BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Dominant Lekhwiya grab 3-0 win INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-9, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 Global demand for REGION 10 BUSINESS 1-8, 13-16 over UAE’s LNG reaches 265mn 20,629.00 10,912.76 53.69 ARAB WORLD 10, 12 CLASSIFIED 9-13 +41.00 -4.23 +0.29 INTERNATIONAL 13-25 SPORTS 1-12 tonnes in 2016: Shell Jazira +0.20% -0.04% _+0.54% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10371 February 21, 2017 Jumada I 24, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir opens Laff an Refi nery 2 In brief LR2 has a total processing capacity tional environmental standards”. of 146,000 barrels per day of Al-Kaabi noted that by adding this condensate from the North Field project to Laff an 1, “the refi ning capac- and produces ‘low sulphur Euro-V’ ity will double to 292,000 barrels per specification products such as day, which is equal to 100mn barrels naphtha, jet-A1, ultra-low sulphur per year, making Ras Laff an Industrial QATAR | Event diesel, propane and butane City one of the biggest condensate re- PM inaugurates fi ning locations in the world.” human rights meet By Pratap John The new refi nery processes con- Chief Business Reporter densate to produce fi ve high quality HE the Prime Minister and Minister products. These products support the of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin energy and industry sectors by provid- Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday atar is now home to one of the ing energy sources and raw feedstock inaugurated the International largest condensate refi ners in material, namely naphtha, kerojet (A- Conference on Human Rights Qthe world with HH the Emir 1), diesel and liquefi ed petroleum gas in Approach to Conflict Situations in Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in- the form of propane and butane. It also the Arab Region. The conference is augurating the Laff an Refi nery 2, which creates new economic opportunities by organised by the National Human is majority owned by QP. enhancing export capacity and there- Rights Committee (NHRC) and the LR2 at Ras Laff an has a total process- fore the ability to supply international UN High Commissioner for Human ing capacity of 146,000 barrels per day demand for energy. Rights (OHCHR), in co-operation of condensate from the North Field, the Qatargas CEO Sheikh Khalid bin with the General Secretariat of the largest non-associated natural gas re- Khalifa al-Thani said: “The new refi n- Council of Arab Interior Ministers serve in the world. ery is a clear demonstration of Qatar- and the Arab Network for National The facility will eff ectively double gas’ ability to manage and operate our Human Rights Institutions. A number the condensate refi ning capacity of the resources safely, effi ciently and reliably, of ministers and representatives Laff an Refi nery Complex to 292,000 and further strengthens our reputation of governments and regional and barrels per day, solidifying the coun- for value creation and operational ex- international inter-governmental and try’s unique position as the largest cellence.” Business Page 1 non-governmental organisations condensate producer with the largest attended the opening. Pages 2, 3 condensate refi ning capacity in the world. Pipeline to supply LR2 produces ‘low sulphur Euro-V’ jet fuel to HIA specifi cation products such as naph- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani inaugurating the state-of-the-art Laff an Refinery 2 at a special event held at the tha, jet-A1, ultra-low sulphur diesel Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday. A pipeline and associated facilities to (ULSD), propane and butane. supply jet fuel to Hamad International With Laff an Refi nery 2 going on- tre and attended by senior ministers tar Petroleum president and CEO Saad country, capable of achieving sustain- Airport (HIA) from Ras Laff an would stream, Qatar now has the capacity to and offi cials, project shareholders, and Sherida al-Kaabi, also Qatargas chair- able development and ensuring the be completed “probably next year”, process about 40% of the condensate leading industry executives. man, said: “We are deeply honoured continuation of a dignifi ed life for its said Qatar Petroleum President & from the off shore North Field into high Laffan Refinery 2 is an important by the patronage and presence of His people, generation after generation.” CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi. The quality products with low sulphur con- milestone in the development of the Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin He said: “We, in Qatar Petroleum, Engineering, Procurement, Installation tent. oil and gas sector in Qatar due to its Hamad al-Thani.” its subsidiaries and joint ventures, and Commissioning (EPIC) contract Qatargas operates the refi nery on be- strategic role in diversifying Qatar’s Al-Kaabi said: “This inauguration is have been working to achieve the pil- to build a pipeline and associated half of the shareholders – Qatar Petro- energy mix. As such, Laffan Refinery the result of the wise leadership and di- lars of this vision, and have worked to facilities that will be used to transport leum (84%), Total (10%), Cosmo (2%), 2 will make a significant contribu- rectives of His Highness the Emir, and ensure the wise and prudent manage- the jet fuel had already been awarded Idemitsu (2%), Mitsui (1%) and Maru- tion to the sustained, economic de- is another step on the road to a better ment of our hydrocarbon resources, to a joint venture of Consolidated beni (1%). velopment of Qatar by optimising the future as mapped by Qatar Vision 2030, the calculated and diverse invest- Contractors Group & Teyseer HH the Emir inaugurated Laff an Re- country’s natural resources for gen- which was launched by His Highness. ment, the development of the Qatari Contracting Company, al-Kaabi told fi nery 2 at a special ceremony held at erations to come. This vision has laid the foundations citizen, and the ability to implement Gulf Times yesterday. the Qatar National Convention Cen- Addressing the inaugural event, Qa- to transform Qatar into an advanced our projects with the highest interna-

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud and HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani tour the 14th DJWE yesterday as Alfardan Jewellery Company president Ali Alfardan briefs them in the presence of prominent Qatari jeweller Hussain Alfardan and other dignitaries. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Qatari designers make their debut at jewellery and watches exhibition

By Ramesh Mathew The DJWE, the fi rst event in the Young Qatari Designers, an initiative Also, this year, DJWE features a Staff Reporter annual calendar of such major shows launched for the fi rst time, allowing central exhibition which has been across the world, has over 50 ex- emerging Qatari designers to shine in especially curated to reveal excep- hibitors representing more than 500 their own dedicated exhibition space. tional, privately-owned jewellery he 14th Doha Jewellery and widely acclaimed global, regional Among the local talents are Fajr al- and timepieces that have never been Watches Exhibition (DJWE) and Qatari brands. Attiya (Trifoglio), Ghada al-Bouanain shown in Doha before. Topened at the Doha Exhibi- Prominent Qatari jewellers Al- (Ghada Al Bouanian), Nada al-Sulaiti DJWE 2017 is organised by Qatar tion and Convention Centre (DECC) fardan Jewellery Company, Al Majed (Hairaat), Nour Alfardan (Noudar), Tourism Authority (QTA) together yesterday. Jewellery, Al Muftah Jewellery, Ali Bin Nouf al-Meer (Nouf Jewellery) and with this year’s partners, Auditoire. Held under the patronage of HE Ali Group, Amiri Gems, Blue Salon Sarah al-Hammadi (Sarah’s & Co). The exhibition, which attracted a the Prime Minister and Interior and Fifty One East have independent Visitors can enjoy unique, interac- large number of families yesterday, Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser pavilions. According to the organis- tive workshops from Objectif Horlo- is expected to be thronged by many bin Khalifa al-Thani, the six-day ers, approximately 10% of the exhibi- gerie, where watch afi cionados will visitors in the next fi ve days. event was formally opened by HE the tors are making their debut here while get a glimpse into the art of master “We are hopeful that the conven- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister most others have been participating craftsmanship. ient location of the venue and in- of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed since the start of the event 13 years ago. Attendees also have a rare oppor- creased accessibility would draw a bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, Besides designers of high-end tunity to enjoy the glamour of the number of serious customers in the in the presence of HE the Minister jewellery pieces, several exhibitors past through historical black and next few days,” a QTA offi cial said. of Economy and Commerce Sheikh of precious diamonds, pearls, stones white photography. The Harcourt Entry to DJWE 2017 is free (re- Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed and limited edition and premium Studio, which has told the story of served to visitors above 12) and reg- al-Thani, senior Qatari offi cials and watches have their stalls at the venue. Hollywood’s biggest stars since the istration can be completed at the several exhibitors. Apart from Qatar and other coun- 1940s, enables visitors to have their venue or online at www.djwe.qa Soon after the opening the dig- tries of the region, exhibitors have portraits taken and create an elegant This year’s offi cial DJWE partners, nitaries went around the sprawling also fl own in from the Fast East, Eu- exhibition memento in the privacy of Qatar Airways and Shangri-La Doha venue, where the DJWE is being held rope, South America and India. their studio, recreated outside Paris are off ering travellers discounted for the second successive year. The 14th DJWE also presents the for the fi rst time at DJWE. rates. Pages 7, 28 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 QATAR NHRC conference highlights need for more dialogue in Arab region

By Joseph Varghese staff Reporter Saudi human rights panel chief lauds Qatar President of Saudi Arabia’s co-operation of all parties ialogue must play a major Human Rights Commission Dr involved to quell human rights role in resolving the cri- Bandar bin Mohamed al-Aiban violations. Dsis in the Arab World and expressed his appreciation to He said that Qatar’s hosting government and non-govern- HH the Emir, government and of the such an important ment organisations should lead people of Qatar for holding event reflected the country’s the way in this regard, an inter- the “International Conference commitment to standing up national forum on human rights on Human Rights Approach to human rights violations in was told yesterday. to Conflict Situations in conflict-stricken areas. The two-day event on ‘Hu- the Arab Region” at a time He added that HE the Prime man Rights Approach to Confl ict when the region is facing Minister and Minister of Situations in the Arab Region’ many conflicts and in urgent Interior Sheikh Abdullah was opened in the presence and need of concerted efforts bin Nasser bin Khalifa under the patronage of HE the to address human rights al-Thani’s opening of the Prime Minister and Interior violations. Conference reaff irmed Qatar’s Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Speaking to Qatar News commitment to human rights. Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. Agency (QNA) on the sidelines He believed that the topics The conference is organised of the conference which which will be discussed during by the National Human Rights kicked off in Doha yesterday, the two-day conference will Committee (NHRC) and the UN Dr al-Aiban noted that the contribute to strengthening High Commissioner for Human conference is being held at a co-operation among countries Rights, in co-operation with the time when the Arab world is at and regional and international General Secretariat of the Coun- the centre of many conflicts, organisations in stopping cil of Arab Interior Ministers and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State something that requires the human rights violations. the Arab Network for National for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud and other dignitaries at the opening session of the conference. Human Rights Institutions. NHRC chairman Dr Ali bin Co-operation Council, as well to the failure to provide social, spect for human rights. The way Sumaikh al-Marri in his address as Issa bin Said al-Kayyumi, political and economic rights forward is to build bridges be- at the opening session highlight- chairman of Arab Network for to the people. They also lead to tween countries and cultures,” ed that the challenges faced by National Human Rights Institu- marginalisation of many sec- he noted. the region are very critical and tions were present at the open- tions in the embattled societies.” Offi cials who spoke at the governmental and non-govern- ing session. He also highlighted some of opening session highlighted the mental agencies must work to- Several dignitaries and offi - the civil wars and crimes against need for more dialogue for re- gether to resolve them. cials from regional and interna- humanity, particularly in Syria, solving the issues and pointed Kate Gilmore, United Nations tional governmental and non- Yemen and Iraq and highlighted out that education and cultural Deputy High Commissioner for governmental organisations of that the refugee crisis was yet understanding are the two ma- Human Rights; Mohamed bin human rights as well as heads another challenge facing the re- jor steps to bring the situation to Ali Koman, secretary general, of regional and international gion. normalcy. General Secretariat of the Arab investigative committees and “The real way to fi ght ex- According to the organis- Interior Ministers’ Council; other institutions are attending tremism is by respecting hu- ers, the conference highlights Al-Taieb Baccouche, secretary the conference. man rights.There must be a NHRC’s role in promoting hu- general of Arab Maghreb Union; Al-Marri stated that the dialogue which should establish man rights, especially during Adel Abdulrahman al-Asoomi, present challenges lead to the the groundwork for transitional times of confl ict and crises and deputy chair of the Arab Par- emergence of armed groups and justice. Terrorism has no place shows Qatar’s eff orts in promot- liament; Hamad bin Rashid the spread of hateful, sectarian in countries that respect rights, ing human rights and settling al-Marri, assistant secretary ideas. “All the armed confl icts in freedom and social justice. confl icts to enhance interna- general for legal aff airs, Gulf the Arab World presently are due There is no security without re- tional peace and stability. The off icials at the opening session of the conference. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 3 QATAR NHRC signs MoU with Arab Parliament OFFICIAL

By Joseph Varghese FM sends message Staff Reporter to Italian counterpart he National Human Rights Committee HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh T(NHRC) signed yesterday Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- a Memorandum of Understand- Thani has sent a written message ing (MoU) with the Arab Parlia- to Italian Foreign Minister ment to enhance co-operation Angelino Alfano pertaining and co-ordination in promoting to bilateral relations between human rights across the region Qatar and Italy and means of and in the fi elds of joint interest. developing them. The MoU was signed by Ambassador Gian Lorenzo NHRC chairman Dr Ali bin Su- Cornado, the political adviser maikh al-Marri and the deputy to the Italian foreign minister, speaker of the Arab Parliament, received the message when he Adel Abdulrahman Mohammed met Qatar’s ambassador to Italy Ahmed al-Assoumi which took Abdulaziz bin Ahmad al-Malki place at the opening session of yesterday. the international conference on ‘Human Rights Approach to Advisory Council Conflict Situations in the Arab Region’, being held at Sheraton holds meeting Doha. Speaking to the media after The Advisory Council held its the signing ceremony, Dr al- regular weekly session under the Marri said that the agreement chairmanship of HE the Deputy aims at the promotion of human Speaker of the Advisory Council rights in the whole region. Issa bin Rabia al-Kuwari. The “With this MoU, we focus council reviewed the report of on how to form a mechanism Dr Ali bin Sumaikh al-Marri and Adel Abdulrahman Mohammed Ahmed al-Assoumi shake hands after the signing ceremony. the Services and Public Utilities to respect human rights in the Committee about a draft law conflict areas. We are pro- ments in the region that are of human rights in violent to the issues after the end of pertise and capability building. eff orts in the region. on organising the supply of moting value of human rights grappled with problems and situations. It will also discuss the conflicts,” he noted. Al-Asoomi said that the MoU Several high ranking offi- electricity and water and decided with our partners such as UN provide guidance for them to means to avoid and to deal According to, Dr al-Marri, the refl ects both parties’ commit- cials of regional human rights to return it to the committee for Human Rights Commission overcome the problems.” he with conflicts through the MoU refl ects the commitment ment to human rights. He also bodies witnessed the signing further study. Meanwhile, the as well as other organisa- explained. promotion of human rights. of both the parties to enhance expressed the hope that the ceremony and applauded the Advisory Council’s Legal and tions in the region. We aim to “The focus of the confer- We focus on how to resolve their co-operation in the fi eld of agreement will lead to accelera- efforts of NHRC in promoting Legislative Aff airs Committee help and support the govern- ence is to highlight the issue the issues and what happens human rights by exchanging ex- tion of human rights promotion human rights in the region. held a meeting chaired by its rapporteur Nasser Rashid Qatar wins praise for hosting conference Serraya al-Kaabi yesterday. The committee resumed its study of Deputy Speaker of the Arab Parliament conflict-stricken areas. a draft law regulating the work Adel Abdulrahman Mohamed Ahmed He touched on the signing of the MoU of real estate brokerages and Doha conference focuses on al-Assoumi praised Qatar for hosting the Arab Parliament and Qatar’s National decided to submit its report the International Conference on Human Human Rights Committee and said that it thereon to the Advisory Council. Rights Approach to Conflict Situations in will enhance the partnership between the the Arab Region. two sides to promote human rights. Qatar-Moldova Speaking at the opening session, Al-Assoumi stressed that the Arab ties reviewed rights issues in Arab region al-Assoumi said that the conference Parliament works to maintain the couldn’t come at a better time as the national security of member-states. entire Arab World needed a firm stand if He said that they had launched an Moldovan President Igor By Joseph Varghese There will be several it wanted to end human rights violations initiative to support the Syrian refugees. Dodon yesterday met Qatar’s Staff Reporter more more sessions today. in the region. The Deputy Speaker was also vocal in ambassador to Moldova The topics of discussion He admitted that Arab countries were expressing the parliament’s support to Mohamed bin Ali al-Maliki. include many issues such facing numerous threats and dangers the right of the Palestinian people to live During the meeting, which was he role of civil socie- protection of women, chil- to human rights, particularly in peacefully in their independent state. held in Chisinau, they discussed ties and the impor- dren and minorities in con- bilateral relations. Ttance of education fl ict situations, the impact and cultural understand- of armed confl ict on the ing were highlighted in right of education, the hu- ensuring human rights in man rights-based approach the Arab region on the fi rst in transitional justice and day of the two-day human A panel discussion in progress yesterday at the conference. humanitarian aid in the rights conference, which confl ict zones in the Arab opened yesterday. Maghreb Union, highlight- focused on the role of edu- region. Speaking at the opening ed that civil societies can cation in promoting and The conference aims session, the United Na- play a great role in protect- protecting human rights to address measures tions deputy high com- ing human rights in the re- and reducing the culture of based on human rights missioner for human gion. hatred and isolation. norms that govern- rights, Kate Gilmore un- “Civil societies are work- The panellists high- ments, national human derlined the importance of ing at the ground level and lighted that many of the rights intuitions and respecting human rights know the details of the con- confl icts in the Arab region other stakeholders can and other related issues. fl icts in a better way. They were the results of viola- engage in the aftermath She stressed the impor- are in a better position than tions of human rights and of conflict to prevent tance of fostering policies many other organisations to the eff orts to cover them up. recurrence, including that will avoid hatred and handle the situations. They They noted that several dif- peace agreements, and marginalisation. Taking can contribute and help the ferent entities were respon- promote peacekeeping part in a panel discussion, governments in taking the sible for such incidents. activities. she also pointed to the right measures in ensuring The second panel ses- The conference is ex- need for protecting human human rights.” sion discussed the human pected to present a number dignity and providing sup- During a panel discus- rights-based approach to of recommendations to port for the people suffer- sion, the subject of re- confl ict situations, while resolve the human rights ing from conflicts. spect for human rights as the third session focused issues as well as other sug- Al-Taieb Baccouche, a preventive approach was on the situation of human gestions for ensuring hu- secretary general of Arab discussed. The discussion rights amidst confl icts. man rights in the region. ‘Unsettled weather’ expected over the weekend with chance of rain

nother spell of ‘un- the weather offi ce has said. are likely during the day and today as a minimum tem- settled weather’ and The Met department has it will also be partly cloudy. perature of 10C is likely in Arain is expected in asked people to be cautious There is a chance of light Al Khor, followed by 12C in the country over the com- and avoid venturing into sea rain in some places, and it Mesaieed, Wakrah and Abu ing weekend, the Qatar Met during this period in view of will be cold by night. Samra, while in Doha it will department has said. the expected conditions. Hazy and partly cloudy be 14C. The maximum, on There is a chance of light Scattered light rain was conditions have been fore- the other hand, will range rain in some places today detected in some places cast in off shore areas and from 15C to 19C. as well, while strong winds yesterday, too, especially there could be scattered Yesterday, a minimum and high seas have been in the central and western rain in some places at fi rst. temperature of 10C was re- forecast in off shore areas in parts of Qatar, the Met de- The wind speed in these corded in Al Khor, Ghuwairi- the early hours of the day. It partment tweeted. Drizzles areas may go up to 22 knots ya and Karana. In and around will also continue to be cold were reported from Doha as (northwesterly), with the the capital, the minimum across the country today. well, especially towards the sea level rising to 7ft in cer- was 11C in the Qatar Uni- In a report yesterday, the evening. tain areas in the early hours versity (QU) area, 12C in the Met department said a state Meanwhile, the detailed of the day. Hamad International Airport of instability was expected forecast for inshore areas The country will expe- (HIA) area and 13C in the to aff ect the country during today says mild conditions rience another cold day Doha airport area. the weekend, starting from Thursday (February 23), 196mn gallons of water removed; Ghuwairiya tops rain charts due to the “passage of an upper-level trough of low The Rain Emergency Committee at the 2,086 complaints in this regard and all pressure”. Ministry of Municipality and Environment of these were adequately addressed, the The skies are likely to be- (MME) has concluded draining out rainwater statement noted. However, operation will come cloudy gradually and throughout Qatar except in the Industrial still go on to deal with any reported rain there is a chance of scat- Area, the MME has said in a press statement. accumulations. tered rain, mostly light Work will continue wherever required in Meanwhile, a chart issued by the Qatar to moderate in intensity, order to clear all roads. A nearly week-long Met department yesterday showed that which may become thun- rainy spell had led to water accumulation at a Ghuwairiya towards the north received dery at times over some number of places in the country. the highest rainfall in the country – 84mm areas. More than 196mn gallons of water were - between Sunday, February 12, and Friday, Northeasterly to north- drained out from early Tuesday (February 14) February 17. It was followed by Ras Laff an with westerly winds of moderate until 6am yesterday, the MME said. This was 80.9mm, Dukhan with 73.3mm, Ruwais with to fresh intensity will blow done in 35,419 batches using 321 tankers. Also, 67.3mm, Shehaimiya with 60.2mm, QU area during this period, be- 647 employees and workers were involved in with 56.2mm, Sheehaniya with 48.7mm, Abu coming strong at times on the process. Hamour with 48.5mm, HIA area with 47.3mm Friday (February 24). Tem- MME and Public Works Authority (Ash- and Doha airport area with 41.8mm. The low- peratures, in general, will be ghal) emergency centres received some est was in Jumayliyah – 26mm. around their average levels, Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 QATAR

QU student body announces election of new president

atar University Student Representative Board Q(QUSRB) has announced the election of QU College of Business and Economics (CBE) student Yehia Albdulhakeem al- Awaa as its fourth president. Al-Awaa said being elected as the QUSRB president is a huge responsibility as he will be voic- ing QU students’ opinions. “We Yehia Albdulhakeem al-Awaa CNA-Q Pharmacy Technician students attend the Crest Ceremony. will collaborate with college rep- resentatives to represent QU stu- general, and the students in par- dents in the best way.” ticular. The Board conforms to QUSRB was established in QU policies and regulations, and 2011 due to the importance of to the laws of the State of Qatar. the students’ contribution in the It also promotes QU vision and achievement of QU educational mission that aim to provide QU purposes. It serves the needs and students with an optimum edu- CNA-Q welcomes 89 new interests of QU community in cational environment. Expat to be deported for stealing cash

An Ethiopian man has been sentenced to one year in jail and subsequent deportation by a Doha Criminal Court for stealing money from a newspaper Health Sciences students seller. Arabic daily Arrayah has reported that the victim, who used to work as a newspaper seller, was at a shopping mall with QR1,550 and was heading to a exchange to send the funds home. The defendant deliberately bumped total of 89 fi rst-year al-Thani, director of public education and training off ered the College, I apply right now dean, School of Health Sci- into the victim and poured a cup of tea on the latter’s pants. The defendant students at the School health at the Ministry of Public to students.” to my work,” she said. “The in- ences. pretended to apologise and started to help the victim to clean his dress. It was Aof Health Sciences at Health (MoPH), was the key- CNA-Q Class of 2008 grad- structors are also your friends CNA-Q off ers nine health- only later that the victim realised he had lost the money and reported the issue College of the North Atlantic- note speaker at the ceremony uate Fatima Kamel al-Otoum – they guided me, listened to care diploma programmes tai- to the police. Reviewing cameras in the mall, the defendant was identified and Qatar (CNA-Q) were offi cially which also celebrated the stu- also spoke to the new students, me, encouraged me.” lored to the needs of Qatar’s arrested. welcomed at the fourth annual dents’ choice to enter the allied sharing her insight as a prac- “This ceremony is about growing healthcare sector: Crest Ceremony. healthcare fi eld. tising allied healthcare profes- making our students feel wel- advanced care paramedicine, Man fined for driving without license They received a crest to Sheikh Dr Mohamed empha- sional. She is now senior su- come – to CNA-Q and to the dental hygiene, environmental display on their white lab sised the importance of hard pervisor for health inspection wonderful world of health- health, health education: dia- A Doha Criminal Court has fined a Tunisian man QR3,000 for driving a coats and personal protec- work for a successful future. at the MoPH. care. It is a special event that betes, health and wellness pro- vehicle without a valid license and QR3,000 for reckless driving which tive equipment, as a symbol “CNA-Q’s School of Health “The quality of education at celebrates the beginning of motion, occupational health resulted in injures to another person. Arabic daily Arrayah has reported that of professionalism and com- Sciences has impacted the CNA-Q is exceptional. The ed- a long and successful career and safety, medical radiog- the defendant was ordered by the court to pay QR4,000 in collaboration mitment to their chosen field standard of care, quality and ucation here is diff erent. It does in Qatar’s healthcare sector, raphy technology, pharmacy with the insurance company concerned as compensation. The defendant of study. safety here in the State of Qa- not just rely on memorising. which is developing at a rap- technician and respiratory was driving a without a license on Salwa Road and he hit another vehicle Sheikh Dr Mohamed Hamad tar, through the high level of The competencies I learned at id pace,” said Irene O’Brien, therapy. injuring the motorist.

QCS observes World Cancer Day

LuLu Creative Club Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) will mark World Cancer Day with a special event at Souq Waqif (West area), under the theme ‘In all languages, we can’, on February 23 and 24. The event is aimed at raising awareness holds event for kids of the disease, QCS said in a statement. A cancer booklet will be launched in a uLu Hypermarket Barwa with the participants enjoying Ahmed, Minha Manaf and Shaza “first-of-its-kind” initiative in Qatar. The first City recently hosted an music, art, dining and shopping. Suhail, Nivan Kuruvila Ajith; day is dedicated to school students, with Levent for ‘The Lulu Crea- Music Lounge director Jaisen Senior – Parthiv Das, Anupama the programme running from 9am until tive Club’, an activity to promote George recalled that though the Deepak and Maisa Ismail, Sanjith 12noon. The next day’s proceedings are creativity among children be- registrations started only a few S H and Faiha Ismail. open to the public, to be held from 4pm until tween four to 14 years. days ago, the seats fi lled almost Prizes were awarded by 8pm, and will also see the participation of The event was organised in immediately. Shanavas, Hypermarket Opera- a number of embassies. Each of these will partnership with Music Lounge “We had to ask the LuLu man- tions general manager Mohamed make presentations on folklore and heritage. Events. It off ered a free art work- agement for additional time to Basheer, LuLu Barwa City gener- Mariam al-Nuaimi, general manager of QCS, shop, an art gallery and also a ensure that all participants got al manager Farook, LuLu Group said World Cancer Day provides a “great contest for art. a chance to attend the workshop marketing executive Shihab, opportunity to spread a healthy culture” “The aim was to encourage and compete in the art contest,” LuLu Barwa Department Store – especially in view of the rising number a passion for art and creativity he said. manager Joy and Music Lounge of cases of the disease, which kills nearly and also to develop art as a hobby The winners were selected managing director Santhosh and 8.2mn people a year around the world. The that will contribute to the men- from three categories; Junior, chairman John Thomas. World Cancer Day initiative aims to achieve tal well-being of the consumers,” intermediate and senior. The The evening celebrations were a set of objectives, the most important of said LuLu Group regional man- winners, in the order of fi rst, also accompanied by live music which is to raise awareness of the disease ager Shanavas. second and third, respectively: from the Music Lounge Junior and spread a healthy lifestyle culture, while The club started with the work- Junior – Mohamed Sinan Khan, Band with Siddarth and Abhay on also highlighting the cancer-related health shop at 10am at the food court. Malavikamitra Sagar, Cinderella guitar, Karun on drums and Jerin services available in Qatar. The club lasted for the entire day Valenka; Intermediate – Waseem Jose on keyboard. The winners with LuLu and Music Lounge off icials. Mercedes-Benz Actros truck available at NBK Automobiles

he Mercedes-Benz Actros, enhanced engine cooling power and The Actros V6 engines with a dis- described as the “most com- the extremely strong suspension as- placement of 11.9 litres are avail- Tmonly sold truck in the region sures rigidity – on or off the road. able in performance categories from with decades of experience”, is avail- Since its launch, the Actros has re- 230kW (313hp) to 320kW (435hp). able at Nasser Bin Khaled (NBK) Au- ceived several awards such as “Truck These six-cylinder engines with tomobiles. of the Year”– thanks to its design and electronic control have been on the “Proven robustness and fl exibility specifi cations. Features like Telligent market for many years and are used makes the Actros an all-round solu- Lane Assist, a larger and more com- predominantly for short-radius tion. Thanks to its sturdiness, proven fortable bed with adjustable head transport tasks (construction sites, components, even in the harshest section, and the innovative Power- deliveries, waste disposal). However, conditions the Actros becomes easy Shift gearbox all add up to a truck that the 394hp version is also used for to handle, ensuring a safe and com- is “safer, more economical, comfort- long-distance traffi c. fortable ride for driver and goods able and easier to drive than ever be- The V8 engines are “perfect” for alike,” according to a press statement The Mercedes-Benz Actros. fore”. demanding long-distance transport from NBK Automobiles, the author- The all-steel cab is “very strong tasks and for heavy construction as- ised general distributor of Mercedes- “Heavy-Duty Class” and the third- and structurally rigid”, while only signments, in conjunction with the Benz in Qatar. generation Actros, Mercedes-Benz fl ame-retardant materials are used in three-axle tipping semitrailer for “Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles has been a “pioneer of progress in the interior. Also, effi cient safety sys- heavy-duty use. They have an out- is pleased to provide the Qatari mar- truck technology for over 50 years”. tems provide optimal protection for put ranging from 350kW (476hp) to ket with the Mercedes-Benz Actros, Technical adjustments made ex- the driver, vehicle and load. 425kW (578hp) and a displacement of the best and most reliable truck in clusively for the region’s challeng- The high-capacity and effi cient 15.9 litres. its category,” the statement noted. ing topography and climate make the air-conditioning (A/C) “perfectly Meanwhile, Telligent systems sup- “With more than 760,000 vehicles Actros the “ideal partner” for every suits” the high temperatures in the port the driver by promoting better sold worldwide, the Actros is also the transportation need. The Actros can Middle East. It is specially modifi ed interaction between the components. most frequently sold truck in the re- “reliably handle” extreme loads in with an air-purifying system to en- The systems make sure that the en- gion.” heavy-duty transportation, while the sure a high-level air quality, even in gine, brakes and chassis all interact From the “New Generation” to the V6 and V8 engines are equipped with dusty areas. smoothly.

