is set to become the world’s valid evidence, was given days before he was re- to power,” said Jorge Rodriguez, an of protesters, most of them young, do enough to build local support for Peru’s next president will likely second biggest copper supplier, but leased from jail following his arrest in November organizer of a group called Fujimori at between 2,000 and 3,000. their proposed mines Conga and Tia inherit an economic recovery driven concerns about the impacts of mining on suspicion of obstructing the Petrobras inves- Never Again. The rally largely peaceful and Maria. by surging copper output from new near farming communities threaten tigation. Fujimori, who narrowly lost her followed similar demonstrations The companies, which suspended mines, but no major projects are set to hurt new investments. In testimony published last week by IstoE, Ama- fi rst presidential bid in 2011, has against Fujimori in the Andean city the projects because of local protests, to come on line in coming years. Fujimori has pledged stiff fines for ral reportedly testifi ed that Rousseff used her in- long been the favourite for this of Cusco that upended her cam- had revised their plans to ease wor- Chlimper said Fujimori would miners that pollute as she seeks votes fl uence to keep directors suspected of corruption year’s race. She inherited a solid paign event Thursday. ries about environmental impacts create a legal framework to help on a populist platform in Andean in positions at Petroleo Brasileiro SA PETR4.SA, as stock of support from her father, Elections are scheduled for April and are investing in social programs. miners turn local communities into regions. Petrobras is formally known. whom many credit with ending a 10. A run-off would be held June 5. Rousseff rejected calls for her resignation.

Honduras reports new Zika death Actress challenges Sean Penn’s Chapo story

Reuters fi rst death related to Zika in the Brazil said it has confi rmed 745 AFP in the Rolling Stone magazine. who were in the car ahead of del Penn says he discussed his Tegucigalpa Central American country where cases of microcephaly, and con- Los Angeles Penn’s much-mocked Castillo and Penn, also have no intentions in their fi rst meeting 15,732 suspected cases have so siders most of them to be related 10,000-word article alleged that recollection of encountering a and again en route to their meet- far been reported, including 185 to Zika infections in the mothers. uniformed government soldiers military checkpoint, The New ing, The New Yorker reported. onduran authorities on pregnant women. Brazil is investigating more than prominent Mexican ac- allowed them to pass through Yorker wrote. Penn maintains Del Castillo hoped instead Friday announced the The World Health Organiza- 4,900 additional suspected cases tress has spoken out after identifying Guzman’s son that his account is correct, the that Penn would collaborate Hdeath of a 22-year-old tion declared the Zika outbreak, of microcephaly. Aon meeting drug baron Alfredo in their convoy during a publication added. with her on a fi lm project about man from the neurological dis- which is suspected of causing But the Zika outbreak has also Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman to lengthy drive through the Mexi- Penn’s article was published Guzman, one of the world’s order Guillain-Barre syndrome thousands of babies to be born been accompanied by an increase imply that Oscar-winning star can bush to meet Guzman. on January 9, one day after most notorious drug traffi ck- who was also suspected of having with abnormally small heads, or in Guillain-Barre, in which the Sean Penn fabricated an account “Wow. So it is, the power of a Guzman was captured follow- ers and blamed for the deaths of the Zika virus. microcephaly, in Brazil, an in- body’s immune system attacks of government soldiers waving Guzman face. And the corruption ing six months on the run from thousands of people in Mexico. “We have notifi cation of one ternational health emergency on part of the nervous system. them through a checkpoint. of an institution,” Penn wrote. But jail in Mexico. Del Castillo also The actress also complained death due to Guillain-Barre February 1. Some 57 cases of Guillain- Kate del Castillo, who lives in Del Castillo told The New Yorker grumbled to The New Yorker that Penn implied she had en- syndrome, very probably linked Much remains unknown about Barre have been reported in Los Angeles, made the remarks in the convoy did not go through a that the Hollywood star and couraged romantic-style over- to the Zika illness,” the deputy Zika, including whether the virus Honduras so far this year, com- an interview with The New York- military checkpoint, nor did gov- ex-husband of Madonna did tures from Guzman, when in health minister of Honduras, actually causes microcephaly, pared with 112 for the whole of er, adding to an avalanche of crit- ernment soldiers wave them on. not reveal he was working on an fact her dealings were purely Francis Contreras, told reporters. which can result in developmen- 2015, according to local authori- icism against Penn about meeting Argentinian producers Fern- article until she was translating professional with an eye to If confi rmed, it would be the tal problems. ties. Guzman and then writing about it ando Sulichin and Jose Ibanez, his conversation with Guzman. working on a movie project. Cuban exodus leaves the elderly behind on island

By Carlos Batista, AFP The average retiree in Cuba of the Soviet Union, its main Often, those who reach the US Havana gets a pension of $10 a month. benefactor - the so-called “spe- then bring over family members, To help impoverished seniors, cial period.” but senior citizens are frequently the Church runs a charity called The economy grew a respect- left behind. hey have lived through the ‘Grandparents’ House’ in Ha- able 4% last year. Today, 12.6% of Cuban house- dictatorship, the Cuban vana, where aging Cubans gather But tentative economic re- holds consist of just one person, TRevolution, the Missile to talk, share their hardships, forms by Castro’s successor, his a retiree. The government runs Crisis, the Cold War, the near- watch TV and play dominoes. 84-year-old younger brother some 150 retirement homes, but starvation of the “special period” “My ‘brothers’ here are the Raul, have so far failed to deliver they tend to be overcrowded and and rapprochement with the US. only family I have,” said 93-year- the hoped-for results. poorly maintained. Now, many of Cuba’s senior old Raimundo Aleman, who ar- This year, the government is Many would rather scrape by on citizens are alone, left behind by rives at the centre every morn- forecasting just 2% growth. their meagre pensions and the mon- an exodus of younger generations ing at dawn to help out in the And the thaw with long-time ey they get from the Church, which that has given the country a rap- kitchen. enemy the US has only acceler- receives state funding and foreign idly ageing population. The retired delivery-truck ated the Cuban exodus. donations to assist the elderly. “I’m 88 years old. My son driver’s only close relatives are Last year, 43,000 Cubans en- “They take good care of me doesn’t send me anything. At his three children in the US. tered the US, a new record. here,” said Maria Angelica Vidal, fi rst he sent a little money, but I Politics drove the fi rst major The restoration of US-Cuban a 72-year-old former English don’t even hear from him now,” wave of Cuban migrants to the ties after more than half a cen- teacher with a son in Haiti and said Leocadia Aguila, whose son US, after Fidel Castro’s band of tury of enmity has raised fears on grandson in the US. Valentin, a martial arts expert, rebels overthrew dictator Ful- the island that Washington will At the Grandparents’ House, left two years ago for the US. gencio Batista in 1959. soon change its preferential poli- she gets food, clothing, medical Leaning on her cane, the More recently, it is the com- cies on Cuban immigrants, which care and most importantly, af- brown-skinned, white-haired munist island’s economic woes fast-track them for permanent fection. former hospital janitor said she that have sent younger Cubans residency. Cuba, where nearly 20% of the was scraping by with the help of abroad. “Today, emigration mainly in- populace is over 60, is on track the Catholic Church, which sup- Cuba is doing better than dur- volves the relatively young, from to have the oldest population in plements her tiny pension from ing the economic crisis in the 20 to 45 years old,” said demogra- Latin America by 2030. It is cur- Elderly Cuban people wait for help at La Milagrosa Grandparent House in Havana. the state. 1990s provoked by the collapse pher Alina Alonso. rently second only to Uruguay. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 25 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Sharif’s daughter behind image overhaul of govt

Internews - through WhatsApp and other The cell is headed by ruling notice of the issue and asked Apparently the team also gested her father to appoint a Islamabad services and constantly seeks party Senator Tanvir Khan’s son Higher Education Commission makes phone calls and text mes- person with democratic creden- details of the unfolding events to Barrister Danyal Chaudhry but Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed sages to government lawmak- tials. manage the government’s public all its members report to Mar- to report. Later it turned out ers during the TV shows to help Maryam is now focusing on akistani prime minister’s image. yam. that it was Maryam, who held a them defend the governmental the upgrading of 422 educational daughter Maryam Nawaz Whether it is about running The media team monitors and meeting with Ahmed and urged policies on various issues. institutes in Islamabad with 22 Pis behind many recent certain tickers on news channels updates her on every trend on him to resolve the crisis. It was only two weeks ago that schools in the initial phase. governmental decisions and or issuing special directives to the social and traditional media Another team - headed by apparently a retired army offi cial The prime minister’s recently initiatives as she actively man- media houses and journalists, it and she accordingly makes deci- Maryam - is called the ‘Think- was to be appointed as the new announced health card scheme ages the ruling Pakistan Muslim all comes from the PM’s daugh- sions and policy for the day. Tank of Government’. This team Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor. as well as Green Pakistan scheme League-N government’s public ter. It was in November 2015 when - including lawmakers such as But at the 11th hour name of par- are also her brainchild. image on social and traditional The government’s media of- students of Bahauddin Zakariya Talal Chaudhry, Tariq Fazal, ty stalwart Iqbal Jhagra was for- She has also been actively media. fi ce, called the PM’s Strategic University Multan’s sub-campus Mariam Aurangzeb, Daniyal mally announced by the prime working in the implementation According to sources, Maryam Media Cell, is monitored by a in Lahore staged protests which Aziz and Anusha Rahman - minister. of Apna Ghar scheme, which stays in touch with all offi cials - group of over 20 members ex- grabbed media’s attention. decides as to who will be the According to reliable sources, involves construction of over associated with the PM House cluding volunteers who work The protests were followed guests on which upcoming TV this sudden change took place 500,000 low-cost houses across and the ruling party’s media cell from home. by tickers that the PM had taken show. because of Maryam, who sug- the country. Maryam Nawaz

