BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 12 QIIB plans Qatar working additional hard to Tier 1 sukuk up to QR3bn qualify for INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-8, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 before the World Cup, REGION 9 BUSINESS 1–9, 14-20 end of April 17,633.11 10,316.67 38.52 ARAB WORLD 10 CLASSIFIED 10–14 +97.72 +171.28 -0.87 INTERNATIONAL 12–25 SPORTS 1–12 says Carreno +0.56% +1.69% -2.21% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10043 March 30, 2016 Jumada II 21, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar, France sign In brief Rafale jet contract REGION | Blaze Fire engulfs residential towers A huge blaze engulfed at least two as Dimdex opens residential towers in the northern UAE emirate of Ajman yesterday. Soon after the opening, HH the Emir portant milestone in the ongoing de- Qatar Emiri Airforce has a pavilion The fire erupted at a building in toured the exhibition venue fence agreement between the two where miniature models of many of the the Ajman One residential cluster countries, the French minister hoped fi ghter aircraft and helicopters in its use of 12 towers and spread to at least By Ramesh Mathew it would boost their bilateral relations are demonstrated. one other tower, press reports said. Staff Reporter and more of such agreements would be The expo features a wide range of Ajman police said one pregnant reached between Qatar and France in maritime exhibits including those woman was admitted to hospital future. Rafale International (Dassault used in the fight against piracy, div- after suff ering breathing diff iculties, he Doha International Maritime Aviation) has a pavilion at the venue. ing operations and underwater vehi- while five people were treated at the Defence Exhibition and Confer- This is the fi fth edition of Dimdex, cles. scene for minor injuries. Residents Tence (Dimdex) 2016, inaugurated launched in 2008. A number of secu- The organisers said the phenomenal were evacuated and police said the by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- rity experts and specialists from diff er- rise in the number of participants over blaze was brought under control. mad al-Thani yesterday, was the plat- ent areas of combat, representing the the years showed their growing inter- A resident told AFP that the fire, HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, adviser to the Emir for Defence form for Qatar signing a nearly €6.7bn armed forces of many countries, are at- est in the defence and security market near the coastline, was fanned by a Aff airs HE Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah and HE the Minister of State for contract with France to buy 24 Rafale tending the meetings held as part of the of the region. strong wind. Page 9 Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah touring the Dimdex 2016 at the fi ghter aircraft. bi-annual event. A Naval Commanders Conference on Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday. The opening of the three-day event Vehicles, helicopters, equipment the Middle East is to be held today. It is WORLD | Technology at the Qatar National Convention Cen- and machinery for the maritime se- expected to be attended by several mili- tre (QNCC) saw a number of dignitaries curity and defence of the countries of tary and academic experts. Google unveils in attendance, including adviser to the the Middle East and North Africa are As part of the exhibition eight na- landline phone Emir for Defence Aff airs HE Major Gen- prominently displayed at various pa- val ships are berthed at the Doha Port. Google yesterday unveiled a new eral Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah and HE vilions. Pages 3, 4 landline telephone service aimed at the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs helping consumers stay connected Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah. in the Internet cloud. The new Soon after the opening, the Emir and Qatari-German drone project in advanced stage Fibre Phone service will be made the dignitaries toured the sprawling available to a few US markets and venue, visited some of the major pavil- HE the Minister of State for Defence collectively cope with the risks. later expanded to other cities where ions and watched the exhibits on dis- Aff airs Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah He said the development of the Google off ers high-speed Internet. play. Companies from about 30 coun- yesterday said that a drone production Qatari armed forces would continue, The new service adds a few high- tries are participating in the exhibition. project, undertaken by Qatar in co- stressing that holding Dimdex in Doha tech features to the landline, such The contract for the Rafale fi ghter operation with Germany, had reached was an opportunity to get acquainted as transcribing voice mails and aircraft was formally signed between an advanced stage. with the latest techniques in the delivering them as written messages, HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah “You will see a Qatari drone in skies military fi eld. and connecting with mobile phones and French Defence Minister Jean- over Doha by next year,” Dr al-Attiyah Dr al-Attiyah expressed delight at when consumers are away. Yves Le Drian. said on the sidelines of the opening of the volume of participation in the French ambassador Eric Chevalier the International Maritime Defence exhibition, pointing out that the ranks LATIN AMERICA | Politics and Qatar Chief of General Staff , Ma- Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex) and positions of participants, number jor General Ghanem bin Shaheen al- 2016. The government, he said, of exhibiting companies, quality of the Brazil leader’s French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Qatar’s Minister of State for Defence Ghanem were present at the signing supported joint work and integration exhibits and methods of presentation coalition collapses Aff airs HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah shaking hands at the agreement-signing ceremony. of defence systems in the region to refl ected great interest in the event. Brazilian President Dilma for buying Rafale fighter aircraft yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam While describing the deal as an im- Rousseff ’s chances of surviving impeachment nosedived yesterday when her ruling coalition’s main partner jumped ship and went into opposition. The PMDB, the Brussels airport country’s largest party, voted to end Ministry warns against Thundershowers and its alliance with Rousseff ’s leftist delays reopening Workers’ Party, or PT, immediately. spreading rumours strong winds likely today AFP Brussels hose who spread rumours and any information without verifying its trong winds and thundershow- day says partly-cloudy to cloudy spread information obtained sources. Always try to get the infor- ers are expected in the country conditions are likely and there is a Tfrom unknown sources will be mation from offi cial sources. omb-damaged Brussels airport Stoday along with a drop in tem- chance of scattered rain, which may held legally accountable, the Ministry “Rumour-mongering and spread- said it would not reopen today perature, the Qatar Met Department be accompanied by thunder by night. of Interior (MoI) has warned. ing stories from unknown sources will Bafter all following drills to test has said. Slight to blowing dust is also expect- In a post on its Facebook page yes- harm others and those involved will resuming partial services, as Belgium Off shore areas, too, are likely to ex- ed in some places. The wind speed in terday, the MoI said people should try be held legally accountable. Let’s join lowered the death toll from last week’s perience strong winds, high seas and these areas may go up to 30 knots at to get information from offi cial sourc- together for a secure community.” attacks to 32. isolated thunderstorms today, ac- times. es only and not pay heed to unverifi ed The advisory noted that sometimes The airport has been closed since cording to the weather report. Off shore areas, meanwhile, will reports. people spread information about in- twin bombings wrecked the departure Weather charts show that Dukhan also remain partly cloudy to cloudy Noting that rumours spread fast, cidents that have actually taken place hall exactly a week ago, in coordinated and Al Ruwais are among the places today. There is a chance of scattered especially through social media, the elsewhere but are passed off as occur- suicide attacks that were claimed by where rain is expected today, while rain as well, which may be thundery at advisory said rumour-mongers “love rences in Qatar, while others spread the Islamic State group and which also the mercury level will dip across the times. The wind speed in these areas to spread anything” without verifying old messages and posts as new infor- struck Maalbeek metro station in cen- country, including in Doha. may reach 35 knots during the thun- the sources and considering the harm mation. tral Brussels. In a post on its social media chan- dershowers, with the sea level rising it may cause to people. Earlier this month, Qatar’s Met A total of 32 people were killed in Bel- nels yesterday, the Met Department to 12ft. Those spreading rumours some- department had issued a similar gium’s worst-ever terror attacks, the said chances of isolated rain (thun- The minimum and maximum tem- times have a vested interest as well, statement, saying people should not government said, down from an earlier dery at times) would continue until peratures in the country today are the MoI said. “Hence, we advise the heed rumours and obtain weather- toll of 35 following confusion between Friday morning, reaching its peak on expected to be 20C and 29C, respec- public to keep away from rumours related information from official two lists of people who had died at the Thursday. tively, with the forecast for Doha be- and rumour-mongers and not share sources only. scene and in hospital. Page 18 The forecast for inshore areas to- ing 23C and 28C. ‘Unstable’ hijacker surrenders after Cyprus airport standoff

AFP But some escaped only minutes be- in Arabic with demands, including to ther Turkey or Cyprus. plane, police said no bombs had been Larnaca fore the hijacker surrendered, includ- meet with a European Union repre- They included eight Americans, four found. ing one uniformed man who was seen sentative and for the release of women Dutch citizens and four Britons, the Kasoulides said the man had threat- clambering out of a cockpit window prisoners in Egypt. Egyptian authorities said. ened to blow himself up if the plane was man hijacked an EgyptAir pas- and dropping to the ground. “There was no logical consistency for Two French nationals were also on not refuelled and allowed to depart for senger plane yesterday and “From the beginning it was deter- the demands to be taken seriously,” Ka- the plane, according to a French diplo- Istanbul. Aforced it to divert to Cyprus de- mined that this was not a case of ter- soulides said. matic source. “We examined the alleged explosives manding to see his ex-wife, sparking a rorism,” Foreign Minister Ioannis Asked about the hijacker’s demands Offi cials said that seven people, in- that were found on him. They were not dramatic airport standoff that ended Kasoulides said, adding the man was to see his wife, Cyprus President Nicos cluding several passengers, had re- explosives but phone covers made up to peacefully after six hours. “psychologically unstable”. Anastasiades laughed and said: “Al- mained on board until shortly before A man believed to be the hijacker of give the impression they were explo- The hijacker, an Egyptian described Egypt identifi ed the man as 58-year- ways there is a woman.” the man surrendered. the EgyptAir Airbus A-320, which was sives,” he said. as “unstable”, had claimed to have old Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa. The EgyptAir plane landed in Lar- The hijacker emerged from the air- diverted to Cyprus, leaving the plane Police said there were no immediate explosives strapped to his waist but Kasoulides said the man demanded naca at 8:50am, after the hijacker craft, walked across the tarmac and before surrendering to security forces indications anyone had been working none were discovered after he gave to deliver a letter to his Cypriot ex- had contacted the control tower 20 raised his hands to two waiting coun- after a six-hour standoff on the tarmac with the hijacker. himself up at Larnaca airport and was wife, with whom he was said to have minutes earlier to demand the diver- ter-terrorism offi cers. They laid him at Larnaca airport’s largely disused old Authorities closed the airport - Cy- arrested. children. sion. on the ground and searched him before terminal yesterday. prus’s main entry point for tourists - and Most of the 55 passengers on the She was brought to the airport and Egyptian civil aviation officials taking him away. nearby beaches and diverted incoming plane - originally travelling from Alex- spoke to the man, the minister said, said there were 21 foreigners among In a tweet at 2:43pm, Cypriot gov- just been arrested” and that all crew fl ights to Paphos in the island’s west. andria to Cairo - were quickly released without elaborating. the passengers, and that the hijacker ernment spokesman Nicos Christo- and passengers were safe. Larnaca airport later said it had reo- after it had landed. He also delivered a rambling letter had demanded the plane land in ei- doulides confirmed “the hijacker has After sending sniff er dogs onto the pened and that fl ights had resumed. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 QATAR

Qatar-Georgia ties reviewed PM meets UK secretary of state for defence In brief

Emir receives message from Niger president

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received a written message from President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou, dealing with bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them. HE the Foreign Minister’s Assistant for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi received the message during a HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani meeting yesterday with Niger’s holding talks with the UK Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon, who is currently visiting ambassador to Qatar Mubarak Qatar to participate in the 5th Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference Hassan Boubacar. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met (Dimdex 2016). The Prime Minister also met the commander in chief of India’s Western Naval the Minister of Agriculture of Georgia Otar Daniela in Doha yesterday. They discussed bilateral Command, Vice-Admiral Sunil Lanba. The meetings dealt with Qatar’s relations with UK and India in Justice Minister relations and ways of developing them, in addition to issues of common concern. addition to means to develop these relations. meets Hague Conference chief

HE the Minister of Justice Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al- Mohannadi met the Secretary- Qatar, Kiribati establish General of the Hague Conference Georgia agriculture minister on Private International Law Christophe Bernasconi in Qatar diplomatic relations yesterday. Bernasconi is in Doha to participate in the Gulf Regional Seminar on Protecting the Best QNA Representative to the Unit- invites Qatari investments Interests of the Child in Cross- New York ed Nations ambassador HE Border Family Disputes, which is Sheikha Alia Ahmed bint Saif al- organised by Doha International Thani and Kiribati’s Permanent QNA trade relations between the Family Institute in co-operation atar and Kiribati have Representative to the United Doha Qatari businessmen and their with the Ministry of Justice. signed a joint statement Nations ambassador Makurita Georgia counterparts in addi- Qto establish diplomatic Baaro. tion to the investment oppor- Attorney General relations between the two coun- The signing ceremony took eorgian Minister of Ag- tunities available in both coun- tries. place at the headquarters of Qa- riculture Otar Danelia, tries. holds talks with The joint statement was tar’s Permanent Mission to the Gwho is currently visiting The Georgian Minister wel- top US off icials signed by Qatar’s Permanent UN in New York. Doha, has invited Qatari busi- comed Qatari investments, and nessmen to visit his country and made a presentation on the key explore the trade and invest- sectors in which businessmen HE the Attorney General Dr Ali ment opportunities available in can invest such as transport, bin Fetais al-Marri met separately it. tourism, food security, and es- in Washington with assistant to This came during Danelia’s pecially agriculture, which con- the US President Lisa Monaco, meeting at Qatar Chamber of stitutes 10% of the total Gross and Secretary of Homeland Commerce and Industries (QC) Domestic Product (GDP) of the Security Jeh Johnson. yesterday, attended by QC board country. During the two meetings, they member Mohamed Ahmed al- Mohamed al-Obaidly stressed HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin discussed a number of issues of Obaidly and Georgia’s ambassa- that Qatari businessmen are Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani holding talks yesterday with the common concern. dor to Qatar Ekaterine Meiering- looking to explore opportunities Minister of Agriculture of Georgia Otar Danelia in Doha. During the The two meetings were attended Mikadze. in the areas of agriculture and meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways of developing by Qatar’s ambassador to the HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed bint Saif al-Thani and ambassador Makurita The meeting dealt with ways real estate, as well as other sec- them as well as aspects of co-operation, especially in economic, United States Mohamed Jaham Baaro signing the joint statement in New York. of strengthening economic and tors in Georgia. trade and investment fields. al-Kuwari. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 3 QATAR

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the ministers of defence and chiefs of staff of the armed forces of countries participating in the 5th Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex 2016) at Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday. They reviewed issues of common concern. ‘Qatar is important strategic regional partner for Britain’

QNA change its policy towards The British defence sec- warned us all of the need to Doha Iran, but it encourages the retary described relations co-operate to defeat vio- implementation of the nu- between the two countries lence and the barbaric ide- clear deal, in the hope that as strong and growing in ology adopted by ISIS”. He atar is an important Iran would change its policy the fi eld of security and de- stressed the need to press regional strategic and play a constructive role fence, saying such relations ahead with the formation Qpartner for Britain in towards the countries of the include defence exports and of an international alliance all fi elds, especially in terms region”….stressing that “the co-ordination in organis- against terrorism. of military and defence rela- security of the Gulf region is ing the 2022 World Cup in Fallon noted the Brit- tions, British Defence Sec- our security, too”. Qatar. ish navy will lead from next retary Michael Fallon said On the situation in Libya, On the Syrian crisis, Fal- month until October the yesterday. Fallon noted that a political lon called for reaching a new CTF-150, which is a deter- Speaking at a press con- solution is inevitable in the peaceful settlement in Syria rent force against piracy, ference here on the sidelines end, stressing the need for in which there should be no smuggling and terrorism. of the Fifth Doha Interna- a strong central government place for Assad. He explained that this force, tional Maritime Defence to work with in order to set- He said: “We should all which includes 31 countries, Exhibition and Conference tle the situation. work for bringing an end to also supports international (Dimdex 2016), Fallon said The British defence sec- the civil war in Syria which eff orts against ISIS and the that last week witnessed retary also underlined the has caused death to thou- halt of weapon supplies and the signing of a new De- importance of the global sands of people and made personnel to and from areas fence co-operation agree- coalition making progress others homeless, and to under its control. ment between Qatar and the against Daesh, including pave the way for elections He added that the United United Kingdom in Lon- restricting its ability to con- and the formation of a new Kingdom has one of the don. The agreement will en- duct attacks in Europe. national government that most powerful naval forces able closer co-ordination on Fallon said that his visit brings together all parties, in the world, saying there training and exercises until to Doha refl ects the extent calling in the meantime for are British naval ships that 2026. of the United Kingdom’s continuation and inten- constantly patrol the In- Responding to Qatar News commitment to working sifi cation of pressure on dian Ocean and the Gulf of Agency’s question about the with Qatar and its other al- ISIS”. Aden to secure maritime United Kingdom’s policy to- lies to enhance security and Referring to attacks in the trade routes and maintain ward Iran and the security of stability “which we need to Belgian capital Brussels last trade interests and oil and the Gulf region, Fallon said maintain for the security of week, the British defence gas supplies to British ports. that his country “did not the Gulf region and Europe”. secretary said: “The attacks Page 4 Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 QATAR

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani touring the 5th Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex 2016) at Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday. He was briefed on the latest technologies and equipment in the maritime field displayed by participating companies. Qatar is ‘a strong regional Firms eyeing Qatar for setting ally of the United States’ up military accessories units By Ramesh Mathew Staff Reporter atar is now one of the strongest regional allies Qof the US, the US embas- ompanies specialising in sy’s charge d’aff aires Ryna Gliha manufacturing acces- said yesterday while formally Csories for the region’s opening the US pavilion at Dim- armed forces are setting up their dex 2016 at the Qatar National own production facilities in Qa- Convention Centre. tar as more and more local entre- While expressing happi- preneurs are exploring opportu- ness at the growing bilateral nities these days. relations, Gliha said the US has One of the latest entrants is been one of the largest import Sheikh Turki bin Faisal bin Qas- partners of Qatar with exports sim al-Thani, a young local busi- worth $4.3bn in 2015. The of- nessman who has set up a manu- fi cial said the large percentage facturing facility for boots used of these exports is attributed by soldiers and others working in to aircraft, transportation and areas of safety and defence. heavy equipment. “My company, Al Sawari While exuding optimism to Holdings Group, is a 100%-Qa- have more opportunities in the tari business enterprise sup- Sheikh Turki bin Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani at his stall at Dimdex 2016. future as well, Gliha recalled that ported by the technical expertise PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam in 2014, more than $10bn worth of an Italian fi rm, which has a of business was awarded to the good track record in the manu- focusing only on the local mar- a manufacturing facility in Doha US defence and security. US embassy’s charge d’aff aires Ryan Gliha cutting a ribbon to mark the opening of the US pavilion at Dim- facture of safety shoes and other ket but orders are coming from in the near future as there is a The trade and investment re- dex yesterday as representatives of US companies look on. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam safety accessories,” the entre- other parts of the region as good demand for our accessories lations between the US and Qa- preneur told Gulf Times at Dim- well, said another offi cial of the from Qatar and other parts of the tar continued to prove resilient The US offi cial also urged the tional Vision 2030. tors from the US are taking part dex 2016 yesterday. fi rm. Gulf,” an offi cial said. with increasing interest for US US companies to not only con- Knowledge transfer and sup- in the Dimdex, which is a US Currently, the local fi rm is Similarly, Sur International, Besides military uniforms and goods and services although this sider the sales of equipment or porting Qatar’s continuing ef- department of Commerce certi- producing 2,000 pairs of boots a textile manufacturing com- other apparels for the use of de- year has witnessed a fall in oil services, but also training pro- forts to develop its technical and fi ed event,” added Gliha. Earlier, a day and depending on the in- pany in Khartoum, which is a fence, the company is also pro- prices, regional unrest and un- grammes and support services military capabilities are the key, the National Anthems of the US crease in demand the company joint Turkey-Sudan venture, has ducing an array of decorations to certainty in global markets, said in line with the actual needs and he said. and Qatar were sung to mark the would produce more, he said. stakeholders from Qatar. be fi xed on the military uniforms the diplomat. requirements of the Qatar Na- “It is pleasing that 17 exhibi- opening of the US pavilion. The Qatari company is now “We are considering to set up and caps.

Dimdex a meeting place for ‘manufacturers and developers’ Indian Navy highlights key role in regional security HE Chief of Staff of Qatari Armed Forces to grow further in the years to come. Major General Ghanim bin Shaheen al- Commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force Ghanim said that the Doha International Major General Mubarak bin Mohamed al- By Ramesh Mathew ness at the growing levels ports in the Gulf region and Maritime Defence Exhibition and Kumait al-Khayarin said that the exhibition Staff Reporter of co-operation between we hope to continue such Conference (DIMDEX 2016) is growing year has seen significant progress since its the armed forces of the Gulf visits,” he said. after year, and has become a meeting place inception as its participants dramatically countries and India in the Commodore Deepak for manufacturers and developers from all increased and exhibited a variety of he Indian Navy is last decade, Vice-Admiral Bhatia of INS Beas and over the world as well as a hub that attracts technologies, adding that there are a lot happy with the re- Lanba said there has been Commandant Manoj Pande manufacturers and developers of naval of advanced equipment procured by the Tsponsibilities carried a remarkable rise in the were present at the delib- defence system in the Middle East and the Qatari armed forces. out by its men and ships number of soldiers from erations held at the venue of world. Al-Khayarin pointed to the inclusion of as part of the Combined the region for the training the Dimdex yesterday. In a statement on the sidelines of the fifth Patriot missile defence system to secure Maritime Defence Force in programmes conducted by Indian ambassador Sanjiv edition of DIMDEX 2016 which opened the country along with the naval and air the Gulf of Aden, said Vice- Indian forces. The senior Arora said this year’s Indian yesterday at Qatar National Convention transport support aircraft, stressing that Admiral Sunil Lanba who is Indian ambassador Sanjiv Arora, Vice-Admiral Sunil Lanba offi cer also recalled the vis- participation at the Dimdex Centre, Major General Ghanim bin Shaheen all air force capabilities will be utilised to leading an Indian delegation and other off icials at Dimdex 2016 yesterday. its made by Indian ships to is the best ever as a Naval al-Ghanim said that he expects the exhibition support the navy in the country. participating at Dimdex Qatar in recent years. ship carrying a large contin- 2016. since 2008 with notable of his men. Inspector General S K gent is berthed at Doha port While recalling some successes. “Similarly, our navy Goyal of the Indian Coast since Monday. of the achievements in “Our ships could suc- could also defeat a number Guard also hailed the grow- The envoy also recalled thwarting attempts by pi- cessfully evacuate more of attempts by pirates on ing levels of co-operation that the increased levels of rates to attack oil tankers, than 4,000 stranded people oil tankers, he pointed out between India and the Gulf co-operation between In- the senior Indian naval from 42 countries when the while recalling that the countries. dia and the Gulf states in the offi cer said the country’s civil war was at its pinnacle brave eff orts came in for “There have been some defence sector has benefi ted forces have been under- in Yemen in 2015,” recalled praise at diff erent levels. goodwill visits by Indian both the parties consider- taking duties in the region Lanba while hailing the feat While expressing happi- Coast Guard ships to the ably in recent years.

Navy chief hails Emir’s support to Dimdex

Major General Mohamed Nasser al-Mohannadi, Commander of Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, said that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s patronage and continued support to the Doha International Mari- time Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex) has made the expo a pioneer- ing event regionally and internationally. In a speech he delivered before the opening of the 5th edition of Dimdex, al-Mohannadi said Dimdex 2016 has now become the largest specialised maritime naval defence and security exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. Al-Mohannadi highlighted the confidence placed by the participants in the expo which brings together industry experts from all over the world to share cut- ting edge technologies in maritime security. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 5 QATAR Ban salesmen at women’s clothes shops, says CMC ales staff at shops selling women’s clothes and accessories shops. as cashiers in such shops. clothes in Qatar should be wom- CMC member Sheikha al-Jufairi The issue was referred to the CMC Sen only, members of the Central observed that the issue is particularly Services and Utilities Committee for Municipal Council (CMC) demanded embarrassing when women have to deal further discussion and consultation yesterday at their bi-weekly regular with salesmen in the selection of under with offi cials of the relevant authorities session. garments. to issue the necessary recommenda- Women’s concerns over the embar- However, she was of the view that tions. rassment they experience while buy- there is a shortage in women applicants The council also discussed a sugges- ing clothes – especially undergarments for sales jobs. tion to maintain an adequate number – when the sales staff are men, were CMC vice-chairman Hamad La- of lanes at the internal roads across the highlighted. hadan al-Muhannadi pointed out that country to enhance traffi c safety and CMC chairman Mohamed bin Ham- some other GCC countries have already fl ow. moud al-Shafi raised the issue yester- enforced a ban on men from working as The CMC complaints committee day, stressing that the topic had been sales staff at women’s clothes shop and discussed a public demand to install pending since 2006. said Qatar should follow this trend as more sports equipment at public gar- He requested a ministerial decision part of the local traditions. dens and parks, in particular at those in to ban men from working at women’s He said however that men can work residential neighbourhoods.

Dhows here now The dhows that are taking part in the Pearl Diving Competition (Seniyar) 2016 have started arriving at Katara – the Culture Village. The window to complete the technical inspection requirement is open until Friday afternoon. The launch of the competition is on April 5. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 QATAR Experts discuss need for innovative teaching

ncreased professional trust The event was chaired by systems that are conducive to He called for change to be is needed to support teach- Stavros Yiannouka, CEO, widespread innovation and “built on teacher empower- Iers in the global education WISE, who introduced the or- possess the capacities to adopt ment” that “values the broader community, a recent meet- ganisation as an initiative of and scale innovations that are outcomes of creativity, agency, ing in London co-hosted by Qatar Foundation for Educa- shown to work.” and well-being, and which the World Innovation Summit tion, Science and Community The main authors of the re- works deeply with civil society for Education (WISE) and the Development (QF), under the port, Joe Hallgarten, direc- as partners in learning.” Royal Society for the encour- leadership of its chairperson, tor, Creative Learning and Hannon spoke about the agement of Arts, Manufactures HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Development at the RSA, and need to make a case for change and Commerce (RSA) has said. and discussed its commitment Valerie Hannon, director and by engaging ‘edupreneurs’ and The gathering discussed the to innovation, action and part- co-founder of the Innovation others in the business com- necessity of professional con- nership in education. Unit, also attended the event munity, to become partners in fidence to support the inclu- According to Yiannouka, and commented on their find- building education systems “in sion of innovative and effective “unprecedented challenges” ings. much more profound ways.” teaching methods in primary were becoming “more diverse, Hallgarten remarked that the During the session, a panel and secondary school systems. more complex, less sustain- current reform models under- of experts considered the chal- The meeting also marked the able, and less equal,” making value teacher professionalism, lenges of leading impactful release of the revised WISE- reforms to the international and that international aid in research for concrete action RSA report entitled ‘Creative education system more crucial developing countries has be- and change, discussing ways to Public Leadership: How School than ever. come linked to those countries’ more effectively communicate System Leaders Can Create the He also emphasised the up- ability to “successfully adopt and interact with policy mak- Conditions for System-wide dated report’s focus on “how the features of more Western- ers, school leaders, educators Innovation’. to create public education ised schooling paradigms.” and communities.

Dr Sheikh Mohamed Hamad al-Thani opening the medical camp. Hundreds of workers attend medical camp

ore than 500 low-in- and the Indian Physiotherapy pected in organising such events come expatriate work- Forum. which have a greater focus on Mers benefi ted from free Dr Sheikh Mohamed Ha- social and educational purposes medical check-ups, awareness mad al-Thani, director of Pub- in Qatar. campaign and other services lic Health at MoPH said: “In Over 30 doctors and 20 physi- from a medical camp organised the coming years, I expect that otherapists from various spe- by the Ministry of Public Health through such medical camps, cialities were part of the con- (MoPH) recently in Mesaieed as we can spread the knowledge sultation team at the Boom part of its drive for promoting on healthy lifestyle among the Construction camp in Mesaieed. health at workplaces. working population in Qatar and The camp off ered complete The event was organised in help them achieve good living medical check-ups in ophthal- collaboration with Ministry of standards.” mology, ENT, dermatology and Interior, Hamad Medical Corpo- He also praised the role of pri- dental departments by specialist ration, V Care Qatar, the Indian vate organisations saying that doctors, physiotherapists from Doctors Club, Well Care Group more support from them was ex- various specialities and nurses. WISE and RSA experts meet in London.

Free coverage of boxing matches on Ooredoo tv

Ooredoo has announced that its Ooredoo (Pacquiao vs Bradley) and April 23 Ooredoo tv’s ‘Collect & Go’ service, tv service will provide free coverage of (Donaire vs Bedak) will be live for all meaning they can visit any Ooredoo two highly anticipated boxing matches viewers. Shop and collect the new Ooredoo tv box. during April. The Manny Pacquiao vs Existing Mozaic TV customers can still Installation can be done by customers in Timothy Bradley for the WBO World view the matches but will have to access their own homes. Ooredoo tv also off ers Welterweight Championship, and Nonito the action via the TFC Pay-Per-View a multi-screen service, so customers Donaire vs Zsolt Bedak for the WBO World service available on channel 510 on can use their Ooredoo Broadband Super Bantamweight Championship will Mozaic TV. The bundle price for both Wi-Fi to enjoy the best drama, comedy, be available for all Ooredoo tv customers the matches will be QR109. Mozaic TV documentaries and hit shows on their on channel 426 for free. and Ooredoo Broadband customers smartphones and tablets, while other The fights, which will air on April 10 can access the fights for free by using users enjoy the boxing.

