BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 12 Staut excels on opening INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2 – 11, 30, 31 COMMENT 28, 29 day at REGION 12 BUSINESS 1 – 8, 12 – 15 GIS sees QR1.9bn in 16,818.30 10,014.43 34.32 ARAB WORLD 12, 13 CLASSIFIED 9 – 11 -46.78 +45.18 -0.08 INTERNATIONAL 14 – 27 SPORTS 1 – 12 capital expenditure Al Shaqab -0.28% +0.45% -0.23% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10016 March 3, 2016 Jumada I 23, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals PM in Tunis meeting GCC labels In brief Hezbollah QATAR | Offi cial Emir chairs economic aff airs council meet HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, chairman of the Supreme Council for Economic a terrorist Aff airs and Investment, chaired the council’s first meeting in 2016 at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, vice chairman of the council, attended the meeting along with members of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani participated in the meeting of group the council. the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) member states’ ministers of interior which was held in Tunis yesterday on the sidelines HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif of the 33rd session of the Arab Ministers of Interior Council. During the meeting, Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Reuters/AFP out “terrorist attacks, smuggling weap- al-Emadi, the council’s secretary Minister of Interior Prince Mohamed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud emphasised the importance of synergising eff orts Riyadh ons and explosives, stirring up sedition general, said the meeting discussed and co-ordinating stances to bolster joint Gulf security, in implementation of directives of the GCC leaders’ to maintain their and incitement to chaos and violence”. topics on the agenda and took the nations’ stability and citizens’ safety. Page 2 Individual members of the Gulf Co- necessary measures. he six-member Gulf Co-oper- operation Council have already labelled He said the agenda included ation Council (GCC) declared Hezbollah a terrorist group. developments related to energy THezbollah a terrorist organisation Zayani cited “their terrorist acts and and investment aff airs. yesterday, opening up the possibility of incitement in Syria, Yemen and in Iraq”, It also included Qatar Petroleum’s further sanctions against the Iran-allied which he said were threatening Arab se- request to endorse an agreement Thai minister hails workers’ welfare group that wields infl uence in Lebanon curity. on amending the financial terms and fi ghts in Syria. Saudi Arabia last month halted a $3bn of the development and financial In yesterday’s announcement, GCC programme for military supplies to Leb- terms agreement of Barzan Gas QNA that Qatar is determined to set the some 100,000 foreign workers, who Secretary-General Abdullatif al-Zayani anon in protest against Hezbollah, which Company Limited, the minister said, Doha standard of worker welfare in this re- come to the Gulf state to participate said the council would now “take the has lawmakers in Beirut’s parliament. adding that the council approved gion, said Distakul. in its construction projects, such necessary measures to implement its Announcing the funding cut, a Saudi the agreement. HE the Minister of Administrative as those for the 2022 FIFA World decision ... based on anti-terrorism laws offi cial said the kingdom noticed “hostile Al-Emadi added that the agenda hai Labour Minister Sirchai Development and Labour and Social Cup. applied in the GCC and similar interna- Lebanese positions resulting from the included an off er to found Distakul has praised the stand- Aff airs Dr Issa bin Saad al-Jafali al- Labour City, which lies 14km tional laws”. stranglehold of Hezbollah on the state”. a solar-powered electricity Tards of Qatar’s Labour City. Nuaimi said: “We are extremely proud from Doha and covers an area of Zayani did not specify what action He specifi cally cited Lebanon’s refusal generation company (Seraj Energy “This is one of the best and most of Thai nationals’ contribution to 1,100,000sq m, is just one of seven might follow, but Saudi Arabia, the big- to join the Arab League and the Organi- Company) to be owned by QP well-equipped worker accommoda- Qatar’s development and growth. As accommodation complexes that the gest power in the grouping, last week sation of Islamic Co-operation in con- and Qatar Electricity and Water tion sites I have visited. I am extreme- we move towards realising Qatar Na- government is building to house al- said it had blacklisted four companies demning attacks on Saudi diplomatic Company (QEWC) and works on ly pleased with the standard of welfare tional Vision 2030 we look forward to most 340,000 labour migrants. and three Lebanese men for having links missions in Iran in January. the development of electricity available to workers here,” the minis- welcoming more highly skilled indi- There are more than 4,000 Thai to Hezbollah. Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran generation projects via solar ter, who is on a two-day visit to Qatar, viduals from Thailand over the com- workers currently in Qatar with the Zayani accused Hezbollah of commit- after demonstrators burned its embassy energy. The council agreed to said yesterday. ing years.” Qatari minister suggesting there ting “hostile acts” against GCC states, and a consulate following the Saudi ex- establish the company. Labour City is a clear indication Labour City can accommodate should be more. including recruiting young men to carry ecution of a Shia cleric. Sheikh Joaan honoured CSR person of year 2015

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter

he Qatar Olympic Committee president HE Sheikh Joaan bin THamad al-Thani was honoured as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Person of the Year 2015 at a cer- emony yesterday that also witnessed the launch of the fourth edition of the National CSR Report, Leaders’ Vi- sions. Under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- lifa al-Thani, the ceremony was hosted by Qatar University (QU). The report, which has an introduction by HE Sheikh Abdullah will be distributed to all Qatari embassies around the world through the Ministry of Foreign Af- fairs, one of the partners of the report. HE Sheikh Joaan was recognised for his signifi cant role in supporting CSR and for being a role model in inspiring the youth of Qatar. Leading companies and community representatives who are leaders in CSR were also honoured at the event. The report is based on a prelimi- HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani flanked by QU president Dr Hassan Rashid nary study conducted by CSR Qatar al-Derham and Qatar CSR CEO Khalifa S al-Mohannadi at the CSR event yesterday. Committee. The main objective of the study is to provide an initial under- voiced in this national report, towards Qatar CSR CEO Khalifa S al-Mo- standing of the importance of diff er- institutional development through hannadi said that in its previous edi- ent CSR spending categories as well as careful planning of new programmes tions, the report highlighted the added their relationship with organisational and their execution on the solid basis value of social responsibility, and suc- performance. The study was conduct- of social responsibility.” ceeded in providing an opportunity for ed in companies among diff erent sec- He noted that the report is a valu- local institutions to change their ap- tors in Qatar. able tool for achieving the vision of proaches and professional techniques. QU president Dr Hassan Rashid al- the university and its partners, in line “This success was further enhanced Derham said: “Qatar University has with the four pillars of Qatar National by drawing the participation of new always been guided by social respon- Vision 2030. “It has also gained mo- institutions which benefi ted from the sibility to achieve its academic goals, mentum through the contributions of leaders’ instructions, experiences, and advance its students’ knowledge, and various national institutions. We are vision to serve the society. The con- build their capabilities. The organisa- proud of the success of our collabora- structive approach that Qatar CSR tion continues to deliver on its mis- tion with Qatar CSR Network, prima- Network has adopted will serve to sion of serving as a bridge between rily in developing new partnerships provide students with invaluable op- academia and society. It is also keen with institutions from the public and portunities that enable them to realise to lead the leaders’ visions, which are private sector,” he added. their academic aspirations.” Page 10 Gulf Times 2 Thursday, March 3, 2016 QATAR

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani taking part in the meeting of the 33rd session of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council in Tunis yesterday. PM participates in Arab interior ministers’ meet

QNA operation Council (GCC), Council, Dr Nabil El Araby, tion of the Arab Convention Tunis the Arab Maghreb Union Arab League Secretary- against Terrorism. (AMU), the International General and Dr Mohamed A preparatory meeting of Criminal Police Organiza- bin Ali Kuman, Secretary- the representatives of the E the Prime Minis- tion (INTERPOL), United General of the Council, a Arab Interior Ministers was ter and Minister of Nations Offi ce on Drugs and number of issues of interest held on Sunday addressing HInterior Sheikh Ab- Crime (UNODC) and Naif to the joint Arab action in topics on the agenda and dullah bin Nasser bin Kha- Arab University for Security the security fi eld. preparing necessary draft lifa al-Thani took part in the Sciences (NAUSS). The two-day session resolutions. meeting of the 33rd session Participants will dis- will discuss reports of what On Tuesday, the Prime of the Arab Interior Minis- cuss in the session, which was carried out by member Minister and Minister of ters’ Council, which kicked was opened by Tunisian states on the Arab secu- Interior met Saudi Crown off here yesterday. President Beji Caid Es- rity strategy, the strategy Prince, Deputy Prime Min- The event is attended by sebsi, Prince Mohammed for combating terrorism, ister and Minister of the In- the interior ministers of the bin Naif bin Abdulaziz al- combating the illegal use terior Prince Mohamed bin Arab countries, high-level Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy of drugs and psychotropic Naif bin Abdulaziz al-Saud security delegations as well Prime Minister and Minister substances, the strategy for in Tunis. They reviewed as representatives of the of Interior of Saudi Arabia traffi c safety, civil defence the ties between Qatar and United Nations, the Arab and honorary chairman of and the 15th annual report Saudi Arabia and ways of League (AL), the Gulf Co- the Arab Interior Ministers’ to follow up implementa- further developing them.

Gulf Times 4 Thursday, March 3, 2016 QATAR

Transport Ministry holds workshops for educators Justice Minister meets ILO delegation Some 49 maths, science and Communications’ the workshops introduced and IT male and female Digital Society Development educators to basics and educators from selected Department, in skills of two popular independent and collaboration with Oracle programming software; international schools Academy. Alice and Greenfoot. have been trained in Held at the Community The workshops are part programming basics and College of Qatar within a of the Ministry’s ongoing skills at two separate pilot project that will be eff orts to reach out to all workshops organised by applied at a larger scale segments of society in Qatar The Ministry of Transport after testing the results, to sharpen their digital skills.

HE the Minister of Justice Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi met the visiting International Labour Organisation (ILO) high-level delegation headed by ambassador Misako Kaji, in Doha yesterday. Talks dealt with the progress made by Qatar in the field of labour and workers’ rights. The two sides also discussed legal and legislative co-operation between Qatar and the ILO. Cabinet approves amendment to law on scouts association

QNA the Ministry of Education cial co-operation agreement erbaijan, and a draft MoU of Qatar and Singapore, and Doha and Higher Education to between the governments of for co-operation in the fi eld a draft MoU for cooperation oversee the Qatar Scouts Qatar and Morocco. of transport between the in the fi eld of education be- and Guides Association. 3. Draft Memoranda of Ministry of Transport and tween the Ministry of Edu- E the Deputy Prime The Cabinet also ap- Understanding (MoU) for Communications in Qatar cation and Higher Educa- Minister and Min- proved the licence for the co-operation in the fi eld of and the Ministry of Trans- tion in the State of Qatar and Hister of State for Economic Zones Company transport, culture, sports, port in Azerbaijan. the Ministry of Education in Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin (Manateq) to use the territo- tourism, and education 6. A draft protocol Singapore. Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- ries of the industrial zone in between the governments amending some provisions The Cabinet then re- moud chaired the Cabinet’s Al-Rakiya and Al-Karaana. of Qatar and Turkmeni- of the agreement between viewed a letter by HE the regular weekly meeting at Meanwhile, the Cabinet stan. the Government of the State governor of Qatar Central its Emiri Diwan premises approved following agree- 4. A draft MoU for co- of Qatar and the Govern- Bank and chairman of the yesterday. ments, draft MoUs and pro- operation in the fi eld of fi - ment of the Republic of Board of directors of Qatar The Cabinet approved a tocols: nancial aff airs between the Azerbaijan on exemption of Financial Markets Authority draft law amending some 1. The agreement between Ministry of Finance of Qatar diplomatic passports hold- regarding the fee proposal provisions of Law No 18 of the governments of Qatar and the Finance Ministry in ers and private travel pass- for Qatar Financial Markets 1997 on Qatar Scouts and and Bosnia and Herzegovina Turkmenistan. ports of the requirements Authority, Qatar Stock Ex- Guides Association, and de- on the recruitment of work- 5. Draft MoUs for co-op- for obtaining a visa. change and Qatar Central cided to refer it to the Advi- ers from Bosnia and Herze- eration in the fi elds of youth 7. A draft MoU for co- Depository Securities, and sory Council. govina in Qatar. and sports between the gov- operation in the legal fi eld took the appropriate deci- This amendment requires 2. A draft legal and judi- ernments of Qatar and Az- between the governments sion.

Gulf Times 8 Thursday, March 3, 2016 QATAR

Qatar Airways celebrates Mowaslat introduces new maiden fl ight to Sydney inter-city luxury buses atar Airways yesterday Qatar Airways and for the people timated 3,000 jobs and contrib- celebrated the arrival of of Australia. We are delighted to uting more than AUD$240mn to owasalat has intro- Qits fi rst fl ight from Doha be able to off er passengers fl ying the Australian economy. duced new buses for to Sydney, making it the airline’s from Sydney the opportunity to “It will also foster trade, pro- Minter-urban long dis- third gateway into Australia. connect to more than 150 places viding greater air cargo capacity tance service with additional A delegation of VIPs from on our global network via our and access to the Middle East. facilities, the company an- Qatar, including Qatar Airways state-of-the-art airport in Doha. Australian exports to Doha grew nounced yesterday. Group chief executive Akbar al- “I would like to personally by 23% last year, and Qatar’s high These buses have adjust- Baker, was met from the aircraft thank Sydney Airport and the city demand for livestock, cereal, able luxury seating with by Sydney Airport managing di- authorities for welcoming us and meat, dairy products and crops armrests, separate luggage rector and CEO Kerrie Mather, look forward to strengthening our provides a signifi cant opportu- facilities, next bus stop an- offi cial secretary to the gover- relationship with them and the nity for Australian exporters.” nouncements and display, nor of New South Wales Colo- people of Australia in the coming NSW Minister for Trade, and a ‘No standing passen- nel Michael Miller, Destination years as we all go places together.” Tourism and Major Events Stuart gers’ policy for enhanced NSW chairman John Hartigan The new service will provide Ayres noted, “I am delighted to safety and security. and Tourism Australia managing 84 tonnes of cargo capacity welcome the fi rst Qatar Airways The inter-city routes that are director John O’Sullivan. per week in and out of the New fl ight to Sydney, which will pro- now in operation are Al Ghanim With this, the airline now oper- South Wales capital. vide a valuable increase in avia- bus station to Al Ruwais/Al ates a Boeing 777-300 daily from Qatar Airways Cargo already tion capacity from the Middle Shamal, Al Thakhira, Dukhan, Doha to Sydney connecting Aus- carries 301 tonnes of freight in East and greater connectivity to Mesaieed Industrial City, Abu tralian passengers to its global the belly hold of its Boeing 777 Sydney and regional NSW, par- Samra, Umm Garn village, Al network of more than 150 destina- passenger aircraft into and out of ticularly for travellers fl ying from Kheesa, Al Khor Community, tions. Qatar Airways has been serv- Perth and Melbourne per week. the UK and Europe via Doha.” and the corresponding bus ing Australia since 2009 when it Mather said, “We’re thrilled The daily fl ight schedule is as routes are 100, 101, 102, 104, commenced fl ights to Melbourne, to welcome Qatar Airways to follows: QR908 departing Doha 104A, 109, 135, 137, 170, 172 and later adding fl ights to Perth in 2012. Sydney Airport. The new daily at 8.10pm and arriving in Sydney 102X. Al-Baker said, “Touching service will boost tourism, pro- at 6.05pm (+1), and QR909 de- Route number 777 is plying down here in Sydney for the fi rst viding an additional 245,000 parting Sydney at 10.20pm and from the Hamad International time is an important milestone for seats per year, generating an es- arriving in Doha at 5.05am (+1). Airport to West Bay via Cor- niche road/City Center Doha. Route 300 from Asian town will now cater to Al Sheehaniya residents, especially from the workers camp. The route map of service number 300, which has been extended to Al Sheehaniya (Workers Camp) via Also, owing to requests re- Rawdat Rashid from yesterday. ceived from passengers de- mand and expected increasing Mowasalat CEO Khalid al- ridership, route number 300 Hail said that the company has been extended (as shown evaluates and thoroughly in the map) up to Al Sheehaniya analyses all requests for route (Workers Camp) via Rawdat changes and additional routes Rashid from yesterday. The to optimise the allocation of service was hitherto being op- resources such as vehicles and erated from Asian town to Abu drivers. Nakhla. “We submit proposals to The extended service will be Ministry of Transport and in operation from 4am 11pm Communications to verify with a frequency of 30 minutes the feasibility of operations. per trip. It is our intention to make The last service from Asian sure our services are acces- town will be at 9pm and return sible, comfortable and af- Qatar Airways inaugural flight from Doha to Sydney flies over the famous Opera House before touching from Al Sheehaniya will be at fordable to our customers,” down at Sydney Airport yesterday. 10.50pm. he added. A luxury inter-urban bus launched by Mowasalat.

Traffi c diversion in Al Khor from today

temporary diversion will be in place on the A Water-fi lling Station roundabout in Al Khor and a single-lane dual carriageway in a section on Al Khor Road (street no.212 in front of Al Khor Sports Club) for nearly 700 metres in the direction from Al Shamal Road to Cor- niche and vice versa. The di- version will be for a period of six months from today. The existing southbound lanes of Al Khor Road will be closed for the same distance (as shown in the map). During the period, traffi c on the closed roundabout will be diverted to a new low the implementation of water network, and road temporary roundabout with works to convert the Water- works of the southbound of a bigger radius that was con- Filling Station Roundabout Al Khor Commercial Street structed on the same loca- in to a signal-controlled as part of the roads and in- tion in order to avoid traffi c intersection, and to con- frastructure development congestion. tinue the development of project for Commercial This diversion aims to al- infrastructure works, storm Street in Al Khor area.

Traff ic fine discount valid until April 7

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has announced Ministry, Metrash2 App., Self Service Kiosks that the decision to slash by 50% the fines for and all other service centres.” traff ic violations registered before December The Ministry had earlier pointed out that 31, 2015 is valid until April 7. decision is aimed at encouraging motorists to This was announced by the MoI on its off icial abide by the traff ic rules and regulations for Twitter account. “The discount is applicable their own safety. Accordingly, they will be able to all types of violations such as radar fines to pay off their fines and henceforth be more and fines charged by traff ic police. Fines careful to abide by the rules and regulations are payable through the web portal of the to avoid any adverse consequences. Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 9 QATAR

Ooredoo Mobile London universities event Money customers showcases ‘Smart Cities’ stand chance to leven of London’s lead- win T20 tickets ing universities have used Ean innovative exhibition at Katara - the Cultural Village oredoo has announced economy class return ticket, two to share knowledge about new that Ooredoo Mobile nights’ hotel accommodation, technologies and highlight op- O Money users can win airport and venue transporta- portunities for collaboration an all-expenses paid trip to tion, and hospitality service by with institutions and individu- see the final of the sixth ICC ICC’s offi cial sponsors, Money- als in Qatar. World Twenty20 hosted by Gram. Organised by the London India, thanks to MoneyGram, New customers can register Universities International Part- the official money trans- for Ooredoo Mobile Money now nership (LUIP) and backed by fer partner of the ICC World by dialling *140# and following the £2mn ‘Great UK Challenge Twenty20. the instructions on their mobile Fund,’ the event highlighted the The ICC World Twenty20 phones USSD menu, or by down- role of knowledge and skills in is one of the highlights of the loading the free Ooredoo Money developing ‘Smart Cities’ in cricketing season and kicks off App. support of Qatar’s National Vi- on March 8, with 16 teams play- Once registered, customers sion 2030. ing in seven Indian cities during can deposit money into their Themed as ‘Building a Smart the tournament. mobile account using any of the City’, the exhibition showcased MoneyGram and Ooredoo 200 Ooredoo self-service ma- the ‘River Thames Installation’ Mobile Money will be giving chines available throughout Qa- created by a talented London customers a chance to win a tar. Deposits can also be made graduate, Omid Kamvari who fully paid round-trip to Kolk- through Ooredoo shops or direct was nominated for the ‘Mid- ata to watch the final of the transfer from QNB accounts us- dle East Young Architect of the ICC World Twenty20 live on ing the bank’s Mobile Payment Year’ award. April 3. service. Designed to represent the Existing and new Ooredoo Winners of the MoneyGram fl ow of the River Thames, the Mobile Money customers can ICC World Twenty20 2016 com- 26m unique installation shows enter by transferring money to petition will be chosen through how London’s universities are India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri an electronic draw and will need educating the next genera- Lanka, Nepal or Afghanistan via to apply independently for their tion of city leaders, educators, The exhibition showcased a 26m ‘River Thames Installation’ designed to represent the flow of the River Thames in London. PICTURE: Najeer Feroke MoneyGram until March 18, to be visa to India. planners, creatives, medics, re- eligible to win. For the more information, one searchers and builders. The London offi cial has and respected all over the world. The prize will include an can visit www.ooredoo.qa Other ideas on show included championed the use of technol- Speaking at the event, British initiatives to build sustainable ogy to help cities modernise and ambassador to Qatar Ajay Shar- homes and workplaces, projects function more effi ciently. ma said many of Qatar’s leading Kia Soul recalled to monitor the quality of food “Sharing of current think- fi gures have spent time studying for humans and animals, and a ing and research on smart cit- in the UK. The Ministry of Economy and the dealer to follow up on the programme about how schools ies through the teaching of the “I am delighted that each year Commerce, in collaboration maintenance and repair works can produce the leaders of the next generation of city planners this fi gure increases,” he noted. with Al-Attiya Motors and Trad- and communicate with custom- future. who are creating new apps and “I am sure this will continue to ing Company, has announced ers to ensure that the necessary “Collaboration between uni- programmes will continue to be the case as demonstrated by the recall of Kia Soul models of repairs are carried out. versities in London and Qatar- have profound eff ects on today’s the high level of interest in the 2014 and 2015 as noise may oc- The MEC has urged all custom- based institutions and individu- cities and how we all live,” Pen- LUIP showcase at Katara.” cur while turning the steering ers to report any violations to its als continues to grow and we are charz said. Echoing the ambassador’s wheel. Consumer Protection and Anti- keen to build on that relation- More than 100,000 inter- statement, LUIP chair Jennifer The MEC said the recall Commercial Fraud Department ship to forge more partnerships national students from over Parsons said their visit to Qatar campaign comes within the through the following channels: in the future,” said London’s 200 nations choose to study in has attracted many people and framework of its ongoing efforts Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@mec. Deputy Mayor for Environment London each year. The British organisations who want to col- (From left) LUIP chair Jennifer Parsons, British ambassador to Qatar to protect consumers and ensure gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, and Energy Matthew Pencharz capital is a trusted destination laborate across a range of areas, Ajay Sharma and London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and that car dealers follow up on Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC who was the guest of honour for students and accreditations including education, sports and Energy Matthew Pencharz at the ‘Building a Smart City’ exhibition at vehicles’ defects and repair them. mobile app for Android and IOS: and speaker at the event. earned in the UK are recognised aeronautics, among others. Katara - the Cultural Village (supplied picture). The MEC will co-ordinate with MEC_Qatar Gulf Times 10 Thursday, March 3, 2016 QATAR Several fi rms honoured for CSR initiatives

By Joseph Varghese tional Vision 2030. This year’s edition of the UAE, Sweden, The Netherlands Staff Reporter is distinguished as the fi rst academic and Germany also contributed to the primary study which was prepared report. and produced under the guidance of The main sponsor of the report is large number of organisations College of Business and Economics Qatar Petroleum and the diamond were honoured for their Cor- (CBE) at QU, with input from its stu- sponsor is QNB while the pearl spon- Aporate Social Responsibility dents supervised by the CSR commit- sors are Qatar Central Bank, Sports (CSR) activities during 2015, at a spe- tee. and Social Activities Support Fund cial function held at Qatar University CBE dean Dr Nitham Hindi said the and Qatar Primary Materials Co. The (QU) yesterday. report is of an academic nature and platinum sponsors are HBK and Wo- The ceremony saw Qatar Olym- highlights the annual accomplish- qod. pic Committee president HE Sheikh ments of diff erent organisations in Gold sponsors include Aspire Zone, Joaan bin Hamad al- Thani being the fi eld of social responsibility and Astad Project Management, Hamad honoured as ‘CSR Person of the Year the success gained on development International Airport and Sasol Qa- 2015.’ issues. tar, while the silver sponsors are Al The report, with an introduction Several leading organisations sup- Meera, UDC, McDonalds Qatar and by HE the Prime Minister and Interior ported and contributed to the report. Doha Bank. Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser From the government side, they in- Bronze sponsors of the report are bin Khalifa al-Thani, will be distrib- cluded Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, Ooredoo, Qatar Airways, Primary uted to all Qatari embassies around National Olympic Committee, Min- Health Care Corporation, Manateq, the world. istry of Economy and Commerce Lo- Kahramaa, QIIB, Qatar Exchange, Al- The report is part of a Memorandum gistic Committee, National Security fardan Group, Commercial Bank, Al of Understanding signed between QU Programme and Abdullah Bin Hamad Emadi Enterprises, National Human and the CSR Network. It documents Al-Attiyah International Foundation Rights Commission, Qatar Civil Avia- the achievements of national organi- for Energy and Sustainable Develop- tion Authority, Mwani Qatar, Abdul- Representatives of the honoured organisations with HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and QU president Dr Hassan Rashid sations in CSR, and monitors progress ment. Qatar Shell, Injaz Qatar, Asth- lah Abdulghani & Bros, Boeing ME, Al al-Derham yesterday. in social development and Qatar Na- ma Qatar Network and the embassies Mana Group, Icon interiors and Edara. The Palm Tree set Recognition for QIIB to kick off second Qumra screenings he second edition of Qumra, a the science fiction in reality. Doha Film Institute initiative Also screening at 4pm is Mediter- Tthat seeks to provide mentor- ranea (Arabic, English, French, Ital- ship, nurturing, and hands-on de- ian; 2015). velopment for fi lmmakers from Qatar The film opens in Algeria, where and around the world, opens tomor- Ayiva and his friend, Abas climb row. onto a truck packed to bursting, The highlights of the opening are with migrants and their belongings, screenings of The Palm Tree by Qa- bound for the coast of Libya. tari talent Jassim al-Rumaihi and The friends have travelled this far Academy award winner for Best from Burkina Faso; their hoped-for Foreign Language Film in 2001, destination: Europe. Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Given the horrifying migration Dragon. situation the world is facing today, The industry development event the film acts as an urgent call to treat presents a highly engaging selection migrants and refugees with dignity, of daily screenings and question- respect and compassion. and-answer sessions in two strands, The Qumra Masters Screenings the Qumra Master Screenings which will commence with Crouching Ti- showcases films from the five par- ger, Hidden Dragon at 7pm. ticipating Masters and the New Co-written and produced by Lee’s Voices in Cinema, that promotes longtime collaborator and 2016 films from emerging talent. Qumra Master, James Schamus, the The selection includes Academy film was named ‘Best Picture of the Award, Cannes Film Festival and Year’ by 100 critics US-wide. Ajyal Youth Film Festival award win- The film tells the epic tale of two ners. master warriors (Chow Yun Fat and The New Voices in Cinema strand Michelle Yeoh) who are faced with opens tomorrow at 4pm with The their greatest challenge when the Ali Hamad al-Mesaifri, director of Human Resources and Palm Tree, winner of the 2015 Ajyal treasured Green Destiny sword is Public Services at Qatar International Islamic Bank Youth Film Festival Made in Qatar stolen. yesterday received the commemorative shield for it role in Award for Best Documentary. The film won 40 major awards Corporate Social Responsibility from Dr Hassan Rashid Mainly shot using disorienting including four Academy Awards for al-Derham, president of Qatar University during a close-ups, it is an observational Best Foreign Language Film, Art Di- ceremony that also witnessed the launching of the fourth documentary that shows how un- rection, Original Score and Cinema- annual national report on CSR. natural nature can be, and unearths tography.

Qatar Medical Journal now on QScience.com

BKU Press, the new edented wealth of scientific publishing arm of knowledge instantly with HHamad Bin Khalifa researchers and scientists University, has announced across the globe. Readers that the full archive of Qa- can now conveniently share tar Medical Journal is fully the full-text of articles of digitised and available on interest with colleagues free the online open access portal of charge. QScience.com. Christopher Leonard, head of academic and jour- “We believe that we are nals publishing at HBKU in the beginning phase of a Press’ QScience portal said: major movement toward “It has been a monumental globalisation of medical effort to get all of the is- and health education. sues of Qatar Medical Jour- By providing a platform, nal online and free to read where the older content for anyone with an Internet can be viewed it allows for connection. The endur- a healthy debate about the ing popularity of the older challenges, and innovations content within the journal in global medical and has been reflected in the health education” number of requests we have had for articles from many Working with Hamad years.” Medical Corporation, the Dr Mohammed Hammou- backdated files from 1997 deh, Qatar Medical Journal have been processed into editor-in-chief said: “We PDF format and made avail- believe that we are in the able electronically for the beginning phase of a major first time. Functionality movement toward globali- incorporated by the archive sation of medical and health includes full text PDFs of education. By providing a each article and full text platform, where the older searching, including all im- content can be viewed it ages and graphics. allows for a healthy debate This publishing initiative about the challenges, and will make it easy for read- innovations in global medi- ers to share an unprec- cal and health education.” Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 11 QATAR