ENERGY Fashion show 1,100MW boost for Pakistan’s power grid

US F-16 deal The Pakistani government is tar- geting to add a total of 1,100 mega- watts of electricity generation capacity to the national grid by the time the expected scorching sum- mer arrives. Sources here say this will include refurbishment of the for Pakistan Guddu Thermal Power Station to enhance its capacity from 900MW to 1,500MW, besides about 450MW from Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (Chashma III) and wind power plants. At a briefing on the completion of enhancement goes into eff ect of 270MW generation capacity of Guddu station, it was reported by Internews safe haven within its borders. stan peace process. plant authorities to the Ministry of Washington Congress had 30 days to con- However, they generally sup- Water and Power that the entire vey its objection to the admin- ported the sale, saying the South Guddu plant had stopped genera- istration. After this mandatory Asian state needs to modernise tion in 2013 because of damage to akistan’s deal to purchase period the deal would automati- its air force and counter-terror- its gas and steam turbines. About eight F-16 jet fi ghters from cally become eff ective. ism activities. 270MW was added to the system Pthe United States became Although the mandatory pe- Republican Senator Bob Cork- Models present creations by Pakistani designer Nomi Ansari on the second day of Pakistan from Guddu station last week eff ective over the weekend, a day riod expires on March 12, the er said he would use his power Fashion Design Council week in Lahore. from the 415MW Siemens block after the US Senate rejected a Senate adjourned on Friday and as the chairman of the Senate comprising two gas turbines and measure to block the sale. would not resume until Monday, Foreign Relations Committee to one steam turbine. “We appreciate the leader- which leaves no room to mount bar the use of any US funds for ship of the US Congress in con- another measure for blocking the deal. PROJECTS sistently supporting Pak-US the deal. In a statement, Corker said, counter-terrorism partnership,” On Friday the Senate blocked “Prohibiting a taxpayer sub- Sindh approves said Pakistan’s ambassador Jalil an eff ort to prevent the $700mn sidy sends a much-needed development Abbas Jilani while commenting sale of F-16 fi ghter jets to Paki- message to Pakistan that it Parliament can’t impose tax on the Senate vote. “The vote is stan. Lawmakers voted 71 to 24 needs to change its behaviour, schemes a demonstration of the strength against an attempt introduced but preventing the purchase and resilience of Pak-US Rela- by Republican Senator Rand Paul of US aircraft would do more The government of Pakistan’s tionship.” to prevent the sale under legisla- harm than good by paving the on provincial property: SC southern Sindh province gov- On February 12, the US State tion known as the Arms Control way for countries like Russia erned by Bilawal Bhutto’s Pakistan Department notifi ed Congress Act. and China to sell to Pakistan People’s Party has approved of its intention to sell $700mn Paul had called Pakistan “an while also inhibiting greater Internews Court (LHC) rejected Punjab ernment has enacted the Punjab major new development schemes worth of weapons to Pakistan, uncertain ally” and other law- co-operation on counterter- Islamabad government’s appeal against Government Rules 2011 under worth Rs9.5bn. The Sindh Provin- which included eight Block-52 makers expressed concerns rorism.” the imposition of the tax. Later, which the irrigation department cial Development Working Party F-16s. about Pakistan’s nuclear pro- The US identifi ed Pakistan as the LHC’s order was challenged has the responsibility to con- (PDWP) approved 17 schemes in The department argued that gramme, commitment to fi ght- a key partner in its war against n a landmark ruling overturn- in the Supreme Court, where struct and maintain barrages, various sectors, including work the jets were critical to Paki- ing terrorist organisations and terror following the September ing an earlier high court ver- Additional Advocate General rivers, canals and tube-wells, etc. and services, industries, culture stan’s eff orts to deny terrorists a co-operation in the Afghani- 11, 2001. Idict, the Supreme Court of Khalid Abbasi argued on behalf “The Punjab government and tour, local government, Pakistan has made it clear that of irrigation department. Last carries out its business through irrigation, agriculture, health, federal parliament cannot impose month, a three-judge bench - the irrigation department; education, livestock and fisheries, a tax on the property or income of headed by Justice Mushir Alam therefore, it cannot be viewed and population and welfare. The a provincial government. and comprising Justice Dost separately from the government schemes included development The judgment said the con- Khan and Justice Isa - had re- and will squarely be within the of summer resorts at Gorakh Hill Inequalities would come back stitution determines the rights, served its judgment, which has terms of Article 165 (1) of the worth Rs2.543bn, establishment duties and obligations of the now been released. Constitution,” it said. of rehabilitation centre for senior provinces with the federation, The judgment held that Ar- The court said stones/spawl citizens in Karachi (Rs75.2mn), to haunt us: Sherry Rehman adding that Article 165 (1) of ticle 142 of the Constitution within the territory of the prov- establishment of fish biodiver- the constitution stipulates that stipulates that the provincial ince of Punjab is owned by the sity hatchery and training and parliament cannot impose tax assemblies have the power to government of Punjab, in re- extension institutes at Manchar IANS all the leaders share, but it is not “The rich are getting richer on the property or income of a make laws in respect of all mat- spect whereof laws can only be Lake, Jamshoro, and Khairpur New Delhi easy to achieve. and the poor are getting poorer. provincial government. ters, which are not mentioned made by the Punjab Assembly (Rs197.7mn), procurement of dialy- “This is the time of deep social It’s a global problem. Such in- The order stated that the in the Federal Legislative List. and the same are exempted sis machines, disposal and reverse and economic stress. I see a very equality, such deprivation will provincial government shall “The Federal Legislative List from federal taxation as laid osmosis water purification system eepening inequalities serious challenge looming over incubate fear and confl ict,” she not, in respect of its property in the Fourth Schedule restricts down in Article 165 (1) of the for hospitals of the Karachi Metro- across societies globally us, and that challenge is deep- emphasised. or income, be liable to taxation the legislative power of the fed- Constitution. politan Corporation (Rs208mn). Dis turning up as a major ening inequality. A large number On the issue of terrorism, under a federal law, which in eration to mineral oil, natural The order held that if a person challenge for the world, Paki- of people are excluded from the Rehman said that Pakistan has this case was Sales Tax Act. gas and minerals for the use in albeit an offi cer of the provincial EDUCATION stani leader Sherry Rehman said growth,” Rehman said. been fi ghting the biggest inland “Therefore, the high court’s generation of nuclear technol- government, despite being ex- here yesterday. “And what is more disturbing war against terrorism. judgment is not sustainable and ogy. Consequently, the power empted under the Constitution, Schools shifted Rehman, a member of the is that one in seven human be- “Terrorism looms very large in is set aside and the appeal is al- to legislate in respect of other mistakenly pays sales tax then from Islamabad Pakistan senate and vice-pres- ings in the world today is a refu- public imagination. Most people lowed with costs,” it said. minerals including stones/ he cannot be compelled to con- ident of the Pakistan People’s gee, a homeless person with- don’t realise that Pakistan has Justice Faez Isa authored a spawl falls within the domain of tinue doing so. “The exemption residential areas Party (PPP), was speaking at out an identity. Perhaps that is been fi ghting one of the largest 10-page verdict in a case fi led provincial assembly,” it said. contained in the Constitution a session titled “Creating a thanks to a global leadership that inland wars against terrorism, by the Punjab Irrigation De- The judgment further held will prevail over any statute and The Pakistan government has de- peaceful world of tomorrow” is not making the right deci- and it is doing so alone,” she said. partment against the imposi- that stones/spawl are utilised it would be inconsequential that cided to shift hundreds of schools during the World Culture Festi- sions,” she added. She said that for peace to tion of sales tax by the federal or supplied by the irrigation de- tax was earlier paid. There is no operating in residential areas of val being held here. Rehman said that such issues prevail civil society should be excise and sales tax department partment to other departments estoppel against the Constitu- the federal capital city Islamabad She said that although peace are bound to come back to haunt strengthened and given a bigger over the sale of pitching stones. of Punjab for the use of public tion is also a well-established to dedicated areas. Off icial sources is a “broad global ambition” that us. voice. Earlier in 2008, the Lahore High works. It said the Punjab gov- principle,” it said. say private schools operating from residential areas in the city are to be given land in better suited areas for them to build their campuses but a modus operandi for this will be worked out later. At a meeting this week Interior Min- Qawwali fi ghting a battle for survival in Pakistan ister Nisar Ali directed the Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Internews Ali ventured into light, classical “It is seeing a decline as of Tariq Fazal to form a committee to Lahore singing and music direction. “I now. The time of giants like Us- draft recommendations for the al- want to move with time,” he adds. tad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sabri lotment of plots to private schools. He stated that stepping out- Brothers, and Aziz Mian was un- awwali music in Pakistan side his comfort zone was essen- doubtedly our golden era and my HONOUR has historically been up- tial, given the changing trends in father was the last of those puri- Pakistani teen Qheld by gharanas [whole the industry. tans,” he said. According to Ali, families dedicated to the art] “Light music is gaining popu- there was a time when the sing- wins UN poster that boast of an affi nity with the larity nowadays, whereas qaw- ers were well-versed in the ragas genre that dates back to the time wali is facing a crisis. I chose this that they were singing but that is competition of Amir Khusrow. career path and it has really been no more the case. However, changing trends a blessing for me. I have earned “The industry is in dire need of A Pakistani teenager has won a of the music industry in recent recognition on both sides of the quality singers who can shoulder global children’s poster competi- times have engaged these gha- border with my work.” the legacy and take the tradition tion held by the United Nations ranas in a fi ght for survival. He recently worked on the forward.” He said back in the day Human Rights Off ice. Children Ali Badar Miandad belongs soundtracks of Pakistani fi lms all qawwali singers underwent were asked to paint what freedom to the renowned Miandad qaw- like Jang and Fiker Not and also years of training to perfect their meant to them. The competition wali family. His brother Sikander sang and composed music for skills. was held as part of a year-long Miandad and uncle Sher Mian- upcoming Indian fi lm, Ishaq “Today’s generation does not campaign to mark the 50th an- dad may have established them- Risk. With three music albums, seem to care and this is the basic niversary of two important human selves in the world of qawwali, Udasiyan, Jano Dilum and reason that our music industry is rights treaties: the International Ali has other plans. “Qawwali Faqeera, under his belt, Ali feels in a crisis. Things are still diff er- Covenant on Economic, Social is our family asset and many of his choices have really paid off . ent in India since singers there and Cultural Rights and the my relatives started their careers As far as qawwali is con- are encouraged to learn music International Covenant on Civil under the supervision of my fa- cerned, Ali feels it is high time properly.” He takes pride in the and Political Rights. Eiza Abid, a ther Ustad Badar Miandad,” he the survivors of gharanas take fact that Pakistani singers are 15-year-old participant from Paki- says. Starting out with his father, matters into their own hands. dominating Bollywood. Ali Badar Miandad performing a qawwali. stan won in the 12-18 age group. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, March 13, 2016 PHILIPPINES