Jet Airways off ers Cool Winter Bonanza et Airways, India’s full-service The initiative offers guests “sig- both onwards and return journeys opportunity to discover and ex- international airline, has an- nificant savings and a world-class on the Jet Airways network. perience the joy of fl ying on its Jnounced a ‘Cool Winter Bonan- flying experience”, the airline has Shakir Kantawala, vice-president extensive domestic and interna- za’ off ering special fares, applicable said in a press statement. (Gulf Middle East & Africa) at Jet tional network covering all of In- on tickets booked until February 23 The special fare tickets, avail- Airways, said: dia in addition to Bangkok, Hong for travel on any future date from able on a first-come-first-served “This winter, Jet Airways of- Kong, Singapore, Colombo, Dhaka Doha to India and beyond. basis, will be valid for travel on fers guests yet another awesome and Kathmandu.” Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 5 QATAR

Faculty and staff at QU Health Cluster retreat. QU Health Cluster faculty, staff brainstorm on future structure

atar University (QU) tional support for the col- also included presenta- CHS dean and QU Bio- Health Cluster re- leges, and deliver tangible tions related to the diff er- medical Research Centre Qcently held its fi rst benefi ts to both faculty and ent functions of QU Health (BRC) director Dr Asmaa annual retreat that brought students. This will lead to Cluster and their opera- al-Thani said, “As a cluster, together around 80 faculty strategic synergies as well as tions, as well as a discus- we will grow into a dynamic and staff to discuss its future effi ciency gains. sion forum that engaged and diverse family of in- structure and operations Areas of collaboration cluster faculty and staff . spired and highly qualifi ed following the reorganisation and consolidation at the QU vice president for individuals from a broad va- and restructuring process. QU Health Cluster level in- medical and health sciences riety of backgrounds, united The QU Health Cluster, clude research and gradu- and CMED dean Dr Egon by a shared vision to build which comprises the Col- ate studies, clinical aff airs, Toft said that through close a successful holistic health lege of Health Sciences student aff airs, continu- integration of research, entity right here at Qatar (CHS), College of Medi- ous professional develop- teaching activities and clin- University.” cine (CMED) and College ment, inter-professional ical care, innovative capac- CPH dean Dr Mohamad of Pharmacy (CPH), and education, outreach and ity and productivity of the Diab said, “Joint eff orts in Health Clinic, was launched engagement, and business cluster will fl ourish and will various areas will surely last month to provide clos- operations. be more aligned with the maximise our impact on er alignment between the The event included the future needs of Qatar. “The medical and health educa- three health colleges. distribution of certifi - collaborative operations tion and research; serving The cluster will foster cates of appreciation to the will also include the key our vision to become a cata- a service-oriented, inter- members of the thematic external stakeholders and lyst for the development of professional and interdis- groups for their contribu- partners which will result in healthcare in Qatar and be ciplinary culture, provide tion in the integration of further extending the scope the institution of choice for administrative and opera- the member colleges. It and fi elds of collaborations.” students and scholars.” Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 QATAR Delegation from California-based policy group visits Education City atar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) vice chair- Qperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani yesterday welcomed to Educa- tion City a delegation from the California-based Pacifi c Council on International Policy. She met the 20 member delegation at QF head- quarters, where they were given a comprehensive presentation highlighting QF’s diff erent education institutes, science and research centres, and com- munity development initiatives. The Pacifi c Council on International Policy is a non-partisan organisation that connects a net- work of people from diff erent industries and sec- tors on the American west coast to share ideas and keep up on US foreign policy and international aff airs. During the visit, HE Sheikha Hind outlined to the visitors how QF’s fl agship development, Edu- cation City, serves as a hub of academic excellence, housing a range of educational facilities, from QF schools to partner universities and its homegrown institution, Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU). Following the presentation, the visitors were taken to the open air viewing platform on the eighth fl oor of QF headquarters where they were shown the education and research buildings of Education City, and discussed future plans at QF. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani with a delegation from the Pacific Council on International Policy at QF headquarters yesterday. Second cycle of ‘path towards personalised medicine’ launched

atar National Research research, and community en- Each PPM award is for up to R&D), hosted a presentation which is clear evidence of the Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, exec- One of the region’s major Fund (QNRF), in col- gagement, ethics and policy in three years. Researchers who are on the second cycle recently success of this initiative.” utive director, QNRF, said, “PPM national genome programmes, Qlaboration with Qatar precision medicine – will be affi liated with an institution in at benefi ting from the valu- “PPM supports researchers in will guide decisions related to QGP – a population-based Genome Programme (QGP), has focused upon. Qatar, and who have a research- able pilot phase samples and genomics and genetics who are the prevention, diagnosis, and initiative using specimen and launched the second cycle of The call also aims to sup- oriented doctorate or any of the data collated by Qatar Biobank working at research facilities in treatment of diseases, and will population samples gathered the ‘path towards personalised port research into the correla- approved terminal degrees and (QBB), and the Qatar Genome Qatar. By focusing on discovery; provide an invaluable informa- by QBB - is currently in its pi- medicine’ (PPM) call, to support tion between disease phenotype at least fi ve peer-reviewed pub- Programme (QGP). translational research; and com- tion resource as the foundation lot phase. Its goal is to improve and advance research focused and genotype, allowing fi ndings lications, are eligible to apply “We are very excited about the munity engagement, ethics and for personalised healthcare in healthcare, encourage cutting- on providing medical treatment to be translated into medical as lead principal investigators. second cycle of the PPM,” said policies in precision medicine, Qatar. QNRF supports patient- edge genomic research and tailored to a patient’s individual products, and leading to ad- The deadline for submission of Dr Asma al-Thani, chair of Qatar we believe we can make advance- powered research that will not innovation, and integrate ge- characteristics. vancements in healthcare and a applications is March 8. Genome Programme Commit- ments in the fi eld of precision only empower patients, but also nomics, as well as other ‘om- Under the second cycle of wider understanding of person- Building on the success of tee and board vice chairperson of medicine in the region, through researchers and medical provid- ics’ technologies into medical the PPM, three new specifi c re- alised medicine among Qatar’s the PPM’s fi rst cycle, QNRF, Qatar Biobank. “A large number research dedicated to the dis- ers to work together in develop- and research practices through search priority areas – discov- healthcare providers and wider part of Qatar Foundation Re- of high-quality proposals were tinctive features of local genetic ing new strategies, best practices building research networks ery, clinical and translational community. search and Development (QF submitted in the fi rst cycle, makeup,” added Dr al-Thani. and policies in PPM.” across Qatar. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 7 QATAR Qataris’ appetite for luxury jewellery, watches steady despite challenges

By Joey Aguilar knowledgeable and familiar with brands, we try to choose diff erent Staff Reporter such luxury brands and collec- brands that do not confl ict with tions, besides having a high level each other to cover all tastes also.” of taste and attention to details. Blue Salon added fi ve new ataris’ appetite for luxury “We are lucky to be here, the brands between watches and jewellery and watches support of the government and jewellery in this year’s DJWE, Qcontinue unchanged de- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin including French and German spite some challenges during Hamad al-Thani makes Qa- brands, according to Abu Issa. 2016, Blue Salon vice chairman tar’s economy a lot better,” he He said QTA’s support to their Nabil AR Abu Issa has said. stressed. early campaign this year helped a “The shopping habits of Qatari Abu Issa also lauded Qatar lot in promotion eff orts, covering customers do not change much, Tourism Authority (QTA) for its the UAE, Saudi Arabia, especially they continue buying,” Abu Issa eff orts to diversify the country’s Jeddah and Riyadh, in addition to told Gulf Times on the sidelines economy and in attracting more Bahrain and Kuwait. of opening of the 14th Doha Jew- visitors from diff erent countries. “It is a good campaign. We ellery and Watches Exhibition “DJWE is the best exhibition hope more people from neigh- (DJWE) yesterday. in the Middle East, people who bouring countries will come,” he The six-day event, taking come from abroad will tell you it added. place at the Doha Exhibition is a world class event,” he said. About the growing competi- and Convention Centre until “We have been participating in tion, Abu Issa pointed out that February 25, has seen a growing this exhibition since the begin- “it has always been there, as long number of exhibitors and visitors ning and it is getting bigger and as it is healthy, it will benefi t annually. bigger,” he stressed. competitors by improving them- Abu Issa said Qataris are also “The way we choose our selves.”

Blue Salon vice chairman Nabil AR Abu Issa showcases some of the brands at their pavilion. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar

The 14th edition of Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DWJE) is off to a glittering start at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, with luxury brands and unique collections in the spotlight once again. The annual event also highlights Qatar’s rich cultural heritage with pearl collections on display at several booths and stalls. For the first time, DWJE has put up a dedicated pavilion for local designers to showcases The Blue Salon pavilion at DJWE 2017. PICTURE: Thajudeen their collections. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 QATAR Dana joins Alfardan Jewellery as VP ana Alfardan, distin- went to London to pursue launch new and inspira- “Diamonds are a girl’s a woman’s lifestyle and guished Qatari com- her post graduate studies tional campaigns for women best friend because we can daily routine from sports Dposer and songwrit- in gemology so she could in Qatar starting with the take them with us every- to shopping and going to er, and CEO of DNA Sounds, join the family business and “Stay Active and Shine” where! Diamonds are not work. has joined Alfardan Jewel- build on the long history of campaign which is set to only confi ned to the ball- World renowned celeb- lery as vice president. the family’s aspirations and launch in 2017. room, they add value to rities, who lead an active “Under Dana’s leader- success in fi ne jewellery. Speaking about her new everything we do in life. lifestyle, like Serena Wil- ship, the jewellery house is Gearing up for her new appointment, Dana Al- “I believe in the power liams and many others, set to enjoy a bold and new role, Dana recently visited fardan said: “I am thrilled of jewellery to help us ex- come to Alfardan Jewellery edgy look with inspirational the Salon International De with my new role at Al- press ourselves and I see often for their fi ne jewel- campaigns and off ers for La Haute Horlogerie “SIHH” fardan Jewellery and to have every item as a conver- lery pieces. women in Qatar, as well as 2017 in Geneva, a yearly the opportunity to live my sation piece that speaks Throughout 2016, Dana an array of new timepieces gathering of professionals passion for jewellery design about us and defines us to Alfardan has also achieved of the world’s fi nest jewel- in the watchmaking indus- once again. the world. a number of milestones in lery brands soon coming to try set to roll out the latest “Jewellery has been at the “We all deserve to spar- her music career including Doha,” a statement released trends in the industry. forefront of my family busi- kle and stand out! Our aim her collaboration with the by Alfardan Jewellery said Adding to the existing ness for generations and I am is to encourage women to award winning DJ Robin yesterday. Alfardan repertoire of Vach- excited to build on its exist- stay fi t and active and take Schulz on his latest album Though music has always eron Constantin luxury col- ing outstanding collections care of their well-being Sugar, and the London been a passion for Dana, as lection, Dana brought back with new fi ne pieces where from within whilst enjoy- concert where songs from one of the heirs to the Al- with her to Doha the bright- women will feel empowered ing the fi nesse and beauty her album, Sandstorm, fardan jewellery empire, she est feature of the show with while wearing them. of their timeless jewellery were performed by mem- also always had a keen inter- the brand’s latest watch cre- “My real mission for our pieces at the same time.” bers of the UK-based Orion est in the luxury fi ne jewel- ation, the world’s most so- company is to re-energise Through its various Orchestra at the prestig- lery industry. phisticated watch featuring our spirit by adding bold and splendid showrooms, Al- ious Cadogan Hall, along- Having spent her college 23 diff erent complications. edgy pieces to refl ect the fardan Jewellery displays side Lebanese-American years in Dubai studying In- With her new appoint- spirit of the modern woman exclusive jewellery pieces composer and pianist Guy A model displaying items from the Chopard and De Grisogono collection available at ternational Relations, Dana ment, Dana envisions to today. from worldwide luxury Manoukian. Alfardan Jewellery. designer brands including Dana continues to em- Chaumet, Alain Philippe, phasise the importance Vacheron Constantin, of cultivating a culture of Chopard, Piaget, De Gri- well-being and healthy sogono, Harry Winston and lifestyle and hopes to many others. see amazingly ambitious Furthermore, Alfardan women of today express- Jewellery features exclusive ing themselves throughout pieces by Noudar, courtesy jewellery and all facets of of designer Noor Alfardan, their lives. an award-winning Qatari Alfardan Jewellery is designer who sells her in- participating in the Doha spiring jewellery only at Jewellery and Watches Ex- Alfardan jewellery show- hibition, which opened rooms in Doha. yesterday at the Doha Ex- Alfardan Jewellery hibition and Convention strongly believes that jew- Centre, showcasing its lat- ellery is not just a luxury est collection of top class attribute, but a part of luxury brands. QIB unveils scholarship programme

atar Islamic Bank ness and human resource (QIB) has an- strategies, contributing to Qnounced the launch the creation of fi nancial of a new scholarship pro- experts and benefi ting the gramme, aimed at support- new programme’s partici- ing the bank’s Qatari work- pants as well as the Qatari force in upgrading their banking system as a whole,” educational levels. the statement noted. The initiative comes as The new programme is part of the commitment also expected to contrib- of QIB’s board of directors ute to improved workforce and executive management planning in the bank. to nurture local talent and Through the initiative, support the national econ- QIB said it would be able omy, the bank has said in a to address any shortage of press statement. specialised skills, help em- QIB’s Educational Schol- ployees develop new skills arship Programme covers in emerging areas of exper- three levels of education, tise as well as create a strong off ering participants the pool of employees for suc- possibility to continue with cession planning purposes. their studies and obtain a di- Bassel Gamal, QIB’s ploma in collaboration with Group CEO, said: “As with local universities and insti- all QIB initiatives, this pro- tutes, a Bachelor degree or gramme is tailor-made to a post-graduation degree in meet the needs of the soci- collaboration with local and ety we are operating in. We international universities. are sincerely pleased to be It is a long-term pro- able to off er to our existing gramme for all QIB national employees access to high- staff members to be imple- quality education and sup- mented “in several waves port the enhancement of over the next few years”. their current skills and the One of Qatar National development of new ones. Vision 2030’s key priori- “With our new initiative, ties is to invest in people by we are increasing our eff orts providing them with high- to contribute to the sustain- quality educational and able growth of local talent training opportunities ap- and support the develop- propriate for each individu- ment of a highly qualifi ed al’s aspirations and abilities. and experienced national “QIB is aligning its busi- workforce.”

Students vaccinated against TdaP

he Ministry of Public mary Health Care Corp and Health announced the Ministry of Education Tyesterday that about and Higher Education. 1,500 students from grade TdaP are considered 10 in 15 schools have been dangerous and may result vaccinated against Tetanus, in death or disability in Diphtheria and Pertussis young adults. (TdaP). Health protection and MOPH started early Communicable Diseases this week the routine an- Control Department at the nual campaign to vaccinate MoPH has asked all parents grade 10 students from to advise their children to government and private take advantage of the vac- schools against Tdap. cination, as it has a major The campaign, in its sev- impact on their health pro- enth year, is carried out in tection and prevention of collaboration with the Pri- TdaP. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 9

QATAR

Kahramaa project QRCS relief breathes life honoured at PFI into Mosul health centres Awards ceremony he Facility D project of Kahramaa’s project was felici- Qatar General Electric- tated in the Middle East and Af- atar Red Crescent (QRCS) has Tity & Water Corporation rica category at the PFI Awards initiated a programme to sup- (Kahramaa), popularly known as ceremony that took place re- Qport health centres in western Umm Al Houl Integrated Water cently in London. PFI is a lead- Mosul, Iraq, as part of its large-scale and Power Project (IWPP), was ing source of global project and relief intervention. recently named ‘PPP Deal of the infrastructure fi nance news, data The programme, funded by the Qatar Year 2016’ in the Middle East and and tools associated with Thom- Fund for Development and conducted Africa by Projects Finance Inter- son Reuters. in co-operation with the International national (PFI). Organisation for Migration, is expected Kahramaa, as the procuring to benefi t an estimated 162,000 Iraqis in authority on Facility D (Umm eight districts of the war-ravaged city. Al Houl), has been honoured QRCS said the programme will meet for “demonstrating the highest the pressing needs of health centres in standards” of project execution the area, which were critically aff ected and procurement, according to a by the ongoing military operations. press statement from the corpo- Over the past three months, QRCS’ ration. relief intervention helped as many as “The international acco- 95,915 residents out of the total 96,864 lade refl ects Kahramaa’s com- internally displaced people (IDPs). mitment to maintain its high- Besides medications, medical sup- est operational and functional plies, and furniture, the aid will also standards at all levels, including include 1,300 food packages for 7,800 its role as a leading project spon- people and 5,693 parcels of winterisa- sor. Kahramaa aspires to be a role tion items and tarpaulins for 33,858 model while executing complex people. projects for the benefi t of all Other activities includes operating parties involved,” the statement three health centres to serve 39,257 peo- QRCS delivers aid in western Mosul. noted. ple (nearly 400 per day) at IDP camps, Facility D has set a number as well as securing potable water, gar- of precedents for Qatar. It is the bage boxes and vehicles, and hygiene fi rst public-private partner- promotion measures for 15,000 inhab- ship (PPP) project to embrace itants of the Khazir camp. the ‘Strategic National Investor’ To anticipate mass evacuations from model developed by Kahramaa. eastern Mosul, QRCS teams began fi eld It also establishes the commer- assessment of basic needs and visited cial viability for reverse osmo- the district health centre in the ex- sis (RO) technology for Qatar as pected destination, which is southern evidenced by the high level of Mosul. interest from all major global RO QRCS is planning to put up a make- developers at the bidding stage of shift hospital to receive more IDPs. the procurement. Under the Warm Winter Campaign Umm Al Houl is the “largest 2016-17, QRCS distributed 250 packs of IWPP” incorporating both RO basic nonfood items to the inhabitants and thermal desalination tech- of Al Jadaa camp in Qayyarah, southern nology with an IPP in Qatar and Mosul. one of the largest in the region. Aid included mattresses, blankets, From a fi nancing perspective, heaters, fuel packs, full kitchenware the project validates the attrac- sets, plastic mats, cookers, solar lamps, tiveness of long-term project and water fl asks. Also, complete hy- fi nancing as a source of private giene kits, which will last for a month, Aid includes medical supplies, food packs, winterisation items and QRCS launches initiative to support health centres in western funding for large national infra- were handed over to families. tarpaulins. Mosul. structure projects. The Kahramaa HQ in Qatar. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Saudi seeks death penalty for suspect in Germans’ shooting Gaza mum reunited with

AFP Salem bin Abdullah bin Hussein, who was Riyadh wanted for a number of violent crimes. Okaz reported that the man on trial be- fore a court specialising in “terrorist” cases baby amid entry row rosecutors in Saudi Arabia are seek- is accused of several off ences. ing the death penalty for a suspect These include attacking a diplomatic AFP Paccused of opening fi re on German vehicle, attempting to kill police, partici- Jerusalem diplomats, a newspaper reported yesterday. pating in demonstrations, inciting sedition The two envoys escaped unharmed when and causing sectarian strife, the newspaper bullets hit their car in the Awamiya area said. The Germans’ car was hit by fi re from Palestinian baby was reu- three years ago, police said at the time. an automatic weapon which caused the ve- nited with her mother after A trial began on Sunday in Riyadh for hicle to burn, it said. Amore than six months yes- the suspect, who was not named but could German media reports after the shoot- terday after Israel granted Jumana face the death penalty, Okaz newspaper re- ing said the two Germans worked for their Daoud a permit to travel from Gaza ported. country’s BND foreign intelligence service, to Jerusalem to fetch her. Almost a year after the shooting the inte- something Berlin’s foreign ministry de- Daoud and rights groups said she rior ministry said it had arrested a suspect, clined to comment directly on at the time. had submitted an application sev- eral months ago to re-enter Israel to retrieve baby Maryam from a hospi- tal in east Jerusalem, but received no reply. The Israeli defence ministry body responsible denied that any appli- cation had been received. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip need to apply for individual permits to enter or transit Israel, but do so through the Palestinian Authority. The PA circulated a document allegedly showing that the request had been submitted. AFP was not able to independ- ently verify the cause for the delay. Tiny Maryam smiled as she was picked up by her mother for the fi rst time since her premature birth on August 1. “It’s a very beautiful feeling. Fi- nally I can take her in my arms. Now Gazan Jumana Daoud carries her seven-month-old daughter Maryam at Makassed Hospital in east Jerusalem yesterday, I just hope that she’ll be happy for as they meet for the first time since the baby’s premature birth. ever,” her grinning mother said. Daoud said the Israeli authorities facilities to care for premature ba- Her story was covered by Israel’s mit because of slow-moving Israeli called late Sunday to say she could bies, said paediatrician Mohamed Channel 10 on Sunday night, and bureaucracy.“Most of the cases last cross the Gaza-Israel border, shortly al-Najjar at Makassed Hospital in the permit was granted shortly af- for a month or two but this one is the after a television feature on the case. east Jerusalem where Maryam was terwards. “The Palestinian side had longest,” he added, calling on Israel “She had no maternal aff ection, born more than two months early unfortunately fi led no request on to improve its processes. nobody held her,” said a tearful along with a sibling who died. her. When we heard about the case, The World Health Organisation Umm Abdul Rahman, a woman from She needed to be kept in an incu- we co-ordinated the mother’s arriv- (WHO) has expressed concerns east Jerusalem who said she came in bator for several weeks in order to al to the hospital within 24 hours,” about the decreasing percentage of weekly to check on Maryam, send- survive, doctors said. said COGAT, the defence ministry Palestinians from Gaza given per- ing photos to the family via What- Daoud said she now had to return agency responsible for the Palestin- mission to enter Israel for treatment. sApp. “I was trying to hold her and to Gaza to care for her other two ian territories. In December, only 41.7% of more make her laugh.” young children, assuming she could Hossam Liftawi from Physicians than 2,500 patient applications Daoud was previously granted do so quickly once Maryam’s health for Human Rights said this was not were granted, the lowest rate since permission to travel to Jerusalem in improved. an isolated incident. April 2009, according to the WHO. July 2016 for medical treatment as She reapplied for a permit to visit “There are many cases in the hos- A relatively small number were there were complications with her Jerusalem in October, she said, a pital of mothers going back to Gaza refused, but the majority received pregnancy. claim supported by Physicians for for some reason,” he said, explaining no answer in time for their appoint- Hospitals in Gaza do not have the Human Rights Israel. they fi nd it hard to get another per- ment dates.

Iranian military bans drones aft er security scares The Iranian military has banned the unauthorised use of drones in the capital commander said yesterday. “Flying private and personal quadcopters...is Tehran, after several security scares caused by unpiloted aircraft that are forbidden in Tehran,” Seyed Ali Reza Rabiei, operations commander at the increasingly popular with hobbyists and filmmakers. Tharallah military base in Tehran, was quoted as saying. In December, Iranian The general staff of the armed forces has issued an edict which means security forces shot down a drone as it approached the Tehran off ices of the drones may only be used if they have been given permits from one of two president and the supreme leader. Media later reported the aircraft was being government ministries or the state broadcaster, a senior Revolutionary Guard operated by a film crew shooting aerial footage for a documentary.

Tehran summons Turkish envoy over comments

Reuters with their positions,” Iranian Beirut/Ankara foreign ministry spokes- man Bahram Ghasemi said yesterday in reference to the ran summoned the Turk- comments made in Munich, ish ambassador in Tehran according to the Mehr News Iyesterday over comments agency. “But there is a certain made by Turkish foreign min- cap for our patience.” ister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Turkish Deputy Prime President Recep Tayyip Er- Minister and government dogan accusing the nation of spokesman Numan Kurtul- destabilising the region. mus downplayed any reports Tehran and Ankara support of tension. opposite sides in the confl ict “Iran and Turkey are in Syria with Iran backing friendly nations. There can the government of President be diff erences in views from Bashar al-Assad while Turkey time to time, but there can’t has backed elements of the be animosity because of com- Syrian opposition. ments,” he told reporters dur- On Sunday, Cavusoglu ing a news conference after a said Turkey was against any cabinet meeting. sectarianism in the Middle “Even if our political dif- East and had called on Iran to ferences with Iran emerge, stop threatening the region’s these shouldn’t be blown out stability. “We will be patient of proportion,” he said.

Iran team discusses access for Haj

DPA two countries reached a Tehran low point in 2016 when the Saudis banned Iranians from taking part in the Haj. ran has sent a delega- The first official talks tion to Saudi Arabia to between representatives of Idiscuss regaining ac- the Iranian Haj Organisa- cess to the annual pil- tion and the Saudi side are grimage to Makkah for its expected to take place on citizens, Iranian Foreign Thursday, Ghasemi said. Ministry spokesman Bah- Riyadh and Tehran have ram Ghasemi said yester- both indicated that they day. would like Iranians to re- Relations between the join the Haj this year.

Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 ARAB WORLD US ‘not in Iraq to seize anybody’s oil’: Mattis

AFP kept the oil” after pulling most Baghdad of its troops out of the country under his predecessor Barack Obama. he United States is not Trump then added, without about to plunder Iraq’s elaborating, that “maybe we’ll Tpetroleum reserves, have another chance”. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Iraq on Sunday reported a who was in Baghdad yester- total 153bn barrels in proven oil day, said as he sought to soothe reserves, the fi fth largest in the partners rattled by President world behind Venezuela, Saudi Donald Trump. Arabia, Canada and Iran. Trump has repeatedly said Mattis has emerged as a vi- both while campaigning and tal statesman for the Trump since his election that Ameri- administration and has spent Members of the Iraqi rapid response forces gather during a battle with IS militants in south of Mosul yesterday. ca, whose troops occupied Iraq the past week in Europe and for eight years, should have the Gulf on a mission to reas- grabbed Iraqi oil to help fund sure allies that America is not its war eff ort and to deprive the about to abandon old military Islamic State group of a vital alliances. revenue source. Trump also despatched Sec- But Mattis, a retired Ma- retary of State Rex Tillerson rine general who commanded and Vice President Mike Pence troops during the 2003 inva- to Europe in a bid to show “un- Forces battle their way sion of Iraq, appeared to nix wavering” US support to Nato. the idea. As a candidate, Trump spoke “All of us in America have disparagingly of Nato, calling generally paid for gas and oil it “obsolete”, and he espoused all along, and I am sure that we the use of waterboarding and will continue to do so in the fu- torture to deal with detained ture,” Mattis told reporters at IS militants. toward Mosul airport the start of a visit to Iraq. Mattis has repeatedly “We are not in Iraq to seize pushed back against such Reuters ing our forces and pulling back markets are closed, United Na- Stephen Townsend, has said he which has deployed more than anybody’s oil,” said Mattis, views, saying that if Nato had South of Mosul/Baghdad towards Mosul,” Major Mortada tions Humanitarian Co-ordi- believes US-backed forces will 5,000 troops in the fi ghting, who fl ew out after only a few not already existed it would Ali Abd of the Rapid Response nator for Iraq Lise Grande told recapture both of Islamic State’s leads an international coalition hours, having met Prime Min- need to be created, and talking units told a Reuters correspond- Reuters on Saturday. major strongholds — Mosul providing key air and ground ister Haider al-Abadi and sev- Trump down from his torture S-backed Iraqi forces ent south of Mosul.”God willing Commanders expect the bat- and the city of Raqqa in Syria — support, including artillery fi re, eral top defence offi cials. comments. fought Islamic State Albu Saif will be fully liberated tle to be more diffi cult than in within the next six months. to the Iraqi and Kurdish forces. While speaking at the CIA The Pentagon chief also met Ufi ghters yesterday to today.” the east of the city, which Iraqi Islamic State was thought to US Defence Secretary Jim headquarters last month, Iraqi Defence Minister Irfan clear the way to Mosul’s airport, Elite Counter-Terrrorism forces took control of last month have up to 6,000 fi ghters in Mo- Mattis arrived in Baghdad yes- Trump cited the adage, “To al-Hayali, and his visit comes on the second day of a ground Service units headed to front- after three months of fi ghting. sul when the government’s of- terday on an unannounced visit the victor belong the spoils,” as the battle to recapture west off ensive on the militants’ re- lines around the western side of Tanks and armoured vehicles fensive started in mid-October. to assess the war operations. and said America “should have Mosul from IS gets under way. maining stronghold in the west- Mosul, a city that is divided into cannot pass through its narrow Of those, more than 1,000 “The coalition forces are in ern side of the city. two halves by the Tigris River. alleyways. have been killed, according to support of this operation and Federal police and elite in- Helicopters were strafi ng the The militants have developed Iraqi estimates. we will continue...with the ac- terior ministry units known as Albu Saif hill to clear it of snip- a network of passageways and The remainder now face a celerated eff ort to destroy ISIS,” Rapid Response are leading the ers, while machine gun fi re and tunnels to enable them to hide 100,000-strong force made up he said, using an acronym for the charge toward the airport, lo- rocket propelled grenades could and fi ght among civilians, dis- of Iraqi armed forces, including militant group. A US serviceman cated on the southern limit of be heard. appear after hit-and-run op- elite paratroopers and police, died yesterday in a non-combat the Mosul, trying to dislodge the The advancing forces also dis- erations and track government Kurdish forces and Iranian- related incident outside the Iraqi militants from the nearby hilltop abled a car bomb — used by the troop movements, according to trained paramilitary groups. city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, village of Albu Saif. militants to obstruct attacking residents. The westward road that links the US-led coalition said, giving The Iraqi forces plan is to turn forces. Western Mosul contains the the city to Syria was cut in No- no further details. the airport into a close support The Iraqi forces have been ad- old city centre, with its ancient vember by the paramilitary Capturing Mosul would eff ec- base for the onslaught into west- vancing so far in sparsely popu- souks, government administra- known as Popular Mobilisation tively end the Islamic State’s am- ern Mosul itself. lated areas and there were no tive buildings, and the mosque forces. bitions for territorial rule in Iraq. Islamic State militants are es- families seen escaping. from which Islamic State leader The militants are in charge of About 160,000 civilians have sentially under siege in western The fi ghting will get tougher Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the road that links Mosul to Tal been displaced since the start of Mosul, along with an estimated as they get nearer to the city it- his self-styled caliphate over Afar, a town they control 60km the off ensive in October, UN of- 750,000 civilians, after they were self and the risk greater for civil- parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014. to the west. fi cials say. forced out of the eastern part of ians. The city is the largest urban Coalition aircraft and artillery Medical and humanitar- the city in the fi rst phase of an Up to 400,000 civilians could centre captured by Islamic State have continued to bombard tar- ian agencies estimate the total off ensive that concluded last be displaced by the off ensive as in both countries. gets in the west during the break number of dead and wounded US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis receives a gift from Iraq’s Defence month, after 100 days of fi ghting. residents of western Mosul suf- The US commander in Iraq, that followed the taking of east- — both civilian and military — at Minister Irfan al-Hayali during a visit to Baghdad yesterday. “They are striking and engag- fer food and fuel shortages and Army Lieutenant General ern Mosul. The United States, several thousand.

