BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Jankovic targets top-10 INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-6, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 REGION 7 BUSINESS 1-12 fi nish Barwa Bank posts 2016 20,419.21 10,670.51 52.88 ARAB WORLD 7, 8 CLASSIFIED 8 +149.84 +7.02 -0.98 INTERNATIONAL 9-21 SPORTS 1 – 12 net profi t of QR738.8mn in 2017 +0.74% +0.07% -1.82% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10364 February 14, 2017 Jumada I 17, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals PM reviews National Action Plan for Autism Expats must In brief carry ID cards

ARAB WORLD | Confl ict at all times, Syria peace talks to resume next week: UN Delayed UN-sponsored peace talks aimed at ending Syria’s civil says ministry war will resume on February 23 in Geneva, a few days later HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday chaired a meeting on QNA He referred to article No15 of the than previously planned, the UN the National Action Plan for Autism. The meeting was attended by ministers concerned with the implementation of the plan, Doha Law which states that “in the event envoy’s off ice said yesterday. The members of the Qatar Autism Families Association, and the working group in charge of preparing the plan. The meeting that his (resident) passport, travel announcement came a day after reviewed the draft plan, the proposed governance structure, in addition to the main recommendations related to the objectives document, or residency permit is lost Syria’s opposition announced its of the plan. The Prime Minister directed the bodies concerned to speed up implementation of the plan with the co-operation of he Ministry of Interior (MoI) has or damaged, the foreign national shall 21-member delegation for the new all government and semi-governmental agencies, and civil society organisations and the private sector. The National Action Plan urged all residents in Qatar to inform the competent authorities im- round of talks, which had been due for Autism aims at improving the lives of individuals with autism disorder and their families. Autism is characterised by diff iculty in Tcarry their identity cards at all mediately after he learns that it has to start next Monday, February 20. communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. times as it is the only proof of identity been lost or damaged and obtain a UN envoy Staff an de Mistura had and proof of valid residency. copy of that which was lost or dam- already announced a delay in the The MoI highlighted the importance aged.” planned resumption from February of showing the ID cards at the request Brigadier Mohamed Saleh al-Ku- 8 to February 20, to give the of authorities. If lost inside or outside wari, head of the Residence Division at opposition more time to prepare. of Qatar it must be reported to the Gen- General Directorate of Passports, said Last week he had warned the eral Directorate of Passports and get if the ID cards are lost inside Qatar, the opposition that he would pick their lost ID card replaced. resident or the representative of his delegates himself if they could not Brigadier Nasser Jaber al-Attiyah, company must head to one of the serv- decide on time. Page 8 Assistant Director of the General Di- ice centres to fi ll a lost ID form, sub- New initiative rectorate of Passports, said losing an mit his passport for verifi cation, pay AMERICA | Challenge ID card outside of the country makes it QR200 as fees for the lost report and harder for the resident to return unless get a new card issued. Trump warns N Korea the authorities issue a Return Permit If the ID is lost outside of Qatar, of ‘strong’ response for Resident. the resident must fi le a report in the US President Donald Trump vowed The directorate issued a circular to country where it is lost, attest the re- yesterday to deliver a strong all authorities concerned worldwide port from the authorities in the foreign response a day after North Korea seeks to boost and airlines, that the ID card is the only country and send a copy to the resi- announced it had successfully supporting document for Qatari resi- dent’s representative in Qatar to be able tested a new ballistic missile. “We dents after residency stickers on pass- to issue a Return Permit for Resident, have problems that a lot of people ports were discontinued, al-Attiyah which too costs QR200. have no idea how bad they are, how added. The permit is then sent to the resi- serious they are,” Trump told a joint In addition, the residents must show dent abroad to enable him or her to en- news conference with Canadian their ID cards at all airports, platforms ter the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at his traffi c safety and airline desks to be allowed to travel Once he arrives in the country, the side. “Obviously, North Korea is a to Qatar, where airlines may check the resident must head to the Expatriates big, big problem,” he said. “And we atar will launch new aware- Present on the occasion were the the outcomes of the research papers validity and information of the cards Aff airs Department to submit a lost re- will deal with that very strongly.” ness campaigns and training National Committee for Traffi c Safety by QTTSC and the General Directorate through the MoI’s website. port and get a new card issued. He was speaking hours before an Qprogrammes for drivers with a general secretary Brigadier Mohamed of Traffi c. The papers are sponsored urgent meeting of the UN Security view to improving traffi c safety in Qa- al-Malki, QU chief strategy and devel- by ExxonMobil. They included: “In- Council called to address Sunday’s tar, offi cials said yesterday. opment offi cer Dr Darwish al-Emadi, Depth Analysis of Road Traffi c Ac- test, which was seen as a challenge The initiative is part of a Memoran- CENG dean and QTTSC director Dr cidents in Qatar between 1995-2014”, to Trump’s new US administration. dum of Understanding (MoU) signed Khalifa al-Khalifa, ExxonMobil vice “Prediction of Road Accidents in the between the Qatar Transportation and president and Government and Public State of Qatar in 2022”, “Assessing Erdogan visit will boost POLITICS | Pledge Traffi c Safety Center (QTTSC) at Qa- Aff airs director Saleh S al-Mana. Road Safety Campaigns in Qatar be- tar University College of Engineering “Road safety is one of the main areas tween 2007-2015”, “Doha Expressway Canada will continue to (QU-CENG), and the General Directo- of interest in Qatar, and the College of Study”, “Safety Performance of School welcome refugees: PM rate of Traffi c. Engineering through QTTSC contin- Buses in Qatar”, and “Study on Pedes- strategic ties, says envoy Canada’s Prime Minister Justin The MoU is aimed at establishing ues to highlight its commitment to trian Safety Enhancement in Qatar”. Trudeau vowed during a visit collaboration on the exchange of in- road safety by investing in research QNA keen on having a united stance with the to the White House yesterday formation and consultancy on traffi c and awareness programmes that will Mobile speed cameras Doha GCC on regional issues. that his country would continue safety. The terms include partnering help fi nd sustainable solutions to the He said the developments in Syria, to welcome refugees, even as on the evaluation of the current stud- road and traffi c challenges,” Dr al- Mobile speed cameras have been Iraq, Libya and Yemen did not benefi t President Donald Trump defended ies and consultations in the area of Khalifa said. deployed on Al Khor Coastal Road, he visit of Turkish President Re- anyone. his eff orts to bar refugees from US traffi c safety. The MoU demonstrates CENG’s con- Al Wakrah Road and Al Refaa Street, cep Tayyip Erdogan to Qatar will Dimerok also praised the high level soil as common sense. “Canada Both parties will also co-operate to tinuous eff orts to contribute to road according to information available on Trepresent a strong push in stra- of consultation between Qatar and has always understood that run development programmes in co- safety in Qatar through reducing road the Ministry of Interior (MoI)’s social tegic ties between the two sides, Turk- Turkey, evident in holding regular keeping Canadians safe is one of ordination with international organi- traffi c crashes and developing a safe road media channels. The MoI stressed that ish ambassador Ahmet Dimerok said meetings aimed at strengthening ties the fundamental responsibilities of sations and research centres. Other transport system in line with the Nation- the move is aimed at enhancing traffi c yesterday. and shaping a shared view on current any government,” Trudeau told a areas of collaboration include joint re- al Road Safety Strategy, he added. safety in the country, highlighting the Erdogan arrives today on an offi cial challenges facing the region. joint news conference with the US search projects in transportation and Brigadier al-Kharji said the MoU need for motorists to comply with speed visit. He highlighted the holding of the president. “At the same time, we traffi c safety. will contribute to providing solutions limits on diff erent roads in order to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- Second meeting of Qatari-Turkish Su- continue to pursue our policies of The MoU was signed by QU vice for Qatar’s traffi c safety since it adds prevent accidents. Further, the ministry mad al-Thani and the Turkish president preme Strategic Committee, just two openness towards refugees without president for Research and Graduate value to the collaboration eff orts of the said it would issue regular notifi cations will hold talks tomorrow at the Emiri Di- months ago, as a refl ection of the level compromising security.” Studies Prof Mariam al-Maadeed and General Directorate of Traffi c to over- on the deployment of mobile cameras wan on relations between the two coun- of co-operation. General Directorate of Traffi c director come the challenges. on roads across the country. tries and ways of strengthening them. The ambassador added that bilat- EAST ASIA | Accident Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji. The event featured a brief lecture on The two leaders will also review the eral relations have been solidifying at a latest regional and global develop- rapid rate ever since the establishment 32 killed as tour bus ments. of the strategic committee. crashes in Taiwan Speaking to Qatar News Agency, the Meanwhile, Qatar’s ambassador to At least 32 people were killed when ambassador said Turkey was looking to Turkey Salem Mubarak Shafi Salem al- a tour bus crashed near Taipei increase co-operation in all fi elds with Shafi said Erdogan’s Qatar visit comes last night, with television footage GCC member countries in general and in the context of continuous co-ordi- showing the bus careening towards Qatar in particular. nation and co-operation between the a road barrier before flipping on its The ambassador highlighted trade two sides. side. Of 44 people on the bus, 30 and economic ties in particular as the The ambassador said the visit re- were pronounced dead at the scene two areas Turkey would like to increase fl ected the high-level of co-operation and two died in hospital, the fire Off icials at the MoU signing yesterday between the Qatar Transportation and Traff ic Safety Center at Qatar University College co-operation in. and harmony between the two coun- department said. of Engineering, and the General Directorate of Traff ic. Dimerok added that Turkey was also tries. Page 3

Scattered light rain forecast today morning here is a chance of “mostly scat- sibility of scattered light to moderate rain. in both inshore and offshore areas along tered light rain” this morning, the The temperature will range between 18C with high seas. TQatar Met department has said in and 23C. Winds will blow at 5-15 knots in inshore a special forecast for National Sport Day Chances of thundershowers are expected areas, reaching a high of 25 knots in some that will be celebrated across the country to improve during the evening and night, places at times during thundershow- today. the report states. ers. Off shore, the wind speed will be 15-25 The forecast, which particularly focuses Rain was detected in diff erent parts of the knots, going up to 30 knots during thundery on the period extending from 8am to 1pm country yesterday as well, with the inten- rain and decreasing to 10-20 knots later. today, comes as the country continues “to sity increasing late in the evening in Doha The Ministry of Municipality and Envi- be aff ected by an extension of a low-pres- and some other places. The Met depart- ronment (MME), meanwhile, tweeted about sure system”. ment tweeted about thundery rain in Doha the removal of rainwater that had accumu- Cloudy conditions will prevail in Doha and around 9.30pm even as ‘thunder cells’ were lated in some places due to the rain. All roads there is a chance of scattered light rain, while detected at a number of places in the coun- were cleared in a “very short time”, the MME the temperature will range from 19C to 22C. try through the day. said, highlighting the eff orts undertaken The forecast for other parts of the coun- Besides thundershowers in some places across diff erent municipalities under the try says it will be cloudy and there is a pos- at times, strong winds are also expected public cleaning programme. Page 24 A rain-washed C-Ring Road in Doha yesterday evening. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 QATAR

FM meets British foreign secretary Message from Tajikistan president Official

Emir greets new president of Germany

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to Frank- Walter Steinmeier on his election by the Bundestag as president of Germany. FM receives message from Tajik counterpart

HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has received a written HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met UK’s Secretary of State for message from the Foreign Foreign and Commonwealth Aff airs Boris Johnson in London yesterday. They discussed the latest HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a written message from President of Minister of Tajikistan Serageldin developments in the Middle-East, particularly in Syria, Yemen and Libya. They also discussed the Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them. HE the Aslov, dealing with bilateral eff orts of both countries to regain security and stability in the region and reviewed bilateral Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi received the written message during relations and ways of enhancing relations and the means to enhance them. his meeting with the ambassador of Tajikistan to Qatar Qodiri Ardasher in Doha yesterday. them. The message was handed over to HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi during a meeting with ambassador of Tajikistan to Qatar Ardeshir Qaderi. Traffi c diversion on Advisory Council reviews draft law Stage set for sixth Dukhan Road on govt schools The Advisory Council yesterday held its regular weekly session near Rayyan Park under the chairmanship of HE Speaker of the Advisory Council Mohamed bin Mubarak al- National Sport Day new fl yover will connect morrow (February 15) for six Khulaifi. the Doha Expressway weeks weeks. At the outset of the meeting, HE QNA ties will participate in activities in Qatar for exercise not only has also directed all sports as- Awith Al Rayyan Road During the period, the the council’s Secretary General Doha in a way that takes into consid- inside clubs but also in the Cor- sociations to postpone their (west) as part of its Al Rayyan southbound exit (towards Fahad bin Mubarak al-Khayareen eration their conditions and niche area, public parks, neigh- events and competitions that Road Upgrade Project (Phase Dukhan) on the roundabout read out the agenda, which ages so as to achieve awareness bourhood playgrounds and resi- were scheduled to take place on 2). next to Al Rayyan Park will be was approved, and then the he State of Qatar cele- of the importance of sport and dential complexes. Tuesday in order to allow for the Ashghal said yesterday that closed. council ratified the minutes of its brates the National Sport its role in the lives of individu- The Ministry of Culture and participation of all entities, citi- once completed, the fl yover Road users travelling previous meeting. TDay today, for the sixth als and societies. Sports has decided to make all zens and residents. will provide free-fl ow traf- from Al Rayyan Al Ateek The council reviewed a consecutive year. Qatar is a regional and world clubs, playgrounds and sports Sport is extremely important fi c for road users travelling Street who would usually report by the Cultural HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim pioneer in terms of dedicating a halls accessible on the National for maintaining general health along Al Rayyan Road towards take this exit to access Al and Information Affairs bin Hamad al-Thani issued day to sports, with some coun- Sport Day for everyone to exer- and preventing diseases and, Dukhan. Rayyan Al Jadeed Street, Committee on a draft law Emiri Decision No 80 of 2011 tries following Qatar’s lead and cise and disseminate awareness thus, is always on top of advice In order to support the will be required to take the regarding government schools on December 6, 2011, stipulat- organising a Sport Day in recog- of the importance of sports. given by physicians. flyover’s construction works, third exit and use the alter- and decided to submit its ing that the second Tuesday of nition of its importance for the The ministry has sent a cir- Studies show that the physi- Ashghal has said a diver- native route (as shown on recommendations thereon to February every year shall be ob- individual and society. culation to all sporting clubs di- cal and mental status of the body sion will be in place from to- the map). the council of ministers. served as the National Sport Day. The main objective of the de- recting them to co-operate with improves by exercising. The decision stipulated that cision to hold a National Sport state institutions to make the Sports, particularly those Qatar-Pakistan ministries and government enti- Day is to instil sport as a main el- occasion a success. that involve large muscles such ties as well as public institutions ement in the lives of citizens and Several events are scheduled as arms, legs, abs and back, ties reviewed and bodies under their jurisdic- residents of Qatar. to take place on the National benefit the heart because of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs tion, and all entities in the coun- The concept is a means to Sport Day; a men’s march at the blood amounts that they of Staff Committee of Pakistan try, including the private sector, encourage everyone to practise the Corniche will start at 9am require, which improves the General Zubair Mehmood Hayat shall organise sports activities sport, which is indispensable and another one for women will functionality of the circulatory has met with Qatar’s ambassador on the National Sport Day. for anyone seeking a healthy take place at Aspire Park, while a and respiratory systems, and to Pakistan Saqr bin Mubarak al- Several state entities have es- lifestyle, which in turn achieves third march will be held outside increases the efficiency of the Mansouri. Talks covered bilateral tablished special committees to the goal of Qatar National Vision Doha in other cities and villages heart muscle. relations and ways of promoting supervise the programmes and 2030 of sustainable human de- under the supervision of clubs Sport also has a positive im- them. activities that they will organise velopment. and municipalities. pact on the brain as studies show for the Sport Day in implemen- The decision also aimed to Supervisors of neighbourhood that the positive mental condi- Malaysian off icial tation of the Emiri decision. build an active and physically playgrounds have also been di- tion that follows exercising is Tens of thousands of citizens and mentally healthy society rected to open them for everyone caused by the body’s release of meets Qatar envoy and residents across all sec- that enhances social interaction. in order to promote the enter- endorphins, which triggers posi- Secretary-General of the Ministry tors of society will hold sports It also aimed to adopt the best tainment and sports activities tive feelings in the body. of Foreign Aff airs of Malaysia events under the theme of ac- practices to promote sports and that will take place and allow Sport also renews mental ac- Ramlan Ibrahim has met with tivity and liveliness. The staff physical activity among indi- all entities and ministries to use tivity by improving blood cir- Qatar’s ambassador Issa bin of government and private sec- viduals. sports facilities during the day. culation and delivering enough Mohamed al-Mannai. They tor companies and other enti- Plenty of places are available Qatar Olympic Committee blood to the brain. discussed bilateral relations. Palestinian National Council QRCS-organised conference discusses chief hails Qatar’s support Guantanamo human rights issue

