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Pressure, what pressure? Ashghal on track Qatar aim to to spend more than make history QR45bn in 5 years published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11078 January 29, 2019 Jumada I 23, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and South Korean President Moon Jae-in shake hands before the start of off icial talks in Seoul yesterday. The Amir attends a luncheon banquet hosted by the South Korean President. Qatar and S Korea sign MoUs, take relations to greater heights O Amir and Moon hold off icial talks, agree to enhance co-operation in various fields O President expresses Korea’s willingness to help in organising 2022 FIFA World Cup Japan visit is of great atar and South Korea yesterday culture co-operation was signed be- change of expertise in smart city tech- sation of international sports events, signed a number of memoran- tween Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality nologies, infrastructure of developed referring to its success in hosting the Qdums of understanding across and Environment and South Korea’s calibration and information technol- 2002 World Cup and the PyeongChang multiple sectors of strategic impor- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to en- ogy. 2018 Olympic Winter Games. importance: envoys tance taking the strong and historical hance the scientifi c and industrial co- Mwani Qatar and Busan Port Au- He expressed Korea’s willingness to bilateral ties to greater heights. operation in fi sheries and aquaculture thority also signed an MoU. provide help and share its experience QNA His Highness the Amir Sheikh fi eld. The signing ceremony was attended with Qatar in organising the 2022 FIFA Tokyo/ Doha Amir arrives in Tokyo Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who was Sheikh Tamim and President Moon by members of the offi cial delegation World Cup. on his fourth offi cial visit to South Ko- also witnessed the signing of an MoU accompanying the Amir and a number The South Korean President hailed His Highness the Amir Sheikh rea, and South Korean President Moon between Qatar’s Ministry of Transport of South Korean ministers and senior the development of friendly relations he offi cial visit of His Highness Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived Jae-in witnessed the signing ceremony and Communications and South Ko- offi cials. and co-operation in various fi elds, the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- in Tokyo yesterday on an off icial at the Blue House, the Presidential Pal- rea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Earlier in the day, Sheikh Tamim and pointing out that Qatar’s friendship Tmad al-Thani to Japan is of great visit to Japan. He was welcomed ace in Seoul, Qatar News Agency re- on recognition of Certifi cates under President Moon held offi cial talks. At is important to his country and that importance to the bilateral relations be- upon arrival at Tokyo International ported. Regulation 1/10 of International Con- the beginning of the meeting, Moon there is a comprehensive partnership tween the two countries and will make Airport by Vice Minister for Ministry One of the MoUs was for co-oper- vention on Standards of Training, Cer- welcomed the Amir and said he looked between the two countries. He referred a qualitative leap from the stage of co- of Foreign Aff airs Norikazu Suzuki, ation in the smart agriculture fi eld. It tifi cation and Watchkeeping for Seafar- forward to the positive results of the to the Korean-Qatari partnership in operation to the launch of a comprehen- Secretary-General of the Japan- was signed between Qatar’s Ministry ers (STCW Convention). visit, especially as it coincides with the the fi eld of energy and economy and sive strategic partnership, the ambassa- Qatar Friendship Association of Municipality and Environment and There was also an MoU on co-oper- 45th anniversary of the establishment added he looked forward to developing dors of the two countries have said. Tadahiko Ito, Qatar’s ambassador South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, ation in the fi eld of vocational retrain- of relations between the two countries. it to wider horizons, especially with the The visit, which comes at a delicate to Japan Hassan bin Mohamed Rafi Food and Rural Aff airs. The aim is to ing and development of vocational He also expressed the hope to develop promising potential of the two coun- phase of Qatar under an unjust block- al-Emadi, Japan’s ambassador to develop the smart agriculture industry, skills which was signed between Qa- and promote these relations at the in- tries in all fi elds. ade, will provide an opportunity for Qatar Seiichi Otsuka, a number of co-operate in the fi eld of agricultural tar’s General Authority of Customs and ternational level. The Amir thanked the President for leaders of both countries to exchange Arab ambassadors accredited to research, transfer technology, and de- South Korea’s Customs Border Control In his statements at the beginning of the warm welcome and hospitality and views on bilateral relations, regional Japan and members of the Qatari velop eco-friendly farming technology. Training Institute. the talks, the South Korean President recalled it was his fourth offi cial visit situations and issues of common con- embassy in Tokyo. Page 5 A second MoU for co-operation in Another MoU for co-operation in the extended his congratulations to the to Korea. He affi rmed what President cern, Qatar’s ambassador to Japan Has- the land transport sector was signed fi eld of smart networks, methods and Amir on the victory of the Qatar nation- Moon said, highlighting that the rela- san bin Mohamed Rafi al-Emadi said. between Qatar’s Ministry of Transport techniques used was signed between al football team over South Korean in the tions between the two countries are He said the visit has very important and co-operate to reaffi rm friendship and Communications and South Ko- Qatar General Electricity and Water Asian Cup, and wished the Qatari team strong and historical and expressed the implications for the two friendly coun- and renew resolve to further strengthen rea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure Corporation (Kahramaa) and Korea success at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. hope to develop them, especially with tries because of their common interests. relations and promote them to higher and Transport of the Republic of Korea. Electric Power Corporation (Kepco). In this regard, President Moon noted the growing favourable opportunities It comes at a delicate stage that requires levels to achieve the aspirations of the A third MoU on fi sheries and aqua- This included co-operation and ex- his country’s experience in the organi- between the two countries. To Page 20 the two countries to further co-ordinate two friendly peoples. To Page 20

In brief

QATAR | Telecom Extras paid $100 to protest against Qatar outside UN HQ Vodafone unveils O The fake protest follows between His Highness the Amir Sheikh sage, but later left after being given pendent a Facebook message sent by ‘network of future’ revelations that a PR firm Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and British an anti-Qatar fl ag and returned the the apparent organiser, a woman called Vodafone Qatar has unveiled ‘GigaNet’, in London off ered cash to Prime Minister Theresa May. money. Nezha Tagmouti. which the service provider termed According to a report in MENA “The group assembled by the The message to the extras on Face- “the network of the future” and extras to form an “anti- Tribune, a woman who said she at- woman who made the original Face- book Messenger read: “I am organ- helps it drive the country towards an Qatar event” near Downing tended the protest told The Independ- book post for extras were mostly folks ising an event which is to promote “exciting digital future”. At an event ent newspaper in the United Kingdom who were French speaking – she was peace in the world,” Tagmouti wrote. held yesterday, Vodafone revealed its Street during a meeting that she spotted a “vague” Facebook French also – and maybe about 30-40 “There will be music, speeches for “promise that will come to life in a new between His Highness the post asking locals in Brooklyn to of us,” the 23-year-old told The Inde- peace that will be before the United and bold” brand campaign. Page 3 Amir and Theresa May. “wave fl ags” and “stand up for peace” pendent. Nations.” near the UN’s headquarters in Man- “When we walked up to the area “I need extras of people who will just QATAR | Education hattan on September 25 – the same that seemed designated for demon- listen to the speech, applaud and have atar has found evidence of an day US President Donald Trump de- strations, there was a second group of the fl ags of all the countries around Project to build 45 “international smear cam- livered a controversial address to the also about 40 people already protest- the world. These extras are paid $100 schools announced Qpaign” after extras were of- UN General Assembly. ing with the same signs our group had, each.” New projects to construct 45 schools fered $100 to take part in a demon- The woman told the newspaper that except they seemed to be from Egypt – Tagmouti’s Facebook page reveals within the public-private partnership stration against the country outside there was no mention of Qatar in the they had fl ags, were chanting and were she also attempted to hire extras for an building programme were announced the United Nations headquarters in Facebook post, but on arrival at around playing music. “advert” in London in July, the same yesterday. The approved programme New York. 2pm found it was “clearly” a protest “I came home from the event, dis- day the Amir arrived in the UK capital. will include design, construction, The fake protest follows revelations against the Gulf state, featuring “lots traught and soaking wet from the rain “I’m looking for extras to shoot an ad finance, operation, maintenance of that a PR fi rm in London off ered cash of French speakers” holding signs. they had us waiting in,” she added. in London, Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. buildings and transfer of ownership of to extras to form an “anti-Qatar event” She said she was given $100 on ar- The woman, who wished to remain It’s very urgent. Thank you for your schools. Page 2 near Downing Street during a meeting rival by the woman behind the mes- anonymous, shared with The Inde- help,” she wrote in a post. To Page 6 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 QATAR

PM meets ambassadors of Bosnia, Argentina and Iran

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday met the ambassadors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina and Iran to Qatar, Dr Bisera Turkovic, Carlos Alberto Hernandez and Mohamed Ali Subhani, respectively. During the meetings, ways to further develop bilateral relations were reviewed.

PM meets Kosovo’s labour minster Plans to construct 45 public schools unveiled

By Santhosh V Perumal PPP mechanism, offi cials said Business Reporter new PPP projects in several sec- tors will be announced soon. Khamis al-Mohannadi, Head atar yesterday unveiled of the technical committee for plans to construct 45 the encouragement and par- Qnew public schools at an ticipation of the private sector in estimated capital cost of about economic development projects, QR4bn over the next fi ve years said over the past three or four through public-private partner- years, some QR26bn has been ship (PPP), the fi rst of its kind in invested in many sectors such HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani the social infrastructure in the as food security, building and met Minister of Labour and Social Welfare of Kosovo, Skender Recica, and the accompanying country. construction, health, education, delegation in Doha yesterday. During the meetings, they reviewed relations of co-operation and Under the PPP model, the logistics, tourism and industry. ways of developing them in addition to a number of issues of common interest. private sector will bring the full al-Mohannadi al-Attiyah The Ministry of Education package of design, construction, and Higher Education will be re- fi nancing and facilities manage- is expected by 2020, following the remaining four in the South sponsible for students, teaching, ment to the project. The con- which construction has to be of Doha at Wakrah/Wukair ar- school administrative activities, struction of schools, each with completed within 15 months. eas. All schools should be devel- managing the school; while the a capacity of 750 students, is The request for proposal (RFP) oped simultaneously so that the Ministry of Finance guarantees based on population projections for the package 2 (of 6-8 schools) academic year could start from payment based on PPP policy ‘Shipping companies must by municipalities. is expected to be submitted in 2021. and guideline and Ashghal will The PPP structure for schools 2019 and delivery date is sched- The projects’ announcement be responsible for project man- in Qatar follows a similar struc- uled for 2022. The package three came at a workshop, organ- agement for procurement, de- ture that is followed in the UK and four (of 6-8 schools) will ised by the Ministry of Finance, sign and construction. ensure parcels do not and Australia. The key aspect have RFP cut off in 2020 and de- the Ministry of Education and There would be infl ation pro- of Qatar’s model is that any de- livery in 2022; and the package 5 Higher Education and the Public tection for the payment in terms mand risk for the schools will and 6 (of 6-8 schools) will have Works Authority (Ashghal). of the payments provisions pro- not be transferred to the private RFP date in 2021 and delivery in Asserting schools fi t the pro- vided by the government, the contain prohibited items’ sector PPP partner. 2023. fi le of successful PPPs, a power- presentation said. The projects will be divided For the fi rst package, lands point presentation said the PPPs Saud bin Abdullah al-Attiyah, into six investment packages have already been identifi ed and can play a role in developing the Director of Economic Policy QNA the closure of one of the ship- to submit to the authority the with the fi rst package – com- made available and are ready for Qatari private sector and adop- and Research Department at the Doha ping companies for 15 days, actions taken in this regard ex- prising eight schools – to be the construction. Of the eight tion of new technology. Ministry of Finance, said the the Director of the Public Re- peditiously. launched during the fi rst quarter schools, four will be located in Highlighting that this (school) payments from the government lations and Communication The Civil Aviation Authority of this year. The fi nancial closure North of Doha at Umm Slal and project is a pilot to testing the will be guaranteed for 25 years. hipping companies must Department at the CAA, Talal called on all companies working be fully aware of the con- Abdullah al-Malki, said that in the fi eld of shipping to check Stents of shipments and the company had imported the contents of parcels, ship- parcels before receiving and parcels without ensuring that ments and consignments, as transporting them, the Civil they did not contain prohib- stipulated by the law governing Labour ministry Aviation Authority (CAA) has ited materials. the import and export process, Advisory Council discusses draft law underlined. The authorities concerned before receiving them. launches 1st phase The authority has added that monitored and seized two ship- The CAA stressed that it will the shipping companies must ments that the company had not hesitate to take legal proce- of ‘Amerni’ app on concession granted to Woqod ensure that shipments do not accepted and imported with- dures and exercise full powers contain any prohibited mate- out fulfi lling the conditions and against any violation detrimen- rials, and that they bear legal taking the measures stipulated tal to the security of the home- QNA QNA The draft law defi nes penal- They also discussed ways responsibility for the contents in the law. land, and that, in co-operation Doha Doha ties for those who violate its to develop these relations in of the shipments and parcels Accordingly, the Civil Avia- with all parties concerned in provisions. various fi elds of parliamentary which they transport. tion Authority decided to close the State, it will take all meas- After discussion, the Council work. In an exclusive statement to the company and alert it on the ures that prevent the entry of he Ministry of Admin- he Advisory Council held approved the draft law and de- They further reviewed the Qatar News Agency (QNA) fol- necessity to amend the proce- prohibited materials that harm istrative Development, its regular weekly meet- cided to send its recommenda- current arrangements for the lowing some posts circulated dures for acceptance of ship- the security and safety of the TLabour and Social Af- Ting yesterday under the tions to the government. 140 IPU General Assembly and on social media outlets about ments coming into Qatar, and homeland and its citizens. fairs launched the fi rst phase of chairmanship of HE the Speak- Additionally, HE al-Mah- the Related Meetings. “Amerni” app for smart phones, er Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid moud briefed the Council on Meanwhile, three commit- providing an easy and quick al-Mahmoud. the details of the Memoran- tees of the Advisory Council electronic gateway for users. At the outset, the Council dum of Understanding (MoU) met yesterday. Qatar takes part in invention fair in Kuwait The “Amerni” app off ers 14 discussed a draft law on the signed last Thursday with the They are Services and the electronic services as a fi rst stage concession granted to Qatar President of the Parliamentary Public Utilities Committee, of its inauguration in the sectors Fuel Company (Woqod) for the Assembly of the Mediterranean Economic and the Financial Af- of administrative development, marketing, sale and transpor- (PAM) Antonio Pedro Roque. fairs Committee and Internal labour and social aff airs. tation of gas and petroleum The Speaker pointed out and External Aff airs Commit- The application in the fi rst products. that the MoU comes within tee. package includes nine services The council decided to refer the framework of the council’s The council’s Services and for individuals provided by hu- the draft law to the Economic eff orts to develop its parlia- Public Utilities Committee held man resources departments, and the Financial Aff airs Com- mentary co-operation with the a meeting under the chairman- labour relations, housing, social mittee for consideration and regional and international par- ship of its Rapporteur Moham- security and family aff airs, as report thereon to the council. liamentary groups. ed bin Mahdi al-Ahbabi. well as fi ve services for owners of Furthermore, the coun- The Speaker also briefed The committee reviewed the enterprises provided by the em- cil discussed the report of the the Council on his meeting on request for a public discussion ployment department, the la- Services and the Public Utilities Sunday with Duarte Pacheco, on medical services in Qatar bour inspection department and Committee on a draft law regu- Chairman of the Group of the and decided to continue its re- The 11th International Invention Fair of the Middle East (IIFME) began yesterday in Kuwait under the labour relations department. lating the acquisition of dan- European Parliaments, Canada, view in its next meeting. the theme “Where Inventors Meet Inventors”, with the participation of 9 inventors from the Qatar The app is available in the gerous animals and organisms. Australia and New Zealand in The Economic and Financial Scientific Club with 11 inventions, in addition to the participation of 41 countries. The IIFME will Arabic and English languages in Under the draft law, it is the Inter-Parliamentary Union Aff airs Committee also met continue until 30 January. The Qatari delegation is headed by Fatima al-Mohannadi, the App Store and Google Play. prohibited to acquire, import, (IPU) and the accompanying yesterday chaired by its Rap- administrative director of the Scientific Club. It is easy to use to request export or trade any of the dan- delegation. porteur Ali bin Abd al-Latif al- services and inquiries where the gerous animals and organisms HE al-Mahmoud pointed out Misnad. user can complete the transac- without a licence from the that the meeting discussed re- The committee reviewed tion in three simple steps be- competent department. lations between the council and draft law on extending of the ginning with obtaining the user It is also prohibited to take the Parliamentary Group, rep- concession granted to Woqod name and password through the a walk or hike with any of the resenting all the parliaments of to market, sell, transport and national authentication site, and dangerous animals and organ- European countries, Canada, distribute gas and petroleum Souq Waqif honey market starts on Feb 28 then log on to the application. isms in public places. Australia, and New Zealand. products.

ouq Waqif, in co-opera- as it will include all local, Arab cialised in the production, sup- tion with the Ministry of and international honey varie- ply, and distribution of honey, SCommerce and Industry, ties. provides the opportunity for Waste removal has started the preparations for This will provide an opportu- them to enter into agreements the launch of the second honey nity for companies to showcase and partnerships that contrib- The Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s General market. and promote their products ute to the opening of new mar- Cleanliness Department has intensified its operations Registration will be open for with all varieties of honey, they kets and the promotion of mu- in the Doha and Al Rayyan areas to remove waste companies wishing to partici- added. tual trade growth. materials thrown randomly. During 2018 December, pate in the exhibition. Qatar Airways is expected to Also, the exhibition provides 1,410 tonnes of waste were lifted. The Director of the The 2nd seasonal honey mar- off er a 25% discount on air car- an opportunity for local investors General Cleanness Department, Safar Mubarak al-Shafi, ket at Souq Waqif, which will go to encourage companies, and to sell their products to foreign said that these campaigns are part of the programmes be held from 28 February to 7 provide freight services from markets and to identify the po- implemented by the department to clean the various March, aims to support na- shipping to warehouses. It is tential and expertise of partici- localities in the country and remove randomly discarded tional products, open new trade also expected to off er free stores pating countries to benefi t from waste. Al-Shafi called on citizens, residents and the channels for traders, entrepre- and hotels to participants, and them to develop the local product private sector not to dump waste randomly, especially neurs, investors, and small and secure free transfer from the of honey and enhance its position structural and solid waste, urging them to remove and medium enterprises. airport to the hotel and vice- in the foreign markets. transport it to the final disposal sites in the designated The organisers said that the versa. The 2019 Souq Waqif honey places. Souq Waqif Honey Market will The invitation to local and market is expected to witness be the largest market for honey, international companies spe- huge turnout. – QNA Gulf Times Tuesday, January 29, 2019 3 QATAR Vodafone unveils ‘GigaNet’ in new brand campaign

By Pratap John Vodafone Qatar chief ex- world class digital experiences personal growth and develop- Chief Business Reporter ecutive offi cer Sheikh Hamad we are delivering to our custom- ment is not restrained but em- Abdulla Jassim al-Thani said, ers, which are part of the more powered to live a better today “Qatar is one of the most ad- than QR8bn we have invested and build a better tomorrow. odafone Qatar has un- vanced countries in the world to date. We will continue our “For businesses, Vodafone veiled ‘GigaNet’, which in terms of digital adoption, strong commitment to pioneer GigaNet is a partnership for a Vthe service provider technology infrastructure and digital innovation in Qatar and better future supported by the termed “the network of the pioneering innovation. I am to be a leading contributor to the latest technological solutions for Vodafone Qatar chief executive off icer Sheikh Hamad Abdulla Jassim al-Thani (centre) with Camberos future” and helps it drive the extremely proud of our role at bold and ambitious aims of the growth and sustainability. Voda- (left) and Boctor at a media event at the Four Seasons Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil country towards an “exciting the forefront of the digital era – Qatar National Vision 2030.” fone GigaNet is our commitment digital future”. which has seen us being a lead- Vodafone Qatar’s chief op- to help drive the country towards completely revamping and up- work, which has increased eight cal and global recognitions such At an event held at the Four ing partner in providing intelli- erations offi cer Diego Camberos an exciting digital future.” grading our entire radio network times over the last over years. We as the Communications Regula- Seasons yesterday, Vodafone gent platforms and connectivity said, “The digital era is well un- Details of Vodafone Qatar’s to the latest technology. also understand that many of our tory Authority 2018 audit where revealed its “promise that will solutions to the smart cities of derway and with it comes a wide technological milestones to date “In addition to signifi cantly customers are frequent travel- Vodafone Qatar achieved the best come to life in a new and bold” the future to our 4G and now, spectrum of opportunities that that have positioned it at the increasing our outdoor and in- lers, so have focused on provid- speeds for average download and brand campaign. commercially live 5G network, are changing and improving the forefront of the digital era were door coverage, we started by ing an unparalleled roaming ex- uploads for local data. On voice, This comes almost 10 years to our growing broadband foot- way people live, work and oper- shared by Ramy Boctor, Voda- deploying 4G technology across perience. This includes having Vodafone Qatar had the fastest since Vodafone switched on its print, and to the ecosystem of ate businesses. For the people fone Qatar’s chief technology 100% of our network sites, giv- the widest 4G coverage while call set-up time and best voice mobile network in March 2009, digital products and services we of Qatar, Vodafone GigaNet is a offi cer. ing customers super speeds of up roaming in 83 countries across quality, and the GSMA rating us during which the company has have built.” promise of a great digital expe- He said, “A turning point hap- to 1Gbps. We have continued the 129 operators. as a premium operator for our been at the forefront of the Sheikh Hamad added, “These rience bringing the best of the pened fi ve years ago when we enhancements to handle the high “This work has not gone un- roaming services for three years digital era. are just a few examples of the world on your fi ngertips so your poured heavy investments into demand on our robust data net- noticed. We are proud of the lo- in a row.” Vodafone invested over QR8bn in Qatar since 2009 By Pratap John dia event at the Four Seasons and connectivity solutions to signifi cant progress in estab- in more than 20 locations across Signifi cantly, Vodafone Qa- country from Al Waab to Katara Chief Business Reporter yesterday. the smart cities of the future lishing its fi xed infrastructure Qatar including The Pearl, Lusail tar was “one of the fi rst opera- and several others. In the last 10 years Vodafone to our 4G and now, commer- in several locations around City, Msheireb Downtown Doha, tors in the world to go live with In the coming months, has been in Qatar; the country cially live 5G network, to our the country and is provid- Education City, C-Ring road, Al 5G commercially and the fi rst Vodafone will be making “a odafone has invested has become “one of the most ad- growing broadband footprint, ing the backbone and fi xed Khor road, West Bay and Wukair to have connected customers to series of exciting announce- more than QR8bn in Qa- vanced” in terms of digital adop- and to the ecosystem of dig- infrastructure for many of to name a few. 5G” in the country. This comes ments” related to the ‘Gi- Vtar since it switched on its tion, technology infrastructure ital products and services we the country’s iconic devel- “Our fi xed line network will after the company has achieved gaNet’ launch. These include mobile network in the country in and pioneering innovation, have built.” opments, pointed out Ramy bring much needed sustainable big progress in building out its developments on major part- March 2009, said chief executive he said. He said Vodafone expects Boctor, Vodafone Qatar chief and eff ective competition to Qa- 5G network across the country nerships, new areas for fi bre offi cer, Sheikh Hamad Abdulla “I am extremely proud of that the handset suppliers will technology offi cer. tar which benefi ts businesses since switching it on in August deployment, and new prod- Jassim al-Thani. our role at the forefront of the be able to meet the demand of In the past seven months and consumers alike by encour- last year. ucts and services all designed “More than 50% of this was on digital era, which has seen us 5G technology as its services get alone, the company has provid- aging further investment and Since then, the company has to engage and educate cus- the mobility segment,” Sheikh being a leading partner in pro- expanded in Qatar. ed fi bre connectivity, capable of ultimately delivering innovation continued to roll out its 5G net- tomers about the network and Hamad told Gulf Times at a me- viding intelligent platforms Vodafone Qatar has made handling speeds of up to 1Gbps, and effi ciency,” said Boctor. work in key locations across the its many capabilities. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 QATAR

Workshop seeks to understand needs of talented children

recent workshop at the parent, the child and the ers and talk about their Qatar National Li- teacher. children. The event at QNL Abrary (QNL) engaged Addressing gifted chil- is one such platform for parents and children on dren’s needs early on in their parents and teachers to ex- ways to encourage gifted lives will help shape their change views and share and creative young people future educational and ca- knowledge about their chil- to make the most of their reer ambitions. dren. I encourage everyone talents. Alaa al-Saad, a private to join these events in the The workshop high- school teacher who at- future.” lighted the importance tended the workshop, said: Azza Amara, another of parent-teacher en- “Teachers should have participant at the work- gagement throughout the knowledge of talented and shop, said: “The discus- schooling period, and how gifted children in their sion opened my mind to best to provide children classrooms and most im- better understand my with learning opportuni- portantly, how to identify child’s gift. I would like to ties outside of the class- them and make the most of thank QNL for organising room. their abilities. this event and will contin- Creativity comes with “It is important for par- ue to attend such events in joys and challenges – for ents to engage with teach- the future.”

Domasco and Tokyo Freight Services off icials mark the occasion. Domasco supplies Tokyo Freight with Volvo FH400 4X2 tractor heads

oha Marketing Services Company (Domasco) re- cently delivered Volvo FH400 4x2 tractor heads to DTokyo Freight Services (TFS), a well-known freight forwarding and shipping company. This recent purchase marked the fi fth bulk trucks deal delivered to TFS in the past three years, Domasco said in a statement. Being a fully licensed, insured global freight forwarder and non-vessel operator common carrier, Tokyo Freight of- fers total global logistics solutions. In the past few years, Tokyo Freight has expanded its fl eet signifi cantly through successive purchases from Domasco to meet and exceed customer expectations in Qatar, the statement notes. Volvo FH400 4x2 tractor heads “off er maximum produc- tivity by transporting large loads, quickly and effi ciently in extreme road conditions and climate variances”. “While retaining a leading position, Volvo Trucks is wit- nessing solid growth by continuously focusing on quality and safety. At Domasco, we ensure customer loyalty through effi cient after-sales services — delivering the highest pro- ductivity and competitive total cost of ownership for our customers.” said Faisal Sharif, managing director, Domasco. Domasco off ers value-added services “tailored to each customer’s business needs, including, but not limited to, fi x- able fi nance options, diff erent types of service contracts and a fl eet management system — Dynafl eet”, the statement adds.

