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INDEX for Doha DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 3-10, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 REGION 11 BUSINESS 1 -10, 17-20 QNB ratings at same World Cup 20,668.01 10,485.53 47.34 ARAB WORLD 11, 12 CLASSIFIED 11-16 -237.85 +78.74 -0.88 INTERNATIONAL 13-25 SPORTS 1-8 level as that of Qatar -1.14% +0.76% -1.82% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10400 March 22, 2017 Jumada II 23, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir meets Italian envoy Qatar Airways to In brief allow US banned QATAR | Health Steps taken to check Brazil meat products The Ministry of Public Health e-devices only as (MoPH) issued yesterday a circular for all the ports of the country to hold all the consignments of meat products from Brazil and not to release them until samples are taken and their validity for human consumption is confirmed. These ‘checked luggage’ products include chicken and beef in all its forms, and types. Apart from By Pratap John “in response to unspecifi ed terror airports were aff ected.” clearance from the lab, the cargoes Chief Business Reporter threats.” On March 6, Trump signed a re- also have to be compliant with the According to reports, the Depart- vised executive order banning citi- related GCC standard specifications. ment of Homeland Security order zens from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, The circular was issued pursuant atar Airways has said devices will impact passengers fl ying nine Sudan and Yemen from travelling to to the news about the scandals prohibited by the US au- airlines non-stop to the US. the United States for 90 days. Two aff ecting the Brazilian meat industry. Qthorities, including laptops, The Department of Homeland Se- federal judges have halted parts of the Meanwhile, a spokesperson of one HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met with the outgoing Italian tablets, DVD players and electronic curity will require passengers coming ban, saying it discriminates against of the prominent importing houses ambassador to Qatar, Guido De Sanctis, at the Emiri Diwan in Doha yesterday. The games, will now be allowed to be to the United States from airports in Muslims. Trump has vowed to appeal in Qatar told Gulf Times that “their Emir bestowed on the ambassador the Decoration of Al Wajbah in recognition of carried in “checked luggage” only Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, up to the Supreme Court if necessary. company has already sent samples his eff orts to enhance ties between the two countries, and wished him success in on its non-stop fl ights to the United United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Mo- It said the airlines have until Friday of meat products to the health his future assignments and relations with Italy further progress and prosperity. For States. rocco and Qatar to check electronic to comply with the new restrictions department for lab tests”. Page 22 his part, the ambassador expressed thanks and appreciation to HH the Emir and the In a travel alert yesterday the na- devices larger than a cell phone such that will be in place indefi nitely. State’s off icials for the co-operation he received which contributed to the success of tional carrier said, “it has made spe- as tablets, portable DVD players, lap- No American carriers were aff ected QATAR | Health his tenure in the country. cial arrangements to assist passen- tops and cameras. by the ban, because none fl y directly New Coronavirus gers in securing their devices in the The airports aff ected are in Am- to the United States from the airports, case confi rmed aircraft’s baggage hold.” man, Cairo, Kuwait City, Doha, Du- offi cials said. But it does apply to US “Eff ective March 21 in accordance bai, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Casablan- citizens travelling on those fl ights. It The Ministry of Public Health with new United States government ca, Morocco; Riyadh and Jeddah. does not apply to crew members on (MoPH) has announced this year’s regulations, all passengers travelling Qatar Airways fl ies non-stop to those foreign carriers. first confirmed case of Coronavirus. The patient, a 62-year-old expatriate on United States-bound fl ights are many popular US destinations in- Offi cials did not explain why the New system for prohibited from carrying any elec- cluding Washington DC, New York, restrictions only apply to travel- man, is undergoing treatment. The total number of the infected cases tronic devices on board the fl ight Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Miami. lers arriving in the United States and in Qatar since the discovery of the other than cellular and smartphones A Reuter’s dispatch quoted un- not for those same fl ights when they virus now stands at 19, including and medical devices needed during named offi cials and said the decision leave the United States. seven of whom died. The latest licensing sales the fl ight,” Qatar Airways said. had nothing to do with President DHS will also allow passengers patient experienced symptoms of The Trump administration con- Donald Trump’s eff orts to impose a to use larger approved medical de- fever, night sweating, and stomach fi rmed yesterday it was imposing travel ban of six majority-Muslim vices. The agency said the proce- pain. Lab tests at Hamad Medical new restrictions on electronic devic- nations. A DHS spokeswoman said dures would “remain in place until Corporation confirmed he is es carried by travellers coming to the the government “did not target spe- the threat changes” and did not rule infected with Coronavirus. It has and promotions United States from 10 airports mainly cifi c nations. We relied upon evalu- out expanding to other airports if cir- been confirmed that the patient did in the Middle East and North Africa ated intelligence to determine which cumstances changed. not travel outside the country over he Ministry of Economy and announcing discounts and promo- the past few weeks. Those that have Commerce (MEC) has an- tional off ers in a bid to ensure trans- been in contact with him will be Tnounced the improvement of a parency in commercial transactions under observation for two weeks to system to issue licences for discounts and strengthen trust between suppli- ensure they have not been infected. and promotional off ers through its ers and consumers, to the benefi t of all In case of any doubts about website. parties. infection, MoPH has urged people to The services include the issuance, Through the adoption of the “Shop US, UK curb electronics in call 66740951, 66740948 round-the- amendment and cancellation of licenc- with Confi dence” mark, the ministry clock for help. es for discounts, including liquidations aims to crack down on violations, as well and shopping festival discounts as well as fake and unlicensed promotional of- QATAR | Event as the issuance, amendment and can- fers. Consumers can call the ministry’s cellation of licences for promotional hotline on 16001 to submit complaints fl ights from Middle East Agricultural exhibition off ers, including those for special of- or inquire about shops that have ob- starts in Doha today fers, prize draws, and swipe and win tained licenses to off er discounts and such items must be in checked bag- smuggle explosive devices inside Under the patronage of HE the Prime promotional off ers. promotional off ers. The contact centre Reuters Washington/London gage. electronic gadgets, US offi cials told Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh The launch of these services comes also enables consumers to exercise their Although US civil liberties groups reporters on Monday. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa as part of the MEC’s eff orts to continu- right to report violations concerning raised concerns that US President “The US government is concerned ously improve and develop its services fake discounts and promotional off ers. al-Thani, the fifth Qatar International he United States and Britain Donald Trump was seeking another about terrorists’ ongoing interest in Agricultural (Agriteq) Exhibition will in a bid to upgrade the Business Serv- The ministry also noted that all sup- yesterday imposed restrictions limit on movement after a travel ban targeting commercial aviation, in- start today at the Doha Exhibition ices System in Qatar and facilitate the pliers should comply with applicable on carry-on electronic devices from Muslim majority countries was cluding transportation hubs over the and Convention Centre. The four-day delivery of services to its clients. laws when off ering and announcing T on planes coming from certain air- challenged in the courts, Britain took past two years,” a US counter-terror- event is organised by the Ministry of According to the new system, the discounts and promotional off ers, Municipality and Environment. submission of applications and their whether inside shops and affi liated ports in Muslim-majority countries similar steps. ism offi cial said in a statement, add- review is conducted electronically to malls, on storefronts and through ad- in the Middle East and North Africa A spokesman for British Prime ing that eff orts were “intensifying.” EUROPE | Politics ensure service quality and that appli- vertisements in newspapers or other in response to unspecifi ed security Minister Theresa May said that there French and Canadian offi cials said cations are completed at the scheduled media. threats. would be curbs on electronic items they were examining their arrange- French minister quits time. The MEC earlier launched a number The US Department of Homeland in the main cabin on fl ights from six ments but neither government was over jobs for daughters The system will enable applicants to of smart electronic services designed Security said passengers travelling countries in the Middle East. taking additional security measures French Interior Minister Bruno easily complete the procedures without to signifi cantly improve the quality of from a specifi c list of airports could The foreign offi ce said the meas- at this stage. Le Roux resigned yesterday after visiting the ministry, and will save cli- services off ered to clients including not bring into the main cabin devices ures would be implemented by March Britain said its restrictions would revelations that he hired his two ents time and eff orts. consumers, investors and members of that are larger than a mobile phone 25. apply to direct fl ights from Turkey, teenage daughters as parliamentary The MEC had earlier launched the the public with an interest in economic such as tablets, portable DVD play- The moves were prompted by re- Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and aides. Page 19 “Shop with Confi dence” initiative for aff airs. ers, laptops and cameras. Instead, ports that militant groups want to Saudi Arabia. Page 14 Gulf body to develop regulations for green products

By Joseph Varghese activities are part of the overall GCC In Qatar, two local companies have that people are accepting the idea of Staff Reporter standardisation authority. “For GCC products according to Gord specifi ca- certifi cation. People need to under- building and construction, the stand- tions. One produces plastic pipes while stand the importance of this certifi ca- ards must be compliant with GSAS the other is in the concrete readymix tion,” he urged. atar-based Gulf Organisation (Global Sustainability Assessment Sys- industry. The offi cial also said that there was for Research and Development tem), which is redeveloped by Qatar “They are following all the Gord good progress in adopting the GSAS Q(Gord) will develop standard and reviewed by the GCC states.” specifi cations and were approved after standards as Gord is trying to sup- and technical regulations for green The Gord offi cial explained that for rigorous and scientifi c process for the port the market with green products. products, founding chairman Dr Yousef green materials and other products, impact of the production process in In November Gord will hold the green al-Horr told Gulf Times yesterday. ISO standards as well as internation- terms of energy and water saving and expo. “The market is fl ooded with products ally recognised standards are to be fol- less pollution to the environment in the In addition to the GCC Standardi- that claim to be green and people have lowed. In addition, they must be cus- manufacturing process,” continued Dr sation Organisation delegates, repre- no idea how to verify their green stand- tomised to suit to the local as well as al-Horr. sentatives of various Standardisation ards,” he explained on the sidelines of a regional climate and context. “Several other products and big Organisations from Qatar, Saudi Ara- meeting of the GCC subcommittee for “We have developed the Gulf green companies have started to get certifi ca- bia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain also the green building specifi cations. mark. This standard looks after the en- tion for cement, steel and other prod- attended the meeting long with ex- Dr al-Horr pointed out that green vironmental product declaration,” he Dr Yousef al-Horr (right) along with other off icials at the subcommittee meeting. ucts. About six products are already perts from academic and research building standards for construction pointed out. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil waiting for certifi cation and it shows bodies.

Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 3 QATAR

Emir receives message from Kuwait

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a written message from the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, pertaining to the relations between the two countries. The Kuwaiti ambassador to Qatar, Hafeez Mohamed al-Ajmi, delivered the message during a meeting with HH the Emir at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. QU college brings out encyclopedia atar University Col- the pivotal role of Qatar in to advancing the spirit of lege of Shariah and advancing dialogue and al- collaboration among com- QIslamic Studies liance among civilisations munities from diff erent cul- (QU-CSIS) yesterday an- and in enhancing links be- tural backgrounds, and to nounced its fi rst-ever Ency- tween the Arab World and developing more inclusive clopedia of Occidentalism, western countries. societies in which diversity described as ‘the largest in- It will include research is experienced as an asset.” tellectual project in the Arab articles from over 1,000 He noted that a special- and Islamic world.’ experts, researchers and ised committee will select The Encyclopedia of Oc- specialists from various the best research papers cidentalism aims to pro- academic and research in- and articles from a work- vide a comprehensive un- Dr Yousuf al-Siddiqi, dean, stitutions under the um- shop to be held at Isesco derstanding of the west’s College of Shariah and brella of Isesco. The articles headquarters in Morocco on culture, ideology, history, Islamic Studies. will highlight the cultural, March 27-28. religion, and politics, it religious, ideological, eco- Dr Mamiche added that was explained at a press Chair in Alliance of Civili- nomic, political, geographi- the project refl ects Qatar conference. sations and Encyclopedia cal and social aspects of the University’s commitment CSIS dean Dr Yousuf al- of Occidentalism execu- west. to advance a culture of dia- Siddiqi and CSIS associ- tive director Dr Azzeddine Dr al-Siddiqi said the logue in Qatar and the Is- ate professor of Dawa and Mamiche were present. Encyclopedia of Occiden- lamic and Arab world. “It Islamic Culture, academic The encyclopedia is talism is an intellectual will deliver tangible ben- director of Islamic Educa- meant to serve as a research initiative that provides a efi ts to research centres, tional, Scientifi c and Cul- database for experts, faculty better understanding of the universities and academic tural Organisation (Isesco) and students, and promote west. “It also contributes institutions.” Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 QATAR

Marzooq Al Shamlan unveils Police timepieces Marzooq Al Shamlan & women, jewellery for display of sheen and Sons (MSS), one of the women and accessories for glamour. Vodafone holds digital safety leading watch retailers of men along with cuff links, The latest collection Qatar, has introduced Police pens and wallets. of Police is available at timepieces and accessories While the gents’ collection MSS stores across Qatar. to their varied portfolio and is dominated by timepieces Established in 1956, MSS expanded its off erings in featuring statement dials has grown to be one activity at education festival the lifestyle segment. with sturdy and textured of the foremost watch The Italian brand’s latest leather straps, the ladies retailers in the country, collection includes collections is fresh and catering to various odafone has held an The festival saw the par- Launched in May 2014, timepieces for men and feminine with colourful market segments. AmanTECH Dig- ticipation of more than AmanTECH, which stands Vital Safety activity at 2,000 students from 150 for “safe tech world”, aims Qatar Education Festival, schools, with the Aman- at promoting digital lit- organised by AlFaisal With- TECH activities “proving eracy among parents and out Borders Foundation in to be highly popular”, the improving children’s dig- partnership with the Minis- statement noted. Parents ital safety. Since its launch, try of Education and Higher and children were required Vodafone’s AmanTECH Education. to perform tasks related to programme has been suc- This comes as part of its safety online to learn spe- cessful in engaging parents, commitment to raise digital cifi c skills, including identi- children and teachers in safety awareness in Qatar, fying fake news versus real, the subject of online safety the company has said in a safe online gaming, self- through a series of activi- Children engaged in an activity. statement. image and reputation online. ties in Doha malls, public parks and schools. Most recently, Aman- TECH engaged 500 chil- dren at the Ministry of Transport and Commu- nications’ TumuhaTEC Youth Festival held during Qitcom earlier this month. Dana Haidan, head, CSR at Vodafone Qatar, said: “At Vodafone, we aim to em- power children with the right tools and understanding to navigate the digital world safely and to take full advan- tage of its benefi ts. We are committed to make Aman- Tech a long-term initiative that will provide children and their parents with every- thing they need to know and do to stay safe in today’s ever -expanding digital world.” In 2017, AmanTech will continue to reach out to parents and children aged between fi ve and 17 years. The programme will adopt a three-pronged approach with a focus on awareness, education and technical support. This will entail ongoing school paren- tal workshops, an online source for information and tips for parents [www.vo- dafone.qa/AmanTECH], online magazines, in ad- dition to digital parenting guide available online, the statement adds.

Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2017 CNA-Q Skills Competition

QAPCO HIGHEST ACHIEVER AWARD SCHOOL OF INFORMATION TET Competition #1 MOST VALUABLE PARTICIPANT st Technician Certificate Program TECHNOLOGY 1 Ayah Mousa AWARDS Abdulla Ali Abdulghani Heba Al-Darawsheh Network and PC Support 2nd Roaa Zaghmout School of Business Studies st COLLEGE DIVISION 1 Burhan Farook Abdulla Duha Zaghmout Amani Al-Kalbani Mohd. Istahaq Hussain 3rd Shimna Ammiyangara nd School of Health Sciences SCHOOL OF BUSINESS STUDIES 2 Mohammad Saboorzadeh Sara Abdelmarid Suresh Shruthi Rasheeq Saidalavy Microsoft Excel Competition 3rd Tamir Ahmed Imaduddeen TET Competition #2 School of Information Technology 1st Stephanie Enriques st Jules Eric Dacuycuy 1 Munavar Thottoli Fatma Al-Baker 2nd Aisha Mohammed Afzal Anwar Elshorbagi School of Engineering Technology 3rd Yomna Gaballa Website Design 2nd Mohammed Al-Hammadi 1st Namreen Rabia Javlikar Awad Mohamed Al-Marri Microsoft Word/PowerPoint Competition Oussama Hamrat Nazha Nayim rd Technician Certificate Program 1st Khalifa Al-Suwaidi 3 Lina Elsakka 2nd Nour Alhabashe Rashid Ahmad Al-Rashid 2nd Dana Al-Sulaiti Shaikha Al-Ansari Sayyada Binte Ahmed 3rd Ghadeer Al-Anssari Langauge Studies and Academics 3rd Ekram Ul Karim CPT Competition #1 st Faisal Al-Marri Amazing Pace (Keyboarding) Competitioin Tharindu Sathsara 1 Ali Al-Marri 1st Dana Al-Sulaiti Rihane Kheniche nd Basic Hardware 2nd Shahid Backer HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 2 Abdulrahman Al-Shaabi st rd 1 Fatma Al-Baker Majid Latif 3 Khalifa Al-Suwaidi nd QITS SET Competition #1 2 Mohammed Ajina rd 3 Sabina Akhter 1st Hassan Al-Sharshani 5-Minutes Business Pitch 3rd Samyah Samer S. Dalbah CPT Competition #2 Ali al-Megbali 1st Al-Anoud Al-Mohannadi Programming I (Basics) 1st Awad Al-Marri 2nd Ibrahim Al-Malek Ambrin Riaz st 1 Abdulrahman Darwich Aya Yousef AbuAzab Mohammed Al-Hayki Dona Lokubalasuriya Mohammad Alkadi 2nd Abdulrahman Al-Qitairi 3rd Awatha Shahrani Minji Kang nd 2 Khalid Naser Mohammad Al-Enazi Abdulla Jawad Abdulla Savira Rosadina Wasim Ibrahim 3rd Ali Nasser Al-Marri 2nd Fahad Al-Thani 3rd Yahua Ali Abdalla Ali Kassem QITS SET Competition #2 Abdulla Yousef Ashar st Ayesha Faqih Mohammad Basel Alnasan 1 Talal Ahmed Sara Hadjazi Jayar Fahad Programming II TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATE nd Amna Chohan 2 Abulrah Alyazei 1st Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Rayashi Abdalrahman Khalil PROGRAM (TCP) Abdulla Awaze Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Muraikhi rd 3rd Abdelrahman Fahoum 3 Turhi Abdullah 2nd Ayesha Ismail Sardar Safety Relay Challenges Amna Al-Mohannadi st Saad Hamad Wajiha Rehman 1 Mohammed Efais Al-Braid Dina Nassar nd 3rd Mohammed Ameer 2 Jaber Hamad Al-Marri QITS MET Competition #1 Farah Al-Afghani rd 1st Mohammed Al Rashid Mohamed Ihthisham 3 Shakhbout Abdulhadi Al-Marri Maysaa Mssadi TPP CERT-3 Plant Operator Performance Jassim Al-Jabber IT Security 2nd Saad Abdula Job Search Competition (Accounting) 1st Ahmed Fathi Mohamed Challenges Application st Hussein Adel Mohammed Jassim Abdulrahman 1 Nasser Ali Al-Marri rd st nd 3 Abdulaziz Al-Suwaidi 1 Syeda Aktar nd 2 Taleb Al-Shammari 2 Saeed Ajina Ali Morzouq Interview rd Ibrahim Ahmed 3 Nasser Mohd. Khairalrahim st QITS Safety Relay Challenges 1 Mashael Al-Harami 3rd Sam Akbarsha TCP Plant Operator Performance 1st Abdulaziz Abdoulrahman Ali Job Search Competition (Marketing) Database Design Challenges 2nd Hassan Neama Al-Neama st 1st Heba Al-Raeesi 1st Mahmud Bennbaia 1 Abdulla Ali Abdulghani 3rd Saleh Ali Al-Yafei Nour Saeed 2nd Nasser Ali Al-Marri rd QITS Plant Operator Performance Job Search Competition 2nd Mahnoor Nadeem 3 Nasser Ahmad Abdulla Koleed (Human Resource Management) Iqbal Mirza Challenges st Machining st 1 Amani Al-Kalbani rd 1 Mohammed Musaed A. Alamri 3 Talha Shahzad st 1 Rashid Ahmad Al-Rashid 2nd Ali Mubarak J. K. Hamed nd SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES Web Programming 2 Saleh Al-Marri 3rd Nawaf Nagi S. Al Reyashi 1st Omer Mhjoub 3rd Mohammed Nasser First Place – Team 2 QITS Chemical Lab Skills Humera Latif Awan Soldering st Alia Ashkanani nd 1 Ali Mohammed Bakhita 2 Resham Habib st Mohamad Hamed 1 Abdulla Khalid Al-Mass 2nd Mohammed Al-Zamil nd Rawan Bayari 2 Saleh Abuqaba rd Nour Ahmad Isleem rd 3 Mohsin Al-Yafie 3 Fariha Abid Alahi 3rd Meshaal Fatim Bibin Geevarghese Peter Fatima Mohd Afzal QITS Machining Fahad Al-Muraikhi Basic Industrial Electrical Controls 1st Hamad Mustafa Ali Al-Najjar st Khadeeja Abdul Jabbar SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING 1 Salman Hasan Al-Hadad SN 2nd Abdulla Saeed Ali Makki nd 2 Rashid Mohammed Al-Hajri rd Jasna Ashraf TECHNOLOGY 3 Saqer Hassen Saqer Al-Kubaisi 3rd Hamad Al Kubaisi Tania Bibi SET Competition #1 QITS Welding Safa Kazim Mulla 1st Woroud Mohammed Basic Industrial Motor Controls 1st Mubarak Ali A. M. Al-Qahtani st Aisha Pervaiz Kholoud Mohammed 1 Ahmed Abdulrahman Haji 2nd Khalifa Abdulla ali Mohammed Abdulla nd nd 2 Fahad Mohammed Al-Malki rd Tahani Adnan Albatarni 2 Majed Al-Kawari 3 Mohammed Abdulla A. H. Al-Jaber 3rd Tareq Mohammed Al-Remaihi Youmna Abdelghany Abdukaziz Hussain QITS Electrical Motor Controls 3rd AbdulRehman Zeyad Basic Tool Skills st Second Place – Team 5 1 Hamad Yousef Khori Fouad Jarouy 1st Abdulrahman Yaqoub Janahi Nabeel Chaumun Salem Mohammed Al-Hammadi 2nd Saud Abdulla Al-Malki 2nd Rashid Hussain Saleh Saeed Eman Ayman Elmenyar SET Competition #2 st 3rd Mohammed Essa Al-Kuwari Nasir Abdulrahman Khori Shahd Shaar 1 Sayma Alchter Ifteichar Bin Barhan 3rd Hamad Mohammed Al-Marri Muhsen Ashour Advanced Electronics 2nd Maheen Taria 1st Fahad Eid Al-Naimi Mohammed Saeea Al-Marri Khaldoun Khalil Al-Mukdad Seltana Ayen 2nd Abdulrahman Mohsin Al-Hajiji QITS Basic Tool Skills Aljoline Faye Magistrado Francisco rd 3 Ali Lasson 3rd Saoud Hamad Al-Jaber 1st Hamad Husaeen Shajea Usra Shams Arif nd Saif Irshad Basic Electricity 2 Hamad Ali M. Almarri Mark Joseph Abrena Maico rd MET Competition #1 1st Khalifa Hassan Al-Abdulla 3 Saif Saleh H. Sh. Alyafei Nawal Lal Bakhsh 1st Khalid Deyab 2nd Saoud Abdulaziz Al-Ishaq QITS Advanced Electronics Ibrahim Qasem Ali Gashi 1st Jassim Mohammed Alyafei Ezzeddin Al-Kadhi 2nd Ahmed Elhassan SCHOOL OF LANGUAGE STUDIES 2nd Ahmad Hussain Alyafei Khalid Taha Mohammad Suliman AND ACADEMICS 3rd Omar Abdulaziz Alyafei 3rd Abdulnasser Khan Third Place – Team 3 Pinewood Derby Winners QITS Basic Electricity Mohammad Zahid Hajer Mustafa Ghaleiw 1st Turki Meteb A. M. Henaitem 1st Ali Ishaq Al-Sharshani Maha Al-Maadeed MET Competition #2 2nd Abdulla Fahad Alnaemi 2nd Saoud Hassan Al-Sayed Rana Saleh 1st Abdulla Al Kuwari 3rd Johar Muftah Mejalli 3rd Mohammed Hassan Alnajar Rahman Yousef Jose Paulo Estrada Masangcay Readers’ Cup (Beginner) Robotics Drag Racing 2nd Mohammaz Zahid Abinaya Selvakumar 1st Mohammad Shaja 1st Moawth bin Jabal Primary School for Boys Abdulnasser Khan Ethar Mohamed Abdelbagi Ibrahim 2nd Aspire Academy rd Readers’ Cup (Intermediate) 3 Mohammed Alam rd Sumayya Rasheed Kandentavide st 3 Jasim Bin Hamad Secondary Independent Boys Ertahaz Hossain 1 Faten Al-Ajmi Ghaliya Said M. S. Al-Abid Readers’ Cup (Advanced) Aya Mahmoud Ahmed Moursi EET/PAET Competition #1 st 1st Fatima Al-Abadi Syeda Hafsa 1 Wissam Chahine Ahmad Amir Khulud Fawzi Abou-Diah Escape the Classroom 2nd Khalid Al Hanawi 1st Ahmed Mohammed Helmy Maha Y. Al-Jabri Jabir Mohsin Maryam Mohammed First in Each Discipline 3nd Lutfuzzaman Zaman Faisal Al-Marri Sumayya Badar Bin Ahmed - Respiratory Therapy Riazul Islam Salman Alhail Sarah May Andamun - Medical Radiography EET/PAET Competition #2 Kelinton Edmond Sarah Balaawi - Pharmacy Technician 1st Abdulrahman Walid 2nd Mohammed Atif Muhsen Ashour - Paramedicine Zeinab Abbas Osama Abdullah Khaldoun K. Al-Mukdad - Occupational Health and Safety 2nd Malavika Mathath Syed Mohammed Nick Joshua Cruz Gonzalez - Environmental Health Fatima Nishaat 3rd Suhana Banu Aisha Pervaiz - Dental Hygiene 3rd Mohammed Tehemer Tania Taj Youmna Abdelghany - Weill Cornell Physician Jeremiah Aquino Lolwa Al Kuwari Rana Saleh - Qatar University Pharmacist Lulwa Al Kubairi Chahine Chaoua - University of Calgary Nursing Seemal Zaman Nabeel Chaumun - DeBakey High School Ahmad Alraoush - DeBakey High School

CNA-QATAR.COM Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 7 QATAR

OFFICIAL Emir, PM meet premier of Saint Vincent

Emir issues instruments of ratification

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued the following instruments of ratification yesterday: 1. An instrument of ratification to approve a draft memorandum of understanding between Qatar Central Bank and National Bank of Tajikistan signed in Doha on 06/02/2017. 2. An instrument of ratification to approve a draft agreement for co-operation in the health sector between the governments of Qatar and Tajikistan signed in signed in Doha on 6/02/2017. 3. An instrument of ratification HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations to approve a draft agreement and means to develop them, in addition to topics of common interest. The meeting was attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. HE Sheikh for co-operation in the field of Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani held a separate meeting with the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves and his accompanying delegation at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. education, higher education They reviewed bilateral relations and means to develop them in diff erent fields. and scientific research between the governments of Qatar and Tajikistan signed in Doha on 6/02/2017. 4. An instrument of ratification to approve an agreement for co-operation in the legal field Four Qataris win between the Ministry of Justice Kahramaa to mark World of Qatar and the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan signed in Al Maktoum Award Doha on 6/02/2017. 5. An instrument of ratification to approve a draft agreement Water Day, Earth Hour QNA Girls received the Distinguished for co-operation in the cultural Doha Teacher Award and Al Wakrah field between the governments Secondary School for Boys won of Qatar and Tajikistan signed in QNA for school students. ing from wastewater to protect gramme will organise vari- Distinguished School / School Doha on 6/02/2017. Doha A press release issued by Kah- the environment and water re- ous activities in line with these he Ministry of Educa- Administration. 6. An instrument of ratification ramaa said the World Water Day sources. events to increase the awareness tion and Higher Educa- Jaber al-Shawi, Co-ordina- to approve a draft agreement coincides with GCC Conserva- The press release said Kah- of water conservation. Ttion has named Qatari tor of the Hamdan Bin Rashid on air transport between the atar General Electric- tion Week starting on March 22. ramaa endeavours to achieve This includes several activities winners of the Hamdan Bin Award in Qatar, said the awards governments of Qatar and ity & Water Corpora- It aims to mark the importance of its mission of “Providing High for children including conserva- Rashid Al-Maktoum Award for won by students and educators Tajikistan signed in signed in Qtion (Kahramaa) will conservation to save resources. Quality and Sustainable Elec- tion techniques and a play. Distinguished Academic Per- in Qatar refl ected the quality of Doha on 6/02/2017. mark, through the National pro- Qatar will celebrate GCC tricity and Water for Better Liv- Celebrations will end with formance for 2016- 2017. the educational system and the gramme for Conservation and Conservation Week by holding ing in Qatar”. It aims to increase Earth Hour on March 25. Nasser Khalaf al-Buainain educational development wit- Emir ratifies Energy Effi ciency “Tarsheed”, various activities to promote social advocacy and environ- Kahramaa, through Tarsheed, from Al Wakrah Secondary nessed by the country. the World Water Day (WWD) on the culture of conservation. The mental compliance. supports this global initiative School for Boys and Buthaina The Hamdan Bin Rashid Al- Cabinet decision 22nd March, GCC Water Week theme of WWD 2017 is waste- It applies a comprehensive where millions of people around Abdullah Arhamah al-Kuwari Maktoum Award for Distin- from 25 March, and Earth Hour water. strategy to achieve an integrated the world switch off unnecessary from Aisha Bint Abu Bakr Sec- guished Academic Performance HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim on 25th March. Events will shed light on and sustainable management for light from 8:30-9:30pm. ondary Independent School seeks to improve the quality of bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday The events will take place at “Why waste water? We need to Qatar water resources within the Kahramaa has invited diff er- for Girls won the Distin- the educational system and en- ratified the Cabinet decision No Kahramaa Awareness Park. reduce and reuse it”. increasing environmental chal- ent organisations to take part in guished Student Award. courage initiatives, innovation 17 of 2017 expropriating some Events from 8am – 12pm next They will also highlight the lenges. Earth Hour as a contribution to Haya Ayed al-Shammari from and excellence in all literary and properties for the public good. Wednesday and Thursday will be need to reduce pollution result- Kahramaa’s Tarsheed pro- environment protection. Al Bayan Preparatory School for scientifi c domains. The decision is eff ective starting from the date of issuance and is to be published in the Off icial Gazette. Emir issues Youth Forum chooses Qatari decrees student as offi cial speaker HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued the following decrees: QNA tah, Abdullah Khamis different perspectives on 1. Emiri decree No 17 of 2017 Doha al-Kubaisi represented how to better protect the ratifying an agreement between Qatar and were accom- health and well-being of the governments of Qatar and panied by Ibrahim Mur- their peers, schools and Kazakhstan on the avoidance he annual Youth Fo- shed al-Mohannadi as a communities. of double taxation and the rum, in the context supervisor. The youth forum was prevention of financial evasion Tof the 60th ses- The students attended held in line with Qa- in respect of income taxes and sion of the Commission a workshop held on the tar’s initiative that was the attached protocol signed in on Narcotic Drugs of the sidelines of the forum, launched during Doha Astana on 1.1.2014. United Nations (UN) in along with 40 students Youth Forum on Crime 2. Emiri decree No 18 of 2017 Vienna, chose the Qatari from around the world. Prevention and Criminal ratifying co-operation agreement student Ghanim Moham- The forum aims to Justice. in the field of law between the ad al-Muftah to be the of- bring together young It was held on the side- governments of Qatar and fi cial speaker of the forum. people from 32 countries lines of 13th United Na- Venezuela, singed in Caracas on The forum submitted who actively monitor tions Congress on Crime 25.11.2015. recommendations to the drug use in their schools Prevention and Criminal 3. Emiri decree No 19 of 2017 UN. and communities, to ex- Justice in Qatar, April ratifying a Memorandum of In addition to al-Muf- change ideas, visions and 2015. Understanding (MoU) in the field of Youth and Sport between the governments of Qatar and Venezuela, signed in Caracas on 25.11.2015. The three decrees are eff ective Qatari participant enters fi nal starting from their date of publication in the off icial gazette. Real estate of Tripoli Holy Qur’an contest transactions QNA Qur’an for Muslims. serve the Holy Qur’an, Beirut For his part, Abu and improve the overall Real estate transaction in Qatar Shareeda said that he has level of Qur’anic per- from March 12 to 16 were worth made it to the final stage formance. QR428,730,882, off icial data atar’s Abdullah thanks to the continuous Participants from 30 showed yesterday. Hamad Salem Abu attention of Qatar to its countries are taking part The weekly bulletin released QShareedah has citizens and the provi- in the contest. by the real estate registration qualifi ed for the fi nal stage sion of centres for learn- Azm Tripoli Prize department at the Ministry of of Tripoli International ing and memorising the for the Holy Qur’an is Justice said that the types of real Competition of Holy Holy Qur’an, expressing one of the initiatives estate traded ranged from plots Qur’an, Azm Tripoli Prize, his hope to win the first launched by the Leba- of land, houses to residential and in Lebanon. prize. nese Azm and Saada commercial buildings, housing Lebanese Prime Min- The contest, which (resolve and happiness) complexes and multi-purpose ister Saad Hariri stressed was launched last Sat- association aiming at buildings. in a speech during an of- urday and continues strengthening the link The majority of the trading took fi cial ceremony on Mon- until Friday, aims to between young people place in Um Salal, Al Khor and day night the importance raise the spirit of com- in particular, and Mus- Al Thukhaira, Doha, Al Rayyan, of the memorisation and petition among young lims in general, with Al Shamal, Al Da’ayen and Al recitation of the Holy people to memorise and the Holy Qur’an. Wakrah. PM sends message to Minister meets head of Defence Minister meets Italy interior minister Saudi IT commission Malaysian premier