QNA against settlements in Pales- He also emphasised the need atar Red Crescent Cairo tinian lands. of providing international pro- (QRCS) hosted yesterday He added that the Palestin- tection for the Palestinian peo- Qan international confer- ian people and their leadership ple on the basis of the Fourth ence that discussed the current alestinian National are united in this matter against Geneva Convention, and sup- conditions at the Guantanamo Council’s Secretary Gen- settlement and stressed that porting eff orts to document the prison facility and the military Peral ambassador Mo- with the continuation of Israeli violations and crimes perpe- commissions process, along hamed Sobeih hailed Qatar’s settlements activity there will trated by the occupation forces with its diverse legal, logistical, eff orts to support the rights of be no peace and no two-State and the settlers, warning of the humanitarian, and human rights the Palestinian people, stress- solution. danger of Israeli policies, plans challenges. ing that it’s concerned with Sobeih said that the whole and practices which aim at Themed as “9/11 Trials at great care on the rights of the world stands against settle- Judaising and annexing the city Guantanamo Bay: A Human Palestinians and works con- ments, but the problem is for of Jerusalem and will distort Rights and International Hu- stantly to restore them. those who are lenient and do its Arab, Islamic and Christian manitarian Law (IHL) Perspec- No one can deny the role of not take any deterrent and ex- identity. tive,” the conference was co- ACLU John Adams Project Qatar in supporting the Pal- ecutive decisions. Regarding the US stance to- organised by QRCS, Al Jazeera director Denny LeBoeuf speaks estinian people in all interna- He also criticised the policy wards the Palestinian issue, Network and the American Civil at the conference. tional forums, he added. of double standards, but he Sobeih said that there is a con- Liberties Union (ACLU). Ambassador Sobeih praised relies on the Arab position and fusion in the new US adminis- In her presentation, ACLU John tanamo Bay, and humanitarian in a statement to Qatar News the Palestinian-Arab cohesion tration and there are too many Adams Project director Denny QRCS and Al Jazeera senior off icials sign an MoU to deepen actors providing humanitarian Agency (QNA) the financial against settlement. confl icts and pressures, and LeBoeuf said the goal of the con- co-operation in holding conferences and workshops on various services in Guantanamo. support provided by Qatar on He stressed that the most therefore this requires a clear ference is to exchange information humanitarian and human rights issues. The discussions were at- the ground, both in the Gaza important clauses of Security stance and cohesion as well as about the ongoing death penalty tended by representatives of Strip or for the entire Pales- Council is to maintain inter- a continuous diplomatic and trials at Guantanamo. tarian and human rights issues. bin Ghanem al-Ali al-Maadheed, several local and regional or- tinian territories, pointing national peace and security, political engagement with all “The topics of 9/11, Guan- Al-Jazeera was represented secretary-general Ali Hassan al- ganisations such as Hamad Bin out that Qatar is working in adding that if the settlement the components of the Ameri- tanamo, and the US torture of by its acting director-general Dr Hammadi, executive-director Khalifa University, Qatar Uni- a very important area to sup- is the biggest threat for peace can people, at the levels of prisoners are much discussed, Mostefa Souag, Human Rights Youssef Ahmed al-Hammadi, versity, Doha Centre for Media port the Palestinian cause, and stability in this region, presidents, foreign ministers, the novel trial procedures of the and Public Liberties Centre di- and head of International Rela- Freedom, Education Above All, praising Qatar’s great role in clear decisions must be taken parties and bodies, and not to military commissions are not rector Sami al-Hajj, and OLHR tions and International Human- the Ministry of Municipal- the financial support to the and the Resolution 2334 and leave the scene for extremists well understood,” she said. Partnerships head Dr Hassan El- itarian Law Dr Fawzi Oussedik. ity and Environment, Islamic State of Palestine, not only International decisions of the of Likud and the current Israeli “Defence attorneys for the mogummer. “Humanity cannot live with- Dawa Organisation, and the for the Gaza Strip, but be- Palestinian cause should be government. accused in the 9/11 trials have First aid training will be given out peace. Peace is only possible Arab Red Crescent and Red cause Gaza is in dire need of implemented, to facilitate the Sobaih, meanwhile, de- investigated and researched the to Al Jazeera staff , who will also with justice and justice is only Cross Organisation. support, whether politically, establishment of a Palestin- nounced Israel’s eff orts to history of their cases and cli- get psychological rehabilitation possible with laws that look at Topics tackled include the financially or economically. ian state on the borders of June obtain membership of the Se- ents in the Gulf states and have to overcome the diffi culties of people as humans with protect- Military Commission Trials on He pointed out that all 1967. curity Council, stressing the depended on the generosity and their professional work as re- ed rights,” Dr al-Maadheed said. Guantanamo Bay – Eight Years, Palestinian people resist Sobeih emphasised the im- need to resist this issue, as it is assistance of experts here,” LeB- porters in hot zones. Other guest speakers in- IHL and What Goes Wrong, Is- settlement and pay the price portance of establishing a uni- the responsibility of the Arabs, oeuf added. “We have been working to- clude International Commit- lamophobia and the Guantana- of murder, martyrdom and fi ed Arab plan to support the because its entry to the Legal During the event, a memo- gether for years, and this MoU tee of the Red Cross (Kuwait mo Military Commissions, and arrest all the time, with steadfastness of the Palestinian Committee at the United Na- randum of understanding (MoU) will help us go further with regional delegation) protection the Work of the International more than 600 Palestinian people, and the continuation of tions is very dangerous, add- was signed between QRCS and mutual interests and goals,” Dr co-ordinator Ralph Wehbe, Committee of the Red Cross activists being arrested in Arab eff orts to expand the in- ing that it is no less dangerous Al Jazeera to deepen co-opera- Souag said. international senior civilian with Families and Detainees: one month, including chil- ternational recognition of the than moving the US embassy to tion in holding conferences and The event was attended by and military defence attorneys Restoring Family Links pro- dren and women who protest State of Palestine. Jerusalem. workshops on various humani- QRCS president Dr Mohamed representing clients at Guan- gramme. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 3 QATAR

MME fi nalises planning standards for labourers’ accommodations

he Urban Development to all municipalities in the coun- complished, announced, and In 2016, the department al- divided into 1,575 land plots that around the country, and eight around 92% complete. These in- Planning Department try, in addition to the other re- declared. Also, the modifi ed or- located seven sites for workers’ could accommodate up to 211,000 plots of land had been allocated clude the allocation of 13 tempo- T(UDP) at the Ministry of lated entities. ganisational standards for com- accommodation complex with single beds, and 390,000 double- to the main playgrounds. Ongo- rary logistics sites for the Public Municipality and Environment The UDP’s achievements last mercial streets were 100% pre- comprehensive services such as deck beds. This was 100% accom- ing work to allocate the ninth site Works Authority (Ashghal), and (MME) has completed 100% of year include the preparation of pared for seven streets. permanent places at diff erent plished last year. is 65% complete. four other permanent logistic the planning standards for per- the new conditions for the land Regarding the metro and long areas in the country over a total The department accom- For the neighbourhood mar- sites for Manateq. manent and temporary labour- plots allocated to garage and distances project, the department area of 6,545,157sqm that could plished the allocation of 37 plots kets, work had been done in four Other accomplishments in- ers’ accommodations in 2016. scrap storage at the Doha Indus- had allocated all the sites request- accommodate around 179,000 of land for the upcoming 2022 phases, while the fi fth phase clude the allocation of a site for The fi nal draft of the stand- trial Area, which were 100% ac- ed by the project within Phase 1 workers. FIFA World Cup playgrounds. located at the outskirts of the the second logistic, economic, ards was approved by HE the complished. for the metro project, and all the The 13 other locations were al- However, worker is still ongo- country is still under study and and industrial area at Al Karaana Minister of Municipality and Similarly, the conditions for land plots allocated for the long located as temporary accommo- ing to complete the sites for bus 80% complete. and the study for the third area at Environment Mohamed bin Ab- business centres and their work distance train project Phase 1 were dation sites after developing lands stops, assembly points, and the The economic, industrial, Umm Al Houl was accomplished dullah al-Rumaihi and was sent mechanism were 100% ac- 100% allocated. with a total space of 3,692,954sqm allocation of villages for fans and logistic zones projects are in terms of general design. Uber drivers Qatar Airways to launch direct service to Skopje

atar Airways has con- fi rmed that it will start protest higher Qits scheduled direct service to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, on July 17 with four fl ights a week. As the capital of Macedonia, Skopje provides a gateway to a country of dramatic scenery, commission, including lakes, mountains and historic towns, while the city itself is home to both Ottoman and European architecture. Visitors to the city can enjoy the National Gallery of Macedonia, while those venturing further fare reduction afi eld can visit the lakeside city of Ohrid, which features its large number of drivers was between 9% and 17% in most They said most of them have own picturesque castle. with ride-hailing serv- markets across the world. The taken vehicles on loans from rent Qatar Airways Group chief Aice Uber are staying away drivers said they had been off the a car fi rms and every month they executive Akbar al-Baker said, from Qatar roads since Satur- roads for 5 successive days in April need to pay between QR1,500 “Our new four-weekly service day night, apparently in protest 2016 but the company had not and QR1,700 as vehicle loans to Skopje is a much-anticipated against fare cuts and increased agreed to sort out the issue. besides the monthly fee fi xed by addition to our global route map, commission. However, a source said the rent a car fi rms. connecting leisure and business As the capital of Macedonia, Skopje provides a gateway to a country of dramatic scenery, including Drivers using Uber Apps have drivers walked out in protest They also resent the com- passengers to and from the Re- lakes, mountains and historic towns. been operating taxi services in from a meeting convened by the pany’s inability to sort out cases public of Macedonia. Doha since 2014. company, refusing to listen to its where customers refuse to pay “Those travelling on Qatar featuring a two-class cabin rier said in a press statement. ations, Qatar Airways has a fl eet When contacted, representa- offi cials. fares after the completion of Airways from this destination confi guration with 12 seats in Passengers fl ying from Sko- of 192 aircraft fl ying to business tives of those operating cabs the trip. “There have been many onwards to our global network Business Class and 132 seats in pje onwards to any of the more and leisure destinations across using Uber Apps said the US- “Now with the petrol prices such cases and ultimately we will be able to connect seam- Economy. “Passengers can re- than 150 destinations that Qa- six continents. based company had fi xed 20% reaching QR1.55-1.65/litre have to go to the police,” one of lessly through the state-of- lax with individual television tar Airways operates will en- The Doha-Skopje fl ight as its commission when lo- it is virtually impossible the drivers said. the-art Hamad International screens with up to 3,000 enter- joy a “quick and convenient” schedule is as follows (Mon- cal petrol prices were less than to run at the rates fi xed by Despite many attempts Uber Airport (HIA) to destinations tainment options, while those transfer at HIA, featuring over days, Wednesdays, Fridays and QR0.90dirhams/litre. Uber” local offi ce (50256041) could not such as our recently launched in Business Class will be treated 100 retail and dining options Sundays): QR305 departing “Now with the petrol prices be contacted. gateways of Auckland, Sydney, to the World’s Best Business and services such as a swim- Doha at 6.50am and arriving in reaching QR1.55-1.65/litre it is It is understood that about Rivals like Careem have a Krabi and Windhoek.” Class service, as nominated ming pool, hotel and spa, the Skopje at 11.15am, and QR306 virtually impossible to run at 800 drivers, mostly operat- larger market share than Uber in The airline will fl y the A320 by the prestigious Skytrax statement adds. departing Skopje at 12.15pm the rates fi xed by Uber,” said a ing ‘limousines’ are using Uber most of the 32 cities in the Mid- aircraft direct to and from, awards,” the Doha-based car- Now in its 20th year of oper- and arriving in Doha at 6.15pm. driver. Amid growing competi- Apps on a regular basis whereas dle East, North Africa and Paki- tion from local fi rms, Uber cut almost an equal number of other stan region in which it operates. fares initially from QR1.80/km people are off ering the service, Qatar’s taxi regulators, Karwa to QR1.50 and now to QR1.20/ driving their own cars. has four franchisees, namely Al km. The company has also hiked It has been found there are Million, Al Ijaara, Capital and its commission to 25%,” industry at least fi ve active Whatsapp Yellow Taxis, besides its own Contracting Qatar, Turkey bilateral ties sources said. groups of Uber drivers, each Karwa taxis. Drivers are also protesting an having between 200 and 250 A strike led by drivers’ unions “upfront” service launched by members. There are other Uber in New Delhi demanding better fi rms top Uber in November that allows groups, having between 100 and pay from Uber and Ola has para- based on shared vision passengers to view the total fare 150 members. lysed the ride-hailing services MEC list before their journey. Representatives of the drivers’ that have grabbed business from Terming the Uber commission groups claimed more than 85% traditional taxi and rickshaw op- of new QNA Committee in 2014, and the dominantly serves medium-sized of 25% as ‘exorbitant’, some of of their members are not provid- erators with their cheaper fares, Doha convening of its fi rst meeting companies through a country- the drivers said the commission ing the service as of yesterday. a Reuters report said. in Doha in December 2015 un- wide network of 64 branches in companies der the chairmanship of HH the 21 cities across Turkey since 2013. atar and Turkey enjoy Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad “QInvest”, Qatar’s leading invest- ontracting compa- relations that are based al-Thani and the President of ment group, also fully acquired nies have topped the Qon shared visions on Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “Ergo Portfoy”, one of the largest Unauthorised tent removed CMinistry of Economy Arab, regional and internation- has contributed to expanding and fastest-growing Shariah- and Commerce’s (MEC) list al issues. the relations between the two principled asset management of newly-registered fi rms, This has made a positive im- countries at all levels through companies in Turkey. which appears in its recent- pact on the volume of trade ex- signing 22 agreements in all as- The expansion of Qatari banks ly-issued report on business change and fruitful economic pects of co-operation, includ- in Turkey is due to the growing and trade for January 2017. co-operation between the two ing politics, security, fi nance, relationship between the two The report set the number countries. industry and energy, banks, countries at all levels, as well of newly-registered compa- The two-way trade between and education and universities. as the desire of the Qatari local nies at 2,228, with 1,615 main Doha and Ankara achieved an The distinguished co-opera- banks to fi nd viable investment commercial registrations and unprecedented success in 2016, tion has been consolidated with opportunities outside the Qatari 613 sub-registrations. These with trade volume reaching holding the second meeting in banking market to achieve fur- included 60% of companies over $1.3bn, indicating keen- the Turkish city of Trabzon in ther investment diversifi cation. with limited liabilities, 26% ness of both countries to pro- December 2016, which saw the With regard to the private of limited liability companies mote bilateral relations and signing of several memoran- sector, Doha hosted the 6th owned by a single person, 13% mutual co-ordination. dums of understanding in vari- Session of the Turkish-Qatari individual organisations, and Turkey has become one of ous fi elds to contribute to push Joint Commission on Economic 1% foreign companies. the main attractive markets and Technical Co-operation in Contracting companies for Qatari investors. Qatari in- The two-way trade November 2016 as one form of were atop these companies vestments have exceeded $1bn, between Doha and co-operation and co-ordination with 498 new commercial supported by the increasing Ankara achieved an between the private sectors in registrations, followed by number of Qatari tourists to unprecedented success both countries. According to building materials 266, res- Turkey which reached about in 2016 the fi gures received during the taurants and fast foods 222, 35,000 visitors in 2016. In ad- meetings of the Committee, the and 142 registrations for dition, Turkey represents an forward the relations between number of Turkish companies other commercial activities. important economic desti- the two countries. operating in the State of Qatar During the same period, nation for Qatar for enjoying In the banking and fi nancial with a Qatari-Turkish capital 8,186 commercial licenses promising investment oppor- sectors, Qatar has become one reached 242, while the number were modifi ed, renewed, tunities in all fi elds, includ- of the biggest buyers of fi nan- of Turkish-capitalised compa- or issued. The number of ing energy, transport, tourism, cial assets in the Turkish mar- nies reached 26 in the country . closed companies stood at banking, and real estate. ket recently in light of the Qa- The most prominent aspects 378, which represents 17% Economic and trade rela- tari banks’ trend in the past few of the Qatari-Turkish economic compared to the newly-reg- tions between Doha and Ankara years to invest abroad, either co-operation will be witnessed istered companies. witnessed great development. through establishing branches this year with the two countries The MEC said it made 30,137 The economic co-operation in a number of cities and capitals taking part, for the fi rst time, in transactions in January, and re- index has tripled in a short pe- of the world, or by entering into organising the upcoming event ceived 49 patent applications, riod of time, in addition to the partnerships with other banks to (Expo Turkey by Qatar) in April, in addition to 111 applications Turkish companies operating create a common banking units. aiming to ensure greater eco- for patent renewal. in Qatar in infrastructure de- Qatar National Bank acquired nomic potential. The exhibi- velopment and the World Cup the share of the National Bank tion will elevate the strategic projects. The turnover of those of Greece in “Financebank” in partnership between the two Qatar attends companies amounted to about Turkey which holds 99.81% for countries, making them main $14bn at the end of 2016. $2.94bn. “Finance bank” is the economic hubs in the region. Arab economic The great development in the fi fth-largest bank owned by the The event also refl ects keenness panel meeting economic and trade relations be- private sector in Turkey, in terms of the State of Qatar to enhance tween the two countries refl ect of total assets and customer de- the contribution of the private Assistant Chairman of the the keenness of both leaderships posits with a nationwide dis- sector in the economic develop- General Authority of Customs to continue strengthening bilat- tribution network of over 620 ment process through issuing Ahmed Issa al-Muhannadi is eral relations in all fi elds, to reach branches and more than 12,000 laws and regulations aimed at fa- heading Qatar’s delegation to more concrete achievements es- employees, with more than cilitating the procedures of com- The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has removed an unauthorised traditional tent the economic committee of pecially in the private and busi- 5.3mn active customers. mercial business, and opening from a nature reserve near the Umm Qareba area. “Save the environment, save the future,” the MME the Arab Economic and Social nessmen sector. The Commercial Bank of Qatar the Qatari market for investors of tweeted. Picture courtesy of MME Council which began in Cairo The launch of the Qatari- also acquired a 75% stake in Tur- diff erent economic activities and yesterday. Turkish Supreme Strategic key’s (Alternatifbank) that pre- investment orientations. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 QATAR