Dealer forced to replace car

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has compelled a car dealer in Doha to replace a defective vehicle with a new one after its service centre failed to repair recurring faults. The MEC took action after receiving a complaint from the vehicle owner about manufacturing defects. Inspectors from the Ministry investigated the complaint before asking the dealer to replace the faulty car with a new one in accordance with article (10) of law No (8) of 2008 on consumer protection. The law stipulates that consumers are entitled to choose whether to repair, return or exchange defective products. The measures come within the framework of the MEC’s ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. The MEC stressed it will crack down on all violations of the Consumer Protection law and will intensify its inspection campaigns to combat fraud. The violators of applicable laws and ministerial decrees are to be referred to the competent authorities who will in turn take appropriate action against them in a bid to protect consumers’ rights. The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 QATAR

Vodafone’s ‘six times more data’ promotion is back Vodafone has announced that its “six times more data” promotion PAL begins is back for another three days, giving customers increased Internet allowance through a special off er. Running until tomorrow, the off er on Internet cards “gives power to customers by allowing them to Manila-Doha enjoy a great Internet experience over Vodafone’s superfast network,” the company has said Graduates with HMC off icials and other dignitaries during the recognition ceremony. in a statement. Customers will also be able to carry over any unused data. With this promotion, customers fl ight via can now take the monthly 38 HMC students graduate Internet card 20 to 500 MB, twice the initial allowance; monthly Internet card 60 to 3GB, monthly Internet card in audiology courses 80 to 12 GB; mobile monthly Internet card 100 to 30 GB; and Abu Dhabi total of 38 Hamad Medi- Audiology and Balance Centre. In all, there were 15 diploma the mobile monthly Internet cal Corporation (HMC) He spearheaded the Qatari- in clinical audiology gradu- card 200 to 72 GB. By Joey Aguilar An Airbus 330 plane will be Ryan Uy, PAL’s vice presi- Astudents have completed Canadian initiative in 2009 to ates, 14 diploma in auditory The data is valid for 30 days. Staff Reporter used to fl y to Qatar fi ve times dent for sales, said many diff erent specialised diploma meet the increasing demand verbal therapy graduates, and Additionally, Vodafone is a week except Wednesday and restaurants in the Philip- programmes in clinical audiol- for specialised hearing care in nine diploma in clinical optom- rewarding customers with a Sunday. PAL’s newest aircraft pines are now serving Halal ogy, clinical optometry and au- Qatar and the region. etry graduates. They comprise chance to win QR10,000 through lag-carrier Philippine off ers economy and premi- food as “number of visitors ditory verbal therapy. Dr Hadi, a hearing health members of staff from HMC’s a “Scratch & Win” option with the Airlines (PAL) has opted um economy with free Wi-Fi from GCC countries par- The programmes were devel- expert, was responsible for Audiology and Balance Unit monthly Internet card 100. Ffor a Manila-Doha fl ight for 30 minutes. Passengers ticularly from Saudi Ara- oped in collaboration with the developing the programme and Ophthalmology Depart- “Vodafone is all about giving via Abu Dhabi instead of its will also enjoy 15mb of video bia, the UAE, and Qatar is Canada-based University of on universal newborn hearing ment, as well as candidates power to you, our customers, and earlier plan for direct fl ights to streaming using their personal increasing.” Toronto. The initiative utilises screening that has been adopt- from within Qatar, the GCC and enabling them to be confidently Doha. through ‘myPAL’ app player. He urged the private sector the best minds from around ed by Qatar as a national health other Arab countries. connected at all times. Our ‘6 Launched on Monday, the PAL has 30 domestic and to further promote Halal. the world to provide evidence- policy. Since its establishment The graduation ceremony times more data’ promotion new route is part of PAL’s ex- 43 international destinations, In his speech during a gala based continuing education to in 2003, Qatar’s National Pro- was attended by Dr Abdulla- was received with tremendous pansion plans to the Middle including direct fl ights to the reception, Philippine ambas- healthcare professionals. gramme for Early Detection tif al-Khal, HMC’s deputy chief success when we launched East in addition to its current US. It currently operates a sador Wilfredo Santos said that “Our latest batch of gradu- of Hearing Loss has benefi ted medical offi cer and director of it back in February and we Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Damam, fl eet of 75 modern jets, which PAL’s entry signifi ed another ates under the HMC-Univer- thousands of children and medical education; Dr Nabila decided to renew it again. It is Kuwait, Riyadh, and Jeddah include Boeing 777-300ERs, partner in promoting tourism sity of Toronto initiative dem- helped ensure that those at risk al-Tamimi, programme director a solid testament to Vodafone’s fl ights. Airbus 340-300s, A-330- in Qatar. onstrates HMC’s continuing of hearing disorders receive the and head of HMC’s Optometry commitment to off er best-value “It is the conservative way 300s, A321-300s, A-320-200s, “This is another Philippine commitment towards building care and support that they need Section; Dr Vitaly Kisilevsky, products and services, supported of doing business and making Bombardier Q400s and Q300s. company added to the growing local capacity to deliver the from an early age. medical director of Vestibular by our new network that makes sure the airline does not jump About plans to launch direct roster of Filipino businesses highest standards of hearing In 2004, HMC established Laboratories and Services at the for an ultrafast data experience into the water without the nec- fl ights to Doha, Lim said fl ying investing in Qatar,” he noted. healthcare in Qatar,” said Dr the Audiology and Balance Cen- University of Toronto; Adrian for customers across Qatar,” essary equipment,” said David from major Philippine cities PAL organised a formal Khalid Abdul Hadi, programme tre with diff erent specialties for Norfolk, Canadian ambassador Vodafone Qatar said in the Lim, PAL’s Commercial Group such as Cebu, Manila or Clark dinner reception at Al Sharq director and head of HMC’s hearing and balance care. and other dignitaries. statement. senior vice president, at a press in the immediate future is not Village and Spa in Doha yes- conference in Doha. their target. terday to mark its inaugural “By fl ying via Abu Dhabi, Besides Filipino expatriates, fl ight. It was attended by air- we are making sure that we are PAL also wants to attract more line executives, Qatari offi cials, reaching to our fellow Filipinos Emiratis and Qataris to visit the travel agents, tour operators, the best way that we can do, Philippines and use Manila as a and representatives from the profi tably,” he added. gateway to Asia and Australia. Filipino community. Workshop for health educators

he National Diabetes and Qatar Diabetes Association, theories and models on behav- Dr Ghadeer al-Jayousi, public Centre at Hamad General participated in the workshop. ioural interventions to support health professor at QU’s Faculty THospital (HGH), in col- Organised under the title “Be- patients living with diabetes. of Sciences, introduced partici- laboration with Qatar Universi- haviour Change Theories and Manal Musallam, director, dia- pants to theories currently being ty’s (QU) Public Health Depart- their Application in the Health betes education at the National used to change the behaviours of ment, organised a workshop for Education of Diabetics”, the main Diabetes Centre, said the workshop diabetics in Kuwait. health educators. objective of the workshop was to was a follow-up to the recently Al-Jayousi demonstrated the A total of 30 educators from strengthen the existing academic held First Qatar International En- eff ectiveness of the behavioural HMC’s hospitals, as well as dia- knowledge of health educators. docrinology Conference, and reit- interventions using a fi lm show- betes educators from the Pri- The workshop featured erates the importance of the part- ing the real-life experiences of mary Health Care Corporation presentations about the latest nership between HMC and QU. patients.

David Lim, flanked by colleagues Ismael Augusto Gozon and Ryan Uy, announcing new service to Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Chevrolet Silverado models of 2015-2016 Regency complex opens today recalled Temporary traffi c diversion egency Shopping Com- The Ministry of Economy plex opens its doors to and Commerce (MEC), in Rthe public in Al Wusayl collaboration with Jaidah Street, Umm Salal Ali, at 5pm at Al Thumama junction automotive, has announced the today. recall of Chevrolet Silverado “Shopping at Regency models of 2015 and 2016 to Shopping Complex will be an n order to complete the reinstall the brake pedal position. enjoyable experience to all,” works at Al Thumama junc- The MEC said the recall general manager Ameerudheen Ition, which is part of E-Ring campaign comes within the claimed. and Najma roads development framework of its ongoing eff orts A wide range of food prod- project, and lay the fi nal asphalt to protect consumers and ucts, multiple choices for layer, the Public Works Author- ensure that car dealers follow up garments and home furnish- ity - Ashghal will implement a on vehicles’ defects and repair ing and ample car parking are temporary traffi c diversion in them. some of the salient features of eight phases. The MEC will co-ordinate with Regency Shopping Complex. The fi rst phase starts on Thurs- the dealer to follow up on “We have a shopping area day after midnight and will last the maintenance and repair of more than 1,500sqm across until Saturday 5am. The remain- works and communicate with two fl oors, with the ground Regency Shopping Complex in Al Wusayl Street of Umm Salal Ali. ing seven phases will be carried out customers to ensure that the fl oor housing the supermarket during the following seven week- necessary repairs are carried and fresh food section. counters on both the fl oors. Our customers. Soon we will have ends, each lasting from Thursday out. “The fi rst fl oor has sections fast billing system will reduce and Ooredoo counter and ATM midnight to Saturday 5am. It is an- The MEC has urged all customers for readymade garments, toys the billing time. We will also facility on the ground fl oor to ticipated that the last phase will be to report any violations to its and games, stationeries, foot- ensure that customers do not serve thousands of bachelors completed by May 21. Consumer Protection and Anti- wear, home appliances, elec- spend much time in queue for and family live in that area. During each phase, only a part Commercial Fraud Department tronics, home furnishing, out- pricing and weighing fruits and Ali Ahmed Ali Rabea al-Ku- of the junction will be closed through the following channels: door and camping equipment, vegetables. wari, chairman, Regency Shop- and signage installed to indi- Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@mec. furniture, mobile shops, Arabic “The fi sh and meat section ping Complex, has expressed cate the closed and the open require the full closure of diversion. The authority has re- gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, ethnic perfumes and a jewel- will off er the widest choice and the hope that the new venture parts of the road as shown in the junction for two days. quested all road users to abide Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC lery store. A food court and the best price. The food and will help customers in and the map. The exception will Ashghal will install road by the speed limits, and follow mobile app for Android and IOS: gents saloon will open shortly. non-food section are prop- around Umm Salal Ali to get be the last phase, which will signs to advice motorists of the the road signs to ensure safety. MEC_Qatar “There are checkout erly demarcated for the ease of things of their choice easily. QIC Insured launches ‘Pay How You Drive’ insurance

IC Insured has an- CEO), QMIC, noted: “We are namely the additional discount.” nounced the launch of pleased to partner with QIC on This is the fi rst time in the Qa “Pay How You Drive this fi rst-in-Middle East-PHYD Middle East that a car insur- (PHYD)” car insurance product initiative and provide the tech- ance premium is directly related based on a platform developed nology enablement through to the actual driving behaviour together with Qatar Mobility our applications. The launch of and the app and premium struc- Innovations Centre (QMIC). PHYD services is a major mile- ture is still being monitored to The new product is based stone for our joint eff orts to of- further refi ne the products and on a mobile solution for the fer Qatar innovative solutions scoring in the future, according iPhone/iOS platform (and soon for improving road safety and to a statement. The next step is Android), which registers the it falls perfectly in line with our to expand the off ering to other driving behaviour of a motorist strategy, Roadmap to Zero.” phone systems other than the and rates the driving on a scale In order to get cheaper car in- iPhone. from 0 to 100. surance, the driver has to dem- Instructions on how to down- “Supporting road safety is onstrate an overall driving score load, register and use the app a key element for QIC Insured of more than 94%. can be found at www.safedriver. and Qatar Insurance Group. So, Elaborating on this, Frederik qic-insured.com we see this initiative as a natu- Bisbjerg, executive vice presi- As a supporting initiative and ral extension of our current road dent - Mena retail, QIC, said: to attract more attention to- safety activities,” said Salem al- “There’s no downside to this. wards safe driving in Qatar, QIC Mannai, deputy group president If you’re not able to achieve Insured has launched a monthly and CEO, QIC (Mena region). the 94% score, your car insur- competition where the three Abdulaziz Ahmad al-Khal, ance premium will not increase safest drivers will be awarded chief commercial offi ce (deputy – this only has a positive side, grand prizes. QIC and QMIC off icials during the launch of the PHYD car insurance. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 9 REGION Fire engulfs Children in residential Yemen bear towers in UAE AFP fi re, near the coastline, was Dubai fanned by a strong wind. Fires have hit several high- rise buildings in the United Arab huge blaze engulfed at Emirates, most recently the Ad- brunt of war, least two residential tow- dress Downtown hotel in Dubai Aers in the northern UAE on New Year’s Eve. emirate of Ajman on Monday, lo- In November last year, a massive cal media and a witness said. blaze engulfed three residential The fi re erupted at a build- blocs in central Dubai and led to ing in the Ajman One residential services on a metro line being sus- cluster of 12 towers and spread pended, although no one was hurt. says Unicef to at least one other tower, Gulf In February, a huge fi re gutted News daily reported on its web- one of the emirate’s tallest build- Yemeni children face severe Reuters by telephone from Sanaa. site. ings, destroying luxury fl ats in acute malnutrition; millions “In Sanaa in the last week, Ajman police said one preg- the Torch tower and triggering an of youth lack access to there has defi nitely been a re- nant woman was hospitalised evacuation of nearby blocs in the healthcare, safe water duction of fi ghting in the border after suff ering breathing diffi cul- Dubai Marina neighbourhood. area. In Sanaa, we have seen fewer ties, while fi ve people were treat- In 2012, a massive blaze gutted Reuters (Saudi-led) air strikes,” he said. ed at the scene for minor injuries. the 34-storey Tamweel Tower in Geneva Nearly half of Yemen’s 22 prov- Residents were evacuated and the nearby Jumeirah Lake Towers inces on the verge of famine and Fire engulfs a tower at a residential cluster in Ajman on Monday. police said the blaze was brought district. It was later revealed to over 13mn people need food aid, The fire erupted at a building in the Ajman One residential cluster under control. have been caused by a cigarette undreds of thousands of the UN’s World Food Programme of 12 towers and spread to at least one other tower. A resident told AFP that the butt thrown into a bin. children in Yemen face said last week. Hlife-threatening malnu- Unicef delivers nutritional sup- trition and millions lack access plies and vaccines against mea- New domestic violence centre in Saudi to healthcare or clean water due sles, polio and other childhood gets 1,890 reports in fi rst three days to the year-old war there, the UN diseases in the country of 24mn, Children’s Fund said yesterday. but it is not enough, Harneis said. A newly established centre 18. The centre also targets Bahrain court jails A Unicef report also said all Unicef representative in Yemen “We’ve got an increase in both for women to report on the elderly and individuals sides in the war had “exponen- Julien Harneis gives a press severe acute malnutrition and domestic violence in Saudi with disabilities. There are tially increased” the dragooning conference in the Yemeni chronic malnutrition,” he said. Arabia received a torrent of 22 social protection teams 10 over police attack of child soldiers, with 848 docu- capital, Sanaa, yesterday. The report said an estimated calls in its first three days, available in all provinces mented cases - including boys as 320,000 children risk severe prison, while the remaining de- a ministry said, accord- in the kingdom. Their role AFP young as 10 - forced to fi ght. “Basic services and infrastruc- acute malnutrition, which can fendants were jailed for between ing to local media reports is to protect victims of Dubai Tensions appear to be easing ture in Yemen are on the verge of leave a child vulnerable to deadly three and 15 years,” it said. yesterday. abuse and violence,” said between the Iran-allied Houthis, total collapse,” it said, noting at- respiratory infections, pneumo- The defendants were accused Abdullah al-Muaiqil, al-Muaiqil. who control most of northern tacks on schools, hospitals and nia and water-borne diseases. ahrain yesterday sen- of detonating a roadside bomb the deputy minister for The 24-hour call centre Yemen, and Saudi-led forces after the water and sanitation system. Nearly 10mn children require tenced 10 people to be- when a police patrol passed in social aff airs, said the centre was established as part of a year of war, over 6,200 deaths The UN said last week the war- humanitarian aid to prevent a tween three years and life the village of Akr, south of Man- received 1,890 reports in the reforms started in 2013, B and a humanitarian crisis in the ring parties had agreed to a ces- further deterioration. Chronic in prison for attacking police ama, in April 2014. first days after it was opened including a law which crimi- Arab world’s poorest country. sation of hostilities from April 10 malnutrition can stunt growth during a protest in a village, the Three police vehicles were on March 20. Half of the calls nalised domestic abuse. The “On average, at least six chil- and peace talks from April 18. and development. prosecution said. damaged in the attack, the pros- pertained to new cases, he law was welcomed by some dren have been killed or injured “We’re hoping that the truce “Unicef estimates that nearly The defendants were found ecution said. noted, according to a report human rights group who every day,” said the report “Child- kicks in on the 10th and will allow 10,000 children under 5 years may guilty of involvement in “terror- At least nine people were given in Okaz newspaper. were, however, critical that hood on the Brink”. Unicef has parents and families to come and have died in the past year from ist plots” and detonating explo- jail terms of varying lengths ear- “The centre targets the legislation lacked specif- confi rmed 934 children directly access health services and other preventable diseases,” it said, cit- sives, the kingdom’s public pros- lier this month in cases involving women of all ages and ics, including enforcement killed and 1,356 injured, but says services,” Julien Harneis, Unicef’s ing lower vaccination rates and ecution said in a statement. attacks on police and a bus, as children below the age of mechanisms. they are “only a tip of the iceberg”. Representative in Yemen, told declines in treatment. “Four were sentenced to life in well as a “terrorist” plot. Rouhani postpones Austria visit ‘for security reasons’

AFP ther Vienna nor Tehran gave a new date programme in order to put an atomic Vienna for a visit. bomb out of reach. In return nuclear- A spokesman for the Austrian inte- related sanctions - but not others - rior ministry, Karl-Heinz Grundboeck, were lifted. ranian President Hassan Rouhani said there were “no concrete indica- Ructions with the West remain, has postponed for security reasons tions of any security threats” in Vienna. however, including over Tehran’s sup- Ia planned visit to Austria this week, Rouhani had been due to meet Austri- port for Syrian President Bashar al-As- only his second to Europe since last an President Heinz Fischer today in Vi- sad, the confl ict in Yemen, Iran’s bal- year’s nuclear deal, Austria’s presiden- enna and Chancellor Werner Faymann listic missile programme and computer cy said yesterday. the following day, as well as attend an hacking. “The visit for March 30-31 by Presi- Austro-Iranian economic forum. With Rouhani having been elected dent Hassan Rouhani and his delega- He visited Rome and Paris in January. on a promise to improve the economy, tion has been postponed by the Iranian The 2013 election of Rouhani, a rela- Tehran is also frustrated at what it sees side for security reasons,” it said in a tive moderate, led to something of a as an incomplete lifting of sanctions, in statement, without giving further de- rapprochement with the West which particular on its banks. tails. in turn helped Iran and major powers Austria, like other European coun- The Iranian government’s offi cial reach the mammoth nuclear deal in Vi- tries, and having hosted numerous website confi rmed the postponement, enna last July. rounds of talks that led to the nuclear made “by mutual agreement”, but said Entering into force in January, Iran deal, is keen to see its fi rms profi t from nothing about security concerns. Nei- substantially scaled down its nuclear the opening up of the Iranian economy.

Iran sanctions removal duration unclear: Fischer

AFP But more than two months later Iran to use the international payments sys- Vienna is still struggling to make business with tem SWIFT allowing the resumption of the West and banks are facing restric- foreign transfers. tions in the US on handling transactions Some banks in Iran have been able to ustrian President Heinz Fischer involving the Islamic republic. reconnect to SWIFT since the lifting of has said it is unclear how long it “Austria alone cannot lift the sanc- sanctions was announced in January. Awill take for the West to lift sanc- tions. The EU cannot do it alone too, but But banks accused of links to the tions on Iran, in an interview with Iran’s it’s the international community that country’s elite Revolutionary Guards re- state television news agency IRIB. should do it,” Fischer said, in comments main under US sanctions. Iran’s historic agreement with world published late Monday by IRIB. Fischer said the process of lifting powers went into force on January 16, “The US also plays a role in this re- sanctions on Iran had “started”. ending a 13-year standoff over Tehran’s gard,” said the Austrian president. He added however: “I cannot make disputed nuclear programme and lifting He was replying to a question about any predictions on how much longer it punishing sanctions on its economy. problems facing Iranian banks who wish will take” before all sanctions are lifted. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 ARAB WORLD Riding tuk-tuk in Gaza Army fi ghts IS in central Syria after Palmyra win

AFP State news agency SANA said IS’s northern bastion in Raqa as Beirut the army, backed by pro-govern- well as the oil-rich province of ment militia, had also seized ru- Deir Ezzor to the east. ral farmland south of Al-Qaryat- The militants swept into egime troops were locked ain as they closed in on the town. Palmyra, a Unesco-listed World A Palestinian man rides a tuk-tuk loaded with plastic footballs in Gaza City yesterday. in heavy fi ghting yester- IS had seized the strategic Heritage Site, in May 2015 and Rday with the Islamic State town in August 2015, kidnapping began a campaign to destroy group in central Syria, where at least 230 people, including tombs and shrines it considers they dealt the militants a major dozens of Christians, and razing idolatrous. Beirut airport needs blow by seizing the ancient city its famed Mar Elian monastery. The extremist group demol- of Palmyra. The town lies on a key road ished the 2,000-year-old temple new security equipment, Just two days after seizing linking Palmyra with the Qala- of Bel and also blew up the Arch perimeter wall: minister Palmyra from IS, pro-government mun region of Damascus prov- of Triumph. fi ghters advanced southwest to- ince to the west. IS also used Palmyra’s ancient Beirut airport needs at least $24mn to ad- wards the militant-held town of Sunday’s capture of Palmyra, theatre as a venue for public ex- dress pressing gaps in security, including a Al-Qaryatain, the Syrian Observa- known as the “Pearl of the ecutions and murdered the city’s new wall and baggage inspection equip- tory for Human Rights said. Desert” for its colonnaded alley- 82-year-old former antiquities ment, Public Works and Transport Minister They captured a series of stra- ways and stunning temples, was chief, Khaled al-Assaad. Ghazi Zeaiter said yesterday. tegic hilltops overlooking the seen as a the biggest blow so far Syria’s head of antiquities, Building a new perimeter wall - which will town, said the Britain-based in the war against IS in Syria. Maamoun Abdulkarim, said that cost $1.4mn - is the most urgent priority, he monitor, backed by “intense” air Syria’s armed forces have 80% of the site was still “in good told journalists. The airport’s decaying sea strikes by both Syrian and Rus- pledged to strengthen their hold shape” and the ancient ruins wall, protecting the western runway, is also sian warplanes. on Palmyra and press on towards could be restored in fi ve years a key concern and repairing it fully would with Unesco’s help. cost up to $54mn. Russian raids have killed over 1,000: report But UN expert Annie Sartre- Zeaiter implied security and safety improve- Fauriat, who belongs to a group ments had not been undertaken because Russian air strikes in Syria likely media reports - as well as ac- of experts on Syrian heritage set financing approvals have been delayed. killed more than 1,000 civilians counts from rebel groups and up by Unesco in 2013, said she “Today we need rapidly to decide the in the war-torn country during non-governmental organisations was “very doubtful” that would financing for the airport,” he said, adding the last quarter of 2015, the - to compile a grim database be possible. that if a cabinet meeting on Thursday did Airwars monitoring group said. detailing every known civilian As they retreated from Palmyra not authorise financing for the new wall he The London-based group casualty incident that allegedly at the weekend, IS fi ghters planted would directly instruct the contractor to gathered media and social involved Russian aircraft. roadside mines near some of the begin work. most celebrated ruins of the city.

UN chief calls for swift handover of power in Libya

AFP east, “to uphold its responsibilities” in im- Tunis plementing a UN-brokered power-sharing deal announced in December. “Those obstructing the political process N chief Ban Ki-moon pleaded yes- should be held accountable. The Libyan peo- terday for Libya’s unity government ple deserve peace, security and prosperity Uto be allowed to start work quickly under a strong, united government,” he said. and called for anyone obstructing the peace The power-sharing deal aims to end process to be held accountable. years of political turmoil in the North Afri- Ban, speaking in Tunisia, called for a can state that has been exploited by jihad- UN-backed presidential council to be per- ists and people-smugglers. mitted to work towards “the immediate But both of Libya’s rival authorities - the peaceful and orderly handover of power to government backed by the recognised par- the government of national accord.” liament and another supported by armed He also urged Libya’s internationally rec- groups in the capital - have refused to cede ognised parliament, based in the country’s power to the unity government.

Morocco rejects Ban’s description of Western Sahara

Reuters worst disagreement with Rabat the UN since 1991, when the UN brokered a cease- fi re to end a war over West- orocco said yes- ern Sahara and established teday that UN a peacekeeping mission MSecretary-Gen- there known as MINURSO. eral Ban Ki-moon’s de- “In the eyes of Morocco, scription of its annexation these are premeditated of Western Sahara as an acts to alter the nature of “occupation” was not a the dispute,” Morocco’s misunderstanding but a foreign ministry said in a “premeditated act to alter statement. “At this level of the nature of the dispute”. responsibility, words have The foreign ministry meaning, political and legal statement came a day after consequences, and person- a UN spokesman said Ban al opinions have no place.” regretted the “misunder- Morocco took over most standing” over his use of of the territory in 1975 from the word, which led to Mo- colonial Spain. That started rocco expelling dozens of a guerrilla war with the UN staff from its mission Sahrawi people’s Polisario in the disputed territory. Front, which says the desert The standoff over Ban’s territory in the northwest comment is Morocco’s of Africa belongs to it.

Sudan closes border with South

Sudan has closed its border with South Sudan, a source at the Interior Ministry in Khartoum said yesterday. Off icials in north-eastern South Sudan meanwhile said they had received notification from Sudanese off icials to end cross-border movement, South Sudan›s Eye Radio reported. The source in Khartoum, who did not want to be named, said the border had been closed because of «recent devel- opments,» without saying what they were. Sudan had threatened to close the border after accusing South Sudan of supporting rebels in its Darfur region and other areas.

Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 AFRICA

CRACKDOWN CIVIL STRIFE OPPOSITION CASE EPIDEMIC FEARED MURDER RAP 16 dead as Congolese 7 hurt in grenade attack on Top S African court to rule Meningitis claims 61 lives Kenya charges six over troops battle rebels Burundi police bus on Zuma home revamp in Niger, hundreds infected attack on Uber vehicle

Four Congolese soldiers and 12 rebels have Seven people were wounded yesterday in twin South Africa’s Constitutional Court will rule Sixty-one people have died of meningitis since Kenya yesterday charged six men with attempted been killed in three days of clashes in eastern grenade attacks on a police bus in Burundi, tomorrow on whether President Jacob Zuma January in Niger, the UN said yesterday, despite murder and malicious damage to property, saying Democratic Republic of Congo. The violence, police said, the latest in a string of attacks in the should pay back some of the 240mn rand mass vaccinations to prevent a possible epidemic. they were involved in a February attack on a taxi which began on Sunday, pitted the army against troubled central African country. Hundreds have ($15.6mn) spent by the state on renovating his A total of 736 cases have been off icially recorded driver working for ride hailing company Uber. the Congo-based Rwandan FDLR militia and two been killed and almost half a million people have private home, domestic media reported. Two this year, the local branch of the UN Off ice for the Hesbon Lulani Pachiti, who escaped after a beating groups of Mai-Mai rebels, army spokesman Captain fled Burundi since President Pierre Nkurunziza’s opposition parties brought the case to try to force Coordination of Humanitarian Aff airs said, adding when a group of men poured petrol on his car and Guillaume Djike told AFP. “There are 12 dead controversial decision last April to run for a third Zuma to comply with a 2014 finding by the Public that children under four comprised 30% of the set it alight in Nairobi on February 21, was listed among the FDLR and its allies, and four deaths term. “There were seven wounded, six policemen Protector, an anti-corruption watchdog, that he total cases. “From January 4 to March 13, 736 as the first witness in the charges presented in among the army,” he said. The clashes took place and a child that his mother was taking to the was liable for non-security improvements to his cases of meningitis have been recorded in Niger,” court against the six. The chief magistrate’s court in Mpati, about 100km southwest of Goma. Police clinic, and two of them were seriously injured,” sprawling rural residence that included a cattle OCHA said. These cases included 61 deaths. ordered the accused into police custody until pulled out of five villages some weeks ago which deputy police spokesman Moses Nkurunziza said enclosure, swimming pool and amphitheatre. Almost 35% of the total cases involved children Friday when they will review the case. Uber began were subsequently taken over by the FDLR and the of the attack in the capital Bujumbura. Last week, Should the court find Zuma violated the aged between five and 14, it said. Between operating in Kenya in 2015, making inroads into the Mai-Mai, but operations were under way “to retake at least three people were wounded by grenades, constitution, the opposition would be likely to January and June last year, health authorities Nairobi market by off ering lower prices and cutting these illegally-occupied villages,” Djike said. one of which was thrown at an army bus. push for his impeachment in parliament. recorded 573 deaths and over 8,500 cases. out haggling that often infuriates customers.