WISE@Paris forum slated for Feb he World Innovation de Tokyo on February 21 to Summit for Educa- engage in a variety of inter- Ttion (WISE), an ini- active formats and further tiative of Qatar Foundation, explore key topics such as will host its next regional ‘Rethinking K-12 educa- forum, WISE@Paris, from tion’, ‘Empowering teachers February 20-21, under the and education leaders’, ‘De- theme ‘Education Futures: crypting the future of work’, Fostering Learning Socie- and ‘Cultivating global citi- ties.’ The event will be held zenship’. under the high patronage of Speakers include Dr Mat- Emmanuel Macron, presi- thew Opoku Prempeh, min- dent of France. ister of education of Ghana; WISE@Paris will gather Dr François Taddei, head, around 800 local and inter- Evolutionary Systems Biol- national thought leaders, ogy Team, French National practitioners, innovators, Institute of Health and and media representatives Medical Research; Alaina to discuss and foster the Percival, CEO, Women Who learning societies of today Code; Dr Maggie Aderin- and tomorrow. Pocock MBE, Space Scien- On February 20, partici- tist and co-presenter of the pants will have the oppor- BBC programme, The Sky tunity to create their own At Night; Andreas Schleich- learning journey by joining er, director for the Directo- discussions and interactive rate of Education and Skills, sessions around the fu- Organisation for Economic ture of learning at various Co-operation and Develop- venues in Paris, organised ment; and Nicolas Sadirac, by WISE and its partners, Founder, 42. including The Centre for Previous WISE@ events Research and Interdiscipli- have been held in Accra, narity, The United Nations Beijing, Madrid, Tunis, Educational, Scientifi c and, most recently, New and Cultural Organisation, York during the UN Global Sciences Po and Pixis and Goals Week in September Ashoka from Station F – the 2018. These regional events world’s largest startup cam- are grounded in partnership pus. The activities will in- with stakeholders to drive clude workshops, panel dis- transformation in education cussions, and roundtables. with major change-makers Meanwhile, partici- and infl uencers, with the pants will reconvene for a aim of generating tangible one-day forum at Palais global educational impact.

Bentley model recalled he Ministry of Com- tect consumers and ensure merce and Industry that car dealers follow up Tin co-operation with on vehicle defects and re- Alwajba Motors Company, pairs. has announced the recall of The Ministry said that Bentley Mulsanne vehicle it will coordinate with models of 2012-2018 due to the dealer to follow up a fault in the rear seatbelt on the maintenance and system. repair works and will The recall campaign communicate with cus- comes within the frame- tomers to ensure that work of the Ministry’s the necessary repairs are continuous efforts to pro- carried out. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 29, 2019 5 AMIR VISITS JAPAN Qatar and Japan ... great friendship, promising strategic partnership fter the successful visit kyo to serve the interests of the On the other hand, the most steel products, rubber and its northeastern Japan, His Highness to the Republic of Ko- two countries and their friendly important visits from the Japa- products. the Amir donated $100mn to as- Area, His Highness the peoples, and will exchange views nese side to Qatar were the In the context of the booming sist the victims that were aff ected, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad on all regional and international visit of Japan’s Crown Prince economic relations between the which was one of the largest ma- al-Thani arrived in Japan for a issues of common concern. Naruhito and Princess Masako two countries, the value of Qatari terial aid provided by other coun- two-day offi cial visit. The relations between the two to Doha in 1994, and the visits exports to Japan in 2017 reached tries to Japan after the disaster. In His Highness the Amir’s visit countries have been character- of the Prime Minister Shinzo to about QR42.12bn while the the aftermath, a Qatari fund was to Japan is part of an Asian tour ised by a deep and fruitful co- Abe to Doha in August 2013 and value of imports reached to established to implement recon- that also includes China. operation. Economic exchanges May 2007. about QR5.75bn. Qatar’s trade struction projects in the aff ected This Asian tour is the sec- have been a backbone of these The bilateral relations be- surplus with Japan rose by 35% areas, with many being completed ond by His Highness the Amir relations, which have been wit- tween the two countries have year-on-year in 2018 to $13.5bn, in the fi elds of education, health since the beginning of the un- nessed over more than four dec- been strengthened through compared with $9.9bn in 2017. and fi sheries, which benefi ted just blockade imposed on Qa- ades. Thanks to the strong po- a number of agreements and Major Japanese companies 649,000 Japanese citizens across tar in June 2017, preceded by a litical will of the two countries, memorandums of understand- are contributing to Qatar’s vital all sectors directly and indirectly. tour to Malaysia, Singapore and solid foundations for bilateral ing covering bilateral co-op- infrastructure projects, particu- Japan’s vision is consist- Indonesia in October 2017. co-operation have been estab- eration in the areas of defence larly in Qatar’s hosting for the ent with the country’s position The tour marks a new era lished in all economic, cultural, and energy, political and se- 2022 World Cup, such as Ha- on the Gulf crisis and supports in Qatar’s relations with three technical, scientifi c, defence and curity dialogue, visas exemp- mad International Airport, Qa- the solution through negotia- Asian economic powers and security fi elds. tion for diplomatic and offi cial tar Metro, power generation and tions, dialogue and mediation by provides a clear indication of Diplomatic relations between passport holders, avoidance of desalination plants. Kuwait. the determination of the Qatari Qatar and Japan were established double taxation and prevention The co-operation between Qa- Qatar and Japan share simi- leadership to begin new chap- in 1972 and they focused on the of fi nancial evasion, education tar and Japan extends beyond en- lar views on international and ters in co-operation with the economic fi eld. However, during and scientifi c research, youth ergy and infrastructure projects to humanitarian issues, with both three countries and develop it the following years, they diversi- and sports, tourism and under- include co-operation in promis- countries fi rmly believe that to advanced stages of long-term fi ed to various fi elds. The mutual standing between chambers of ing vital sectors, including joint international peace and secu- strategic partnerships in order visits at the level of senior offi cials commerce and industry, scien- investment in power plants in rity in the world can be achieved to serve the interests of Qatar of the two countries have con- tifi c research, exchange of ex- other countries and the produc- through dialogue based on the and the goals of its National Vi- tributed to the development and periences, university students, tion of new types of clean energy, principle of equality, adherence sion 2030 as well as its people’s expansion of bilateral relations. services and air transport, and especially hydrogen at competi- to the provisions of international aspirations for progress and Among the most important vis- training of Qatari engineers. tive prices. The Human Genome law, implementation of interna- prosperity. its in recent years from the Qatari Japan is an important trad- Project (HGP) aims to obtain more tional legitimacy resolutions, During the visit, His High- side was His Highness the Amir’s ing partner for Qatar as one of accurate and applicable medical respect for the principles of hu- ness the Amir and the accom- visit to Japan in February 2015 and the largest energy importers. treatment for all humans, as well man and peoples’ rights and the panying delegation will discuss the visit of His Highness the Fa- Qatar currently ranks fourth in as the Golden Pass LNG project, activation of the mechanisms of in terms of GDP, after the Unit- product (GNP) ranks third in the with Japan’s Emperor Akihito, ther Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Kha- the world as Japan’s largest sup- a large natural gas plant in Texas, the United Nations Charter for a ed States and China. Japan also world and Japanese brands are Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and lifa al-Thani and Her Highness plier of energy resources, espe- the Es’hailSat satellite project, peaceful settlement. ranks second in communica- internationally recognised. Ja- senior Japanese offi cials means Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chair- cially natural gas, while Qatar’s helium projects, steel bars, Japan is one of the most ad- tions and biotechnology and pan is the world’s fi rst iron and to enhance co-operation and person of Qatar Foundation for main imports from Japan are maintenance and systems. vanced countries, with the Japa- continuously develops in the steel producer, third in refi n- strategic partnership in diff er- Education, Science and Commu- automobiles, heavy equipment, Following the 2011 earthquake nese economy being the third pharmaceutical and space in- ing oil and fi rst in automobile ent fi elds between Doha and To- nity Development (QF), in 2005. electronic equipment, iron and and tsunami disaster that struck largest economy in the world, dustries. Japan’s gross national production. (QNA) Japanese envoy Amir’s visit to Japan will pave way for lauds Qatar for its strategic partnership: ambassador QNA peoples,” al-Emadi said. therefore, the current visit of Tokyo The eff orts to strengthen ties His Highness the Amir off ers positive approach with Japan stems from the vi- new opportunities to reaffi rm sion of His Highness the Amir friendship and explore new ar- atar’s ambassador to Ja- and the political will of the two eas to strengthen economic, pan Hassan bin Moham- countries to transfer relations commercial and political co- to global issues Qmed Rafi al-Emadi has from the stage of cooperation operation, he underlined. Japanese ambassador Seiichi said that the offi cial visit of His to comprehensive strategic The ambassador said that a Otsuka. Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim partnership, he said. high-level delegation accom- QNA ing the stabilisation in Jordan in bin Hamad al-Thani to Japan is of For more than four decades, panying His Highness the Amir Tokyo the aftermath of the protests, intends to continue an exchange great importance to bilateral rela- thanks to the strong political will during his visit includes a number creating more job opportunities. of visits of high-level govern- tions between the two countries of the two countries, solid foun- of Their Excellencies Qatari min- “This is important to the region ment offi cials with Qatar. and will make a qualitative leap dations have been established for Qatar’s ambassador to Japan isters, senior offi cials and busi- apanese ambassador Seiichi from a Japanese point of view. In “After we shall confi rm the set- from the stage of co-operation the State of Qatar and Japan as an Hassan bin Mohammed Rafi nessmen. This will allow the Otsuka has lauded Qatar addition, no one can overlook the ting up of strategic dialogue be- to the launch of a comprehensive eff ective framework for coopera- al-Emadi exchange of views with Japanese Jfor its positive approach to role of the State of Qatar when it tween the two countries at this strategic partnership. tion and bilateral exchange in all counterparts on various topics of global issues, citing the coun- intervened to support the Turk- time, we could expect, at the out- In a statement to Qatar News fi elds, he said, adding that since and strengthening relations mutual concern, he stressed. try’s resilience in continuously ish currency from collapsing,” he set, some offi cial meetings to be Agency (QNA), the ambassador their establishment, bilateral between the two countries, the A number of agreements and supporting the international said. “Japan weighs such eff orts held in both capitals under this said that the visit, which comes relations between the two coun- most important of which is the memorandums of co-operation community. which coincide with the Japanese scheme without delay,” he said. during a delicate phase of Qa- tries were focused on the eco- Joint Economic Committee, will be signed during the His The envoy was speaking as principles to preserve stability in Otsuka noted that Japan also tar under the unjust blockade, nomic fi eld (trade and energy), which holds annual ministe- Highness’s visit, which will cer- part of the ongoing visit of the region.” hopes to diversify its co-oper- will provide an opportunity but currently they are diversifi ed rial meetings to discuss issues of tainly benefi t the two countries His Highness the Amir Sheikh In other areas of co-operation ation with Qatar. Knowledge- for leaders of both countries to and include economic, trade, in- energy, economic co-operation and the two friendly peoples. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani between Qatar and Japan, Ot- based industries and economy exchange views on bilateral re- vestment, development, cultur- and co-operation in other fi elds, During the visit, the Qatari- to Japan – the fi rst high-level suka noted that they have ongo- will then be introduced under lations, regional situations and al, technical, scientifi c, health, as well as a bilateral mechanism Japanese Business Forum will be meeting between the two coun- ing exchange of experts in vari- new investment circumstance issues of common concern. defence and security fi elds. for political consultations and held in the presence of a number tries after the blockade began. ous fi elds, including the human in the country, attracting more “His Highness the Amir’s Ambassador al-Emadi security dialogue between the of ministers and senior busi- “The Japanese roles also coin- genome project, mathematics foreign investors. visit to Japan, the fi rst trade stressed the desire and politi- two countries’ Ministries of nessmen from both countries cide with the Qatari role in sup- teaching method in the elemen- He said that forming joint partner of Qatar, has very im- cal will of the leaders of the two Foreign Aff airs and Defense. to discuss aspects of bilateral porting international eff orts to tary school level, project for veg- venture between the two sides portant implications for the countries to strengthen rela- Annual meetings are held al- co-operation in various fi elds support peace keeping forces,” etable factory without soil, and can provide an opportunity to two friendly countries because tions at all levels, noting the ternately in Doha and Tokyo, he including manufacturing, tech- Otsuka said. experimental plant for industrial make smooth transfer of tech- of their common interests and strong personal relations be- said, adding that these meet- nology, agriculture, health and He stressed that Japan fully waste water desalination. nology to indigenous companies. denominators. It comes at a tween His Highness the Amir ings provide an opportunity services, as well as ways to fa- backs Qatar’s intervention to These projects are on non- “In this regard, the recent en- delicate stage that requires Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- to discuss ways of developing cilitate intra-trade and inform fi ll the void that the US cre- commercial basis, according to actment of new law on non-Qa- the two countries to further Thani and Japanese Prime Min- political, security and defence Japanese partners of the prom- ated in supporting the UN Relief the envoy. He stressed that Qa- tari investment is noteworthy,” co-ordinate and co-operate to ister Shinzo Abe, where the two relations and exchange views ising investment opportunities and Works Agency for Palestine tar University is also supporting the envoy pointed out. reaffi rm friendship and renew leaders held a series of bilateral on international and regional in the State of Qatar in the areas Refugees in the Near East, which Islamic studies in Japan. The Japan government ex- resolve to further strengthen summit meetings. issues of common concern. of energy, manufacturing, in- helped stabilise the region. About future high-level pressed optimism that the 2022 relations and promote them He also noted the existence The mutual visits at the high- frastructure, technology, serv- Otsuka also highlighted Qa- meetings in the future, Otsuka FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be to higher levels to achieve the of regular bilateral mechanisms est levels contribute to strength- ices, petrochemicals and food tar’s signifi cant role in support- said the Japanese Government successful, he added. aspirations of the two friendly that contribute to developing ening relations at all levels, industries and others, he said. Four-decade old bond stays strong Japanese investments By Santhosh V Perumal and bounds, reflecting in a In 1996, Japan entered into an Qatar’s Nebras and JERA had Business Reporter $16bn bilateral trade volume in agreement with Qatar to import entered into a pact on the sidelines 2018. Major exports from Qatar 6mn tonnes of LNG for the next 25 of the 12th meeting of Qatar- are crude, LNG and liquefied years. Qatar’s first LNG shipment Japan Joint Economic Committee, The more than four-decade petroleum gas; while imports to Japan arrived at the beginning which was established in 2006 sought in key sectors old relations between Japan include vehicles, industrial of 1997, marking the first LNG as part of strategy to work on and Qatar have witnessed the materials and electric cables. export in Qatar’s history. energy, business environment and atar is seeking invest- Japanese partnerships, the fo- topics, including the evolving leg- transformation and maturing More than 35 fully owned “There is a strong partnership investment. ments from Japan, par- rum is aimed at strengthening islative framework in Qatar in ad- of economic and trade ties Japanese companies are between Qatar Petroleum (QP) Moreover, Japan Bank for Qticularly in the areas of joint co-operation, promoting dition to business and investment between the two countries, currently operating in Qatar, and private sector companies in International Cooperation (JBIC) food industries, manufactur- bilateral trade, investment and opportunities available to Japanese which now share an intricate in addition to 23 joint Qatari- Japan and they have joint foreign has been playing a vital role in ing, tourism and education industrial relations and paving companies. and symbiotic bond. Japanese firms working in the investments in a number of financing the energy related sectors for which Doha has the way for new partnerships The sessions will also shed light Far from being Qatar’s first fields of electrical equipment countries such as Jordan, Oman, projects in the region. It has already accorded “priority” status. between the two countries. on investment opportunities re- customer of liquefied natural gas and appliances, petroleum Indonesia and the US,” Japanese signed a business-partnership This, along with other ways “The forum will outline in- sulting from projects aimed at in- (LNG), Japan now has entrenched services, water desalination and envoy Seiichi Otsuka said. agreement with QP. Under the and measures to enhance the vestment opportunities in the creasing Qatar’s liquefi ed natural itself more into Qatar’s economic information technology. Major Japanese bigwigs agreement, the JBIC will contribute trade, business and econom- priority sectors to pave the way gas production capacity, as well as framework through long-term The Japanese companies in Qatar include Chiyoda by financing and extending loans ic relations between the two for foreign investments in Qa- opportunities relating to Qatari- commitments not only in the participate in several LNG (for RasGas expansion and for Qatar’s energy related projects countries will be discussed tar, particularly the country’s Japanese co-operation and joint hydrocarbons sector but also export terminals in Qatar such Pearl Gas to Liquid project); which will provide opportunities tomorrow at Qatar-Japan food industries as well as the ventures. in the fast growing utilities and as Marubeni and Mitsui. Chupo Takenaka (Hamad International and broaden the scope for Business Forum, which is be- industrial, tourism, education Discussions will also focus other sectors, indicating the signed an agreement for the Airport); Mitsui (Ras Laff an C Japanese companies to cooperate ing organised by the Ministry and sports sectors,” MoCI said. on infrastructure projects as- Land of Rising Sun’s involvement purchase of liquefied natural Independent Water and Power more actively in big projects for the of Commerce and Industry It will also pave the way for sociated with Qatar’s prepa- in projects and plans targeted gas in 1992 for 25 years and Producer); Marubeni (Mesaieed further development of Qatar. (MoCI) and the Japan Co-op- the ratifi cation of new agree- rations to host the 2022 FIFA towards Qatar National Vision another agreement between A Independent Power Producer); The Qatar Financial Centre eration Center for the Middle ments and memoranda of un- World Cup, the ministry said, 2030. Qatar gas and Chiyoda through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Regulatory Authority had entered East, in co-operation with the derstanding that will strength- adding the forum provides an Reflecting the growing the participation of Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation, into agreement with Financial Japanese Ministry of Economy, en bilateral co-operation and important networking platform interdependency, the bilateral companies as part of Qatar’s Hitachi, Kinkisharyo and Fujita Services Agency of Japan, thus Trade and Industry; the Qa- contribute to the development that brings together Qatari and trade between the two countries plans to expand its production (Dome Metro); and Obayashi paving way for many financial tar Chamber and the Qatari of innovative investment areas. Japanese businessmen and has been expanding by leaps of liquefied gas. Corporation (Msheireb project). entities to foray QFC. Businessmen Association. The forum will feature fi ve ses- representatives of the private Building on existing Qatari- sions that will touch on several key sector in both countries. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 QATAR Safari names promo winners Workshop mulls ‘evidence-based

Safari Hypermarket Group has announced the winners of the third lucky draw for the ‘Win 10kg Gold’ promotion. The draw was held at Safari Mall, Abu Hamour, in the presence of an off icial from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and members of the Safari management and staff . The winners of the draw are: first prize of 1kg gold clinical practice’ — Salah Latheef (coupon No 1739496), second prize of 500gm gold — Mumtaz Ahmed (1914707), third prize of 300gm gold — Jaison Joseph (2887563), and fourth prize of 200gm gold — Niyas H (2429078). he Public Health Department at Qatar University’s (QU) College Tof Health Sciences (CHS) yester- day started an intensive workshop on evidence-based clinical practice, which contributes to continuous professional development. HBKU hosts climate change expert The three-day event is attended by specialists in the fi eld, especially from Primary Health Care Corp, Hamad he College of said: “Climate the regional impact of global climate General Hospital, Ministry of Public Science and change features high change to inform the ongoing mitiga- Health, Aspetar and Sidra Medicine, as TEngineer- on the global agenda, tion debate. well as specialists in the fi eld of formu- ing (CSE) at Hamad and it is therefore He also presented examples of his lating clinical guidelines. Bin Khalifa Univer- imperative that there research on future heatwaves in Asia, Evidence-based clinical practice is a sity (HBKU) recently is greater awareness predictions about malaria transmis- vital part of healthcare that uses high- hosted Elfatih Elta- and co-operation to sion in Africa, and projections of wa- quality clinical research in decision hir, professor, Mas- mitigate its eff ects. ter availability in the Nile basin. making and the provision of optimum sachusetts Institute Hosting a speaker of CSE regularly hosts seminars to patient healthcare. of Technology as a Prof Eltahir’s calibre showcase the expertise of leading lo- It requires updated doctor competen- guest speaker for its provided the wider cal and international researchers, and cies, including methodological research seminar on ‘Regional community with an to promote a greater understanding skills and the application of formal rules Impacts of Global Prof Elfatih Eltahir overview of his ex- of topical regional and global issues. of evidence in the evaluation of clinical Climate Change’. tensive research on The college off ers 12 dynamic de- data and results of this research. Dr Gordon Guyatt conducts the workshop. As an established expert who has climate change and the need for re- grees encompassing areas deemed The workshop includes methodo- spearheaded pivotal research on the sponsible and sound policies. critical for Qatar and the region for logical lectures by Dr Gordon Guyatt, In addition, the workshop includes tegrating values into clinical decision impact of greenhouse gas emissions “We were also able to benefi t from many years to come. McMaster University, distinguished opportunities for advanced skills un- making. on global warming, specifi cally in the his recommendations for a sustain- With special emphasis on gradu- professor of Clinical Epidemiology and der the supervision of a number of Such skills will enhance the accuracy Middle East, Prof Eltahir is best posi- able environmental strategy and al- ate education, CSE is shaping the Biostatistics, who was the fi rst to coin epidemiologists from QU’s College of and understanding of epidemiological tioned to provide signifi cant insights leviation of the eff ects of the global local and international academic the term “evidence based medicine” Health Sciences and College of Medi- concepts, thereby improving scientifi c on the environmental challenges fac- environmental phenomenon.” landscapes with highly selective pro- and is considered among the move- cine. research, ensuring quality for diff erent ing the region. Prof Eltahir underscored the im- grammes, some of which specialise in ment’s earliest and most prominent The workshop enhances skills in as- healthcare interventions and providing Dr Mounir Hamdi, dean of CSE, portance of educating society on sustainable development. champions. sessing systematic research and in- better care for patients in Qatari society.

QU, Techno Lab to collaborate on research, engineering consultancy Extras paid $100 to protest atar University’s Techno Lab in the academ- a knowledge-based econ- various fi elds of research (QU) Qatar Trans- ic, research and student omy.” and consulting, including against Qatar Qportation and Traf- training and fi eld support, CENG dean Prof Ab- studies, quality services fi c Safety Centre (QTTSC) as well as the exchange of delmagid Hammuda said: and exchange of knowledge and the College of Engi- information and consul- “The agreement highlights for the benefi ts of Qatar From Page 1 neering (CENG) signed tancy. CENG and QTTSC’s con- and community.” a research co-operation As part of the agreement, tinuous eff orts to provide QTTSC director Prof A Qatari diplomat told The In- agreement yesterday with the QTTSC will provide solutions to local chal- Faris Tarlochan added: dependent: “Qatar continues to Techno Lab, a member of Techno Lab with consul- lenges, in line with national “Traffi c safety is of great be the target of an international Al Ali Holding, to establish tancy and workshops on priorities towards a knowl- interest to Qatar. In Janu- smear campaign designed to co-operation in the fi elds transportation and traffi c edge-based economy. It ary 2013, the National Road damage its reputation and strip of research, consultancy safety, smart transporta- will also serve to facilitate Safety Strategy (2013- it of the 2022 World Cup. and knowledge transfer. tion and geotechnical stud- knowledge and technology 2022) was launched to en- “The campaign has repeat- The agreement was ies. transfer and provide con- hance Qatar’s commitment edly used underhand tactics, in- signed by QU vice presi- CENG faculty will sultancy and research serv- to reduce road accidents cluding paid protests, as part of dent for academic aff airs Dr also support Techno Lab Off icials at the research co-operation agreement signing ceremony yesterday. ices, which will contribute and make a diff erence in a failed attempt to spread false Omar al-Ansari and Tech- projects by ensuring to driving socio-economic this area. Traffi c accidents accusations and manipulate no Lab chairman Sheikh knowledge transfer and QTTSC at all levels. and advisory services that forts to fi nd solutions to the development and sustain- and their consequent losses opinions of Qatar in the United Abdulrahman bin Jassim progressive development of Dr al-Ansari said: “This stimulate the sustainable challenges facing the vari- ability in Qatar.” have become major obsta- States, Europe and beyond. al-Thani in the presence of existing projects. marks the continuation economic and social de- ous sectors in the country Sheikh Abdulrahman cles to improving health “Yet again, the campaign has offi cials from both institu- Techno Lab will off er of a series of agreements velopment of Qatar. This and to expand the means of said: “This agreement is and development plans, been exposed, further discredit- tions. training to CENG students, with the private sector to agreement, which we sign co-operation to serve lo- proof of our co-operation especially for the youth, as ing its creators in the eyes of the It aims to establish col- as well as technical and ensure that the University today, affi rms Qatar Uni- cal institutions in line with with Qatar University’s they are the most vulner- international community.” laboration between QU and technological support to provides excellent research versity’s continuous ef- national priorities towards College of Engineering in able to traffi c accidents.” Courtesy MENA Tribune Gulf Times Tuesday, January 29, 2019 7 QATAR UDC to hold ‘Qanat Qarnevale’ for second time at The Pearl-Qatar

ollowing the outstanding success of last year’s festival, United Develop- Fment Company (UDC), the master developer of The Pearl-Qatar and Gewan Islands, will be hosting “Qanat Qarnevale” for the second time across various sites at Qanat Quartier. The carnival will be taking place from Janu- ary 30 to February 2 between 4pm and 9pm. A number of festive activities will be or- ganised and will combine arts, music and leisure activities, which will be targeting children and families, residents and visi- tors alike. Children will be able to enjoy games and activities in the kids sections, whilst the whole family will have fun tak- ing water taxi rides on the canals and watching shows such as acrobatics, LED dance performances, jazz music, glass blowing and water fountain shows. There will also be game booths where visitors can win prizes in addition to out- door cinema shows. This event is part of UDC’s efforts to The ‘Qanat Qarnevale’ will feature several performances, activities and attractions for families at various locations at The Pearl-Qatar. attract families in a unique and exciting atmosphere at The Pearl-Qatar, while in- will further strengthen The Pearl-Qatar’s area of The Pearl-Qatar Island, known for cial area at Qanat Quartier offers a charm- troducing visitors to the newly-opened position as one of the country’s elite tour- its magnificent greenery, beach, canals, ing, yet lively environment with boutique shops, restaurants and cafes that populate ist and entertainment attractions. pedestrian-friendly squares, plazas and shopping and a variety of coffee shops and the Qanat Quartier district. This gala event Qanat Quartier is a unique residential Venetian-like experience. The commer- restaurants to experience. National Museum exhibits ‘to off er interactive experience’