Weather Qur’anic Garden signs pact to system to aff ect country boost environmental research from ur’anic Botanic Garden partment, therefore, refl ects its nurture our environment, it will partment’s genetic resources way for a number of collabora- exhibits the botanical terms (QBG), a member of Qa- commitment to enhancing Qa- nurture us’.” head Aisha Dasman al-Kuwari tive activities, mutual research mentioned in the Qur’an, ex- Qtar Foundation for Edu- tar’s sustainable development During the signing ceremony, explained that her section benefi ts, and overall develop- plaining the signifi cance of their Saturday cation, Science and Community and reinforces the Environmen- Agricultural Research Depart- collects, characterises, and ment and education opportu- mention in the Qur’an, as well Development (QF), has signed a tal Pillar of the Qatar National ment director Masoud Jarallah conserves wild plants in Qatar. nities. This includes publishing as the scientifi c explanations of protocol of co-operation (PoC) Vision 2030 (QNV2030). al-Marri said the department “The genetic resources de- co-produced research, plant composition, application and here are chances of rain in with the Agriculture Research Fatima bint Saleh al-Khu- represents Qatar in interna- partment conducts various conservation, documenting usefulness to man. the country next week, the Department of the Ministry of laifi , project manager, QBG, tional conventions and treaties activities, like environmental traditional knowledge and her- It inspires appreciation of TMet department has said. Municipality and Environment stated that the agreement is related to the environment and surveys and storing plants in the itage, laboratory experiments nature by encouraging respect Today, poor visibility is ex- (MME). extremely benefi cial to both agriculture and also manages gene bank, and aims to establish for tissue culture techniques, and responsibility for our en- pected in some places in the early The agreement aims to entities, who have united un- the genetic resources of the an integrated database of genet- and DNA identifi cation, as well vironment. The concept comes hours due to fog, according to the strengthen scientifi c, agricul- der common eff orts to pre- country. ic resources in Qatar. as organising technical semi- from a region-wide Unesco ini- weather report. tural, and environmental re- serve and protect Qatar’s “I hope that the PoC will pave “This protocol of co-op- nars, workshops, and scientifi c tiative. The QBG was inaugu- The department, through search in Qatar, through the environment. the way for us to benefi t from eration will contribute to meetings. rated by HH Sheikha Moza bint posts on its social media plat- conservation of national plant “The agreement demon- these international treaties, and strengthening our relation- The QBG exhibits all the Nasser on September 17, 2008. forms, said a “weather system resources and modern mecha- strates our commitment to enable the two parties involved ship with the Qur’anic Bo- plant species mentioned in the To mark the event, she planted is expected to aff ect Qatar from nisms in horticultural preserva- nurturing Qatar’s environment, to support Qatar, as well as tanic Garden and help to better Qur’an, and those in the Ha- QBG’s very fi rst tree, the Sidra Saturday evening (March 5) until tion and agricultural sustain- and is line with the invaluable implement the Qatar National conserve and preserve Qatar’s dith and Sunnah (Sayings and (Ziziphus spina-christi Willd, Sunday evening (March 6)”. ability. QBG’s partnership with words of QF chairperson HH Vision 2030.” environment”. traditions of the Prophet Mu- Sidr), which is also the symbol Gradually, it will become part- the Agriculture Research De- Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, ‘If we Agricultural Research De- The agreement also paves the hammad PBUH). The garden of the QF. ly cloudy to cloudy and there is a chance of scattered rain, which may be accompanied by thunder, in some places at times. Easter- ly-southeasterly moderate winds will blow, which may freshen at Al-Attiyah times, the report notes. Katara hosts Weather charts also indicate the possibility of another spell receives of rain on next Tuesday night (March 8) and Wednesday. Meanwhile, today’s forecast coff ee festival message for inshore areas says it will be misty to foggy in some places at fi rst, followed by moderate tem- atara - the Cultural Vil- Ethiopia, Vietnam, Iran, Thai- from Saudi perature with some clouds. Vis- lage is set to host from land, Kenya, turkey, Indonesia, ibility may drop to 1km or less in Ktoday the fi rst coff ee fes- and Argentina. the early hours. tival under the patronage of HE Dr Khalid Yousef al-Mulla, E Minister of State for Defence Off shore areas will see partly Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad general director, QHIC, said that Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Moham- cloudy and hazy to misty condi- bin Khalifa al-Thani. the festival would be a unique Hmad al-Attiyah has received a tions during the day. The festival “My Coff ee, My event that blends both na- written message from Saudi Deputy The minimum and maximum Identity” will run until Monday, tional and international identi- Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier temperatures today are expected from 10am to 10pm daily. It is ties and links them to modern and Minister of Defence Mohammed bin to be 12C and 28C, respectively, jointly organised by Qatar Herit- development. Salman bin Abdulaziz. with the forecast for Doha being age and Identity Centre (QHIC), “It will also put focus on the The Saudi ambassador to Qa- 17C and 25C. with the participation of 12 em- history of coff ee in the GCC re- tar, Abdulla bin Abdulaziz al- The Met department has ad- bassies and 30 diff erent entities gion. Besides, the festival will Aifan, handed the message as vised people to follow latest that would display various va- include activities that illustrate he met the Minister of State for weather updates through its offi - rieties of coff ee products. The the links between the diff er- Defence Aff airs yesterday. cial website, smartphone appli- participating countries include ent ways of making coff ee and A number of senior armed forces cations and various social media Egypt, Cost Rica, El Salvador, diff erent world cultures. offi cers attended the meeting. accounts. Ashghal conducts evacuation and Safari Group fi rst-aid training for employees Gold Rush he Public Works Au- ices Section and evacuation thority (Ashghal), in project manager at Ashghal, Tco-ordination with Civil said: “The training comes as Defence, has conducted fi ve part of the implementation of promotion training courses on how to deal the senior management’s vi- with fi res. sion in the authority, which afari Group has announced centric shopping experience and Through these courses, 82 aims to provide training to the launch of its Gold Rush strengthening relationships, we employees from the authority the largest possible number of Smega promotion today have decided to launch this mega received theoretical and prac- employees on evacuation and across all its outlets in Qatar. promotion and give away 6 kilo tical training on how to extin- fi rst-aid procedures.” The promotion will continue gold to our customers. Thanks guish fi res, while 128 employees The authority has also con- until September 13. to all Safari customers and avid got trained as evacuation su- ducted six fi rst-aid training Customers who buy goods shoppers who have shown great pervisors. courses in co-ordination with worth QR50 during this period support and enthusiasm for our Ashghal has developed a Qatar Red Crescent Scoeity, in at any Safari outlet will be eligi- previous mega promotion, which safety management system which 92 employees from Ash- ble to get a raffl e coupon to enter was to win 18 Toyota Camry cars. as part of it commitment to ghal received theoretical and into the mega draw to win 6kg “Over the last many years of achieve occupational health practical training on fi rst-aid gold, to be held at Safari Mall. operations, we have perfected and safety standards and re- procedures. Three winners will take away our products and services to quirements in Qatar. It includes Participants of the evacua- 1kg gold every month in the cater to the increasing needs several initiatives that aim to tion and fi rst-aid drills were se- following ratio: fi rst winner of customers. We have made a provide a safe and secure work lected based on the employees’ 500gm, second winner 300gm wide variety of quality prod- environment for all employees, desire to participate and to en- and third winner 200gm. This ucts available and aff ordable for according to a statement from sure that trained staff members will be a continuous process for customers through our ideally the authority. are present across each depart- the next six months, accord- located outlets, and are work- Among the main elements ment, fl oor and tower in the au- ing to a statement issued by Sa- ing on many more ways to serve covered by the system are train- thority. fari Group director and general them better.” ing and emergency plans. Ashghal has said it plans to manager Zainulabideen K. The draws will take place at As part of the safety manage- Ashghal employees during an evacuation drill. conduct more such courses in Elaborating on the promo- Safari Mall on April 5, May 5, ment system, the authority has the coming years in order to en- tion details, he said: “With the June 5, July 5, August 7 and Sep- conducted evacuations drills 1 (16 fl oors) in seven minutes and 30 seconds, 267 employ- Aff airs warehouses and work- able each employee to deal with aim of providing an exciting, tember 14. There will be three at all of its towers over the past and 30 seconds, 312 employees ees from the Asset Aff airs main shops in two minutes and 40 fi res and implement fi rst-aid value-added and customer- winners on each occasion. two months. from Tower 2 (16 fl oors) in eight building (three fl oors) in four seconds, the statement notes. procedures during emergencies, It has been able to evacu- minutes, 374 employees from minutes and two seconds, and Abdullah al-Khayareen, whether within the authority or ate 450 employees from Tower Tower 3 (27 fl oors) in 16 minutes 141 employees from the Asset head of the General Serv- in his/her personal life. Qatar on track to achieving targets of tourism arrivals: BMI report

atar is to achieve an am- to achieving its tourism arrivals in supporting infrastructure. is expected to see rapid growth land. This follows the launch bitious target of 7mn targets. Our current forecasts “These events will also help moving forward as the country of a direct fl ight route to Los Qtourism arrivals by 2030 put total international arriv- to grow Qatar’s reputation as a prepares to welcome an infl ux of Angeles in January 2016. on the back of major events the als at just over 4mn in 2020, holiday destination in the com- foreign visitors,” BMI said. A number of new hotels are country is hosting beyond 2020, up from 3.1mn in 2016. This petitive Middle East region, Qatar continues to improve under development in Qatar, Zainulabideen K, director and general manager, Safari Group. a new report has shown. growth will also provide a valu- where countries such as the its accessibility for visitors from including by leading global It was announced recently that able boost to tourism related United Arab Emirates already outside the Middle East region hotel groups. Doha would host the 2023 World expenditure and hotel industry have a well-established tourism by expanding the number and BMI said hotel developers Emir sends condolences to Ajman ruler Aquatics Championships. The value,” it said. industry. Supporting the growth range of international fl ight would need to prepare for new FIFA World Cup 2022 is also due In BMI’s view the “out- of tourism is the extensive ho- connections, BMI said. grading and classifi cation sys- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin cables to Member of the UAE to take place in Qatar in the pre- look” for Qatar’s tourism in- tel and accommodation sector, Recent reports suggest na- tems coming into eff ect from Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Supreme Council and Ruler of ceding year and construction on dustry is highly positive. The which focuses particularly on tional carrier Qatar Airlines January 2016, which will provide Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Ajman Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid a number of stadiums, transport country is hosting several high lucrative luxury and business may soon launch the longest properties with an offi cial star al-Thani and HE the Prime al-Nuaimi condoling the death networks and hotels is in progress, profi le global sporting events travel. The quality budget to direct fl ight in the world when rating based on a range of criteria Minister and Minister of Interior of Sheikh Mohamed bin Nasser said BMI Research in a report. over the next decade and as mid-range sector is less devel- it starts direct fl ights between including quality of service and Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Rashid al-Nuaimi, son of the “We believe Qatar is on track well as boosting investment oped and it is this sector which Doha and Auckland, New Zea- environment sustainability. bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent Deputy Ruler of Ajman Gulf Times 12 Thursday, March 3, 2016 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Oman mulls cut in Jordan foils IS attack, electricity subsidy Reuters Muscat

man’s cabinet is considering changing electric- ity tariff s to save the government money which it Ospends on subsidies, a senior offi cial said yesterday. 7 militants shot dead Qais al-Zakwani, executive director of the Authority for Electricity Regulation, told Reuters that the proposed AFP change would aff ect commercial, industrial and govern- Amman ment users of electricity consuming over 150 megawatt hours annually - between 9,000 and 9,500 consumers in total. ordan said yesterday that it had The change would save the government up to 7% or 8% thwarted planned attacks by of its bill for electricity price subsidies. Jthe Islamic State group on its Such subsidies totalled around 450mn rials ($1.17bn) soil, killing seven suspected mili- last year - and that fi gure is an understatement as the gov- tants in a major security operation ernment is also selling natural gas used for power genera- near the Syrian frontier. tion at a subsidised rate, Zakwani said. The kingdom, which also bor- End-consumers of electricity in Oman are only paying ders Iraq, has for years struggled about half of the cost of generating it, he added. with homegrown Islamists and is “We have started talking to the targeted segments, and part of a US-led coalition carrying they are happy with the idea of adjusting operating tim- out air strikes against militants. ings from peak hours to hours with less electricity con- The operation, which began late sumption, where they will pay less than the current fl at on Tuesday in the city of Irbid, rates. 80km north of Amman, was the “We are only waiting for the green light from the coun- most signifi cant of its kind since cil of ministers to start changing electricity meters.” Jordan joined the coalition in 2014. Like other Gulf states, Oman is considering a range of One member of Jordan’s secu- reforms to state spending and revenues as low oil prices rity forces was killed and three slash its export revenues. wounded in clashes that raged for The government posted a budget defi cit of 4.07bn rials several hours until dawn, the au- in the fi rst 11 months of 2015, swinging from a 233.4mn thorities said. Two civilians were rial surplus a year earlier, fi nance ministry data showed also hurt. this week. Jordan’s intelligence services said IS had been plotting “attacks against civilian and military sites 7 get death for cadet bombing in order to destabilise national se- curity”. n Egyptian military court has handed down seven “The terrorists refused to sur- death sentences for an April 2015 bombing that render and put up strong resist- Akilled two army cadets as they waited to board a ance using automatic weapons,” bus, an army offi cial said. it said, adding that the dead mili- The blast in the Nile Delta city of Kafr El Sheikh was one tants were wearing suicide vests. of a spate of attacks that have hit the security forces since Twenty-two suspects were ar- the 2013 overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Mursi. rested during the operation and Most have been in the Sinai Peninsula, but some have been automatic weapons and explosives Off icers of the Jordanian public security department stand guard in the northern city of Irbid. in Cairo or the delta to its north. were seized, according to security The court in second city Alexandria also sentenced fi ve offi cials. The kingdom also faces a danger versity of Jordan’s Centre for Stra- now favours violence and closer hosts more than 630,000 of the people to life in prison, which in Egypt means 25 years, the They said that investigations from within - nearly 4,000 Jorda- tegic Studies. ties with IS, he warned. roughly 4.6mn Syrian refugees army offi cial said. It sentenced two defendants to 15 years, before the raid had led to the arrest nians belong to militants groups, Initially the fear was about “lone Irbid is just a few kilometres overseas, according to the UN ref- and four to three years. The defendants have the right of of 13 others linked to the militants. mostly IS, Islamist sources esti- wolf” sympathisers travelling to from the Syrian border where Jor- ugee agency. appeal to the Court of Cassation. Three of those sentenced Jordan has reinforced security mate. Syria and Iraq to join IS. danian security forces regularly The Jordanian government gives to death were tried in absentia. along its frontiers since the con- More than 400 Jordanians have But yesterday’s clashes illus- detain drug traffi ckers and mili- a much higher estimate of 1.4mn, Police have detained or killed scores of suspected mili- fl ict erupted in Syria fi ve years ago. been killed fi ghting in militant trate “an evolution in the relation- tants attempting to join extremist saying many of them are unregis- tants in Cairo and the delta, although the security forces The US ally stepped up its air ranks in Syria and Iraq since 2011, ship between the Salafi st militant groups in Syria. tered. continue to face frequent attack in the Sinai, stronghold strikes on IS in February 2015 after according to the sources. movement in Jordan and IS.” Jordan has tried and imprisoned It has been braced for a new of militants loyal to the Islamic State group. Mursi himself the Sunni extremist group burned The Irbid operation marks a The resistance put up by the dozens of militant sympathisers wave of refugees since Russia be- and hundreds of his followers have been handed death sen- alive one of its air force pilots who turning point in the fi ght against militants and the amount of weap- since toughening its anti-terror- gan intense air raids in Septem- tences, many of them in speedy mass trials that have been crashed in Syria while on a mis- militants, said Mohamed Abu ons seized are all clues to the evo- ism law in 2014. ber in support of Syrian President condemned by the UN and human rights groups. Some sion. Rumman, a researcher at the Uni- lution of this movement which The resource-poor country Bashar al-Assad. have been overturned by the Court of Cassation on appeal. Forces open new front Tea breaks, video games against Syria rebels help fi ghters unwind

Reuters Opposition sees peace talks dates as ‘hypothetical’ AFP Beirut Aleppo A senior Syrian opposition off icial said “What is the value of a truce if its yesterday dates for a resumption of overseers - meaning America and Rus- yrian government forces yester- UN-backed Syria peace talks remained sia - do not push all sides to abide by heir guns propped up on a mat- day launched an attack to cap- hypothetical as long as the current it?” he said. tress nearby, Tarek Muhrem and Sture a rebel-held hill in north- truce does not fulfil its humanitarian The opposition is pressing for full This fellow Syrian rebel fi ghters western Syria, a rebel offi cial and the demands. access to humanitarian aid, govern- plop down on their couch along Alep- Syrian Observatory for Human Rights A cessation of hostilities agreement ment sieges to be lifted, detainees to po city’s front lines for an evening of reported, an expansion of operations came into force early on Saturday and be released and air strikes to be halted football video games. that have continued in that area de- the UN said on Tuesday that a new before it takes part in negotiations. Instead of rifl e triggers and walkie- spite a deal to cease fi ghting. attempt at peace talks would begin on These were some of the conditions laid talkies, they grasp small glasses of cof- Rebels said the assault on Kabani March 9. down in a UN Security Council resolu- fee and sweet tea between PlayStation hill in the province of Latakia was sup- “As long as the truce does not help tion passed in December. sessions in their makeshift base in a ported by Russian air strikes. Both the implement the terms (of the UN resolu- “The stability and success of battle-scarred neighbourhood. government and rebels have accused tion), all dates for the resumption of implementing the truce’s goals will be Since a fragile truce came into eff ect each other of violating the truce, negotiations remain hypothetical,” the main factor for the resumption of across parts of the country on Satur- which came into eff ect on Saturday. Syrian opposition off icial George Sabra negotiations on the date announced by day, rebels in Syria’s second city say The agreement does not include Is- told Arabic news channel Arabiya Al (UN Syria envoy Staff an) De Mistura,” the decrease in bombing has allowed lamic State or the Nusra Front, an Al Hadath. Sabra said. them time to recover and visit their Qaeda-linked group that has a wide families. presence in northwestern Syria. “Things have gotten better over the The hill overlooks the rebel-held “The regime and militias are try- Rami Abdulrahman, Observatory past four days, as aerial bombardment town of Jisr al-Shughour in neigh- ing to storm (the hill) under very fi erce director, said: “If the regime is able of Aleppo city has stopped,” Muhrem, A rebel fighter plays a video game at his base in the middle of a bombed-out bouring Idlib province, and the Ghab Russian air cover and artillery fi re,” said to capture Kabani hill, the insurgents 35, says. district of the Syrian city of Aleppo. Plain, where rebel advances last year Fadi Ahmad, spokesman for the First will be in a diffi cult position because He heads the “Dawn of the Martyrs” were seen as a growing threat to Presi- Coastal Division, a group fi ghting un- this hill overlooks the Ghab Plain and Brigade, which has signed on to the in the Jabhat Shamiyah rebel group, ing with his comrades about years of dent Bashar al-Assad. der the banner of the Free Syrian Army. Jisr al-Shughour.” cessation of hostilities deal brokered says he decorated the base himself in clashes in Aleppo. by the US and Russia. his spare time. Ahmad Jalal, meanwhile, uses his Although his fi ghters remain at the “The threat posed by the regime free afternoons to play football with ready, anticipating possible regime army on my front line has been nearly the other fi ghters in his brigade. violations, many are taking the oppor- halved,” he says. “I think the war will last a long time tunity to recover from wounds or take a “Before the ceasefi re, we clashed and will not end soon, but I hope it will long-awaited break from clashes. with the regime and exchanged artil- be over so I can go back to regular work “Now, I spend my time checking up lery on a near-daily basis. But now and get married,” he says. on the diff erent forward positions that there is a lot less shelling and there are Many fi ghters have dropped off their I’m responsible for to make sure fi ght- no air strikes inside the city,” Abu Nura weapons for cleaning at local depots, ers have everything they need in terms tells AFP. says Oday, who manages an ammuni- of food and drink,” Muhrem says. Fighting has not stopped altogether. tions warehouse in the city. “We drink coff ee late into the night Abu Nura accuses the regime of vio- “The owners of these weapons are and sometimes play together on the lating the truce in its fi rst hours and now on break. This is why they left PlayStation,” he says, smiling. says the rebels under his command are their weapons at the depot,” he says ‘Dawn of the Martyrs’ militants are even more vigilant than ever before - while wiping down a sniper rifl e. based in a crumbling apartment block even if they have more free time. Nearby in the rebel-held Ferdaws in the Karam al-Turab neighbourhood “Since the truce began, I spend some neighbourhood, rebel fi ghter Osama, of the city. of my time drinking tea and chatting 25, picks up small bags of vegetables White sheets dotted with bullet with my fellow fi ghters. The rest of the from the souk for his wife. holes hang across the neighbourhood time, I go home and spend time with Osama got married two months ago streets to hide the remaining residents my four children,” he says. but has yet to take his honeymoon be- from snipers. Even pro-regime Facebook pages cause of the intensity of the fi ghting Dressed in military gear, bored rebel have posted photos of beaming gov- around Aleppo city, particularly in re- fi ghters scroll through Facebook on ernment soldiers, reclining on plastic cent weeks. their mobile phones and chat with chairs and sipping glasses of tea. “But a few days ago, the command- family on the messaging application “Join us for a cup, it’s still our fi rst er of my brigade allowed me to take a WhatsApp. one!” the caption reads, above several week off ,” says the fi ghter. They sit in what appears to be an posts accusing opposition militants of “Now, I spend most of my time at ornately decorated sitting room in the truce violations. home and I feel like life is normal with- middle of a bombed-out district in Abu Fajr, a bald fi ghter of medium out the sound of airplanes and shell- Aleppo city. height with the Northern Division, ing - but I’m afraid that this is the calm Abu Nura, a 38-year old commander says he spends his time reminisc- before the storm.” Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 13 ARAB WORLD Netanyahu Controlled descent wants kin of attackers sent to Gaza AFP Army to return Palestinian land aft er decades: NGO Tel Aviv The Israeli army is to return West Grossman told AFP. “Palestinian Bank land it requisitioned nearly farmers rely on their land. sraeli Prime Minister Ben- 40 years ago to its Palestinian “For them to be able to return jamin Netanyahu has asked owners in what a human rights to these lands, maybe they can Ithe attorney general to ex- group called an “extremely unu- improve their lives.” amine the possibility of expelling sual” move. Grossman called on the army relatives of Palestinian attackers Israeli rights group Yesh Din to give up other land that it had who help in assaults to the Gaza said that the army had taken the seized but was no longer using. Strip, his offi ce said yesterday. decision to surrender control of “We shouldn’t have to go to court “Expelling family members of the land after it petitioned the every time,” he said. Palestinian terrorists who aided High Court late last year. The army did not immediately attacks to Gaza will lead to a The decision, which spares the respond to requests for comment. signifi cant decrease in terrorist army a potentially lengthy court Jalud village council leader attacks,” a spokesman for Netan- case, will see more than 170 hec- Abdullah Hamed welcomed the yahu said on Twitter. tares of what used to be valuable army’s decision to surrender A wave of violence in Israel farmland restored to its original control but said villagers were and the Palestinian territories owners, Yesh Din said. still waiting for a second decision Egyptian parachuters perform at the opening of the Egyptian International Parachuting Championship, organised by the Egyptian since October has killed 180 Pal- The land, which had been allowing them to actually return Parachuting and Air Sports Federation, in Giza yesterday. estinians as well as 28 Israelis, an seized for military purposes in the to their land. American, a Sudanese and an Er- 1970s and 1980s, had ceased to He said that before it was con- itrean, according to an AFP toll. be used by the army. fiscated, the land had supported Most of the Palestinians who The largest of the claims in- up to 1,000 people. died in the violence were killed by volves 170 hectares of land in the Israel seized the West Bank in Israeli forces while carrying out village of Jalud in the northern the Six Day War of 1967. In the knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, West Bank. early years of the occupation, the according to Israeli authorities. Control of other tracts of land army confiscated large tracts of US captures ‘signifi cant’ Others were shot dead by Is- near the city of Ramallah will also the territory for military purposes. raeli forces during clashes or be transferred. Some were later used for the demonstrations. “These are lands that have construction of Israeli settlements The Gaza Strip, hit by three been seized nearly 40 years regarded as illegal by the interna- wars with Israel since 2008 and ago,” Yesh Din spokesman Gilad tional community. IS operative inside Iraq run by Islamist movement Ha- mas, is under an Israeli blockade that severely restricts the move- political rival of the prime minis- breach of international law and AFP recent weeks and whom the Pentagon calls But we will not discuss the details of those ment of people and goods. ter requested expelling relatives the Geneva Convention.” Baghdad a specialized expeditionary targeting force, missions when it risks compromising op- It also has one of the world’s of attackers to Gaza or Syria. Further violence occurred ear- or ETF. erational security,” Pentagon spokesman highest unemployment rates, Netanyahu has come under lier yesterday when two 18-year- The Pentagon has until now been tight- Captain Jeff Davis told AFP. and the UN development agency heavy pressure from right-wing old Palestinians were killed by Is- S commandos have captured a “sig- lipped about the team’s operations, saying “One of the goals of the ETF is to capture said in September that condi- members of his coalition over the raeli troops after infi ltrating a West nifi cant” Islamic State operative in that discussing missions puts the elite fi ght- ISIL leaders,” he added, using an alternative tions in the strip could make it continuing wave of violence. Bank settlement and wounding a UIraq and are expected to seize several ers at risk. acronym for the IS group. uninhabitable by 2020. Sarit Michaeli, spokeswoman settler, the military said. more in the coming months, The New York The Times said the 200-member special “Any detention would be short-term and The Palestinian enclave, sepa- for Israeli rights group B’Tselem, Many analysts say Palestinian Times reported yesterday. operations team is made up of many Delta co-ordinated with Iraqi authorities.” rated from the occupied West said “it seems obvious that the frustration with Israeli occupa- The issue raises questions about what Force commandos. Offi cials told The Times that US interro- Bank by Israeli territory, has re- prime minister is under a lot of tion and settlement building in will happen to the detainee and others like Though it is small in number, it represents gators were with the detainee at a temporary mained relatively calm during pressure from the right now, the West Bank, the complete lack him, given that President Barack Obama has the fi rst major US ground combat force since detention facility in Erbil in northern Iraq. the current wave of violence. from politicians accusing him of of progress in peace eff orts and ruled out sending any more terror suspects the offi cial withdrawal of US troops at the He would eventually be handed over to Attorney General Avichai being soft against the wave of at- their own fractured leadership to Guantanamo Bay and the US does not end of 2011. Iraqi or Kurdish offi cials. Mandelblit has reportedly said tacks.” have fed the unrest. want to create a holding centre for IS cap- Another 3,870 or so US troops are in Iraq “We are not back in the business of having previously that such expulsions “Any form of collective pun- Israel blames incitement by tives in Iraq. on a mission to train and support Iraqi forces long-term detainees,” a US defense offi cial would violate both Israeli and in- ishment is illegal and in this case Palestinian leaders and media US offi cials declined to identify the de- fi ghting the IS group. told AFP. ternational law. the point is trying to punish the as a main cause of the violence. tainee to The Times, or say how much he The Pentagon declined to confi rm the re- Obama is trying to close the controversial Mandelblit was said to have re- relatives of attackers who aren’t Many of the attackers have been had co-operated. port, saying it would not discuss the ETF’s Guantanamo Bay prison but is unlikely to jected the idea after a member of actually accused of anything,” young Palestinians who appear The detainee was captured by elite special operations. succeed given staunch resistance in Con- Netanyahu’s cabinet who is also a she said. “This is a complete to have been acting on their own. operations troops who deployed to Iraq in “The ETF has begun operations in Iraq. gress.

Red Cross donates trees to war-ravaged Gaza Bureaucrat, old fungus law hold

AFP Egypt’s wheat supplies hostage Gaza City

By Eric Knecht and Maha El got will be rejected...it would cember for containing trace lev- he Red Cross yesterday Dahan, Reuters be very harmful if any level of els of ergot. began distributing thou- Cairo/Abu Dhabi contamination reached plants GASC was forced to cancel Tsands of almond trees to in Egypt.” two tenders after rattled trad- growers in the Gaza Strip whose Moussa reports to Agricul- ers and suppliers stayed away, fi elds along the border with Israel global grain glut should ture Minister Essam Fayed but uncertain that their shipments were ravaged in successive wars. make purchasing wheat a spokesman for the agriculture would be ergot free and fearing Mamadou Sow, head of the Acheap and easy for Egypt, ministry said he had no knowl- the heavy cost of having a ship- International Committee of the the world’s biggest importer, edge of the 2001 regulation ment rejected. Red Cross in the coastal Pales- but traders say one bureaucrat Moussa was relying on. After weeks of confusion, Min- tinian territory, said the organi- has made it anything but. “I don’t know anything about ister Fayed and Supply Minister sation would give “4,000 almond Saad Moussa, the head of the this topic, the last thing I have is Khaled Hanafi tried to reassure trees of diff erent varieties to agricultural quarantine agency, what was announced by the ag- the market in a joint press con- farmers along the border (whose refuses to let in a single grain riculture minister and the min- ference on February 7 that Egypt lands were) particularly exposed of wheat infected with ergot, a ister of supply that they would would accept all shipments with in the wars.” common fungus that can lead accept 0.05%,” spokesman Eid less than 0.05% ergot. Grower Marwan Abu Mhar- to hallucinations and irrational Hawash said. The following day Moussa’s reb, one of the benefi ciaries, de- behaviour in large quantities Offi cials at the Supply Minis- agency rejected a shipment of scribed life in the border zone, but at trace levels is of no harm try were not available for com- Canadian wheat, further baf- hit by three confl icts with Israel to humans. ment for this story. fl ing the market since 2008 and run by Islamist Confusion over Egypt’s po- Most Egyptian offi cials follow “This was a big surprise. It was militant movement Hamas. sition on ergot levels has dis- a diff erent specifi cation issued one day after the TV announce- “Every day we put our lives rupted wheat tenders, raising in 2010 by the Egyptian Organi- ment of both ministers...and all in danger by going to our land,” the possibility of a shortage of zation for Standardization and of a sudden the vessel is rejected. says the 45-year-old who grows grain which could pose a politi- Quality allowing trace levels of So do we have two diff erent deci- aubergines, courgettes and other cal problem for President Abdel 0.05%, the common worldwide sion makers in the same (agricul- vegetables in greenhouses, in ad- Fattah al-Sisi as the impover- standard and the one stipulat- ture) ministry?” the Cairo-based dition to the plot where he is now Mamadou Sow (right), head of the International Committee of the Red Cross sub-delegation in Gaza, rides ished population relies on high- ed by Egypt’s grain-importing trader said. planting the almond trees. a donkey-drawn cart loaded with almond seedlings in the Wadi as-Salqa town, near the border of central ly subsidised bread. body, the General Authority for According to documents seen “We are 700m or 800m from Gaza Strip with Israel. Offi cials at Moussa’s quaran- Supply Commodities (GASC). by Reuters, the shipment had the border,” he said. tine authority use a 2001 regu- “I am bound by the Egyp- a far lower ergot reading than “(Israeli) military patrols pass of defoliant along the border. Sheep farmers along the bor- know how I’m going to pay,” he lation, which Reuters has seen, tian specifi cations,” Mamdouh 0.05%. near our fi elds, every day we hear The Israeli military spokes- der believe the aim is to kill foli- said. stipulating zero tolerance for Abdel Fattah, vice chairman of Any Egyptian leader knows shots from their training areas” man’s offi ce told AFP that the age on which their fl ocks graze. The UN says that half of cul- ergot as their main guide, ac- GASC, told Reuters when asked ample supplies of low-cost on the other side of the border spraying was carried out to deny Sow said that the Red Cross tivable land in the Gaza Strip cording to a quarantine offi cial about the contradiction be- bread are key to maintaining fence. As he spoke, shots rang out cover for the planting of roadside had discussed the spraying with and 85% of fishery resources who declined to be named. tween the two, stressing that stability. in the distance sending a fl ock of bombs and other “destructive the Israeli military. “We hope this are inaccessible because they They fi rst used the rule to the 2010 specifi cations are more President Anwar Sadat trig- frightened storks into the sky. purposes”. will not happen again,” he said. are adjacent to borders under reject a wheat shipment in De- recent than the 2001 regulation gered riots when he cut the Palestinian farmers on the “The substance sprayed does Mohamed Abu Mharreb, also Israeli blockade for the past 10 cember. and is accepted internationally. bread subsidy in 1977. And when border are nervous too. “Who not harm the environment,” it planting almond trees donated years. Moussa, who did not respond Panic began to spread among Egyptians rose up against au- can say if an Israeli plane will added, before going on to say by the Red Cross, says that war In 1968, agriculture accounted to repeated attempts to contact traders after a 63,000-tonne tocrat Hosni Mubarak’s rule not come and destroy everything that it “will cause the surround- wipes out harvests but farmers’ for more than half of Palestinian him for this story, told Reuters French wheat shipment pur- in 2011, one of their signature anew,” another grower said, re- ing vegetation to wilt and prevent debts remain. “I still owe $4,200 gross domestic product, today it in January: “Any wheat that we chased by GASC was rejected chants was “Bread, freedom and ferring to Israeli aerial spraying its growth.” to my fertiliser dealer and I don’t represents about 4% to 5%. inspect that has any level of er- by the quarantine agency in De- social justice”. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, March 3, 2016 AFRICA Wall of water 2.5mn facing hunger in CAR The civil war has ruined the and the Food and Agriculture country’s ability to produce Organization (FAO) said in a food report that crop production in 2015 was less than half the pre- Reuters crisis average. London Killing and looting had al- most halved the number of cattle and reduced the number alf the population in of sheep and goats by almost Central African Re- 60%, they added. Damage to Hpublic are going hun- infrastructure and insecurity A general view of the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. gry every day, double the had also hit fi shing. number a year ago, UN offi cials An escalation of violence said as they called for help to in September helped exacer- prevent the “dire” food situa- bate a massive increase in food tion deteriorating further. prices, the agencies said, with Three years of bloodshed the price of beef almost double and the displacement of nearly pre-crisis levels. Protein-rich 1mn people from their homes groundnut fl our and fi sh were Ivory Coast toxic spill victims has disrupted harvests and also far more expensive. sent food prices soaring in the Two thirds of people sur- volatile country. veyed reported that they had “It is serious. The situation less food compared to the pre- is worse than last year,” World vious year. launch suit in Netherlands Food Programme (WFP) coun- The UN agencies said try director Bienvenu Djossa boosting agriculture was key said in a phone interview from for lasting peace in the country Agencies the Panamanian-registered Probo Koala brought fresh claims of damage caused company’s Nigerian subsidiary, SPDC. Bangui. where three quarters of people Abidjan freighter were prevented from being of- by spills to a London court. He added that both Bille and Ogale are “We do not want to cross our depend on farming. fl oaded for treatment in Amsterdam’s British legal fi rm Leigh Day has fi led areas “heavily impacted” by oil theft, (arms) and wait for a catastro- “...with the planting sea- port. two cases at the High Court in a bid to sabotage and illegal refi ning, activities phe to happen - that’s why we son starting in less than two housands of Ivorian victims of The ship and waste were sent to Abid- force the Anglo-Dutch energy major to which Shell has long argued are the main are saying we need more mon- months, boosting agriculture a deadly 2006 toxic waste spill jan instead, where it was dumped on the clean up damage caused in the communi- causes of pollution in the Niger Delta. ey. Our call would be, don’t let now is crucial to revitalising Tare suing Dutch multinational oil west African city’s waste tips. ties of Ogale and Bille in the Niger Delta, In Ogoniland, he said the company CAR be forgotten.” the economy and to stability trader Trafi gura to demand compensa- The 528 cubic metres of spent caus- Nigeria’s main oil-producing region, and was acting on the UN report through an Djossa said families are so in the country,” FAO country tion, their lawyers announced yesterday. tic soda, oil residues and water killed 17 provide compensation. 18-month clean-up and remediation short of food that children re- representative Jean-Alexandre The class-action lawsuit before the people and poisoned thousands, Ivorian In Bille, the lawyers hope to prove that programme agreed last year with the ceiving school meals under the Scaglia said in a statement. Amsterdam district court is the second in judges said. Shell is liable for failing to protect its Nigerian government and community WFP’s emergency programme WFP said it had only secured the Netherlands by a large group of resi- Trafi gura, which denies any link be- pipelines from damage caused by third members. put part of their serving in a about half the $89mn it needs dents from Ivory Coast’s southern eco- tween the waste and deaths, has previ- parties, which, they said, could mark a Chima Williams, of Environmental plastic bag to take home. until the end of July to respond nomic capital Abidjan who claim to have ously reached out-of-court settlements “signifi cant expansion” in the fi rm’s li- Rights Action (ERA)/Friends of the En- Nearly 2.5mn people now to the needs of 1.4mn people in been aff ected by the spill. for €33mn and €152mn in Britain and the ability. vironment, a Nigerian environmental face hunger with many sur- CAR and neighbouring coun- Law fi rm Beer Advocaten said in a Ivory Coast. A 2011 report by the United Nations rights lobby group, said the response to viving on cheap, low-nutrient tries hosting CAR refugees. statement that summons had been issued The company, headquartered in Swit- Environment Programme found that the UN report did not address the issue of food, WFP said. Families have FAO, which has been helping on behalf of Dutch group Stichting Vic- zerland but registered in the Nether- decades of oil pollution in Ogoniland re- compensation. been forced to sell their pos- farmers with seeds and tools times des Dechets Toxiques Cote d’Ivoire lands, declined to comment. gion, where Ogale is located, may require “This is why the London suit is very sessions, pull their children and vaccinating livestock, is (Victims of Toxic Waste in Ivory Coast). Amsterdam district court spokeswom- the world’s biggest ever clean-up. important at this point. It will bridge out of school and even resort to appealing for $86mn. “In the summons, the foundation ar- an Anke Pouw confi rmed summons had Leigh Day says that Shell, historically the gap in terms of helping the people of begging. Acute food insecurity National radio reported on gues that oil trader Trafi gura has acted been fi led against Trafi gura. Nigeria’s largest producer, has failed to Ogoniland to get off the ground and have has risen fi ve times in the space Tuesday that the constitution- unlawfully towards those who are suf- “The case is running... but so far there act on the report despite its promises -- their lives back,” he told AFP. of a year, Djossa added. al court had confi rmed that fering health damage caused by contact have been no dates planned for any even- a claim that was also levelled last year by Shell agreed in January 2015 to pay The country suff ered the former mathematics professor with toxic wastes,” the lawyers said. tual hearing,” she told AFP. Amnesty International. more than $80mn to the Nigerian fi sh- worst crisis in its history in early Faustin-Archange Touadera Lawyer Bojan Dekker told AFP that ex- She confi rmed it was the second such The lawyers argued in a press state- ing community of Bodo for two serious 2013 when mainly Muslim Sele- had been elected president. act numbers of victims were not fi nalised a case to go before Dutch courts after a ment that the 40,000-strong Ogale oil spills in 2008, following a three-year ka fi ghters toppled then leader Touadera, who has pledged “but that according to both the Ivorian suit last year by French-based lawyers, community continues to live with legal battle brought by Leigh Day in Lon- Francois Bozize. Christian mi- to make peace and disarma- government and the UN around 100,000 claiming compensation of €2,500 each, “chronic levels” of land and water pollu- don. litias responded by attacking ment his priorities, will be people have been aff ected by Trafi gura’s totalling nearly €280mn. tion, which has had a devastating impact A Dutch court also ruled in December the Muslim minority. The WFP sworn in on March 25. waste and that about 70,000 people have That case too is still in progress, said on its farming and fi shing. that four Nigerian farmers demanding not been compensated yet”. Pouw. In hearings expected to take place later compensation and a clean-up in four He also stressed an amount claimed for Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell came under this year, Shell will argue that the two heavily-polluted Niger Delta villages can each victim had not yet been set. renewed scrutiny yesterday over its envi- cases should be heard in Nigeria, not in bring a case against the energy giant in In mid-2006 toxic residues on board ronmental record in Nigeria after lawyers Britain, according to a spokesman for the the Netherlands. Malawi mob burns seven to death