UNREST Le Pen in Lebanon Libya’s UN-backed holds fi rst head of state meeting govt head comes Army escalates bombing ahead of talks under fire in Tripoli France’s far-right leader and presidential candidate Marine A convoy carrying the prime min- Le Pen yesterday met a foreign AFP Geneva in 2012, 2014 and 2016. ister of Libya’s UN-backed govern- head of state for the first time, Beirut Instead of securing peace, ment and the two leaders of an holding talks in Beirut with “it’s actually the opposite — allied parliament and presidential Lebanon’s President Michel we’re now very scared of any- guard came under fire in Tripoli Aoun. “We discussed the long yrian government forc- thing called a conference, be- yesterday, but none of the three and fruitful friendship between es yesterday escalated cause after every conference, men were harmed, off icials said. our two countries,” the National Stheir bombing campaign there’s a military campaign”, A spokesman for the U.N.-backed Front (FN) leader said after her around Damascus, raining the 27-year-old said from the government, Ashraf Tulty, said the 30-minute encounter at the shells down on rebel terri- town of Binnish. motorcade had been hit by gun- presidential palace in the hilltop tory and sending out a “bloody Since the last round of talks fire as it passed through Tripoli’s suburb of Baabda with Aoun, message” just days before re- in April 2016, rebels have lost Abu Salim district. the Middle East’s only Christian newed peace talks in Geneva. their stronghold in east Aleppo It was unclear who was behind president. Le Pen, who is lead- Representatives from the and seen a new partnership the shooting or whether it was a ing polls of voters’ intentions opposition and of President form between their main ally targeted attack, he said. for the first round of France’s Bashar al-Assad’s regime are to Turkey and government backer The convoy that came under presidential election on April head to Switzerland on Thurs- Russia. Ankara and Moscow fire yesterday was carrying GNA 23, said they also discussed day for another attempt to end have teamed up to host two Prime Minister Fayez Seraj, State the refugee crisis in Lebanon, their country’s brutal six-year rounds of Syria peace talks in Council head Abdurrahman where more than 1mn Syrians war. Kazakhstan in a bid to bolster a Swehli, and the commander of a have fled their country’s conflict But regime forces yesterday faltering truce they brokered in fledgling Presidential Guard, Najmi and now make up one in four escalated their bombing of the December. Nakua, Tulty and a spokesman for of the population.“We raised... edges of the capital, according Syria’s confl ict has killed Swehli said. the concerns we share over to the Syrian Observatory for more than 310,000 people, the very serious refugee crisis,” Human Rights and activists on Rebel fighters, part of the Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield alliance, advance yesterday, towards the morphing since 2011 from a PEOPLE she said. “These difficulties are the ground. city of Al-Bab, some 30 kilometres from the Syrian city of Aleppo. protest movement against As- being overcome by the courage “The toll in regime air sad into a fully fl edged war Bouteflika’s frail and generosity of Lebanon but strikes on (northern rebel dis- said media activist Hamza Ab- cal transition in Syria”. faced a blistering army off en- that has seen militants’ rise to this cannot go on for ever.” trict of Damascus) Barzeh has bas, speaking to AFP via Inter- “It is a bloody message from sive in recent months, is near prominence. health halts The FN leader, whose party increased to seven people, in- net from Qabun, where he said a criminal regime just a few opposition-controlled areas Turkey in August launched Merkel visit takes an anti-immigrant stance, cluding a woman and child,” he could hear non-stop shell- days ahead of political negoti- of Damascus increasingly tar- an unprecedented incursion called Sunday for the interna- the Observatory said, adding ing. ations in Geneva that demon- geted by the government. into Syria, backing rebels to Algeria’s President Abdelaziz tional community to step up that 12 more had been wound- “The bombardment is strates its rejection of any po- Assad’s regime is “bitterly oust the Islamic State group Bouteflika had acute bronchitis humanitarian aid to keep the ed. targeting three neighbour- litical solution,” the HNC said determined to rid itself of the and Kurdish militia from the yesterday, causing German refugees in Lebanon. Le Pen The Britain-based monitor hoods — Qabun, Barzeh and in an online statement. insurgent enclave, one way or border area. Yesterday, 11 Chancellor Angela Merkel to also met Lebanese Prime Minis- said rockets also hit the north- Tishreen,” Abbas said. The HNC — formed in De- another”, analyst Aron Lund members of one family were call off a visit to Algeria at the ter Saad Hariri, who cautioned eastern opposition-controlled A Syrian military source cember 2015, and which has wrote in a post for the Carn- killed in Al-Bab as Turkey- last minute, the presidency said. against associating his religion neighbourhood of Qabun over- contacted by AFP declined to emerged as the leading um- egie Endowment’s Middle East backed rebels advanced on the Bouteflika, Algeria’s longest-serv- with the terrorist attacks of the night and into yesterday morn- comment on the operations. brella group for Syria’s opposi- Center. IS-held town, the Observatory ing leader, suffered a mini-stroke militants who have repeatedly ing. Syria’s opposition on Sun- tion factions — has a new chief Thursday’s talks in Switzer- said. in 2013 that affected his mobility targeted France. Rebels and regime forces day lambasted the govern- opposition negotiator for the land will be the fourth round And in Raqa, the militant and speech. The 79-year-old “The Lebanese and Arabs, reached a local ceasefi re in ment’s renewed bombing Geneva talks, lawyer Mohamed of UN-hosted peace nego- group’s de facto capital, eight has since appeared in public on like the majority of the world, Qabun in 2014, but violence campaign around the capital, Sabra. tiations, and Syrians caught civilians were killed in air only a handful of occasions and consider France to be the erupted there at the weekend alleging that its aim was to He replaces Mohamed Al- in the six-year confl ict do not strikes by unidentifi ed war- has travelled several times to homeland of human rights and when 16 people were killed in sabotage the peace talks. loush of the Army of Islam hold out many hopes for a po- planes, the monitor said. France for medical treatment. of the republican state that government rocket fi re on a The High Negotiations (Jaish al-Islam), a power- litical solution. Moscow began a bombing “Algerian and German authori- makes no ethnic, religious or funeral. Committee (HNC) said the ful faction headquartered in Radwan al-Homsi, a media campaign in support of As- ties have today mutually agreed class distinction between its “This is the third day of attacks near Damascus and the rebel bastion of Eastern activist in northwest Syria, sad in September 2015, helping to postpone the official visit” by citizens,” he said. bombardment — rockets, artil- elsewhere were “obstructing Ghouta. said that violence always in- the regime recapture territory Merkel, Algeria’s presidency said lery, mortars and air strikes,” the efforts aimed at a politi- That district, which has creased after previous talks in across the country. in a statement. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 13 AFRICA France, US pressure Congo over video massacre

AFP Yesterday the French foreign tured in the video which was seen seven-minute clip shows the At least 200 people have been A Congo government spokes- Kasai, the Congo has been rocked Washington ministry urged authorities in the by AFP on Friday before appear- men standing amongst the bod- killed since then, leading the UN man has dismissed the video as by political violence after Presi- capital Kinshasa to “shed light ing on social media. ies lying on the ground. mission in the country to pledge a “ridiculous fake ... worthy of dent Joseph Kabila failed to step as quickly as possible on these In the images, a group of men They fi re at some to fi nish at least 100 peacekeepers for the scenes from a Rambo movie”. down at the end of his second and he US and France called on unacceptable acts and identify are seen shooting at a group of them off , starting with a woman. region. Two soldiers face military jus- fi nal mandate in December. the Democratic Republic those responsible, who should be unarmed civilians, purportedly The Kasai region has been A spokesman for the UN force, tice for “excesses and abuse” in Under the terms of a power- Tof the Congo to investigate held to account”. in the central Kasai region. plagued by violence since August MONUSCO, condemned atroci- Kasai, a statement said at the sharing deal signed on New a video purporting to show sol- The US said on Sunday that it They appear to be soldiers and when government forces killed ties by Nsapu’s militia in early weekend, without specifying Year’s Eve, Kabila would remain diers massacring 50 to 100 un- was “deeply concerned” and also are using the army’s offi cial lan- a tribal chief, Kamwina Nsapu, February as well as the use of when the alleged crimes took in offi ce until the “end of 2017” armed civilians in the violence- urged a “thorough investigation” guage. who had rebelled against the disproportionate force by the na- place or the exact charges. but a transition council was to be wracked center of the country. into the “heinous abuses” cap- Once the shooting stops, the central government. tional army. As well as the tribal confl ict in established.

Nigeria urges AU action Famine declared

AFP Abuja

igeria has urged the Afri- in South Sudan can Union (AU) to step in Nto stop what it said were AFP “xenophobic attacks” on its citi- Juba zens and other Africans in South Africa. The presidency said there was outh Sudan has declared a need for the continental body famine in some parts of the to “intervene urgently”, claiming Scountry, with more than that in the last two years “about three years of war leaving nearly 116” Nigerians had been killed, 5mn hungry in what aid groups including 20 last year. called a “man-made” tragedy. “This is unacceptable to the Isaiah Chol Aruai, chairman people and government of Ni- of South Sudan’s National Bu- geria,” a senior presidential aide reau of Statistics, said that some on foreign aff airs, Abike Dabiri- parts of the northern Greater Erewa, said in a statement. Unity region “are classifi ed in There was no independ- famine, or ... risk of famine”. ent verifi cation of the claimed Aid agencies said 100,000 number of deaths, which may people were aff ected by the have been the result of wider famine, which threatened an- criminal activities rather than other 1mn people in the coming anti-immigrant sentiment. months. According to the Nigerian “A formal famine declara- Union in South Africa, there tion means people have already are about 800,000 Nigerians in started dying of hunger. The A UN World Food Programme (WFP) plane drops sacks of food South Africa, many of them liv- situation is the worst hunger ca- People wait to receive food at the UN Mission in South Sudan, near Bentiu, northern South Sudan. during an airdrop close to Rubkuai village in Unity State, northern ing in Johannesburg. tastrophe since fi ghting erupted South Sudan, on Saturday. The community was hit bad- more than three years ago,” said gulfi ng other ethnic groups and hungry, statistics chief Aruai He said that confl ict and lack ly by the wave of xenophobic the statement by the World Food grievances. said. of security for humanitarian According to aid groups, the as millions across the Horn of violence that hit the country Programme (WFP), UN chil- The United Nations has That fi gure represents 42% of workers, who had suff ered at- number of people facing hunger Africa are going hungry due to in April 2015 but South African dren’s agency Unicef and the warned of potential genocide the country’s population. tacks while carrying out their is expected to rise to 5.5mn at the a devastating drought following police said only seven Nigerians Food and Agricultural Organisa- and ethnic cleansing and there The famine classifi cation is work, and the looting of “hu- height of the lean season in July two failed rainy seasons. died. tion (FAO). is no prospect of peace in sight. according to an internationally manitarian assets” had exacer- if nothing is done to curb the The drought has also aff ected An independent watchdog has South Sudan, the world’s Oil-rich Unity State, a tradi- recognised sliding scale of hun- bated the crisis. spread of the food crisis. food security in South Sudan, said 640 people died from police youngest nation, was engulfed tional Nuer homeland and Ma- ger in which an extreme lack of In September last year, several “Many families have ex- but the biggest contributor to brutality or in custody in South by civil war in 2013 after Presi- char’s birthplace, has been one food has led to starvation and aid agencies had to pull out of hausted every means they have the famine is the inability of aid Africa. dent Salva Kiir accused his rival of the fl ashpoints in the confl ict death. the famine-hit area of Leer be- to survive,” said the FAO’s repre- agencies to reach areas where Dabiri-Erewa renewed Abuja’s and former deputy Riek Machar and has fl ipped several times “The main tragedy of the re- cause of escalating fi ghting be- sentative in South Sudan, Serge the economy has collapsed due call on the government in Preto- of plotting a coup against him. between government and rebel port that has been launched tween the two forces. Tissot. “The people are predom- to the war. ria to take “decisive and defi nite An August 2015 peace deal forces. today ... is that the problem is “I would like to use this op- inantly farmers and war has dis- Famine last hit the region six measures” to protect Nigerian was left in tatters when fi ghting “The convergence of evidence man-made,” said Eugene Owu- portunity to call on the govern- rupted agriculture. They’ve lost years ago, killing an estimated citizens and other Africans in broke out in Juba in July last year. shows that the long-term eff ects su, the UN’s Humanitarian Co- ment, the warring parties and all their livestock, even their farm- 260,000 people in Somalia. South Africa. Violence – initially between of the confl ict coupled with high ordinator for South Sudan, add- actors to support humanitarians ing tools. For months there has Famine early warning system She said there was credible ethnic Dinka supporters of Kiir food prices, economic crisis, low ing: “The underlining drivers to provide the necessary access been a total reliance on whatever FEWSNET has warned that if information that more attacks and ethnic Nuer supporters of agricultural production and de- have been there for some time so we can continue to bring life- plants they can fi nd and fi sh they 2017 rains were again poor in were being planned for Wednes- Machar – has since spread to pleted livelihood options” have and we have all known that we saving services to those in need,” can catch.” Somalia – as forecast – “famine day and Thursday. other parts of the country, en- resulted in 4.9mn people going have a major food crisis.” Owusu said. The famine declaration comes would be expected”.

Jammeh’s missing: tracing 51 arrested Gambia’s ‘disappeared’ in Jammeh stronghold By Emil Touray, AFP Banjul Reuters Banjul ensioner Sarjo Manneh celebrated more joyfully Pthan most when former ambian police said they ar- leader Yahya Jammeh agreed to rested 51 people in a former leave Gambia in January. Gstronghold of ex-president After a decade, he believed he Yahya Jammeh for harassing fol- might see his son again. lowers of new leader Adama Barrow, But nearly a month later, he is amid lingering tensions following still waiting. Jammeh’s fl ight into exile. His son Chief Ebrima Man- Jammeh narrowly lost a December neh, a journalist for a pro- 1 election to Barrow after 22 years of government newspaper, went authoritarian rule. missing in 2006 during a sum- Jammeh initially refused to step mit held in the tiny west African SAD, and GLAD, TO SEE HIM GO: These file photos taken on January 21 show Jammeh waving as he leaves the country. while others celebrate in the streets of Banjul. down but fl ed to Equatorial Guinea country. last month as international military Agents of the feared Nation- action in court against Yahya us to give an explanation to our Guards battalion that person- Work on genealogy, forensics, General Bora Colley, former forces descended on the capital Ban- al Intelligence Agency (NIA), Jammeh and those responsi- people,” he told AFP. ally protected Jammeh, had an testimony and any documen- head of the country’s notorious jul to uphold the election result. which reported directly to Jam- ble for the disappearance of my Pro-regime fi gures may still elevated status in Gambian soci- tation from the prison system prison system, was arrested in The 51 were arrested on Sunday in meh, appeared at the offi ces of son,” Manneh said. be holding Gambians incommu- ety, but when the NIA came this would be required, along with Senegal last month, though later the western town of Kafenda, a Jam- the Daily Observer and took him Gambian diaspora media nicado. suddenly meant nothing. the funds – potentially from in- released without charge. meh stronghold, for insulting people away. regularly published lists of the “Some people may still be After he was arrested in Sep- ternational donors – to pay for The biggest fi sh so far, former returning from Barrow’s inaugu- His colleagues and family unsolved crimes concerning the held and are not known because tember 2016, taken to NIA head- it. interior minister Ousman ration celebration at the national never saw him again. missing, appealing for details the previous government has quarters in Banjul, and then Gambia would have to decide Sonko, was arrested in Switzer- stadium on Saturday, said police In 2009 Gambia’s then attor- and circulating years’ worth of so many detention centres that whisked to an unknown loca- whether to have open hearings, land in late January. spokesman Foday Conta. ney general Marie Saine-Firdaus rumours about the most high- were not disclosed to the public,” tion, Jallow’s family are painfully amnesties for those who pro- Under investigation for crimes Some threw stones, Conta added. told parliament that Manneh profi le cases. Fatty said. aware he may never return. vided information, or other in- against humanity, Sonko could Twenty-six of the arrested were was not in state custody, while And there are nascent signs Barrow has promised to re- “He and two of his colleagues centives for whistleblowing like face prosecution in Switzer- juveniles and were released on bail, others including the current that the new government of form the NIA, changing its in the Gambia Armed Forces lesser sentences, Peccerelli said, land where authorities are un- while 25 were being detained pend- chief of police claimed he was President Adama Barrow is de- name, replacing its chief and were arrested by state security referring to the truth commis- der pressure from rights group ing an investigation, Conta said. living in the United States. termined to bring closure for promising training for staff agents shortly after the arson at- sion Barrow has promised. TRIAL to prove he authorised A spokesman for the Alliance for Jammeh’s stunning electoral families like the Mannehs, even whose work would be limited to tack on the ruling party’s head- Such testimony could also be what they called “large-scale Patriotic Reorientation and Con- defeat in December – after 22 while the country is mired in a “intelligence gathering, analysis quarters,” said his brother Buba key factors in any future pros- torture that political opponents, struction (APRC), Jammeh’s party years in power – triggered the fi nancial crisis and faced with and advice to the relevant arms Sawo. ecutions. journalists and human rights when he was in power, said those release of many political prison- reforming a state that Jammeh’s of government”. “We have searched for him Since Jammeh left for exile defenders suff ered”. arrested were APRC supporters and ers – but not the journalist. critics say catered to the inter- “An appropriate commission everywhere, but the NIA said last month, arrests of high and For Adama Kujabie, a relative were wearing t-shirts bearing an im- “My hope is shattered,” his fa- ests of one man. will be established to conduct he is not in their custody,” Sawo low profi le regime targets have of Jammeh’s whose father none- age of Jammeh’s face. ther told AFP. Interior Minister Mai Fatty, inquiries into disappearances,” told AFP. “We are pleading with begun. theless fell into the hands of the “They were provoked by the sup- Despite the crushing sor- one of the most vocal Jammeh he said. the current administration.” Suwandi Camara, a former NIA in 2006, a day in court can- porters of the coalition (Barrow’s row he feels, Manneh is shaking opponents within the new ad- Almost every sector of soci- Fredy Peccerelli, a world-re- fi ghter for Liberian warlord not come soon enough. party) who ... were calling Jammeh off the fear that kept him from ministration, has said that a ety was targeted by the NIA and nowned forensic anthropologist Charles Taylor, and accom- “Those responsible for this all sorts of names and saying he was fi ghting a symbiotic system of body will be set up to look into the “Junglers”, a group of around who has helped nations as var- plice Bubacarr Jarju have been heinous crime should face jus- a killer. Then a quarrel ensued,” said secret police and trained killers forced disappearances and to in- 40 men described as Jammeh’s ied as Guatemala and Sri Lanka charged with abducting a Gam- tice,” he told AFP, urging an in- spokesman Seedy Njie. that took an unknown number vestigate “black sites” that may death squad. identify scores of victims, told bian lawmaker and a business- vestigation to answer his single, Human rights groups accuse Jam- of lives. still be holding victims. Tumani Jallow, a 24-year- AFP the process would probably man in Senegal with intent to desperate question: “Is he alive meh of torturing and killing oppo- “I want to institute criminal “The responsibility lies on old soldier with the elite State take several years. murder them. or not?” nents during his time in power. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 AMERICAS

President’s Day Trump mulls NSA pick

Reuters White House Chief of Staff Washington Reince Priebus denied the re- ports that Harward and Petraeus wanted more control than Trump resident Donald Trump was prepared to give, and said in was to do another round an interview on “Fox News Sun- Pof interviews yesterday for day with Chris Wallace” that the the position of national secu- new adviser “can do whatever he rity adviser with new or existing or she wants to do with the staff - candidates as he scrambles to fi ll ing.” the post following the ouster of He said the issue never came Michael Flynn. up in discussions with Harward Trump interviewed four fi - and they “hadn’t really gone Living history interpreter Tom Plott, who portrays George Washington’s personal physician James Craik, speaks to visitors during an event of the President’s Day nalists on Sunday, White House down the road” with Petraeus. celebration at George Washington’s Mount Vernon monument on Sunday. The nation was yesterday celebrating President’s Day to mark the birthday of George spokeswoman Sarah Sanders The White House confi rmed Washington and honour all presidents who have served in US history. told reporters. that Craig Deare, the NSC’s sen- The president interviewed act- ior director for Western Hemi- ing adviser Keith Kellogg, former sphere Aff airs, had left that role. US ambassador to the United Politico reported that he was Nations John Bolton, Lieutenant dismissed for criticizing the General H R McMaster and Lieu- president and his top aides. tenant General Robert Caslen at “He was just sent back to his his Mar-a-Lago resort. original position, so he wasn’t “We may have some additional fi red,” Sanders said. One in four Canadians support meetings and names tomorrow, Deare is on the faculty of the and may also meet with a couple National Defense University. of those people again,” Sanders Asked if government employ- said in Florida. ees should be concerned that The national security adviser they would lose their jobs if they temporary refugee ban: poll is one of the most senior jobs at criticized Trump, Sanders said: the White House, holding broad “I don’t think that any person Reuters 22 migrants flee US to seek asylum in Canada “Public opinion in this country is on- infl uence over US foreign policy that is there in order to carry out Ottawa side with its government’s approach and across the globe and presid- the president’s agenda should be At least 22 migrants fled the United States Migrants who crossed into Canada in response on domestic refugee policy, but ing over the National Security against the president’s agenda.” for Canada over the weekend, sneaking early February faced harsh, frigid condi- is showing signs Ottawa may be testing Council staff . The national security adviser ne in four Canadians say Ottawa across the border in Manitoba province to tions: two had their hands frozen and the limits of how many migrants Cana- White House offi cials made is an independent aide to the should have adopted a temporary request asylum, authorities said Sunday. needed to have several fingers amputated. dians are willing to accept,” the report clear on Sunday that the new president and does not require Ohalt on Syrian refugees in response Twenty-two people, mostly from Africa, But temperatures were much milder this said. adviser would have autonomy confi rmation by the US Senate. to the United States’ controversial travel crossed the border on foot overnight past weekend. After US President Donald Trump is- over staffi ng decisions, an issue The role has varied from ad- ban, though the majority supported the Saturday into Sunday, said Greg Janzen, a Migrant arrivals, mostly people who are sued an executive order last month sus- that has been reported to have ministration to administration, government’s current immigration plan, an local off icial in the city of Emerson. undocumented in the United States, are pending travel to the United States by cit- thwarted some other candidates. but the adviser attends National Angus Reid Institute poll showed yesterday. Eight others had arrived on Friday. rising sharply in Manitoba. izens of seven mostly Muslim countries, Trump’s fi rst choice to fi ll the Security Council meetings along About 60% of those surveyed in an on- Emerson, 120km south of Winnipeg and Ninety-nine people crossed the border Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau job after Flynn’s departure, Vice with the heads of the State De- line poll said the Canadian government close to the US states of North Dakota and since the beginning of the year to seek tweeted that Canada welcomes those Admiral Robert Harward, turned partment, the Department of had done a good job of resettling Syrian Minnesota, has seen the porous border asylum, local authorities say. fl eeing war and persecution. it down, citing family and fi nan- Defense and key security agen- refugees since the Liberals came to power — in many areas with no off icial crossings The trend has off icials in Emerson About 57% of people in the poll said cial reasons. cies. in 2015. — drawing greater numbers of asylum fretting. They have asked federal and the government had made the right deci- Another potential choice, Trump has added Steve Ban- The Syrian crisis became an issue dur- seekers since US President Donald Trump’s provincial authorities to increase resources sion in standing pat, but 25% said Canada David Petraeus, a retired gen- non, his chief White House ing the election campaign after photos travel ban. to address the situation. should have put its own ban in place. eral and former CIA chief who strategist, as a regular attendee of a drowned Syrian toddler in Turkey Under a bilateral agreement, asylum- “Illegal crossings are dangerous and a In all, 18% said Canada should have re- resigned in 2012 over an extra- of NSC meetings. whose family had wanted to emigrate to seekers from the United States are usually burden on our local communities, and our sponded by taking in more refugees. marital aff air, was cut from the Political strategists have not Canada made front page news. turned back at Canada’s border crossings. laws must be enforced,” Tony Clement, a While Canada often prides itself as be- president’s short list. typically been among NSC par- The Liberals made bringing in more But this does not apply to those crossing Conservative spokesman for public safety ing a tolerant, ethnically diverse country, Sources familiar with the can- ticipants and Bannon’s addition Syrian refugees part of their platform. the border illegally in other places. issues, said on Twitter. 54% doubted refugees would make what didates’ thinking said they both has drawn sharp criticism be- The government plans to bring in they considered enough eff ort to fi t into wanted control over staffi ng of cause of his previous role head- 40,000 refugees from Syria and else- Canadian society. their team, and Trump was re- ing right-wing website Breitbart where this year. is taking in the right amount, though 41% Just 11% said Canada should open its The survey of 1,508 Canadians was luctant to grant that authority. News. In all, 47% of those polled said Canada said the number was too high. doors to more refugees. conducted earlier this month.

Sweden remark based on Fox TV report What crisis? For Trump’s base, it’s full speed ahead Traffi c jams cost drivers A day after falsely suggesting there was an immigration-related By Michael Mathes, AFP “We’re the wind beneath his $1,200 a year: study security incident in Swe- Melbourne, Florida wings.” den, President Donald High school student Jacob Wysko- Trump said on Sunday ski turned 18 last year, and cast his Reuters ers, and some major cities his comment was based ith Donald Trump strug- fi rst-ever vote in November, for Detroit have begun to limit private on a television report gling to keep his presi- Trump. motor vehicle access to cen- he had seen. Wdency on an even keel in a “We used to be the strongest, the tral city areas. Trump, who in his cacophonous fi rst month, die-hard biggest, the most powerful nation in raffi c jams cost US The INRIX study sliced first weeks in off ice supporters have a message for their all of the world. We need that back,” drivers an average of data in diff erent ways. has tried to tighten champion: stay on off ense, never he said, echoing a common refrain T$1,200 a year in wast- Los Angeles drivers spent US borders sharply modulate, never change. among voters old enough to recall ed fuel and time, and much an average of 104 peak for national security Trump is under immense pressure the US power that ended the Cold more in Los Angeles, the drive-time hours fi ghting reasons, told thousands as missteps have plagued his debut, War. city with the world’s biggest slow traffi c during 2016. of supporters at a with opposition lawmakers and ob- As for Trump appearing to live his rush hour traffi c delays, ac- That put Los Angeles at rally on Saturday that servers lobbing one assault after presidency with boxing gloves on, cording to a study by INRIX the top of the list of cit- Sweden was having another at the new US commander- Wyskoski said, “we need someone Inc released yesterday. ies where drivers spent the serious problems with in-chief. Muslim women protest against US President Donald Trump on Chicago who’s willing to fi ght for this coun- INRIX, based in Kirkland, most hours stuck in slow immigrants. They say he lies, he lacks under- on Sunday. try, and I feel like he’s the guy who Washington, aggregates and rush hour traffi c. “You look at what’s standing of crucial issues, his White is going to get in the ring if we need analyses traffi c data collect- But on a diff erent meas- happening last night in House is already riven with scandal press and his hasty policy steps in- haps even because of — his contro- him to.” ed from vehicles and high- ure, time stuck in conges- Sweden,” Trump said. and warring factions, and he’s dis- cluding his controversial executive versial actions. Several supporters brushed aside way infrastructure. tion as a share of all driv- “Sweden. Who would be- missing the US Constitution by at- order restricting immigration. But supporters are aware that they the ongoing congressional investi- The company said the ing, Moscow drivers had it lieve this? Sweden. They tacking the media. “I am totally ecstatic that a Re- too provide the energy, adulation gations about the role Russia may latest edition of its Global worse. took in large numbers. Even some fellow Republicans are publican president has the guts and respect on which Trump feeds — have played in infl uencing the US Traffi c Scorecard report was They spent 25.2% of their They’re having problems expressing alarm. — the fi ght in him — to push back a symbiotic relationship that was on presidential election, and potential based on 500 terabytes of total driving hours on con- like they never thought On Saturday, Trump escaped the against not only fake news,” but the full display in Melbourne. connections between the Trump data from 300mn sources. gested roads, while Los An- possible.” fi ery cauldron of Washington to political establishment, said Migdal- Washington is not a friendly campaign and Russian offi cials prior While Thailand was the geles motorists spent 12.7% No incident occurred host a boisterous rally in Melbourne, ski, proudly displaying his red “Built town for any occupant of the White to the vote. world’s most congested of their total driving time in in Sweden and the coun- Florida, where he was greeted with Trump Tough” shirt. House, and Trump appeared thrilled “Knock yourself out. Get all the country in 2016, accord- slow traffi c, the study found. try’s baff led government open arms by loyal supporters who Never mind that Trump’s debut to return to a campaign-styled event, people you want” to investigate ing to the study, the United In Bogota, Colombia, mo- asked the US State insist his presidency is running has sent jitters across the Atlantic complete with a woman holding up a Trump, said Mike Sikula, a retired States had the worst traf- torists spend 31.8% of their Department to explain smoothly. and Pacifi c oceans with policy mus- poster with the words “Hillary for aerospace engineer. “I love him to fi c among rich, developed total driving time in traffi c what Trump meant. And they sniff ed at charges that ings that contradict decades-old US Prison,” even though Hillary Clinton death.” economies. jams. “My statement as Trump, now the world’s most pow- policy regarding the Western alliance was defeated months ago. That Trump irks foreign leaders, Five of the world’s 10 The worst stretch of road to what’s happening in erful man, is refusing to moderate and post-World War II order. “I think he needs this. Everyday antagonises Democrats, and blasts most congested cities are in the United States is New Sweden was in refer- the aggression, impulsiveness and “He’s upsetting the globalists. he hears hatred and negativity each the media while maintaining his in the United States, INRIX York City’s Cross Bronx Ex- ence to a story that was sniping that defi ned his 2016 cam- And I hope they’re afraid,” Migdalski time he turns on the TV,” said Tammy combative campaign style is icing on found. pressway, where drivers on broadcast on @FoxNews paign which ended in shock victory. said. Allen, a self-employed independent the cake. US traffi c congestion is the 7.5km road spent an av- concerning immigrants “I want to see more of it,” Steven Such is the damn-the-torpedoes distributor in Melbourne who was “I think it’s good,” Sikula said. not a new problem, but it erage of 86 hours a year star- & Sweden,” Trump said Migdalski, a 53-year-old unem- support Trump enjoys with his core in the rally crowd with three friends Trump “has to go out in public could get renewed attention ing at the bumper of the car in a tweet on Sunday. ployed computer technician from base — largely white and male, pre- holding “Women For Trump” signs. and counter it,” he said of the criti- if President Donald Trump ahead. The US State Depart- Titusville, Florida, told AFP dur- dominantly working class, and in- “He’s been ridiculed and put cism. pushes for a large-scale in- After Los Angeles, INRIX ment said it did not ing his seven-hour wait to enter the creasingly nationalistic. down. I mean everybody is against “He has to go on TV and he has to frastructure investment listed New York, San Fran- comment on diplomatic Trump rally. In more than a dozen interviews him. So he needs to see those Ameri- tweet just to try and level the score a program as he has promised. cisco, Atlanta and Miami as communications. He gave emphatic approval of with supporters, they said they are cans that support him, that love little bit. If he remained completely Chronic traffi c jams are a the most traffi c-choked US Trump’s combative tone with the backing their man, despite — per- him,” she added. quiet, the lie would overwhelm him.” concern for global automak- cities. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 15 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Scuffl es at Thai temple as police hunt for monk

Reuters who have defi ed orders to leave the establishment. The temple Most police taking part in the on a report in the Bangkok Post Bangkok and instead fl ocked there, ham- claims millions of followers and, search at the temple, on the out- newspaper that Phra Dham- pering the search for 72-year-old in a country that is 95% Bud- skirts of Bangkok, are not armed. machayo escaped the monastery Phra Dhammachayo. dhist, assaults on saff ron-robed Thailand’s largest temple, it on the fi rst day of the search. onks and police scuffl ed With tension rising four days monks are taboo. “We are going covers some 1,000 acres (400 Although the temple has no yesterday at a Buddhist after the military government to do all we can to avoid physi- hectares). The government used overt political affi liation, the ab- Mtemple in Thailand ordered emergency powers to be cal and violent confrontations. what critics call “the dictator’s bot is widely believed to have had where security forces are trying used in the search, monks and The searches will continue and law” on Thursday to let police links with populist former prime to arrest an infl uential former police pushed and shoved at one we will ask for cooperation from search the Dhammakaya Temple minister Thaksin Shinawatra, abbot on money-laundering of the temple gates. the temple,” said Suriya Sing- after months of failing to get it to who was overthrown in 2006. charges. A Reuters photographer said hakamol, deputy director general hand over Phra Dhammachayo. A government led by Thaksin’s The standoff at the scandal-hit there were no serious injuries. of the Department of Special In- He faces charges of conspiracy sister was toppled by the army in Dhammakaya Temple represents The widespread belief that the vestigations. to launder money and receive 2014.Slogans scrawled by dis- one of the biggest challenges to temple has links to the populist “Worshippers coming into the stolen goods, as well as taking ciples on makeshift cardboard the authority of Thailand’s junta government ousted by the army temple from the surrounding ar- over land unlawfully to build placards in Thai and English also since it took power in 2014. Police in 2014, and a brasher brand of eas should turn back. We are ask- meditation centres. His aides showed the politicisation of the said they would try to avoid vio- Buddhism than the conservative ing for people to not come in as dismiss the accusations as politi- standoff . “Thai dictator try to lence while threatening arrest for traditions of king and army, make they would be breaking the law cally motivated. invade the holiest stage of Bud- Buddhist monks speak with a policeman at the gate of Dhammakaya followers of the sprawling temple the temple a thorn in the side of and facing arrest,” he said. Police declined to comment dhism,” read one. temple in Pathum Thani province, Thailand.