By Joey Aguilar four to seven, and ‘act’ three as QM is known to have the best Staff Reporter forms the last batch of galler- pearls and jewellery collections ies. One of the unique features of in the world. “Students will get NMoQ exhibits includes encour- to see how Gulf pearls have been he National Museum of aging visitors to touch the objects incorporated into the designs of Qatar’s (NMoQ) in-depth displayed in its galleries. costumes, jewellery of diff erent Tspaces and exhibits will give At gallery one, Dr Kirwan said world cultures, so there is an ar- visitors a one-of-its-kind interac- visitors of all ages, including stu- ray of fantastic costumes on dis- tive experience as they go through dents, will discover and be intro- play,” Dr Kirwan told teachers at its 11 interlinked galleries, NMoQ’s duced to early geological processes the event. Learning and Outreach associate that form the land mass of Qatar, “There is a particularly fabulous director Dr Alan Michael Kirwan including fossils and meteorites, object from India, a carpet that has said. as well as the history of the solar would be displayed the amount “People would be moving system and the universe. of pearls and emeralds, you name through the museum scenario that “Galleries one and two are quite it, it is there, it has a fantastic they’ve not really encountered be- connected. In gallery two, people 250-year-old history,” he added. fore, it is very diff erent,” he told will be brought on a journey across The fi nal ‘act’, from galleries eight educators and other attendees at the environments and the habitats onwards, introduces the modern Qatar Museums’ Teachers Coun- of the country,” he added. “Stu- history of Qatar, during the late cil, held recently at the Museum of dents might get an amazing expe- 18th century onwards. “Visitors Islamic Art Auditorium. rience with the diff erent fl ora and will hear about the Portuguese, Dr Kirwan was giving a glimpse fauna of Qatar.” Ottomans – the Turkish legacy, of the varied features and col- Gallery three showcases the and the British and what they have lections displayed at each of the archaeology of Qatar, Dr Kirwan contributed.” museum’s galleries, as well as its said. It also has a focus on a town “The important thing about programmes catering to teachers way back to the 9th century, which gallery eight is it is the founda- and students. NMoQ, scheduled he noted was an important stop tion of the State. It talks about the to offi cially open on March 28, is point along the silk road. importance of the Qatari people expected to attract a large number At gallery four (part of ‘act’ 2), defi ning their new nation, and it of residents and visitors. It is ar- visitors will experience a lot of also looks at the discovery of the ranged in three chapters – Begin- navigation and movements, which Dr Alan Michael Kirwan at the recently-held Teachers Council. oil and gas and what that meant nings, Life in Qatar, and Building includes the journey explaining PICTURE: Jayaram for the people here,” Dr Kirwan the Nation. why the Qatari people, for many said, adding that the journey ends “The whole museum is brought centuries, were known to be ex- that were important to them,” Dr how they were designed, the im- at the Old Palace – “a nice cyclical to life in a very immersive and pert travellers, and trackers. Kirwan said. “And something that portance of the sea and the coastal end to your story, you go back to interactive way so when people Meanwhile, museum-goers will is truly beautiful in there is an ar- life of Qatar for many genera- the beginning in a way because it come through these spaces there encounter ‘albar’ at gallery fi ve. In ray of textiles and decorations (art tions,” Dr Kirwan added. is the heart of the museum.” is a very large all around art fi lms the desert, this area looks at the and craft).” Gallery six, he noted, One of NMoQ’s galleries also The Old Palace dates back to the that contextualise the objects in ‘nomadic’ culture of the country. is about life on the coast where has a particular focus on Al Zu- early 1910s, and it was the actual the installations they will be look- “They will get to experience people will be brought back out barah, a Unesco World Heritage home of one of the fi rst modern ing at,” Dr Kirwan said. something that we hear about but of the desert to a cooler environ- Site, which also shows the global founders of Qatar, Sheikh Abdul- Organised in three ‘acts’, he we never know in-depth about, ment. links that Qatar has had for cen- lah bin Jassim al-Thani. It was noted that the fi rst ‘act’ com- so they will hear about processes “Visitors can explore the world turies. the fi rst National Museum, which prised of galleries one, two and of the movement of people in the of the pearl divers and they will see Gallery seven highlights “the opened in 1975 and it closed two three; ‘act’ two is from gallery diff erent seasons, and the animals this beautiful array of dhows and pearls in their own brilliance” decades later in the 1990s. Expo spotlights key fi gures in Russian art history

atar Museums (QM) has invited art and history en- Qthusiasts in the country to visit the “Russian Avant-garde: Pioneers and Direct Descendants” exhibition ahead of its closing date on February 3. Organised in collaboration with the world-renowned State Tretyakov Gallery and hosted at the Fire Station Garage Gallery in Doha, the exhibition is a highlight of last year’s Qatar-Russia Year of Culture. Sponsored by Russian oil com- pany Rosneft, the exhibition is curated by the head of the Con- temporary Art Department at the State Tretyakov Gallery Irina Gorlova and showcases 81 mas- terpieces from some of the most infl uential and signifi cant fi gures in Russian art history. The exhibition traces the con- nections between the revolution- The “Russian Avant-garde: Pioneers and Direct Descendants” The exhibition traces the connections between the revolutionary ary pioneers of the early 20th cen- exhibition showcases 81 masterpieces from some of the most pioneers of the early 20th century. tury, including Vladimir Tatlin, influential and significant figures in Russian art history. Alexander Rodchenko and Mikhail ahead of its closing next week,” the with leading institutions in Qatar Matyushin, with the creations of on the global narrative of art,” said rate with the State Tretyakov Gal- director added. and Russia, including the Qatar the artists of the second avant- Reem al-Thani, director of Ex- lery to present audiences in Qatar The exhibition’s opening was embassy in Moscow, the Russian garde wave, such as Vyacheslav hibitions at QM. “These avant- with an in-depth examination of part of the rich programme or- embassy in Doha, the Ministry of Koleichuk, Francisco Infante-Ara- garde pioneers broke new ground a key period in Russia’s history. I ganised for Qatar Russia 2018 Culture of the Russian Federation, na, Rimma Zanevskaya-Sapgir, and challenged tradition to create invite all art and history enthusi- Year of Culture. The Year, which Qatar’s Ministry of Culture and and Mikhail Roginsky amongst radical forms of expression.” asts in Qatar to make use of this was sponsored by Qatar Airways, Sport and the State Museum and others. “Russian artists left a mark “We were very proud to collabo- opportunity to visit the exhibition was planned in collaboration Exhibition Center. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 QATAR/REGION

Embassy marks India’s Republic Day Qatar Airways issues alert on fake tickets

atar Airways has issued the airline said in the alert posted requesting that you share it be- a public information on its social media platforms. fore unlocking the off er,” Qatar Qalert regarding a fake “Please note that such a link Airways said. business class ticket giveaway. may come from unknown do- The airline stressed that any “It has come to our attention mains that mimic an offi cial Qa- Qatar Airways Group-related that members of the public are tar Airways website, and may ask communication will always be receiving a link that appears to be you to reply to share informa- sent from an offi cial domain. from Qatar Airways, falsely stat- tion to claim an off er. Such links “We highly recommend that you ing that the airline is giving away are phishing scams that could report such fraudulent attempts free business class tickets as part compromise your personal in- with details to reportfraud@qa- of an anniversary promotion,” formation. These are false off ers tarairways.com.qa”

MES School reveals details of shift system

ES Indian School has that will be implemented this The morning session will be announced that the year. According to a tweet by for KG, Junior students (classes Mschool will be oper- the school, the morning ses- 1-4 both boys and girls) and for The Indian embassy hosted a reception in Doha yesterday to celebrate the 70th Republic Day of India. The event was attended by a ating in two shifts from the sion will run from Sunday to girls from classes 5 to 12. The large number of dignitaries, off icials and guests, and saw colourful cultural performances by students. Pictured are Indian ambassador academic year 2019-2020 as Thursday while the afternoon afternoon shift will be only for P Kumaran cutting the ceremonial cake with HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs Yousef bin approved by the Ministry of shift will be from Saturday to boys from 5 to 12 classes. Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro, HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and Qatar Chamber first Education and Higher Educa- Thursday. The school will have The school has also made vice-chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari, in the presence of Ministry of Foreign Aff airs’ chief of protocol Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah tion. the morning shift from 6.45am school transportation manda- Fakhro and Diplomatic Corps dean Ali Ibrahim Ahmed. PICTURE: Jayan Orma The school has also put out to 1pm and the afternoon ses- tory for the evening session on the details of the shift system sion will be from 2pm to 7pm. account of security reasons. Qatar Insurance Group holds blood donation drive

Abdulla al-Mulla QIC Group off icials and staff during the campaign.

atar Insurance Group re- of the blood donation drive. cornerstone for the sustainable turnout of employees who vol- cently held a blood dona- For QIC Group, the blood development of the society and unteered and donated blood to Ali S al-Fadala, senior deputy Group president and CEO of QIC Group, during the blood donation campaign. Qtion campaign at the QIC donation campaign “serves as spares no effort to fulfil its CSR support the cause, Abdulla al- headquarters in West Bay. an important corporate social duties. By participating in vari- Mulla, official spokesperson of that the core values of our busi- our customers, business partners towards the community. As a The campaign was organised responsibility (CSR) initiative, ous social initiatives and envi- QIC Group, thanked the staff ness and operating principles and affi liates.” responsible corporate citizen, in collaboration with Hamad which creates scalable impact ronmental engagements, QIC for their participation and said: align with the noble mission for Commenting on the ini- we will continue to participate Medical Corporation’s (HMC) for the society, environment Group has been consistent in “It is indeed gratifying to see the greater good. In fact, being tiative al-Mulla added: “The in activities related to health, Blood Donation Unit. HMC mo- and its people”, the company demonstrating its commitment such support from our staff and I socially conscious has allowed us blood donation drive is an in- wellness, environment to dem- bilised its blood donation bus has said in a statement. towards its societal mission,” hope this would serve as a source to respond, engage and solve the tegral part of the framework of onstrate our unwavering com- along with its medical unit to as- “Like all other businesses, the statement noted. of inspiration for others in the common concerns of the society QIC Group’s corporate social mitment towards the commu- sist in the successful completion QIC Group considers CSR as a Delighted by the excellent future. “At QIC, we have ensured along with the co-operation of responsibility and engagement nity and the nation.”

Ashghal announces closure of exit from Chief of Staff holds talks Turkish navy frigate arrives in Doha service road to 22 February Street

with Italian counterpart he Public Works Author- constructed exit. ity (Ashghal) has an- Those travelling from the Tnounced the implemen- opposite direction will have tation of a permanent closure to make an exit to 22 February of an exit in each direction from Street using the exit located the service road to 22 February after Al Rayyan Interchange, as Street. shown on the attached map. The permanent closure is The authority will being implemented with the install road signs aim of improving traffic move- advising motorists ment on 22 February Street by of the closure, and has widening it at the area between requested all road users the Al Rayyan and Al Gharrafa to abide by the speed limit interchanges, Ashghal has said. and follow road signs to The closure comes as part of ensure their safety Phase 1 of an Ashghal project aiming to convert Immigration The closure of the exit in R/A into an intersection and to the direction from Al Rayyan develop parts of service roads Interchange to Al Gharrafa In- on 22 February Street, in order terchange will be effective from to improve traffic movement tomorrow, while the exit in the and increase the intersection’s HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant- other direction will be closed capacity. This phase also in- General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem met yesterday from February 2, Ashghal has cludes the development of the with HE the Chief of the Defence Staff of Italy Air Squadron said in a statement. storm water drainage system, General Enzo Vecciarelli, currently visiting the country. The The closure is being carried protection of existing utilities meeting discussed military and defence relations between the The frigate TCGGOKCEADA of the Turkish Navy arrived in Doha yesterday. The Directorate out in co-ordination with the and the addition of new light- two countries and ways of enhancing them. The meeting was of Moral Guidance at the Ministry of Defence said that the visit aims at conducting joint General Directorate of Traffic. ing poles at the new intersec- attended by senior off icers of the Qatari Armed Forces, the exercises with the Qatari Amiri Navy and enhancing the bilateral relations between the two Drivers who want to make an tion, the statement added. delegation accompanying the Italian Chief of the Defence Staff brotherly countries. The frigate was received by Commander of the Missile Boat Group Lt exit to 22 February Street from The authority will install and the military attaches of the two countries. Col (Navy) Lahdan Jomaa al-Mohannadi, and a number of Qatari Amiri Navy off icers. the service road while trav- road signs advising motorists elling from Al Rayyan Inter- of the closure, and has request- change towards Al Gharrafa In- ed all road users to abide by terchange can continue driving the speed limit and follow road around 1km to reach the newly- signs to ensure their safety. Outrage as UAE gives all its Rare blast hits Yemen ‘gender balance’ awards to men port town of Al-Mokha

Thomson Reuters users were quick to mock after Twitter. “Sorry which genders Reuters porting hub, Al-Mokha is now Foundation Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid are they balancing? We see only Aden a heavily guarded naval base Beirut al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai one,” posted another. for the United Arab Emirates, and vice-president and prime The Dubai government media which is allied to the Saudi- minister of the UAE, tweeted offi ce and the UAE government rare blast in the port backed government of the he United Arab Emirates the awards announcement late did not immediately respond to a town of Al-Mokha, internationally recognised vice-president boasted of on Sunday with a series of pic- request for comment. Acontrolled by the inter- Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Tthe country’s “signifi cant tures of men. “Great to see Dubai The World Economic Forum nationally recognised govern- Mansour Hadi. progress” on gender equality as promoting and rewarding the ranked the UAE 121st out of 149 ment of Yemen, killed at least Yemen’s almost four-year he handed out awards for pro- promotion of gender balance, countries by gender equality in six people and injured more confl ict pits the Houthi move- moting equal opportunity. but there is something missing education, health and participa- yesterday, local offi cials told ment against Hadi’s govern- The only trouble was — all of in these photos...cannot put my tion in politics and the economy Reuters. ment, backed by a Saudi-led them went to men. Social media fi nger on it....” posted one on in a 2018 report. Once a thriving coff ee ex- coalition. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 29, 2019 9 AFRICA

14 killed in Burkina Faso clashes

Gunmen killed four Burkina Faso soldiers and injured five others near the Malian border yesterday, a day after 10 civilians Trial of suspended top were killed nearby in a separate attack, the army and security off icials said. Jihadist groups, already a major security headache for neighbouring Mali and Niger, have rapidly spread into Burkina Faso’s remote north in the past Nigeria judge adjourned two months, killing soldiers and civilians in a spate of attacks. Reuters Protesters gathered outside tweets, said security agencies had The soldiers killed in yesterday’s Abuja the courthouse in the capital, traced “suspicious transactions assault belonged to an anti- Abuja, yesterday - some in sup- running into millions of dollars terrorism unit operating in the port of Onnoghen and others to the CJN’s (Chief Justice of Ni- Nassoumbou area in northern legal case against Ni- who backed his suspension. geria’s) personal accounts, all un- Burkina Faso, the army said in geria’s top judge which The CCT said on January 12 declared or improperly declared a statement in Ouagadougou. Araised fears of interfer- that Onnoghen would face six as required by law”. The same unit lost 12 soldiers ence in next month’s presiden- counts of alleged non-declara- Onnoghen could not be in December 2016 in an attack tial election was adjourned in- tion of assets. The allegations reached to comment. claimed by Ansarul Islam, an Al defi nitely yesterday, days after were initially made by Dennis It is not the fi rst time such Qaeda-linked insurgent group. President Muhammadu Buhari Aghanya, who served as Bu- claims have been levelled at the On Sunday, unidentified gunmen suspended the chief justice. hari’s media aide between 2009 judiciary since Buhari, a former targeted a road leading to a The European Union and the and 2011. military ruler who vowed to market in the village of Sikire, United States voiced concerns Onnoghen’s lawyers said the crack down on corruption, took in the same region, killing 10 after Buhari suspended Walter tribunal did not have the au- offi ce in 2015. civilians, two security sources told Onnoghen from the position thority to try him, and an ap- The Department of State Reuters. where he would have a key say peal court ordered last week Services, Nigeria’s security A local cow herder who witnessed in resolving any disputes after that the trial be halted while it agency, in 2016 said it seized the attack but who declined to be the February 16 election. ruled on that. $800,000 in cash during raids named for fear of reprisals said “This case has been ad- Buhari said on Friday his de- on judges from the supreme, several gunmen had arrived on journed sine die (indefi nitely), cision to suspend Onnoghen for appeal and high courts. Senior motorbikes and started shooting pending the determination of the duration of the CCT trial judges were arrested and re- apparently at random. the matter at the court of ap- was based on an order to do so leased. None were convicted. France’s foreign ministry peal,” Danladi Umar, chairman from the tribunal dated January Nigeria’s judiciary has long condemned the attack on Sikire. of the Code of Conduct Tribu- 23 - the day before the court of been the subject of corruption “France... is concerned about nal (CCT) said. appeal halted the proceedings. allegations amid claims that the increase in attacks against The next court of appeal The charges are yet to be dis- judges routinely accept bribes security forces and civilian hearing is due to take place on closed. in exchange for favourable People hold banners during a protest over the suspension of the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter populations of the country,” it January 30. The president, in a series of rulings. Onnoghen, in Abuja yesterday. said in a statement. (Reuters) Bangui calls for Zuma implicated in graft inquiry AFP The money, hidden in a luxury In exchange for the payments, Johannesburg bag, was received through foun- Agrizzi said Bosasa - renamed dation president Dudu Myeni, African Global Operations in UN embargo the former chair of South Afri- 2017 - was looking to halt a po- ormer South African pres- can Airways, Agrizzi alleged. lice inquiry into suspicions that ident Jacob Zuma, who Agrizzi said on one occasion the company used illicit meth- Fwas forced to resign last the Bosasa CEO at the time, ods to obtain public contracts. year under a cloud of corrup- Gavin Watson, also went to Zu- Agrizzi last week told the to be lifted tion scandals, allegedly accepted ma’s private home and “person- commission that he had sup- monthly bribes from a security ally brought” him the money. plied an array of services for fi rm, according to a witness at a “He (Watson) said he personally high-profi le members of Zuma’s AFP militias in the corruption- judicial inquiry. delivered it to Jacob Zuma, put the government and the ruling Afri- Bangui prone country. Angelo Agrizzi, ex-chief op- bag next to him... and asked him can National Congress (ANC). The committee has previ- erating offi cer of the Bosasa the question: ‘Does Dudu give you The current minister of en- ously approved shipments contracting company, has given your money every month?’ And vironmental aff airs Nomvula he prime minister of of weapons from France and days of bombshell testimony to the answer was ‘Yes’,” Agrizzi said. Mokonyane, who served as Zu- Central African Repub- Russia but Chinese weapons the Zondo commission probing The commission headed by ma’s minister of water and sani- Tlic led a rally of around deliveries have been blocked. allegations of government cor- Judge Ray Zondo is investigati- tation between 2014 and 2018, 3,000 people yesterday calling A UN report last year said ruption under Zuma. ing a web of murky deals in- got 50,000 rand in cash monthly, for a global arms embargo to “the recent acquisition of Agrizzi said Bosasa made volving government offi cials, according to Agrizzi. be lifted ahead of a UN meet- arms by the government has monthly payments of some the wealthy Gupta family and The people accused will have ing later this week. prompted factions” of militias 300,000 rand (around $2,200) to state-owned entities during the a chance to appear before the In this file photo, Jacob Zuma sits in the dock of the High Court of The mineral-rich country, to rearm. the Jacob Zuma foundation. Zuma’s nine-year reign. commission at a later date. Pietermaritzburg for his hearing over 16 corruption charges. wracked by ethnic and reli- Several protesters yesterday gious confl ict since 2013, has blamed UN Security Council been subject to a UN Security member France for maintain- Council arms and ammuni- ing the embargo. tion embargo for the past fi ve “We have soldiers who no Togo president in Ivory Coast years. longer work because of the em- 4 dead in DR Congo Speaking on a podium in bargo. It’s because of France,” Bangui’s central Place des said demonstrator Pierre. Martyrs, Prime Minister “Only the army can ensure student protests Mathieu Simplice Sarandji the security of CAR. We want said: “This is a lock that de- Central African Republic to AFP from the governor’s residence in serves to be opened, this is an regain its sovereignty, we want Lubumbashi Upper Katanga. embargo which strikes our de- the total lifting of the em- “The provisional fi gures es- fence and security forces.” bargo,” said another protester, tablished by offi cials report four “The government respects Fiacre. hree students and a police deaths including three students the embargo while armed One of the world’s poorest offi cer died in southeast- and a policeman,” said Vital groups receive weapons! The nations, Central African Re- Tern Democratic Republic Kamerhe, chief of staff of new people of Central African Re- public has struggled to recov- of Congo during weekend clash- president Felix Tshisekedi, in a public cannot understand this er from a 2013 civil war that es at a protest over water and statement. law of double standards,” he erupted when President Fran- power outages, according to an Tshisekedi was sworn in last said to cheers from the crowds cois Bozize, a Christian, was updated death toll by the presi- Thursday, marking DR Congo’s in the capital. overthrown by mainly Muslim dency yesterday. fi rst peaceful handover of power The UN Security Coun- Seleka rebels. The violence was sparked but only after chaotic and bit- cil will on Thursday decide In response, Christians, after a large area including terly disputed elections. whether to renew the em- who account for about 80 Lubumbashi University was left Runner-up Martin Fayulu has bargo, which bans weapon percent of the population, or- without water and electricity for dismissed the result as a stitch- supplies to the country unless ganised vigilante units dubbed three days because of damage up between Tshisekedi and out- approved by a UN sanctions “anti-Balaka” in reference to caused to vital cables and pipes going president Joseph Kabila, committee. the balaka machetes used by by torrential rains. who ruled DR Congo for 18 years. The authorities in Bangui Seleka rebels. The students were also dem- The police offi cer who “or- have repeatedly called on the Thousands of people have onstrating over higher fees. dered to shoot the peaceful stu- UN to lift the embargo. died in the violence, 700,000 Clashes broke out on Sunday dents without warning” will be The sanctions are aimed at been internally displaced and Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara and Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe greet people after police used tear gas and brought before a military court ensuring imported weapons another 570,000 have fl ed upon Gnassingbe’s arrival at the airport in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, yesterday. warning shots to try to disperse “to face the rigour of the law,” do not end up in the hands of abroad. crowds of students returning the statement said.