S African private army protects AFP bones in the bag “to establish Malawi whether they are albino hu- mans or not”. Albinos, who have white mob in southern Ma- skin and yellow hair as a re- world’s largest rhino farm lawi burned seven men sult of a genetic disorder, Ato death for allegedly are regularly killed for their possessing human bones for body parts, which are used in AFP with a piece of mutton cloth and old socks use in witchcraft, police said witchcraft rituals in several Pretoria used for makeshift earplugs. yesterday. in African countries includ- The horns are measured and a line is The seven were “found in ing Malawi, Mozambique and marked precisely where it will be cut, mak- possession of human bones Tanzania. he world’s largest rhino farm looks ing sure blood vessels are not touched. and the mob took it upon “We also want fi nd out who like a vast fortress and is guarded by Then a handheld power saw cuts through themselves to burn them with actually torched these peo- Ta private army. the horn. The procedure is painless for the petrol”, Kirdy Kaunga, head of ple,” Kadazera added, saying At night a helicopter fi tted with an infra- animal. the Nsanje district police, told police condemned “mob jus- red camera circles over the 8,000 hectare “We trim their horns for their safety and AFP. tice” where members of the electric-fenced ranch in South Africa, and to deter poaching,” said Otto. A traditional chief said lo- public took the law into their by day armed men in military fatigues are Despite the dehorning and the massive cal suspicions were aroused own hands. on patrol. security cordon around the ranch, 39 rhi- as a result of the movements Identifi cation of the vic- Their sole mission: to protect 1,200 rhi- nos have been poached there since 2008. and telephone conversations tims was proving diffi cult nos from poachers, who killed 1,175 of the Back at the farm building, the horns are of one of the seven, who was due to their severe injuries, he horned beasts across the country last year. weighed. A total of 23kg have been harvest- found to have a bag contain- said. Rhinos are being slaughtered in record ed on this day, said farm general manager ing the bones. At least six albinos have numbers to meet the insatiable demand for Johnny Hennop. “He was chased and arrest- been killed in Malawi since a their horns in countries such as China and Rangers and farm workers dehorning a rhino. Each horn is then numbered and they ed,” chief Tengani, who only surge in attacks which began Vietnam, often for use in traditional ‘medi- are stored in metal trunks where they are uses one name, told AFP. in December 2014, although cines’. Horns peddled on the black market are in security costs -- is kept secret, to protect wrapped in baby diapers to protect them “The man is said to have UN agencies put the fi gure at The horn is mainly hard keratin, the from dead rhinos but, if trade is allowed, it from poachers ravaging game parks else- from moisture while mothballs are strewn confi rmed that his bag con- nine. same substance found in human nails, but demand would be fed from live ones. Just where across the country. around the containers to keep bugs away. tained human bones and Last summer, Malawi on the black market where it is sold in pow- like nails, cut horns will regrow. On the plains of South Africa’s North The boxes are then sealed and are ready that’s when the mob began launched an investigation dered form it is believed to cure cancer and “We can supply horns from live rhinos, West province where the farm is located, a to be moved to a safe location. rounding up the seven and into the root cause of the albi- other diseases. while now every single horn that you are dozen rhinos were due for dehorning when Hume has a stockpile of fi ve tonnes in burned them, one by one.” no murders, in a move backed It can fetch as much as $60,000 per kilo- supplying to the demand is coming from a AFP visited. banks and with private security companies. Images from the scene by the United Nations Chil- gramme, more than gold or cocaine. dead rhino. Surely that is stupid. It abso- Standing at the back of a pick-up truck, It is potentially worth a fortune, but is showed the men being burned dren’s Fund. Clad in khaki shorts, blue shirt and san- lutely fl ummoxes me,” said Hume. Menard Mathe used a pair of binoculars to worthless as long as the ban in internation- on a patch of grass surround- In September, a teacher was dals, wealthy South African businessman Plans to legalise the trade are controver- identify the animals earmarked for dehorn- al trade in rhino horn remains in place. ed by locals, with some chil- arrested on suspicion of try- and rhino farmer John Hume says he has sial, however, and are fi ercely debated by ing. The ranch’s security chief, Stefran dren looking on. ing to sell an albino schoolgirl bred 600 rhino since 2008, but his target is conservationists. In front of the vehicle, veterinarian Broekman, who previously worked at pri- Police arrived after the in- for $10,000, and several oth- to breed 200 each year. Hume opened the farm in 2008 after Michelle Otto drew her gun and darted one vate game reserves, says he is “frustrated” cident, which took place on ers are awaiting trial in con- “The way we are going to save the rhino selling hotels he owned. animal with a powerful anaesthetic. that even when poachers are arrested in Tuesday in Nsanje, the south- nection with albino-related from extinction is to breed more and pro- Today he employs around 60 full-time A few minutes later, the gigantic animal South Africa, some of them get away with ernmost district of Malawi. So crimes, including murder, tect them, and that is what I am trying to do staff ers plus his “army”, whose strength he began to stagger. a “small fi ne”. far, there have been no arrests. abduction and possession of here,” said Hume. refuses to divulge on the grounds that it is Otto cautiously walked towards it, and At the turn of a muddy track, Broek- James Kadazera, police their bones. His next battle is to secure the legalisa- “too sensitive.” another worker secured its hind legs with a man’s face lights up on seeing a newborn spokesman for the southern The government has also tion of international trade in horns, which Even the exact location of the farm -- rope, forcing it to fall limply to the ground. calf suckling his mother under a tree. It was region, said experts would held awareness events to try has been outlawed since 1977. where he spends some $170,000 a month Quickly the rhino’s eyes were covered born overnight. conduct a postmortem on the to protect the minority. Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 15 AMERICAS

He wasn’t worth it? L’Oreal reveals saying no to Eau de Trump French cosmetics giant L’Oreal revealed yesterday that Donald Trump had asked them to make a perfume in his name about a dec- Trump and Clinton win ade ago, but the beauty company said no. However, it was nothing personal against the divisive US billionaire and presidential hopeful, said L’Oreal chairman Jean-Paul Agon. “Trump wanted us to make a perfume for him, but we didn’t,” big on Super Tuesday Agon said. L’Oreal preferred to focus on Reuters perfumes under the licence of Washington prestigious fashion brands such as Giorgo Armani, Ralph Lauren or Yves Saint Laurent, he explained. epublican Donald Trump In the end Trump, who has com- and Democrat Hillary plained bitterly about American RClinton have taken steps jobs being shipped overseas, hired toward securing their parties’ US beauty care company Estee presidential nominations with a Lauder which in 2004 produced series of state-by-state victories, “Donald Trump, The Fragrance”. but their rivals vowed to keep on Other Trump perfumes followed fi ghting. such as “Success” in 2012 and On Super Tuesday, the 2016 “Empire” in 2015. campaign’s biggest day of state- Last year American department by-state nominating contests, story Macy’s dropped Trump- Trump, 69, and Clinton, 68, branded merchandise after he proved themselves the undis- made controversial comments puted front-runners to succeed about Mexican immigrants. Democratic President Barack The real estate mogul is looking Obama. more likely than ever to become Now they are under pressure the Republican candidate in US to show they can unify voters in presidential elections in November their respective parties before after winning seven of 11 states on the November 8 election and, in Super Tuesday. Trump’s case, avoid a potentially disastrous split in the Republican For the Republicans, Trump was victorious in Alabama, Georgia, ranks. Tennessee, Massachusetts, Virginia, Arkansas, and Vermont, while We’ve all been underdogs.” US networks projected Trump for the Democrats, Clinton (left) took Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Rubio’s plight was such that won seven states, with victories Virginia, Arkansas, Texas, Massachusetts, and the South Pacific Senator Lindsey Graham, an es- stretching into the Deep South territory of American Samoa. tablishment South Carolina Re- and as far north as Massachu- publican, told CBS News that the setts, adding to a sense of mo- best chance of stopping the New side Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm there’s nobody that’s going to going to get along great with we’re not going to let it work.” party’s voters might need to rally mentum he had built last month York billionaire. Beach, Florida, Trump, who has beat us.” him.” Sanders thanked supporters around Cruz, who has been one by winning three of the fi rst four Rubio, the Republican estab- never held public offi ce, dis- The rivals of both Trump and “And if I don’t, he’s going to in his hometown of Burlington, of the most disliked public fi g- contests. lishment’s favourite, was pro- missed furious criticism aimed Clinton aim to knock them off have to pay a big price, OK?” Vermont, and also targeted the ures in Washington. Clinton’s victories in seven jected the winner in Minnesota, at him by establishment Repub- their pedestals this month in Trump added in remarks that Republican front-runner. “I can’t believe I would say states were just as impressive but his fi rst victory in the party’s licans. contests in Michigan, Florida and could further infl ame tensions. “We are not going to let the yes, but yes,” Graham said when in many ways predictable, pro- nominating contests. Faced with a party in turmoil Illinois. Clinton, who still faces a well- Donald Trumps of the world di- asked about the idea of support- pelled by African-American vot- Clinton rival Bernie Sanders, over his ideas to build a wall be- The country’s top two elected funded Sanders despite having vide us,” said Sanders, 74. ing Cruz as a way of stopping ers in southern states like Arkan- a US senator from Vermont, also tween the United States and Republicans, House Speaker Paul taken control of the Democratic For Rubio, 44, it was a day of Trump. sas, where she and her husband, won his home state along with Mexico, deport 11mn illegal im- Ryan and Senate Majority Leader race, was eager to assail Trump as reckoning. His losses piled up Cruz said at his victory party in former president Bill Clinton, Colorado, Minnesota and Okla- migrants and bar Muslims from Mitch McConnell, had chastised a way of getting her party’s vot- after a week in which he labeled Texas that Trump was a “Wash- began their political careers. homa but lost to her in Massa- entering the country, Trump de- Trump over his delayed disavow- ers used to the idea of her as the Trump a “con artist” and ex- ington dealmaker, profane and Trump’s main rivals, US sena- chusetts, which he had hoped to clared that he had expanded the al of an endorsement by David nominee. changed schoolyard taunts with vulgar, who has a lifelong pattern tors Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco win. party by drawing in disaff ected Duke, a former leader of the Ku “The stakes in this election the reality TV star. of using government power for Rubio of Florida, said they were The democratic socialist blue-collar Democrats who like Klux Klan white supremacist have never been higher, and the Suddenly, the March 15 con- personal gain”. determined to remain in the race. vowed to pursue the battle for the his tough-on-trade rhetoric. group. rhetoric we’re hearing on the test in Florida, his home state, Cruz added the Republican Cruz, 45, won Texas and nomination in the 35 states yet to “I am a unifi er,” he said. “I “I’ve disavowed,” Trump said. other side has never been lower,” loomed over him as a must-win. caucuses in Alaska to his victo- neighbouring Oklahoma, as well vote. would love to see the Republican “I’m going to get along with Clinton told supporters in Miami. “Florida, I know you’re ready,” ries early yesterday. as the Alaska caucuses, bolster- At a news conference in a Party and everybody get together Congress, OK? Paul Ryan, I don’t “Trying to divide America be- Rubio said. “The pundits say “Thank you Alaska!” he said ing his argument that he had the chandeliered ballroom at his sea- and unify, and when we unify, know him well, but I’m sure I’m tween us and them is wrong, and we’re underdogs. I’ll accept that. on Twitter. Vetted experts invited US Supreme Court hears to ‘Hack the Pentagon’ major Texas abortion case

AFP/Reuters Such programmes allow cyber “Bringing in the best talent, Reuters jority invalidating the law, or Washington experts to fi nd and identify prob- technology and processes from Washington parts of it. lems before malicious hackers the private sector ... helps us Kennedy in past cases has can exploit them, saving money deliver comprehensive, more se- supported a fundamental right ver wanted to hack Un- and time in the event of damag- cure solutions to the DOD,” said he US Supreme Court to abortion but he has also en- cle Sam? Provided you are ing network breaches. Chris Lynch, a former Microsoft heard yesterday argu- dorsed restrictions, including EAmerican and can pass a One senior defence offi cial executive and technology entre- Tments in a major abor- bans on a late-term abortion background check, you can go said thousands of qualifi ed par- preneur who heads DDS. tion case focusing on whether procedure. right ahead, the Pentagon said ticipants were expected to join Carter introduced Lynch dur- a Texas law that imposes strict The Texas law requires abor- yesterday. the initiative. ing a speech to the Common- regulations on abortion doctors tion doctors to have “admitting The US Department of De- Details and rules were still wealth Club on Tuesday and said and clinic buildings interferes privileges” at a hospital within fence is inviting vetted hackers being worked out but the com- he had already recruited coders with the constitutional right of 30 miles (48km) of the clinic so to test its cyber-security under a petition could involve monetary from companies like Google and a woman to end her pregnancy. they can treat patients needing programme that is the fi rst of its awards, the Pentagon said. Shopify for a Pentagon “tour of Eight justices were on the surgery or other critical care. kind in the federal government. The Pentagon has long tested duty”. bench as arguments began in the Abortion providers say the Called “Hack the Pentagon”, its own networks using internal The Pentagon announced the case, not the usual nine. provision already has prompted the so-called bug bounty pro- so-called “red teams” but this initiative while Carter visited The February 13 death of con- clinics to close because this for- gramme will give cash awards initiative would open at least Silicon Valley in California yes- servative Justice Antonin Scal- Supporters of legal access to abortion, as well as anti-abortion mal hospital affi liation is diffi - and other recognition to par- some of the department’s vast terday. ia, who opposed abortion and activists, rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. cult for clinic doctors to obtain. ticipants who can identify weak- network of computer systems to It is his third visit to the backed restrictions on it, means The abortion providers also nesses on the Pentagon’s public cyber challenges from across in- world’s tech heartland and he the court no longer has fi ve con- The court has not ruled in an “This pro-life culture has just are challenging provisions in web pages. dustry and academia. has repeatedly stressed the need servatives who might support abortion case since 2007. erupted in Texas and dehuman- the law, not yet in eff ect, that “I am always challenging our The Pentagon said sensitive for the Pentagon to innovate and more restrictive abortion regu- The Texas case represents a ised women who even want to mandate that clinics have costly, people to think outside the fi ve- networks or key weapons pro- work with tech partners. lations nationwide. high-stakes constitutional test have an abortion,” she said. hospital-grade facilities. sided box that is the Pentagon,” grammes would not be included, Carter also announced plans The court potentially could for a strategic shift that abortion Annie Piper, a student at The Supreme Court found Defence Secretary Ashton Carter at least initially. to establish a “Defence Innova- split 4-4, with its four liberal opponents have taken in recent Liberty University, a Christian a constitutional right to end a said. “Inviting responsible hack- “The goal is not to comprise tion Advisory Board” that will justices opposing the abortion years: to apply restrictive regu- college in Lynchburg, Virginia, pregnancy in the landmark 1973 ers to test our cyber-security any aspect of our critical sys- be chaired by Eric Schmidt, ex- restrictions and its four con- lations to abortion doctors and voiced support for the law. Roe v. Wade case. That deci- certainly meets that test. I am tems, but to still challenge our ecutive chairman of Alphabet, servatives backing the regu- facilities rather than try to ban “These actually are laws that sion was affi rmed in 1992, as the confi dent this innovative ini- cyber-security in a new and in- Google’s parent company. lations, an action that would the procedure outright. are trying to help women,” Piper justices ruled that any regula- tiative will strengthen our digital novative way,” said the senior de- The board will give Pentagon let stand a lower-court ruling Activists on both sides of said. “A lot of abortion clin- tion must not impose an “undue defenses and ultimately enhance fence offi cial. leaders independent advice on that affi rmed the Texas law but the issue gathered outside the ics don’t have the resources to burden” on women seeking an our national security.” The initiative is being led by ways to address “future organi- would not set a nationwide legal courthouse on a chilly, blustery provide proper care for women, abortion. The pilot programme is mod- the Pentagon’s Defence Digital sational and cultural challenges, precedent. day. so all our legislators are doing is At issue in the case being eled after similar competitions Service (DDS), which was set up including the use of technol- The state contends that the Among the hundreds of dem- making sure women get safe and heard is whether the Texas re- conducted by major fi rms to im- last November to bring experts ogy alternatives”, Pentagon press Republican-backed 2013 law onstrators was Taylor Crump- proper healthcare.” quirements violate that prin- prove network and product secu- from the US technology industry secretary Peter Cook said in a protects women’s health. ton, who came from rural Texas There is a chance that con- ciple by putting a “substantial rity. into the military for short stints. statement. The abortion providers who to protest against the Texas servative Justice Anthony obstacle” in the path of a woman have challenged it assert that it law, saying that “every single Kennedy, who often casts the before a foetus becomes viable. is aimed at shutting down their abortion clinic I’ve ever seen or deciding vote in close cases, A ruling is due by the end of What a relief: no more New York arrests for public urination clinics. known has been shut down”. could join the liberals for a ma- June.

New York police are loosening up – at least when it seats on the subway, only if there is a clear public comes to boozing and urinating on the street. safety reason to do so, Manhattan district attorney From next Monday, petty off enders will no longer Cyrus Vance said. be arrested or prosecuted in Manhattan for minor The change in policy is expected to ease the burden Trudeau brother backs alleged Al Qaeda sleeper misdeeds such as public consumption of alcohol, of around 10,000 arrests otherwise being processed public urination or putting your feet on the seat in in the Manhattan criminal court. the subway. America has the highest incarceration rate in the AFP ed Harkat, a 47-year-old former indefi nite jailing without charge tifi cates are “fundamentally Off icials say the city is introducing the reform to developed world, 20% of whom are awaiting trial. Ottawa pizza delivery man who has been of foreigners suspected of terror unfair”. give police more time to focus on serious crime – Off icials hope the reform will prevent unnecessary fi ghting for more than a decade ties. “I am absolutely convinced following an increase in homicides, gang-motivated jail time for low-level off enders who cannot post bail. to stay in Canada. It has been at the centre of that at this moment, he (Harkat) shootings, rape and robbery in 2015. “By ensuring courts are not unnecessarily bogged he brother of Prime Min- The documentary fi lmmaker a post-911 legal and politi- poses no danger whatsoever to Overall crime fell 1.7% in the largest US city, but major down with minor off ences committed by those who ister Justin Trudeau has has long supported Harkat, re- cal shake-up in Canada that the public or to public safety in crime rose 3% in Manhattan in 2015, albeit up from pose no threat to public safety, we help focus police Tasked Canada’s public portedly off ering in 2005 to act has pitted security advocates Canada, but rather off ers a posi- an historic low in 2014. and prosecutorial resources on those who commit safety minister to intervene to as his surety in a bail applica- against champions of civil liber- tive commitment to the life he “Today’s reforms allow our hardworking police serious crimes,” said Vance. halt the deportation of an Alge- tion, while steadfastly opposing ties. has created here.” off icers to concentrate their eff orts on the narrow “We enable off icers to get back to patrolling, rian man accused of being an Al a provision of Canada’s immi- In a letter to Public Safety A spokesman for Goodale group of individuals driving violent crime in New investigating and keeping our neighbourhoods safe. Qaeda sleeper agent. gration law used to detain him. Minister Ralph Goodale pub- confi rmed receipt of the letter York City,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. And by reducing unnecessary incarceration, we Alexandre Trudeau urged the The seldom-used national lished in the Ottawa Citizen and its contents, but declined People will be arrested for minor off ences, other make our criminal justice system fairer for all New government in a letter to quash security measure allows tribu- newspaper, Alexandre Trudeau to comment on the request for examples of which include littering or taking up two Yorkers,” he added. its own order to deport Moham- nals to be held in secrecy and said the so-called security cer- leniency. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, March 3, 2016 ASEAN Chinese worker dies, three wounded in Laos attack

AFP The assault took place late Tuesday also attacked later that night, leaving ince that has seen a spate of dead- shadowy insurgency by ethnic Hmong growing footprint in the poor nation Beijing on property belonging to a Chinese- at least fi ve Laos nationals injured. ly bomb and gun attacks in recent against Laos’ Communist rulers. has stirred unease in among locals in backed company in Laos’ Luang Pra- Laos police were dispatched to “wipe months. In January, two Chinese na- The rebels are believed to be the recent years. bang province, Xinhua news agency out the militants,” the report said. tionals were reportedly killed, includ- remnants of anti-Communist militias China has invested heavily in Laos Chinese national was killed and said, without naming the business. Luang Prabang is a tourist haven, ing an employee of a Chinese mining recruited by the US during its secret and funnelled its water, forestry and three others wounded in an at- The report did not say who was be- and the main city is a Unesco site re- company, and one injured in a suspect- operations in Laos amid the Vietnam mineral extracts back to the mainland. Atack in Laos, state media report- hind the violence or why the workers nowned for its colonial-era architec- ed bomb attack in a mountainous re- War. Neither Laos nor China’s Com- Laos will host president Barack ed yesterday, the second time this year may have been targeted. ture and natural beauty. gion, prompting a travel warning from munist leaders touched on a suspected Obama later this year as the culmina- workers from China have been targeted But it said a pick-up truck and bus The district where the attack took the US Embassy in Vientiane. motive behind the assaults against tion of its chairmanship of the Asean in the resource-rich nation. passing through the same district were place is north of Xaisomboun, a prov- In the past, the area has hosted a Chinese nationals. However Beijing’s regional bloc. Mozambique plane debris ‘believed to be from Boeing 777’

Reuters Earlier yesterday, NBC Kuala Lumpur News said the piece could be a horizontal stabilizer from a Boeing 777, citing US, Malay- ebris believed to be part sian and Australian investi- of a Boeing 777 jet has gators who looked at photos Dbeen found off Mozam- of the debris. bique and will be taken to Aus- The piece of debris was tralia to be examined by inves- discovered off the east Afri- tigators involved in the search can coast between Mozam- for the missing Flight MH370, bique and Madagascar. Malaysia’s transport minister Flight MH370 disappeared said. two years ago when it was en Liow Tiong Lai said there is route to Beijing from Kuala a “high possibility” that the Lumpur. Last year authorities piece of debris belonged to a found a piece of the plane’s 777 jet but added he could not wing on the shore of Reunion conclude yet that it was from island in the Indian Ocean on the missing Malaysia Airlines the other side of Madagascar. jetliner. “It is yet to be confirmed “The debris will be taken to and verified....I urge every- Australia for further exami- one to avoid undue specula- nation,” he told Reuters. tion as we are not able to con- An official in Mozam- clude that the debris belongs bique’s foreign ministry to MH370 at this time,” Liow told Reuters the fragment said on his Twitter account. Indonesian residents use a variety of transport options as they rush to higher ground in Padang late yesterday,, after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of the island of Sumatra. was being flown to the capi- Flight MH370 disappeared tal Maputo from Inham- on March 8, 2014, with 239 bane province, 800km to the passengers and crew on board, north, and would arrive today and is believed to have crashed evening. It would be exam- in the Indian Ocean. An initial ined in Maputo by Malaysian search of a 60,000sq km area and US experts, the official of sea fl oor has been extended Powerful quake in western said. to another 60,000sq km. Indonesia sparks panic US slams Malaysian

AFP pelago is regularly hit by quakes quake struck near Padang in attacks on free press Padang and in 2010 was devastated by a 2009. quake-triggered tsunami that Plans for evacuation shelters left hundreds dead. and improved roads to provide AFP journalists and social media powerful and shallow Aceh province on the tip of better escape routes from tsu- Washington users. earthquake struck yes- Sumatra was devastated by a namis since 2004 have mostly “Malaysian offi cials have Aterday off Indonesia’s Su- quake-triggered tsunami in not been realised, according to also publicly described com- matra island, sending panicked 2004. The tsunami killed more experts. he US issued a rare stern ing amendments to its Com- residents rushing from their than 170,000 people in Indo- In Australia, to the east of rebuke to friend and ally munications and Multimedia homes in a region hit hard by nesia and tens of thousands the Indonesian archipelago, TMalaysia yesterday over Act that would further restrict quakes and tsunamis in the past. more in other countries around authorities said there was no what it said were attempts to online space,” he said. Local authorities initially the Indian Ocean. tsunami threat to the Austral- muzzle the free press. While hailing Washington issued a tsunami warning but Disaster agency spokesman ian mainland but issued a ma- The southeast Asian na- and Kuala Lumpur’s close ties, lifted it several hours later, and Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said rine threat to Cocos Island and tion is in political crisis, amid he urged Malaysia “to ensure there were no immediate re- tsunami warning sirens were Christmas Island off the east corruption allegations against that all its laws, existing and ports of casualties or damage. activated after the earthquake coast. Prime Minister Najib Razak, future, fully respect freedom The 7.8 magnitude undersea and “people responded to the Evacuations were not re- and has cracked down on me- of expression.” quake struck at a depth of 24 early warning by evacuating to quired, according to the Joint dia reporting. Najib is under pressure over kilometres at about 6:50 pm higher places”. Australian Tsunami Warning The State Department allegations billions of dollars (1250 GMT), the US Geological Bambang Soelistyo, head of Centre, but there was a possi- criticised Malaysia’s “recent had been pilfered from state Survey said. Indonesia’s search and rescue bility of dangerous waves and actions to restrict access to fi rms and that he has had hun- The epicentre was several agency, said there had not been strong currents. domestic and international re- dreds of millions in his bank hundred kilometres from the any reports of casualties so far. People in Christmas Island porting on Malaysian current account. Mentawai Islands, a small “In the Mentawai Islands, were advised to get out of the aff airs.” This week the Wall Street chain southwest of the coun- there has been no reports of water and move away from the A statement, signed by Journal, citing foreign investi- try’s main western island of Indonesian patients and relatives gather outside a hospital in Padang damage and people have been immediate water’s edge. spokesman John Kirby, cited gators, reported that the prime Sumatra. late yesterday, after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of the evacuating to higher areas,” he Sri Lanka’s Disaster Man- a decision last month to block minister may have received as The quake was felt strongly island of Sumatra. said. agement Centre, a government access to news site “The Ma- much as $1bn from abroad. in Padang, a major city on west- Indonesia sits on the Pacific agency for the Indian Ocean laysian Insider” as cause for Najib’s offi ce denounced the ern Sumatra, sparking panic. Traffic ground to a halt and tsunami alert for several prov- “Ring of Fire”, where the meet- island where tens of thousands concern. report, but he has previously An AFP journalist there said there was a sense of panic on inces with coastlines on west- ing of continental plates causes died in the 2004 disaster, did And he complained Malay- acknowledged that he received people ran from their homes the streets, the journalist said. ern Sumatra but later lifted the strong seismic activity, and is not issue a tsunami warning sia “has not acted transpar- a multimillion-dollar “per- and fled to higher ground by The local BMKG quake- warning. frequently hit by earthquakes. yesterday, but said it was mon- ently nor provided due proc- sonal donation” from Saudi motorbike, car or on foot. monitoring agency issued a The small Mentawai archi- Hundreds died when a major itoring the situation. ess” in targeting media groups, Arabia.