MARITIME Early ruling on sea row sought Resigned Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has called Comelec ‘should comply on the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands to issue a ruling soon on the complaint filed by the Philippines against China over disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), with law on vote receipts’ Manila Times reported. “Recent developments on the By Catherine S Valente ing diffi culties implementing mous in its ruling that the at the same time, a president was aghast when the Comelec say it’s too late. Their acts are ground as a result of Chinese & Reina Tolentino the High Court’s order that Comelec should enable all the can only do so much,” Quezon announced that it will disable seemingly premeditated and unilateral conduct of test flights, Manila Times the voter verifi ed paper au- security features of the vote said. the VVPAT feature. criminal,” he added. island-building activities and dit trail (VVPAT) feature of the counting machines as required Bautista had said that they “There could be no rhyme Gordon said the commission constructions, and challenges on vote counting machines (VCM) by law. The poll body has ap- will have to reconfi gure the vote or reason why they unilater- should not waste time making freedom of navigation, over- ice president Jejomar should be activated. pealed the tribunal’s decision, counting machines (VCMs) be- ally disabled the VVPAT fea- excuses and instead look for flight operations, and ongoing Binay and former sena- “There’s a law, they did not saying it may delay the elec- cause these are not capable of ture embedded in the machine solutions to comply and ensure militarisation, not to mention Vtor Richard “Dick” Gor- prepare, so how would that be? tions scheduled on May 9 this printing out receipts. itself. The bottom line is, the that the security features will be their still continuing prevention don called on the Commission That is why they were repri- year. But Gordon, the principal au- Comelec cannot choose which implemented to protect the in- of Filipino fishermen from plying on Elections (Comelec) to fi nd manded by the SC. We cannot But even Malacanang noted thor of the automated election parts of the law to follow and tegrity of the elections. their trade at the Scarborough ways on how it can comply with do anything, it is in the law, that the Comelec has no choice system law, disputed this claim. which not to. They have done “There is nothing more vi- Shoal area, have seriously the Supreme Court ruling that there has to be receipts,” Binay, but to obey the ruling. He noted that when the this in the 2010 and 2013 elec- tal at this critical time than to heightened tensions and further the poll body issue paper re- the standard bearer of the Unit- “We appeal that this mat- Comelec conducted a public tions. The criminal pattern is ensure that the Comelec will highlight the urgency of an early ceipts to voters. ed Nationalist Alliance (UNA), ter should be resolved at the testing of the VCMs in October apparent,” the former senator conduct a free, orderly, clean, promulgation of the decision,” Binay made the call yesterday said. soonest possible time but in a 2015 which Gordon’s Bagum- stressed. honest and truthful elections,” del Rosario told businessmen as Malacanang also urged the “Now if you’re having prob- way that is clear so that it will bayan party participated in, it “First, they decide among he stressed. and members of the diplomatic Comelec and the SC to resolve lems, that’s your own fault. It’s not lead to worries or doubt,” was clear that the machines themselves without making it “Let us not be persuaded by corps at a recent gathering in the problem so as not to put the simple. You’re the chairman, Presidential Undersecretary have the capability to print out public that they will not comply their excuses. The act of pro- Makati City. The Philippines filed May elections under a cloud of there’s a law for that. Find a so- Manuel Quezon said in a radio receipts. After having been as- with the law, then they make curing additional supplies and a memorial against China in doubt. lution to comply with the law,” interview. sured that the VCMs have all a formal announcement near equipment namely the thermal 2013 after Chinese ships refused Binay said Comelec’s poor he added, referring to Comelec “It’s the obligation of every the security features mandated the elections, that they will paper and receipt receptacles to withdraw from a shoal found preparations is the reason why chairman Andres Bautista. president to ensure that elec- by RA 9369 or the election au- not comply with the law. Then need not entail severe setbacks within the Philippine’s exclusive the commission is now hav- The High Court was unani- tions are clean and credible. But tomation law, Gordon said he when someone complains, they on the timeline of Comelec.” economic zone. Firefighting operation Duterte vows to disburse coco levy funds to farmers

By Catherine Valente Manila Times

he tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Du- Tterte and Senate Major- ity Leader Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday vowed to distribute the P80bn coco levy funds to small coconut farmers in just one month after winning the May elections. In his message during his meeting with farmers at the UPLB (University of the Phil- ippines at Los Baños) campus, Duterte stressed that the coco levy fund should be given to coconut farmers, saying the Rodrigo Duterte: pledge to farmers disposition of the fund is long overdue. and powerful, we, on the other leadership,” he said. Cayetano “The Supreme Court has hand, will protect the small and said he and Duterte will also said that the money belongs to the weak,” Duterte said. reverse the Aquino adminis- the people. It’s taken so long. Senator Grace Poe had ear- tration’s plans to privatise the By this pronouncement, it lier defended business tycoon fund. should have been given to the Eduardo Cojuangco Jr for the He said they will convert the rightful owners,” he said. non-distribution of the coco coco levy assets into a stake- Duterte said the money, levy funds. holders-shareholders-state which was collected by way Poe, who is running for pres- equity partnership to guarantee A firefighter uses a fire hose to put out a fire as it razes residential areas in San Andres Bukid, Metro Manila yesterday. Authorities are of levy from millions of farm- ident as an independent, was the farmers’ hold on the assets investigating the cause of the fire, local media reported. ers during the administration adopted by Cojuangco’s party, and create village level farm- of former president Ferdinand the Nationalist People’s Coali- based processing industries. Marcos, must be immediately tion. Cayetano said Poe issued According to Duterte’s distributed to coconut farmers a statement on the coconut spokesman Peter Lavina, and growers. levy even if she knew little of around 25% or 3mn hectares of “All it takes is political will. the case. the country’s 12mn hectare ag- The Supreme Court already He pointed out that a pe- riculture lands are planted with Army corporal faces action over torture decided to return the fund to tition fi led by the Philippine coconuts. the farmers. Thus, if elected, Coconut Producers Federa- There are also around 3.5mn in just the fi rst month of our tion, which he claimed was a coconut farmers across the Manila Times village in Malita town, Davao Mawab town, in Compostela Val- held until the investigations term, Alan and I will immedi- Cojuangco “dummy,” was the country—making up close to Manila Occidental, last month. ley. “They shall be restricted to the have clearly established their ately give the fund back to the basis for the issuance of a tem- 10% of the total 40mn labour Sandy Batolbatol and the other barracks, to ensure their appear- involvement in the said incident. coconut farmers. Failure to do porary restraining order by the force. The coconut industry is suspects were arrested and have ance while the investigation is on- “Due process of law shall be so is tantamount to estafa,” he Supreme Court against two among the top fi ve net foreign n Army corporal and four been placed under restrictive going,” said Capt. Rhyan Batchar, strictly observed in the investi- added. executive orders on the funds’ exchange earners, with an av- militiamen are facing custody of the commander of the information offi cer of the Army’s gation and they will be prosecut- “Alan and I will only protect distribution. erage of $760mn per year. Acourt martial for their al- 72nd Infantry Battalion, whose 10th Infantry Division (ID). ed with the full force of military the interest and welfare of the “This issue needs a bold and The Philippines contributes leged torture of some members headquarters is in Camp General He added that the identities of justice, including trial by court coconut farmers. If other can- speedy solution, not a protec- around 59% share in world co- of the Tagkulo tribe in a remote Manuel Yan, Sr, in Brgy. Tuboran, the militiamen are being with- martial,” Batchar stressed. didates prefer to protect the big tor of the rich or an indecisive conut exports, Lavina said. Ex-senator seeks court review in Poe disqualifi cation case

By Iza Iglesias not say whether the SC upheld pines for 10 years and 11 months least 10 years. So how did the SC should be done. Justice must be Manila Times Poe’s contentions that she is a on the day before the 2016 elec- magistrate arrive at the conclu- seen to be done. At this point, natural-born Filipino and that tions. sion that Poe has been a resident the Supreme Court justices are she met the 10-year residency Tatad, meanwhile, claimed of the country for 10 years and 11 suspects of wrongdoing,” Tatad ormer Senator Francisco requirement for presidential that only seven magistrates months when from her own ad- noted. “Kit” Tatad yesterday said candidates. actually voted in favour of mission and her own claim, she He also criticised the SC for Fhis camp will ask the Su- On Friday night, the SC re- Poe. has been a resident of the coun- allegedly giving special treat- preme Court to conduct new leased its 47-page decision, “We were led to believe that try for six years and six months ment to Poe while there are also hearings and hold a re-voting penned by Associate Justice Jose the voting was nine-six. My by the time she came here to run other petitioners who sought to on the disqualifi cation case fi led Perez. lawyer said there was no nine- for the senate. The number of contest the Comelec’s decisions against Senator Grace Poe once In that decision, the court said six voting. Only seven justices in years as resident would increase to disqualify them. they receive an offi cial copy of that the Commission on Elec- favour of Grace Poe’s so-called from 2013 up to May 8,” he add- “The Comelec ruled that she the decision. tions (Comelec) gravely abused citizenship and residency. Sev- ed. was disqualifi ed. It cancelled her “We will go to court and will its discretion when it cancelled en? This is a court of 15, there is “I read in the news, quoting COC. She was the only one who ask for re-voting and rehearing Poe’s certifi cate of candidacy no majority vote so there is no Justice Perez, that on the ba- went to the Supreme Court and of the case,” Tatad said at a me- because of issues on her citizen- ruling. We cannot recognise it,” sis of the probability, Grace Poe was accommodated. There are dia forum in Quezon City. ship and residency. he said. is a natural-born citizen. The more than 105 Filipinos who fi led The former senator, one of the “There is more than suffi cient Tatad said his petition was law requires a fact, not a prob- COCs for the presidency. All of petitioners who sought Poe’s evidence that petitioner has Fili- based on Poe’s admission when ability. Our constitution should them comply with all the con- disqualifi cation, said there is no pino parents and is therefore a she ran for senator in 2013 that have provided: ‘No person may stitutional requirements. Some SC ruling yet because the tribu- natural-born Filipino,” the tri- she has resided in the country for be elected president unless he is of them appealed to the Supreme nal has yet to explain the basis of bunal said. six years and six months. ‘probably’ a natural Filipino citi- Court. the votation. “Her admission that she is a “That came from her. So from zen’,” Tatad told members of the “Their appeals were imme- “There is no Supreme Court foundling did not shift the bur- the elections in 2013, you just media. diately dismissed through a decision. There’s no Supreme den to her because such status compute the period that elapsed “Let us remember that the minute resolution. How did that Court ruling. We were led to did not exclude the possibility until the day before the elections Supreme Court is a (trier) of happen? You have one person think that there was a voting. that her parents were Filipinos, in May this year. It will not tally law, it’s not a (trier) of prob- (who), under the constitution, is The result of the voting is re- especially as in this case where to 10 years. What she stated in abilities. not qualifi ed. How did this situ- portedly 9-6. All the head- there is a high possibility, if not her COC is that she has resided “It is a (trier) of facts. The law ation happen?” the former sena- lines said Grace can run. The certainty, that her parents are in the country for 10 years and requires not a probability but a tor asked. basis for the votes was not Grace Poe : facing legal challenges Filipinos,” it added. 10 months to qualify for presi- fact. Never in our history has the “This is lamentable. This mentioned, it was just an- The SC, in its decision, also dency,” he said. SC released the voting results might lead to dire consequences nounced that nine voted, say- from,” Tatad told reporters. Court allowed Poe to run based said that Poe is right in claim- “Under the constitution a without explaining, without for our country. I do not expect ing that Grace can run. But we SC spokesperson Theodore on the majority decision of its ing in her COC that she will have candidate for president should showing the text of the deci- a peaceful and meaningful elec- do not know where this came Te on Tuesday said the High magistrates. However, Te did been a resident of the Philip- be resident of the country for at sion. It’s not enough that justice tion,” he added. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 27 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Tamil prisoners Lanka urges call off strike after promise South Asian of speedy trials