Zimbabwe unions issue new strike ultimatum

Reuters violent protests over a fuel Harare price hike that rights groups say killed at least 12 people and injured scores. Police say ublic sector unions only three people died. gave Zimbabwe’s The Apex Council, which Pgovernment a 48- groups 16 civil service un- hour ultimatum to make a ions, said government ne- new salary off er or face a gotiators did not bring a new strike after wage negotia- off er at a meeting on Mon- tions reached a deadlock, day. More talks are set for raising the prospect of Wednesday, Apex Council more unrest following this secretary David Dzatsungwa month’s violent protests. told reporters after a four- President Emmerson hour hour meeting. Mnangagwa is under pres- Unions want to be paid sure to deliver on pre- in dollars or have the election promises to revive monthly salary of the low- an economy. est paid worker increased Mnangagwa’s government from $414 to $1,700. There has also come under severe are 305,000 civil servants, criticism for a crackdown on including security forces. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 AMERICAS US govt reopens

Reuters lawmakers address border se- licans have vowed to fi ght and enough Democrats to reach the Washington curity before the February 15 that would likely face a court 60-vote threshold for funding deadline while avoiding another challenge. bills in the Republican-control- closure. Trump, who had initially said led Senate. he US government reo- A committee of lawmakers Mexico would fi nance the wall, Democratic Senator Mag- pened fully yesterday from both parties will try to ne- did not address the government gie Hassan told CNN that she Twith about 800,000 fed- gotiate a compromise on border reopening or shutdown talks is open to a deal with money for eral workers returning after a security as Congress prepared to in a series of tweets yesterday strategic border fencing, but not 35-day shutdown triggered by reconvene yesterday. morning. Trump’s wall. President Trump’s demand for a “There will have to be com- Democrats, eager to capitalise Federal workers are expected border wall as lawmakers geared promise,” US Representative on their political victory, oppose to get paid this week for the fi ve up for talks to avoid another Dan Kildee, a member of the any money for a wall but say weeks of missed paycheques. stand-off in three weeks. House Democratic leadership, they back additional funding Federal contractors and busi- The longest shutdown in US told CNN yesterday. for security measures along the nesses that relied on federal history ended on Friday when He urged fellow lawmakers border, such as increased tech- workers’ business, however, face President Donald Trump and to ignore Trump’s wall rhetoric nology and more Border Patrol huge losses, although some law- Congress agreed to temporary and “put our heads down and do agents. makers are pushing legislation A view of Ottawa’s old train government funding – without our job”. Republicans, who controlled to pay contractors back as well. station, which has been con- money for his wall – as eff ects of Trump has vowed to shut both the Senate and the House House Democrats plan to of- verted into a temporary senate the shutdown intensifi ed across down the government again un- when the shutdown began De- fer legislation to increase civil house, while parliament the country. less an acceptable border deal cember 22, are wary of a repeat servants’ pay, Representative undergoes renovation. Trump had demanded $5.7bn is reached, and on Sunday ex- closure. Don Beyer, whose Virginia dis- toward building his long-prom- pressed scepticism that such an Polls show the public mostly trict is home to many federal ised wall along the US-Mexico agreement could be made. blamed Trump and his party for workers, tweeted yesterday. border, which he says is neces- He also left open the pos- the stand-off . Some lawmakers are also ex- sary to stop illegal immigration, sibility of declaring a national Any agreement must win over amining ways to outlaw any fu- Canadian human traffi cking and drug emergency to get money for the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ture shutdowns, the New York smuggling. wall, an extraordinary move that and her fellow Democrats, who Times reported over the week- It remained to be seen how Democrats and some Repub- now control the House as well as end. parliament moves out

AFP Senator Harris emerges as Ottawa

anadian lawmakers began yesterday their last ses- frontrunner to oust Trump Csion before elections later this year in new temporary digs to make way for a huge renova- AFP tion of parliament and other gov- Washington ernment buildings that will last a decade. The MPs moved out of the S Senator Kamala Harris old Gothic Revival style parlia- faced questions yester- ment at the end of last year, and Uday from American vot- are set to debate and pass laws ers as an offi cial White House in an atrium specially-built in candidate, a day after formally the courtyard of the nearby West declaring her 2020 bid to be- Block. come America’s fi rst black fe- The Senate, meanwhile, has A view of the West Block of parliament, seen from the entrance male president. been moved into an old train sta- archway of the East Block, in Ottawa. By launching her campaign tion to the east, next to the Ri- early – a year before any pri- deau Canal. built in three stages from 1865 to new House of Commons. mary votes are cast – the Cali- They are scheduled to return to 1910 and was last renovated 50 The work required the hiring of fornia Democrat leapfrogs sev- work at the end of February after years ago. “thousands of building special- eral party luminaries waiting in a break. Its latest renovation work, ists, tradespeople and artisans the wings, and a few who have And Prime Minister Justin which began in 2011 and ended from across Canada”, said James already entered the race, to be- Trudeau has been moved into this year, saw more than 200 Bridger, one of the many archi- come the de facto frontrunner in an offi ce in West Block previ- masons working on the building tects who worked on the project. a burgeoning fi eld that may ulti- ously used by his father when he daily, dismantling and rebuild- Their collaborative process – mately feature dozens of candi- was justice minister and by his ing 28 chimneys and two spires, including earthquake-proofi ng dates seeking to oust President grandfather when he was fi sher- and removing, numbering and the old structures, laser cleaning Donald Trump. ies minister. reinstalling half of the building’s original stones to vaporise dirt, She takes her campaign im- Started several years ago and 140,000 stones (19,000 stones and conserving statues, portraits mediately to Iowa, the state expected to continue until at were replaced). and other decorative elements that votes fi rst in the nominat- least 2029, the C$3bn ($2.3bn) Also, some 3,500sq m of new – has rivalled “the fi nest-tuned ing process, where she holds parliamentary precinct renova- copper roofi ng was installed, symphony orchestra”, he said in a televised town hall from Des This picture taken on Sunday shows children among other supporters listening to Senator Harris speak tion in downtown Ottawa also more than 1,350 windows were a statement. Moines that airs at 9pm (0300 at the launch of her campaign for the US presidency, at a rally at Frank H Ogawa Plaza in her hometown includes a new visitor centre, the made-to-measure for the build- The new glass roof above the GMT today). of Oakland, California. rehabilitation of several crum- ing, 2,900 tonnes of materials lower chamber is arguably its However, complicating Har- bling 19th century government containing asbestos were re- most interesting feature. ris’s launch in Oakland, where Schultz’s announcement abeth Warren of Massachusetts, mocracy are under attack and on buildings, as well as an updated moved, and 28 Olympic-sized It is supported by 20 steel a crowd of more than 20,000 drew sharp rebukes from Demo- New York’s Senator Kirsten Gil- the line like never before”. Library of Parliament. swimming pools worth of bed- columns that “rise up like giant watched her kick off her cam- crats who warned that he would librand, House Democrat Tulsi “We must answer a funda- West Block, which previously rock was blasted to create new trees”, according to the archi- paign on Sunday, billionaire siphon off Democratic votes and Gabbard of Hawaii, and Obama- mental question: Who are we?” housed lawmakers’ offi ces, was underground levels below the tects. former Starbucks chief execu- clear Trump’s path to re-elec- era housing secretary Julian she said. “America, we are better tive Howard Schultz said hours tion. Castro of Texas. than this.” later that he is seriously consid- “If he ran, it would be the The compelling Oakland Harris, whose father is from ering jumping into the race – as best thing possible for Donald speech was a show of strength Jamaica and whose mother is an independent. Trump,” tweeted congressman by Harris and most likely a cal- Indian, said that “in the face of The self-described “lifelong Brendan Boyle. “I urge him, for culated shot across the bows to powerful forces trying to sow Deep freeze coming to US: NWS Democrat” told CBS news show the good of the country, to re- those still on the 2020 sidelines, hate and division among us, the 60 Minutes that he “will run as a consider this bad idea.” notably the four B’s mulling a truth is that as Americans, we centrist independent outside of Trump himself wasted little run: Joe Biden, Bernie Sand- have so much more in common Reuters in the Arctic Circle, you’d say brunt of the supercold weather, the two-party system”. time going after Schultz, taking ers, Cory Booker, and Beto than what separates us”. Washington this is pretty normal. with widespread heavy snow al- Not only is Trump not quali- to Twitter to declare that the O’Rourke. One distinct advantage for When it’s actually brought ready aff ecting the area yester- fi ed to be president, he said, coff ee king “doesn’t have the She spoke of the “arrogance Harris is the shift that her home down to this level, that’s when day, the weather service said on but Republicans and Democrats ‘guts’ to run for President!” of power” demonstrated by state has made in the primary he US Midwest and you know it’s something seri- Twitter. failing the American people by Harris, 54, and Schultz, 65, Trump and his administration, calendar. Northeast were braced for ous,” Hurley said in a telephone Wind chills as low as -50°F engaging daily in “revenge poli- join several candidate already in and warned that “the American For years California – the Tdangerous sub-zero tem- interview. (-46°C) were also expected by tics”. the race, including Senator Eliz- dream and our American de- nation’s most populous state – peratures this week, as the polar Blizzard conditions are pre- this evening through to Thursday voted near the end of the proc- vortex was set to blast arctic con- dicted across parts of the western morning. Voter disillusionment with president spreads, survey results reveal ess, meaning nominees were ditions unusually far south, the Ohio Valley and snow is expected The service’s Des Moines, often decided before a single National Weather Service (NWS) today through to tomorrow from Iowa, branch said “dangerous, Two years into President Donald Trump’s administra- to success, only 49% believe he has done an excellent Californian cast a vote. said yesterday. the Great Lakes region into New life-threatening cold air” will tion, a majority of Americans have lost confidence job, according to the poll. But the state has moved its The system was set to extend England, the weather service hit the Midwestern state from in the brash real estate magnate’s performance on That’s down from 61% who were expecting excellent primary forward, to so-called from the Dakotas through New said. morning today through to Friday everything from the economy to foreign policy, a poll results at the time he was inaugurated. “Super Tuesday” on March England, with Chicago expecting Snowfall will occur in the Da- morning, with wind chill values showed yesterday. On job creation, those numbers fell to 51% from an 3, 2020, which would give the temperatures to plunge as low as kotas, Minneapolis and St Paul, on Wednesday likely to range The ABC News/Washington Post poll result was original 59%. Golden State a dramatically -25° Fahrenheit (-32° Celsius) Minnesota; and in Central Mich- from -45°F (-43°C) to -55°F published after Trump suff ered a major setback in his On grappling with the enormous federal budget more powerful say in determin- overnight today, the weather igan, where a foot (30cm) or more (-48°C) across the northern part signature push for more wall along the US-Mexican deficit, only 33% think he has done a good or excel- ing the nominee. service said. of snow is expected, the weather of the state. border. lent job, compared to 50% who started with high One prominent Californian, The polar vortex – the frigid service said. More than 600 fl ights into or On Friday, Trump agreed to suspend a punishing gov- expectations. outspoken congressman Ted winds that circulate around the Upstate New York, Vermont out of Chicago O’Hare Inter- ernment shutdown after the tactic failed to pressure Forty-four per cent of voters expected Trump to do Lieu, has already endorsed Har- North Pole – is extending further and New Hampshire will see less national Airport were cancelled Democrats into backing his wall project. an excellent job improving the country’s chaotic and ris, describing her as “the per- south into the Upper Midwest, than a foot of snow, and Boston yesterday morning and nearly Surveys have long shown Trump to be struggling for expensive healthcare system, but the number now is son we need to move America said weather service meteorolo- will get less than an inch (2.5cm). 300 fl ights were delayed, accord- popularity beyond his hardcore base. only 33%. forward”. gist Brian Hurley. “If you live up Chicago will take the main ing to FlightAware.com. The RealClear Politics average currently shows him Forty-eight per cent of Americans say they have no Harris is a former state attor- with 41.2% job approval ratings and 55.5% disap- confidence in Trump’s future performance, the poll ney general. proval. found. On Sunday she announced An average put together by the FiveThirtyEight site The number is 37% for Trump’s main opponent in her platform will include several puts those numbers at 39.4% to 56%. Congress, the Democratic speaker of the House of progressive policies like debt- The new poll, however, focuses on disappointment Representatives Nancy Pelosi. free college and “Medicare for Apology over language warning among voters. The Post-ABC poll was conducted by January 21-24 all”, which would allow Ameri- On the economy, which has been Trump’s chief claim among a random national sample of 1,001 adults. cans to opt into government- run health coverage. DPA icle reported on Sunday. tional Equity to conduct a “thor- Washington “There is absolutely no re- ough review”. striction or limitation on the Megan Neely stepped down as Michael Jackson’s family slams documentary for reviving sex abuse allegations language you use to converse and director of graduate studies in uke University has apolo- communicate with each other,” the medical school’s biostatistics Michael Jackson’s family has lashed out The family noted that prior to his 2009 death while this public lynching goes on, and the gised after a professor Klotman wrote in an e-mail sent master’s programme a day after against a new documentary renewing focus Jackson had faced a lengthy investigation, vulture tweeters and others who never met Dsent an e-mail warning to students on Saturday. sending the e-mail on Friday, the on allegations the singer sexually abused including a raid on his Neverland Ranch in Michael go after him.” students not to speak Chinese. “Your career opportunities Chronicle reported. young boys, calling the subsequent social California and a criminal trial concerning The new four-hour documentary reportedly Duke Medical school dean and recommendations will not In the e-mail, widely shared media outrage a “public lynching”. another teenager, in which he was acquitted. included graphic testimony from accusers Mary Klotman said that speak- in any way be infl uenced by the on social media, Neely said that Dubbing the late King of Pop an “easy target”, “Michael always turned the other cheek, Wade Robson and James Safechuck. ing a foreign language at the uni- language you use outside the two faculty members went to her the Jackson family said that they are “furious” and we have always turned the other cheek Robson testified during the 2005 trial of versity was not a problem after a classroom. And your privacy will to try and identify students heard over the bombshell Leaving Neverland when people have gone after members of Jackson, and both men have filed lawsuits professor was demoted for urg- always be protected,” the dean speaking Chinese “very loudly” expose that premiered on Friday at the our family – that is the Jackson way,” the against Jackson’s estate as adults in recent ing students to speak English, said, adding that she asked the in the student lounge and study Sundance Film Festival. statement said. “But we can’t just stand by years. university newspaper the Chron- university’s Offi ce for Institu- areas. Gulf Times Tuesday January 29, 2019 11 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Pilot’s ‘emotional breakdown’ blamed for deadly Nepal plane crash

AFP landed at Kathmandu airport pilot in command, Captain Abid impress upon the junior co-pilot making it a notoriously challeng- of the investigation committee, deadliest since September 1992, Kathmandu and skidded into a football fi eld Sultan, was harbouring “severe his competence and profi ciency. ing place to land. As the Bom- told AFP. The report said the when all 167 people aboard a where it burst into fl ames, killing mental stress” and was upset af- “One of the reasons could be bardier DHC-8-402 turboprop pilot had been released from the Pakistan International Airlines 51 people onboard. Twenty pas- ter a female co-worker had ques- him trying to prove... he is a very approached the runway it made a Bangladesh Air Force in 1993 due plane were killed when it crashed n “emotional breakdown” sengers miraculously escaped the tioned his reputation as a good competent pilot and would be last-minute change of direction, to depression and declared fi t to as it approached Kathmandu air- by the pilot caused a dead- burning wreckage. “The prob- instructor. able to safely land the aircraft in failed to reduce its speed and did fl y in 2002 after a detailed medi- port. Just two months earlier a Aly plane crash in Nepal last able cause of the accident is due According to the report, Sul- any adverse situation,” the report not carry out the necessary land- cal evaluation. Thai Airways aircraft had crashed March, a government investiga- to disorientation and a complete tan — a former Bangladesh Air said. ing checks, investigators said. It also cited a lack of assertive- near the same airport, killing 113 tion concluded, in the worst avi- loss of situational awareness in Force pilot who was also an in- The co-pilot, Prithula Rashid, “The accident could have ness from controllers at Kath- people. ation accident in the Himalayan the part of crew member,” the re- structor for the airline — talked had only recently qualifi ed and been avoided. The pilot thought mandu airport in monitoring the Nepal’s poor air safety record nation for decades. port said. non-stop and smoked through- had never previously landed at he would be able to land it, but fl ight path and failing to issue is largely blamed on inadequate The March 12 fl ight from the The investigation concluded out the short fl ight from Dhaka Kathmandu airport, which lies couldn’t,” Buddhisagar Lamich- clear instructions. maintenance and sub-standard Bangladeshi capital Dhaka crash- that there was clear evidence the to Kathmandu, as he tried to in a narrow bowl-shaped valley, hane, a government offi cial part The accident was Nepal’s management.

PM Abe vows Kim meeting to Chinese rights ‘break shell of mutual distrust’

AFP Tokyo lawyer jailed for apan’s prime minister vowed yesterday to “break Jthe shell of mutual distrust” with North Korea by meeting leader Kim Jong-un face-to- face and restoring diplomatic relations between the two his- ‘subversion’ toric foes. In a major policy speech to AFP rights lawyers but also debarred mark the opening of parlia- Beijing them,” she told AFP. ment, Shinzo Abe also vowed to According to Doriane Lau, push Sino-Japan ties “to a new Shinzo Abe Kim Jong-un China researcher at Amnesty stage” and pledged a record rominent Chinese hu- International, Wang’s four- budget to improve crumbling set out a hardline approach, mal path” after he visited Presi- man rights lawyer Wang and-a-half year prison sentence infrastructure in the world’s pledging to “compel North Ko- dent Xi Jinping in Beijing last PQuanzhang was sentenced includes the more than three third-biggest economy. rea to change its policies” and year. Xi is expected to make yesterday to four and a half years years the rights lawyer spent in “I will act resolutely, never describing Pyongyang’s nuclear his fi rst offi cial visit to Japan in in prison for state subversion, detention. “He should be re- failing to seize every opportu- and missile programmes as an 2019. “I will strongly pursue sealing the fate of another at- leased in a little over a year,” she nity to break the shell of mutual “unprecedentedly grave and diplomacy with neighbours for torney swept up in a 2015 crack- wrote on Twitter. distrust, and I myself will di- urgent threat”. a new era ... in order to make down. Article 47 of China’s crimi- rectly face Chairman Kim Jong- Abe has long sought to re- northeast Asia truly a land of Wang, 42, who defended po- nal law says that prison terms un ... to resolve North Korea’s solve an emotional row related stable peace and prosperity,” he litical activists and victims of are “to be shortened by one nuclear and missile issues, as to North Korean agents’ abduc- said. land seizures, disappeared in the day for each day spent in cus- well as the abductions issue,” tion of Japanese nationals dur- Bilateral ties were harmed sweep — known as the “709” tody” for cases where impris- Abe said. ing the Cold War era to train in 2012 when Tokyo “nation- clampdown — aimed at court- onment is “employed before Abe gave no time frame for Pyongyang’s spies. Pyongyang alised” disputed islands in the room critics of Communist au- the judgement”. In addition to a potential meeting with the released what it said were the East China Sea also claimed by thorities. Wang, a number of other rights North Korean leader but the fi ve survivors in 2002, and said Beijing. Until recently, neither Charged in January 2016 with lawyers and activists detained comments came as Kim has eight others it admitted kid- nation had made much eff ort to alleged state subversion, Wang by Chinese authorities in the ordered preparation for a sec- napping had all died. repair relations. had been the last of more than 709 crackdown have also been ond summit with US President North Korean authorities But Japan’s business com- 200 lawyers and activists ar- charged with state subversion. Donald Trump, likely towards have given no public indica- munity has long urged Abe to rested in the crackdown to be In December 2017, Chinese the end of next month. tion of any willingness to meet improve ties with China, To- tried or released. The event is dissident Wu Gan was sentenced “I will aim at diplomatic nor- Abe, while Pyongyang’s state kyo’s largest trade partner as dubbed “709” because the ar- to eight years in prison, one of malisation by settling the un- media regularly excoriate Japan well as the biggest source of rests started on July 9, 2015. the harshest punishments met- fortunate past,” Abe said, using over its past history and Abe for foreign tourists, who are collec- Wang was “found guilty of sub- ed out in the sweep. a Japanese diplomatic euphe- ramping up defence spending. tively becoming a key driver of verting state power, sentenced Wang was part of a now de- mism referring to harm caused A commentary by the offi cial the country’s chronically fragile to four years and six months in funct law fi rm called Beijing by Japan during its brutal colo- KCNA news agency earlier this economy. prison, and deprived of political Fengrui, which specialised in nisation of the Korean penin- month called Japan a “heinous Tokyo believes a successful rights for fi ve years,” the Tianjin cases involving farmers’ land sula before and during World criminal state against human- Xi visit is key to a productive Second Intermediate People’s rights, labour camps and crimi- War II. The conciliatory mes- ity” and an “immoral and im- G20, which Japan hosts this Court said in a statement. nal rights. sage contrasted sharply from pudent country”. year, and hopes the Chinese “He has not committed any The fi rm had also frequent- a year ago, when Abe used the On China, Abe said ties had leader will attend the 2020 Ol- crimes, so there shouldn’t be ly defended victims of sexual same parliamentary address to “completely returned to a nor- ympic Games. a sentence,” Li Wenzu, Wang’s In this file picture, detained lawyer Wang Quanzhang and wife Li abuse, dissident scholars, and wife, told AFP at her home in Wenzu in Wulian, in China’s eastern Shandong province. members of banned religious Beijing, adding that she found groups. Wang, for instance, had Records of 14,200 HIV patients in Singapore leaked online out about his sentence over the doors in Tianjin on December to try visiting it again on Chi- worked on several cases defend- internet. 26. nese New Year’s Eve next week, ing Falun Gong practitioners. “I think the ones who are Li, who has actively protested she said. “I still cannot stop – I The law fi rm had been at the The personal records of 14,200 the personal information of 2,400 when the man, who was himself guilty are the judicial authori- her husband’s detention, was must continue to defend civil centre of the 709 crackdown, HIV patients in Singapore were of their contacts. The man had HIV-positive, had lied about his ties, not him,” she said. placed under de facto house ar- rights.” Rights organisations de- with at least fi ve lawyers de- found to have been stolen and gained access to the information HIV status to authorities in order Wearing a black hoodie with rest the day before the trial to nounced Wang’s jail sentence, tained in 2015. At the time, state leaked online by a US man, the through his partner, a Singapo- to maintain his employment sta- her husband’s name and face prevent her from attending. with Amnesty International media called Beijing Fengrui a Health Ministry said yesterday. rean doctor who was head of the tus in Singapore. His partner, the printed on the front, Li said she In December, before Wang’s calling it “a gross injustice”. “major criminal gang”, and ac- The leaked records belonged to country’s National Public Health former health off icial, is serving a was “very worried” about his court date was announced, Li “His sentence is part of the cused Zhou Shifeng, the fi rm’s 5,400 Singaporeans diagnosed Unit from March 2012 to May 24-month sentence on charges health. Citing Wang’s lawyer, Li and three supporters shaved Chinese government’s ongo- founder, and his colleagues of with HIV up to January 2013 and 2013, which oversees the national of abetting the man to commit said the 10-day period to submit their heads and tried to submit ing crackdown on rights law- “disrupt(ing) social order”. 8,800 foreigners diagnosed with HIV registry. cheating, and of providing false an appeal starts today and that a petition to a Beijing court pro- yers,” said Maya Wang, senior Other attorneys at the fi rm, HIV up until December 2011, the The US man was eventually information to the authorities. they will “of course appeal”. Af- testing his detention. researcher at Human Rights such as Liu Xiaoyuan, who told ministry said. The information deported from Singapore in 2018 “We are sorry for the anxiety and ter more than two years of being Last April, Li attempted to Watch. AFP that he believed Wang had included their names, identifica- after he was convicted of fraud distress caused by this incident,” in legal limbo—detained with- march 100km to the detention “In the past three years, the been “wrongfully convicted”, tion numbers, contact informa- and drug-related off ences and the ministry said. “Our priority out a trial date— Wang’s court facility in Tianjin where her hus- Chinese government has not have been unemployed since the tion, HIV test results and related sentenced to 28 months in jail. is the well-being of the aff ected hearing took place behind closed band had been held. She plans only detained and imprisoned crackdown. medical information, along with The fraud charges stemmed from individuals,” it added.

Face-off ‘Extreme’ heatwave ‘World’s loneliest duck’ hits New Zealand Trevor dies on tiny Niue

DPA gists Weather Watch said in a AFP ing around the near-dry puddle.” Wellington statement. Alex Macmillan, Sydney Niue, a tiny speck of land, lies a senior lecturer in Environ- around 2,400km northeast of mental Health at the Univer- New Zealand. One of the world’s he heatwave which sity of Otago, urged people to lone duck named Trevor biggest coral islands, Niue does sent records tumbling take care in the unusually high that lived on the tiny Pa- not have natural ponds or wet- Tin Australia last week temperatures. “As we continue Acifi c island nation of Niue lands, so when Trevor turned up brought sizzling temperatures to see each year breaking new has died, offi cials say, sparking a year ago he was believed to have to its Pacifi c neighbour New records for average and highest an outpouring of grief from as far blown in from New Zealand with Zealand yesterday. temperatures, climate change away as New Zealand. The celeb- a storm. He quickly settled down “It’s been a hot day across begins to take its health toll in rity mallard found fame last year in a large puddle near a road that New Zealand with tempera- the form of more days of ex- after a visiting journalist from the Niue fi re service later topped tures reaching the mid 30s treme heat,” she said in a state- New Zealand discovered that his up with water, the ABC reported. [degrees Celsius] and reli- ment. makeshift home, near a puddle, He became so famous lo- able private weather stations While New Zealand’s high was used for directions. cally that when the New Zealand recording as high as 36 and temperatures were not likely But his 15 seconds of fame were Herald’s deputy political editor 37 degrees in some parts of to match Australia’s last week, tragically cut short when he was Claire Trevett visited the island Hawke’s Bay in the North Is- the increased heat drew atten- “seen dead in the bush after be- nation, she found he had been land and 35 and 36 degrees in tion to what people are accus- ing attacked by dogs” this week- incorporated into street direc- some parts of Marlborough in tomed to and the importance A duck looks on opposite a row of moored duck-themed boats at a lake in Beijing yesterday. end, a Facebook page dedicated to tions. “Someone said, ‘Turn right the South Island”, meteorolo- of how buildings are designed. Trevor said. The chief executive past the duck’ and then the whole of the Niue Chamber of Com- story came out, the only duck on merce, Rae Findlay, said it was a Niue,” she told the ABC. He was Vietnam confirms arrest of dissident Rebels fire at plane in Indonesia, killing one “sad time for Niue”. later dubbed the “world’s loneli- “He captivated the locals, of est duck” for his solitary exist- Authorities in Vietnam confirmed yesterday that an Australian which there are only 1,600 in ence. Trevor Mallard, the speaker member of a banned Vietnamese political party has been impris- A soldier guarding an airport in board was hurt, said local military have intensified anti-insurgency Niue, and the 9,000 visitors to of New Zealand’s House of Rep- oned pending an investigation. Chau Van Kham, an Australian citizen Indonesia’s Papua province was spokesaman Muhammad Aidi. operations since rebels killed 19 Niue each year,” Findlay told the resentatives after whom the late of Vietnamese heritage living in Sydney, is being detained while killed yesterday when rebels fired The aircraft was carrying Nduga construction workers and one Australian Broadcasting Corpo- duck was named, off ered his con- authorities “conduct investigations into violations of Vietnamese law,” shots at a plane carrying off icials district chief and two other soldier in Nduga in early Decem- ration Sunday. “He will defi nitely dolences. “Deepest sympathy to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said in an e-mailed and a shipment of food, the top local off icials, he said. The ber. Papua, a mainly Melanesian be missed, he captured many the people of Niue from the Par- statement. Kham is a member of the Viet Tan, a banned pro-democ- military said. The plane landed attackers retreated to the jungle region rich in resources, has been hearts and even the rooster, the liament of New Zealand,” Mal- racy opposition party, the Viet Tan’s spokesman in Australia, Phong safely at Mapenduma airport in after soldiers returned fire, the the scene of a low-level separatist chicken and the weka were look- lard wrote on the duck’s Facebook Nguyen, said in a statement on Friday. Nduga district and no one on spokesman said. Security forces insurgency for decades. ing a little forlorn today wander- death notice. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND

COMMENT REACTION PEOPLE WILDLIFE TRAGEDY Facebook open to public Anti-Semitism row MP British woman freed Rare red panda found after Police searching for regulation, says Clegg calls accusers ‘misguided’ from Egyptian jail escaping from Belfast Zoo missing man find body