POLLUTION China names and shames cities over smog controls China’s environment ministry has named and shamed several cit- ies in the north of the country for not doing enough to cope with smog, state news agency Xinhua reported. Large parts of northern Jong-nam probe strains China have been blanketed in choking smog this winter, defy- ing repeated government efforts to tackle the problem. Pollution alerts are common in northern China, especially during bitterly cold winters when energy demand, much of it met by coal, soars. The ministry’s inspection of 18 cities in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province found several problems in their smog response, including inadequate planning and poor implementation of policies, Xinhua Malaysia-N Korea ties said. Hebei’s Cangzhou city was criticised for failing to draw up a detailed list for business shutdowns on heavily polluted days, Reuters behind him from his right, before which made it hard to achieve a reduction in emissions, the report Kuala Lumpur what appears to be a scuffl e takes said. Jiaozuo city did not begin traffic controls taking vehicles place. off the road when the city went on red alert for pollution, while In footage taken from another Baoding city was well behind in upgrade coal-fired boilers to make ootage from airport camer- angle the woman in the white emissions cleaner, it added. China is in the third year of a war on as purportedly showing the shirt appears to lunge from be- pollution aimed at reversing the damage done to its skies, soil and Fassault on the half-broth- hind and throw something over water after decades of untrammelled economic growth. But meas- er of the North Korean leader his head, locking her arms around ures taken so far have had little or no effect. emerged yesterday as a row be- him briefl y. As she quickly walks tween Malaysia and North Korea away, the second woman also escalated over the handling of the moves off rapidly in another di- CRIME investigation into the killing of rection, although it was not clear Kim Jong-nam. what role she had in the assault. Pirates kill Vietnamese Malaysia recalled its envoy Later footage showed the sailor, kidnap six others from Pyongyang and summoned portly, balding middle-aged man North Korea’s ambassador in stumbling, wiping his face, and Pirates have attacked a Vietnamese-flagged cargo ship off the south- Kuala Lumpur, who again cast seeking help from people while ern Philippines, killing one seaman and abducting at least six others doubt on the impartiality of the gesturing to his eyes before be- in a region notorious for such attacks, off icials said. The MV Giang Hai Malaysian investigation and said ing escorted to a clinic. Just as was attacked by pirates Sunday near the southernmost Philippine the victim was not Kim Jong- he enters the clinic his steps ap- island of Baguan near the Malaysian coast, said coast guard spokes- nam. Malaysian police are hunt- pear unsteady, and as he goes in- man Armand Balilo. Philippine coast guard speedboats reached ing four North Koreans who fl ed side medical personnel appear to the scene but found one Vietnamese dead and at least six others from the country on the day of move urgently. abducted, said military spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo. Arevalo the attack, having already de- The mother of the detained said it was too early to say if the attackers were members of the Abu tained one North Korean man, Indonesian woman said that her Sayyaf, a Filipino extremist group that has been abducting people a Vietnamese woman, an Indo- Kang Chol, North Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia, addresses journalists in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. daughter, Siti Aishah, had been for ransom in the south for decades. The waters between Malaysia nesian woman, and a Malaysian duped into believing she was part and the southern Philippines have become increasingly dangerous man. for comment. North Korea has handed over to the next of kin, al- tempt in 2012. “The murder car- of a television show or advertise- in recent years as Filipino extremists have taken to piracy, boarding At least three of the wanted sought to prevent Malaysia from though none had come forward. ried out in public at an interna- ment. ships and seizing seamen for ransom. Maritime off icials have warned North Koreans caught an Emir- conducting an autopsy, insist- Malaysia’s health minister said tional airport of a third country According to Malaysian media of an emerging “Somalia-type” situation in the waters if the attacks ates fl ight to Dubai from Jakarta ing the body be handed over di- autopsy results could be released is an unforgivable and inhumane reports, the Vietnamese suspect, are not addressed. late on the same day of the at- rectly. Its envoy in Kuala Lumpur by Wednesday. criminal act and clearly demon- Doan Thi Huong, told police she tack, on Monday last week, an accused Malaysian authorities Acutely sensitive to events in strates the recklessness and bru- had been tricked into taking part immigration offi ce offi cial in the of “delaying” the release of the its unpredictable and volatile tality of the North Korean regime in what she thought was a practi- BOOTLEGGING Indonesian capital said. body. neighbour, South Korea con- that will spare no avenues when cal. The row with Malaysia puts Malaysia’s Star newspaper re- “It has been seven days since vened a meeting of its National it comes to perpetuating itself,” North Korea at risk of becoming Vietnam destroys 5,000 ported that all four had returned the incident but there is no clear Security Council yesterday. Hwang said. even more isolated internation- litres of homemade liquor to the North Korean capital, evidence on the cause of death Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn “The North Korean regime’s ally. Pyongyang. South Korean and and at the moment we cannot told the meeting that it was near- terrorism tactics are getting Malaysia is among a dwindling Vietnamese authorities have destroyed nearly 5,000 litres of home- US offi cials have said the kill- trust the investigation by the Ma- ly certain that North Korea was bolder so we must be more vigi- number of Cold War-era friends made alcohol, some of which was suspected of killing eight people ing of Kim Jong-nam was prob- laysian police,” ambassador Kang behind the killing. lant about the possibility of ter- with which North Korea — which and poisoning 126 others last week, authorities confirmed. “Villagers ably carried out by North Korean Chol told reporters after talks at Kim Jong-nam, 46, who has ror by the North Korean regime has 53 embassies and other for- voluntarily handed over and destroyed 920 litres in front of local au- agents. the foreign ministry. He said the been living in the Chinese ter- against our government and eign missions, according to thorities while 4,000 litres were seized from sales points,” Duong Dinh CCTV footage, released by embassy had only identifi ed the ritory of Macau under Beijing’s people.” The grainy CCTV im- South Korean government data — Duc, deputy chairman of Phong Tho district in Lai Chau province, Japanese broadcaster Fuji TV, victim as Kim Chol based on the protection, had spoken out pub- ages, posted on several websites, has managed to keep up ties. said. The alcohol involved in last week’s poisoning was “without clear purportedly showed Kim Jong- passport found on the dead man, licly against his family’s dynas- showed Kim, wearing a light- There is also speculation that origins,” the Phong Tho district committee said in a statement, adding nam being assaulted in Kuala and suggested a joint investiga- tic control of isolated, nucle- coloured jacket and pants and China’s patience with North Ko- that 40 people are still hospitalised. Lumpur International Airport by tion with Malaysian authorities. ar-armed North Korea. South with a backpack on one shoulder, rea could be tested by the killing All poisoned victims lived in five communes near the Chinese border, a woman, who is believed to have Kim Jong-nam had been Korean legislators last week cited heading for an automatic check- because Kim Jong-nam had been authorities said, and were poisoned after sharing a meal at a funeral wiped a fast-acting poison on his caught using fake travel docu- their spy agency as saying the in counter in the airport depar- living in the Chinese-controlled last Monday evening. Autopsies and test results showed the victims face. ments in the past. Malaysia’s young and unpredictable North ture hall. A woman approaches territory of Macau, where he was had consumed methanol, a toxic relative of ethanol that is sometimes Reuters could not independ- foreign ministry announced the Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, had Kim from behind on the left and headed when he was attacked. found in homemade liquor, said colonel Bui Xuan Phong, deputy ently verify the authenticity of withdrawal “for consultations” issued a “standing order” for his another — identifi ed by Fuji as China said on Saturday it had director of Lai Chau Provincial police, according to the Vietnam Net the video, and police offi cials of its ambassador in North Ko- half-brother’s assassination, and the Vietnamese woman, wearing suspended all imports of coal news site. were not immediately available rea and said the body would be that there had been a failed at- a white shirt — walks rapidly up from the North.

Kim Dotcom can be extradited to Flower power US for piracy charges: NZ court

AFP as the FBI shut down Megau- Wellington pload’s servers in the United States. Since then, the fi ght to avoid ew Zealand’s High extradition has become a war Court ruled yesterday of legal attrition, resulting in Nthat Kim Dotcom was numerous court hearings and eligible for extradition to the appeals. United States over online pi- In Monday’s decision, High racy allegations linked to his Court judge Murray Gilbert up- now-defunct Megaupload web held an earlier District Court empire. ruling that there was “over- But defence lawyers imme- whelming” evidence to ex- diately vowed to appeal the de- Internet mogul Kim Dotcom tradite Dotcom and his three cision and maintain the long- co-accused. Gilbert accepted running battle to stop Dotcom content. Dotcom has denied Dotcom’s argument that copy- being sent for trial in the United any wrongdoing and accused right infringement was not a States. “We are far from de- US authorities of pursuing a criminal off ence under New feated,” Dotcom’s barrister Ron vendetta against him on behalf Zealand law, so he could not be Mansfi eld said in a statement. of politically infl uential Holly- extradited for it. Dotcom himself lashed out at wood studios. But he said there was enough the judgement on Twitter, ar- He argues Megaupload was evidence to put Dotcom on trial guing he had proved his central a genuine fi le-sharing site that for criminal fraud, meaning legal point that copyright is not did its best to police copyright he could be sent to America. an extraditable off ence. “It’s infringement but had 50mn dai- Mansfi eld said the extradition a political case. It’s a political ly users and could not control decision was “extremely dis- judgement,” he tweeted. “I told every aspect of their activity. appointing” but the copyright you I can’t be extradited for Dotcom, a German with fi nding was a crucial legal point copyright and I was right. What permanent residency in New that could overturn the ruling. is this?” Zealand, faces decades in jail if “We remain confi dent that The FBI alleges Megaupload convicted in the United States this last point, which would netted more than US$175mn of piracy. He was fi rst arrested prevent extradition in this com- Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (second left) and his wife Sara (left) look at a Dendrobium Benjamin Sara Netanyahu orchids, in criminal proceeds and cost more than fi ve years ago when plex and unprecedented legal named in their honour, as Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching look on during an orchid naming ceremony copyright owners more than armed police staged a dawn raid case, will be resolved in Kim’s at the Istana presidential palace in Singapore. Netanyahu is in Singapore on a two-day off icial visit. US$500mn by off ering pirated on his mansion near Auckland favour.” Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 BRITAIN/IRELAND

NARCOTICS MEDIA CRIME ENVIRONMENT MUSIC Drug dealer drove with BBC costume drama Thief yanked necklace off Millions invested in new police off icer on car flayed over mumbling woman on dance floor electric car charging points

A drug dealer tried to run over a policeman to SS-GB, the BBC’s new alternative history A man yanked a £4,000 gold necklace off a London’s electric car scene is set to be avoid arrest and drove around 70m with the off icer miniseries, has become the corporation’s latest woman in a robbery on the dance floor of a jump-started by a major funding round to fit on his bonnet. Sergeant Paul Street said it was prime time costume drama to be marred by Soho nightclub. Jordan James Kearney, 29, from thousands more charging points across the “pure luck” that he escaped serious injury, and complaints about mumbling. The adaptation of Milton Keynes, was sentenced to 12 months in capital. One of the fast-growing electric car managed to detain 27-year-old Andre George after a Len Deighton novel had already faced some prison. On December 21 last year, just before industry’s major players has unveiled a £9mn the vehicle stopped. George was jailed for more scathing reviews from TV critics. But when 2am, he snatched a necklace off a woman on the programme to install its charging stations in than four years at Peterborough Crown Court, the first episode aired on Sunday night many dance floor of a club in Rupert Street after her London and other parts of the UK. POD Point’s Cambridgeshire Police said. Two plain-clothes viewers complained they couldn’t follow the boyfriend had placed it around her neck. The biggest funding round to date comes amid police off icers had spotted the defendant dealing drama because they couldn’t hear the dialogue. woman grabbed her boyfriend’s hand as he went growing concerns about air quality in the capital. drugs from a vehicle in Cambridge on November For others it was the the combination of Nazi to walk off the dance floor and told him a man Founder and chief executive Erik Fairbairn 3 last year. The off icers approached George and cliches and inaudible acting that was a switch off . in a white T-shirt had taken the necklace. Police said the backing from heavyweight investors identified themselves. George then drove off , The drama includes several subtitled sections were called and off icers viewed CCTV which including Barclays is a “massive step” for electric knocking Street onto the bonnet and travelling involving German actors speaking in their clearly showed Kearney grab the jewellery. cars in London, which is by far the company’s Band members Nick Mason and Roger Waters approximately 70m with the off icer on the vehicle. native tongue. Many viewers took to Twitter to Kearney handed it into security before police biggest market. “It shows that some serious at a media event to promote The Pink Floyd Sergeant Street was uninjured and managed to say it was the English-speaking sections where approached him, and even tried to tell the male investors now have confidence that what we’re Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains, which will arrest George when the vehicle stopped. subtitles were needed. victim that he helped get the property back. doing is really working,” he added. open in May 2017, in London. Irish PM Windy weather expected may lay out his plans to step down

Reuters Fine Gael’s vice-chairman Dublin said last week that he expected Kenny to inform the party’s internal meeting tomorrow rish Prime Minister Enda of an exact timetable for his Kenny may lay out a time- departure and hoped it would Itable for stepping down at a not be necessary to table a meeting of his ruling Fine Gael motion of no confi dence in his party tomorrow. leadership. With calls increasing for Calls for such a timetable Kenny to spell out his plans, have gathered pace since sup- his spokesman said yesterday port for the party slumped in that the prime minister would recent opinion polls. not comment on the issue until Fine Gael fell to second place that meeting, planting it fi rmly in an opinion poll on Sunday, in the limelight. eight points behind its surging Kenny, who has been prime main rival Fianna Fail. minister since 2011, has said he Kenny’s minority govern- Gale-force winds are expected to hit London by the end of the week. will not lead the party into the ment, which includes a number next election due late next year. of independent lawmakers, re- His minority government, lies on Fianna Fail to abstain in however, has become increas- key votes to govern. ingly unstable and only narrowly Fianna Fail’s leader warned survived a vote of no-confi dence last week that the arrangement over its handling of a policing had come under serious strain scandal last week, prompting and a frontbench spokesman concerns among his colleagues. yesterday called on Fine Gael One of the two leading con- to quickly deal with the leader- tenders to take over as leader ship issue. Delay risk as Lords of the centre-right party said Kenny, who has led his party on Sunday that a new leader since 2002, is expected to hand should be chosen after Kenny’s over to a much younger leader trip to Washington for the an- whom members hope can re- nual meeting with the US pres- verse their fortunes. ident to mark St. Patrick’s Day The main contender other on March 17. than 44-year old Coveney is start Brexit bill debate “I think after that visit you 38-year-old Social Protection will see, I hope, an orderly and Minster LeoVaradkar. The Lords are an unelected Peers are proposing changes, beginning divorce proceedings for more debate, drawing the debating the Article 50 bill,” said quite a quick transition to new Once endorsed by parlia- body and have been told including measures to guarantee with Brussels. The legislation process out further. Conservative MP Dominic Raab. leadership within Fine Gael,” ment, any successor would not to oppose the Commons the rights of EU nationals in Brit- sailed through the Commons May’s spokesman said the de- Paul Nuttall, leader of the Simon Coveney, the country’s also take over Ireland’s nego- decision ain, and defi ning how parliament earlier this month by 494 votes bate in the Commons had been anti-EU United Kingdom In- housing minister, told national tiations within the EU over votes on a fi nal Brexit deal. to 122. “robust and healthy” and he an- dependence Party, warned that broadcaster RTE. Britain’s departure. AFP May urged the Lords to follow In a June referendum, 52% of ticipated similar exchanges in the Britain could be plunged into a London the lead of the Commons and voters opted to leave the EU af- Lords. constitutional crisis if the Lords neither amend the bill nor de- ter four decades of membership, “We respect the important tinker with the bill. World’s biggest yacht seized lay it, although the government sending shockwaves across Eu- constitutional role that they “What we have here is the least ritain’s House of Lords is still expecting to stick to its rope. play,” he told reporters. democratic forum in British poli- The world’s biggest sailing yacht has been seized in Gibraltar, could delay a bill em- timetable of triggering Brexit by But the government could face “This is a short bill designed to tics potentially interfering with authorities in the British Overseas Territory confirmed yesterday. Bpowering Prime Minister the end of March. greater challenges in the Lords, enact the will of the British peo- the most democratic one — the The news comes amid media reports that the owner of the Sailing Theresa May to trigger Brexit, “There will be debate and where only 252 of the more than ple to start the process by which result of a referendum,” he said. Yacht A vessel, Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, owes with EU citizens campaigning for scrutiny in the House of Lords, 800 members are from the cen- we exit the EU.” “I cannot predict the feroc- millions of dollars in debt to shipbuilder German Naval Yards. A their rights to be protected as de- but I don’t want to see anybody tre-right Conservatives. On the possibility that the Lords ity of the response we might see senior off icial from the Gibraltar Courts Service said that the yacht bate gets under way. holding up what the British peo- Peter Mandelson, a lord from could send the bill back to the if our democracy is subverted in has been under impound since last week. The 143m-long, 90-m-high The upper house of parlia- ple want... which is for us to de- the main opposition Labour Commons, delaying the timeta- this way.” ship was impounded as it travelled from the shipyard in the German ment was to start considering liver Brexit, to leave the European Party and former European trade ble, he said: “What’s important is Former British prime minister city of Kiel to Spain. The off icial delivery to the owner was scheduled the draft legislation after it was Union,” she said. commissioner, said there was a that we trigger Article 50 accord- Tony Blair on Friday urged Brit- within the next four months. A spokesman for Melnichenko said overwhelmingly approved by the The bill gives May the right to “strong body of opinion” on the ing to the timetable we set out.” ons who support EU membership that the arrest was due to a “technical issue.” In a statement to DPA, elected lower House of Com- trigger Article 50 of the European seriousness of the two proposed The government was “confi - to “rise up” and persuade Brexit- he said: “We are confident the arrest will be terminated over the mons earlier this month. Union’s Lisbon Treaty, the for- changes. dent” of doing this, he added. backers to change their mind, coming days and this unfortunate episode will be over.” German But the bill’s passage through mal procedure to start negotia- The Lords will debate the bill Some politicians warned that saying voters had the right to re- Naval Yards did not respond to a request for comment. A hearing the Lords may not be smooth as tions on leaving the bloc. on Monday and Tuesday, before voters would not look kindly on verse their decision in the light of regarding the dispute is scheduled to take place at a Gibraltar court. May’s Conservative Party does The government presented two further days of discussions unelected lords seeking to block more information. Created by French designer Philippe Starcl, the yacht’s sails measure not hold a majority in the un- the short bill after losing a high- next week and a fi nal reading the Brexit bill. But May’s spokesman said yes- more than 3,700sqm, or around half the size of a football pitch. elected chamber, which may try profi le court battle in which scheduled for March 7. “Peers would be wise to con- terday: “We’ve been absolutely The futuristic-looking vessel is expected to have cost around to push through amendments to judges ruled that May must have If they vote to amend the bill it sider this clear democratic man- clear that Article 50 will not be 400mn euros ($424.7mn). the law. the consent of parliament before will pass back to the Commons date, and their own futures, when revoked after notifi cation.” Strike threat on Night Tube after just six months

Evening Standard which is diff erent from that damaging policy that picks out ers on the busy Central line, tonstone. From 7am there will London covering other drivers, is “bla- one group of staff for negative used by more than 800,000 only be a “very limited” service tantly discriminatory” as it treatment and of course the passengers a day, is due to be- throughout the entire line. It prevents promotion and over- drivers are angry and that is gin from 9pm today and lasting will close at 11 pm. he Night Tube yesterday time pay does not apply until why we are balloting for action. all day tomorrow. Some other stations and suff ered its fi rst strike after the driver has exceeded 35 “RMT would call on LU to LU warned the Waterloo & lines will also be much busier Tthreat – just six months hours in a week. see sense, stop these stupid at- City line, which uses the same during the strike, particularly after 24-hour operation began. This, he said, prevents over- tacks on career progression and pool of drivers, is not expected in the morning and evening The RMT ordered a strike time being paid if there is late fair reward for overtime work- to operate at all tomorrow. peaks. ballot among its Night Tube fi nish to the service because of ing and confi rm that this dis- The dispute is over the These include Chingford, drivers on the Central, Victo- earlier disruption. crimination against the Night “forced” transfer of eight driv- Ilford and Leytonstone. Other ria, Northern, Jubilee and Pic- Night Tube began last Au- Tube drivers has been lifted.” ers from their home depots in stations and lines that will also cadilly lines with a result to be gust on the Central and Victo- The union is understood to the East of London to those to be much busier include TfL declared on 14 March – mean- ria lines, nearly a year later than represent just under half of the west. Rail services between Rom- ing walkouts could take place planned because Tube and Night Tube drivers with the The fi rst 24-hour walkout ford and Stratford, particu- towards the end of next month. union bosses could not reach remainder mostly belonging to last month caused huge dis- larly Ilford station, and London Union leaders ordered the an agreement on the complex the rival Aslef union. ruption. LU said the Central Overground lines and stations ballot in a complex dispute shift arrangements, pay and A walkout by RMT members line would close from 11.30 pm between Liverpool Street and over working conditions and working conditions. would cause huge disruption to tomorrow. Chingford. overtime pay. Cash said: “It is outrageous the 24-hour service – but some Tomorrow there will be no The Victoria line will be Driver salaries start at just that London Underground (LU) Aslef drivers are also said to be Waterloo & City and no Cen- much busier than usual, par- under £50,000 but can rise to have decided to discriminate unhappy with the situation and tral line east of Leytonstone; ticularly Walthamstow Cen- £60,000 after fi ve years. against their Night Tube driv- the union could join in the dis- from 05:30 there will be no tral, as will the Jubilee line Mick Cash, the RMT leader, ers. pute. westbound Central line be- between London Bridge and Commuters on the Night Tube. said the Night Tube agreement “This is a senseless and A second strike by RMT driv- tween White City and Ley- Waterloo. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 17 BRITAIN NHS may pay for patients who suff er relapse

Guardian News dent” it would soon be able to an- more expensive and less eff ective transplants.” Anthony Nolan said ment should their blood cancer ernment was not doing a good I feel for people who are in the London nounce funding for second stem than other drugs and treatments. it was “very welcome” news. return.” enough job of making sure the situation of having to raise the cell treatments for blood cancer On Sunday night an NHS Eng- Chief executive Henny Braund In a poll of 1,700 people car- NHS had the money to fund the money themselves. patients who have relapsed after land spokeswoman: “Last year said: “While it has tragically ried out by Populus on behalf of treatments people needed. I can’t believe the government ancer campaigners have an initial transfusion. medical experts ranked other come too late for patients who the charity, 66% of respondents Before the announcement, Lisa can put a price on a person’s life welcomed an NHS an- It came as the Anthony Nolan new treatments as higher priority have been denied this lifesaving said patients who relapsed after Hepburn, whose husband Gavin — that’s what they are doing.” Cnouncement that money charity called on health secre- for new funding, but heading into treatment in the past year, this their fi rst treatment should be died last year after two attempts Last week a group of charities may soon be available for a po- tary Jeremy Hunt to intervene the year beginning April 2017 we decision by NHS England will given a second round, and almost to get an individual request for a wrote to Theresa May urging her tentially lifesaving treatment it on behalf of patients following a are confi dent the NHS will short- ultimately mean in future, pa- half said it was unacceptable for second stem cell treatment were to stop the NHS rationing treat- had previously refused to pay for. decision by the NHS last summer ly be able to confi rm funding for tients and families can be reas- friends or family to have to foot rejected, said: “There’s no expla- ment for people with serious ill- The health service in England to refuse to pay for the second a further expansion of new treat- sured that they will now be able the bill. nation from the NHS; nothing nesses and to fi nd more money said on Sunday it was “confi - transfusions, saying they were ments including second stem cell to receive the appropriate treat- Almost six in 10 said the gov- from the heart. for care in next month’s budget. Govt studies Tears of gold annual hikes based on CPI

Guardian News on the performance of stock and London bond markets. Harrington said: “We all have a responsibility to ensure the ompanies could slash system works in the interests of pension promises to 11mn everyone — employers, schemes Cemployees, potentially and scheme members. knocking thousands of pounds This green paper sets out the off the incomes of people in re- evidence we have available about tirement, if proposals in a gov- the key challenges facing DB ernment consultation paper are pension schemes and highlights approved. a number of options that have Unions are likely to react fu- been suggested to us to improve riously to the proposals, which confi dence in the system.” would allow companies to save But former pensions minister £90bn by providing annual in- Steve Webb, director of policy at creases in their retired employ- pensions company Royal London, ees’ pensions based on the con- said: “The most worrying pro- sumer price index, rather than posal is to allow certain schemes the retail price index. to ‘suspend’ annual pension in- As CPI is generally lower than creases if money is tight. RPI, the impact on pensioners is With rising infl ation, annual likely to be signifi cant over time. indexation is an important part Analysis by advisers Har- of protecting the living standards greaves Lansdown suggests that of the retired population. A protester takes part in a ‘Flag Mob’ in Parliament Square in London. for every £1,000 in pension in- “There is a signifi cant risk that come in 1988, under RPI it had relaxing standards on infl ation increased to £2,586 this year, protection with the best of inten- but only £2,105 under CPI. The tions for exceptional cases could changes are fl agged in a green pa- be exploited and lead to millions per issued by the pensions min- of retired people being at risk of ister, Richard Harrington. cuts in living standards.” It cites estimates from pensions Tim Sharp, a TUC pensions consultancy Hymans Robertson expert, said: “Pension reforms that a shift to CPI would “take should be judged on whether away about £20,000 in benefi ts they improve workers’ standard British lawmakers to over an average DB (defi ned ben- of living in retirement. It is hard efi t) scheme member’s life”. to see how measures that trans- Currently, 75% of pension fer wealth from pension savers to schemes in Britain increase pay- shareholders would achieve this. outs to members each year using “We shouldn’t cut members RPI rather than CPI, and usually out of decisions to water down the scheme rules and legislation pensions, which are, of course, debate Trump’s visit prevent companies from lower- deferred pay.” ing their promises. The paper makes it clear that The controversy over a state visit a week of his inauguration. advises the queen on whom to in- But the paper asks: “Should the shift from RPI to CPI is only looks likely to roil parliament May’s haste has been called vite, told BBC Radio 4 in late Jan- the government consider a stat- under discussion and, in a rebuke into question, with many point- uary that an offi cial visit would utory override to allow schemes to the pensions industry, says Brit- DPA ing out that it is unprecedented have been more appropriate. to move to a diff erent index, pro- ain’s fi nal salary schemes are more London for a US president to be wel- Trump could still have tea with vided that protection against in- aff ordable than widely believed. comed for a state visit in their the queen, Lord Ricketts said, but fl ation is maintained?” It notes that defi cits in pension fi rst year in offi ce — let alone to without the “full panoply, the full In some circumstances, where schemes have narrowed from a ritish lawmakers are due to be invited within days. accolade of a state visit quite so a company is facing signifi cant peak of £400bn to £196bn and debate whether to stop US According to records, only two quickly”. fi nancial challenges, it could “the evidence that DB schemes BPresident Donald Trump’s US presidents have been given May’s rush to invite may be ex- suspend pension increases alto- are unaff ordable is far from being state visit because it would the full ceremonial treatment. plained by the fact that she is un- gether, the paper adds. conclusive and should be consid- “cause embarrassment” to the Then-president Obama visited der pressure to make good on her “Allowing all schemes to move ered with caution”. queen. Britain in March 2009, just two promise that Britain can forge its from RPI to CPI would have [a] Companies that complain Parliament will also debate months after he took offi ce. But own trade deals independent of signifi cant impact on members’ they cannot aff ord their pension a counter-petition that argues Obama had to wait for 26 more the European Union single mar- benefi ts. CPI has been lower than schemes seem to be able to pay Trump should make a state visit months for an offi cial welcome ket after its exit from the bloc, RPI in 22 years out of the last 27 out large dividends to sharehold- to Britain “because he is the from the queen. and has the US in her sights as a (and nine years out of the past 10) ers, the paper notes. leader of a free world and the UK A Protester holds up an anti-Trump placard in front of the Elizabeth Even president George W trading partner. up to 2015, and so [it] would in all “In 2015, FTSE 100 companies is a country that supports free Tower, better known as Big Ben near the Houses of Parliament. Bush, with whom Tony Blair took She has also faced competi- likelihood represent a reduction paid about fi ve times as much speech and does not believe peo- great pains to build a relation- tion in her attempts to rekindle in members’ benefi ts,” the paper in dividends as they did in con- ple opposed to our point of view which no date has yet been set. Muslim-majority countries in ship, had to wait 33 months for the British-American “special acknowledges. tributions to their DB pension should be gagged”. About 16,000 people have an interview Sunday with ITV his royal reception in 2003. relationship” from former UK The change would aff ect 11mn schemes,” it says. Britons across the country are said they will attend a protest in News. Not to be confused with offi - Independence Party leader Nigel in defi ned benefi t schemes, also “The 56 FTSE 100 companies expected to take to the streets as London’s Parliament Square or- British Prime Minister cial visits, a state visit sees world Farage, who bonded with Trump known as fi nal salary schemes, with a DB pension scheme defi - parliament prepares to discuss ganized by campaigners “Defend Theresa May was quick to of- leaders hosted personally by over Brexit. where the level of pension is a cit paid 25% more in dividends the anti-Trump petition signed Migrants, Stop Trump” on Face- fer the hand of friendship to US Queen Elizabeth II. Flattering the new president proportion of the person’s salary. (£53bn) relative to their defi cit by 1.8mn people determined book. President Donald Trump, jet- They receive a ceremonial wel- with a state visit may seem like a Most private companies have (£42bn). Therefore, in theory, to put a stop to the president’s London Mayor Sadiq Khan ting over to the United States come followed by a lavish state quick-fi x solution, but the back- closed these schemes, replac- these companies have the ability royal reception. However, the spoke out against the visit, cit- as the fi rst world leader to meet banquet in Buckingham Palace. lash against the decision may ing them with pensions where to immediately repair their pen- government has insisted it will ing Trump’s “cruel and shame- him and extending an invitation Lord Peter Ricketts, the former harm May’s credibility in the the payout is entirely dependent sion scheme defi cits.” go ahead with the visit, for ful” immigration policies against to Britain for a state visit within head of the Foreign Offi ce, which long run. London Fashion Week It’s a bird...It’s a plane...It’s an edible aid drone!