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of HE the Minister of Transport HE the Minister of State for Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser and Communications Jassim Defence Affairs Dr Khalid bin bin Khalifa al-Thani has sent a written Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met Mohamed al-Attiyah met Malaysian message to Interior Minister of Italy the Governor of the Saudi Prime Minister Mohamed Najib Marco Minniti pertaining to promoting Communications and Information Abdul Razaq, on the sidelines of and developing the relations between the Technology Commission (CITC) Dr the International Maritime and two countries. Abdulaziz Salem al-Rwais in Doha Aerospace Exhibition 2017 (LIMA Qatar’s ambassador to Italy Abdulaziz bin yesterday. ‘17) which started yesterday in Ahmed al-Malki delivered the message During the meeting, they discussed Langkawi, Malaysia. during a meeting with the Italian Interior co-operation between the two During the meeting, they discussed Minister in Rome yesterday. countries in the field of information bilateral relations between the two During the meeting, they discussed and communications technology countries, especially in the military bilateral ties, means to boos them and and means of further developing field and means of enhancing and topics of mutual interest. them. developing them. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 QATAR

QBWA celebrates March as ‘Women’s Month’

he Qatari Businesswom- QBWA vice chairperson Ai- “Each one of you has earned More rain en Association (QBWA) sha Alfardan underscored the a special place in the world Torganised a dinner to important role played by wom- of business management and celebrate ‘Women’s Month’ as en and how they have advanced community, but before that you part of the global commemora- in Qatar’s society. earned a special place in the tion of ‘International Women’s “Behind each one of you hearts of your families as pre- Day’. there is a distinctive success cious daughters, kind sisters, The event, hosted by City story, and this wonderful pano- loving wives, and caring moth- likely from Centre Rotana Doha Hotel and rama of talent and potential is ers,” Alfardan said. sponsored by IBQ, was at- Aisha Alfardan addressing the what paints a bright picture for During the dinner, Qatari tended mostly by women rep- event. the future of our country that poet Zainab al-Mahmoud read resenting diff erent sectors of will last forever, and will pave some of her poems, and a hand- the country, including QBWA and the wives of ambassadors the way for future generations ful of “special mothers” were tomorrow members, female ambassadors in Qatar. to give and accomplish more. honoured for raising orphans. he country will experience yet another drop by 4-5C during the weekend with the maxi- spell of unstable weather and rain – heavy mum hovering around 20 Celsius in Doha. Tand thundery at times – from tomorrow The Met department has urged people to be New road in evening until Monday, the Qatar Met department cautious and follow latest updates and warn- has said. ings issued by it, noting that the Al Sarayat pe- The weather offi ce has also issued a warning riod – season of sudden changes – is known for Industrial Area for off shore areas during this period even as the quick weather fl uctuations, especially during the temperature is likely to drop sharply in Doha and evening. other places in the coming weekend. More details can be found at http://qweather. new local road to connect the Industrial In a report yesterday, the Met department said gov.qa/NewsDetail.aspx#sthash.XoYFra45.dpuf Area Road with Bu Samra Street will be weather charts indicated the country would again The country has, of late, experienced thundery Aopened today. be aff ected by a state of instability from tomorrow rain, winds and dusty conditions. The situation Commuters who have been using the road be- evening until Monday evening (March 27). improved yesterday and there is no warning for tween the Industrial Area Road and Balhambar Skies are expected to “gradually become partly today as well. Street can now use the 400m stretch of Umm cloudy to cloudy” and conditions will be favour- A minimum temperature of 17C is expected in al Seneem Street. The new road will have three able for rain, ranging from light to moderate in Wakrah, Mesaieed, Al Khor and Dukhan today, lanes in each direction. intensity and becoming heavy during thundery while in Doha it will be 19C. The maximum, on From tomorrow (March 23), a diversion on rain. The prevailing winds during this period will the other hand, will range from 25C to 28C. Balhambar Street will route traffi c to the newly be southeasterly to northeasterly in nature, with Yesterday, a minimum temperature of 16C was opened road (as shown on the map). The perma- speeds ranging from 15 to 25 knots, going up to recorded in Karana and Ghuwairiyah, and 20C in nent diversion is in co-ordination with the Traffi c 35kt tomorrow and on Friday and during thun- Doha (airport area). The maximum was between Police Department. derstorms, the report explains. 23C and 29C. The diversion is being made to enable comple- Off shore conditions will not be suitable for sea The Ministry of Municipality and Environment tion of New Industrial Area Road, which is part of activities during this period and the wave height has said fi eld teams have put in “tireless eff orts” the Development of Rawdat Al Khail Extension is expected to range between 4ft and 8ft, reaching to remove rainwater and uprooted trees from Street Project. a high of 11ft during thunderstorms. roads and other places due to rain and Sunday’s The temperature, meanwhile, is expected to strong winds. Tunisian minister of education visits WISE 2016, ’17 Nissan Altima recalled he Minister of Education of Tunisia, of an ongoing collaboration between Tuni- a bridge between East and West. He said Tu- Neji Jalloul, met with offi cials from the sian education institutions and WISE, high- nisia had in recent years pursued a universal he Ministry of Economy and Commerce on vehicle defects and repairs. TWorld Innovation Summit for Educa- lighted by the WISE@Tunis Forum ‘Dialogue perspective on education, reintroducing the (MEC), in collaboration with Saleh Al Ha- The MEC has urged all customers to report any tion (WISE) during his recent visit to Edu- for Education and Peace’ in May 2016. The arts and raising the quality of education sub- Tmad Al Mana Company, has announced the violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti- cation City, followed by a public lecture at Tunis gathering focused on the role of educa- stantially. recall of Nissan Altima models of 2016 and 2017 Commercial Fraud Department through the fol- Georgetown University in Qatar. tion in fostering peace and development, par- Stavros Yiannouka, CEO, WISE, presented over a potential defect in rear door lock. lowing channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@ The minister was accompanied by Tunisian ticularly in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. the minister with a selection of WISE re- The MEC said the recall campaign comes with- mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: ambassador Salah al-Salhi, and offi cials from During the visit, Jalloul gave a short de- search publications and spoke with him of in the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and both Qatar and Tunisia. scription of the education system in Tunisia, WISE’s desire to continue to collaborate with consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up IOS: MEC_Qatar The minister’s visit was within the context noting his country’s long historical legacy as Tunisia in its education reform eff orts. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 9 QATAR Curtain comes down on String Festival

he curtain came down yes- terday on the fi rst edition Tof The Fifth String Festival in the presence of a large gather- ing of people from all walks of life. The festival which kicked off on Saturday, witnessed the par- ticipation of 14 renowned musi- cians whose performances held the audiences spell-bound. The festival’s fi nale presented performances were by maestros Mohamed al-Sulaiti (Qatar), Mehmet Bitmez (Turkey), Arten Elyaz (Kosovo), and the much- awaited dual performances of Abbadi al-Jawher (Saudi Arabia) and Ahmad Fathi (Yemen). The fi nale also witnessed per- formances by Al-Salam Group (Tanzania) and the Hejaz Kar Group (France) at Katara’s Amphitheatre. On Monday, there were solo and group performances by musicians representing Iraq, Syria, Turkey and France. The organisers had made arrangements for an array of events that appeal to all music Dignitaries attending the festival. A concert in progress at the festival. lovers. These included concerts at Katara’s Opera House, Ziryab’s Khalid al-Shaikh (Bahrain), Dr been set up at the Cultural Village teract with them. The craftsmen, hamed Abdullah al-Marzooqi, position and value of the Oud in cal and scientifi c methods most theatre and an Oud exhibition. Ibrahim Tami (Kuwait), Salem premises, where groups of skilled called Oud luthiers, came from awarded all participants with a Arab history and culture. suited to the Oud industry. Dis- The events featured perform- al-Meqarshi (Oman), and Ehab Oud makers presented their Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Moroc- souvenir. While the festival drew Through seminars and exhibi- cussions touched on the various ances by Arab musicians in- Mohamed (Saudi Arabia). unique Oud-making techniques, co, Tunisia, Syria and Germany. in a large number of enthusiasts, tions; the event created an op- styles popular in playing and cluding famous names such as On the side, fi ve stages had providing visitors a chance to in- The festival’s manager, Mo- it also served to highlight the portunity to discuss the techni- performing the instrument.

Focus on cyber security at Ministry of Defence meet

xperts from the Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Science and ‘Global sustainability relies on EEngineering hosted representatives from the Ministry of Defence on a course that highlighted cyber security threats, how to guard against them, and what to do when a cyber attack takes place. building of green economies’ Ten members from the Ministry of De- fence took part in the fi ve-day executive education course, which covered such topics ollege of the North Atlantic “Contentious issues are coming to mitigate climate change and pro- as Applied Cryptography, Network Security — Qatar (CNA-Q) has hosted up between the developed and de- mote sustainable development. (Malware, Distributed Denial of Service at- Cthe Unesco-Unevoc Centre veloping world on global trade and It advocates and practices Green tacks, Intrusion Detection Systems), and Qatar Seminar Series on its campus. investment, also refl ected in the Banking, which is one of its core busi- Wireless Security – with extensive hands- As part of the series, Dr R Seethar- recent G20 fi nance ministers’ meet- ness philosophies that would support on sessions covering the dreadful vulner- aman, CEO of Doha Bank, spoke on ing. The lack of convergence be- sustainability into the future. abilities that current wireless networks are An expert gives an introduction to cyber “Environmental sustainability and tween politics and economics could It has tracked the developments exposed to and possible remedies. security at the HBKU workshop. corporate social responsibility in impact global growth.” pertaining to various Conference Dr Mounir Hamdi, dean of the College of banking sector” yesterday. “Global sustainability relies on of the Parties (COP) meetings and Science and Engineering at HBKU, said the dum of Understanding with the Qatari Armed The event was chaired by Dr Ken building of green economies,” he involved with various COP meet- course “is an illustration of the importance Forces, under the patronage of the Minister of MacLeod, president of CNA-Q, stressed. ing delegations, including COP18 in of cyber security in Qatar as well as an illus- Defence, which outlined collaborative eff orts while an introduction of the Doha Dr Seetharaman, who spoke on Doha.” tration of the kind of collaboration that the between HBKU and the Ministry. Bank CEO was given by Dr Rupert the causes of global warming, also Further, he noted that the bank College of Science and Engineering at HBKU Dr Khaled B Letaief, provost of HBKU, Maclean, Qapco Professional Chair off ered insights into sustainable de- has worked on the ECO-Schools wants to establish with the Qatari ministries, added it is an essential part of the mission of Vocational Studies and Unesco velopment and said: “Banks should Programme with Unesco. industry, and society so as to contribute to of the university to drive collaboration that Chair on Technical and Vocational adopt Green Banking as part of cor- Also, it has a dedicated Green Bank- Qatar National Vision 2030.” enhances Qatar’s human capacity through Education and Training and Sus- porate social responsibility (CSR) ing website and provided facilities Earlier this year, HBKU signed a Memoran- dialogue and research. tainable Development. and sustainable development. for district cooling as well as project Dr R Seetharman gave an insight into Green Banking considers all social fi nancing for water projects.“It has global economies, saying: “We need and environmental factors with an Doha Sooq, an e-commerce initiative to anticipate what policy shifts could aim to protect the environment and of Doha Bank,” he added. do for the world’s economic outlook. conserve natural resources.” In his concluding remarks, Dr Technology, consumerism and re- Highlighting the initiatives of Seetharaman highlighted the uncer- regulation defi ne the banking sector. Doha bank in the area of CSR, he tain global scenario and challenges The capital rules for the banking sector said: “Doha Bank Group, as part of faced in implementing climate are getting redefi ned and the fi nancial its corporate social responsibility, change reforms. Doha Bank CEO Dr R Seetharaman markets are getting more volatile on demonstrates fair, open, effi cient The event also had a question- delivers the keynote address. account of the changing dynamics. and consistent business practices answer session.

Heritage-inspired bespoke Ghosts in the spotlight

olls-Royce Motor Cars Doha, the sole authorised dealer of RRolls-Royce Motor Cars in Qatar, has showcased two one-off , heritage-inspired Ghosts through a private event at its showroom on The Pearl-Qatar. The three-day event, which con- cluded yesterday, celebrated the capabilities of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Bespoke programme. On show were the Rolls-Royce Ghost Oasis, inspired by the oases of the Arabian deserts, and the Rolls- Royce Ghost Dhow, refl ecting Qa- tari heritage by using the traditional dhow as its muse. Off icials and guests at the event. Both commissions were hand- built by craftsmen from the House of Doha fi rst-hand the lengths that can stitching and seat piping, in addi- throughout the Seashell interior. Rolls-Royce to be made available ex- be achieved in the areas of leather, tion to Lambswool fl oor mats and Accents in Fleet Blue are remi- clusively for its customers in Qatar. stitching and marquetry through the Bespoke Picnic Tables for the rear niscent of water in an oasis, while “The execution of the most deeply iconic Bespoke programme. passengers. applications of Bespoke Moccasin held desires of the most discern- Speaking ahead of the event, Ihab A collection of dhow-inspired Willow Grain leather further allude ing patrons of luxury in the world Allam, general manager of Rolls- features can be found throughout to the sand dune theme. is now performed by the marque’s Royce Motor Cars Doha, said: “We this vehicle, including a dhow motif Piano Veneer in Moccasin was Bespoke department, a collective of are delighted to be hosting this embroidery on all four headrests and developed especially for this Col- extraordinary designers, engineers event, which is dedicated to the engraved steel dhow motifs on the lection and features golden motif and craftspeople at the marque’s marque’s Bespoke programme.” fore of the picnic tables and on the inlays in the passenger panel, door centre of excellence in Goodwood, The Ghost Dhow’s two-tone ex- exterior coachline of the car. cappings and rear picnic table backs. England,” according to a press state- terior features Inca Gold set against The Oasis Edition’s Bespoke two- The Bespoke rear centre armrest ment. Porcelain, with a Turchese twin tone exterior in Aurum and Desert embroidery introduces a sand dune Furthering this theme, Rolls- coachline extending around the car. Dune is adorned with an intricate pattern and demonstrates the level Royce Motor Cars will be fl ying The interior of the car features feature line motif depicting a camel of detail that goes into conceptual- in one of its craftsmen from the tri-colour leather in Seashell, Oat- train. ising this incredible Bespoke Collec- Leather atelier to show guests in meal and Turchese with contrast The desert theme continues tion. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 QATAR

Expatriate Safari draw man jailed three years for Ezdan Hotels Company embezzlement

A Doha Criminal Court has sentenced a Filipino receives HACCP food man to three years in jail and ordered his dismissal as a sales representative for embezzling a sum of QR121,000 from the safety certifi cation company he worked for. Local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported that the court zdan Hotels Company, a sub- opment, promotion of environmental a healthy environment for our guests convicted the defendant sidiary of Ezdan Holding sustainability, and hospitality serv- where all the security and safety re- for abusing his work duties EGroup, recently received the ices. quirements are met to the highest by selling equipment internationally-recognised ‘Hazard Ezdan Hotels’ F&B Department had standard.” worth QR121,000 and Analysis and Critical Control Points’ met the necessary requirements in the Kayali added that Ezdan Hotels al- keeping the money for Safari Win 10 BMW Cars promotion’s fourth lucky draw winners Nasser Mohamed (HACCP) certification in the field of fi eld of food safety to obtain the global ways strives to be at the forefront the himself. The court also Ad Ham (Qatari) and Saju Cherian (Indian) who won BMW 5 Series cars with Safari food safety. accreditation certifi cate. hospitality and hotels sector and to ordered his subsequent Group of Companies director/general manager Zainul Abideen. Other off icials The certifi cation was awarded by Such requirements included healthy be among local and regional industry deportation. from Safari management were present. the Bureau Veritas Group, which spe- practices in food and beverage storage, leaders by off ering fi ve-star services in According to the file of cialises in diverse areas, including and provision of high-quality services line with globally-certifi ed practices the case, though he sold food and occupational safety, social in public health and environmental and standards. the equipment, he did not responsibility, and environmental safety. “Ezdan Hotels is keen to serve its enter the information in protection. Ezdan Hotels general manager guests and provide them with all the company’s system. It also provides innovative solutions Hasib Kayali said: “This certifica- means of comfort and entertainment Instead, he kept the cash and high-quality services universally tion is indeed a quality addition to for a unique hotel experience.” for himself, which was later adopted in various sectors. Ezdan Hotels’ honourable record. Previously, Ezdan Hotels received found with him. During Bureau Veritas is recognised and Food safety is a key area, in which the international ‘Hotelbeds’ prize interrogation he admitted accredited by more than 55 special- the company invests. We place public “for the best hotel that has achieved his guilt and the court ised organisations in diff erent sectors, health of individuals on top list of our the highest outstanding performance ordered him to refund the including service performance devel- priorities, and we focus on providing rate in hospitality”. stolen sum.

University labs’ accreditation status renewed

atar University’s (QU) research laboratories at Environmental Science Center, Center for Ad- Qvanced Materials, Central Laboratory Unit, and Gas Processing Center have been awarded renewal of their ISO/ IEC - 17025:2005 accreditation status from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), re-af- fi rming their status as world-class facilities complying to international standards and best practice. The labs initially obtained accreditation status from A2LA in April 2010. Since then, A2LA has been conducting audits regularly to evaluate the quality management sys- tems at QU research labs. As one of the essential requirements of accreditation, QU research labs are participating successfully in the pro- fi ciency testing programmes with ASTM (US), MAPEP (US Department of Energy), LGC Standards (UK), Schema (Greece), and ERA (US). To enhance the technical com- petence of its employees, QU has a series of training pro- grammes run by internationally-recognised organisations such as A2LA (US) and UKAS (UK). QU vice-president for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam al-Maadeed stated that the renewal of ac- creditation underlines QU’s commitment to world-class research, as well as its adherence to the highest levels of in- ternational best practice in all its research processes and lab systems and procedures. “It is also an evidence of the quality and competence of quality management systems, the personnel involved and equipment used at QU research laboratories.” QU quality manager Dr Mohamed Maqbool explained that the quality assurance system at QU research labs en- sures the competence of staff , equipment and procedures by regularly conducting internal quality control checks, participating in profi ciency testing programmes, and con- ducting internal audits and required training for its staff . A2LA auditor Justing Cheng expressed satisfaction with the functioning of both management and technical systems used in the labs. ISO/IEC 17025 is the single most important standard for calibration and testing laboratories around the world and used in developing a management system capable of pro- ducing accurate and reliable results. Laboratories accred- ited to this standard have demonstrated technical compe- tence and ability to produce precise and accurate test data. The A2LA is a prestigious body off ering programmes for the accreditation of testing laboratories across the world.

Researchers at work at one of the QU labs.

Jeep Owners to hold desert safari

or the third consecutive year, Qatar Jeep Owners Group and Mawater Center are organising a desert Fsafari on Friday to Khor Al Udaid for families and young drivers as part of their annual event ‘I am a Jeeper’. The event aims to educate Jeep Wrangler owners about safety while driving off road, and to discover the capabili- ties of their vehicles. The event also aims to promote and explore Qatari natural terrain. “I am a Jeeper” is considered one of the biggest off road events in the country. Previous versions had achieved great success with participants from Qatar with a large crowd of families and a convoy of 150 vehicles. The reg- istration and safety briefi ng will begin at 8am opposite Sealine Beach Resort, where the participants will be led to the offi cial event camp. The camp will host several activi- ties for families and children, followed by a lunch break at 1.30pm. After lunch, the crowd will participate in an off - road tour through Khor Al Udaid. The event will conclude with prizes and raffl e draws and participants will be es- corted to the main road. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 11 REGION/ARAB WORLD Warring parties Graduation ceremony should protect Yemen ports, not UN: spokesman

Reuters nearly 4mn barrels of oil are United Nations shipped daily. Haq said that with Yemen al- most entirely dependent on he warring parties in importing food and other com- Yemen are responsible for modities it was “essential that Tthe protection of civilians all parties to the conflict facili- and infrastructure and not oth- tate unhindered access to Yem- ers, the United Nations said yes- en’s ports for humanitarian and terday in response to a coalition commercial cargo, including calling for the UN to supervise a Hodeidah port, which serves 70 strategic port. % of Yemen’s affected popula- The coalition, which has tion.” been fi ghting Iran-allied Houthi Hodeidah is part of a broad rebels and troops loyal to former battlefront where forces loyal president Ali Abdullah Saleh to Yemeni President Abd- since 2015, on Sunday proposed Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed that the UN monitor Hodeidah by the coalition, are fighting port after an attack on a boat- the Houthi movement, which load of Somali refugees killed 42 controls most of northern and people. western Yemen. “Parties to the confl ict have Last week, 52 members of the a clear responsibility to protect US Congress wrote to Secretary civilian infrastructure and fun- of State Rex Tillerson to urge damentally to protect civilians. him to push for Hodeidah port These are not obligations they to be opened to aid deliveries. can shift to others,” UN spokes- “The US must act urgently man Farhan Haq told reporters. to avert famine and employ our The refugees had departed diplomatic clout with the coa- Hodeidah en route to Sudan lition members to ensure that when a helicopter opened fi re on humanitarian goods can get Female Yemeni university students attend a graduation ceremony in the capital Sanaa yesterday. Friday, the United Nations refu- into the port of Hodeidah. The gee agency said. lives of hundreds of thousands The coalition denied respon- of children are at stake,” the sibility for the attack. letter said. The Red Sea port near the The World Food Programme Bab al-Mandab strait is under said last week that the gover- the control of Yemen’s armed norates of Taiz and Hodeidah Houthi movement. along the Red Sea risked slip- The Bab al-Mandab is a stra- ping into famine if they did not tegic waterway through which receive more aid. Rebels launch assault Beauty and the Beast banned in Kuwait on east Damascus AFP tory’s Abdel Rahman said. But Assad loyalists drove Damascus The rebel group Faylaq al- them back by nightfall and AFP yesterday it will be released in Rahman and the Fateh al-Sham unleashed fierce bombing, the Kuwait City Malaysia with no cuts. Starring Front — known as Al Nusra Observatory said, before calm Harry Potter star Emma Watson, ebels and militants Front before it renounced its was restored on Monday after- the movie has raised hack- launched a fresh assault ties to Al Qaeda — have a pres- noon. he Kuwait National Cine- les worldwide among religious Ron east Damascus yester- ence in Jobar. Thomas Pierret, a Syria an- ma Company said yester- groups angered by its depiction day, just two days before anoth- Faylaq al-Rahman an- alyst at the University of Edin- Tday it has decided to ban of Le Fou, the sycophantic side- er round of UN-backed peace nounced “the second stage of burgh, said the offensive pri- Disney’s hit movie Beauty and kick to antagonist Gaston, as a talks get underway in Switzer- the battle” for eastern areas of marily had a “purely military the Beast, citing its “responsi- gay man — making him Disney’s land. the capital, in a statement is- motivation”. bilities” despite it already having fi rst-ever openly gay character. Clashes raged between re- sued yesterday. “The regime has advertised been screened. “Dear customers: We would gime forces on one side and In the afternoon, Ahrar al- its desire to destroy opposi- The fi lm was released in the like to inform you that the man- opposition fi ghters and allied Sham — an allied conservative tion pockets in the eastern Gulf state on Thursday, but the agement of Kuwait National militants from the Fateh al- faction — said its fi ghters had suburbs, so rebels took the ini- privately owned company with- Cinema Company has decided Sham Front, formerly Al Qae- seized a textile factory between tiative to harass regime troops drew the fi lm four days later to to bar the Beauty and the Beast da’s branch in the war-ravaged Qabun and Jobar. with surprise attacks, scoring review its content. fi lm,” the company said in a country. A general view shows smoke rising from buildings following an In video footage posted on- some success,” Pierret said. Beauty and the Beast has come statement on its offi cial Twitter The renewed fi ghting in Da- air strike on Jobar, a rebel-held district on the eastern outskirts of the line, Ahrar al-Sham fi ghters The clashes on Sunday and under fi re in some countries for account yesterday. mascus came two days after Syrian capital Damascus yesterday. could be seen stomping on of- Monday killed at least 72 peo- a “gay moment”, but Disney said Syrian government forces re- fi cial portraits of President ple, including 38 government pelled the largest rebel incur- The offi cial SANA news few kilometres from the city Bashar al-Assad inside the fac- force members and 34 rebels sion into the capital in years. agency said a total of 15 people centre, and are seeking to link tory. and militants, according to the An AFP journalist in east Da- were wounded in opposition fi re it to the besieged northern dis- In addition to controlling half Observatory. Rights activist arrested over ‘sowing sedition’ mascus reported a large explo- yesterday. trict of Qabun. of Jobar and most of Qabun, “We were relieved yester- sion at sunrise yesterday fol- Syrian warplanes were re- “Our windows and doors rat- rebels and their militant allies day when the roads reopened Authorities in the United Arab WAM news agency reported late lowed by fi erce clashes, shelling sponding with steady air strikes tle with each bombardment,” also hold positions in the Da- but today we are trapped once Emirates have arrested an Monday. and government air strikes on on rebel positions in Jobar and said Damascus resident Lamis, mascus districts of Tishreen again,” said Ola, a resident of award-winning human rights Mansoor was accused of using opposition positions. regime forces had sealed all 28. and Barzeh in the north, as well east Damascus. activist pending an investigation social media platforms to “publish Rami Abdel Rahman, head roads in the residential neigh- “I’m frightened that these as Tadamun in the south. “I’m stuck in my bedroom,” for allegedly publishing “false false information and rumours, of the Syrian Observatory for bourhoods nearby, according to armed groups will advance Yesterday’s violence was the the 22-year-old student said. information” and “sowing sedition and spread tendentious ideas that Human Rights, said the blast state television. further and I hope they will be second wave of an assault that Syria’s conflict erupted and sectarianism” online, state would sow sedition, sectarianism was likely caused by a rebel car It said government forces stopped soon.” began at the weekend and saw in March 2011 with protests media said. and hatred and harm national bomb attack on a regime posi- were also targeting rebel posi- Syria’s air force responded to rebels and allied militants ini- against Assad’s rule but has Cybercrime prosecutors ordered unity and social peace, as well as tion between Jobar and Qabun tions in several towns in East- the renewed rebel assault with tially score gains in Jobar, even evolved over the years into a the arrest of Ahmed Mansoor harming the state’s reputation districts. ern Ghouta, a hotspot suburb of raids on their positions while briefly advancing into Abbasid complex civil war. on Sunday “over documented and inciting disobedience,” said Plumes of dark smoke could Damascus. opposition fi ghters shelled the Square — two kilometres from More than 320,000 people electronic proof,” the off icial WAM. be seen rising from eastern Rebels hold half of the east- Abbasid and Tijara neighbour- Damascus’ Old City — for the have been killed and millions neighbourhoods. ern neighbourhood of Jobar, a hoods near Jobar, the Observa- first time in two years. more displaced by the conflict. Khamenei warns he will confront First US carrier returns to Gulf any interference in May election since Trump inauguration Reuters “It was revealed in 2009 — Beirut they came out and drew bat- tle lines. And in other years Reuters after a deal to curb Iran’s nu- sometimes laden with explo- month when a US Navy ship in other ways, but in all these Aboard USS George HW Bush clear goals. sives. and several fast-attack vessels upreme Leader Ayatol- years I stood against them and But serious differences re- “While these probably don’t from Iran’s Islamic Revolution- lah Ali Khamenei warned said whatever the results of the main over Iran’s ballistic mis- have explosives, their behav- ary Guard Corps got within Syesterday he would con- election are, they must be car- US aircraft carrier passed siles as well as conflicts in Syria iour can lead to a miscalcula- 600 yards (metres) of each front anyone trying to inter- ried out.” through a strategic wa- and Iraq. tion because we don’t under- other. fere in Iran’s May presidential Two of the candidates from Aterway separating Iran While still a presidential stand their intentions,” he said. Tehran and Washington of- election, in which conservative the 2009 presidential election, from Arab states yesterday for candidate in September, Trump “Our intention is never to fered conflicting accounts of hardliners will seek to defeat which put hardliner Mahmoud the fi rst time since President vowed that any Iranian vessels start anything but if the situ- the incident and blamed each moderate President Hassan Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ahmadinejad into offi ce for a Donald Trump took offi ce two that harassed the US Navy in ation arises, we are within our other. Rouhani. Ali Khamenei delivers a speech in second term despite large pro- months ago. the Gulf would be “shot out rights to defend ourselves.” A Pentagon spokesman said Khamenei referred to major the holy city of Mashad. tests over alleged vote fraud Nearly 20 smaller Iranian of the water”. US helicopters Iran believes it has a legiti- such interactions were of con- street unrest after the disputed that shook the Islamic Repub- boats looked on as the USS hovered in a cloudy sky as the mate interest in expanding its cern because they could lead to a 2009 presidential election as election. “I will confront any- lic, have been under house ar- George HW Bush approached carrier sailed through choppy influence in the Gulf, has long “miscalculation or an accidental an overt attempt to manipulate one who wants to tamper with rest since 2011. the Gulf through the Strait of waters as part of a convoy that argued that the region should provocation.” the outcome, but said there had the results of the people’s vote. Mir Hussein Moussavi and Hormuz. included a Danish frigate and a organise its own security col- In January, a US destroyer been other cases of attempted In previous years and previous Mehdi Karroubi were detained About one-fifth of the French destroyer. lectively, without outside pow- fi red three warning shots at four interference including in the elections..., it was the same. for calling for street protests world’s oil passes through the Officers aboard were on alert ers. Iranian fast-attack boats near 2013 vote won by Rouhani. Some of it was in front of at the same time that pro-de- Strait and there are occasional and tried to communicate with Accordingly, Iran uses its sea the Strait after they closed in at Khamenei, a hardliner who people’s eyes and they became mocracy uprisings were con- incidents in the area involving the Iranian vessels, but it was power in the Gulf to show it will high speed and disregarded re- has the ultimate say on all ma- aware of it. And some of it they vulsing Tunisia and Egypt. US and Iranian military vessels. not clear if they responded. not be cowed by Washington’s peated requests to slow down. jor foreign and domestic policy were not aware of but I was in- In recent weeks, the hardline Years of mutual animosity Lieutenant Ian McCon- naval presence, analysts say. A year earlier, Iran freed 10 in the Islamic Republic, did not formed about it,” he said in Ira- and moderate political camps eased when Washington lifted naughey, a US Navy spokes- The last serious naval in- US sailors after briefl y detaining specify what attempted tam- nian New Year remarks carried in Iran have been gearing up for sanctions on Tehran last year man, said such boats were cident occurred earlier this them in the Gulf. pering occurred in the 2013 live on state television. a showdown in the May 19 vote. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 ARAB WORLD