Facebook can accept government regulation if it is A former Labour MP suspended from the party A British woman jailed in Egypt for possession of A rare red panda that escaped from Belfast Zoo was Police searching for a missing 22-year-old man who within limits, chief lobbyist Nick Clegg said yesterday. over comments made online about the Jewish the opioid painkiller tramadol has been granted found and returned to the zoo yesterday follow- went missing after a night out in Yarm, Teesside, have Facebook should not make key decisions on “free community has branded his accusers “misguided”. early release after 13 months behind bars. Laura ing a search by police in Northern Ireland. “We are found a body. Luke Jobson was last seen near to expression and safety on its own,” he said. Facebook Jim Sheridan, a former Paisley and Renfrewshire Plummer was sentenced to three years in prison happy to report that the missing red panda has Yarm school at about 2.15am on Saturday and off ic- has been facing calls for greater regulation amid North MP who lost his seat in 2015 and is now a on Boxing Day 2017 for drug possession, after she been located and is being returned to its home at ers assisted by a police helicopter had been scouring disclosures over its privacy lapses. Those include the councillor in Renfrewshire, faced an investigation af- was stopped at Hurghada airport in October that Belfast Zoo - thanks to everyone for their help with the area around the town for any sign of him. revelations that Cambridge Analytica, a London- ter a complaint in August last year. It was reported year with 290 tramadol tablets in her suitcase. The the search!” the zoo tweeted. The Police Service Cleveland police yesterday said a body believed to based political consulting company, was able to har- to relate to a social media post in which he spoke 34-year-old retail worker from Hull maintained that of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had asked the public to be that of Jobson had been found in the Tees. “Police vest the Facebook data of up to 87mn users world- about his loss of “respect and empathy” for the she was unaware the drug was a controlled sub- help in the search after the animal “decided to take searching for missing 22-year-old Luke Jobson have wide. Clegg made his comments just after media community during the anti-Semitism row. In a state- stance in Egypt, and that she was bringing the tab- a surprise vacation” from the zoo on Sunday. The sadly found a body in the river at Yarm,” a spokes- outlets reported over the weekend that Facebook is ment he said: “I was notified that my suspension lets into the country to help her partner’s back pain. PSNI warned the public not to approach the noctur- person said. “Although formal identification has yet to thinking about merging the technological infrastruc- from the Labour party has been lifted. Whilst I am Plummer initially faced the more serious charge of nal panda, which is slightly larger than a domestic take place, Luke’s family has been notified and they ture for WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram – each delighted with this decision, I remain of the view drug traff icking, which carries a sentence of up to cat, because “although they are not aggressive by are being kept updated while they receive support of which has more than one billion users. that my accusers were misguided.” 25 years in prison or even the death penalty. nature they may be defensive when cornered.” from specially trained off icers.” Shoppers stuck in lift ‘thrown up and down’ for 40 minutes

Guardian News and Media lift. Everyone was screaming and London panicking. It felt like the cord that holds the lift wasn’t working properly,” they said. group of shoppers en- A spokeswoman for the shop- dured an ordeal likened ping centre said there had been no Ato a horror fi lm when reports of the lift malfunction- they were trapped in a lift that ing before the incident. Those climbed and plunged repeatedly trapped in the lift were given for up to 40 minutes. free parking passes, she added. More than a dozen people were “We are now speaking to those “thrown up and down” as the lift involved individually and will be jolted seven fl oors from the top making a gesture of goodwill.” of St David’s shopping centre in Megan Jones, 19, who was in Cardiff on Saturday evening. the lift with her mother, Alyson, One young girl was reduced to 53, wrote on Facebook: “Me and tears and had a panic attack dur- my mum were stuck in this lift, it ing the incident. was an absolute horrifi c and life- Taris Chapman, 19, from changing experience, and to only Rhondda, who was trapped in be off ered ‘free parking’ is dis- An anti-Brexit protesters’ bus drives on Whitehall in London yesterday. the lift with her three friends, gusting. described the experience on Fa- “Not being able to contact cebook. “Just to warn others of anyone whilst we were being how dangerous lifts can be. My- thrown up and down with no self, three of my friends and nine way of stopping the lift. It was other people were in the lift in honestly the worst experience of St David’s shopping centre this my life and if there was any more evening when it stopped work- than the 13 of us in there, there ing,” she wrote. would have been bigger issues.” MPs back away from Irish “This resulted in 40 minutes Jones later added on Twitter: of the lift going to the top fl oor “Cannot believe that after be- and just plunging us down seven ing stuck in a lift fl ying up and fl oors with force whilst jolting. crashing down to the fl oor for 25 Not to mention how frightening minutes & having the fi re brigade it was as we couldn’t get hold of get us out, all @StDavidsCardiff anti-backstop amendment the helpline 10 minutes into the can off er us is free parking, ab- lift breaking. solutely disgusting!!!” Steven Guardian News and Media profi le backing from the former decided so far, but there are dis- “I’m hoping that the way in and Dublin,” he said. “Now is “When we did manage to get Madeley, the general manager for London Cabinet minister Damian Green, cussions going on and let’s see which the amendment is crafted the time for the prime minister hold of them, the speaker kept St David’s, said: “We can confi rm the chair of the Northern Ireland what’s happening out of those can attract that very broad sup- to exploit the cracks which are cutting off and due to no signal there was a fault with a lift in the select committee, Andrew Mur- discussions.” port. And if we can win the vote emerging in the illogical posi- we couldn’t even get through to centre Saturday evening, and the rexiter MPs have begun to rison, and the pro-Leave MP Ni- His concerns were echoed by on my amendment, then I think tion of the EU and the Irish.” the emergency services. Twenty fi re service attended in line with back away from support- gel Evans. the former Cabinet minister Iain it gives the prime minister enor- Other moderate Tories also minutes later, the fi re brigade our usual protocol. Bing an amendment which However, the veteran Brexiter Duncan Smith who said MPs mous fi repower when she goes expressed deep scepticism came and helped us get out. “We’d like to apologise to would have sent Theresa May MP Bernard Jenkin called the wanted to see leadership from back,” he told BBC Radio 4’s To- about the eff ectiveness of the “This was the most terrifying those aff ected and thank them back to Brussels to demand an amendment “very vague” and No 10 rather than depend on the day programme. amendment, even if the party thing we have experienced and for their patience. We will be li- alternative arrangement to the said he was minded not to sup- momentum from backbenchers’ “If my amendment is carried, was eventually whipped to back want to warn others as it was aising with those customers di- Irish border backstop. port it. amendments. she goes back to Brussels and it. “If Brexiteers buy this they’re very distressing and has hap- rectly. We would like to reassure Graham Brady, the senior Tory “It’s vague because it’s meant “This is the time when the says: you wanted to know what a total pushover,” one Tory MP pened there before.” that the incident was a fault, and backbencher behind the amend- to mean diff erent things to dif- PM must make clear her inten- we can get through the House of said. Chapman said the lift was not there was no risk or danger to ment said he was hopeful of ferent people and if people vote tions in the negotiation,” he told Commons? This is it.” “The amendment may as well over its maximum weight capac- those involved.” ministerial support. His amend- for that in the expectation some the BBC. “We need more than Those behind Brady’s amend- say: ‘I’d like world peace.’ What ity and people had said it was South Wales fi re and rescue ment says the backstop should things are going to happen and backbench amendments with ment had also hoped to attract it does is underline that we don’t “playing up” throughout the day. service confi rmed a crew was be replaced by “alternative ar- then they don’t happen it will nods and winks from the gov- the support of the DUP. Howev- have an alternative. If No 10 have Speaking to WalesOnline, called to the shopping centre just rangements to avoid a hard bor- lead to more misunderstanding ernment. We need clarity and er, the party’s Brexit spokesman, a plan that can get a majority, Chapman and her friends com- before 7pm on Saturday. “We ob- der”, even though Ireland and and disappointment, it won’t purpose.” Sammy Wilson, yesterday urged then table that and take it to the pared the incident to a scene tained the lift keys and the peo- the EU have repeatedly stressed help at all,” he told ITV. Speaking earlier yesterday, a more hardline approach. EU. But saying we don’t like this from a horror fi lm. “It felt like ple inside were released safely,” a such a change cannot happen. “I will not be backing the Brady said his amendment was “The real chaos when it come backstop, give us an alternative, there was no control over the spokeswoman said. The amendment has high- Brady amendment as far as I’ve intended to break the impasse. to the backstop is in Brussels isn’t a plan.” Green ends legal action Royal visit Missing woman may have been killed: police against newspaper Guardian News and Media and loved to draw and sing. London “She has big brown eyes, amazing shiny hair and a daz- Guardian News and Media “After careful refl ection, Ar- Green was represented by the zling smile. Naheed is loved be- London cadia and Sir Philip have there- libel fi rm Schillings, whose law- etectives fear a “fun- yond measure by us all. She is fore reluctantly concluded that yers were criticised in a pre-trial ny, kind and beautiful” generous and kind. She would it is pointless to continue with hearing at the high court last Dwoman who disappeared give you her last penny even if ir Philip Green and his the litigation, which has already week for charging up to £690 an in May and missed the birth of that left her with nothing. She business empire, Arcadia, been undermined by the deliber- hour for their work on the case. her fi rst grandchild has been is quietly spoken with a shy de- Shave ended their legal claim ate and irresponsible actions of Justice Warby ordered the murdered. meanour. People often think she against the Telegraph after the Lord Peter Hain, the paid con- lawyers to reduce their costs, Naheed Khan, 43, has no pass- is much younger than she is as newspaper reported allegations sultant of the Telegraph’s lawyers noting Schillings had already run port and has not used her bank ac- she possesses a girl-like vulnera- of sexual and racial harassment Gordon Dadds, and risks causing up a bill of £470,000 for work on count or mobile phone since she bility.” The last confi rmed sight- against him. further distress to Arcadia’s em- witness statements alonek. went missing eight months ago. ing of Khan, who was known as Judges at the court of appeal ployees,” the company said. Green could be left with a legal Detectives have spoken to 400 Nadine or Nad, was on May 3 in temporarily barred the newspa- Despite ending the legal ac- bill of millions of pounds, having people, taken 130 witness state- Thornaby, but she may have been per from identifying the Topshop tion, Arcadia accused the Tel- said he had already spent £500,000 ments, checked 100 CCTV items in Middlesbrough town centre tycoon or revealing “confi den- egraph of conducting a campaign on the case by October 2018. and made widespread house-to- on subsequent days. tial information” relating to al- to “knowingly facilitate the The businessman’s lawyers house inquiries as part of their Khan, who is unemployed legations of misconduct made by breach” of confi dentiality agree- last week told the judge they search. Cleveland police said and has links in Stockton, Mid- fi ve employees. The Telegraph ments, exposing individuals who would be seeking damages from that while there was no tangi- dlesbrough and Thornaby, is de- responded by running a front- signed them and causing “untold the Telegraph resulting from ble evidence to say she had been scribed as being of Asian appear- page story about an anonymous disruption” to 20,000 staff . Hain’s decision to name Green in killed, the case was being treated ance, about 5ft 6in and slim, with “prominent businessman”, “The Telegraph has repeatedly parliament. as a suspected murder. long, dark hair. shortly before the former Cabi- contacted and harassed staff and The move, which could have Her mother, Gazala Khan, Her daughter, Amber, gave net minister Peter Hain used former staff of Arcadia and BHS. posed a threat to the princi- told a news conference in Mid- birth eight months ago and said parliamentary privilege to name Its reporters have doorstepped ple of parliamentary privilege, dlesbrough yesterday: “Naheed it felt unreal for her mother not Green in the House of Lords, re- many individuals, often at night, prompted the judge to write to is a loved daughter, sister, mum, to be there. She said: “My moth- sulting in the widespread report- causing distress and concern to the Lord Speaker, Norman Fowl- aunty and would have been a er is funny, kind and beautiful. . ing of the allegations. their families, even as recently as er, amid concerns it could impact grandmother. As a child she was We did everything together. She Arcadia yesterday said it would last weekend,” the company said, on the Bill of Rights 1689, which Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, visits Tricker’s shoemakers a highly intelligent girl with the was there throughout all of my drop the case, which had been confi rming a complaint had been guarantees the free reporting of in Northampton, central England, yesterday. potential for a very bright fu- pregnancy until she went miss- due to go to trial next month. made to the press regulator Ipso. parliamentary proceedings. ture. She excelled in swimming ing.” Gulf Times Tuesday, January 29, 2019 13 EUROPE

Greece plans to raise minimum wage by 11% Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has announced plans to increase the standard minimum ‘Radical’ rethink urged monthly wage by about 11%, the first such hike since the country’s debt crisis erupted almost a decade ago. The country emerged in August from its third international bailout since 2010 and the government, which faces a national election over trio of pandemics this year, has promised to reverse some of the unpopular reforms By Marlowe Hood, AFP up to 11mn premature deaths ports a sedentary lifestyle. “catastrophic” damage to the ronmentally friendly activities”, ence in recent months. Greece implemented under Paris every year, according to the most “Underpinning all of these are planet. they said. In October, the UN’s Inter- bailout supervision. recent Global Disease Burden re- weak political governance, the “Until now, undernutrition To sharply reduce red meat governmental Panel on Climate “I’m calling on you, after a decade port. unchallenging economic pursuit and obesity have been seen as consumption, for example, the Change likewise called for an of wage cuts, to make another o defeat the intertwined “Malnutrition in all its forms of GDP growth, and the power- polar opposites of either too few report favours high taxes, abol- economic and social “paradigm historic step,” Tsipras said, calling pandemics of obes- – including undernutrition ful commercial engineering of or too many calories,” said Swin- ishing subsidies, along with shift” to avoid global chaos. on his cabinet to approve the Tity, hunger and climate and obesity – is by far the big- overconsumption,” the report burn. “In reality, they are both transparent health and environ- Health advocates and climate proposal for an increase to €650 change, governments must curb gest cause of ill-health and said. “Undernutrition is declin- driven by the same unhealthy, ment labelling. experts hailed the Lancet com- from €586 currently. the political infl uence of major premature death globally,” said ing too slowly to meet global inequitable food systems, un- In addition, they favour the mission’s sweeping call for deep Tsipras, who was elected in corporations, said a major report Commission co-chair Boyd targets, no country has reversed derpinned by the same political creation of a $1bn philanthropic change. 2015 pledging to end austerity yesterday, calling for a “global Swinburn, a professor at the its obesity epidemic, and com- economy.” fund to support grassroots ac- “For too long we have been but later signed up to Greece’s treaty” similar to one for tobacco University of Aukland. “Both prehensive policy responses to tion. day-dreaming our way to a dis- third bailout, also proposed the control. undernutrition and obesity are the threat of climate change have Nearly 1bn people are “Support from civil soci- eased future,” said Katie Dain, abolition of a youth minimum However, this will not happen expected to be made signifi cant- barely begun.” hungry and another 2bn ety is crucial to break the policy chief executive of the Non-com- wage for those below 25. unless ordinary citizens demand ly worse by climate change.” Despite 30 years of warnings are eating too much of the deadlock,” said co-author Wil- municable Disease Alliance. “A a “radical rethink” of the rela- The way in which food is cur- from science about the dire im- wrong foods liam Dietz, a professor at George food system that secures a better tionship between policymakers rently produced, distributed and pacts of global warming, CO2 Washington University. “As with diet for this and the immediate Dutchmen jailed and business, nearly four dozen consumed not only fuels the emissions hit record levels in The report recommends the other social movements – such next generations will save mil- experts from the Lancet Com- hunger and obesity pandemics, 2017 and again last year. forming of a Framework Con- as campaigns to introduce sug- lions of lives and, at the same over airport mission on Obesity concluded. it also generates 25% to 30% of Because all these problems are vention on Food Systems – ary drink taxes – eff orts ... are time, help save the planet.” diamond heist “Powerful opposition from planet-warming greenhouse gas interwoven, the answers must be similar to global conventions more likely to begin at the com- Industry representatives and vested interests, lack of politi- emissions. too, the researchers emphasised. for tobacco control and climate munity, city or state level.” libertarians slammed the fi nd- A Dutch court has jailed three cal leadership, and insuffi cient Cattle production alone ac- “Joining three pandemics” change – to restrict the infl u- Nearly all facets of daily life ings as overwrought and an as- men over a daring $72mn societal demand for change are counts for more than half of – hunger, obesity, and climate ence of the food industry. are at play. sault on free choice. diamond robbery in 2005 at preventing action,” they said in those gases, in the form of meth- change – “together as ‘The The experts argue that eco- “Tackling ‘The Global Syn- “Nanny-state zealots are no Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, a statement. ane-laden fl atulence and CO2 Global Syndemic’ allows us to nomic incentives must be over- demic’ requires an urgent re- longer hiding their intention to one of the world’s biggest ever Nearly 1bn people are hungry when forests – especially in Bra- consider common drivers and hauled. think of how we eat, live, con- use the anti-tobacco blueprint heists, the court service said. and another 2bn are eating too zil – are cleared to make room for shared solutions”. Some $5tn (€4.4tn) in gov- sume and move,” said Richard to control other areas of our The armed robbers, disguised much of the wrong foods, caus- livestock. Another Lancet Commission ernment subsidies for fossil fu- Horton, editor-in-chief of the lives,” said Christopher Snow- as KLM airline workers, stole ing epidemics of obesity, heart A transport system dominated report published last week call- els and large-scale agribusiness Lancet. don, head of lifestyle economics diamonds and jewellery from a disease and diabetes. by cars contributes another 15% ing for a dramatic shift in global should be rechannelled toward The two Lancet reports are not at the London-based Institute of flight headed to the Belgian port Unhealthy diets account for to 25% of emissions, and sup- diet to improve health and avoid “sustainable, healthy and envi- the only urgent appeal from sci- Economic Aff airs. of Antwerp and escaped in a stolen KLM van. Seven suspects were eventually arrested in January 2017 in Amsterdam and Valencia in Spain after a years-long undercover Suspect held over brazen art investigation, with the help of a lucky break involving a radio intercept. The two men in the getaway van, theft from Moscow museum named as driver and ringleader Errol HV, 54, and passenger Marlon D, 44, were sentenced to AFP damaged a painting of Ivan the the man had previously been seven and six years respectively Moscow Terrible. charged with drug possession by the court in the central city of “He took it off the wall, walked and was currently not allowed to Haarlem. behind a column and jumped out leave Russia. A KLM employee named as ussian police have de- of the gallery with the painting Tregulova said it was a “mira- Ramazan N, who gave the tained a man they believe without its frame,” the gallery’s cle” that the painting was found robbers KLM uniforms and Rsnatched a 19th-century director Zelfi ra Tregulova told a so quickly and undamaged. helped smuggle weapons into painting off the wall in a busy Moscow press conference. She added that experts are ex- the area, was jailed for five years, Moscow museum then strolled He then drove off with the oil amining the work’s condition, NOS television said. out past visitors and security. painting in a jeep, she said. but expected it to be back at the Police and museum offi cials Tregulova said the museum’s gallery by evening. hailed the swift arrest and the security staff initially received a She called the theft a “dra- Dutch reject Italy recovery of the painting, but report that a fur coat had been matic event for the entire Rus- Sunday’s brazen theft is rais- stolen, but moments later one of sian museum community”. call to take rescue ing questions about security the gallery’s attendants sounded Following the incident, Rus- ship migrants at Moscow’s Tretyakov gallery, the alarm that the painting was sia’s culture ministry ordered home to some of Russia’s most missing. security checks at the Tretya- The Netherlands has refused storied art. The incident occurred during kov gallery and in the country’s a request by Italy to take in 47 The 31-year-old man took a the museum’s opening hours at other leading museums. migrants, on board a Dutch- Crimean landscape by Russian around 6pm (1500 GMT) at an The head of the ministry’s flagged rescue ship that Italian artist Arkhip Kuindzhi and car- exhibition with more than 120 museum department Vladislav ports have refused to allow to ried it through a room fi lled with Kuindzhi paintings which Treg- Kononov told reporters yes- dock. visitors. ulova called “extremely popu- terday that all of the Tretyakov The Sea Watch 3 ship, run by a In a video shot by police after lar”. gallery’s paintings will soon be An image grab taken from a video footage released by the Russian interior ministry yesterday shows German NGO, rescued the mainly apprehending the man, who has “At the time of the theft, the equipped with electronic secu- a man walking away with the painting by Kuindzhi, during an exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery in sub-Saharan African migrants off not been named, he denies any museum’s security – carried out rity sensors. Moscow on Sunday. Libya more than a week ago and wrongdoing. by forces of the National Guard These will sound if visitors it is currently sheltering from bad “I don’t breach the law or the and the museum’s security serv- come too close to a painting. Tregulova said that “conclu- “There should be a conversation energetic eff orts of our law en- weather off Sicily. Russian Constitution,” says the ice – was working normally,” the Kononov added that Russia’s sions were drawn” from the May on how to stay open (to visitors) forcement offi cers, the painting Italy and Malta have both refused man, who is shown kneeling and gallery initially said in a state- museums saw a record number crime but “that was obviously while making sure such inci- was found quickly and effi cient- to let it dock. clearly sporting a black eye. ment. of visitors in 2018 and that the not enough”. dents don’t repeat themselves.” ly,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry “Without a firm idea of an overall The painting, depicting the Police arrested the suspect the “percentage of unlawful acts (in She said the museum had un- The Kremlin said yester- Peskov said. solution, the Netherlands will Ai-Petri mountain in Crimea, next morning in a village outside museums) is rising”. dertaken a modernisation of its day the gallery is “protected at On its website, the gallery not take part in ad hoc measures was completed between 1898 Moscow. He referred to an incident security system, but has yet to a proper level” but added that calls Arkhip Kuindzhi, who died for disembarkation” of the ship, and 1908. He admitted hiding the art last May when a man slashed a change its “mentality”. “conclusions must be drawn”. in 1910, “one of the most memo- Lennart Wegewijs, a spokesman It is the second security inci- work at a construction site from painting by Ilya Repin depicting “The mentality is built on It praised authorities for re- rable fi gures in Russian painting for the Dutch justice and security dent to hit the gallery in a year, where it was recovered. Tsar Ivan the Terrible after he principles that a visitor is com- covering the painting. of the second half of the 19th ministry, told AFP. after a visitor in May seriously The interior ministry said killed his son. ing to look at art,” she said. “Thank God, thanks to the century”.

ElBulli to reopen

Spanish celebrity chef Ferran UN judicial expert Prisoner snatched outside courthouse Adria is to reopen his once world- famous elBulli venture next year – but not serving food. in Turkey to probe AFP break out of prison. The former three-Michelin-star Tarascon, France The authorities “are really restaurant on the shores of naive; he played nice for several Catalonia’s Costa Brava, once Khashoggi murder months in order to try to escape considered the world’s best for wo armed men attacked again”, Terki added. four years in a row, will instead a van carrying a jailed The last dramatic jailbreak house a laboratory and museum AFP eration and arrested a number Tprisoner on his way to a in France took place in late De- of culinary innovation, Adria told Ankara of senior Saudi offi cials. French court yesterday, fi ring cember when a prisoner at the Reuters yesterday. Nearly four months on, shots at the vehicle and strik- Fresnes prison south of Paris “The mission of ‘elBulli1846’ is Khashoggi’s body has still not ing a guard before making their managed to escape from an ex- ... to create quality knowledge UN judicial expert in- been recovered. getaway in the southern town of ercise yard by climbing over a of restaurant gastronomy and vestigating the murder Turkish authorities have Tarascon, offi cials said. wall with a rope made of bed- everything that surrounds it,” the Aof Saudi journalist Jamal called for an international The spectacular escape comes sheets. 56-year-old Catalan said before Khashoggi met two senior probe into the killing, com- in the wake of last year’s Holly- Guards in the watchtowers going on stage at the Madrid ministers on the fi rst day of her plaining of what it says was wood-style helicopter jailbreak fi red three shots but the pris- Fusion gastronomic congress. visit to Turkey yesterday. Saudi Arabia’s failure to coop- by Redoine Faid, a notorious Off icers are seen outside the courthouse of Tarascon after armed oner got away. The new number in the name is Agnes Callamard, the UN erate in the investigation. gangster, which led to calls for persons attacked a penitentiary convoy escorting a suspect from In July 2018, Redoine Faid, a tribute to Auguste Escoff ier, special rapporteur on extra- “Met with @AgnesCal- prison services to beef up secu- the Beziers prison. serving a 25-year jail sentence, the Frenchman dubbed the “king judicial, summary or arbitrary lamard, #UN Special Rap- rity and intelligence gathering. busted out of jail by helicopter. of chefs, chef to kings” who was executions, met Foreign Min- porteur on Extra-Judicial Ex- The raid took place at around Desjardins had earlier sug- vehicle (...) to ring the (court- Two heavily-armed accom- born in 1846 and popularised ister Mevlut Cavusoglu and, ecutions, who is in #Turkey to 8.30am, as dawn was break- gested that three gunmen had house) intercom was struck with plices hijacked the aircraft and haute cuisine. later Justice Minister Abdul- investigate the murder of Jamal ing, just outside the courthouse been involved in the snatch. a rifl e butt,” Desjardins said. used smoke bombs to whisk him Long after, Adria accomplished hamit Gul. Khashoggi,” Cavusoglu wrote where 27-year-old Lotfi Bouss- Several bullet holes were Another guard was hit by fl y- away from the prison in Reau, a similar feat with his molecular Callamard is in Turkey un- on Twitter, sharing a picture ouak was due to be brought be- found on the van, including in ing glass. 50km southeast of Paris. gastronomy mixing textures and til Saturday for meetings with from his meeting in Ankara. fore a judge. the front windscreen, and at The gang and the prisoner got Faid, a career criminal with flavours in the form of edible senior politicians and offi cials. In an interview with Turk- He had just been transferred least 11 cartridge cases were re- away on foot, the prosecutor multiple convictions for armed foams, papers or jellies, helping Ankara has been pressing for ish media last week, Cavusoglu from jail. covered from the scene, includ- added. robbery, was caught after three Spain compete with France in an international inquiry into said of the Khashoggi case: The prisoner, who had been ing some from an automatic ri- Desjardins said that Bous- months on the run. global culinary fame. the killing murder. “We believe this case should detained since September 2017, fl e, he added. souak had 14 previous con- In 2014, a 40-year-old The original elBulli, named for Khashoggi, a Washington be brought to the international faced charges of armed robbery, The three guards escorting victions, but he had not been drug dealer held in a prison in a French bulldog owned by the Post contributor and Saudi re- arena. It is time for an interna- said prison offi cials. him from a jail in Beziers 150km identifi ed as needing special su- Villepinte, northeast of Paris, German-Czech couple that built gime critic, was murdered as tional probe.” Two “heavily armed” gun- (90 miles) away, two men and a pervision, even though he was was freed after an armed group the place in 1961, shut eight years he visited the Saudi consulate Turkish offi cials accuse men, who had been lying in woman, were “very shaken” by linked “to the higher spectrum held up his guards as the pris- ago due to heavy losses despite in Istanbul on October 2. Crown Prince Mohamed bin wait, “fi red on the vehicle when the incident, but none of them of crime”. oner arrived at a local hospital its huge popularity. Riyadh, after denying the Salman of having orchestrated it tried to get away with the pris- was wounded by the shots, the However, Karim Terki, a pris- for a check-up. With an investment of €10mn killing for two weeks, fi nally the killing – an allegation the oner”, local prosecutor Patrick prosecutor said. on guard union representative, He was recaptured two weeks ($11.4mn), elBulli1846 is planned described it as a “rogue” op- Saudi authorities deny. Desjardins told reporters. “The fi rst offi cer to exit the said he had already attempted to later. to open in February 2020. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 INDIA