Thomson Reuters Foundation UK-based Windhorse Aerospace, the company be- Parts of the 3m by 1.5m drone, designed by the London hind the design, told the Thomson Reuters Founda- team behind Facebook’s solar-powered internet tion. drone Aquila, can be used as fuel or shelter. “You fl y (the drone) and then eat it,” he said in a The Windhorse team includes Bruce Dickinson, dible drones fi lled with food, water or medi- phone interview. entrepreneur and lead singer of the heavy metal cine could soon become indispensable in With up to 40km reach, the drone can be band Iron Maiden and a former Airbus executive, Ehumanitarian emergencies by delivering live- launched from an aircraft or catapulted from the Andrew Morgan. saving supplies to remote areas hit by natural disas- ground with an accuracy of about 7m, giving it an Giff ord said several humanitarian agencies, in- ters or confl ict, their designers said yesterday. With advantage over air drops — often used as a last resort cluding medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres 50kg of food stocked inside its compartments, each in emergencies. (MSF), International Rescue Committee, Oxfam drone costing 150 pounds ($187) would be able to “In combat zones like we have in Aleppo or Mo- and the WHO, have already expressed their interest. deliver enough supplies to feed up to 50 people per sul nothing will work except what we have,” Giff ord In December Windhorse presented the Pouncer day, they said. The frame of the prototype version of said. to Britain’s aid minister Priti Patel, hoping to attract the drone — called Pouncer — is made of wood but “With parachuted air drops the problem is you help with fi nancing. the designers are planning to use edible materials in can’t guarantee where the loads will land. “We’re waiting to hear back from them,” Giff ord Models present creations by British fashion label Temperley London during a catwalk the next version. “In Aleppo we could have put aid straight into said. He said the Pouncer would undergo initial show at the 2017 London Fashion Week. “Food can be component to build things,” Nigel some of the streets and we could have done that out testing in May and should be ready to be deployed Giff ord, an ex-army catering offi cer and founder of of the sight of ISIS (Islamic State).” on its fi rst mission by the end of the year. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 EUROPE

Arson attack on arts centre critical of government An unidentified assailant set fire yesterday to an Istanbul arts centre, CCTV footage showed, Turkey puts 47 on trial and its founder, a prominent critic of the Turkish government, said he suspected a political motive for the attack. The Istanbul prosecutor’s off ice said it was investigating. The CCTV footage showed what appeared to be a man shortly for plot to kill Erdogan after midnight dousing the doorstep of the building with AFP liquid from a canister. Mugla, Turkey This was followed by a bright flash and fire. “Our guard heard an explosion ... ne of the nearly 50 sus- and ran outside,” Mujdat Gezen, pects in an alleged plot founder of the Mujdat Gezen Arts Oto assassinate Turkey’s Centre, told Reuters. “There is president admitted involvement some damage to the front of the in the botched July 15 putsch bid building, but nothing serious, we as the mass trial opened yester- can fix it.” day. Gezen, an actor and staunch Forty-four suspects, mainly secularist who has often soldiers, are under arrest over the criticised the ruling AK Party, said alleged plot to kill Recep Tayyip he believed the fire was an attack Erdogan, while three others still on those opposed to an April 16 on the run are being tried in ab- referendum that would boost the sentia at the court in the south- Turkish president’s powers. ern city of Mugla. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan The suspects, several smartly Protesters heckle some of the accused being escorted by security has said those who vote “no” in dressed in suits and ties, were led forces to the courthouse in Mugla. the referendum are siding with into the court by security forces supporters of terrorism and a in front of television cameras, the coup bid that left 248 dead After the coup, there have been failed military coup. AFP correspondents said. not including the plotters. calls to reimpose the death pen- Critics say the proposed Onlookers heckled the ac- Turkey has hit out at claims alty in Turkey, which was abol- constitutional changes would cused as they stepped out of the that the plotters’ failure to elimi- ished in 2004. lead to one-man rule and buses that took them from pris- nate Erdogan raises questions Its reinstatement would spell undermine basic freedoms. on, shouting “we want the death about the seriousness of the plot, the end of Turkey’s embattled bid Gezen said his centre had also penalty!” and “Allahu Akbar”. One of the accused facing insisting that the president was to join the European Union. received threats in the past. The trial was taking place un- charges of trying to assassinate targeted by a potentially lethal Despite this, Erdogan has der the highest security with Erdogan is escorted by conspiracy. repeatedly told rallies that he 227 prosecutors snipers posted on rooftops and security forces to the courthouse Accompanied by close family would approve legislation reim- helicopters circling overhead. in Mugla. members including his son-in- posing the death penalty if it was and judges sacked Erdogan, who was holidaying law, Energy Minister Berat Al- approved by parliament. at a hotel in the upmarket Aegean He also insisted he was not a bayrak, Erdogan had managed to Ankara has repeatedly de- Turkey’s top judicial body has resort of Marmaris with his fam- Gulen follower, but an admirer of fl ee Marmaris and fl y to Istanbul manded that the United States dismissed another 227 judges ily on the night of the coup, has Turkey’s secular founder Mus- where he oversaw the suppres- extradite Gulen, who lives in a se- and prosecutors accused of said the plot left him 15 minutes tafa Kemal Ataturk. sion of the coup. cluded compound in the US state having links to Fethullah Gulen, from death. The trial was being held in a Two Turkish police offi cers of Pennsylvania. the state-run Anadolu news Turkish offi cials say the bid to conference centre rather than a who were helping to guard Er- The preacher, who is on trial in agency reported. kill Erdogan was a key part of the standard courtroom to accom- dogan at the hotel were killed, several cases in Turkey, is one of Since the failed coup in July, plan to depose the elected gov- modate the high number of sus- according to the indictment. the three suspects still at large in 3,886 members of the judiciary ernment they allege was master- pects. The plan was to “neutralise the the assassination plot trial. have been expelled. minded by the US-based Muslim Inside, suspects were placed at president”, Erdogan’s lawyer Hu- Some 43,000 people have been The government blames the cleric Fethullah Gulen and his so- the centre surrounded by dozens seyin Aydin told AFP outside the arrested since the coup in a mas- putsch on Fethullah Gulen, a called Fethullah Terror Organisa- of soldiers with batons. court. sive crackdown on followers of US-based Turkish preacher and tion (FETO). The initial phase should last “If our president was neutral- Gulen that has raised interna- one-time ally of President Recep One of the most senior soldiers until March 15. ised as planned ... we would have tional concerns. Tayyip Erdogan, and his followers. on trial, former brigadier general A member of police special forces standing guard outside the court Prosecutors have sought mul- been faced with a diff erent Tur- Gulen vehemently denies in- Gulen denies the accusations. Gokhan Sahin Sonmezates, de- building in Mugla. tiple life sentences for each of key,” he said. volvement. Turkey has jailed more than nied any link to Gulen, describ- the 47 suspects, who include an Onlookers waving Turkish The Mugla trial is one of many 43,000 people since July on ing his organisation as a “perver- by the Turkish military. Seymen, dramatically admit- alleged “hit squad” of 37 soldiers. fl ags chanted slogans against the now getting under way across the allegations of ties to the Gulenist sion”. “My motivation was to protect ted in court: “Yes, I conducted a Many were detained hiding in accused and Gulen, including country to judge the coup sus- movement and fired tens of Sonmezates testifi ed that he my country,” he said. coup”, adding, “even if I get the the mountains above Marmaris, “Execution!” and “Game Over, pects, the biggest legal process in thousands of civil servants and believed he was part of an action A second suspect, major Sukru death penalty, it won’t hurt me.” even in caves, in the days after FETO”. the country’s modern history. members of the security forces.

Reports of clashes at southeast Turkey village A village in southeastern Turkey has been cut off from communication net- Pro-Kurdish party appeals to European court works, and parliamentarians have been barred from visiting the area, amid reports of clashes and allegations of abuses by the Turkish security forces. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) tried to send a delega- Reuters international condemnation “The continuing imprison- managing a terror organisation, talks between the government tion to Kurukoy village in the province of Mardin but was denied access, Istanbul over what rights groups say is a ment pending trial of the co- inciting violence, and terrorist and the PKK, which is consid- Ziya Pir, a member of parliament, told DPA yesterday. widening crackdown on dissent chairs of the HDP ... constitutes a propaganda, according to a court ered a terrorist organisation by Local human rights activists were also stopped from entering. under President Recep Tayyip violation of the right to freedom indictment seen by Reuters last Turkey, the United States and the “The fact that deputies are denied entry to the village raises suspicion the urkey’s main pro-Kurdish Erdogan. and security, freedom of speech month. European Union. allegations of human rights abuses might be real,” the HDP said. opposition party said yes- The arrests have left parlia- and the right to free elections,” Erdogan and the government Erdogan has seized on the Turkey has stepped up operations in the area against alleged militants Tterday that it had appealed ment’s second-largest opposi- the HDP said in a statement. say the HDP is an affi liate of HDP’s opposition to constitu- aff iliated with the armed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). to the European Court of Human tion party without its elected “The situation is particularly the militant Kurdistan Workers tional change to argue that those Pir accused the army of “punishing” the whole village to get the militants. Rights over what it said was the leadership as campaigning be- critical as Turkey is now heading Party (PKK), which has waged who vote “no” in the April refer- Unconfirmed reports have emerged of torture as well as disrespectful unlawful imprisonment of its gins for an April 16 vote on ex- for a referendum,” it said. an armed insurgency in Turkey’s endum will be siding with sup- treatment of corpses. two leaders on terrorism-related tending the president’s powers. Prosecutors are seeking jail largely Kurdish southeast for porters of terrorism. The pro-Kurdish Firat news agency said three people, possibly militants charges. The HDP, which says as many terms of up to 142 years for HDP more than three decades. The plans would replace Tur- were killed, while two people were missing. The arrest last November as 5,000 of its members have leader Selahattin Demirtas and The HDP denies direct links key’s current parliamentary The Turkish private Dogan news agency, quoting the local governor, said of the leaders of the Peoples’ also been detained, opposes the 83 years for co-leader Figen to the outlawed group and says system with an executive presi- four militants were killed and three Turkish soldiers injured. Democratic Party (HDP) drew changes. Yuksekdag on charges including it wants to see a return to peace dency.

Govt clears plan to tap Hundreds of migrants phones for ID checks rush border at Spain’s

Reuters Volker Bouffi er, state premier in Ceuta enclave again Berlin Hesse and a conservative ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. “To eliminate any doubts of a per- AFP ish territory in North Africa, have he German government son’s origin, we need to use all Madrid the EU’s only land borders with has drafted a law to allow information available.” Africa. Tauthorities to tap into the The measure is one of several As a result, they are entry phone and computer data of asy- steps Merkel’s government has ore than 350 migrants points for migrants who either lum-seekers if there are doubts taken to demonstrate its deter- stormed the border climb the high double border about their nationalities – an mination to crack down on abuse Mbetween Morocco and fences, swim along the coast or unusual move in a country where of the country’s liberal asylum Spain’s Ceuta yesterday, offi cials hide in vehicles. data protection is sacred. rules. said, days after one of the largest “356 managed to get in out of According to a draft of the bill More than 1mn migrants have rush of arrivals over the frontier a total of around 700” who at- obtained by Reuters, offi cials at fl ooded into Germany in the last in more than a decade. tempted entry, a spokesman for the Federal Offi ce for Migration 18 months. The young migrants forced the local authority said. “They and Refugees (BAMF) will receive Public support for refugees re- their way through the high bor- entered after breaking access legal clearance to scan the cell- mains high but reports of abuse der fence into the Spanish North gates with shears and hammers.” This picture taken on Saturday shows Moroccan border off icers with a migrant after the latter tried to phones, tablets and laptops of have alarmed voters. African territory, ecstatic to have Their arrival came just days force his way through a fence between Morocco and the tiny Spanish enclave of Ceuta. applicants for asylum. Germany goes to great lengths fi nally crossed into a European after nearly 500 migrants crossed BAMF offi cials have said many to protect data privacy following Union state. into Ceuta on Friday, one of the Isabel Brasero, spokeswoman The border rush also comes Earlier this month, Rabat present false documents in the the abuses of the Gestapo in the Some kissed the ground and biggest breaches since the border for the Red Cross in Ceuta, said amid a dispute between Morocco warned Brussels that failure to hope of being granted asylum. Third Reich and the Stasi secu- shouted “Thank you lord” and barrier was reinforced in 2005. no one was seriously injured yes- and the EU over the interpreta- implement the deal would have Some have no documents. rity police in Communist East “Viva Espana”, although several The Spanish territory is now terday, as has been the case in the tion of a free trade farm and fi sh- severe consequences and could The interior ministry, which Germany. had bloodied hands and feet as ringed by a double wire fence past. ing deal. spur illegal migration as it would hammered out the draft with the Merkel, fi ghting a tight battle well as torn clothes after making 8km (fi ve miles) long. “We took 11 people to hospital, Ties between Morocco and aff ect “thousands of jobs” in Mo- justice ministry, estimated that to win re-election for a fourth it through the barrier. The 6m high fence also has eight needed stitches and three Brussels suff ered a blow last year rocco and in Europe. more than 50% of the 280,000 term on September 24, is under Ceuta and Melilla, also a Span- rolls of barbed wire. needed an X-ray,” she said. after an EU tribunal annulled the EU foreign aff airs chief Federi- asylum applications in 2016 pressure from her party’s right deal on the grounds it illegally ca Mogherini has pushed hard for should have undergone closer wing to crack down on abuse. Italian cops bust ring giving out fake EU papers to ‘enormous number’ applied to the Western Sahara, a trade deals with countries such scrutiny, such as an examination An interior ministry spokes- former Spanish colony control- as Morocco to help them develop of phone data. man, Johannes Dimroth, said Police said yesterday that they had busted a criminal enormous number” of non-EU citizens. led by Rabat. their economies, which could They were not, because of- that Merkel’s cabinet was likely ring that sold fake work papers to thousands of im- The “clients” paid anywhere from €300 to €3,000 The Algeria-backed Polisario curb the number of migrants fi cials did not have the legal au- to endorse the measure within migrants, allowing them to obtain Italian residency ($320-$3,200) for the papers. Front has long been fi ghting for leaving for Europe. thority to do it. weeks. permits and access to the rest of the European Union. Investigators have so far analysed 35 of the dummy independence for the region and The last such massive attempt Offi cials have instead resorted There are currently 213,000 Police arrested the ringleader, a 55-year-old Milan-area companies that provided fake jobs for 1,536 people, had challenged the agreement. to cross into Ceuta took place on to language experts to try to de- asylum-seekers whose applica- accountant, and 10 middle men and recruiters hailing netting the racketeers an income of up to €3mn be- But then, in December, the Eu- New Year’s Day when more than termine the true origins of ap- tions have been rejected and are from Egypt, Italy, Morocco, Pakistan and Tunisia. tween 2012 and 2016. ropean Union’s top court over- 1,000 migrants tried to jump the plicants. awaiting deportation but who Between 2007 and 2016 the group set up 828 dummy Another 160 suspects remain under investigation, turned this decision, paving the double fence in a violent assault “We need to establish the have been allowed to stay tem- companies that hired what investigators say is “an including 116 “clients”. way for the trade agreement to be that saw one police offi cer lose identities of the applicants,” said porarily for a variety of reasons. reinstated. an eye. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 19 EUROPE Pence reaffi rms US commitment to EU DPA/AFP its commitment if allies fail to Brussels pay up. Trump sent Pence, Mattis and US Secretary of State Rex Till- he United States remains erson to Europe in the past week Kullmann Five: died after a long bout with cancer. committed to a “contin- to reassure nervous allies that Tued co-operation and the new administration would partnership” with the European stand by near-70 year US com- Union, US Vice-President Mike mitments to Nato and European Pence said yesterday during his security in the face of a more as- Nobel Peace Prize fi rst offi cial visit to Brussels. sertive Russia. Pence’s affi rmation of EU-US But all three also drove home relations comes after US Presi- the message that the allies must dent Donald Trump had called play their part in full or that panel committee Britain’s decision to leave the Eu- commitment would inevitably be ropean Union a “fantastic thing” called into question. and suggested that he advocated So far, of the 28 Nato members, disintegration of the 28-member only the United States, Britain, chairwoman dies bloc. Poland, Greece and Estonia have “Today, it is my privilege on met the 2% target. behalf of President Trump to ex- The target is controversial DPA mentioned her pioneering role. press the strong commitment of Pence with European Council head Donald Tusk during their news conference at the European however – critics say that a Stockholm Nobel Committee member the United States to continued Commission in Brussels. blind drive to 2% ignores a com- Thorbjorn Jagland said her co-operation and partnership mitment in kind made by some passing was “too early” and with the European Union,” Pence He added that maintaining for the future, words which ex- ate it,” he said. “If you don’t yet countries, such as France or Brit- orwegian politicians lauded her eff orts to safeguard said. economic growth would require plain a lot about the approach of have a plan, these are my words, ain, in mounting anti-terror op- and the 2016 Nobel the prestige of the prize. He noted that the two conti- “hard but necessary choices”. the new administration in Wash- not his – get one. It is time for ac- erations on their own account. NPeace Prize laureate Jagland, a former Labour nents have a shared heritage and Pence made no reference to the ington.” tions, not words.” Additionally, if Germany for lamented the news yesterday Party leader and ex-premier the common purpose of pro- future of the Transatlantic Trade Tusk warned against advocat- He did not specify what steps example were to meet the target, that the chairwoman of the and foreign minister, was moting “peace and prosperity and Investment Partnership ing for the disintegration of the the US was planning to take if it would mean a €30bn increase Norwegian Nobel Commit- chairman of the fi ve-strong through freedom, democracy and (TTIP), a far-reaching free trade EU, saying that “the world would progress was not achieved. in Berlin’s military budget to tee, the group that awards the panel from 2009 to 2015. the rule of law”. deal between the EU and the US be a decidedly worse place if Eu- “I don’t know what the answer some €70bn. prize, is dead after a long bout He was succeeded by Kull- During a press conference at that was being negotiated un- rope were not united”. is to ‘or else’, but I know that the That would make it Europe’s with cancer. mann Five. Nato, Pence tried to clarify the der former US president Barack During a meeting with North patience of the American people biggest military spender and as Kaci Kullmann Five, chair- Njolstad and deputy chair- Trump administration’s mixed Obama. Atlantic Treaty Organisation will not endure forever,” Pence diplomatic sources put it, cause woman of the fi ve-member woman Berit Reiss-Andersen messages regarding the Euro- Trump had previously sug- (Nato) Secretary General Jens said. some of Germany’s neighbours panel since 2015 – and com- said in a statement distributed pean unity, saying that the US gested that the agreement would Stoltenberg, Pence reaffi rmed Nato leaders, stung by Rus- some unease. mittee member since 2003 – by news agency NTB that the was committed to its partnership not be implemented during his the United States’ commitment sian intervention in Ukraine, de- German spending currently died on Sunday, Olav Njolstad, committee had lost “a wise and with the EU, while also respect- presidency. to Nato, while also stressing the cided in 2014 to increase defence runs at 1.2% of output while the non-voting secretary of the unifying leader”. ing Britain’s decision to leave. European Council President need for allies to increase their spending but progress since then United States spends 3.6% and Nobel Committee, told DPA. Kullmann Five missed out on “We respect the determination Donald Tusk welcomed con- defence funding to meet the has been painfully slow. accounts for more than 70% of The committee in Octo- the December 10 award cere- of the people of Great Britain as tinued US commitment to the Nato-mandated target of 2% of Trump warned repeatedly on combined Nato outlays. ber selected President Juan mony in Oslo City Hall because manifested in Brexit and we re- EU and thanked Pence for being national gross domestic product the campaign trail last year that Refl ecting on the “horrifi c” Manuel Santos of Colombia of her illness. spect the judgement of the peo- “open and frank” during their (GDP) by 2024. the allies could no longer expect terrorist attack on Brussels last as the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Reis-Andersen read her ples of Europe in the European discussions. “America will do our part, but a free ride and Pence repeated the March, Pence said that Nato laureate, citing his role in end- speech at the ceremony, which Union,” Pence said. “Too many new and some- Europe’s defence requires Eu- message after talks with Stolten- needed to play a bigger role in the ing a more-than-50-year-long was attended by Santos, among He also reaffi rmed the US times surprising opinions have rope’s commitment as much as berg. fi ght against terrorism. civil war. others. commitment to “free, fair and been voiced over ... our relations ours,” Pence said. “The president US Defence Secretary James “I want to assure the people Santos tweeted that he re- Committee members are ap- fl ourishing economies” on both and our common security for us expects real progress by the end Mattis delivered a similar mes- of Brussels and all the people of gretted her death and noted pointed by the Norwegian par- sides of the Atlantic, noting that to pretend that everything is as it of 2017.” sage at a Nato defence ministers Europe that your pain is our pain how she had “supported rec- liament. transatlantic commerce supports used to be,” Tusk said. “Today, I “If you have a plan to get there, meeting last week, saying that and your loss is our loss,” Pence onciliation in Colombia”. The committee normally 14mn jobs in the US and the EU. heard words which are promising our alliance needs you to acceler- Washington could “moderate” said. Kullmann Five, who was 65, keeps a tight lid on its delib- was the fi rst woman to lead erations, as well as advising Norway’s Conservative party – nominators not to publicly an- a post she had from 1991-1994. nounce their choices. She served in parliament Njolstad later said Reiss- from 1981 to 1997 and was Andersen would serve as Russia’s UN envoy passes trade minister from 1989 to chairwoman until May, when 1990. the committee is next sched- She was known for her in- uled to meet. terest in gender equality and “At that meeting, the com- away suddenly in New York foreign aff airs, and supported mittee will reconstitute itself Norwegian membership in the and elect a new chair,” he told European Union. broadcaster NRK, adding Tone Reuters with a cardiac condition. was the one by the US repre- Prime Minister Erna Sol- Jorstad would join the com- Moscow Tass news agency quoted sentative who built her state- berg, current leader of the mittee as a substitute member. Churkin’s deputy Pyotr Ilyichev ment as if she is Mother Ter- Conservatives, said that Kull- A record 376 nominations as saying: “The loss sustained esa herself. Please, remember mann Five had been a pioneer, were considered in 2016. ussia’s combative am- by Russia is grave and irreplace- which country you represent. while Foreign Minister Borge It was not clear when the bassador to the United able. Ambassador Churkin re- Please, remember the track Brende said he would miss a committee would announce its RNations, Vitaly Churkin, mained at his work post until record of your country,” he said. friend and inspiration. tally of nominees for this year. died suddenly in New York yes- the last minute. He devoted his Farhan Haq, deputy spokes- Former Norwegian prime The peace prize is one of the terday after being taken ill at whole life to defending the in- man for the UN secretary ministers and Labour Party awards endowed by Swedish Churkin speaking with Power, then the American ambassador to the UN, work, the Russian foreign min- terests of Russia and was to be general’s offi ce, said: “He has leaders Gro Harlem Brundt- industrialist Alfred Nobel, the before a vote regarding the Ukrainian crisis is taken at the UN Security istry said. found on the very front lines been such a regular presence land and Jens Stoltenberg also inventor of dynamite. Council in New York on March 15, 2014. The ministry gave no details and in the most stressful posts.” here that I am actually quite on the circumstances of his Foreign ministry spokes- stunned. Our thoughts go to his death but off ered condolences woman Maria Zakharova said family, to his friends and to his Second cop faces to his relatives and said the dip- on Facebook: “Great diplomat. government.” lomat had died one day before Extraordinary personality. Col- Churkin fi rst came to promi- baton rape charge his 65th birthday. ourful man.” nence as foreign ministry ‘Spiderman’ thief gets eight years It declined to comment on Churkin was a pugnacious spokesman for the Soviet Union A second French police off icer reports that Churkin had been defender of Russian policy, no- from 1990 until the collapse of should face trial for allegedly taken to hospital shortly before tably its intensive bombing of the superpower the next year. in jail for $100mn Paris art heist raping a man with his baton, a his death. the Syrian city of Aleppo last Despite the pressure of court ruled yesterday in a case President Vladimir Putin was year to crush rebels opposed to events, he appeared to revel in that echoes another incident “deeply upset” by the news and President Bashar al-Assad. the attention of the Western AFP May 2011 and admitted carrying ing he would also be able to steal earlier this month. had greatly valued Churkin’s When then-US envoy to correspondents who mobbed Paris out the heist. another four. The off icer’s actions left a professionalism and diplomatic the United Nations, Samantha him at briefi ngs, and was happy Two accomplices – a The other works stolen were 29-year-old man named talent, Russian news agencies Power, accused Syria, Russia to respond to them at length in 61-year-old antique dealer ac- Picasso’s cubist Dove with Alexandre with injuries to his quoted the Kremlin as saying. and Iran last year of bearing re- fl uent English. thief nicknamed “Spi- cused of ordering the heist and Green Peas (1912) – alone worth anus after he was forced into a The New York Post quoted sponsibility for atrocities there, He went on to serve as dep- derman”, who stole fi ve a 40-year-old watchmaker who an estimated €25mn – Mat- police car after being stopped for unnamed sources as saying that Churkin said she was forgetting uty Russian foreign minister Amasterpieces from a top hid the paintings for a while – isse’s Pastoral (1905), Braque’s alleged drunkenness by a night- Churkin had been rushed to a the United States’ own track and ambassador to Belgium Paris museum, was sentenced were given sentences of seven Olive Tree near Estaque (1906), time patrol in October 2015. Manhattan hospital from the record in the Middle East. and then to Canada, eventually to eight years in prison yester- and six years respectively. and Modigliani’s Woman with a A judge in Bobigny on the Russian embassy after falling ill “The weirdest speech to me moving to the UN in 2006. day for one of the most daring Tomic was accused of cutting Fan (1919). outskirts of Paris said the off icer, art heists in recent years. through a padlocked gate and All but the Modigliani were 33, should face charges. Vjeran Tomic and two ac- breaking a window to get into hung in the same room in the The case has attracted fresh complices were also fi ned a the gallery, one of the most- museum, which is home to scrutiny following the violent whopping €104mn ($110mn) visited museums in the French more than 8,000 works of arrest of a youth worker called Moscow slams Montenegro over the theft of fi ve paintings capital. 20th-century art. Theo in the same Seine-Saint- by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picas- Three guards were on duty Tomic, a master burglar, said Denis area of Paris on February 2. so, Georges Braque, Ferdinand that night, but the paintings he took all fi ve paintings be- The latter arrest, which left the Leger and Amedeo Modigliani were only found to be missing cause he “liked” them. victim requiring surgery to his coup plot claims as ‘absurd’ from the Musee d’Art Moderne from their frames the next day. Athletically built and 1.9m anus and rectal area, has sparked in 2010. The museum’s alarms had tall, he had gained his nickname sometimes violent protests. The artworks, which were been awaiting repair for several by clambering into posh Paris- One off icer has been charged AFP Russian Foreign Minister state must investigate which estimated by the City of Paris weeks. ian apartments and museums to with raping Theo, and three Moscow Sergei Lavrov also denounced bodies are involved and open a to be worth €109mn, are still Tomic told police that he had steal gems and works of art. others with assault. what he said were “baseless criminal trial over these acts.” missing. come for Leger’s Still Life with Prosecutors claim that he was In the case heard in court allegations against us and our Montenegrin prosecutors Tomic, 49, was arrested in Candlestick (1922), not think- spotted by a homeless man as yesterday, the judge ruled he Kremlin lashed out at country”. suspect 25 people of links to the he roamed around the museum that the medical records of Montenegro yesterday Montenegrin special pros- alleged coup, and have launched in the days leading to the theft. Alexandre were suff icient to Tafter a prosecutor in the ecutor Milivoje Katnic on Sun- a manhunt for two Russians. Police arrested him after re- justify upgrading the charges Balkan country accused Rus- day accused the Russian state One of the suspects is Eduard ceiving an anonymous tip and to rape, rather than assault sian state bodies of involvement of involvement in the alleged Sismakov, an aide to Russia’s tracking his mobile phone. recommended by prosecutors. in an alleged coup plot during plot to seize parliament and as- military attache in Poland who There has been a spate of art While in the police station last year’s election. sassinate former premier Milo is believed to be the architect thefts in Europe in recent years. after his arrest, Alexandre had Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Djukanovic during the October of the plot aimed at preventing The most recent, in 2015, in- complained of pain and alleged Peskov branded the allegations election. Montenegro from joining the volved the theft of fi ve paint- that an off icer had forced his “absurd” and “irresponsible”. “So far we have had evidence North Atlantic Treaty Organi- ings worth €25mn by renowned baton between his buttocks. “Russia has not, does not and that Russian nationalist struc- sation (Nato), Katnic said. British artist Francis Bacon in The off icer told investigators will not interfere in the internal tures were behind (the plot), The suspects also include two Madrid. that the injuries were inflicted aff airs of another state, particu- but now also that Russian state leading pro-Russian lawmakers Spanish police arrested seven accidentally during the struggle larly Montenegro with which bodies were involved at a cer- from the opposition Democrat- This file photo taken on January 30 shows Tomic arriving for his people last year suspected of to force him into the police we enjoy very good relations,” tain level,” Katnic told local me- ic Front, which is opposed to trial at the courthouse in Paris. being involved in that theft. vehicle. he told journalists. dia. “The organs of the Russian Montenegro’s bid to join Nato. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 INDIA

ABSENCE LEGAL TRAGEDY PEOPLE CRIME Sonia not in Rae Bareli Unitech ordered to pay Horse kicks man off ‘Dead’ actress slams Love-struck man ends campaign schedule interest to flat buyers motorbike to death people spreading rumours life after killing family

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who has not The Supreme Court yesterday asked real estate A horse being ridden by a youth went berserk and Veteran actress Farida Jalal A man in Jharkhand killed himself yesterday after campaigned in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh elec- major Unitech to pay interest to 39 flat buyers kicked two passing motorcyclists, killing one of said she is hale and hearty earlier murdering his wife, two sons and sister-in-law tions, didn’t figure in the party’s campaign sched- who chose to withdraw after the builder’s fail- them and severely injuring the other. The incident – putting to rest reports of with whom he was in love, police said. Om Prakash ule for today – the last day to seek votes for the ure to deliver flats as promised. The matter con- occurred in Mailardevpally, Hyderabad. According her death which went viral jumped in front of a train near a railway station in fourth phase of balloting on Thursday. The party cerns the owners who booked flats in Unitech’s to police, the horse kicked the men as they passed on social networking sites. Dhanbad, a police off icial said. The bodies of the released its schedule late Monday for rallies to be Vistas project in Gurugram in Haryana. The by the animal. The two friends fell off the bike and The 67-year-old actress four were discovered at his house at Baroa locality addressed by Sonia Gandhi’s son and Congress court gave the builder eight weeks to deposit sustained injuries. While Hameed Shah Khan, 44, wonders why people spread in Dhanbad. According to the police, Om Prakash vice president Rahul Gandhi in Rae Bareli – the the interest at the rate of 14% to the top court’s died on the way to hospital, Kazim was admitted to such rumours. “I don’t know first killed, three days ago, his sons Piyush Kumar Congress bastion and its president’s Lok Sabha registry. The interest would be calculated hospital. The police arrested Sohail, who was riding from where these baseless (12) and Harshit Kumar (8) and wife Suman Devi (32). constituency. According to the schedule, Rahul from January 1, 2010 till Unitech deposited the the horse. A case of culpable homicide not amount- rumours are coming from. On Sunday, he killed Nitu, his sister-in-law. He was Gandhi would address a roadshow in Allahabad principal amount. The court said 90% of the ing to murder has been filed. This is the second Initially I laughed, but... my phones have been opposed to her impending marriage. The murders along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh interest amount that would be deposited with such incident in less than a year in the city. One constantly ringing and everybody is asking the came were discovered when Suman Devi’s brother Yadav as the Congress and Samajwadi Party are its registry would be disbursed to the 39 buyers youth was killed when a horse kicked him during a same question. It’s a bit irritating, I wonder why arrived at his house on Sunday night. Om Prakash contesting the polls together. who have opted out. marriage procession in Golconda. people spread such rumours,” she added. fled on seeing his brother-in-law. Stalin urges On the campaign trail public to join fi ght against government