World Vision Iraqi forces try to bring cleared in Gaza case civilians out of west Mosul AFP Jerusalem Prime Minister Abadi says US support will accelerate

n Australian govern- Reuters ment probe has found no Mosul Aevidence taxpayer money was misused by the World Vi- sion NGO in the Gaza Strip, after raqi government forces at- Israel alleged millions of dollars tempted to evacuate civil- were diverted to Hamas. Iians from Mosul’s Islamic In August 2016, Israel accused State-held Old City yesterday World Vision’s Gaza head Mo- so that troops could clear the hamed al-Halabi of siphoning area, but militant snipers ham- off millions of dollars per year to pered the eff ort, Iraqi offi cers the group which rules the Pales- said. tinian enclave, claims the NGO They said the insurgents were said it had seen no evidence for. also using civilians as human Australia had given millions shields as government units of dollars to the charity’s work edged towards the Al-Nuri in the Palestinian territories in Mosque, the focus of recent previous years and immediately fi ghting in the fi ve-month-long suspended its funding for their campaign to crush Islamic State Gaza programmes, with the in the city that was once the de Department of Foreign Affairs facto capital of their self-pro- and Trade (DFAT) announcing claimed caliphate. a review. As many as 600,000 civilians “The review uncovered remain in the western sector nothing to suggest any diver- of Mosul, complicating a bat- sion of government funds,” tle being fought with artillery DFAT said in a statement sent and air strikes as well as ground to AFP yesterday. combat. Halabi’s court case is ongo- Thousands have escaped in ing but his lawyers have ac- recent days. cused the prosecution of refus- “Our forces control around ing to hand over much of the 60% of the west now,” Defence evidence. World Vision itself is Ministry spokesman Brigadier also conducting an independ- General Yahya Rasool told a ent review of its operations to news conference in eastern Mo- Members of the Iraqi counter-terrorism service (CTS) engage in combat with militants at An Iraqi family passes by an armed humvee belonging to the Iraqi counter-terrorism service determine whether any graft sul. “It’s the Old City now with Al-Dawasah neighbourhood in west Mosul, on the outskirts of the Old City, yesterday. (CTS) as forces advance towards Al-Resala neighbourhood in west Mosul yesterday. occurred. small streets and it’s a hard fi ght DFAT said funding to World with civilians inside. We are Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the Baghdadi and other leaders on top of the buildings in the started in mid-February. place around the railway station Vision’s programmes would re- trying to evacuate them. caliphate in July 2014 after the have fl ed the city for the hinter- Old City around the Al-Nuri An emergency fi eld hospital in some areas troops had held a main frozen pending the result “We are a few hundred me- militants had captured large ar- lands, where Islamic State rem- Mosque. We need to evacuate set up by the US medical char- few days earlier. of the probe and Halabi’s trial. tres from the mosque now, we eas of Iraq and Syria. nants may regroup and wage a the families from inside as they ity Samaritan’s Purse says it Troops fi red rocket-pro- Tim Costello, chief advocate are advancing on Al-Nuri. We Government forces backed new phase of insurgency. using them as a shield when we has treated more than 1,000 pelled grenades and heavy ma- for World Vision Australia, said know it means a lot to Daesh,” by a US-led international coa- At the same time, IS forces in are advancing on the mosque,” patients, many of them women chineguns at militants around he was “very pleased and very he said, using an Arab acronym lition retook several cities last the Syrian city of Raqqa are un- he told the news conference. and children, since January. the station as families ran across relieved” at the findings. for Islamic State. year, liberated eastern Mosul in der attack in a parallel confl ict. No precise toll of civilian They suff ered wounds from streets to avoid snipers “Our own ongoing audit has The capture of the mosque December, and are now closing Brigadier General Saad Maan casualties has been given but a gunfi re, land mines, mortar “We were sitting inside our not uncovered any diversion would be a huge symbolic prize in on the west, but the militants said soldiers had killed nine IS prominent Iraqi politician said rounds, car bombings and boo- house and bullets were com- of funds,” he said, though he as well as strategic gain for the are putting up fi erce resistance snipers yesterday and destroyed last week that the number could by-traps. ing through our door” said one stressed it would not be final- government as it was there from the close-packed houses a bomb factory. be as high as 3,500 dead since Reporters at the frontline woman fl eeing to government ised until the summer. where Islamic State leader Abu and narrow streets. “There are lots of snipers the attack on western Mosul yesterday said clashes took lines. East Libyan troops say they will Cairo rage room lets Egyptians investigate Benghazi abuses take a swing at their frustrations Reuters Cairo Reuters Hanan Salah, a senior re- Benghazi, Libya/Tunis searcher on Libya for Human Rights Watch, said the LNA had esidents of the Egyptian failed to publicly crack down on capital have a new out- n eastern Libyan force similar abuses in the past. Rlet to release frustrations says it will investigate “What we need to see is a real built up living in a crowded meg- Aabuses by its troops after investigation — we need to see acity. images showing the public dis- that they are arresting people, Armed with a baseball bat and play of corpses and allegations investigating them and holding off ered an array of targets rang- of summary killings surfaced them accountable,” she said. ing from old televisions to clay with the end of a siege in Beng- The suspected abuses raise urns and wooden chairs, angry hazi last week. fresh questions over the coher- Cairenes can vent their fury in a The self-styled Libyan Na- ence of the LNA as a profes- choice of six “rage rooms”. tional Army (LNA) said dozens sional fi ghting body. “Whether it’s in a silly argu- of its hardliner-led opponents Its leader, Khalifa Haftar, is ment or something else, some- were killed as the siege at un- widely assumed to be seeking times you want to let it all out, fi nished tower blocks in the Members of East Libyan forces open the Tripoli road after they national power. but many social factors stop eastern city was broken on Sat- captured the final holdout of their conservative rivals in the He has spurned a UN-backed you,” said Ahmed Nassrat who urday. southwest of Benghazi, yesterday. government in Tripoli that has set up the venture, called Un- Fighters and their families sought to unify political and leashed, with his brother Mazen tried to escape. separate from internationally by members of the Libyan Na- armed factions that splintered last month. Unverifi ed photos and vid- recognised offi cials in Tripoli in tional Army after the liberation into rival camps in the east and “You can come to this place to eos emerged on social media the west, present the LNA as a of west Benghazi are considered west in 2014, three years after release that negative energy,” he Doaa Khaled and her friend smash a clay urn at the rage room in Cairo. appearing to show LNA troops force that will eventually con- individual acts and do not rep- the overthrow of Muammar told Reuters. posing with corpses and parad- trol the whole of Libya. resent the instructions of the Gaddafi . The LNA’s critics say For a fee, clients are outfi t- a space where people can go to concept violent, but it isn’t vio- ing the rotting body of a promi- The LNA’s general command army,” it said in a statement late it is a loose collection of armed ted in protective gear from head get active and simultaneously let lent at all. It’s the best feeling in nent opponent on a vehicle, as called on unit commanders to on Monday. groups with fi ckle loyalties and to toe and led into one of the six off steam, Mazen said, adding he the world,” said Doaa Khaled, on well as carrying out summary hand over to military police all “Those who committed these little discipline, similar to the rooms where they can hack away fi rst learned of the concept while her third visit. killings. those fi lmed carrying out abus- violations will be held account- militias operating in western at the objects of their anger. studying in Canada. She said the relief it provided Eastern military fi gures, es. “The actions carried out able for their actions.” Libya. The brothers wanted to create “Many people consider the kept her coming back. Woman handed jail term for joining IS with family

AFP travelling to an enemy country and They decided to leave Mosul be- Jerusalem taking part in terrorist activities. cause of bombing by an international Zbedat was aged 30 when she and coalition against the IS, harsh condi- her husband Wissam, then 41, flew to tions imposed by the militants and n Arab Israeli who took her Romania in June 2015 with their chil- pressure from relatives in Israel. young family to Iraq and dren aged three, six and eight, the The return journey took eight Ajoined the Islamic State group Shin Bet and Israeli police said. months, according to the Israeli po- was sentenced to more than four From there they travelled to Tur- lice. years in prison yesterday, the justice key, Syria and finally Iraq, where IS After several failed attempts, the ministry said. recruited them, the authorities said. family passed from Syria into Turkey, Sabreen Zbedat spent months in The police said Sabreen had con- paying thousands of dollars to smug- the militants’ Iraqi stronghold Mosul vinced her husband to join the group. glers. with her husband and three children, He received religious instruction After crossing the border, they in the first known case of an entire and military training before going were arrested. Arab Israeli family joining IS, Israel’s into battle. They finally arrived back in Israel domestic security agency Shin Bet Wounded in the leg, he was hos- on September 22, where the parents said. pitalised in Mosul where the family were arrested and the children were A Haifa court sentenced Zbedat, was living. Sabreen worked at a hos- put in the care of relatives. from the northern Israeli town of pital there and the children attended The husband, Wissam, is still on Sakhnin, to 50 months in prison for schools, Israeli police said. trial, according to local media. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 13 AFRICA

SECURITY LAND LAW FOREIGN POLICY COURT ORDER AFTERMATH Nigerians fleeing Boko Namibia president calls for Far-right leader Le Pen to Opposition leader’s jail Ghana shuts tourist site Haram expelled: UN land expropriation meet Chad president sentence upheld after freak tree accident

More than 2,600 Nigerians who fled into northern Namibia’s president said yesterday that French far-right leader Marine Le Pen will meet An appeals court in Congo-Brazzaville yesterday Ghanaian authorities have closed the popular tourist Cameroon to escape Boko Haram jihadists the government is considering radical land Chad’s President Idriss Deby as she looks to upheld the conviction and two-year jail sentence destination of Kintampo Falls after 20 people died in a have been forced to go home since the start expropriation to spur the transfer of property bolster her foreign policy credentials with a for inciting public disorder handed down last year tree fall tragedy. A group of high school and university of the year, the UN said yesterday. Thousands to the country’s black majority. Speaking at key ally in the fight against Islamist militants, to opposition leader Paulin Makaya. The charge, students were swimming on Sunday afternoon at of Nigerians have been displaced by the Boko Namibia’s 27th independence celebrations, her National Front party said yesterday. Le stemming from an unauthorised demonstration the picturesque waterfalls in the Brong-Ahafo region, Haram insurgency, which has seen deadly attacks President Hage Geingob said the government Pen, among the frontrunners in the French Makaya organised in 2015, also carried a fine of some 450km from Accra, when a massive tree since 2009 in pursuit of a caliphate in northern should evoke part of the Constitution allowing presidential election, travelled to Lebanon in 2.5mn CFA francs ($4,100). “The judgement rendered crashed into the water, crushing some to death and Nigeria. Some 85,000 have sought refuge in for land expropriation with fair compensation February to get a sense of the Syrian crisis and the first time is aff irmed,” said Christine Tsika injuries scores of others. Police said an investigation Cameroon but the UN refugee agency said many since the redistribution process has been slow. is using the two-day visit to meet French troops Mayanda, president of the country’s first correctional had been launched into the tragedy but that no had been sent back, with off icials citing security Namibia wants to transfer 43%, or 15mn hectares stationed in Chad and outline her policies for division of the court of appeals. Makaya’s lawyer foul play was suspected. “The National Disaster reasons. “So far this year, Cameroon has forcefully of its arable agricultural land, to previously Africa. “She will be meeting President Deby with Yvon Eric Ibouanga criticised yesterday’s ruling as Management Organisation and the Ministry of returned over 2,600 refugees to Nigerian border disadvantaged blacks by 2020. By the end of whom she will discuss the sensitive situation in “disappointing and illegal,” reiterating the defence’s Tourism, Arts and Culture have ordered the indefinite villages against their will,” UNHCR spokesman 2015, 27% was redistributed, according to the this part of Africa,” the party said in a statement view that the prosecution had failed to prove “all of closure of the Kintampo waterfalls,” tourism minister Babar Baloch told reporters in Geneva. Namibia Agriculture Union. in Paris yesterday. the elements” of Makaya’s alleged off ence. spokesman Frank Siaw-Otu said in a statement.

Zulu dance contest 17 die in Nigeria market

attack Contestants perform during the annual Ingoma traditional Zulu dance competition in Durban. AFP people were killed in the attack in a re- Kano gion wracked by a long-running confl ict between nomadic Fulani herders and lo- cal farmers over grazing rights. unmen killed 17 people, mostly Nigerian President Muhammadu Bu- women and children, after invad- hari condemned the “loss of lives” in a Ging a farming community in central statement yesterday. Zimbabwe rains raise harvest Nigeria, police said yesterday, the latest “The president condemns the wicked violence linked to grazing rights disputes. attack and directs security agencies to The attack in Benue State occurred begin immediate investigation with a Monday, state police spokesman Moses view to bringing the perpetrators of the Yamu told AFP, saying attackers on mo- dastardly act to book,” his offi ce said. hopes, but pest brings misery torcycles and in a car opened fi re on a In July last year, state offi cials said market and set buildings on fi re. scores of villagers were killed in Benue “There was indeed an attack yester- following weeks of clashes. Local televi- By Busani Bafana, Reuters ery, the government and develop- tional grain agency, the Grain Mar- “At the national level, signs are day afternoon on a market in Zaki Biyam sion channels put the toll at 81. Gwanda, Zimbabwe ment agencies say. keting Board, he said. that there will be a good crop. How- by unknown persons. Seventeen people In February 2016, hundreds of people Zimbabwe could still meet its goal However, Eddie Cross, a member ever, at individual level, there will be were killed and 11 injured by the gun- were said to have been killed and about of harvesting the 2mn tonnes of grain of parliament and an economist, told problems,” particularly with the army men,” Yamu said. 1,000 homes destroyed in the Agatu area fter plenty of rain, Isaac Sizi- the country needs this year, if it can the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a worm pest, David Phiri, the southern “We have not made any arrests and we of the state in a wave of attacks blamed ba’s maize fi elds looked set for stop the army worm invasion, offi - telephone interview from Harare that Africa representative of FAO, told the are yet to fi nd out the motive for the at- on the Fulani. Aa bumper harvest this season, cials say. the country was still a long way from Thomson Reuters Foundation. tack. We have been given some names of Buhari, a northern Muslim, has pro- similar to the one he gathered in 2014, But the pest may have aff ected up achieving food security, even though Phiri said the pest — which has at- people suspected of involvement in the posed the creation of grazing land to before Zimbabwe suff ered a long and to 130,000 hectares of the country’s the harvest would be the best in re- tacked six other countries in south- attack and we are on their trail.” prevent further clashes in a country that punishing drought. staple maize crop, the UN Food and cent years. ern Africa besides Zimbabwe — was An investigation is under way. is battling an eight-year Boko Haram in- But last month army worms invad- Agriculture Organization (FAO) said. Last year, Zimbabwe declared a a serious threat to recovery in the Local media said between 30 and 50 surgency in the northeast. ed Siziba’s 4-hectare farm in Gwanda That is about 11% of the country’s drought disaster and appealed for drought-hit region. District and munched through his planted maize crop of 1.2mn hectares, $1.6bn in food aid and humanitarian as- His organisation is helping govern- maize. according to Joseph Made, Zimba- sistance to help at least 4mn people get ments in the region put in place plans Somalia PM names 26 minister cabinet Now he expects just a fi fth of the bwe‘s minister of agriculture, mech- by until the next harvest in March 2017. to contain the pest. harvest he had counted on. anisation and irrigation. More than $200mn was spent on Governments agreed to create a omalia’s new prime minister yes- The prime minister yesterday named “We were happy with the good Tropical storm Dineo, which hit grain imports, mainly from Zambia, regional task force to monitor the terday named a 26-strong cabinet, Abdirahman Duale Beyle as his fi nance rains this year, which means a bump- Mozambique in February, also trig- after a harvest that fell far short of outbreak at an emergency meeting in Sincluding a former foreign aff airs minister and Yusuf Garaad Omar as foreign er crop, but I am not sure anymore gered fl oods in southern Zimbabwe, national requirements, according to Harare in mid-February. chief as fi nance minister and a BBC jour- minister. Beyle, a former economist at the because of the worm,” said the 49- leaving more than 240 people dead the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank. The pest is particularly diffi cult to nalist as the country’s top diplomat. African Development Bank, served as for- year old farmer, pointing to holes and close to 2,000 homeless. Zimbabwe currently has strategic control as it is a new arrival in south- Hassan Ali Khaire, who was appointed eign minister from 2014 to 2015. Omar, a gnawed in the leaves of his tassled Earlier this month Zimbabwe’s reserves of 250,000 tonnes of maize ern Africa. to the post by President Mohamed Ab- dual British-Somali national, was head of maize plants. government declared a national dis- — enough to last six months, Made The Southern Africa Development dullahi Mohamed last month, read out the BBC’s Somali language service. “I am disappointed,” he admitted. aster and appealed to international said this month. Community (SADC), in a regional his list of cabinet ministers to reporters. Other appointments included Abdi “The pest is eating everything.” donors for $100mn to repair infra- Last week, Zimbabwe’s Vice Presi- humanitarian appeal, said nearly President Mohamed was sworn in last Farah Juha, a political novice who was Struggling farmers in Zimbabwe structure. dent Emmerson Mnangagwa, who 1.7mn tonnes of maize was needed for month after unseating Hassan Sheikh named interior minister. had been hopeful of fi nally getting a Made, the agriculture minister, also chairs the Cabinet Committee on immediate food assistance in the re- Mohamud, whose administration faced Khaire was the former country direc- good harvest this month, following told parliament recently that 55% Food Security, told local media that gion until the March harvest. public and Western criticism for corrup- tor of the British company, Soma Oil the fi rst heavy rains in nearly three more maize had been planted this the government has stopped grain Maize farmer Siziba said recurring tion scandals. and Gas. His own appointment by the years. season compared to last year, when imports in anticipation of a bumper problems with the crop may force him A dual US-Somali citizen and a former president was controversial, because UN But a variety of new problems, severe drought put many farmers off crop. to rethink how he farms in the future. prime minister, President Mohamed has sanctions experts had previously accused from fl ooding in some regions to the planting altogether. Farmers and experts say they are The army worm pest “is turning our promised to tackle hunger, corruption and Soma of paying Somalia’s oil ministry arrival of a destructive Latin Ameri- The government has budgeted confi dent this year’s harvest will be celebration into misery,” he said. violence in Somalia, which has been mired nearly $600,000 to protect a 2013 explo- can army worm, now threaten to cut $140mn to buy 800,000 tonnes of better than last year’s — but how Now, “we will stick with breeding in civil war for a quarter of a century. ration contract. harvests and expectations for recov- maize from farmers through the na- much better remains unclear. goats. That is our reliable crop.” China’s demand for medicine fuels African donkey slaughter

By Sibongile Khumalo, AFP parts of China, is believed to be this village will soon have no “There is no Chinese com- donkey killings two years ago Mogosani, South Africa more nutritious than beef and is donkeys left,” he said, adding pany importing donkey skins and now discover piles of don- enjoyed in burgers or stewed. his family had begun keeping the from South Africa through legal key hides and meat in backyard “Many people here don’t eat animals in 1991. channel(s),” it stated. slaughterhouses at least four nder a cloudless sky in donkey meat, they are just our He said the long-eared crea- But plans revealed in Sep- times a week. South Africa’s north- animals,” said Sising. tures were normally bought or tember to formalise the trade “The animals are killed in a Uwestern farming region, The gelatin, known in China as sold for 400 rand ($30), but the between North West province very cruel manner, bludgeoned donkeys still amble along muddy ejiao, is dissolved into hot bev- price had surged to up to 2,000 — believed to have the country’s in the head with a hammer or paths, pausing to nibble on grass, erages, or mixed with nuts and rand. biggest donkey population — stabbed,” said Nkoane. oblivious to the threat from a de- seeds as a snack. Tsietsoane was adamant that and China’s Henan region may “They are then skinned and, mand for Chinese medicine. The industry is said to be he would never let go of his re- change that. according to our sources, their The gelatin found in the ani- worth millions of dollars and maining three animals. Donkey prices shot up after the skins taken to China, where they mals’ skin has made them a tar- China is increasingly looking to Two months ago, police in Jo- announcement. harvest the gelatin used in medi- get, leading to a growing wave of Africa to satisfy demand after its hannesburg uncovered a storage “The aim was to create com- cines. donkey slaughtering in several own donkey population dropped container with more than 5,000 mercial opportunities for people “If nothing is done, we might African countries, as gangs seek sharply. donkey hides, in what was de- in rural areas who own these ani- fi nd ourselves with a similar situ- to fuel a lucrative, and in South Donkey numbers in China have scribed as the biggest bust so far. mals,” said Patrick Leteane, di- ation to the rhino poaching crisis Africa illegal, trade. nearly halved from 11mn in the The collection is believed to rector general at the North West in the country.” Animal rights groups say the Villagers use donkeys to pull their cart at Magosane village in the 1990s to 6mn in 2013, according have come from across the coun- provincial government’s agricul- South Africa’s landlocked docile beasts of burden are often North West Province of South Africa. to the country’s national animal try and police have made several ture department. neighbour, Botswana, currently cruelly bludgeoned to death be- husbandry yearbook. large fi nds in the city this year, “We wanted to unlock a whole legally exports donkey meat to fore being skinned in backyards “The thieves are after the to collect recycling material, fi re- “Jobs are scarce here, and don- suggesting a growing trend. value chain that would involve China, as does Kenya, and Na- and clandestine slaughterhous- skins,” donkey keeper George wood and sand for sale. keys are our source of income, if “In one instance, donkey skins breeding, feedlots, slaughtering mibia is in the process of setting es. Sising told AFP. The donkey-hide gelatin has you own donkeys you can work were found inside the yard of a and export,” he said. up an abattoir to service the Chi- Around Mogosani village, in “We never used to have this no commercial value in Africa for yourself,” said Ikgopeleng tavern owned by a Chinese man,” China produces 5,000 tons of nese market. South Africa’s North West prov- problem, donkeys here used to but is highly sought after in Chi- Tsietsoane, 25, another Mogosani said North West province police ejiao each year, requiring some But formalising the trade has ince, residents say syndicates roam free, but now people are na as an ingredient for traditional donkey owner. spokesman Sabata Mokgwabone. 4mn hides, according to the Chi- not stopped illegal, cruel killings. catch the animals in grazing afraid of what might happen.” medicine to treat health prob- In October, six of his nine ani- After the police busts prompt- na Daily. After facing an unsustainable fi elds and pens. Like many of the village’s poor lems such as anaemia and meno- mals were stolen and the perpe- ed a public outcry, the Chinese Speaking to AFP, Kabelo donkey slaughter, Burkina Faso Soon after, skinned carcasses and unemployed, Sising, 65, re- pause-linked ailments. trators never found. embassy in January issued a Nkoane, of the Highveld Horse- last year announced a ban on the with hooves chopped off are lies on the animals to make a liv- Hooves also contain gelatin, “The theft is taking away our statement insisting no formal care Unit, said the animal wel- export of donkey meat and skins found nearby. ing, using a donkey-drawn cart while the meat, consumed in livelihood. If nothing is done, trade existed with South Africa. fare group’s staff began noticing to Asia. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 AMERICA Tillerson to skip Nato meeting next month

AFP working with a small inner cir- Washington cle of advisers. The administration, mean- while, has been scrambling President Donald Trump holds up S442, the Nasa transition authorisation act, after signing it in the Oval Off ice of the White House in Washington. S Secretary of State to reaffi rm its commitment Rex Tillerson will skip Washington’s military alli- Ua Nato meeting in April ances — including Nato — af- but travel to Russia the same ter Trump called into question month, offi cials said yesterday, their usefulness during his fuelling fears about Washing- campaign. ton’s commitment to the alli- Just last week — after meet- ance. ing Chancellor Angela Merkel Tillerson will be replaced at the White House — Trump Trump twists arms on by his deputy at the Brus- took to Twitter to claim that sels meeting on April 5 and 6, Germany owes “vast sums of despite Washington’s eff orts money to Nato and the United to quash questions about US States”, reviving his charge that President Donald Trump’s sup- US allies are not paying their port for Nato and quest for bet- way. ter ties with Moscow. Trump’s Defence Secretary Obamacare repeal Chinese leader Xi Jinping is James Mattis, a former Marine expected to visit Trump at his general, has declared that the Trump is pushing Republican done, we’re going to lose the House and ship can only aff ord to lose about 20 votes Florida golf resort at some point United States fully supports doubters hard on his healthcare plan the Senate next year. from Republican ranks or risk the bill fail- in early April, and Tillerson Nato, and Tillerson travelled He was that blunt,” the New York Re- ing since minority Democrats are united would be expected to attend, last week to reaffi rm ties with AFP publican lawmaker said, referring to the against it. but State Department offi cials Asian allies Japan and South Washington 2018 mid-term elections. Republican Representative Walter gave no public explanation for Korea. “’We deliver on this, then we do tax re- Jones said Trump told lawmakers in a his decision to skip Brussels. But the United States is by form, then we pick up 10 Senate seats next closed-door meeting if the Republican Instead, they insisted Tiller- far the North Atlantic alliance’s resident Donald Trump went to year’,” Collins said, recounting Trump’s bill does not pass, they would face “po- son will in any case meet most leading partner, and Tillerson’s Congress yesterday to win support words. litical problems.” Jones said he thought of the foreign ministers from absence from its foreign minis- Pfor a bill to dismantle Obamacare, Some Republicans have balked at their Trump meant lawmakers could lose their the 28-nation military alli- ters’ meeting will be noted with warning Republican lawmakers that they own party’s replacement plan, which they seats. ance at the State Department concern, especially by newer risk losing their majority in the US leg- complain is too similar to Obamacare, Republican leaders recrafted the bill on in Washington this week at a East European members on its islature next year if they fail to pass the Counsellor to the president, Kellyanne merely reducing health coverage subsidies Monday to satisfy critics, mainly fellow meeting of the coalition fi ght- exposed east fl ank. measure. Conway at the Republican conference. with refundable tax credits. Republicans, in part by proposing major ing the Islamic State group. The transatlantic bond is House Speaker Paul Ryan — one of the Some in the party also have called for changes to tax credits and provisions to al- “He has already met with “getting stronger,” Pentagon bill’s architects and chief champions — has “President Trump was here to do what changes to a provision in the bill that rolls ter the Medicaid insurance programme for offi cials from Ukraine. After chief Jim Mattis told Nato’s scheduled a vote for tomorrow on a meas- he does best, and that is to close the deal,” back the expansion of Medicaid, the health low-income people. these consultations and meet- Jens Stoltenberg yesterday. ure to repeal and replace Barack Obama’s said Ryan, in a reference to Trump’s repu- coverage programme for the poor and the On Trump’s brief Capitol Hill visit, ings, in April he will travel to a “We have a very strong signature healthcare law, which Republi- tation as a businessman who drives a hard disabled. Party leaders made tweaks to the Representative Bill Flores said the presi- meeting of the G7 in Italy and transatlantic bond,” Mattis told cans have vowed to overturn. bargain. bill late Monday, which they hope will al- dent predicted House Republicans voting then on to meetings in Russia,” Nato’s secretary general. Congressional Republicans, who in the “He is all in, and we are all in to end this lay concerns enough to allow the bill to against the bill likely would face primary one senior US offi cial said. “It’s getting stronger, rela- years since the passage of Obama’s Aff ordable Obamacare nightmare,” said Ryan, point- squeak by in Thursday’s vote. challenges. In Brussels, the United States tionships don’t stay the same, Care Act have held numerous unsuccessful ing out that repealing Obamacare was a If it passes, the Senate is expected to He said Trump mentioned Mark Mead- will be represented by Tom they are always changing. repeal votes, fi nally have in Trump a president promise made by numerous Republicans take up the measure in early April. ows, chairman of the conservative House Shannon, the highest ranking In this case the bond is get- who has vowed to sign an overhaul law. during the November presidential and “The president was really clear: he laid Freedom Caucus, saying he eventually career diplomat left in the State ting stronger.” But Republicans, deeply divided as congressional elections. it on the line for everybody,” House Speak- would come around to vote for the bill. Department from the previous Stoltenberg twice declined to what a replacement healthcare plan “We made a promise that we would re- er Paul Ryan, the leading proponent of the “Mark Meadows, he called out two or administration and Tillerson’s to comment when a reporter should look like, are struggling to garner peal and replace this disastrous law and we bill, told reporters.” We made a promise. three times,” Flores told reporters.”The acting deputy. shouted questions about the enough support to pass the current repeal- are going to keep our word,” Ryan said. Now is our time to keep that promise... reaction, when he said, ‘Mark Meadows, After almost two months in message Tillerson’s decision and-replace measure in either chamber. One House Republican, Chris Col- If we don’t keep our promise, it will be I’m coming after you’, was pretty loud the job, Tillerson has yet to ap- will send. Nato countries were With passage of the measure in peril, lins, said Trump didn’t mince words in very hard to manage this.” cheers...I think he was tongue-in-cheek, point a deputy or any assistant deeply unsettled by President Trump made a rare visit to Capitol Hill to delivering the message to Republicans Attendees at the meeting said Trump half joking.” secretaries and he has adopted Trump’s campaign rhetoric in rally the 237 Republican lawmakers in the that the control of Congress was in the singled out lawmakers opposed to the bill Despite Monday’s changes, the Wall a low-profi le stance, avoiding which he branded the alliance House to set aside their qualms and pass balance. by name, doing so in a jovial tone. Street Journal reported the House Freedom public and press events and as “obsolete”. the measure. “The message was, if we don’t get this The administration and House leader- Caucus has enough votes to block the bill. US weighing sanctions on N Korea Canine diplomacy

Reuters While the long-standing op- The administration source said relevant parties could continue suspected nuclear weapons pro- Washington tion of pre-emptive military US offi cials, including Tiller- to “escalate toward confl ict and gramme. For such measures to strikes against North Korea is not son, had privately warned China potential war”. have any chance to infl uence the off the table — as refl ected by US about broader “secondary sanc- “The other choice is that all behaviour of North Korea, which he Trump administration Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s tions” that would target banks sides can cool down and jointly is already under heavy sanctions, is considering sweeping warning to Pyongyang during his and other companies that do pull the Korean nuclear issue Washington must secure full in- Tsanctions aimed at cut- Asia tour last week — the new business with North Korea, most back to a path of political and ternational co-operation — es- ting North Korea off from the administration is giving priority of which are Chinese. diplomatic resolution,” Hua told pecially from China, which has global fi nancial system as part for now to less-risky options. The move under considera- a daily news briefi ng yesterday. shown little appetite for putting of a broad review of measures to The policy recommendations tion would mark an escalation of China would strictly and such a squeeze on its neighbour. counter Pyongyang’s nuclear and being assembled by President Trump’s pressure on China to do comprehensively implement Analysts also have questioned missile threat, a senior US offi cial Donald Trump’s national secu- more to contain North Korea. its duties under the UN Secu- whether such sanctions would said on Monday. rity adviser, H R McMaster, are It was not clear how Chinese rity Council resolutions, which be as eff ective on North Korea as The sanctions would be part of expected to reach the president’s offi cials responded to those meant implementing sanctions they were on a major oil producer a multi-pronged approach of in- desk within weeks, possibly be- warnings but Beijing has made but also making eff orts to get such as Iran, given the isolated creased economic and diplomatic fore a summit with Chinese Pres- clear its strong opposition to back to talks, she added. nation’s limited links to the world pressure — especially on Chinese ident Xi Jinping in early April, the such moves. The objective of the US move fi nancial system. North Korea banks and fi rms that do the most offi cial said, speaking on condi- In Beijing, Chinese Foreign being considered would be to has relied heavily on illicit trade business with North Korea — tion of anonymity. Ministry spokeswoman Hua tighten the screws in the same done via small Chinese banks. plus beefed-up defences by the Trump met McMaster on Sat- Chunying said the situation on way that the widening of sanc- So, to be applied successfully, United States and its South Ko- urday to discuss North Korea and the Korean peninsula was at a tions — to encompass foreign the new measures would have to Daily, an English Bulldog and Seguin, a Yorkshire Terrier rean and Japanese allies, accord- said afterward that the country’s crossroads and there were two fi rms dealing with Iran — was threaten to bar those banks from at a news conference to announce the American Kennel ing to the administration offi cial leader, Kim Jong-un, was “acting prospects. used to pressure Tehran to open the international fi nancial sys- Club (AKC) top ten breeds in New York City. familiar with the deliberations. very, very badly.” One, she said, was that the negotiations with the West on its tem. Wyclef Jean says US curbs on electronics from 10 airports ‘treated like criminal’ Reuters devices in electronic gadgets, offi - Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from American carriers because none interest in targeting commercial Washington cials told reporters on a conference travelling to the United States for fl y directly to the United States aviation, including transporta- Reuters “I am sure no father wants his call on Monday. 90 days. from the airports, offi cials said. tion hubs”. Reuters reported Mon- Los Angeles sons or daughters to see him in They did not provide further The airports aff ected by the Offi cials did not explain why the day that the move had been under Handcuff s especially if he is in- he Trump administration details on the threat. electronics rules are served by nine restrictions only apply to travellers consideration since the US gov- nocent,” he added. yesterday imposed restric- The airports are in Cairo; Is- airlines that fl y directly from those arriving in the United States and ernment learned of a threat several rammy award-winning Jean blamed the Los Angles Po- Ttions on carry-on electronic tanbul; Kuwait City; Doha, Qatar; cities to the United States about 50 not for those same fl ights when weeks ago. hip hop artist Wyclef Jean lice Department for the incident, devices on planes coming to the Casablanca, Morocco; Amman, times a day, senior government of- they leave the United States. US offi cials have told Reuters Gsaid he was handcuff ed which occurred around 1am PDT United States from 10 airports in Jordan; Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi fi cials said. The rules do apply to US citizens the information gleaned from a and “treated like a criminal” when (0800 GMT), but in fact it in- Muslim-majority countries in the Arabia; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi The carriers — Royal Jorda- travelling on those fl ights, but not US commando raid in January in he was briefl y detained yesterday volved sheriff ’s deputies, the Los Middle East and North Africa in in United Arab Emirates. nian Airlines, Egypt Air, Turkish to crew members on those foreign Yemen that targeted Al Qaeda in by law enforcement offi cers in Angeles County Sheriff ’s Depart- response to unspecifi ed terrorism Offi cials said the decision had Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, carriers. Passengers cam use larger the Arabian Peninsula included Los Angeles as they investigated ment said. threats. nothing to do with President Don- Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, approved medical devices. bombmaking techniques. AQAP, a robbery. The sheriff ’s department told The Department of Homeland ald Trump’s eff orts to impose a Qatar Airways, Emirates and Eti- The agency said the procedures based in Yemen, has plotted to In tweets and video of the inci- NBC in Los Angeles that Jean was Security said passengers travel- travel ban on six majority-Muslim had Airways — have until Friday to would “remain in place until the down US airliners and claimed dent posted to his Instagram and briefl y detained while deputies ling from those airports could not nations. comply with the new policy, which threat changes” and did not rule responsibility for 2015 attack on Twitter feed, the Haitian-born were looking for a suspect match- bring devices larger than a cell- A DHS spokeswoman said the took eff ect early yesterday and will out expanding to other airports. the offi ce of Charlie Hebdo maga- former Fugees singer said he ap- ing his description who had car- phone, such as tablets, portable government “did not target spe- be in place indefi nitely. DHS said in a statement it zine in Paris. The group claimed peared to have been the victim of ried out an armed robbery at a gas DVD players, laptops and cameras, cifi c nations. However, an Emirates spokes- “seeks to balance risk with im- responsibility for a December 25, “another case of mistaken iden- station in West Hollywood. into the main cabin. We relied upon evaluated intel- woman who confi rmed the Dubai- pacts to the travelling public and 2009, failed attempt by a Nige- tity” and threatened to sue. The singer was placed in hand- Instead, they must be in checked ligence to determine which air- based airline was aff ected by the has determined that cellphones rian Islamist to down an airliner “I was treated like a criminal cuff s and released without charge baggage. ports were aff ected”. restrictions said the new security and smartphones will be allowed over Detroit. The device, hidden in until other police showed up and when it was determined he was The new restrictions were On March 6, Trump signed a directive would last until October in accessible property at this time”. the underwear of the man, Umar pointed out they had wrong per- not the suspect, a spokesman told prompted by reports that militant revised executive order barring 14. The government said it is “con- Farouk Abdulmutallab, failed to son,” Jean, 47, wrote on Twitter. NBC. groups want to smuggle explosive citizens from Iran, Libya, Syria, The policy does not aff ect any cerned about terrorists’ ongoing detonate. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 15 ASEAN Interpol Singapore PM in Vietnam issues red notices for 3 Sinopec executives