CLAIM COMMENT SUPPORT TRAGEDY VERDICT Gadkari eyeing PM Politicians not getting Sister has right to decline Toddler dies after 14 militants convicted post, says opposition respect: Vijayan Padma Shri: Patnaik fall from escalator over Assam bomb attacks

Reacting to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s Politicians’ should be shown adequate Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik An 18-month-old toddler died after falling from Fourteen militants from an armed separatist recent remarks that politicians who do not respect, but it does not happen all the yesterday said his sister Gita Mehta has the escalator at a Bengaluru Metro station onto group were found guilty yesterday of fulfil promises are “thrashed” by people, the time, an angry Kerala Chief Minister every right to decline the Padma Shri the main road 50 feet below, an off icial said orchestrating a co-ordinated bomb attack in opposition said it was a direct attack on Prime Pinarayi Vijayan said on the floor of the award. “My sister has a right to do whatever yesterday. “The child, Hasini, succumbed to the northeast in 2008 that killed 88 people Minister Narendra Modi and the politician from House yesterday. He was responding to she desires,” Patnaik told the media. Noted injuries after she fell from a moving escalator and wounded hundreds more. The accused Nagpur was eyeing the top post. “It is clear that widespread criticism against the manner writer Gita Mehta, Patnaik’s elder sister, at Srirampura Metro Station on Sunday at were charged with multiple murder and Gadkari’s eyes are on the PM’s chair and his in which a young woman IPS officer was had declined to accept the Padma Shri last around 8pm,” a spokesman for the Bengaluru explosives off ences by a special court in Assam, comments are directed towards Modi,” Congress taken to task by his government after she week, saying its timing was questionable as Metro Rail Corporation said. The child, who where eleven bombs were detonated in quick leader Manish Tewari said. NCP spokesperson last week searched the CPI-M district office the general election was set to take place was with her grandfather, suddenly slipped succession in October 2008 in one of the state’s Nawab Malik said Gadkari was trying to establish in Thiruvananthapuram. “There has always and the award may cause embarrassment and suff ered head injuries. She was rushed to worst militant attacks. At least 500 people were himself as an alternative to Modi as the BJP been an attempt to project politicians in to both the Odisha government and her. a state-run hospital where she died. “It is an injured in the attack by the National Democratic was not certain about coming back to power. poor light and generally party offices do not Mehta had been named for the Padma extremely unfortunate incident. It is advised Front of Bodoland, one of dozens of armed In a tweet addressed to Modi, AIMIM chief come under raids. Politicians should be given Shri in the ‘Foreigners’ category for her that parents take extra caution while using the groups in Assam waging an insurgency against Asaduddin Owaisi said Gadkari “is showing you adequate respect, but that does not happen outstanding contribution to the field of art Metro facilities with their children,” Karnataka New Delhi. The militants will be sentenced on the mirror, and in a very subtle way”. all the time,” said Vijayan. and literature. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said. Wednesday, and could face the death penalty. Rahul vows Amritsar’s BRTS project inaugurated minimum income for poor

IANS tional cash transfers in Madhya Raipur Pradesh and Delhi between 2011 and 2012. The experiment gave 100 ongress president Rahul randomly-selected households Gandhi yesterday made a Rs1,000 per month. The money Cmajor bid to woo the poor was deposited under the name of ahead of the Lok Sabha elections the female head of participating by promising a minimum income households in a bank. guarantee for every poor person The idea got prominence after if the Congress is voted to power. Arvind Subramanian, as the then “We cannot build a new In- chief economic adviser, pushed dia while millions of our broth- it in a big way in the pre-budget ers and sisters suff er the scourge Economic Survey of 2017 which of poverty. If voted to power in included a 40-page chapter on 2019, the Congress is committed UBI that outlined the three com- ponents of the proposed program Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu (second right) and Punjab Education Minister O P Soni (right) flag off a Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) vehicle during the – universality, unconditionality launch of the BRTS project, in Amritsar yesterday. Amritsar’s BRTS project will have a fleet of 93 buses, local media reported. Rahul fi t to be and agency. premier: BJP ally Incidentally yesterday, Sub- ramanian released a report co- Om Prakash Rajbhar, a BJP ally authored by him which proposed and an Uttar Pradesh Minister, a quasi-universal basic rural in- yesterday said he found Congress come (QUBRI) of Rs18,000 per president Rahul Gandhi fi t to be year to each rural household, the prime minister. The Suheldev except those which are “demon- Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief, strably well-off ”, at an estimated who is at daggers drawn with the cost of Rs2.64tn to tackle agrar- Modi ‘seen putting reforms ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ian distress. on many issues, told reporters in Speaking at the Raipur meet- Ballia, “I fi nd Rahul fi t to be prime ing, Rahul also attacked Prime minister. The fi nal word rests with Minister Narendra Modi and the people and they will decide the BJP alleging that while they who will be India’s next prime had no money to waive loans of aside in pre-poll budget’ minister.” farmers, they had no hesitation to cancel loans of industrialists. Reuters forms, such as tax cuts for big- tations of a Reuters poll of econo- to pay for pre-election spending, economies which has corporate He said the new Congress gov- New Delhi ger companies and plans to bring mists. the government has also pressed taxes on the higher side,” said Ro- to a minimum income guarantee ernment took a decision in 24 down the budget defi cit, could be The source said there was a the central bank to part with more hinton Sidhwa, partner at Deloitte for every poor person, to help hours to waive farmers’ loans in put on hold at least until after the chance that the government could of its reserves, causing a rift that India. eradicate poverty and hunger. Chhattisgarh, something the BJP esperate for fi ve more years election, the sources said. take corrective action in March, culminated in the resignation of The budget, which is interim This is our vision and our prom- could not do in 15 years. in power, the BJP govern- Piyush Goyal, the interim fi - hoping that by that time the elec- the bank’s governor last month. and is likely to be followed by a full ise,” he told a farmers rally here. “Whenever we spoke of loan Dment will woo rural and ur- nance minister, will present the tion schedule will be settled and “This is an election budget, and one in July, is expected to project Gandhi said that no govern- waiver, the BJP said they don’t ban middle-class voters with farm budget on February 1, in the ab- the public focus will shift towards most of the economic reforms economic growth of around 7.5% ment in the world had taken such have money. In Madhya Pradesh, relief measures and tax cuts, said sence of Finance Minister Arun campaigning. have been put on hold,” said an- for the next fi nancial year, while a step. Shivraj Chouhan said he does offi cials privy to plans for the fi nal Jaitley, who is currently in the US “We may resort to spending other offi cial, adding the govern- expanding capital spending on The Congress chief’s state- not have money. In Delhi, Prime budget before a general election. for medical treatment. cuts in March to contain the fi scal ment could defer any decision on railways, roads, ports by 7-8%, ment was described by former Minister Modi said he does not Stung by opposition victories in The higher spending, along defi cit,” the source said. business demands for a cut in cor- and estimating an increase in rev- fi nance minister P Chidambaram have money. They don’t have three state polls last month, and with a shortfall in tax collections, The fi nance ministry had porate tax. enue of about 15%, offi cials said. as “historic” that will mark a money for farmers’ loan waiver needing to call a national election will push the fi scal defi cit up to cut capital and other spending Business leaders said the gov- But the main focus will be on turning point in the lives of the but they can waive loans of In- by May, Prime Minister Narendra the equivalent of 3.5% of gross do- amounting to Rs750.8bn in the ernment still has to meet its three- the rural sector and the urban poor. dia’s 15 richest industrialists,” Modi is facing growing discontent mestic product for the year ending last fi nancial year ending in March year old promise of cutting the middle-class. The government In its original concept, In- Gandhi said. over depressed farm incomes and in March, overshooting a previous 2018. corporate tax rate for larger com- is ready with relief measures for dian policymakers conducted Criticising the prime minis- doubts over whether his policies 3.3% target, according to one of But Modi’s government has panies to 25% from 30%. farmers, benefi ts for unemployed two important studies testing ter, Rahul said Modi was creating are creating enough jobs. the sources with direct knowledge been stepping back from such fi s- “Although all over the world youth, higher tax exemptions for the impact of UBI (universal ba- an India of Nirav Modi, Mehul The electoral compulsions of budget discussions. cal rectitude in recent months. overall tax has started coming the middle class and small busi- sic income) through uncondi- Choksi and Vijay Mallya. mean that major economic re- That would fi t with the expec- In its desperation to fi nd ways down, India is one of the large nesses, the offi cials said.

‘Artisan Speak’ Fadnavis warns Sena Siddaramaiah fl ayed for shouting at woman after ‘Big Brother’ remark IANS sues being faced by public in the Mysuru constituency and not being able IANS “The (BJP) president Amit Shah been the Big Brother” and now to reach the MLA regarding them Mumbai has made it clear: if friends come this ‘Big Brother’ will rock the ... for which he got angry,” Jama- with us and strengthen Modi, we throne of Delhi as it was fully pre- arnataka Congress leader lar said. will ensure that all of us win or paring for the elections. Siddaramaiah yesterday The Bharatiya Janata Party ours after the Shiv Sena else we will ensure their defeat,” He also rebuff ed speculation of Klost his temper at a pub- (BJP) state unit president B S fl exed its muscles and Fadnavis said in a veiled threat to ‘back-door talks’ of a BJP-Sena lic event in Mysuru when ques- Yeddyurappa said it was “un- Hproclaimed itself as the the Sena. alliance as “mere rumours”. The tioned by a woman about the is- fortunate and unbecoming” of a ‘Big Brother’ in Maharashtra “Our objective is not just to Sena is part of the government sues faced by the public in his son former chief minister to not al- politics, Chief Minister Devendra capture power but serve our coun- both in Maharashtra and the Cen- Yathindra’s Varuna constituency low a woman to speak. Fadnavis yesterday hit back say- try. And for this, Prime Minister tre. However, much to the chagrin in the district. Visibly agitated “It would have only taken few ing the BJP will not ‘beg’ for an Narendra Modi must be returned of the BJP, it has continued to tar- by the woman’s questioning, the minutes to listen to the woman alliance with the Sena. to power. This should be our only get the party, Modi and Shah and former Karnataka chief minis- and respond to her issues. It is “Yes, we want an alliance but resolve,” Fadnavis thundered. since past few days even lavished ter snatched the microphone unfortunate that a former chief we are not ‘beggars’ and will not Taking a swipe at opposition praise on Priyanka Gandhi, who from her and along with it pulled minister behaved the way he plead for it. The Bharatiya Janata unity, Fadnavis said that ‘Ma- was recently appointed a Con- a section of her ‘dupatta’ and did,” Yeddyurappa told the me- Party (BJP) wants the alliance to haThug Bandhan’ will achieve gress general secretary by Con- forced her to sit down. dia. keep the ‘Hindutva’ forces united nothing and it is time to strive gress president Rahul Gandhi. The incident took place at a Taking to Twitter later, Sid- and ensure the anti-corruption and ensure that the reforms initi- Raut’s comments came in the public gathering in which Sid- daramaiah said the incident was forces remain together,” Fadnavis ated after 2014 are continued by wake of a crucial meeting party daramaiah took part along with an “accident” and Jamalar was told a party at Jalna. bringing back Modi to power. president Uddhav Thackeray held his son Yathindra, a legislator a party worker whom he had His statement came a few hours He said it was not easy to “fi ll with Sena MPs at his residence from Varuna in the same district, known for 15 years. after Sena MP Sanjay Raut dis- up the holes created in past 60 yesterday afternoon to chalk out a about 150km southwest of state “The incident that happened, missed the possibility of aligning years” in just fi ve years, but the strategy for the upcoming budget capital Bengaluru. when I tried to stop our party with the BJP and warned that the process had begun and will con- session of Parliament and the en- Speaking to the media later, worker for taking more time, was “Shiv Sena will always remain the tinue, calling upon the party ac- suing Lok Sabha polls. the woman, Jamalar, said she an accident. I know that woman ‘Big Brother’ in Maharashtra and tivists to propagate the govern- He said that the discussions was trying to point out to the for more than 15 years now and shake the throne of Delhi”. ment’s achievements. centred around various issues Congress leader that the revenue she is like my sister,” Siddara- Sharply countering this, Fad- Earlier yesterday, Raut angered including hiking the income tax Models showcase designs made from traditional department in the constituency maiah tweeted. navis said that those who believe the BJP by challenging that in exemption limit to Rs 800,000, GI (Geographical Indication) textiles from various regions was not functioning well and the Congress state unit president in ‘Hindutva’ will come for an al- the past over 25 years of alliance the problems of drought and the across India during the “Artisan Speak” event at the Unesco legislator (Yathindra) was not Dinesh Gundu Rao said Siddara- liance and the BJP will take them and from the time of the late Bal French fi ghter aircraft (Rafale) World Heritage site, Elephanta Caves, near Mumbai yesterday. reachable. maiah got agitated as the woman along with it. Thackeray, “Shiv Sena has always deal. “I was trying to raise the is- was banging on the table. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 29, 2019 15 LATIN AMERICA

NATURE’S FURY CIVIL STRIFE DEMONSTRATION HEADING HOME 3 people dead as rare 10 killed as Mexican Protests against Honduras tornado hits Havana vigilante groups clash president heat up

A rare tornado ripped through several working Ten members of rival civilian self-defence groups Thousands of people took to the streets across class districts of eastern Havana late Sunday were killed in a gun battle in the Mexican state Honduras on Sunday to protest against the night, leaving at least three dead and scores of Guerrero, a local security off icial said late president a year after his controversial inauguration. injured as it reduced some buildings to rubble, Sunday. Guerrero, located on Mexico’s southern Police used tear gas against protesters rallying tore off roofs and flipped vehicles in its path. The Pacific coast, is one of the country’s most violent against conservative President Juan Orlando storm left much of Havana without electricity regions, where rump groups of criminals fight Hernandez as marchers set tyres on fire and blocked yesterday, and the streets of the worse-hit to control lucrative drug smuggling routes. two key highways heading north and south of the districts were strewn with shards of glass and Armed civilian vigilante groups have emerged capital. “There are people who have been gassed fallen power poles and trees. It was the first in an attempt to maintain peace. “Members of and beaten” by police, ex-president Manuel Zelaya twister to hit the Cuban capital in decades. two groups of armed civilian groups that call told UNE TV. Demonstrators waved red and black President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who toured one of themselves ‘community police’ faced off in a flags and some wore red vests, as shows of support Firefighters assist the evacuation of a mother the hardest-hit districts, tweeted: “The damage is gun battle on Sunday,” said Roberto Alvarez, for Zelaya’s Freedom and Refounding Party, known Pope Francis attends a farewell ceremony at and her baby in the tornado-hit Luyano severe and up to now we regret the loss of three the regional head of security. Police found “two as Libre for short. Some chanted “GET OUT J.O.H.,” Tocumen International Airport in Panama City neighbourhood in Havana. lives and we are attending to 172 injured.” vehicles with the lifeless bodies of ten people.” before setting bonfires out of police sight. on Sunday evening. Grief turns to anger as toll Guaido calls from Vale disaster hits 60

Reuters Vale chief executive Fabio Schvartsman dividends over the last year, suspended all Brumadinho said during a visit to Brumadinho on Sunday shareholder payouts and executive bonuses that facilities there were built to code and late on Sunday, as the disaster put its corpo- equipment had shown the dam was stable rate strategy under scrutiny. for protests, rief over the hundreds of Brazilians two weeks earlier. “I’m not a mining technician. I followed feared killed in last week’s mining The disaster at the Corrego do Feijao mine the technicians’ advice and you see what Gdisaster has quickly hardened into occurred less than four years after a dam happened. It didn’t work,” Vale CEO Sch- anger as victims’ families and politicians say collapsed at a nearby mine run by Samarco vartsman said in a TV interview. “We are iron ore miner Vale SA and regulators have Mineracao SA, a joint venture by Vale and 100% within all the standards, and that learned nothing from the recent past. BHP Billiton, killing 19 and fi lling a major didn’t do it.” By yesterday, fi refi ghters in the state of river with toxic sludge. Many wondered if the state of Minas Ge- Minas Gerais had confi rmed 60 people dead While the 2015 Samarco disaster dumped rais, named for the mining industry that has Pope fears in Friday’s disaster, in which a tailings dam about fi ve times more mining waste, Fri- shaped its landscape for centuries, should broke sending a torrent of sludge into the day’s dam break was far deadlier, as the wall have higher standards. miner’s offi ces and the town of Brumadinho. of mud hit Vale’s local offi ces, including a “There are safe ways of mining,” said Joao Nearly 300 other people are unaccounted crowded cafeteria, and tore through a popu- Vitor Xavier, head of the mining and energy for, and offi cials said it was unlikely that any lated area downhill. commission in the state assembly. would be found alive. “The cafeteria was in a risky area,” Renato “It’s just that it diminishes profi t margins, Shares of Vale, the world’s largest iron ore Simao de Oliveiras, 32, said while searching so they prefer to do things the cheaper way and nickel producer, yesterday plummeted for his twin brother, a Vale employee, at an — and put lives at risk.” ‘bloodbath’ 21.5% trading on the Sao Paulo stock ex- emergency response station. Reaction to the disaster could threaten change, erasing $16bn in market cap. “Just to save money, even if it meant los- the plans of Brazil’s newly inaugurated By Maria Isabel Sanchez, AFP more vague, saying it would take ripped up the document. Brazil’s top prosecutor, Raquel Dodge, ing the little guy... These businessmen, they president to relax restrictions on the Caracas “further actions” if elections Venezuela’s military attache in said the company should be held strongly only think about themselves.” mining industry, including proposals were not called in the coming Washington, Army Colonel Jose responsible and criminally prosecuted. As search eff orts continued yesterday, to open up indigenous reservations and days, including the issue of rec- Luis Silva, switched his support Executives could also be personally held fi refi ghters laid down wood planks to cross a large swaths of the Amazon jungle for enezuela’s self-pro- ognition of the country’s “lead- to Guaido in a video that called responsible, she said. sea of sludge that is hundreds of metres wide mining. claimed president Juan ership.” on his brothers in arms to follow Brazil’s Vice President Hamilton Mour- in places, to reach a bus in search of bodies Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albu- VGuaido has called for Australia, meanwhile, said his lead. ao, who is acting president since yesterday inside. querque proposed in an interview late on two new protests, in an eff ort to it “recognises and supports” Maduro appeared at a military when Jair Bolsonaro underwent surgery, also Villagers discovered the bus as they tried Sunday with newspaper O Estado de S Paulo push the military to turn against Guaido as interim president exercise in the state of Carabobo said the government needs to punish those to rescue a cow stuck nearby in the mud. that the law should be changed to assign leader Nicolas Maduro as Pope pending elections. on Sunday where he called for responsible for the dam disaster. Longtime resident Ademir Rogerio cried responsibility in cases such as Brumadinho Francis warned yesterday of And Italy has called for “a rapid “union, discipline and cohesion” In a tweet, Brazilian Senator Renan Cal- as he surveyed the mud where Vale’s facili- to the people responsible for certifying the a possible “bloodbath” in the return to democratic legitimacy.” to defeat what he called an “at- heiros asked Justice Minister Sergio Moro ties once stood on the edge of town. safety of mining dams. crisis-wracked South American The United States separately tempted coup d’etat.” “how many people should die before federal “The world is over for us,” he said. “Current law does not prevent disasters country. warned there would be a “sig- “Traitors never, loyal always,” police changes Vale management, before “Vale is the top mining company in the like the one we saw on Brumadinho”, he said. In a video posted on Twitter, nifi cant response” if US diplo- he exhorted the military audi- key evidence disappears.” world. If this could happen here, imag- “The model for verifying the state of min- the 35-year-old opposition lead- mats, Guaido or the opposition- ence. Moro is a previous judge in charge of Bra- ine what would happen if it were a smaller ing dams will have to be reconsidered. The er Guaido announced a two-hour controlled National Assembly “Are you coup-backers or are zil’s largest-ever corruption probe. miner.” model isn’t good.” The ministry did not im- strike tomorrow “to demand that were targeted with violence and you constitutionalists? Are you One of Vale’s lawyers, Sergio Bermudes, Nestor Jose de Mury said he lost his neph- mediately respond to questions about the the armed forces side with the intimidation. pro-imperialist or anti-imperi- told newspaper Folha de S Paulo that the ex- ew and co-workers in the mud. interview. people.” Maduro, 56, so far has not alists?” Maduro asked. ecutives should not leave the company and “I’ve never seen anything like it, it killed German auditor TUV SUD said on Satur- Millions of Venezuelans have budged from his position, telling Thus far, the military has that Calheiros was trying to profi t politically everyone,” he said. day it inspected the dam in September and been left in poverty or fl ed the CNN Turk: “No one can give us backed the leftist regime, which from the tragedy. The board of Vale, which has raised its found all to be in order. country due to an economic cri- an ultimatum.” was ushered into power 20 years sis, marked by hyperinfl ation and He retains the backing of Rus- ago by the late Hugo Chavez, but shortages of basic necessities, sia and China, as well as Turkey. there have been some signs of began in 2014. A non-governmental organi- unrest. The head of the opposition- sation, the Venezuelan Observa- Guaido has dismissed Madu- controlled National Assembly tory on Social Confl ict, said 29 ro’s second term as president as said a second demonstration, on people were killed and more than “illegitimate” due to controver- Saturday, would be a “big na- 350 arrested in clashes with se- sial elections the socialist leader tional and international rally to curity forces last week. won in May, which the opposi- back the support of the Euro- Encouraged by the interna- tion boycotted after a number of pean Union and the ultimatum” tional support for his cause, their leaders had been jailed, ex- from Britain, France, Germany, Guaido is on a mission to weaken iled or barred from standing. Portugal, Spain and the Nether- the military’s support of Ma- Last week, Guaido issued a lands that they would recognise duro, which has been essential to direct challenge to Maduro’s Guaido as interim president un- keeping him in power since 2013. authority by declaring himself less Maduro calls elections by His appeals have included acting president during an anti- February 3. promises of amnesty, and mass government rally in Caracas by Speaking after a trip to Pan- protests against Maduro, who tens of thousands of people. ama, Francis said he was afraid has presided over a collapse of His bid was swiftly endorsed the escalating political crisis in the economy and a severe hu- by Canada, the United States and Venezuela would descend into “a manitarian crisis, with shortages many Latin American countries. bloodbath.” of food and medicine. Washington also accepted He had previously called on Supporters circulated copies exiled opposition leader Car- both sides to fi nd a “just and of amnesty measures approved los Vecchio as Venezuela’s new peaceful solution.” by the National Assembly to charge d’aff aires to the United While some member nations members of the military on Sun- States after he was tapped by have backed Guaido, the EU was day, but some soldiers burned or Guaido. Members of a rescue team carry a body in Brumadinho, Brazil. Man versus condor: king of Andes under threat

By Lina Vanegas, AFP The Andean condor, one of the Many rivers begin there, includ- Dasan and Illika remained in at the spot where Dasan and Illika Cerrito, Colombia biggest birds in the world with ing the Arauca, which provides isolation for two months, with were found ill to watch the two a wingspan of up to 3.2m and a part of Venezuela with its water. only minimal human contact and majestic birds return to the wild. weight of 9kg to 15kg, is consid- At least 30 condors soar over regular tests to monitor the tox- They took fl ight before their y all accounts, Dasan and ered to be in critical danger of the Cerrito area, according to icity in their systems. admirers — with newly fi tted tags Illika should have died of extinction in Colombia, a nation Fausto Saenz, scientifi c director Slowly, they regained their so they can be tracked and moni- Bpoisoning. But they are that has adopted the predator as for the Neotropical Foundation. strength. tored for research purposes. back on their feet, poking their its national symbol. The foundation worked with During their convalescence, a Eduin Conde and his family beaks through the bars of their But the bird is not at risk on a the Andean Condor Foundation contest was launched on social were among those who defended cages, impatient to return to the global scale, even if its numbers in Ecuador, the US non-govern- media to choose their names. the birds, which they say are use- skies over Colombia, which have are dwindling, according to the mental organisation The Per- “Dasan means ‘head of the birds,’ ful for clearing the area of carrion been transformed into hostile International Union for Conser- egrine Fund and the Jaime Duque while Illika means ‘lucky one’ in the — and thereby removing possi- territory for the so-called king of vation of Nature (IUCN). zoo outside Bogota to rehabilitate Uwa dialect,” Saenz said, referring ble sources of infection for their the Andes — the condor. Experts say there are only and release Dasan and Illika back to an indigenous group native to herds. Dasan, a fi ve-year-old male, fell about 150 Andean condors left in into the wild. northeastern Colombia. Gilberto, Eduin’s brother, is victim fi rst. Locals found him in all of Colombia, where there is no Researchers, fi refi ghters and Poisoning is the top threat to lobbying other locals against buy- November — weak and strangely One of two Andean condors which recovered from possible offi cial count of the birds. police offi cers took care of the condors in Colombia. ing into stereotypical misconcep- docile — in Cerrito, located about poisoning being released back into the wild in the municipality of Condors typically only feed on birds at fi rst. The species is present tions about the king of the Andes. 400km west of the capital Bogota. Cerrito, Santander Department, Colombia. dead animals, but it appears that Then a helicopter airlifted throughout the Andes, from Ven- “I tell them that we must pro- Then Illika, an older female, some have taken to attacking them to the veterinary clinic at ezuela to Argentina and Chile. tect the condor...as it’s an em- was found just 200m from that system — at an altitude of about mos serve as our reservoirs. live prey, according to residents the Jaime Duque zoo. Experts say there are about blematic, sublime bird that is on spot, showing the same symp- 4,000m — is a tropical mountain- Without this tropical heathland, of Cerrito. “They were not reacting to any 6,700 left in the wild. the road to extinction,” he said, toms of poisoning — which may ous area with hardy vegetation, we would literally be parched and “If the condors see an ani- stimuli,” recalls Saenz. But the bird, which only lays watching the skies with his bin- have been intentional. prone to retaining moisture and dead,” Sebastian Kohn, director mal move, they hit it with their The two birds also had the ex- an egg every two years, also faces oculars. According to the Neotropical resisting temperature changes. of the Andean Condor Founda- wings, two or three times. When act same symptoms — an indica- risks from hunting and electro- Behind him, a fresco adorns Foundation, the incident marks It is not conducive to serving tion in Ecuador, told AFP. they see it’s no longer moving, tion that “they had both eaten cution on power cables. the wall of the hotel that he runs at least the fi fth time that ranch- as a grazing pasture for livestock. “The livestock is having a they start eating it,” explained from the same poisoned source.” Andean bears and jaguars, in the mountains at an altitude of ers have used poisoned carrion to But with development and the negative impact, but if we pull Eduin Conde, a 38-year-old Cerrito’s mayor, Carlos Rome- whose natural habitats have been more than 3,000m. eliminate the birds of prey, which gradual disappearance of native them all out in one fell swoop, the sheep farmer. ro, told AFP that an investiga- encroached upon by the expan- It depicts a condor and bears the they see as dangerous to their wildlife, the Andean condor’s condor will have nothing to feed In all, 80% of Cerrito’s total tion was ongoing to determine sion of farming and ranching, message: “The paramo lives on” — herds of cattle, sheep and goats. habitat has been forever changed. itself,” he added, highlighting the surface area is made up of wet whether the birds were inten- encounter the same risks. a warm welcome to those coura- In the Andes, the paramo eco- “In Andean nations, the para- complexity of the problem. heathland. tionally poisoned. About 100 people showed up geous enough to climb this far. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 PAKISTAN