CRIME Cambodia’s Kampot pepper wins EU recognition Malaysia customs seizes 159kg in Thai army summons politician for criticism Cambodia’s Kampot pepper, Kampot has long been regarded famed for its intense floral by many chefs as producing smuggled ivory flavour, has won protection from one of the world’s finest pepper AFP a big deal. Don’t think too much about it They are released once they sign a form the European Union - joining strains. The peppercorns come Malaysian authorities said yesterday Bangkok or be anxious about it.” In a post calling on promising to refrain from criticising au- an exclusive club of gourmet in green, white, black and red they had confiscated 159 kilograms the military to cease their monitoring of thorities, sometimes under the threat of favourites including champagne, varieties, with the latter the most of ivory smuggled by air passengers, Yingluck, Watana said it was “unbeliev- asset seizures. Cornish pasties, Gorgonzola sought after. the latest seizures in a country used hailand’s junta yesterday sum- able to hear such comments” by Prawit. According to local rights group iLaw, cheese and Darjeeling tea. It gained global acclaim during as a key Asian transit point in the moned an opposition politician for “They were sexist comments,” he added. which monitors detentions, more than 800 The announcement, made in a the French colonial occupation illegal trade. Customs off icials, who T“attitude adjustment” after he be- Speaking to reporters yesterday General people have been ordered to attend such statement yesterday, is the first of Cambodia when it was ex- said the haul was worth $382,200, rated a senior general for making “sexist” Prawit confi rmed Watana had been “in- sessions since the coup. While junta chief time the EU has awarded its ported widely, but the industry displayed the seized elephant tusks remarks about ousted premier Yingluck vited to talk”— the Thai junta’s Orwellian and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan- “Protected Geographical Indica- was nearly wiped out during the at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Shinawatra. euphemism for a period of compulsory O-Cha is very much the frontman for Thai- tion” status to a Cambodian Khmer Rouge era. They said two Vietnamese men were Military offi cials said Watana Muang- detention — for “expressing false infor- land’s coup, his colleague Prawit is seen as product. The ruling means only In more recent years it has arrested at the airport upon arrival sook, a prominent fi gure in the Pheu Thai mation”. “The invitation is not related to an equally infl uential backroom operator. pepper grown in the southern bounced back, with Kampot last Saturday after they were found party that was toppled by the 2014 army him blaming me but he expressed an opin- A former army chief and defence min- Cambodian province under spe- pepper gracing hip restaurant to be carrying bags containing 101 takeover, would be held in custody for up ion that misled society, so we invited him ister, Prawit is often described as the “Big cific conditions can market itself menus across the globe. kilograms of ivory. Later that day, to seven days. for talks,” Prawit said. Brother” of the Eastern Tigers, a clique of inside EU member countries as Nguon Lay, president of Cambo- another bag containing 58 kilograms His detention follows a Facebook post Since seizing power in May 2014 the powerful generals who were prominent in Kampot pepper. dia’s Kampot Pepper Promotion was discovered at the airport. Authori- attacking the Thai junta’s deputy leader junta has crushed dissent, banning politi- both the 2014 and 2006 coups. “Mrech Kampot (Kampot pep- Association, said he was grateful ties believe that bag belonged to a for saying that soldiers continued to pho- cal discussion, locking up opponents and Prawit is not alone in making gaff es per) will benefit from a very for the new protection that Vietnamese passenger who had tograph Yingluck, two years after she was dramatically increasing prosecutions un- about women. Prime Minister Prayut had high level of protection on the would prevent marketers from flown in from Ethiopia, bound for toppled from offi ce, because she is good- der laws covering lese majeste, sedition to apologise in 2014 for comments sug- EU market,” the EU said in a slapping the name onto prod- Hanoi. Authorities said they were still looking. and computer crime. So-called “attitude gesting beautiful foreign women wearing statement. ucts which were not authentic. looking for that third suspect. Traff ic, “The soldiers took photos of Ms adjustment” sessions have also been insti- bikinis in Thailand should not expect to be The move outlaws “imitations “Kampot pepper is very famous the wildlife trade monitoring group, Yingluck probably because she is pretty,” tuted, with critics arbitrarily detained by safe, following the brutal rape and murder and evocations of the name”. so it is easily faked,” he said. said the latest haul showed poachers General Prawit Wongsuwon said. “It’s not the military -- often for days. of a British backpacker. were adopting new methods. Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 17 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Sheltered by concrete Tibetans set fi re to themselves

AFP ethnic majority Han. Beijing Tibetan monks within China have reported a campaign of government intimidation tar- wo Tibetans — a monk geting the family and friends in China and a teenager of those who set themselves Tin India — set them- on fi re. selves on fi re on the same day Also on Monday, 16-year- to protest Beijing’s ironclad old Dorje Tsering set himself control of the Himalayan re- on fi re in the northern Indian gion, a rights group and re- city of Dehradun, RFA and Free ports said yesterday. Tibet said. Kalsang Wangdu self-im- He survived with burns to 95 molated in front of his mon- percent of his body and was astery in a Tibetan area of Si- hospitalised in Delhi. chuan province on Monday, “I have had a strong de- reported Radio Free Asia (RFA), termination to do some- which is funded by the US gov- thing for Tibet since my ernment. childhood,” a video showed London-based campaign him saying in his hospital group Free Tibet confi rmed his bed, according to a transla- death. tion by Free Tibet. The monk’s action was the “I thought that there was fi rst such protest in China this nothing else I could do other year, and brought the total than self-immolation, be- number in the country to 144, cause if there is self-immo- RFA said. lation, people get shocked, As he burned, “he called out thinking that he set himself for Tibet’s complete independ- on fi re for his country,” he A general view of a landmark the Fujimi-yagura, a guard building of the Imperial Palace, seen in front of high-rise buildings in Tokyo, Japan. ence”, it quoted an anonymous went on, speaking through source in the area as saying. an oxygen mask and with his Police in Xinlong county, face swollen. where the incident took place, “It seems the oil put on my could not be reached for com- body was not enough for it to ment, and a woman at its reli- burn completely,” he added. gious aff airs bureau said only Free Tibet cited his father that her department was “not as saying that it was a heart- very clear” on the incident. breaking incident but he was Beijing says its troops proud of his son. “peacefully liberated” Tibet The teenager is the eighth Abuse probe hears in 1951 and insists it has since Tibetan to mount such a pro- brought economic develop- test outside China, the group ment to a previously backward added. region where serfs were ex- Its director Eleanor Byrne- ploited. Rosengren said the boy’s ac- But many Tibetans ac- tions should “shame the polit- cuse the central government ical leaders who put more value of religious repression and on friendship with China than of gun-toting priest eroding their culture, and justice for Tibet”. its natural resources are in- “They should all watch this, A massive inquiry has failed to jog the The senior Vatican offi cial has claimed and heard claims of abuse involving creasingly being exploited and imagine if it was their cardinal’s memory this week that at least two archbishops churches, orphanages, community and in ways that benefi t China’s child,” she added. and other people in authority all lied to youth groups and schools. Agencies him by not revealing what was happening Given Pell’s high rank within the Sydney in Ballarat and Melbourne. church, his testimony to Australia’s Royal “This was an extraordinary world. Commission into Institutional Response A world of crimes and cover-ups. And to Child Sexual Abuse over cases that n Australian inquiry yesterday people did not want the status quo to be occurred decades ago has taken on wider Record-breaking heard of a gun-toting paedophile disturbed,” he explained. implications about the accountability of Apriest who made children kneel be- Furness also questioned Pell on Brother church leaders. tween his legs during confession as Vati- Anthony Foster and his wife Chrissie, Edward Dowlan, based in Ballarat and Pell’s failing memory to questions about fi libuster ends can fi nance chief cardinal George Pell ad- whose two daughters were abused by a Melbourne, and jailed for abusing boys. what he knew of abuse by clergy and mitted a time of “crimes and cover-ups” paedophile priest, speak with a journalist Pell, an adviser to the Ballarat bishop claims that he was deceived by superiors within the Catholic church. in Rome . at the time, said he could not remember, about individual cases in the 1970s has Reuters of Canada’s New Democratic The Royal Commission into when asked if he was aware of specifi c angered many of the 15 abuse victims and Seoul Party in 2011. Institutional Responses to Child Sexual at the time, and suggested that Melbourne allegations against Dowlan. supporters who travelled to Rome to see Park’s offi ce in February Abuse in Sydney heard evidence from Pell, Archbishop Frank Little, now deceased, “I can’t remember in any detail except him give evidence. called for parliament to pass via videolink from Rome, for a third day, should have done more. that there were unfortunate rumours Pell repeatedly said he could not outh Korea’s opposi- the stalled security bill, part with the senior Australian offi cial again “Archbishop Little for some reason about his activity with young people. It recall particular events and, in one testy tion members of parlia- of tough action by her govern- facing intense questioning about what he seemed incapable or unable to deal with was always vague and unspecifi c,” he said. exchange, denied a suggestion from Sment yesterday ended a ment amid heightened tension knew. Father Searson, or even to provide any “I regret that I didn’t do more at that special prosecutor Gail Furness that his record-breaking fi libuster to with North Korea following its The inquiry is currently focused on the adequate level of information about the stage.” claims that he was not briefed properly on block an “anti-terrorism” bill nuclear test and a long-range town of Ballarat and the city of Melbourne situation,” said Pell, suggesting he likely On Tuesday, Pell, who heads the Vatican abusive priests was “implausible.” sponsored by their conserva- rocket launch. in the state of Victoria, where Pell grew took no action to protect the church’s Treasury, said the crimes of priest Gerald During a break in testimony, the victims tive rivals, more than a week The security bill proposes up and worked, and how the church dealt reputation. Ridsdale, convicted of more than 100 child in Rome released a statement they have after they began taking turns to set up a new anti-espionage with complaints, many dating back to the The inquiry heard Searson, who died in sex abuse charges, were a sad story but faxed to the Pope: “This is about children. making marathon speeches. unit reporting to the chief of the 1970s, against the Catholic clergy. 2009, was also accused of sexual assault, they were “not of much interest” to him at Children who were abused and damaged The fi libuster began on country’s spy agency and will Gail Furness, the top lawyer leading swinging a cat by its tail over a fence, the time. in the past. ... We would like to request a Tuesday evening last week, coordinate surveillance, analy- questioning in the inquiry, centred killing it, showing children a dead body in He denied all knowledge about meeting to discuss the commitment to the when the opposition took the sis and investigation into leads attention yesterday on Doveton parish a coffi n and holding a knife to the chest of Ridsdale’s off ending and accused the children of the past and children of the fl oor to debate the bill backed that point to a possible attack. priest Peter Searson, who Pell called “one a young girl. Ballarat bishop at the time, Ronald future, to implement systems so that this by president Park Geun-hye The opposition objects to of the most unpleasant” men he had ever Pell, as an auxiliary bishop in the Mulkearns, of “gross deception” by failing is never repeated again.” that they say, if passed, will greater power for the spy agen- met. The church failed to act in the 1980s Melbourne archdiocese, said he sought to tell him what was happening. Philip Nagle, who was abused as a child, threaten freedom of commu- cy and seeks to scrap a bill pro- despite mounting evidence of his bizarre a briefi ng from the Catholic Education A group of abuse survivors who travelled said the group has become frustrated with nication and privacy. vision that would authorise the behaviour. Offi ce after a delegation came to him in to Rome to witness the testimony have Pell’s evidence to the inquiry and no longer By the time it ended yester- intelligence agency to monitor The commission heard that one 1989 complaining about Searson, but requested a meeting with Pope Francis and wanted to meet with the Cardinal at the day evening, 38 MPs had spo- private communications. complainant said Searson brandished a claimed the offi ce “deceived” him about Pell yesterday said he was “happy to assist”. end of his evidence as scheduled. ken for an average of fi ve hours The decision to end the fi li- gun and made children kneel between his what was being done. Australia ordered the Royal Commission “We want to be heard and we want each, the longest for more than buster came after some sen- legs when they went to confession, during Furness suggested Pell’s evidence was in 2012 after a decade of growing pressure someone to show that they care about us 12-1/2 hours without a break. ior opposition party members which he had a tape recorder. designed to defl ect blame from him for to investigate allegations of widespread and who can possibly help change things The round-the-clock fi li- expressed concern that they Pell called Searson’s behaviour doing nothing about the priest, to which paedophilia. for children into the future,” Nagle told buster easily surpassed a 58- might be seen as holding up “abhorrent” but denied knowing about it he replied: “That is not accurate.” It has spoken to almost 5,000 survivors reporters. hour session by 103 members other bills. UN adopts toughest-ever N Korea sanctions

Agencies The resolution requires countries mats engaged in smuggling or other il- trigger the collapse of the pariah re- alliances, strong military alliances be- long advocated a “name and shame” Seoul to take the unprecedented step of in- legal activities. gime, creating chaos on its border. tween the United States, South Korea approach toward Pyongyang’s rights specting all cargo to and from North A total of 16 individuals and 12 en- Talks on ramping up sanctions were and Japan and it sees that it can’t go on record, liberals have argued the bill Korea, impose trade restrictions and tities were added to a UN sanctions held as South Korea and the United the way it has,” she added. would infl ame tensions and prevent he UN Security Council unani- bar vessels suspected of carrying illegal blacklist, including North Korea’s States announced plans for the de- The latest resolution ushered in the inter-Korean dialogue. mously adopted yesterday the goods for North Korea from ports. NADA space agency and its spy agency, ployment of a new missile defence sys- fi fth set of UN sanctions to hit North But hopes of engagement with Ttoughest sanctions ever imposed It provides for a ban on exports of the Reconnaissance General Bureau. tem on the Korean peninsula and the Korea since it fi rst tested an atomic de- the North have faded following on North Korea in response to its fourth coal, iron and iron ore, gold, titanium Luxury watches, snowmobiles, adoption of new US sanctions against vice in 2006. Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test on nuclear test and rocket launch. and rare earth minerals from North Ko- recreational watercraft such as Sea- Pyongyang. South Korea’s parliament yesterday January 6 and a long-range rocket The 15-member council passed a rea, and prohibits the supply of aviation Doos and sports equipment will also passed long-delayed legislation address- launch last month that was widely resolution drafted by the United States fuel including rocket fuel to the reclu- be banned from sale to North Korea, “The international community, ing the human rights situation in North condemned as a ballistic missile and backed by China, Pyongyang’s sole sive country. building on a previous resolution tar- speaking with one voice, has sent Korea -- a move likely to anger Pyongyang test. ally, that was seen as a major shift in the Banking restrictions will be tight- geting Pyongyang’s elites. Pyongyang a simple message: with tensions already running high on the In a televised speech on Tuesday, approach to North Korea’s provocative ened and governments will be required Japan’s ambassador Motohide North Korea must abandon these divided Korean peninsula. South Korean President Park Geun- actions. to ban fl ights of any plane suspected of Yoshikawa described the resolution as dangerous programs and choose a The bill, fi rst proposed in 2005 but Hye said North Korea must “pay the US president Barack Obama said carrying contraband destined for North “ground-breaking” but stressed that better path for its people” stalled for more than a decade by rival price” for pushing ahead with its nu- the package of broad measures were “a Korea. sanctions were “not the fi nal objective”. party bickering, has modest aims, in- clear weapons programme, and warned fi rm, united, and appropriate response “These are among the tough- “Depending on the behavior and at- “The United States, South Korea cluding funding for civil activist groups that denuclearisation was the only path by the international community” to the est measures we have agreed against titude of the DPRK, the security coun- and Japan have stopped outsourcing and the creation of an offi cial archive open to guarantee the North Korean re- January 6 nuclear test and February 7 any country in the world, certainly cil is prepared to suspend or lift sanc- to China their policy on North Korea,” to track and detail rights abuses in the gime’s survival. rocket launch. the toughest ever against the DPRK” tions,” he added. said Roberta Cohen, an expert on North North. Pyongyang is extremely sensitive “The international community, (North Korea), said British ambassador It took seven weeks of tough negotiations Korea at the Brookings Institution. The funding could be extended to to criticism of its human rights record speaking with one voice, has sent Matthew Rycroft. for the United States and China to come to China, and to a lesser extent Russia, defector groups that regularly fl oat which was the subject of a scathing Pyongyang a simple message: North “This marks a signifi cant shift on the agreement on the package of measures, but “will fi nd loopholes, they always have”, anti-Pyongyang leafl ets across the bor- 2014 report by a UN Commission of In- Korea must abandon these dangerous Security Council as a whole,” he said. its impact will depend largely on how Bei- to avoid fully implementing UN sanc- der with helium balloons -- a practise quiry that concluded Korea was com- programs and choose a better path for Under the measure, UN member jing implements the sanctions. tions, said Cohen. strenuously condemned by the North. mitting rights violations “without par- its people,” Obama said in a statement. states will expel North Korean diplo- China fears too much pressure could But Beijing “sees the mobilisation of While conservative legislators have allel in the contemporary world”. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, March 3, 2016 BRITAIN

HONOURED OBITUARY CRIME HEALTH TRAVEL Former British chief rabbi Coronation Street creator Pensioner beaten and 800,000-strong call for Night Tube on track as wins $1.5mn Templeton Prize Warren dies aged 79 robbed on doorstep meningitis jab rejected union accepts pay deal

Britain’s former chief rabbi Jonathan Sacks Actor Bill Roache led tributes to “the father of A pensioner was beaten and robbed of cash in his A demand from 800,000 people for a meningitis The long-awaited Night Tube could finally start has won the 2016 Templeton Prize, worth Coronation Street”, its creator, Tony Warren, who home in a violent doorstep burglary. The 69-year- B vaccine to be off ered to older children was running before Boris Johnson steps down as £1.1mn($1.5mn), for his efforts to help steer has died aged 79. Best-known for his role as Ken old man answered his door in Lucas Avenue, yesterday rejected by the government as “not mayor in May after union members agreed a young people away from the message of Barlow in the soap, Roache had worked with Upton Park, to a woman in a high-vis jacket who cost-eff ective”. However the call for the wider pay deal. It came after a series of bitter strikes extremists by encouraging religions to connect Warren since the show’s first episode on December claimed she was there to deliver a parcel. While availability of the Bexsero drug was dismissed in a dispute over the launch of the 24-hour with them. The US-based John Templeton 9, 1960. He said: “When I first met Tony I couldn’t they were talking a man approached the door and as not “a good use of NHS resources”. The weekend service, which was scheduled to start Foundation said Sacks, 67, was ahead of his quite believe he’d created and written Coronation forced his way inside, followed seconds later by a department of health said the extension of the last September. The Rail, Maritime and Transport time with his central message of respect Street because he was no more than a young boy. second man. Police say up to four men entered the vaccine had been considered at length by the Joint union has now accepted a deal that could allow for all faiths and his argument that only by “It was his boyish energy even recently when I home at about 11.30am on Monday, attacking the Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. It Transport for London to implement its plans. The recognising the values of each of them could saw him again that I’ll remember. He will be so pensioner and leaving him with cuts and bruises. said: “The NHS budget is a finite resource. Off ering off er, accepted by 84% of union respondents, violence and terrorism be countered. Sacks desperately missed.” ITV confirmed the news Cash and jewellery were taken during the incident. the vaccine outside of JCVI’s advice would not be included a four-year pay deal of above-inflation said he was “absolutely knocked sideways” to of Warren’s death, saying he had “passed away One suspect is described as an Asian man, about cost eff ective, and would not represent a good use rises backdated from April last year and a £500 have won. “It just felt very thrilling and so my peacefully on March 1 surrounded by his loving 5ft 8in tall. He was wearing a blue jacket, blue jeans of NHS resources, which should be used to benefit bonus to drivers and other staff connected with wife and I did a little dance together,” he said. friends, aged 79, after a short illness”. and a beanie hat. the health and care of the most people possible.” the introduction of the service.

Flying high Luxury London fl ats ‘may Brexit would see 20% price fall’ lead to fewer

London Evening Standard London

ore clouds gathered over the capital’s jobs, rising Mproperty market yes- terday as a leading investment bank said the price of new, up- market London flats could fall by as much as 20% this year. The warning from Morgan Stanley adds to concerns over a prices: govt glut of homes in areas like Nine Elms, the impact of stamp- Agencies House foreign aff airs think tank that the other 27 countries would duty hikes on buy-to-let in- London in London, Hammond said: “aggressively” protect their own vestors and more-expensive “The fact is, none of the bilat- interests and the process could homes, as well as a weaker glo- eral free trade models would of- take many years - or in Switzer- bal economy and Brexit fears ampaigners for the UK to fer anything like the access that land’s case two decades and more deterring foreign buyers. leave the European Un- we now have to the single market than 100 separate agreements. The bank said that it was Cion have put forward no and many of them would require It would mean “years of un- “assuming a 10-20% fall in “credible alternative” to mem- adoption of EU regulations and certainty for Britain just as we are new-build, high-end residen- bership, Philip Hammond said as freedom of movement rules.” getting back on our feet”. tial pricing in 2016”, as it low- he warned that Brexit could cost He added that as well as the Hammond said it would be ered its rating on Earls Court jobs and push up prices. terms of trade with Europe, the “naive” to think others within developer Capital & Counties. The government has produced UK would also face renegotiating the 28-country bloc were not al- The company last week admit- analysis by offi cials concluding deals on a global scale if it voted ready looking at the potential ad- ted that sales had ground to a that any of the alternative ar- to leave on June 23. vantages of Britain being “locked halt on the second phase of its rangements for relations with “We currently benefi t from EU out” of the European market. Lillie Square flats project since Europe would leave Britain worse trade deals with over 50 diff erent “Let’s be blunt, there will be November. off . countries. These deals have been people in Paris, there will be Morgan Stanley’s Bart Prime Minister David Cam- based on the negotiating muscle people in Frankfurt today already Gysens said “increased, medi- eron said the analysis shows that of a bloc with 500mn consumers planning how they can seize the um-term pressure on London the alternatives to EU member- and a quarter of the world’s GDP. fi nancial services market share housing” was likely as buy-to- ship would “damage Britain” “Renegotiating them as a sin- in London and grow the business let investors sell up. - but the document was dis- gle country would take many, of their own cities if we decide to “We worry about lower de- missed as a “dodgy dossier” by many years - years in which Brit- leave,” he said. mand from unlevered buy- pro-Brexit Cabinet minister Iain ish businesses would be squeezed Hammond said other member ers and more selling from Duncan Smith. out of traditional markets, and states would pursue their own levered buy-to-let investors Foreign Secretary Hammond with no guarantee at the end of national interest “aggressively” from April owing to changes said he was “not surprised” by the process that we could get in any post-Brexit negotiation. in buy-to-let taxation, at a his Cabinet colleague’s comment terms as good as we have now. Work and Pensions Secretary time when we are nearing the and added: “The government is “Some have said we should fo- Duncan Smith said the “real Brexit referendum.” mandated by Parliament to pub- cus our attention on deals with uncertainty” lay with the EU Although the longer-term lish a series of documents and the Anglosphere and the Com- “project”. picture looks healthier, “in- I probably could have guessed monwealth, but the EU already “As each day passes we see yet vestment horizons tend to in advance what my colleague has or is negotiating trade deals another example - from the utter shorten when markets correct would describe them as.” with all the biggest Common- failure to cope with the migrant and we think it is no differ- The paper - which looks at wealth countries and none of our crisis, to the increasing disaster ent this time around”. Estate arrangements adopted by coun- allies wants us to leave the EU - of the euro,” he said. agents and industry experts are tries including Norway, Switzer- not Australia, not New Zealand, “This dodgy dossier won’t fool meanwhile braced for stormier land and Canada as well as the not Canada, not the US. anyone, and is proof that Remain weather in 2016. option of falling back on World “In fact the only country that are in denial about the risks of According to London Resi- Trade Organisation (WTO) rules would like us to leave the EU is remaining in a crisis-ridden EU. dential Research, sales of - warns that none is as good as Russia and that should probably “The truth is we won’t copy new-build flats in prime Lon- the deal on off er with Brussels. tell us all we need to know.” any other country’s deal. We will don markets like Kensington & British Airways crew pose with their trolley on Westminster Bridge after completing a dash Hammond warned that the al- Hammond conceded it was have a settlement on our own Chelsea and Westminster were across London with their trolleys for Sport Relief. The crew walked 10 miles across 32 of ternatives would mean “working possible that the UK would be terms - and one that will re- down 47% in 2015, while agents London’s best-known bridges. They raised £3,000 for Flying Start — the airline’s charitable people would pay the price with able to negotiate a better deal turn control of our borders, and report flagging interest from partnership with Comic Relief. few jobs and rising prices”. with the EU than other coun- money to Britain. That’s the safer investors. Speaking at the Chatham tries had managed but warned choice.”

Art exhibition Poorest face fi ve years ‘of Match.com user guilty zero growth in income’ of rapes and assault Reuters Lawrance met all his victims London through Match.com, which he had Agencies Meanwhile, average households nifi cantly over the course of the joined in 2009. Police said they London will see real income boosted by current Parliament”, as earnings believed he had contacted several 1.5% a year over the period, which outstrip rises in benefi ts which man, described by pros- thousand women over the next the IFS described as “unspectacu- are pegged to infl ation. ecutors as a dangerous fi ve years, a number of whom he oorer households are fac- lar by historical standards”. One quarter of the predict- A sexual predator, was might have met in person. ing a fi ve-year period of The squeeze on poorer families ed increase in inequality was found guilty yesterday of rap- He raped his fi rst victim in Pzero growth in their in- follows two years in which strong blamed on planned cuts to work- ing and assaulting women he 2011 having previously met her comes after infl ation is taken into employment growth and rock- ing-age benefi ts, which the IFS met through the popular inter- a few times. He tricked her into account, according to a new re- bottom infl ation have seen real forecasts would reduce incomes national online dating website getting into a van, took her to a port from a respected economic boosts in the value of incomes in lower-income households by Match.com. dark country lane and then at- think-tank. at all levels of society, found the 3% in 2020-21 while having “lit- Jason Lawrance, 50, was ac- tacked her. Other victims were Planned cuts to benefi ts and IFS. tle or no eff ect” on the incomes cused of using the website to raped or attacked in hotel rooms tax credits mean that incomes Between 2013-14 and 2015- of the higher-income half of make contact with seven di- or their own homes. for those near the bottom of the 16, real growth in incomes, after households. vorced or widowed women and Lawrance was convicted income ladder will remain con- infl ation, was 4.1% towards the James Browne, one of the au- then arranging to meet them in at Derby Crown Court of fi ve stant in real terms over the pe- bottom of the scale, 4.9% for thors of the report, said: “Fol- person, having persuaded them counts of rape, one attempted riod between 2015-16 and 2020- average households and 3.2% lowing an historically slow re- to move their online conversa- rape and one sexual assault. He 21, while those near the top enjoy for those near the top, the think- covery in living standards after tions away from the Match.com will be sentenced today. an increase of 2.3% a year above tank estimated. the recession, stronger growth in messaging system. “We are very sorry for those infl ation, said the Institute for In this relatively benign pe- household incomes at all income When he met them in person, aff ected and appalled by these Fiscal Studies. riod for incomes since 2013-14, levels over the last two years will he raped, tried to rape or sexually terrible acts,” said a spokesman And the think-tank forecasts the IFS estimated that 400,000 have been welcome news. assaulted his victims who came for Match.com. in a new report that the propor- children, 300,000 working- “For some, particularly the from all over Britain. He said the website was work- tion of children in relative pov- age adults without children and better-off and pensioners, this “Lawrance is a prolifi c, se- ing with a personal safety charity erty will rise by eight percentage 200,000 pensioners were lifted is likely to continue over the next rial rapist,” said detective chief to ensure its internal safety proc- points and those in absolute pov- above the absolute poverty line fi ve years as earnings and state inspector Allison Rigby who led esses were as secure as possible. erty by three percentage points - defi ned as £389 a week for a pensions grow more quickly than the police investigation. “These “Nobody should feel that by 2020-21, almost entirely as couple with two children, before infl ation. But the prospects are Curator Stuart Baker (right) and two gallery assistants women were looking for com- meeting people through a dating a result of increasing hardship housing costs, or £186 for a sin- not so good for others, includ- hang a picture of Charles II as Prince of Wales from panionship and instead what site means that they are consent- among families with three or gle person with no child. ing large families with low in- 1638 by Anthony van Dyck in the Portland collection at they found was a man who was ing to any sexual activity,” said more children who are hit hard- The IFS report found that comes, who will bear the brunt of the Hartley Gallery near Worksop. willing to commit serious sexual Sue Matthews from the Crown est by benefi t cuts. “income inequality will rise sig- planned benefi t cuts.” off ences against them.” Prosecution Service. Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 19 BRITAIN/IRELAND Trial launched to test new vaccine for terminal cancer

Agencies trial, which is expected to run for All patients with any solid tu- ing a form of immunotherapy de- dal anti-infl ammatory. tinued investment in the Nation- “When I read the leafl et about London up to two years. mour, irrespective of their type signed to activate the body’s im- Life Sciences Minister George al Institute for Health Research.” the Vaper trial, it struck me that Immunotherapy is generating of cancer, are believed to have the mune system by administration Freeman said: “This trial is push- Kelly Potter, 35, from Becken- it seemed a bit of breakthrough great interest in the cancer re- potential to benefi t from immu- of a vaccine based on fragments ing new boundaries for potential ham, is taking part in the trial. and that if it worked, it could be trial has been launched in search community. In February, notherapy. of a key cancer protein.” cancer treatments, and brings She was diagnosed with stage a revolution in the treatment of the UK to test a new vac- experts in the US announced they Professor Hardev Pandha, who The new Vaper trial involves a new hope for patients in the fi ght four cervical cancer in July. cancer. Acine for terminal cancer. had seen “extraordinary” results is leading the trial at the Surrey vaccine and an immunity stimu- against cancer. She said: “Although I had ex- “To be part of the trial has The immunotherapy trial will in early trials involving terminal- Cancer Research Institute, said: lating cream applied to the injec- “The prospect of a vaccine to cellent treatment at Guy’s Hos- changed my life for the better. It’s examine whether a vaccine is ef- ly ill patients with blood cancer. “We know that the immune sys- tion site to help the vaccine work help the body’s immune system pital where the cancer was sta- been a very positive experience fective in stimulating the body’s The UK trial - in Guildford and tem in patients with advanced better. fi ght advanced cancer highlights bilised, it had already spread to and really interesting. I feel hon- own immune system to destroy London - is for people with solid cancer is suppressed, so it’s un- Patients will also take low- the ground-breaking work being spots on my liver and lungs. So oured to be involved.” cancer cells. tumours and is recruiting those able to recognise and kill cancer dose chemotherapy tablets delivered by our world-leading when I was told that I may be Potter had her fi rst injection on Two patients have already re- who have failed on previous types cells. and some people will also have life sciences sector, supported eligible for this trial, I was de- February 9 and is scheduled for a ceived the vaccine as part of the of cancer treatment. “In this trial we are investigat- celecoxib, which is a non-steroi- through the government’s con- lighted. further seven visits. Experts call Scenic Scotland for ban on tackling in school rugby