Reuters arrest an individual pending extradition. Jakarta It is not an international arrest warrant as Interpol cannot compel any member country to arrest an individual who is the ndonesian police said yesterday Inter- subject of a red notice. pol has issued red notices, the closest Indonesia, an archipelago of some Ito an international arrest warrant, for 250mn people rich in resources, is rou- three Chinese executives suspected of tinely ranked by watchdog Transparency fraud linked to a more than $800mn Si- International as one of the world’s most nopec oil terminal development in Indo- corrupt countries. nesia. Former Indonesian energy minister Jero China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, Wacik is serving an eight-year prison term or Sinopec, is the second major Chinese for involvement in extortion and kick- Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong (left) is greeted by Vietnamese off icials upon his arrival at Ho Chi Minh City’s International Tan Son Nhat state oil fi rm in less than three years to backs worth about $840,000. airport. Lee yesterday began a four-day off icial visit aimed at boosting bilateral ties. fi nd staff facing allegations of corruption SERIES OF SETBACKS Defrizal in Indonesia, where the resources sector is Djamaris, a lawyer representing West riddled with graft and legal and contrac- Point Terminal’s 5-percent stakeholder, tual uncertainty. PT Mas Capital Trust (MCT), said MCT “The three red notices have been pub- reported suspicions of fraud on the project lished for those wanted people,” said Na- to local police in 2015. tional Police spokesman Boy Rafl i Amar. The red notices were issued because the Indonesian authorities fi led a request three executives had left the country and Soldier who killed activist to for Interpol assistance on February 21 re- “not cooperated” with local police inves- garding the three executives, suspects in tigations, Djamaris said. the alleged embezzlement of an undis- The police’s Amar did not confi rm this. closed sum of money from the West Point The West Point Terminal was touted to Terminal project, Amar said. be Southeast Asia’s largest and was ini- tially expected to be operational by mid- face charge in Thailand He identifi ed the three as West Point Terminal fi nance director Zhang Jun, chief 2016, but has faced a series of setbacks executive Feng Zhigang and chairman Ye including a lawsuit fi led by Indonesian AFP not chime with the behaviour of an tection for a 19-year-old who was land’s stateless citizens — ethnic Zhijun. shareholders in November. Bangkok activist renowned for his commu- also in the car, who has been de- groups who have been allowed to In a statement on its offi cial microblog, The project in Indonesia’s Batam free nity campaigns against drugs, who tained since the incident. stay since the Cold War-era but are Sinopec said it had not received any red trade zone to the south of Singapore is worked on documentaries, music Scores of other activists have died denied citizenship, including for notices from Interpol, was checking rel- 95% owned by Sinopec Kantons Holdings, Thai soldier who shot dead a and talks on rights for minority tribal over the last decade in Thailand, their children. evant information about the project and a subsidiary of Sinopec. prominent youth activist will groups — such as his Lahu people. where the powerful often lean on The military described the young that the company and its subsidiaries op- Sinopec Kantons bought into the Abe charged, police said yester- Major General Panudej Boonre- local networks to cover-up wrong- activist as a 21-years-old, but friends erated in accordance with the law. project in January 2012, aiming to develop day, after the kingdom’s junta leader ung, deputy police commander for doing. told Thai media he was in fact 17. The Reuters has not yet been able to fi nd tel- a 2.6 million-tonne storage facility worth ordered an investigation following Thailand’s northern region, told Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, district where the killing occurred is ephone numbers or e-mail addresses for more than $800mn. widespread public outrage. AFP the unnamed soldier will face a former army general who seized in northern Thailand near Myanmar, the three executives, so has been unable to The project was delayed by several years Chaiyaphum Pasae, a campaigner a charge of “murder while acting in power in 2014, yesterday appeared to a notorious drug route used by well- contact them for comment. due to slow demand for tank space, Reu- for stateless communities in Thai- self-defence”. recognise public anger. armed traffi cking groups. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes- ters reported. land’s border regions, was shot dead But he added prosecutors will de- “I have ordered an investigation The CCrF believe the military unit woman Hua Chunying said she had seen An offi cial at Indonesia’s energy minis- on Friday morning in northern Chi- cide “whether to indict or not” only into the cause of this incident,” he who shot Chaiyaphum was involved reports about the red notices, but was not try said the downstream operations per- ang Mai province after the car he was once facts are established. told reporters, though he urged the in another checkpoint killing last aware of specifi cs. mit for the West Point Terminal expired in in was stopped at a military check- Rights groups are concerned the public to refrain from criticising the month where a similar justifi cation Interpol’s General Secretariat press of- late 2014. point. military, which currently runs Thai- military. of a suspect trying to throw a gre- fi ce said in an emailed response to ques- Sinopec’s only other Indonesian asset The army says soldiers found land, cannot be relied upon to inves- Human Rights Watch said the nade at soldiers was given. tions on the matter that it did not “com- is an 18-percent stake in Chevron’s deep drugs inside the car and opened fi re tigate. slaying of Chaiyaphum had “set Junta spokesman Winthai Suvaree ment on specifi c cases or individuals water project, bought in 2010. after Chaiyaphum bolted from the Advocacy organisation the Cross alarm bells ringing” and urged Thai told AFP he was unaware of those except in special circumstances”. Sinopec Kantons, which is one of Si- vehicle and threatened to throw a Cultural Foundation (CCrF) called authorities to “thoroughly and im- claims, but said drug traffi ckers fre- A red notice is Interpol’s highest alert nopec’s smallest subsidiaries, was not im- grenade at them. for an investigation to be conducted partially investigate this case and quently “resist arrest” in the region and is a request to locate and provisionally mediately available for comment. But his friends have taken to so- by a non-military “commission of make their fi ndings public”. where Chaiyaphum died adding the cial media to say that narrative does inquiry”. It also urged witness pro- Chaiyaphum was one of Thai- army “doesn’t cover them up at all”.

Mother sues own son for calling her a ‘prostitute’ 5 frozen, gutted tigers found in Vietnam A Myanmar woman is suing her own son for calling her a “prostitute” on Facebook, the Good luck coins prove fatal for Thai ‘piggy bank’ turtle Five frozen tigers have been discov- latest case under a controversial law that ered in a Vietnamese man’s freezer critics say is increasingly stifling free speech. with their organs removed, accord- Police arrested 21-year-old Wana Oo Reuters She received an emergency op- ing to off icial reports yesterday, in yesterday after his mother Tin Tin Hla, from Bangkok eration on Monday, after which she a country seen as a global hub for southern Myanmar, brought a case against went into a coma. the illegal wildlife trade. him over comments he made about her Her fate had preoccupied Thais, Tiger organs and bones are used relationship with a new boyfriend. 25-year-old Thai sea turtle who cherish turtles as a symbol of for medicinal purposes in the com- “She sued her son for abusing her on Face- died yesterday from blood longevity, and the vets had urged munist country, where a thriving book concerning her complicated relation- Apoisoning, never recover- people to pray for her recovery. local market drives the illegal sale ship,” local police off icer Aung Lwin told AFP. ing from an operation to remove 915 “Her cause of death is blood poi- of animal parts including ivory and “The police have now arrested her son and coins from her stomach, thrown into soning,” one of the vets told reporters. rhino horn. he confessed to what he did on Facebook. her pool for good luck, veterinarians The gap in Omsin’s stomach left But Vietnam is also a key transit We will process the case according to the said. by the removal of the coins caused route for wildlife parts destined law.” The green turtle named Omsin, her intestine to become strangled, for elsewhere in Asia, including Wana Oo was charged under a broadly- ‘piggy bank’ in Thai, underwent blocking blood fl ow, the vets said. neighbouring China. worded law that forbids defaming people on a seven-hour-long operation this Acute infection in the intestine The five tigers were discovered any telecommunications network and can month to remove 5kg of coins which then caused blood infection. in the central province of Nghe carry up to three-years in jail. she had mistaken for food. They also said they would perform An on Monday, according to a Images of posts sent to AFP by the police But Omsin, who lived at a con- an autopsy on Omsin as a case study, report from the off icial provincial showed several pictures of Tin Tin Hla posted servation centre in Chonburi, east which would benefi t the treatment newspaper. on Wana Oo’s Facebook page with insulting of the Thai capital Bangkok, was of turtles in the future. Thai veterinarians prepare to operate on Omsin to remove coins from her “The authorities found inside a comments underneath. rushed into intensive care on Sunday “She is our teacher,” another vet stomach at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn Universiry in freezer five dead tigers, with the Defamation prosecutions have soared night, breathing too slowly. said. Bangkok on March 6. skins intact but the internal organs since Aung San Suu Kyi’s government took removed,” it said. power in March 2016, including for people The tigers were Indochinese, ac- who have made online criticisms about the cording to Vietnam News Agency, democracy leader. but off icials said police would Hopes had been high her NLD party, many investigate further. of whom spent decades in jail for speaking Taxi-hailing app Grab hits the road in Myanmar Police refused to comment. their minds under Myanmar’s former junta, Tiger bones are commonly would usher in a new era of free speech. boiled down and mixed with rice But social media satirists, activists and AFP tional company to enter the country. sulting fi rm Solidiance, the vast ma- cast to grow more than fi ve times to wine in Vietnam, a mixture believed journalists have found themselves increas- Yangon “Ride-hailing and using smart- jority of them choking up the streets $13.1bn by 2025, according to a re- to treat arthritis and promote ingly targeted under a controversial online phones to book taxis is still a rela- of Yangon where traffi c now moves port by Singapore investment fi rm strength. defamation law. tively new concept in Yangon,” said infuriatingly slowly. Temasek. Conservationists say Vietnam is More than 40 cases have been brought ide-hailing fi rm Grab yesterday Cheryl Goh, Grab’s vice-president In January local authorities Singapore-based Grab has grown one of the world’s worst countries over the past year, compared to just seven launched a trial service in Yan- of marketing. launched a wide-reaching shake- rapidly since launching in 2012 and for trade in endangered species, an between when the legislation was passed in Rgon, becoming the fi rst inter- Global behemoth Uber said it was up of the bus service, slashing the now has more than 700,000 drivers accusation which it denies. 2013 to when the NLD took power. national company to enter Myanmar in talks with Yangon’s regional gov- number of routes, removing old ve- in nearly 40 cities in Southeast Asia. Police regularly seize hauls of They include cases against two off icials and stealing a march on fi erce rival ernment to launch in the city “very hicles and abolishing the regulator. It off ers locally tailored services ivory, rhino horn and exotic species from one of the country’s biggest media Uber in the largely untapped market. soon”. The move caused chaos, leaving such as motorcycle taxis, package including pangolins, but conserva- groups, a man who called the president The Singapore-based company Once an isolated junta-run nation thousands of commuters stranded, deliveries and cash payment. tion groups say these represent just ‘crazy’ on Facebook and another who wrote said it was conducting a trial with where only the richest could dream and weeks later many complain there But despite their huge popularity, a small part of the trade passing curses about the army on his car. a small group of taxi drivers in My- of owning a car, Myanmar has seen are still fewer buses on the roads. both Grab and Uber have run into through the communist country. The law was originally passed by the previ- anmar’s largest city and planned to an explosion in vehicle numbers in Competition is heating up be- regulatory problems. Britain’s Prince William delivered ous military-backed government as part of a gradually scale up its operations. recent years. tween ride-hailing fi rms keen to In neighbouring, Thailand police an urgent plea in Vietnam in No- raft of measures to attract foreign invest- Several local ride-hailing apps al- There are currently around grab a slice of Southeast Asia’s rap- have threatened to shut down Uber vember to end wildlife traff icking to ment into Myanmar’s telecoms sector. ready operate in Myanmar’s commer- 430,000 registered cars in Myan- idly expanding market. and in recent weeks have taken to save critically endangered species. cial hub but Grab is the fi rst interna- mar, according to automotive con- The market for these apps is fore- arresting and fi ning its drivers. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

ON THE COVER OFFBEAT PROBE RESEARCH VIOLATION Croc horror: love lost Sweet-toothed Japan New Zealand parrot Australian police minister after Aussie reptile stunt thief nabbed after binge has ‘infectious laugh’ fined for cell phone off ence

A British backpacker who inspired a drunk A hapless Japanese thief has got himself into a Researchers have found that A police minister in Australia has been fined Australian teenager to swim in crocodile-infested sticky spot with police after being arrested for New Zealand’s kea parrot has A$325 (US $250 for using his mobile phone waters, narrowly avoiding death, said yesterday breaking into off ices and raiding refrigerators to the avian equivalent of an while driving to take a picture of a sheep. Troy she was not impressed by the fraught romantic binge on sweet treats. Yasuhiro Wakashima, 51, infectious laugh — a call that Grant, the police minister of New South Wales, gesture. In a bid to woo Sophie Paterson, Lee de is accused of gobbling down over 250 desserts when heard prompts others said he did not realise he was breaking the Paauw jumped into Johnstone River at Innisfail during more than 40 incidents since 2013 —with to drop everything and have law. He reported himself to police after being in Queensland state early Sunday morning. ice cream, chocolate and puddings top of his wish some fun. Kea live in alpine alerted by media. He was stationary when Within moments of hitting the water, a saltwater list, Tokyo police said yesterday. The suspect, an areas and are renowned he took the photo of the sheep in the back of crocodile latched onto his arm. De Paauw, 18, unemployed man from the central prefecture of in New Zealand for being a station wagon at a road construction, and was lucky to escape with only two broken bones Ishikawa, was dubbed “Sugar” by investigators intelligent and mischievous, later posted it on Twitter, saying, “A ewe in the and stitches after the reptile released its grip following his high-cholesterol trail, according often called “the clown of the mountain”. But a back out on a Saturday drive!” “This serves as A Chinese magazine poster showing US when he landed punches on its head. to national broadcaster NHK. Wakashima was paper published in the journal Current Biology’ a massive reminder. Nobody is above the law President Donald Trump is displayed at a He said the stunt was to impress “that beautiful caught on surveillance video pilfering fridges yesterday argues the bird’s playful reputation is even if you are the police minister,” Grant said newsstand in Shanghai, China. backpacker”. across Tokyo and in his home prefecture. not entirely anthropomorphic. yesterday. Park questioned for several hours

Reuters ing and reliance on prepared testimony videotaped, a senior vate interests under the control Seoul scripts for public appearances. prosecutor told reporters during of Choi, and did not pressure “She must be miserable and a break six hours into question- business leaders. may want to kill herself — it’s so ing. The 33 prosecutors working ark Geun-hye’s hairdresser heart-breaking,” said Park Sung- Sometimes not recording the on the case will almost certainly came as usual yesterday hye, a supporter who stood vigil testimony helps a suspect relax fi le an arrest warrant for Park, Pmorning to coif the former outside her home overnight to and volunteer more information, said Kim Kyung-soo, a retired South Korean president’s hair see her off . It’s an all-too-famil- he said. prosecutor who interrogated in the cropped chignon style fa- iar story to Koreans. She answered questions calm- two former military presidents voured by her mother, before she In 2009, former president Roh ly and never invoked her right to after their arrests in 1995 for was assassinated more than four Moo-hyun was questioned by refuse to answer questions that treason and bribery. “Everybody decades ago. prosecutors about corruption al- could incriminate her, he added. else in the scandal was arrest- Emerging from her secluded legations involving his family. Park has said little publicly ed who had sort of supporting home in Seoul’s Gangnam neigh- Soon afterward, he jumped about the scandal. roles,” Kim said in a telephone South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye arrives at a prosecutor’s off ice in Seoul, South Korea. bourhood for the fi rst time since from a mountain cliff behind his She was ousted from offi ce on interview.”They are the arms and leaving the presidential Blue home, leaving a suicide note that March 10 over allegations she legs and Park is the main body. daughter of military president maintained a distance from her ing into the infl uence-peddling House nine days earlier, Park read: “there are too many people conspired with longtime friend It’s hard to tell, but it won’t be Park Chung-hee, who took pow- siblings and personal acquaint- scandal last December also squinted in the bright morning suff ering because of me”. Park Choi Soon-sil to raise millions of easy not to detain her.” er in a 1961 coup. ances since moving into her probed “the missing seven hours” light at the hundreds of support- apologised — as she has done re- dollars for foundations from the The team of prosecutors would An older generation of Ko- childhood home — the presiden- between the fi rst news reports of ers gathered outside. peatedly since the scandal broke country’s conglomerates, known have been working day and night reans, who looked upon her fa- tial Blue House — in 2013. the ferry disaster and Park’s fi rst “A lot of people came out,” in October — when she arrived at as chaebol. since the constitutional court ther’s presidency as the time the “I’ve lived by myself, lonely,” TV appearance that day. she said, waving goodbye be- the Seoul Central District Pros- Choi and Samsung Group’s decision that ousted her from the economy took off , embraced her. she said in a tearful public apol- South Korean media reported fore driving off in a motorcade to ecutor’s Offi ce. head, Jay Y Lee, grandson of the presidency on March 10, brain- She was 22 when a North Ko- ogy in November for the scandal that a hairdresser from Toni&Guy meet prosecutors for a marathon “I am sorry to the people,” she conglomerate’s founder, are both storming questions and possible rean sympathiser killed her that doomed her presidency. in Gangnam, the same salon that interrogation that could lead to told reporters outside.”I will re- on trial in the scandal. answers from her, Kim added. mother in an assassination at- Park’s leadership had begun to did her hair yesterday, had spent criminal charges. If convicted, spond faithfully to the investiga- Park’s lawyers say they will The scandal caps a turbulent tempt against her father in 1974, ebb well before, when she faced 90 minutes styling Park’s hair she could be put behind bars for tion.” argue in her defence that she presidency and a tragic life for making her the de facto fi rst lady. public anger over her handling during the seven hours. years. It had to be a daunting At the 10th-fl oor interrogation did not gain personally from the Park, who came to power in the Five years later, Park Chung- of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking Park’s offi ce said the appoint- prospect for a 65-year-old wom- room, accompanied by two of chaebol contributions to the 2012 election under the banner of hee was assassinated by his intel- that killed more than 300 people, ment lasted just 20 minutes, dur- an dubbed the “notebook prin- her seven lawyers, she declined foundations, which prosecutors a conservative party. ligence chief. mostly school children. ing which Park received offi cial cess” for her privileged upbring- prosecutors’ request to have her say were run for the sake of pri- Liberals vilifi ed her as the She never married and has A parliamentary panel look- briefi ngs.

Ex-guerrilla sweeps Winners all E Timor presidential poll in early count

AFP Dili, East Timor

former guerrilla fi ghter has won East Timor’s Apresidential election in just one round, an early count indicated yesterday, in a sign of growing stability for Asia’s youngest nation. With most ballots counted, Francisco Guterres — known by his nom de guerre “Lu Olo” — had received over 57% of votes cast in Monday’s poll, according Francisco Guterres ...triumph. to election offi cials. That is comfortably above Fretilin, the country’s second- the 50% plus one vote needed biggest party, the ex-combatant to avoid a run-off and clinch the had the key backing of inde- largely ceremonial post. “This pendence hero Xanana Gusmao is what I was expecting, which and his CNRT, the largest party is Lu Olo won in the fi rst round in East Timor. and that there won’t be a run- Analysts said the unifi ed can- off ,” said Mari Alkatiri, secre- didacy and Guterres’s strong tary-general of the Fretilin party fi rst-round showing boosted which is led by Guterres. stability for a country repeat- Guterres’s closest rival, Edu- edly rocked by outbreaks of cation Minister Antonio de Con- violence in its short history. “A ceicao, was on 32% in a crowded strong vote in favour of a candi- fi eld of eight candidates, said date is positive,” Damien Kings- Clockwise from top left: Chinese actress Fan Bingbing and Acilino Manuel Branco, head bury, an East Timor expert from director Feng Xiaogang celebrate with their Best Actress and of the body overseeing the lo- Australia’s Deakin University Best Film awards at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, China, gistics of the election process. who was in the country as an yesterday; Chinese actress Lin Yun wins the Rising Actor of Asia If fi nal results confi rm his vic- election observer, told AFP. award; Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano with his Best Actor tory, Guterres will be sworn in as The vote — the fi rst presiden- award. president in May at a challeng- tial election since the departure ing time for the tiny half-island of United Nations peacekeep- nation 15 years after it gained ers in 2012 — ran smoothly and independence following Indo- there were reports of only low- nesia’s brutal occupation. level and sporadic unrest in the run-up. Taiwan launches submarine project in face of China threat The vote — the fi rst While the presidency is presidential election since largely ceremonial, it can have a the departure of United key role in keeping the peace be- AFP an increased invasion risk from it is likely to be deployed within Tsai boarded Taiwan’s Zwaard- Tensions heightened further Nations peacekeepers in tween feuding politicians. Kaohsiung, Taiwan China and has pledged to boost 10 years. Tsai said it was part of vis-class submarine the Hai Hu, after a protocol-busting call be- 2012 — ran smoothly and Guterres is from a humble its military in response. Tsai the island’s “indigenous defence which was purchased from the tween Tsai and Donald Trump, there were reports of only family and like many members called the launch of the subma- policy”. Netherlands. following his US election vic- low-level and sporadic of East Timor’s political class aiwan’s president Tsai rine plan a “historic moment” at “I want to tell you all that the Tsai watched the simulated tory. The US is Taiwan’s most unrest in the run-up took part in the bloody struggle Ing-wen launched the a naval base in southern city of Taiwanese always face challeng- fi ring of a torpedo while on powerful ally and main arms against Indonesian occupation. Tisland’s fi rst ever home- Kaohsiung. es bravely and overcome them,” board. supplier, despite having no of- Key oil reserves are run- The vote sets the stage for more grown submarine project yes- She was presiding over a for- she said. Beijing still sees Taiwan as fi cial relations with Taipei after ning dry and the government important parliamentary elec- terday in the face of what the mal signing ceremony to initiate Taiwan’s navy currently op- part of its territory to be brought switching recognition to Beijing is struggling to resolve a long- tions later in the year that will government says are growing the project between the navy, erates a fl eet of four submarines, back into its fold, by force if nec- in 1979. running row with Australia over decide the government and the military threats from China. The Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC bought from abroad, but only essary, even though the island But Taiwan has turned to the lucrative energy fi elds. prime minister. move comes after China sent its Corporation and the National two of them can be deployed in has been self-governing since domestic submarine project af- It will be the fi rst time since Indonesia moved into East only aircraft carrier, the Liaon- Chung-Shan Institute of Sci- the event of war. the two sides split after a civil ter years spent waiting for US 2002 that a presidential election Timor in 1975 after colonial ing, through the Taiwan Strait ence and Technology, which The other two were built by war in 1949. models. A long-stalled off er in the country has been decided master Portugal withdrew. in January, in one of a number of develops combat system inte- the United States in the 1940s Ties have worsened since approved by then US president in just one round, if the fi nal re- During the occupation, around military drills held as relations gration. and are only used in training as Beijing-sceptic Tsai took power George W Bush in 2001 to supply sults due in several days confi rm 183,000 people died from fi ght- deteriorate. Delivery of the submarine is they are too old for combat. last year, ending an eight-year eight conventional submarines Guterres has won. As well as ing, starvation or disease. Taiwan last week warned of expected to take eight years and As part of her visit yesterday, rapprochement. has never come to fruition. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 17 BRITAIN/IRELAND N Ireland mourns McGuinness

Reuters Belfast From Armalite artin McGuinness, the Irish Republican Army Mcommander who laid to ballot box in down his arms to become a key architect of Northern Ireland’s peace, died yesterday aged 66, one generation prompting tributes from allies and former enemies alike. The face of Irish Republican- By Robert Fox Arlene Foster herself. The ism for many during some of the crisis is now part of a chain, worst moments of three dec- linked to the diffi cult outcome ades of sectarian bloodshed that artin McGuinness, of the election and the likeli- killed more than 3,600 people, who has died after hood of direct rule being im- McGuinness remained a fi gure of Mleaving public life posed from Westminster. At hate for many pro-British Prot- just a few weeks ago, was the the same time the Brexit im- estants until his death. terrorist who came in from broglio has brought the bor- But he earned widespread re- the cold. He is perhaps Ire- der and the security of Ireland spect across Britain and Ireland land’s most famous gunman- north and south back onto the by embracing his bitterest rivals turned-statesman since agenda. Never has McGuin- to cement the 1998 peace deal Michael Collins, who did so ness’s skill as a deal broker and allow Northern Ireland to much to deliver independence been more needed. slowly return to normality. to Ireland and was gunned Even today McGuinness “While I can never condone down by former supporters in plays to mixed reviews — es- the path he took in the earlier an IRA ambush in 1922 when pecially among the more ir- part of his life, Martin McGuin- the new Ireland was in the reconcilable Unionist and ness ultimately played a defi ning throes of civil war. Loyalist communities. role in leading the Republican He epitomised the early Some 45 years ago he rose movement away from violence,” strategy of the Provisional IRA to prominence as the leader of Prime Minister Theresa May to achieve publicity and po- Derry’s highly active wing of said. litical leverage, if not power, the Provisional IRA. Recruiting “In doing so, he made an es- through “the Armalite and the was boosted by the killing of 14 sential and historic contribution ballot box”. In moving from vi- unarmed civilians by British to the extraordinary journey of olence to political dialogue he Paras in the city in 1972. Northern Ireland from confl ict trod the same path as Nelson The British army gave him to peace.” Mandela and Jomo Kenyatta. the unsavoury soubriquet of Irish Prime Minister Enda He did as much as any Sinn “the butcher boy” — partly Kenny said McGuinness strove Fein leader to deliver the Good due to his previous job as a to make Northern Ireland a bet- Friday Agreement 20 years ago. butcher’s runner, partly be- ter place for everyone, regardless He had extraordinary interper- cause of the forms of torture of background or tradition. sonal skills — famously charm- carried out by IRA men under McGuinness was present dur- ing Enoch Powell and Ian Pais- his command. Military intel- ing the opening salvoes of the ley. Tony Blair’s fi rst Northern ligence offi cers taped hours confl ict as a 20-year-old IRA Ireland Secretary, Mo Mow- of McGuinness’s phone calls. commander fi ghting the British lam, called him “babe”. Many British soldiers just army on the streets of his na- His fi rst job in the post- wanted him dead. tive Londonderry on behalf of a Good Friday Agreement pow- He was long believed to community he said had been de- er-sharing government was as have been a key member of nied basic human rights. minister of education. He took the Provos’ seven-man Na- He swiftly rose to become to the job like a duck to wa- tional Army Council, along- a senior IRA commander and ter, tirelessly visiting schools side Gerry Adams. It is not was convicted in 1973 of being a Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams (right) and Northern Sinn Fein leader Michelle O’Neill (third right) help carry the coff in of former Northern across the Six Counties. clear exactly when both men member of the group after being Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness through the Bogside neighbourhood of Derry to his family home yesterday. Yet earlier this year, as quit their military positions. stopped in a car packed with ex- deputy fi rst minister, it was Both were associated with the plosives and bullets. who opposed what I was doing, across Northern Ireland’s sec- Former fi rst minister Arlene parties have just days to revive he who pulled the plug on the murder of the Queen’s un- “Martin McGuinness nev- but he had diffi cult volunteers tarian divide. Foster, whose party was humili- the power-sharing government. power-sharing coalition led cle, Lord Mountbatten, at his er went to war, it came to his who were much more violent A partnership many thought ated in the vote and whose father One former rival said by Arlene Foster. The Union- holiday home in Sligo in 1979. streets, it came to his city, it than my backbenchers,” Major would prove impossible was soon narrowly escaped alive from an McGuinness’ negotiating skills ist camp painted this as an act Move forward two years, came to his community,” fellow told Sky News. dubbed by the media “the Chuck- IRA shooting, also paid her re- would be sorely missed. “There of wilful vandalism, and self- and we begin to see a diff erent Republican leader Gerry Adams Following the IRA’s second le Brothers” and allowed McGuin- spects. are many today, as we sit with seeking opportunism. The McGuinness. He was begin- told Irish national broadcaster ceasefi re in 1997, McGuinness ness to become Northern Ireland’s “History will record diff er- the clock ticking down, who government collapsed and ning to show that as well as a RTE. became Sinn Fein’s chief nego- deputy fi rst minister in 2007. ing views and opinions on the think that if you were at the Sinn Fein surged in the sub- man of action he was an arch “Martin led the IRA when tiator in peace talks that led to He held the role for a dec- role Martin McGuinness played helm, we would face this pros- sequent election. McGuin- diplomat. there was a war but he led the the landmark 1998 Good Friday ade until he resigned in January throughout the recent and not so pect with greater optimism,” ness announced he would not He, more than any of the IRA into peace. He was a great peace accord. shortly after being diagnosed recent past but history will also former unionist fi rst min- stand. He was too ill, he said, Provo hierarchy, seemed to man in my opinion and he will be “He had the grassroots cred- with a rare heart condition. show that his contribution ister David Trimble and within weeks was dead. realise that the time of the missed.” ibility of a Republican leader and On the night McGuinness re- to the political and peace wrote in a recent let- His reason for resign- Armalite was coming to an By the 1980s McGuinness former IRA commander...to take tired, Paisley’s son Ian Junior, process was signifi - ter to McGuinness ing — the so-called “ash for end — that the violence could emerged alongside Adams as a Republicans from the past of ter- a member of the British parlia- cant,” Foster said. published by Irish cash” aff air has proved no not deliver a lasting peace — key architect in the electoral rise ror and horror into a democratic ment, said had it not been for Some were less for- national broad- trivial matter, whatever the let alone the distant goal of a of Sinn Fein, the IRA’s political future,” former British Northern McGuinness’ work, especially giving. caster RTE. Unionists claim. united Ireland. wing, advocating a strategy of Ireland minister Peter Hain told with his father, Northern Ireland Former conservative Around £500mn What of his legacy? Sinn using the ballot box alongside BBC radio. would not have been in a posi- minister Norman Teb- was wasted on Fein is the not party he would the Armalite rifl e. But it was the energy with tion to rebuild itself. bit, whose wife was bad- the Renewable have wanted it to be. He wanted John Major, who was prime which McGuinness worked to Mourning McGuinness, Pais- ly injured in an IRA blast Heat Incen- a mainstream centre Left na- minister when the IRA declared bed in the peace process that ley Junior said “it was not how in 1984, said the world tive scheme, tionalist party. He might have a ceasefi re in 1994, said that surprised many. you start your life that was im- was “a sweeter place” which was proved the best guide for nego- while McGuinness’s actions in His handshake with the Queen portant, but how you fi nish it.” without McGuinness, launched tiating Brexit, the hard border the early part of his life were in 2012 became one of the defi n- McGuinness was active until who he described as by with the Irish Republic and the unforgivable, subsequent brave ing images of Northern Ireland’s the last weeks of his life, helping a coward posing as a murky future of the UK. We can decisions by him saved many peace. to orchestrate one of the biggest man of peace. only learn from the good things lives. Key to the success of power- political victories for Irish na- McGuinness leaves he brought to the party, while “When he approached us, sharing in Northern Ireland tionalism in decades by forcing Northern Ireland at peace not forgetting the bad. making it clear, in eff ect, that he was the close relationship with a snap election in March that and his dream of a united Ire- That part of his legacy was prepared to contribute to a former enemy Ian Paisley, the deprived unionism of its major- land inching closer under a new should endure — let’s hope. – peace process, he was taking a fi rebrand preacher who for dec- ity in the regional parliament for generation but with its politics London Evening Standard risk. I had diffi cult backbenchers ades brayed “No Surrender!” the fi rst time. still divided. The squabbling Sturgeon: May must not Ex-lecturer fi ghts ban block independence vote on assisted dying Guardian News and Media own decisions about ending London their lives. AFP Sturgeon suggested a re-run leaving the UK by voting blind,” His legal challenge diff ers Edinburgh could be as little as 18 months she said. from the most recent, unsuc- away, and by spring 2019 at the Sturgeon wants the Scottish terminally ill former lec- cessful, right-to-die claim latest, before Britain has left the Parliament to decide the date, turer has gone to court brought on behalf of Tony cotland’s nationalist leader European Union. the question, and who will be al- Aseeking permission to Nicklinson. Conway, unlike yesterday warned it would Scotland voted strongly to low to vote in the referendum. change the law so that he may be Nicklinson, has been diagnosed Sbe “unfair” for the British stay in the European Union, as The SNP does not have an out- given assistance to die at home as terminally ill. government to block another in- did Northern Ireland, but they right majority in the Scottish par- surrounded by his family. The supreme court in Nick- dependence referendum, as she were outweighed by England liament, but it has already secured Noel Conway, 67, from linson’s case ultimately ruled asked the Scottish parliament to and Wales and the national re- the support of the Green party for Shrewsbury, was diagnosed with that it was for parliament, not support her plans for a vote. sult last year was 52% for Brexit. another independence bid. motor neurone disease in No- the courts, to change the law on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon “We will allow people to make Scotland voted against inde- vember 2014. His condition is assisted dying. Conway, who said Prime Minister Theresa a genuinely informed choice be- pendence by 55% in September incurable and he is not expected is in a wheelchair and wears an May must not to stand in her tween being taken down a hard 2014, but the campaign left the to live beyond 12 months. oxygen mask to help his breath- way — as she opened a two-day Brexit path or becoming an in- unionist camp politically divid- Supported by the organisa- ing, was in the high court to hear debate on a referendum rematch. dependent country, able to chart ed while nationalists fl ocked to tion Dignity in Dying, Conway the claim. May has insisted “now is not our own course,” she said. the SNP in droves. has instructed the law fi rm Ir- His main aim is to be allowed the time” for another referen- Sturgeon insists she is open to The SNP won all but three Scot- win Mitchell to seek permission to spend as much time of the dum, while the terms of Brexit discussion on an alternative time- tish seats in the British parliament for a judicial review in the high time remaining to him with his have yet to be negotiated. table “within reason”, but said “it in the 2015 general election and court of the ban on assisted dy- family and, ideally, at home. But Sturgeon told Scottish will simply not be acceptable for Sturgeon was re-elected to the ing, which, he says, prevents him Before going into court, he lawmakers: “For the UK govern- the UK government to stand as a Scottish assembly last May on a ending his own life without pro- told the Guardian: “If I decided ment to stand in the way of Scot- roadblock to the democratically pledge to hold another independ- tracted pain. I was going to (an assisted dy- land even having a choice would expressed will of this Parliament”. ence vote if Scotland was “dragged Assisted dying is prohibited ing clinic in) Switzerland, I be, in my view, wrong, unfair and Scottish Conservative leader out” of the EU against its will. by Section 2(1) of the Suicide would have had to have gone by utterly unsustainable.” Ruth Davidson, May’s most sen- Sturgeon is yet to convince a Act 1961 and voluntary eu- now. That would have deprived The Scottish parliament is ex- ior representative in Edinburgh, sceptical electorate, with a se- thanasia is considered murder me of much more important pected endorse Sturgeon’s call confi rmed the British govern- ries of recent polls showing sup- under English and Welsh law. and valued time with my fam- for a second referendum in a vote ment’s view that “there cannot port for independence has barely Conway’s challenge is aimed at ily. At the moment, the quality today, less than three years after be a referendum until people moved since 2014 — including a Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reacts as she listens establishing criteria and safe- of life and experience is suffi- Scots rejected independence in a know what they’re voting for”. Panelbase poll concluded on Fri- during the first day of the ‘Scotland’s Choice’ debate at the guards for terminally ill adults ciently positive for me to want 2014 referendum. “You don’t make a decision on day which found it stood at 44%. Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh yesterday. to enable them to make their to continue. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 BRITAIN