Ministries prepare Inspection campaign for NSD activities The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in partnership with the health sector institutes, has lined up activities for its NHRC to hold employees and their families to enjoy National Sport Day (NSD). The programme includes a variety of physical and awareness activities that would suite all categories. HE the Minister of Public Health forum on confl ict Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari aff irmed that NSD is a very important occasion that reflects the vision of the wise leadership of the country in taking care about their people. situations She pointed out that MoPH, in co-operation with Hamad Medical BY Joseph Varghese conference aims to promote Corporation and the Primary Health Staff Reporter human rights approach in ad- Care Corporation, has launched dressing confl ict situations “Start Now” campaign to raise public and crises in the region. The awareness on the healthy lifestyles, he National Human Rights conference will pay special which coincides with NSD. The first Committee (NHRC) and focus on situations in coun- phase of the campaign focuses on Tthe High Commissioner tries such as Syria and Yemen adopting an active lifestyle. for Human Rights will organise among others. The Ministry of Transport and in Doha an international confer- “It focuses on identifying hu- Communications and all the ence on “Human rights-based man rights-based early warn- entities and department under it approach to confl ict situations ing mechanisms and promoting Wakrah Municipality’s Health Control Section has conducted an inspection campaign that covered will take part in NSD with a variety in the Arab region” on February platforms for dialogue to pre- all the meat shops across the municipality. The campaign was jointly conducted with the Ministry of activities and programme. 20 and 21. vent a crisis degenerating into of Municipality’s Consumer Protection Department. The inspectors of both entities ensured that The Ministry of Municipality and Held under the patronage of Abdulla Ali al-Mahmoud, head, armed confl icts. It will suggest the shops were abiding by the consumer protection and health and hygiene regulations. Some Environment and the Ministry HE the Prime Minister and In- PR and media at NHRC. ways to address human rights violations were spotted during the campaign and the legal procedures against the violators were of Economy and Commerce and terior Minister Sheikh Abdul- concerns, develop comprehen- accordingly taken. various departments are also lah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- after the recent turbulence sive and inclusive human rights- participating in the NSD activities. Thani, and in collaboration with in Aleppo, Syria. based post-confl ict strategies, the General Secretariat of the “The conference will bring and map good practices and Council of Arab Interior Min- together about 220 partici- emerging initiatives in the area isters and the Arab Network for pants including government of co-operation between inter- National Human Rights Institu- offi cials, representatives from national human rights mecha- tions, the conference will ad- United Nations peacekeep- nisms, peacekeeping missions Many health centres to work Pearl-Qatar lines up dress several challenging issues ing missions, international and civil society,” explained al- and human rights situations and regional organisations as Mahmoud. in several countries across the well as human rights institu- The conference will have a he Primary Health Care Corpo- will work in two shifts from 7am to an array of activities Arab region. tions, policy researchers, ex- number of workshops on sev- ration (PHCC) has announced 2pm and from 4pm to 11pm. Al Wak- Abdulla Ali al-Mah- perts from treaty bodies, UN eral issues in the region. De- Tthe offi cial working hours at its rah Health Centre will work from 7am he Pearl-Qatar is all set to celebrate National Sport moud, head of the depart- special rapporteurs and repre- tailed papers will be presented health centres for today, a national hol- to 11pm while Al Sheehaniya Health Day (NSD) today with an array of fun-fi lled sport- ment of public relations sentatives from offi ces of the on the prevailing situations in iday on account of National Sport Day. Centre will be operating from 7am to Ting activities, aimed at promoting an active and and media, NHRC, said high commissioner for human diff erent parts of the region The following health centres: Umm 9pm and Al Jumailiya Health Cen- healthy lifestyle. yesterday that it was the rights in the Arab region,” said which will include recom- Slal, Al Daayen, Al Karana, Abu Na- tre will provide ‘On Call Services’ 24 United Development Company (UDC), the master de- fi rst conference on human al-Mahmoud. mendations and suggestions to khla, Al Thumama, Gharaff a, Al Rayy- hours. veloper of The Pearl-Qatar, in collaboration with the rights in the Arab region According to the offi cial, the resolve the disputes amicably. an, Leghwairiya and Al Kaaban – will Dental services at Al Sheehaniya General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority, has remain closed today. and Al Shamal health centres will invited the public to take part in several sport competi- All the health centres inside Doha work from 7am to 2pm. Al Khor tions, recreational and wellness activities, and games Doha Centre for Media Freedom to cover NSD City namely, Al Rayyan, Madinat Health Centre will run the dental from 7.30am to 2pm at 31 La Croisette, Porto Arabia. Khalifa, Rawdat Al Khail, Umm Ghu- services from 7am to 2pm and from Organisers have divided the venue into a number of zones: Doha Centre for Media Freedom the importance of sport in This year, the Sport Day wailina, Abu Baker Siddiq, West Bay, 4pm to 10pm. Al Wakrah Health Cen- medical; yoga and aerobics; the kids zone for pool football, (DCMF) will participate in society. celebrations will bring Airport, Leabaib, Omar Bin Khatab tre will provide the dental services in basketball, wall climbing, strike out game, replay racing, and this year’s National Sport Day Under DCMF’s supervision, a together citizens as well and Mesaimeer will work from 7am to two shifts from 7am to 2pm and from giant dart; and the warm up zone for treadmill, bikes, steppers, activities by covering various team of junior reporters will both as expatriates of diff erent 2pm and from 4pm to 11pm. The den- 3pm to 9pm. action roller tables, table tennis and xbox Kinect stations. events taking place to mark the participate in sport activities ages, and will be covered tal services also will have two-shift Special clinics such as ophthalmol- Registration will be from 7.30am to 9am while a free occasion. and also cover festivities and by a number of media duty from 7am to 2pm and from 4pm ogy, ENT and dermatology will remain medical check up will take place from 8am to 9am before The centre will support a number interview various representatives organisations who will share to 10pm. closed in all health centres. Similarly, the kids’ stage activities from 9am to 10am. of young journalists today of institutions and organisations the thoughts and experiences The health centres outside Doha the premarital examination clinics will The walkathon, as well as other activities, also takes place shooting a short film to highlight taking part. of those involved. City such as Al Khor and Al Shamal also be closed today. at 9am to 10am, and a seminar from 10am to 11.30am. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 5 QATAR

Al Khor Park opens for families

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has announced that Al Khor Park will be open today for families, and not just for women as on regular Tuesdays, on the occasion of National Sport Day 2017. PICTURE: courtesy of MME Twitter page

Cebu Pacifi c adds new aircraft

ebu Pacifi c Air (CEB), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cebgo, recently accepted delivery of its Cthird ATR 72-600 High Capacity aircraft. This is the fi rst ATR 72-600 delivered for this year, bringing the air- line’s total fl eet to 58. The carrier also chose the lightest aircraft seats in the world, Expliseat, for all 16 aircraft, two of which are already being utilised by CEB. The titanium seat, which is a techno- logical breakthrough registered under 16 patents, made of ultralight materials such as titanium and carbon composite resources, is expected to help decrease fuel burn while al- lowing the carriage of more guests and cargo on board. The brand-new ATR 72-600 will be utilised for the two new routes CEB will be launching on February 15: Manila to Masbate and Manila to Tablas. “We are glad to take delivery of another brand-new ATR 72-600, especially since this is the fi rst to have the titanium seats from Expliseat installed. This aircraft therefore combines reduced seat costs while optimising comfort for passengers,” said Alexander Lao, president and CEO of Cebgo. Cebu Pacific’s ATR 72-600 High Capacity aircraft. Today, CEB operates one of the youngest and most mod- ern aircraft fl eets in the world with an average age of 4.92 500, and three ATR 72-600 aircraft. Between 2017 and 2021, years. This new ATR 72-600 will be used to support CEB’s CEB expects delivery of one more brand-new Airbus A330, expansion plans in the archipelago, now servicing 37 do- 32 Airbus A321neo, and 13 ATR 72-600 aircraft. mestic destinations fl ying out of six strategically-placed For bookings and inquiries, guests can visit www. hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo, and Davao. CEB cebupacifi cair.com or call the reservation hotlines also off ers fl ights to 29 international destinations, covering (+632)7020-888 or (+6332)230-8888. The latest seat sales an extensive network that spans Asia, Australia, the Middle can be found on CEB’s offi cial Twitter (@CebuPacifi cAir) East, and US. and Facebook pages. CEB now operates a 58-strong fl eet comprising four Air- Guests may also download the Cebu Pacifi c offi cial mobile bus A319, 36 Airbus A320, seven Airbus A330, eight ATR 72- app on the App Store and Google Play. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 QATAR Rolls-Royce M Cars to host Provenance event at The Pearl-Qatar Students at the previous undergraduate information session at HBKU. olls-Royce Motor Cars Speaking ahead of the event, Doha will host a dedicat- Ihab Allam, general manager of Red Provenance event from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha, February 16 to 18 at its show- said: “We are delighted to be HBKU to host information session room at The Pearl-Qatar. hosting this weekend’s event The event will showcase a col- dedicated to the marque’s re- lection of the fi nest previously- nowned Provenance Programme. on computer engineering course owned Rolls-Royce motor cars, As the leader in automotive according to a statement. luxury, it is our pleasure to pro- Customers and guests alike vide our clients with the sound amad Bin Khalifa Uni- lum before completing their graduates are ranked among will have the opportunity to investment of a certifi ed pre- versity (HBKU) will application. the top fi ve most sought after discover an exclusive selection owned Rolls-Royce motor car. Hhost an interactive The Computer Engineering candidates by hiring managers of certifi ed pre-owned Rolls- “With its combination of vi- information session tomor- programme, part of the College from Fortune 500 companies. Royce motor cars, “specially se- The event will showcase a collection of the finest previously-owned sionary engineering and hand- row at 5pm, at the HBKU Stu- of Science and Engineering, Recent recruitment statistics lected to showcase the fi nest in Rolls-Royce motor cars. crafted build, purchasing a dent Centre in Education City leverages partnerships with show that professional roles in automotive excellence, crafts- Rolls-Royce should always be an for its Bachelor of Science in other Education City institu- the fi eld have grown exponen- manship and breadth of person- criteria set by Rolls-Royce Motor through the international net- exceptional experience regard- Computer Engineering pro- tions. Students on the pro- tially with the proliferation of alisation created at the Home of Cars to attain the Provenance ti- work of authorised Rolls-Royce less of its age – which we aim to gramme. gramme will be able to enrol for increasingly complex and in- Rolls-Royce in Goodwood”, the tle, off ering customers the “same Motor Cars dealers, including showcase this weekend.” The event off ers those in- select courses at Texas A&M terconnected technology and statement notes. uncompromising standards, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha. Clients can visit the Rolls- terested in becoming stu- University at Qatar and Carn- services. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha quality and excellence of a brand The programme “not only deliv- Royce Motor Cars Doha show- dents, as well as their family egie Mellon University in Qatar. Prospective students inter- is the sole authorised dealer of new Rolls-Royce”. ers total reassurance but – com- room on Thursday and Saturday members, the opportunity to These courses complement the ested in attending the infor- Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Qatar. All Provenance cars must have bined with a minimum two year from 10am until 10pm and on directly engage with faculty classes and seminars adminis- mation session should arrive at In order to be included in the been maintained in strict adher- servicing and warranty cover – is Friday from 5pm until 10pm to and staff to better understand tered by industry experts and the HBKU Student Center by Provenance Programme, the ence to Rolls-Royce’s servicing also a sound investment for the see the Provenance collection academic requirements, ad- HBKU faculty. 4.30pm and can register online vehicles must meet stringent requirements and are only sold future”, the statement adds. fi rst-hand. mission process, and curricu- Computer engineering at hbku.edu.qa/infosessions