Zardari, Talpur ‘US appreciates Pak role challenge court in Afghan talks success’ order Internews ing between Prime Minister Im- ghan war, and that US Senator forts to hold talks with India be- cial for Indo-Pak relations. Prime Minister Imran Khan.” Internews Dubai ran Khan and Trump is on the Lindsey Graham discussed the cause we do not expect any big When asked which Indian “During the earlier regimes, Islamabad cards, but it will be possible only idea with Pakistani offi cials dur- decision from the present Indian leader will suit Pakistan more there had been confl icts between after the Afghan peace talks. ing a recent visit to the country, leadership.” when it comes to peace talks – the civilian government and the ederal Information Min- “We are waiting to see this Chaudhry said: “I know about “It is useless to talk to them Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi army on various issues as they ormer president Asif Ali ister Fawad Chaudhry has happen,” he added. the FTA off er, but cannot com- [India] now unless there is some – the minister said it does not were not capable of talking to Zardari and his sister Fary- Fsaid that Pakistan’s role in Chaudhry said that Paki- ment on this at this stage.” stability. We will move forward matter for Pakistan. each other frankly,” he said. “But Fal Talpur have challenged a bringing Taliban to the negotia- stan is playing its role at a fairly The information minister once the new government is “We will respect any Indian this is the not the case anymore verdict passed earlier this month tion table has been appreciated advanced level for the Afghan further said stability and peace formed after the elections,” he leader and the party elected since Imran Khan has come into by the Supreme Court in a case by US President Donald Trump. peace dialogue. in Afghanistan is not just in the added. by the Indian people. And, we power.” pertaining to fake accounts, say- During an interview with Gulf “Frankly, we expect a positive US’s interests, but Pakistan will Chaudhry said that the open- would like to move forward to “Our government has an ad- ing that the top court “had no News, published here yesterday, outcome from the negotiations also greatly benefi t from this. ing of the Kartarpur Corridor hold dialogue with whosoever vantage that we can talk freely justifi cation at all” for passing the minister said that Trump ap- between the US and Afghan Tal- Stating that it is not the right between India and Pakistan in comes into power in India,” he with each other. Currently, each an order in the case. preciated Islamabad’s role in the iban,” he said. time to hold a dialogue as Indian November last year is a remark- upheld. and every major policy in Paki- Last year, the Joint Investiga- Afghan peace talks so much that Regarding reports that the US politics is currently in turmoil able development between the On being asked who calls the stan is actually a consensus pol- tion Team (JIT) formed by the he has reviewed and changed his may off er Pakistan a free trade because of the upcoming elec- two countries, because it will shots in Pakistan when it comes icy with the civilian government Supreme Court had submitted a policies on Pakistan. agreement (FTA) in return for tions, the information minister not only be a boon for the Sikh to foreign policy, the informa- and the army on the same page,” report alleging that a close nexus Chaudhry stated that a meet- its assistance in ending the Af- said: “We have delayed our ef- community, but also be benefi - tion minister said: “Of course he explained. had been found between a troika of Zardari Group, Bahria Town and Omni Group in the “fake ac- counts” scam. Water break The report revealed that at least 29 bank accounts had been identifi ed as fake which had been Pakistan making used for money laundering of Rs42bn. The top court, in an order passed in the case on January 7, had referred the JIT report and poor use of its water evidence collected to the Na- tional Accountability Bureau (NAB) for further investigation, directing the anti-corruption watchdog to wrap up its investi- resources: report gation within two months. “In the facts and circum- stances of the case, and in the Internews that represent nearly 80% of all environmentally unsustain- light of the JIT report, which has Islamabad water use, generate less than 5% able levels of water withdrawal; no evidentiary value in the eyes of the GDP, around $14bn per widespread pollution; and, low of law, this honourable court year. water productivity in agricul- was not justifi ed at all to passing new report of the World Other economic contribu- ture. any order at all, giving directions Bank says that Pakistan tions from water are diffi cult to Inadequate monitoring and to the NAB, thereby curtail- Agets a poor economic re- accurately assess, but hydro- data management prevent ro- ing rights of the petitioners and turn from its signifi cant water power generation is economi- bust water resource assessments others,” the appeal submitted resources, observing that the cally signifi cant, with a current and accounting to guide wa- yesterday read. best use of water endowment is market value of between $1bn ter planning and management The review petition argued not made in the country. and $2bn. and prevents reliable fl ood and that there were “no direct al- The economic costs from poor The report says that scant at- drought forecasting. legations” levelled by the JIT water and sanitation, fl oods and tention is paid to the environ- Water resources planning has Gypsy children drink water from hand pump in Lahore. against the petitioners and the droughts are conservatively es- mental outcomes from water and historically focused on supply report itself had “recommended timated to be 4% of the GDP water-dependent ecosystems, augmentation and has not ad- further probe” against the ac- (gross domestic product), or with rivers, lakes, wetlands, and dressed sustainable resource Irrigation service delivery is In the upper Indus Basin, ac- quire signifi cant fi nancial re- cused. around $12bn per year. the Indus delta in rapid decline. use or been linked adequately to poor and contributes to low pro- celerated glacial melting will sources. “The failure of the JIT to probe These costs are dominated by This decline is characterised broader economic planning. ductivity. increase the risks of dangerous Provincial-level water sector allegations of the FIA (Federal the costs of poor water supply by biodiversity loss, greatly re- Although provincial water Hydraulic effi ciency of wa- glacial lake outburst fl oods. fi nancing has increased in recent Investigation Agency) were en- and sanitation, says the report duced stocks of freshwater and shares have been formally de- ter distribution is very low, and In the lower Indus Basin, sea years, but federal fi nancing has dorsed by this honourable court titled Pakistan Getting More estuarine fi sh stocks, and a loss fi ned, they have been demon- water delivery across command level rise and increases in the declined signifi cantly in propor- vide order dated January 7, 2019, from Water. of other ecosystem services, strated to be economically sub- areas is inequitable. frequency and severity of coastal tional terms. thereby issuing certain direc- The economic costs of deg- including the storm protection optimal, and there is insuffi cient Irrigation services are not fi - storms will exacerbate seawater Collectively, sector fi nancing tions which are uncalled for, il- radation of the Indus delta are aff orded by coastal mangrove clarity on risk sharing during nancially sustainable and fi nan- intrusion into the delta and into is well below the recommended legal and require revisit and re- estimated to be around $2bn per forests. times of acute scarcity. cial performance is declining. coastal groundwater. levels. view,” the petition said. year, while the costs of pollution Excessive water withdrawals These defi ciencies are ex- Service tariff s are set too low In coastal Sindh, this will This is the case for major in- The appeal declared that and other environmental degra- and widespread pollution are the pected to become starker with and are decoupled from serv- further degrade groundwater frastructure, reforms, and in- the fi ling of a reference in NAB dation have not been assessed. main causes of decline, but river increasing water demands and ice quality, and the operational quality, ground water depend- stitutional strengthening; urban Rawalpindi was “unlawful” as These estimates of economic fragmentation by infrastructure climate change. costs of service providers are far ent ecosystems, and irrigation services; fl ood mitigation; and the “entire alleged record” of the benefi ts and costs cannot be di- and changed sediment regimes Water resources management too high. productivity. environmental management. case was in Karachi. rectly compared or aggregated, contribute. does little to protect water-de- Climate change is the biggest A careful assessment of all The biggest challenges, how- It also pointed out that the FIA but they demonstrate that the Water security is undermined pendent ecosystems either by longer-term and currently un- water resources, drawing on a ever, are ones of governance, es- had so far been unable to submit country gets a poor economic by poor water resource man- way of environmental fl ows or mitigated external risk to water range of data and past studies, pecially regarding irrigation and a fi nal chalan (receipt) in the return from its signifi cant water agement and poor water service pollution control. sector. suggests that the current total urban water. banking court and the petition- resource. delivery including irrigation and The report points out that no Climate change is not ex- average annual renewable re- The governance challenges ers had been willing to co-oper- The country does not make drainage services – and domes- formal mechanisms exist within pected to greatly alter average source is 229bn cubic metres relate to inadequate legal frame- ate in the investigation. the best use of its water endow- tic water supply and sanitation provinces for reallocating water water availability over coming (BCM). works for water at federal and The petition termed the or- ment and the water use is heavily services. between sectors to match shift- decades, but infl ows will be- Only 4% of this is outside of provincial levels, and the incom- der as “contrary to the spirit of dominated by agriculture, which In addition, some growing, ing demands or to cope with ex- come more variable between the Indus Basin. pleteness of policy frameworks the rule of law and the constitu- contributes around one-fi fth of long-term water-related risks treme drought. and within years, increasing the There is no single simple solu- and the inadequacy of policy tional dispensation” and urged the national GDP, but less than are not adequately recognised Irrigation water allocation severity of fl oods and droughts. tion to address the issue of water implementation. the court to “recall and review” half of this is from irrigated and are poorly mitigated. is suboptimal in terms of effi - Climate warming is expected security. The policy defi ciencies stem its decision. cropping. Water resource management ciency, equity, and transparency, to drive water demands up by It will take concerted eff ort on from institutional problems, in- Irrigation contributes around is compromised by poor water contributing to the low produc- between 5% and 15% by 2047, many fronts by all governments cluding unclear, incomplete, or $22bn to annual GDP. data, information, and analysis; tivity of irrigated agriculture and in addition to the demand in- and water users over many years. overlapping institutional man- The four major crops – wheat, weak processes for water re- causing a lack of trust between creases from population and Large infrastructure gaps dates, and a lack of capacity in rice, cotton, and sugarcane – sources planning and allocation; farmers and service providers. economic growth. must be addressed, which re- water institutions at all levels. Doctors in Sindh go Qureshi asks countries to Supreme Court to begin review on strike of blasphemy acquittal today update travel advisories Internews Karachi Reuters/Guardian ters that he expects the case to Federal minister for minori- Internews he told the diplomats. “And Islamabad be dismissed. ties Shehbaz Bhatti was killed Islamabad your bit is travel advisories.” “They have fi led the peti- later that year after calling for octors in government “Many countries have travel tion on fl imsy grounds. They her release. hospitals across Sindh advisories. Please revisit them he Supreme Court will haven’t attempted to counter Protesting members of the Dprovince have gone on oreign Minister Shah so that we can engage,” he said. begin a review today of her release on constitutional Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) group, strike as their salaries and allow- Mahmood Qureshi has Qureshi said that as diplo- Tits acquittal of a woman grounds,” said Mulook, who founded by supporters of Tase- ances have not been raised. Fasked foreign diplomats mats, their purpose is to “build charged with blasphemy, a ver- returned to Pakistan this week er’s assassin, blocked main The Out-Patient Department to play their part in revisiting relations”. dict that sparked days of pro- and will represent Bibi in court. roads in Pakistan’s cites for (OPD) in hospitals across Sindh, their countries’ travel advi- “And relations can only be tests over a case that has divid- If allowed to do so, Bibi is three days after Bibi’s acquittal. including Karachi’s Jinnah and sories for Pakistan, days after built if they are people-centric,” ed society and incited killings. widely expected to seek asylum They called for the murder of Civil Hospital, closed due to the Islamabad liberalised its visa he added. Aasia Bibi, who spent eight abroad due to safety concerns. the judges who freed her. strike. regime in order to give tourism “You can play a signifi cant years on death row, has been in It emerged last week that The TLP called off the pro- Doctors stated that they are a boost. role in turning around rela- hiding since the Supreme Court Bibi’s daughters had already left tests after striking a deal with “raising their voice against the The minister, while address- tions,” Qureshi told the envoys. freed her in October, with reli- Pakistan for Canada. the government to put Bibi on injustices of the Sindh health ing a ceremony attended by Qureshi: Many countries have On January 25, Information gious hardliners calling for her In November, Canadian Pre- the “Exit Control List”, barring department”. foreign diplomats in Islamabad, travel advisories. Please revisit Minister Fawad Chaudhry said death and demanding that the mier Justin Trudeau said his her from leaving the country. “All hospitals and OPDs will apprised them of how counter- them so that we can engage. the government was introduc- government prevent her from country was in talks with Paki- The government later remain closed for three days, and terror operations had facilitated ing a “new revolutionary visa leaving the country. stan about helping her. cracked down on the TLP, de- if our demands are not met, then the return of normalcy to Swat terrorism and reverse extrem- policy” to encourage tourism in Most reviews of Supreme Bibi, a farm worker, was con- taining more than 3,000 ac- all wards, including the emer- and the erstwhile Federally Ad- ism,” Pakistan’s top diplomat the country, in order to make it Court verdicts are dismissed victed in 2010 of making de- tivists and pressing terrorism gency, will join the strike,” an ministered Tribal Areas (Fata). asserted. a foundation for change in the immediately, but the contro- rogatory remarks about Islam charges against its leaders. announcement by the doctors “People have to leave their “We’ve succeeded to an ex- country. versy, anger and fear surround- after neighbours working in the The TLP’s acting chief, Sha- said. homes and go back to Swat to- tent, but we intend to move on. Chaudhry said that the gov- ing the case has added an extra fi elds with her objected to her feeq Ameeni, warned that the In Hyderabad as well, doctors day and see the diff erence. Peo- And I think these initiatives ernment had decided to provide layer of uncertainty. drinking water from their glass court panel should not make a have been on strike and the OPD ple in the Fata regions were also are the next steps that are re- the e-visa facility to 175 coun- A three-judge panel, includ- because she was not Muslim. “wrong decision”. at Bhittai Hospital is also closed. displaced. Go back today and quired,” he said, adding: “It will tries and visa on arrival to 50 ing new Supreme Court Chief She has always denied com- “We will not tolerate an at- Staging a protest in the hos- see what was happened in Fata,” only happen with your help.” countries. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, is due mitting blasphemy. tack on the sanctity of our pital premises, the doctors de- he urged them. The foreign minister said Pa- Visa on arrival will also be to hear the case. The governor of Punjab prov- prophet,” he said in a video manded that their salaries be “Who did it? The people of kistan had played its part by lib- provided to Indian-origin Brit- Bibi’s lawyer, Saiful Mulook, ince, Salman Taseer, was assas- statement. “We don’t want the matched with those who are Pakistan. The resilience and eralising its visa regime. ish and American citizens with who fl ed to Europe due to fears sinated by his bodyguard in 2011 country to go up in fl ames be- working in government hospitals resolve to fi ght back and defeat “You’ll have to do your bit,” US or UK passports. for his safety last year, told Reu- after speaking in Bibi’s defence. cause of a wrong decision.” in Punjab. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 29, 2019 17 PHILIPPINES Investigators identify prime suspects linked to bombing

AFP utility box of a motorcycle in Manila the parking area outside. Police said they believe the explosives were likely deto- nvestigators probing the nated remotely, but did not Catholic cathedral bomb- elaborate. Iing that killed 21 people in Despite the contradictions, the Philippines’ restive south authorities have not ruled out said yesterday a group tied to IS involvement. notorious Abu Sayyaf is the Regardless of who staged prime suspect. the bombing, concern was Two explosions tore growing yesterday over the through the cathedral on the impact it will have on a dec- island of Jolo, killing worship- ades-long push for peace that pers at Sunday mass and secu- culminated last week in voters rity forces in an attack claimed approving expanded self-rule by the Islamic State group. in the south. Authorities said the so- The vote was the result of called Ajang-Ajang faction is negotiations started in the a small band of several dozen 1990s with the nation’s largest that most likely carried out rebel group, the Moro Islamic the bombing, the Philippines’ Liberation Front (MILF), and worst in years, in an act of re- will give it considerable power venge. “Last year their leader over the so-called Bangsam- President Rodrigo Duterte and Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana listen to national police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde as they inspect the damaged area of a Catholic was killed. There have been oro region. cathedral in Jolo town, Sulu province, in the southern island of Mindanao, yesterday. persistent reports that they “This is a big challenge for will retaliate,” regional mili- the Bangsamoro government,” tary spokesman Lieutenant said Banlaoi. Colonel Gerry Besana said. The former rebels need to “Yes, we saw them in the show they will be able to pull CCTV. It was the brother of the region toward peace in or- the leader who was killed,” he der to attract much-needed said referring to footage from investment to alleviate pov- outside the cathedral.” erty and counter extremism, Duterte orders troops He was seen with two other he said. members of Ajang-Ajang.” “MILF needs to prove it can Security forces say the make a diff erence...the gravity group is composed of relatives of the problem faced by MILF of Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for- is wow, so overwhelming,” he ransom group members who added. have been killed in clashes The church attack came to crush militants with the government. despite President Rodrigo Abu Sayyaf, which is based Duterte, who visited the ca- DPA be linked to Abu Sayyaf, a ter- ist group claimed that the attack on the remote Jolo island, has thedral yesterday, putting the Manila rorist group blamed for some of was carried out by two suicide been blamed for the Philip- southern Philippines under the worst bombings and high- bombers. pines’ deadliest attack, a 2004 martial rule after pro-IS mili- profi le kidnappings in the Phil- The military said it was not ferry bombing in Manila Bay tants seized the southern city hilippine President Ro- ippines, he added. discounting the claims, but an that claimed 116 lives. of Marawi in May 2017. drigo Duterte yesterday The military and police set initial investigation showed that “There are high-level law Government offi cials have Pdirected security forces to up roadblocks and checkpoints the explosives, which were pipe enforcement operations argued that martial rule, crush militants allegedly behind around Jolo earlier yesterday to bombs made with ammonium against them (Ajang-Ajang),” which gives authorities extra twin bombings that killed 20 help troops track down the sus- nitrate and fuel, were planted at said Rommel Banlaoi, chair powers, has been eff ective in people in the country’s confl ict- pects, said national police chief the church and not detonated by of the Philippine Institute for taming the perpetually res- hit south. Oscar Albayalde. “There is al- suicide bombers, said regional Peace, Violence and Terrorism tive region. But families of the More than 110 people were most no one out in the streets military commander Arnel Dela Research. “It evolved into a re- dead, who began holding fu- also wounded in Sunday’s attack and shops are closed...so we can Vega. The fi rst bomb exploded venge group.” nerals yesterday, have become at the Cathedral of Our Lady of contain this area,” he told re- inside the cathedral during mass While Abu Sayyaf have the latest in the Philippines’ Mount Carmel in Jolo town in porters in Jolo before Duterte’s and was believed to have been sworn allegiance to Islamic south to mourn loved ones Sulu province, 1,000 kilometres trip. “We have set up roadblocks planted in one of the pews, Dela State, that is not necessarily killed in a bomb attack. south of Manila. and checkpoints, and we have Vega said, citing a military re- true for the motley members “My 81-year-old mother Duterte inspected the damage enough troops on the ground.” port. of Ajang-Ajang. does not deserve this kind of at the bombed Roman Catholic Security in other parts of the The second, which was be- “Not all members of Ajang- death,” Edward Non said, with church yesterday and ordered country was also stepped up lieved to have been left inside Ajang group are pro-ISIS, but a row of victims’ coffi ns be- government troops to hunt down Soldiers walk past the damaged area of a Catholic cathedral in Jolo yesterday, with additional forces a utility box of a motorcycle in all of them are Abu Sayyaf hind him. members of the Abu Sayyaf ter- town, Sulu province, in southern island of Mindanao. deployed to key infrastructure the car park, went off as troops group,” said Banlaoi using an- “This has to stop. It’s the in- rorist group believed to be be- and public places. rushed in to respond to the ini- other acronym for IS. “It’s not nocent civilians who suff er.” hind the bombing. The 73-year-old president Panelo said. “He is so disap- The Islamic State terrorist tial blast. IS-affi liated.” Experts were also worried “On Abu Sayyaf — crush also visited injured victims and a pointed that despite the move- network claimed responsibil- Jolo is on an island with the The IS claim, in a formal about how the bombing would them,” said Defence Secretary mass wake for those killed in the ment...towards peace and de- ity hours after the attack via its same name that has been a communique, said two sui- impact the hopes for new Delfi n Lorenzana, when asked bombings, according to photos velopment, there are still certain Amaq news agency mouthpiece, stronghold of Abu Sayyaf. cide bombers had detonated development in the region, what Duterte’s directive was released by his special assistant, forces in that region who sowed according to the SITE Intelli- The militants have aligned explosive belts, according to which were spurred by the during the visit in Jolo. Secretary Christopher Go, who terror and killed and murdered gence Group which monitors the themselves with Islamic State the SITE Intelligence Group, self-rule vote victory. Asked if the president’s di- was with him on the three-hour people.” extremist organisation’s online and have opposed any eff orts to which monitors militant ac- “It’s a terrible human trag- rective was in relation to Abu visit. Lorenzana said investigators activity. forge peace in the southern re- tivities. edy, it’s also a development Sayyaf’s involvement in the lat- Duterte was outraged by the have identifi ed six “persons of Islamic State directly released gion of Mindanao, where dec- But a military report said a tragedy,” World Bank econo- est bombings, Lorenzana said: bombings, according to presi- interest” in the bombings based its own statement claiming it ades of confl ict have stunted second bomb that went off at mist Andrew Mason told “Yes, and for all the atrocities dential spokesman Salvador on CCTV footage. was behind the attack shortly growth and development in the the cathedral was left in the broadcaster ABS-CBN. they have committed so far.” Panelo. “He was very angry,” The suspects are believed to afterwards. SITE said the terror- resource-rich region. ‘Jeepney’ artists stalked by extinction Filipino rock music AFP siblings were also jeepney art- Manila ists, but they died from diseas- es he believes were caused by icon dies years inhaling fumes from the ernardo de la Cruz casts paint. Yet he is still passionate his eyes around the nearly about the vehicle’s importance By Iza Iglesias Bsilent workshop where in Philippine history. Manila Times he used to toil overtime hand- “When the jeepney disap- painting custom decor on jeep- pears a piece of Filipino cul- neys, the singularly Philippine ture will also die,” de la Cruz ilipino rock pioneer Joey minibuses facing the scrapheap. warned. “Pepe” Smith, died yester- These rolling art galleries A self-taught painter, he Fday morning. adorned with images of every- was inspired by the work of He was 71, his daughter Daisy thing from Batman to babies, as renowned local artists such Smith-Owen said on Facebook. well as disco lights and chrome Carlos Francisco and Fernando “Thank you for everything wheels, have for decades pro- Amorsolo. papa. Thank you for being the best vided cheap transport for mil- His jeepney designs, still dad in the world. I know your are lions. But pollution and safety seen on the streets for now, in the best place now, no more concerns have led to a moderni- chronicle the rapidly changing pains papa. I will see you in few sation programme, with jeep- landscape of his home — Las days. I love you to the moon and neys 15 years or older to be taken Pinas — from a farming and back,” the post read along with a off the streets by 2020. salt-making backwater into a photo of them together as a trib- “This is an act of treachery File photo shows Vic Capuno, a 52-year-old jeepney artist, painting in the side of one of the vehicles at a workshop in San Pablo, Laguna highly urbanised area. ute. Two hours before the post, against fellow Filipinos,” said province, south of Manila. Right: A recent photo shows jeepneys during rush hour in Manila. “It’s a pleasing sight. It Owen asked for prayers as her fa- de la Cruz. “This is a uniquely brings us back to a time and ther was rushed to a hospital. Filipino product. We were born climb in through a hatch in the of the Philippines. first made from leftover US drigo Duterte said the jeepney place that is no more,” said de Dubbed as an icon of “Pinoy with it.” rear, cramming into the benches “It’s one of the most genuine jeeps after World War II, have must evolve or disappear. la Cruz. rock,” Smith was fi rst report- When he began 45 years ago, inside with no respite from the forms of modern folk art that been on borrowed time for “They have all but stopped After raising four children edly brought to the hospital on there were hundreds of artists heat and roadside pollution. we have,” Bernie Sim, a Manila- years. making jeepneys,” said on the pay earned painting, November 2017 after suff ering a giving the vehicles their fa- The jeepney’s successor is based graphic designer and co- Jeepneys are highly pollut- 52-year-old jeepney artist Vic he now also creates canvases stroke for the third time, which mously boisterous paint jobs. being billed as a big improve- author of a 2014 book on jeep- ing, and the Philippines is des- Capuno, based in San Pablo and makes storefront signs as impaired his speech. He had cata- Now there are estimated to be ment.It has doors, individual ney art, said. perate to improve air quality in town south of Manila. a sideline. ract surgery on December 18 fewer than a dozen left. seats, air-conditioning, and French fashion designer its traffic-clogged cities. Their As a result he and a col- He conceded he could have It was in December 1970 when He has seen orders decline enough height to stand up. But Christian Louboutin launched drivers are also notorious for league at Armak Motors now a decent life without the jeep- Smith joined rock group Juan dela from a high of up to 80 a month it will be mass-produced and a jeepney-themed handbag col- ignoring traffic rules, and the paint just three of four jeep- neys, but was heartbroken by Cruz band with hits, Beep Beep, in the 1980s to just one or two look just like a public bus. lection last year, while Swed- vehicles have few safety fea- neys a month. the government’s decision. Balong Malalim, and Himig now. His canvas is being re- Skipping over the jeepney’s ish furniture giant Ikea painted tures. De la Cruz worked on nine “I would like to appeal to Natin. placed by eco-jeepneys, pow- bespoke production process in a jeepney in its signature blue On top of that, Manila ush- in the last year. He’s the only the authorities not to outlaw Aside from being a musician, ered by electricity or lower- small workshops means a loss and yellow to announce plans to ered in Internet-based ride- painter left at Manila’s Sarao it,” de la Cruz said. “At times I Smith also played as one of the polluting diesel motors. Riders of the individual style and fl air open a Philippine store. sharing services in 2014, and Motors, once the country’s cry quietly when I think about two main characters in the 2014 of old jeepneys currently have to that made them global symbols But the vehicles, which were three years later President Ro- biggest producer. Two of his what is happening.” movie, Above the Clouds. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Djokovic stays on course to overtake Federer When he demolished Rafael Nadal on Sunday to win his seventh Australian Open title, third consecutive grand slam and 15th grand slam trophy, Novak Djokovic looked as good as he ever has. Most commentators had expected a much more competitive match from the pair, considered to be among the sport’s greatest ever rivals — their fi ve-set 2012 Melbourne fi nal was a record fi ve hours and 53 minutes, and last year’s Wimbledon semi-fi nal took almost as long. But the Serbian number one had Nadal on the back foot from the start on Sunday. Germany edges out China He only dropped one point on his serve in the fi rst set, committed just nine unforced errors throughout the entire match and hit 34 winners as he posted a straight-sets 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory. “It was truly a perfect match,” Djokovic told reporters, noting that he had committed just 14 unforced errors in Bolivia lithium game combined in the fi nal and semi-fi nal which was “pleasantly surprising to myself as well.” By Mitra Taj and Michael Nienaber The German push included a series of CEO Wolfgang Schmutz said in an to fulfi l Morales’ ambition to break with Uyuni, Bolivia/Berlin visits by German government offi cials interview. Bolivia’s historic role as a mere exporter In an age where some pundits — and Djokovic himself — who talked up the benefi ts of picking a In addition, unlike Chile’s sun- of raw materials. have argued that women shouldn’t get equal prize money German company. drenched Atacama salt fl ats, snow ACI has said it expects the lithium because they don’t play as many sets, it was signifi cant that hen Germany signed a Bolivian offi cials also toured German and rain slow the evaporation process hydroxide plant to have an annual the match was over in just two hours and four minutes. deal last month to help battery factories, Bolivia’s deputy needed to extract lithium from brine in production capacity of 35,000-40,000 Bolivia exploit its huge minister of High Energy Technologies, Uyuni, and the landlocked nation will tonnes by the end of 2022, similar in In the women’s fi nal on lithium reserves, it hailed Luis Alberto Echazu, told Reuters. have to use a port in neighbouring Chile output to plants operated by the world’s Saturday, Naomi Osaka W Nadal was in the venture as a deepening of economic German Economy Minister Peter or Peru to ship the metal out. top lithium producers. needed two hours and 27 ties with the South American country. Altmaier wrote a letter to Morales, ACI, a family-run clean tech and Some 80% of that would be exported tremendous form minutes to defeat Petra But it also gives Germany entry into an environmental champion, machinery supplier, has no experience to Germany. the new “Great Game”, in which big emphasizing Germany’s commitment producing lithium. ACI’s willingness to build a battery at the Australian Kvitova, in a riveting powers like China are jostling across the to environment protection. The company dismisses concerns plant in Bolivia, helped to seal the deal, match that was far less globe for access to the prized electric The lobbying eff ort was capped by from some lithium analysts about its said Echazu, the deputy minister. Open — until he one-sided. battery metal. a call last April between Altmaier and ability to deliver, saying its small size The Chinese did not want to build a Despite lacking match The signing of the deal in Berlin Morales, Bolivian, German and ACI gives it more fl exibility to bring partners battery plant in Bolivia because they felt came up against on December 12 capped two years offi cials said, without off ering details of from diff erent fi elds into the project. it made no economic sense to ship in practice after ending his of intense lobbying by Germany as what was discussed. Schmutz said the company has materials to make the batteries only to re- Djokovic season at the US Open it sought to persuade President Evo German diplomats in La Paz also preliminary lithium supply deals with import the fi nal product to China, he said. because of injury, second Morales’ government that a small stressed high-level German government major German carmakers, but declined China’s embassy in La Paz declined to seed Nadal had appeared in devastating form in Melbourne, German family-run company was backing for the project, potential loan to provide details, citing non-disclosure comment on the Uyuni project, but said a better bet than its Chinese rivals, guarantees and the tantalising prospect agreements. the potential for future co-operation trouncing everyone he played in straight sets — until he according to Reuters interviews with of supply agreements with German None of Germany’s top three with Bolivia on lithium was “huge.” came up against Djokovic. German and Bolivian offi cials. automakers, ACI and Bolivian offi cials carmakers — BMW, VW or Daimler Bolivia’s state-owned lithium “I have been playing against a player that was at the While the substance of the deal has told Reuters. — confi rmed any agreement with ACI producer YLB will own 51% of the new highest level possible, in my opinion, tonight,” Nadal said. been reported, how China, Bolivia’s ACI’s win means Germany now has when contacted by Reuters. joint venture. biggest non-institutional lender a foothold in the fi nal frontier of South BMW said it was in preliminary talks Control of the project was another The next grand slam test for Djokovic will be to triumph and close ideological ally, lost out to America’s so-called Lithium Triangle: with ACI but had made no decision. key demand of the Bolivians, who have on the clay courts of the French Open in May and June — Germany has not. the Uyuni salt fl at in Bolivia, one of the VW said ensuring supplies and stable bitter memories of foreign powers where Nadal has won an unprecedented 11 titles. China has been quietly cornering the world’s largest untapped deposits. prices for raw materials was important, meddling in the former Spanish colony “The ultimate challenge there is to win against Nadal,” global lithium market, making deals in The triangle comprises lithium but noted lithium production in Bolivia to seize its natural resources. Asia, Chile, and Argentina as it seeks to deposits in an area that includes parts of was particularly demanding. Juan Carlos Montenegro, the head of Djokovic admitted. “Then you have [Dominic] Thiem lock in access to a strategic resource that Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. Daimler board member Ola YLB, said geopolitics was a factor for and [Alexander] Zverev, Roger [Federer] is probably going could power the next energy revolution. “This partnership secures lithium Kaellenius said: “If it’s happening, Bolivia in deciding which companies to to play. You have a lot of great players that on clay can China has invested $4.2bn in supplies for us and breaks the Chinese we’re not part of it.” work with. challenge me or anybody else.” South America in the past two years, monopoly,” Wolfgang Tiefensee, ACI said the carmakers that it was in “We don’t want a single country surpassing the value of similar deals by economy minister of the German talks with would not be able to confi rm to set the rules, we want balance and Aside from Nadal, all of those players fell by the wayside Japanese and South Korean companies state of Thuringia, an automotive anything publicly until fi nal deals were other world powers must help create early in Melbourne. in the same period. manufacturing hub, told Reuters during made. that balance,” he said. “So for Bolivia Defending champion Federer was ousted by Stefanos Chinese entities now control nearly a visit to the Bolivian capital La Paz in The global battle for control of it’s important to have not just economic Tsitsipas in the fourth round, with rumours beginning to half of global lithium production and October. lithium has been likened to the “Great partners for markets, but geopolitical 60% of electric battery production The venture in Bolivia is not without Game,” the term coined to describe the strategic partners.” circulate again that the 37-year-old 20-time grand slam capacity. risk for ACI. struggle between Russia and Britain for He stressed, however, that Bolivia champion may be close to retirement. German offi cials told Reuters they While Uyuni boasts at least 21mn infl uence and territory in Central Asia had not been predisposed against China Zverev was embarrassed by Milos Raonic in the fourth championed the bid by ACI Systems tonnes of lithium, Morales has made in the 19th Century. in deciding who had made the best round and has only made it once to the quarter fi nals of a GmbH because they saw an opportunity nationalizing natural resources a key The Bolivian project includes plans off er.”China-Bolivia relations are still to lower Germany’s reliance on Asian policy plank. to build a lithium hydroxide plant and good. grand slam, while seventh seed Thiem retired as he was battery makers and help its carmakers Bolivian offi cials assured ACI that a factory for producing electric car China is present in every country in two sets down and losing in the third to Australian teenager catch up with Chinese and US rivals in foreign investments in the Uyuni would batteries in Bolivia. the world and impossible to avoid,” he Alexei Popyrin, ranked 149 in the world. the race to make electric cars. be guaranteed should anything go awry, Once completed, the factory will help said. But the rivalry between Djokovic and Nadal is set to continue for some more time “I’m sure we’re still going to have a lot of matches against each other on diff erent surfaces,” Djokovic said, adding that he also has Federer’s Grand Slam record in his sights. At 31 years, he is much younger to Federer and Nadal. Plus he has the additional advantage of being one of the fi ttest sportsmen on the planet. If anybody can overtake Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam title, it has to be Djokovic.