PEOPLE POLLUTION CONTROVERSY AVIATION OBITUARY Rebel Heseltine refers Kensington tops list Osborne wins support Coalition to oppose Inspector Morse creator letter threats to police for noise complaints in row over editor job Heathrow expansion Colin Dexter dies at 86

Michael Heseltine, fresh from opposing a hard Kensington and Chelsea were yesterday named The chief executive of business group London Campaigners against Heathrow expansion Colin Dexter, who wrote the Inspector Morse Brexit and a dismissal from Theresa May, has the worst borough in London for noise complaints. First yesterday stepped into the row over George yesterday launched a new coalition. Some 18 books, has died at the age of 86. His publisher been forced to involve the police after receiving The area, where terraced houses sell for an average Osborne’s appointment as Evening Standard editor, local groups joined forces in the No Third Runway said in a statement yesterday: “With immense threatening correspondence. On Monday Lord of £4.2mn, is home to stars including J K Rowling saying the former chancellor could champion both Coalition, which will lead eff orts to lobby MPs, sadness, MacMillan announces the death of Heseltine sent a letter to all those who had been in and Robbie Williams. It had 13,790 complaints the capital and the North. Jasmine Whitbread spoke councils and off icials. Shadow chancellor John Colin Dexter who died peacefully at his home touch with their support after he defied Tory Whips last year, the equivalent of more than 87 for out after Labour and SNP MPs said it was impossible McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, hailed it in Oxford yesterday morning.” His series of 13 and voted against the government in the Lords every 1,000 inhabitants. Many were about loud to be both an editor for London and MP for Tatton as “a breakthrough moment” for the battle to limit Morse novels, written between 1975 and 1999, debate over the Article 50 Bill. “A majority of the music, building work and buskers. Neighbouring in Cheshire. She said: “Critics have asked how noise and air pollution. Tania Mathias, Tory MP were adapted for the long-running ITV series, messages have come from people who voted to Westminster came a close second out of the city’s George, known for his support of the Northern for Twickenham, said: “Every community aff ected which starred John Thaw. Dexter’s characters remain in the European Union,” he wrote. “A small 33 boroughs, according to Freedom of Information Powerhouse, can possibly champion London. But is concerned about the increase in noise and air also featured in spin-off shows Lewis and number have come from those who voted to leave responses. It had 16,915 complaints within a I completely disagree — this is a false dichotomy, pollution and the financial costs for all taxpayers.” Endeavour. He wrote his first Morse novel, Last and who, in various shades of language, wish me to population of about 242,300 — the equivalent of one business simply doesn’t recognise.” Labour Among the groups joining forces are Stop Bus to Woodstock, in 1975 while on holiday in become silent. They will be disappointed. A handful 69.8 complaints per 1,000. Hammersmith and had said it was “a matter of great concern” and Heathrow Expansion, HACAN, Teddington Action Wales. The fictional detective was then killed off have had to be referred to the police.” Fulham came in third with about 50 complaints. risked diminishing Parliament in voters’ eyes. Group and Brentford-based BASH Runway 3. in the final book, The Remorseful Day.

Harry helps serve food Police face probe over Watson lives failings in election in ‘world of fraud case

London Evening Standard London skulduggery’: he offi cial police watch- dog is to launch an inquiry Tinto the Metropolitan po- lice’s handling of electoral fraud and malpractice allegations in Tower Hamlets. Sadiq Khan’s deputy mayor for McCluskey policing has called in Her Majes- ty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Guardian News and Media When unity is required, he manu- Watson’s goal was to control to look at “major failings” in the London factures division,” he wrote. Unite’s leadership election. “He investigation of the scandal-hit McCluskey said Watson “has is not ready to leave the matter in borough mayor race in 2014. form as long as his arm” when it the hands of the ordinary working Tower Hamlets independ- en McCluskey, the Jeremy comes to political plots. “(Watson) people who make up our union. He ent mayor Lutfur Rahman was Corbyn ally standing for is a product of the manipulative has been masterminding a nasty forced to quit in 2015 after an Lre-election as head of Brit- and authoritarian culture of the tabloid-style campaign against me Election Court found him guilty ain’s biggest union, has launched old trade union right wing, for – standard fare in political elec- of corrupt and illegal practices, a scathing attack on Tom Watson whom power was an end in itself, tions, alas, but something new for but has faced no criminal pros- for allegedly seeking to infl uence and all means acceptable to attain the trade union movement.” ecution. He is now attempting the election of Unite’s general it. McCluskey then alluded to his to make a comeback before next secretary. “So it is good that the shadow former friendship with Watson – year’s elections under the ban- In a personal critique, the in- cabinet came together to slap they were close allies before the ner of a new party. cumbent union leader called La- him down on Monday after his last general election and briefl y Deputy mayor Sophie Linden, bour’s deputy leader a backstabber latest spiteful attempt to stir up shared a fl at together in south who has the legal power to initiate who lives in a “world of skuldug- strife,” he said. London. an investigation, wrote to HMIC gery, smears and secret plots”, ac- “This time, the allegation is that “I know Tom. I am still proud yesterday. In a letter seen by the cusing him of trying to get Gerard I was secretly in cahoots with Mo- to have privately and publicly Standard, she said: “It is right, Coyne elected as the next head mentum founder Jon Lansman to supported him when he was un- particularly in cases such as these, of the union. The invective fol- bankroll his pressure group. That der great personal strain because that there is no political pressure lowed Monday’s accusations and was at breakfast. By lunchtime I of his courageous campaign whatsoever applied to the po- counterclaims involving Watson was no longer the scheming mas- against the Murdoch empire. lice and that they should be able and Corbyn allies over whether termind, but Unite chief of staff “How sad then that he should to carry out their investigations, Momentum was attempting to in- Andrew Murray was doing the turn on those of us who sup- which are ongoing, without fear crease its infl uence with the help conspiring instead. By evening, he ported him in his darkest hour, or favour. of Unite. may well have been blaming the and how sad that his candidate, “That said, I am keen to en- Watson demanded that Mc- Unite caretaker for digging a se- Gerard Coyne, should now be sure the investigations can com- Cluskey respond to a secret re- cret tunnel linking Unite HQ to Jon using the Sun to attack his own mand the trust and confi dence cording claiming that the union Lansman’s home.” union – a rotten tabloid and an of Londoners and particularly would fund an expansion of ac- McCluskey went on to row instrument of the establishment residents of Tower Hamlets, who tivities by Momentum if he were back from previous statements that has led the charge against are keen to see the integrity of re-elected as general secretary. made by his union that he has the working class and trade un- the democratic process robustly McCluskey’s response, in a not met Lansman, the founder ionism for generations. secured. Huffi ngton Post blog, fl ies in the of Momentum. Instead, the blog “Such behaviour is what hap- “The public need to have the face of an appeal for unity issued said he has never held a private pens when values are trashed highest level of confi dence that by Corbyn on Monday night. meeting. by ambition,” he said. “Indeed, any and all criminal prosecutions McCluskey, 66, said that while “The fact is that I have never we have had unprecedented in- have been considered and pur- he had been campaigning on had a private meeting with Lans- terference from Labour party sued.” real issues, Watson had sought man about anything in my life, politicians in this election,” Mc- City Hall sources said Linden to divide the Labour movement. let alone on this alleged scheme. Cluskey claimed. “They are try- had decided to take action because “There is another world in our Anyway, backing groups like ing to turn Unite’s democracy of mounting concern over the movement, alas. A world of skul- Momentum is not my decision to into a party political football. It police investigation. Earlier this Prince Harry helps kitchen workers serve food to service users and volunteers at duggery, smears and secret plots. take, as Watson will know. Only won’t be allowed to happen but it month the London Assembly said the Leicestershire Aids Support Service (LASS) canteen in Leicester, central England, That is where you will fi nd Tom Unite’s executive could decide at least provides Unite members the Met should be investigated yesterday. LASS provides information, advice, support and advocacy services for people Watson. to support such an organisation, with a looking glass to what the over “major failings” in the case, who are living with or aff ected by HIV, and also raises HIV awareness through training and “When Labour has needed loy- and there is no proposal that it future of a union led by an agent accusing it of missing opportuni- workshops. alty he has been sharpening his should do so,” he said. of the right wing would look ties in its enquiries. knife looking for a back to stab. McCluskey said he believed like,” he wrote.

Delightful daffodils MPs call for crackdown Loan shark doctor told on illegal letting of homes pay back £525,000 London Evening Standard last October. He must now pay London the money within three months London Evening Standard Buck said that Westminster 2,130 and Southwark 139% to or face a default sentence of London council alone was investigat- 1,249. five years in prison. He was in- ing more than 1,100 proper- Field emphasised: “A free- hospital consultant who vestigated by the England Ille- ties believed to have breached for-all in short-term lets is caus- exploited colleagues by gal Money Lending Team, who roperty owners are under the 90-night limit. She added: ing misery for thousands of our Aacting as a loan shark has worked with Brent council and investigation over wheth- “Whilst I welcome the freedom constituents. We want the local been ordered to repay £525,000 the police. Per hundreds of fl ats and for home-owners to let their council to have eff ective powers to to nurses and cleaners — or face In December 2015, the IMLT houses in central London are be- properties... without excessive clamp down on this.” fi ve years behind bars. seized loan records which ing illegally let out amid the Air- bureaucratic interference, it is Buck praised Airbnb for seek- Dr Arjan Savani, 50, ran an showed he had received pay- bnb revolution, Parliament was diffi cult and expensive for cash- ing to address the problem by illegal money-lending business ments totalling £525,000. Dr told yesterday. strapped councils to police the stopping people letting out their from two hospitals where he Savani admitted issuing loans MPs warned against a “free- rules. Alongside the responsible property for more than 90 days a worked, targeting colleagues in ranging from £500 to £50,000. for-all” in short-term lettings owner-occupiers are irrespon- year through its website. But she the Filipino community. He said he knew he was acting causing misery for thousands of sible ones, illegal sub-letters said that unscrupulous property He knew his victims could ill illegally but felt it would take Londoners living next door to and an increasingly signifi cant owners could get around such re- afford the payments and was too long to get a licence. them and hitting the housing stock commercial operation, seeking strictions by using diff erent sites aware that the Filipino com- Tony Quigley, head of serv- for people to rent long-term. to take advantage of potentially or making minor changes to ad- munity places a great deal of ice for the IMLT, said: “Savani They are demanding a crack- higher yields.” dresses such as Flat A, not Flat 1. importance on honour — mak- is just the latest loan shark who down on abuses of legislation Property owners could earn A communities department ing the non-repayment of a has found that illegal money- which allows fl ats and houses to be £1,800 a week on average for a spokesman said: “It is only fair debt shameful, a court heard. lending will be tackled head on rented out short-term for up to 90 short-term let of a two-bedroom that London homeowners should Between January 2011 and in our area.” days a year. fl at, against £620 for an assured be able to rent out their home for a his arrest in December 2015, he London North West Health- Westminster North Labour short-hold tenancy. short period without unnecessary worked at Central Middlesex care NHS Trust said: “Follow- MP Karen Buck, backed by nine The number of London prop- red tape and we welcome Airbnb’s and Northwick Park hospitals ing an internal investigation other MPs including Conserva- erties advertised short-term on recent move to help users comply in Harrow. Dr Savani was dismissed by the tives Mark Field (Cities of London Airbnb soared by 126% in the with the law. The doctor, who lives in trust earlier this year.” and Westminster) and Victoria year after the 2015-16 Deregu- “We are clear London landlords Kenton, was ordered to pay The General Medical Coun- Borwick (Kensington), called for lation Act, says Westminster can let their property for a maxi- back £525,000 in proceeds of cil said he is suspended from property owners to have to no- council, up from 9,663 to 21,861. mum of 90 nights a year without Daff odils are seen outside Holy Trinity Church in crime when he appeared at practising and under inves- tify councils of the dates that their Westminster saw an 80% rise to the need for planning permission, Eccleshall near Stoke-on-Trent in central England Harrow crown court on Friday. tigation. A fitness to practise property is being used for short- 2,878, Camden 124% to 1,905, and any landlord breaching the law yesterday. He was sentenced to 10 months hearing is set to be held in due letting. Kensington & Chelsea 79% to faces a hefty fi ne.” in jail, suspended for two years, course. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 19 EUROPE

Pope tells young to resist French interior minister the ‘false’ reality of resigns over family hires social DPA defi ed summonses from police neuve had earlier hinted that the time internship in Brussels and Paris and judges who want to ques- minister’s position might not the other was in school. tion her about allegations she be tenable, saying: “Anyone in a The broadcaster quoted Le media wrongly claimed salaries from position of authority in the state Roux’s offi ce as saying that on rench Interior Minister the European Parliament for must be irreproachable in rela- those occasions the girls made Bruno Le Roux has re- aides who were actually work- tion to its institutions and the up their hours during their holi- AFP Fsigned, hours after pros- ing for her National Front (FN) rules that govern them.” days and also worked off -site Vatican City ecutors opened a preliminary party. President Francois Hollande and in their free time. investigation into reports that Le Roux, in a brief announce- has appointed junior foreign Those details seemed to draw he had employed his then-teen- ment in his home constituency minister for external trade Mat- a closer parallel to the Fillon af- ope Francis has warned age daughters as parliamentary in the northern suburbs of Paris, thias Fekl to replace Le Roux in fair, as the allegations against young people to resist the aides on multiple occasions. said that his two daughters had the interior ministry. the conservative presidential Plure of “false” versions of It is the third high-profi le case worked for their pay and were The portfolio is particularly hopeful were not so much that life presented on social media or in recent months concerning employed in line with parlia- sensitive at the moment, with he employed relatives as that reality TV shows. politicians’ parliamentary as- mentary rules. France on high alert after ter- they were drawing salaries with- Instead, the Internet gen- sistants – taxpayer-funded jobs But, he said, the requirements rorist attacks in Paris, Nice and out actually working. eration needs to write their own that the lawmakers themselves of his position – responsible for elsewhere over the last two years Le Roux, spokesman for Pres- histories, become masters of can assign. national security including the left at least 238 people dead. ident Francois Hollande during their destiny and establish real Conservative presidential fi ght against terrorism – meant German-born Fekl, 39, a the latter’s 2012 election cam- connections with their past, the candidate Francois Fillon has that “we cannot leave ourselves graduate of three of France’s Roux: I aff irm my honesty in my human relations as well as my paign and a socialist lawmaker 80-year-old Pontiff says in a sunk in the polls and come un- open to any exploitation”. elite colleges, was a Socialist political actions, but my responsibility is also to preserve the since 1997, had only been inte- video message for World Youth der formal judicial investigation “I affi rm my honesty in my Party lawmaker until receiving government’s ability to function. rior minister since December. Day, on April 9. over allegations – which he de- human relations as well as my his fi rst ministerial appointment He replaced Cazeneuve, who “Many people say that young nies – that his wife drew a salary political actions, but my respon- in 2014. tracts, starting when one of lon’s ongoing legal troubles. was appointed prime minister people are distracted and super- as his parliamentary assistant sibility is also to preserve the The story about Le Roux’s them was only 15. But TMC also came up with after incumbent Manuel Valls fi cial. They are wrong!” Francis for years without actually work- government’s ability to func- daughters was broken on Mon- Le Roux told the broadcaster a more damaging allegation: resigned to pursue an unsuc- says. “Still, we should acknowl- ing. tion,” he said in explaining his day night by broadcaster TMC, that the contracts in question that two of the short-term con- cessful bid for the left-wing edge our need to refl ect on our Far-right presidential hopeful decision to resign. which reported that they had were ordinary summer jobs, re- tracts covered periods when one nomination in the presidential lives and direct them towards Marine Le Pen has meanwhile Prime Minister Bernard Caze- held some 24 short-term con- jecting any comparison with Fil- daughter was pursuing a full- election. the future.” “In the social media, we see faces of young people appear- ing in any number of pictures recounting more or less real events, but we don’t know how Kurdish festival marked in southeast Turkey No more Turkish much of all this is really ‘history’, an experience that can be com- municated and endowed with AFP rallies in Germany purpose and meaning,” he said. Diyarbakir “Television is full of ‘reality shows’ which are not real stories, before referendum but only moments passed before ens of thousands of peo- a television camera by characters ple celebrated the New living from day to day, without a TYear festival of Newroz in Reuters around Germany from March greater plan. Turkey’s overwhelmingly Kurd- Berlin/Ankara 27 to April 9. “Don’t let yourselves be led ish city of Diyarbakir yesterday, The unexpected news came astray by this false image of real- even as police killed a man who after escalating tensions be- ity! Be the protagonists of your claimed to be carrying a bomb. urkish leaders will hold tween Turkey and Germany history; decide your own future.” The annual event, which re- no further campaign over campaign appearances The tone of Francis’s com- ceived offi cial permission, took Trallies in Germany be- by Turkish offi cials seeking to ments partly reiterated a speech place under heavy security ahead fore Turkey’s April 16 referen- drum up support for the vote. at last year’s World Youth Day of an April 16 referendum as the dum, organisers said yesterday, Erdogan had accused Ger- in which he told teens not to let authorities pursue their fi ght after an ally of German Chan- many of using “Nazi” tactics themselves become “couch po- against outlawed Kurdish mili- cellor Angela Merkel said they after local offi cials, citing se- tatoes”. tants. were not welcome. curity concerns, cancelled sev- But this time he implicitly ad- In a sign of the tensions, police The announcement by the eral campaign rallies by Turk- dressed many aspects of social opened fi re on a man carrying a Union of European Turkish ish ministers in Germany. media culture that have caused knife and a rucksack who did not Democrats (UETD) under- Merkel demanded Ankara concern to psychologists, from a obey a request to have his bag scored a sharp deterioration in halt the rhetoric, but Erdogan the photo-shopping of images searched as he entered the des- relations between Nato allies has repeated the message in to selective editing of events re- ignated area and shouted he was Germany and Turkey ahead of speech after speech. corded online to project images carrying a bomb, security sourc- the referendum on boosting “Enough is enough,” Volker of happiness and success that es told AFP. the powers of Turkish Presi- Bouffi er, vice-chairman of may not correspond to reality. The man was taken by ambu- dent Receo Tayyip Erdogan. Merkel’s Christian Democratic “To have a past is not the same lance to hospital where he died. Young women flash the victory sign in front of a bonfire as Turkish Kurds gather during Newroz “We will not organise any Union (CDU), said yesterday. as to have a history,” Francis said. It was not immediately clear if celebrations in Diyarbakir. further events with Turkish “Mr Erdogan and his gov- “In our life we can have plenty he posed a danger. government offi cials before the ernment are not welcome in of memories, but how many Many of those attending bran- (HDP), the third-largest party in said in a statement issued by the peace process collapsed as the referendum,” UETD president our country, and that must be of them are really a part of our dished fl ags with the word “no” the Turkish parliament. HDP. PKK ended a ceasefi re amid mu- Zafer Sirakaya told Germany’s now be understood,” Bouffi er, memory? in Turkish and Kurdish, urging But 13 HDP lawmakers, in- “We will not bow to or kneel tual acrimony, reviving an insur- Wirtschaftswoche magazine. who is also premier of Hesse “How many are signifi cant voters to reject a plan to expand cluding its co-leaders, are in jail before tyranny and tyrants,” they gency that has left hundreds of Sirakaya was not available state, told DLF radio. for our hearts and help to give President Recep Tayyip Erdog- on charges of supporting Kurdish added. members of the security forces for immediate comment but German media have re- meaning to our lives?” an’s plans in a April 16 referen- militants, accusations the party It was at the Diyarbakir Ne- dead. an UETD spokeswoman con- ported that Erdogan planned In practical terms, Francis dum. says were fabricated to prevent wroz celebrations in 2015 that This weekend, Turkey re- fi rmed the quote. to visit Germany this month to said young people could help to The celebration of Newroz is them from campaigning for a the jailed leader of the outlawed sponded with fury after tens of In Turkey, an offi cial with rally support for the measure, make more sense of their lives an annual event in Diyarbakir “no” vote. Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), thousands of people attended a Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK but Berlin said it had not re- and their own past through and other cities in Turkey, a fes- “We will continue with our Abdullah Ocalan, in a statement pro-Kurdish protest in Germany, Party said it would still carry ceived a formal request. time spent with grandparents, tival that has its roots in Persian struggle for peace, never giving read by a member of parliament, many brandishing Ocalan fl ags out some “referendum propa- Bouffi er said a visit by Er- by keeping a daily journal and culture. up our quest for freedom through called for an end to its four-dec- and pro-PKK insignia. ganda activities” in Europe dogan would create problems. by spending a few minutes each The event was organised by democratic politics,” the im- ade armed struggle against the But only a few portraits of this week, but would focus its “Someone who insults us evening contemplating the day’s parties including the pro-Kurd prisoned co-chairs Selahattin Turkish state. Ocalan could be seen at the Diya- eff orts domestically within in this way cannot expect that events. Peoples’ Democratic Party Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag But that summer a fragile rbakir rally. Turkey beginning next week. we will assemble thousands of A German foreign ministry police to protect him,” he said. source welcomed the news, On Monday, Merkel again saying that it should allow told Ankara stop the Nazi com- a peaceful start to voting by parisons and said Berlin could some 1.4mn Turkish citizens block appearances by Turkish Macron’s presidency bid gathers pace after TV debate living in Germany who are eli- offi cials if they did not comply gible to vote in the referendum. with German law, which ex- Voting will take place at plicitly forbids disparagement Reuters Hamon came in last. 13 consulates and other sites of the government. Paris An Opinionway poll said 24% of viewers found Macron the most convincing, ahead of his Frenchman wins math ‘Nobel’ prize French junior minister closest rivals Le Pen and Fillon, backed Emmanuel Ma- both on 19%. Frenchman Yves Meyer has been named winner of the Abel Prize Acron’s presidential cam- Macron also scored well when for mathematics, the Norwegian Academy of Sciences said. paign yesterday, the fi rst govern- viewers were asked how the de- The 77-year-old Meyer was cited for his “pivotal role in the ment member to do so, just hours bate had aff ected their views of development of the mathematical theory of wavelets”, a theory after he reinforced his status as the candidates. at the intersection of mathematics, information technology and favourite in the fi rst of a series of Twenty-nine per cent had a computational science. TV debates. better opinion of Macron, com- It has been used in fields such as applied and computational Biodiversity minister Barbara pared with 19% who had a worse harmonic analysis, data compression, noise reduction, medical Pompili, from the ecology party, opinion, Opinionway found. imaging, archiving, digital cinema, and improving the resolution of is expected to be the fi rst of a Another snap poll, by Harris images from the Hubble space telescopes. number of ministers in Social- Interactive, also found Macron to Another application was the recent LIGO detection of gravitational ist President Francois Hollande’s be the most convincing debater. waves created by the collision of two black holes, the citation read. government to endorse the inde- An Opinionway survey tak- The 6mn-kroner ($715,000) prize, dubbed “the Nobel for pendent centrist instead of lin- en after the debate found little mathematics”, is due to be presented May 23. ing up behind Socialist candidate change in voting intentions with Benoit Hamon. Le Pen tipped to win 27% of the Bernard Poignant, a close ad- French presidential election candidates (from left) Fillon, Macron, Melenchon, Le Pen, and Hamon, pose vote in the April 23 fi rst round, Teens convicted for attack on temple viser to Hollande, also told Reu- before the debate organised by the French private TV channel TF1 on Monday night. three points ahead of Macron. ters that he was backing Macron. The poll found Macron would A German court has sentenced three teenage boys to up to seven Some Socialists see the Around 50 Socialist lawmakers Investors who had retreated to debate shows him in the lead,” easily beat Le Pen in the May 7 years in juvenile detention over a Islamist militant attack on an 39-year-old Macron, a former sponsored Macron for his elec- safe assets on worries that Le Pen said DZ Bank analyst Rene Albre- run-off . Indian wedding that badly wounded a Sikh priest. economy minister under Hol- tion bid, according to French me- would win and try to take France cht. The campaign has been highly The three extremists, all 16 at the time, set off a home-made bomb lande, as better placed to defeat dia reports. out of the euro sold the lowest- Twenty-nine per cent of view- unpredictable with Fillon, the in April last year outside a prayer hall where a Sikh community far-right leader Marine Le Pen Several opinion polls found risk eurozone government bonds ers thought Macron was the most one-time front-runner, slid- wedding was taking place, also leaving two others with lesser than left-winger Hamon, and Macron, a former investment yesterday, relieved by Macron’s convincing of the fi ve candidates ing in the polls since allegations injuries. more in tune with their views on banker who has never previously debate showing. taking part, ahead of fi rebrand surfaced that he had paid his wife The youths, who were born in Germany, had met on social media how to revive the economy. run for elected offi ce, was the The euro rose against the dol- leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon with hundreds of thousands of euros after being radicalised, and got together to commit the attack in “I’ve decided after weighing it most convincing performer in a lar. 20%, while Le Pen and conserva- of public money for little work. the western city of Essen. up seriously to back the endeav- three-hour debate on Monday “There were some doubts tive Francois Fillon were tied for While French legislators are Two of them, identified only as T and B because they are minors, our, the programme and the can- night watched by almost 10mn whether Macron would perform third, a snap survey conducted allowed to hire relatives as as- were sentenced to seven years and six years and nine months didacy of Emmanuel Macron,” people – over a fi fth of the French well because of his relative in- online by Elabe pollsters towards sistants, the Fillon aff air has put respectively for attempted murder. Pompili told France Info radio. electorate. experience, but the poll after the the end of the debate showed. the practice under the spotlight. The third, identified only as I, was given six years for complicity. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 INDIA

INVESTIGATION DECISION VIOLENCE INVESTIGATION DEMAND Catholic priest accused Retirees to get speedy Four held for lynching Mining baron arrested End ‘red beacon’ of molesting boy insurance payment man in New Delhi for money laundering culture: minister

A Kerala Catholic priest was arrested The Finance Ministry yesterday said it has eased norms Four people were arrested yesterday for The Enforcement Directorate has arrested sand Taking cue from Punjab, a Congress minister yesterday from Madurai following charges for speedy payment to retiring central government beating a 28-year-old mentally challenged man mining baron J Sekhar Reddy on charges of in Bihar yesterday demanded an end to the of molesting a 14-year-old boy. Thomas employees under the Savings Fund of Central to death in New Delhi on a suspicion that he money laundering, three months after the Central use of “red beacon” on the off icial vehicles of Parakulathil, 32, was arrested from Madurai Government Employee Group Insurance Scheme committed a theft at a haystack warehouse, Bureau of Investigation held him for exchanging ministers in the state. Education Minister Ashok after he escaped when the police reached (CGEGIS). “In all cases where the service of the retiring off icials said. Deputy Commissioner of Police millions of demonetised currencies. Based on Choudhary, who is also the state unit chief the church in Puthoor during Mass on central government employees has been verified, Milind Dumbre said all the four have admitted the FIR filed by the CBI after the seizure of old of the Congress, said: “Yes, I have demanded Sunday, a top off icial said. “He has now payment of the accumulation under CGEGIS will be killing Shankar Ram. The off icer said the and new currencies worth several millions in an end to the VIP culture on the lines of the been brought to Kottarakara,” said the made without awaiting confirmation of deduction of accused beat up the victim with wooden December, the Enforcement Directorate filed a case Punjab government.” All vehicles of ministers off icial. The boy along with his parents each monthly subscription of CGEGIS,” the ministry sticks on Sunday night after tying him on the against Reddy and his associate K Sreenivasulu and top off icials should be without the beacon, from Thiruvananthapuram approached said in a statement. “This would help in the timely suspicion that he committed the theft. Dumbre under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act Choudhary said. His demand was supported by the Poovar police last week saying he was payment of accumulations under the Savings Fund said the victim was mentally challenged and (PMLA). Reddy was arrested on Monday night and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party but was molested by Parakulathil last year. After the of the CGEGIS,” it added. The orders were issued by had been receiving medical treatment. The produced before a magistrate who remanded him met with scepticism by ally and ruling Janata incident, the boy returned home and it was Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance on police said they were informed by a villager in judicial custody till March 28. Also arrested were Dal-United. JD-U spokesman Neeraj Kumar said only after he revealed why he did not want March 17. Delays often occur in payment of dues as the about a body lying in a nearby field. An two associates, Sreenivasulu and Premkumar. After the VIP culture was misused in Punjab due to to go back to Kottarakara that the parents existing procedure requires confirmation of deduction eyewitness claimed he had seen the accused his earlier arrest by the CBI, Reddy was released on the drug menace. In Bihar, there was no such decided to file the complaint. of each monthly subscription to the scheme. thrashing Shankar Ram. conditional bail. problem, he added.