Splash launches Perfume and Bath and Body range Leading fast fashion retailer oak moss and patchouli. Sky Jewellery unveils eight designs Splash has announced the Black Oud for men is a ‘sensual launch of its Perfume and Bath interpretation blended with ky Jewellery has launched eight and Body range, ‘Heart of Gold’. the richest amber and leather designs, under its brand BELOVE, Including three options for men accords wrapped around pure Sto celebrate the season of love. and women, the fragrance has jasmine and warm incense.’ Every Valentine’s diamond pendant will been created in Paris. White Oud for men is a ‘fresh come with a free gold chain, the retailer Priced start at QR100 for Eau De interpretation which combines has said in a statement. Also, with every Parfum and QR45 for shimmering energising bergamot with the Rose Gold for women Valentine’s purchase customers will be Bath and Body range. rich sensual notes of patchouli White Oud for men given a greeting card to mark the occa- The oud collection for men is and spicy coriander seeds.’ saff ron. The heart captures essence of sion. “As such, Valentine’s Day is more available in three variants, such as The variants for women are aroma of mandarin. Bright white Bulgarian rose and oranges blossom, exciting and rewarding with Sky Jewel- pure oud, black oud, and white oud. Pure Gold, Rose Gold, and flowers are paired with a hint of followed by the oriental base of Oud, lery,” said Babu John, managing director, Pure Oud for men is described as White Gold. In Pure Gold, ‘the leather, wrapped in soft tones of patchouli, amber and musk.’ Sky Jewellery. The eight designs in the an original interpretation enrobed oud theme is introduced in the vanilla and amber.’ White Gold for women ‘combines collection are priced between QR599 with exotic spices, peppercorns upper notes by adding saff ron The Rose Gold fragrance ‘opens with the nectar of cassis, modern and QR969. and nutmeg with classic woods of and placed together with fresh juicy notes of pear, raspberry and chypre blond oud and musk. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ new outlet opens in Saudi Arabia Hamas picks al-Sinwar as new Gaza chief

Reuters Gaza

aza’s ruling Hamas movement has chosen Yehya al-Sinwar, freed in a 2011 prisoner Gswap with Israel after more than 20 years in jail, as its new chief in the Palestinian enclave following an internal election, sources close to the group said yesterday. Sinwar will be a key decision-maker for Hamas and a member of the executive leadership that draws up policies, including towards Israel. With the group’s overall chief in exile, the Gaza- based offi cials have wielded more clout in the past Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ 11th showroom in Saudi Arabia has been inaugurated at Jeddah Street, Jubail, by Meshary M al-Oqaily, decade. chairman – Board of Businessmen, Jubail Ashraqia Chamber in the presence of Malabar Group chairman MP Ahamed, Malabar Hani Habeeb, a Gaza political analyst, said Sin- Gold & Diamonds managing director (international operations) Shamlal Ahamed, finance and administration director Ameer CMC, war’s victory sent a message of defi ance to Israel regional director Gafoor Edakkuni as well as other dignitaries and guests. and was also likely to complicate eff orts further to conclude a stalled reconciliation with Palestinian File photo shows Hamas leader Yehya al-Sinwar at a President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction. rally in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Israel sentenced Sinwar, one of Hamas’ master- minds, to four life terms in the late 1980s. ernment with Fatah but talks have faltered repeat- He served 23 years for leading the group’s fi rst edly. security apparatus, which was responsible for Yaron Blum, an analyst and a former employee of Dubai aims to launch hover-taxi by July tracking and killing those accused of collaborating Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency, told Is- with Israel. rael Radio that Sinwar would support a harder line Six years ago, Israel freed him in a swap of 1,047 against Israel. AFP Palestinian prisoners for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, “This is a man with a very hawkish approach... Dubai who was abducted by Gaza fi ghters in a deadly and he will do everything to carry out more attacks cross-border raid in 2006. and abduct Israeli soldiers and civilians in order to “Sinwar’s victory confi rms that Hamas’ military eff ect more prisoner swaps,” Blum said. ubai has tested a Chinese prototype of a self-driving wing has the upper hand in the movement and his Sinwar is set to replace Ismail Haniyeh in the hover-taxi, its transport authority said yesterday, win has made that clearer,” analyst Habib said. election that was last held in 2012. Dwith the aim of introducing the aerial vehicle in the “It is a message to Israel that it should not try to The sources said Sinwar polled best in the vote emirate by July. test the capability of the resistance and its deci- that was open only to members of Hamas, includ- The test of the one-man electric vehicle comes as the city sions. It also sends another message that national ing those in Israeli jails. state in the United Arab Emirates seeks to ensure a quarter of reconciliation may become more diffi cult.” Khalil al-Hayya, a political offi cial, was chosen its means of transport are self-driving by 2030. But Hamza Abu Shanab, an expert in Islamist as Sinwar’s deputy. The EHang 184 can travel on a programmed course at 100 movements, expected Sinwar to be more open to- Filling the position of Hamas’ political chief, kilometres an hour at an altitude of 300 metres (1,000 feet), wards Palestinian reconciliation. who also speaks for its military wing, will require the authority said in a statement. A passenger simply needs “Sinwar’s goal is the liberation of all of Palestine. more time. to select a destination for the autonomous taxi to take off , fl y To achieve this he will be open to dialogue with the Haniyeh and Moussa Abu Marzouk, currently the route and touch down in the chosen spot monitored by a Arab and Muslim world and will endorse eff orts to the two deputies to the group’s overall leader, Kha- ground control centre, it said. A model of the EHang 184 autonomous aerial vehicle is displayed at the World conclude national unity,” he said. led Meshaal, appear to be the leading candidates for The vehicle, made by Chinese drone manufacturer EHang, Government Summit 2017 in Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah. In 2014, Sinwar backed a Palestinian unity gov- the job. can recharge in two hours and make trips of up to 30 minutes. “The autonomous aerial vehicle exhibited at the World thority said. It has highly accurate sensors and can resist Government Summit is not just a model,” authority head extreme temperatures, it said. The emirate is known for its Mattar al-Tayer said yesterday. “We have already experi- scorching summers. mented (with) the vehicle in a fl ight in (the) Dubai sky,” he In November, Dubai agreed a deal with US startup Hy- said in English. perloop One to study the construction of a near-supersonic The authority was “making every eff ort to start the opera- transport link to the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. Home to Burj tion of the autonomous aerial vehicle in July 2017” to help re- Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, Dubai is a leading tourist duce traffi c congestion, Tayer said. destination in the Gulf, attracting a record 14.9mn visitors The quadcopter is powered by eight propellers, the au- in 2016.

20 killed as clashes erupt on coast

AFP Aden

wenty rebels and govern- ment troops were killed Tovernight in clashes as warring parties pushed north along Yemen’s western coast, medical and government sourc- A doctor attends to cancer patients at a treatment centre in Sanaa, Yemen. es said yesterday. The renewed clashes in the coastal towns of Midi and Mokha, north and south of the major Red Sea port of Hodeida Cancer patients struggle to respectively, erupted the day after government forces seized control of the area. survive shortages in Yemen “The death toll this morning stands at 14 Houthi rebels and six troops” loyal to President Abe- Reuters been hampered by the coalition’s near- drabbo Mansour Hadi, a military Sanaa blockade on one of the country’s main source confi rmed on condition of ports, Hodeidah. anonymity. Medicine shelves at the oncology Hospital sources in Hodeida housands of cancer patients in centre are bare, and desperate patients confi rmed at least eight dead. Yemen are being forced to seek have to scour the black market, accord- Forces loyal to Yemen’s presi- Tlife-saving medicines on the ing to the facility’s vice president, Ab- dent, backed by a coalition, en- black market as the health system buck- delwahab El Nahmy. tered the historic port town of les after two years of war. “Since the fourth quarter of 2016, we Mokha last month as part of a The confl ict between the armed ran out of all the medications we have push to drive Houthis out of the Houthi movement and a coalition has in storage and the patients now suff er area.Government forces had tak- killed over 10,000 people and triggered from lack of availability and are forced en the docks of Mokha earlier in a slow-motion economic collapse, forc- to search for it in the local market for February and are now aiming to ing health staff to work without pay and higher prices.” take the main port of Hodeida, undercutting patients’ ability to aff ord Offi cial funding meets only 30% of which is still under the control of their own treatment. the centre’s needs, El Nahmy said. Houthi rebels.Prior to the gov- For patients of the National Oncology The fact it has remained opened may ernment-backed military off en- Centre, who often wait hours to receive be a small victory, however, as the entire sive, the Houthis had controlled their chemotherapy treatment, hope has health system totters. nearly all of Yemen’s 450 kilome- evaporated along with their livelihoods. “Currently more than 14.8mn people tre Red Sea coastline. “There are no pensions any more, how lack access to basic healthcare, with less More than 400 combatants are we supposed to pay?” pleaded Mo- than 45% of health facilities still func- have been killed in the fi ght for hamed El Shamaa, a gaunt leukaemia tioning,” said Rick Brennan, director coastal control. patient, reclining limply as he received of Emergency Operations at the World The crisis in Yemen took a ma- chemotherapy via an intravenous tube. Health Organisation. jor turn for the worse with the “Most people seek charity — some “Health care workers have not re- military intervention of the alli- give and others say they can’t help. Now, ceived their salaries regularly for about ance in March 2015. some people seek help from mosques. six months. Medical supplies are in The United Nations estimates I’m one of those people,” he said. chronic shortage,” he added. more than 7,400 people, including With the Houthis controlling the “Many Yemeni people die in silence around 1,400 children, have been main population centres, imports of and are largely unaccounted for, unno- killed in the two years since. badly needed food and medicine have ticed and unrecorded.” Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 ARAB WORLD Syrian forces used chemical weapons in fi nal push for Aleppo: HRW

AFP said the rights group. “The pat- to take measures to ensure that United Nations tern of the chlorine attacks these weapons were not being shows that they were co-ordi- used,” Charbonneau told a news Nineveh province police forces take part in a training session conducted by the Australia Task Group coalition members at Taji military base nated with the overall military conference. north of Baghdad yesterday. yrian government forces strategy for retaking Aleppo, Chlorine use as a weapon is carried out at least eight not the work of a few rogue ele- banned under the Chemical Schemical attacks dur- ments,” said Ole Solvang, HRW’s Weapons Convention, which ing the fi nal weeks of the battle deputy emergencies director. Syria joined in 2013 under pres- for Aleppo, killing nine people, For fi ve of the attacks, HRW sure from Russia. IS leadership targeted in air strike, among them four children, and reviewed photographs or video The use of chlorine bombs injuring hundreds more, Human footage of remnants of at least as an indiscriminate weapon Rights Watch said yesterday. seven yellow cylinders that car- could amount to war crimes. The rights group said it in- ried warnings that they con- Human Rights Watch urged Baghdadi fate unclear: Iraqi military terviewed witnesses, collected tained gas. the Security Council to impose photos and reviewed video foot- The actual number of chemi- sanctions on senior leaders age indicating that chlorine cal attacks could be higher, said in the chain of command, but Reuters F-16s had targeted the house from Raqqa, in Syria, to the when he called on Islamic bombs were dropped from gov- the group, adding that journal- such a move would likely be ve- Baghdad in western Iraq on Saturday. region of Al-Qaim, on the State fighters to defend Mo- ernment helicopters during the ists, medical personnel and oth- toed by Russia. It published the names of 13 Iraqi side of the border, to dis- sul, their last major urban off ensive from November 17 to er credible sources had reported France and Britain are push- Islamic State commanders it cuss with commanders “the stronghold in Iraq. December 13. at least 12 attacks in that period. ing the Security Council to ban he Iraqi air force carried said had been killed in the air collapse happening in Mosul US-backed Iraqi forces have Around 200 people were in- HRW was able to verify eight the sale of helicopters to Syria out a strike on a house strike, but the list did not in- and to choose a successor for completed the first phase of jured by the toxic gases used on attacks involving chlorine and impose the first UN sanc- Twhere Islamic State clude Baghdadi. him”. the campaign to retake Mosul, opposition-controlled areas of bombs. tions against Syrian military leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Three other Islamic State Baghdadi, an Iraqi whose removing the militants from the northern city, according to Syrian forces, backed by Rus- leaders and entities tied to was thought to be meeting positions in western Iraq were real name is Ibrahim al-Sa- the eastern side of the city last HRW. sia, launched an off ensive in chemical weapons develop- other commanders, the Iraqi targeted in the same wave of marrai, has been reported month. One of the deadliest bomb- November to seize east Aleppo, ment. military said yesterday, with- air strikes, killing 64 fighters, wounded several times in the A Iraqi Shia paramilitary ings hit the neighbourhood of a key battleground in Syria’s A joint investigation by the out making clear whether he the statement said. past. force is also battling militants Sakhur on November 20, killing nearly six-year war, and the re- United Nations and the Or- had been hit. The military said Baghdadi His last known public mes- west of Mosul, trying to pre- six members of the same family gime announced on December ganisation for the Prohibition In a statement, it said Iraqi moved last week in a convoy sage goes back to November, vent their escape to Syria. including four children whose 22 that it had taken full control of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) lifeless bodies were shown on a of the city. found that several units of the video taken by the Shabha press The group said there was no Syrian army had used toxic agency. evidence that Russia was direct- weapons against three villages UN chief ‘deeply’ The report detailed attacks on ly involved in the chemical at- in northern Syria in 2014 and regrets veto of a playground, clinics, residen- tacks, although Russian aircraft 2015. Security forces accused of abuses tial streets, and houses that left did play a role in the military of- It was the first time an inter- Palestinian scores of people struggling to fensive against opposition fi ght- national probe blamed Presi- ex-PM as envoy breathe, vomiting and uncon- ers in east Aleppo. dent Bashar al-Assad’s forces Reuters of the Arab uprisings. Tunisia says it recognises scious. “We don’t have any evidence after years of denial from Da- Tunis that some of what Amnesty has charged exists, UN chief Antonio Guterres yes- “The chemicals would aff ect that Russia was directly involved mascus. but says it only individual cases and that there terday said he “deeply” regretted the children most severely...they in any of these attacks or that it Russia, however, has cast is no systematic abuse or policy of torture by opposition to former Palestinian inhale these smells and they end was aware”, said Louis Charbon- doubt of the panel’s findings, unisian security forces are using methods in state forces. It has set up a torture commission to prime minister Salam Fayyad as up suff ocating,” said a fi rst re- neau, HRW’s UN director. saying there were not strong their war against militants that are associated stamp out abuses. the organisation’s peace envoy sponder quoted in the report. “What we do know is that enough to warrant sanctions. Twith overthrown leader Zine El Abidine Ben But Tunisian Human Rights Minister Mehdi to Libya, days after Washington The attacks, which may have Russia is a close military ally of A new report by the UN- Ali, including torture, arbitrary arrests and deten- Ben Gharbia told Reuters: “All violations men- vetoed the appointment. involved as many as three heli- the Syrian government. It is in- OPCW joint investigative panel tions, Amnesty International said yesterday. tioned in the report Amnesty...are individual vio- “I deeply regret this opposition copters operating jointly, took volved on the ground. It was in- is expected to be released later The human right group said in a report that lations (and) are being investigated. We cannot and I do not see any reason for place in areas where government volved in the battle for Aleppo.” this month. HRW has sent its such practices are threatening the road to demo- accept these kind of violations in the new it,” Guterres said at the annual forces were poised to advance, “At the very least, they needed findings to the panel. cratic reform in a country that was the birthplace Tunisia.” World Government Summit hosted by Dubai. Guterres described Fayyad, a former World Bank official with a track record of fighting corruption, as “the right person for the right job at the right Erdogan calls for safe zone free of terror moment”. “It’s a loss for the Libyan peace process and the Libyan people,” AFP Turkey has repeatedly called Turkish troops and their Syr- to retake Raqa from extrem- he said, adding that the United Ankara for such a zone, which it be- Turkish president arrives for talks in Saudi ian rebel allies entered the cen- ists should be done without the Nations “needs to be able to act lieves could help to alleviate the tre of Al-Bab at the weekend Kurdish Peoples’ Protection with impartiality”. burden of accommodating Syr- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived for talks in Saudi Arabia with Erdogan saying its capture Units (YPG) militia. The UN leader on Wednesday resident Recep Tayyip ian refugees. yesterday to further strengthen ties as part of a Gulf tour. was now a “matter of time” on Ankara sees the YPG as a sister had informed the Security Erdogan said yesterday Late last month, US media The two powers have become increasingly close over the past year, Sunday. “terror” group of the outlawed Council of his intention to ap- Pthat Ankara wanted to es- reported the Pentagon would be sharing in particular a backing for the opposition in Syria’s war. Before Opposition fi ghters captured Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) point Fayyad as a replacement tablish a “safe zone” in north- given 90 days to draw up a plan beginning his Gulf trip in Bahrain on Sunday, Erdogan said Turkish troops 40% of the town’s centre, the waging an insurgency inside Tur- for German Martin Kobler to ern Syria free of “terrorists”, as to set up “safe zones” which and their Syrian rebel allies had entered the centre of Al-Bab, the Islamic offi cial news agency Anadolu key since 1984. conflict-torn Libya. Turkish-backed rebels pushed Turkey said it would watch State group’s last stronghold in the northern province of Aleppo. Since reported yesterday, quoting its Later yesterday, Deputy Prime But US ambassador Nikki Haley ahead in the town of Al-Bab. closely. Saudi King Salman ascended the throne in 2015, Riyadh and Ankara correspondents on the ground. Minister Numan Kurtulmus said vetoed the appointment, saying He added the area would also Ankara launched an ambi- have repaired ties. In April last year Salman visited Erdogan, who awarded Erdogan said the targets af- Ankara would view the Kurdish Washington did not support the require a “no-fl y” zone. tious campaign supporting op- him a rare honour, the Order of State. Turkey then began hosting Saudi ter Al-Bab would be Manbij — a Democratic Union Party (PYD) message the move would send. “Our objective here is (to position fi ghters inside Syria warplanes at its Incirlik air base as part of the US-led coalition against IS former bastion of IS that is now and its armed wing YPG replac- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin establish) an area of at least last August to clear its southern militants. under the control of US-backed, ing IS in Raqa as a “top security Netanyahu hailed the US veto 4,000, 5,000 square kilometres border of IS elements and to halt Kurdish-led militia — and Raqa threat” to Turkey. of Fayyad as counter to the free from terrorism, to create a the advance of Syrian Kurdish if “we take a joint step with (US- Turkey says it is home to over “free gifts constantly given to safe zone,” Erdogan said in a tel- militia. taking northern towns includ- biggest challenge of the cam- led) coalition forces”. Turkey 2.7mn Syrian refugees who fl ed the Palestinian side”. evised speech in Bahrain. After a lightning advance re- ing Jarabulus, it is facing the paign so far in Al-Bab. has insisted that any operation the country. Aoun makes fi rst Egypt visit as Lebanese president