IANS “We protested inside the As- Chennai sembly in a peaceful manner. However, the police wearing as- sembly marshal uniform forcibly ravida Munnetra Kazhag- removed us,” Stalin said. am (DMK) working presi- According to him the party Ddent M K Stalin yesterday legislators will bring a no-confi - called on the public to join the dence motion against the Speak- party’s protests against the All er. India Anna Dravida Munnetra Stalin expressed satisfaction Kazhagam (AIADMK) govern- at the functioning of the gover- ment tomorrow and added that nor C Vidyasagar Rao. the party would soon bring a no- Queried about the steps be- confi dence motion against the ing taken to bring Sasikala to Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker. a jail here from the Bengaluru Stalin also said an appoint- jail, Stalin said the party would ment to meet President Pranab explore legal options to oppose Mukherjee has been sought to such moves. brief him on the happenings in He said ailing DMK president Tamil Nadu. M Karunanidhi is advising him Stalin said the DMK party will on party matters. hold a series of protests till the Earlier the DMK approached Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi address a rally in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, yesterday. AIADMK government was re- the Madras High Court with a moved. request to hear the issue of trust Narrating the sequence of vote won by Palaniswami two events in the state after the death days ago. of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa The court asked the DMK’s till the former chief minister O counsel to submit a petition Panneerselvam’s revolt and the which could be heard today. passage of confi dence motion, Meanwhile Tamil Nadu Chief Stalin said the people of this Minister K Palaniswami on his state were opposed to this rule fi rst day in offi ce yesterday an- and the government has to be re- nounced a string of welfare Akhilesh mocks premier moved. schemes which were part of AI- “This is the people’s problem ADMK’s poll promise. and they have to come out and The new chief minister or- protest,” Stalin said calling for dered implementation of a sub- the support of students, gov- sidised two-wheeler scheme ernment employees, trade union for working women, housing members and others. scheme for fi shermen, doubling after ‘graveyard’ remark He said people of the state are of unemployment allowance and angry at Chief Minister K Palan- closure of 500 liquor shops. IANS graveyard, it should also have a The Bollywood megastar, the Yadav retorted by asking Modi this election to throw SCAM out iswami and the legislators sup- Speaking to the media, Pal- Rae Bareli/Jalaun cremation ground”. brand ambassador of Gujarat to disclose if his government from Bundelkhand,” he said. porting him were not able to go aniswami said in order to enable Yadav responded to the prime Tourism who was once close had not ensured uninterrupted He also mocked at Mayawati’s to constituencies. working women to commute minister at a rally in Rae Bareli, to the Yadavs in Uttar Pradesh, power supply in Varanasi – the opposition to the November 8 Stalin said AIADMK general freely to offi ce, the party had an- ttar Pradesh Chief Min- urging Modi to stop promoting has been campaigning for the prime minister’s parliamentary note ban and said the BSP actu- secretary V K Sasikala was ruling nounced subsidised two-wheel- ister Akhilesh Yadav yes- donkeys and “focus on more im- wild ass sanctuary in Gujarat for constituency in Uttar Pradesh. ally the ‘Behenji Sampatti Party’ the state through a front. er for 100,000 women per year. Uterday took a dig at Prime portant things”. years. Modi also continued with his – calling it a personal asset of Referring to the eviction of As per the ‘Amma Two- Minister Narendra Modi by ask- “There’s an ad which shows The remarks are the latest in no-holds-barred criticism at a the former chief minister. DMK members from the Assem- Wheeler Scheme’, the govern- ing superstar Amitabh Bachchan donkeys. I appeal to the cen- the caustic campaigning for Ut- poll rally in Jalaun. He claimed “Where has Bahujan Samaj bly on February 18, Stalin said all ment would subsidise 50% of the to stop promoting “donkeys of tury’s biggest star that he should tar Pradesh polls – seen as the the Bundelkhand region had Party (BSP) reached today... opposition parties had wanted cost of a two-wheeler, subject to Gujarat” – a sarcastic reference stop promoting donkeys of Gu- semi-fi nal before the 2019 Lok suff ered from the years of ne- when I announced note ban on the Speaker to hold a secret bal- a maximum of Rs20,000. to a tourism promo on wild asses jarat,” the chief minister said, Sabha elections. glect by Samajwadi Party and November 8, rivals SP and BSP, lot to decide on the confi dence According to him, the scheme that features the actor. without naming Amitabh. Modi told a rally in Uttar Bahujan Samaj Party govern- who never see eye-to-eye, came motion moved by Palaniswami. would cost Rs2bn per year. The remarks amid the hotly “Have you ever heard of cam- Pradesh’s Fatehpur district that ments. together? I was amazed when I The other option suggested Palaniswami also ordered in- contested and bitterly fought paigning for donkeys? Gujarat’s “no discrimination” should be He said the BJP’s fi ght was launched the war against cor- was to adjourn the house for a crease in fi nancial assistance to Uttar Pradesh elections came a people are doing campaigns for made on the basis of caste or re- against SCAM that stood for the ruption and asked for the de- week and then take up the con- pregnant women from Rs12,000 day after Modi told a rally that donkeys. Then they accuse me ligion. Samajwadi Party, the Congress, tails of black money. They came fi dence motion. However, both to Rs18,000 to benefi t around the ruling Samajwadi Party in of working only for graveyards,” “There must be electricity Akhilesh (Yadav) and Mayawati together and all including the the demands were rejected by the 600,000 pregnant women at an the state was appeasing Mus- the 44-year-old Samajwadi both on Eid and Holi,” said the of the BSP. Congress started speaking the Speaker P Dhanapal, Stalin said. outlay of Rs3.6bn. lims and said “if a village has a Party chief said. prime minister. “You have an opportunity in same language.”

Chidambaram’s son owns Maharashtra votes illegal accounts: Swamy in crucial civic polls IANS A total of 43,160 polling Mumbai booths have been set up across IANS panies he controls, have failed to the limit was 74%. That Malay- the state which will be manned New Delhi proceed,” the BJP leader said. sian company, through many by around 276,000 offi cials. “He must have easily amassed other companies, gave a bribe to he second phase of elec- In Mumbai, there will be 7,304 a total of Rs600bn in foreign ac- Karti,” Swamy alleged. tions to civic bodies in polling booths for the 9.20mn haratiya Janata Party counts.” He said according to Preven- TMaharashtra will be held strong electorate. They will vote (BJP) leader Subramanian According to the details shared tion of Corruption Act, if a public today in what has been dubbed a from among 2,275 candidates BSwamy yesterday alleged by Swamy, Karti personally held authority permits someone else ‘mini assembly’ poll and a refer- vying for the 227 seats in the that former fi nance minister P an account in Metro Bank in Brit- to get “illegal pecuniary bene- endum on Chief Minister Deven- BMC, the country’s biggest and Chidambram’s son, Karti, owned ain while his companies held ac- fi ts” against public interest, then dra Fadnavis. richest civic body. 21 “illegal” foreign bank accounts counts at Barclays Bank in Mo- that public authority, even with- A total of 10 major civic bod- The polling in the fi rst phase – either in his name or in the naco, Standard Chartered Bank out accepting a bribe, was guilty. ies, including the Brihanmum- across zilla parishads and pan- name of his companies – having in Singapore, OCBC in Singapore, “Karti-fl oated company, Ad- bai Municipal Corporation and chayat samitis was completed a total wealth of around Rs600bn. HSBC in Britain, Deustche Bank vantage Strategic Consulting Thane, Pune and Nashik, plus 11 peacefully on February 16. The Karti Chidambaram dismissed in France, UBS in Switzerland and Pvt Ltd, involved in receiving zilla parishads (district councils) results for both the phases shall the allegations as “outrageous Wells Fargo Bank in California. kickbacks in the Aircel-Maxis and 118 panchayat samitis (rural be declared on Thursday. claims” and said his personal and Swamy alleged that Karti in scam has four accounts in a bank local governments) shall vote, The major parties in the fray family assets were duly refl ected his election affi davit for 2014 Lok in Singapore, namely OCBC for state election commissioner J S include the Bharatiya Janata Party in Income Tax fi lings. Sabha polls, mentioned nothing many years.” Saharia said. and Shiv Sena, contesting against Speaking to reporters here, about any foreign account and The BJP leader said Karti had “The election machinery is fully each other, the Congress, Nation- Swamy made public the details of had still not declared his personal already been raided by enforce- geared up and we shall ensure free alist Congress Party and Mahar- what he claimed were 21 foreign foreign account in his annual in- ment directorate. and fair voting across the state,” ashtra Navnirman Sena. Besides, bank accounts owned by Karti come tax statements. Alleging that fi nance ministry Saharia said, urging the electorate the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Sa- and his companies, and demand- He also demanded action was protecting P Chidambaram to come out in large numbers to maj Party and All India Majlis-e- ed his prosecution under Preven- against P Chidambaram for giv- and his son, Swamy said: “De- exercise their franchise. Ittehadul Muslimeen and several tion of Money Laundering Act. ing clearance to an “illegal” Air- spite refusing three summons, At total of 37.7mn voters shall regional and local parties have also “It is shocking that the Cen- cel-Maxis deal. enforcement directorate hasn’t decide the fate of 17,331 candi- put up candidates. tral Bureau of Investigation and “In Aircel-Maxis case, P got political sanction to arrest dates for 5,512 seats up for grabs, All the parties have been en- enforcement directorate having Chidambaram illegally permitted him (Karti).” including 1,268 in 10 municipal gaged in a high-decibel, no- been provided the details of 21 un- sale of 100% shares of an Indian Swamy said he also wrote to Poll personnel leave for their respective booths on the eve of corporations, 2,956 in 11 zilla holds barred, vicious campaign, declared foreign accounts of Karti company, Aircel, to a Malaysian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls in Mumbai parishads and 1,288 seats in 118 hurling allegations and counter- Chidambaram and of the com- company (Maxis) when legally, over the issue. yesterday. panchayat samitis. allegations in the past few weeks. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 21 INDIA

LAW AND ORDER BANKING INQUIRY LEGAL CRIME Interpol notice against Cash withdrawal weekly CBI books meat exporter Terror convict’s bail Man arrested for defence consultant sought limit rises to Rs50,000 Qureshi for corruption plea dismissed beheading wife

The Central Bureau of Investigation has asked The first stage of the two-stage lifting of limits on The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) yesterday The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a plea for A Jharkhand man was arrested while he was Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against cash withdrawals from savings bank accounts said it has registered a case against meat exporter interim bail by a convict in the 1996 Delhi bomb carrying his wife’s severed head in a bag and defence consultant Sanjay Bhandari, who is under became eff ective yesterday, with the weekly limit ris- Moin Qureshi and others for corruption. The blasts, saying those convicted of killing innocents meaning to surrender in court. He said they the scanner of multiple investigating agencies, an ing to Rs50,000 per account from Rs24,000. Cash agency filed a case against Qureshi last week must forget their family ties. “Those who indulge had had a heated argument about her relation- off icial said yesterday. The agency’s move came withdrawal limits are slated to cease from March 13. following a complaint from the enforcement in indiscriminate killings of innocent people ship with another man. Bhuban Mardi, 38, following the Delhi Police request. The Delhi Police in Reserve Bank of India deputy governor R Gandhi directorate, which has been investigating “illegal must forget their family ties,” the court ruled as it beheaded his wife Churamani Mardi, appar- October, 2016 filed charges against Bhandari after announced the lifting of limits on February 8. On forex dealings” and tax evasion against him since rejected Mohamed Naushad’s plea for the interim ently with a sharp weapon, following a quarrel income tax off icials recovered confidential defence January 30, the RBI ended all curbs on withdrawals 2015. Qureshi, who has also been facing probes by bail to attend his daughter’s wedding in March. in their home at Bandhmutu village near documents during a search operation on his from current accounts, cash credit accounts and the income tax department, was booked by the Naushad is serving a life term for his involvement Ghatshila on Sunday night, police said. “He was premises in April. The police suspect that Bhandari overdraft accounts. The limits were placed following CBI for criminal conspiracy and under the Unlawful in the bomb blasts in Lajpat Nagar area on May heading to court to surrender. We were tipped might have reached London via Nepal, evading a the November 8 demonetisation of Rs1,000 and Activities (Prevention) Act. He is being probed for 21, 1996, which left 13 dead and 38 injured. “This off about the killing and found the woman’s look-out notice issued against him. He was earlier Rs500 currency notes. The upper limit for withdraw- allegedly remitting funds abroad through illegal is such a heinous crime. Those who carry out body in a paddy field near her house. The man stopped from boarding a London-bound British als from ATMs was Rs2,500 initially and was later channels. Besides Qureshi, the CBI also booked his such activities must realise this is the end of the was arrested as he was walking on National Airways flight in June last year. raised to Rs 4,500. assistant Aditya Sharma. families,” the bench said. Highway 33,” a police officer said.

Train accident Haryana canal row Accused in fl ares after ultimatum by party Kerala star’s

IANS Chandigarh abduction pping the ante on its pro- posed move to start dig- Uging the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal on the Punjab- Haryana border on February 23, Haryana’s main opposition party INLD yesterday said that it seeks bail will go ahead with its threat even if the authorities call the army to Agencies others for some years. are undergoing for a long time,” stop them. “The INLD will start Kochi The actress lives in Kochi he said. digging of the SYL canal even if with her mother. “I support the courage of the the government calls the army. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vi- actress. If a celebrity has expe- INLD will not change its decision he prime accused and jayan as well as former chief rienced such a harrowing or- at any cost. The SYL canal is the two others involved in minister Oommen Chandy have deal just imagine about ordinary lifeline of Haryana and we will Tthe abduction of a pop- told the actress that everything women in our country. We all are fi ght to get water for the state,” ular Malayalam film actress will be done to see the perpe- with you, justice will prevail.” Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) sought anticipatory bail in the trators are brought to justice. Expressing shock and despair, secretary general Abhay Chautala Kerala High Court even as po- She has been receiving endless Maneka Gandhi, the federal min- said in a statement here. lice continue to join the dots in support from the Malayalam fi lm ister for women and child wel- He said that over 6,800 village the case. fraternity. Members gathered fare, said attacks on women and councils had submitted memo- E C Poulose, counsel of prime here to express their thoughts. children in the state had reached randums to the INLD seeking accused Pulsar Sunil, told the Yesterday, messages of sup- an alarming level warranting construction of the SYL canal. media here that the bail appli- port poured in from even the federal intervention. “We will submit these to the cation will be moved today. Tamil and Hindi film industries. “It’s mafia rule in Kerala prime minister and demand im- A police team led by inspec- Actor Prithviraj Sukuraman where nobody is safe. The rule mediate construction of the canal. tor general P Vijayan did not re- said he was supposed to start of law has collapsed. The wom- Getting water through the SYL veal details about the investiga- work with the actress in a week. en, children and the deprived is Haryana’s right and we are not tion but say they have been able But the actress has told him she people are being killed in the begging for it from anyone,” said to track down all the accused. would not like to face the cam- state, but the government is Chautala, who mobilised support They have made three arrests era so soon and “so is pulling doing nothing,” she told a tel- from party workers and the public and are keeping a close tab on out of the film”. evision channel. in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Jind the prime accused and three “If it’s affected her enough to “Every time they kill, the cul- districts yesterday. others. make her stay away from what prits go scot-free. What Kerala Chautala accused the Chief The actress was abducted on she loves the most, I can only needed is Presidential Rule. Minister Manohar Lal Khattar led Friday night while she was on imagine how harrowing it must That’s the right way to end this BJP government in the state of her way from Thrissur to Kochi. have been,” he said. mess.” not doing anything on the issue She was dumped near a di- Tamil actors yesterday sent a The National Commission despite the Supreme Court ruling rector-turned-actor’s house, letter to Kerala Chief Minister for Women summoned the state favouring Haryana’s stand on wa- from where the police were in- Pinarayi Vijayan, strongly con- police chief to demand explana- ter sharing with Punjab. formed and her driver Martin demning the attack. tion for the delay in arresting the “The chief minister called an was arrested. The Nadigar Sangam, or ac- culprits. all-party meeting (in November) The victim told the police tors’ association, said: “There is Writer and lawmaker Shashi and it was decided that a delega- that Pulsar Sunil committed the no safety and security even for a Tharoor wished the actress tion of various party leaders will crime at the behest of others. popular celebrity woman in our strength in her fi ght against the meet Prime Minister Narendra Sunil reportedly told her that state and country. Then imagine criminals. “(She) was tortured Modi. Despite three months hav- he had been hired to kidnap her the situation of an ordinary per- and molested. But rather than ing passed, the chief minister has and if she resisted, he would son.” hiding, she has come out to fi ght. not been able to even get an ap- have to use force. They requested Vijayan to in- Every man in Kerala should sup- pointment with the prime minis- The actress had told the po- tervene without any further de- port her and her courage,” he ter,” Chautala said. lice that the attackers, who lay and “put the culprits behind said. Haryana’s Health and Sports filmed the assault, told her that bars in the interest of justice.” “This is an India-wide prob- Minister Anil Vij dismissed the they were “hired” to do it and Its general secretary Vishal also lem and that it is now happening INLD threat as a “gimmick” and threatened to drug and take her appreciated the actor “boldly in Kerala too is very sad. Some- wondered why the INLD leader The mangled wagons of a goods train that was hit by the Kalindi Express lie on the tracks to an apartment where “20 men registering the complaint.” how we have become a cultural had not taken such a step when in Tundla, Uttar Pradesh. The engine and two coaches of Kalindi Express derailed after the are waiting.” “Indian women are reluctant state, an educated state but we they were in power in the state collision. No one was injured. Sunil has been a driver in the to open out about the danger- are losing our values, we are los- (between 1999-2005). film industry for actors and ous sexual assault, which they ing our capacity.”

Rains lash Shimla Court reserves order New Nagaland CM to on Sabarimala case take oath tomorrow IANS woman could be raised to “in- New Delhi terfere” with the religious be- liefs and customs denying en- IANS plans to elect Nagaland’s lone Lok Bharatiya Janata Party legislators try to women at the Sabarimala Kohima Sabha member, Neiphiu Rio, as are part of the DAN government. he Supreme Court yes- temple to its constitution bench. their legislature party leader. In his acceptance speech after terday indicated that The question was whether Rio, a three-time Nagaland he was unanimously elected lead- Tit may refer a plea for women’s right to equality before agaland chief minister chief minister, met the NPF leg- er of the DAN legislature party, allowing the entry of women law guaranteed under Article 14 designate Shurhozeilie islators at a resort in Assam’s Ka- Shurhozelie lauded Zeling’s “su- aged between 10 to 50 years could be invoked in the face of NLeizietsu yesterday met ziranga National Park on Saturday. preme sacrifi ce” of vacating his in Kerala’s Sabarimala temple the freedom of conscience and governor P B Acharya here to In 2015, Rio had made attempts chair to save Naga people from go- to a fi ve-judge constitution free profession, practice and stake claim to form a new gov- to oust Zeliang but the NPF had ing into further turmoil. bench. propagation of religion guaran- ernment. He will take oath to- last year suspended him and “I will do my best to see that we The bench of justice Dipak teed under Article 25 and Free- morrow. former home minister Imkong Im- work together to bring back nor- Misra, justice R Banumathi and dom to manage religious aff airs Shurhozeilie will be the 17th chen from the party for anti-party malcy to our land and society. A lot justice Ashok Bhushan reserved guaranteed under Article 26 of chief minister of Nagaland. activities. of damage has been done to the fair its verdict on the plea seek- the constitution. The 81-year-old Naga People’s “Shurhozelie has been unani- name of Nagaland and our econ- ing the reference of the issue to At the outset of the hear- Front (NPF) leader was elected mously elected the new legislature omy has been adversely aff ected a constitution bench as it in- ing yesterday, senior counsel K head of the NPF legislature party party leader of the NPF and also of in the last few weeks. I hope good volved important questions of K Venugopal appearing for the after Chief Minister T R Zeliang the Democratic Alliance of Naga- sense will prevail so that people law and the interpretation of the Travancore Devaswom Board, resigned on Sunday night bowing land (DAN) government,” Naga- can come together and rebuild our constitution. which manages the Sabarimala to the demands of protesting tribal land’s lone Rajya Sabha member K society,” the chief minister desig- It gave both sides – the pe- temple, reiterated his earlier groups opposed to his move to hold G Kenye said. nate said. titioner Indian Young Lawyers plea that since the issue before civic polls with 33% reservation for The legislators also elected Ze- Shurhozelie has been elected to Association for the opening of the court involved substantial women. liang as chairman of the DAN co- the Nagaland assembly eight times the temple gates to women in question of law and the inter- The governor accepted Zeliang’s ordination committee. from northern Angami assembly the 10 to 50 years age group and pretation of the constitution, resignation but asked him to con- The NPF is the major constitu- constituency. He did not contest Travancore Devaswom Board it should be referred to a con- tinue in offi ce till an alternative ar- ent of the opposition-less DAN the 2013 election and paved way and others opposing the plea – a stitution bench. The court also rangement was made. coalition government with 48 leg- for his son Khriehu Leizietsu. week’s time to fi le their written indicated that it may refer the “Shurhozeilie will take oath of islators, including its suspended Khriehu was inducted as par- submissions. question on whether with the offi ce as chief minister on February NPF member Imkong Imchen, in liamentary secretary of youth The top court had on July 11, change in the political party in 22 along with his council of minis- the 60-member Nagaland assem- resources and sports, music task Three women shelter under an umbrella as rains lashed 2016, indicated it may refer the power, could there be a change ters,” a Raj Bhavan offi cial said. bly. force and state lottery in the Ze- Shimla yesterday. question on whether the con- in the position taken by the state Initially, the NPF legislators had Eight independents and four liang government. stitutional right to equality of a before the court. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

VIOLENCE DECISION TOUGH TIMES APPOINTMENT FALLOUT Argentina to eliminate Rio de Janeiro to Venezuela names Trump plans push Mexico tariff on computers, tablets privatise water utility new mining minister to tap new markets

Argentina will get rid of a 35% tariff on imports of Legislators for financially strapped Rio de Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has Mexico will pursue trade agreements with computers, laptops and tablets, the production Janeiro state yesterday voted to approve named a new mining minister, the latest of other nations following threats by US President ministry said yesterday, part of a larger privatisation of the public water utility despite several appointments as he seeks to strengthen Donald Trump to tax its exports to the US, eff ort to lower consumer prices and roll back a strike by workers and threats of protests. his position against opposition pressure to Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said. protectionist policies. The government hopes The state assembly passed the authorisation quit. Announcing the appointment of Jorge “Our main goal is for Mexico to be closer to the elimination of the tariff , which will take eff ect to put the water and sewage company, known Arreaza, 43, in a television broadcast, Maduro the rest of the world,” Videgaray said. The in April, can normalise the distorted consumer as Cedae, up for sale by 41 to 28 votes. For Rio, recalled that developing mining was part of country is seeking deals with Europe as well electronics market. Computers are three times which six months after hosting the Olympics his emergency plan to reboot the stricken as Argentina and Brazil. President Trump has Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos more expensive in Argentina than in the US, and is unable even to pay public salaries fully, the economy. Arreaza is a son-in-law of Maduro’s announced plans to build a “beautiful” wall visits members of the National Police injured 50% more expensive than in neighbouring Chile, sale is a condition of receiving a federal loan late predecessor Hugo Chavez, father of the along the southern US border and levy a tax by an explosion in Bogota, Colombia. Some 30 the ministry said in a statement. Former populist of 3.5bn reais ($1.13bn). The state and city of “socialist revolution” that is now floundering in on Mexican imports to pay for it, antagonising people, mainly police officers, were injured by president Christina Fernandez instituted a Rio, which splurged on now mostly unused crisis. Venezuelans are suff ering shortages of Mexico and precipitating the cancellation of an explosion on Sunday morning near the La number of tariff s and import restrictions in a bid stadiums and costly transport improvements food and medicine as prices for the country’s a January meeting between Trump and his Santamaria bullring in downtown Bogota. to boost domestic manufacturing employment. before the Olympics, are all but bankrupt. crucial oil exports have fallen. Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto.