Guardian News and Media impairment, and an association London with problems such as depres- sion, memory loss and diminished verbal abilities. Children also took ore than 70 doctors longer to recover to normal levels and health experts have on measures of memory, reaction Mcalled for a ban on tack- speed and post-concussive symp- ling in school rugby games. toms. In an open letter that warns The signatories included Prof of the high risk of serious injury Allyson Pollock, a professor of among under-18s playing rugby, public health research and policy they urge schools to move to touch at Queen Mary University of Lon- and non-contact versions of the don, who has campaigned about game. the dangers of rugby. A government drive to boost Stating that children are be- participation in rugby in English ing exposed to serious and cata- schools by linking them with rug- strophic risk of injury, she said: by clubs is also criticised by the “Parents expect the state to look health experts, who point out that after their children when they are The Atholl Palace hotel is seen below the snow-covered Ben Vrackie mountain in Pitlochry, Scotland. the UN convention on the rights at school. Rugby is a high-impact of the child obliges governments collision sport and given that to inform children about injury children are more susceptible to risks. injuries such as concussion, the The letter - which is addressed absence of injury surveillance to ministers, chief medical offi cers systems and primary prevention and children’s commissioners - strategies is worrying.” describes rugby as a “high-impact Eric Anderson, a professor of collision sport”. sport, masculinities and sexuali- “The majority of all injuries oc- ties at the University of Winches- cur during contact or collision, ter, said the signatories did not Irish PM says open to such as the tackle and the scrum,” have a contention with rugby, but it says. “These injuries, which with the collisions that occur in include fractures, ligamentous the sport. tears, dislocated shoulders, spi- “School children should not be nal injuries and head injuries, can forced to collide with other chil- have short-term, life-long and dren as part of the national curric- life-ending consequences for chil- ulum for physical education,” he talks with main rival dren.” said. “A more sensible approach is The letter is the fi rst stage of a to play tag rugby.” Reuters ing its historic rival as the only down to poor and rural areas, as Fianna Fail lawmaker Dara Cal- participation in a future govern- campaign that will include a peti- A department for education Dublin obvious partner to form a stable “bruising” and said none of the leary told state broadcaster RTE ment. tion on the government website spokeswoman said schools were government. deputies in parliament wanted a yesterday that a formal coalition Fianna Fail has said it will put which, if it receives 100,000 sig- expected to be aware of the risks He told reporters that all the re-run. was a “dreadful prospect”, saying leader Micheal Martin forward as natures, will trigger the consid- associated with sporting activities rish Prime Minister Enda available options of forming a With both parties completely the last government had presided an alternative prime minister on eration of a debate by MPs on the and to provide a safe environment Kenny yesterday said for the government were diffi cult, but ruling out a coalition with the over an unbalanced recovery. March 10, but it is unlikely that issue. for pupils. Ifi rst time he would be open that he was committed to try. third-largest party, left wing na- Fine Gael Minister Simon Cov- either Martin or Kenny would Rugby is a compulsory part of “Team sports, such as rugby, to talking to his party’s arch rival “As the leader of the largest tionalists Sinn Fein, analysts say eney, asked about the possibility garner enough support to win the the physical education curriculum play an important role in develop- Fianna Fail about the possible for- party, and as the Taoiseach (prime that leaves two main options: a of a minority government, told vote without co-operating. from the age of 11 in many boys’ ing character,” she said. “They can mation of a new government after minister) it’s my responsibility formal coalition between Fine RTE the country did not need a Martin raised the prospect of a schools, particularly in the inde- help children and young people his previous coalition was voted to work to see that that process Gael and Fianna Fail or a minority government “that is weak, that is more protracted delay on Monday pendent sector. develop positive traits, such as fair out of offi ce last week. is put in place, and that includes Fine Gael government with sup- not stable, that is likely to fall at by calling for a cross-party deal The letter, signed by sport play, leadership and resilience, and Kenny’s centre-right Fine Gael talking to the Fianna Fail party,” port from Fianna Fail on a vote- any time.” on reforming parliament before scholars, academics, doctors and teach them how to bounce back party is set to fall about 30 seats he said. by-vote basis. Senior Fine Gael members are any coalition talks. Several com- public health professionals, says from defeat, how to respect others short of the 80 needed to form Kenny described the election, Senior members of both Fine due to meet today, a week before mentators have suggested a new repeat concussions have been and how to work together in teams a majority in parliament with in which voters complained of Gael and Fianna Fail have voiced parliament resumes, to formu- government before the end of found to have a link to cognitive to achieve a goal. ” counting almost complete, leav- a recovery that has not trickled opposition to both routes. late a set of principles to guide its March is unlikely. Rail chiefs under fi re over Green building Motorbike and scooter trains ‘skipping’ stations deaths rise in London Agencies Police are to target the boroughs London where motorcyclists are at greatest London Evening Standard Croydon South, said: “Commut- “A train that skips a station risk of injury. London ers on the Brighton main line are counts as a punctuality failure so London mayor Boris Johnson furious that stations are frequently we have nothing to gain from this he number of deaths and said: “We need every single mo- missed out and they are left stand- practice. The overriding concern is series injuries from mo- torcyclist to feel safe on our streets ail chiefs were yesterday ing on the platform watching their to recover the published timetable Ttorcycle and scooter acci- and this work is key to that goal.” accused of stranding com- train shoot past, often without no- as quickly as possible.” dents in London has risen. There TfL has published a guide - the Rmuters by “skipping” sta- tifi cation.” Southeastern and Network Rail were 36 deaths in 2015 up from 27 Urban Motorcycle Design Hand- tions more often to avoid trains For Stagecoach South Western emphasised that during periods of in the previous year, according to book - to aid safer road design for being late. Trains, which includes South West disruption it was “sometimes nec- the Transport for London (TfL) motorcycle and scooter riders. MPs yesterday highlighted the Trains, part-cancellations in- essary” to run trains fast to their fi gures. They have also found backing for growing fury of commuters wait- creased from 1,638 to 2,248 for the destinations to avoid delaying There were also 514 serious in- Motorcycle Industry Association ing on platforms who see their second quarter of 2015-16, though other trains and even larger num- juries in the year up to Septem- accredited motorcycle training train go past rather than stopping this was slightly lower than the bers of people. ber 2015, compared with 507 the centres across London to try to im- as scheduled. same period in 2014-15 when the South West Trains stressed that previous year, according to pro- prove rider skills and confi dence. Some passengers have been un- fi gure was 2,284. its services run to its published visional data. The fi gures, along Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing able to get off their train after fail- Kingston and Surbiton Tory MP timetable unless there are “spe- with a pledge that more offi cers director of surface transport, said: ing to hear announcements that it James Berry said: “Passengers who cifi c extenuating circumstances”. will be posted at key motorcycle “We are fully committed to mak- is no longer stopping at their sta- pay high fares — often only for the But it added: “However, during hotspot junctions where collisions ing London’s roads safer for all, tion. Offi cial fi gures reveal a huge chance to stand on a packed train periods of disruption, we may are most likely to occur, came as and with this focus on motorcycle rise in the number of part-cancel- — rightly expect that the trains have to change stopping points ... another rider was killed in a road and scooter safety, bringing down lations, which includes “skipping” will be punctual. to reduce the impact of problems accident. He died after coming off the number of collisions involving trains, in the past two years. “However, the train operating and ensure as few passengers as his bike in Battersea Park Road, this vulnerable road user group. On Southeastern services, they companies’ solution can’t simply possible are inconvenienced.” Battersea, south London. “The three Es - enforcement, jumped from 1,651 in the second be skipping stations to make up for The department for transport Police have stopped 5,389 riders, education and engineering - are quarter of 2013-14 to 2,804 in the delays.” said: “When a train is running issued 742 traffi c off ence reports, central to this. On-street educa- same period for 2015-16, accord- Govia said “skipping stations” signifi cantly late, operators can 1,335 verbal warnings, seized 96 tion and enforcement, substan- ing to the rail regulator. At Govia lets delayed trains “catch up” and decide not to call at stations in motorcycles and made 10 arrests tial investment in improving rider Thameslink Railway — which in- recover their slot in the timetable. exceptional circumstances to pre- since September in its drive to cut skills and guidance to help engi- cludes Southern, Great Northern “It’s never a decision taken lightly vent major knock-on delays on the the number of deaths and injuries. neers design roads so that they are and Thameslink — they spiralled and only done at times of disrup- rail network. But we are absolutely A couple stand in a doorway of an off ice building covered This has involved deploying of- safer for riders, all form part of a from 4,148 to 6,732. tion so that fewer passengers are clear that this should only be done with flora, in the City of London, yesterday. fi cers at hotspot locations and at concerted eff ort to improve road Conservative MP Chris Philp, of delayed overall,” it added. when there is no other solution.” key times across London. safety in the capital.” Gulf Times 20 Thursday, March 3, 2016 EUROPE

Space station’s Parties spurn Socialists’ ‘one-year’ crew back ‘unreal’ bid to form govt on Earth Reuters democracy in the mid-1970s. ical analyst at the Open Europe AFP Madrid Spain has made little headway think tank in London, adding the Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan in resolving a political deadlock tense exchanges between leaders since a fragmented election re- had set the scene for a tough two he leader of Spain’s So- sult in December, when voters months of talks. “Based on the S astronaut Scott Kelly cialists Pedro Sanchez turned in their millions to Po- debate it has become very diffi - and Russian cosmonaut Tlost a parliamentary vote demos (“We Can”) and Ciu- cult to envisage a breakthrough.” UMikhail Kornienko re- yesterday to become the coun- dadanos (“Citizens”). An uneven recovery from the turned to Earth yesterday af- try’s next prime minister, secur- An acrimonious debate in economic crisis partly fuelled ter almost a year in space in a ing the backing of only 130 rep- parliament yesterday, ahead of the political backlash in Spain, ground-breaking experiment resentatives in the 350-strong a vote on Sanchez’s plan to team echoing an upset in Portugal foreshadowing a potential assembly. up with Ciudadanos, suggest- last year that resulted in a fragile manned mission to Mars. The Socialists and liberal ed parties were little closer to leftist coalition. The 340-day mission saw newcomer Ciudadanos voted in putting their diff erences aside. A similar story unfolded in Kelly claim the record for the favour of Sanchez while the rul- Leaders skimmed over policy Ireland last week, with an in- longest single stay in space by a ing conservative People’s Party issues with a volley of recrimi- conclusive election. US astronaut, while Kornienko is (PP), anti-austerity upstart Po- nations over who was to blame Corruption scandals have now fi fth on the list for lengthi- demos, the former communist for the deadlock. also tainted mainstream Span- est mission by a cosmonaut. Izquierda Unida and four re- “This is a fi ctitious, unreal ish parties and especially the PP, “We have landing,” Russian gional parties from the Basque candidature,” acting Prime Min- and these are likely to weigh on Mission Control confi rmed after Country and Catalonia voted ister Mariano Rajoy of the cen- negotiations. the trio touched down southeast against him. tre-right People’s Party (PP) told Sanchez speaks from his seat at Las Cortes in Madrid during a parliamentary debate yesterday to vote Sanchez – who defended his of Dzhezkazgan in central Kaza- A small party from the Canary members of parliament, adding through a prime minister and allow the country to finally get a government. bid to unblock the stalemate khstan at around 0430 GMT. Islands abstained. his party would vote against it. after Rajoy passed up the fi rst After returning from his Sanchez can still be elected Rajoy branded the alliance, alent to 176 votes – to be elected also vote against Sanchez and The acting premier’s attacks opportunity to try to form a gov- lengthy stint in space, Kelly was prime minister if he wins a sim- with just 130 seats behind it, as prime minister yesterday. push instead for an alliance only yesterday raised questions as to ernment – hit back at Rajoy, say- clearly in high spirits as he was ple majority of seats in a second a “bluff ” and a threat to national Even natural allies are still di- between leftist forces. whether he could persuade the ing he was becoming “a blockage lowered to the ground by burly vote tomorrow although that interests which sought only to vided on many fronts, at a time “Your pact does not protect Socialists to back him as leader for the renewal” of his party. Russian rescue workers at the scenario is unlikely too, as par- undo the reforms his govern- when Spain’s economic turna- workers,” Iglesias said, accus- in any subsequent votes in the Even Ciudadanos, which landing site. ties who voted against him yes- ment brought in over the past round still needs nurturing, ing Sanchez of aligning with the coming weeks. praised the PP for helping to re- “The air out here feels great. terday have already said they four years. notably to fi x a dysfunctional right. With 123 seats to its name, the boot the economy, rounded on I’ve no idea why you guys are so won’t change their vote. Sanchez, whose Socialists labour market in which unem- A fraught relationship be- PP is also stuck for allies. Rajoy. bundled up,” Nasa TV reported No candidate for prime minis- were runners-up behind the PP ployment is above 20%. tween Sanchez and Rajoy, mean- “Rajoy came across as some- “You’re not a credible (per- him as saying as he sat upright in ter has failed in both confi dence in the December 20 ballot, need- Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias while, has put further distance one already in election mode,” son) to lead this new political a chair on the steppe in tempera- votes since Spain returned to ed an absolute majority – equiv- said earlier that his party would between the two rivals. said Vincenzo Scarpetta, a polit- phase,” said leader Albert Rivera. tures just below zero degrees Celsius (32° Fahrenheit). Kelly and Kornienko returned Nearly 2,000 cases opened for insulting Erdogan with Russia’s Sergei Volkov, who was stationed at the In- Turkish prosecutors have opened nearly 2,000 cases against people for ternational Space Station (ISS) insulting Recep Tayyip Erdogan since he became Turkey’s president 18 for over fi ve months and was Freed Turkish journalist vows months ago, the justice minister said yesterday. met upon landing by his father, Insulting the president is a crime in Turkey punishable by up to four years retired cosmonaut Aleksandr in jail, but the law has previously been invoked only rarely. Volkov. Critics accuse Erdogan of intolerance and say he is using the law to stifle The “one-year crew” mission dissent. – which began on March 27 last to put state’s ‘crimes’ on trial Those who have faced trial for insulting Erdogan include journalists, year – was the longest by any as- cartoonists, academics and even schoolchildren. tronauts aboard the ISS and seen “The justice ministry has allowed 1,845 cases on charges of insulting as a vital chance to measure the AFP tion since November over a story Erdogan regime among journal- kir Bozdag rapidly accused the Erdogan to go ahead,” Bekir Bozdag said, responding to questions in eff ects of a prolonged period in Istanbul alleging that President Recep ists”. Constitutional Court of violat- parliament. space on the human body. Tayyip Erdogan’s government Erdogan had said on Sunday ing “the constitution and the “I am unable to read the shameful insults made against our president. I The pair were subjected to a had tried to deliver arms to Is- that he had “no respect” for the law”. start to blush,” said Bozdag, who is from Erdogan’s ruling Islamist-rooted battery of tests before and after he editor of one of Tur- lamist rebels in Syria. Constitutional Court’s decision Prime Minister Ahmet Da- AK Party. their ascent towards the ISS and key’s leading newspapers, The report sparked a furore, to release the pair, prompting vutoglu accused it of “interfer- Last month, a Turkish man filed a criminal complaint against his wife for underwent more tests soon after Twho was recently released fuelling speculation about the accusations from the opposition ence” in an ongoing legal proc- insulting Erdogan. landing. after three months in detention, government’s role in the Syrian that he was trampling on the ess. It is the first known case where somebody has faced legal action for com- Kelly and Kornienko “fulfi lled has vowed to expose the govern- confl ict and its alleged dealings Turkish constitution. However former Turkish dep- ments made about Erdogan in the privacy of their own home. a programme of 11 tests” follow- ment’s “crimes” when his trial with Islamist rebels. “Through his declarations, uty prime minister Bulent Arinc, Erdogan became president in 2014 after serving as prime minister for ing their three-and-a-half hour begins later this month. Their arrest also amplifi ed Erdogan transformed an internal a one-time ally of Erdogan who more than a decade. descent from the ISS, Russian The Cumhuriyet newspaper’s concerns about press freedom question into an international has sharply criticised him in re- He is now trying to reshape Turkey’s constitution to boost the powers of space agency Roscosmos. editor-in-chief Can Dundar and under Erdogan, who personally aff air,” said Dundar. cent weeks, said yesterday that the president, until now a largely ceremonial role. These included “getting up Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul warned Dundar he would “pay a The Constitutional Court, he backed Arslan and congratu- from a chair without using their were released from jail last week price” for the story. Turkey’s highest, is one of the lated him on the decision. hands”, “standing vertically for by Turkey’s top court but still Dundar said a stretch in prison very few public institutions in The European Union had ex- Aegean to European Union ter- espionage purposes” and seek- three minutes” and “walking in face charges of revealing state was par for the course for Turk- the country not controlled by pressed alarm over the detention ritory. ing to “violently” overthrow the tandem with eyes closed” among secrets and espionage. ish journalists. Erdogan, who enjoys the sup- of the journalists and warned “The proposed deal is ‘you Turkish government as well as others. “Right from the fi rst hearing “If you are a journalist in Tur- port of a loyal army, parliament Turkey, which has long desired keep control of the refugees in aiding an “armed terrorist or- Weightlessness reduces mus- of our trial, on March 25, we will key, going to prison will be part and government. to join the bloc, that their in- your country and in return we ganisation”. cle mass and bone density and throw all light on the crimes of of your career plan,” he said. In a rare public intervention, carceration was not compatible will tolerate an authoritarian Both Erdogan and the head is believed to diminish eyesight the state,” Dundar told a news “We are journalists, not civil the president of the court Zuhtu with its values. government’. But this is not the of the National Intelligence Or- by increasing cerebrospinal fl uid conference in Istanbul. “We are servants. Our duty is to inform Arslan pointedly said on Tues- But Dundar also hit out at Europe that we want,” Dundar ganisation (MIT) Hakan Fidan – around the optic nerve. not going to defend ourselves, the public, including about the day that the court’s decisions “dirty bargaining” between said. the president’s hugely powerful Kelly, 52, was also part of an we will put the crimes of the illegal acts of the government,” applied to everyone “including Turkey and the EU over a deal Dundar and Gul have been but low-profi le ally – are named experiment comparing his de- state on trial.” he said, denouncing the “cli- leaders as well as citizens”. for Ankara to cut the numbers formally charged with obtaining as plaintiff s in the 473-page in- velopment and changes in space The pair had been in deten- mate of fear propagated by the But Justice Minister Be- of migrants seeking to cross the and revealing state secrets “for dictment. with those of his identical twin brother Mark back on Earth, who is a former astronaut.

Lawmaker resigns Authorities lift curfew, letting residents return to battered town after drug bust

AFP A lawmaker from Germany’s Cizre opposition Green Party has stepped down from public off ice after being arrested in possession esidents of Cizre in south- of an illegal substance, a eastern Turkey began re- spokesman for the prosecutor’s Rturning home yesterday off ice said yesterday. after authorities partially lifted Volker Beck, a Green Party a curfew in place since Decem- lawmaker since 1994, was ber for a controversial operation arrested late on Tuesday in Berlin. against Kurdish rebels which left Mass circulation newspaper many homes destroyed. Bild reported that the illegal Horrifi ed residents found substance found in his scenes of devastation and en- possession was crystal meth. tire buildings in ruins following Yesterday Beck announced the clashes between the army his resignation from his and the Kurdistan Workers Party parliamentary roles as domestic (PKK) while others had their ex- and religious policy spokesman terior walls blown out, AFP cor- for the Greens and as chairman respondents said. of the German-Israeli relations The regional governor’s offi ce parliamentary group. announced on Tuesday that the curfew in the mainly-Kurdish Children stand among the rubble of damaged buildings in Cizre, southeastern Turkey. Thousands in town – in place since mid-De- Turkey’s Kurdish-majority town of Cizre started returning to their homes yesterday after authorities Monsanto sued cember – would be lifted each partially lifted a curfew in place since December. day between 5am and 7.30pm over pesticide (0300-1730 GMT). Left: Protesters stand near a fire during clashes yesterday between Turkish forces and Kurdish people in Thousands of residents car- the centre of Diyarbakir, as they protest against the curfew in the city’s Sur district. A group of European NGOs are rying their belongings formed suing agri-giant Monsanto and long queues at the entrance of houses burned and shops de- (HDP) have claimed at least 167 the sound,” house owner Sa- town, with the corpses carried Ankara has repeatedly im- the EU’s food safety watchdog the town where checkpoints stroyed. people were killed in three base- lih Tanriverdi told AFP. “I don’t into funeral cars. posed curfews for military op- for allegedly distorting scientific had been put up, an AFP corre- People could be seen trying ments under buildings which know what to say. We see now The PKK, designated as a ter- erations in southeastern urban data on the carcinogenic eff ects spondent said. to recover their belongings from were razed, with bereaved rela- our house collapsed. I don’t rorist organisation by Turkey centres, in a measure that the of controversial weedkiller “We fl ed on December 14 the rubble and checking for any tives weeping at the scene. know what we’ll do.” and its Western allies, has killed government says is necessary glyphosate, ahead of a key EU along with our kids, only taking corpses. At the site where three of the The sound of explosions could dozens of members of the Turk- to root out militants taking de- vote to renew its approval for our clothes we wore. Nothing In normal times, Cizre is home bodies were found yesterday, still be heard in the town as ish security forces in bomb and facto control in some areas. another 10 years. else,” said Hadi Akyurek, a lo- to some 100,000 people. bloodstained blankets lay on the bomb disposal experts detonat- gun attacks since a fragile truce The Cizre curfew was one of The legal complaint was cal shopkeeper. “Our house was Five corpses were pulled from ground, with the house used as ed left-over ordnance, with the collapsed in July. the longest but a lockdown has filed in Vienna by Austrian destroyed. Our belongings re- the debris yesterday alone, two a fi eld hospital by PKK militants municipality warning people to The Turkish army says 666 also been in place since Decem- environmental group Global mained under the rubble. We are from basements and three from during the clashes. keep their distance. PKK “terrorists” were killed in ber 2 in the central Sur district 2000, which spearheads the left with nothing.” a garden. “We were scared and fl ed our Police were searching for the operation but Kurdish activ- which is home Turkey’s biggest movement against Monsanto The damage was even visible Offi cials from the pro-Kurd- home after gunfi re and bomb- explosives and dead bodies in ists ridicule this fi gure, saying Kurdish majority city, Diyarba- and the European Food Safety from the entrance of Cizre, with ish Democratic Peoples’ Party ings. Our kids could not stand several neighbourhoods of the civilians were among the dead. kir. Agency (EFSA). Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 21 EUROPE Turkey denies blocking Nato mission in Aegean

AFP “Turkey has been the master- surd, unrealistic and fabricated”. to help the European Union cope tinuing. “The planning is well on monitoring and surveillance to Asked whether there was a risk Ankara mind” of the proposed mission A Western diplomatic source with its worst migration crisis track and will be fi nalised prob- provide information to Greece, that the Nato mission could trig- – details of which have been held told AFP on Tuesday that, de- since World War II. ably in the coming days.” Turkey and the EU’s border ger a Turkish-Greek dispute in up by discord between Turkey spite requests by the Nato opera- A spokesperson for the Ger- The Nato mission to monitor agency Frontex so that they – not the Aegean, Bilgic said those is- urkey has denied claims and Greece – foreign ministry tion’s German command, “the man defence ministry said: “Re- smugglers was fi rst announced the alliance – can deal with the sues would be discussed at a bi- that it was blocking Nato spokesman Tanju Bilgic told a Turks refused” this weekend to ports that Turkey blocks the de- by Turkish Prime Minister Ah- traffi ckers. lateral level. Tvessels deployed in the weekly press briefi ng in Ankara. allow the vessels to enter Turkish ployment of German ships in its met Davutoglu and German Greece and Turkey are at log- “Our goal is that Nato carries Aegean Sea from launching a “To claim that Turkey op- waters. territorial waters are not correct.” Chancellor Angela Merkel on gerheads over Aegean airspace out its activities there without mission to help stop the fl ow of poses its own proposal is neither The mission, which seeks to The spokesperson confi rmed February 8 in Ankara. and territorial waters, which have triggering problems between the migrants from Turkish shores to logical nor consistent,” he added, tackle migrant smugglers, was that talks with the Turkish side Under the plan, Nato forces held up agreement on the opera- two countries. We are exerting EU territory. branding the allegations as “ab- launched last month and aims on the operational area were con- will conduct reconnaissance, tional details. eff orts in that regard,” he said. EU unveils €700mn migrant aid for Greece AFP ion, which has been divided and Athens has asked for around Brussels weakened by its biggest migra- €480mn ($520mn) to help shel- tion crisis since World War II. ter 100,000 refugees. “No time can be lost in deploy- The crisis is particularly acute Children hang laundry on a fence he EU has proposed ing all means possible to prevent at the Greek border crossing of as other queue for food in the €700mn in emergency aid humanitarian suff ering within Idomeni where more than 10,000 makeshift migrant camp at the Tfor Greece and other states our own borders,” EU Humani- are stuck after Balkan states in- Greek-Macedonian border, near as it began to tackle the migrant tarian Aid Commissioner Chris- cluding neighbouring Macedonia the Greek village of Idomeni, crisis within its borders like hu- tos Stylianides said as he an- imposed tighter controls. yesterday. manitarian disasters in develop- nounced the plan. Non-EU Macedonia allowed ing countries. The funds would be allocated some 250 Syrian and Iraqi refu- of the violent clashes that erupt- The United Nations has over three years, with €300mn gees to cross yesterday, the fi rst ed on Monday. warned of a looming humanitar- ($325mn) in 2016, and €200mn group since dawn on Monday So far, more than 131,000 mi- ian crisis as thousands of peo- in each of the following years un- when the frontier was closed. grants have crossed the Mediter- ple remained stuck in miserable der the plan, which must be ap- Those kept out had then tried ranean to reach Europe this year, winter conditions on the Greece- proved by a majority of member to break through the border fence UN fi gures show – more than Macedonia border after Balkans states and the European Parlia- but were blocked by Macedonian the total number for the fi rst fi ve states and Austria capped the ment. police who fi red tear gas at them. months of 2015. numbers arriving. “To a great extent, this assist- Bleak scenes were playing Last year, a million landed on Greece has been the main ance will go to Greece. This is out yesterday with refugees in Europe’s shores. point of entry for the 1.13mn mi- where we have the most serious mud-soaked fi elds fi ghting over “Europe is on the cusp of a grants who have arrived since the humanitarian crisis,” Stylianides food distributed from the back largely self-induced humanitar- start of 2015 in the European Un- told reporters in Brussels. of a van, as aid agencies report- ian crisis,” UN Refugee agency ed a lack of food and tents, and (UNHCR) spokesman Adrian Ed- warned that the wintry weather wards said on Tuesday. was taking a toll on people’s The European plan for an in- health. ternal aid mechanism marks a “We know (the border) is departure for the 28-nation bloc, closed, but what will happen? which normally only gives aid to There isn’t any other way. We countries outside the EU, notably must go here and wait,” said in the Middle East and Africa. Mouiiaed Saker, a 37-year-old The EU, which has an annual Migrants and refugees point a map as they wait to cross the Greece-Macedonian border near the village of Syrian fi refi ghter. aid budget of €1.2bn for external Idomeni. Meanwhile in the French port countries, would work directly of Calais, demolition workers with the UN and other aid agen- saying that debt-hit Greece must Schengen area’s outer borders hold a crucial summit in Brussels were razing makeshift shelters cies in Europe, in another fi rst. not be allowed to plunge into was a “pre-condition” to solving on March 7 to discuss a faltering in the so-called Jungle migrant But the apparent show of Eu- “chaos”. the refugee crisis. deal they signed in November camp for the third day running ropean solidarity masks growing The crisis has also raised fears “I’m afraid that sometimes you under which Ankara agreed to under the close watch of dozens criticism of countries that have for the EU’s Schengen passport- need tougher measures if you, we limit the fl ow of migrants. of police offi cers equipped with capped the number of migrants free zone as more states bring want really to apply Schengen. Around 380 migrants who water cannon. they are willing to let in. back border controls. Sorry but this is the reality,” Tusk cannot be classifi ed as refugees The camp is a magnet for peo- European leaders are divided Yesterday EU President Don- said in Slovenia as part of a mul- were being returned from Greece Police off icers stand guard beside a group of men next to a makeshift ple hoping to reach Britain and ahead of two summits this month ald Tusk defended the use of ti-country tour ending in Turkey to Turkey, in what may be a sign shed during the tearing down of the so-called ‘Jungle’ migrant camp many have refused to leave, al- on the migration crisis, with Ger- barbed-wire fences against mi- later this week. of improved co-operation, the yesterday. though there has been no repeat man Chancellor Angela Merkel grants, saying that securing the The EU and Turkey are will European Commission said.

Racism common in France, says Council of Europe Norway rejects mass murderer Breivik’s jail gripe Racist speech has become “commonplace” in France AFP Ahead of the March 15-18 was able to prepare his own food his client has been subjected to and family life ... and his corre- including amongst some Oslo hearing, however, the offi ce of and do his own laundry. “a longstanding isolation for al- spondence”. politicians, the Council of Europe the attorney general defended While he is allowed no contact most fi ve years” and he is suff er- Authorities have said those said on Tuesday, raising concerns Breivik’s conditions in jail. with other inmates, also for se- ing “clear isolation damage”. restrictions are necessary to over the growth of racist orway has dismissed “The measures which have curity reasons, he interacts with In the fi rst two years of his prevent him from building up an violence. gripes by mass murderer been applied to the plaintiff ... guards and professional staff , sentence, “the only visit from a “extremist network”. “Hate speech, by becoming NAnders Behring Breivik’s are well within the limits of what the attorney general’s offi ce said. non-professional was that of the On July 22, 2011, Breivik killed commonplace in the public that his conditions in prison – is permitted” under the Con- “There are limits to his con- plaintiff ’s mother” just before eight people in a bomb attack sphere, remains a subject of where he is serving 21 years for vention, it said in a document tacts with the outside world she died of cancer, Storrvik said outside a government building concern,” said Thorbjorn Jagland, killing 77 people in 2011 – violate submitted to the Oslo district which are of course strict – it in another document submitted in Oslo and later murdered an- the rights watchdog’s chief. his human rights. court and published yesterday. pretty much has to be that way to the court. other 69 people, most of them Breivik: killed 77 people. He spoke as the group’s Breivik, who is held apart The document said that Brei- – but he is not totally excluded “They had around fi ve min- teenagers, when he opened fi re Commission against Racism and from others at a high-security vik had access to three cells – from all contact with other peo- utes together during which they at a Labour Youth camp on the The hearing later this month Intolerance (ECRI) issued a new facility, is suing the Norwegian one for living, one for studying, ple,” the lawyer who will defend hugged.” island of Utoya. will for security reasons be held report showing a 14% surge in state, accusing it of “inhuman” and a third for physical exercise the state at trial, Marius Ember- Breivik also accuses the state He was given a 21-year prison in the gymnasium of the Skien racist violence in France between and “degrading” treatment in – as well as a television, a com- land, told AFP. of violating another aspect of sentence in August 2012, which prison, about 100km southwest 2012 and 2014, including a 36% violation of the European Con- puter without internet access Breivik’s lawyer, Oystein the Convention, regarding the can be extended if he is still con- of Oslo where the 37-year-old rise in anti-Semitic attacks. vention on Human Rights. and a game console, and that he Storrvik, argued meanwhile that “right to respect for his private sidered a danger to society. killer is incarcerated. Politicians came in for criticism, including far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose National Front won a record number of votes in regional elections in December while failing to win any regions. Legal bid to outlaw German far-right NPD crosses fi rst hurdle Jagland urged political figures to avoid “uttering statements which stigmatise groups which AFP point, said Constitutional Court The new bid to ban the ul- The case comes at a time some 5,200 members and scored court reconvenes. A verdict is are already vulnerable and Karlsruhe chief justice Andreas Vosskuhle. tranationalist NPD and seize when a record infl ux of refugees just 1.3% in national elections in expected to be months away. exacerbating tensions within “An obstacle to the proceedings its assets was launched by the and migrants has polarised Ger- 2013 – really does threaten Ger- Critics say the case gives the French society”. does not exist.” Bundesrat upper house of par- man society, and as the number man democracy. NPD a national stage, and worry The watchdog warned some request to ban Germany’s The presence of such secret liament, which represents Ger- of racist hate crimes has surged. Six of the panel’s eight judges that a ban could turn its leaders policies made under France’s neo-Nazi fringe party the sources within top NPD ranks many’s 16 states. The legal hurdles are high to would have to agree to a ban, into martyrs for their cause. strict form of secularism could ANPD crossed a fi rst hur- had scuppered a fi rst attempt to The case argues that the party ban any political party, some- which the NPD would likely The NPD has one seat in the be “perceived as sources of dle yesterday when the highest outlaw it in 2003 because it was threatens the democratic order, thing Germany last did in 1956 challenge before the European European parliament. discrimination”, such as a move court rejected party claims that seen to have sullied evidence holds an “aggressive and com- when the top court outlawed the Court of Justice. It is also represented in one by the town of Chalon-sur-Saone it was being infi ltrated by state against the xenophobic party. bative attitude”, has created a German Communist Party. After the last scheduled day of state assembly and more than last year to insist that pork must undercover informants. Security services say they “climate of fear” and “shares es- Yesterday, the second day hearings today, the court plans 300 municipal councils, mostly feature on all school canteen “The court has had very ex- have now withdrawn or “deacti- sential characteristics” with the of hearings, judges questioned to give the NPD six weeks to for- in Germany’s formerly commu- menus. tensive consultations” on the vated” the informants. Nazis. whether the NPD – which has mulate a response, before the nist east. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, March 3, 2016 INDIA

JUDICIARY CONTROVERSY PEOPLE MYSTERY TRAGEDY Bihar former MP Top cop slammed after Film industry keeps Woman techie found Porter falls in crevasse Shahabuddin gets bail minor son drives off icial car off director’s last rites dead in Hyderabad in Siachen, body found

The Patna High Court yesterday granted bail Former Kerala chief minister V S Malayalam film director Mohanroop, who A woman techie died under suspicious The army yesterday recovered the body of a to former Bihar MP Mohamed Shahabuddin Achuthanandan yesterday slammed the state created magic through his debut film Vetta circumstances in information technology hub porter who died after slipping into a 200ft- in a double murder and kidnapping case that police for not registering a case against a police in 1984, was interred in his parish church Gachibowli in Hyderabad yesterday, police deep crevasse in Jammu and Kashmir’s took place 12 years ago, a lawyer said. The off icer after a video showing his minor son near Thrissur yesterday, his family said. said. The body of Rani Manisha, 29, a software Siachen Glacier. Colonel S D Goswami, court had in January this year rejected his bail driving an off icial car went viral. On Tuesday, Mohanroop, died on Tuesday, was bid a final engineer working in a leading IT firm, was spokesman of the army’s Udhampur- application. Last year, a court in Siwan district the visuals of Inspector General Suresh Raj goodbye by his family and friends. However, found on the ground on the rear side of the headquartered Northern Command said in convicted Shahabuddin and sentenced him Purohit’s minor son driving an off icial police there was hardly anyone from the film women’s hostel building in Indranagar. She Jammu: “After a massive rescue eff ort, the to life imprisonment in a 2004 case in which vehicle surfaced, forcing Home Minister industry. He was 56. Mohanroop’s nephew is suspected to have jumped from the fourth army today recovered the body of the porter. he and his men were charged with giving an Ramesh Chennithala to order a probe. “Why are Harish said: “His wife had passed away a few floor of the building. After being alerted by the The porter accidentally fell into the crevasse on acid bath to two brothers and murdering them. the authorities playing slow? The evidence is years back. His son is doing his engineering hostel management, police shifted the body February 27. Rescue operations by specialised Shahabuddin has been in jail for several years quite clear and instead of a probe, police should in the capital city. Since my uncle was to the government-run Osmania Hospital for army teams were launched immediately and in connection with many serious criminal cases. immediately register a case against Purohit. frequently travelling, his daughter is in a autopsy. The woman was from Jharkhand. had continued unabated.” It comes days after According to police off icials, Shahabuddin He is a senior police off icial himself and the law boarding school near here. Ever since his Police said they were investigating whether 10 soldiers were buried under nearly 30ft of has been convicted on charges of criminal is being violated but no action is being taken,” wife passed away, he was more or less alone it was a suicide or murder adding they were ice and snow when an avalanche hit the army’s conspiracy, kidnapping and murder. Achuthanandan said in a statement. in his home.” probing the incident from all angles. Sonam post at an altitude of around 20,000ft.