AFP ready “to support the capabilities Cairo of Lebanon’s army and its various security bodies”. Aoun, a Maronite Christian, also met the leader of ebanese President Michel Egypt’s Coptic Church, Pope Ta- Aoun yesterday started his wadros II, and held talks with Grand Lfi rst visit to Cairo since his Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb of al-Azhar. election in October and held talks Today, the Lebanese president with his Egyptian counterpart is scheduled to meet Ahmed Abul Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and religious Gheit, secretary general of the Cai- leaders. ro-based Arab League. “Hopes of the role that Egypt Aoun, who was elected with the could play are high. An Egypt of support of the powerful Hezbollah, moderation and openness...could visited Saudi Arabia last month on launch an Arab rescue initiative a mission to patch up relations with based on a strategy to fi ght terror- Riyadh. ism,” Aoun said at a joint press con- A Lebanese offi cial source said ference. at the time that Saudi Arabia and He said Egypt could “work on Lebanon had agreed to hold talks on fi nding political solutions for the restoring a $3bn military aid pack- crises in the Arab world and espe- age that Riyadh froze last year. cially Syria”. The two sides “agreed Aoun’s election ended a two-year on the need to stand together deadlock between Iran and Saudi- against the dangers of terrorism”, backed blocs in the Lebanese par- A handout picture shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at Sisi said, adding that Egypt was liament. the Presidential palace in Cairo yesterday. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 9 AFRICA

DIPLOMACY NARCOTICS INSURGENCY MEDIA RESERVOIR THREAT Nigeria’ Buhari discusses Tanzania declares Twelve more killed in Six Ivory Coast journalists Zambia, Zimbabwe pick arms deal with Trump war on traff ickers clashes in central Congo held for inciting mutiny French to shore up dam

Nigerian President Muhamadu Buhari discussed Tanzania yesterday declared a “war” on drug Twelve people were killed in clashes between a Six journalists in Ivory Coast have been arrested Zambia and Zimbabwe will give French a new arms deal with US President Donald traff icking, announcing the upcoming questioning local militia and security forces in central Congo on suspicion of faking news which could incite engineering firm Razel-Bec the task of making Trump by telephone yesterday to help it fight of dozens of off icials in the East African country yesterday, bringing the death toll to about 100 soldiers to revolt, journalist associations said safe the Kariba Dam, whose wall is swelling, terrorism, the Nigerian presidency said. Nigeria regarded as a significant international hub for the since last week, a representative of local civil yesterday just days after a mutiny. Ivory Coast raising the risk of cracks in the structure designed has been fighting since 2009 against an trade. “No stone will be left unturned in our fight,” society groups said. Human rights activist Pius has been gripped by a series of revolts this to hold back up to 180bn cubic metres of water. insurgency by Boko Haram militants trying to said Rogers Sianga, the first person to head the new Kalonga said that 12 people had been killed and year by various factions of the military seeking A collapse of the dam could pose a risk to 3.5mn set up an Islamic state in the remote northeast. Drug Control and Enforcement Authority. Sianga one civilian wounded in the clashes between the bonus pay, after the government conceded to people in Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as Malawi The unrest has killed thousands and displaced said he had ordered the arrest of all government Kamwena Nsapu militia and security forces in the demands of an initial group of mutineers and Mozambique further downstream, according more than 2mn people. Abuja has been trying off icials who last year allowed the importation of 21 the town of Tshimbulu. “These rebels are armed in January. Special forces seized the coastal to a 2015 report by global risk managers AON. “It is to persuade the US to sell it military aircraft, a tons of chemicals reported as pesticides, but which and they fire at civilians, police and the military. town of Adiake last week in the latest episode of a real risk that the dam could fall without that eff ort request being reviewed by Congress. “President could be used to make drugs. In addition, Sianga The army has the duty of establishing stability army violence which has tarnished Ivory Coast’s being put in place,” Dam maintenance engineer Trump assured the Nigerian president of US said his off ice had a list of 97 people including in this area,” government spokesman Lambert image as a post-war success story. The president Farai Furasa told Reuters, referring to the planned readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in politicians, businessmen, musicians and religious Mende said. The Red Cross earlier said that at of the journalists’ union, Moussa Traore, said that renovation. “Some forces are pushing towards the terms of military weapons to combat terrorism,” leaders who would be questioned in connection least 90 people were killed in clashes Thursday six people had been arrested but gave no further dam wall and digging into it and the water could slip the presidency said in a statement. with drug-related off ences. and Friday. details. underneath the dam and cause it to collapse.”

Doctors’ protest Nigeria’s herdsmen-farmer violence fuels fears of crisis

Thomson Reuters Foundation or more reprisal attacks,” said Sola Tayo of Kafanchan think tank Chatham House. “This could increase the likelihood of in- ternal displacement among aff ected com- hen 60-year-old Ladi Habila munities,” the associate fellow added. heard gunshots ring around her Local communities say the violence grew Wvillage in Nigeria’s Kaduna state out of festering disputes over land towards on Christmas Eve, she cast aside the meal the end of last year, then escalated sharp- she had been preparing, and ran for her life. ly, exacerbated by north-south, Muslim- Habila returned the next day to fi nd her Christian tensions. house razed to the ground, and the burnt While farmers lay the blame squarely on body of her husband. the herdsmen, some experts and locals said “My children lost their school books and the vilifi cation of the Fulani had seen them certifi cates, all our clothes are gone and we also come under attack, fuelling a cycle of are not sure where we will live,” said Habila, revenge. whose children have been begging for food, This violence has ruined harvests and dis- and staying with relatives and even strangers rupted the livelihoods of hundreds of farm- in nearby towns. ers across the region. “We lost everything and we cannot even Half of people in Nigeria work in agricul- go to the farm, so there is nothing for us to ture, which accounts for around a quarter of do,” she told the Thomson Reuters Founda- its gross domestic product (GDP), according tion in a tiny room in a neighbour’s house, to the World Bank and Central Bank of Ni- where she and her two youngest children geria. sleep on newspapers and old clothes. Confl ict between farmers and herdsmen A brass band leads doctors chanting slogans after their case to demand fulfilment of a 2013 agreement between their union and the government Habila is among 27,000 people in Kaduna in just four Nigerian states could cost the that would raise their pay and improve working conditions, was heard at the employment and labour relations courts in Nairobi, Kenya. who have been forced to fl ee their homes due country at least $14bn annually in lost po- to violence between Muslim herdsmen and tential revenues, aid agency Mercy Corps largely Christian farmers which has killed at said last year. least 800 people since September, according Ayuba Rasong, a neighbour of Habila, to church leaders in the region. turned to farming just a few years ago after For years, the semi-nomadic, cattle-herd- retiring as a school principal. ing Fulani and more settled farming com- But his newfound joy was cut short when munities have clashed over land use as lower the Fulani attacked in December, destroying rainfall, advancing desertifi cation and over- the 67-year-old’s farm, crops and equip- grazing drive the herdsmen towards more ment. fertile land in the south of Nigeria. “I don’t know how to raise money to get Anglophone trial But violence has soared in recent months back to farming or pay my children’s (school) between the herdsmen and farmers — due to fees,” the father-of-four said.”These herds- the ongoing harvest season — and the worst men have taken my livelihood away from bloodshed the region has witnessed in years me.” could worsen unless the state intervenes, se- Other farmers nearby are fearful of raids curity analysts say. by the gun and machete-wielding Fulani, in The national disaster agency NEMA, this ethnically-charged confl ict which may exposes divisions which puts the death toll at around 200, said have claimed more lives in Nigeria than the it had donated food and building materials to jihadist group Boko Haram over the past some of the aff ected communities in Decem- year, security experts say. ber, while the Kaduna state government said Around 1,300 deaths have been caused by it was investigating violence. sectarian violence — mainly involving herds- Yet the displaced say they have received men and farmers in Kaduna — since January no compensation from the government, and 2016, compared with some 850 infl icted by in Cameroon insuffi cient aid, fuelling fears of a spiralling Boko Haram, according to the Council on yet neglected humanitarian crisis in a na- Foreign Relations’ Nigeria Security Tracker. Anglophone regions have been protesting willingness to die for his beliefs. based Islamist militant group Boko Haram whose tion already struggling with the Boko Haram Further violence could have dire conse- marginalisation “You can see clearly that these are all hyper- fi ghters regularly launch attacks in Cameroon. insurgency and the threat of more attacks quences for a region which is responsible for political off ences which...means you have no “The anti-terror law is being used to curtail on oil pipelines by the Niger Delta Avengers a large amount of the beans and maize pro- Reuters chance, none,” said Alice Nkom, a lawyer and dissent and that infringes on the basic rights and militants. duced in Nigeria, said Lagos-based research Yaounde president of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil freedoms in the constitution,” Amnesty Interna- “If the root causes of the violence are not fi rm SB Morgen. Society Consortium, who is representing Agbor tional’s Ilaria Allegrozzi said. addressed, if suspected perpetrators are not “Only a major intervention can prevent Balla. Cameroon regularly sentences people to death investigated and prosecuted, existing ten- acute food shortage in these communities,” he trial of three English-speaking protest- In a speech last week, President Biya blamed but has not carried out executions for years. sions will simmer and manifest in the form SB Morgen said in report last month. ers facing the death penalty opened at a the unrest on extremist and separatist groups who The hearing was adjourned and the next one is Tmilitary court in Cameroon yesterday in he said were preaching hate and violence. scheduled for March 23. a case that has exposed national divisions and “The government had to take measures to Those living in Bamenda, an opposition strong- stoked opposition to Francophone President Paul maintain order, protect citizens and their proper- hold, say are victims of a government crackdown Biya. ty and hand over to the judicial authorities those since the demonstrations began. Since October, people in Cameroon’s two west- who committed or were suspected of committing The United Nations says the internet has been ern English-speaking regions have joined protests these criminal acts,” he said. “This necessary ac- shut down since January 17 in an apparent bid to against what they say is their marginalisation by tion will continue. quell protests that violates international law. the French-speaking majority under Biya’s 35- Cameroon’s linguistic divide dates back to the Residents have responded, shutting down year rule. end of World War One when the League of Na- schools and businesses with “ghost town” pro- At least six protesters have been shot dead and tions split the former German colony of Kamerun tests. hundreds others arrested during the rare chal- into zones of French and British administration. And some analysts and residents expect further lenge to state authority, prompting criticism from Shortly after independence in 1960, voters violence if the three men are convicted. human rights groups and concern from the Afri- from the smaller English zone opted to join Cam- Police offi cials in the past have said they act- can Union. eroon over neighbouring Nigeria — a decision ed in self-defence against dangerous protesters The three civil society fi gures and political ac- some now regret. armed with steel bars and stones. tivists — Felix Agbor Balla, Fontem Aforteka’a The divisions were in evidence in the court- On Saturday, a national holiday celebrating the Neba and Mancho Bibixy — pleaded not guilty in a room yesterday. referendum that unifi ed Cameroon, the streets of court in the capital Yaounde as dozens of security More than a dozen English-speaking defence Bamenda were virtually deserted aside from one offi cials stood guard. lawyers wore the elaborate British-style wigs in parade of students bussed in from outside. They face multiple charges including complic- the French-speaking court, while government A surveillance helicopter fl ew overhead. ity in hostility against the homeland, secession lawyers went bare-headed. “I am telling you we are prisoners within our and civil war, and campaigning for federalism fol- The Anglophone lawyers waited patiently for own homes,” said a Bamenda resident who wit- lowing their involvement in the English regions’ the translation of the proceedings but the quality nessed the arrest of several of his friends and protests. was so poor that they asked for the interpreter to asked not to be named for fear of reprisals. One of the defendants, Bibixy, made a speech in stop, a Reuters witness said. “You cannot move freely, you cannot talk with the regional hub of Bamenda in November while The defendants are being tried under a 2014 law people, you cannot say anything, you cannot just standing inside an open casket meant to show his created to help combat militants from Nigeria- sit with friends and talk.”