IANS Earlier, opposition leader R Colombo Sampanthan had raised the issue in the house moving an adjourn- countries to ment. ri Lankan Tamil pris- Sampanthan had also made an oners, who launched a appeal to the political prisoners Shunger strike demand- on fast to give it up. ing their release, called off their Many of the prison- fast after a minister assured ers held without charge them of speedy trials. since the 1990s. Most have work together As many as 13 former Lib- been imprisoned on suspi- eration Tigers of Tamil Eelam cion of links with the defeated IANS trade was a key component integrated,” Wickremesinghe (LTTE) cadres launched the Tamil Tiger rebel group. Colombo of growth in the countries of said. hunger strike on February 23 They are being held under the Pre- Southeast Asia. According to him, tariff s and demanding the government ex- vention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which In South Asia, intra-regional other restrictions hobble trade pedite the cases against them or allows the security forces to detain peo- ri Lankan Prime Minister trade among Saarc countries among South Asian countries release them. ple for up to 18 months without bring- Ranil Wickremesinghe has accounts for just 5% of total but those obstacles were sup- The prisoners called off the ing them before a court. Scalled on South Asian gov- trade, compared to 25% for the posed to be swept away with the strike on Friday after Prisons Re- But some have been jailed ernments to work together for a Association of Southeast Asian establishment of the South Asian forms and Rehabilitation Minister since 1997. dynamic economy. Nations (Asean). Association for Regional Co- D M Swaminathan gave an as- Sampanthan said that since Wickremesinghe said South He said the governments must operation (Saarc), the largest of surance that he would discuss the the government had rehabilitated Asia was slower in taking advan- use trade opportunities to lift all the world’s regional trading issue with the attorney general’s and freed thousands of former tage of the opportunities that their people out of poverty. blocs, with close to 2bn people. department officials, ColomboP- Tiger fi ghters after defeating the can arise from open trade in the “If trade is to become a But Saarc’s reliance on bi- Ranil Wickramasinghe: “If Saarc is to succeed, a new multilateral age reported. rebels in 2009, there was no sense region. key driver of growth in Sri lateral negotiations has slowed mechanism for co-operation will be needed.” Four inmates who fell ill due to keeping the long-term detainees According to him, this was Lanka or elsewhere in the re- the process to a crawl, keeping the hunger strike were admitted in jail. the reason the region is home gion, we will most likely have the region much poorer than it The Sri Lankan premier said However, in South Asia in- to the prison hospital. The Sinhala-language media - to 44% of the world’s poor- to generate it ourselves - by needs to be. regional trade remains a key tra-regional trade among Saarc Meanwhile, students at the which dominate national discourse est people, ColomboPage transforming South Asia “If Saarc is to succeed, a new component of growth in Chi- countries accounts for just 5% University of Jaff na on Fri- - frequently refer to the Tamil pris- reported. from one of the world’s least multilateral mechanism for co- na, Japan, South Korea, and of total trade, compared to 25% day launched one day hun- oners as “terrorists”, while many of The Sri Lankan prime min- economically integrated re- operation will be needed,” he the countries of Southeast for the Association of Southeast ger strike to protest the the Tamil population regard them ister pointed out that regional gions into one of its most said. Asia. Asian Nations. imprisonment of Tamils. as political prisoners. Nepal festival Bangladesh cracks down on illegal job seekers abroad

By Mizan Rahman fying the dollar endorsed in the Bangladesh, the letter says. Dhaka passport. The airport authori- Expatriates’ Welfare and ties have already been directed Oversees Employment Minis- to check all these things. ter Nurul Islam said the min- angladesh has taken strict The letters also mentioned istry has taken strict measures measures to prevent job that many unemployed young to prevent the illegal ways of Bseekers from resorting to men from villages are these going abroad. illegal ways for going abroad us- days being sent to Malaysia, “We’ve also directed our ex- ing visit, short visit and student Indonesia, Maldives, Singa- patriates’ welfare desk and the visas as well as professional and pore, Oman, Qatar, Egypt and immigration authorities to in- social visit passes (VPs). other countries for jobs in an tensify the vigil to prevent job Sources at the expatriates’ illegal way through brokers. seekers from going abroad in welfare and overseas employ- The brokers take 300,000 any illegal way,” he said. ment ministry said in Dhaka taka to 400,000 taka from The minister observed that yesterday that the ministry them for sending them using the job seekers should go has already issued a letter with visit/short visit and student abroad legally to avoid has- three directives to all offi cials visas, it added. sles and danger as there is no concerned to prevent illegal After being cheated, the poor benefi t of using the illegal way migration. and innocent rural people who other than serving jail terms in The directives include keep- have gone abroad in search of a foreign land. ing proof and off er letters pro- jobs through brokers have been “If we fi nd any link of any vided by educational institu- leading a miserable life there. people, who send job seekers Devotees offer prayers during the procession of Samyak festival in Lalitpur yesterday. The festival is celebrated once in five years tions abroad, accepting no Some of them have also been in illegal ways, we’ll take steps in Lalitpur. Xerox copy, or rewritten copy, jailed for going there illegally against them under immigra- of student/visit visa and veri- which is also embarrassing for tion laws,” he added. Nepal plans to generate Nepal tourism sector looks at China for revival IANS has been hit hard by the April carriers connecting Nepal to business. We are hopeful that Kathmandu 25 earthquake and a fi ve-month China, Sichuan Airlines oper- this step will invite more and energy crisis, Xinhua reports. ates fl ights from Chengdu to more Chinese tourists in the power from garbage “It is a welcoming move of Kathmandu. country,” Arun Panthi, sales epalese tourism entre- the government. The new con- China is expected to be the top manager of Alternative Desti- preneurs and stake- sulate offi ce in Chengdu will tourism source market for the nations Travel & Tours, said. DPA 300kg of bio-organic fertiliser Nepal-India border in accord- Nholders have welcomed help boosting tourism and Himalayan country due to the Arrivals from China have Kathmandu and 13,500 litre of purifi ed wa- ance with the power trade agree- the government’s decision to growing the economy. It will opening of new consulate gen- dropped to a four-year low of ter from the garbage collected at ment (PTA) signed in 2014. open a new consulate general fl ourish aviation business as eral offi ce in addition to the visa 66,984 individuals in 2015, Teku. Nepal has a huge hydropower offi ce in China. well,” Dhiraj Bahadur, of China fee waiving policy for Chinese down 45.89% from the previ- acing acute energy short- Nepal is facing acute short- potential - theoretically esti- The establishment of consu- Southern Airlines, said. tourists, China is expected to be ous year owing to devastating age and power outages age of energy. Many people in mated at 83,000MW - with the late general offi ce in Chengdu Kathmandu and Chengdu the top tourism source market disaster and fuel crisis. Flasting hours a day, Ne- the urban areas are relying on perennial nature of Nepali riv- in China’s southwestern Si- are regarded as geographically for the Himalayan country. To date, Nepal has only two pal’s capital city is planning to electricity due to the shortage of ers and the steep gradient of the chuan province is expected to closer and similar in cultural “April 25 earthquake and In- consulate general offi ces in China generate electricity from gar- cooking gas. country’s topography providing restore Nepal’s tourism, which terms. Among the four Chinese dian blockade has crippled our - Lhasa of Tibet and Hong Kong. bage. ideal conditions for the devel- The Kathmandu Metropoli- Electricity will be produced opment of some of the world’s tan City (KMC) has been making from the garbage collected largest hydroelectric projects in preparation to generate 14 KW at the Teku waste transfer the Himalayan nation. power from garbage within the station and 300 tonnes of India is the closest and natural Tourist attraction next three months, a senior of- bio-organic garbage will be market for Nepal’s hydel power. Tourists watch elephants in fi cial said. needed every day for the Conservative estimates place bath at Pinnawala Elephant Electricity will be produced same Nepal’s economically feasible Orphanage, about from the garbage collected at hydropower potential at approx- 90km north of Colombo. the Teku waste transfer sta- Power Corridors: Nepal and imately 42,000MW - of which it Pinnawala Elephant tion and 300 tonnes of bio- India have proposed to construct has developed barely 700MW. Orphanage, established in organic garbage will be needed at least six cross-border power Offi cials said that these pro- 1975, is an orphanage, every day for the same, said corridors to ensure trading in posed lines will transmit elec- nursery and captive Rabinman Malla, chief of de- energy between the two close tricity to India, in addition to the breeding ground for wild partment of the environment neighbours on a long-term ba- Karnali-Chisapani (10,800MW) elephants, with a covering management of KMC. sis. and Pancheshwor (6,720MW) area of 10 hectares. It is the A total of 450 tonnes of gar- These 400-KV lines will be multi-purpose projects that first elephant orphanage in bage is produced in Kathmandu constructed on the Attariya- have their own dedicated trans- the world. Currently there valley. Of them, 63% is bio-or- Uttarakhand, Lamki-Tikuniya, mission lines. are a total of 93 elephants ganic fertiliser, the Kathmandu Kohalpur-Rupaidiha, But- At present, a 400-KV trans- in the orphanage. Post reported. wal-Gorakhpur, Muzaff arpur- mission line on the Muzaff ar- The power to be generated at Dhalkebar and Inaruwa-Bihar pur-Dhalkebar route is under the joint investment of Euro- corridors. construction. With its comple- pean Union and KMC would be A six-member joint technical tion, Nepal will soon be able to utilised at the KMC Offi ce. team formed to prepare a mas- import 90MW electricity from According to the KMC, it is ter plan for such power corridors India to ease its own power cri- going to produce 96kg of gas, identifi ed the six points on the sis. Gulf Times 28 Sunday, March 13, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran More needed to keep