WHO Brazzaville shut to protest says Ebola emergency veteran leader’s re-election is over AFP AFP choice,” said the 23-year-old, who is Geneva Brazzaville paid $3.40 an hour for back-breaking labour. Andre’s colleague Glad described the he World Health Or- pposition strongholds in Braz- work as “much more than diffi cult. ganization said yesterday zaville were closed yesterday “There are jobs here but they are re- Tthat the Ebola outbreak Ofollowing a strike call over the served for Mbochi (members of Sassou in West Africa no longer con- re-election of Congo’s veteran ruler Ngeusso’s ethnic group) and for the stitutes an international emer- Denis Sassou Nguesso in polls his rivals northerners,” he said. gency, voicing confi dence that say were marred by “massive fraud”. Sassou Nguesso served as president remaining isolated cases in the Sassou Nguesso was declared the from 1979 to 1992 and returned to pow- aff ected countries can be con- winner of the March 20 election, ex- er in 1997 following a civil war. He won tained. tending his 32 years in power in a result two successive terms in 2002 and 2009, “The Ebola outbreak in West which has been challenged by fi ve de- but both elections were contested by Africa no longer constitutes a feated opposition candidates. opposition parties. public health emergency of in- He got a fi rst-round win with 60% of While Congo saw “robust growth” ternational concern,” WHO chief the vote, according to the disputed of- of 5% over fi ve years through to 2014, Margaret Chan told journalists, fi cial result. with oil and timber providing its main offi cially ending the emergency Southern districts of the Congolese revenues, the country remains in dire fi rst declared in August 2014. capital were deserted yesterday, in- straits. The deadliest-ever outbreak cluding Total, the city’s biggest market “(Congo) continues to suff er from of the tropical disease emerged where the array of goods ranges from high rates of poverty and inequality, in December 2013 and has killed electronic appliances to caterpillars - a large infrastructure gaps, and impor- more than 11,300 people, mostly local delicacy. tant development challenges,” a report in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra But on the fringes of the market, by the International Monetary Fund re- Leone. hundreds of women vendors ringed the leased in July 2015 said. The UN’s public health agen- pavements selling vegetables, fruit and Unemployment hit 34% in 2013, ac- cy faced searing criticism over soap. cording to the last available data, and its initial response to Ebola’s The strike call was issued by run- stood at 60% for those aged between 15 spread, including accusations ner-up Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas who and 24. that it took far too long to publi- received more than 15% of the votes, The IMF fears “domestic instability” cise the threat level. third-place candidate Jean-Marie without progress in the battle to elimi- Such criticism forced the Michel Mokoko who polled nearly 14%, People walk past shuttered shops in Brazzaville yesterday. nate poverty. WHO in May last year to launch and three others: Claudine Munari, An- The European Union had refused to a sweeping shake-up of its dre Okombi Salissa and Pascal Tsaty ended a two-term limit on presidential those demanding jobs and decent living where youths loitered in the streets. send election observers to monitor the emergency response systems Mabiala. mandates, allowing Sassou Nguesso, a conditions to work through the strike. But life was normal in the central polls, saying conditions had not been and saw the organisation quickly They called for a repeat of the “ville 72-year-old former paratrooper colo- “Politics doesn’t interest me. Politi- Poto-Poto district and there was little met for a transparent and democratic sound a global alarm this year in morte” (dead city) national strikes nel, to run again. cians are all the same. If we don’t come security presence. vote. response to the rapid spread of which have taken place in recent Critics accuse him of rampant corrup- to work, how will be live?” said an onion Many people had to work on Easter And on Saturday, the Socialist Party the Zika virus. months to protest Sassou Nguesso’s tion and nepotism, blasting the referen- seller, identifying herself as Maggie. Monday - a public holiday - like Andre, of French President Francois Hollande Chan stressed that all three controversial bid for a third term. dum result as a “constitutional coup”. In the poor southern areas of Bacon- a young porter loading heavy sacks of issued a statement saying the vote re- countries remain vulnerable The oil- and timber-rich Republic of But biting poverty in the country, go, Makelekele and Kinsoundi, most of sand on to large tippers parked on the sults were “not credible”, denouncing to Ebola fl are-ups, including Congo has been on edge since an Oc- where the oil riches only benefi t a frac- shops downed their shutters. Police and beach. a lack of transparency in the electoral an ongoing cluster of cases in tober constitutional referendum that tion of the population, has forced many of soldiers spread out across the districts “We suff er but we don’t have a process in the former French colony. Guinea, which has left fi ve peo- ple dead. Health authorities in Conakry ‘Troublesome lion’ escapes SA park again said last week that 961 people who may have come into contact A lion named Sylvester that Sunday, and by Monday he was with the victims in the south of escaped from a South African 20km from the park’s fenced Government boycotts Mali peace forum the country were being moni- national park last year, roam- boundary, in a mountainous tored. ing free for three weeks, has area not easily accessible by “The risk of international escaped again, a park off icial foot. AFP from as far as Mauritania, with discussions UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said spread is now low, and... coun- said yesterday. He has already killed a cow. Kidal centred on establishing a better climate for on Monday he was “concerned that actual tries currently have the capacity Helicopters will be used to During his last escape, he future talks and calls for greater freedom of progress in the implementation of the peace to respond rapidly to new virus track down the three-year-old roamed 300km from the park, movement in the surrounding area. agreement remains limited.” emergences,” Chan said. animal, which may be put down killing 30 animals over three ormer rebels in Mali held a failed rec- “We want to create a climate of under- Aside from dealing with the ex-rebels, he She also warned against com- as a result of his repeated brea- weeks before being shot by a onciliation forum in their northern standing between the communities, which said, “the northern and central parts of Mali placency towards the virus, kouts from Karoo National Park tranquiliser dart fired from a Fbastion of Kidal which was boycotted is indispensable for implementing the peace remain under the threat of criminal, violent which remains in “the ecosys- in the south of the country. helicopter. by the government, as the UN warned of an deal,” CMA leader Alghabass Ag Intalla said extremist and terrorist groups, which take tem” in West Africa and said that “He is clearly a troublesome At the time, wildlife off icials “alarming” security situation. in a speech. advantage of the limited presence of Malian vigilance was crucial, including lion and could be a danger said he had been forced out of Pro-Bamako armed groups also Although a landmark peace agreement law enforcement institutions.” quick reactions to new cases. to humans,” South African the park by older lions. shunned this week’s meeting after the was reached last year between the govern- Mali’s vast, desolate north fell under the “Particularly important will National Parks spokesman “This time we don’t know Co-ordination of Movements of the Aza- ment and the rebels, the CMA has since vio- control of the Tuareg-led rebels who allied be to ensure that communities Reynold Thakhuli told AFP. what might have driven him wad (CMA) ex-rebels allegedly refused lently clashed with pro-government armed with militant groups linked to Al-Qaeda in can rapidly and fully engage in “Authorities will have to away. It could be that he the government’s conditions that troops groups, the so-called “Platform.” 2012. any future response, cases are consider various manage- became used to easy prey should be allowed into the city and the na- Subsequent “pacts of honour” have toned The Islamists were largely ousted by an quickly isolated and managed,” ment methods to ensure his while outside the park,” said tional flag be flown. down their fi ghting but Mali is wracked by a ongoing French-led military operation Chan said. safety and that of people. Such Thakhuli. “We aren’t going to go to Kidal as if it is raging militant insurgency that has widened launched in January 2013, although they The WHO consistently pushed interventions might include Lions were re-introduced to another country, that’s not possible,” a gov- despite Islamists being routed from north- have since launched sporadic attacks on se- back against such calls, with euthanising the animal.” Karoo National Park, in Western ernment minister told AFP. ern towns in 2013. curity forces from desert hideouts. Chan again reiterating yesterday A signal from Sylvester’s Cape province, in 2010 after an The government has not had any presence Two Malian soldiers were killed yester- However, rival armed factions and smug- that “there should be no restric- tracking collar, which was fitted absence of almost 170 years. in Kidal for several years and the army was day and two others injured when the vehicle gling networks mean the region has strug- tions on travel and trade with after his last escape, showed The last wild lion in the area driven out in 2014. they were travelling in was blown up by an gled for stability since the west African na- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leo- he was outside the park on was shot in 1842. The forum brought together those sympa- explosive device in the Timbuktu region, to tion gained independence from France in ne, and that any such measures thetic to the primarily Tuareg rebels’ cause the west of Kidal. 1960. should be lifted immediately.” Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 13 AMERICAS

Without Scalia, Trump aide formally Supreme Court rejects challenge charged with battery to union fees Reuters Washington Reuters year, reducing their income and Washington political power. The decision means the sta- S Republican presidential front- tus quo remains, with the unions runner Donald Trump’s campaign he shorthanded US Su- able to collect fees from non-un- Umanager, Corey Lewandowski, preme Court yesterday re- ion workers. was arrested yesterday and charged with Tjected a conservative legal “The US Supreme Court today misdemeanour battery in Florida, the lat- attack on a vital source of funds rejected a political ploy to silence est chapter in a raucous White House race for organised labour, splitting public employees like teach- marked by threats, insults and physical 4-4 in a challenge that had ap- ers, school bus drivers, cafeteria confrontations. peared to be on the path to victo- workers, higher education fac- Police in Jupiter, Florida, charged ry until Justice Antonin Scalia’s ulty and other educators to work Lewandowski, 42, with intentionally grab- February death. together to shape their profes- bing and bruising the arm of Michelle Fields, The outcome emphasised the sion,” said Lily Eskelsen Garcia, then a reporter for the conservative news impact of the death of the long- president of the National Educa- outlet Breitbart, when she tried to question serving conservative justice, as tion Association. Trump at a campaign event on March 8. Scalia likely would have been a About 5mn public sector em- “Mr Lewandowski is absolutely inno- decisive vote against the unions. ployees are subject to union con- cent of this charge,” Trump’s campaign The court, by splitting 4-4, tracts that include mandatory said in a statement. “He will enter a plea instead affi rmed a lower-court fee provisions, according to the of not guilty and looks forward to his day ruling that allowed California to National Right to Work Legal De- in court. He is completely confi dent that force non-union workers to pay fence Foundation, which backed he will be exonerated.” fees to public-employee unions. the non-union teachers. Campaign rallies for Trump, the bil- The decision means the court, Organised labour had expressed lionaire businessmen who leads the race now evenly divided with four worries that a ruling tossing out to become the Republican candidate in liberal and four conservative the fees would give employees the November 8 presidential election, members, left intact a 1977 legal less incentive to join public-sector have been marked by rowdiness and oc- precedent that allowed such fees, unions because they would get all casional clashes between protesters and which add up to millions of dol- the benefi ts of collective bargain- supporters or security personnel. lars a year for unions. ing undertaken by unions without Trump’s pugnacious campaign style, During the January 11 oral ar- having to pay for it. which includes personal insults directed Muslims pray during a protest against presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of his off ice in Manhattan in this guments in the case, Scalia was The teachers who fi led the at rivals and scathing criticism of pro- December 20, 2015, file photo. still on the bench, giving the lawsuit in 2013 asked the justices testers, has been criticised for encourag- court a majority of fi ve conserva- to overturn the 1977 Abood vs ing physical altercations at his rallies. Campaign rhetoric on Muslims harms US security eff orts, says Homeland Security Secretary tives. Detroit Board of Education Su- The real estate mogul leads remaining The conservative justices dur- preme Court ruling that allowed rivals Ted Cruz, a US senator from Texas, Harsh rhetoric about Muslims by Repub- based on religion, is counterproductive can Muslim neighbourhoods. Trump has ing the arguments voiced sup- laws that permitted public sector and Ohio Governor John Kasich in polls lican candidates in the US presidential to our homeland security and national continued his call for a temporary ban on port for the stance of the non- unions to collect fees from work- and in the number of delegates to the election campaign is undermining national security interests,” he said. Muslims entering the US. union teachers in challenging the ers who were not members as nominating convention, despite a con- security eff orts, US Homeland Security Johnson’s remarks come in the wake of The rhetoric has polarised the US elec- fees. long as the money was not spent certed eff ort by the Republican establish- Secretary Jeh Johnson said yesterday. attacks last week in Belgium claimed by torate and prompted criticism, particu- It is the second case in which on political activities. ment to stop him out of fear he will lead Asked about comments by Republicans Islamic State militants that have stoked larly from Democrats, including President the court has split 4-4 since California teachers generally the party to defeat in November. Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, Johnson told security fears across Europe and the West. Barack Obama. Scalia died, with more likely be- pay around $1,000 annually in Cruz yesterday picked up an endorse- MSNBC in an interview that singling out a US off icials have said there is no im- Johnson said off icials have worked hard fore the term ends in June. union dues. Non-members can ment from Wisconsin Governor Scott specific community hampers government mediate known threat to the US and have to connect with American Muslim com- The court’s action came in opt out of paying for union po- Walker ahead of the state’s primary next eff orts to build the connections that are vowed to work with European authorities munities to garner their assistance with US lawsuit brought by a group of litical activities, which means week. Walker, who dropped out of the needed to thwart possible attacks. following those attacks, which targeted the national security eff orts. “In this phase, it is non-union public school teach- they pay around $600 a year presidential race earlier this year, said he “Inflammatory comments about patrol- airport and a subway station in Brussels. critical that we build bridges to American- ers from California who objected in mandatory fees that provide backed Cruz because he was a principled ling and securing Muslim neighbourhoods Heightened concern over security has Muslim communities, not vilify them, not to paying fees to the California funding for collective bargaining constitutional conservative. or barring Muslims from entering this rippled through the US presidential race, drive them into the shadows, and encour- Teachers Association union. activities. “To me, I’m all in,” Walker said in a country, having an immigration policy with Cruz calling for police to patrol Ameri- age them to work with us,” he said. A California law requires The ruling will come as a re- radio interview on WTMJ radio in Mil- non-union workers to pay fees lief to organized labour because waukee, adding that he was not endors- to public-sector unions repre- unionized teachers and other ing Cruz in an attempt to stop Trump. Trump yesterday defended Lewand- their will. For a fi rst off ense, it is a mis- our society,” said Cruz spokeswoman Al- senting workers such as police, civil servants in states without He said he planned to campaign for Cruz owski after he was charged. demeanour in the fi rst degree, which car- ice Stewart. fi refi ghters and teachers to fund “right-to-work” laws comprise throughout the state. “Look at tapes - nothing there!” ries a maximum sentence of one year in Kasich’s senior adviser, John Weaver, collective bargaining eff orts. its main power base. Public sec- “I just fundamentally believe if you Trump said on Twitter, calling Lewand- prison or a fi ne of $1,000. said on Twitter that “campaigns refl ect US conservatives for years tor workers are almost six times look at the facts, if you look at the num- owski “a very decent man.” A court date was set for May 4, accord- the character of the candidate and if this have tried to curtail the infl uence more likely to belong to a union bers, that Ted Cruz is in the best posi- Police released a video of the incident ing to the police report. Jupiter police said person was on our campaign he would of unions representing public than private sector employees. tion by far to both win the nomination of showing Fields walking alongside Trump Lewandowski turned himself in to police, have been fi red long ago.” employees like police, fi refi ght- The dispute pitted non-union the Republican Party and to then go on and trying to question him. Lewandowski and he was issued a notice requiring him Lewandowski’s lawyer, Scott Rich- ers and teachers that frequently teachers and the Christian Edu- and defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall this is seen grabbing her arm and pulling her to appear in court and then released. He ardson of West Palm Beach, Florida, de- back the Democratic Party and cators Association International year,” Walker said, referring to the Demo- backward. Previous videos of the inci- was not booked into the jail. clined to comment on whether his client liberal causes. against the California Teachers cratic front-runner. dent had been obscured by people in the Trump’s rivals said Lewandowski’s ar- would step down as campaign manager. A ruling allowing non-union Association, an infl uential union Walker joins a number of other more crowd. rest was a refl ection of the campaign he Lewandowski will also be represented by workers to stop paying so-called with 325,000 members. mainstream Republicans who have At the time, Lewandowski called Fields worked for. Kendall Coff ey, a Miami lawyer, the cam- “agency fees” equivalent to un- A Washington-based conserv- backed Cruz as the best alternative to “delusional” and said he never touched “Unfortunately, this abusive behav- paign said. ion dues, currently mandatory ative group, the Center for Indi- Trump, who has racked up a strong del- her. ior seems to be part of the culture of the Fields resigned from Breitbart less than under laws in about half the 50 vidual Rights, sued on behalf of egate lead but alienated many party lead- He was charged with simple battery, Trump campaign. Personal attacks, ver- a week after the incident, citing what she states including California, lead plaintiff Rebecca Friedrichs, ers with his harsh views on immigration, defi ned under Florida law as intention- bal attacks and now physical attacks have said was the online news outlet’s refusal would have deprived public sec- an elementary school teacher in Muslims and women. ally touching or striking a person against no place in politics or anywhere else in to stand behind her amid the allegations. tor unions of millions of dollars a Anaheim, and the other teachers.

Alaska volcano ‘International Women of Courage’ honoured Canadian erupts, releases AFP youth faces huge ash cloud Washington terror rap he US yesterday issued awards to 14 law- yers, activists, humanitarians and re- Reuters Tformers said to represent “International AFP Anchorage Women of Courage.” Toronto “Fourteen leaders, fourteen role models, fourteen women of courage, one crystal clear volcano on the Alaska Peninsula has erupted message,” said Secretary of State John Kerry. former Canadian engineer- with little advanced warning over the week- “Don’t accept the unacceptable or wait for ing student detained over Aend, spewing an ash cloud up to 6,000m high someone else to step up. Act in the name of jus- Afears he might commit a that prompted aviation warnings across the region, tice. Act in the name of tolerance. Act on behalf terrorist act was formally charged scientists said on Monday. of truth.” yesterday with participating in the Mount Pavlof, one of the most active volcanoes All but one of the honourees were able to at- activities of a terrorist group. on the peninsula, began erupting shortly after tend the ceremony in Washington, an annual Kevin Omar Mohamed, 23, ap- 4pm Alaska Daylight Time on Sunday, said Jessica event that began in 2007 to encourage women’s peared briefl y in a Toronto area Larsen, co-ordinating scientist with the University empowerment. court to face the charge, which was of Alaska Geophysical Institute. Bangladeshi barrister Sara Hossain helped in addition to two weapons off enses “Pavlof is known to us for having a pretty quick draft her country’s laws on violence against laid by federal police when he was onset to eruptions, it doesn’t always give us long women and has argued landmark rights cases arrested last week in possession of precursory signals,” Larsen said. before the Bangladesh Supreme Court. a knife. “If you look at some of the seismic data that we Debra Baptist-Estrada is commander of the The Royal Canadian Mounted have, the intensity really ramped up pretty fast. It immigration department at Belize’s main air- Police (RCMP) said he had trav- was quite abrupt,” she said. port and has worked with US offi cials against elled to Turkey on or around April Photos on the Alaska Volcano Observatory web- corruption and traffi cking. 24, 2014 to join Jabhat Al-Nusra, a site showed the plume towering over the icy slopes Ni Yulan, a disabled Chinese property rights French recipient of the 2016 International Women of Courage Award Latifa Ibn Ziaten (second group banned in Canada and affi li- of Mount Pavlof and drifting to the northwest. lawyer, was the only honouree not to receive her left) poses with US Secretary of State John Kerry and other awardees at the State Department in ated with Al Qaeda. He fl ew back to The Federal Aviation Administration issued a award in person, having been forbidden from Washington yesterday. Canada a month later. “red” aviation alert in response to the 20,000-foot- traveling by her government. The RCMP had initially sought a high ash cloud, which required that fl ights to be re- France’s Latifa Ibn Ziaten became an activist Mauritania’s fi rst female attorney Fatimata Former BBC journalist Vicky Ntetema ex- court order against Mohamed re- routed. The alert could aff ect local and regional air promoting interfaith dialogue in 2012 after her M’baye was honoured as co-founder and presi- posed the trade in the body parts of murdered quiring him to be on good behaviour traffi c, as well polar routes and cargo fl ights from soldier son was slain by Islamist extremist Mo- dent of the Mauritanian Association for Human albinos used in ritual magic amd now leads an under a controversial law aimed at Anchorage. hamed Merah. Rights and fi ghts slavery. NGO dedicated to ending it. preventing attacks and stopping Larsen said the eruption did not pose any im- Attorney General Thelma Aldana of Gua- Russian journalist Zhanna Nemtsova has Thai bookseller Rodjaraeg Wattanapanit has people from travelling abroad to mediate danger to nearby communities on the pe- temala began her career as a courtroom jani- braved death threats to campaign for justice for twice been sent to re-education camps by her join extremist groups. ninsula, which were monitoring the ash fall. The tor and has now brought corruption charges her father, former deputy prime minister Boris country’s military junta but still provides a “While there was no indication closest residential area is Cold Bay, located 60km against the highest in the land. Nemtsov, assassinated last year. space for political free expression. of any plans for a domestic attack, southwest of Pavlof. Nagham Nawzat Hasan is an Iraqi gynecolo- Zuzana Stevulova, director of the Human Nihal Naj Ali al-Awlaqi, Yemen’s minister we must remain committed to pre- There have been more than 40 eruptions from gist and a member of the country’s persecuted Rights League of Slovakia, is the foremost of legal aff airs, helped put women’s rights in a venting individuals from traveling Pavlof, including between May and November Yazidi minority. She works with girls kidnapped champion of the rights of refugees fl owing into draft constitution and is involved in talks to end abroad to gain training and exper- of 2014, when ash plumes also triggered aviation and raped by Islamist militants. Europe from war in the Middle East. her country’s civil war. tise that could be used in the plan- warnings. Such events can last weeks or months. Transgender rights advocate Nisha Ayub Awadeya Mahmoud, founder of the Women’s Next month, the honourees will tour US cities ning and implementation of future “This 20,000ft ash cloud is not unusual for Pavlof continues to work for justice despite being sex- Food and Tea Sellers’ Cooperative in Sudan has to meet American people and discuss their work attacks on Canadian soil,” RCMP at all,” Larsen said, adding that the highest recorded ually abused after being sentenced to a men’s championed the rights of small businesswomen to improve the lives of women and girls around Superintendent Lise Crouch was plume from the volcano was 49,000ft. prison for wearing women’s clothing. against authoritarian government the world. quoted as saying after the arrest. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 ASEAN Thailand unveils latest charter perpetuating army’s power

AFP petuate the military’s infl uence. tutional Drafting Committee spokes- draft was unveiled. Two opposition ernment led by Yingluck’s Pheu Thai The general public often shrugs off the Bangkok A junta-appointed senate would man Norachit Sinhaseni told reporters. politicians have already been detained party. passage of a document seen as heavily check the powers of lawmakers for a “That is what the majority of Thais by the military this week for voic- Jatuporn Prompan, a prominent biased and liable to change with the fi ve-year transitional period following want.” ing criticism of the document and the leader of the Red Shirt movement loyal political winds. panel appointed by Thailand’s fresh elections. But critics say it is aimed squarely junta. to the Shinawatras, hit out yesterday. The latest chapter in the country’s military junta yesterday un- The document also enshrines a pro- at breaking the Shinawatras’ electoral Paul Chambers, a Thailand-based “If they (the military) want to return long struggle with democracy began Aveiled a draft constitution portional voting system, a move that stranglehold on the country. academic, said the document would in democracy to Thais, (they should) re- in 2006 when Thaksin Shinawatra, touted as the solution to a decade-long would likely reduce the majority held The document is set to go to the eff ect prolong army rule and establish turn whole - not partial - democracy,” Yingluck’s brother, was ousted by a political crisis, but derided by critics as by any elected government once Thais public in a referendum on August 7. a “frail democracy” easily controlled he said. coup. undemocratic and divisive. regain the right to vote. However the junta has warned it will by a junta-stacked senate. Pheu Thai’s bitter rival the Demo- That power grab sparked years of Thailand has been controlled by The drafters insist their new con- not tolerate criticism of the charter in “It is a charter which expands mili- crat Party has yet to say what it will ad- rival street protests and political chi- the army since a 2014 coup overthrew stitution - the kingdom’s 20th in less the run-up to the vote, making debate tary and judicial power at the expense vise voters but its leader, former Prime canery by the Bangkok establishment. the elected government of Yingluck than a century - will end the cycle of all but impossible. of democracy,” he said. Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, has publicly Thaksin, who lives in self-exile to Shinawatra, whose billionair family elections, street protests and coups. “I have laws in hand. Whoever vio- In the run-up to its unveiling the criticised the charter. avoid a graft conviction he says is po- has swept the last three elections but is “We see it as a return to a period lates those laws, legal action will be charter has been criticised by both Thailand is no stranger to consti- litically motivated, has pilloried the hated by the Bangkok elite. where you don’t have people confront- taken against them,” junta chief Prayut sides of the political divide, even those tutional rewrites but these have done junta for bungling the economy and If the charter is ratifi ed, it will per- ing each other on the streets,” Consti- Chan-o-Cha told reporters after the who cheered the toppling of the gov- little to calm its turbulent politics. ruining the political landscape. Sunrise in Kuala Lumpur Three cops killed in latest Thai south violence

AFP An AFP photographer Narathiwat on the scene saw a white truck riddled with shrapnel smashed into a tree with the hree police offi cers bodies of three policemen were killed and six oth- still inside. Ters wounded during an The insurgents are seek- ambush in Thailand’s insur- ing greater autonomy from gency-plagued deep south, majority-Buddhist Thailand, witnesses said yesterday. which annexed the culturally Shootings and explosions distinct region more than a are a near daily occurrence in century ago. Thailand’s three southern- The rebels employ brutal most provinces where more tactics including shootings, than 6,500 people - the ma- beheadings and bombings, jority civilians - have died often targeting perceived since a rebellion against Thai civilian collaborators such rule re-ignited in 2004. as teachers and Buddhist After months of relative monks. calm that saw violence dip to a Earlier this month insur- record low last year, there has gents briefly seized a hospital been a palpable increase in at- and used it to launch an at- tacks over the past few weeks. tack on nearby troops during The latest ambush occurred a night of multiple coordi- The Petronas Towers are reflected in a swimming pool as the sun rises over Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. in Ra-Ngae district, Narathi- nated assaults. wat province, with insurgents The move sparked con- setting off a bomb as a police demnation from the UN and convoy passed by. a vow by Thailand’s junta to “Three police were killed ramp up security in the re- and six police were injured gion. The Thai military also from bomb fragments,” local stands accused of routinely investigator Police Captain abusing human rights in- Apichart Dolor said. cluding torture and extra- “Among the injured ones, judicial killings. The junta’s four are seriously wounded”, vow to hold peace talks has Myanmar lifts state of he added. borne little fruit. emergency in Rakhine Police to revive Red Bull Thein Sein announced in apartheid-like conditions. hopefuls. The Rohingya are heir hit-and-run case the move a day before a They are denied citizenship and widely disliked in Myanmar, president from Aung San have long complained of state- where they are seen as illegal Suu Kyi’s National League sanctioned discrimination. “It immigrants from Bangladesh - AFP peared in court after travelling for Democracy (NLD) is found from the report by the including by some in Suu Kyi’s Bangkok to Singapore. will be sworn in at Rakhine state government that party. She risks haemorrhag- He has since been seen reg- an off icial handover the situation in Rakhine state ing support by taking up their ularly in Thailand but has not can no longer pose dangers to cause. hai authorities said been rearrested and is yet to Reuters the lives and property of the Tensions are rising between yesterday they are still face a court. Yangon people,” said the ordinance the NLD and the Rakhine- Tpursuing a legal case After years of quiet resigna- signed by Thein Sein. based Arakan National Party against the heir to the Red Bull tion, public interest in the case Myanmar has denied dis- (ANP), one of Myanmar’s most fortune over a deadly hit-and- was revived earlier this month yanmar President criminating against the group. vocal ethnic parties. run four years ago, as public when the son of a wealthy Thein Sein, in a sur- It does not recognise the Ro- ANP lawmakers walked out frustration grows about im- businessman slammed his Mprise move hours hingya as an ethnic minority of the regional parliament on punity for the elite. Mercedes Benz into another before leaving office, lifted a and instead classifies them as Monday wearing black stick- Worayuth Yoovidhya, car allegedly while speeding, state of emergency in the res- Bengalis. Most Rohingya reject ers on their jackets, because whose nickname is “Boss”, is killing two students in the tive western state of Rakhine, the term and many families the NLD denied them the posi- accused of crashing his silver second vehicle. imposed after clashes between have lived in Rakhine for gen- tion of the chief minister of the Ferrari into a police offi cer on The Mercedes driver was Buddhists and minority Ro- erations. state. a motorcycle in 2012, dragging hospitalised after the accident hingya Muslims in 2012. A man in Myanmar reads a newspaper reporting on the handover of Rohingya were denied par- Still, lack of fighting means the body along a main road in and later charged with reck- Thein Sein announced the government at a sidewalk in Yangon yesterday, a day before a new ticipation - both as voters and that some 25,000 Rohingya Bangkok for about 100 metres less driving causing death and move in state media yesterday, civilian government overseen by Myanmar democracy icon Aung San as candidates - in the Novem- Muslims have left camps for as he sped away. property damage. a day before a president from Suu Kyi comes to power. ber vote. Before the elections, displaced people and returned The scion, whose family is Responding to a mounting Aung San Suu Kyi’s National religious tensions were high, to the communities, the UN among Thailand’s richest af- outcry, Bangkok’s city police League for Democracy (NLD) Nov 8 election by a landslide. last two years, most of Myan- with the NLD deciding not to said last week, with the number ter founding the energy drink chief sought to show the force will be sworn in at an offi cial While there have been no mar’s 1.1mn Rohingya Mus- field a single Muslim candidate of people in camps down to empire, was charged with is bent on bringing the Red handover, after the NLD won the major clashes in Rakhine in the lims remain stateless and live on its lists of more than 1,100 around 120,000 from 145,000. several off ences but never ap- Bull princeling to court.

Cambodia offi cials rescue DiCaprio visits Indonesian jungle to back environmentalists smuggled tortoises, pythons AFP gram account that his founda- ditional threat after authorities Jakarta tion, which supports numerous in the province of Aceh - which environmental projects, was includes much of the Leuser ec- AFP creatures were scooped up from backing local groups to establish osystem - pushed through a plan Kandal Cambodia’s Battambang prov- scar-winning actor Le- a “mega-fauna sanctuary” in the to open up new swathes of virgin ince. No arrests were made as onardo DiCaprio has vis- area. forest for commercial exploita- the truck’s driver fl ed after being Oited the Indonesian jun- He described the area as “the tion and lay roads. ambodian authorities pulled over, the offi cial said. gle to help protect a biodiverse last place on Earth where Su- The central government in Ja- rescued more than half a The rescued tortoises and py- area from deforestation. matran orangutans, tigers, rhi- karta, which must approve such Ctonne of live tortoises and thons are now with a conserva- Fresh from clinching his long- nos and elephants coexist in the locally made plans, has asked pythons stolen by smugglers, a tion group that will release them awaited first Oscar last month, wild”. Aceh to revise it, but activists forestry offi cial said yesterday, back into the wild. DiCaprio spent the weekend in Local green activist Farwiza claim that local authorities are the latest haul in a country with The elongated tortoise is listed the Leuser ecosystem, on Indo- Fahan, who met DiCaprio on pushing ahead with it regardless. a thriving illegal wildlife trade. as an endangered species by the nesia’s main western island of his visit, said the sanctuary was DiCaprio, who attended the The animals - 102 elongat- International Union for Conser- Sumatra. The actor, an ardent aimed at giving more protection COP21 climate change talks in ed tortoises and 17 pythons - vation of Nature (IUCN). supporter of environmental to the area, but the plan was still Paris last year, has been rais- weighed a total of 570 kilos. It faces dire over-harvesting causes, was pictured accompa- in the early stages. ing the alarm on global warming They were confi scated Mon- for food and Asia’s animal trade, nied by local environmentalists Like much of Indonesia’s rain- since 1998 when he founded the day afternoon from a cargo truck which fuels a regional demand for and flanked by two critically en- forests, the area is under threat Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. in Cambodia’s Kandal province, exotic pets and traditional medi- dangered Sumatran elephants. from the aggressive expansion He won the best actor Os- forestry offi cial Y Sophy said. cine. Cambodia’s black market The elephants are among a of palm oil and pulp and paper car for his role in The Revenant, “They were being trans- for traffi cked wildlife is enabled dizzying array of rare animals plantations, while endangered a film about a 19th century fur This handout picture released yesterday by the Foundation of ported to Phnom Penh where by corrupt authorities and weak who live in Leuser’s dense rain- animals are targeted by poach- trapper filmed under extreme Forest, Nature and Environment of Aceh, shows Oscar-winning they would then be smuggled legislation in a country rich with forests. ers and locals who view them as winter conditions in Canada and actor Leonardo DiCaprio (right) posing with elephants as he to Vietnam,” he said, adding the biodiversity. DiCaprio said on his Insta- pests. But the area faces an ad- Argentina. visits Leuser National Park in Aceh province. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Barrier reef bleaching at worst level: study

AFP Sydney

erial surveys of Austral- ia’s Great Barrier Reef Ahave revealed the worst bleaching on record in the icon’s pristine north, scientists Aerial surveyors James Kerry said yesterday, with few corals and Terry Hughes with the escaping damage. helicopter they use to survey Researchers said the view the reef. was devastating after survey- ing some 520 reefs via plane tralia’s National Coral Bleach- and helicopter between Cairns ing Taskforce, agreed in a and the Torres Strait in the statement that the southern north of Queensland state. reef had “dodged a bullet due “This will change the Great to cloudy weather that cooled Barrier Reef forever,” Terry the water temperatures down”. Hughes, an expert on coral But he said in the far north reefs from James Cook Univer- -- the most remote and pris- sity, told the Australian Broad- tine areas -- almost without casting Corporation. exception, every reef showed “We’re seeing huge levels consistently high levels of of bleaching in the northern bleaching. thousand kilometre stretch of “We fl ew for 4,000km in the the Great Barrier Reef.” most pristine parts of the Great Just over a week ago, the Barrier Reef and saw only four Australian government re- reefs that had no bleaching,” he vealed bleaching at the World said. Heritage-listed site was “se- “The severity is much great- vere” but noted that the south- er than in earlier bleaching ern area had escaped the worst. events in 2002 or 1998.” Bleaching occurs when ab- Fellow James Cook Univer- normal environmental con- sity expert James Kerry said ditions, such as warmer sea more surveys were to follow, temperatures, cause corals to but the damage seen from the expel tiny photosynthetic al- air in the north was severe, Protesters in front of the parliament in Tokyo. gae, draining them of their col- often falling into the highest our. category of level four, meaning Hughes, convener of Aus- 60% of the coral was bleached. Abe defends security N Korea fi res missile along its coast