Punjab mulls legal options on Sidhu’s Farmers shift TV show IANS crops as govt Chandigarh

he Punjab government is exploring legal advice Ton the issue of cricketer- turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu’s appearance on a popu- move swamps lar television comedy show af- ter he became a cabinet min- ister in the Amarinder Singh government. Punjab Advocate General Atul Nanda said here yesterday that he will give legal opinion on the lentils market issue soon. Reuters year that ends in June, up 35% price of Rs110,000. The state- “I will give legal opinion on the Latur, Maharashtra from a year earlier. guaranteed price was Rs50,500. matter once the fi le regarding this Oilseed output is seen soaring He has decided to switch back issue is put up to me,” Nanda said 33% to nearly 34mn tonnes. to growing sugarcane, a crop that here. illions of farmers look Farmers and industry offi cials environmentalists say stokes wa- Chief Minister Amarinder set to switch from grow- said a government plan to buy ter shortages in Maharashtra. Singh had said on Monday that Ming pulses and oilseeds 2mn tonnes of pulses at guar- Boosting local production he will seek legal opinion on after a government campaign to anteed prices was not enough to of crops such as sugarcane and whether Sidhu, as a minister, can boost output became a victim of support the market, adding that wheat will likely stifl e demand for continue on the TV show. its own success by fl ooding mar- the volume was too small and imports from one of the world’s Sidhu was sworn in as cabinet kets with the crops, used in eve- that oilseeds should be included top buyers of those commodities. minister in the Punjab govern- rything from fragrant curries to as well. It purchases most of its wheat ment on March 16. He has been sticky desserts. The government declined to from Australia, while also import- allocated the portfolios of local Storehouses are overfl owing make offi cial comment on the is- ing sugar from that country as well government, tourism and cul- with commodities such as len- sue, although some staff told Re- as from Thailand and Brazil. tural aff airs. tils and soybeans after waves of uters that New Delhi could not do Lower Indian imports could The chirpy Sidhu has been de- farmers answered Prime Minister more due to factors such as cost, drag on global wheat and sugar fending his move to continue on Narendra Modi’s call last summer limited warehousing and a lack of markets that are facing swelling The Kapil Sharma Show saying to ramp up local production to cut transportation. global inventories. that he will fulfi l all his duties as a hefty import bill, driving prices They asked not to be identifi ed Benchmark wheat prices have a minister and will go to Mumbai sharply lower. as they were not authorised to slipped roughly 3.6% this month, only for one night on Saturday to A shift to planting crops such as speak with media. while sugar futures have dropped shoot for the show. sugarcane and wheat could drag And the programme doesn’t nearly 5% to nine-month lows. He claimed that his only earn- on global prices in those markets appear to have helped Bapurao And further down the road, the ing was from this show and he as supply swells, while raising Suryawanshi, who owns 36 acres looming plunge to a shortage of had stopped doing other things the spectre of a swing to a short- of land in Maharashtra. pulses and oilseeds will likely deal like sports commentary. age further down the line of the “I was waiting in a queue out- a major blow to the government’s “It is a matter of only one oilseeds and protein-rich pulses side a government procurement push to become self-suffi cient in night. I will be available the rest that are a staple of Indian cuisine. centre for six days to sell my pi- these crops by the end of the dec- of the time,” Sidhu told media “If farmers keep getting lower geon peas,” said Suryawanshi, ade. here. prices then they will shift to oth- who stopped growing sugarcane Future price rises of such He maintained that doing a er crops and the entire cycle of to churn out the peas. popular foodstuff s in a nation TV show did not come under the shortages, price rises and higher “As luck would have it, just of over 1.3bn people would also ambit of ‘offi ce of profi t’ since he imports will get repeated,” said before my turn came, they sus- likely stoke infl ation, that rose to was not getting any money from Pravin Dongre, chairman of in- pended the procurement opera- around 2% last month. the government. dustry body the India Pulses and tion citing the shortage of gunny The country in the 2015/16 But opposition leaders from Grains Association. bags.” fi scal year spent nearly $10bn the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Local prices for oilseeds have Jute packaging is compulsory importing vegetable oils from Bharatiya Janata Party and the plunged around 40% in the last for most commodities in India as places such as Malaysia, Indone- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are six months, while pulses have the government looks to protect sia, Brazil and Argentina and $2- questioning Sidhu’s move. dropped by nearly a third. jobs in jute factories. $5bn buying pulses from Austria, They said that Sidhu should That came after farmers lifted Left with no choice, Suryawan- Canada and Myanmar. decide whether he wanted to be a pulse production to what is ex- shi, 61, sold his 3 tonnes of peas But many farmers remain con- minister or continue as a TV ce- pected to be a record of around to private traders at Rs46,000 vinced they should switch to oth- lebrity. A labourer carries a sack filled with pulses at a wholesale pulses market in Kolkata. 22mn tonnes in the 2016/17 crop ($704) a tonne against last year’s er crops. Modi takes a big gamble in choice of UP CM

raw water (from the well) der military action on terrorists saw he would reward their most ferent matter. There is a plethora, Or is it that Modi believes in till dusk and break the pot on both the eastern and western vociferous representative with the almost all of them criminal, in- setting a thief to catch a thief and Dthereafter. That’s a crude sectors of the country, something chief ministership of the state. Till cluding those related to rioting for in the Yogi he saw someone who translation of a narrative in Ma- that a “soft power” like India was Delhi Diary now these have been termed the the cause of radical Hinduism. could keep the radicals in UP un- layalam, my mother tongue, for not expected to do. “fringe” which has a bit of a nui- As for his administrative expe- der check? a thankless person who does There was no mistaking that all By A K B Krishnan sance value but would not be the rience, there is nothing much to It is possible that Modi found not care much about the help these had the silent approval of cause of any lasting damage to the write home about. He has been his alter ego in the Yogi and, he receives from others after he Indians because they realised that Gulf Times Correspondent party or the nation. But now that the head priest of a well-known therefore, decided he could im- achieves what he set out for. the prime minister was focused on the fringe is in power in the largest temple in Gorakhpur and he is plement all his development pro- Prime Minister Narendra only one thing – a better, prosper- state, it can well be a case of the also credited with founding and grammes for UP through him? At Modi’s decision to appoint Adi- ous India. And as if to seal that ap- elaborate explanation on how party workers after the elections, tail wagging the dog. running the Hindu Yuva Vahini, least in two press statements since tyanath Yogi as chief minister of proval came the most resounding the story of the Yogi’s elevation Modi congratulated everyone for Usually when a new politician an outfi t that has found itself on taking over the Yogi has reiterated Uttar Pradesh brought to mind victory in the assembly elections unfolded. Nobody believed him. doing a great job. He also said: is elevated to a top post knives the wrong side of the law because that he would follow Modi’s in- the aforesaid narrative. in Uttar Pradesh. True to form the There was empirical evidence to “The government we are going to come out dissecting his anteced- of its ultra-Hindu ideology. He structions to the ‘T’. Modi has al- Ever since he rode to power ‘disrupter-in-chief’ pulled out prove he was obfuscating. For, the form in UP will work for those who ents. What is his fi nancial probity, has been elected to the Lok Sab- ready deputed Nripendra Mishra, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, another trick from his bag, this truth is plain and simple – Adi- voted for us as well as for those what is his family background, ha fi ve times consecutively from principal secretary in the Prime Modi has been trying hard to shed time a shocking one in the form tyanath Yogi is the sole choice of who did not vote for us.” That’s how many cases have been fi led Gorakhpur but apart from some Minister’s Offi ce, to liaise with the Hindu hardliner tag that crit- of a saff ron-clad temple priest- Narendra Modi with, perhaps, a the spirit prime minister, said the against him or his relatives, what rabble-rousing speeches he has the Yogi for implementation of ics have been eager to foist on turned-politician to rule over In- little help from his party president average Indian. Modi added: “My is the nature of these cases, are shown little by way of leadership. projects. him. His slogan “sab ka saath, sab dia’s most populous state. The wa- Amit Shah. thanks are also due to those who they grossly criminal or are they So why did Modi choose such In the three years that he has ka vikaas”, (with everyone, for the ter has been drawn from the well If leaders of the Bharatiya Janata are used to opening their mouths politically motivated – the ques- a man to lead the most impor- been in offi ce Modi has travelled welfare of everyone) has been re- and now it’s time to break the pot. Party (BJP) are never tired of pay- but kept them locked during the tions are asked, answered and, tant state in the country? Is it the world and seen for himself how peated so often that it has gener- Venkaiah Naidu, minister in ing encomiums to Modi for the elections.” more often than not, forgotten that Modi was all along secretly much catching up India has to do ated many a parody. But the na- the Modi cabinet and central ob- victory in UP, they might as well That was a clear reference to the except in a few instances. harbouring radical Hindu agenda to reach a certain level of respect- tion, or at least the major chunk server for UP, was at pains to tell admit that the selection of the motormouths in the party who are If one thing positive can be said even as he was propounding the ability in social indices. He has also of it, indeed believed that Modi is reporters that Adityanath Yogi state’s chief minister was also his. in the habit of baiting the minori- about the new UP chief minister, “sab ka saath…” theory for general said repeatedly that Uttar Pradesh the man for all seasons and that was the “unanimous choice” of But no, they would rather give it a ties at every turn. Chief among it is that he is an open book. He consumption? So now that he has is the one state that needs most he would deliver on his promise the elected representatives. It was democratic spin just to let the gul- those motormouths is none other has pretty little to hide and he won the biggest battle of his prime improvement without which India without fear or favour. the democratic right of the mem- lible voter feel that everything is as than Adityanath Yogi. His anti- would not want it any other way. ministership – that of installing a will continue to be a laggard. Modi was described as ‘dis- bers of the legislature to elect per norm. It could also be a pre- Muslim image is something he is He is a man who has renounced BJP government in UP – he could If installing an incorruptible rupter-in-chief’ for going against their leader and they exercised emptive defence strategy if things proud of. His tirade against Shah the world, so no family baggage blatantly launch into that agenda man who would carry out all his accepted norms and highlight- this right in no uncertain terms, don’t go the way the party wanted. Rukh Khan got wide press because to carry. It also means he would and make sure of victory in the plans is part of Modi’s grand de- ing issues like open defecation, claimed Naidu. He was trying to If you see in this BJP spin shades of of the popularity of the matinee not set much store on personal 2019 Lok Sabha elections by po- sign for UP, then all those who skewed sex-ratio in the Hindi dispel thoughts that the Yogi was the Congress Party’s propensity idol, but that, to my mind, was riches. Reports say he needs just larising the Hindu vote. In which decry Adityanath Yogi, including heartland of India and, most im- foisted on UP from above. to protect the Gandhis every time one of the milder utterances from four hours’ sleep, the rest 20 he case his repeated assertion that this columnist, will have to eat portant of all, demonetising high But Naidu, the accomplished that party loses an election you the Yogi. works. In these matters he is like he represents “sawa sau crore” humble rice. But I assure you it value currencies. If that were not persuader that he is, need not may not be far off the mark. When Modi thanked those who the prime minister himself. But (1.25bn) Indians is as empty as any will taste sweeter than the sweet- enough, he sanctioned cross-bor- have troubled himself with an In his thanksgiving speech to held their tongues nobody fore- when it comes to cases, it is a dif- other politician’s promise. est apple pie. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 21 INDIA Ganges, Yamuna rivers get same legal rights as humans

Agencies New Zealand awarded similar Hindu rites are conducted were promise to revitalise the Ganges, the river were done in the name based environment lawyer, said. to protect our rivers. So simply Dehradun rights to its own spiritual river “losing their very existence”. even tasking a dedicated min- of individual petitioners. The court order, while draw- giving the rivers greater rights Whanganui in a move described “This situation requires ex- ister to the job, but results have “Now, they can be filed in ing attention to the dismal state does not automatically give as a world fi rst. traordinary measures to preserve been mixed three years on. the name of the river itself,” he of the rivers, will do little to them greater protection.” wo of India’s holiest The highest court in Utta- and conserve these rivers,” the “Hindus have always treated said. protect them, said Suresh Ro- New Zealand last week rec- but most polluted rivers rakhand, the Himalayan state court said in its ruling. Ganga (Ganges) as Ma or Mother Activists celebrated the hilla at the Centre for Science ognised its third-largest river, Thave been recognised as where the Ganges originates, The Ganges is India’s longest Ganga,” Water Resources Minis- groundbreaking ruling but cau- and Environment advocacy in ancestral and spiritual waters a “legal person” in a landmark late Monday declared the riv- and holiest river, but the waters ter Uma Bharati said, tioned against over-optimism New Delhi. for its Maori people, as a living court ruling that could see the ers as “living entities having the in which people ritualistically adding local authorities will given the scale of the task at “It is the constitutional duty entity. sacred waterways restored to status of a legal person” and all bathe and scatter the ashes of follow with court directions to hand. of every citizen to protect our Successive governments in health. corresponding rights. their dead is heavily polluted set up a panel to protect the riv- “At the end of the day, one can natural resources, including riv- India have attempted with lim- The decision to bestow legal The state’s high court in the with untreated sewage and in- ers. only hope the symbolism at- ers,” said Rohilla, an urban water ited success to clean up the standing to the Ganges and the resort town of Nainital said it dustrial waste. M C Pant, the lawyer who ar- tached to this order translates management expert. Ganges, which snakes 2,500km Yamuna, one of its major tribu- took the unusual step because Prime Minister Narendra gued the case in Uttarakhand, into real action on the ground,” “We are failing in our duty, across northern India from the taries, comes just days after the hallowed rivers upon which Modi campaigned in 2014 on a said past court eff orts to protect Sanjay Upadhyay, a New Delhi- and we ignore other laws meant Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. SC suggests out-of-court settlement on Ayodhya issue

Agencies Justice Khehar off ered to act New Delhi as a mediator or arrange for a Su- preme Court judge as one. “These are issues of religion he Supreme Court yester- and sentiments. All of you may day suggested that a long- sit together and hold a cordial Tstanding dispute between meeting,” Khehar said. Hindus and Muslims surround- The top court’s observa- ing a holy site should be resolved tion comes after BJP leader Yogi outside court through discus- Adityanath, a strong advocate sions. of building the temple at the The 15th century Babri disputed site, was sworn in as mosque in Ayodhya in Uttar the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh was pulled down by Pradesh on Sunday. Hindu fanatics in 1992, sparking The BJP won 312 seats in the widespread riots in which more 403-member assembly in the than 2,000 people died. February-March election. Hindus claim a temple to Ram Federal minister Mahesh predated the mosque and want to Sharma said the government Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is accompanied by officials as he arrives at the Parliament in New Delhi yesterday. build a temple at the site, while would “love to mediate,” but the Muslims want a new mosque. Babri Masjid Action Committee, The controversial site has re- which represents the Muslim lit- mained a fl ashpoint of religious igants, rejected an out-of-court tensions for decades. settlement. The Babri mosque case has “There is no possibility for an been heard by Indian courts for out-of-court settlement. Eff orts nearly seven decades, well be- (on that front) have been made fore the mosque’s destruction in at the highest levels for the last Will rid Uttar Pradesh 1992. about 31 years,” the committee’s The dispute is one of the most convener, Zafaryab Jilani, told divisive issues in India over the reporters. past quarter century. “If the chief justice nominates The Bharatiya Janata Party some bench to intervene, defi - (BJP) which rules federally and in nitely we have confi dence upon Uttar Pradesh has campaigned the chief justice and his nomi- of corruption, riots: CM for the construction of the Ram nated judges, but no private ne- temple and repeatedly included gotiations are possible,” he said. Adityanath gives farewell farewell speech, Adityanath had gone to meet a minister who Uttar Pradesh chief minister member of the state legislature it in its election manifestos. Communist Party of India speech in Lok Sabha thanked the MPs for their aff ec- recalled having been at a rally in Akhilesh Yadav, who were pro- in the next six months. The disputed site in Ayodhya (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury tion during his membership of Gorakhpur where bombs were jected as “UP ke ladke (sons of Lok Sabha offi cials said he has been fenced off by govern- echoed the views. IANS the Lok Sabha. thrown. Uttar Pradesh)” during the cam- had not resigned his member- ment and guarded by troops “It is because the talks be- New Delhi Adityanath spoke while the “In the last 15 years, what paign for assembly elections. ship of the house. since the mosque was destroyed. tween the sides did not yield any lower house was debating the used to be said for Gorakhpur Adityanath said he was Earlier in the day, Adityanath The court observed eff orts result, that the matter went to fi nance bill. was said for the whole of Uttar younger to Gandhi by almost a met Modi and discussed several should be made for an amicable, court. The court should now do ew Uttar Pradesh Chief He claimed credit for bring- Pradesh.” year and elder to Yadav also by issues related to the state. out-of-court settlement, said its job.” Minister Yogi Adity- ing about changes in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said the election a year. The Congress and the The hour-long meeting was Sambit Patra, BJP spokesman. “All these years, there was no Nanath yesterday said he which he admitted did not enjoy verdict in Uttar Pradesh was a Samajwadi Party had forged an held at Parliament House. “It is an issue of sentiment possibility of an out-of-court set- would work to free the state of a positive image among peo- slap on the face of those who alliance in the assembly polls After the meeting, Adity- and religion. First sit together tlement; that is why the matter is corruption and communal riots. ple earlier. Adityanath was fi rst questioned the welfare poli- with Gandhi and Yadav holding anath didn’t speak to the media and sort out. Both sides employ in the Supreme Court,” another Adityanath, a fi ve-time elected to the Lok Sabha from cies and development agenda some joint press conferences and left for Home Minister Ra- moderators and hold meetings,” CPM leader Brinda Karat said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the seat in 1998. of Prime Minister Narendra and roadshows. jnath Singh’s residence. Earlier, Chief Justice J S Khehar said. “In a political situation where member from Gorakhpur, told Now, he said, no trader in Modi’s government. “I think I came between their he called on Finance Minister The court was hearing a peti- the government at the Centre and the Lok Sabha that he would Gorakhpur paid “goonda tax” “We will bring a new model of pair...it might be a big reason Arun Jaitley. tion by BJP leader Subramanian the state is committed to pushing curb anti-social elements in the and the town did not witness development in Uttar Pradesh for your loss,” Adityanath said. Adityanath will also meet Swamy, who pleaded for urgent only one side of the case, how can country’s most populous state. incidents of abduction. under the leadership of our Congress leader Mallikarjun President Pranab Mukherjee, hearings as the case has been the court expect an amicable set- “We will work to make the “There were 403 riots in Ut- Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kharge, responding to Adiya- BJP president Amit Shah, Ex- pending in court for six years. tlement,” she asked. state free of corruption, rowdy- tar Pradesh, but not one in east- We are committed to the de- nth’s remarks, wished him luck ternal Aff airs Minister Sushma Swamy said judicial interven- Congress leader Digvijaya ism and hooliganism. We will ern UP. We will be successful in velopment of every caste, every and said: “You have the chair Swaraj and veteran party leader tion was needed as it was diffi - Singh said a recurrence of the present a development model creating the same situation in class and every citizen,” he said. now, maintain its dignity and go L K Advani. cult to make both communities 1992-like situation was a pos- which will prevent distress mi- Uttar Pradesh.” The 44-year-old BJP leader ahead.” During his meeting with sit together, following which the sibility and depended upon the gration of youths for jobs,” he Referring to the days soon also took a dig at Congress vice Adityanath was sworn in as Shah, Adityanath is likely to court said it would hear the mat- stand taken by the Yogi Adity- said. after he became an MP for the president Rahul Gandhi and Sa- chief minister of Uttar Pradesh discuss portfolio distribution in ter on March 31. anath government in the state. In what appeared to be his fi rst time, Adityanath said he majwadi Party leader and former on Sunday. He has to become a his ministry. 63mn rural Indians have no New showroom inaugurated access to clean water: charity

Reuters Nigeria and Ethiopia were bally are without clean water, mies, India ranks among coun- New Delhi in third place - each with more with almost 80% - 522mn - tries that are most vulnerable than 40mn rural people with- living in rural areas, WaterAid to climate change, yet least out safe water, according to the said. ready to adapt, according to ndia is home to the high- study released ahead of World Many are in countries that the Notre Dame Global Adap- est number of rural people Water Day today. are already highly vulnerable tation Index. Iwithout access to clean wa- “A majority of these people to extreme weather such as cy- Prime Minister Narendra ter, and faces increased strain come from poor rural commu- clones, fl oods and droughts. Modi’s government has priori- on scarce resources due to a nities and any signifi cant varia- The rise in climate-linked tised sanitation since sweeping rising population and climate tion in the climate only worsens extreme weather events is likely to power in 2014 - launching a change among other factors, a their daily struggle to access not only worsen their plight, “Clean India” campaign which development charity said yes- clean water,” V K but also leave millions more aims to provide toilets for all terday. Madhavan, WaterAid India’s water insecure, it said. and end open defecation in the WaterAid said over 63mn ru- Chief Executive, said in a state- Diseases such as cholera, country by 2019. ral Indians - the equivalent of ment. blinding trachoma, malaria and But the task is mammoth. the population of Britain - do “With 27 out of the 35 states dengue are expected to become Around 76mn Indians need not have clean water to drink, and union territories in India more common and malnutri- improved water sources and cook or wash with, largely due disaster prone, the poorest and tion more prevalent. 770mn require proper toilets, to remote locations, weak infra- the most marginalised across Rural farming communi- WaterAid said. structure and poor planning. the country will bear the brunt ties will struggle to grow food As a result, 68,000 children China ranked second with al- of extreme weather events and and feed livestock amid soaring under fi ve die annually due to Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ 172nd showroom was inaugurated at Car Street, Ballari, in Karnataka, on most 44mn rural people with- climate change and will fi nd it temperatures. diarrhoeal diseases caused by March 18 by H G Ramakrishnan of H R G & Companies in the presence of Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ out clean water in WaterAid’s the hardest to adapt.” Despite being one of the unsafe water and poor sanita- India operations managing director O Asher, regional head Iflu Rahman and others. report. Around 663mn people glo- world’s fastest growing econo- tion, it added. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

UN wants to shut Brazil moving quickly mission in Haiti

AFP to address meat scandal United Nations Reuters maintained its total import ban. packers resulted from a two-year Lapa, Brazil Switzerland has banned im- investigation that culminated in N Secretary General An- ports from four Brazilian meat raids on processing plants and tonio Guterres is propos- processing facilities as part of company offi ces in seven states Uing to shut down the UN razilian authorities have Europe-wide safety measures, late last week. peacekeeping mission in Haiti begun scouring meat Swiss authorities said yesterday. Police have accused more by October and replace it with a Bplants closed after a probe “A total of four facilities have than 100 people, mostly health much smaller UN presence, ac- into corruption by health in- been barred from exporting inspectors, of taking bribes for cording to a report obtained by spectors and the alleged sale of meat products into the European allowing the sale of rancid prod- AFP on Monday. rotten products, as Hong Kong Union or Switzerland,” the Fed- ucts, falsifying export docu- The proposal to close the dealt a blow to the world’s top eral Food Safety and Veterinary ments or failing to inspect meat- 13-year-old UN Stabilisation beef and poultry exporter with Offi ce said. “Three of these fa- packing plants at all. Mission in Haiti, known by its an import ban. cilities exported meat products Among the companies target- French acronym MINUSTAH, Brazilian President Michel to Switzerland in the past.” ed were the world’s largest meat comes as the United States is Temer’s government has moved Switzerland had previously producer, JBS SA, and BRF. planning major funding cuts to quickly since Friday to both ad- imported expensive beef and Both JBS and BRF strongly the United Nations. dress and downplay the scan- poultry from the sites, the au- reject the accusations and have Guterres said in the report dal in the meatpacking indus- thority added. begun a publicity campaign in sent to the Security Council last try, one of the bright spots of The US Department of Agri- Brazil to safeguard their repu- week that all 2,370 soldiers serv- an economy struggling with its culture started testing all ship- tations and point out what they ing in the peacekeeping mission worst recession on record. ments of raw beef and ready- say are errors in information the should be gradually withdrawn It won a victory earlier yes- to-eat products from Brazil for police have disclosed. “and that the mission close by terday when South Korea lifted a pathogens. Brazil’s government also has October 15, 2017”. ban imposed a day earlier on all Brazil’s meat investigation is gone on the off ensive against the A new mission would be es- poultry imports from BRF SA, the latest involving federal po- police operation. tablished that would retain 295 the world’s largest exporter of lice and prosecutors and comes “We are confi dent there are of the current 1,001 police offi c- that meat. on the heels of a massive corrup- no public health risks associ- ers serving in MINUSTAH, and But Hong Kong’s ban, which tion scandal involving billions ated with Brazilian meat,” Luis A staff member removes packs the civilian staff would also be followed China’s decision to of dollars in political kickbacks Eduardo Rangel, secretary for of imported meat from Brazil off signifi cantly reduced. block imports of meat from the made by construction giants to standards at Brazil’s agriculture the shelves of a supermarket in “The successor mission would South American nation, showed win contracts with state-con- ministry, said before offi cials Hong Kong yesterday. be a smaller peacekeeping oper- the crisis was still not contained. trolled fi rms, especially the oil began audits of 21 meat plants ation focused on the rule of law China is the largest consumer company Petrobras. named by police. meat products had not been and police development,” Gu- of Brazilian meat, followed by That probe has ensnared The inspections include a JBS compromised. terres said in the report sent to Hong Kong. scores of top politicians, includ- unit that exports to China, the “We will present this letter to the council on Thursday. The European Union also kept ing several ministers in Temer’s EU and other markets in the them today with our assurances Based in Port-au-Prince, the its ban on meat coming from centre-right government. southern state of Parana, where and, once we have, we expect UN team would “also monitor four specifi c plants, while Chile The operation targeting meat- the investigation was headquar- that import restrictions will be and exercise an early warning tered. lifted,” he said. function for confl ict prevention, Luis Boudens, head of the “Until it receives more infor- human rights and rule of law is- national federation of federal mation, China will not unload sues at the local level through police, defended the police in- meat imported from Brazil,” the the use of mobile teams”. vestigation, saying that govern- Brazilian agriculture ministry The Security Council will de- ment and industry criticism was said. cide on the future of the Haiti being made to protect an impor- Brazilian Agriculture Minister mission next month. tant sector of the economy and Blairo Maggi was due to hold a A veterinarian analyses a piece of meat collected by Public Health Guterres proposed that MI- politicians. video conference with Chinese Surveillance agents during an inspection of supermarkets, at a NUSTAH’s mandate be extended “Federal agents have taken authorities to off er “clarifi ca- veterinary laboratory with the public health department in Rio de for six months during which it down a mafi a of businessmen tions”. Janeiro. would wind down operations that bribed inspectors ... and “We expect more than 30 and pave the way for the smaller politicians to obtain certifi ca- countries to question Brazil angrily threatened reprisals. products in Brazil,” foreign min- mission. tion to sell meat without any about this issue,” Maggi said. “We are major importers of istry spokeswoman Hua Chuny- With its annual budget of inspections,” he said in a state- If all of them halt imports of Chilean products: fi sh, fruit ing told reporters. “We hope that $346mn, MINUSTAH does not ment on the federation’s web- Brazilian meat, it will be cata- and other products, and Bra- the Brazilian side will conduct a rank among the costliest peace- site. strophic for the country, the zilians demand that we should thorough investigation of the keeping operations run by the The audit of the plants is ex- minister said. erect barriers. Trade is like that,” case ... and take more stringent United Nations, but its closure pected to take three weeks, Ran- The Brazilian government Maggi said. measures to ensure safe and reli- could send a signal about the gel said. has halted exports by all 21 meat In Beijing, offi cials called on able food exports to China.” need to streamline UN peace- The ministry offi cial added processors under investigation. Brazil’s meatpacking industry to She declined to comment on keeping. Agriculture Minister Maggi speaks to the media during a visit that Chinese offi cials had asked However, after Chile an- take stricter safety measures. when the temporary ban on Bra- US ambassador Nikki Haley yesterday to the Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA in the city of Lapa, for assurances on Monday that nounced a “temporary” ban on “China is concerned by the zilian meat imports might be has called for a mission-by-mis- Parana state. the sanitary quality of Brazil’s Brazilian meat products, Maggi quality problems of some meat lifted. sion review of UN peacekeeping to fi nd priority areas for cuts. In his report, Guterres said there had been “signifi cant progress” in Haiti’s road to sta- bility and that the poor Carib- Chile Venezuela halts publication of another major indicator bean nation was “relatively sta- ble”. The mission was deployed in detains Reuters year earlier, according to the lating. a leftist, came to power in elected president after Chavez’s 2004 after the departure of pres- Caracas central bank before it halted the That can accelerate infl ation 1999 and is a major factor be- 2013 death, has long blamed ident Jean-Bertrand Aristide to release of the weekly data with- when coupled with a decline in hind what is thought to be the Venezuela’s diffi culties on an help stem political violence. Bolivian out explanation last month. the output of goods and serv- world’s highest infl ation. “economic war” being waged enezuela has stopped In contrast, neighbouring ices – such as in Venezuela, While M2 may seem an ob- on the government by the op- publishing money sup- Colombia’s M2 was up 7% in which is in the fourth year of a scure technical indicator, the position and United States gov- soldiers Vply data, depriving the the same period and the United recession. fi gure was routinely published ernment. public of the best available tool States’ was up 6%. The money supply indicator in Venezuelan newspapers. With no money supply fi g- to ascertain soaring infl ation in “If they are not publishing, suddenly stopped appearing on In the absence of offi cial data ures available, the closest alter- AFP one of the world’s worst-per- you know it must be skyrock- the central bank’s website on – and highlighting Venezuela’s native is “excess bank reserves” Santiago forming economies. eting,” said Aurelio Concheso, February 24. confl ict of powers – the oppo- data. The country quit issuing in- director of the Caracas-based The government ceased the sition-run National Assembly Still published by the cen- fl ation data more than a year business consultancy Aspen dissemination of gross domes- is publishing its own infl ation tral bank, it represents the total trained relations between ago, but annual consumer price Consulting. tic product data more than a fi gure, which it said reached funds that banks have available Chile and Bolivia has hit rises are widely seen to be in tri- The central bank and minis- year ago. 741% in the year to February. to make commercial loans, al- Snew turbulence after a ple digits, driven by an unravel- try of communications did not Before that, it put an end to Critics accuse the govern- though it is no substitute for group of Bolivian soldiers and ling socialist system in which respond to a request for com- the release of balance of pay- ment of suppressing data in or- M2, say economists. offi cials were detained on the many people struggle to obtain ment. ments fi gures and its consumer der to hide the magnitude of the The last year for which infl a- Guterres: The successor mission Chilean side of the border for al- meals and basic medicines. An increase in M2, the sum product scarcity index. economic mess and of stoking tion data is available from the would be a smaller legedly robbing a truck. A money supply indicator of cash together with cheque- Venezuela’s money supply, as price rises by reckless money- central bank is 2015, when con- peacekeeping operation Chilean President Michelle known as M2 was up by nearly ing, savings and other deposits, measured by M2, has risen ex- printing and overspending. sumer prices rose 181%. focused on the rule of law and Bachelet said the two soldiers 180% in mid-February from a means more currency is circu- ponentially since Hugo Chavez, Socialist Nicolas Maduro, police development. and seven customs offi cers robbed one truck laden with goods and “had the intention of robbing several more” before their detention on Sunday. But her Bolivian counterpart, Shots fi red at Aristide convoy Evo Morales, called the inci- dent an “attack” in which Chile kidnapped its citizens as they AFP the country in 2004, Aristide has poor neighbourhoods, Aris- carried out an anti-contraband Port-au-Prince made only very rare public ap- tide is considered by others to operation. pearances since his return from be responsible for the political There is no love lost between exile in South Africa in 2011. instability and insecurity in the the two neighbours, which are he motorcade of ex- The 63-year-old gave testi- capital. currently locked in a bitter bor- Haitian president Jean- mony on Monday for more than “Being there, we proved to the der dispute at the International TBertrand Aristide came two hours, during which he “re- entire world that Aristide is and Court of Justice (ICJ). under fi re in the capital after he sponded to questions from the will always remain the king of The two countries severed appeared as a witness in a money investigating judge”. the country of Haiti,” said Paul diplomatic ties in 1978, and have laundering case, his lawyer said. “He said what he knew,” said Moise, one of the demonstra- a beef dating back to the War of Several hundred supporters of Joseph. “The judge is investigat- tors. “No one is above the law: the Pacifi c in the 19th century, the ex-head of state had taken to ing the accused Jean Anthony they invited him, he came.” when Bolivia lost its access to the the streets of Port-au-Prince as Nazaire, who worked as security Aristide was Haiti’s fi rst dem- sea to Chile. he made the rare appearance at chief during Mr Aristide’s ten- ocratically-elected president Morales said the incident the request of a judge. ure. This is why he was heard.” when he came to power in 1991, showed Chile is “nervous” about “The motorcade has come un- Following Aristide’s ques- but he was ousted later that year the court case. der fi re and this is tantamount to tioning, crowds followed his in a military coup. Bolivian Vice-President Al- an assassination attempt,” said convoy through the streets, After a period in exile in the varo Garcia said the truck, which Mario Joseph, who represents some waving pictures of their United States, he returned in had Chilean plates, was carrying the former president. hero. 1994 to fi nish his mandate. contraband into Bolivia escorted He said the shots were fi red at Thirteen years after his forced He was elected again in 2001, Aristide greets supporters during a rare public appearance, welcomed by his supporters, on Monday in by Chilean police. the rear door where Aristide was departure, the fi rebrand former but again forced from offi ce Port-au-Prince. Chilean police said the Boliv- sitting. shantytown priest, nicknamed three years later by large protests ians were arrested in the Chilean “He is unharmed, but one “Titid”, still arouses stronger and an armed rebellion. top journalist Jean Dominique, sponded to the many calls of a Aristide’s absence was notice- municipality of Colchane, in the person is injured and recovering feelings than any other Haitian In 2013, he presented himself who was killed in the capital in judge investigating suspicions of able at the funeral of his former northern border region of Tara- in hospital,” the lawyer said. politician. as a witness before a judge in- 2000. corruption and embezzlement prime minister Rene Preval on paca. Forced to quit power and fl ee Adored by most residents of vestigating the assassination of He has not, however, re- during his presidency. March 11. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN US intervenes in Pak-India water dispute