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A storage is seen at the industrial plant for potassium chloride, a product that is extracted from brine under a programme developed by Bolivia to produce lithium, before © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved its inauguration in Llipi on the salt lake of Uyuni, Potosi, Bolivia, October 7, 2018. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 29, 2019 19 COMMENT The case for digital identifi cation

By Anu Madgavkar and Olivia White the most basic: people in developing Mumbai/Sanfrancisco countries need them to prove who they are. According to the World Bank’s ID4D orldwide, more than 4bn initiative, nearly 1bn people lack any people are connected to legal identifi cation, making it diffi cult the Internet, spending or impossible to vote, bank, access Wan average of roughly subsidised food, or buy property. Of the six hours per day on Internet-enabled 1.7bn adults who are currently unbanked, devices and services. 20-30% cite their lack of documentation In Thailand and the Philippines, as a primary reason. average daily usage is 9.5 hours; Recognising the problem – and in the United States, 26% of the the potential – dozens of countries population is online “almost are implementing digital IDs in some constantly;” and 1bn more people in form. India’s Aadhaar programme, the world are projected to join the for example, is a biometric “proof of ranks of Internet users by 2022. Yet identity” that covers more than 1.2bn as we embrace the digital world, the residents and is used to co-ordinate complexity of navigating it securely, distribution of government benefi ts. efficiently, and in a personalised In Estonia, 98% of the population have manner becomes more acute. One an electronic ID, and 99% of public promising solution is already being services – including voting – can be deployed in some countries: digital accessed online. identification. The topic is also appearing more The case for “digital IDs” – the frequently on human-development electronic equivalent of physical agendas. In Africa, governments, identifi cation– is strong. For starters, development agencies, and most Internet users are unable to business leaders gather annually keep track of their digital footprint for the ID4Africa forum, which and fi nd it inconvenient to register, promotes “robust and responsible ID authenticate, and manage online ecosystems.” accounts. On average, 90 online The private sector – led by the accounts are linked to every email fi nancial services and technology address, and this total doubles every industries – is taking steps to develop fi ve years. It is no wonder, then, that digital ID systems. For example, since 25% of users forget one password at 2003, a consortium of banks in Sweden least once a day, and about a third of all has used BankID to authenticate digital calls to banks’ call centres are requests transactions, and the system has since India’s Aadhaar programme is a biometric “proof of identity” that covers more than 1.2bn residents and is used to co-ordinate distribution of government benefits. to reset misplaced or forgotten been adopted by the government to passwords. streamline access to public services Digital ID systems that succeed resulting in higher participation society and for undesirable purposes. and biometrics – will help, but strong Carefully designed digital IDs can and health records. in driving high adoption could in the labour market. Digital IDs Poorly planned digital ID systems do policies will also be essential. also help defend against data breaches Yet, the reality is that digital ID create signifi cant economic value could even establish a means to carry risks. Without proper design Still, while the challenges are real, targeting retailers, a growing concern programmes have had mixed success to for individuals, businesses, and control data and digital footprints in principles and controls, a digital ID our research shows that the economic, for many consumers. In just the last date. While a few have achieved large- government institutions. interconnected online ecosystems. system can put enormous power into social, and political benefi ts are simply two months, for example, security scale implementation, many have failed As we document in a new report, Overall, we estimate that high administrators’ hands, enabling unfair too great to ignore. If governments and breaches were reported by Marriott to attain even modest levels of usage. digital IDs have the potential to reduce adoption of digital ID could help discrimination or other inequities. developers are aware of the risks and and Quora, exposing the personal Most of the world’s digital IDs are limited fraud rates, cut customer onboarding produce economic value equivalent To mitigate these risks, countries act to minimise them, digital ID could information of hundreds of millions in scope, enabling only a few of their costs, boost fi nancial inclusion, and to 3% of GDP in a typical advanced will need to develop tough data become a key to inclusive growth. – of customers. As the scope and many possible economic, political, and deepen savings and credit for under- economy and as much as 6% in a protection and privacy laws, as well Project Syndicate sophistication of hacks increase, the social functionalities. Digital ID could banked customers. typical emerging economy. as robust enforcement and security need for better security is obvious. play a much more expansive role in the They can also spur development by Digital ID technologies are, however, measures. Advances in registration and z Anu Madgavkar is a McKinsey But perhaps the most compelling way individuals and institutions interact enabling digital talent matching and akin to dual-use technologies that authentication technologies – such Global Institute partner in India. Olivia argument supporting digital IDs is with each other. streamlined employee verification, can be used both to the benefi t of as electronic cards, cryptography, White is a partner in McKinsey

Qatar at forefront of data protection in schools Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 260c Minimum Temperature : 200c By Dr Richard Harrold Personal Data (Qatar Data Protection the most valuable commodity in the contracts outlining how data will be Doha Law) represented the fi rst attempt world, educational organisations have processed. And others might decide WEDNESDAY in the Gulf region to introduce such had to learn quickly that safeguarding to assert a formal claim that data Maximum Temperature : 230c robust data protection laws. Last year the data of students and young people processing is done in accordance with Minimum Temperature : 160c he public’s understanding of also saw the publication of the General is of paramount importance. a controller’s legitimate purpose. THURSDAY data privacy and of the prac- Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), Whilst the Qatar Data Protection Understanding the diff erences in Maximum Temperature : 260c tices involved in data protec- which became law across the European Law represents a signifi cant step approach, and deciding which to use, Minimum Temperature : 160c tion has increased markedly Economic Area. Clearly, legislators towards guiding and shaping sound are now crucially important tasks best T Fisherman's forecast over the past year. Partly, this is down around the world have realised it was data protection practices, the way we done by someone closely involved in to some high-profi le cases involving time to review data protection rules. gather, store, utilise, share, disclose, the day-to-day data processing tasks WARNING in their workplace. Inshore : Strong wind expected well-known corporations such as Fa- Because of these new regulations in delete and process diff erent types of at some places during cebook, Google, and Uber, all of whom Qatar and the country’s strong trading data depends on a myriad of factors, The Ministry of Transport and afternoon & poor have suff ered the embarrassment of relationship with Europe, Qatar-based many of which will be legitimate in Communications in Qatar is already horizontal visibility having their data gathering practices organisations must guard against data some settings and circumstances and discussing the criteria that will be used Offshore : Expected thunder rain at first strong wind & challenged with regulators. Partly, too, breaches. Yet data breaches are almost quite inappropriate in others. to determine candidacy for its new high sea by afternoon the public’s enhanced understanding certainly going to remain a major For example, some schools will ob- certifi cate of compliance by setting WEATHER of data protection stems from well risk for all organisations that process tain consent for data processing from appropriately high standards for data Inshore : Blowing dust at some areas at times & p publicised changes in laws and regula- personal data. their parent communities to ensure protection in the country, and that cloudy with c of light tions governing what organisations are In the education sector, schools the data is processed lawfully. Other should be reassuring news for all of us. sctd rain, cold by night and are not permitted to do with our and colleges have realised they are schools take the view that parental Offshore : Slight dust & partly cloudy to cloudy with personal data. as vulnerable to data breaches – and consent is not enough because it z Dr Richard Harrold is Data Pro- c of sctd rain maybe In Qatar, the 2016 Law Promulgat- even cyber security attacks – as large can be withdrawn at any time. They tection Offi cer at ACS International thundery at times ing the Protection of the Privacy of corporations. In an age where data is may decide instead to prepare legal Schools WIND Inshore : Southwesterly-North- westerly 10-20/26 KT Offshrore : Northwesterly 15-25 KT Visibility : 4-8/3 KM Offshore : 5-8 FT

Around the region Live issues Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Baghdad M Sunny 18/08 P Cloudy 18/09 Kuwait CitySunny 19/11 M Cloudy 18/12 Manama S Showers 22/16 M Sunny 21/16 Muscat P Cloudy 26/20 P Cloudy 26/20 Internet addiction, the new digital drug Tehran S Showers 11/03 Sunny 12/04

By Gabriella Borter for decades are now seeing more cases, said he developed an Internet addiction Internet addiction as a disorder. Last Reuters Health prompting a wave of new treatment to cope with those disorders. year, however, the WHO recognised programmes to open across the United “Reboot” patients spend 28 days at the more specifi c Gaming Disorder States. Mental health centres in Florida, a suburban facility equipped with 16 following years of research in China, hen Danny Reagan was 13, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and bedrooms, classrooms, a gym and a South Korea and Taiwan, where doctors he began exhibiting signs other states are adding inpatient dining hall. They undergo diagnostic have called it a public health crisis. of what doctors usually Internet addiction treatment to their tests, psychotherapy, and learn to Some online games and console Wassociate with drug line of services. moderate their Internet use. manufacturers have advised gamers addiction. He became agitated, secretive Some sceptics view Internet Chris Tuell, clinical director of against playing to excess. YouTube has and withdrew from friends. He had quit addiction as a false condition, contrived addiction services, started the program created a time monitoring tool to nudge baseball and Boy Scouts, and he stopped by teenagers who refuse to put away in December after seeing several cases, viewers to take breaks from their screens doing homework and showering. their smartphones, and the Reagans say including Danny’s, where young people as part of its parent company Google’s But he was not using drugs. He was they have had trouble explaining it to were using the Internet to “self- “digital wellbeing” initiative. hooked on YouTube and video games, extended family. medicate” instead of drugs and alcohol. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic Around the world to the point where he could do nothing Anthony Bean, a psychologist and The Internet, while not offi cially said Internet addiction is the subject of Weather Weather else. As doctors would confi rm, he was author of a clinician’s guide to video recognised as an addictive substance, “intensive research” and consideration today Max/min tomorrow Max/min addicted to his electronics. game therapy, said that excessive similarly hijacks the brain’s reward for future classifi cation. The American Athens Cloudy 16/10 Showers 15/09 “After I got my console, I kind of fell in gaming and Internet use might indicate system by triggering the release of Psychiatric Association has labelled Beirut P Cloudy 17/13 Sunny 19/13 love with it,” Danny, now 16 and a junior other mental illnesses but should not be pleasure-inducing chemicals and is gaming disorder a “condition for further Bangkok P Cloudy 33/22 M Sunny 34/24 in a Cincinnati high school, said. “I liked labelled independent disorders. accessible from an early age, Tuell said. study.” Berlin P Cloudy 03/-3 M Cloudy 03/-2 being able to kind of shut everything out “It’s kind of like pathologising “The brain really doesn’t care what it “Whether it’s classifi ed or not, people Cairo Sunny 21/09 Sunny 21/08 and just relax.” a behaviour without actually is, whether I pour it down my throat or are presenting with these problems,” Cape Town Cloudy 23/18 P Cloudy 24/17 Danny was diff erent from typical understanding what’s going on,” he said. put it in my nose or see it with my eyes Tuell said. Colombo P Cloudy 32/22 P Cloudy 32/23 plugged-in American teenagers. At fi rst, Danny’s parents took him to or do it with my hands,” Tuell said. “A Tuell recalled one person whose Dhaka P Cloudy 23/12 Sunny 24/13 Psychiatrists say Internet addiction, doctors and made him sign contracts lot of the same neurochemicals in the addiction was so severe that the patient Hong Kong P Cloudy 19/17 P Cloudy 20/14 characterised by a loss of control over pledging to limit his Internet use. Nothing brain are occurring.” would defecate on himself rather Istanbul M Cloudy 14/09 P Cloudy 14/09 Internet use and disregard for the worked, until they discovered a pioneering Even so, recovering from Internet than leave his electronics to use the Jakarta T Storm 30/24 S T Storms 30/25 consequences of it, aff ects up to 8% residential therapy centre in Mason, Ohio, addiction is diff erent from other bathroom. Karachi Sunny 24/17 P Cloudy 24/16 of Americans and is becoming more about 22 miles north of Cincinnati. addictions because it is not about Research on Internet addiction London Showers 06/-1 M Sunny 05/-2 common around the world. The “Reboot” programme at the “getting sober,” Tuell said. The Internet may soon produce empirical results to Manila P Cloudy 29/22 M Cloudy 30/23 “We’re all mildly addicted. I think Lindner Centre for Hope off ers inpatient has become inevitable and essential in meet medical classifi cation standards, Moscow Cloudy -1/-3 S Showers 02/01 that’s obvious to see in our behaviour,” treatment for 11 to 17-year-olds who, schools, at home and in the workplace. Tuell said, as psychologists have found New Delhi Sunny 19/06 M Cloudy 20/09 said psychiatrist Kimberly Young, like Danny, have addictions including “It’s always there,” Danny said, evidence of a brain adaptation in teens New York Rain 06/-5 Cloudy -1/-14 who has led the fi eld of research since online gaming, gambling, social media, pulling out his smartphone. “I feel it in who compulsively play games and use Paris S Showers 05/01 Rain & Snow 03/-2 founding the Centre for Internet pornography and sexting, often to my pocket. But I’m better at ignoring it.” the Internet. Sao Paulo M Sunny 34/20 M Sunny 34/21 Addiction in 1995. “It becomes a public escape from symptoms of mental Medical experts have begun taking “It’s not a choice, it’s an actual Seoul P Cloudy 04/-6 M Cloudy 07/-7 health concern obviously as health is illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Internet addiction more seriously. disorder and a disease,” said Danny. Singapore T Storm 31/25 T Storm 30/26 infl uenced by the behaviour.” Danny was diagnosed with Attention Neither the World Health “People who joke about it not being Sydney Cloudy 28/22 Cloudy 29/22 Psychiatrists such as Young who have Defi cit Hyperactivity Disorder at age 5 Organisation (WHO) nor the American serious enough to be super offi cial, it Tokyo Clear 11/03 Clear 09/02 studied compulsive Internet behaviour and Anxiety Disorder at 6, and doctors Psychiatric Association recognise hurts me personally.” Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, January 29, 2019 QATAR

Amir, Korean president hold talks, witness signing of agreements

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in witnessed the signing of a number of memorandums of understanding between the governments of the two countries at the Blue House, the presidential palace, in Seoul yesterday. The signing ceremony was attended by members of the off icial delegation accompanying His Highness the Amir. From the Korean side, it was attended by a number of ministers and senior off icials. — QNA

Amir’s visit is of great Qatar, South Korea sign agreements, importance, say envoys take bilateral ties to greater heights From Page 1 Cup and the infrastructure also dealt with the regional and sador to South Korea Mohamed From Page 1 concern, he said. He said the talks will in- projects are proceeding well and international issues. In this con- bin Abdullah al-Dehaimi, South Meanwhile, Japan’s am- clude exchange of views and Sheikh Tamim said Qatar was expressed his full satisfaction text, President Moon thanked Korea’s ambassador to Qatar Kim Al-Emadi stressed the bassador to Qatar Seiichi policies, in particular, on proud to host the 2022 FIFA World with the progress made in this the Amir for Qatar’s support of Chang-mo, and members of the desire and political will of Otsuka said the Amir’s visit how to bring stability to the Cup as it is the fi rst Arab nation to regard. Sheikh Tamim hailed the the inter-Korean peace process Qatari embassy in Seoul saw off the leaders of the two coun- is the first high-level meet- Mena region. organise this great event. He ac- promising Qatari national foot- and for its stance in resolving the the Amir and his accompanying tries to strengthen rela- ing of the two countries af- Japan also expects to knowledged South Korea’s expe- ball team, which is preparing for Gulf dispute through dialogue. delegation. tions at all levels, noting the ter the blockade. strengthen economic activ- rience in organising major sports the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has Sheikh Tamim noted that direct The Amir sent a cable to the strong personal relations “We are looking forward ities in Qatar, Otsuka said. events such as Seoul Olympic achieved excellent result in the dialogue, especially between the South Korean President, express- between the Amir and Ja- to holding substantial dis- Qatar’s decision to build Games, 2002 Busan Asian Games, current Asian Cup. He wished two Koreas, is the best way to re- ing his thanks and appreciation pan’s Prime Minister Shinzo cussions. This is a precious additional LNG production 2002 World Cup and the Olympic the team success in the semi- solve all disputes. for his hospitality and exchange Abe. opportunity for both of us capacity by 33mn tons last Winter Games last year. fi nal match. The Amir and his accompany- of views on issues of common The ambassador said the to advance the bilateral co- year is the key decision to The Amir also hoped to benefi t During the meeting, Sheikh ing delegation later attended a concern, as well as means to high-level delegation ac- operative relations.” not only step up domestic from South Korea’s experiences Tamim and President Moon dis- luncheon banquet hosted by the strengthen friendly relations and companying the Amir in- The discussions in Tokyo economic development but in preparing for the 2022 FIFA cussed means to enhance co- South Korean President. close co-operation between the cludes a number of min- will cover ways and means to also increase substantial World Cup, especially as Qatar operation and relations in vari- Later in the day, Sheikh Tamim two countries. isters, senior officials and promote bilateral relation- supply to the international and South Korea have already co- ous fi elds, especially in energy, left Seoul for Japan, ending the He also noted the keenness of businessmen. This will al- ship, as well as to exchange gas market, the ambassa- organised the 2006 Asian Games economy, investment, health, two-day offi cial visit to South the two countries to strengthen low the exchange of views views on the regional and dor said. Japan considers it in Qatar. agriculture, education and tech- Korea. South Korean Minis- and develop relations in various with Japanese counterparts international situations, the critical and a key project for He said Qatar’s preparations nology, as well as co-operation ter of Ocean and Fisheries Kim fi elds in the interest of the two on various topics of mutual ambassador said. both countries, he added. for hosting the 2022 FIFA World in the military fi eld. The talks Young-choon, Qatar’s ambas- friendly peoples, QNA added.