Reuters Jong Un has presided over a Seoul string of short-range mis- laws amid protests sile launches in recent weeks in what the communist-ruled Under Abe is taking a diff erent path “No matter who will be the next presi- orth Korea test-fi red a nation’s state media has char- on foreign relations dent, the Japan-US alliance is the corner- short-range missile on acterised as a response to stone of Japan’s diplomacy,” he said. Nits east coast yesterday, UN sanctions imposed for its AFP “For the sake of the peace and prosper- South Korea’s military said, fourth nuclear test in January. Tokyo ity of Asia, the Pacifi c and the world, close amid heightened tension over The US state department cooperation with the US won’t change.” the isolated country’s nuclear said it was aware of the report Surveys showed the public remained di- and rocket programmes. of the missile fi ring. apanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vided. The missile was fi red from “North Korea should refrain said that new security laws that took Critics say the changes, which triggered near the North Korean coastal from actions and rhetoric that Jeff ect yesterday will strengthen To- demonstrations ahead of their enactment town of Wonsan at 5.40pm raise tensions in the region kyo’s ability to defend itself amid increas- last September, violate the pacifi st consti- (0840 GMT) and fl ew north- and comply with its interna- ing threats as opponents took to the streets tution and increase the risk of involvement east for about 200km and tional obligations and com- to say they risk hurling the country into in foreign wars. Opposition parties plan to then “made contact” with the mitments,” said Katina Adams, war. campaign for the laws’ repeal in an upper mainland, South Korea’s mili- a spokeswoman in the State Legislators in September passed the house election in July. tary said in a statement. Department’s East Asian and bills into law, a shift that could see Japa- Japan’s ally the United States has wel- North Korean leader Kim Pacifi c Aff airs bureau. nese troops fi ght abroad for the fi rst time comed the changes, which allow the mili- since the end of World War II. tary to fi ght in aid of friendly countries The approval was a milestone in Japan, that come under attack if Japan’s security China editor quits over clampdown where a constitution imposed by the Unit- is also threatened. ed States after Japan’s defeat renounces its Prime minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference at his off icial residence in But China, where bitter memories of An editor at one of China’s more intrepid newspapers published a sovereign right to wage war. Tokyo, yesterday. Tokyo’s wartime aggression run deep, has resignation letter denouncing increased controls on media under Xi That clause, known as Article 9, is un- repeatedly expressed concern about the Jinping, according to a cached version of his online post. Yu Shaolei, changed, but staunch nationalist Abe a show of opposition to the laws that op- minister’s offi ce in the runup to their pas- legislation, based on a controversial re- culture editor of the Southern Metropolis Daily, posted a photo of his wants to revise the constitution to throw ponents fear could fundamentally reshape sage in September. interpretation of the pacifi st constitution. resignation letter on his Weibo social media account Monday night. off what he and many conservatives see the proudly pacifi st nation. Abe and his backers say the laws are The main opposition Democratic Party Yu had spent nearly 16 years at the Guangzhou-based newspaper, as outdated foreign-imposed constraints Fumiko Yamaguchi, who attended the necessary because of threats from an in- and other opposition groups are raising which earned a reputation for testing the limits of what could be that hinder Japan from playing a more ro- demonstration, said she survived devas- creasingly belligerent China and unstable the issue ahead of the upper house election reported in China. The image showed a signed resignation form with bust role in regional and global aff airs. tating US air raids on Tokyo as a child even North Korea. amid speculation Abe may also call a snap Yu’s reason for quitting given in large Chinese characters as: “I cannot “The security environment surround- as an aunt was killed. Opponents argue they go against both poll for the powerful lower chamber. How bear your surname.” The comment was a reference to Xi declaring ing our country is becoming more severe,” “I don’t want Japan to be engaged in any the constitution and the national psyche, much traction the issue has is unclear. after a visit to off icial media organs in February that all outlets in Abe told a nationally televised news con- war,” she told AFP. “I don’t want my chil- and could see Japan dragged into far-fl ung A voter survey by the Yomiuri newspa- the country must “take the Communist Party’s surname”. Yu’s post ference, citing threats including from dren and our grandchildren to go to war.” US wars. per published on Tuesday showed 47% did was deleted by censors, but was seen by AFP in cached form on the nearby North Korea, which this year has Abe says that the new laws are part of a Washington has backed the changes, not approve of the changes against 38% FreeWeibo website, which preserves posts censored in China. “I’m carried out fresh nuclear and ballistic normalisation of Japan’s military policy, but regional rivals China and South Korea who did. That compared with 58% who getting old, and have been kneeling so long I can’t bear it. Now I’d rocket launches. which had been restricted to self-defence have expressed concern at any expansion opposed the legislation last September like to try to change posture,” he wrote in the post accompanying “No country in the world can protect it- and aid missions by the constitution. of Japanese military scope. versus 31% who approved. the photo. “Whoever’s responsible for staring at my Weibo and self alone,” he added. The changes, which would allow Japa- Abe also said that the alliance with the However, in a separate survey by the notifying superiors what to make me delete, you can breathe a sigh As Abe spoke at his offi cial offi ce, an nese troops to fi ght in defence of allies, US remains strong and will not change Nikkei business daily, only 35% said the of relief. Sorry if I’ve made you anxious the last few years, I wish AFP journalist estimated that about 2,000 drew tens of thousands of protesters onto after the US presidential election in No- legislation should be repealed, while 43% wholeheartedly your work takes a new direction.” The letter is the people rallied outside parliament nearby in the streets outside parliament or the prime vember. said it should remain in place. latest rebellion against a chilling of China’s media environment. Japanese pooch sets Incognito yoga ball speed record

AFP Purin made “Beliebers” of Tokyo the doubters in September by saving 14 mini footballs in a minute by standing on her fl oppy-eared Japanese hind legs and catching them beagle with paw-fect with her paws. Ayoga skills has scamp- The fluffy keeper expertly ered into the record books af- brought the ball into her ter setting the world mark for chest in textbook fashion the “fastest 10 metres trav- — doubtless to avoid “ruff” elled on a ball by a dog”. tactics from opposing strik- Ten-year-old female Purin ers. — the Japanese for “pudding” Japanese beagle Purin. The multi-talented beagle — shot to fame last year when can also skateboard, walk on footage of the fl uff y pooch a distance of 10m in just 11.9 “Purin is a superstar in two legs and skip with a rope, breaking the Guinness World seconds to become a double her own right now, having helped by Kumagai. Record for the “most balls world record holder. achieved double-record sta- Japan owns some of the caught by a dog with the paws Purin, who lives with her tus with her latest exploits,” strangest Guinness records, in one minute” went viral. owner Makoto Kumagai in said Guinness World Records including the world’s heaviest Not content with putting Tokyo, broke her latest mark editor-in-chief Craig Glen- strawberry, tipping the scales Japan’s J-League goalkeepers in some style, producing her day. at a whopping 250 grammes, Members of Japanese idol group Kamen Joshi (Masked Girls) after a rehearsal at their theatre in Tokyo’s to shame, Purin will have yoga record-breaking balancing “Justin Bieber is the young- and the biggest-ever baby Akihabara district. For countless girl and pop-idol bands in Japan, standing out from the crowd can be daunting, fanatics sobbing into their act on March 23 — when dog- est artist ever to achieve fi ve crawling contest, set by 601 but one group -Kamen Joshi - seems to have found the answer by hiding behind masks. The Tokyo-based all yoghurt after nimbly steering lovers around the world cel- number one albums — but can bawling toddlers in Yokohama female band has 18 members, split into three groups that perform across Japan and elsewhere in Asia. an infl atable training ball over ebrated National Puppy Day. he run 10m on a Swiss ball?” last November. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 BRITAIN

LAW AND ORDER LEGAL CRIME DATA ENTERTAINMENT Hit-and-run driver sought Jury sworn in for trial of Charity volunteer Child gun crime Goulding, ZZ Top to after pedestrian dies men accused of rape attacked at event arrests rise by 20% perform at Glastonbury

A man died and another was seriously hurt after A jury has been sworn to try the case of four Organisers of a charity Easter event said they have Children as young as 10 have been arrested for Ellie Goulding, ZZ Top and Disclosure are among being struck by a hit-and-run driver near Old men accused of rape at an annual college ball. been left appalled by an attack on a volunteer after firearms off ences over the past three years. A the newly confirmed acts for Glastonbury Festival Street roundabout. The two young men were hit Thady Duff , 22, James Martin, 20, Leo Mahon, 22, chocolate eggs ran out. Crowds turned out for Freedom of Information request revealed that 2016. The extended line-up for the festival at by the car near a pedestrian crossing yards from and Patrick Foster, 22, deny all the charges they the event at the Church Farm Museum, Skegness, 1,549 children were arrested for suspected firearms Worthy Farm in Somerset was announced late-night venue Club Aquarium in Great Eastern face, which are alleged to have been committed Lincolnshire, which was organised in partnership off ences between 2013 and January 2016, with yesterday morning through a poster on the Street at about 4.25am yesterday. Paramedics against the same woman. They are accused of with the Children›s Charity. Such was the popularity the number of cases jumping by 20% in the past Glastonbury Twitter account. Headliners Adele, tried to revive a 21-year-old man but he was raping the alleged victim at the end-of-year ball of the event, the large stock of Easter eggs ran year. The cases involve weapons such as air rifles, Coldplay and Muse had already been announced pronounced dead at the scene while the other at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, out, causing some people to lose their temper, imitation firearms, BB guns and Tasers. The FoI to perform at the festival, which takes place from man, also in his twenties, is in a stable condition Gloucestershire in May 2014. A jury of six men centre manager Sue Shelford said. Shelford said a requests were sent by the Press Association to all June 22 to 26. They will be joined by Beck, Foals, in hospital. The driver of the car did not stop and and six women were sworn in to hear the case at woman volunteer was grabbed by her scarf and police forces in the UK, with 29 forces responding. LCD Soundsystem, Chvrches, James Blake, PJ police were collecting CCTV footage from nearby Gloucester Crown Court. Judge Jamie Tabor QC pulled across a counter by an angry visitor who Of those that responded the biggest police force Harvey, New Order, Stormzy and Bring Me The businesses. Scotland Yard said: “There have been told the panel that barrister Fiona Elder would demanded the return of her £5 entry fee. She said - the Metropolitan Police - recorded the most Horizon. Other acts include Skepta, The 1975, The no arrests.” Both lanes of Great Eastern Street to begin the prosecution case today morning and the eggs were only a part of the day and the entry firearm off ences, arresting 679 youths under the Last Shadow Puppets, Grimes, Jake Bugg, Fatboy the roundabout were closed to rush- hour traff ic. they were released until then. included lots of other events. age of 18. Slim, Guy Garvey, Madness and Earth, Wind & Fire. Man shot by Double rainbow offi cers was holding gun, claim police

Agencies minutes they took him to London hospital.” The witness said the man was named as James Wilson, 24-year-old man who also known as Cornet, and was shot by a firearms that he was not a gangster. A officer after apparent- He said: “It’s crazy, you ly being told by police to “put would never have expected the gun down” remained in a that from him, from what I serious condition in hospital. know of him. I am really sur- Locals have named the man prised.” as James Wilson, also known Local people have heard as Cornet, who was believed the bullet went right through to have been shot once in the the man’s chest. He was de- chest. scribed as being skinny. Armed police were called Earlier, the witness said: to Frenchmans Way, South “He is a respectful kid, he Shields, , around 1am after puts his head down when he A woman looks towards a double rainbow from Putney Bridge in London yesterday. receiving reports a man was walks past you.” holding a handgun. He added: “I was thinking: Investigators from the In- who is daft enough to wave dependent Police Complaints a gun around here? And the Commission have been work- man is not that type of per- ing at the scene of the shoot- son. ing, which has been cordoned “If someone said ‘Boo’ to off, since morning. him, he would run as fast as Northumbria Police said it he could.” was a “matter of course” for At the scene of the shoot- the IPCC to be informed when ing, investigators had placed BoE clamps down on someone was seriously hurt up to eight yellow markers on following contact with police. the street indicating where Neither the force nor the evidence had been left. IPCC would name the man, A local mother, who asked but the watchdog said he re- not to be named, said: “For mained in a serious condi- someone to be waving a tion. It was understood he handgun in the street where buy-to-let lending was being treated at the Royal people live, it’s just disgust- Victoria Infirmary, Newcas- ing. Agencies Its clampdown comes amid account how much cash borrow- Investors Service said the propos- last November, and signalled the tle. “It’s an absolute disgrace London growing concerns there is a bub- ers had to cover their interest pay- als to cool the buy-to-let mort- EU referendum was causing vola- A local man said his girl- when it’s on your doorstep.” ble in the buy-to-let market, ments, even if borrowing costs gage market “would be positive tility in the exchange rate. friend heard police shout Two women who worked which could cause a wider hous- went up to 5.5%. for fi nancial stability.” The Residential Landlords As- “put the gun down” then mo- the night shift at a local care he Bank of England took ing market slowdown. At present fi ve of the 20 lend- Buy-to-let lending has grown sociation, a group representing ments later heard a bang. He home said they heard a single a fresh step yesterday to The vast majority of the in- ers scrutinised by the bank do substantially in the UK in recent 40,000 private sector landlords knew the man who had been bang in the night. Treduce risky real-estate crease in total net mortgage lend- not impose those standards. The years, as cheap loans and rapid in England in Wales, said the buy- shot. A police dog handler and lending in the UK, saying buy- ing in the UK in recent years was bank said the measures should re- increases in house prices have en- to-let proposals were premature. The father added: “I came his black spaniel were work- ers looking to profi t from the due to buy-to-let lending. duce the expected growth rate of couraged many ordinary Britons Policy director David Smith out and there were police ing in the street. nation’s booming rental mar- However, the chancellor last buy-to-let mortgage lending from to turn landlord in search of extra said: “The bank needs to be care- with guns walking up and The handler sent the dog ket should face more stringent year imposed a 3% stamp duty about 20% a year to around 17%. income. Some participants in the ful that it does not over-react down in body armour, like into gardens and under checks before they’re given a surcharge on the sector, and lim- It said it may impose further market say new entrants don’t al- to the current surge in buy to let they were securing the area. I parked cars, trying to find loan. ited the amount of interest land- measures later in the year if it re- ways realise the risks. applications which are aiming to thought they were looking for evidence. The bank’s Prudential Regula- lords can write off against their mains concerned. “I think there are naive inves- beat the tax increases coming in a gunman. Investigators talked to lo- tion Authority said it was putting tax bills. The actions were less aggres- tors out there with pound-signs in April. “We would urge the bank to “Police were working on cal residents and officers in place a “guardrail” to prevent Now the bank has weighed in, sive than some had feared, but their eyes,” said tread carefully and avoid any pre- the man for about 10 minutes, have paid close attention to banks from making dangerous saying lenders should impose af- many expect house price infl ation Meanwhile, in other announce- mature moves that could stifl e the giving him oxygen. a marked police Volvo which loans, warning that one in fi ve fordability checks on buy-to-let to dip later in the year as the chan- ments yesterday the bank also said supply of the one million rental “Then they let the ambu- was parked within the cor- lenders was not carrying out the landlords. cellor’s stamp duty levy kicks in. the outlook for fi nancial stability properties the country desper- lance in and after about five don. right checks. It said lenders should take into Credit rating agency Moody’s in the UK has deteriorated since ately needs.”

Rough seas Teachers urged to unite Politician admits against Tory proposals dealing in cannabis London Evening Standard Prosecutor Jo Arnold told London the court police noticed a Guardian News and Media fully to ensure that pay and con- just shows how far this secretary woman running down the London ditions are central to avoid being of state is from understanding the street. “They observed her, vulnerable to legal challenge. realities of primary education,” young Labour politi- initially suspecting there may Blower said there was “an in- Blower said. cian with ambitions have been a theft, and saw her eachers should build a credible level of public opposi- The DfE’s guidelines on the A to be a lawyer has ad- go to a cashpoint and return to coalition of “horror and tion” to the plans outlined by use of exclamation marks for its mitted supplying cannabis to the pub. Tdismay” at the govern- Education Secretary Nicky Mor- spelling and grammar tests were a member of staff at a pub in “Inside she had the till open ment’s education white paper and gan, and applauded the support “piffl e” and “tortuous nonsense”, Knightsbridge. then left again and got into the its plans to make every school in from Labour leader Jeremy Cor- according to Blower. Firase Morgan, 24, stood as passenger seat of a car parked England an academy, the general byn, who became the fi rst major ”An excessive focus on exam the official Labour Party can- in Harriet Street. They saw she secretary of the National Union of party leader to address the NUT results is turning our schools at didate for Hyde Park Ward had two £20 notes and there Teachers told delegates. conference. all levels into exam factories. This in the City of Westminster was a strong smell of can- In her speech to the NUT’s “We heard very clearly in Jer- is bad for pupils, bad for teach- council elections two years nabis coming from inside the annual conference in Brighton, emy’s speech on Friday there will ers and is clearly the antithesis of ago. He was not elected and vehicle. Sitting in the driver’s Christine Blower called the gov- be fi erce opposition from the La- what NUT members believe to be currently attends BPP Uni- seat was the defendant and the ernment’s plans unacceptable bour party. We are delighted to a good education,” Blower said. versity, where he is studying female left the car with two and likely to hurt the employment hear this,” she said, noting that Earlier, the conference passed for an LLB law degree. small white containers. prospects of teachers. Corbyn “has stood with us over a motion calling for pay increases Morgan, of Marylebone, “The officers searched ”We know that total academi- the years in many campaigns for teachers working in greater is a senior ambassador for the car and in the roof lining sation represents the total aboli- which have been important to us.” London, to recognise the housing charity Just for Kids Law and found 28 similar white con- tion of national pay and condi- Blower ‘addressing her fi nal pressures and costs faced by its lobbies businesses to employ tainers.” tions,” Blower said, arguing that annual conference before step- members in the capital. people with criminal records. Officers found the two issues such as holiday and mater- ping down later this year’ also An NUT survey of young He pleaded guilty at Ham- Morgan had sold when they nity pay as well as class sizes and called on the department for edu- teacher members in London mersmith magistrates’ court searched the woman’s room school timetables justifi ed the cation (DfE) to cancel this year’s showed that many are strug- to possessing 28 wraps of above the pub. Police also union’s decision to ballot for in- primary school tests and assess- gling to live and work in the city, cannabis, with intent to sup- searched Morgan’s bedroom dustrial action later this year. ments because of delays and con- with the average monthly cost of ply, outside The Glouces- and seized £1,000 in cash, Over the Easter weekend, del- troversy over their setting. renting a one-bedroom fl at now ter pub in Sloane Street on which they suspect is the egates at the NUT conference “The cavalier attitude that more than £1,000, while the av- March 5. proceeds of drug dealing. strongly endorsed a strike ballot pervades the DfE, which allowed erage monthly take-home pay of A man watches waves crash against the harbour wall at He also admitted supplying Morgan said it was his stu- over the white paper, although the teachers to be sent the key stage a newly qualifi ed teacher was just Newhaven in southern Britain. cannabis to a female member dent finance and he had no union will have to word it care- two writing guidance in February, £1,600. of the pub’s staff. other income. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 17

BRITAIN/IRELAND

ROYALTY CRIME LAW AND ORDER POLL HEALTHCARE William and Kate ‘can’t Woman admits kidnapping Man arrested after car on Majority back Regent’s Nurse accidentally cuts wait’ to see Taj Mahal baby boy from family home railway line delays trains Park cycle superhighway patient’s dialysis tube

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge A 41-year-old woman has admitted kidnapping A man has been arrested after trains were Two thirds of people support plans for a cycle A patient went into cardiac arrest when a nurse cannot wait to see the Taj Mahal for themselves a baby boy from the child’s family home. Kelly delayed by a car found abandoned on a superhighway through Regent’s Park, according accidentally cut his dialysis tube while trying on their forthcoming tour of India. The royal Mahon was accused of unlawfully abducting railway line. Emergency services were called to the results of a consultation. The scheme has to remove a dressing. Patricia Yeribu, a nurse couple - who begin their tour in Mumbai on April either by force or fraud the baby from an address to the incident near Pitsea, Essex, after the provoked one of the fiercest battles of all of Boris at Basildon Hospital in Essex, used scissors to 10 — will visit the Unesco World Heritage site in in Telford in Shropshire on February 24. The Volkswagen Polo was found shortly after Johnson’s proposed cycle routes, with more than remove the dressing despite being warned not Agra on April 16. Kensington Palace spokesman abduction of the child prompted a manhunt and a 4.15am yesterday. Rush hour services between 4,000 residents signing an online petition calling to. She has been banned from practising for 12 Jason Knauf said yesterday: “The Taj Mahal is national appeal, but he was found “safe and well” Pitsea and London Fenchurch Street were for it to be scrapped. But the results of a Transport months. Yeribu had been treating the 58-year- one of the symbols of India and Their Royal a few hours after the incident. Mahon, of John disrupted throughout the morning. British for London consultation suggests this sparked a old man, had been fitted with a Tesio line, which Highnesses cannot wait to see it with their Broad Avenue in Telford, appeared in custody at Transport Police said a man had been arrested backlash from cyclists determined to support the is inserted near the heart to enable blood to own eyes.” The spokesman said Prince William Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday to enter her on suspicion of assault and firearms off ences. It route linking Swiss Cottage and Oxford Circus. Of pass between the patient’s body and a dialysis is proud to follow in his late mother Princess plea, but will not be sentenced until May. During a is understood off icers had pursued the car after the 6,200 responses — one of the largest number machine when the accident happened. Yeribu Diana’s footsteps by visiting a country where she hearing at Telford Magistrates’ Court last month, it failed to stop on a nearby road. Pictures taken of replies received by TfL — 58% supported was asked by a doctor to remove the dressing was held in such high esteem. William and Kate following Mahon’s arrest, a prosecutor told that by Network Rail staff show the car straddling and 7% partially supported the plans for cycle and in the process accidentally cut the Tesio line will also visit New Delhi and Bhutan. court the kidnap had been “pre-planned”. the track. superhighway 11, while 35% were opposed. with a pair of scissors.

Protesters Campaign poster launch claim £1bn Britons at Whiteleys plan ‘will harm area’ risk from EU

London Evening Standard London criminals: ampaigners have urged a town hall to throw out Ccontroversial plans to de- molish “London’s fi rst depart- ment store” and replace it with a £1bn retail and housing develop- ment. Vote Leave Proposals to “revive” the Whiteleys shopping centre in Guardian News and Media Vote Leave hit back, with nomic Area) nationals, including Bayswater have been met with London spokesman Robert Oxley, argu- nearly 4,000 who were stopped opposition from locals con- ing: “It is a bit rich from cam- at the border with Calais before cerned at the size and scale of the paigners who constantly do Brit- they even had a chance to travel Foster and Partners-designed dossier of murders and ain down to throw around words to UK soil.” scheme. rapes committed by 50 EU like ‘scaremongering’.” The group, which is supported The “iconic” fi ve-storey Acriminals in Britain has Lawyers who acted for Alice’s by the mayor of London, Boris building would be replaced by a been published by a leading out family said her parents do not Johnson, and other Conservative new retail hub with 103 homes in campaign, in a move described want the story of her murder to members of the cabinet, argues two 10-storey blocks, a 30-room by critics as “scaremongering of be “hijacked” by groups with an that Britain will have more con- boutique hotel and a subterra- the worst kind”. anti-immigration agenda. Emma trol of its borders if it pulls out nean leisure complex including a Vote Leave, which has its cam- Norton, a legal offi cer for the civil of the EU. In one case it quotes cinema and bowling alley. paign committee chaired by the rights group Liberty, which rep- judge Kelson QC telling Kajus Although the Grade II-listed Justice Secretary, Michael Gove, resented Jose Gross and Rosalind Scuka, a Czech man convicted of Edwardian facade and dome listed 14 murders and other hom- Hodgkiss, said “the family be- sex attacks and a knifepoint rape, from the current mall will be re- icides committed by EU citizens lieves in freedom of movement and who had previously mur- tained, 65% of the retail space in the UK, including the murder and human rights” in a statement dered his wife: “It seems to me would be lost. of 14-year-old Alice Gross by the last year that is still understood that even with your convictions Critics claim it will rob them Latvian Arnis Zalkalns. to represent their view. for murder and assaults you were of a vital community resource Campaigners for the remain The inclusion of such sensitive free to enjoy the same freedom and “destroy” the local econo- side accused Vote Leave of “utter cases in the dossier heightened of movement as any other Euro- my, while the twin towers would hypocrisy” for releasing the doc- the tension between the rival pean citizen.” “dominate” the skyline and ument after repeatedly accus- campaigners. Damian Green, the Chuka Umunna, Labour MP harm neighbouring homes’ pri- ing pro-remain interventions by former Conservative immigra- and leading remain campaigner, vacy. David Cameron, business fi gures tion minister, said Vote Leave’s said one of the terrorists in- Residents of homes in Ken- and foreign leaders as amounting argument “makes no sense” and volved in the July 2005 attacks sington Gardens Square, where to Project Fear. was “a mix of chaos and confu- in London had been returned a three-bedroom fl at can cost in The dossier also listed rapes by sion”. to face justice through the Eu- excess of £2mn, claim those in Lithuanian, Polish and Slovakian “The key alternatives they of- ropean arrest warrant. “This the blocks will be able to see into men with convictions in their fer to our EU membership involve intervention exposes the ut- their bathrooms. home countries. The document accepting the principle of free ter hypocrisy of the Vote Leave Plans to dig a three-storey quotes Lady Justice Hallett ask- movement, including both Nor- campaign when they accuse basement have also sparked fears ing: “Do we have to take in any- way and Switzerland,” he said. those who argue to stay in the of subsidence to neighbouring body, even if they have a convic- “We are able to stop suspects EU of indulging people’s fears – buildings, an increased fl ood risk tion for raping a child?” from travelling to the UK and peddling fear is precisely what and huge disruption during ex- The dossier intensifi es the since 2010 we have refused entry the Vote Leave campaigns do cavation. Vote Leave campaign by appear- to almost 6,000 (European Eco- every week,” he said. Campaigners are unhappy ing to play on voters’ fears. It is at the lack of aff ordable hous- published amid a series of high- ‘In’ campaign in lead, reveals poll ing on site and have called for profi le interventions by pro-EU foreign investors to be blocked ministers, with claims about The campaign to keep Britain in- erendum, compared to 41% who by the council from purchas- Brexit’s negative impact on en- side the European Union has an 8 said they would vote to leave. The ing fl ats to stop the area be- ergy, farming and the NHS. percentage point lead over those poll of 1,023 adults was conducted coming “a ghost town”. Around The dossier prompted strong pushing for an exit from the bloc, between March 19 and March 22, 100 people staged a protest last words between the two campaign an opinion poll showed yesterday. meaning it does not fully reflect week outside the shopping cen- London Labour Party mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan poses for pictures during the launch of a groups. Lucy Thomas, deputy di- The Ipsos MORI telephone survey any impact on voting intentions tre ahead of a decision by West- campaign poster in central London yesterday. Khan is the Labour Party candidate for the May 5 rector of Britain Stronger in Eu- showed 49% would vote to re- of bombings in Brussels on March minster council on whether to London mayoral election. rope, called it “scaremongering main in the EU at the June 23 ref- 22 which killed 35 people. approve the plans. of the worst kind”. Yard faulted for criminal New IRA warns of more attacks record checks backlog alists in Northern Ireland. Guardian News and Media Belfast In their 2016 Easter statement, London Evening Standard work until the checks are com- become ‘suicide prevention’ the New IRA said: “As we look to London pleted. In January, the Standard because people are at breaking the future Britain is stuck in their revealed the Met had a backlog point and unable to earn money he New IRA terror group colonial past. While their occu- of more than 68,000. The force because they can’t start their has warned of more at- pation, the accompanying denial eople are being driven yesterday said more than 30,000 jobs without clearance.” Ttacks on prison offi cers of national self-determination to the brink of suicide as has been cleared from this, but The delays relate to enhanced and members of the security and partition remain the IRA will PScotland Yard’s backlog the average waiting time has in- checks, which are passed by the forces in Northern Ireland. continue to target any and all of in criminal record checks leaves creased to 77 days, from 75. DBS, part of the Home Offi ce, to In a statement to mark the those who assist in those injus- them unable to work, it was According to fi gures seen by the relevant police force on em- 100th anniversary of the Easter tices.” claimed yesterday. the Standard, Scotland Yard is ployers’ behalf. The DBS said: Rising against British rule in The statement issued on be- The force yesterday admitted one of the worst performers of “The delay in processing DBS Ireland, the paramilitary organi- half of the organisation’s ‘army it was scrambling to train and all forces in the UK for process- checks by the Met is of great sation claimed that “a century council’ described the 1916 Ris- increase staff to tackle the “high ing the checks. About 45% of concern to us and our custom- on and the IRA armed actions ing as an “unfi nished revolu- number” of outstanding cases cases are completed within the ers. The Met has informed us against Britain and her agents tion”. and was even set to redeploy target of 60 days. James Gadd, their recovery plan includes re- are (as) legitimate as they were It added: “The volunteer sol- more than 50 non-frontline of- 37, who accepted a job in October cruiting, training and transfer- in 1916.” diers of the IRA are ready and fi cers. Current employees have as a support worker in a London ring additional staff . We are told In a warning that it was pre- determined to take the war to the been working extra shifts and disabled school, said he is wait- turn-around times will reduce as pared to target more prison of- age old enemy of our nation.” Transport for London workers ing for his clearance and has been a result and are monitoring this ficers following the murder of The New IRA is an alliance of have been drafted in to help with struggling to pay the bills. situation closely.” Adrian Ismay in a van bomb hardline republicans made up of checks for black cab drivers. “It has had an untold eff ect on Scotland Yard said: “DBS earlier this month, the hardline former Real IRA members, units The Disclosure and Barring my family,” he said. “For months checks are not simple adminis- dissident republican said: “The of a vigilante group Republican Service, formerly the Criminal I haven’t been able to earn a liv- trative work…These decisions IRA will not leave our prison- Action Against Drugs and re- Records Bureau, yesterday said ing. I would have started as soon directly impact children and vul- ers at the mercy of Britain and publicans from nationalist areas the force’s handling of checks as the clearance came through. nerable adults and those who seek will take further action as we of Northern Ireland such as East was of “great concern” and hit- When I phoned to see what was to work with them. For this rea- see fit.” Tyrone. ting workers and employers happening the woman on the son, staff require signifi cant spe- The New IRA is the largest However, most nationalists in across London. phone said she was dealing with cialist training and supervision. of the three main republican Northern Ireland “as evidenced People who have been off ered hundreds of calls like mine eve- “Existing staff are working A boy walks away after throwing a petrol bomb before a 32 County terror groups opposed to the by repeated election results” jobs in sensitive roles, such as ry day from people who are at incredibly hard and have imple- Sovereignty Movement parade in Creggan Cemetery for a peace process and the political support Sinn Fein’s peaceful po- working with children or vulner- breaking point. mented an additional evening commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 Irish power-sharing arrangement litical strategy to achieve Irish able people, are unable to start “She told me her job has now shift.” Easter Rising, in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. between unionists and nation- unity. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 EUROPE Germany has foiled 11 attacks since 2000: police