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] the brightest in Africa Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Higher education through science than as a medical economic growth such as Rwanda, schoolchildren was a bright spot for Fax 44350474 participation in sub-Saharan doctor. Nigeria and Ethiopia had a duty to budding scientists on the continent, His work on a general principle start investing in this area. Marakalala said. Africa remains the lowest in for inoculation is now being used to Commitments to science would Cameroon’s Ndifon, meanwhile, the world develop a comprehensive malaria help countries become “capable of cited the work of the Pasteur vaccine, but he says young Africans solving their own problems”, said Institute in Senegal as a successful who want to take a similar path would Mohlopheni Jackson Marakalala, just African venture already performing By Jennifer O’Mahony still likely require time abroad to back from four years of research at at a world-class level for its work GULF TIMES develop their skillset. Harvard’s School of Public Health. on the ground in Ebola-affected AFP/Dakar The University of Cape Town countries. “If I’d remained in lecturer attended the forum before Beyond the level of institutions, s Africa ready to take on the war embarking on a major research project Africa also faces structural and against malaria, HIV, Ebola and Cameroon I’d never into tuberculosis, which still kills environmental issues holding back its the like? Not yet, said some of the 1.5mn people annually. would-be Nobel laureates. Eff orts to reduce Marakalala’s university experience Travelling within Africa for example Icontinent’s brightest scientifi c have got where I am...” minds at a landmark gathering this in South Africa, home to sub-Saharan is costly, time-consuming, and more week in Senegal. Africa’s most respected institutions, likely to require a visa for an African Researchers at the cutting edge “The kind of education I got... a was marked by gaps in funding and than an outsider. carbon emissions of international vaccine and public lot of it was informal, with a lot of technology he feels must be addressed This is “a huge barrier to accessing health research told AFP at the fi rst like-minded people doing curiosity- if the continent is to compete on the information and sharing ideas gathering of the ambitious “Next driven research,” he said. Attracting world stage. physically”, said Nigeria’s Tolu Oni, Einstein Forum” for Africa that their the brightest minds and giving them In the west “you start with good whose work focuses on why HIV- receive a boost academic success stories remained the space to think would require a money, the right equipment”, he said. positive patients in South Africa are exceptional - though the landscape is sea change in African universities, he In his line of work, Africa does off er also more likely to have diabetes. changing. added. some advantages. Raising Ebola’s legacy again, she Global eff orts to reduce carbon emissions have got a “If I’d remained in Cameroon I’d Higher education participation “To have access to clinical material said more prosaic reforms were shot in the arm with the aviation industry’s development never have got where I am, so at a in sub-Saharan Africa remains the (tuberculosis-infected tissues) is a tool required than the mobile apps and agency recently agreeing to “CO2 Effi ciency Standard” for relatively early stage I identifi ed what lowest in the world, meaning the that can actually address very complex tablet-based solutions excitedly put I really wanted to do and I had to leave pipeline of scientists and technology questions,” he said. “It’s a dream for forward by US scientists last year. commercial aircraft. the country,” said Wilfred Ndifon, professionals remains tiny in terms of scientists in the US or Europe.” “We are so obsessed with gadgets The CO2 Effi ciency Standard, which has taken six years of whose mathematical approach to the region’s needs. But when a crisis strikes, such as and it’s so much sexier to focus on that “painstaking negotiation and technical work”, was approved designing vaccines has brought him Although private universities are the recent Ebola outbreak, disease than health systems, but actually that by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s international acclaim. booming, government investment samples in the early stages had to be is what you need,” Oni said. Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection. Ndifon’s skill with numbers and remains well under 1% of GDP across shipped outside Africa to be tested, “The components of the health determination to eradicate disease sub-Saharan Africa, compared with delaying results. system and the service delivery, The Montreal, Canada-headquartered ICAO is a that affl icted those around him as a rates of around 1.0-3.5% in Western “Africa was caught unprepared,” he the leadership in government, the specialised agency of the United Nations. It codifi es the child, led him to a scholarship abroad Europe and the US. added. human resources, the fi nancing and principles and techniques of international air navigation and a PhD from Princeton after he Researchers said countries There are signs of change, however: communications - those are the and fosters the planning and development of international realised he could reach more people experiencing stronger comparative Rwanda’s laptop programme for building blocks.” air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. The standard, which will come into force in 2020, will ensure that CO2 emissions from new aircraft will have to meet a minimum baseline (defi ned as a maximum fuel burn per fl ight kilometre, which must not be exceeded). From 2023 this will also apply to existing aircraft designs still in manufacture at that date. Currently, aviation contributes around 2% of all human carbon dioxide emissions, around 700mn tonnes in 2014. In this context, it is heartening to note that the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association of the world’s airlines, has been pushing for a mandatory global carbon off set scheme as a key tool in achieving its carbon-neutral growth commitment from 2020. Some results are already seen in terms of fuel effi ciency, but certainly more needs to be done by Cheap fares the industry, if it is to off ered achieve its immediate goal of improving the fuel by budget effi ciency across the eet fl carriers are by an average of 1.5% a year until 2020. made possible “The agreement of this CO2 Standard is a through a vital and very welcome relentless focus development. The CO2 Standard does not on cost control solve aviation’s climate challenge on its own, but it is an important element in our comprehensive strategy for tackling carbon emissions,” points out Tony Tyler, IATA director-general and CEO. The next milestone will be the implementation of a market-based measure to address CO2 emissions, which IATA hopes to see agreed at the ICAO Assembly in An illustration describing the research on malaria by Nobel Medicine Prize winners 2015 displayed on a screen during a press conference of the Nobel Committee to September this year. announce the winners of the 2015 Nobel Medicine Prize at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. Is Africa ready to take on the war against malaria, HIV, Ebola “Our shared industry goals are for carbon-neutral growth and the like? Not yet, say some of the continent’s brightest scientific minds at a landmark gathering this week in Senegal. from 2020, and for a 50% cut in CO2 emissions by 2050. This CO2 standard is a signifi cant milestone towards those targets, and proves that the industry and the world’s governments are working together to fi nd a sustainable future for aviation,” Tyler said. Here’s why budget airlines aren’t less safe The September ICAO could make important decisions regarding global carbon off setting to be implemented from By Ashley Nunes accepted industry-wide measure the aircraft’s close proximity to the pilots who, by virtue of fl ying more 2020, but airlines are already driving down emissions. The Baltimore Sun/TNS of productivity) of some American ground. every day, face these risks more While annual air travel growth is above 5%, emission budget carriers is nearly 40% lower Requiring pilots to perform more regularly. than their mainline rivals. This of these manoeuvres daily increases Similarly, the “engine indicating increases are below 3% partly because of fuel effi ciency ne hundred and fi fty - that’s disparity increases to as much as 65% their exposure to this risk. Tight and crew alerting system” provides improvements running at more than 2% a year, experts say. how many lives were lost in Asia. scheduling poses its own challenges, a visual message to pilots if ground The industry’s target since 2009 has been to achieve a when Germanwings 9525 While lower operating costs are the most notable being a cascading staff , rushed to get a fl ight out on time, 1.5% improvement in fuel effi ciency every year from 2010 to Ocrashed into the French good for both airlines and passengers, series of delays through an airline’s improperly shut a cargo door. 2020, which it is reportedly exceeding. Alps a year ago this month. In the achieving these savings by engaging network should a single flight run From electronic checklists to immediate aftermath, concerns were assets more also entails risks. late. autopilots to runway awareness A major contributor to this positive divergence of raised about safety in the budget- The result is time-pressured staff tools, the list of technological emission reduction from global air travel growth is the $1tn travel industry, concerns that some Cheap fares off ered rushing to meet preplanned fl ight safeguards that lessen the impact invested in the 9,000 aircraft that have entered service in analysts were quick to dismiss. times - the type of pressure that of human error goes on and on. The the last seven years. “When you pay less at a budget by budget carriers scientifi c studies have shown to result challenges the old adage that airline, you do get what you pay for; impact safety. what can go wrong invariably will. Those aircraft are, among others, the more fuel effi cient, it’s just less in terms of frills and are made possible Why these risks aren’t refl ected Rather, as technology gets better, made by both the leading manufacturers- Boeing and Airbus. customer service, not less in terms of in accident statistics boils down to what can go wrong will almost safety,” opined one expert. through a relentless technology. The air transport industry always go right. This explains why, Statistics seemingly agree, showing has been revolutionised by technology, by one estimate, a passenger would no diff erence in accident rates focus on cost control nowhere more profoundly than in the have to fly every day for the next To Advertise between budget and mainline carriers. area of safety. 123,000 years before being involved But is this really the case? Is there any For example, because budget Improvements in propulsion in a fatal airplane crash. [email protected] truth to the claim that low cost means carriers largely service short haul mechanics have helped reduce the Budget carriers should be Display less safe? markets, maximising workforce rate of in-fl ight engine failures, commended for making air travel Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Cheap fares off ered by budget productivity means pilots must and engineering advances have aff ordable and accessible to the carriers are made possible through complete more daily trips and this ensured that airframe corrosion does masses. But if safe passage is what Classified a relentless focus on cost control. means performing more takeoff s and not necessarily render an aircraft passengers desire above all else, its Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 This involves maximising workforce landings. inoperable like it did in years prior. technologists that deserve our thanks. and fl eet productivity. Budget pilots Considered to be among the most Technology has also made human Subscription fl y more than mainline pilots, and challenging of manoeuvres, takeoff s error more tolerable. zAshley Nunes (nunesashley1@gmail. [email protected] the planes they fl y run on tighter and landings are also the riskiest; For example, the “ground proximity com) studies behavioural economics schedules. Balance sheets bear out the 61% of accidents involving fatalities warning system” generates an and operational performance in the benefi ts of these eff orts. have occurred during these phases of auditory alert if the aircraft is in transportation sector. He is a regular 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved According to one report, the fl ight, a fi gure that refl ects the small danger of colliding with the ground. contributor to Aviation Week and cost per available seat mile (an error margin tolerated from crew given That’s good news for weary budget Space Technology. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 29 COMMENT It’s essential to defeat the Brexit conspiracy