NGT verdict Left demands power tariff cut on Shankar’s cultural Jaitley hints event today

IANS at rollback of New Delhi

he National Green Tribu- nal (NGT) is expected to Tdeliver its verdict today on an appeal against spiritual guru EPF tax plan Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s World Cul- ture Festival. Sources in environmental court said yesterday that it is the only case lined up for hearing be- fore the special bench of the tri- bunal today. after backlash The Art of Living, headed by the spiritual guru, is organising Minister says open to its $100bn under management the World Cultural Festival in the review, and will respond in in state and corporate bonds. It national capital between March parliament plans a return of 8.8% on invest- 11 and 13 that is expected to be at- ments this year, in line with the tended by at least 3.5mn people Agencies long-term average, and pays out from 155 countries. New Delhi monthly pensions to retirees. On Monday, a committee ap- Jaitley also said the govern- pointed by the environmen- ment has taken the fi rst “sig- tal court recommended fi ning inance Minister Arun Jait- nifi cant” step to resolve retro- Shankar’s Art of Living founda- ley signalled yesterday he spective tax cases by installing a tion $17.5mn. Fwould roll back a contro- statutory mechanism to handle Sanjay Parikh, counsel for the versial budget proposal to tax these and reiterated the need for petitioners, told NGT that the pension withdrawals by private fi scal discipline to meet econom- Delhi Development Authority sector employees after a backlash Jaitley: sparks outrage ic targets. (DDA) should also be fi ned as the from salaried workers. “I had hoped it would be re- permission granted by the central In Monday’s budget, Jait- ley told a meeting with industry solved by courts or tribunals, government’s agency to the Art ley proposed taxing lump-sum chambers. He declined to give where issues are pending. But of Living was illegal. withdrawals exceeding 40% of more details. now, I have a statutory mecha- “All the three committees an individual’s retirement pot in A senior Finance Ministry of- nism of resolving it and there- formed on the issue in their re- the Employees’ Provident Fund fi cial familiar with the matter fore, again we have taken the fi rst ports have insisted that environ- (EPF), unless the sum is rein- said the tax on returns from the signifi cant step forward in order ment laws have been violated vested in a pension product such social security fund could be to be in a position to resolve this by the event organisers. Even as an annuity. partly or fully waived. People on (retrospective tax issue),” he said. the DDA in its order passed on Jaitley’s pensions tax plan has lower pay, making up to Rs15,000 “I think what is most impor- December 15, 2015 has violated sparked fury among India’s small ($220) per month, would be ex- tant is our desire to resolve all the norms. So the quantum of but vocal professional class - empted. pending disputes,” Jaitley added. punishment for them should be only around 36mn of the coun- India’s urban middle class, In his budget speech, the min- the same as that of organisers of try’s 1.3bn people contribute to which mostly sided with Prime ister made a one-time off er to Art of Living,” co-petitioner and the EPF. Minister Narendra Modi in the corporates facing tax demands environmental activist Ritwick Newspapers led front pages on 2014 election, has shown frus- on account of retrospective tax, Dutta said yesterday. the pensions tax, with the Hin- tration over rising taxes - the of waiver of interest and pen- Parikh is representing the ac- dustan Times splashing “Govt government has taxed away half alty if they pay the principal tax tivists before the NGT bench Blinks” and the Times of India the windfall of a slump in oil amount. while Art of Living is being repre- saying “Salaried Class Rages” af- prices. British oil major Cairn Energy sented by counsel Rajeev Bansal. ter a wave of outrage broke across Monday’s budget also hiked is facing a tax demand of Rs102bn Meanwhile, Art of Living ex- social media. taxes on luxury items like cars, on a nine-year-old business re- plained to the tribunal yester- “This is a draconian act and while high earners will also pay a organisation it eff ected in Cairn day that they are not doing any will be a killer blow to the already higher tax surcharge - helping to India, while another British fi rm, permanent construction on the tax burdened salaried class,” said fund a raft of measures to aid In- telecom giant Vodafone, is facing Yamuna fl ood-plain which may Vaibhav Aggarwal, a fi nancial dia’s struggling rural poor. tax a liability over its $11bn stake pose a threat to fl ora and fauna. analyst who launched an online If implemented, the tax plan purchase in 2007 in the mobile petition against the changes. could hit millions of employees phone business of Hutchison More than 100,000 people who pay up to 33% tax on income, Whampoa. SC clears decks signed the petition, leading the forcing them to explore other op- Jaitley reiterated the need for for dance bars fi nance ministry to partly with- tions to save for their old age. fi scal discipline and said he was draw its plans on Tuesday. The “It will eat up their retirement optimistic of the reform process The Supreme Court yesterday original proposals included re- savings which could be a double moving ahead in parliament. cleared the decks for issuing stricting EPF contributions from whammy especially in light of “Fiscal discipline is going to dance bar licences to hotels April. high infl ation,” said Amit Ma- be very important, and I’m sure and restaurants in Mumbai as it “There has been some reac- heshwari, managing partner at that if we keep to it, we’ll be able modified the conditions for the tion. When the debate comes up consultancy Ashok Maheshwary to meet the targets set by Chief permit and excluded installation Workers of various leftwing parties participate in a protest rally to demand a reduction in in parliament, I will give the gov- & Associates. Economic Advisor Arvind Sub- of CCTV from restaurants and power tariff s in Kolkata yesterday. ernment’s response as to what The EPF, overseen by the Min- ramanian in the Economic Sur- dance performance place. decision we fi nally take,” Jait- istry of Labour, invests 95% of vey,” Jaitley said.

Praying ahead of festival Irom Sharmila rearrested Kerala constituency within days of release

IANS installed, to once again begin her to witness ‘star war’ Imphal hunger strike. Women vigilantes joined her By Ashraf Padanna ing about his opinion on the issue. Congress leaders feel Jagdish, at the venue. Gulf Times Correspondent Siddiq has recently interviewed 60, with 323 fi lms to his credit, rom Sharmila, who has been Student activists also came to Thiruvananthapuram Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is the best bet for the constitu- on hunger strike to press express their solidarity with her. for a leading media house and ency. Ifor the repeal of the Armed She is facing a similar charge in a since then tongues have been Like Kumar, who has acted in Forces (Special Powers) Act, was case being tried at Patiala House athanapuram in Kerala is wagging that he might fi nally end some 75 fi lms, Jagdish also hosts rearrested yesterday, two days Courts in New Delhi. set to see a big fi ght with up as a Congress candidate. television shows. Besides, he is after a court found her not guilty Though Sharmila says that she Pthe Congress Party decid- Election authorities are ex- a post-graduate in commerce, a of the charge of attempt to com- loves her life and that she is using ing to fi eld popular actor Jagad- pected to announce the assembly rank holder, who was a university mit suicide. fasting as a weapon to secure re- ish against sitting legislator K polls in Kerala, along with West teacher before entering the enter- The fasting venue has since peal of the Armed Forces (Special B Ganesh Kumar, his co-star in Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu tainment industry. been dismantled and, accord- Powers) Act, 1958 she is charged many fi lms, in the upcoming as- and the federally administered He also has some 12 story/ ing to offi cial sources, Sharmila under section 309 IPC whenever sembly elections. Puducherry, in a few days. screenplays to his credit, includ- would be charged under Section she is arrested. Though the ruling party is yet Kumar resigned in 2013 as a ing Priyadarshan’s Oru Muthas- 309 (attempt to commit suicide) Sharmila had refused medical to fi nalise its list of candidates, minister in the Congress-led gov- sikkadha and Mazha Peyyunnu of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). check-up on Tuesday. which usually comes from its ernment following a marital dis- Maddalam Kottunnu, Fazil’s On February 29, the District Doctors were worried of de- headquarters in New Delhi, Jag- cord. Soon he started cosying up Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivar- and Sessions Court had released hydration and her nose feeding dish has reportedly started the to the Communist Party of India athrikal, P G Vishwambharan’s her as she was found not guilty of tube was removed. groundwork with his appearance (Marxist), which leads the opposi- Nandi Veendum Varika and Sibi the charge of attempting to com- Police said she had to be picked at a few public functions in the tion Left Democratic Front (LDF). Malayil’s Mutharamkunnu PO, mit suicide. up following increased concern constituency in the Kollam dis- Now in the LDF camp, though all with either superstars Mam- This was the second time that about her health. trict. not as a formal ally, the 49-year- mootty or Mohanlal in the lead. she has been released. She was taken to the J N Insti- Congress sources also said an- old leader of the Kerala Con- Both belong to the powerful Hindu devotees off er prayers next to the Sangam, the However, soon after her re- tute of Medical Sciences for im- other actor Siddiq will be fi elded gress (B) headed by his father R Hindu Nair community. confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical lease, she walked from the se- mediate medication. from the Aroor constituency in Balakrishna Pillai has already Pathanapuram is believed to be Saraswati, ahead of Maha Shivratri festival in the northern curity ward of J N Institute of Later, she was shifted to a se- Alappuzha district. announced his candidature there a Congress stronghold where the city of Allahabad yesterday. Medical Sciences to the public curity ward where she has been Siddiq said the people are ask- with its support. father-son duo holds a sway. park, where the Shahid Minar is staying for the last 15 years. Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 23 INDIA With wit, sarcasm, Rahul takes on Modi in Lok Sabha

IANS in Hindi and English to accuse Modi, Gandhi alleged, let Pa- nata Party benches, Gandhi The Congress leader appeared cussion on the motion of thanks dents and journalists at a Delhi New Delhi Modi of disrespecting Indian kistan “out of the little cage” it said Modi did not share his La- unruffl ed despite the repeated to the President’s address to par- court last month. interests by going to Lahore to had been put in after the Mum- hore visit of December 25 with attempts to interrupt him. liament, was referring to Jait- Gandhi said he heard the en- meet his Pakistani counterpart bai terror attack of 2008 which even External Affairs Minis- Gandhi accused Modi and ley’s amnesty scheme on black tire speech of now jailed JNU- ongress leader Rahul Nawaz Sharif without consult- left 166 Indians and foreigners ter Sushma Swaraj and Home Finance Minister Arun Jaitley money. SU president Kanhaiya Kumar. Gandhi was yesterday ing even his ministers. dead. Minister Rajnath Singh. The of going back on their election Pointing out that Modi had “Not a word was anti-nation- Cat his sarcastic best as “Pakistan directly attacked “He destroyed six years of our remark drew loud protests from pledge and helping the rich to in 2014 vowed to jail those with al.” he attacked Prime Minister this country in Mumbai. They hard work. He gifted them (Pa- BJP MPs. convert their black money into black money, Gandhi said the The Congress leader also at- Narendra Modi on a host of is- trained and sent killers into kistan) a status and put them out Gandhi went on: “The PM has white. prime minister had also failed to tacked Modi for signing a peace sues ranging from his policies on Mumbai. And what does the PM of the cage we had put them in,” to listen to others. Listen to Ra- “Nobody who has black mon- bring back slush money stashed pact with Nagaland separatists Pakistan and black money to the do? He decides to go to Pakistan Gandhi said. “He disrespected jnath Singhji, Sushma Swarajji, ey will be jailed under Modi’s abroad. without consulting the home Jawaharlal Nahru University row and have a cup of tea with Nawaz the national fl ag, those who died Advaniji… Listen to your MPs. ‘Fair and Lovely’ scheme,” he Gandhi pulled up Modi for not minister and chief ministers and the Nagaland accord. Sharif, without any vision,” the in Mumbai, those who died in We don’t hate you. Listen to your said, sparking laughter. “All speaking to the mother of Dalit of Nagaland and neighbouring Speaking amid thumping of Congress vice president said in Pathankot, the talent of our bu- own people, listen to the voice of those who have black money research scholar Rohith Vemula states. desks by Congress MPs and in- a 31-minute speech in the Lok reaucrats (whom he did not con- next generation.” can make it white under this after his suicide in Hyderabad Where is the accord now, cessant booing from the ruling Sabha punctuated with witty sult).” The prime minister was not in scheme.” - and his silence on the issue as Gandhi asked. “It has vanished benches, Gandhi spoke both remarks. Looking at the Bharatiya Ja- the house when Gandhi spoke. Gandhi, taking part in a dis- well as the attacks on JNU stu- into thin air.” Contract for J&K tunnel axed after criticism

Reuters these past links between Gad- New Delhi kari and Mhaiskar should have been disclosed in relation to the tunnel tender. ransport Minister Nitin Modi is sensitive to Gadkari has cancelled charges his government Ta contract to build a cosies up to big business $1.5bn tunnel in the Himala- rather than working for eve- yas, after opposition politi- ryday Indians, and is des- cians alleged irregularities in perate to avoid the corrup- the bidding for India’s most tion allegations that dogged expensive road project. his predecessor. IRB Infrastructure Devel- A senior transport minis- opers Ltd won the right to try official said the decision build the Zojila Pass tunnel in to cancel the tender was tak- Jammu and Kashmir in Janu- en at “the highest level” but ary after it emerged as the sole declined further comment bidder. It said Gadkari’s min- beyond saying the project istry had cancelled the award would be retendered this Students and activists shout slogans as they celebrate the release of Kanhaiya Kumar in New Delhi yesterday. without giving a reason. month. “We have no clue as to why,” A call to Gadkari’s spokes- Virendra Mhaiskar, IRB’s man went unanswered. managing director, told Reu- The roads ministry said ters yesterday. on January 12 that it had Shares in IRB fell more than followed due process and 4% on the cancellation of a maintained complete trans- deal worth three-fi fths of its parency in the Zojila tender, entire order book. They later and that IRB won only after it Court grants bail to rebounded to trade 1% up. was extended several times in The opposition Congress the absence of other partici- Party had seized on the win- pants. ning bid for the Rs100.5bn Mhaiskar said he did not ($1.49bn) project, accusing think the cancellation had Gadkari of violating India’s anything to do with the al- anti-corruption rules - a leged irregularities. IRB would charge the ministry rejected. await the revised terms of the sedition row student Gadkari, a leading fi gure in new tender before deciding Prime Minister Narendra Mo- whether to bid again. di’s government, is leading a “The allegations have no Kanhaiya Kumar is expected Kumar six months’ interim bail Grover, a lawyer for Kumar, scenes as lawyers and support- sion in India, bringing thou- drive to upgrade India’s infra- base,” Mhaiskar said of the to be released from Tihar jail while the police conduct an in- said. ers of the ruling party assaulted sands of students, teachers and structure. This week’s annual rebuttal by the transport today evening vestigation into the case, order- “We welcome this order be- students and journalists. activists onto the streets. budget hiked annual spending ministry after the tender ing him to furnish a personal cause clearly Kanhaiya has no Television footage yesterday Two other students are also on roads and railways by 22.5% was awarded in January. Agencies bond of Rs10,000. role to play in any of this,” Grover showed students, who had been accused of being among the or- to $33bn. “The matter was rubbished New Delhi The court also asked a JNU added. protesting against Kumar’s ar- ganisers of the JNU event and As state transport min- by the ministry there and faculty member or a relative The student union leader de- rest in New Delhi earlier in the have been arrested on the same ister in Maharashtra in the then.” to put up the same amount as nies he was among those chant- day, celebrating the news of his sedition charge as Kumar. 1990s, Gadkari championed One analyst said that IRB he Delhi High Court yes- surety. ing anti-India slogans at a rally bail. Some rights campaigners say the construction of India’s still had good chances of terday granted bail to a “Today the court granted to mark the 2013 hanging of In his home village in Bihar, the Bharatiya Janata Party gov- first major express highway. winning the order. “They Tstudent leader whose ar- interim bail for six months to Kashmiri separatist Mohamed his family and well-wishers were ernment is using the British-era That toll road, from Mumbai are the only company in the rest on a controversial sedition the accused, subject to (the) Afzal Guru over a deadly 2001 seen jubilantly smearing each sedition law to clamp down on to Pune, is one of around 20 country who can take on this charge last month sparked major outcome of the investigation,” attack on the Indian parliament. other’s faces with coloured pow- dissent. road concessions now run by type of project,” said Vibhor protests and a nationwide de- a lawyer for the Delhi police, Instead, his supporters say he der, setting off fi recrackers and Sedition carries a maximum IRB. Singhal at Phillip Capital in bate over free speech. Shailendra Babbar, told report- criticised a right-wing student handing out sweets. penalty of life imprisonment al- IRB has acknowledged hav- Mumbai. Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested ers after the hearing. fraternity and a Hindu-nation- “I am feeling very relieved though convictions are rare. ing invested in a company The 14km tunnel would on February 12 over a rally at “The court has taken a bal- alist umbrella group to which now... I have complete faith in Some commentators and le- owned by Gadkari in the early open up a strategic highway Delhi’s prestigious Jawahar- anced view to ensure that the Modi’s ruling party belongs. the judiciary and our law and or- gal experts fault the government 2000s, when the latter did running east from Kashmir’s lal Nehru University (JNU) at investigation is not aff ected and The police and government der. My son is not a traitor from for exploiting the sedition law to not hold public offi ce. Both summer capital Srinagar that which anti-India slogans were also making sure his (Kumar’s) say the student’s jailing was jus- any angle,” his father, Jaishankar silence its opponents, arguing it Mhaiskar and Gadkari have now only opens in the summer chanted. He has been in judicial liberty is not curtailed,” he add- tifi ed because witnesses said he Singh, told NDTV television should instead have left college denied any wrongdoing. months. Its completion would custody in the capital’s Tihar jail ed. made anti-national comments. network. offi cials to manage what they say Digvijaya Singh, Congress strengthen New Delhi’s grip since February 17. He is expected to be released Kumar’s last appearance in Kumar’s arrest sparked a ma- was no more than an exuberant general secretary, has said that on the state. Yesterday, the court granted from jail today evening, Vrinda court last month led to chaotic jor row over freedom of expres- student debate. Jewellers on three-day Priest gets 40-year jail for child rape strike over tax plan Prosecutors told the court AFP Thiruvananthapuram James had raped the girl, now AFP sentative said in a statement late troduced in 2005 before being aged 13, several times inside Mumbai Tuesday. quickly dropped. the church complex over a pe- “Pan India, all retail jewellers, Industry offi cials say the planned court in Kerala has riod of two months. manufacturers and wholesalers tax will damage growth as it will sentenced a Christian The judge ordered that he ewellers across gold-loving have decided to join the strike make certain purchases more ex- Apriest to 40 years in should not get remission and India started a three-day expressing their anguish over pensive for buyers, at a time when prison for repeatedly raping a also imposed a Rs20,000 fi ne. Jstrike yesterday in a bid to the government apathy towards demand is already weak due to the 12-year-old girl at the church He was given two 20-year force the government to shelve the industry,” he added. global fi nancial slowdown. where he worked, the pros- sentences, one under India’s plans for a controversial excise At the normally bustling Za- Long-running strike action ecutor said yesterday. stringent Protection of Chil- tax announced in this week’s veri Bazaar - the centre of India’s by the jewellery industry would Sanil K James was convicted dren from Sexual Off ences act budget. jewellery trade - in Mumbai, the pose a major headache for Prime of raping and sexually assault- and one under a separate sec- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley majority of shops were closed Minister Narendra Modi as he ing the girl at a Salvation Army tion of the criminal law cover- on Monday proposed to reintro- but some opted to stay open yes- bids to kick-start economic church in the state’s Thrissur ing the rape of children. duce a 1% levy on some jewel- terday. growth and bolster his govern- district in 2014. Activist Smriti Minocha lery transactions as he laid out Union leaders hope the indus- ment’s fl agging popularity. The 37-year-old is also be- said the length of the term was his budget for the fi nancial year trial action, which runs until to- India vies with China for the ing investigated for the alleged highly unusual in a country 2016-17, angering the industry. morrow, will be as successful as a title of the world’s biggest con- rape of another girl during the where even those sentenced to “Today we are left with no three-week nationwide strike in sumer of gold and has an insa- same period. life usually only serve 14 years. options but to go for 72 hours’ 2012, which forced the previous tiable appetite for jewellery, with “The court said the priest de- “Courts normally award life token strike,” Ashok Minawala, government to drop its plans for diamonds and bangles proving served the maximum punish- sentences to rape convicts but an All India Gems and Jewellery an excise tax. popular gifts at weddings and A man sits outside closed jewellery shops at Zaveri Bazar in Mumbai ment for this cruel act,” special sentencing him to 40 years is Trade Federation (GJF) repre- A 1% excise duty was also in- festivals. yesterday. prosecutor Pious Mathew said. exceptional,” said Minocha. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, March 3, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

OPINION LEGAL CRIME POLICY INVESTIGATION US envoy condemns Venezuela top court Cuban pleads guilty to Foreign ownership limit Firm ‘admits’ Rousseff Havana rights record limits assembly powers Medicare fraud in US in Brazil airlines raised campaign funding

Deputy US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Venezuela’s Supreme Court stripped the A Cuban man who scammed the US government Brazil has lifted the legal limit on foreign Executives from Brazil’s second-largest yesterday condemned a surge in arrests of opposition-led legislature of key oversight out of millions of dollars, fled to Cuba in 2013 and ownership of local airlines to 49%, from 20% engineering company, Andrade Gutierrez, activists in Cuba, three weeks before President powers to try to thwart moves to change the was arrested two years later has pleaded guilty to previously, according to a presidential decree have testified that the company paid suppliers Barack Obama’s historic trip to the Communist- makeup of the high court itself. The opposition, defrauding the US government. Ubert Guillermo published in the off icial gazette yesterday, opening for President Dilma Rousseff ’s 2010 electoral ruled island. Addressing the United Nations Human which is seeking a legal means to oust President Rodriguez, 47, entered his plea in Tampa, Florida, the door to more help for troubled carriers. Weak campaign off the books, newspaper a Folha de Rights Council, Blinken said Obama will stress the Nicolas Maduro, accuses him of packing the for submitting false Medicare claims worth more domestic demand and the sharp depreciation S.Paulo reported. The testimony, as part of a plea need for democracy and free political expression in court with allies to bolster his government. The than $2.5mn. Rodriguez fled to Cuba in 2013. He of Brazil’s currency have caused deep operating bargain by 11 executives, would be the first direct Cuba during the March 21-22 visit, the first by a US Supreme Court ruling took away the National stayed until October 2015, when he was arrested losses, forcing airlines to cut routes and jobs and link between the widening “Operation Carwash” president since 1928. “In Cuba, we are increasingly Assembly’s power to remove justices, and declared on arrival at the Miami International Airport. seek foreign partners. The decision to let them investigation into bribes and political kickbacks at concerned about the government’s use of short- unconstitutional its members’ review of the lame Authorities were able to recover almost $250,000 deepen those partnerships reflects a major policy state-run oil company Petrobras and the election term detentions of peaceful activists, which duck appointments of 34 judges to the Supreme Rodriguez secured fraudulently. Many suspects shift by President Dilma Rousseff , opening up of Rousseff , the paper said. The allegations may reached record numbers in January,” Blinken said. Court. The court’s constitutional panel ruled that of fraud with Medicare, the social insurance one of the western hemisphere’s most-closed bolster the case of the main opposition party “We call on the government to stop this tactic as a the National Assembly’s oversight role is limited to programme for the elderly, have fled to Cuba, economies to badly needed capital to halt a severe PSDB as it seeks to annul Rousseff ’s 2014 re- means of quelling peaceful protest,” he added. the executive, and does not extend to the courts. according to US justice department data. economic recession. election for using illegal funding.

Facebook Farc peace talks restart executive released Guatemala after data access row sex slaves AFP Sao Paulo

acebook’s vice president for Latin America was re- Fleased yesterday, a day seek $3mn after being arrested for refusing to hand over WhatsApp mes- sages to the police investigating a drugs case. Judge Ruy Pinheiro, in Sergipe state, ruled that the detention of Diego Dzodan in Sao Paulo on Tuesday had amounted to “un- damages lawful coercion.” “It seems to me that the ex- Reuters and that sexual violence was told the court she was gang treme measure of imprisonment Bogota used as a weapon of war,” said raped by soldiers near a river was hurried,” Pinheiro said. Paula Barrios, a Guatemalan where she would wash clothes. Dzodan walked free mid- lawyer involved in bringing the “My young son was scream- morning, federal police in Sao group of Guatema- case to court. ing when he saw what they Paulo said. lan women used as sex “This ruling sets a very im- were doing to me but nobody Facebook, which owns the Aslaves by two former portant example and precedent helped me,” she said through a popular WhatsApp mobile phone military offi cers during the for criminal proceedings and Q’eqchi Mayan language inter- messaging tool, welcomed the country’s civil war are seeking convictions involving sexual preter. release of its executive. $3mn in compensation follow- violence in confl ict that’s not The women’s lawyers sought “Diego’s detention was an ex- ing a historic trial, their law- only relevant for Guatemala but around $3mn in damages, ac- treme, disproportionate meas- yers said. other countries like Colombia cess to health care, a school and ure, and we are pleased to see On February 26, a Guate- in armed confl ict,” Barrios, told land titles for the victims dur- the court in Sergipe issue an in- malan court convicted a re- the Thomson Reuters Founda- ing a hearing on reparations. junction ordering his release,” a tired army offi cer and a former tion in a phone interview. A United Nations-backed spokesman for the social media paramilitary for holding 11 in- As many as 250,000 people Truth Commission set up un- giant said in a statement. digenous women as sex slaves were killed in a bloody civil war der a 1996 peace deal concluded Dzodan had been arrested at a military base, murder and lasting from 1960 to 1996 in that the military was responsi- on the request of a lower court forced disappearances dating the Central American country. ble for more than 85% of abuses judge in Sergipe for allegedly back to the early 1980s. Up to 45,000 people disap- committed during the war. “repeated non-compliance with The defendants - Esteelmer peared in the confl ict between But until now no members of court orders” to share Facebook Reyes Giron, a lieutenant colo- state security forces and Marx- Guatemala’s armed forces had data, federal police said. nel and former commander of ist guerrillas. been convicted of wartime rape “This information was re- the Sepur Zarco base and Her- During the trial, prosecu- in the country. quired to produce evidence to be iberto Valdez Asij, a civilian tors told the court that in 1982 Rigoberta Menchu, Guate- used in an organised crime and with links to the army - were soldiers killed, captured and mala’s Mayan Nobel laureate drug traffi cking investigation.” sentenced to a total of 360 were responsible for the disap- and a leading rights activist According to media reports, years in prison. pearances of more than a dozen said the trial had set a prece- traffi ckers targeted in the Ser- Both deny wrongdoing and men in Sepur Zarco village. dent that would likely pave the gipe investigation had been us- will appeal, their lawyers said. Many of the victims had way for more women to come ing WhatsApp to discuss their The verdict marks the fi rst been campaigning for land forward. business. time that sexual slavery per- rights and were accused by “The bravery of these Mayan When Facebook refused to com- petrated during a confl ict has the army of sympathising with women has allowed the silence ply, Brazilian authorities imposed been prosecuted in the country the rebels. Some of their wives and impunity surrounding sex- fi nes, starting with 50,000 reais where the crimes took place were forced into slavery at the ual violence to be broken after (about $12,500) daily beginning as opposed to an international military base. more than 30 years,” she told the two months ago, and which rose to tribunal, legal experts said. The court heard recorded Thomson Reuters Foundation. 1mn reais ($250,000) a month ago, “(It) is the fi rst time a na- and live testimony from the 11 Barrios said around 1,500 Sergipe federal police said. tional court has recognised surviving Mayan women, many testimonies had already been The companies, owned by US and established state troops in their seventies and eighties, collected from other women billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, de- were responsible for subject- who said they were raped at the who suff ered wartime rape and nied obstructing justice and said Colombia’s Farc commander Ivan Marquez prepares to give a speech yesterday at the ing women, the majority indig- base and forced to cook, clean that the Guatemalan authori- they had done whatever they Convention Palace in Havana where the peace talks with Colombian government are restarting. enous women in this case, to and wash for the soldiers. ties were investigating more could to help. sexual slavery and exploitation One woman, Rosario Xoc, cases.

Most nations in Americas Osorio feted Delay lifting Argentina ‘have laws that gag media’ order, US judge urged Reuters not given a chance to also Thomson Reuters and open society,” CPJ’s Carlos existence has a “chilling eff ect” New York settle, as they likely would Foundation Lauria and Sara Rafsky wrote in on the spread of information, appeal a decision lifting the New York the report. the report said. injunctions. “Even if infrequently ap- Criminal defamation laws group of Argentine “The agreement is just on plied, the continuing existence have resulted in imprisonment bondholders who the edge of being successful,” ll but one nation in the of these laws represents a lurk- in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, A reached a $4.65bn set- Olson said. Americas have criminal ing danger to free expression.” Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa tlement resolving litigation Michael Paskin, Argen- Adefamation laws that Laws that can be used against Rica, Cuba, Dominican Repub- over defaulted bonds urged tina’s lawyer, countered that can be used against journalists journalists include defamation, lic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guate- a US judge to wait longer be- no delay was needed, and Ar- to suppress freedom of expres- libel, calumny, or making false mala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, fore lifting injunctions that gentina deserved certainty so sion, according to a report re- charges, and “desacato” of- Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, restrict the country from that it could raise money in leased yesterday. fences which refer to insulting Peru, Suriname, the US, Uru- paying off some debts. capital markets to fund the Only Jamaica has entirely re- or off ending the state or state guay and Venezuela, it said. Hedge funds includ- settlements. pealed laws that would permit offi cials, the report said. Mexico and the US do not ing Elliott Management’s “It is fully invested in the journalists to be prosecuted for have criminal defamation laws NML Capital asked US dis- opportunity your honor has their reporting, according to “Even if infrequently at the federal level, but do at trict judge Thomas Griesa in presented to resolve this the study released by the Com- applied, the continuing the state level, it said. Manhattan to wait 30 days litigation once and for all,” mittee to Protect Journalists existence of these While there is a trend toward to formally order the injunc- Paskin said. (CPJ) and the Thomson Reuters laws represents a abolition of criminal defama- tions vacated, to allow the The arguments stemmed Foundation. lurking danger to free tion laws in the US and Mexi- remaining plaintiffs to reach from an order by Griesa on Two-thirds of the countries expression” co, there are no such trends in settlements. February 19 indicating that, in north, central and south Central America, the Carib- Theodore Olson, NML’s at Argentina’s request, he America routinely use such Specifi cally the report said bean or South America, it said. lawyer, said that firm and planned to order the injunc- laws to silence dissent and keep 32 out of 33 nations in the The report was prepared three other hedge funds tions vacated, provided the information from their citi- Americas penalise defamation by the law fi rm of Debevoise that agreed to Monday’s country repeals two laws zens, the report said. with criminal laws that can be and Plimpton for CPJ and the settlement considered it concerning its debts and pays “Despite the emerging con- used to punish journalists. Thomson Reuters Foundation a “monumental achieve- creditors who by Monday had sensus that criminal defama- Jamaica from 2011 to 2013 which runs Trust Law, a global ment” that would resolve reached settlements. tion laws violate international repealed its laws that criminal- pro bono legal programme that the bulk of the decade-plus That order came after Ar- freedom of expression stand- ised libel and amended consti- connects law fi rms with non- litigation. gentina offered on February ards, the continued use of such tutional provisions regarding governmental organisations Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet meets director Gabriel He said the deal could fall 5 to pay $6.5bn to settle law- provisions has deterred the freedom of expression, it said. and social enterprises seek- Osorio, who won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film, at the apart if the remaining plain- suits by various bondhold- aggressive reporting neces- Even where such laws are not ing social and environmental government house in Santiago. tiffs, holding 15% of the ers stemming from its record sary for robust debate in a free typically enforced, their very change. claims in the litigation, are $100bn default in 2002. Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 25 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