Record coff ee Ecuador’s output in Colombia expected leftist leads

Reuters Bogota vote to be olombia could produce 14.5mn 60kg bags of cof- Cfee this year, the highest output in more than two dec- ades, the head of the country’s growers’ federation said, as it pushes productivity and fertili- president sation improvements on farms. Coff ee growers in the Andean Reuters already celebrated reaching the strong pressure to create jobs nation, the world’s top producer Quito second round in his humid home- and crack down on graft, amid of high-quality washed arabica, town of Guayaquil under a stream corruption scandals at state-run reached output of 14.2mn bags, of confetti on Sunday night. oil company Petroecuador and the previous high, last year de- cuador’s leftist govern- “We’re not going to allow Brazilian conglomerate Odebre- spite drought and a truckers ment candidate Lenin fraud...If they toy with the re- cht. strike that stymied exports. If EMoreno looked set for vic- sults, we’ll take to the streets,” Lasso has campaigned on a the country reaches output of tory yesterday in a presidential he added. platform to revive the economy, 14.5mn 60kg bags it would be the election, but slow results meant A couple of hundred oppo- which is dependent on exports highest in 24 years. it may take days to know if he sition supporters have already of oil, fl owers and shrimp, by “We should be at a level close will face a runoff with former congregated in front of the elec- slashing taxes, fostering foreign to what we harvested in 2016. banker Guillermo Lasso. toral council headquarters in investment and creating a mil- Production volume could be the In a nail-biter vote with eight Quito to demand a speedier and lion jobs in four years. same or a bit above. I wouldn’t candidates at the weekend, more transparent count. He has also vowed to remove rule out 14.5mn bags or a bit Moreno was close to the thresh- “We don’t trust the elec- Wikileaks founder Julian Assange more in 2017,” Roberto Velez, old needed to avoid a second toral council, it’s obviously pro- from the Ecuadorean embassy in head of the federation, said. round on April 2 and continue Country Alliance,” said Maribel London and denounce Venezue- Productivity is the primary a decade-long period of leftist Cevallos, a 34-year-old psy- la’s Socialist government. challenge for farmers, Velez said. rule, just as South America is chologist. “We’re here watching But Lasso has also alienated Colombia had an output of 18 moving to the right. that they don’t cheat us.” some voters who deem him a bags per hectare in 2016, but if While Ecuadoreans are angry Protesters waving yellow, blue stuff y elitist linked to the 1999 growers increase tree density, over an economic downturn and and red Ecuadorean fl ags chant- fi nancial crisis when hundreds that fi gure could go up to 21 bags corruption scandals, the opposi- ed slogans including “We’re not of thousands lost their savings. per hectare and increase over- tion split its votes among can- Cuba or Venezuela, out with Moreno, who lost the use of his all production to some 16mn or didates and the ruling Country Correa!” legs two decades ago after being 17mn bags a year, he said. Alliance remains popular with Outgoing President Rafael shot during a robbery, has a more “For the moment we’re con- many poor voters thanks to so- Correa was one of the key fi g- conciliatory style than the pug- centrated on productivity, in- cial welfare programmes. ures in Latin America’s leftist nacious Correa and has promised stead of expanding farms,” Velez As results trickled in from Ec- axis that includes Caracas and benefi ts for the disabled, single said in an interview at his Bogota uador’s Andes, jungle, and Pacifi c Havana. mothers and the elderly. offi ce. coast, Moreno, a disabled former He brought stability to the po- “In the last few years there Brazil, the world’s top coff ee vice president, was just short of litically turbulent Opec country have been radical changes in the producer by volume, has an av- the 40% of votes and a 10-per- but has aggravated many with country, like the end of extreme erage output of 27 bags per hec- centage-point diff erence over his his confrontational style. poverty,” said Moreno supporter tare, while No. 2 producer Viet- nearest rival to win outright. Government supporters said Ramiro Flores, a 60-year-old nam reaches 35 bags per hectare, He had 39.12% of valid votes votes from pro-government ru- civil engineer in the mountain- he said. versus 28.30% for Lasso, with ral provinces and Ecuadoreans ous capital Quito. Growers will need to plant 88.5% of votes counted, the of- abroad, many of whom left after Critics say Moreno is woefully more densely, raising the aver- fi cial preliminary election count a deep fi nancial crisis under a ill-equipped to overhaul an ail- age number of trees per hectare showed yesterday morning. centre-right government, would ing economy hit by low oil pric- from 5,000 to between 5,500 and The electoral council said fi - propel Moreno, 63, past the cru- es, steep debts, and a stronger 6,000, he added. nal results would only be ready cial 40% mark. US dollar that has hurt exports. The federation is urging farm- in three days as votes trickle in Moreno said in an interview His running mate, Jorge Glas, ers to use more fertiliser to help from isolated areas and Ecua- yesterday he does not see why who as strategic sectors minister trees fl ower better, but many doreans abroad, bureaucratic the opposition would cry fraud, oversaw the oil and infrastruc- struggle to come up with the delays and “inconsistencies” in adding his party was abiding ture industries, has also been ac- cash for large one-time purchas- some ballots. by the constitution and would cused by a fugitive oil minister of es of the product, even as prices Lenin Moreno, candidate of the ruling PAIS Alliance Party, celebrates the early results of the “How can they take three days await fi nal results. corruption in the Petroecuador have gone down. presidential election with supporters in Quito. to count 12%?” said Lasso, 61, who The next president faces case. Brazil’s economy puts Bike race Colombia top bank damper on Rio carnival seen holding rates Reuters for a third consecutive year. Bogota The target is being pressured AFP go out to buy the feathers and had to innovate, trying to cre- in part by the rise in prices as a Rio de Janeiro sequins,” Magalhaes said. ate an alternative carnival,” said result of a tax reform that came Every school in the fi rst di- Jorge Silveira, artistic director at olombia’s central bank into eff ect this year. vision, known as the Special the Viradouro, which won the is likely to keep its key In February alone, consumer he Rio carnival is a cel- Group, gets 6mn reais (about whole contest back in 1997. Cinterest rate unchanged prices are expected to rise 1.17%, ebration of joyful excess $2mn) from a mixture of city “By chance I’ve discovered at 7.50% at Friday’s meeting up from 1.02% in January but Tbut deep recession in subsidies and proceeds from real treasures in our props de- as expectations for inflation down from 1.28% in February Brazil means that samba schools television coverage. partment and I’ve got around remain high, putting at risk 2016. are thinking about their budgets They also raise money the crisis by recycling all sorts policymakers’ target for this “The eff ect of the tax reform as much as their dance moves. through sponsorship and — al- of things,” he said, seated on year, a Reuters survey showed will be diluted over time and put “Here the key word is aus- though none openly admit this a fl oat made in the shape of a yesterday. downward pressure on house- terity,” says Luiz Carlos Magal- — funding from illegal gam- huge cake. Ten out of 15 analysts pre- hold consumption during the haes, president of the Portela bling rackets. Even if Viradouro’s hangar is dict the board will hold the rate, second half of the year,” said samba school, which has won Portela is in trouble, Magal- smaller and less modern than while the remaining fi ve expect Carolina Monzon, an analyst the prestigious annual parade haes said, because “our main the facilities used by Special the monetary authority to cut with bank CorpBanca. contest in the Sambodromo sponsor dropped us at the last Group schools, Silveira knows borrowing costs by a quarter Most analysts predict infl a- more than any other school. minute. We’ve really had to bend the conditions he is working in point to 7.25% in a bid to bolster tion to close 2018 at 3.5%, falling Like football teams, the over backwards to make it work.” are a great deal better than those the slowing economy. to within the target range. samba schools are organised in At another top-division encountered by lower divisions. “They’ll maintain the rate Analysts also said the econo- divisions and their contests are school, organisers ended up For the third to fi fth levels, because of an increase in infl a- my likely expanded 1.8% in 2016, judged on strict criteria where giving free meals instead of pay the contests are not held in the tion expectations and the cau- well below the 3.1% achieved in the slightest slip costs points. to the small army employed to specially built Sambodromo tious tone set by bank chief Juan 2015. That need to pay attention sew costumes. stadium but along Intendente Jose Echavarria,” said Juan Felipe “GDP growth throughout to detail is giving organisers at Down in the second division, Magalhaes Road in the working Pinzon, strategist at brokerage 2016 will probably be the low- top-ranked schools a headache things are more complicated. class north of Rio. Professionals. est since the global crisis, which as they prepare for battle on They get only a third of the They do not benefi t from tel- Echavarria has raised concern would show a marked weakness February 25-26 at a time of in- subsidies given to the top fl ight evision rights. “It’s my fi fth car- about stubborn infl ation. in consumption and private in- creasingly thin budgets. and sponsors have little inter- nival and it’s defi nitely the worst According to the survey, infl a- vestment, as well as poor per- “We’re living day to day. We est in chipping in. of the lot. It’s a lot harder this A competitor rides his bike during the “Valparaiso Cerro tion will end this year at 4.8%, formance in mining, agriculture, raise money with dinner danc- “Not only do we have less year,” said Tatiana Santos, pres- Abajo” (Valparaiso downhill) urban mountain bike race, in which would mean the econo- transport and public services,” es at our headquarters and see funds but the materials are more ident of the Arranco do Engenho Valparaiso, Chile. my will miss the bank’s 2% to Bancolombia said in a note to in- how much we made before we expensive too. That’s why we’ve school in the fourth division. 4% long-term infl ation target vestors. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Afghan villagers Anti-terror crackdown fl ee Pakistan army extended to Punjab artillery fi ring Reuters “If they continue their attacks Reuters Kabul we will respond in kind,” said At- Lahore tahullah Khogyani, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s eastern Nan- undreds of Afghan fami- garhar province. akistan will seek the help lies have been displaced In Asadabad, the capital of of a paramilitary border- Hby cross-border rocket Afghanistan’s Kunar province, Psecurity force to crack and artillery fi re by Pakistani also on the border, hundreds down on militants in Punjab troops, an aid group said yester- of Afghans gathered to protest province, Prime Minister Na- day, as tension rose after Paki- against Pakistan and to ask for- waz Sharif’s power base, after stan said militants implicated in eign governments to put pres- attacks that killed more than recent attacks had taken shelter sure on it. 100 people last week, a govern- in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s border crossings ment spokesman said yester- As many as 200 families with Afghanistan remained day. have been displaced from their closed for a fourth day yesterday On Sunday, days after a sui- homes, while some civilian after the military said that mili- cide bomber killed 13 people in casualties have also been re- tants involved in attacks were the Punjabi city of Lahore, the ported after Pakistani border operating from across the fron- provincial government said the troops fi red rockets and artil- tier. security force, called the Rang- lery, according to the Norwegian The uneasy neighbours have ers, would carry out “indiscrimi- Refugee Council (NRC). Islamic long traded accusations of har- nate action” against all militants State’s regional branch claimed bouring anti-government mili- and their facilitators. responsibility for a bomb attack tants. For the Rangers to conduct on Thursday at a Sufi shrine in Afghanistan has for years a full-scale operation in Pun- Pakistan’s Sindh province. complained that insurgent jab would represent the civilian The toll in that attack has groups like the Taliban have government once again granting reached 90 people dead and found sanctuary in Pakistan. special powers to the military to more than 350 wounded, police The Afghan government has fi ght Islamist militants. said yesterday. demanded that Pakistan hand “Rangers-police joint op- Pakistan said militants oper- over terrorists operating on its erations will start in a week or ating out of eastern Afghanistan soil and close tens of terror- two,” the Punjab government’s were behind the attack. ist training camps, the Foreign spokesman, Malik Mohamed Amid a security crackdown, Ministry in Kabul said yester- Ahmad, said yesterday. border crossings were closed and day. Afghanistan’s ambassador It was unclear whether the Afghan diplomats were sum- to Pakistan yesterday handed the new crackdown would target moned to Pakistan’s military Pakistan government a list of in- groups like the Jaish-e-Moham- headquarters in Islamabad and surgents and camps suspected to ed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which A Pakistani Rangers personnel keeps guard while patrolling on the streets in Islamabad, yesterday. given a list of 76 “most-wanted be in Pakistan. are aligned against Pakistan’s terrorists” that Pakistan said The Afghan government arch rival, India. local offi cials have expressed re- tion.” He declined to be named. country’s deadliest attack in two der area of Wucha Bibi by the Pa- were in Afghanistan and de- prepared a list of 85 terrorists Critics have accused Pakistan luctance. The Punjab government has years, shaking a nascent sense kistani Air Force aircraft bomb- manded they be captured and “working against Afghanistan” in past crackdowns of sparing A crackdown by the Rangers in promised “indiscriminate” ac- that the worst of Pakistan’s mili- ing in North Waziristan. handed over, the Pakistani army and 32 terrorist training camps militant groups that do not at- the port city of Karachi in 2013 tion against all militants in the tant violence may be behind it. Several hideouts of militants said. located in Pakistan and sent it to tack on Pakistani soil. drew accusations of rights abus- past, including after an Easter The attack was claimed by were also destroyed, following Since then, Pakistan says it Pakistani authorities, the minis- The Pakistani state denies es and the targeting of opposi- Day bombing in Lahore that Middle East-based Islamic reports of the terrorists attempt- has killed “over 100 terrorists”, try said. this. tion politicians, though the rate killed 70 people. State, which has a small but in- ing to re-organise in Wucha Bibi. including some in camps inside The list contains names of A government statement did of violence has dropped sharply Last month, after years of creasingly prominent presence Meanwhile, the security forc- Afghan territory in shelling on “Taliban leaders and other terror- not specify which groups would since. pressure, Pakistani police ar- in Pakistan. es have moved heavy artillery Friday and over the weekend. ist groups, including the Haqqani be targeted. The Rangers deny any wrong- rested Lashkar-e-Taiba chief In a related development, the and other military equipment On the weekend, the Afghan network,” a ministry source said, The army’s media wing did doing. Hafi z Saeed, accused by the US Pakistani army killed several closer to Afghanistan’s border to government summoned Paki- adding that Kabul has demanded not respond to requests for com- A member of the Punjab gov- and India of masterminding the militants in aerial bombing car- counter militants that pose a se- stan’s ambassador to protest that the camps be closed and the ment. ernment’s task force on law and 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed ried out on militant hideouts rious threat to Pakistan. against the shelling and to ex- terrorists handed over. Rangers have been called in order said Rangers’ help would 166 people. in North Waziristan region of The Pakistani Army also press condolences for the shrine Pakistan’s army chief, General for special security operations be sought in counter-terrorism Just days after last week’s Wucha Bibi. tightened security at Pak-Af- attack. Qamar Javed Bajwa, said the two in much of the country, but the operations but a full-scale para- Lahore bombing, an attack at According to the statement is- ghan border to strictly monitor NRC’s country director in Af- governments would work to- issue is politically sensitive for military operation like the one a shrine in the southern Sindh sued by the military, a number of terrorists movement, Pakistan’s ghanistan, Kate O’Rourke, said gether to prevent cross-border Sharif’s home province, where in Karachi was “out of the ques- province killed 90 people in the militants were killed in the bor- Dunya News reported. civilians have been caught in the movement by militant groups, cross-border fi ring. the Pakistani government said in “Whether indiscriminate or a statement. specifi cally targeted, such at- On Friday, Afghan offi cials tacks forcibly displace civilians, said government forces backed violating international humani- by international troops had Red mosque distances itself from terror group’s statement tarian law, and must stop,” she killed two dozen Islamic State said in a statement. fi ghters in recent operations. Afghan offi cials said a number Islamic State forces, mean- Internews forces to continue. Ghazi blamed the United A security offi cial said that announcement. of special forces had been de- while, killed at least 18 Afghan Islamabad On Saturday Ghazi’s son, Ha- States and local politicians for capital police offi cials visited Ja- “We cannot ignore the ba- ployed to the border to counter soldiers at a checkpoint in Nan- roon Rasheed Ghazi, released unrest in Pakistan. mia Hafsa in G-7 to discuss the sic SOPs by the police or other any Pakistani raids. garhar on Thursday. a video statement addressing Lal Masjid’s Shuhada Founda- issue of Jamaatul Ahrar, and its law enforcement agencies that iming to disassociate it- Jamaatul Ahrar. tion, which usually responds on support for his deceased brother, they would not have contacted self from the outlawed “We should come up with a behalf of Maulana Abdul Aziz, with Aziz. the family of Rasheed Ghazi,” Pakistan-born author targeted in Delhi ATehreek-i-Taliban Paki- political solution. This blood- has already criticised Jamaatul Ghazi was killed during the said Amir Rana, the director of stan faction Jamaatul Ahrar, Lal shed is not in the interest of any- Ahrar for using Ghazi’s name in 2007 Lal Masjid operation. the Pakistan Institute for Peace Pakistan-born writer Tarek Commissioner of Police Masjid on Saturday decried the one. Our stance is very clear; we its attack. A spokesperson for the Shu- Studies. Fatah, now a Canadian citizen, reached the scene and group’s statement announcing do not endorse any violent ac- Ghazi’s statement comes a hada Foundation denied that any He added that there has al- yesterday said he was heckled apologised. terror strikes in the name of Ab- tivities,” he said. day after another release from law enforcement offi cials have ready been pressure on the and attacked by a mob at an Fatah, a liberal who is also dul Rasheed Ghazi. The video statement also said the banned organisation, which approached Lal Masjid or Aziz’s family, because Ghazi’s son is Urdu poetry festival in the heart the founder of the Muslim The group has said the recent the country has faced a wave of stated that it understood the relatives, but a security analyst “regularly detained and released of the capital. Canadian Congress, said he had bombing in Lahore was carried unrest since the 2007 Lal Masjid pressure facing the Shuhada said there has been consider- by the authorities”. He said the Fatah, 67, said even the gone on Sunday to Jashn-e- out as part of ‘Operation Ghazi’ operation because of interna- Foundation and Aziz’s family. able pressure the Lal Masjid ad- most serious pressure, which is police sided with the crowd Rekhta at Janpath as a visitor to avenge the killing of Abdul tional powers, as similar desta- It also released a video of Gha- ministration and the family of feared by both the Lal Masjid and of some 100 frenzied mainly when he suddenly came under Rasheed Ghazi, and Ghazi have bilisation has been witnessed in zi called for resistance against Aziz and his deceased brother the government, was civil soci- young crowd until a Deputy attack. wanted the fi ght against security other Muslim countries. state institutions. because of the terrorist faction’s ety protests against Lal Masjid. Pakistan’s transgender community seeks reformation

AFP in Pakistan to say the least. with the transgender commu- Asia, Nasim said. Peshawar Modern-day Pakistani trans- nity, but mostly focused on HIV, But access to education and gender people claim to be cul- whereas (TransAction’s) prior- employment is a major challenge tural heirs of the eunuchs who ity was protection from vio- for these women. arzana draws all eyes when thrived at the courts of the lence, harassment, attacks and Most khawajasiras say they she dances, with the twist Mughal emperors that ruled the extortion,” said Qamar Naseem, have been abandoned or bul- Fof her hips and hair – but Indian subcontinent for two a women’s rights activist who lied to the point of fl eeing their today she is above all the voice of centuries until the British ar- helped TransAction to be heard. families, often as they approach a Pakistani community with an rived in the 19th century and Perhaps the most famous adolescence. ambiguous status: the khawaja- banned them. case to be highlighted was that The community is also weak- siras. Later, Pakistan became one of of Alisha, who died after an as- ened by the practices of some The 30-year-old is a guru, a the fi rst countries in the world to sault in May last year because, so-called “gurus” who act as matriarch at the head of a “fam- legally recognise a third sex. her supporters said, she did not merciless pimps, exploiting dis- ily” of several hundred khawa- They number at least half a receive treatment at the gender- oriented young people instead of jasiras, an umbrella term in Pa- million people in the country, segregated hospital in Peshawar behaving as the protective adop- kistan denoting a third sex that according to several studies – up in time due to her identity. tive mothers most pride them- includes transsexuals, transves- to 2mn, say TransAction. Against all odds, conservative selves on being. tites and eunuchs. Since 2009, they have been and Islamist lawmakers are sen- Paro, who left her parents and She is co-founder and presi- able to obtain an identity card as sitive to their cause. school aged 11, was prostituted, dent of TransAction, a rights “khawajasiras”, and several have “They are a creature of God. raped, and shot before joining organisation launched in 2015 in run in elections. Allah’s creation. They should TransAction. Peshawar, capital of deeply con- A Lahore court has ruled they have their rights, as we have,” “I’ve liked dancing since I servative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be counted in the next said conservative MP Amina was a child, but nobody respects (KP) province. census, set to be held this year. Sardar, who spearheaded legis- that,” she sighs. Faced with brutal aggression Like Farzana, many earn their lation supporting political fran- She cut down on her dance and daily humiliation, this solid living by being called upon for Members of the Pakistani transgender community attend a party in Peshawar. chise for khawajasiras. performances and launched a Pashtun, whose hoarse voice be- rituals such as blessing new- “This is what I preach. Hijras small embroidery business after trays her birth sex, “fi led com- borns or to bring life to weddings the exclusion of transgenders dead by now,” she says. to have our rights respected,” are Muslim, same human beings the killing of her friend Alisha. plaints in almost every KP police and parties as dancers – and, from aid to populations fl ee- But in Peshawar, the UN says Sohana, who nevertheless (as us), with the same rights,” In her sweet pink room, she station” – but in vain. sometimes, in more clandestine ing Talibanisation and fi ghting helped only displaced families. despairs of ever being tolerated said Mullah Tayyab Qureshi, creates fl amboyant outfi ts for “More than 50 khawajasiras ways. in the tribal areas on the border “We had no help from any- by her family. imam of the main Peshawar other hijras. were killed in 2015 and 2016 in But despite these signs of in- with Afghanistan. one...We started protesting,” TransAction now has 40,000 mosque. On the wall, two screens: one KP alone,” she says, recount- tegration they live daily as pa- Sohana, 24, fl ed in 2008 from says the young woman, conceal- followers on its Facebook page, Several support measures broadcasts music clips, but the ing with fatalistic calm how she riahs, often reduced to begging Kurram tribal district, where the ing beneath her shawl the curves and local newspapers have be- have already been voted in, and other is the video surveillance was repeatedly raped and black- and prostitution, subjected to Taliban had banished dancing she has created with silicone im- come sympathetic in their cov- KP is working on a transgender she installed in front of her door mailed by police. extortion and discrimination. and music, and forced men to plants. erage of hijras, reviving the de- protection programme which, if – six TransAction leaders have The status of khawajasiras – The catalyst for TransAction’s grow beards. “Many people spoke out, say- bate on their status in Pakistan. passed, will become the second been assaulted because of their also known as hijras – is opaque mobilisation in Peshawar was “If I had stayed, I would be ing that people like us also need “A lot of NGOs have worked adopted by a province in South activism. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 PHILIPPINES Retired cop says Duterte ordered ‘death squad’ hits President’s off ice says claims are “vicious politics”; Senator to push for inquiry into death squad allegations

Reuters Manila

hilippine President Rodrigo Du- terte operated a “death squad” while Pmayor of Davao city, giving cash and Police and soldiers stand guard next to a tourist bus which hit an electric post in Tanay town, Rizal province, orders for police and assassins to murder east of Manila yesterday. criminals, according to a former policeman who said he was involved in the clandestine killings. In remarks contradicting his denial un- der oath last year of the existence of such a Bus crash during camping “death squad”, Arturo Lascanas said he was one of the ringleaders of the group that be- gan operating when Duterte became mayor of the southern city in 1988. trip kills 13 students, driver Duterte has repeatedly denied involve- ment in vigilantism or summary execu- tions, either as president or during his 22 AFP private school, was taking over including the bus driver died in years as Davao mayor. Manila 50 teenage students and an in- hospital, offi cials said. His police chief has denied there was ever structor on the trip when the The bus brakes appeared to a death squad in Davao, describing it as fi c- driver lost control on a downhill have failed, said Boysie Mata, tion created by the media. hirteen Philippine col- slope in the town of Tanay, said the police desk offi cer at Tanay Yesterday, Lascanas asserted that the lege students on a camp- regional police spokesman Su- in Rizal province east of Manila. Davao death squad was no myth and he was Former police off icer Arturo Lascanas speaks during a press conference at the Senate in Ting holiday and a bus perintendent Chitadel Gaoiran. Almost 40 others were in- one of those who carried out secret killings Manila yesterday. driver were killed and dozens The impact saw the concrete jured, said Bong Bati, the civil of drug dealers and criminals at Duterte’s injured yesterday when their bus post cave in front of the bus and defence offi cer at Tanay. behest. claims of involvement in murders alleg- More than 7,700 people have been killed slammed into an electricity post scattered parts of the engine on “There were some victims “It is true, the Davao death squad, or edly ordered by Duterte, the hugely popular in the latest crackdown, some 2,500 in what in a mountainous region, police the roadside. who are seriously injured that DDS, really exists,” Lascanas told reporters president nicknamed “the Punisher”, whose police say are shootouts during raids and said. Ten students were killed on need to be transferred to a bigger at the Senate in Manila. ruthless approach to tackling crime has won sting operations. The bus, rented by a Manila the spot while four other people hospital,” he added. “When Mayor Duterte sat down as mayor public approval. Most of the rest are under investigation for the fi rst time, we started what is called The account given by Lascanas was simi- and activists believe many were extra-judi- ‘salvaging’ of people, these people are sus- lar to that of hit man Edgar Matobato, who cial killings. pects committing crime in Davao.” testifi ed in September he had also been a Lascanas said death squad members in “We implemented the personal orders of death squad member in Davao and he had Davao got 20,000 to 100,000 pesos ($398 Mayor Duterte to us.” seen Duterte shoot a man dead and give or- to $1,990) per hit, depending on the target’s Slowdown irks passengers at airport Duterte’s legal counsel, Salvadore Panelo, ders for police to kill criminals. value. Some members, he said, were former said Lascanas’ allegations were a “continu- Senator Antonio Trillanes, a critic of Du- Communist rebels. ing fabrication” and “another false narra- terte who appeared at the same news con- He confessed to the unsolved murder of a By Benjie Vergara The employees’ allowance of the three govern- tion”. Presidential Communications Secre- ference as Lascanas, said he would fi le a Davao radio show host who was staunchly Manila Times ment agencies – Customs, Immigration, and Quar- tary Martin Andanar said allegations that motion for a Senate investigation into the critical of Duterte. antine (CIQ) – at NAIA were severed after the air- Duterte was linked to extra-judicial killings so-called Davao death squad. Lascanas detailed his involvement in the lines that previously shouldered their overtime pay had been proved false by numerous inde- Another anti-Duterte Senator, Leila de bombing of a mosque and the killing of the ong queues at immigration counters annoyed secured a court’s ruling against it. pendent agencies. Lima, who led a Senate investigation last family of a suspected kidnapper. hundreds of arriving and departing passen- Red Marinas, BI head at NAIA, said the employ- “Our people are aware that this character year into the Davao killings, described Las- The victims included a pregnant woman, Lgers yesterday because only a few immigra- ees were only given basic pay from the Department assassination is nothing but vicious poli- canas’ account as “a very, very explosive a small boy and an elderly person. Both at- tion offi cers were on duty. of Budget and Management (DBM) and “the over- tics,” he told CNN Philippines. development”. Human rights groups have tacks were ordered by Duterte, he said. A BI source said the work slowdown began last time (pay) has not been released.” He added that Lascanas said he had decided his “obedi- documented about 1,400 suspicious kill- “This is how it began, all the killings we month in protest over non-payment of their over- some of the employees failed to report for work or ence and loyalty” to Duterte must end and ings in Davao while Duterte was mayor and did in Davao, whether we bury or we throw time pay and the delay in the payment of salaries of workers were purposely slowing down and some of had promised God that he would confess. critics say the war on drugs he unleashed as in the sea, we are being paid by Mayor Du- casual workers. them fi led a leave of absence. He is the second man to go public with president has the same hallmarks. terte,” he said.

Veteran lawyer claims De Lima fi les motion to quash charges on drug links

Trillanes is ‘lying’ By Jomar Canlas the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs cases include her former driver-body- Manila Times Act (Republic Act 9165), which carries guard Ronnie Dayan, former Bureau of a penalty of imprisonment and fine. A Corrections (BuCor) officer in-charge Manila Times where he got his information. DOJ panel of prosecutors indicted de Rafael Ragos, Jose Adrian Dera (alleged Manila “He has no proof, those are he Muntinlupa City Regional Tri- Lima before the Muntinlupa City RTC nephew and close-in security of de all considered as hearsay. Who al Court (RTC) yesterday raffl ed on Friday. Lima), BuCor chief Franklin Bucayu’s is his source? Anybody can pro- Toff the three separate drug cases The Muntinlupa RTC judges will have former staff Wilfredo Elly, Presidential enator Antonio Trillanes duce such lists and claim that it fi led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine if the evidence of guilt is Security Group member Joenel Sanchez should stop talking to the belongs to somebody,” Alentajan against Senator Leila de Lima, allowing strong or not, for de Lima to avail herself (de Lima’s former security aide) and Smedia about his supposed said in an interview. judges to determine if they will issue an of bail. If the evidence of guilt is strong, high profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian. evidence of President Rodrigo Alentajan, who fi led a plunder arrest warrant against the lawmaker and de Lima will not be allowed to post bail On Sunday, Senate President Aqui- Duterte’s hidden wealth, and in- case against former Budget chief her co-accused. and will be arrested and put in jail. lino Pimentel said the Senate would stead fi le an impeachment com- Florencio Abad over the pork bar- The cases went to Muntinlupa RTC Aside from arrest warrants, a hold- respect an arrest order against de Lima plaint if he has proof to back his rel scam in 2015, said that if he branches 204 (Judge Juanita Guerrero), departure order can be issued to prevent but cautioned arresting officers against allegations, a veteran lawyer has were the counsel of the president, 205 (Amelia Fabros-Corpuz) and 206 de Lima from leaving the country. disrupting sessions. said. he would fi le an ethics complaint (Patria Manalastas-de Leon). She can also file a motion for the ju- The Volunteers Against Crime and Bonifacio Alentajan said Tril- against Trillanes before the Senate Immediately after the raffle, de Lima dicial determination of probable cause. Correction yesterday urged the Senate lanes clearly had no proof to back for unparliamentary behaviour, filed motions to quash the charges. The If there is probable cause, de Lima will “not to coddle a suspected and charged his claims against the president, for making accusations against former DOJ chief, a critic of the presi- be tried. If there is none, the judge can illegal drug trader coming from your calling them “pure hearsay” as Duterte in public instead of fi ling dent’s anti-drug war, is facing non- dismiss the case. chamber,” saying “victims of illegal Senator Leila De Lima gestures during the senator couldn’t even say an impeachment case. bailable cases for alleged violations of De Lima’s co-accused in the three drugs are hurting.” a senate session in Manila yesterday. Minister stands by call to shut mines as review begins

Reuters he will review the planned clo- people who depend on the sector The experts would not come Manila sures after initially throwing his for their livelihood. from mining fi rms, but would support behind his environment She also ordered the cancel- likely be academics, he said. minister. lation of 75 mining contracts, “Even if a contract has been he Philippines’ environ- “My stand on no mining in or nearly a third of mineral pro- made, the (Environment and ment minister said yes- watersheds is staunch,” Envi- duction sharing agreements for Natural Resources) secretary Tterday she stands by her ronment and Natural Resources mines that have yet to go into is in full authority to review decision to shut more than half Secretary Regina Lopez told production, for being located in contracts and make decisions the country’s operating mines Reuters by phone. “It’s mad- watershed zones. based on the common good,” and bar mining in watershed ness to do any kind of extractive Lopez, who is a committed Lopez said. zones as an inter-agency panel industry in areas which are the environmentalist, co-chairs the “The priorities I am legally began a review of her actions. source of the water supply of the Mining Industry Co-ordinating mandated to comply with are in Members of the government’s island.” Council with Finance Secretary many laws.” Mining Industry Co-ordinating Lopez on Feb 2 ordered the Carlos Dominguez. Duterte has previously criti- Council will scrutinise the af- closure of 23 of the Southeast Senior members of the min- cised the environmental dam- fected mines to ensure due proc- Asian nation’s 41 mines and ing council met yesterday to dis- age from mining and said last ess was followed and consider suspended fi ve others for envi- cuss the review and to assess all August that the country could the impact on jobs and the econ- ronmental violations including aspects of aff ected mine opera- survive without a mining in- omy after an outcry by the min- harming watershed areas and tions, Finance Undersecretary dustry. ing industry in the world’s top causing siltation in coastal wa- Bayani Agabin said. Still largely unexplored, the nickel ore supplier. ters. “It will be investigative and Philippines’ mining sector The review could take three The decision angered domes- done in a scientifi c manner. contributes less than 1% to the months. tic miners which said they would And we determined that we will overall economy, with only 3% The council cannot overturn contest the move. probably need experts to look at of 9mn hectares identified by her orders, but its fi ndings could A mining industry group has the technical, economic, social the state as having high mineral feed into a decision by President said the closure or suspension aspects of the mine operations,” reserves being mined, accord- A port is pictured as trucks and a back hoe load rocks and soil containing nickel-ore minerals into a barge in Rodrigo Duterte, who has said of 28 mines would aff ect 1.2mn Agabin told reporters. ing to government data. the mining town of Sta Cruz Zambales in northern Philippines. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL 5 army spies held over Nepal to hold fi rst local polls Lanka editor’s murder in 20 years The five military intelligence der the former regime, a legal of journalist Keith Noyahr, bers of his family are under long periods, and another group off icers are accused of source said. who had criticised military investigation for large-scale of army intelligence offi cers ar- Reuters abolished by a constituent operating a death squad The 2009 killing of Lasantha leaders. fi nancial fraud and murder dur- rested in 2015 over the abduction Kathmandu assembly dominated by the involved in the assassination Wickrematunga, a fi erce critic “Detectives have found evi- ing his 10 years as president, in of cartoonist Prageeth Eknali- former guerrillas in 2008. of Sunday Leader editor of then-president Mahinda Ra- dence to show that the group which 17 journalists and media goda was later given bail and re- Dahal has said he would Lasantha Wickrematunga japakse, sparked an internation- which abducted Noyahr was also workers were killed. instated. epal will hold its fi rst amend the new constitution in 2009 al outcry and shone a spotlight involved in the assassination of All deny any wrongdoing and Editor Wickrematunga was local elections in 20 to address the grievances of on violence against Sri Lanka’s Sunday Leader editor Lasan- in turn accuse the new govern- killed by a group of men on mo- Nyears in May, a min- the minority Madhesis living AFP media. tha Wickrematunga and several ment of a political vendetta. torcycles who blocked his ve- ister said yesterday, an im- in the southern plains to make Colombo Wickrematunga had accused other attacks,” the source said on Free Media Movement, a hicle before attacking him with portant milestone in its long the elections possible. Rajapakse’s defence secretary condition of anonymity. rights group, gave a cautious sharp objects. and diffi cult transition to de- But the Madhesis say their and brother Gotabhaya of tak- Detectives told a magistrate welcome to the arrests, urging A retired army intelligence of- mocracy that the government grievances must be addressed ri Lankan police have ing kickbacks in arms purchases, on Sunday that the fi ve accused the government to ensure an fi cer was found hanging at his hopes will culminate in a gen- before the election dates are arrested fi ve military and was due to testify in court had operated a military death independent investigation into home in October with a note eral election. fi nalised. They have vowed to Sintelligence offi cers on when he was killed. squad led by a top defence offi - the allegations and resist “undue claiming responsibility for the The Himalayan nation has boycott and disrupt any elec- suspicion of assassinating a A legal source involved with cial who has not yet been named. infl uence” from the powerful journalist’s death. been unable to complete the tion in their region, home prominent anti-establish- the investigation said the fi ve More senior people are likely military. But police have said they do journey to a republic because to more than half of Nepal’s ment newspaper editor and men were taken into custody to be arrested in the coming President Maithripala Sirise- not believe the claim and are some regional groups rejected 28.6mn people, without that. orchestrating attacks on other over the weekend, initially months, the source said. na has publicly criticised police treating the offi cer’s death as a a constitution approved by A joint front of several Mad- journalists and dissidents un- over the May 2008 abduction Rajapakse and several mem- for holding military suspects for murder. bigger political parties in 2015, hesi parties was expected to saying it concentrated power meet later on Monday to de- further among the hill elite that cide what measures to take has long dominated politics. after the polls were announced Forest Minister Shankar without meeting their de- Bhandari said that the vote to mands, community leader Khaleda more than 700 village and mu- Mahanta Thakur said. nicipal assemblies would be Elections to the national held on May 14, paving the way parliament must be held by betraying for national and state elections January 22, 2018, and usher in to be conducted later this year. the third government under “Elections are necessary to the new constitution. martyrs of take the peace process to a log- “If the government is able to ical conclusion and end an im- hold local elections in the sum- portant chapter of the political mer and state as well as parlia- 1971, says transition,” Prime Minister mentary elections before the Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former year end, it would accomplish Maoist rebel leader, said over a major constitutional respon- Hasina the weekend. sibility,” said Bipin Adhikary, a The Maoists waged an in- constitutional expert. surgency against the mon- “That would end the politi- By Mizan Rahman archy from 1996 to 2006 cal transition, which began af- Dhaka in which more than 17,000 ter the end of the Maoist con- people were killed. The fl ict followed by the abolition angladesh Prime Minister 239-year-old monarchy was of monarchy.” Sheikh Hasina yesterday Breiterated her vow to de- clare March 25 as the Genocide Day in the country and pursue all to make the same interna- tionally as occupation forces on Lanka to reverse wage that day in 1971 carried out one of the worst genocides in history against the unarmed people of rule for overseas jobs Bangladesh. She came down hard on Paki- stan for spreading false and fabri- DPA the job opportunities will re- cated information about genocide Colombo duce,” he said. during the Liberation War in 1971. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina giving away highest civilian award Ekushey Padak to noted dancer Shamim Ara Nipa on the occasion of Mother Last year, Sri Lanka’s rev- “Recently, it has been seen Language Day in Dhaka yesterday. enue from foreign workers re- that Pakistan’s conspiracy ri Lanka is seeking to reverse mittances totalled $7.2bn, the against Bangladesh is going on. High Commission in Pakistan “What can be more shameful of the martyrs is very much people who will learn from them a decision to impose a mini- country’s biggest source of They’ve published a book where where some false and fabricated than this ... I don’t know wheth- disgraceful,” she said. and follow their footprint. Smum wage requirement for foreign income, according to a they put captions under the pic- information regarding genocide, er there’s any link between the The prime minister urged every- The prime minister sought co- the country’s workers travelling report by local newspaper The tures of genocide saying freedom number of martyrs, torture of propaganda of Pakistan and the body to remain alert so that no one operation from all in collecting overseas for employment, a senior Sunday Times. fi ghters carried out those. This women by the Pakistani army statement of Khaleda Zia,” she can destroy the achievements and and providing the names of the offi cial said yesterday. More than 1.5m Sri Lankan propaganda is not acceptable to were mentioned. added. successes of the Bangali people in learned and wise men who made The new regulation, which workers are based overseas, anyone.” she said. “I think, we’ll have to take “But they seem to carry all socio-economic sectors. contributions to various sectors had imposed a minimum mostly female domestic workers The prime minister was ad- March 25 as the Genocide Day the same tune, which is like “As a nation, Bangali peo- of society and played a support- monthly wage requirement of in Middle Eastern countries. dressing a function marking and I also think we’ll have to try betraying our martyrs.” ple have earned everything in ing role for the development of $450 for skilled workers seek- With the number of Sri the distribution of the Ekushey to get international recognition,” The prime minister said there exchange of huge sacrifi ce and society so that the government ing to leave the country and Lankans going overseas for Padak (21st February Award), she said. is no doubt about the genocide struggle. We have to hold up could honour them properly. $350 for unskilled workers, is jobs already decreasing, ac- 2017, organised by the minis- The prime minister also said during the Liberation War and these achievements and remain The prime minister mentioned now set to be withdrawn, min- cording to the Sunday Times, try of cultural aff airs at Osmani BNP leader Khaleda Zia in recent each family of the country is the careful so that no one can destroy that following the footprint of istry of foreign employment the government decided it was Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. past expressed doubt whether victim of the genocide and eve- these achievements,” she said. Bangabandhu she is delivering secretary G S Withanage said. necessary to reverse the deci- A book titled Creation of 3mn people were not killed by the rybody knows it very well that it Congratulating the Ekushey her speech in the UN General The rule had only been sion before it started impact- Bangladesh: Myths Exploded Pakistani force during the Lib- was carried out by the Pakistani Padak recipients, the prime min- Assembly in Bangla every year introduced on February 1. ing Sri Lanka’s foreign debt. authored by Junaid Ahmad, eration War. “This number is not force. ster hoped that the award would and trying to make Bangla as one “We have taken into consid- The country currently owes published in Pakistan, has been right,” she quoted Khaleda Zia as “Raising question about inspire the future generation to of the offi cial languages of the eration the impact it may have approximately $64.9bn, of handed over to the Bangladesh saying. the genocide and number accomplish greater works for United Nation. on the country’s economy as which $8bn is owed to China. Blogger murder Democracy Day celebration China and Nepal convict arrested discuss defence in Dhaka raid relations