Dozen people dead in clashes in Mali

AFP a source at the security ministry told armed group presence and intimi- armed group by Amadou Koufa. Bamako AFP yesterday. dation of the population” that has That group has allied with the Tu- Local politician Djiguiba Keita put “steadily increased” in central Mali, areg leader of al Qaeda allied Ansar the death toll at 10 while Bekaye Sa- as well as an uptick in banditry and Dine, Iyad Ag Ghaly. dozen people were killed in make, mayor of Macina, the closest criminality. The Malian army mounted an op- clashes between herders and major town to the village hit by the The South African-based Institute eration against a hideout of Koufa’s Afarmers from separate ethnic violence, said seven bodies had been for Security Studies has highlighted acolytes in central Mali last week, ar- groups over the weekend in central recovered. drought driven by climate change as resting 20 people and killing one. Mali, as jihadist tensions drive confl ict The clashes were triggered by the leaving herders unable to feed their Since the overthrow of Moamer in rural communities. murder of a Bambara farmer on Sat- animals. Kadhafi ’s regime in Libya, weapons Increased availability of arms from urday named by Samake as Cheickna They have since been “forced into have travelled from the chaotic state Libya has contributed to intercommu- Traore. the valleys where confl icts often arise in an arc of unrest through Mali and nal violence in Mali, experts say, while It was followed by retribution kill- with farmers over land and water,” ac- Niger. drought has forced herders into areas ings against Peuls accused of being cording to a report released last year. Northern Mali fell under the con- traditionally cultivated by farmers. jihadists who had organised the assas- Peul people are frequently accused trol of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist The clashes between ethnic Peuls sination. of colluding with jihadists who have groups linked to Al Qaeda in 2012 who and Bambaras “led to the deaths of A report last month by Human sowed chaos in Mali in recent years, were largely ousted by a French-led 13 civilians and huts were set on fi re,” Rights Watch described an “Islamist and especially since the founding of an military operation in January 2013. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 AMERICAS Trump hosts Trudeau Courts to probe Trump’s intent for tricky trade talks on travel ban? AFP NAFTA gains support stitutional law at Tulane University, Washington north of the border Reuters New York said cases like this make it clear that Canadians have become more sup- the court can look beyond the words of anadian Prime Minister Jus- portive of the North American Free Trump’s executive order. tin Trudeau arrived yesterday Trade Agreement after the election ashington state’s attorney “Motive is relevant,” he said. Cat the White House for what of US President Donald Trump, who general has promised to un- One question in the current case is could be diffi cult trade and immigra- has promised to renegotiate the pact, Wcover “what truly motivated” likely to be which, if any, of Trump’s tion talks with his political opposite, a poll from the Angus Reid Institute President Donald Trump’s executive statements should be admissible in ex- President Donald Trump. showed yesterday. order on immigration, an approach that amining the administration’s motives in After striking up a much-fl aunted About 44% of those surveyed said could prompt a rare public examination issuing the order. “bromance” with president Barack NAFTA had benefited Canada, up of how a US president makes national “If you’re allowed to use evidence Obama, the youthful liberal leader is from 25% from a poll last June. security decisions. from the campaign, the state’s case is in Washington to woo a septuagenar- The percentage who wanted to The presidential order imposed a very strong,” said Griffi n. ian Republican, with whom he shares see a renegotiation of the agree- temporary ban on travellers from seven In December, 2015, days after a mass little in common. ment, which removed trade barriers predominantly Muslim countries, but attack by an Islamic State sympathizers The focus of discussions will be between Canada, the United States a federal judge has barred enforcement in San Bernardino, California, Trump Trump’s determination to put “Amer- and Mexico, fell to 24% from 34%. of the order while the court considers a called for “a total and complete shut- ica fi rst” and rip up the North America Just 13% said NAFTA had hurt challenge brought by Washington state. down of Muslims entering the United Free Trade Agreement, as well as dif- US President Donald Trump greets Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Canada, down from the previous 26%. On Thursday, the US Court of Appeals States until our representatives can fi g- ferences over immigration. outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington yesterday. The poll was conducted earlier this for the 9th Circuit left the judge’s ruling ure out what is going on.” Trump has followed the dictum that month as an online survey of 1,508 in place without deciding the ultimate He later said he supported only sus- good fences make good neighbours — “Canada will always stay true to the political stripes, their style — they Canadians. merits of either side’s arguments. pending immigration from areas with a vowing to increase tariff s on imports values that have made us this extraor- could not be more diff erent. “What a diff erence eight months In its decision, the 9th Circuit cited history of terrorism. and build a wall on the Mexican bor- dinary country, a place of openness,” Trudeau, the son of a well-liked and a new US president make,” Angus a previous case establishing that “cir- Stanford University Law School pro- der and trying to ban migrants from Trudeau had said on Friday in Yel- prime minister, came to power prom- Reid said. cumstantial evidence of intent, includ- fessor Michael McConnell, a former several Muslim-majority nations. lowknife, the capital of the country’s ising to “provide a positive and good “Today, with NAFTA under threat, ing statements by decision makers, may federal appeals judge, said the court The US-Canadian border remains Northwest Territories. government for Canadians” and en- Canadians have radically changed be considered in evaluating whether a should not consider campaign state- open, but Trump’s travel ban has The economic ties between Amer- hance the country’s image abroad. the way they feel about the deal in a governmental action was motivated by ments, because Trump only swore an called into question the “pre-clear- ica and its northern neighbour, who Manhattan property mogul Trump relatively short period of time.” a discriminatory purpose.” oath to uphold the Constitution after he ance” system allowing Canadians to share the world’s longest common won the White House in a shock No- The poll found 56% of Canadians The Trump administration has ar- became president. clear US Customs and immigration border, run deep: three-quarters of vember election victory over Hillary expected NAFTA to be renegotiated, gued that the ban is necessary to pre- In its complaint, Washington cited an checks at their point of departure. Canada’s exports go to the US, and Clinton after painting a dark picture but just 10% thought their country vent potential terrorists from entering interview the president did on the day Trudeau visit got off to an awkward Canada is the top destination for ex- of a country in turmoil and vowing to would emerge from the talks better the country and is not discriminatory the order was signed with the Christian start, when he arrived at the White ports from about 30 US states. put “America fi rst.” off than it is now. because the text of the order does not Broadcasting Network, saying he would House early and his limousine was Renegotiating NAFTA will not be Welcomed with great fanfare to Still, Canadians have not always mention any particular religion. prioritize Christians in the Middle East forced to wait on the driveway for around simple and Trudeau, a fervent sup- Washington nearly a year ago by supported the deal. When NAFTA Washington Attorney General Bob for admission as refugees. fi ve minutes before Trump came out. porter of free trade, has emphasized Obama, Trudeau hailed the Demo- was being negotiated in 1993, 58% Ferguson signalled on Sunday that he Legal experts are divided on whether The two men then greeted each the importance of the tripartite pact cratic president’s “leadership” on cli- of Canadians told Angus Reid they will move aggressively to obtain written the state’s lawyers should be allowed to other with a handshake and headed for his country’s economy and warned mate change. opposed it. documents and e-mails authored by ad- question the president’s advisers — and into the Oval Offi ce. against protectionism. But it’s clear he will fi nd a quite dif- ministration offi cials that might contain possibly even the president — in depo- Trudeau is the third foreign leader On Friday, he recalled “the fact that ferent take on the issue from Trump, evidence the order was unconstitution- sitions. received by the Republican billionaire millions of good jobs on both sides who counts several climate skeptics in signed his decree late last month. ally biased against Muslims or Islam. The White House could potentially since he took offi ce on January 20, fol- of our border depend on the smooth his inner circle and seems determined “To those fl eeing persecution, ter- He also said he would also move to claim executive privilege, which pro- lowing meetings with Britain’s There- fl ow of goods and services across the to undo large parts of his predeces- ror & war, Canadians will welcome depose administration offi cials. tects the president and other offi cials sa May and Japan’s Shinzo Abe. border.” sor’s legacy. you, regardless of your faith. Diversity Legal scholars say this could move the from subpoena, said Thomas Lee, an The US and Canadian leaders will Trump has not been specifi c on So far, Trudeau has not commented is our strength #WelcomeToCanada,” court into uncharted waters. expert in constitutional law at Fordham have lunch and hold a roundtable with how he wants the talks to develop, but directly on Trump’s controversial im- Trudeau wrote. “The idea of looking at motive has University. businesswomen to discuss women in has repeatedly trashed the 23-year- migration order — which temporarily The pair do agree on the massive never really been applied to the presi- Anna-Rose Mathieson a partner with the workforce. old pact, calling it a “catastrophe” for bans all refugees and travellers from Keystone XL pipeline project, which dent,” said John Yoo, a former Justice the California Appellate Law Group said The 45-year-old Canadian prime American jobs and threatening to slap seven Muslim-majority countries would link Canada’s oil sands with US Department lawyer in the George W that one person who might be more eas- minister has pledged to speak “frankly tariff s on imports from Mexico. from entering the US. Gulf Coast refi neries. The project had Bush administration. ily deposed would be presidential ad- and respectfully” with the new occu- Trump and Trudeau are a study in But he made his stance clear in a been blocked by Obama, but has been “It would represent a serious ex- viser and former New York City Mayor pant of the White House. contrasts: their path to power, their tweet posted the day after Trump given the green light by Trump. pansion of judicial oversight of what Rudolph Giuliani, who told Fox News the president and the entire executive the president had asked him to put a branch does,” said Yoo, now a professor commission together to fi gure out how at the University of California at Berke- to make a Muslim ban legal. ley School of Law. David Pressman, a partner at Boies Trump has harshly criticized the fed- Schiller Flexner and former assistant Tribes urge judge to block fi nal Dakota pipeline link eral judge in Washington for his decision secretary of Homeland Security in the and a top White House aide on Sunday Obama administration, said there are accused the 9th Circuit of a “judicial important protections in place so that Reuters Lawyers for the Cheyenne River souri River system, to complete the environmental activists have protest- usurpation of power.” the executive branch can receive na- Washington Sioux and the Standing Rock Sioux pipeline. ed the pipeline setting up camps last “The president’s powers here are be- tional security advice. were to urge Judge James Boasberg in It says the 1,885km pipeline, to run year on Army Corps land in the North yond question,” senior policy adviser “You don’t want a situation in which US District Court in Washington, DC from oilfi elds in the Northern Plains of Dakota plains. Stephen Miller told Fox News Sunday. courts are adjudicating intelligence that ative American tribes seeking to block construction of the project North Dakota to the Midwest, and then In December, the Obama Adminis- US courts have historically been care- is coming to the executive when trying a halt to construction of the with a temporary restraining order. to refi neries along the Gulf of Mexico, tration denied ETP’s last needed per- ful about probing the motives behind to formulate policy,” said Pressman. Nfi nal link in the Dakota Access “We are contending that the waters could be operating by early May. mit, but with Trump’s stated support laws, in part out of respect for the sepa- Though in this case, Pressman said he Pipeline were to argue in federal court of Lake Oahe are sacred to Cheyenne Chase Iron Eyes, a member of the of the pipeline, that victory was short- ration of powers between branches of did not believe the national security ar- yesterday that the project will pre- River and all of its members, and that Standing Rock Tribe, said in the call lived for the Standing Rock Sioux. government. gument for the order was clear, opening vent them from practising religious the very presence of a pipeline, not that the pipeline would also cause The Army Corps has said it will But on questions of racial or religious the door to further questioning. ceremonies at a lake they say is sur- only construction but possible oil economic harm to Native Americans. close remaining camps on federal discrimination, they have sometimes The next steps in the case are not cer- rounded by sacred ground. fl ow through that pipeline, would ob- The tribes could be facing a diffi cult lands along the Cannonball River in allowed intent to be examined. tain. The Trump administration has said The US Army Corps of Engineers struct the free exercise of our religious task in convincing Boasberg to grant North Dakota after February 22. In 1993, for instance, the Supreme it is considering appealing the 9th Cir- last week granted a fi nal easement practices,” Matthew Vogel, a legisla- the restraining order. Last September, Cleanup eff orts continued in the Court found that an ordinance banning cuit ruling to the Supreme Court, and the to Energy Transfer Partners LP, the tive associate for the Cheyenne River he rejected a broad request by Native main protest camp located on federal animal sacrifi ce in Hialeah, Florida, 9th Circuit itself might decide to rehear company building the $3.8bn Dakota Sioux, told reporters in a conference Americans to block the project. That land over the weekend. though neutral on its face, was actu- the case with a larger panel of judges. Access Pipeline (DAPL), after Presi- call ahead of the hearing. ruling was superseded by the Obama Only a few hundred protesters re- ally intended to discriminate against a The president has also said he might dent Donald Trump issued an order The company only needs to build a Administration, which delayed the line, main, and crews have been removing Santeria church, which holds sacrifi ce replace the order with “a brand new” to advance the pipeline days after he fi nal 335m connection in North Dako- seeking more environmental review. tipis and yurts. The Standing Rock tribe as a sacred rite. one, which could end the current legal took offi ce in January. ta under Lake Oahe, part of the Mis- Thousands of tribe members and has been asking protesters to leave. Stephen Griffi n, a professor of con- action.

Flights cancelled, roads hazardous as Crews scramble to seal California spillway winter storm pummels New England Reuters on Twitter on Sunday afternoon Oroville, California that the spillway next to the dam was “predicted to fail within Reuters the next hour” but it remained Boston mergency crews yesterday standing. prepared loads of rock to The department said authori- Ebe dropped by helicopters ties were releasing water to low- undreds of fl ights were to seal a crumbling spillway that er the lake’s level after weeks of cancelled, scores of vehi- threatens to inundate commu- heavy rains in drought-plagued Hcle crashes reported and nities along the Feather River in California. schools and government offi ces Northern California, local me- Overnight, state and local of- shuttered as the third winter dia reported. fi cials said the immediate dan- storm in fi ve days slammed New Almost 200,000 people were ger had passed with water no England yesterday. ordered on Sunday to evacuate longer fl owing over the eroded Government offi ces were from the area below the Lake spillway but they cautioned that closed throughout Maine, with Oroville Dam, the tallest dam in the situation remained unpre- much of the state’s coast expect- the United States, after authori- dictable. ing to see 46cm to 61cm of snow ties said its emergency spillway “Once you have damage to by the day’s end, according to the could give way. a structure like that it’s cata- The damaged spillway with the eroded hillside is seen in an aerial National Weather Service. Offi cials said the situation strophic,” acting Water Re- photo taken over the Oroville Dam in California on Sunday evening. “Travel conditions are expected seemed less dire overnight but sources director Bill Croyle told to remain treacherous throughout Residents dig out following a winter snow storm in the Boston Sacramento television station reporters. remained in place for some his wife, two children and sev- today,” said Maine Governor Paul suburb of Wakefield, Massachusetts. KCRA reported that helicopters But he stressed “the integrity 188,000 people in the area and eral friends to the Oroville Dam LePage. “Stay off the roads and from around the state were sent of the dam is not impacted” by would be re-evaluated at dawn. Visitors Center in a public park avoid travelling unless it is an ab- celled yesterday, with Boston’s The recent fl urry of snow- to drop chest-high bags of rocks the damaged spillway. The Yuba County Offi ce above the dam and the danger solute emergency.” Logan International Airport the storms follows a winter that has to close the hole in the spillway. The earthfi ll dam is just up- of Emergency Services urged zone. Substantially less snow fell hardest hit with more than one been mild throughout New Eng- The NBC affi liate showed stream and east of Oroville, a evacuees to travel east, south or With blankets, pillows and a further south, though wind gusts of every fi ve fl ights called off , land. dump trucks dropping off piles city of more than 16,000 people west. little food, Santiago said: “We’re of up to 89kph threatened to according to tracking service National Weather Service data of rock, which were then loaded north of the state capital of Sac- “DO NOT TRAVEL NORTH going to sleep in the car.” down tree limbs and power lines, FlightAware.com. yesterday showed that even with into the bags with backhoes. ramento. TOWARD OROVILLE,” the de- The Oroville dam is nearly full forecasters warned. At least one storm-related the most recent snowfall, Boston The operation to close the gap At 230m high, the structure, partment warned on Twitter. following winter storms that Courts were closed through- death was reported in Bedford, had recorded just 82cm of snow so would begin as soon as it was built between 1962 and 1968, is Evacuation centers were set brought relief to the state after out New Hampshire and Massa- Massachusetts, about 24km far this year. That’s less than half feasible, the station said. the tallest US dam, exceeding up at a fairgrounds in Chico, four years of drought. chusetts, prompting a one-day northwest of Boston, where a the amount the city had experi- The state Emergency Services the Hoover Dam by more than California, about 32km north- State authorities and engi- delay in the start of jury selec- 60-year-old man died after he enced by this time of year in the Offi ce and Department of Water 12m. west of Oroville, but major neers on Thursday began re- tion for the double murder trial was struck and killed by a snow- record-setting winter of 2014- Resources did not immediately Offi cials said they feared the highways leading south out of leasing water from the dam after of former New England Patriots plow in the parking lot of the 2015, when more than 2.74m of respond to requests for com- damaged spillway could unleash the area were jammed as resi- noticing that large chunks of star Aaron Hernandez. Veterans Administration hospital snow fell and some snowbanks ment. a 9m wall of water on Oroville. dents fl ed the fl ood zone. concrete were missing from the Some 675 US fl ights were can- where he lived, police said. lingered on until the summer. The water department said They said evacuation orders Javier Santiago, 42, fl ed with spillway. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 11 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

DISASTER PROBE DISEASE CONVICTION CALAMITY Small town in NSW Body of tourist found Taiwan raises avian flu Hammer murder surgeon Australia fires ease destroyed by bushfire in Australian outback alert after bird deaths jailed for life in Australia after inflicting losses