First LNG ship Militants attack Indian from Qatar docks at Port Qasim

Internews The textile and many other mission in Afghanistan Karachi industries have approached the Ministry of Petroleum for Suicide bombers target LNG supply. Indian consulate in eastern he fi rst ship under the Three power plants of Afghanistan; Three people Pak-Qatar long-term 1,000MW each based on LNG killed in attack; Four Tliquefi ed natural gas are being set up in Punjab and attackers gunned down (LNG) agreement docked on smaller LNG-based power Tuesday at the Elengy LNG plants are also being set up in AFP terminal at Port Qasim, Ka- diff erent parts of the country. Jalalabad, Afghanistan rachi, with a load of 150,000 Qatar is the largest pro- cubic metres of super chilled ducer and supplier of LNG in fuel. the world with around 31% unfi re and an explo- The Q-Flex LNG ship from market share. Qatar also op- sion echoed yesterday as Qatar is the largest of the 20 erates a large fl eet of over 60 Gmilitants attacked India’s LNG ships to have docked at LNG ships. Elengy LNG ter- consulate in the eastern Afghan the Elengy LNG terminal and minal in Karachi is the latest city of Jalalabad, killing three one of the largest ships to have out of over 17 LNG terminals people in the latest in a string of arrived at Port Qasim. Qatargas supplies to all over assaults on Indian installations The ship is the fi rst LNG the world. in the country. ship to have arrived under the Syed Mohamed Ali, CEO No group has so far claimed 15-year Pak-Qatar agreement. Elengy LNG Terminal at Port the brazen attack, which coin- The ship has hooked up with Qasim, stated that starting cided with a Nato change-of- the FSRU Unit at the Elengy this month, the terminal will command ceremony that saw terminal and the re-gasifi ca- handle 3mn cubic metres of US army general John Nichol- tion process has started. LNG per annum. son take charge of international Due to the gas shortage Pakistan has upgraded its troops in Afghanistan. in the country, there are a existing north-south gas dis- Indian diplomats were not number of user groups that tribution system to handle the hurt, the foreign ministry in New desires the fuel and the lucky LNG imports and is also work- Delhi said, after a suicide bomb- ones to receive it are from the ing on a new $2 billion north- er blew himself up at the consu- fertiliser, power and other in- south gas pipeline with Rus- late’s entrance and four other at- dustries. sian collaboration. tackers breached the compound. “All four of them were killed Drop in oil prices: Punjab government by our security forces,” govern- ment spokesman Attaullah Kho- reduces transport fares gyani told AFP after the two- hour assault ended. The Punjab province government in Pakistan yesterday announced “Three others — two civilians An Afghan policeman inspects the site of a blast near the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, yesterday. reduction in transport fares for multiple transport categories after and one policeman — were killed the decrease in fuel prices. According to a notification issued by the and 19 other people were left campaign,” outgoing Nato com- war” in Afghanistan between In- round of talks aimed at paving fi ghters increasingly lured by the Punjab Transport department, the fares for public transport vehicles wounded.” mander General John Campbell dia and Pakistan. the way for the nascent peace group’s signature brutality. using petrol have been reduced up to 11.9% and fares for diesel ve- The powerful explosion sent told reporters in Kabul. Pakistan — the historic backer process. In January, IS fi ghters hicles have been reduced up to 6.6%. “The fares have been reduced a column of smoke rising in “(Afghan security forces) have of the Taliban — has long been But the Taliban have intensi- claimed responsibility for a for two categories of non-AC intercity routes stage carriages and the sky and blew out windows come far but they still need our accused of assisting the insur- fi ed their insurgency in an ap- deadly gun and bomb siege of non-AC intracity stage carriage transport (diesel) and third non-AC of nearby buildings, as Afghan help. (Their) desire to improve gents, especially with attacks on parent attempt to gain leverage the nearby Pakistani consulate intracity stage carrier transport (petrol),” reads the notification. The troops hauled away bodies from and their resilience warrants our Indian targets in Afghanistan, before the planned negotiations. in Jalalabad, the fi rst major at- decision was made at a meeting presided over by Punjab Food the area littered with charred continued support in the critical but denies the claims. Nangarhar province, of which tack by the group in an Afghan Minister Bilal Yasin and attended by transport department off icials debris. years ahead.” Direct peace talks are expected Jalalabad is the capital, also faces city. and transport owners. During the meeting, a committee of four The attack highlights the Yesterday’s assault was remi- to start this week in Islamabad an emerging threat from loyalists The violence tearing the coun- members, including two transport owners, was also constituted to worsening security situation in niscent of a 25-hour gun and between the Western-backed of the Islamic State group, which try apart is having a devastating formulate regular schedule of reduction in fares. The minister issued Afghanistan as Taliban insur- bomb siege near the Indian con- Afghan government and the Tal- controls territory across Syria impact on Afghan civilians. directives to all the divisional commissioners and district coordina- gents step up nationwide attacks sulate in the northern city of iban, which has been waging a and Iraq and is making gradual A recent UN report high- tion off icers (DCOs) to get the notification implemented across the and Islamic State jihadists make Mazar-i-Sharif in January. deadly insurgency for more than inroads in Afghanistan — chal- lighted more than 11,000 civil- province. inroads in the volatile east. India has been a key supporter 14 years. lenging the Taliban on their own ian casualties in 2015 including “There is still much work to of Kabul’s post-Taliban govern- Delegates from Afghanistan, turf. 3,545 deaths, a new record since Inflation rises to 4% in Pakistan be done. We now fi nd ourselves ment, and analysts have often China, the US and Pakistan re- The jihadists have managed 2009 when the agency began at an infl ection point in our pointed to the threat of a “proxy cently met in Kabul for a fourth to attract disaff ected Taliban tabulating the statistics. Annual inflation in Pakistan has risen to four percent in February 2016 from 3.3% in the preceding month, the country’s Bureau of Statistics has showed. Average inflation for July-February 2015-16 stood at 2.48%, Dawn online cited the bureau as showing on Tuesday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), used to measure prices of 481 commodi- ties, has been witnessing an upward trend since November 2015. Pakistan and US yet to remove diff erences over N-arsenal Prices of non-perishable and perishable products increased by 2.8% and 2.42% month-on-month in February 2016. Additional upward pressure came from the hike in prices of clothes IANS statement, but in their open- stan’s Foreign Aff airs Adviser from India and that it will not Kerry, while praising Pa- and footwear, housing, health, water, electricity, gas and fuel, transport Washington ing remarks on Monday, leaders Sartaj Aziz asked the US to accept any unilateral reduction kistan’s commitment to act and furnishing equipment. One of the reasons for the surge in of the US and Pakistani delega- show a “greater understanding in nuclear weapons. against all terror groups, also inflation was the introduction of Rs.40bn new taxes on import of tions highlighted some pressing of Pakistan’s security concerns Secretary Kerry, however, did named groups such as the processed food and other items. ffi cials of the US and issues, Dawn online reported on and its desire to contribute ac- not mention India while calling Haqqani Network and Lashkar- Core inflation, measured by excluding volatile food and energy prices, Pakistani are still delib- yesterday. tively as a mainstream nuclear for a drastic reduction in Paki- e-Taiba that the US would like was recorded at 4.5% during the month under review, slightly up from Oerating on the contents US Secretary of State John power”. stan’s nuclear weapons. Pakistan to target. 4.3% in the previous month. Falling inflation has also encouraged the of a joint statement that was Kerry emphasised the need for The two statements clearly Aziz not only urged the US Aziz regretted the “tendency Pakistani bank to maintain its key interest rate at 6% (42-year low). supposed to be issued after the Pakistan to reduce its nuclear underline major diff erences be- to understand Pakistan’s threat to blame Pakistan in a simplistic Core inflation has remained subdued since November 2015 because sixth meeting of their strategic arsenal, urging it to “process tween their positions on the nu- perceptions but also conveyed fashion” for everything that goes of a tighter monetary policy and reduction in fuel prices. In February dialogue. that reality (of reduction) and clear issue. its desire to be treated as a main- wrong in Afghanistan. He also 2016, food inflation stood at 3.7%. Neither side was willing to put that front and centre in its Pakistan insists that its nucle- stream nuclear power, which is rejected the claim that Islama- Average inflation measured through the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) talk about the diff erences that policy”. ar programme is designed only so far unacceptable to Washing- bad was “pursuing a duplicitous was up by 1.02% in July-February 2015-16, while Wholesale Price Index have reportedly delayed the On the other hand, Paki- to deal with a possible threat ton. policy”. (WPI) was still negative 1.70%. New coalition commander inherits raging war in Afghanistan

Reuters Kabul

S Army General John Campbell stepped down Uas commander of the Nato-led coalition in Afghani- stan yesterday, capping an 18-month tenure that saw the alliance transition from regular combat to a training-focused mission as war continued to rage. The incoming commander, General John Nicholson, will inherit a confl ict that is test- ing Afghan security forces and the roughly 13,000 international troops who remain, with insur- gents contesting or controlling as much as a third of Afghanistan. Since Campbell took com- mand of both coalition troops and US counterterrorism op- erations in August 2014, Tali- ban militants have made gains in several provinces, Islamic State has established a nascent US Army General John Campbell (centre), the outgoing commander of Resolute Support forces and presence, and casualties have United States forces in Afghanistan, pays respect during a command ceremony at Resolute Support Pakistani army chief General Raheel Sharif attends a change of command ceremony in Resolute Support increased among both Afghan headquarters in Kabul yesterday. headquarters in Kabul yesterday. security forces and civilians. The Taliban are seeking to taries gathered at the coalition’s of Kunduz last year, led Camp- already spent three-and-a-half most serious fi ghting. cisions on troop levels on condi- Besides the deteriorating se- topple the Western-backed gov- headquarters in Kabul. bell to recommend keeping more years deployed to some of the “The United States is com- tions on the ground to prevent a curity situation, he faced sharp ernment in Kabul and reimpose “The confl uence of changes American troops. President most contested areas. mitted to an enduring relation- repeat of some of the worst vio- criticism over an American air strict Islamic rule 15 years after in the environment reminds us Barack Obama abandoned plans in In his fi rst visit outside of Kabul ship with Afghanistan,” he said lence in 2015. strike on a Doctors Without Bor- they were ousted from power. that there are challenges ahead, October to withdraw all US forces, since his arrival to assume his new at Wednesday’s ceremony. “We Afghan and coalition leaders ders hospital in Kunduz in October “No doubt this has been a but that together we can face and instead opting to leave thousands command, Nicholson said he had are with you.” praised Campbell, a 41-year vet- that killed at least 42 medical staff , challenging and diffi cult time in overcome them.” in Afghanistan at least until 2017. travelled to Helmand province Campbell reiterated his call eran of the US military, but the patients, and caretakers. The full our campaign,” Campbell told Taliban gains, including their Nicholson brings long expe- to try to reassure Afghan leaders for international leaders to re- outgoing commander’s tenure results of an investigation into the Afghan and international digni- brief capture of the northern city rience in Afghanistan, having there who have faced some of the main fl exible and to base any de- was not without controversy. strike have yet to be released. Gulf Times 26 Thursday, March 3, 2016 PHILIPPINES

Government Offi cials say Beijing blocked hunts tomb raider-priest

AFP access to disputed sea atoll Iloilo Chinese ships at Jackson ing a rusting ship that it ran hilippine authorities said Atoll prevent fishing access: aground in 1999 to bolster its yesterday they are look- mayor; Tension rising over claims to the disputed reef. Ping for a parish priest who reclamations, patrols, A military source from Pala- allegedly damaged part of a his- military build-up wan said a surveillance plane toric cemetery chapel in search had seen four to fi ve ships in of treasure. Reuters the vicinity of Jackson Atoll last Father Nelson Silvela, parish Manila week. priest of the town of San Joaquin “There are no indications in the central island of Panay, China will build structures or vanished after the arrest of 10 hina sent several ships develop it into an island,” said men he allegedly hired to dig up to a disputed atoll in the the source, who was not au- the chapel known as the ‘Cam- CSouth China Sea, pre- thorised to speak to the media posanto’, said Mayor Eduardo venting Filipino fi shermen from about the South China Sea. Servidad. accessing traditional fi shing The Philippines Star newspa- “We consider the Camposan- grounds and raising tensions in per, which earlier reported the to a holy place and we did not the volatile region, Philippine story, quoted an unidentifi ed expect a priest like him to do a offi cials said yesterday. fi sherman as saying Chinese thing like this,” he said. China had sent as many as boats chased them away when The men had dug a hole about seven ships to Quirino Atoll, they tried to enter the area last 18 metres (60 feet) long which also known as Jackson Atoll, in week. had weakened the structure of recent weeks, said Eugenio Bi- Along with China and the the chapel located at the centre to-onon Jr, the mayor of nearby Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, of the cemetery built in 1892, the Pagasa Island in the Spratly Is- the Philippines, Taiwan and Vi- mayor said. lands. etnam also have claims on the The cemetery and chapel, fa- The Spratlys are the most waters, through which about mous for its oriental baroque ar- contested archipelago in the $5tn in trade is shipped every chitecture and ornate carvings, South China Sea, a resource- year. Tensions in the region were declared a “national cul- rich region and critical shipping have been building recently, tural treasure” in 2015 and have lane linking North Asia to Eu- with the US and others protest- long been a tourist attraction. rope, South Asia and the Middle ing against Beijing’s land recla- The 10 men, armed with tools, East. mations, along with the recent a metal detector and a water “This is very alarming, Quiri- deployment of surface-to-air pump, were arrested on February no is on our path when we travel missiles and fi ghter jets in the 24 and later identifi ed the priest from Palawan to Pagasa. It is Paracel Islands. as having hired them to dig for halfway and we normally stop US Defence Secretary Ash an unspecifi ed treasure, Servi- there to rest,” Bito-onon Jr told Carter warned China on Tues- dad said. Reuters. “I feel something dif- day against what he called “ag- The local archbishop, Angel ferent. The Chinese are try- gressive” actions in the region, Lagdameo, said he had suspend- ing to choke us by putting an saying there would be “specifi c ed the priest and would support imaginary checkpoint there. It consequences” to militarisation any criminal charges against is a clear violation of our right File photo shows members of Philippine Marines on BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999 and of the South China Sea. him. to travel, impeding freedom of became a Philippine military detachment on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea. In response, Hong urged He said Father Silvela’s act was navigation,” he said. Washington yesterday to “stop “a big violation” that had deeply In Beijing, Foreign Ministry the site to leave,” Hong said, “The Department is moni- istry said in a statement. ly area,” spokesman Brigadier- exaggerating and sensationalis- hurt the people of his parish. spokesman Hong Lei said Chi- adding that China had indis- toring reports on the situation Earlier, the Philippine mili- General Restituto Padilla told ing” the issue. The mayor said the priest may na’s Ministry of Transport had putable sovereignty over the on the ground and reiterates its tary said it was looking into the Reuters. “There are also ships For its part, Beijing has been be charged with damaging cul- sent vessels to tow a grounded atoll. call for China to exercise self- situation around Jackson Atoll, around Second Thomas Shoal, angered by “freedom of naviga- tural treasures, a crime punish- foreign ship and they had since The Philippines Foreign Min- restraint from the conduct of where a Chinese warship alleg- so we want to make sure if the tion” air and sea patrols the US able by 10 years in jail. left the surrounding waters. istry said Chinese coast guard activities that could complicate edly fi red warning shots at Fili- presence is permanent.” has conducted near the islands The Philippines is a largely “To guarantee safety of navi- vessels had been seen at the at- or escalate disputes in the South pino fi shermen in 2011. Second Thomas Shoal is it claims in the South China Sea Catholic country and churches gation and of work conditions, oll two weeks ago but were not China Sea and aff ect peace and “We know there are Chinese where the Philippine navy has and says it needs military facili- and other holy places are usually China urged fi shing vessels near in the area yesterday. stability in the region,” the min- ships moving around the Sprat- been occupying and reinforc- ties for its self defence. treated reverently. Philippines probes attack on infl uential Saudi cleric

AFP right thigh and left leg, accord- Daesh-related because he was Zamboanga ing to a police report. on this hit list but I don’t know A student driver’s licence and yet,” he said, using an Arabic ab- a local government ID were re- breviation for the IS group. hilippine authorities covered from the man, which The shooting followed a re- were yesterday probing identifi ed him as a 21-year-old quest by the Saudi Arabian em- Pan assassination attempt Filipino, but police said they bassy in Manila last month for against an infl uential Saudi were not ruling out forgery. increased police security for it- preacher who was on an Islamic A uniform for engineering self and the Saudi national air- State hit list, after the gunman students in the Western Mind- line due to an unspecifi ed threat, was killed and two suspects ar- anao State University, where Mayor said. rested. Qarni was speaking, was found He said the Filipino security Preacher Sheikh Aaidh al- hidden in his backpack, but uni- services complied, but would Qarni and Saudi diplomat versity offi cials could not im- not discuss any specifi c meas- Sheikh Turki Assaegh were both mediately confi rm if the gunman ures implemented. Tuesday’s wounded in a shooting as they was enrolled there. shooting also came as the army This recent undated handout photo released by Barobo police station yesterday shows people standing on a partially-capsized boat believed left a university auditorium in Footage from ABS-CBN tel- quelled a rampage by an obscure to be owned by German national Manfred Fritz Bajorat whose body was found inside, after residents found the yacht drifting off the coast of the southern port city of Zam- evision showed the remains of armed group that pledged al- Barobo, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. boanga, where the cleric had the gunman, who was wearing a legiance to the Islamic State in given an address. hoodie, sprawled face down on Butig, a poor farming town some Their Filipino police escorts the ground beside the victims’ 200 kilometres northeast of killed the lone assailant, while car. Islamic State militants who Zamboanga. two other suspects seen with the control vast swathes of Iraq and At least 12 militants and fi ve gunman were arrested as they Syria had called on “lone wolves” soldiers were killed while more Investigations reveal no foul tried to escape, police said. to attack Qarni and several other than 30,000 people were dis- “It all happened so fast. Sud- Saudi clerics in the latest issue placed over several days of fi ght- denly there were gunshots,” local of Dabiq, their monthly online ing, which ended as the army Muslim community leader Wakil magazine. seized the gunmen’s main camp play in German sailor’s death Kasim, who was at the audito- Police declined to comment over the weekend. rium, told reporters. on potential links between the Saudi media outlets described The gunman “popped up shootings and IS calls to attack Qarni as a senior Islamic scholar DPA “The cause of death is acute myocardial tions and sitting near the radio. Bajorat, from the crowd, moved in close the preacher. A special task force and he has more than 12mn fol- Manila infarction based on the autopsy by regional who was believed to be in his late 50s, was and shot the victim” as he was has been created to look into the lowers on Twitter. In his book crime laboratory,” said Chief Superintend- separated from his wife, who passed away boarding his car, said city police backgrounds of the suspects and “Awakening Islam,” the French ent Wilben Mayor, national police spokes- in 2010. spokeswoman Chief Inspector ascertain a motive for the attack, academic Stephane Lacroix in- German sailor found dead in a drift- man. Their daughter requested that no more Helen Galvez, adding that the national police spokesman Chief cluded Qarni in his list of “the ing yacht in the southern Philippines Fishermen found Manfred Fritz Bajorat’s photos from the yacht be released, Siega gunman then walked to the oth- Superintendent Wilben Mayor most famous” Saudi preachers. Adied from a heart attack, police said body inside the radio room of the yacht, said. er side of the vehicle and shot the said. Zamboanga, 800 kilome- yesterday, as investigators ruled out foul which was 140 kilometres off the coast of “The German Embassy called to relay the Saudi diplomat. The Philippine government tres south of Manila, is one of play. Barobo, on February 25. wishes of the daughter not to release any Qarni was shot in the right should investigate whether IS the largest cities in the southern “There were no signs that he was killed, “The German national is estimated to more of the gruesome photos for their pri- shoulder, left arm and chest had infl uenced the shooting, Philippines, an area troubled by no bruises or wounds on his body,” police have died more or less seven days earlier,” vacy,” she said. Bajorat was believed to be while Assaegh, a religious at- international security analyst a decades-long separatist rebel- spokeswoman Goldie Siega said by phone Mayor said. travelling alone, and there was no indication taché at the Saudi embassy in Stephen Cutler told report- lion that has claimed more than from Barobo town in Surigao del Sur prov- Police earlier released photos of the body, anyone was accompanying him on the boat, Manila, was wounded in his ers in Manila. “It’s possible it is 100,000 lives. ince, 877 kilometres south of Manila. which appeared mummifi ed by the condi- Siega said.

Police arrest 27 over alleged cybersex Priority for food security : Marcos Jr

Manila Times Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, a The raid came two days af- Branch 72. Among those arrest- Manila Times without science. Sadly, we are lacking under- Manila police offi cial said yesterday. ter the ACG smashed a Manila- ed were seven women caught Los Banos, Laguna standing. The Biotech is the best place to bring Senior Supt. Guillermo based syndicate that catered to chatting with clients while back the consciousness to those which directly Lorenzo Eleazar, PNP Anti- Western paedophiles. showing videos of females per- aff ect the lives of the Filipinos,” the senator told t least 27 persons, in- Cybercrime Group (ACG) chief, TLS Synergy, which bills itself forming controversial acts. enator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos the scientists, researchers, and employees of the cluding alleged sex per- said in a press briefi ng in Camp as an online marketing fi rm, was The PNP-ACG Chief said vowed to give priority to food security and 36-year-old agency. “Thank you for keeping my Aformers, were arrested Crame that the operatives raided being run by principal suspect they “found photographs, vid- Sdevelop biofuel sources when he visited the father’s dream of food security,” he added. Tuesday by anti-cybercrime at around 12.30am the TLS Syn- Florendo Holgado, the subject of eos and messages between the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Bio- Biotech head Rosario Monsalud said the agency operatives of the Philippine Na- ergy Group, at No 31 Melencio a search warrant issued by Judge victims and the suspects in technology or Biotech located inside the Univer- was established when the Philippines was bat- tional Police (PNP) in a raid that Extension, in Kapitan Pepe Sub- Richard Paradeza of the Olon- many of the digital evidence we sity of the Philippines campus here. tling energy crisis and due to emerging interest in also smashed a cybersex ring in division, Brgy. San Jose Sur. gapo City Regional Trial Court seized.” “No one in this century can feed themselves genetic engineering. Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 27 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL French aid Nepal plane makes worker freed emergency landing after over AFP Kathmandu two months

plane with nine passen- gers on board was forced Ato make an emergency in prison landing at Kathmandu airport yesterday, an aviation offi cial said, a week after two deadly AFP demanding he be set free. crashes highlighted Nepal’s Dhaka Although he was granted dismal air safety record. bail on one of the charges in The 19-seater plane was tak- January, his release was halted ing off for Lukla, known as the angladesh has released after he was accused of using a gateway to Mount Everest, when a French aid worker, an diff erent name than that in his a bird struck its right wing, Boffi cial said, months passport, court inspector of Kathmandu airport offi cial after he was arrested in the Cox’s Bazar Jamal Uddin had Ranjan Bhattarai said. country’s southeastern resort said. “The Lukla-bound Goma Air district of Cox’s Bazar for al- “His name in the passport plane made an emergency land- legedly helping Myanmar’s is diff erent from the name he ing... within three to four min- Rohingya refugees. now uses.” utes of takeoff , due to a bird hit,” Police arrested Moussa Once prisoners are freed on Bhattarai said. Tchantchuing, also known as bail in Bangladesh, they are “No passengers were harmed,” Moussa Ibn Yacoub, on De- seldom called back to prison. he said, adding that engineers cember 19 on charges of “sus- were inspecting the grounded picious activities”. He was lat- Tchantchuing had aircraft for signs of damage. er also accused of a “criminal come to Bangladesh The incident comes a week breach of trust, cheating by and neighbouring after two deadly plane crashes personation and abetment”. Myanmar to help the in the impoverished Himalayan A 19-seater plane belonging to Goma Air parked at Kathmandu airport. “He was released from Cox’s Rohingya nation, whose air safety record Bazar jail this (Tuesday) after- is blamed largely on inadequate killing all 23 people on board. a serious safety concern for killing all 19 people on board. a limited road network. Many noon after he was granted bail Bangladesh, which shares maintenance, inexperienced Two days later, two pilots Kathmandu’s airport, which is An investigation concluded communities, particularly in by the High Court,” deputy jail a long border with Myan- pilots and poor management. were killed when a small pas- located close to forested hills. that the pilot panicked, causing the mountains and hills, are chief Arpan Chowdhury said. mar, has discouraged local A Twin Otter turboprop air- senger plane crash-landed in the In 2012, a plane crashed the plane to crash. accessible only on foot or by air. French embassy press at- and international charities craft slammed into a mountain- country’s hilly midwest. shortly after taking off from Despite the risks, air travel The European Union black- tache Shakhawat Hossain said from aiding hundreds of side in Nepal last Wednesday Birds have traditionally posed the airport when it hit a bird, is popular in Nepal, which has listed all Nepal’s airlines in 2013. that he was freed “after 70 thousands of unregistered days in jail on condition that Rohingya who have taken he cannot leave Bangladesh refuge in Cox’s Bazar and territory without the prior other parts of the country’s permission of the judge”. southeast. Tchantchuing had come to In August 2012, the French Lanka China off ers to build second bridge over Padma Bangladesh and neighbouring aid agencies Doctors Without Myanmar to help the Rohing- Borders and Action Against yas, according to the non- Hunger and the British agency aims to By Mizan Rahman struction of the second Padma has decided to construct the fi cial, the Chinese company, governmental organsiation he Muslim Aid were told to stop Dhaka multipurpose bridge across the second Padma bridge to connect China Communications Con- worked for, BarakaCity. aid to the Rohingya people. Paturia-Daulatdia point,” Road Jessore, Kushtia, Magura, Jhe- struction Company, showed its Rohingya, who are mostly The French charities were have free Transport and Bridges Minister nidah and other south-western interest to construct the bridge Muslims, have long been de- later allowed to carry on their state-run Chinese com- Obaidul Quader said yesterday. districts with the capital city. under the G-to-G arrangement. nied citizenship in Buddhist work. pany has expressed in- He said the government, “After its construction, the He said the estimated cost for majority Myanmar. In recent The charities were provid- trade pact Aterest to construct the in principle, has approved bridge will boost commercial and construction of the bridge was years, they have fl ed violence ing health care, food and water 6km second Padma multipur- the preliminary development trading activities between the fi xed in 2011 at $1.90bn. and persecution in Myamar’s to the refugees in the camps in pose bridge across the Patu- project proposal (PDPP) of the south-western and the remain- The cost would rise to the Rakhine province for Cox’s Cox’s Bazar. with China ria-Daulatdia point under the proposed bridge and decided ing parts of the country to create tune of $ 2.54bn following a 6% Bazar in Bangladesh and other Bangladesh recognises government-to-government to construct it under the pub- additional employment oppor- price escalation but the ulti- South East Asian nations. some 30,000 Rohingya as (G-to-G) arrangement. lic-private partnership based tunities, which would help attain mate cost would be fi xed on the BarakaCity confi rmed on refugees, but the total number IANS “We have sought foreign on the build, own, operate and higher growth leading to further basis of the feasibility and de- Twitter the release of Tch- of those who have crossed the Colombo loans through the economic re- transfer (BOOT). poverty alleviation,” he said. tailed design of the bridge, the antchuing, 28, which came border is estimated at around lations division (ERD) for con- Quader said the government According to a ministry of- offi cial added. after a petition was launched 300,000.

ri Lanka aims to implement a free trade agreement with SChina in order to gain an ac- cess to the market of 1.3bn people, the country’s state investment Technology can agency said yesterday. Bangladesh FM holds talks Both countries recognised the benefi ts that can be leveraged through the positive relationship help in curbing between trade and investment, the Board of Investments (BoI) with Indian counterpart said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported. graft: Hasina The BoI said that the Sri IANS Lankan government also in- New Delhi formed China that it was accel- By Mizan Rahman erating the implementation of Dhaka ongoing Chinese project in the ndia’s External Aff airs island nation and aimed to at- Minister Sushma Swaraj tract more Chinese tourists to rime Minister Sheikh Iheld a meeting with Bang- visit Sri Lanka. Hasina yesterday said it ladeshi Foreign Minister Abul “Both sides recognised that Pwill be easier to free the Hassan Mahmud Ali yesterday China’s Going Abroad strategy Bangladesh society from cor- during which the two lead- and Sri Lanka’s very favourable ruption by making the best use ers discussed a number of location on the Maritime Silk of technology. bilateral issues. Road provided a strong basis for The prime minister was in- “A valued neighbour, an strengthening Sino-Lanka eco- augurating the Upazila (sub- important friend. EAM meets nomic relations,” the BoI said. district) ICT Training and with Bangladeshi FM Abul It added that Colombo also Resource Centres (UITRCEs) Hassan Mahmud Ali,” exter- paid its gratitude for Beijing’s in 125 selected sub-districts Sheikh Hasina: “The aim of our nal aff airs ministry spokesman support during the country’s through a videoconference at government is to reduce the Vikas Swarup tweeted. 30-year civil confl ict as well as her offi ce in Dhaka. income inequality...” According to a report from assistance for infrastructure Hasina said it will also be Dhaka, a statement issued development. easier to implement devel- post offi ces will be turned into by the Bangladesh foreign China has been Sri Lanka’s big- opment projects quickly, digital centres in phases. ministry said the two minis- gest contributor of foreign direct strengthen monitoring and The prime minister said the ters discussed various issues investments. Nearly, 70% of the expedite the pace of develop- main aim of her government of Bangladesh-India bilat- infrastructure projects in the coun- ment in the country by using is to ensure balanced develop- eral relations, including water try have been funded by China and technology. ment of the country and eradi- resources, trade and com- built by Chinese companies. The government with sup- cate poverty through educa- merce, security and border Sri Lanka already has pref- port from South Korean Exim tion and it is working round management. erential trade agreements with Bank implemented the project the clock to this end. It was also decided that the India and Pakistan. involving 4bn taka. Another “The aim of our government next meeting of the Joint Con- Sri Lanka is currently in talks 160 UITRCEs will be set up is to reduce the income in- sultative Commission (JCC), with the IMF for a bailout, al- under the project in its next equality between the rich and co-chaired by the two minis- though the sum it is seeking has phases. the poor … we want to devel- ters, will be held in Dhaka in not been disclosed. The prime minister said the op the country where people July this year. The IMF, which sent a mis- country’s education process will get a better life. Without Yesterday’s meeting as- sion to review Sri Lanka’s econ- would fully be based on infor- education, we can’t eradicate sumes signifi cance because of omy earlier in February, said it mation and communication poverty from the country,” she the Bangladesh government’s had warned the authorities they technology to fl ourish through added. clampdown on terrorist ele- India’s External Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmud should make a “stronger eff ort” digital system. Hasina said UITRCEs will be ments following the killing of a Ali shaking hands during a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. immediately to reduce the defi cit. She said the government will turned into full-fl edged ICT head priest of a Hindu temple The government went on set up UITRCE in every sub- training labs with all facilities, in the country last month, the ing that the newly formed Bang- Chandrika Kumaratunga,” In her address, she said that a spending spree after taking district to provide training to which will speed up the ICT responsibility for which was ladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal external aff airs ministry spokes- while co-operation and eco- power in January 2015, to deliver all teachers on information training for the teachers and claimed by the Islamic State (BBIN) sub-regional co-ordina- man Vikas Swarup tweeted after nomic integration proceeded on election promises of higher communication technology students at primary and post- (IS) terror outfi t. tive architecture would prove to Sushma Swaraj earlier on the very fast in the rest of the world, wages and lower prices. (ICT) as they can teach their primary level institutions at On Tuesday, Ali addressed be a game changer in the region. day met with former Afghan economic integration in South But this has increased the budg- students in the classrooms. the grassroots. the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi, Kumaratunga meets president Hamid Karzai. Asia was very slow. et defi cit and caused concern over Hasina said the inaugura- UITRCEs will be utilised a global conclave on geopoli- Swaraj: Sushma Swaraj held a On Tuesday, Kumaratunga Lamenting that the India- the balance of payments. tion of these UITRCEs is a for ICT education of teachers, tics and geo-economics or- meeting with former Sri Lankan addressed the Raisina Dialogue, Pakistan confl ict prevented re- The island last week received milestone in the history of the access to information by stu- ganised by the external aff airs president Chandrika Kumara- a global conclave on geopolitics gional integration in South Asia, pledges of over $2bn in loans and country’s education system, dents, teachers, citizens, and ministry and the Observer Re- tunga yesterday. and geo-economics organised she, however, said that things equity from the Asian Devel- and mentioned that her gov- local Education Management search Foundation. “Another old friend, from by the external aff airs minis- were likely to change now with opment Bank to be spread over ernment also set up 5,275 un- Information System (EMIS) He called for integration of Sri Lanka. EAM @SushmaS- try and the Observer Research the rise of the post-Partition three years. ion digital centres while 8,000 data centres. the South Asian nations, say- waraj meets former President Foundation. generation. Gulf Times 28 Thursday, March 3, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran Financial volatility: It’s