Should voters choose to “the rights and competences of the non-participating member States” in leave, negotiating the exchange for a British promise not to terms of Brexit could take oppose the deepening of the economic and monetary union. years Should voters choose to leave, negotiating the terms of Brexit could By Noelle Lenoir take years. Whether the UK can Paris maintain its access to the European market – which accounted for 45% of its exports and 53% of its imports in he possibility that Britain 2014 – remains an open question. may exit the European Union And should Britain’s fi nancial is undeniable. For decades, industry fi nd its access to the EU Tprominent British politicians curtailed, the City of London’s have propounded their disdain for position as a global fi nancial centre Europe; as a result, euroscepticism could erode. Already, Douglas Flint, in the United Kingdom has become the chairman of HSBC, Europe’s entrenched. biggest lender, has declared that the When the country holds a bank reserves its right to “move people referendum on its EU membership on between London and Paris”. June 23, many voters may be unwilling In a famous 1946 speech delivered to vote to remain. at the University of Zurich, Winston Several factors have conspired Churchill called for the creation of to make a British exit, or “Brexit,” a “United States of Europe” – but possible. Foremost is the rise of without the UK. “In this urgent work, populism. After the UK ratifi ed France and Germany must take the the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, the lead together,” he said. British politician Nigel Farage left “Great Britain, the British the Conservative Party and founded Commonwealth of Nations, mighty the UK Independence Party. Since America, (and the Soviet Union) must then, he has made leaving the EU be the friends and sponsors of the new his life’s work (even though he Europe and must champion its right takes full advantage of all the perks to live.” and privileges of being a member Today, far from championing of the European Parliament). The Europe’s right to live, the UK is eff ectiveness of his nationalist rhetoric putting it at risk. And, in doing so, it is proof that the UK is not immune to is putting its own economy in greater populist demagoguery. danger than any time since the end of Another reason for europhobia’s World War II. hold on the British psyche is the As the continent faces the most country’s EU-obsessed tabloid how former prime minister Tony Blair migration crisis will get worse” should been sceptical of Europe since the idea David Cameron’s ability to persuade diffi cult challenges it has seen in more newspapers, which are read by considered holding a referendum on the UK remain in the union. He has of unifi cation was fi rst proposed in voters that stay in the EU is worth it. than a generation, neither Europe nor millions of people. Few men have done adopting the euro, only to renounce also argued that the British people will the 1950s. But those campaigning for The most visible concession he was the UK can aff ord such a self-defeating more to fuel anti-European frenzy the plan for fear that the “shadowy be more vulnerable to terrorist attacks Brexit overlook the fact that Europe able to obtain in negotiations with distraction. -Project Syndicate than the Australian-American media fi gure of Rupert Murdoch” would use if the UK does not “leave the EU and to has become a truly open free market, the EU’s other 27 member states is tycoon Rupert Murdoch, owner of his media empire to campaign against take back control of our borders”. (For something that the UK has always an agreement to limit access to social zNoelle Lenoir, a former French several newspapers and the UK’s most it. France, which is currently struggling wanted, and that the UK was one of benefi ts for citizens residing in a minister of European aff airs, is important private television news Finally, Europe’s epochal migration to do the UK’s job of controlling the the few EU member states not to limit country diff erent from their own. president of the European Institute channel. In his book How Britain Will crisis is not helping those trying border at Calais, this element of Brexit the entry of workers after the EU’s He has also agreed to a type at the Hautes Études de Commerce in Leave Europe, former minister for to make the case for the EU. Farage would be appealing.) eastward expansion of 2004. of non-aggression pact with the Paris and founder and president of Europe Denis MacShane describes has been quick to warn that “our To be sure, many in the UK have Much rides on Prime Minister eurozone, which pledges to respect Cercle des Européens. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Please continue CTBUH Skyscraper Award for the Best nun last year. But, the report carried by High: 29 C Tall Building Worldwide. Gulf Times did not give full information Low : 21 C Please send us Moderate temperature daytime and the light show about the tragic incidents. Was it plain party cloudy at times with chance of HN laziness or blatant bias? I don’t know. rain at places at times Dear Sir, (Full name and address supplied) The stone throwers and church your letters attackers were either disgruntled ex- MONDAY I notice that the light show at employees of the church themselves By e-mail High: 27 C Burj Doha in West Bay is no longer Biased or just a gang of thieves, enquiries had [email protected] Low: 21 C working fully well these days. A reporting found. Fax 44350474 P Cloudy programmed external lighting The attacker of the nun was found Or Post system with LEDs in the facade to be someone from a neighbouring has been illuminating the tower at Dear Sir, country staying illegally in India. If the Letters to the Editor TUESDAY night, making a splendid sight. But report had given this information too, the Gulf Times High: 27 C from January 1 this year, half of the As a visitor to your country, I have news could be called objective. P O Box 2888 Low: 22 C building’s lights don’t seem to be been relying on Gulf Times to keep up This would have removed the Doha, Qatar P Cloudy changing as they used to do earlier. with world developments. But I am misconception that there was a general The view from the Corniche has sorry to say I was disappointed to see conspiracy against churches in the been aff ected by this; but from the blatant bias in your reporting a couple country as it seemed to suggest in the All letters, which are Fishermen’s forecast City Center, the light show goes on as of days ago about a minor attack on incomplete report. I urge you to publish subject to editing, should OFFSHORE DOHA before. It would be great if the light church in a village near Ranchi in this letter for people to know the truth. have the name of the Wind: NW 08-18/22 KT show at the tower is continued as India’s Jharkhand state. You can check my version from any writer, address and phone Waves: 2-4/7 Feet before. For a prestigious newspaper like Gulf search on the Internet. It will vindicate INSHORE DOHA number. The writer’s Wind: NW 05-15 KT Burj Doha, also known as Doha Times, I was pained to see the report me. Waves: 1-2/3 Feet Tower, is an iconic high-rise tower in that is apparently trying to create a bias name and address may be withheld by request. Doha. against Indians in general. The report Ratan Sharda Around the region The building has received the pointed to an attack on churches and a [email protected] Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Abu Dhabi M Sunny 29/18 M Sunny 29/19 Baghdad P Cloudy 28/16 P Cloudy 31/14 Dubai Sunny 26/19 M Sunny 26/21 Kuwait City P Cloudy 30/21 Rain 24/19 Manama P Cloudy 25/21 P Cloudy 24/21 Muscat Sunny 29/21 Sunny 28/22 Live issues Riyadh Sunny Sunny 32/19 33/21 Tehran M Sunny 20/10 M Sunny 21/13 Expressing emotions is not easy, but worth the eff ort

By Barton Goldsmith that makes it easy for your partner to Tribune News Service hear you. Dedicate at least an hour or two to the conversation and, simply put, lay your feelings on the table. or some people, talking Start out by expressing to your about feelings is like trying mate that talking about how you feel to communicate in a foreign is diffi cult for you, because you are Flanguage. Even though afraid you might get rejected or say the someone may know how they feel wrong thing and look stupid, but if he internally, describing it or sharing or she will be patient, this may be the it with another important person in best conversation the two of you have their life can be terrifying. ever had. Expressing emotions in a proper When two people are really listening way is not easy for many folks out to each other, the validation goes very there, and it is such an important tool deep and your connection increases to have in all aspects of life, especially simply by doing what comes naturally. Around the world in relationships. Since almost every To have someone to share your secrets Weather Weather interaction you have at home or work and fears with is a great gift, and it lifts today Max/min tomorrow Max/min is relationship based, you are holding a burden from your own heart as well, Athens M Cloudy 18/11 Showers 14/08 back yourself and your joy by not because you no longer have to carry Beirut P Cloudy 24/19 Showers 20/13 sharing what is going on for you with that internal baggage all by yourself. Bangkok Sunny 33/27 M Sunny 33/27 Berlin P Cloudy 06/-1 M Cloudy 08/02 the people who matter most. No one knows what the future holds, so Cairo P Cloudy 33/17 Sunny 24/14 Most people worry that they won’t don’t project too far into it, but keep the Cape Town Cloudy 22/16 Sunny 30/17 say the right thing or that they will be conversation in the here and now as much Colombo P Cloudy 32/25 P Cloudy 32/25 misunderstood. There is also the fear as possible. As long as you are talking, you Dhaka Sunny 34/23 M Sunny 33/23 Rain P Cloudy 18/13 of rejection, especially if you are going have the ability to make changes and to Hong Kong 19/12 Istanbul P Cloudy 12/08 M Cloudy 09/04 to express feelings in your heart for strengthen the bond between the two of Jakarta T Storms 32/25 T Storms 32/25 someone you care about. you. So who wants to go fi rst? Karachi Sunny 30/19 M Sunny 30/19 Even those who have been in very London P Cloudy 12/02 P Cloudy 11/03 long-term relationships can get when they speak from their hearts. yourself to a neutral third party, your zDr Barton Goldsmith, a Manila P Cloudy 35/23 M Sunny 34/24 Moscow Cloudy 02/-3 Cloudy 03/-4 tongue-tied when trying to express That alone can make things fl ow more chances of being judged are minimised psychotherapist in Westlake Village, New Delhi S T Storms 28/16 S T Storms 28/14 what is going on in their hearts. easily (after you get past the initial and you have an ally in creating some California, is the author of The Happy New York Cloudy 17/08 Rain 08/08 Many times in couples therapy, one squirminess). tools for your self-growth. Couple: How to Make Happiness a Paris M Sunny 12/02 Sunny 12/02 or the other client will tell me how Developing this skill doesn’t require But I encourage you to do the best Habit One Little Loving Thing at a Sao Paulo S Showers 24/18 S Showers 24/18 Cloudy P Cloudy 11/-2 . Follow his daily insights on Seoul 09/-1 they feel about their partner, and I will therapy, but it may be easier to express you can on your own to talk with the Time Singapore T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 33/26 look at them and say, “Say it to each your true feelings when you are with person you care about most. It doesn’t Twitter at @BartonGoldsmith, or Sydney P Cloudy 27/20 P Cloudy 27/19 other, not to me,” and ask them to hold someone you don’t know all that well. have to be perfect; it just has to be e-mail him at Tokyo Clear 1 0/0 4 Cloudy 10/05 hands and look into each other’s eyes This is because when you are expressing good enough. Create an environment [email protected] Gulf Times 30 Sunday, March 13, 2016 QATAR Note 5, S6 help raise Samsung sales 20%