DPA “We can already see from the others a Christmas market in tack at the main railway station multilateral investigations and “We can assume that Europe – geted Brussels airport last week. Berlin past that (Islamic militancy) is Strasbourg in 2000 and a Jewish in the former West German city raids in those two capitals. and therefore Germany too – is in However, investigations have present here,” BKA president community centre in Berlin in of Bonn and an assault on a re- When asked if he foresaw any the spectrum of targets of terror- established that Germany was Holger Muench told Bayerischer 2002. gional party leader in the state of imminent threat to Germany, ists,” Muench said. used by the suspects only as a erman security forces Rundfunk state radio. “But it’s The spokeswoman also listed North-Rhine Westphalia, where Muench said that there was no The BKA is continually as- “transit country”, Muench told have foiled 11 attempted not just luck; it’s also go-od co- two planned bombings on re- Bonn is situated. concrete evidence of a planned sessing potential German links Bayerischer Rundfunk. Gterrorist attacks in the operation between the security gional trains headed for Hamm Terrorist attacks carried out attack. to terrorists based in Brussels, Nonetheless, he said that there country since the year 2000, the authorities.” and Koblenz in 2006, in which in Paris and Brussels in recent However, he added that Ger- who were behind the night of are currently around 470 danger- head of the Federal Criminal Po- A spokeswoman for the BKA neither of the devices detonated. months in the name of the Islam- man police are “very vigilant” co-ordinated bombings and gun ous persons under surveillance, a lice (BKA) said in a radio inter- later gave details of the attacks, More recently, German se- ic State (IS) group have had Eu- and said that the general threat attacks in Paris on November 13 number which has risen sharply view yesterday. whose targets included among curity forces prevented an at- rope on tenterhooks, prompting level in Germany remained high. and a suicide bombing that tar- in recent years. Terror suspect With no suspect in hand, fi ghts bid to send Belgian hunt continues him to AFP that even if the airport did reopen France Brussels today, it would only be at 20% capacity, handling 800-1,000 passengers an hour. AFP nder-fi re Belgian au- For a full return to normal, “we The Hague thorities hunted a fugi- will have to wait for months,” Utive bomber yesterday, Feist told L’Echo daily. a week after the attacks on the Security around Zaventem was French terror suspect ar- heart of Europe, as the city’s air- tight for the drill, with soldiers rested in weekend raids port warned it could take months and police stopping and check- Ain the Dutch port city of to fully reopen despite holding a ing all vehicles headed for the Rotterdam is fi ghting his extra- drill for a partial restart. airport. dition to France, Dutch prosecu- As Brussels struggled to get A total of 32 people died in the tors said yesterday. back on its feet, criticism of attacks at the airport and Maal- The 32-year-old, identifi ed by Belgium’s handling of the case beek metro station and 340 were Dutch media only as Anis B, will mounted after the sole suspect injured, 94 of whom remain in remain in custody in the Neth- to be charged over the metro and hospital. erlands, where a court has to airport attacks was freed for lack Many foreign nationals were decide within 90 days whether of evidence linking him to the among the victims, testament to to grant a request from Paris to carnage. the cosmopolitan nature of a city extradite him, the Amsterdam Prosecutors had charged the that is home to both the Europe- prosecutor said in a statement. suspect, known as Faycal C, with an Union and Nato. The man is wanted by France “terrorist murder” and were in- Nearly all the fatalities have for “involvement in a criminal vestigating whether he was the now been identifi ed. organisation linked to a terror- third airport attacker who fl ed The Indian government has ist enterprise”, the prosecutor’s after his bomb did not detonate. confi rmed that a 31-year-old In- statement said. With his release on Monday, dian man was on the metro train He was arrested on Sunday at the hunt was back on for the so- blown up by a suicide bomber. Paris’s request suspected of re- called “man in the hat” seen in While Belgian authorities were ceiving orders from the Islamic CCTV footage next to the two quick to identify all three bomb- State (IS) group to attack targets Islamic State suicide bombers at ers, the inquiry has been dogged in France. Zaventem airport. by accusations that Belgium Damage is seen inside the He appeared before an Am- The airport, closed since the missed a series of leads in crack- departure terminal following sterdam court yesterday and was blasts wrecked the departure ing down on an Islamic militant the March 22, 2016 bombing at remanded in custody. hall, held a drill for a partial re- network linked to the Brussels Zaventem Airport, in these The court also ruled that he start yesterday but warned that it attacks as well as the November undated photos made could only have contact with his could take months to reopen ful- 13 Paris massacres that killed 130 available to Reuters yesterday lawyers and not with other peo- ly, as under-fi re Belgian authori- people. by the Belgian newspaper Het ple. ties hunted for a suspect still on Adding to the recriminations, Nieuwsblad. He must appear again this the run a week after the deadly Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur said time in a public hearing within attacks. he regretted the release of the very thin line between an agitat- 60 days. But no date has been set A temporary check-in facility man identifi ed by Belgian media ed radical and a radical recruiter, for that. has been set up and passengers as Faycal Cheff ou, who claimed and in this case the judge proba- France had sought Anis B’s ar- will be subject to extra security to be a freelance journalist. bly didn’t want to cross that line.” rest after French police there said checks. Hinting at suspicions that the The man’s lawyer Olivier Mar- that they had thwarted an attack Brussels Airport chief execu- man was a militant recruiter, he tins told RTBF television that his by a man called Reda Kriket, 34, tive Arnaud Feist also warned told French media: “There is a client was let go because he had who was caught on Thursday. an alibi. French police discovered sev- Released terrorism suspect proclaims innocence “He gave an alibi based on tel- eral assault rifl es and explosives ephone analysis which showed at Kriket’s apartment in a Paris Faycal Cheff ou, the man released after being charged with terrorist murder that he was at home at the time of suburb. over last week’s bomb attacks in Brussels, has declared his innocence, the the attacks,” Martins was quoted Heavily-armed Dutch police Belga news agency reported his lawyer as saying. as saying. then raided a home in the west The triple bomb attacks on Brussels’ international airport and the Mael- Under pressure at home and of Rotterdam late on Sunday fol- beek subway station have so far claimed at least 32 lives. abroad for an apparent series lowing the French investigation. Almost 100 people are still in hospital, more than half of whom remained in of missed clues in keeping tabs Police found ammunition, intensive care as of Monday. on criminals linked to militant SIM cards, hard drives, cash and The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attacks, perpe- networks, the Belgian govern- drugs in the raids, during which trated by three suicide bombers. ment has admitted mistakes were several houses in the area were Since the attacks, Belgian police have been trying to track down a fourth made. Graff iti reading ‘Brussels strong’ is seen on a street memorial outside Maelbeek metro station in Brussels. evacuated. suspect who dropped off an explosive device at the airport and then left. In the most glaring such ex- Three other men were also Belgian media had reported that the man was Faycal Cheff ou, who was ample, Turkey accused Belgium bomber Ibrahim El Bakraoui as Raids and arrests in Belgium, militant cells, underscoring the detained in the operation, in- taken into custody on Thursday. last week of ignoring a clear and a “terrorist fi ghter” last year af- France and the Netherlands since need for better European co-or- cluding two suspects of Algerian On Saturday, prosecutors said that a man they identified as Faycal C had present danger after revealing ter arresting him near the Syrian the Brussels bombings have ex- dination in the fi ght against ter- origin aged 43 and 47. No imme- been charged with terrorist murder, attempted terrorist murder and par- it had deported airport suicide border. posed a complex web of Islamic rorism. diate details were available about ticipation in the activities of a terrorist group. the third man. But he was released again on Monday because the clues leading to his They are also being held on arrest were not backed up by evidence, the prosecution said. suspicion of involvement in He is the only person to have been charged so far in relation to the Brus- terror attacks, Dutch media re- sels attacks. Airport shutdown costing at €5mn a day ported. He was detained after a taxi driver picked him out of a photo array, local The Netherlands was already media reported. on heightened alert after the air- Cheff ou’s lawyer Olivier Martins said his client had declared that he was Reuters Expenses from re-routing pas- ing out yesterday a make-shift Separately, Lufthansa said it port and metro attacks in Brus- innocent, was opposed to the Islamic State and had no link with the terror- Frankfurt senger traffi c and from lost reve- check-in area that could allow cancelled all fl ights to Brussels sels a week ago, with security ists involved in the attack, Belga reported yesterday. nues are weighing on the bottom a limited restart of passenger from March 31 until April 3, in- stepped up at airports and train Martins had insisted on a verification of his client’s fingerprints, DNA and line, a Brussels Airways spokes- fl ights in coming days to end the stead off ering a shuttle bus serv- stations and border controls his physiognomy, Belga wrote. elgium’s Brussels Airways, man said. airport’s shutdown after suicide ice between Brussels and Frank- tightened. Video surveillance released of the fugitive suspect shows a man with a 45% owned by Deutsche Belgium’s regional airports bombers struck Belgium’s capital furt airport and some fl ights Dutch Justice Minister Ard stockier build than the images of Cheff ou disseminated in the media. BLufthansa, is running up in Antwerp and Liege off er only a week ago. from Liege. van der Steur told parliament “The formal recognition by the taxi driver sowed the seeds of the judicial €5mn ($5.6mn) in daily costs limited short-haul capacity as an Brussels Airlines last week Between March 22 and April yesterday that he expected Anis error, in my mind,” Martins said according to Belga. from the closure of its Brussels alternative, he said. restarted some fl ights from Bel- 3, 265 Lufthansa fl ights will have B “to be extradited to France hub after last week’s attacks. Brussels airport began try- gium via Liege and Antwerp. been cancelled, it said. soon”. Belgium lowers Brussels attacks death toll to 32 from 35 Belgian authorities have revised lower the death ministry off icial Geert Gijs said that there had been US not co-operating with probe: Spanish judge toll from last week’s Brussels suicide attacks to 32 confusion between two lists of people who had died victims after “thorough verification”, just a day after at the scene and in hospital. they had raised the number of dead to 35. “It appears that three people were on both lists,” he AFP profi les of the six men. will be met in the future.” and if necessary sacrifi ce them- “After thorough verification: number of victims told a press conference. Madrid “For months, conversations Police detained the six men, selves and die in the attempt”, he goes down to 32. Still 94 people in hospital,” Health All the victims had now been identified, the Belgian and meetings with various rep- including two pairs of brothers, said. Minister Maggie de Block tweeted about the toll in prosecutor’s off ice spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch resentatives of US authorities in the tiny Spanish territory of Police seized a 9mm au- the attacks on Brussels airport and the Maalbeek told journalists at the government crisis centre. Spanish judge has ac- were held, additional informa- Ceuta, which is located across tomatic pistol and machetes metro station. Seventeen were Belgian nationals and 15 were cused the United States tion was provided to them, and the strait of Gibraltar from among other items during dawn Explaining the revision in the death toll, health foreign, she added. Aof failing to co-operate the urgency and relevancy of the mainland Spain and shares a raids on two properties in Ceuta with his probe of six suspected request was repeatedly reiter- land border with Morocco. as part of the operation. Tajikistan ups surveillance at mosques in Dushanbe Islamist extremists who were ated,” he wrote in a summary of At the time, Interior Minister Spain’s interior ministry said detained in January 2015 over his investigation. Jorge Fernandez Diaz compared the suspects “formed part of a Former Soviet Tajikistan said yesterday that it plans in mosque and can be distinguished by their beard and plans to attack Spain. “Despite all this, it was im- the suspects to the two broth- cell” that was inspired by online to install metal detectors and surveillance cameras in form of dress”, the source said. Judge Jose de la Mata of possible to get the required in- ers who had murdered 12 people messages from the Islamic State more than 70 mosques in the capital Dushanbe over The equipment will be installed at the expense of the Spain’s National Court, which ternational co-operation from in an attack on the Paris offi ces (IS) group, which controls parts government fears of extremist attacks. mosques and their congregations, a spokesman of the handles terrorism cases, said the United States. of the French satirical maga- of Iraq and Syria. A government source speaking on condition of Dushanbe city administration said. he sent a letter rogatory in May “All the requests carried out zine Charlie Hebdo earlier that The six suspects are under anonymity told AFP that the measure was meant The secular government of this Central Asian country 2015 to judicial authorities in have been unsuccessful, and month. offi cial investigation for co- to “track the contingent praying at the mosque, to is renowned for its anti-Islamic rhetoric and policies. the United States to request that there is no reasonable expecta- The suspects detained in operation with a terrorist group, identify among believers potential followers” of an The Tajik parliament in January voted to ban “foreign Microsoft and Facebook save tion that the petition for inter- Ceuta also had a “fi rm determi- praising terrorism and of at- ultra-conservative brand of Sunni Islam. names” for babies as the popularity of Arabic names in the e-mails and social media national judicial co-operation nation ... to commit an attack tempting to recruit militants. The extremists “behave ostentatiously during prayers the Persian-speaking country has grown. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 19 EUROPE

Lawmakers sack chief prosecutor over graft Hopes of deal to end AFP Kiev

kraine’s parliament has sacked the country’s Uchief prosecutor over his Shokin: ensnared in a web of alleged attempts to stall high- ugly charges Ukraine crisis fade profi le corruption investigations and cover up state graft. probes into prosecutors fi red af- Reuters prosecution service (see accom- roshenko’s faction said. The decision should cheer ter cash and diamonds were dis- Kiev panying report on the left). Fatherland is the smallest par- Western allies increasingly con- covered in their homes. Tymoshenko’s requests in- ty in parliament, but the support cerned that the former Soviet Shokin has also allegedly cov- clude scrapping a tax on pension of its 19 lawmakers is enough country is reverting to a culture ered up the corrupt dealings of kraine’s prospects of payments and rolling back en- to give the coalition a majority of sleaze since it ousted a Rus- people close to the ruling regime. forming a new coalition – ergy price hikes. when added to the 216 MPs from sian-backed president and chose Poroshenko asked Shokin Uvital to get International The latter is a key reform im- Poroshenko’s and Yatseniuk’s an alliance with Europe in a his- to quit in the face of mounting Monetary Fund (IMF) loan ne- plemented under Ukraine’s bail- factions. toric 2014 revolt. pressure during a rowdy Febru- gotiations back on track – were out programme from the IMF. Parliamentary Speaker Volo- Lawmakers voted by an over- ary 16 parliament session that thrown into fresh doubt yes- The lack of a stable coali- dymyr Groysman, a 38-year-old whelming 289 votes to six to ac- saw Prime Minister Arseny Yat- terday after Yulia Tymoshenko tion capable of pushing reforms former mayor and ally of Poro- cept the resignation of prosecu- seniuk survive a no-confi dence pressed demands as the price of through parliament has derailed shenko, has been put forward as tor general Viktor Shokin from vote. taking her Fatherland Party into talks for a new $1.7bn loan from a replacement prime minister, the post he has held since Febru- Shokin submitted his letter of an alliance. the IMF. but Yatseniuk has refused to step ary 2015. resignation but did not go out Her remarks dampened expec- The Fund has warned that down until a new coalition agree- “Hallelujah! Finally!” without a fi ght. tations of an imminent deal to political paralysis is putting the ment is signed. Ukraine’s reformist acting Econ- One of his fi nal acts in offi ce end months of political infi ght- entire $17.5bn aid programme at Anton Gerashchenko, a law- omy Minister Aivaras Abromavi- yesterday was to fi re his deputy ing that have delayed Western- risk. maker in Yatseniuk’s faction, said cius tweeted after the vote. Davit Sakvarelidze – a vocal crit- backed reform eff orts and left Tymoshenko’s commments the three-party coalition had not Shokin has been ensnared in a ic who had called for his boss’s Ukrainians increasingly disillu- suggested a coalition was far been formalised. web of ugly charges that also cast dismissal. sioned with the pace of change from agreed despite an an- The head of Yatseniuk’s party, a cloud over Ukrainian President Shokin said he was removing after the Maidan protests that nouncement by Prime Minister Maksym Burbak, said that they Petro Poroshenko’s commitment Sakvarelidze “for grave viola- brought the pro-Western leaders Arseny Yatseniuk’s party of a new did not expect any fi nal coalition to the policy of clean hands he tions of prosecutors’ ethics and to power. alliance with Fatherland and the agreement before next week. promised when elected in 2014. interference in the work of an- The scale of the challenge for faction belonging to President Failure to form a coalition His many detractors accused other prosecutor”. any new administration was laid Petro Poroshenko. could trigger snap parliamen- Shokin of failing to look into the Sakvarelidze retorted yester- bare yesterday by the sacking of a Tymoshenko “is demanding tary elections, which critics say reported theft of state funds by day that Shokin’s understanding reformist senior prosecutor, who a stack of political laws be voted would delay reforms further and the deposed Russian-backed of ethics involved “theft, cor- at a news conference accused on before joining the coalition. boost support for populist par- leadership. ruption and a conspiracy of si- vested interests of throttling his Everyone has to go back to the ties who oppose the IMF-backed Tymoshenko: wants a tax on pension payments scrapped and energy He is also accused of blocking lence”. eff orts to tackle corruption in the drawing-board”, a source in Po- austerity measures. price hikes to be rolled back, among other things. UN seeking to resettle 10% Turkey police detains Greece 20 traffi cking suspects targets of Syrian refugees by 2018 AFP emerged as the major hub for two-week Istanbul refugees and migrants from Syr- ia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Eritrea and Reuters other troubled states trying to asylum Geneva urkish police have de- reach the European Union via the tained at least 20 people Greek islands. Tin a nationwide operation Around 1mn migrants crossed processing he United Nations said aimed at cracking down on the the Aegean to Greece in 2015, yesterday that it aims traffi cking of migrants seeking prompting rattled EU leaders to Tto re-settle more than to reach the European Union, re- seek Turkey’s help for a solution. AFP 450,000 Syrian refugees, about ports said. Under a landmark deal Athens one-tenth of those now in neigh- The suspects were detained in thrashed out between the EU and bouring countries, by the end of raids in fi ve regions, from Izmir Ankara earlier this month, all 2018, but conceded it needed to on the Aegean to Sanliurfa close migrants arriving on the Greek reece will be able to proc- overcome widespread fear and to the Syrian border and Sam- islands are now designated for ess asylum claims within political manipulation. sun on the Black Sea following a return to Turkey. Gtwo weeks once a migra- The UN refugee agency is urg- three-month investigation, the The numbers of people reach- tion deal between the EU and ing countries worldwide to take Dogan news agency said. ing Greece from Turkey have Turkey takes full eff ect, a senior in Syrians for resettlement as It said that the suspected traf- declined sharply since the EU- Greek offi cial said yesterday. well as for humanitarian reasons fi ckers, who are citizens of Tur- Turkey deal went into eff ect on Deputy Defence Minister of family reunifi cation, medi- key, Syria and Iraq, were believed March 20. Dimitris Vitsas, who is in charge cal treatment or scholarships to to have smuggled migrants from But several EU leaders had of co-ordinating Greece’s man- complete their studies. Turkey’s coast across the Aegean also underlined it was essen- agement of the refugee fl ow, said More than 4.8mn Syrians have Sea in exchange for money. tial for Turkey to crack down on that all procedures pertaining to fl ed to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan With the operation ongoing, the people smuggling business, asylum requests would be sped and Egypt to escape a war that the number of those detained which analysts say had been al- up and examined within the has killed more than 250,000 could rise, it added. lowed to operate with relative space of a fortnight. people since 2011 and left 13.5mn Materials seized in the raids impunity in Turkey. “Asylum requests will have inside Syria in need of aid. included lists of migrants, mon- Smugglers would ask for up to be examined within a week – An additional half a million ey counting machines and hard to several thousand dollars for a and there is international help people are estimated to have fl ed currency, Turkish media reports place in a potentially unseawor- for this purpose – and adminis- to Europe, especially Germany, said. thy boat for the risky crossing to trative appeals will be examined since early 2015. A migrant is inspected by a police off icer after disembarking yesterday from the Norwegian vessel Siem Turkey has over the last year the Greek islands. within another week,” Vitsas Syria’s pre-war population Pilot at Pozzallo’s harbour, Italy. told a late-night political talk was around 22mn. Italy rescues more than 1,500 migrants show on Star TV. A ministerial-level conference the EU than relocation off ered efi tted from Germany’s large Geneva talks, which UN Secre- The fast-tracked procedure today will “focus on the need for under a controversial agreement programmes of humanitarian tary General Ban Ki-moon and Italy’s coastguard said yesterday that 1,569 migrants had been rescued will be formalised as part of a generating a substantial increase reached with Turkey this month, admissions and private sponsor- UN refugee agency boss Filippo in 11 separate operations in the Strait of Sicily, as a wave of boats refugee bill to be submitted to in resettlement and other an- Edwards told Reuters. ship. Grandi will address. departing from the Libyan coast intensifies. parliament today, he said. swers for their plight”, spokes- Under that deal, for every Syr- The UNHCR says it asked the Asked about the impact of an- The “Diciotti” vessel came to the rescue of four inflatable dinghies and a Rights groups have consist- man Adrian Edwards of the UN ian returned from the EU to Tur- United States last month to con- ti-migrant rhetoric used during boat, bringing a total of 774 people to safety, including 125 women and ently highlighted serious de- High Commissioner for Refugees key, another would be resettled sider 32,369 Syrian refugees for election campaigns in the United five children, the coast guard said in a statement. fi ciencies in Greece’s asylum (UNHCR) told a briefi ng. from Turkey within the bloc. resettlement. States and elsewhere on eff orts to Meanwhile, three Italian navy ships rescued more than 660 migrants in process that prevent refugees “We estimate that 10% of Syr- Since 2013, mainly Western “Small countries like Portu- resettle Syrian refugees, Edwards various operations while a German military ship picked up another 105 from submitting asylum re- ia’s 4.8mn refugees fall into the countries have off ered some gal are taking in Syrian students said: “We know very well we’re people. quests. highly vulnerable category. That 179,150 resettlement places to to fi nish their university studies. dealing with a complex situation, Close to 1,500 people were rescued in the Mediterranean over the Even when a request has been means that well over 450,000 Syrian refugees, UNHCR fi gures We think many more countries increasing fear in many coun- weekend, adding to fears that calmer seas at the onset of spring is submitted, the application proc- places will be needed before the show. can be doing that kind of thing,” tries, increasing politicisation encouraging greater numbers of migrants to attempt the perilous ess can take months before a de- end of 2018.” These include 25,000 reset- Edwards said. of refugee, displacement and crossing after a winter lull. cision is made. The UNHCR is hoping for a tled in Canada in recent months, Some additional pledges are asylum issues. This is a diffi cult According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), some 17,500 people Some 4,000 security person- “separate commitment” from while nearly 42,000 have ben- expected to be announced at the thing.” have arrived in Italy since the start of the year. nel and asylum experts – many provided by fellow EU states – are to be deployed to registra- tion centres known as hotspots on the fi ve Aegean islands facing Turkey to handle the application I recognised just the tip of his nose: mum of murdered Italian student requests. Vitsas said there are now 53,000 refugees and migrants AFP lieved Regeni had fallen victim all the intelligence and culture The family’s lawyer, Alessan- in Greece, compared to 30,000 Rome to the gang, which had hoped to to know what was about to hap- dra Ballerini, said the investi- in February before Balkan states force him to empty his bank ac- pen to him,” his mother said. gators from Cairo “must bring began shutting their borders. count. “On Giulio’s face I saw all the ills us everything that’s missing, He said all those who entered he mother of murdered Italian media and Western of the world. We have not faced including the phone records Greece after a new EU migration Italian student Giulio diplomatic sources in Cairo have such torture since the anti-Fas- and data collected from the cell deal with Turkey began to take TRegeni, tortured to death voiced suspicions that Egyptian cist era.” sites in the area and the secu- eff ect on March 20, and whose in Egypt in January, told Italy’s security services were behind Regeni had been researching rity video footage from near the asylum applications are not ac- parliament yesterday that she the murder of Regeni, whose labour movements in Egypt, a metro where he disappeared, cepted, will be returned to Tur- had only recognised ‘the tip of mutilated body was discovered sensitive topic, and had written and the area in which his body key on six ships chartered by EU her son’s nose when identifying nine days after he disappeared articles critical of the govern- was found”. border agency Frontex. his body. on January 25. ment under a pen name. “We don’t even know what Should the process work Amid increasing anger over “I won’t tell you what they Prosecutors in Cairo on Sat- Giulio was wearing when his smoothly, some 20,000 people Cairo’s handling of the killing had done to him,” said Regeni’s urday ordered the detention of body was discovered,” she said, are expected to eventually stay in of the 28-year-old Cambridge mother Paola. “I recognised him four people over Regeni’s mur- adding that the family wanted Greece for an unspecifi ed time, University graduate student, just by the tip of his nose. The der, all of them closely related to more information as well on the a task the country can “eas- Egyptian detectives are now ex- Regeni: I won’t tell you what they had done to him. I recognised him rest of him was no longer Giulio.” the leader of the gang who was gang which had his passport, ily manage,” the deputy minister pected to hand over key evidence just by the tip of his nose. The rest of him was no longer Giulio. She said she had taken a pho- killed in the shootout with po- and how they could have ac- said. to their Italian counterparts on tograph of his body and was lice. quired it. The government said it ex- April 5. human rights commission in the week to Cairo insisting that it prepared to publish it if Cairo Italy has so far rejected each Manconi said that if the data pects the EU-Turkey deal to be If Cairo should fail to follow Senate. had identifi ed a criminal gang continued to refuse to share its of the vastly contradictory ac- was not handed over, Italy’s for- fully implemented from April 4. through, “I would urge our for- Italy’s Interior Minister An- linked to Regeni’s murder, after fi ndings with the Italian police. counts Egypt has put forward, eign ministry “should declare Aid groups have criticised the eign ministry to urgently con- gelino Alfano on Sunday said killing four gang members and “What torments me is the including allegations early on Egypt an unsafe country, which agreement on ethical grounds, sider recalling our ambassador Egypt agreed to extend the in- fi nding the student’s passport in thought that, before the fi rst that the student had been work- would without a doubt have a warning that registration sites to Egypt for consultation”, said vestigation after pressure from one of the their apartments. blow even fell, he knew that a ing as a spy – an accusation his not insignifi cant eff ect on the would now become de facto de- Luigi Manconi, president of the Rome, which had objected last Egyptian police said they be- door had closed forever. He had mother furiously denied. numbers of tourists” there. tention centres. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 INDIA

HONOUR EDUCATION CONTROVERSY TALKS PEOPLE Singer Susheela enters New university to start Digvijaya condemns Muslim leader meets Zubin to celebrate Guinness World Records functioning from August attack on Jean Dreze RSS chief Bhagwat birthday in Mumbai

Legendary playback A new university in Tripura will start Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has In a significant development, All-India Muslim Music maestro Zubin Mehta, the world singer P Susheela has functioning in August, a minister said condemned an attack on development Women Personal Law Board president renowned conductor of Western classical become the Guinness yesterday. “Kolkata’s Jadavpur University economist Jean Dreze, who was allegedly Shaista Ambar met Rashtriya Swayamsevak music, will celebrate his 80th birthday World Records title holder Professor Gautam Bose has been selected forced to leave Bastar by a group of Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat in Lucknow in Mumbai with his Mehli Mehta Music for the highest number as the vice chancellor of the new university,” demonstrators who called him and his partner yesterday. Ambar said she was present at a Foundation presenting a series of three of solo, duet and chorus Tripura’s Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty Bela Bhatia “Naxalites”. Singh tweeted: “I function in the Post-Graduate Institute area concerts. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra backed songs in over said. The state assembly last year passed a condemn the attack on Jean Dreze whom where Bhagwat was visiting. She sought an (IPO) will return to Mumbai after seven years six Indian languages. bill to set up a new state university to expand I have known for more than 15 years. He appointment with the RSS chief that was under the baton of Mehta, who is also the In an off icial certificate higher education in Tripura which has attained understands socio economic issues of India immediately granted. “He was very gracious music director for life of the IPO. Mehta turns presented by Guinness a literacy rate of 96.82%. Tripura now claims better than most of us.” Belgian-born Dreze and in his address he spoke of nation building 80 on April 29. Five internationally acclaimed it was verified that she the highest literacy rate in India, beating Kerala and his partner Bhatia were allegedly forced and character development,” she said. Ambar soloists - Pinchas Zuckerman, Denis Matsuev, has sung 17,695 solo, duet and chorus backed (93.91%). The state currently has a central to leave Bastar two days ago after a group also said she requested Bhagwat to visit a Amanda Forysth, Maria Katzarava and Andrea songs as on January 28, 2016. Susheela has university as well as a private university. The demonstrated outside Bhatia’s home, calling mosque which they have got constructed, Bocelli - will perform with the orchestra from over 30,000 songs to her credit across multiple new university would attract students not only her “Naxali dalaal” (agent of Naxalites). Bhatia, and he readily agreed to do so. On Monday April 17 to April 20. The final concert will be an languages. In Telugu alone, she has sung close from Tripura and other northeastern states, but a social scientist, used to live in Parpa village on Bhagwat had said the chanting of “Bharat opera gala at the Brabourne Stadium where to 20,000 songs. also from Bangladesh, said Chakraborty. the outskirts of Jagdalpur. Mata ki Jai” cannot be forced on anyone. Bocelli will perform with the Katzarava.