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] the stupid politics Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Current price movements and the resulting increase in global oil Labile politics are increasingly In Southern Europe, Spain’s recent Fax 44350474 should be viewed through supply, prompted a further 9% price driving outcomes in other emerging elections were inconclusive, and the drop over a matter of days. markets as well. In Brazil, the absence of a stable government could the spectrum of geopolitics. These supply dynamics are shaped by government struggles to balance derail an economic recovery that And it is not a nice view politics. Daily headlines about potential its populist agenda with lower gained traction in 2015. Meanwhile, co-ordinated measures by the key commodity prices, dwindling growth, the Italian government’s bank bail-ins oil-producing countries fuel oil-price and persistent infl ation. Moreover, have fuelled volatility, with leading By Alexander S Friedman volatility and defi ne risk appetite across a corruption scandal has paralysed banks experiencing extraordinary GULF TIMES fi nancial markets. Yet the politics is so reform. Small wonder that Brazil’s one-day stock declines. The damage London confused that co-ordination appears stock market has fallen 28% since last to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s unlikely, at best; the Iranian oil minister May. reputation for reliability has prompted wenty-four years ago, in recently described a potential OPEC In Russia, too, politics has fears of renewed political turmoil. the midst of an ugly US production freeze as a “joke.” Iran’s aggravated the negative oil-price Turning to Japan, the strength in Playing politics of presidential campaign, Bill parliamentary elections augment the shock. Western sanctions have equities since Prime Minister Shinzo TClinton’s campaign manager uncertainty. contributed to an already slowing Abe took offi ce has been founded on neatly summed up his candidate’s Aside from oil, the other popular growth trajectory, and are threatening his “Abenomics” strategy’s “three message: “It’s the economy, stupid.” explanation for today’s market tumult Russia’s ability to raise debt capital arrows”: monetary stimulus, fi scal Today, as investors struggle to is the economic slowdown in China, in global markets. The rouble has stimulus, and structural reforms. ‘patriotism’ shows understand what is driving extreme which many investors have cited as plummeted 130% since 2014 began, The Bank of Japan has launched one volatility in the fi nancial markets, the reason for slumping equity prices and GDP in 2015 contracted by 3.7%. arrow, expanding the monetary base there is an equally pithy explanation: this year. But the slowdown, refl ecting Yet Russia is a star performer to ¥80tn ($710bn) and more recently It’s the stupid politics. China’s transition from investment- compared to Venezuela, where adopting negative interest rates. But India in poor light Central bank policies have moved led to consumption-driven growth, President Nicolas Maduro’s momentum has faded considerably, from supporting the markets to was widely expected, and the 2015 government has overseen the as investors wait for the structural potentially destabilising them. Now growth fi gure of 6.8% was within economy’s total disintegration. reforms needed for sustained Books on political science don’t give you an apt markets are turning to structural forecasts. Indeed, analysts are declaring the improvement in economic, and defi nition of politics, especially the kind practised these reform and fi scal policy for assistance. The real problem has been self- country is past the “point of no market, fundamentals. days in many parts of the world. In this light, current price movements infl icted policy errors by China’s return.” Even the relatively dynamic In the US, deep voter frustration has should be viewed through the political leaders. An ill-advised India is struggling, as its exciting fuelled Bernie Sanders’s leftist bid for Words like “governance”, “statecraft” and “polity” spectrum of geopolitics. And it is not intervention in the equity markets reform agenda is challenged by social the Democratic Party’s presidential sound too academic and straight-laced when politics a nice view. in July 2015, followed by a poorly protests. nomination and the astonishingly now is all about clinging to power or aspiring to win Nowhere is this more evident than communicated exchange-rate In Europe, the effi cacy of the vitriolic campaign waged by Donald power at all costs, even if it means bringing a bad name in the oil markets, where prices have adjustment in August, led investors European Central Bank’s monetary Trump. With Trump’s lead for the for your country. collapsed, with both Brent and Crude to question the competence of policies is waning as the political Republican Party’s nomination now hovering around the $30-per- policymakers. scene becomes increasingly fragile. widening following the “Super So we have someone like the rabidly anti-Muslim barrel level. The extent of oil’s fall, and These concerns have grown since In the United Kingdom, polls show Tuesday” primaries in 10 states, Donald Trump leading the Republican charge as the US consequent defl ationary fears, is cited the beginning of the year. Currency the June 23 referendum on continued fi nancial markets, which seek stability prepares to elect a new President. In other parts of the as a major factor behind overall market policy remains confused, while newly European Union membership will be and predictability, are struggling to world too, right-wing sentiment is gaining ground. turmoil. In January, the correlation introduced (and soon withdrawn) extremely tight – an obvious threat fi nd it in the politics of the world’s In India, the world’s largest democracy, Narendra between crude oil prices and the S&P stock-market circuit breakers have to market stability, refl ected in the largest economy. 500 reached the highest level since accelerated market falls, as investors immediate sell-off of pounds. History may not repeat itself, but Modi’s ascension to power has changed the course of the 1990. try to sell shares before liquidity Meanwhile, the migration crisis let’s hope it fi nds its rhyme. Back in country’s politics to such an extent that it has become a It has become increasingly clear disappears. Moreover, purchases by threatens Germany’s government; the 1990s, the US economy stabilised mad race to prove one’s “patriotic” credentials. that supply dynamics, rather than state-owned fi nancial institutions, splits are now deepening within and then surged forward, driven by The BJP rose to power by successfully casting the falling demand, explain the drop together with bans on sales by large Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party, accelerating productivity and abetted Congress and its partners as anti-nationals who have from $110/barrel since the summer of institutional shareholders, cannot which is losing popular support. by sound monetary and fi scal policy. 2014. The shift to competitive pricing remain permanent features if the The unilateral decision by Austria But economies may prove to be easier looted the nation’s wealth. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, implied by the breakdown of Saudi market is to be truly free. Expected and nine Balkan states to block the to mend than today’s dysfunctional which ruled the country for most of the nearly 70 years Arabia’s monopoly power, together leadership changes – six of the seven fl ow of migrants across their borders politics, which may be part and parcel of after independence, has been all but politically wiped with Opec’s desire to counter the members of the Politburo Standing has fuelled political turbulence. The the “new normal.” – Project Syndicate out. Its scion, Rahul Gandhi, has been virtually reduced threat from US shale energy, drove Committee will be replaced over the migrant crisis will have far-reaching to a pathetic caricature inspiring more pity than mirth. the fi rst downward move. Likewise, next 18 months – will only exacerbate ramifi cations, including the potential zAlexander Friedman is Chief the recent lifting of sanctions on Iran, uncertainty. destruction of the Schengen zone. Executive of GAM Holding. Pundits say it would be some time before Modi’s stars would wane. His surprise trip to Pakistan and his bonhomie with Nawaz Sharif raised hopes that the subcontinent would fi nally be able to shed its historical baggage and emerge as a positive infl uence for the rest of the world. Trade and tourism would prosper, cultural exchanges would bring the people together, Cricket is the cricket tours would become so frequent that safest best for the edge from the rivalry politicians would disappear, diehard peaceniks thought. when it comes Unfortunately, that is not going to be the case to holding a at least where cricket is country to concerned, thanks to the rather late dawning of ransom ‘wisdom’ on the Chief Minister of the state of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh that Pakistan is unworthy of touring India because of its “support” for anti-India militants. Citing the militant attack on the Pathankot airbase, Singh has now refused to provide security to the Pakistan team who were supposed to take on India in a high-octane clash in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup at Dharamsala on March 19. “If it was any other country we would have agreed, but A combination photo shows Republican US presidential candidates Marco Rubio (left), Donald Trump (centre) and Ted Cruz addressing supporters at their respective not Pakistan,” he said. Coming from a veteran Congress Super Tuesday primary and caucus campaign events. politician, it has caught the BJP unawares. Left with no worthwhile cause which it could take up, the Congress has resorted to the last resort: patriotism. Cruz, Rubio vie for anti-Trump mantle The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur, who is also a BJP Member of Marco Rubio is still associated with Democrats until a few Kasich and conservative activist Ben make his own splash on March 15, Parliament, lashed out at Singh for “playing politics”. struggling to fi nd traction years ago. Carson - to cede the race to him: though the party establishment is Ironically, Thakur was also vehemently opposed to any Marco Rubio seemed to have been “Head to head, our campaign beats increasingly eager for him to get out cricketing ties with Pakistan in the past, but now his in the presidential race, and anointed as the party establishment’s Donald Trump resoundingly. But of the race. In Virginia and Vermont, Ted Cruz is the bane of consensus candidate after fi nishing for that to happen, we must come Rubio and Kasich together had enough party is in power and that changes the equation. a close third in the February 1 Iowa together.” votes to have easily toppled what Chief Minister Singh’s stance has sent the Indian Republican Party insiders. caucus. But the Florida senator’s Rubio, though, touted his strong became Trump victories. government scrambling to look for an alternative venue. But one of them represents breakthrough was undermined by second-place fi nish in Virginia - less Voter surveys within the last two Apparently, Mohali and Kolkata are being considered. the last hope to derail mediocre results in the weeks that than 3 points behind Trump’s 35% weeks have shown Rubio trailing Cricket is the safest best for politicians when it comes followed. - and surge in support since a feisty Trump in Florida by at least 16 to holding a country to ransom, and this time it is the outsider Donald Trump’s The son of Cuban refugees, the debate performance last week. percentage points, according to the romp to the conservative telegenic 44-year-old has forged a “Five days ago, we began to explain website Real Clear Politics. If Trump Congress that is at the forefront. Previously, it was relatively optimistic message among to the American people that Donald continues leading the race and wins parties like the BJP and Shiv Sena that used such tactics party’s nomination a conservative fi eld obsessed with Trump is a con artist,” Rubio said, in a key states on March 15, he will be with great success. bashing Democratic President Barack rally on Tuesday in his home state of on a likely unstoppable path to the Meanwhile, it is India’s reputation that is taking a By Frank Fuhrig/DPA Obama. But Rubio’s performance Florida. “We are seeing in state after Republican nomination. Washington has been less than the sum of his state, his numbers going down and our US Senator Lindsey Graham, who beating. But apparently in politics that is par for the politically advantageous parts. numbers coming up.” was once part of the 17-candidate course if that helps you stay in power. He looked to be again failing to Accusing the billionaire of Republican presidential fi eld before epublicans stumbled on deliver on Super Tuesday, until, at appealing to intolerance, Rubio quitting the race in December, long Super Tuesday in their last, scoring his fi rst victory after 15 warned that nominating Trump would before the fi rst votes were cast, To Advertise search for a standard- state contests in Minnesota. be the death of the modern Republican described Trump on Tuesday as [email protected] Rbearer to lead conservatives Rubio’s rival for the anti-Trump party. a “demagogue” who will lead the against interloper Donald Trump, mantle, fellow Senator Ted Cruz, Rubio is now looking ahead to conservative party to defeat. Display who is poised to capture the party’s won Iowa a month ago and scored contests Friday in Kansas, Kentucky, Graham told broadcaster CBS Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 presidential nomination. important victories on Tuesday in his Louisiana and Maine, followed News that Rubio and Kasich will be Trump maintained his status as home state of Texas and neighbouring by Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan and fi nished if they fail to win their home Classified front-runner, bringing him closer Oklahoma. Mississippi on March 8. All those are states, and he made no secret of his Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 to the March 15 primaries that could “So long as the fi eld remains preludes to the March 15 primaries, own dislike for the brash Cruz, who make his victory inevitable. divided, Donald Trump’s path to when several populous states - most is infamously unpopular among his Subscription Some Republicans are mobilised the nomination remains more likely, importantly his own Florida - will vote. fellow Republican senators. [email protected] in a #nevertrump Twitter campaign and that would be a disaster for In particular, Florida and Ohio on Asked by the television interviewer against the man nicknamed “The Republicans, for conservatives and for that day will award their large delegate if he would urge Republicans to rally Donald,” a political neophyte known the nation,” Cruz said at a Texas rally. slates by winner-take-all method. around Cruz, if necessary, to stop 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved primarily as a reality television star He urged the other remaining Kasich, who is considered popular Trump, Graham replied: “I can’t and gauche billionaire who mostly candidates - Ohio Governor John in his home state of Ohio, hopes to believe I would say yes - but yes.” Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 29 COMMENT Outfl anking the war on drugs?

Reform is unlikely at the even halfway met, then individuals, in a consensus document that upholds UNGASS summit, but communities and states would be the existing drug control framework more resilient to the destruction but allows member states the fl exibility there’s still hope for change wrought by drug abuse and traffi cking; to pursue their own policies and and that if the $100bn spent annually experiment with new ones. By Philippa Garson on drug enforcement went towards This is already happening, with New York policies promoting development some countries decriminalising and instead, then some SDGs may also be even legalising cannabis possession easier to attain. and/or cultivation. t’s widely acknowledged that The “drug-free” world the current And while many European countries the “war on drugs” has failed. A policy envisages may be a pipedream, (Switzerland, Portugal, Holland for militarised approach based on whereas a world in which illicit drugs example) have for years been quietly Iprohibition and incarceration has are managed and controlled in less pursuing their own “harm reduction” stoked staggering levels of violence harmful ways may not be. experiments – like needle exchange and misery, cost billions of dollars, “The SDGs don’t address or solve programmes that tackle drug abuse and failed to reduce either supply or drug policies, but they give us a more as a health problem rather than demand. framework to more appropriately a crime – Latin American countries In April, the UN General Assembly tackle these issues in ways that do not have been outspoken about the need to Special Session (UNGASS) will adopt simply create new harms,” says John abandon the US-led war on drugs. a consensus position on drug control, Collins, editor of the London School They bear the brunt of the gang but few are expecting a shake-up of Economics’ After the Drug Wars violence and mass displacement this to the current, conservative, global report. strategy has inadvertently spawned. It framework. Other recent research papers was Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia That’s why some reformers also put development at the core of that in 2012 called for UNGASS in the are turning to the Sustainable discussions on new drug policy. In hope of changing the status quo well Development Goals as a blueprint for its report, What Comes After the before the 2019 policy review. the future. War on Drugs, UN University (UNU) This change in tone has yet to fi lter Critics of the “war on drugs” recommends setting up a working down to more relaxed law enforcement campaign have long evoked the term group to come up with new “Global practices in Latin American countries, “harm reduction” to lobby for a Drug Control Goals”, in much the same however, as Catalina Perez and others more humane approach that treats way as the one that paved the way for argue in a paper in the LSE report. addiction as a health problem rather the SDGs. Marijuana and cocaine seized by Haitian police. But the real push for fl exibility came than a crime. And in a much-lauded paper, when the US chose to pursue this path They point to glaring contradictions Addressing the Development director of the Global Initiative against defi ned as “alternative development”; Eastern, Asian and African states. itself, with moves to stop incarcerating between the current drug policy Dimensions of Drug Policy, the UN Transnational Organized Crime, referring for example to fi nding This is why there is not much people for minor drug off ences and framework and the new – universally Development Programme outlines argues that a development-oriented, livelihoods for growers of poppies optimism that the three-day jamboree with some of its own states opting to endorsed – global development the litany of casualties of the war harm-reduction approach should be and cocoa leaves who have become in April – that will see government decriminalise and even legalise marijuana. agenda. on drugs. It diplomatically quotes applied all the way along the drugs impoverished in crop destruction offi cials, policy geeks and civil society Summer Walker, who heads UNU’s Not only has the war on drugs UN Offi ce on Drugs and Crime chain, to the traffi ckers in particular campaigns. For various reasons, activists from around the world drug policy project, predicts that failed, but it has also piled on more (UNODC) boss Yury Fedotov’s own and to organised crime in general. these programmes, which have been descend on New York – will yield UNGASS will produce a “consensus of the ills the SDGs seek to address – acknowledgements of some of the “With the arrival of the SDGs, criticised as token window-dressing concrete changes. document between a number of actors rights violations, mass incarceration, negative outcomes of the strategy he we have the biggest opportunity in exercises, have largely failed to work. Neither is there any real prospect of who want diff erent things”. But the livelihood destruction, violence, has led, and off ers some pointers for a generation to view and respond But any excitement about what a an overhaul of the three drug treaties session is unlikely, she says, to “push gang warfare, weakened states, how drug policy and control could be diff erently to the back-end of the drug more coherent “development fi rst” of 1961, 1971 and 1988 that govern the any states into new policy directions”. poverty, the spread of HIV, gender more “development sensitive”. chain too – the supply side,” he said. approach could deliver is tempered by current framework when it comes up The UNU report points out, discrimination… the list goes on. The authors argue for a greater role Currently the only mention of the lumbering elephant in the room: for offi cial review in 2019, or, for that however, that the UNGASS document The SDGs were viewed as a starting for UNDP in helping to create a more drug policy in the SDGs is in SDG 3.5, the long list of countries that have no matter, the key structures that govern will achieve consensus around point for solving these problems in a “evidence-informed, people-centred preventing and treating drug abuse, intention of budging from the existing policy: the Commission on Narcotics concepts like respect for human rights bottom-up rather than a top-down and development-centred approach to under the health and wellbeing goal. law enforcement-oriented regime. Drugs and the International Narcotics and the rule of law, precisely because way. Experts argue that if some drug control policy”. And in the current drug policy These include Iran, Russia, China, Control Board. of the ambiguous nature of these of the 17 development goals were In the LSE paper, Mark Shaw, framework, development is narrowly India, Japan and a host of other Middle UNGASS is widely expected to result terms. – IRIN Weather report Three-day forecast The end of big banks TODAY High: 25 C for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Market Committee (FOMC), which a more decentralised way. Various Low : 17 C By Simon Johnson Misty to foggy at places at first Washington, DC (TARP), with the goal of stabilising the sets monetary policy – but not on versions of this technology are either becomes moderate temperature fi nancial system. He is a Republican the Board of Governors of the Federal already available or currently under with some clouds who has worked at both Goldman Reserve System, which oversees development – and there is a very fter nearly a decade of crisis, Sachs (a big bank) and PIMCO (a large bank regulation. Still, his call for an real prospect that this will reduce FRIDAY bailout, and reform in the asset-management company). So evaluation of the TBTF problem will transaction costs across much of the High: 26 C US and the European Union, people pay attention when he says, have a major impact for three reasons. fi nancial sector. Low: 20 C Athe fi nancial system – both “I believe the biggest banks are still First, the views he expresses are We do not yet know which version P Cloudy in those countries and globally – is too big to fail and continue to pose entirely sensible and mainstream, will prevail, and there is active remarkably similar to the one we a signifi cant, ongoing risk to our based on deep experience (his and discussion about how to ensure had in 2006. Many fi nancial reforms economy.” others) with this and other fi nancial that the new standards and systems SATURDAY have been attempted since 2010, but And Kashkari is correct in his crises. Kashkari is presenting from a enhance stability, rather than (as with High: 27 C the overall eff ects have been limited. assessment of the Dodd-Frank position of authority a message that some previous fi nancial innovations) Low: 21 C Some big banks have struggled, but fi nancial reforms of 2010. This many other reasonable people have producing unpleasant unintended M Sunny others have risen to take their place. legislation and the ensuing regulations been trying to convey for nearly a consequences. Both before the 2008 global fi nancial have moved some issues in the right decade. Most important, blockchain crisis and today, just over a dozen big direction. “But given the enormous Second, Kashkari has articulated technology has the potential to reduce Fishermen’s forecast – in appropriate central-bank substantially, or even eliminate, the banks dominate the world’s fi nancial costs that would be associated with OFFSHORE DOHA landscape. And yet the ground is another fi nancial crisis and the lack language – precisely the same view value of being a trusted intermediary Wind: NE-SE 05-12/15 KT shifting beneath the fi nancial sector, of certainty about whether these new that the remaining Democratic such as a large bank. And yet the big Waves: 1-3/4 Feet and big banks could soon become a tools would be eff ective in dealing presidential candidates are banks themselves are pouring money INSHORE DOHA Wind: SE 04-12 KT thing of the past. with one,” he argues, “I believe we putting before the voting public. into this technology – presumably Waves: 1-2 Feet Few offi cials privately express must seriously consider bolder, Hillary Clinton has a detailed and hoping to save at least some part of satisfaction with the progress of transformational options.” thoughtful plan for financial reform, their business by limiting the degree Around the region fi nancial reform. In public, most Kashkari is now proposing exactly with emphasis on taxing leverage of ultimate decentralisation. Weather Weather of them are more polite, but the the right approach: to hold public and increasing capital requirements. Kashkari will lead the way to today Max/min tomorrow Max/min president of the Federal Reserve Bank conferences and extensive discussions Bernie Sanders would prefer to break rethinking – and, one hopes, ending Abu Dhabi Sunny 29/17 P Cloudy 31/18 of Minneapolis, Neel Kashkari, struck to evaluate whether large banks should up the banks. But the goal is the – the TBTF problem in traditional Baghdad P Cloudy 27/16 Cloudy 28/13 Dubai a chord recently when he called for a be broken up, whether they (and other same; and, as Kashkari points out, big banks. In a blockchain world, Sunny 27/19 P Cloudy 28/20 Kuwait City M Sunny 26/18 Cloudy 26/18 re-evaluation of how much progress fi nancial institutions) should be forced any of these tools can potentially get he and his colleagues are likely to Manama P Cloudy 24/18 P Cloudy 25/19 has been made on addressing the to fund themselves with more equity us to a better place. work hard to prevent any variant of Muscat P Cloudy 27/21 M Sunny 27/21 problem of fi nancial institutions that and less debt, or whether there should When reasonable Republicans TBTF from reappearing. – Project Riyadh P Cloudy 28/17 P Cloudy 31/18 are “too big to fail” (TBTF). be a debt tax to discourage excessive and Democrats begin to converge Syndicate Tehran Sunny 18/09 P Cloudy 22/12 Kashkari worked for Henry leverage. The fi rst conference will on policy, we are more likely to get M Paulson in the US Treasury be on April 4 (I will be one of the sensible change. zSimon Johnson is a professor at MIT’s Department, beginning in 2006. He speakers). Third, Kashkari’s timing coincides Sloan School of Management and the not only watched the fi nancial crisis Kashkari is just one of 12 presidents with the arrival of new “blockchain” co-author of White House Burning: develop; in October 2008 he became of regional Federal Reserve Banks. technology, which makes it possible The Founding Fathers, Our National the assistant secretary responsible And he sits on the Federal Open to organise fi nancial transactions in Debt, and Why It Matters to You. Live issues Answering the ‘guess weight or age’ question

By Alison Bowen own self-gratifi cation. ‘See that? You Tribune News Service thought I was 48, yet I’m actually 60!’ Essentially, ‘Don’t I look great?’ It has been my practice that if someone is in : Someone wants you to search of such a compliment, then I Around the world guess their weight or age. will happily oblige. Weather Weather You have no idea, only that “My formula is as such: If said today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Qyou don’t want to off end person actually appears to be 60, Athens Sunny 18/09 P Cloudy 22/12 them. But is declining to answer itself automatically subtract 12 years Beirut Showers 19/13 M Sunny 19/14 Sunny Sunny 34/25 an insult? (because 10 is too obvious), add a Bangkok 36/24 Berlin M Cloudy 08/-1 P Cloudy 08/01 “It’s always easier to avoid genuine question to your tone of voice, Cairo Sunny 23/13 Sunny 24/13 diffi cult questions by redirecting then multiply your surprise with their Cape Town M Sunny 28/19 Sunny 29/19 the conversation. That might get an response. Of course you need to follow Colombo M Sunny 34/24 M Sunny 34/24 interesting discussion going, and it Honesty might not be the best policy when someone asks you to guess their age up with the obligatory ‘Wow! You look Dhaka M Sunny 33/22 Sunny 34/22 Hong Kong Sunny 21/17 P Cloudy 22/17 can avoid hurt feelings. or weight. great!’ Istanbul S Showers 12/09 S Showers 14/08 “In the case of age or weight, you “If you decline to answer, then Jakarta S T Storms 31/24 S T Storms 31/24 could respond by saying something the moment and not get caught up in completely rude of the inquisitor to you must simply make a joke about Karachi Sunny 34/19 M Sunny 32/19 like, ‘It doesn’t matter what your that stuff !’ foist such angst upon me! You may yourself, because you do not want to London M Cloudy 09/02 P Cloudy 07/01 P Cloudy S Showers 31/23 age or weight are, you’re beautiful “That way, you’ve made a point that try to decline answering, but most appear rude. Something along the Manila 31/23 Moscow Cloudy 02/-2 Snow 03/02 inside and out.’ If the person persisted is hard to argue with and hopefully people who deign to ask you such lines of, ‘I’m sorry I cannot answer New Delhi Sunny 33/17 Sunny 33/17 with their question, that could be an made the person feel good too, with a query will not allow you to do so. that – this is the exact way I lost New York M Sunny 05/-2 S Showers 02/-2 opportunity to discuss our society’s the compliment.” [Marsha Hudnall, Just play along. my job at the carnival, and it brings Paris S Showers 09/06 S Showers 09/01 bias against age and weight. And dietitian, nutritionist and president “I try to follow a basic formula back too many bad memories.’ After Sao Paulo T Storms 24/18 T Storms 26/18 Seoul P Cloudy 13/04 Cloudy 17/09 decline to answer specifi cally because of weight-management programme upon such occasion. Generally, when all, laughter is the best medicine.” Singapore S T Storms 32/26 T Storms 31/26 of that. ‘I wouldn’t want to guess Green Mountain at Fox Run] someone asks that question, they [Roxanne Peplow, director of student Sydney P Cloudy 29/20 M Sunny 28/19 because we’re so messed up about all “Don’t you just hate being put are indeed older and are seeking to services at Computer Systems Tokyo Clear 16/01 Cloudy 14/05 that in today’s world. Let’s just enjoy on the spot? I actually feel it’s stun you with the actuals for their Institute] Gulf Times 30 Thursday, March 3, 2016 QATAR Power restored at The Pearl-Qatar ower supply to all parts of The Pearl-Qatar was re- Pstored yesterday morn- ing after an outage of around 24 hours. Road works on Al Shamal Road, under the Al Kharaitiyat bridge, had damaged a cable in the main network feeding the Island, triggering the outage at 6.57am on Tuesday. Once the matter was report- ed, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) rushed standby teams to the site to repair the aff ected portion. In a press statement yesterday, United Development Company (UDC) - master developer of The Pearl-Qatar – said: “Supply was restored to almost all areas and precincts of The Pearl by 8am on Wednesday morning. Kahramaa worked round the clock to ensure that their engineers made signif- icant overnight progress and, in turn, resulted in power supplies being retransmitted directly to The Pearl-Qatar.” On its part, Kahramaa tweeted yesterday morning that power had been restored to all areas af- fected by the outage at The Pearl- Qatar, and thanked all concerned for their patience. Following the power outage on Tuesday morning, UDC pro- vided a number of power genera- A cable protection layer was laid before operational testing began. Picture courtesy Kahramaa tors, while Kahramaa gave several electric generators to aid in chan- nelling emergency power to vital areas on the Island, such as the sewage plant and water pumping stations. “We would like to thank all the residents of The Pearl-Qatar for their patience, understanding and co-operation regarding any inconvenience they may have faced due to the power outage. The root cause of the incident has been identifi ed and consequently rectifi ed. Additionally, stringent measures are being put in place to prevent such incidents from hap- Work continued overnight to fix the problem. Picture courtesy Kahramaa pening in the future, although it was beyond UDC’s control,” a cilities that provided accommo- regular updates about the repair pressed relief after power was re- UDC spokesperson said. dation and services to host The work on their social media plat- stored and, though social media, UDC also expressed gratitude Pearl-Qatar’s residents. forms. thanked those who worked round to all the hotels and residency fa- A night view of The Pearl-Qatar. Picture courtesy UDC Both UDC and Kahramaa gave Meanwhile, residents ex- the clock to fi x the problem. Jeeves of Belgravia opens its fi rst outlet in country

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter

eeves of Belgravia, the London-based garment Jcare company off ering dry cleaning and laundry services, has opened its fi rst outlet in the country at The Pearl-Qatar. Off icials at the Civil Defence event. Fardan Fahad Hussain Al- fardan, general manager, Alfardan Hospitality, opened the boutique by cutting a ribbon on Tuesday. Tim Grice, general manager, Jeeves of Belgravia-Doha, said World Civil Defence the company aims to provide high-class laundry services. “We aim at quality, reliability and punctuality. Above all, we are highly conscious of the en- Day observed with vironmental aspects and com- mitted to the whole concept by Fardan Fahad Hussain Alfardan, along with other off icials, cutting a ribbon to open the boutique of using the Green Earth Cleaning Jeeves of Belgravia at The Pearl-Qatar. PICTURES: Jayan Orma technology.” special programme Tim Grice, general manager, Jeeves of Belgravia-Doha, said the he General Directorate of company aims to provide Civil Defence has observed high-class laundry services TWorld Civil Defence Day with a special programme. “We will soon open outlets in The occasion is marked on other parts of the country. The March 1 every year. next one will be at St Regis Doha. The celebration at the Civil De- We are already operational in fence offi cers’ club, held under the many of the other GCC coun- theme “Civil Defence, Latest In- tries, too,” continued Grice. formation Technology and Media”, According to the offi cial, Jeeves was attended by Brig Aman Saad of Belgravia has held a royal war- al-Sulaiti, assistant director-gen- rant for dry cleaning services to eral of Civil Defence, along with the Prince of Wales and his family directors and offi cers from Civil for the past 34 years. Defence and other departments at Youngsters taking part in a play. Located on 30 La Croisette the Ministry of Interior. at the Pearl-Qatar, the bou- On the occasion, Brig al-Su- various activities that help ex- training, as well as in other fi elds. tique provides its complimen- laiti said the occasion empha- tend its communication and Another company displayed a tary collection and delivery sised the signifi cant role of Civil co-operation with other civil moving chair specially designed services as well as its finest Defence personnel in preserving establishments and authorities for senior citizens and people with hand valeting. The company lives and properties. in order to raise awareness and special needs, which can be used also offers its most advanced, He noted that the theme of ensure security. during emergencies and fi res. eco-friendly techniques in this year’s celebration focused on A fi lm was shown at the event Later on, the Civil Defence fabric care to clients. developments in the use of state- to showcase the services and op- team - in collaboration with At Jeeves of Belgravia, gar- Off icials of Alfardan Hospitality and Jeeves of Belgravia cut a cake to mark the opening. of-the-art facilities and equip- erations of the Civil Defence that Omar Bin Al Khatab Independ- ments undergo a seven-step ment for rescue operations. The shed light on the development of ent School - staged a special process to ensure thorough as- fi nest, purest and eco-friendly quality of the garments. tise, we will deliver unrivalled ministry is keen to have its cad- the authority in terms of elec- drama that depicted the negative sessment of each item. The solvents; “hand fi nishing” to “We will provide requisite services to our discerning cli- res updated on all modern com- tronics and technology. behaviours of some youths and process includes “detailing”, meet the client’s specifi c re- skills, equipment and facilities ents,” added Grice. munication devices to respond One of the participating com- their ill-eff ects. which involves careful inspec- quirements; “minor repairs” to extend the best possible serv- Founded in 1969, Jeeves of at the earliest and also equip all panies presented a special pro- Brig al-Sulaiti honoured a tion of the garments; “stain to check for loose hems, open ices. Jeeves of Belgravia, which Belgravia is the UK’s leading dry civil service centres in the coun- gramme highlighting several number of public and private removal”, performed by profes- seams and loose or missing is known for its close personal cleaning and laundry company. try with the latest devices, it was modern technologies used by the agencies that supported the sionals using proven traditional buttons; careful garment “in- attention to details, has mas- It combines the tradition of hand observed. Civil Defence, such as a simula- Civil Defence as well as students and advanced modern tech- spection” before delivery; and tered the techniques required valeting with the most advanced The Civil Defence has held tor for fi re extinguisher usage of the school. niques; “cleaning”, using the “packaging” to protect the for such care. With our exper- techniques in fabric care. Gulf Times Thursday, March 3, 2016 31 QATAR

Faisal M al-Suwaidi, president of Research and Development at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development at the Qatar National Research Strategy Forum 2014. ARC’16 to shed light on ‘research challenges’ he Annual Research Conference critical national priorities. vice president, innovation, Partners 2016 (ARC’16), Qatar Founda- “Qatar’s research and development HealthCare, USA. Ttion Research & Development’s objectives are clear - invest in human ARC’16 will showcase a number (QF R&D) fl agship event, will take capital by encouraging continuous of important local and international place on March 22 and 23 at the Qatar innovation and fostering a culture of collaborations. Speakers from Qatar National Convention Centre. excellence for the benefi t of soci- Biomedical Research Institute, Qatar Held under the patronage of HH ety. The Annual Research Conference Computing Research Institute, Qatar Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairper- showcases these eff orts and promotes Environment and Energy Research son of Qatar Foundation for Educa- closer engagement among national Institute, Qatar National Research tion, Science and Community De- stakeholders and the wider research Fund and Qatar Science & Technology velopment, the theme of this year’s community,” said Dr Nabeel al-Salem, Park will be leading the discussions. conference is ‘Investing in Research & executive director of Outreach and The ARC’16 has received over 1,300 Innovating for Society’. Communications at QF R&D. scientifi c abstracts, a record number ARC’16 aims to highlight the im- The opening plenary of ARC’16 since its inception in 2010, and an 11% portance of strategic investment in will include a keynote panel discus- increase over last year’s conference. research and innovation for the ben- sion entitled ‘Strategic Investment in Over 650 poster presenters along with efi t of Qatar’s society while also ad- Research and Innovation for Society’ approximately 50 oral presenters will dressing the country’s national ‘Re- featuring leading industry experts: Dr have the opportunity to contend for search Grand Challenges’ on a global Elias Zerhouni, president, Global R&D the Best Poster and Research Presen- scale. Sanofi France and former director tation Awards. The Qatar National Research Strat- of the National Institutes of Health, This year’s conference will also egy provides the framework for QF USA; Dr Hassan al-Derham, president feature the launch of QF R&D’s Best R&D’s research objectives and meas- of Qatar University; Suresh Sachi, Research Project Award and Best In- ures of performance by guiding the deputy managing director, Agency for novation Award, recognising Qatar’s decisions to invest in research and de- Science, Technology and Research, outstanding, research and innovation velopment programmes that highlight Singapore; and Christopher Coburn, projects.