By Joey Aguilar tures they added in S7 and S& Staff Reporter Edge will continue to set a trend in the smartphone market. It is learnt that many custom- wo of Samsung’s fl agship ers see S7 and S7 Edge’s “Super smartphones – Note 5 and Amoled Display”, dust proof, and TGalaxy S6 – signifi cantly water resistant features as inno- helped increase the tech giant’s vative and unique. sales in the region by 20% last About the challenges amid the year, its mobile division informa- oil price slowdown, Sabbagh said tion technology head Tarek Sab- they are “not aff ected by what is bagh told Gulf Times. happening in the market”. “Despite the situation in the Smartphones have become a market, these models helped us to necessity to many and the de- achieve positive growth in 2015,” mand continues to grow, he not- he said. “Consumers tell us they ed. These included professionals like the technology we provide.” such as journalists who follow Speaking on the sidelines of news reports by the minute, take the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge launch photos, and chat with friends event in Doha recently, Sabbagh and family. noted that their two smartphones “Phones used to be a luxury Launch of Ooredoo Messi campaign 2016. also helped increase Samsung’s couple of years back and people, market share in Qatar by 48%. whenever there is a crisis or low- “Whenever we launch any- er income, they usually cut on thing, Qatar is a major con- luxury,” he said. “Today, phones tributor to the results within the are your day-to-day life and you Gulf region, when we achieved spend more time with it.” “We need the latest technol- Ooredoo launches new advertising 20%, Qatar had a big role in that number,” the IT head said. ogy that makes our work and life He described Qatar consumers easier, and to help facilitate and as knowledgeable, up-to-date, communicate,” he added. and always looking for the lat- About the S7 and S7 Edge, he expressed optimism that sales campaign with Lionel Messi est technology in electronics and gadgets. will increase further. The 5.1-inch S6 features a “When we see our market ollowing the success of the ‘Simply Do Won- Ooredoo, and other senior Ooredoo Players will also have the opportu- on a wide range of programmes to sup- 16mp camera, 3GB RAM internal share growing, we know that we ders’ advertising campaign with Lionel Messi, executives. nity to champion some of the key com- port people around the world, and I am memory with no card slot, and are providing the consumer with FOoredoo has launched ‘Together We Do Won- The commercial, which features munity projects supported by Oore- delighted this new campaign enables uses a 2,550mAh battery. The the best proposition in terms ders’, a sequel to the award-winning campaign which the same young cast as the previous doo, such as the mobile health clinics fans to make a contribution to and raise 5.7-inch Note 5 also features a of quality and value because will again feature Ooredoo’s global brand ambassador, fi lm, plays on Ooredoo’s key themes in Indonesia, Myanmar, Algeria and the profi le of these eff orts.” 16mp camera, 4GB RAM internal the prize of the S7 was carefully Lionel Messi. of teamwork, technological skills and Tunisia in partnership with the Leo Ooredoo’s CSR initiatives supported memory with no card slot, and studied in a way that it is aff ord- Ooredoo’s new commercial received its world pre- striving to do your best. Ooredoo is Messi Foundation. by the campaign include its work with uses a 3,000-mAh battery. able,” Sabbagh said. “It is a fl ag- miere at a special event in Barcelona, held in parallel also using the campaign to showcase Al-Sayed said: “Our fi rst campaign the Leo Messi Foundation on its mobile Sabbagh expressed confi dence ship that provides you with a lot with the GSMA Mobile World Congress and attended its global CSR initiatives and its sup- encouraged young people to ‘simply do health clinic programme, which pro- that new technologies and fea- of features.” by Lionel Messi; Waleed al-Sayed, group deputy CEO, port for sport across its footprint. wonders’ to be the best they could be, vides healthcare services for remote As part of the campaign, Ooredoo which is something we hope to inspire areas in Indonesia, Myanmar, Algeria, has launched a dedicated micro-site across our footprint. Our new ‘Togeth- and Tunisia. with an online strategy game, “Stand er We Simply Do Wonders’ campaign The programme, which brings for Good”, at www.standforgood.com. aims to inspire young people to help healthcare to disadvantaged communi- The game asks players to digitally those in need, and support sport for ties, delivered brand-new mobile health “capture” a football pitch in locations the less fortunate. We are very proud clinics in Algeria in 2015, and provided across Ooredoo’s footprint, and then to continue our great work with Leo services to 73 villages in Myanmar, with asks them to hold the pitch for 12 hours Messi, and thank him for his on-going 75% women as benefi ciaries. The mo- to be entered into a draw to win a re- support for our initiatives.” bile health clinics have also been highly turn fl ight to Barcelona to meet Messi Messi said: “The Leo Messi Founda- active in Indonesia with 16 mobile clin- and watch him play. tion is pleased to work with Ooredoo ics travelling across the region.

ONE SMOKER. TWO PATIENTS.

TOBACCO KILLS NBK Automobiles ‘races ahead on social media’

asser Bin Khaled (NBK) Auto- our targeted approach to connect cebook is widely followed by motor mobiles, the exclusive dealer with our community in Qatar on enthusiasts in Qatar who seek new Nof Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, platforms they love the most. This content, images and updates on latest has announced a new communica- achievement also highlights NBK events and models. “The increased en- tions milestone on key social media Automobiles’ commitment to in- gagement that the page witnessed dur- platforms, with its active follower base corporating modern technology and ing the recent Qatar Motor Show is a in Qatar touching 50,000 on Facebook innovation to further increase our clear indication of the loyalty of clients and 5,000 on Instagram. reach and presence within the local and fans of Mercedes-Benz and their The numbers have set a new bench- market to better serve and inform passion to engage in dialogue through mark in the company’s history and fur- our customers. comments and likes,” the statement ther reiterate its commitment to en- “The achievement is only going to notes. gage with the local community across motivate us to work harder and adopt The company’s recently launched all mediums of communications, ac- newer methods to connect with our Instagram profile has achieved cording to a statement. audiences and provide them the very 5,000 followers in a “very short Khalid Shaaban, general man- best as expected from a reputable period due to its rich and engaging Issued in Public Interest by GULF TIMES ager of NBK Automobiles, said: brand like ours.” content that visually represents the “The numbers speak volumes about The NBK Automobiles page on Fa- brand’s DNA”. Gulf Times Sunday, March 13, 2016 31 QATAR HBK Hospital in Seminar focuses on Sesri research work