Protest against excise duty 163% hike in salaries of Court allows Telangana lawmakers

IANS Hyderabad SEBI to sell

awmakers in Telangana will now get a monthly package Lof Rs250,000 against the existing Rs95,000 with the state assembly yesterday unanimously properties of passing a bill hiking their pay and allowances. Members of both the houses of state legislature will get a hike of 163% in the package which in- cludes both the monthly pay and the allowances. Sahara group The monthly pay has been re- vised from Rs12,000 to Rs20,000 Roy was arrested in March who is lodged in Tihar Jail since type of case happen. There is no but the constituency allow- 2014 after the company failed March 2014. jurisdiction in the world that al- ance has witnessed a huge jump to comply with a court order “Start working on that. You are lows a person to be inside jail for - Rs230,000 from the present to refund money raised from now free to go ahead,” the court two years without any charge.” Rs83,000. millions of small investors told Securities and Exchange The judges did not take kind- The hike for the chief minis- Board of India (SEBI). About Roy, ly to the retort. “Don’t lecture ter and others ranged from 60 to Agencies the court fi rmly said: “The only us. Don’t give us a speech. No- 72%. New Delhi way he can come out is by com- where in the world does a per- Chief Minister K Chan- plying with our orders.” son say that I have assets worth drasekhar Rao justifi ed the hike. Two other directors of Sahara Rs187,000 crore. I can pay any- The chief minister’s gross sal- he Supreme Court has - Ravi Shankar Dubey and Ashok time. But is not paying even ary has gone up from Rs244,000 asked the markets regula- Roy Choudhary - are also in jail. Rs10,000 crore.” to Rs421,000. The pay has been Ttor to start the process of The court said the process of When Sibal urged the court increased from Rs16,000 to selling some of embattled con- sale of Sahara properties will to extend communication and Rs51,000 while the constituency glomerate Sahara group’s real be overseen by former Supreme other facilities to Roy, the court allowance has gone up steeply to estate assets in the country to Court judge B N Agarwala and asked him what he did with those Rs230,000 from Rs83,000. refund millions of investors in its that the group will be kept in- facilities that were extended ear- For state legislators, this is illegal bonds, lawyers said yes- formed on the steps being taken lier to negotiate the sale of three said to be the highest monthly terday. for the disposal of the properties. overseas hotels and other assets package in the country, overtak- Sahara, a household name in These properties don’t in- to raise money. ing Delhi where the Aam Aadmi India as the former main sponsor clude any of its overseas assets, Meanwhile, next month’s auc- Party government increased the of the national cricket team, has Sahara Star hotel in Mumbai and tion for the Plaza Hotel in Man- salaries to Rs210,000 last year. major hotels overseas includ- Aamby Valley luxury resort in hattan was cancelled after the Members from both the rul- ing the Plaza in New York and Maharashtra, which bills itself holders of the mortgage reached ing Telangana Rashtra Samithi the Grosvenor House in London, as India’s fi rst planned city since a deal to give the borrowers more (TRS) and opposition Congress besides vast real estate assets in independence. time to sell the property and pay and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) India. No property shall be sold be- back the loan, said a person with hailed the hike. Its founder Subrata Roy was low 90% of its prevailing circle knowledge of the matter. The chief minister brushed arrested in March 2014 after the rates, the court said. Also, no The hotel’s ownership has been aside the criticism over the hike company failed to comply with deadline has been fi xed to com- in limbo for two years. Billionaire and advised media not to project a court order to refund money plete the process. Sahara has al- brothers David and Simon Reuben this as a loot of public money. raised from millions of small in- ready furnished the title deeds hold the mortgage on the fi ve-star “By doing this you are demean- vestors by selling them bonds of 86 properties to facilitate the hotel and had scheduled a fore- ing your own legislators,” he said. later ruled to be illegal. sale. closure auction for April 26, ac- The chief minister justifi ed The court in June last year said Noting that the market regu- cording to the person, who asked the increase saying this was done the group needed to repay the lator had 20 unencumbered title not to be named because the deal keeping in view the requirements entire Rs360bn ($5.4bn) it owes deeds thus far worth Rs200bn, is private. The Reubens bought of the legislators, and was neces- investors in illegal bonds. the court asked the Sahara group the loan from Bank of China Ltd sary to enable the lawmakers to Yesterday’s order came af- to furnish other unencumbered after a default Roy. play an active and positive role ter the court found that Sahara title deeds of another Rs200bn. A spokesman for the Reuben in the process of nation building Jewellers stage a protest against the 1% excise duty proposed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley group was yet to mobilise the Rs- During the hearing, Kapil brothers didn’t immediately re- and to remain free from corrup- in the national budget, outside Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi yesterday. 100bn towards the bail amount Sibal, representing Sahara, said: spond to an e-mailed request for tion. to secure the release of Roy, “Nowhere in the world does this comment. Congress is on the verge of further fragmentation omething very undemo- Rawat may have resorted to un- contribution by the Congress in to turn up for the upcoming elec- get the crucial Goods and Services cratic is taking place in the democratic means to continue to parliament because everyone in tions. Tax (GST) bill passed. Jaitley feels Sworld’s largest democ- stay in power but something more the party looks to Rahul Gandhi Kerala is just one of the sad that by the time the bill is pre- racy that is India but the national undemocratic was to follow, this Delhi Diary who, unfortunately, can barely stories for the Congress. Reports sented the Congress Party’s Rajya debate continues to focus on time from the federal government string together two coherent sen- say there is rebellion brewing in Sabha numbers would have dwin- Jawharlal Nehru University/Kan- of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. By A K B Krishnan tences. the Manipur unit of the party dled to some extent in the wake of haiya Kumar and Hyderabad Cen- Just one day before Rawat was to It is possible that Rahul Gandhi and the state is very likely to go fresh elections to the upper house tral University/Rohith Vemula. If test his government’s strength on Gulf Times Correspondent thinks he is a master orator. Oth- the Arunachal Pradesh way in and he could count on the rest of this was a well-thought strategy the fl oor of the house as per direc- erwise why should he shy away the near future. In Maharashtra, the opposition to support his bill by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tions of Governor Krishan Kant from employing a good speech party stalwart and leader of the for its passage. In the Lok Sabha full marks to it because, sadly, the Paul, the Modi cabinet decided president to put the state assem- ling to every nook and corner of writer who can provide him with opposition in the state assembly, he is sure to face some noise from main opposition Congress Party, to impose President’s Rule on the bly under suspended animation the country every time there was the right stuff that he can read Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, piloted the the Congress but that will be all. along with its new-found friends state. giving rise to speculation that the a farmer suicide (of course he was from? There is no shame in it ac- motion that saw the suspension A chain is only as strong as from the Left, has simply ceded Article 356 of the Constitu- BJP is getting ready to engineer careful not to include Congress- tually. Many top world leaders do of AIMIM member Waris Pathan its weakest link. And what if the ground and, for all practical pur- tion provides for President’s Rule further defections from the Con- ruled Karnataka in that itinerary) so. Sonia Gandhi, for one, always from the house for refusing to weakest link in the party happens poses, surrendered. in a state in case of failure of the gress Party so as to stake claim to and he had been visiting univer- has her speeches prepared. The respect the motherland with the to be its leader? Lord Meghnad Harish Rawat, the Congress constitutional machinery. Yes, form the government. If Modi is sities to speak up for students ag- lack of oratorical talents within slogan “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. In the Desai, economist, historian and chief minister of Uttarakhand, the constitutional machinery really serious about constitution- itating against Modi’s so-called the Congress, however, does not Madhya Pradesh assembly Con- long-time British parliamentar- knew that his government was can be said to have failed if the ality, he should now get the house ultra-nationalist agenda. But stop with the Gandhis though. gress leader Jitu Patwari moved ian, is of the view that the Con- teetering after nine of his party Rawat government had failed to dissolved and hold fresh elections all he did after the government Mallikarjun Kharge, who more a resolution to condemn AIMIM gress Party is on the verge of members in the state assembly get the budget passed. In that at the earliest so that the people of imposed President’s Rule in Ut- often displays his language skills chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his further fragmentation thanks to rebelled against his rule. These case the Modi government would the state can decide who should tarakhand was to tweet a rather through pregnant pauses, is the opposition to the same slogan. So Rahul Gandhi’s uninspiring lead- nine had threatened to vote have been justifi ed in calling for govern them. sarcastic one-liner to Modi even party’s chief spokesperson in the much for control by the party’s ership. No one, especially the against the proposals in the state’s President’s Rule if Rawat himself As the defection drama un- as his party indulged in the “na- Lok Sabha. central leadership which wants to younger lot, with serious ambi- budget which Finance Minister had not resigned. The speaker is folded in Dehradun, the Con- tional versus anti-national” de- When Rahul Gandhi visited project itself as the saviour of mi- tion to get high up in the party Indira Hridayesh had presented the ultimate authority as far as gress Party’s central leadership, bate with vehemence. Kerala in February he famously norities. would remain with the Congress, on March 11. money bills are concerned and he especially its vice-president Ra- There is no doubt the Congress told his party men that “only the Senior Congress leader and says Desai. As he enjoyed only a wafer- had declared the budget passed hul Gandhi, simply didn’t know has a serious leadership crisis. All Congress can defeat the Con- former fi nance minister Palaniap- The year 2019 is not a long way thin majority in the 71-member after a voice vote. (Only a couple how to react. It was left to Chief Rahul Gandhi has shown to be ca- gress” in the state. It was a clear pan Chidambaram has often won- away. It is not as if the Congress house, Rawat knew that a divi- of weeks ago the BJP itself was Minister Rawat to do all the talk- pable of is to coin some fanciful admission that the state unit was dered why the BJP is not taking will win the next elections, but sion of votes on a money bill, waxing eloquent on the speaker’s ing and although he did articu- phrases like “suit-boot ki sarkar”, in disarray thanks to the vari- advantage of its massive majority if it fails to put up a good fi ght which the budget is, would be powers when Finance Minister late his point well, the Congress “fair and lovely yojana,” etc; ous groups within the party. And in the Lok Sabha to push through against the BJP or any other op- the end of his government. So he Arun Jaitley introduced the Aad- ‘high command’ did not seem to which have an instant appeal for what has he done about it? Pre- ‘bold’ reforms. Perhaps the real position combination, you can got Speaker Govind Singh Kun- haar amendment bill as a money be too keen to fi ght on his behalf. television anchors but almost im- cious little! The factions have only question to be asked is why the safely assume that the party is jwal to not only pass the budget bill). Rawat has even paraded a major- mediately fade away as they hold increased in number and strength BJP is taking so much time to act over. There is little chance of a re- by voice vote but also issue show So, in reality, there was no con- ity of MLAs before the governor no ideological or even logical sig- so much so that the original Con- when the Congress can’t even put vival if it is losing state after state cause notices to the rebel nine as stitutional crisis as such and a and has also gone to court but the nifi cance. Except for one stirring gress Party is nowhere in sight. up a couple of good speakers to because of leadership apathy. No to why they should not be dis- fl oor test, in any case, would have presidential powers, according to speech by Jairam Ramesh in the Cynics feel there is such chaos project its point of view. point blaming the BJP for engi- qualifi ed under the anti-defec- settled matters once and for all. experts, cannot be challenged. Rajya Sabha while opposing the in the party that all that the rival The second leg of the budget neering defections if you can’t put tion law. But Modi went ahead and got the Rahul Gandhi has been travel- Aadhaar bill, there has been little Left needs to do to regain power is session is when Jaitley hopes to your own house in order. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 21 INDIA Court convicts 10 in Mumbai triple blasts case

IANS be sentenced today. The prosecution said the ac- Malik, Dr Wahid Ansari, Mu- ing the trial and fi ve are still on between and in diff erent parts of Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ule- Mumbai Those convicted include a cused, mostly members of SIMI, zammil Ansari and Anwar Ali the run. Mumbai - were clubbed together ma-e-Hind (JUeM) Maharash- former general secretary of the wanted to avenge the razing of Khan. Nachan was accused of ar- by the court as a common con- tra, which provided legal aid to banned Students Islamic Move- the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya in Haroon Lohar, Nadeem Paloba ranging the manpower, arms spiracy linked them. the accused, said it would chal- court yesterday convicted ment of India (SIMI). 1992 and the communal riots in and Adnan Mulla were acquitted and ammunition while the All the accused were charged lenge the judgment in the Bom- 10 people in the triple The fi rst blast occurred near Gujarat in 2002. for lack of suffi cient evidence. co-accused, Ansari, and some with murder, attempt to murder, bay High Court. Abomb blasts in Mumbai McDonald’s eatery in Mumbai Convicted former SIMI gener- The prosecution said that others now on the run, were causing grievous hurt, waging A JUeM spokesman also between December 2002 and Central Terminus on December al secretary Saquib Nachan was Nachan, along with Pakistani charged with manufacturing war against the nation, crimi- urged the government to set March 2003 that killed at least 12 6, 2002, another in a Vile Parle described by police as the “mas- Faisal Khan - linked to terror the bombs. nal conspiracy besides several up fast-track courts to dis- people and injured 139. market on January 27, 2003, and termind” of the triple blasts. group Lashkar-e-Taiba - carried Muzammil Ansari and an- charges under the Indian Penal pose of terror-related cases Prevention of Terrorism Act the third in a crowded ladies fi rst Nine others found guilty are out the blasts along with 23 oth- other absconder-accused were Code, Railways Act, Arms Act, within two years so that the (POTA) court’s Special Judge P R class compartment of a subur- Ateef Nasir Mulla, Hasib Zubeir ers. charged with executing the ter- Explosive Substances Act and accused who are finally ac- Deshmukh acquitted three oth- ban train near Mulund on March Mulla, Gulam Khotal, Mohamed Of the 25 accused, most were ror plot by planting the bombs. POTA - some of which attract quitted do not spend pro- ers and said the convicts would 13, 2003. Kamil, Farhan Khot, Noor M arrested in 2003, fi ve died dur- The three cases - though far the maximum death penalty. longed periods in jail. Pakistan probe team visits Pathankot amid protests

IANS lice’s elite SWAT commandos Pathankot guarded them. The Pakistani offi cials en- tered through a specially cre- Pakistani team probing ated entrance in the peripheral a terror attack on the wall of the air base and were AIndian Air Force base in taken to specifi c areas in the Pathankot in January ended its complex. They spent a few day-long visit to the frontier minutes at the base. defence facility and nearby ar- They were kept away from eas amid vocal protests by op- the technical area and shown position parties. only those areas where secu- It is the fi rst time that a rity forces had engaged the Pakistan probe panel, which Pakistani terrorists. included an offi cer of the In- The team later visited vari- ter-Services Intelligence (ISI) ous locations in the border agency, was allowed access to belt of Pathankot district to a high-value Indian defence retrace the movement of the facility. terrorists. The IAF base was attacked They were shown the places on January 2, leading to the where Punjab police offi cer death of seven Indian security Salwinder Singh’s vehicle was personnel and all the attackers hijacked by the terrorists and after an 80-hour gun battle. then abandoned near the base, Youth Congress workers stage a demonstration against the imposition of President’s Rule in Uttarakhand, in Bengaluru yesterday. The fi ve-member Pakistani the place where taxi driver Ik- Joint Investigation Team (JIT) agar Singh was murdered and reached the air base yesterday the route taken by the terror- amid vociferous protests by ists while reaching the base. activists of the Congress, the “The Pakistani team was Aam Aadmi Party and Shiv mostly driven around the Sena. places through which the ter- Those opposing the visit rorists came. At most places, accused the central govern- they did not get out of their Ousted Uttarakhand ment of playing a “double vehicle,” a Punjab police of- game” - accusing the ISI of fi cer accompanying the team sponsoring terrorism in India said. and then letting an offi cer of Protests by Congress and the spy agency to visit the IAF AAP activists erupted near base. the front gate of the Pathankot The team, which landed base as the Pakistan team CM gets court reprieve in Amritsar yesterday, was headed towards it. But the driven in a bullet-proof SUV demonstrators were about Congress asked to prove validity of a presidential procla- He alleged that Prime Min- tions will not justify President’s the budget Appropriation Bill by to Pathankot, escorted to the 3km from the area the JIT vis- majority; BJP mulls mation cannot be reviewed judi- ister Narendra Modi and BJP Rule and stop fl oor test,” he add- a voice vote even as more than rear side of the sprawling base ited. challenging order cially. president Amit Shah wanted to ed. Singhvi said the court has al- half the members led by the BJP in a mini bus accompanied by The protesters carried black Hearing a petition by sacked “topple” his government “at any lowed the disqualifi ed Congress sought a division, which would offi cials of the National Inves- fl ags and banners and shouted IANS chief minister Harish Rawat, the cost” even to “the extent of mur- legislators to take part in the have led to recorded voting. The tigation Agency. Punjab’s po- “Go Back” slogans. Dehradun/New Delhi court, however, allowed Presi- dering democracy”. voting but their vote would be rebel Congress lawmakers sup- dent’s Rule in the hill state to Congress spokesman and taken into consideration sepa- ported the demand. Speaker Alleged spy’s statements baseless: India continue till the fl oor test. senior lawyer Abhishek Manu rately. Govind Kunjwal declined the he ousted Congress gov- The court also said that all Singhvi said the court ruling The BJP said it was no victory request. India yesterday dismissed as has this individual making ernment in Uttarakhand nine Congress rebels who were followed two days of extensive for the Congress, but described Amid BJP cries that Rawat did baseless remarks made by an statements which have no Tgot a major reprieve yes- disqualifi ed by the speaker will arguments. as “unprecedented” the court not enjoy a majority in the house alleged Indian spy in a video basis in fact. That the individual terday after the state high court be allowed to take part in the “The high court accepts the verdict to allow a floor test of 70 members, Governor K K released by Pakistan in which claims to make the statements allowed it to prove its majority in vote. It said the result of the vot- point that despite President’s during President’s Rule. “To Paul asked the government to he “confessed” New Delhi’s of his own free will not only the assembly tomorrow despite ing should be presented to the Rule there is enough scope for order something like this dur- prove its majority on Monday. alleged involvement in terrorist challenges credulity but the imposition of President’s court on Friday. It ordered the judicial review to allow a fl oor ing President’s Rule is unprec- The Congress rebel lawmakers activities in Balochistan. “We clearly indicates tutoring,” it Rule in the hill state. Registrar General of the court to test to take place,” Singhvi told edented,” BJP spokesman Nalin were disqualifi ed on Saturday have seen a video released said. Kulbushan Yadav says A stunned central govern- be present as an observer in the reporters. Kohli said. and the BJP-led central govern- by Pakistani authorities of a in the video that he had been ment, which in a dramatic turn assembly. He said that the charges The Uttarakhand political cri- ment imposed President’s Rule a former Indian naval off icer, directing various activities in of events on Sunday dismissed An elated Rawat said he was against the Rawat government sis began when nine Congress day later. doing business in Iran, who Karachi and Balochistan “at the Congress government and confi dent of proving his majority do not justify the invocation of legislators, including former In the 70-member assembly, is in Pakistani custody under the behest of RAW”, the Indian imposed central rule in the hill in the state assembly. “We shall the much contested Article 356 chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, the Congress has 36 legislators, unexplained circumstances,” intelligence agency, and that state citing breakdown of gov- prove our majority on the fl oor that empowers the central gov- whom Rawat replaced, revolted including the nine rebels. The the external aff airs ministry he was still with the Indian ernance, said it was consider- on March 31,” he said, castigating ernment to impose President’s and turned to the BJP. BJP has 28. The other six from said in a statement. “The video Navy. ing challenging the Uttarakhand the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- Rule on a state. On March 18, the crisis deep- smaller parties are said to sup- High Court order because the led central government. “Mere horse trading allega- ened when the assembly passed port the Congress.

Body of Indian killed in Brussels ‘Indira refused probe terror attack reaches Chennai into Netaji’s death’

Agencies External Aff airs Minister Su- ple and Infosys company have IANS that any fresh inquiry is war- Chennai shma Swaraj tweeted that the extended their co-operation New Delhi ranted,” it said. 31-year-old, who had been throughout the process. We are Prime Minister Narendra working in Brussels for four very unlucky, we lost a great Modi yesterday released the he body of Infosys em- years, was killed in the blast at guy.” he Indira Gandhi gov- second batch of 50 declassi- ployee Raghavendran Maalbeek metro station. “For our embassy, it’s a very ernment had refused to fi ed fi les relating to Bose. TGaneshan who died in the “Unfortunately, he was travel- sad day,” Manjeev Singh Puri, Tset up a fresh inquiry The fi rst batch of 100 fi les, terrorist attack in Brussels last ling in the same coach of the met- India’s ambassador to Belgium into the mysterious death of after their preliminary con- week arrived in Chennai yester- ro in which the suicide bomber and the EU, said. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as servation, treatment and digi- day. blew himself up,” Swaraj wrote. On Monday, Belgian offi - demanded by a large number tisation, was put in the public The body was taken to the His brother, who is studying cials said the death toll from the of MPs in 1968, according to domain by Modi on January 23 home of his relatives in a Chen- in Germany, arrived shortly af- March 22 Islamic State bomb- documents released yesterday. on the 119th birth anniversary nai suburb where the last rites ter his brother went missing and ings had climbed to 35 after four A question raised in the Lok of the freedom fi ghter. were performed. was joined by their uncle and people died in hospital. Sabha in February 1968 was Files released yesterday in- “It is with deep regret that we parents. The Belgian authorities, A Jet Airways fl ight attend- answered by the then govern- clude matters pertaining to confi rm the passing of our col- who worked through the Easter ant who was pictured covered in ment, saying there was no Netaji’s ashes and the probe league Raghavendran Ganeshan holiday weekend, confi rmed dust and blood after the attacks need for a fresh probe. into his disappearance follow- in the terrible attack in Brus- that Ganeshan was among the at the airport, making news- “The government has ac- ing the controversial air crash. sels,” the software giant wrote dead, using fi nger print analy- paper front pages around the cepted the conclusion of the The latest release of 50 fi les on Twitter late Monday. sis and DNA tests from a cheek world, is currently recovering in offi cial inquiry committee will further meet the “contin- “Our thoughts and prayers are swab taken from his brother. hospital. appointed in 1956 that Netaji ued public demand” to access with Raghavendran’s family and Ganeshan’s wife Vaishali Ra- A haunting image of Nidhi Subhas Chandra Bose met his these fi les and this will also with those who were injured or ghavendran and their child are Chaphekar, from Mumbai, show- death in an air crash in the help scholars carry out fur- lost a loved one in these attacks,” based in India. ing her yellow jacket torn, became Relatives console Ganesan Chengalvarayan, father of Raghavendran year 1945. Since no new facts ther research on Bose’s role in added the Bengaluru-based Raghu Kumar, a relative said: one of the most widely published Ganeshan, as his body is brought back to his residence in Chennai have been brought to light, the India’s freedom movement, an software fi rm in another tweet. “The (Indian) embassy peo- images of the bombings. yesterday. government does not consider offi cial source said. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, March 30 , 2016 LATIN AMERICA

TRIAL ULTIMATUM RULING LEGAL COMMENT US soldier guilty of killing Colombia demands Farc Court ‘blocks’ funds Partial WTO win for Buenos US arrests part of smear woman in Panama set disarmament date for Olympic project Aires in biodiesel dispute campaign: Venezuela firm

An American court-martial has convicted a US Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos told A court in Rio de Janeiro has blocked funding The World Trade Organisation yesterday ruled Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA soldier stationed in Panama two years ago of the Farc rebels to set a date to disarm, after a self- from state lender Caixa Economica Federal to partially in favour of Argentina in its dispute said it was the target of a smear campaign after murdering a Panamanian woman with whom imposed March 23 deadline to sign a peace deal the consortium building the Olympic Deodoro with the European Union over duties the EU the US justice department said three of the firm’s he had a relationship, Panamanian officials said. passed unmet. “The government demands a set, complex where 11 sports will be held in August, imposes on imported biodiesel. Argentina filed former employees had pleaded guilty to charges The court in Fort Bragg, North Carolina found precise and clear date to finish the disarmament a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. the case in 2013 to challenge tariffs that the over a scheme to corruptly secure energy Omar Velez Pagan, 37, guilty of assaulting and process,” he said in an address from the presi- News site G1 reported earlier yesterday that the EU put in place to guard against “dumping”, contracts. The former off icials at Petroleos de killing Vanessa Rodriguez, 25, with his vehicle in dential palace. Santos has staked his presidency suspended funds totalled 128.5mn reais ($35mn). where an imported product is sold at cut-rate Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) pleaded guilty under seal June 2014 and hiding her body near a river in on bringing peace to Colombia, where the Farc Prosecutors in Rio claim to have found evidence prices. The EU argued that domestic tax breaks in December to conspiracy to commit money the southern town of Guarare, Panama’s foreign have been fighting the government for more of fraud in earthmoving services at the complex allowed Argentinian producers to sell biodie- laundering. Their pleas were unsealed by a federal ministry said in a statement. Velez, who was than half a century. The two sides have recently based on documents they have seen, G1 said. sel at artificially low prices, which it said put judge in Houston last week. In a statement, PD- deployed to Panama to help train a police unit, announced advances in a more than three-year- Deodoro is the second-largest cluster of Olympic European producers at an unfair disadvantage. VSA said the men “are not PDVSA workers, they last week pleaded guilty to adultery, steroid use old peace process in the Cuban capital, Havana. venues. The Rio prosecutors’ off ice, the regional But a WTO panel of experts found fault with had temporary, low-level jobs in the organisational and obstructing justice in the case. Velez faces But key questions remain unsettled, including court, Rio mayor’s off ice and Caixa would not the EU’s calculation regarding production costs structure of PDVSA Services and were removed life in prison without parole. disarmament confirm the blocked funds. in Argentina. before these accusations became public.” Bribery probe Drugs seized in Bolivia turning politics into reality TV, claims Lula

Guardian News and Media March 4 in connection with the Brasilia Lava Jato investigation into a brib- ery and kickback scandal involv- ing the state-run oil company razil’s former president Petrobras, major construction Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva companies and dozens of politi- Bhas claimed he is the vic- cians. Prosecutors said they were tim of a Big Brother-style inves- looking into allegations that the tigation that is turning the judi- former president had received il- cial process into a reality game legal benefi ts in the form of con- show. struction work done at two prop- The Workers Party fi gure- erties owned by friends or family. head – who earlier this month The judge overseeing the case, was briefl y detained and ques- Sergio Moro, then authorised tioned over corruption allega- the leak of taped conversations tions – said he and President between him and Rousseff that Dilma Rousseff were fi ghting an showed the president had pre- attempted coup by opponents pared a cabinet post for him. The who are using trial by media to motives for the appointment were try to convict them in the court not mentioned, but many inter- of public opinion. preted this act as an attempt to The constant attacks, he ar- give Lula extra legal protection and gued, were an assault on democ- remove the jurisdiction from Moro racy and had made governing because ministers can only be Members of the Bolivian anti-drug force stand guard next to confiscated packets of cocaine in La Paz, Bolivia. Latin America’s biggest nation tried at the level of a higher court. so diffi cult that the economy was Pressed on why he accepted sliding towards “paralysis”. the chief of staff position so soon “‘Coup’ is the correct term to after being detained by police, Da defi ne what is going on this coun- Silva said he wanted to push the try,” he said, comparing the current government away from budget events in Brazil to past moves to un- cuts and austerity and towards seat the leaders of Paraguay, Hon- greater infrastructure spending duras and Venezuela. “For a leader and measures to improve con- to govern, they cannot be preoc- sumer and business confi dence. cupied with day-to-day survival. He said Rousseff had been try- UN reopens wounds over It’s bloodshed every single day. ing to persuade him to join her (And this is supported by) a part of cabinet since last year, but noted the Brazilian media (that) helps to wryly that a court invalidated worsen the environment of hatred his appointment almost as soon on the streets of this country.” as it was announced. “It was the Lula was speaking to a group of shortest term of a chief of staff Falklands in Argentina, UK about 30 foreign media journal- ever,” he joked bitterly. ists in Sao Paulo. It appears to be Questioned about the leak, Agencies Malcorra welcomed the CLCS legally binding,” Cameron’s implications for the islands of reports, the ruling could have an attempt to circumvent what the former president suggested Buenos Aires decision on what she called a spokeswoman said, according to the CLCS ruling. implications for the exploitation the ruling party sees as a hos- judge Moro – who has become “politically, economically and the Press Association. The Falkland Islands are of natural resources, including tile domestic press at the start extremely popular for exposing strategically important area.” The views of the local popu- located around 400kms east oil and gas. of what looks set to be another the rampant corruption among UN report saying that the Malcorra called the ruling a lation also had to be taken into off the Argentinian coast and The report heightened con- week of intense pressure on the the political and business elite Falkland Islands lie with- “historic event” and a “signifi - account, she added. “What is have been a crown colony of cerns among the islanders that Workers Party administration. – had become carried away with Ain Argentina’s maritime cant move towards the drawing important is what the Falkland Britain since the 19th century, Argentina’s claim could threaten Later this week, a supreme court his celebrity status. He also in- territory reopened old wounds of Argentina’s external borders.” islanders themselves think.” but Argentina has consistently their expanding oil explora- judge will rule on whether Da Silva is sinuated a “production chain” in Britain and the South Ameri- The new border would expand “They have been very clear claimed sovereignty over the tion industry which has already allowed to rejoin the cabinet. between elements of the police, can nation as British Premier the area of Argentine sovereign- that they want to remain an Malvinas. pumped millions of pounds into Tourism minister Henrique prosecutors and the media. David Cameron dismissed the ty by 1.7mn square kilometres. overseas territory of the UK and In 1982, the two countries their economy. Alves, a member of the Demo- “We know there are selected fi ndings yesterday. However, the British govern- we will continue to support their were embroiled in a brief war, in Mike Summers, the chair- cratic Movement, submitted leaks of information, but they are The UN Commission on the ment yesterday dismissed the right to determine their own fu- which around 900 people were man of the islands’ Legislative his resignation late on Monday. only against the PT,” he said, refer- Limits of the Continental Shelf report, saying the ruling was not ture,” the spokeswoman said. killed. Assembly, said: “Our under- Alves, an ally of vice-president ring to the Portuguese initials for (CLCS) had approved a motion binding. According to the Press As- In a 2013 referendum, the standing has always been that Michel, wrote to Rousseff in a the Workers Party. “Yes, we must by Argentina to extend its waters “At this stage we have yet to sociation, the government of inhabitants of the archipelago the UN would not make any de- letter: “The dialogue, I’m afraid fi ght corruption and investigate in the South Atlantic Ocean by receive details of that report. It the Falkland Islands, known in voted with an overwhelming termination on applications for to admit, has exhausted.” who took the money, but is it really 35%. is important to note that this is South America as the Malvinas, majority to remain part of Brit- continental shelf extension in Lula, as he is popularly known, necessary to make it a spectacle, to In a video message, Argen- an advisory committee. It makes was currently seeking clarifi ca- ain. areas where there are competing was detained and questioned on make it a Big Brother show?” tinian Foreign Minister Susana recommendations, they are not tion from London regarding the According to British media claims.” Five on trial for murder Haiti interim leader of Argentine singer swears in new cabinet AFP gan February 14 and is to last 120 Port-au-Prince days, went back to the drawing AFP The alleged mastermind be- port and extradited to Guatemala board and named Enex Jean- Guatemala City hind the murder is a Costa Rican, the following year. Charles as prime minister. Alejandro Jimenez Gonzalez, The trial was meant to have aiti’s interim leader, The 55-year-old civil servant suspected of drug traffi cking for begun years ago but was succes- Jocelerme Privert, offi - and professor of administrative ive men accused of the Colombian and Mexican cartels sively put off because of motions Hcially swore in his cabinet, law has previously served as an 2011 murder of an Argen- and money laundering. fi led by Jimenez’s lawyers. They promising an urgent push forward adviser to several presidents. Ftine singer-songwriter- initially sought to have him de- to get the Caribbean nation’s elec- The 15-member cabinet pro- philosopher who had legions of ported to Costa Rica to face lesser toral process back on track. posed by Jean-Charles was ap- fans across Latin America went charges there of money launder- “You will not have the luxury of proved in both the senate and the on trial in Guatemala’s capital, ing. The motions were denied. any grace period: It is already time lower chamber. after years of delays spurred by Jimenez faces charges of crim- to get to work” he told cabinet Privert’s main job going for- defence motions. inal association and conspiracy ministers at the National Palace. ward will be to steer the electoral Prosecutors say that Facun- to murder. Haiti has been fi ghting to process back on track and hold do Cabral was the unintended Prosecutors say Cabral According to prosecutors, it is emerge from a political crisis the postponed runoff vote. victim of a hit on a Nicaraguan was the unintended thought the gun ambush was to kill since a runoff presidential elec- In October Martelly’s favored promoter and nightclub owner victim of a hit on a Cabral’s concert promoter in Gua- tion in January was suspended candidate, Jovenel Moise, won whose car he was in when it was Nicaraguan promoter and temala, a shady Nicaraguan named amid allegations of fraud on the the fi rst round of presidential riddled with bullets in an ambush nightclub owner whose Henry Farinas who owned a string part of the government. voting 33% to 25% over runner- in Guatemala City on July 9, 2011. car he was in when it was of erotic night clubs and was mixed Privert, 62, was named acting up Jude Celestin. The hugely popular Argentine, riddled with bullets up with organised crime. president to replace the outgoing The opposition politician de- aged 74 at the time, had been on Farinas and Cabral’s agent Michel Martelly and appointed a nounced the results as a “ridicu- his way to the airport in the mid- His four co-defendants, ac- were both badly wounded in the prime minister in late February lous farce.” dle of a Central American tour. His cused of being the trigger men, attack but survived. - former central bank governor A scheduled January 24 runoff death elicited outrage and mourn- are all Guatemalans. Farinas has been in prison in Fritz-Alphonse Jean. But law- between Moise and Celestin was ing throughout Latin America. Jimenez, who goes by the nick- Nicaragua since 2012, sentenced Haitian President Jocelerme Privert stands with the new Prime makers rejected his programme cancelled when Celestin refused to The fi ve defendants entered no name El Palidejo (roughly, “Pallid to 18 years for drug traffi cking, Minister of Haiti, Enex Jean-Charles (right) during the installation to form a government, so Jean participate unless widespread elec- plea, a spokeswoman for Guatema- Man”), was arrested in Colombia money laundering and criminal ceremony of the new government at the National Palace of Haiti in could not serve. toral reforms were enacted, and fol- la’s public prosecutor’s offi ce said. in March 2012 using a false pass- association. Port-au-Prince. Privert, whose mandate be- lowing violence and protests. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Indian spy admits to ‘RAW role in Balochistan’