AFP said a statement on the Dhaka Dhaka police website. IANS It gave no further details of Kathmandu Ashraf’s identity. angladesh police yester- Rana was convicted and sen- day detained an Islamist tenced to death in December military delegation from the Bwho had been sentenced to 2015 along with another former Chinese People’s Liberation death in his absence in 2015 for student at North South Univer- AArmy western theatre com- planning the gruesome murder sity, Faisal bin Nayem, who is in mand held a meeting with Nepal’s of a secular blogger. custody. chief of army staff Rajendra Chhetri Police said they had caught Police said Haider had angered in Kathmandu yesterday. Rezwanul Azad Rana, a his attackers by writing against The two sides held discussions 34-year-old former student at Islam. about various issues of mutual one of the country’s top uni- Bangladesh has suff ered a interest and bilateral ties, Xin- versities, and one other man spate of attacks on secular activ- hua news agency quoted a Nepal when they raided a house in a ists, foreigners and religious mi- army statement. suburb of Dhaka. norities in recent years. In the statement, the Nepal army Rana had been on the run Last year 22 people were has expressed hope that the ongo- since the start of his trial for the killed, most of them foreigners, ing visit of the Chinese military murder of blogger Ahmed Ra- when Islamist attackers besieged delegation will help to further ex- jib Haider, who was hacked to a popular Dhaka cafe. pand and strengthen defence co- death with machetes in February Al Qaeda and the Islamic State operation between the two armies. 2013 in the fi rst of a string of at- group have claimed responsibil- The meeting was attended by tacks targeting secular writers in ity for several of the attacks, but top offi cials of the Nepal army. Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s In recent years, China has “The counter-terrorism and secular government has pinned emerged as one of the largest FDI transnational crime unit of po- the blame on local extremists. contributors to Nepal, as eco- lice has arrested Rana along with Since the cafe attack security nomic engagement between the another militant named Ashraf forces have launched a deadly world’s second largest economy during a raid from a house at Ut- crackdown on Islamist Girls dressed up as Kumari participate during the National Democracy Day celebration at Tundikhel in Kathmandu recently. with the Himalayan country has tara suburb in the capital Dhaka,” extremists, killing around 50. been growing. Gulf Times 26 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Baltic test for arms

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] control in Europe Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Arms control is a tool for robustly rejected that proposal, with a structured conversation on And they urge Nato members to Fax 44350474 asserting that, as long as Russia topics of concern for regional actors. take Russia up on its proposal of an building – or rebuilding – remains on its current course, there After all, dialogue is not only a agreement on the activation of aircraft trust between adversaries is “simply no basis” for new arms- soft policy instrument for handling transponders, particularly during control talks. matters like trade or environmental fl ights over the Baltic region. Instead, the US argues, existing co-operation; it is also essential to All of these eff orts could be By Volker Perthes and Oliver Meier agreements should be revitalised. any security policy that looks beyond buttressed by a dialogue on military Berlin Germany’s proposal may well be too deterrence. strategies among the Baltic states GULF TIMES ambitious. The goal should be confi dence- themselves. But America’s proposal is not building measures and agreed limits Such a conversation should be ince Russia’s annexation ambitious enough, and, perhaps more on military capabilities. convened by think tanks, ideally in of Crimea in early 2014, important, it ignores the failure of past Arms control depends on neutral Finland or Sweden, rather than its political and military attempts to modernise key accords, transparency. in an offi cial format. Pakistan sends out Srelations with the West have such as the Treaty on Conventional Fortunately, Nato, as an actor with a Like an arms-control dialogue deteriorated sharply. Forces in Europe and the Open Skies defensive conventional-force posture between Nato and Russia, that eff ort Russian military redeployments, Treaty. in the Baltic region, has plenty of would provide reassurance, without strong message with exercises, and threats have increased A better approach – more feasible reason to support transparency. undermining deterrence. insecurity across Europe. than Germany’s and more eff ective The aggressor gains an advantage Eff orts to promote sub-regional Nato has responded by increasing than America’s – would be a push by from concealment and secrecy – arms control would also enhance its military presence in Central both countries for Steinmeier-style hallmarks of the “hybrid” warfare that European security in general, Lahore match decision Europe, fuelling fears of encirclement arms control in just one European the Baltics have feared, particularly complementing eff orts to establish the in the Kremlin. region: the Baltic rim. since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. parameters of a new comprehensive To head off the risk of an arms race Since Russia’s 2014 annexation Against this background, security system for Europe. Pakistan has sent out a strong statement of intent and or military confrontation, both sides of Crimea, mistrust between Nato Nato should pursue a new arms- What works in the Baltic region defi ance, and rightly so, by announcing that the fi nal of must urgently agree to reciprocal and non-Nato members in the Baltic control dialogue with the goal of could be adjusted and applied on a the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament measures to limit military capabilities region has intensifi ed, making that boosting transparency concerning larger scale. will be played in Lahore as previously planned. and engage in arms control. region particularly vulnerable to military capabilities relevant Arms control is not an imperative Of course, Russia and Nato have confl ict. for unconventional warfare for tranquil times or a reward for The decision was taken yesterday in Dubai after the fi ve very diff erent ideas about a peaceful Nato now must strike a balance and providing early warning of reassuring behaviour; it is a tool franchises involved in the event reached an agreement and stable European security order. between, on one hand, meaningful destabilising moves that are not for building – or rebuilding – trust that their teams would make the trip to Lahore for the But the same was true during reassurance for its own Baltic and quite acts of war. between adversaries. fi nal scheduled on March 5. the Cold War, and the two sides Central European members and Given Russia’s conventional To use it eff ectively, each side must Lahore was announced as the original venue for the fi nal made progress by using arms- deterrence vis-à-vis Russia, and, superiority in the Baltic region, Nato fi rst gain some insight into the other’s control instruments to manage their on the other hand, continued co- would not have to worry that such perspective and intentions – an eff ort when this year’s PSL was launched, but the recent string of relationship and mitigate the risk of operation and dialogue with Russia. an eff ort would inadvertently end up in which semi-offi cial talks can play ghastly terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including one in the war. In this sense, the Baltic Sea region weakening the region’s security. an important role. city which killed more than a dozen people, had led to calls Today, however, there is substantial could become a proving ground for It is less clear whether Russia would Because Russian reticence about for the title decider to be played elsewhere. disagreement among Nato members political strategies to ease tensions be interested in such a dialogue, engaging in a dialogue would point to More than a 100 people lost their lives and several about the preconditions, content, and between Nato and Russia. though the Kremlin should want a desire to rely on military surprises format of possible arms-control talks Nato has always considered to mitigate the risk of unintended in the future, even a failed dialogue dozens more were injured in a matter of a few days, with Russia. deterrence and arms control to be two military escalation. would benefi t Nato and the Baltic leading to panic in the country which had seen a recent Last August, German Foreign pillars of a strategy for maintaining The Deep Cuts Commission, states. lull in violence following the military’s crackdown on Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier European stability. comprising US, German, and Russian It would certainly be better than militants in the restive border regions. suggested that all interested countries For this reason, re-launching arms arms-control experts, recently made nothing. – Project Syndicate The recent wave of attacks has been claimed by groups in Europe should attempt to “re- control for the Baltic Sea region some concrete proposals to address launch” arms control in Europe need not aff ect existing deterrence the challenge at hand. zVolker Perthes is the Director of affi liated to the Taliban and ISIS whose leaders are “as a tried and tested means of measures, including the rotating For example, the commission Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik based in Afghanistan, according to Pakistani sources, risk reduction, transparency, and presence of four Nato battalions in the recommends arrangements to ensure (SWP), the German Institute for and were intended to create panic and instability in the confi dence building between Russia Baltic states and Poland. that any movements and exercises of International and Security Aff airs, country which is banking on the multi-billion dollar and the West.” Such a “structured Unilateral troop reductions are not military units are reported. Berlin. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to revive its dialogue,” Steinmeier argued, should where the arms-control negotiation They also propose measures to zOliver Meier is the deputy head of move beyond existing agreements. process should begin. avoid unintended military incidents the International Security Research economy. Six weeks later, the United States Instead, that process should begin and accidents. division at SWP. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had intended to prove that the country was safe for international cricket when the PSL fi nal was scheduled for Lahore but the recent attacks had dampened their enthusiasm. But assurances from the government and security agencies including the nation’s million strong army coupled with a desire not to yield in to the terrorists have infused the country with a fresh dose of much needed confi dence that it can pull off the final without Holding the PSL any untoward incident. fi nal in Lahore is “It has been heartwarming to see a bold decision the dedication of all the owners to the cause considering the of taking cricket back extraordinary home,” PSL chairman, Najam Sethi said circumstances yesterday. “There is a realisation the country is that this fi nal will be the facing fi rst step in opening the gates to international teams starting to make the journey again. We are all committed to this mission and wish to have a thoroughly entertaining fi nal where it should happen – in Lahore.” According to reports, the PCB has taken several steps to ensure the safety of the players, including buying four bullet-proof buses. However, even before the recent attacks, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA) had issued a report warning that an “acceptable level of participant security and safety cannot be expected or guaranteed” in Pakistan. The PCB now faces the diffi cult task of convincing non-Pakistani players to travel to Lahore for the fi nal. Decline in America’s economic freedom They are being encouraged to make the trip and there are even reports of promises of extra payments to the tune of By Anthony B Kim individual, equality before the law and Despite the ongoing recovery, staunch advocate of liberty, once thousands of dollars. Washington open competition. the economic damage has been noted: In a country polarised by political and sectarian Ironically, the rising levels of extensive. “(T)he true concept of economic economic freedom we observe around Its legacy includes subpar growth, freedom must be understood to be confl icts, cricket perhaps is the only activity that brings conomic freedom has been the world are thanks in large part to mediocre business investment and far deeper and richer than the mere people together. And although the PSL matches are being on the rise in many countries the historical record of the United fewer job prospects – particularly for absence of restraint, or the license to played to full houses in the UAE, fans were longing for around the globe. So why has States in promoting and defending the poor and less skilled. do as one pleases. The only defensible some action in their own country after international Eit been declining here in the freedom. This is the current status of the kind of economic freedom is freedom teams stopped touring Pakistan following the terrorist United States? Yet the recent record of the US in nation, and there is no use in denying it. coupled with a sense of moral The Heritage Foundation’s 2017 the index – the undeniable trail of However, it is critical that we responsibility to one’s community and attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009. The PSL Index of Economic Freedom is declining economic freedom – is a understand that the economic reality country, to the values that bind us.” fi nal in Lahore therefore would be a great opportunity for out, with its country-by-country serious cause for alarm. America confronts is neither a Fortunately, the greater calling them to turn out in large numbers and support the event assessments, and it shows the US So what is the source of this statement of fate nor a forecast. for conservative solutions on many despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the rating has dwindled to its lowest level downward trend? The US is lagging The future is open to recovery. policy fronts in recent years points to occasion. in the index’s 23-year history. because of deteriorations in certain Crafting a better economic future new hope for revitalising America’s The Washington-fi rst, big- key policy areas. will necessitate a return to the ideas economic freedom. government policies of the past eight Increased tax and regulatory that helped animate our founding: That work will surely entail the years have essentially wiped out a burdens, aggravated by favouritism limited government, individual rise of a new generation of leaders To Advertise decade of progress. toward entrenched interests, have liberty with responsibility, and free willing to relearn the crucial linkage This decline aff ects all of us. undercut America’s historically enterprise. among economic freedom, personal [email protected] Economic freedom transcends the dynamic entrepreneurial growth. Success depends, however, on responsibility, opportunity and Display market. They’ve confi ned the US economy understanding that economic and empowerment. Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 It’s a vital element in creating a to the rank of only “mostly free.” cultural factors are inextricably Analysing economic trends is a society that values and advances There is no doubt that America’s interwoven. critical fi rst step toward inspiring the Classified opportunity and personal dwindling economic freedom has a Policies that advance economic resolve to get America back on track Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 progress. human toll. freedom expand opportunities for and reinvigorate the free-market A true free market is more than just Families, businesses and workers in all walks of life. dynamism that ensures opportunity Subscription an arrangement of voluntary economic community organisations across The culture of family and for all but favouritism to none. [email protected] relationships. America – what the 18th-century community also surely aff ects the Now is the time to rebuild and deploy It’s a proven source of dynamic philosopher Edmund Burke dubbed extent to which individuals take America’s principled policy toolkit. growth and upward social mobility. the “little platoons” of society – have advantage of their opportunities. The 2017 Index of Economic 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Its principles are written into our been squeezed by the government’s As the late William E Simon, a Freedom serves that goal. – Tribune national DNA: empowerment of the assault on our economic freedom. former Treasury secretary and a News Service Gulf Times Tuesday, February 21, 2017 27 COMMENT Smartphones revolutionising medicine

A growing number of Mynatt, professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. doctors and researchers “Someone who is newly diagnosed are turning to with diabetes really needs to become their own detectives,” she said. smartphones for use in “They need to learn the changes their daily work they need to make in their daily lifestyle.” For women newly diagnosed By Jean-Louis Santini/ AFP with breast cancer, researchers Boston provided a tablet that allows them real-time access to information on the diagnosis, management of their martphones are treatment and side eff ects. revolutionising the diagnosis The technique also helps patients and treatment of illnesses, who may not be able to travel to Sthanks to add-ons and a medical offi ce for regular care, apps that make their ubiquitous reducing their costs. small screens into medical devices, “Our tool becomes a personal researchers say. support system,” Mynatt said. “They “If you look at the camera, the can interact to get day-to-day advice.” flash, the microphone... they all Research has shown this approach are getting better and better,” “changes dramatically their said Shwetak Patel, engineering behaviour,” she added. professor at the University of “The pervasiveness of the Washington. adoption of mobile platform is “In fact the capabilities on those quite encouraging for grappling phones are as great as some of with pervasive socio-economic the specialised devices,” he told determinants in terms of healthcare the American Association for the disparities.” Advancement of Science (AAAS) A growing number of doctors annual meeting this week. and researchers are turning to Smartphones can already act as smartphones for use in their daily pedometers, count calories and work, seeing them as a useful tool for measure heartbeats. managing electronic health data and But mobile devices and tablets fi guring out the most eff ective clinical can also become tools for diagnosing trials, said Gregory Hager, professor illness. of computer science at Johns Hopkins “You can use the microphone to University. diagnose asthma, COPD (chronic Clinical trials currently cost around obstructive pulmonary disorder),” $12mn to run from start to fi nish, he Patel said. Mobile devices and tablets can become tools for diagnosing illness. said. “With these enabling technologies “The new idea is micro-randomised you can manage chronic diseases that shows the level of haemoglobin in Smartphones can also be used to “If there is a reduction in density where screening tools like this in the trials, which should be far more outside of the clinic and with a non- the blood,” Patel said. diagnose osteoporosis, a bone disorder of the bone, the frequency changes, primary care offi ces are non-existent,” eff ective, with more natural data,” he invasive clinical tool.” An app called HemaApp was shown common in the elderly. which is the same as you will have in he told reporters. said. It is also possible to use the camera to perform comparably well as a non- Just hold a smartphone, turn on an osteoporosis bone.” “So it really changes the way we Although the costs could be and fl ash on a mobile phone to smartphone device for measuring the right app in hand and tap on your Such advances can empower diagnose, treat and manage chronic dramatically lower, too, the fi eld is still diagnose blood disorders, including haemoglobin without a needle. elbow. patients to better manage their own diseases.” new and more work needs to be done iron and haemoglobin defi ciency. Researchers are seeking approval “Your phone’s motion picture care, Patel said. Mobile smartphone devices are to fi gure out how to fully assess the “You put your fi nger over the from the US Food and Drug sensor picks up the resonances that “You can imagine the broader already helping patients manage quality and the eff ectiveness of such camera fl ash and it gives you a result Administration for its wider use. are generated,” Patel said. impact of this in developing countries cancer and diabetes, says Elizabeth trials. Weather report Syria refugees shrug off peace talks Three-day forecast TODAY High: 19 C millions since it started with the al-Ghouthani, 42, says he’ll return to similar frustration at the stagnant Low : 14 C By Mussa Hattar and Inshore: Mild daytime and partly brutal repression of anti-government Syria as soon as it is safe. peace process. cloudy with chance of light rain at Mouhamed Ali Ahmad places, cold by night. Azraq refugee camp, Jordan protests in 2011. “Despite the dignifi ed life we “We’re not expecting anything. In the Azraq refugee camp, have here, I’ll go back as soon as They’ve already met fi ve or six times Khabouri runs a small shop that security returns - even if my home without any results,” says Tarek WEDNESDAY lmost six years into a war sells shisha tobacco and bicycles, is destroyed...I’ll rebuild it,” says the Salloum, 24, standing outside a High: 21 C that has devastated their the only method of transport for father-of-eight, who is also from makeshift home in a camp in east Low: 15 C country, Syrian refugees around 54,000 residents in the Daraa. Lebanon. Sunny Ain Jordan and Lebanon say settlement. Beside him, Abdelmonem al- “There’ll be no solution because no they expect nothing of peace talks this Sitting beside him outside his Muthib listens to the chirping of a one wants to make any concessions,” month but still dream of going home. shop, Khabouri’s 65-year-old uncle caged bird brought from Syria. says the refugee, who fl ed to the Marj THURSDAY “I don’t think anything will come of says he still thinks about his home But he says Syria will have to be area from the Syrian town of Zabadani High: 20 C the talks” in Switzerland, says Ahmad and surrounding fields in Daraa, much safer for him to return. across the border. Low: 16 C al-Khabouri, 32, at a refugee camp in the southern cradle of Syria’s “I won’t start again from scratch, “The losers are the Syrians who left P Cloudy Jordan. uprising. even if the fi ghting stops unless the their country.” But the young man, who fl ed Syria But he says he is just as disillusioned situation looks at least 35% like it did Qasiya Ezz, who has 10 children, with his wife and children in 2014, about the latest rounds of talks before the war,” says the father-of-six. says all she wants from the talks is Fishermen’s forecast says he still clings on to hope of between the regime and rebels set to “If not, I’ll stay here.” “security and a small house for me and OFFSHORE DOHA returning home some day. take place in Geneva this week. The UN refugee agency says Jordan my children”. Wind: NW 08-18/22 KT “I don’t know if my house has been “It’s all lies, whether from the has taken in 655,000 Syrians since the “Whether the regime falls or not, I Waves: 3-5/7 Feet destroyed or not, but I want to return regime or the opposition. They’re all start of the confl ict, but Amman says don’t care,” says the 38-year-old, her INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW 05-15 KT home even if we’ve managed to make a laughing at the Syrian people,” says the number is much higher at 1.4mn. head wrapped in a black scarf. Waves: 2-4 Feet new life for ourselves here,” he says. the man in a long white robe and a In Lebanon, where the UNHCR says “We used to have peace in our The war has killed more than traditional keffi yeh headscarf. it has registered more than 1mn Syrian beautiful country. All I want is to go Around the region 310,000 people and displaced At a nearby electronics stall, Ali refugees, camp residents express home.” Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Abu Dhabi P Cloudy 19/16 M Sunny 22/17 Baghdad Sunny 17/02 Sunny 18/06 Dubai Cloudy 21/16 P Cloudy 23/16 Kuwait City M Sunny 18/09 M Sunny 21/10 Manama M Sunny 18/13 Sunny 19/14 Live issues Muscat P Cloudy 23/19 Sunny 24/20 Riyadh P Cloudy 19/10 M Sunny 22/13 Tehran Sunny 09/-2 Sunny 10/-1 Don’t ignore infant fevers

Tribune News Service 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, New York your child has a fever. MY CHILD HAS A FEVER. ever in an infant who is less WHAT DO I DO NEXT? than 3 months old is cause for If your child has a fever, Gregory concern. says, “The next step is to take your F “A fever in this age group infant to the nearest emergency can be a sign of a serious bacterial department. If there is a serious illness infection that requires urgent causing your child’s fever, quick medical treatment,” says Dr Seth diagnosis and treatment will help your Gregory, a Mayo Clinic Health System child recover sooner.” paediatrician. In the emergency department, the One study identifi ed a serious medical team will perform a physical bacterial infection in 10% of infants exam and run a series of tests to with a fever between 1 day and 2 z Has a cough identify serious causes of your child’s Around the world months of life. While you do not have zIs breathing quicker or harder HOW DO I CHECK A RECTAL fevers, such as: Weather Weather to check a temperature on a healthy- than usual TEMPERATURE? zUrine tests to look for urine or today Max/min tomorrow Max/min looking infant, it is important to check zAppears to have pale or yellow A rectal temperature is a quick, kidney infections Athens P Cloudy 16/07 Sunny 17/08 a temperature on your child if there skin easy, accurate way to measure an z Blood tests to look for blood Beirut Sunny 17/09 M Sunny 17/12 Sunny 34/26 are signs of illness or you believe your infant’s temperature. To take a rectal infections and signs of infection Bangkok 36/25 M Sunny Berlin Showers 09/03 Rain 09/03 child may have a fever. WHAT IS A FEVER? temperature, you need a digital multiuse elsewhere Cairo Sunny 21/11 P Cloudy 18/09 The definition of a fever is a thermometer, cool water and some z Chest X-ray to look for lung Cape Town Cloudy 29/17 Cloudy 32/18 HOW TO TELL IF YOUR single temperature reading of 100.4 lubricant, such as petroleum jelly. Start infections Colombo P Cloudy 31/23 P Cloudy 31/23 INFANT IS SICK degrees Fahrenheit or greater. by cleaning the end of the thermometer zLumbar puncture to look for Dhaka P Cloudy 33/23 P Cloudy 32/23 Hong Kong Cloudy 22/20 M Cloudy 23/21 Determining if an infant is ill can However, not all methods of with cool water. Never use warm water, meningitis Istanbul P Cloudy 11/04 Showers 13/06 be diffi cult, but there are several signs taking an infant’s temperature are as it may aff ect the reading. Next, place “It is very likely that an infant 2 Jakarta T Storms 29/24 T Storms 31/24 that your infant may be sick. These accurate. a small amount of lubricant on the end months old or younger with a fever Karachi Sunny 28/14 Sunny 30/15 signs include, but are not limited to: “Oral and temporal thermometers of the thermometer. Place your child on will have to spend some time in the London Showers 13/10 Showers 13/09 Manila M Sunny P Cloudy 31/23 zCrying and fussy – even after are not considered accurate in his or her stomach with your hand just hospital until the cause of their fever 32/23 Moscow Snow 03/-1 S Showers -1/-11 eff orts to comfort them infants less than 3 months old, and above his or her bottom, or place your is known and is properly managed,” New Delhi Sunny 26/12 Sunny 26/11 z Hard to awaken or seems weaker tympanic (ear) thermometers are not child on his or her back and raise his or says Gregory. “Remember, fevers in New York P Cloudy 07/05 Showers 12/08 and more tired than usual recommended until 6 months old,” her legs up to his or her chest. Place the infants 3 months old and younger Paris Showers 12/08 Showers 12/09 zIs feeding poorly says Gregory. thermometer end one-half to one inch are a big deal. Make sure you are Sao Paulo S T Storms 32/19 S T Storms 31/19 Seoul M Sunny 04/-2 Rain& Snow 04/-3 zFeels warm to the touch “Paediatricians generally into the anal opening, and hold it loosely checking a rectal temperature, and Singapore T Storms 32/24 S T Storms 32/24 z Has a new skin rash recommend checking a rectal with two fi ngers. Keep the thermometer if the temperature is 100.4 degrees Sydney Sunny 25/18 Cloudy 26/18 z Vomiting beyond the normal temperature in infants less than 3 in place until it beeps, and then remove Fahrenheit or greater, your child needs Tokyo Clear 10/05 Clear 12/00 spitting up months old.” the device. If the thermometer reads to be seen as soon as possible.” Gulf Times 28 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 QATAR Fifty One East curates another exquisite collection for DJWE ifty One East, one of Qa- “Fifty One East places high val- and Clou de Paris motifs in their tar’s leading department ue on this exhibition for its posi- deconstructed form and the new Fstores, is all set to reveal its tive impact on the region, which Serpent Bohème collection with new collection of precious jewels refl ects Qatar’s status as a world- faceted colour stones that bring a and timepieces at the 14th Doha class destination and key player in new aesthetic and bold modernity Jewellery and Watches Exhibition the global watches and jewellery to the historic line. Chanel will be (DJWE). domain,” he stressed. presenting High Jewellery pieces “We are honoured to be part of Fifty One East will sponsor from their latest collections such the 14th edition of DJWE, an event a new initiative for three con- as Signature de Chanel and Les that has become the highlight of secutive years where DJWE will Éternelles de Chanel. the calendar for the watches and witness collections from young Guests will be swooned by the jewellery sector in Qatar and the Qatari designers in a dedicated Tudor Heritage Black Bay fam- region,” Darwish Holding chair- exhibition space. In this edition, ily that is growing with the arrival man and managing director Bader the esteemed Swiss watchmaker, of the Black Bay Bronze model, Abdullah al-Darwish said in a Rolex, which Fifty One East rep- Black Bay 36 and the Black Bay statement. resents since 1951, will charm visi- Dark model with the latter hav- He noted that the six-day event, tors with many applauded designs ing a steel divers’ watch entirely in taking place at the Doha Exhibi- from Baselworld 2016, including black steel fi tted with a mechani- tion and Convention Centre until the ultimate Rolex Oyster Perpet- cal movement, developed, manu- February 25, is a premium occa- ual Cosmograph Daytona with its factured and assembled in-house. sion to discover the ultimate in new Monobloc Cerachrom bezel in Fifty One East will also shine world-class craftsmanship and high-tech ceramic. a spotlight on remarkable local luxury. Rolex will also present the Oys- talents by proudly giving young This year, al-Darwish said they ter Perpetual Air-King with a Qatari designers the support to welcome visitors of DJWE 2017 to 40mm case in 904L steel. showcase their designs to visitors a unique journey of elegance with Meanwhile, Boucheron will in their own dedicated space. renowned international brands present its high jewellery 26 The young talents are Noor Al- such as Rolex, Chanel, Bouch- Vendome collection, a name in- fardan (Noudar), Nada al-Sulaiti eron, Andre Marcha, Azza Fah- spired by the address of Maison (Hairaat), Sarah al-Hammadi my, Bremont, Christian Bernard, Boucheron, which features three (Sarah’s & Co), Nouf al-Meer Deaken & Francis, Falamank by chapters: Nature Triomphante, (Nouf Jewellery), Fajr al-Attiya Tarfa Itani, H Moser & Cie, Hueb, Architecture Inspirée; and Porté (Trifoglio), and Ghada AlBuainain LeBebé, Lelune, Pandora, Pas- Couture. (Ghada AlBuainain) – enabling up quale Bruni, Speake-Marin, Taka- The French Maison will also and coming jewellery designers to ra, Tudor, Yvan Tufenkjian and present the new Quatre collec- introduce their work to a local and Zeades, among others. tion, highlighting the Grosgrain international audience. The Fifty One East booth at DJWE 2017 is all set to welcome visitors.

Top global brands at Alfardan pavilion

s in previous years at the company’s own Noudar bou- the Doha Jewellery and tique, operated by Noor Alfardan AWatches Exhibition too is one stall which attracts the (DJWE), the imposing pavilion visitors. of Qatar’s Alfardan Jewellery So many jewellers, who have Company has a large number of been Alfardan Jewellery Compa- global and regional players this ny’s business partners all along year too. since its inception more than The 14th DJWE, described as six decades ago have set up their the region’s premier event of its stalls, featuring numerous col- kind, has opened at the Doha Ex- lections. hibition and Convention Centre “Every year we have new jew- yesterday. ellers and watch makers arriving Alfardan Jewellery Company and this year is no exception,” also has its own immaculately said a company offi cial who ex- designed boutique Al Tawash uded confi dence that the pavil- where an array of exquisite and ion would receive a number of unique collections of the jewel- the region’s affl uent clientele in ler, drawn from across the world the next fi ve days. is exhibited. One of the fi rst time partici- A large number of ethnically pants from the UAE said their designed works of the craftsmen company’s close association from the region and outside have with the local group has helped made their presence at the show- them win some of the topnotch cases at the boutique, which is customers of the country as well located at the heart of the pavil- as from outside during the exhi- ion. The immaculate exhibits at bition. The entrance of Alfardan pavilion at the exhibition. Noudar boutique at Alfardan pavilion: PICTURES: Thajudheen All that glitter Rich collections at Devji’s aurum

s in the last 13 years, regulars Devji aurum is making its pres- ence felt at the Doha Jewellery and Exhibition this year as well, Athanks to their impressively designed stall at Alfardan pavilion Operators of one of the fi rst jewellery chains of the Gulf region, the more than six-decade-old jeweller has exhibited a series of creations, suited to cater mainly to the requirements of the region’s customers. Apart from the numerous aesthetically designed necklaces adoring the company’s showcases at the pavilion, Devji aurum have also dis- played an array of diamond studded “Dances of the Desert” ear ring pieces. The company’s regional director Kapil Dasani has no doubt that their close business ties with an established jeweller as Alfardan Jewellery has helped them understand the requirements of Qatar mar- ket remarkably well over the year. The Allure models of necklaces the jeweller has exhibited are made to meet the tastes of Qatari women. The company offi cial said their The nearly 250-year-old Swiss watch manufacturer studies have found the local women have a special passion for long Vacheron Constantin has a rich variety of limited necklaces unlike in other parts of the Gulf. Aisha Alfardan at her company’s Al Tawash boutique at Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition yesterday. edition hand-timed watches at their stall at Alfardan “Our loyal craftsmen, many of whom are in the third generation PICTURES: Thajudheen and Shemeer Rasheed Jewellery Pavilion. with our company, know the actual requirements of the local market much better than most others. As a result, most of the pieces dis- played here are made to meet the tastes of our Qatari and other re- gional clientele,” added Dasani.

A large number of jewellery, influenced by the rich Armenian traditions, are First timers from exhibited at the Dubai, Aliel has a lively stall of Beirut-based showcase at Alfardan Yeprem Jewellery pavilion at the DJWE. stall at Alfardan The company’s Jewellery pavilion. regional sales Zarmig Chakerdemian manager Antoinette and her son Ludvic Ghorayeb is displaying Chakerdemian are a necklace at their seen displaying one of stall. Aliel’s parent their cutely designed company Khalil Al necklaces at their stall Sayegh has businesses yesterday. Zarmig feels in diamonds, pearls highly of their regular and jewels across the clientele from Qatar. world. Kapil Dasani (right) and others display some of the exhibits at Devji aurum stall at Alfardan pavilion. PICTURE: Thajudheen