A small town in the Australian state of New South Australian police yesterday found the body of an Taiwan raised its bird flu alert yesterday after the A former surgeon who bludgeoned to death five Australia was counting the cost to property Wales was “all but wiped out” in a bushfire, fire elderly German tourist who had been missing for highly pathogenic virus strain killed more than relatives with a “hammer-like object” was jailed for and livestock yesterday after firefighters battled authorities said yesterday, as firefighters continued four days in a remote part of the Northern Terri- 3,000 birds at a turkey farm in the west of the life for one of Australia’s most ferocious killings. weekend blazes in some of the hottest conditions to battle more than 70 other blazes across the tory. The body was found at Trephina Gorge, east country, the government said. Taiwan last week Chinese-born ear, nose and throat specialist on record. At least 19 homes were destroyed in state. The out-of-control bushfire near the town of of Alice Springs, Northern Territory. The search for confirmed that the H5N6 avian flu virus had Robert Xie repeatedly clubbed two children and eastern Australia as emergency teams were sent Dunedoo destroyed most of the small community the man’s wife was still ongoing and police have been discovered in a dead gosling found on the three adults around the head and face as they out to assess the damage after a “catastrophic” of Uarbry, including the homes of firefighters, said grave concerns for her safety and well-being. The roadside in Hualien County in eastern Taiwan on lay sleeping in their home in 2009, hitting one of weekend saw over 100 fire outbreaks, with 2,500 Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsim- 76-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman were February 2. On Sunday it was confirmed to have them 18 times. The 58-year-old, who emigrated firefighters deployed and thousands more on mons. “I would suggest most buildings in the com- missing since Friday after a park ranger found an been behind the mass deaths on Thursday of the from China 15 years ago, was told he will die in standby. About 80 fires continued to burn yes- munity of Uarbry are damaged and/or destroyed,” abandoned car thought to belong to them. The birds at the farm in Tainan, the first time it had jail for the murders of brother-in-law Norman Lin terday, with around a quarter still uncontained, Fitzsimmons told reporters. Since Friday, some temperature in the area soared to 40C over the been found on a farm on the island. “The central and his family. Justice Elizabeth Fullerton told a said Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane 2,500 firefighters have been battling more than weekend. A Northern Territory police spokesper- government now needs the collaboration from Sydney court Xie’s horrific slaying of the five – in- Fitzsimmons. “We know that there are going to 200 fires, which have destroyed homes, livestock son said off icers searched the couple’s hotel room local units, which must send in updates immedi- cluding one as young as nine – showed “resolve... be homes lost. We know that there are going to and agricultural machinery across the state. and found “important medication.” ately,” Premier Lin Chuan said. to persist with the infliction of extreme violence”. be plenty of other buildings destroyed.”

‘Unfair’ Hong Kong election sparks fresh N Korea missile launch calls for democracy

AFP missed by protesters as “fake Hong Kong democracy”, was eventually voted down by lawmakers and sets off global criticism the reform process has since he vote for Hong Kong’s been shelved. AFP new leader kicks off this Shek said rejecting the pro- Seoul Tweek, but most of its posal was the right thing to do. 3.8mn-strong electorate will But others fear Chinese au- have no say in choosing the thorities will never compro- he UN Security Coun- winner, prompting calls for an mise. “They didn’t heed the cil was to hold an urgent overhaul of a system skewed tens of thousands that came Tmeeting later yesterday towards Beijing. out to protest the Umbrella after North Korea announced It is the fi rst leadership vote Movement,” said IT worker it had successfully tested a new since mass pro-democracy Tony So, 42, who believes any- ballistic missile, a launch seen as protests in 2014 failed to win one over 18 should be able to a challenge to President Donald political reform and comes as vote for the leader. Trump. fears grow that China is tight- Election committee mem- The North’s leader Kim Jong- ening its grip on semi-autono- bers start nominating their un “expressed great satisfaction mous Hong Kong. favourite candidate in the fi rst over the possession of another As the fi rst round of voting round of voting today. Each powerful nuclear attack means begins, the four candidates are needs 150 votes by March 1 to which adds to the tremendous wooing the public — dropping participate in the fi nal elec- might of the country,” state in to no-frills cafes to eat local tion by the same committee on news agency KCNA said. dishes with ordinary folk. But March 26. Permanent Security Coun- to little avail. Tough former deputy leader cil members China and Russia The winner will be chosen Carrie Lam is considered Bei- joined a chorus of internation- by a committee of 1,200 rep- jing’s favourite, while ex-fi - al criticism of Sunday’s launch resentatives of special inter- nance secretary John Tsang is by the nuclear-armed nation est groups, weighted towards the other main contender, seen from near the western city of Beijing. According to a count as a more moderate voice and Kusong. by local media, only around a leading in public opinion polls. North Korea is barred under quarter are in the pro-democ- They take on hardliner Re- UN resolutions from carrying racy camp. The representatives gina Ip and former judge Woo out ballistic missile launches are selected by a pool of around Kwok-hing, who is consid- or nuclear weapons tests. But This photo released by North Korea’s off icial Korean Central News Agency shows the launch of a surface-to-surface medium range ballistic 230,000 voters from sectors ered most sympathetic to the last year it conducted two nu- missile Pukguksong-2. Right: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the test-launch at an undisclosed location. ranging from business to edu- democracy camp. Veteran clear tests and numerous missile cation, and include the city’s activist Leung Kwok-hung — launches in its quest to develop a the launch fi eld surrounded by lite before launch. The North same “cold launch” technology role in restraining its wayward 70 lawmakers. known as “Long Hair” — has nuclear weapons system capable dozens of cheering soldiers and has previously made claims for used in last year’s SLBM test. neighbour. Democracy campaigners said he may enter the race, but of hitting the US mainland. scientists. its weapons capabilities that The method — in which a mis- In Tokyo, Japan’s top gov- and some residents say it is as yet there is no clear candi- The latest missile — said by It said Kim “personally guid- analysts consider unconvincing. sile is initially propelled by com- ernment spokesman Yoshihide inevitable the winner will an- date from the pro-democracy Pyongyang to be able to carry ed” preparations for Sunday’s But Seoul’s military confi rmed pressed gas before its engine ig- Suga said yesterday China plays swer to Chinese authorities side. a nuclear warhead — fl ew east test of what it described as a the North’s claim on the solid- nites mid-air — is considered an “extremely important” role — activists already vilify cur- Many democracy support- for about 500km before falling surface-to-surface “medium fuel engine. safer. and called on Beijing to take rent leader Leung Chun-ying ers thought there was little into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), long range” Pukguksong-2, a Pyongyang’s latest an- It is also easier to hide the “constructive action”. as a puppet of Beijing. “The point fi elding a candidate who South Korea’s defence ministry “Korean-style new type strate- nouncement was the fi rst time launch location. North Korea China’s foreign ministry members of the electoral com- would have no chance with the has said. gic weapon system”. a Pukguksong-2 has been men- claims it has developed an in- spokesman Geng Shuang said it mittee are only looking out for pro-Beijing committee, says Footage on the North’s state KCNA said the missile was tioned, although last August tercontinental ballistic missile opposes North Korean missile their own interests, how can activist and academic Chan television showed the missile powered by a solid-fuel engine it test-fi red what it said was a (ICBM) capable of hitting the US launches that violate UN resolu- they represent the Hong Kong Kin-man. Instead, democratic being moved on a newly-devel- — which needs a far shorter re- submarine-launched ballis- mainland but has not tested one tions. people?” says engineer Stone committee members would oped mobile erector launcher. It fuelling time than conventional tic missile (SLBM) marked as a as yet. Russia’s foreign ministry Shek, 49. likely back Tsang as the “lesser was launched at a near-vertical liquid fuel-powered missiles, Pukguksong-1, a name which The South has said that Sun- called the launch “a demonstra- Hong Kongers were off ered evil”, he told AFP. angle, igniting in mid-air after according to Yun Duk-Min of translates as “North Star”. day’s launch was intended as a tion of contempt for UN Securi- the chance to vote for the next Activist Benny Tai, who lift-off and switching direction the Institute for Foreign Aff airs Kim said at the time that the test for Trump, who responded ty Council resolutions”. But Joel leader in a Beijing-backed re- founded the Occupy move- while in fl ight. and Security in Seoul. missile put the US mainland and by pledging “100 percent” sup- Wit, a senior fellow at the US- form package, which stipu- ment that helped galvanise the Photos released by KCNA “They leave little warn- the Pacifi c within striking range. port for Washington’s key re- Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins lated that candidates must fi rst 2014 protests, compared the showed the missile blast- ing time and therefore pose a An offi cial with South Korea’s gional ally Japan. University, said more provoca- be vetted, triggering the huge election to a “horse race” that ing into the sky with a smiling greater threat to opponents,” he Joint Chiefs of Staff told report- Trump has pressed China, the tions were likely in response to 2014 “Umbrella Movement” residents can observe, but not Kim watching from the com- said, adding that such missiles ers the Pukguksong-2 appeared north’s sole major ally and key upcoming US-South Korean rallies. The proposal, dis- infl uence. mand centre, and standing on are harder to detect by satel- to have been fi red based on the trade partner, to play a bigger military exercises.

The last frontier Myanmar to probe allegations of atrocities against Rohingyas

Reuters a statement a “departmental dition, three senior police of- Yangon inquiry” would be conducted fi cers involved in the case have “to fi nd out whether the police been demoted, he added. It is forces have committed illegal rare in Myanmar for security yanmar is to inves- actions including violations of forces to be held accountable tigate whether po- human rights during their area for abuses, or for such allega- Mlice have committed clearance operations”. tions to be investigated trans- abuses against Rohingyas, the The ministry, which is con- parently, rights groups say. government has said, after offi - trolled by the military, said Almost 69,000 Rohingyas have cials promised that allegations action would be taken against fl ed from Myanmar to Bangla- of atrocities against members personnel “who failed to follow desh since the security force of the Muslim minority would instructions”. sweep was launched in Octo- be looked into. ber, according to UN estimates. The UN human rights of- Almost 69,000 Rohingyas More than 1,000 Rohingyas fi ce said in a report this month have fl ed from Myanmar may have been killed in the Myanmar’s security forces had to Bangladesh since the crackdown, two senior UN of- committed mass killings and security force sweep was fi cials dealing with refugees gang rapes of Rohingyas and launched in October, fl eeing the violence said last burned their villages since Oc- according to UN estimates week. tober in a campaign that “very A Myanmar presidential likely” amounted to crimes “The UN report provides spokesman said the latest re- against humanity and possibly many detailed accounts of what ports from military command- A nun and a woman look toward the north from an observation platform near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, ethnic cleansing. allegedly happened, and that’s ers were that fewer than 100 South Korea, yesterday. Myanmar has denied almost why an investigation commit- people had been killed in the all allegations of human rights tee was set up to respond to the counterinsurgency operation. abuses in northern Rakhine report with evidence,” Police Rohingyas have faced dis- state, where many Rohingyas Colonel Myo Thu Soe said. crimination in Myanmar for Australia, Malaysia, Singapore on love scam alert live, and says a lawful counter- “The UN report includes generations. They are not clas- insurgency campaign has been very serious human rights sifi ed as a distinct group un- under way since nine police- abuses allegations against der citizenship laws and are Love may be in the air on Saint sumer Commission (ACCC) said. ment. “Scammers create very a syndicate preying on people men were killed in attacks on police in Myanmar including regarded instead as illegal im- Valentine’s Day but authorities in Victims are lured with promises believable profiles, including steal- seeking partners. They cheated security posts near the Bangla- rape. But as we know, it did not migrants from Bangladesh, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore of love and companionship into ing the identities of real, trusted 108 people in the neighbouring desh border on October 9. happen,” he said. entitled only to limited rights. warned of a growth in online giving strangers money. people. “If you meet someone countries out of about 21.6mn The military said last week it Separately, fi ve policemen About 1.1mn Rohingyas live in scams cheating lonely people out “Romance scammers are getting who seems too good to be true, ringgit ($4.9mn) in 2016, authori- was setting up a team to inves- have been sentenced to two apartheid-like conditions in of their savings. increasingly manipulative so if you do some research to see if they’re ties said in the Malaysian capital. tigate alleged atrocities by the months detention after a video northwestern Myanmar. Romance scams cost Australians are going online this Valentine’s the real deal,” Rickard said. Evidence seized in the operation security forces and the interior appeared online showing them The violence has renewed more money than any other form Day to look for love, it’s absolutely In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian and – including computers, mobile ministry followed that up on abusing Rohingyas during an international criticism that of cheating, with those aged over vital that you’re able to recognise Singapore police said 27 suspects phones and automatic teller cards the weekend with a promise to operation aimed at rooting out Myanmar leader Aung San Suu 45 more likely to be stung, the the warning signs,” ACCC deputy — including 11 Nigerians — were ar- —was presented at a press confer- investigate police. suspected militants in Rakhine Kyi has done too little to help Australian Competition and Con- chair Delia Rickard said in a state- rested in a joint operation against ence in Kuala Lumpur. The Home Ministry said in state, Myo Thu Soe said. In ad- members of the minority. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 BRITAIN

CRIME ACCIDENTS TRANSPORT AMENITIES TRAFFIC Mall on lockdown after Roundabout named as most Lambeth North Tube station Concrete poured into Wardens ‘start early to smash-and-grab dangerous for cyclists reopens after seven-months sewage pipe by builder hand out extra fines’

A group of moped-riding robbers raided a luxury Britain’s worst cycling accident blackspot A London Tube station reopened today after a A “selfish” rogue builder sparked emergency Parking wardens have been accused of handing jewellery shop at knife-point in a busy shopping has been identified as the central London seven-month closure to replace lifts. Lambeth road works in south London after tipping 10m out parking fines before restrictions kick in. centre in the City of London. Four suspects are roundabout where a renowned art designer was North tube station, on the Bakerloo line, opened of concrete into a sewer. Furious Thames Water The claim was made by former Independent believed to have made off with jewellery from knocked off her bike and killed. Moira Gemmill, this morning for the first time since it shut on bosses have released images of the aftermath Police Complaints Commission investigator a Fraser Hart store on the ground floor of One 55, hand-picked by the Queen to oversee July 13. The zone 1 station’s 30-year-old lifts, used of the “irresponsible” act which show hardened Marlon Williams, 30. He filmed a warden who New Change before fleeing on “high-powered” renovations at Windsor Castle, died after she to access the underground platforms, regularly concrete blocking the sewer under Hanover Park, had attempted to ticket his car in Frampton Park mopeds, just before midday. Off icers swooped was struck by a tipper truck on Millbank in 2015. failed and caused disruption and overcrowding. Peckham. Britain’s biggest water company branded Avenue, Hackney, this month. Williams says he on the shopping centre following reports of a The roundabout at the junction with Lambeth As well as new lifts, TfL has installed new the act “a complete waste of time and money” left early to avoid being ticketed. The restricted knife-point robbery and closed it off to the public Bridge saw a total of 53 accidents involving ticket gates to reduce rush hour congestion as motorists face weeks of disruption while the parking bays, patrolled by wardens, are in force while investigating. Journalist James Beech told cyclists between 2009 and 2015, according to and upgraded the lighting. During the closure, sewer is cleared. Workmen have been forced to from 8.30am to 6.30pm each day. But he claims the Standard: “I turned up just before 1pm to get an analysis of Department for Transport figures travellers were forced to walk to nearby stations completely replace the pipe that was destroyed he found a warden attaching a ticket before the my lunch like many other City workers only to by Mapmechanics. There were 139,628 non fatal including Waterloo, Elephant & Castle, and by the concrete. Spokesman Stuart White said: cut-off time. Williams said he spotted the warden see the police and One New Change security road accidents involving cyclists across the Southwark, or travel by bus. TfL claimed that by “Normally blockages are caused by fat, oil and wet and approached him with his cameraphone in and information staff man the tape across all country in the same period, according to the closing the station completely workers were able wipes building up in the sewer but unfortunately in hand. He filmed the exchange and the warden entrances. It still appears to be a crime scene.” figures published in the Sunday Times. to carry out the lift replacements in half the time. this case it’s concrete, so we can’t jet it through.” relented, telling him: “I will cancel it.” Incomes of Feeling the chill pensioners higher than working households