IANS with the Indian Navy. velopment of the China-Paki- Chabahar in Iran. Afghanistan last week. He held a Islamabad Yadav added that he had stan Economic Corridor (CPEC), “As I was able to achieve un- valid Indian visa. played a role in the deteriorating with Gwadar port as a special detected existence and visits India denied Yadav was an law and order situation in Kara- target,” Bajwa said. to Karachi in 2003 and 2004. intelligence operative and said akistan yesterday released chi, Dawn reported. “This is nothing short of state- Having done some basic assign- he was formerly from the navy. a video in which an ar- The video was released at a sponsored terrorism... There can ments within India for RAW, I New Delhi also demanded con- Prested Indian spy is heard press conference attended by be no clearer evidence of Indian was picked up by RAW in 2013 sular access to Yadav, which has confessing New Delhi’s alleged Pakistan Army spokesman Lt interference in Pakistan.” end,” Yadav said. been denied. involvement in terrorist activi- Gen Asim Bajwa and Informa- Yadav is heard saying in the He said his purpose was to Yadav was shifted to Islama- ties in Balochistan. tion Minister Pervez Rashid. video that he was still a serving meet Baloch insurgents and car- bad for interrogation, during Kulbushan Yadav says in the Terming Yadav’s arrest a “big offi cer in the Indian Navy and ry out “activities with their col- which an unnamed offi cial said video that he had been direct- achievement”, Bajwa said Yadav would be due for retirement in laboration”. the spy revealed he had bought ing various activities in Karachi was directly handled by the RAW 2022. Law enforcement agencies ar- boats at the Iranian port in and Balochistan “at the behest chief and Indian National Secu- “By 2002, I commenced in- rested Yadav in an intelligence- Chabahar in order to target Ka- of RAW”, the Indian intelligence rity Adviser Ajit Doval. telligence operations. In 2003, I based raid in Balochistan’s rachi and Gwadar ports, Dawn Pakistani Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa speaks with media agency, and that he was still “His goal was to disrupt de- established a small business in Chaman near the border with reported. representatives. Govt issues Hundreds detained ultimatum as militants taunt PM to protesters AFP A police source said more AFP Islamabad than 5,000 security forces Islamabad would be deployed, including the paramilitary Rangers and akistan deployed thou- Frontier Corps with reinforce- akistan has detained sands of police and ments from the Punjab police. more than 200 people Pparamilitary forces after Army troops are already Psince the Easter Sunday giving Islamist protesters two standing guard at government park bombing which killed 73 hours to disperse a days-long buildings near the protest site. people including many chil- sit-in on the streets of the Qadri was hanged for killing dren, offi cials said yesterday, capital, sources said yesterday. a Punjab governor over his call as the militants behind the at- Several thousand demon- for blasphemy reform, in what tack taunted the prime minis- strators have been camped at analysts said was a “key mo- ter. Islamabad’s main Constitu- ment” in Pakistan’s long battle The raids across the eastern tion Avenue close to key gov- against religious extremism. province of Punjab were an- ernment buildings, including But it also exposed deep nounced as parks reopened un- the presidency and parlia- religious divisions in the con- der tight security in the teeming ment, since late Sunday. servative country of 200mn. provincial capital Lahore. Supporters of executed Is- An estimated 25,000 sup- But Gulshan-i-Iqbal, where lamist assassin Mumtaz Qadri, porters of Qadri forced their explosives packed with ball who was hung on February 29, way into the capital on Sunday bearings ripped through crowds say they have submitted a list from its twin-city Rawalpindi, near a children’s play area, re- of demands including the ex- where they had gathered to of- mained closed. ecution of a female Christian fer prayers for the former po- Hundreds were injured in the blasphemy convict. lice bodyguard. suicide bombing claimed by the “An operation will be con- By evening they were en- Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the ducted if the participants of gaged in violent clashes with Pakistani Taliban, whose offi cial dharna (sit-in) do not disperse police and paramilitary troops, name is the Tehreek-i-Taliban in a few hours,” a security who used heavy tear-gas shell- Pakistan (TTP). source told AFP on condition ing in an unsuccessful attempt A spokesman for the group of anonymity. to prevent them from pushing said it had targeted Christians, “Leaders of the protesters closer to the city centre. a minority community in Paki- have been given a notice in this Their demands include stan. regard,” he said, adding that the execution of Asia Bibi, a “More than 5,000 people were they had been given two hours Christian mother-of-fi ve who searched and interrogated and to disperse. If they do not, he has been on death row since most of them were allowed to said, “law enforcement agen- she was convicted in 2010 of go, but some 216 have been ap- Pakistani lawyers shout slogans as they march during a protest against a suicide bomb attack which killed more than 70 people in Lahore cies shall take action” by re- committing blasphemy during prehended for further investi- yesterday. moving them. an argument with a Muslim gations,” Punjab provincial law A legal notice issued to the woman over a bowl of water. minister Rana Sanaullah told re- climbed to 73 after a 16-year-old the provincial capital, a strong- district of Lahore, said a “pall churches in Lahore killed 17 peo- protesters and seen by AFP They are also calling for porters yesterday. boy succumbed to his injuries, hold of his ruling Pakistan Mus- of gloom” hung over the area as ple in March last year, sparking accused them of attempting Qadri to be offi cially declared a Sanaullah said police, para- doctors said. lim League. mourners visited the homes of two days of rioting by thousands “to frustrate the government’s “martyr” and want the imme- military troops and intelligence “The boy had lost his father But yesterday Ehansullah Eh- those lost in the blast. of Christians. drive against terrorism”. diate imposition of Shariah law. agents had launched 56 intel- and sister in the blast while his san, spokesman for the Jamaat- Nawab said he was working to The country is still scarred by ligence operations in the last 24 mother is being treated for criti- ul-Ahrar faction, derided the help arrange funeral services. a Taliban assault on a Peshawar hours in Punjab. cal injuries,” Dr Tariq Mohsin prime minister on Twitter. “Everybody is frightened and school in 2014 that killed 150 Protesters damage property worth $1.5mn More were being undertaken said. “After the Lahore attack, Na- the Christians particularly feel people, mostly children. in all districts of the province Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waz Sharif repeated old words to unprotected,” he said. A military operation target- The authorities in Pakistan according to a Punjab “against sectarian militants and and his powerful military chief give himself false assurances,” he The attack was the worst so far ing insurgents was stepped up have estimated loss to public Metrobus Authority (PMA) extremists”, he said. have both vowed to bring those wrote. this year in a country grimly ac- in response. Last year the death infrastructure at nearly estimate, were aff ected as the Security for hundreds of behind the attack to justice. “Nawaz Sharif should know customed to atrocities, and will toll from militant attacks was Rs150mn ($1.50mn) due to service remained suspended churches was increased. “Terrorists cannot dent our that war has reached his door- further fray inter-religious ties. the lowest since the TTP um- destruction at the hands of throughout the day. On Many of the victims were resolve. Our struggle will con- step, and God willing the muja- Christians make up an esti- brella grouping was formed in participants of a pro-Mumtaz Sunday night, when police children and anguished families tinue until the complete elimi- hideen will be the winners in this mated 1.6% of Pakistan’s 200mn 2007. Qadri sit-in that continues tried to stop the protesters spent Easter Monday burying nation of the menace of ter- war.” people and have long faced dis- But analysts have warned the in capital Islamabad. Almost from advancing towards their dead. rorism,” the premier said on Kashir Nawab, a 32-year-old crimination. group is still able to carry out 100,558 inter-city commuters, D-Chowk they turned violent. Yesterday the death toll Monday after visiting victims in Christian from the Youhanabad Twin suicide attacks against major attacks. PM Sharif’s speech more of a Pakistan’s Oscar winner pays fi ller than primetime material tribute to Easter blast victims AFP Chinoy, a journalist, fi lm- The fi lm then displays news Islamabad maker and activist, has won two footage from Sunday’s carnage, AFP cording to Sharif, the recent position parties also wondered ister didn’t miss a chance to Academy Awards for the docu- with images of ambulances ar- Islamabad uptick in the incidents of ter- aloud why the PM had decided criticise his predecessors. He mentaries Saving Face (2012) riving at the blast site. rorism was an indication of the to address the nation when he claimed that for 13 years, no akistan’s fi rst Academy and A Girl in the River: The Price “We deprived our city of its success of the ongoing Zarb-i- had nothing new to say in terms government did anything to award winner, director of Forgiveness (2015). personality,” the voice says. oming a day after over 70 Azb military operation, since of concrete policy announce- tackle the menace of terrorism PSharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Her video, posted Monday, Children in school uniforms innocent people, mostly the uprooted terrorist networks ments. head-on. has paid tribute to victims of the showed old images of the play are shown playing in narrow Cwomen and children, could only manage to attack “It was my government which Easter bombing in the eastern area before Sunday’s devasta- streets as they smile, before the were killed by terrorists in La- soft targets. “Our soft -handed approach resolved to end terrorism in the city of Lahore with a short fi lm tion, as well as footage from a words of the country’s found- hore and the federal capital was Asked why the PM had to ap- to such elements shouldn’t country soon after taking charge posted to her Facebook page. candle-lit vigil that took place ing father, Mohamed Ali Jinnah, overrun by protesting mobs, pear on TV when he had nothing be construed as a weakness in June 2013.” The 1.5-minute fi lm titled An for the victims in Lahore. appear: “There is no power on many expected Prime Minister concrete to share, a knowledge- of the government” Commenting on the omis- Ode to Lahore, the Beautiful City “Lahore used to teach you to earth that can undo Pakistan”. Nawaz Sharif’s speech yesterday able PML-N source said, “After sions from the speech, a PML- opens with a shot of the famous make bridges in order to reach In 2012, the Government of to be a well-articulated address Sunday’s tragedy, it was essen- Surprisingly, they said, the N lawmaker admitted that a Badshahi mosque before show- each other,” a female voiceover Pakistan awarded Chinoy the to the nation. tial that a reassurance come from PM did not take any ownership passing mention of the Rangers ing images from the popular park says in Urdu as the images fl it by. Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the second However, the 10-minute the prime minister.” for the ISPR statement that mili- action in south Punjab, which where a Taliban suicide bomber “We were liberal people, we highest civilian honour of the speech contained nothing new When leaders from all over the tary, Rangers and intelligence the army leadership announced blew himself up in an attack tar- were tolerant, we wanted to live country. The fi lm can be viewed and revolved around what the world had expressed solidarity personnel had begun operations earlier in the day, would have geting Christians on Easter Sun- with each other, we had the free- on her Facebook page at: https:// PM called “my government’s with Pakistan over the tragedy in Punjab on the instructions of strengthened the perception day. dom to speak our minds.” www.facebook.com/socfi lms fi rm resolve to uproot terrorism in Lahore, how could the prime the army chief. Reacting to the that both the civil and military from the country and not back- minister stay away from the PM’s speech, a PTI spokesper- leaderships were on the same ing down in the face of terror- masses, he wondered. son said that “it was expected page. US soldier shoots ‘unarmed Afghan’ from watchtower ists”. When pressed, the ruling the prime minister, in his ad- “It is a good move on the PM’s Without naming anyone, the party source insisted that by dress, would share progress on part to mention the recent ter- A US soldier shot dead an Afghan shot Monday outside the Bagram into this incident,” said Brigadier PM cautioned the government saying he had ordered all “rele- the National Action Plan with rorist attacks in Paris, Ankara from a watchtower outside an airfield, about 50 kilometres north General Charles H Cleveland, the against all such parties who were vant institutions” to take every the nation”. and Brussels, but a sentence or airbase, off icials said yesterday, of Kabul. The body had been forces’ deputy chief of staff for misguiding people and instigat- possible action against those After the Lahore incident, two on how the government in- as relatives of the victim say he removed by time police arrived, communication in Afghanistan. ing them to violence in the name responsible for terrorism in the statement said, the prime tends to take up the issue of the was unarmed. “The US military but the victim’s family said he The shooting was also being of religion. the country, the prime minister minister should have at least recently-arrested alleged RAW claims that the man was carrying was carrying no weapon when investigated by Afghan police, “Our soft-handed approach was referring to the action tak- ordered action against “those agent with India, would have a gun and had been warned he was shot, Mamozai said. The Mamozai said. Bagram airfield has to such elements shouldn’t be en by law-enforcement agen- from among the ranks of his only added substance to his to stop,” said General Zaman US military said it was aware of been the main base for the US-led construed as a weakness of the cies in south Punjab over the party who are in contact with speech,” said the PML-N law- Mamozai, police chief of Parwan the reports. “US forces are now coalition since the Taliban were government,” the PM said. Ac- past 24 hours. Many in the op- terrorists”. But the prime min- maker. province. The 21-year-old was conducting a formal investigation ousted in 2001. Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 PHILIPPINES Voters prefer candidates with family planning agenda: survey

By Iza Iglesias planning services. The RH Law Manila Times critics outside the government also continue to challenge its implementation, recently scor- ight out of 10 voters be- ing a temporary restraining or- lieve that candidates der from the Supreme Court Eshould include family halting government procure- planning in their programmes, ment and distribution of birth a recent Pulse Asia survey control implants,” he added. showed. Funding for family planning The poll conducted from services this year was slashed by February 15 to 20 among 1,800 P1bn. registered voters across the Health Secretary Janet Garin country revealed high public said the Department of Health preference for family planning. (DOH) had allocated P1bn for Pulse Asia said 95% of the the free provision of condoms, respondents said it is impor- IUDs and birth control pills. tant for Filipinos to plan their The PLCPD noted that some families, an increase of 5% local offi cials like Mayor Sally from result of a similar survey Lee of Sorsogon City (Sorsogon) in 2010. moved to ban the use of modern The survey also found out family planning in their locali- that nine out of 10 or 86% of ties. the respondents also want the RH advocates fear that these government to allocate funds for moves will reverse gains in pro- family planning services. moting responsible parenthood The Philippine Legislators’ and improving maternal health. Casino junket operator Kim Wong takes an oath during a senate hearing in Manila yesterday. Committee on Population and The Philippines has failed to Development (PLCPD), which achieve its Millennium Devel- sponsored the questions in the opment Goal to reduce maternal Pulse Asia survey, said the re- deaths. sults are an added pressure on Based on the 2013 National the next government to fully Demographic and Health Sur- implement the Reproductive vey, there are 221 maternal Health (RH) Law and allocate deaths per 100,000 live births, suffi cient funding for its im- far from the target of 52 maternal High-rollers brought in plementation, including family deaths per 100,000 live births planning services. by 2015.“Filipinos, especially “The people have spoken. the poor, need information and Candidates should prioritise services to plan their families family planning and ensure the and improve their reproductive full implementation of the RH health,” Dongeto also told re- heist money : casino agent Law,” PLCPD executive director porters. Romeo Dongeto said. He said young people should Reuters An offi cial at Solaire, a casino the accounts on Feb 9, leaving “Despite the clear mandate have access to family planning Manila resort owned and operated by only $68,305 of the $81mn. of the law, some offi cials at the services, given the rising inci- Bloomberry Resorts Corp, told At the hearing, RCBC presi- national and local levels ham- dence of teenage pregnancy in the same hearing that $29mn dent Lorenzo Tan came under per the free provision of family the country. Chinese junket operator ended up with them and was fire for not acknowledging the in Manila said yester- credited to an account of the transactions as suspicious until Aday that two high-rollers Macau-based high-roller. the money was gone. from Beijing and Macau were With the credibility of the Tan told the hearing that responsible for bringing $81mn Philippines’ banking system even transactions of $400mn stolen by hackers from Bang- and anti-money laundering or more could be dealt with by Roxas vows strict ladesh’s central bank into the efforts at stake, part of the branch offices without raising Philippines. hearing was held in English for red flags with senior officials at Kim Wong, a long-time Chi- the sake of what its chairman headquarters. fi nancial regulations nese resident of the Philip- called “foreign observers.” Larger sums might “raise pines, denied any wrongdoing or They included Bangladesh’s alarm bells,” said Tan, adding knowledge of who mastermind- ambassador to the Philippines. that his staff would inform him Manila Times “This is a gut issue. If we end ed one of world’s biggest cyber Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC) president and chief executive Some of the day’s testiest of such a transaction at the end Manila up being perceived as a money- heists, but vowed to give back a off icer Lorenzo Tan gives his statement during a senate hearing in Manila. exchanges were between sena- of the day. laundering centre, the remit- small portion of the money with tors and representatives of “The money would be long tances sent by our OFWs will him. vanished. Finding out where it Philippine bank account of East- the Rizal Commercial Banking gone — goodbye! — before it aundering of $81mn be at risk because remittances He told a Senate hearing in went has sorely challenged the ern Hawaii, a company run by Corp (RCBC), which initially comes to you at the end of the stolen from the Bangla- are not sent here in mere $30 to Manila he would return $4.63mn Senate hearing, now on its third Wong, according to a criminal received the stolen money from day,” scoffed Senator Sergio Ldesh Central Bank and $100. Remittances are gathered in cash to a government watch- day and already hamstrung by complaint fi led by the Philip- the Bangladesh bank account Osmena, accusing the bank of wired to the Rizal Commercial by banks before being sent to our dog investigating what appears the country’s strict banking se- pines’ Anti-Money Laundering in New York. “very poor compliance.” Banking Corp (RCBC) Jupiter country in bulk,” Roxas, a former to be a Byzantine money-laun- crecy and by casinos not covered Council (AMLC). The $81mn was deposited Citing the country’s strict Branch in Makati City (Metro investment banker, pointed out. dering scheme. by anti-money laundering laws. Wong said he was owed in four dollar accounts at an banking secrecy laws, a lawyer Manila) endangers remittances Roxas also raised the alarm Unidentifi ed hackers infi l- Wong denied any involve- 450mn pesos by one of the Chi- RCBC branch in Manila on Feb for RCBC said the bank could of overseas Filipino workers on remittances made by ex- trated the computer systems of ment in the heist, but named nese men after helping him set- 4. not reveal anything about the worth at least P26bn a year. porters as well as foreign in- Bangladesh Bank in early Feb- two Chinese men from Beijing tle a casino debt. The rest was The accounts had been four accounts, even though it Liberal Party (LP) standard- vestors. “That’s why I welcome ruary and tried to steal $951mn and Macau who he said “brought used to buy gambling chips for opened with a deposit of $500 had been established that they bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas the Senate investigation and from an account at the Federal in” the $81mn. junket clients, Wong said. in May 2015 and been inactive had been opened using false made the warning as the Sen- if I will be lucky to be given a Reserve Bank of New York it uses “I have nothing to do with Wong also said he had received until receiving the stolen mon- documents. ate resumed its investigation chance to be elected as presi- for international settlements. the forging of bank documents a further $5mn in stolen money ey, said the AMLC’s criminal “The law does not allow us yesterday of the hacking of the dent, I will move for stricter Many attempted transfers for the $81mn. I don’t know the via Philrem, a foreign exchange complaint. to speak about these deposits,” $81mn from the Bangladesh regulations to prevent this case were blocked, but $81mn ended source of the $81mn,” he said. broker, of which $4.63mn re- According to an AMLC doc- said Maria Celia Estavillo. Bank reserves at the Federal from happening again,” Roxas up in casinos in Manila and with About 1bn pesos ($21mn) of mained, and which he was will- ument seen by Reuters, five The Senate hearing contin- Reserve Bank of New York. added. junket operators, and most of it the stolen funds ended up in a ing to return. withdrawals were made from ues next week.

HEALTH Bilibid inmates Star power screened for TB Archbishop’s concern over About 5,700 inmates in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila) were screened political mudslinging for tuberculosis (TB) as part of eff orts to stop the spread of the disease, Manila Times reported. Manila Times place where justice and peace The mass screening in the maxi- Manila reigns. mum security compound, which On Holy Thursday, Tagle began on March 14 and will end also washed and kissed the in May, is the fourth such activity anila Archbishop feet of 12 individuals, includ- held in the NBP with the support Luis Antonio Car- ing Commission on Elections of the International Committee Mdinal Tagle has ex- (Comelec) chairman Juan An- of the Red Cross (ICRC), in col- pressed concern over the sad dres Bautista, two persons with laboration with the Department of state of politics in the country disabilities, his driver and fam- Health and Philippine Business for and urged the faithful to be ily’s helper. Social Progress. “The Philippines conscientious in choosing the Tagle noted as well the re- is part of the global eff ort to end next leaders in the coming May cent terrorist attack in Brus- TB by 2035. To achieve that goal, elections. sels, Belgium, that left at least we must support the authorities in Tagle noted that the political 30 people dead, the growing finding the undetected TB cases. landscape has turned ugly as numbers of street children, Mass screenings have shown to shown by the destructive cam- Tagle: concerned beggars, youth infl uenced by be an eff ective strategy in reduc- paigning by rival candidates, drugs, women traffi cked into ing, and eventually eliminating TB obviously referring to those “The washing of the feet prostitution and slavery, fami- in jails and prisons,” Dr Fatah La- who are hotly contesting the is the work of a slave. Even lies torn apart by poverty and bib, who is in charge of the ICRC’s presidential race. Christ’s death is part of his parents searching for their TB in jails programme, said. “There’s been a lot of mud- service to us. He died for us to missing children. According to the 2015 Global Tu- slinging. Regardless of whether live,” the Cardinal said in an “Local and international berculosis Report, the Philippines it’s true or not, come what may, earlier homily at the Manila events tempt us to be cynical ranked ninth among the 22 high- as long as the rival is over- Cathedral. and pessimistic,” he said. “But burden countries in the world in thrown,” he said. “Love and service. Love that the Risen Lord changes the terms of TB cases. Every day, 63 This quest for personal suc- serves. Love until the end. And whole story.” Filipinos die from TB. cess, the cardinal added, has serve by loving until the end. On Sunday, Bautista called TB is four to five times more led many people to forget Jesus’ That’s how to walk with Jesus,” on Filipino voters to reject can- prevalent in jails and prisons infi nite mercy and love that he pointed out. didates who circumvent or dis- compared to communities in the embraces all mankind. Tagle also called on the faith- regard election laws. Philippines. In 2013, the ICRC and According to the prelate, ful to stand up for what is right. The Comelec chief said there Bureau of Corrections partnered Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines, poses for photos as she watches politics is the love to serve, “Let us not be like Pontius are candidates who use the fa- to improve TB control in NBP, with contestants for the Ms Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant parade in their swimsuits during a as shown by Jesus’ gesture of Pilate who chose his ambition cilities and resources of public mass screening as one of the press presentation in Manila yesterday. washing the feet of his disci- over Jesus,” he said, adding that offi ce for campaigning even if it strategies. ples. the country needs to cross to a is prohibited by law. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Welcoming ceremony Dhaka move to check money laundering

By Mizan Rahman Of the amount, $8.35bn or Dhaka over 86% was siphoned off through trade invoicing, while the remaining $1.31bn could angladesh has decided not be traced in the balance of to establish income tax payments data. Band customs wing in 10 The illegal outfl ow stood at embassies of the country aim- $7.23bn in 2012, according to ing to check money laundering a revised estimate of the GFI and evasion of duties. report. The wings will be attached The Washington-based re- to the Bangladesh embas- search and advisory organi- sies in the USA, India, China, sation published the report Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, titled “Illegal Financial Flows South Korea, the United Arab from Developing Countries: Emirates, Italy and Thailand. 2004-2013” in December last. The National Board of Rev- enue (NBR) has chosen the “Due to the rise in embassies considering the im- money laundering port and export volume. from Bangladesh, “A proposal has been sent getting advices from the to the concerned ministries in higher section of the this connection,” a senior offi - government, the NBR Sri Lanka’s Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, centre, front, and US ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap, left, front, cut a cake during a welcoming ceremony in Colombo cial of the NBR told newsmen has taken the initiative yesterday. The US 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge arrived in the Colombo Port on Saturday in order to further strengthen the partnership between the US and Sri Lanka. in Dhaka yesterday. again” The offi cial also alleged that money has been laundered On average, $5.59bn was from Bangladesh through siphoned out of Bangladesh a under-invoicing during ex- year between 2004 and 2013. port and over-invoicing while This high amount of illegal importing. He said a section capital outfl ow puts Bangla- of dishonest businessmen are desh at 26th position among involved in money laundering 149 countries in the latest GFI for evading tax. ranking of economies exporting “So the NBR has taken illegal capital. Bangladesh was Jamaat leader appeals the initiative to contain im- ranked 51st on the previous list. port and export through false Trade misinvoicing is de- statement, smuggling, money fi ned by GFI as a method for laundering, customs-related moving money illegally across corruption and fi nancing in borders that involves deliber- terrorism,” the NBR offi cial ately misreporting the value said. of a commercial transaction against death penalty According to the sources, on an invoice submitted to the the NBR has given the pro- customs. IANS crimes during the country’s war dul Quader Molla, Muhammad posal to create customs offi cial The GFI report shows that Dhaka of independence 45 years ago. Kamaruzzaman and Ali Ahsan posts in diff erent embassies of the illegal capital outfl ow from Bangladesh’s International Mohammad Mujahid - have Bangladesh in 2010. Bangladesh tripled in 2013 Crimes Tribunal-1 issued Ni- been executed. The proposal then got ap- from $3.35bn in 2004. he chief of Bangladesh’s zami’s death warrant on March Besides, Jamaat secretary proval from the Internal Re- According to the GFI, illegal largest Islamist party, 16 hours after the country’s apex general Ali Ahsan Moham- source Division and the Public fi nancial fl ows are illegal move- TMotiur Rahman Nizami, court released its full verdict. mad Mujahid and opposition Administration. But the Fi- ments of money or capital from fi led an appeal with the Supreme Nizami served as agriculture Bangladesh Nationalist Party nance Ministry rejected that one country to another. The or- Court yesterday against his death and industries minister in the (BNP) leader Salaudin Quader proposal. ganisation classifi es this move- sentence for war crimes in 1971. then prime minister Khaleda Chowdhury were executed on “Due to the rise in money ment as an illegal fl ow when Lawyers of Nizami, president Zia’s 2001-2006 cabinet. November 22 last year. laundering from Bangladesh, the funds are illegally earned, of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Is- The apex court upheld capital Both the BNP and Jamaat have getting advices from the high- transferred or utilised. lami party, submitted the review penalty for the Islamist party dismissed the court as a gov- er section of the government, According to the GFI, meas- petition on behalf of their client, chief on three charges and life ernment “show trial”, saying it the NBR has taken the ini- urable illegal fl ows stem from who is now in a prison in Kash- imprisonment on two charges. Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami being escorted by is a domestic set-up without tiative again,” the NBR offi cial two sources: trade mis-in- impur on the outskirts of capital On October 29, 2014, the In- police in this file photo. the oversight or involvement of said. voicing and other unrecorded Dhaka, Xinhua reported. ternational Court of Terrorism the UN. According to a report of US- fl ows. If his review petition is reject- handed down capital punish- Nizami’s party had earlier tried in two war crimes tribunals Muslim-majority Bangladesh based Global Financial Integ- Trade mis-invoicing takes ed, the last option for him will be ment to Nizami for war crimes claimed that the government which Prime Minister Sheikh was part of Pakistan and called rity (GFI), illegal capital fl ight into account export under- to seek presidential mercy. which include mass killings of fi led ill-motivated, baseless cas- Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami East Pakistan till 1971. The gov- from Bangladesh increased invoicing and import over-in- Bangladesh’s Supreme Court Bangali intellectuals. es against its top leaders in order League-led government formed ernment of Hasina said about by 33.78% year-on-year to voicing, while a second source on January 6 upheld the death Nizami was indicted in 2012 to make the party leaderless. in 2010 to bring the perpetrators three million people were killed $9.66bn in 2013 through trade of illegal fl ows includes leaks penalty for the 73-year-old Mo- with 16 charges of crimes during Nizami is among the top of 1971 war crimes to book. in the Bangladesh Liberation under- and over-invoicing from the balance of payments tiur Rahman Nizami over war the 1971 war. Jamaat leaders who have been Three Jamaat leaders - Ab- War in 1971. and other channels. system. PM Oli hopes Nepal soon to Caught in storm become developing nation IANS the Asian Development Bank, Oli Oli informed that a 20-year across the borders towards a self- Kathmandu said the nation needed a long- Agriculture Development Strat- reliant economy, Oli added. term strategic development of ex- egy was approved by the Cabinet He further said that Nepal isting plans and policies, reports and is ready for implementation. has been able to reduce poverty, epal Prime Minister K P The Himalayan Times. Recalling his recent visits to achieve most of the Millen- Sharma Oli has said that Likewise, he stressed on im- China, he said new avenues for nium Development Goals and Nthe country would soon plementation of mechanisms to bilateral and trilateral cooperation make signifi cant social develop- advance to the status of a de- achieve the Sustainable Devel- had been accelerated including a ment particularly in health and veloping country from that of a opment Goals by 2030. cross-border trade with increas- education. least developed country. Oli said that our annual invest- ing foreign investments. After the massive earthquake Addressing an international ment needs to be doubled, build “Nepal has unique geographi- last year, people had realised the seminar on ‘Envisioning Nepal essential infrastructure including cal locations, abundant natural need of disaster response team Local vendors try to retrieve their stuff after a windstorm at Hanumandhoka Durbar Square in 2030’ organised by the National strategic road and railway networks, resources, biodiversity and land- to address such situations, the Kathmandu yesterday. Planning Commission (NPC) and communication, and electricity. scapes that widen connectivity leader informed. University opens its doors to garment workers

By Sarah Lazarus, GNS Yeasmin refused to marry and (AUW) to provide free university talented people, irrespective of the Lucerne Academy for Hu- AUW requires factory owners to ception of garment factories Chittagong, Bangladesh fought to be allowed to com- education to women working in background”. man Rights Implementation in continue to pay wages while the as sweatshops, won out. Five plete her education. Her family Bangladesh’s garment factories. Sonia Akter is in her fourth Switzerland. women study. Their families rely owners signed up. gave in and she stayed at school. “I jumped to my feet,” she year at the AUW. She grew up in “When I left my village, mem- on the income and would not let “Next, I visited factories and hen Rubina Yeasmin On graduating, she moved to says. “I was the fi rst one to stand the village of Mushuria, Tangail bers of the community criticised them attend otherwise. Mow- gave presentations to the work- was 13, her father died. Dhaka, the capital, to work as up and say, ‘I will apply’.” district, “where no girl had ever my mother for allowing me to go, mita Basak, one of the AUW’s ers,” says Basak. “Only girls who WHer mother scraped a quality control inspector in The AUW opened in 2008 attended university before”, she but their attitudes are changing fi rst graduates, was given the had completed high school were together the money to keep her one of the city’s many garment in Chittagong to educate the says. because they have seen what task of convincing factory own- eligible to apply, and the selec- in school but fi nances became factories. brightest young women with She took advantage of an I’ve achieved,” she says. “To visit ers to agree to these terms and tion process was competitive.” increasingly tight. “My uncle Her employer, the Anan- the greatest potential, and cre- earlier initiative to recruit home, I have to walk from the send their employees. She re- Candidates took exams in math- said I must leave school and get ta Group, makes clothes for ate a new generation of female poorer students to the AUW bus station to the village. It used cently returned to her native ematics, Bengali and English, married.” H&M, Gap and Next. Yeasmin leaders. The AUW is a regional via the Grameen Bank, Bang- to take 30 minutes. Now it takes Bangladesh, having completed a and those who passed were in- She grew up in Topshe village worked overtime, boosting her university, attracting students ladesh’s Nobel prize-winning at least two hours because so master’s degree at the UK’s Uni- terviewed. of Dinajpur district, in north- earnings to about 10,000 taka from 15 countries in Asia and the microfi nance institution. many people come to talk to me. versity of Bradford. Of 653 applicants, 22 were ern Bangladesh. According to (about $150) a month and send- Middle East. An exceptionally bright stu- The same people who used to “I didn’t get a very positive re- off ered a place in the fi rst in- a Unicef report published last ing money home so her younger It is funded by donors includ- dent, according to her teachers, believe that educating girls was sponse at fi rst,” says Basak. But take this year. Yeasmin was year, 65% of girls in Bangladesh brother, Murad, could go to ing the Ikea Foundation and the she has completed internships pointless are starting to want the her impassioned argument that one of them. In January, she are married before the age of 18, school too. Bill and Melinda Gates Founda- in Cambodia and India. During same for their daughters. If I can this was a golden opportunity started a two-year preparatory and 29% before they are 15. For She could not imagine her sit- tion. Its founder, Bangladeshi- the latter spell she worked on a make female education popular for them to support their work- course before embarking on the poor families, early marriage uation improving, until she was American Kamal Ahmad, says project with Kiran Bedi, India’s in my village, then I can do it for force and improve their reputa- university’s liberal arts cur- can ease fi nancial pressure as it called to a meeting at the factory that, unlike most Asian univer- fi rst female Indian Police Service the whole of Bangladesh.” tion, countering the storm of riculum. “I never imagined this means one less mouth to feed. It and learned of a scheme – the sities, which admit only those offi cer, to encourage women to The garment factory work- negative publicity triggered by could happen to someone like can also negate the need for girls fi rst of its kind – launched by able to pay fees, “our cardinal start businesses. Last summer, ers’ university fees are covered the collapse of Rana Plaza in me,” she says. “It’s like a dream to be educated. the Asian University for Women principle is to recruit the most she won a scholarship to attend by charitable donations, but the 2013, and the widespread per- come true.” Gulf Times 26 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Remaining in the EU Production Editor: C P Ravindran