Internews which is a violation of the trea- 111th meeting of PIC in Jan-Feb Islamabad ty,” said the minister. 2015 on the design aspects of Islamabad has serious reser- Kishanganga and Ratle hydro- vations over the designs of these electric plants that India is con- n a major development on projects and believes they would structing on Kishanganga/ Nee- the issue of lingering water impede the water fl ow to Paki- lum River (a tributary of Jhelum Idispute between Pakistan stan. River) and Chenab River respec- and India in accordance with the Asif also hailed India’s deci- tively. 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), sion to take part in the current In July 2016, a high-level dele- the US has decided to arrange Indus Water commission talks gation headed by secretary water Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and British Home Secretary Amber Rudd sign an agreement on security in Islamabad secretary level talks between the on the IWT and hoped that the and power visited New Delhi to yesterday. British Home Secretary Amber Rudd arrived in Islamabad to meet Pakistani leaders. two countries in Washington meeting would help resolve the discuss these projects, but after next month for resolving issues standing issues between the two infl exible attitude of India, Paki- relating to two controversial hy- neighbouring countries. stan decided to go to the Perma- dropower projects. Yesterday, water experts nent Court of Arbitration (PCA) These projects are 330MWs from both the countries opened against India. Kishanganga hydroelectric round-table talks here over the This was the last-ditch eff ort of the Pakistani government to PM sees bright prospects project and the under- con- water dispute. struction 850MWs Ratle hy- The Indian Indus Water Com- decide the issue with consensus, droelectric project in occupied missioner, PK Saxena, heads his as for the last few years every Jammu and Kashmir on which delegation while Pakistan’s In- time talks between both the Pakistan has serious reserva- dus Water Commissioner Mirza countries on these two projects Asif Baig is leading the Pakistani with Indian water commission for Pakistan-UK trade ties tions. Briefi ng the media here yes- side. have failed to reach any conclu- terday, Federal Minister for sion. Agencies Commenting on situation in The minister said, “We are nomic growth as Pakistan was Power and Khawaja Asif said: “No design of these In September last, Pakistan Islamabad Afghanistan, the Prime Minis- looking to Prime Minister’s visit growing. “The US has intervened and de- projects has been shared approached the World Bank ter said that Pakistan is com- to Pakistan in very future.” Expressing her commit- cided to help both the countries with Pakistan, which is a amid Indian threat to revoke the mitted to facilitate and support He said the visit of British ment to closely working with to resolve the issue. There will be violation of the treaty” 56-year-old treaty and request- nited Kingdom’s Home an Afghan-led and Afghan- home secretary would give a Pakistan, she said she looked secretary level talks on the Ratle ed for Arbitration Article IX of Secretary Amber Rudd owned peace and reconciliation new impetus to bilateral rela- forward to increasing mutual and Kishanganga hydropower Asif said during the current the IWT. Ucalled on Prime Minister process. tions between the UK and Pa- understanding between the two projects between both the coun- Indus Water Commission dia- The Article IX deals with arbi- Nawaz Sharif at PM House here “We will continue to support kistan. countries. tries in Washington on April 11- logues in Pakistan, three ongo- tration of disputes between both yesterday. all initiatives for regional peace He said the UK was amongst She noted that there was in- 13 2017.” ing hydroelectric projects on the countries concerning the in- Welcoming the Home Sec- and stability”, he said. a few countries where Paki- creased security for people of The minister said on the con- Chenab in Held Kashmir in- terpretation or application of the retary to Pakistan, the Prime Earlier yesterday, Minister stan’s viewpoint was largely Pakistan and the UK because troversial Kishanganga and Ratle cluding 1,000MWs Pakal Dul treaty. Minister recalled his productive for Interior and Narcotics Con- understood and acknowledged. of eff orts made by the govern- hydroelectric projects, Pakistan project, 120MWs Miyar and Under the treaty, the World meeting with Prime Minister trol, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan “Pakistan wants legal and ment of Pakistan, and interior was seeking international court 48MWs Lower Kalnai hydro- Bank has an important role in Theresa May on the margins of said Pakistan and United King- diplomatic solution of all hur- minister played important role of arbitration (ICA) through the power project will come under establishment of the Court of the UN General Assembly ses- dom (UK) enjoyed stable rela- dles in way of better relations in improving security situation World Bank whereas India want- discussion. Arbitration. sion in New York in September tions and visit of Home Secre- between the two countries,” he in Pakistan. ed to resolve it through neutral This two-day (March 20-21) The World Bank had earlier 2016. tary Amber Rudd would further said. “Both countries want to en- experts. Indus Water Commission meet- declared the formation of court Pakistan-United Kingdom strengthen ties in diverse fi elds. sure that our borders remain Under the Indus Waters Trea- ing is taking place after almost and appointment of neutral relations are rooted in shared Addressing a joint press con- “Pakistan greatly secured for people who travel ty (IWT), New Delhi has to share two years, with the last round expert, but ironically it an- history and strong people-to- ference after holding talks with appreciates the between the two countries. We all the details of any hydropower held in May 2015. nounced a “pause” in both the people contacts; underpinned Amber Rudd, he said nothing work undertaken by talked about security of new Is- project on the rivers on which The long pause occurred after separate processes initiated by by close collaboration in trade serious had aff ected bilateral the UK Department lamabad airport.” Pakistan has water rights under Pakistan’s Indus Water Com- Pakistan and India to allow the and investment, peace and se- ties. However, there were cer- for International She extended congratula- the IWT. missioner announced the failure two countries to consider al- curity and development co- tain irritants and roadblocks Development (DFID)” tions on Pakistan Day and 70 “No design of these projects of talks after protracted discus- ternative ways to resolve their operation’, the prime minister. and the two sides had resolved years of diplomatic relations has been shared with Pakistan, sions at commission level in disagreements. “The depth of institutional- to address the issues. The minister said Pakistan between the two countries. ised bilateral co-operation re- “I am extremely satisfi ed on would welcome every move to Answering a question, she fl ects the richness and strength discussion with British coun- further promote bilateral ties said the issue of Altaf Hussain of the Pakistan-UK relations. terpart. There is understand- between the two nations and was being reviewed seriously The presence of a large Paki- ing of each other’s viewpoint,” strengthen implementation of while requests for justice sent Afghans celebrate New Year stani diaspora in the UK helps he said mentioning talks with law on equal grounds. by Pakistan were also being to strengthen the relationship. home secretary. Pakistan and Britain had long considered. We would like to further en- Matters relating to security, history of bilateral relations, The home secretary said, hance our existing relations counter-terrorism and immi- he said adding both sides had “British laws have no exemp- with the UK, especially in the gration came up for discussion signed two agreements during tion. I have assured the minis- fi eld of trade and investment,” during the meeting. the talks. ter, action would be taken upon the prime minister emphasised. Chaudhry Nisar hoped that In her brief statement, Home their requests of justice without Sharif further said that Paki- bilateral relations between the Secretary Amber Rudd said she any discrimination.” stan’s strong market of almost UK and Pakistan would be car- had very constructive discus- When asked about further 200mn people, with a growing ried forward by two respective sions with Chaudhry Nisar, promotion of bilateral ties, both middle class, off ers excellent ministries and governments. adding, “We want to continue Chaudhry Nisar and Amber opportunities for the British He appreciated the role and our partnership and increase Rudd said eff orts were being businesses and investments. proactive leadership of former co-operation with in diverse made in this regard. “Pakistan greatly appreciates home secretary and current fi elds with Pakistan.” Chaudhry Nisar said more the work undertaken by the UK Prime Minister of UK Theresa She said 2% population of bilateral visits would be ar- Department for International May who made many visits to Britain had its roots in Pakistan, ranged specially for further Development (DFID),” added Pakistan and she had many well adding there were signifi cant promoting trade relations be- the PM. wishers. opportunities for mutual eco- tween the two countries.

Militant blamed for attack on Lanka cricket team killed

Reuters Islamist militants said. of Paktika bordering Pakistan, comment from US military of- Dera Islmail Khan Islamist militants are in- Pakistani intelligence sources fi cials in Afghanistan. creasingly basing themselves said. Pakistan’s Counter-Ter- in Afghanistan after an army The attack killed Yasin, who rorism Department had of- US drone airstrike in crackdown in Pakistan, offi cials specialised in training suicide fered a bounty of Rs2mn Afghanistan has killed in the country say. bombers, and three other mili- ($19,000) for Yasin, saying Aa Pakistani militant ac- The US unmanned aircraft tants, added the offi cials, who he was involved in the 2009 cused of involvement in a dead- struck a car carrying Qari Mo- declined to be identifi ed as they bus attack in the northeast- Afghan youth play on a swing during Newroz Day celebrations, a festival marking their spring and ly attack on a bus carrying Sri hamed Yasin, also known as are not allowed to talk to the ern city of Lahore, allegedly New Year, in Kabul, Afghanistan yesterday. Lanka’s cricket team in 2009, Ustad Aslam, on Sunday in the media. organised by militant group Pakistani security sources and southwestern Afghan province There was no immediate Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Govt likely to bar banned groups’ leaders from elections

Internews ment functionaries and civil context. He said almost all ter- mad Ludhianvi, he said the per- ings between leaders of banned no foreign national could be al- Punjabi-speaking persons, Islamabad servants. rorist attacks in the country son had contested 2013 general organisations and former presi- lowed to keep fake CNICs and 8,426 Balochi-speaking persons The minister regretted that his in the pre-operation Zarb-i- elections but nobody objected dent and federal ministers in the passports. and 7,037 Sindhi-speaking per- remarks made in the house had Azb period were engineered to it. past. He disclosed that Mullah sons. akistan’s Federal Interior been misconstrued and criti- and masterminded in North Taking the objections over the Mansour was not the only (Af- The breakup of other lin- Minister Chaudhry Nisar cised outside the parliament. Waziristan. The situation is entirely meeting as something positive in ghan) militant leader to have ac- guistic groups was: 5,297 Balti- PAli Khan told the Senate He said he had never talked of The situation is entirely dif- diff erent now and no a sense, he said it was indicative quired Pakistani CNIC and pass- speaking persons, 4,995 Se- (the upper house) yesterday that giving space to banned sectarian ferent now and no terrorist or- terrorist organisation of awareness and consciousness port and said there was a long list raiki- speaking persons, 3,838 a law was being prepared to stop organisations or showing leni- ganisation has its headquarters has its headquarters in which the incumbent govern- (of such persons). Brahvi-speaking and 3,493 leaders of proscribed organisa- ency to them. in Pakistan and they are operat- Pakistan and they are ment had given to people. However, he avoided sharing Hindko speaking persons. tions from taking part in elec- He said he had also not said ing from across the border. operating from across the In the past, he said, even it was any detail. A large number of 23,538 per- tions. they were lesser terrorists. He rejected criticism over his border not known how many proscribed He provided the province sons belonged to miscellaneous Winding up the discussion However, he said while there ‘inadvertent’ meeting with the organisations were there in the and language-wise break-up of ethnic groups, including for- on implications of a statement was no room for terrorist organi- head of an outlawed organisa- He said an election tribu- country. blocked CNICs for the fi rst time, eigners. made by him in the Senate on Jan sations to operate in the country, tion as part of a delegation led nal had de-seated the Pakistan Earlier the interior minister which clearly showed that the The data shows that the high- 10 making a distinction between the case of proscribed organi- by Defence of Pakistan Council Muslim League-N lawmaker told the National Assembly that Pakhtun people were the major est number of 106,020 blocked banned terrorist outfi ts and pro- sations was diff erent in a sense chief Maulana Samiul Haq and from Jhang and declared that no racial profi ling of Pakhtun suff erers. CNICs was issued in Khyber Pa- scribed sectarian organisations, that many of their followers and said the issue of blocked com- person as returned candidate in people was under way in parts of According to him, of the total khtunkhwa followed by 85,923 he said the existing law did not activists had no case registered puterised national identity cards his place, followed by a legal bat- the country. 344,597 blocked CNICs, 217,007 in Sindh, 60,408 in Balochistan, prevent outlawed organisations against them. (CNICs) was discussed in the tle and a stay by the apex court. He said there was a procedure belonged to Pushto- speak- 61,304 in Punjab and 12,031 from contesting elections and Chaudhry Nisar said he had meeting. Chaudhry Nisar said he had under which CNICs had been ing people, followed by 41,456 in the Federally Administered holding meetings with govern- proposed legislation in this Without naming Maulana Ah- documentary evidence of meet- blocked and made it clear that Urdu-speaking persons, 29,510 Tribal Areas. Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 PHILIPPINES Govt set to protest over China construction

Reuters presidential spokesman Ernes- ed a new era of ties, Filipinos Manila to Abella said in a statement. returned to fish at the periph- “President Rodrigo Duterte ery of the shoal, unimpeded by has repeatedly asserted that Chinese vessels. he Philippines plans to fi le the Philippines is not giving up Aguirre said the Philippines a strong protest against its claims and our entitlements would renew its strong ties TChina after it announced over the area,” he said. with Washington in the face preparatory work for an envi- The mayor in charge of ad- of China’s aggressive action in ronmental monitoring station ministration of disputed South the shoal, which is 124 nautical on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea islands and reefs miles from nearest coast of the Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha and President Rodrigo Duterte at the guard of honour in Bangkok yesterday. China Sea, a Cabinet minister China controls last week said main island of Luzon. said yesterday. preparatory work was being “As a matter of fact, we’re China five years ago started planned this year to build mon- strengthening the relationship blockading the Scarborough itoring stations on a number of with the United States,” he told Shoal, a rocky outcrop within islands. reporters. Last month, former the Philippines’ 200 mile ex- Duterte was asked on Sunday Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay Thailand, Philippines agree clusive economic zone (EEZ), for his response to the report of said the US had dissuaded China and the United States has a radar station to be built at the from reclaiming Scarborough warned Beijing against carry- Scarborough Shoal and said: Shoal, which security analysts ing out the land reclamation “We cannot stop China.” consider a red line that could es- work there. He also said it was pointless calate tension in the region. to strengthen military links Justice Minister Vitaliano going to war with China. China has put missiles and Aguirre told reporters Manila China until late last year had radar on some of its seven man- would file a complaint against two to three coastguard ships made islands in another part of Reuters democracy nearly three years illegal drugs. More than 8,000 has moved closer to an accom- Beijing’s plan to install a radar guarding the shoal and stop- the South China Sea, a strategic Bangkok after it took power in the name people have died since he took modation with China over the station on Scarborough Shoal. ping Filipinos from tapping its water claimed by Brunei, Malay- of ending instability. offi ce last year and began his contested waterway under Du- “The case which will be filed vast fish stocks. An interna- sia, the Philippines, Taiwan and “On the security matters, own crackdown. terte, friction remains. is fairly strong I think,” he said. tional tribunal ruled last year Vietnam. hailand’s junta leader Thailand and the Philippines As the Philippines chairs the China has put missiles and The Philippines would take that Beijing violated Manila’s The US stresses the impor- and Philippine President are willing to work together in regional meetings of the As- radar on manmade islands necessary action to defend and entitlements and no country tance of free navigation in the TRodrigo Duterte agreed tightening the military ties of sociation of Southeast Asian in another part of the South protect the country’s sover- has sole rights to fish there. sea, through which more than yesterday to strengthen mili- both countries as we are con- Nations this year, Duterte em- China Sea, in which Brunei, eignty and entitlements in the However, just days after Du- $5tn worth of trade passes tary ties and co-operate against cerned about the challenges in phasised the need for the bloc Malaysia, the Philippines, disputed maritime borders, terte visited China and herald- each year. cross-border criminality, in- addressing terrorism and all to complete the framework of Taiwan and Vietnam all have cluding illegal drugs. forms of transnational crimes,” a code of conduct to ensure all claims. Duterte has faced criticism Thai Prime Minister Prayuth parties follow legal and diplo- Thailand has no territorial over the bloody nature of his Chan-o-Cha said after their matic processes in settling ter- claim in the South China Sea, campaign against drugs while meeting. ritorial disputes in the South but as one of Asean’s bigger Thailand’s junta is under pres- Duterte also referred specifi - China Sea. members it is infl uential within Police foil alleged bomb sure from the West to restore cally to the campaign against Although the Philippines the bloc. attacks by IS-inspired group

Arroyo may head panel for new constitution DPA ter to members of the Maute group, which has Manila pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) organisation and has been blamed for terrorist By Catherine S Valente are expected to convene as a constituent as- “She cannot be working under a presi- attacks in the southern Philippines. Manila Times sembly to rewrite the 1987 Constitution. dent when she was already a president. That hilippine police have foiled alleged bomb at- Dela Rosa said the Maute group had been plan- The president is pushing an overhaul of will be quite a tall order for her to do that. tacks being planned by an Islamic State-in- ning bomb attacks in the capital Manila since last the 30-year-old charter, including a shift But representing the people of the district Pspired group in Manila, the country’s police year to try to get the attention of Islamic State and resident Rodrigo Duterte is consid- to a federal form of government and the re- of her own province would be somehow ac- chief said yesterday. get extra funding. ering naming former president and moval of restrictive foreign ownership caps. ceptable to everybody,” Duterte said. A suspect, identifi ed as Nasif Ibrahim, was also In November, security forces discovered a bomb Pnow Pampanga representative Gloria Duterte, through an executive order, ear- Arroyo has been removed as deputy apprehended during a raid on a suspected hideout planted near the US Embassy in Manila and later Macapagal Arroyo to head a 25-man com- lier formed a constitutional committee to House speaker after voting against a bill in the city of Quezon on Monday, police Director arrested four suspected members of the Maute mission tasked to draft a new constitution. study amendments to the 1987 Constitu- seeking to revive capital punishment. General Ronald Dela Rosa said. group for the foiled attack. Speaking to reporters in Myanmar on tion. Despite her removal, Arroyo has ex- Police seized components for an explosive de- Dela Rosa urged the public to be vigilant and re- Sunday night, Duterte said the last word on The 25 members of the committee will be pressed support for the Duterte adminis- vice, two pistols, a submachine gun and illegal port any suspicious activities to authorities. the matter would be Arroyo’s. appointed by the president. tration. drugs from Ibrahim’s hideout, Dela Rosa said. “I do not want to sound alarmist or cause panic, “Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. She might not The president said it was unlikely that The former president, who holds an eco- “The national police has foiled another sinister but prudence, it has been said, is the better part of agree. But maybe,” the president said of Ar- Arroyo, who held power from 2001 to 2010, nomics doctorate, had been rumoured to be attempt by the IS-inspired Maute group to launch valour,” he said. “I urge our people to remain calm royo’s inclusion in the constitutional com- would accept a Cabinet post under his gov- in the running for a Cabinet post or as gov- terrorist activities,” he said. yet alert and vigilant of the presence of threat mission that will work with lawmakers, who ernment. ernor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Ibrahim is also suspected to have provided shel- groups in our midst.” De Lima denies House likely to junk impeachment charges against president and VP falsifying petition and galvanise the country. As By Llanesca T Panti like tax reform which would re- Manila Times move income taxes for those public officials, we are always By Kenneth Hare Hernandez at a regular trial court (RTC). earning P250,000 and below, subject to criticisms and ac- Manila Times “Those are the real questions criminal justice reform and cusations. But these should here. Even if we go back to the he impeachment com- amending the economic provi- not result in impeachment. We RTC, we’re going to end up in plaints fi led against Presi- sions of our Constitution which will become a pitiful country if he camp of Senator Leila the SC anyway. We’re already Tdent Rodrigo Duterte and will result in more jobs. Im- what we want to do is impeach De Lima insisted yester- here. We’re asking the court to Vice President Maria Leonor peachment will just be a political our two highest elected offi- Tday that the petition she decide on substantive issues,” “Leni” Robredo will most likely sideshow,” Quimbo added. cials,” Batocabe said. fi led at the Supreme Court that he said. be junked, because most mem- Party-list representatives “Impeachment is a constitu- seeks the dismissal of the drug But Solicitor General Jose bers of the House of Representa- Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol and tional process that is reserved charges lodged against her was Calida said criminal and ad- tives believe that the fi ling of Sherwin Tugna of Citizens’ Bat- and should be used only against not falsifi ed. ministrative charges will be the cases was ill-timed, Deputy tle Against Corruption echoed the basest and gravest act of an Former Solicitor General fi led against De Lima and Speaker Romero Quimbo of Ma- Quimbo’s sentiments. impeachable offi cial. Absent any Florin Hilbay, the senator’s le- Cabalo. rikina said yesterday. “An impeachment proceed- of these elements and factual gal counsel, branded as false “We will fi le criminal cas- Quimbo said lawmakers do Leni Robredo: action unlikely ing is a highly divisive process. basis, the time of Congress can the claim of the Offi ce of the es and administrative cases not want the chamber to be used If not done properly, it weak- be spent on more productive is- Solicitor General (OSG) that against De Lima and the notary “for political infi ghting.” peachment case against the vice ens institutions, rather than sues like the issue of revenue the petition was defective. public,” Calida told reporters at “The fi ling of impeachment president are Marcos loyalists. strengthen them. It is precisely generation through taxation, job The OSG had asked the high the sidelines of the SC oral ar- complaint at this time is ill- They want us to think the elec- because of the far reaching con- creation and improving social court to junk de Lima’s peti- guments on the senator’s peti- timed. Most of us in the Liberal tion is fraud marred,” the law- sequences of impeachment, services through legislation,” tion because she falsifi ed the De Lima: denying accusation tion to quash the arrest warrant Party (LP) believe that we really maker added. including disenfranchising the Tugna said. “jurats”, the portion in the peti- issued against her by a Muntin- need to give the president, the Oliver Lozano fi led the im- vote of millions, that it should Reps. Teddy Baguilat and Tom tion which the senator suppos- court to do is to focus on the lupa court. vice president and all duly elect- peachment complaint against be used sparingly and for the Villarin of Akbayan warned Al- edly swore before a notary. real issues on this case,” Hilbay “Falsifi cation (charges will ed offi cers at least a year to be Robredo on Monday. most compelling reasons based varez against endorsing Lozano’s The OSG claimed that the said in a news briefi ng. be fi led against De Lima and her able to carry out their promises,” Quimbo stressed that the on the grounds provided under impeachment complaint. petition was notarised by Maria In a statement released to the lawyer) under Article 171 of the he added. House has other more important the Constitution,” Batocabe “This is a highly political Cecille C Tresvelles-Cabalo on media, De Lima said she met Revised Penal Cod,” he added. “I am not saying that we matters to attend to. told Manila Times. move and as head of the lower February 24, 2017. However, it with Cabalo in Camp Crame, Calida said the senator must should all be quiet. We just have “The Speaker is a mature Under the Constitution, im- chamber, he should try to insu- said Cabalo was not among the the headquarters of the police. have been hallucinating when to give them opportunity to leader and we are confi dent that peachable offences include late himself from the bitter po- persons seen at the Custodial She added that the attacks she said that she met with the succeed because their success is he will take a position that is go- culpable violation of the Con- litical fray that will ensue from Centre of the Philippine Na- against her by the OSG were lawyer who notarised her peti- also our success. Besides, I have ing to be healthy for the House, stitution, treason, bribery, this,” Baguilat said. tional Police (PNP) where De “borne out of desperation.” tion. seen the complaint against Vice meaning he won’t let the House graft and corruption, other “Oliver Lozano is an ambu- Lima is detained. Hilbay argued that since De “She must be imagining President Leni, and it is really be used as a political tool,” high crimes and/or betrayal of lance chaser and opportunist. If “The way the case is be- Lima was a government offi cial things. It must be the spirit of baseless. It’s a sham,” Quimbo Quimbo said, referring to Speak- public trust. Speaker endorses it, he will be ing framed is a fi ght between during the alleged commission the lawyer since I have the af- said. er Pantaleon Alvarez. “Less than a year after elec- a laughing stock as nobody be- procedural technicalities and of the crime, the complaint fi davits that the notary public Robredo is the interim chair- “We have so many more im- tions, an impeachment won’t lieves Lozano anyway. Filipinos substantive questions. What should have been fi led at the did not go to Camp Crame,” he man of the LP. portant things to discuss which do our country any good. This are not that dumb as they want we would like of course for the Offi ce of the Ombudsman not added. “Those who are fi ling an im- have greater chance of success is still a period to build, unite us to believe,” Villarin said. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Lanka UN: Workers exposed to toxic navy arrests chemicals are dying before 50 10 Indian er hazardous material factories” ment,” says the paper. “Workers fi shermen By Sarah Boseley, GNS towards the more than 600,000 aged eight and older are soaked Geneva/Dhaka largely migrant population who to the skin, breathing the fumes have no access to government- for most of the day and eat IANS funded healthcare. and live in these surroundings Colombo/Chennai hildren as young as MSF ran four main clinics for throughout the year. Personal eight, working in the 5,000 workers in 2015, located protective equipment [is] not Ctanneries of Bangla- in the centre of communities provided.” desh producing leather that involved in four diff erent manu- Child workers clad in no more he Sri Lankan navy yes- is in demand across Europe facturing processes at factories than loin cloths and wellington terday arrested 10 In- and the USA, are exposed to for tanning, plastics recycling, boots are exposed to chemicals Tdian fi shermen and seized toxic chemical cocktails that garment-making and metals. including formaldehyde, hy- their trawler after they alleg- are likely to shorten their lives, The hazards of the 250 or drogen sulphide and sulphuric edly entered the island nation’s according to a new report. so tanneries in Hazaribagh – acid, write Venkiteswaran Mu- territorial waters, offi cials said. Approximately 90% of those which are 30 to 35 years old and ralidhar, associate professor at The arrests occurred post- who live and work in the over- discharge 6,000 cubic metres the Sri Balaji Medical college in midnight south of Delft Island, crowded urban slums of Haz- of toxic effl uent and 10 tonnes Chennai, and colleagues. off Jaff na in the Sri Lanka’s aribagh and Kamrangirchar, of solid waste every day – are The other factories – for north. The Indians were later where hazardous chemicals are best known. In 2012, Human plastics recycling, garments taken to Jaff na. discharged into the air, streets Rights Watch produced a report and metals – are in Kamran- The arrests came a day after Sri and river, die before they reach called “Toxic Tanneries” which girchar, an urban slum which is Lankan Fisheries Minister Mahi- 50, according to the World revealed the fl outing of Bangla- not offi cially part of Dhaka city. nda Amaraweera announced that Health Organisation (WHO). desh’s own laws as well as inter- “In these, there are complex authorities would continue ar- Their plight spurred the vol- national law in the employment risk hazards from cotton dust, resting Indian fi shermen if they unteer doctors of Médicines of children under 18 in work heavy metals and chemicals do not stop illegal poaching. Sans Frontières (MSF) to set up that is harmful or hazardous. like mercury, phthalates, ac- Amaraweera said the govern- clinics in the area to diagnose The factories douse animal ids and dioxins and ergonomic ment was also looking at resolv- and treat those who are the vic- skins in cauldrons of chemi- hazards,” says the paper. ing the fi shing dispute in a dip- tims of their workplace. It is, cals as part of the processing of Chronic skin and lung dis- lomatic manner and fresh talks says a paper published in BMJ “Bengali black” leather, which eases are common, say the A boy collects plastic waste materials from the Buriganga River to sell to local retailers in Dhaka yesterday. would be held next month. Case Reports, “the fi rst time is exported to European leather authors. Within six months The latest arrests also came they have intervened in an area goods manufacturers in Italy, of the setting up of the clin- (0.9%) had work-related injuries. “They will probably be taken by He feels strongly that a hospi- hours before Indian External for reasons other than natural Spain and elsewhere. ics, 3,200 of the 5,000 eligi- The fi gures do not refl ect rickshaw to a hospital in Dhaka,” tal should be set up in the slum Aff airs Minister Shshma Swaraj disasters or war”. “Apart from heavy metals ble workers had come forward the overall harm to the popula- he said. And the clinics were to help its people. “They are the met a fi shermen’s delegation MSF’s intervention was trig- like chromium, cadmium, lead for at least one consultation. tion, however, said Muralidhar. only open four days a week, dur- most horrible conditions you from Tamil Nadu to discuss fre- gered by “the widespread in- and mercury, a conglomerate Among them, 468 (14.6%) Those who are severely injured ing the daytime, and workers can imagine,” he said. “I work quent alleged attacks by the dustrial negligence and apathy of chemicals are discharged by were diagnosed with suspected by chemicals or accidents would needed the owner’s permission in this area. I have never seen Sri Lankan navy. of owners of tanneries and oth- the tanneries into the environ- work-related diseases, and 30 not go to one of the clinics. to go for a consultation. anything as bad as this.” The fi shermen want New Del- hi to take urgent steps for the re- lease of 138 Indian fi shing vessels seized by Colombo. The meeting was organised after fi shermen agitated across Dahal to meet Chinese Tamil Nadu to condemn the kill- Lanka ex-leader’s brother ing of K Britjo (21), a fi sherman from Thangatchimadam in Ram- leader in week-long visit eswaram in alleged fi ring by the Sri Lankan navy this month. Sri Lanka said its navy was not DPA be second since he came to shifts blame for killings involved in the fi ring. Kathmandu power in August last year. In New Delhi, Sushma Swaraj Last year, the two met on the conveyed to the fi shermen that sidelines of a regional summit in AFP “I deny any involvement tor in 2008. Five others were the government’s eff orts in the epalese Prime Minister Goa, India. Colombo with these killings,” Gotab- arrested last month over the last two years had earlier led to Pushpa Kamal Dahal will The Nepalese premier is not haya Rajapakse said. “If he same case. the release of all the boats and Nmeet Chinese President Xi likely to sign any new agree- (Fonseka) knew there was a se- Police also allege the death fi shermen in Sri Lankan custody. Jinping during his seven-day visit ment in Beijing because his Chi- he brother of Sri Lan- cret hit squad, what action did squad was behind the 2009 “She assured that the govern- to China, offi cials said yesterday. nese counterpart Li Keqiang will ka’s former president he take as army commander?” murder of prominent newspa- ment would remain closely en- Dahal will travel to the Chi- travel to New Zealand and Aus- TMahinda Rajapakse de- Fonseka led Sri Lanka’s vic- per editor Lasantha Wickre- gaged with the Sri Lankan gov- nese province of Hainan, where tralia between March 22 and 29, nied yesterday involvement in torious fi nal off ensive against matunga, whose death sparked ernment to secure the release of he will attend the annual Boao Nepalese newspaper Republica war-era death squads, blam- Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009, but an international outcry. all Indian boats and fi shermen Forum for Asia, China’s premier reported yesterday. ing the then army chief for an fell out of favour after unsuc- Wickrematunga had ac- currently in Sri Lankan custody,” economic conference, and then Purna Basnet, a Kathmandu- alleged secretive campaign of cessfully challenging Mahinda cused Gotabhaya Rajapakse of a source said. leave for Beijing on Saturday, based commentator on Chinese extrajudicial murders. Rajapakse for the presidency taking kickbacks in arms pur- “She reiterated the govern- said Govinda Acharya, an aide to aff airs, said Dahal’s trip was Gotabhaya Rajapakse has the following year. chases, including a deal to buy ment’s commitment for early the prime minister. aimed at strengthening ties with been accused of giving orders The Criminal Investigations used MiG jet fi ghters, and was implementation of the Rs1,500 He will meet with Xi in Beijing the northern neighbour. to a shadowy military outfi t Gotabhaya Rajapakse: “I deny Department told the court the due to testify against him in crore package to develop deep on March 26, he said. “He will build on his pred- allegedly involved in murder- any involvement with these death squad was involved in court when he was killed. sea fi shing capacities for fi sher- Nepal’s relations with In- ecessor’s visit, when the two ing journalists and political killings.” a litany of abuses against the Mahinda Rajapakse and men in Tamil Nadu.” dia, its neighbour in the south, countries signed agreements on dissidents during Sri Lanka’s media during Mahinda Ra- several members of his fam- The fi shermen, accompanied have soured following a border trade and transit. This visit also long-running civil war. during his brother’s tenure. japakse’s presidency, in which ily are under investigation for by Minister of State for Road blockade in 2015. off ers Dahal an opportunity to In testimony fi led to court Gotabhaya Rajapakse said 17 journalists and media staff large-scale fraud and murder Transport, Highways and Ship- China has sought to increase demonstrate that he is serious on Monday, former army chief Fonseka – who led Sri Lanka’s were killed. during his presidency, which ping Pon Radhakrishnan and its infl uence in Nepal by signing about Chinese interest in Nepal,” Sarath Fonseka said this death armed forces between De- Just hours after submitting ended in 2015. lawmakers L Ganesan and Anwar trade and transit agreements and Basnet said. squad was run by military in- cember 2005 and July 2009 – its report, police arrested a All deny any wrongdo- Rajha, told Sushma Swaraj about investing in hydropower plants Dahal will return to Nepal on telligence but took orders from should answer for the excesses sixth military offi cer for al- ing and in turn accuse the the diffi culties they faced while and roads. March 29 after stopping over in Gotabhaya Rajapakse, a pow- carried out by troops under his leged involvement in the ab- new government of a political fi shing in the waters dividing Dahal’s meeting with Xi will Lhasa, Tibet. erful defence secretary command. duction and assault of an edi- vendetta. India and Sri Lanka.