he Social and Economic access to questionnaire databas- Survey Research Institute es, and proposal support. Mauritania serves T(Sesri) at Qatar University He also highlighted Sesri’s (QU) held a seminar on the serv- main focus areas, and pointed ices provided by it towards en- to projects addressing national hancing and promoting research priorities such as ‘Political atti- activities. tudes and behaviour in the Arab The seminar, to orient mem- Gulf States,’ ‘Attracting and uti- bers of the College of Education’s lising global human capital and 79,000 in 2015 (CED) educational research unit, foreign knowledge through mi- was co-ordinated by Sesri direc- gration, trade, and investment amad Bin Khalifa (HBK) tor Dr Darwish al-Emadi. for local capacity development,’ Hospital in Boutilimit, Dr al-Emadi made a presen- ‘Water, energy, and food policies HMauritania, served more tation on ‘Leading Survey Re- in the GCC region,’ ‘Educational than 79,000 people in 2015, ac- search in Qatar and the Region,’ attainment and quality,’ ‘Transi- cording to an annual report of highlighting the various services tion into the workforce,’ ‘Eco- Dr Darwish al-Emadi the hospital. provided by Sesri in support of nomics, quality and satisfaction Operated and managed by the unit’s research activities with public services,’ and ‘Gen- Institute for Social Research Qatar Red Crescent Society such as study design, question- der and family policies.’ Centre of Political Studies (CPS) (QRCS), under a memorandum naire design and development, Attendees included QU asso- director Dr Ken Kollman, CPS of understanding with Qatar’s sampling, data collection, sta- ciate vice-president Dr Khalid research professor emeritus Dr Education Above All (EAA), tistical analysis, report prepa- al-Ali, CED dean Dr Hissa Sadiq, Michael Traugott and CPS asso- the hospital engaged 89-mem- ration, training, data archiving, and University of Michigan’s ciate director David Howell. ber workforce that comprises specialist doctors, nurses, as- sistants, social workers, and administrative/services staff . According to the report, the emergency unit received 13,092 Barwa Bank takes part in GCC cases, outpatient clinics 47,065 people, recovery departments 5,650 stays, obstetrics and gy- Traffi c Week as main sponsor naecology 1,255 deliveries, the medical laboratory 41,564 tests, medical imaging department arwa Bank has announced educating motorists, especially Khalid Yousef al-Subeai, act- 7,703 X-ray and ultrasound im- that it will be the main young drivers, about the risks of ing GCEO of Barwa Bank Group, ages, and the surgical unit 732 Bsponsor of the 32nd GCC reckless road habits as well as by said: “Barwa Bank constantly operations. Patients queue up at the hospital in Boutilimit. Traffi c Week, which takes place in instilling a traffi c safety culture in strives to make a positive im- The hospital focuses on train- Doha from today until March 19. children and youngsters’ minds. pact on the community through ing the students of public health dispatched by a local charity cal missions were sent to three ment that would contribute to Sponsoring the 2016 edition In Qatar, the Traffi c Week will its numerous contributions, schools in Mauritania. For more in Monguel, Gorgol region and districts of Trarza region, with human, social, and economic of the GCC Traffi c Week is part be held at Darb Al Saai, where a initiatives and sponsorships. than one year till December another one dispatched by the a group of doctors, medicines, development by off ering good of Barwa Bank’s corporate social large number of State authori- “Today, we are proud to be the 2015, 69 medical workers were School of Medicine in Nouak- and medical supplies. Lasting education and other welfare responsibility, a core element of ties, institutions and fi rms will main sponsor of the 32nd GCC trained, including 20 nurses, 12 chott. It contributed consult- for one day each, the three mis- programmes and initiatives. the bank’s brand, and plays an host a slew of activities and Traffi c Week and look forward midwives, and 37 social advisers. ants of various specialties, sions accomplished 842 medi- Since taking the responsi- eff ective role in educating and events aimed at raising aware- to being a part of raising traf- Working towards sustainable resident physicians, nurses, cal consultations in total. bility for operating and man- developing Qatar’s youth – to ness regarding important traffi c fi c safety awareness among all and comprehensive professional and social advisers, with medi- Hamad Bin Khalifa Hospital aging the hospital, QRC has whom it off ers opportunities for and road safety issues, as well as segments of society, especially development of human resourc- cal equipment and medicines. was established in 2007 under worked to develop and upgrade learning, growth and develop- educating younger generations youngsters and children, in har- es, the hospital held four training The team conducted 426 ex- the patronage of HH Sheikha it with all main medical de- ment, according to a statement. about proper road manners and mony with the Qatar National courses for the obstetrics and aminations and 45 operations Moza bint Nasser, formerly partments, including emer- The GCC Traffi c Week is a critical safety measures. Vision 2030 pillar of developing gynaecology staff . The courses in ENT, paediatrics, obstetrics through the Qatari-Mauritani- gency, obstetrics and gynae- region-wide initiative to raise The events and activities a just and caring society based were attended by 63 medical and and gynaecology, general sur- an Social Development Foun- cology, paediatrics, internal awareness about traffi c safety include plays, introductory on high moral standards, and paramedical workers. gery, and ultrasound imaging in dation, and now through EAA, a medicine, surgery, and den- issues among the public in an ef- seminars, interactive compu- one that is capable of playing a The hospital also participated four days. global initiative aimed at build- tistry, in addition to a pharmacy fort to make the region’s roads ter simulations and a miniature signifi cant role in global part- in a two-day medical convoy Three multispecialty medi- ing an international move- and outpatient clinics. safer for all users. This is done by traffi c village for children. nerships for development.” Gulf Times 32 Sunday, March 13, 2016 QATAR QLC holds orientation for Qatari professionals

atar Leadership Centre tion, teamwork, creativity (QLC) recently wel- and management, which will Qcomed new classes of prove to be beneficial for the participants for an interactive participants’ leadership de- orientation programme at its velopment, the statement Al Bidda Tower headquarters. added. The event provided the The five-day event also in- Qatari professionals enter- cluded a number of sessions ing its Executive, Rising and on the programme objectives Government Leaders Pro- as well as the different com- grammes with an opportuni- ponents of each programme. ty to deepen their insight into The newly admitted 120 the objectives of QLC, along Qatari professionals to QLC with the diverse elements of programmes will contrib- the QLC learning experience, ute to Qatar National Vision while featuring a number of 2030 and continue applying team-building exercises de- their expertise to facilitate signed to support the group, Qatar’s ongoing transition to Dr Hamad al-Ibrahim, executive vice president at QF R&D; Dr Dirar Khoury, executive director of Research Co-ordination and Special Initiatives at QF R&D; Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, according to a statement. a knowledge-based economy. executive director of QNRF and Rima Abu Khadija, director of the Off ice of Education Supervision at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, at the presentation ceremony Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin Ali Dr Khalid Abdulla al-Yafei, for Grand Award winners at Qatar STEAM Fair 2016. al-Thani, QLC’s managing senior consultant at Hamad director and member of the Medical Corporation and board of directors, said: “I participant in the Executive am pleased that the new par- Leaders Programme, said: ticipants admitted to Qatar “For me, participating in the Leadership Centre continue programme will prove in- the tradition of excellence valuable for my work in the established by their pred- healthcare sector.” Students get opportunity ecessors and reflect the same Maryam Ibrahim al-Sadah, determination to contribute a participant in the Govern- to Qatar’s national develop- ment Leaders Programme ment, and to apply what they and who works at the Min- learn to their own profes- istry of Economy and Com- sional lives.” merce, observed: “By engag- The QLC orientation fea- ing with my fellow peers from to develop research skills tured a number of team- a wide range of sectors and building exercises for par- organisations, I will also have atar Foundation Re- fair brought together some of search skills and explore the ing industry experts from and Ahmed S El Hamamsi from ticipants to learn about their the opportunity to discover search and Develop- the brightest scientific minds field of science in an excit- local education institutions Ahmed Bin Hanbal Independ- peers and form the personal and share valuable insights, Qment’s (QF R&D) annual from around the country. ing yet intense setting. It has and ministries, who assessed ent Secondary School for Boys bonds and professional net- along with best practices.” Science, Technology, Engineer- A total of 330 students — been incredible to witness the project submissions in com- took home second place, while works that will benefit them Faisal al-Sulaiti, head of ing, Art and Math Fair (Qatar 65% of whom were Qatari — tremendous talent and ability puting, biomedicine, math- Maryam A al-Ansari and Heba both during their time at QLC production technology at STEAM Fair) came to a close on from 67 independent and in- displayed by the participants ematics and physics, basic Redwan from Al Eman Inde- and after they have complet- Qatar Petroleum and par- Thursday. ternational middle, secondary who will go on to make signif- sciences, engineering, chem- pendent Secondary School for ed the programme. ticipant in the Rising Leaders Organised in collaboration schools took part in the com- icant contributions to Qatar istry, energy, behavioural and Girls were awarded third place. The activities involved a Programme, added: “The les- with Qatar National Research petition. Additionally, a total and the field of science,’’ said social sciences. The grand champions will wide range of team-oriented sons we take from QLC will Fund (QNRF), a member of of 170 research projects were Dr Hamad al-Ibrahim, execu- In the Grand Awards cat- go on to represent Qatar at the activities, whose mastery be invaluable in our profes- QF R&D, and the Ministry of presented over the course of tive vice president at QF R&D egory, Sara Khalaf al-Kubaisi renowned Intel International requires group planning and sional and personal lives.” Education and Higher Edu- the fair. and chairman of Qatar Sci- and Tamara Ismail Bashir from Science and Engineering Fair to effort within a limited time- During their time at QLC, cation, the three-day event “Qatar STEAM is the only ence and Technology Park. Moza Bint Mohammed Prepar- be held from May 8–13 in Phoe- frame. participants attend a variety was held at the Qatar National competition of its kind in the Participants presented their atory Independent School for nix, Arizona, US, and the Intel Activities throughout the of modules and policy semi- Convention Centre (QNCC). country that enables young research projects to a judging Girls won first place. Arab Fair set to take place later event centred on enhancing nars held over the course of a The second edition of the students to develop their re- panel comprising of 56 lead- Abdulrahman A Mohammed this year. skills such as communica- year. Kahramaa’s long-serving staff ers get free eye tests

atar General Electric- ramaa join the world community objective is to eliminate blind- be caused by a blockage in the ity & Water Corporation in the observance of World Glau- ness resulting from glaucoma. drainage canals of eyes. When Q(Kahramaa) in co-opera- coma Week usually held between World Glaucoma Week is this occurs the pressure in the tion with the Qatar’s Ministry of March 6-12. observed every year to spread eye builds up above normal lev- Public Health yesterday organ- A number of employees awareness. els, which in turn damages opti- ised a free camp for its employees and senior functionaries went Glaucoma is a group of eye cal nerves. If left untreated this who have completed 40 years. through the screenings and re- diseases which causes progres- nerve damage can eventually At the camp, the employees ceived information, knowledge sive optic nerve damage result- lead to blindness. were off ered facilities for testing and awareness about glaucoma ing in a gradual loss of vision. Kahramaa has been organising eye pressure and errors of refrac- and its related diseases. The theme for this year’s ac- regular health camps for its em- tion screening tests at its head- The observance of the World tivities is “Beat invisible Glau- ployees aimed at their wellness quarters. Glaucoma Week is a joint initia- coma” (B.I.G). It gets developed and spreading awareness about The event organised by the tive of the World Glaucoma As- when the intraocular fl uid that healthy lifestyles and as a pre- Health, Safety and Environment sociation and the World Glau- is naturally produced by the eye ventive mechanism for a healthy Department (HSE) enabled Kah- coma Patients Association. The is not drained properly. This can working environment. A Kahramaa employee undergoing a test at the camp. Expo set to celebrate Qatar, China cultural ties

reparations are in the fi nal stages for the Popening of a major exhibition from 15 con- temporary Chinese artists, curated by internation- ally acclaimed New York- based Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang. The exhibition, titled ‘What About the Art? Contemporary Art from China,’ and a high point of the Qatar-China 2016 Year of Culture, is to run from March 14 to July 16 at the Qatar Museums Gallery Al Riwaq, Doha. Artworks exemplify- ing each and every artist’s unique artistic language and methodology will be displayed in individual galleries, a curatorial ap- proach further highlight- ing the distinctive creative pursuit of each individual participant. Their diverse bodies of works include a series of paintings, sculptures, in- stallations, videos, per- formances and interactive Artist Xu Bing’s studio assistant installing Background Story: Shangfang Temple at Qatar Museum’s Gallery Al Riwaq. video game design. PICTURE: Qatar Museums Artist Hu Zhijun installing his clay sculptures, Sculpting Contemporary Chinese Art History.