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar would be Britain’s best bet [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), Traumatised by past from imported terrorism, and from complicated than just reconciling mind later, should new information 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) wars and supportive of laws formulated by foreigners who two clear but competing visions. warrant it. Fax 44350474 lack suffi cient understanding and Given widespread disagreement – Some are inclined to push harder. regionalisation as a way appreciation of British culture. including, as the referendum makes They believe that a better version of to succeed in a fl uid global In a noisy and rough campaign plain, within the UK itself – over this de facto “muddled middle” can be – one that has already divided the what the “right” arrangement should achieved through a game of “chicken”. economy, Conservatives and contributed to look like, finding a solution that The UK votes to leave now, in the ever-closer union seems like the unease within Labour over the works for everyone seems all but hopes that a panicked EU would not party’s leadership – the appeal of such impossible. only grant further concessions, but GULF TIMES the key to ensuring simplistic arguments is obvious. While British Prime Minister David also alter its own vision of ever-closer continued peace and But Brexit is far more complex Cameron has managed, in tricky union. prosperity than the sound bites suggest. And, in negotiations, to secure concessions With this high-risk strategy, the UK fact, many of the underlying issues from his fellow European leaders could end up decisively reshaping the that should shape the referendum’s regarding what would happen if the EU according to its preferences. Investment cuts By Mohamed A El-Erian outcome are still subject to a high UK stayed in the EU, nobody really But, given the other challenges Laguna Beach degree of uncertainty. Not only does knows what would happen if British currently facing the EU, this is not a that explain the inability of the British citizens vote to leave. likely outcome. intellegentsia to reach consensus Without knowing what specifi c That is why remaining in the EU amid price bust may uring a recent visit to the about the issue; it also leaves the regional arrangements would follow would be Britain’s best bet. Such an United Kingdom, I was Brexit question at the mercy of last- Brexit, the pro-EU camp cannot make approach would enable the UK to struck by the extent to which minute developments. a decisive economic and fi nancial case avoid the near-certainty of short-term lead to oil shock Dthe question of whether for remaining. disruptions, bank the concessions that the country should remain in the Brexit is far more After all, following what admittedly Cameron has already secured and keep European Union is dominating the would be a period of dislocation, their future options open, particularly media, boardroom discussions, and complex than the the UK could end up with some as the EU itself evolves. Oil, for sure, is much more than a fuel; a force dinner conversations. type of association arrangement But that does not mean it is not a even bigger than its trillion dollar market. And by While slogans and sound bites sound bites suggest that preserves some of its current gamble. After all, pragmatism does capture most of the attention, deeper privileges, thereby limiting longer- not always bring about the desired conventional wisdom, the fall in oil prices will support issues in play leave the outcome of At the most fundamental level, term disruption. outcome. global growth by trimming down the energy import the June 23 referendum subject to a Britain’s interest in the EU has centred The anti-EU camp is no better off . Without a solid strategic vision, bill of consuming nation. high degree of uncertainty – so much on its status as a kind of supercharged It is diffi cult to prove that membership British citizens could end up ignoring so that a single event could end up free-trade area and an enabler of a in the EU – which opponents portray analytical pragmatism, and instead But “lower-for-longer” oil prices could more often hijacking the decision. “common passport” for fi nancial as meddlesome and disruptive – has decide how to vote in the referendum than not act as a double-edged sword to unsettle the Of course, the most cited arguments services. But while Britons support made Britain materially worse off . in response to a sudden event. demand-supply balance in a volatile market. An oil on both sides tend to be the most the free movement of goods and And the ever-closer union that Brexit Given the horrifi c terrorist attacks reductive. On one side are those services, they are not particularly advocates so adamantly oppose is far in Paris in November and in Brussels shock may be lurking around the corner as the price who caution that departure from the keen on the free movement of labour. from a sure thing. last week, one must not ignore the bust has hammered investment in future supply, EU would cause trade to collapse, And they have little interest in In fact, the EU has been struggling possibility that the deplorable actions discourage investment, push the “ever-closer union,” characterised by to tackle collectively the challenges it of disruptive non-state actors could according to the International Energy Agency. UK into recession, and trigger the comprehensive political and economic faces – in particular, the refugee crisis, become the pivotal factor determining “Historic” investment cuts taking place now demise of the City of London as a integration. which has already strained passport- the outcome of a referendum on the increase the possibility of oil-security surprises in the global fi nancial centre. They point This contrasts sharply with the free travel within the Schengen Area historic interactions of nation-states. to the pound’s recent depreciation vision upheld by many other EU (one of the most visible, celebrated, Should this awful possibility “not-too-distant” future, according to Neil Atkinson, as a leading indicator of the fi nancial members, including core countries and appreciated achievements of materialise, it would be a tragedy head of the IEA’s Oil Industry and Markets Division. instability that would accompany a like France and Germany, which view European integration). in more ways than one. - Project About $300bn is needed to sustain the current British exit (or “Brexit”). the EU’s single market as a stepping In the face of so much uncertainty, Syndicate On the other side are those who stone toward deeper integration, not British voters would ultimately level of production. But global oil majors, including argue that Brexit would unshackle the an end in itself. Traumatised by past have to make their decision on the zMohamed A El-Erian, chief economic ConocoPhillips, Chevron and BP, have cancelled more UK from the grip of EU bureaucracy wars and supportive of regionalisation basis of pragmatic, not strategic, adviser at Allianz, is chairman of US than $100bn in investments, laid off tens of thousands and stop the fl ow of British taxpayer as a way to succeed in a fl uid global considerations. President Barack Obama’s Global funds to other countries. The pro- economy, ever-closer union seems like And perhaps the most pragmatic Development Council and author of of workers and sold assets as oil sank below $30 a Brexit camp also positions itself as the key to ensuring continued peace choice would be to remain in the EU, The Only Game in Town: Central barrel to a 12-year low. fi ghting to protect Britain from an and prosperity. at least for now, thereby preserving Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the The International Monetary Fund (IMF) researchers uncontrollable infl ux of immigrants, But the situation is far more the option of changing their collective Next Collapse. recently said the perceived benefi ts from cheap oil to boost global growth may not materialise until demand in the global economy picks up and central banks in advanced nations move away from near-zero interest rates. “The current The price bust episode of historically low oil prices could has hammered ignite a variety of investment in dislocations including corporate and sovereign future supply defaults, dislocations that can feed back into already jittery fi nancial markets,” the IMF report said. Oil prices, which have declined for two years, may have passed their lowest point as shrinking supplies outside Opec and disruptions inside the group erode the global surplus. Sure, a lot has happened since Goldman Sachs made the forecast of oil sinking to $20 (some doomsday views went as low as $10) some two months ago. Some US shale drillers have said they’ll pump less in 2016. There is an increasing hope that members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, along with non-Opec producers, may be moving toward a consensus to support prices in an oversupplied market. US President Barack Obama with Argentinian President Mauricio Macri at the Casa Rosada presidential palace during his recent visit to Buenos Aires. It still is not a rosy path of steady recovery for the oil market. The bear camp has a host of gloomy scenarios to get disheartened: Oversupplies estimated above 2mn bpd; global stockpiles of more than 3bn Obama’s ‘declassifi ed diplomacy’ barrels; lower demand growth forecasts for 2016; the dollar staying strong to make imported oil costlier; By Dr Cesar Chelala disappear, never to be seen again. Obama’s decision, announced at the there are things to be done, you should extra Iranian barrels fl ooding the market; US shale New York Thousands of civilians were killed, same time of the 40th anniversary of do them quickly.” producers pouncing back at $50 oil; hard landing in and many babies were taken from their the military coup, will allow that the Obama’s orders to declassify parents and given to military or police unsealed US fi les will help determine documents follow the release major consumer China and the like. n 1979, with Paul Heath Hoeff el, couples who wanted to adopt them. the role of several US offi cials -notably of records during the Clinton While few analysts expect oil prices to return to I wrote Missing or Dead in Thanks to the valiant eff orts of two among them, Henry Kissinger- in administration. US secretary of state the prices seen a few years ago any time soon, oil Argentina: The Desperate Search women’s groups, The Mothers and supporting the Argentine military. Madeleine Albright agreed to review for Thousands of Abducted The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo According to documents obtained and release State Department records companies say the global energy future envisages I Victims. For this article, published as dozens of these children were found by the National Security Archive and some 4,700 documents were rising demand and population growth, making oil a cover story in The New York Times and returned to their true families. through the Freedom of Information eventually declassifi ed. However, the an important fuel for decades to come. Despite the Magazine, we received the 1979 Act (FOIA), the Argentine military CIA, the Defence Department and the Overseas Press Club of America award Obama’s orders believed they had the “green light” FBI didn’t participate in the process. emergence of renewables, global energy security for the best article on Human Rights. from then-secretary of state Henry Thus, thousands of intelligence depends mainly on fossil fuels for the foreseeable In that article, I used the to declassify Kissinger. records on the military repression are future. And it calls for a stable oil market with price pseudonym Juan Montalvo, to protect After Kissinger was told during still secret and will now be open to my family in Argentina from possible documents follow a staff meeting two days after the analysis by relatives of the disappeared equilibrium. military reprisals. military coup “to expect a fair amount and human rights activists President Barak Obama’s recent the release of records of repression, probably a good deal of Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst decision to unseal US fi les on blood, in Argentina”, Kissinger issued at the National Security Archive, Argentina’s “dirty war” is particularly during the Clinton instructions on what the US policy says that president Obama should be To Advertise valuable to us, since it will confi rm our should be towards the new military praised for engaging in “declassifi ed denunciations of the abuses by the administration junta, “Whatever chance they have diplomacy” that “not only provides [email protected] Argentine military on that country’s (the Argentine military) they will need a historical atonement for early Display civilian population. Among those children was Florencia a little encouragement…because I do US support for the coup and the Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 For many years, human rights Mangini - my wife’s relative - , whose want to encourage them. I don’t want repression in its aftermath, but also can activists both in Argentina and in the parents and two uncles were killed by to give the sense that they’re harassed provide actual evidence and answers Classified US have been demanding access to the Argentine military. Florencia went by the US.” to the families of human rights victims Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 classifi ed US records about the war to live with her mother’s parents, and A secret memorandum obtained who continue to search for their missing in Argentina that lasted from 1976 to was able to accompany them until the by Carlos Osorio, an analyst at the loved ones in Argentina, 40 years after Subscription 1983. end of their sad lives, only illuminated National Security Archive, reveals the coup took place”. [email protected] During that period, the military by Florencia’s love and care. a conversation in 1976 between abducted thousands of people - many Today, Florencia is an accomplished Kissinger and Cesar Augusto Guzzetti, zDr Cesar Chelala is a co-winner of an among them for the sole reason professional who cherishes the the Argentine foreign minister, in Overseas Press Club of America award 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved of being in the address book of a memories of living with her which, according to a declassifi ed and two national journalism awards captured dissident- and made them grandparents. account, Kissinger told Guzzetti, “If from Argentina. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 30, 2016 27 COMMENT Back to disease-fi ghting basics

The recent Ebola outbreak in physician who had intuited that to live in unsanitary conditions; it West Africa demonstrated, cholera was spread not through the has also contributed to rising drug air, as conventional wisdom held, resistance. in tragic fashion, the but through water. Snow monitored Today, inadequate access to safe importance of good data the progress of the Soho outbreak in water and sanitation is one of the unprecedented detail, mapping each leading causes of diarrhoeal illness case. – a major killer and the reason that By Jim O’Neill His research convinced him that hundreds of millions of people take London the source of the outbreak was a antibiotic treatments each year. shared water pump in the heart of the Most of this consumption is district. And once the pump’s handle unnecessary, however, as the cause ombating antimicrobial was removed, the pace of the outbreak of diarrhoea is usually viral; taking resistance will require slowed dramatically. antibiotics in these cases only groundbreaking Several of Snow’s methods are contributes to the development of Ctechnological solutions. directly applicable to the modern resistant bacteria. To prevent superbugs from claiming problem of antimicrobial resistance. Estimates provided to my team an estimated 10mn lives a year by For starters, his eff ort demonstrated suggest that in India, Nigeria, Brazil 2050, we will need to invent new the effi cacy of using data to and Indonesia alone, nearly a half- types of antimicrobial drugs and understand a public health crisis. billion cases of diarrhoea are treated develop rapid diagnostic tests to avoid His mapping and statistical analysis each year with antibiotics. Were these unnecessary treatment and cut our helped identify the epicentre of the four countries to provide their citizens massive overuse of antibiotics. outbreak and thus its root cause. with universal access to clean water And yet, as important as these Snow’s emphasis on using data to and sanitation, this consumption high-tech contributions may be, they guide his intervention is a principle could be reduced by at least 60%. are only partial fi xes. To tackle the that institutions like the Bill & Such infrastructure is costly, and problem permanently, the only option Melinda Gates Foundation insist upon all countries face tough budgetary is to prevent infections from occurring today. choices. But it is one of the best value- in the fi rst place – with improved The recent Ebola outbreak in West for-money investments a middle- hygiene, sanitation and disease Africa demonstrated, in tragic fashion, income country can make. When surveillance. the importance of good data. The one controls for income, increasing a Indeed, only by focusing on these epidemic spread most dramatically population’s access to sanitation by areas will we lower the demand for in areas where basic infrastructure 50% is correlated with more than nine new drugs over the long term. and surveillance systems had broken years of additional life expectancy. Indeed, in the nineteenth century, down. John Snow would have been long before modern drugs were As a result, even after Ebola pleased. One of his most signifi cant available, major Western cities had been declared a public health contributions to the fi eld of healthcare tackled diseases by seeking to prevent emergency and funding had been – the judicious use of data – is infections. And this approach remains made available, it remained diffi cult confi rming the importance of another: the best solution for large cities with for many weeks to direct resources investment in hygiene and sanitation. growing populations. where they were most needed. Sometimes those who study history Consider London in the 1850s: Worryingly, as the latest paper are blessed to repeat it. -Project Living conditions for the poor were from my Review on Antimicrobial Syndicate grim. Male life expectancy was 40 Resistance warns, there is no globally insights and early warnings that we cures like penicillin, there was no communicable diseases had ceased to years. Diseases like cholera and co-ordinated system of surveillance to need to mount an eff ective response. alternative but to invest in prevention be the leading cause of death across zJim O’Neill, a former chairman of tuberculosis were rife, and there was monitor the emergence and spread of Snow’s other major contribution to beat infectious diseases and protect much of the continent. Goldman Sachs Asset Management, no way to treat them. superbugs around the world. was to identify the central role that growing urban populations. As antimicrobial drugs became is commercial secretary to the UK In September 1854, a cholera Fundamental gaps remain in how water plays in spreading diseases like This infrastructure-building was more widely available, however, the Treasury, honorary professor of outbreak devastated the city’s data are gathered and shared, even cholera, leading authorities in Europe spectacularly successful: The last focus moved away from preventive economics at Manchester University, a impoverished, central Soho district, in the world’s richest countries. to invest in the development of sewage urban cholera outbreak in Western measures. visiting research fellow at the economic killing 500 people in just ten days. The result is a series of enormous and sanitation systems. Europe occurred in 1892, and by This has not only had dire think tank Bruegel, and chairman of the Enter John Snow, a pioneering blind spots that deprive us of the key Decades before the discovery of the time World War I broke out, implications for urban dwellers forced Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Revamp perspective of its national security. someone while leaving a hypermarket when I reached the offi ce, I was also High: 28 C Any terrorist attack on an airport will recently to take part in a “survey”. He asked to come back with my wife to Low : 23 C Strong wind and high seas with airport safety be catastrophic with far-reaching gave me a form, promising me prizes if collect the prizes! isolated thunderstorm implications for a country’s citizens I fi lled it in. Dear Sir, and economy. The next day I received a phone call, RT Under the present scenario, urgent saying that I had won prizes, asking (Full name and e-mail address THURSDAY The gruesome terrorist attacks in measures must be taken to make air me to collect them from an offi ce. But supplied) High: 26 C Brussels have turned global attention travel safer. The best course of action Low: 21 C to the vulnerability of public places will be to screen all passengers and M Cloudy like metro and railway stations, their baggage at the entrance of the airports and shopping malls. Any airport’s arrival lounge. This will be Please send us terrorist strike on such places can inconvenient for many people but it FRIDAY exact a high toll. is vital in these dangerous times. This your letters High: 26 C When passengers enter an airport means passengers may have to reach Low: 19 C building, they only need to show their airport at least half an hour earlier By e-mail P Cloudy tickets and personal identities to than they do now but it is a small security guards manning the entrance price to pay to ensure the safety and [email protected] gates. security of hundreds of people using Fax 44350474 Fishermen’s forecast Passengers are physically frisked airport departure lounges everywhere. Or Post OFFSHORE DOHA and their hand baggage is X-rayed only Wind: NW 20-28/35 KT when they enter the boarding area, Ramesh G Jethwani Letters to the Editor Waves:6-9/12 Feet until that point, passengers are not (Address supplied) INSHORE DOHA Gulf Times Wind: NW 15-25/30 KT screened. It is this loophole that the P O Box 2888 Waves: 1-3/4 Feet terrorists are exploiting to fulfi l their Prize nefarious designs. Doha, Qatar Around the region If a would-be terrorist wants, he scam Weather Weather can just carry lethal material like a today Max/min tomorrow Max/min dynamite or RDX, keep it inside the All letters, which are subject to editing, should Abu Dhabi M Sunny 34/22 P Cloudy 29/21 departure lounge unhindered and Dear Sir, Baghdad Sunny 22/09 M Sunny 22/10 have the name of the writer, address and phone Dubai disappear, under the current security Cloudy 33/22 P Cloudy 28/22 number. The writer’s name and address may be Kuwait City M Sunny 26/16 M Sunny 27/16 protocol in most airports of the world. Further to the letter, “Questionable Manama Cloudy 24/21 Cloudy 24/20 We must remember that airports promotions”, I would like to say that withheld by request. Muscat Sunny 37/26 M Sunny 34/25 are critical infrastructure of any I also fell victim to such a “scheme” Riyadh P Cloudy 26/16 P Cloudy 23/14 country and very vital from the recently. I was approached by Tehran Sunny 14/06 M Sunny 17/07 Live issues Give up life’s luxuries? It’s not that easy

By Oliver Burkeman investment manager Gary Sernovitz plenty of things you don’t technically New York explained the torment of belonging to need in order to live. Global Services, the highest frequent- Would it hurt to give them up? fl yer category on United Airlines, with Obviously; and there’s no reason to very month or two, the perks including fi rst-class upgrades, assume it’s diff erent higher up the media offers up a new tale no security queues and limousine ladder. of a sad-looking wealthy transfer between terminals. But the saving grace, which people Ecouple, explaining how He diagnosed himself with “Global in the grip of hedonic adaptation Around the world they’re living hand-to-mouth or Services maintenance anxiety never remember, is that it works in Weather Weather planning to leave the country for a disorder” – a compulsive eff ort not to the other direction. Make a sacrifi ce today Max/min tomorrow Max/min cheaper life: the spiralling school lose his status, made worse by United’s in your quality of life, and the chances Athens Sunny 22/13 Sunny 21/13 fees, second home and twice-annual refusal to reveal the basis on which it’s are you’ll quickly forget what you’re Beirut P Cloudy 19/13 Sunny 21/14 S T Storms 32/27 ski trips to St Moritz have simply awarded. missing. Bangkok 33/27 P Cloudy Berlin Showers 13/04 Rain 12/05 become too much. Among the symptoms: otherwise As the psychologist Adam Alter Cairo Sunny 25/12 Sunny 27/13 This is the journalistic equivalent pointless “mileage runs”, fl ights made notes, that’s one reason most of the Cape Town Showers 22/15 P Cloudy 21/14 of lion-feeding time at the zoo, with solely to gain the favour of the airline people threatening to leave the US Colombo S T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 32/25 the unsuspecting couple as hunks powers that be. Why not just relax if Donald Trump is elected won’t do Dhaka S T Storms 30/24 S T Storms 28/23 Hong Kong P Cloudy 22/17 P Cloudy 22/17 of meat. It’s a splendid opportunity You can be entirely aware that your and, if you lose your status, so be it? so: we exaggerate the intensity and Istanbul P Cloudy 16/09 Sunny 18/10 for materially fortunate people – like luxuries are luxuries, but still make Apparently, that’s not an option. duration of the pain we’ll feel if a Jakarta T Storms 31/25 T Storms 32/24 me, and maybe you – to cackle at the yourself crazy trying to preserve them. This psychological mechanism, dreaded prospect comes to pass. Karachi Sunny 31/23 P Cloudy 33/24 un-selfawareness of the extremely “hedonic adaptation”, is famous, yet I That’s useful to remember when London P Cloudy 14/04 P Cloudy 13/02 P Cloudy P Cloudy 34/24 fortunate, which feels better than probably no number of ski trips or don’t think we’ve begun to appreciate contemplating a life-choice that Manila 33/24 Moscow Fog 09/03 Rain 10/03 laughing at the poor. holiday homes that can’t start to feel the role it plays in life – how many might threaten your material comfort: New Delhi Sunny 36/21 M Sunny 37/21 But I still feel guilty. Because impossible to give up. of our choices, large and small, are you’re almost certainly ascribing too New York Sunny 13/07 P Cloudy 22/16 anyone who knows anything about And human psychology is even made on the basis of fundamentally much weight to that downside. Paris Showers 11/08 Rain 09/04 psychology knows how swiftly we more annoying than that: you can be misjudging what we couldn’t live It probably also follows that, living Sao Paulo S T Storms 27/20 S T Storms 29/19 Seoul P Cloudy 17/02 P Cloudy 21/04 adapt: before we know it, things that entirely aware that your luxuries are without. in New York, I should be less panicked Singapore P Cloudy 33/26 P Cloudy 33/27 were once luxuries have become non- luxuries, but still make yourself crazy Next time you’re laughing at the by the thought of a Trump presidency. Sydney S T Storms 26/16 M Sunny 23/16 negotiable. trying to preserve them. squeezed super-rich, consider your But I’m still working on that one. - Tokyo Clear 21/08 Clear 18/09 Cackle all you like, but there is In a recent New Yorker essay, the own life, which doubtless includes Guardian News and Media Gulf Times 28 Wednesday, March 30, 2016 QATAR

Participants in the competition. CNA-Q contest encourages technical skills in students ollege of the North At- the college has partnered with er Award for his performance titions in engineering technol- pleted individually, while oth- pus are also co-curricular, and the future of vocational train- lantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) high schools from across Qatar in the Skills Competition, ogy, information technology, ers are group competitions involve elements of learning. ing in Qatar by nurturing talent Chas concluded its “larg- to include more than 100 sec- demonstrating his information health sciences, business stud- where students solve “real- We believe in hands-on educa- and expertise.” est co-curricular event” of the ondary students in the CNA- technology (IT) skills. ies and academics, simulating a life” scenarios. As in the past tion and producing graduates Lewis Affleck, managing di- academic year, the seventh an- Q Skills Competition, giving “I really enjoyed the compe- variety of real-world tasks that years, pharmacy students from to be knowledge workers for the rector of MOQ, added: “We are nual CNA-Q Skills Competition, more young people the oppor- tition because I had a chance students will need to perform Qatar University and nursing future,” said Dr Ken MacLeod, very proud to partner with and sponsored by Qatar Petrochemi- tunity to be involved in science, to practise what I learned in in the workplace once they students from University of president of CNA-Q. support the Skills Competi- cal Company (Qapco) and Mae- technology, engineering and my IT classes,” he said. “The graduate. Calgary in Qatar participated Dr Mohamed Yousef al- tion. Initiatives like these play rsk Oil Qatar (MOQ). mathematics (STEM), accord- tasks were challenging but the The CNA-Q Skills Compe- in group healthcare-related Mulla, Qapco MD and CEO, an integral role in enhancing More than 550 college stu- ing to a statement. competition was very inviting. tition is modelled after Word competitions to strengthen said: “By supporting CNA-Q’s and encouraging STEM edu- dents competed against their Abdulaziz al-Ansari, a Level I think all high school students Skills International, a global inter-professional learning op- innovative educational pro- cation in Qatar by targeting peers to test the technical skills 12 student at Qatar Independ- should participate.” initiative to promote the devel- portunities. grammes such as the CNA-Q students at a young age and in- they are learning. ent Technical School, won the The CNA-Q Skills Competi- opment of skilled trades. “Most of the extra-curricu- Skills Competition, we believe spiring them to pursue techni- For the first time this year, Maersk Oil Qatar High Achiev- tion hosts 38 different compe- Some competitions are com- lar activities we host on cam- we are making a difference to cal disciplines.” ‘City of Play’ project clinches Unlimited Doha Design Prize

he “City of Play” project The Unlimited Doha Design participants formed teams and Frank Fitzpatrick, director of prepared by a UK-Qatar Prize was organised by the developed ideas for a project British Council Qatar, said at the Tteam has won the Unlim- British Council under the pa- based around the theme of gala dinner: “The winning team ited Doha Design Prize 2016, fol- tronage of HE Sheikha Al Ma- “The Open City”. They ad- is getting a grant of £15,000 lowing a week-long residency in yassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa dressed themes such as mo- to further develop the project Doha from March 18-26. al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar bility and movement through proposal and will gain further The team is made up of Alex Museums, in partnership with space and accessibility. prominence in leading interna- Scott-Whitby, Ming Teong, the Supreme Committee for The participants focused tional events.” Omer Can Aksoy, Gizem Kahra- Delivery & Legacy. their research on the areas Mohamed Ahmed al-Sayed, man and Deena al-Terawi. The announcement followed of Al Doha Al Jadeeda and Al director of Doha Municipality, A total of 21 fi nalists from a gala dinner to felicitate the Ghanem Street. To provide said: “We are delighted to sup- the UK, Qatar and other GCC winners and participants, and context and insight into the port the Unlimited Doha De- states took part in the fi nal stage. applaud the efforts of partners areas, they visited Msheireb sign Prize and the exceptional Drawing attention from Qatari, and supporters. Downtown Doha, Msheireb creative ideas put forward by the regional and UK architects, the With lead facilitator Si- Museums and Msheireb Arts participants.” Members of the winning team. event was wrapped up with a mon Gathercole (architecture Centre, among others. Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary- presentation of the fi nal pro- firm Allies and Morrison) and Called the “City of Play,” the general of the Supreme Commit- innovative practical solutions in added: “The patronage of HE Council and its partners led to a posals at the Doha Fire Station, support from Iris Papadatou winning proposal has off ered an tee for Delivery & Legacy, noted: raising the quality of life.” Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad successful edition of Unlimited followed by the selection of the (you&me architecture) and insight into the past and future “This initiative promotes the Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mah- bin Khalifa al-Thani and profes- Doha Design Prize over the week- winning team. Doha Architecture Forum, the of urban communities in Doha. spirit of creativity and encourages moud, CEO of Qatar Museums, sional organisation by the British long residency.”

Qatar looks to Airbnb QU college, Maersk in pact for study on sand plugging to house fans for 2022 collaborative agreement was signed yesterday be- AFP In recent weeks, it emerged Atween the Department Doha that one plan being consid- of Mechanical and Industrial ered is allowing fans to sleep Engineering at Qatar University in desert camps, though or- College of Engineering (QU- atar World Cup or- ganisers have not said how CENG) and Maersk Oil Research ganisers say they are many fans could be housed and Technology Centre (MO- Qconsidering using in tents. Cruise ships are also RTC) to study the advanced Airbnb to house some of the expected to take up to 12,000 application of sand plugging to visiting football fans during fans during the tournament. isolate and stimulate specifi c the World Cup finals in 2022. Thawadi said the possible zones in hydrocarbon wells. Hasan al-Thawadi, general desert camps would provide The project will use compu- secretary of Qatar’s Supreme an authentic feel for fans. tational simulation and experi- Committee for Delivery and “Every World Cup has its mental investigation to visual- Legacy, the body oversee- own feel, its own taste, its ise and test how sand dunes and ing the organisation of the own flavour. plugs are formed in an annulus tournament, said market de- “It’s an experience, it gives when deploying sand particles mands could mean the room- a flavour of Qatar of the Arab through a nozzle in an inner sharing service being used in world and enhances the expe- pipe. The learnings can then be six years’ time. rience of any fan.” applied in the fi eld to support “We are looking at Airbnb Organisers though have reservoir management. as an opportunity,” said Tha- denied that the options being The agreement was signed by wadi. “It’s a current trend.” considered point to problems QU vice president for Research Off icials of QU and MO-RTC pose for a photo after the signing ceremony . Although it is not as ex- with Qatar being unable to and Graduate Studies Prof tensive as in other countries, provide enough accommoda- Mariam Ali al-Maadeed and MO-RTC researchers will work challenges facing the society. Al-Emadi said: “ This new resources.” Dr al-Khalifa said: Airbnb is already operational tion in 2022. MO-RTC head Abdulrahman together with both QU students Through this, we seek to pro- research project is another suc- “This agreement will result in in Qatar. FIFA wants some 60,000 al-Emadi in the presence of and faculty on the project, mote the common relationship cessful example of our co-op- observable benefi ts to Qatar It is the latest option being rooms to be made available QU president Dr Hassan Rashid which is expected to last one with Maersk Oil Research and eration with academia in Qatar University in particular and Qa- considered by organisers in but a recent Doha conference al-Derham and CENG dean Dr year. Technology Centre, and expand to develop innovative technol- tar in general, and will contrib- the Gulf for an expected 1mn suggested there were only Khalifa al-Khalifa, as well as Prof al-Maadeed said: “This ways of co-operation between ogy and applicable solutions ute to strengthening collabora- travelling fans during foot- 21,000 rooms in service at offi cials from both institutions agreement emphasises Qatar the two sides in the fi eld of sci- to industry challenges and to tion between the two parties ball’s biggest tournament. present. and CENG faculty and staff . University’s continued deter- entifi c research and develop- deliver the greatest possible towards sustainable and long- According to the agreement, mination to fi nd solutions to the ment.” value to Qatar from its natural term solutions.”