Pollution impact India to supply more power to Bangladesh

IANS Indian government offi cials will country is receiving from West Sheikh Hasina requested us to Agartala, India sign an agreement in this regard Bengal since 2013. provide additional 100MW elec- and immediately after that the “Bangladesh has sought tricity and I instantly agreed. I supply of additional power (to 100MW electricity from India had requested her to approach uring the upcoming visit Bangladesh) will begin.” to solve its power crisis in the the Indian government on the of Bangladesh Prime The offi cial said that four eastern part of the country. As matter,” the minister said. DMinister Sheikh Hasina Indian offi cials from NTPC Vi- Tripura government was ready “Although currently we are to India, the two countries will dyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), to provide additional 100MW supposed to supply 100MW of sign an agreement for supply of Tripura State Electricity Cor- power to Bangladesh, the In- power, sometimes Bangladesh additional 60MW of electric- poration and the Indian High dian government recently in- takes 110MW to 115 power to ity to the neighbouring country Commission in Bangladesh formed this to Bangladesh gov- meet their requirements.” from the Tripura state, a top held meeting in Dhaka with ernment accordingly,” Tripura A 47-km double circuit trans- offi cial said yesterday. the top offi cials of Bangladesh Power and Transport Minister mission line was erected, linking Hasina is scheduled to visit Power, Energy and Mineral Re- Manik Dey said. the power grid at Surjyamani- New Delhi from April 7 to 10. sources Ministry and Bangla- “However, Bangladesh has nagar in western Tripura to the “Offi cials of India and desh Power Development Board to develop its infrastructure on Comilla power grid in eastern Bangladesh governments met and fi nalised power tariff and their side to receive additional Bangladesh, to supply electricity in Dhaka on March 17 and fi - other technical details. power. Considering their tech- to the neighbouring country. nalised the technical and other The NVVN is a subsidiary of nical feasibility now, they take Prime Minister Naren- issues to supply extra 60MW state owned National Thermal 60MW electricity after devel- dra Modi and Sheikh Hasina electricity to that country Power Corporation. oping transmission facilities on on March 23, 2016, launched Nepalese girls walk with masks on the streets in Kathmandu yesterday. According to reports, people from Tripura,” the Indian Tripura has been supplying their side,” he added. the supply of 100MW power are mostly aff ected by air pollution due to reconstruction of houses, road expansion projects, the offi cial said. 100MW of electricity to Bang- “During my visit to Bang- through video-conferencing Melamchi water supply project, and increasing number of vehicles. He said: “During Sheikh Hasi- ladesh since March 23, 2016, ladesh in February last year, from their offi ces in New Delhi na’s visit, the Bangladesh and in addition to the 500MW the (Bangladesh Prime Minister) and Dhaka. Dhaka launches move to get UN recognition for Mass Killing Day

By Mizan Rahman “Though it’s a time-consum- beside Bangladesh during 1971 Responding to a question, he already held a meeting, apart to observe March 25 as Mass atrocities unleashed by the Pa- Dhaka ing process but it’s not impos- Liberation War. said they have already sent sen- from doing some brainstorming Killing Day. kistani occupation forces on the sible,” State Minister for Foreign “It’s rigorous. It’s new. It’s a ior offi cials to the UN headquar- sessions.” The government has also di- people of then-East Pakistan on Aff airs M Shahriar Alam told job beyond conventional diplo- ters and the United Nations Hu- Alam said the government is rected to the relevant wings and this date in 1971. angladesh has launched newsmen in the southeastern macy. It’s an eff ort to remind all man Rights Council (UNHRC) to providing required information department to implement it and The cabinet on March 20 also diplomatic eff orts to get port city of Chittagong yesterday. about the history,” said the state fi nd facts on the process as part to Bangladesh missions abroad have international recognition approved a proposal for the in- BUN recognition for March He said Bangladesh will minister. of their ongoing drive to get the to play their further role in ac- for the Mass Killing Day. clusion of March 25 in the circu- 25 as Mass Killing Day, com- have to approach each country Alam is now in Chittagong to see recognition. celerating the process. On March 11, the parliament lar issued by the cabinet division memorating atrocities and mass separately to get support and the strength of Bangladesh Coast He said the government will Forty-six years after the unanimously adopted a mo- that declared the day as the Mass killings committed during the it will fi rst knock on the doors Guard. He also took a tour of the take the next course of actions bloodbath that touched every tion to declare March 25 as Mass Killing Day to observe nationally Liberation War in 1971. of those countries which stood Bay of Bengal by C G S Tajuddin. after analysing the facts. “We’ve family, Bangladesh has decided Killing Day, marking the start of and internationally. Gulf Times 26 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko South Sudan needs

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] peace as much as food Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) By Jason Patinkin Fax 44350474 Juba

he declaration of famine in two counties of South Sudan last month led to Timmediate pledges of aid. GULF TIMES Grave editorials called on Western governments to prioritise relief eff orts to the needy, despite the shortcomings of the government and the ongoing civil war. India airline move But a singular focus on sending more food may miss the mark. That’s because in South Sudan’s famine zone, more people die from bullets than starvation. to support Doha’s The famine was declared for Mayendit and Leer counties of southern Unity State, an area populated by various clans of the aviation hub plan Nuer ethnic group. These clans are politically loyal to Riek Machar, who After a long turbulent patch, India’s aviation industry leads South Sudan’s main rebel group, is fi nally taking off . the SPLA-IO, and hails from Leer. According to a February survey that The country is projected to be the world’s third- food security experts analysed as part largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by of the data used to declare famine, Displaced children find shelter on the small island of Kok. 2030. The increase in local air passenger traffi c – 4.1 in 10,000 people died per day estimated to reach half a billion in a decade – has across Mayendit county. That’s above The hunger facing people in By the end of 2015, some 70,000 at a time, quickly assessed needs, the famine threshold of two hunger- southern Unity is not just a byproduct people had fl ed the aff ected region, and distributed as much as food and outpaced all other markets for 22 straight months. The related deaths per 10,000 people, of the war, but the goal, many analysts mostly to government areas where aid medicine as possible before dropping growth has been helped by demand from middle-class which itself is about 10 times the suggest. Across the country, 5.8mn workers were allowed to deliver food. into the next place. Those missions travellers in smaller cities, and encouraged by Prime average global death rate. people are in need of food aid and Forty thousand people left behind hadn’t been done anywhere, ever. Minister Narendra Modi’s vow to fund airlines’ losses if But 73% of those deaths in Mayendit more than 2.3mn – one in every fi ve were classifi ed by the IPC to be in When government militia started were from confl ict, not starvation. people in South Sudan – have been “famine conditions”. killing civilians who attended the they fl y to remote areas. That means more than two people forced to fl ee their homes as a result of The most recent campaign, from rapid response missions and stealing Last year, India became one of the few countries in per 10,000 died per day – the same the confl ict. July 2016 and continuing into 2017, their food, aid groups covertly handed the world to allow a 100% foreign-owned airline to catastrophic, out of control death rate While SPLA-IO rebels have fi nally pushed Mayendit and Leer out “emergency relief kits” – small of a famine – but the immediate cause launched attacks (including on counties into what the UN and the packages of high-energy biscuits, operate on local routes. Foreigners now can own all was because they had been shot. civilians), and thrown up barriers government now offi cially describe as fi shing hooks, water purifi cation of an Indian airline, but an overseas carrier can only Other surveys tell a similar story. to aid, the death by violence and a famine. tablets, and other lifesavers – by control 49%. In Leer, there’s no recent available hunger in southern Unity is primarily These attacks were carried out by helicopter or canoe to families hiding Qatar Airways, in collaboration with the Qatar mortality data, but a survey from the result of three scorched-earth SPLA-backed militia loyal to Taban in the bush. February 2016 found that of the more campaigns waged by the government Deng Gai, who hails from the Jikany This was a far cry from meeting the Investment Authority, will apply “soon” to authorities than three people dying per 10,000 army (the SPLA), and its militia allies. Nuer clan in northeastern Unity state. needs of people on the ground, but in India to start a short-haul airline there with a fl eet of per day there, 57% were from confl ict The fi rst campaign, led by the Since the collapse of a peace and aid groups continued trying to reach 100 narrow-body planes, chief executive offi cer Akbar rather than starvation. Justice and Equality Movement, a power-sharing deal with rebel leader them. Médecins Sans Frontières and al-Baker said at the recent ITB Berlin travel fair. A third study released in December militia from Sudan’s Darfur region Machar in 2016 and the return to civil the International Committee of the 2016 by REACH, a USAID-funded that has fought for South Sudan’s war, the international community has Red Cross kept coming back, even The economic engine of the Gulf region practically group, found confl ict the leading cause President Salva Kiir, took place in recognised Taban, as he is popularly though soldiers looted or destroyed runs on an estimated 8.5mn strong Indian workforce of mortality in Leer and Mayendit, January 2014. known, as the First Vice-President. their compounds in Leer four times, (two-thirds of Indian citizens living abroad are in Gulf accounting for 49% of total deaths. JEM stormed south from the Unity The 2016-2017 campaign appears including last July. That means the war in southern capital Bentiu and razed Leer, sending to have been just as brutal as the one None of these eff orts stopped the states), with the bulk of these coming from Kerala. In Unity is so bad that even amid a civilians and aid workers running for of 2015, including rape, murder, and violence itself. Even the declaration providing options for air connectivity for the Indian famine, violent deaths still outpace their lives. By the time aid groups destruction of villages. of famine, the loudest alarm bell the diaspora, especially for those from the southern starvation deaths. returned in May 2014, children were “A whole village would disappear,” aid world can ring, hasn’t resulted regions, the Gulf carriers off er a deeper understanding To be clear, the high rate of already dying of malnutrition, though said one aid worker, who visited in a ceasefi re. Just days after the confl ict deaths does not mean Leer no famine was declared. repeatedly in 2016 but IRIN is keeping announcement, aid workers were of the market – and broader destination choices – and Mayendit counties are not The next two campaigns were far anonymous for safety reasons. “In your forced to evacuate Mayendit yet again. than their East Asian rivals such as Cathay Pacifi c and experiencing famine. more devastating. For seven months, next visit, you’d fi nd just piles of ash.” “We’ve pushed and pushed and Singapore Airlines, according to a Bloomberg column. A famine requires, among other beginning in late April 2015, SPLA- As in 2015, soldiers targeted civilians pushed,” said World Food Programme The plan to start factors, that a population experiences backed militia from the Bul and later and their livelihoods by stealing cattle, spokeswoman Challiss McDonough. two deaths per 10,000 people per day Jaggey clans of the Nuer wreaked blocking aid, and destroying crops “But humanitarian assistance can only an Indian carrier, that are “related to hunger”. A violent havoc across southern Unity. during fi ghting, which the REACH do so much on its own. It cannot end Cut-throat potentially focusing on death can also be “related to hunger” Besides mass murder and sexual study said was the largest cause of a confl ict.” the south, could make if, for instance, a hungry person slavery, the militia torched villages, food insecurity in the state. Destitute For that, the international competition ample sense for Doha’s ventures into an unsafe area in search stole or destroyed grain and crops, people have turned to gathering wild community needs to mobilise political of food and is shot, something that has looted cattle on an industrial scale, fruits, leaves, and fi sh to survive, but action. forces airlines to long-term strategy to been the case in southern Unity. wrecked water points, shelled river soldiers block access to even these “This is a confl ict-driven famine,” become the preferred But the opposite is even more true. ports to disrupt trade in foodstuff s, emergency food sources. said Nicholas Haan of Singularity sell tickets below regional hub connecting Southern Unity is a lush fl oodplain, and either stole or blocked aid “We found a case [in government- University, who led the development South Asia. Once the full of fi sh and arable land. No one deliveries. controlled southern Mayendit], of the IPC and is on its independent cost would die from hunger there if The goal was to annihilate the the men with guns are basically Emergency Review Committee, which new carrier deploys there wasn’t confl ict. The war has rebels’ support base by creating an disallowing anyone from accessing assessed the famine data for South 20 aircraft on domestic routes, it’ll get the Indian prevented people from planting, “empty area” in central and southern fi shing areas,” the aid worker said. Sudan. government’s permission to fl y international routes. harvesting, fi shing, and trading. Just Unity, according to a United Nations Throughout the chaos, aid groups “In addition to stop-gap as importantly, the confl ict prevents Panel of Experts report. have undertaken what at times was humanitarian assistance, there needs There will be air pockets, though. relief workers from bringing enough “SPLA armed forces were intent on the largest single-country aid eff ort to be extreme, extraordinary measures Despite India’s world-beating aviation growth, as food aid to reach hungry people. rendering communal life unviable and on Earth. to tamp down the confl ict in the area, many as 17 Indian carriers have shut down in the past “With active confl ict in these places, prohibiting any return to normalcy In 2014, they started dropping food whatever that looks like.” two decades, while accumulated losses of operating it is very diffi cult for humanitarian following the violence,” the group from planes, which hadn’t been done For now, most commentators – assistance to be felt, because even when said. anywhere since the war in Afghanistan besides activists George Clooney airlines total Rs600bn, according to a 2016 research the food is distributed, sometimes it Nearly 8,000 people died by in the 1990s. and John Prendergast – blame South paper. The state-run Air India is crumbling under a can be taken away [by armed groups],” violence or drowning in the swamps That wasn’t enough, so they started Sudan’s “man-made” famine on $7bn debt load. Provincial taxes of as much as 30% explained Barack Kinanga, a food while fl eeing attacks in the 2015 “Rapid Response Missions”, where fi ghting between “armed groups”, security expert with the International campaign, according to a UN mortality aid workers were helicoptered in to rather than plainly accusing the make jet fuel in India the costliest in Asia, even as cut- Rescue Committee. study released early last year. remote areas for one to two weeks government. — IRIN throat competition forces airlines to sell tickets below cost. Limited ability to hike fares, rising crude oil prices and aggressive borrowing plans to buy planes may eat into the profi tability of Indian carriers, says a report by aviation researcher CAPA India. But it estimates traffi c Brexit: The end of a loveless marriage growth to accelerate to nearly 23% in 2017 fi nancial year, with India likely to take over Japan to become the By Ouerdya Ait Abdelmalek/AFP and deepen integration as a way of doubting Britain’s European spirit. Margaret Thatcher during a 1988 world’s largest domestic market behind the US and London bolstering the peace. Another French veto followed in speech at the College of Europe in China. The project did not immediately 1967 and the UK was only fi nally Bruges. appeal to Britain. welcomed into the European In it, she rejected the idea of a India’s aviation market, the world’s fastest ritain’s relationship with the “I think we didn’t feel vulnerable Economic Community (EEC) in 1973. “European super-state exercising a growing according to the International Air Transport European Union was always enough to join, quite simply,” Menon Unfortunately for Britain, the fi rst new dominance from Brussels”. Association, is highly crowded, leading to undercutting an awkward marriage of said. oil crisis struck that same year and so In the 1990s, Britain’s defi ance price wars. But it’s at the same time booming with Bconvenience rather than a Britain preferred to focus on its the much-hoped-for economic boost towards Brussels accelerated case of love at fi rst sight. special relationship with the United failed to materialise. further with the creation of the UK great growth potential. And after 44 years - during which States and the remains of its empire. Nevertheless, 67% of the British Independence Party (Ukip), which Longer term, prudent pricing discipline supported trade ties always took precedence London nevertheless supported people voted to remain in the EEC in a campaigned for the country’s exit by lower cost structure, will be key to fl ying high in the for Britain over closer integration - the push for closer integration on the 1975 referendum. from the EU. Indian skies. London has said it will fi le for divorce European continent: wartime prime “The fact that we joined late is one The opposition party’s successes, next week. minister Winston Churchill called of the reasons there are suspicions particularly in the 2014 European Anand Menon, a professor for the creation of a “United States of because obviously there is a sense that Parliament elections when it topped of European politics at King’s Europe” in his 1946 Zurich speech. we joined a club that others had set up the polls, pushed the government to College London university, said But in the early 1960s, Britain’s to suit themselves,” Menon said. harden its rhetoric. To Advertise the relationship was always fortunes changed for the worse. Britain and the EEC soon locked The eurozone crisis, large-scale “transactional” and therefore the Its economic growth started lagging horns and London began opting out immigration from the EU and the [email protected] break-up is “pretty logical”. behind that of France and Germany, of the major attempts to step up refugee crisis of the past few years Display “It’s been a utilitarian relationship making the European single market on European integration. stoked the discontent, pushing prime Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 since 1973 and the emphasis was its doorstep seem an appealing option. In 1979, London refused to minister David Cameron to call the always on the economic dimension, Britain said on Monday it would participate in the European monetary June 2016 referendum. Classified not on the political one,” said Pauline begin the Brexit process on March 29 system, defending its national and In the end, 52% of voters opted for Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Schnapper, professor of contemporary with a formal notifi cation by letter to fi scal sovereignty. Brexit. British history at the Sorbonne EU President Donald Tusk. Six years later, it refused to ratify Neither side is likely to end up the Subscription University in Paris. Joining the European fray in the fi rst the Schengen Agreement - abolishing happier after the divorce, said John [email protected] “The sentimental dimension is place was not an easy task. internal border checks - and in 1993, Springford, director of research at the near-inexistent,” she said. In 1961, France’s then-president, it opted out of the European single Centre for European Reform in London. The path towards today’s European Charles de Gaulle, vetoed Britain’s currency. “I am not convinced that Britain 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Union began after World War II as the fi rst application, seeing it as a “Trojan Britain’s anti-federalist approach leaving the EU will help Britain or help shattered continent tried to rebuild horse” for the United States and was spelled out by prime minister the EU,” he said. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 22, 2017 27 COMMENT Why some drug prices should be high

The relationship between important contributions to the world. In the US, where the free market My high-prices-for-innovation determines drug prices, the result unmet medical need, argument may sound comforting is higher prices, covered insurance, innovation, and high drug to pharmaceutical lobbyists. But taxes, and co-payments. This enables we cannot forget the other side of continued pharmaceutical innovation, prices is complex and the issue: ensuring that drugs are but also makes it diffi cult for some politically fraught accessible to those who need them. Americans to aff ord the medicines I spent 20 years working within a they need. In this sense, Americans are system that, in many ways, exemplifi es eff ectively (and unfairly) shouldering By Ross Breckenridge this second imperative: the United the burden of fi nancing future drug San Francisco Kingdom’s National Health Service innovations that will benefi t the entire (NHS). During that time, I chaired world. my hospital’s “Use of Medicines The Trump administration now S President Donald Trump Committee,” which selected the new faces a dilemma. If average drug recently told the US medications on which to spend our prices are not lowered, popular Congress that Americans limited drug budget. Our criteria anger will continue to intensify. If Umust “work to bring down were simple: safety, effi cacy, and they are slashed indiscriminately, the artifi cially high price of drugs value for money. Even though my capital will fl ood out of the US, and bring them down immediately.” role has changed, my opinion on into countries more sympathetic to He is right that, in the United States, what represents value for money in a drug development, or out of drug prescription medicines are very costly medicine has not. development altogether. – a reality that has prompted much At times, medical colleagues were This is why the Trump public anger. But, in tackling this frustrated, because we could not provide administration should encourage problem, Trump must be careful not them with the newest “miracle” drug; a rational discussion involving to undermine scientifi c innovation. the price tag was simply too high. representatives from all areas of The relationship between unmet We, like the NHS in general, had to the healthcare industry. To prevent medical need, innovation, and maximise our budget, by aggressively such a discussion from falling prey high drug prices is complex and switching to generics and managing to populism or industry lobbying, it politically fraught. For example, the the drug choices that were available to should be informed by lessons from 1983 introduction of the US Orphan prescribers. I’m proud of our record of systems like the NHS (which Trump Drug Act successfully supported securing genuinely innovative drugs for has praised in the past) concerning the development of treatments The price of a novel drug has a direct impact on the availability of capital to fund development of the next one. our patients, without bankrupting the how to reduce overall healthcare for rare conditions. But, despite hospital. expenditure and take advantage of the fi nancial incentives (like tax that are both ethical and eff ective. investing about $3bn in R&D, on attempts. There is no special In deciding the prices of drugs, the good-value innovations. reductions) that the act provided As a result, the drug R&D process average, for each successful new dispensation, based on the moral country of my birth and my adopted Only such an open-minded and to companies for research and is prone to failure. Only seven of medicine. imperative to heal the sick. In seeking country have clearly chosen diff erent nuanced approach can balance the development, the resulting treatments 100 cancer drugs that reach the But innovation is not being carried funding, we are competing for the paths. We can learn from both imperatives of ensuring Americans’ carry jaw-dropping price tags. And clinical-testing phase end up gaining out solely by huge pharmaceutical same capital as anyone else, including, experiences. access to medications and preserving some companies gamed the system, regulatory approval. Most drugs fail fi rms. On the contrary, innovations in say, the gaming sector, which off ers In the UK, the state eff ectively picks America’s competitive advantage repurposing old drugs as much more long before this point. All of this costs drug development have historically excellent returns for investors, but winners. While this expands access to – and contribution to the world. expensive orphan drugs – a practice money. been the domain of small independent questionable benefi ts for humanity. many drugs, it also implies considerable The Trump administration should that deepened public anger. Further increasing drug costs is companies like Silver Creek The price of a novel drug has a costs (because it leaves room for delays spearhead this eff ort. – Project However justifi able some of that the approval process, which Trump Pharmaceuticals, of which I am direct impact on the availability and lobbying, with non-experts making Syndicate anger may be, the reality is that the describes as “slow and burdensome.” CEO. Such companies then sell the of capital to fund development of the decisions) and limits innovation. It process of discovering and developing Of course, the approval process is drugs they develop, or even the entire the next one. This matters for all is worth pointing out, however, that the zRoss Breckenridge was a physician new drugs is highly challenging designed to protect consumers, but company, to larger fi rms. healthcare systems, but especially for NHS covers 100% of the UK population and clinical scientist for 20 years in and laden with risks. The aberrant that doesn’t change how expensive it To secure investment, fi rms like the US, because scientifi c innovation, with little or no out-of-pocket the UK National Health Service, and is processes underlying many diseases can be for innovators. Add all of these mine must prove that, once a drug including in pharmaceuticals, expenses, and spends less than half as now the chief executive of Silver Creek remain a mystery, and it is diffi cult to costs together, and the top 15 spenders gets to market, the rewards will more represents its main competitive much as the US, as a share of GDP, on Pharmaceuticals in San Francisco, perform experimental medical studies in the pharmaceutical industry are than off set the costs of unsuccessful advantage – and one of its most healthcare. California. An image of desolation, hope and courage Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY By Cesar Chelala High: 27 C New York Low : 19 C Inshore: Slight dust at times and partly cloudy. he photograph is the image of desolation. In a room that seems to have been THURSDAY devastated by a hurricane, High: 25 C T Low: 20 C shattered windows and furniture, debris everywhere, and a few torn and Rain winding curtains that remain as mute witnesses to the disaster, a man sitting on his bedroom bed smokes a pipe FRIDAY while listening to a record. High: 23 C The man sitting is Mohamed Low: 21 C Mohiedin Anis, also called Abu T Storms Omar, a 70-year-old man. The place is the al-Shaar neighbourhood in Aleppo, scene of one of the most Fishermen’s forecast violent wars of recent times. His OFFSHORE DOHA house has just been bombed and Abu Wind: NW-SW 05-15/18 KT Omar refuses to leave it. Instead, Waves: N 2-4/5 Feet he lights his pipe, puts a record in INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-SE 04-14 KT the gramophone – which can work Waves: 1-2 Feet because it is manual – and is lost in his thoughts. Around the region Abu Omar is a collector of vintage Weather Weather cars, most of them inherited from Abu Omar: “I can start from scratch. I am willing to rebuild my house, my factory, even the cars.” today Max/min tomorrow Max/min his father. Among them was a 1957 Abu Dhabi Sunny 24/19 P Cloudy 28/22 Mercury Montclair, a 1949 Hudson intimidate Abu Omar who promises Nothing will discourage me, destroy man with all his material possessions Baghdad M Sunny 26/15 S T Storms 24/13 Dubai Commodore, a 1958 Chevrolet to repair them. me, or surrender me. You have to keep destroyed who still wants, in the Sunny 26/17 M Sunny 28/22 Kuwait City M Cloudy 26/19 Cloudy 26/16 Apache truck and a 1948 Buick, all To a group of journalists who visited your head up.” serenity of his home, to continue Manama M Sunny 27/19 S Showers 26/19 of which would delight any serious him, Abu Omar told them: “I can start Paradoxically, the image of listening to his gramophone shows Muscat P Cloudy 25/22 Sunny 27/24 collector. All of them, however, are from scratch. I am willing to rebuild desolation in photography is also the the magical redeeming power of Riyadh M Cloudy 27/19 P Cloudy 29/17 destroyed, a fact which does not my house, my factory, even the cars. image of hope and courage. An old music. Tehran P Cloudy 14/08 Rain 11/08 Live issues Health, behaviour problems can linger after child abuse

By Lisa Rapaport treat, might do well to consider that For example, stern warnings can message is that children are not Reuters Health the symptoms may have arisen due to become louder and brusquer and responding in ways meant to disrupt prior abuse or neglect,” Sege said by discipline can seem harsher. the family,” Jonson-Reid said by e-mail. Early brain development can also e-mail. “Parents can help their own hildren who have suff ered Although some children recover be impacted by what’s known as toxic stress level by realising that these are from abuse or neglect from adversity, traumatic experiences stress, or chronic exposure to severe just adaptations to past events not a may have physical or can result in signifi cant disruption of stress over a long period of time. refl ection of the current feelings or Cbehavioural health problems normal development, researchers note This can also alter kids’ hormonal negative thoughts the child may have even after the mistreatment stops, in Paediatrics. development and infl uence how soon of them as parents.” new guidelines for paediatricians Children, like adults, can develop they enter puberty. Parents and paediatricians should Around the world emphasise. post-traumatic stress disorder Paediatricians can ask about be alert to potential signs of abuse or Weather Weather The guidelines from the American (PTSD) that may be accompanied by exposure to stress, abuse or neglect as mistreatment such as a lack of interest today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Academy of Paediatrics build depression, anxiety or disruptive or part of taking down a child’s medical in usual activities, sleep disturbance Athens S Showers 22/09 Sunny 21/08 on previous advice for doctors defi ant behaviours, for example. history, the guidelines note. Doctors or changes in appetite, said Dr Beirut M Cloudy 18/14 P Cloudy 18/13 Sunny 34/27 to be on the lookout for signs of Child abuse early in life is also can also help parents and caregivers Charles Nemeroff , a researcher at the Bangkok 36/27 P Cloudy Berlin P Cloudy 12/04 Cloudy 09/03 past maltreatment. Since the last a risk factor for attention defi cit/ understand that children with a University of Miami in Florida who Cairo P Cloudy 28/15 M Sunny 26/14 guidelines came out in 2008, new hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). history of maltreatment may not feel wasn’t involved in the guidelines. Cape Town P Cloudy 27/16 P Cloudy 23/14 evidence has documented the When children have experienced psychologically safe and may need “Isolation, drop in grades, and Colombo Sunny 33/24 M Sunny 33/24 connection between mistreatment neglect or abuse, they may respond diff erent types of support or discipline reluctance to take part in certain Dhaka M Sunny 31/21 M Sunny 32/23 Hong Kong S Showers 20/19 P Cloudy 24/19 early in childhood and subsequent to certain sights, sounds, smells than other kids. activities are all warning signs of Istanbul Sunny 14/05 Sunny 13/05 health problems, and studies have or actions in ways that appear “The good news is that once in possible abuse,” Nemeroff said by Jakarta S T Storms 30/24 S T Storms 31/24 provided fresh insight into the lasting overly dramatic or inappropriately the safe care of non-maltreating e-mail. Karachi P Cloudy 30/21 Sunny 33/19 eff ects of chronic stress. emotional, the guidelines note. adults, there are a set of parenting “Parents need to be vigilant London Showers 09/04 S Showers 12/06 Manila P Cloudy P Cloudy 36/26 “Child maltreatment is seriously This may happen because when skills that can be learned that about the safety of their children 33/25 Moscow Cloudy 11/03 S Showers 11/-2 under-reported,” said lead author of children are exposed to reminders are very helpful in responding to and educate their children about New Delhi Sunny 36/20 Sunny 37/19 the guidelines, Dr Robert Sege of Tufts of past maltreatment, their brain child behaviour that may be the appropriate and inappropriate New York Cloudy 02/-6 Sunny 07/00 University and Health Resources in experiences a fi ght-or-fl ight response result of traumatic response,” said behaviour,” Nemeroff added. Paris P Cloudy 13/04 Rain 14/06 Action in Boston. similar to what occurred during the Melissa Jonson-Reid, a researcher “Perpetrators often seek positions Sao Paulo P Cloudy 24/16 P Cloudy 26/16 Seoul P Cloudy 13/02 P Cloudy 14/01 “As a result, paediatricians who initial abuse or trauma. at Washington University in St with access to children including Singapore T Storms 32/25 T Storms 33/25 are treating a child for complex Kids may also have behavioural Louis who wasn’t involved in the coaching, gardening, repairmen, Sydney T Storms 28/19 S Showers 21/18 behavioural problems, especially responses to teachers or caregivers guidelines. clergy, and often perpetrators are Tokyo Clear 16/07 Clear 14/04 when these problems seem diffi cult to that are shaped by past mistreatment. “The other important take-home family members.” Gulf Times 28 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 QATAR Qatar Motor Show to highlight innovation

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

atest hybrid and tech-ad- vanced vehicles will take Lcentre stage at the 7th edi- tion of Qatar Motor Show (QMS) from April 18 to 22 at the Doha QTA’s exhibitions director Ahmed al-Obaidli (left) and Elan Entertainment COO Ahmed al-Mulla announce Exhibition and Convention Cen- QMS 2017 yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram tre, it was announced yesterday. The event, themed ‘Driving to showcase the latest car-related a new theme, he pointed out that Innovation,’ is also expected to Biennial event merchandise and auto-services, they want move away from a tra- host several 2017 model debuts including auto lifestyle goods ditional exhibition format to a in the Middle East, featuring top Qatar Motor Show will be held and car-tuners. Visitors at the more “consumer-focused expe- sports, luxury and mid-range once every two years starting Show will have the opportunity riential event.” automotive models from more from November 2018, QTA’s to take part and watch an array “Our long-term vision for than 21 exhibitors. Also show- exhibitions director Ahmed al- of performances and interactive QMS is for it to become not only cased will be futuristic concepts Obaidli announced yesterday. activities at an outdoor fan zone. a platform but also a hub for in- and innovative models. “The decision to organise Besides displaying some of dustry innovation and technol- QMS 2017, under the patron- the event on a biennial basis the rarest collectable cars in the ogy,” al-Mulla noted. “Through age of HE the Prime Minister comes in line with our eff orts world, QMS will also see a fl eet our theme, we aim to bring for- and Interior Minister Sheikh to create synergies with the of classical and race cars parad- ward to enthusiasts in Qatar the Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- global industry while respond- ing at West Bay during the fi ve- technological advancements lifa al-Thani, is organised by ing to the needs of local day event. shaping the automotive industry Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) retailers and brand owners,” Elan Entertainment COO today.” and Fira Qatar, a partnership of he explained. Ahmed al-Mulla said the dates of Exhibiting brands include two international leaders: Elan Luxury cars on display as part of the QMS announcement yesterday. QMS have been shifted “consid- BMW, Ford, Jaguar, Maserati, Group, a leading media and en- ering a benchmark with inter- Mercedes Benz, Mini, Nissan, tertainment company (formerly conference yesterday, QTA’s the Geneva Motor Show, was in- position as a prominent regional Similar to previous editions, the national calendar of automotive BAIC, Chevrolet, Toyota, Chrys- known as q.media); and Fira Bar- exhibitions director Ahmed al- tended to give brands the oppor- automotive event, which played offi cial said QMS is expected to shows to avoid overlapping, and ler, Dodge, Genesis, Land Rover, celona, a global event organiser Obaidli said the decision to shift tunity to unveil their new models a signifi cant role in reinforcing attract a large number of au- to give brands the opportunity Lexus, Mitsubishi, Ram, Titani- and leading trade fair institution the timings of QMS from late for the fi rst time in the region. Qatar as a premium business tomotive enthusiasts from the to showcase their latest interna- um, Maxus, Hyundai, and Harley in Europe. Addressing a press January to April this year, after “QMS continues to build on its events destination,” he stated. Mena region. Exhibitors will also tional launches in Qatar.” Under Davidson. Qatar Airways celebrates music of Dana Alfardan

atar Airways has named Dana music, is experienced individually but Alfardan, globally renowned enriched when shared with others. With Qmusician and vocalist, as the Art of Flight, I was inspired by Qatar offi cial composer for Qatar Airways Airways’ ability to take the act of travel Group. and make it personal and meaningful for This recognition “caps a series of every passenger, much like Qsuites can highly successful engagements”, includ- be personalised for couples or groups up ing the composition and 2016 perform- to four people. ance of The Beginning for Hamad Inter- “With Hamad International, as the national Airport (HIA), its offi cial theme doorway to literally the whole world, I song, the airline has said in a press state- wanted to invoke the spirit of adventure ment. and the promise of experiences that will More recently, Alfardan’s original make lifelong memories. There is very composition, Art of Flight, is promi- little about travel that isn’t inspiring.” nently featured in the airline’s new tel- Salam al-Shawa, Qatar Airways sen- evision commercial featuring the “in- ior vice-president of marketing and novative and game-changing Qsuite” corporate communications, said: “We – Qatar Airways’ new Business Class would have chosen to partner with Dana product that allows passengers to cus- Alfardan regardless, but the fact that she tomise their experience on board. is from Qatar and understands our cul- Parties of four can create their own ture and tradition, and the airline’s his- cabin-within-a-cabin by lowering pri- tory of world-class hospitality, gave us vacy panels and joining their Qsuites another layer of connection. Dana has together. This product also features the the unique ability to capture the excite- fi rst-ever double bed option in Business ment of travel in her music, and to evoke Class, all of which combine to bring ele- our favourite travel memories. We are ments of First Class to Business Class. blessed to work with her.” Qatar Airways Group chief executive Alfardan is the founder and CEO of Akbar al-Baker said, “Ms Alfardan’s tal- DNA Records, Qatar’s fi rst recording ent is well recognised around the world, company. Her fi rst album, Paint, was re- and we at Qatar Airways are happy to leased in 2013. provide another stage for her inspiring The artiste’s latest album, Sandstorm, and beautiful music, and to pair it with is now featured on all Qatar Airways our world-class service. At Qatar Air- fl ights, the statement adds. ways, we look after the details in order To view TCV, visit https://www. to earn our best-in-class reputation.” youtube.com/watch?v=_yhZDsctiZg Alfardan said, “I am honoured to To hear the HIA theme, ‘The Begin- partner with Qatar Airways to represent ning’, visit https://www.youtube.com/ their brand musically. Travel, much like watch?v=mXsA7iquEmo Dana Alfardan ... music on the go.

Katara inks MoU with Isesco

Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Isesco). The MoU was inked in the presence of Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and Isesco general manager Abdulaziz bin Othmane al-Tawjeri during a press conference at Katara’s Amphitheatre yesterday. Commenting on the MoU, Dr al-Sulaiti said: “We eagerly welcome this partnership as it will enrich the cultural scene with its focus on heritage and culture while supporting and developing cultural industries, with the objective of preserving our rich traditions and passing them to our upcoming generations.” “It is my utmost pleasure to sign an agreement that organises meetings, seminars, workshop and research studies, with the hope that this partnership will aid in achieving spectacular and positive results within policy-making and development of strategies for all cultures. “Such training programmes for the human resources department stem from Katara’s keenness to encourage creativity leading towards the establishment of a knowledge-based community through sustainable projects, intertwining culture and investment while contributing to Qatar National Vision 2030.” Wrapping up the press conference, he added: “Finally, please allow me to applaud this partnership and fruitful co-operation. In addition, I would like to express the happiness of the Cultural Village as we’ll be working with Isesco, hoping to make every sincere eff ort to achieve the highest degree of success and eff ort.” On his part, al-Tawjeri said: “It is my greatest pleasure to sign this memorandum of understanding with the well-known Cultural Village. The agreement is sought to emphasise on the cultural aspects found within societies, which usually acts as an essential pillar when building or developing any nation. Not to forget to mention that Katara is characterised by the unique organisation of diversified events and constant developments that are seen by the State of Qatar and the region.” Katara and Isesco off icials at the press conference.