Guardian News of occupational pension in- London come. In contrast, the poorest fi fth of households are almost ensioners are now £20 entirely reliant on benefi t in- a week better off than come. Pworking households — The report for the Intergen- reversing the situation of 15 erational Commission pointed years ago. out that closure of generous Research published by the defi ned occupational pension Resolution Foundation found schemes to younger workers that in 2001 households relying means that the current genera- on pensioner income were £70 tion of workers may not enjoy a week less well off than those the same benefi ts when they in work. are able to retire. Pedestrians cross Westminster Bridge on a cold day in London. This reversal of fortunes is The state pension age is ris- not true of all retirees but re- ing to 66 between 2018 and lates to those who have an oc- 2020, to 67 between 2026 and cupational pension, own their 2028, and then to 68 between home and may also be still be 2044 and 2046. earning. Shots fi red at house in Adam Corlett, econom- County Armagh Guardian ic analyst at the Resolution News London A man has been Foundation, said: “One of the seriously injured in a shooting most intriguing aspects of the in Northern Ireland in the early recent living standards story hours yesterday morning. Tories must not be seen across Britain has been typi- The 31-year-old man was cal pensioner household in- shot a number of times af- comes overtaking working-age ter bullets were fi red through households for the fi rst time.” the window of a house in “The main driver of pen- Craigavon, County Armagh, at sioner income growth has about 1.45am. been the arrival of successive The Police Service of North- as lacking empathy: MP new waves of pensioners, who ern Ireland said the man was are more likely to work, own in the house alone when the The Tory leadership has been duced that up to 3,000 would be “This announcement will not, not rest until the government al- justifi ed the decision by saying their home and have generous shooting started. urged to be considerate in its rescued. on its own, make people decide lowed the Dubs route to remain that councils do not have any private pension wealth than Chief Inspector Jon Bur- decision making It prompted criticism from which party they will or will not open. more capacity. any previous generation,” he rows, of the PSNI, said: “Po- Justin Welby, the archbishop of support at a future election. “Quite a few of us had sensed It also highlighted other routes said. lice are investigating a possible Guardian News Canterbury, and opposition poli- But it, and similar decisions, things were not heading in the into the UK for child refugees Occupational pensions ac- link to a silver Skoda car which London ticians, with Nicola Sturgeon, will have a cumulative impact right direction and had applied from Europe, although these re- count for over a third of in- was seen acting suspiciously the fi rst minister of Scotland, on the future decisions made by for a backbench debate anyway. quire them to have an existing creases in pensioners’ in- in the Carrigart area before the saying the closure of the scheme constituents like the one who That will be the fi rst parlia- family link to Britain. come growth since 2001 while shooting. It was found burnt senior Conservative MP was a “clear dereliction of the emailed me,” she wrote. “It will mentary opportunity. There are When May faced questions the proportion of pensioner out in the New Line area a short has said her party must UK’s moral and global duty”. form the basis of the judgements quite a lot of us that are not going about the issue at a Downing households in which at least time later.” Awork hard not to ap- A number of prominent To- they make about the motivations to let this go,” she said. Street press conference after one person works has increased Detectives are appealing for pear like it “knows the the price ries have also said they will fi ght of the Conservative party. “Our job over the next week or talks with the Italian prime min- from one in eight in 2001 to anyone who has any informa- of everything and the value of against the entry route being shut “Britain has always been a so is to make everyone aware of ister last week, she emphasised nearly one in fi ve. tion, or who noticed anything nothing” after the government down, as it is the only path to the global, outward-facing country what has happened and I don’t Britain’s fi nancial contribution Another quarter of income suspicious, to contact them at decided to wind down the Dubs UK for stranded unaccompanied as well as being compassion- believe we will let this go. All the to refugee camps in the Syrian growth is down to pensioner Dungannon police station on scheme rescuing child refugees children in mainland Europe who ate to those who need our help government has to do is leave region and the number of refugee benefi ts growing by 8% since 101, quoting reference number in Europe. do not already have a family link most. the system open and let coun- children who had arrived in the 2001. 64 13/02/17. Nicky Morgan, the former ed- to Britain. The Conservative party now cils come forward. There is just UK from outside Europe. The report shows a sharp It is unclear who carried out ucation secretary and persistent Writing for the Conservati- needs to demonstrate that com- absolutely no reason to shut the “We have been seeing quite a divide in wealth levels among the shooting but the north Ar- critic of the government over its veHome website, Morgan high- bination in our approach to is- scheme down.” number of children and families pensioners. magh area is home to a faction approach to Brexit, said the party lighted correspondence from a sues such as the Dubs children.” In the House of Lords, Alf being resettled here in the United The top fi fth of pensioner of the hardline Continuity IRA, could lose support at the next constituent who said he could Morgan was already part of a Dubs, who originally designed Kingdom. households account for 74% of who murdered a police offi cer election if cumulative decisions no longer support a party that group of MPs requesting a debate the scheme, accused the prime I think what we are doing in employment income, 66% of in a sniper attack in Craigavon made the government appear to seems “hellbent on completely in the Commons on the issue minister of a breach of the “spirit terms of refugees is absolutely investment income, and 52% in 2009. be lacking empathy and compas- destroying, our relationship with of unaccompanied children in of the commitment” she had giv- right, on top of course of the sig- sion. our mainland European neigh- Greece and Italy, which will take en him during the passage of the nifi cant fi nancial support and Ministers last week announced bours, on driving the NHS onto place on 23 February. Immigration Act last May. humanitarian aid we are giving to the Dubs scheme would end after the rocks and on closing our Another Tory MP, Heidi Allen, He said ministers were “ar- refugees in the region of Syria — taking 350 child refugees, despite doors to migrants in desperate said she and a number of col- bitrarily closing down the £2.3bn, the second biggest bilat- Varsity probe into the suggestion when it was intro- need of our humanity”. leagues were angry and would scheme”. The government has eral donor,” she said. racists slogans

Guardian News the swastika was carved into a Law that forces landlords to check London door in on-campus halls Birks Grange, while the “Rights for Whites” sign decorated with leading Russell Group a union fl ag was spotted on university is conduct- the door of a student room in passports ‘increases racism’ Aing an investigation Llewellyn Mews. after a swastika and a “Rights A university spokesper- for Whites” sign were found in son said the director of cam- Thomson Reuters Foundation check the passport or immigra- clearly discriminatory and there from establishing a settled life evidence of the scheme’s eff ec- halls of residence, raising con- pus services had launched an London tion documents of tenants. was no evidence that it reduced in the UK, which could slow the tiveness. cern about antisemitism and urgent investigation and the A survey by the Joint Coun- “irregular immigration”. process of deportation, accord- The Home Offi ce spokesper- racism on campuses. graffi ti and off ensive slogan cil for the Welfare of Immigrants “Creating a so-called ‘hostile ing to the Home Offi ce website. son confi rmed it was continuing The incidents at the Univer- had been removed. scheme requiring British (JCWI), a charity campaigning for environment’ that targets vulner- The scheme, which operates in negotiations with the Scottish sity of Exeter follow reports “The investigation into the landlords to check the im- migrant and refugee rights, found able men, women and children across England, is set to be ex- Parliament and other authorities last term that students were students’ actions is being car- Amigration status of pro- 51% of landlords said they would is bad enough, implementing a tended to Scotland, Wales and to roll out the scheme. pictured wearing T-shirts with ried out under the university’s spective tenants discriminates be less likely to rent to a foreign scheme that traps and discrimi- Northern Ireland this year. The report said asylum seek- handwritten antisemitic and disciplinary procedures. against foreign nationals and national under the scheme. nates against British citizens is Stuart McDonald, immigra- ers, stateless persons, and vic- racist slogans at a sports club “The investigation is ongo- Britons from ethnic minorities, a In a test conducted by JCWI absurd,” Grant said in a statement. tion spokesperson for Scotland’s tims of modern day slavery were social event. ing and no conclusions have charity said yesterday. of Britons without passports, an A Home Offi ce spokesperson ruling Scottish National Party, the worst eff ected by the scheme. One T-shirt had the words, yet been drawn, but it ap- The Right to Rent scheme, part applicant from an ethnic minor- told the Thomson Reuters Foun- called for an immediate halt to In a test, landlords gave no re- “the Holocaust was a good pears, from initial inquiries, of wider measures by the Brit- ity was turned down by 58% of dation it had been monitoring the “toxic” scheme which he said sponse to 85% of inquiries from time”, scrawled across it, while that this may have been an ish government to tackle illegal landlords — 14% more often than the scheme and had found no turned landlords into de facto such applicants who require another said: “Don’t talk to me ill-judged, deeply offensive immigration, threatens land- a white British applicant in the evidence of discrimination. immigration offi cers. landlords to do an online check if you’re not white.” joke on the students’ part, lords and letting agents with a same situation. The Right to Rent scheme, in- McDonald said in a statement with the Home Offi ce to confi rm According to the university’s parodying a sketch in a TV maximum £3,000 fi ne or up to Saira Grant, chief executive troduced in February 2016, aims that Britain’s immigration min- that they have been granted per- student news website Exeposé, comedy show.” fi ve years in prison if they fail to of JCWI, said the scheme was to prevent illegal immigrants ister had failed to provide any mission to rent. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 13 BRITAIN NHS conditions approaching ‘Staff odshire levels’

Guardian News the health service was under familiar — as it was, those were carry on like that indefi nitely cial care crisis. Figures emerged said surgeons were “kicking their shortages, staff including sur- London were“pretty bad”. His remarks the conditions pertaining at the without something badly going, last week showing that num- heels” because of delays to op- geons are now sometimes left came after a week of scrutiny time of Mid Staff ordshire. or risking going badly wrong.” bers of A&E patients seen within erations caused by a shortage of kicking their heels, waiting for of the NHS, with performance “Things have changed since He said there were now better the target of four hours fell to a beds. beds to become available so they urrent conditions in the fi gures showing a raft of missed then, so the very fact that we’re safeguards in place and prob- record low of 86% in December, Clare Marx, president of the can operate. NHS “sound familiar” to targets and record waiting talking about this today the way lems should be spotted before while those waiting longer than Royal College of Surgeons, and “Too often managers, nurses Cthose that existed dur- times, leading health secretary that we are, the very fact that the it reached the proportions of 12 hours to be admitted to a hos- Chris Hopson, chief executive and doctors waste time trying to ing the Mid Staff ordshire scan- Jeremy Hunt to say conditions secretary of state says things are the Mid Staff s scandal between pital bed doubled to more than of NHS Providers, blamed cuts fi nd somewhere to look after pa- dal, according to the lawyer who were “completely unacceptable”. unacceptable, shows that there’s 2005-09, during which time as 2,500 in 2016. aimed at driving productivity for tients.At a time when the NHS chaired the inquiry into the hos- Francis told the BBC’s The An- a greater level of transparency. many as 1,200 patients may have The number of people waiting causing greater ineffi ciency in is being told to make the most of pital trust. drew Marr Show on Sunday: “I “So people are talking about died after they were “routinely more than two months to start some areas. its resources, this is a shocking Sir Robert Francis QC said the think they are pretty bad. We’ve the problems in a way that they neglected”. Francis, a non-exec- cancer treatment after an urgent They said the “shocking waste.” health service was being hit by a got a virtual storm of fi nancial weren’t before. utive director at the Care Quality referral was at a record high of waste” of surgeons’ time was Reacting to the health groups’ combination of fi nancial pres- pressures, increased demand, But the system is running ex- Commission, said more funding 25,157, and the proportion of pa- partly down to the lack of social comments, an NHS England sures and high demand. diffi culties fi nding staffi ng, and tremely hot at the moment and would be a “sticking plaster” and tients receiving hospital treat- care for elderly patients outside spokesman said: “The level of The barrister, whose 2013 re- pressure on the service to con- it’s only working at all because of there needed to be a change in the ment within 18 weeks fell below hospitals. cancellations remains low at just port uncovered poor care in Mid tinue delivering. the almost superhuman eff orts of way the service is delivered, as 90% for the fi rst time since 2011. In a letter to the Sunday Times 1% of the millions of operations Staff ordshire, said the pressures And some of that sounds quite the staff of the NHS, and it can’t well as addressing the adult so- Separately, two health groups [£], they said: “Because of bed performed in the NHS each year.” Most police Ukip campaigns offi cers in London want Tasers

Guardian News Marsh, a former Tottenham London police constable of 22 years, also wants extra investment in stun guns, and added: “If you early half of all Metro- look at the last two to three politan police offi cers years, the number of assaults Nwant more fi rearms on police are going up unrec- specialists and 75% believe ognisably. they should all be issued Tas- “The average constable ers, a survey suggests. doesn’t hold the same author- In a survey by the Metropol- ity. When I was a child, you itan Police Federation (MPF), didn’t dare blink at a police of- the force’s union, 6% also said fi cer.” the quantity of gun-carrying Marsh said deaths linked to offi cers in the capital was “in- Taser usage was always a con- adequate”. Ken Marsh, MPF cern. chairman, said the portion of The devices have been relat- specially trained fi rearms of- ed to at least 10 deaths in Eng- fi cers should be doubled to land and Wales over the past Ukip (UK Independence Party) party campaigners stand outside the party’s by-election campaign headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent. Ukip Leader Paul Nuttall is standing as the 16% after the survey of 11,000 decade, but he said “those are party’s candidate in the forthcoming by-election for the seat of Stoke-on-Trent Central, which has been held by the Labour Party since 1950. offi cers was completed. always linked to health”. Dalian “We’re in a far more danger- Atkinson, 48, a former Aston ous society than we have ever Villa footballer who suff ered been and so we have to have the illness aff ecting his kidneys correct equipment to deal with and blood pressure, died last that,” said Marsh, who cited August after being shot three the attack in Nice last July, in times with a Taser. which Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was shot dead after killing 86 peo- “If you take the lorry ple. in Nice that drove into “If you take the lorry in Nice crowds of people, my cops Many back PM May’s for example, that drove into are not armed and they crowds of people, my cops are would not have been able not armed and they would not to respond like the French have been able to respond like police did and would have the French police did, and in- had to make a call” stead would have had to make a call. Human rights groups have bid to court Trump “We’re not asking for man- criticised the use of Tasers, datory arming of all offi cers, and Liberty called an incident, Outside the capital opinions visit should go ahead, with 36% peatedly praised Brexit. “I trust compared with roughly 18% na- concern over immigration, with but what they are asking for is in which a Bristol police of- are diff erent on issues like wanting it cancelled. Theresa May,” said Brenda Wil- tionwide. older voters more likely to favour for more specially-trained of- fi cer was fi lmed Tasering a race Trump and Brexit But behind the national fi gures liamson, 79, another retiree who But Britons are split, with restrictions. fi cers. relations adviser, as “deeply lie big diff erences of opinion. voted for Brexit. thousands in London joining Younger Braintree residents We have to stick to the strin- disturbing”. Diane Abbott, Reuters Braintree is only about 60km She expressed backing for the worldwide women’s protests appear less worried. “It doesn’t gent criteria and the criteria for shadow home secretary, has Braintree, England from London but political views US alliance and concern about against Trump last month. bother me — I’ve worked with handling a fi rearm in the UK is frequently spoken of the “cau- in the mid-sized town are far immigration — an issue that won These divisions deepened with people from all diff erent coun- still the toughest in the world.” tious” approach police should apart from those in the multicul- support for both Brexit cam- May’s invitation to Trump for the tries. The questionnaire, circulat- take to using stun guns, and ritons have protested in tural capital. paigners and Trump in last year’s state visit when she became the I think it’s more the older gen- ed over three weeks last month last week criticised the use of their thousands against Whereas Londoners over- votes on either side of the Atlan- fi rst foreign leader to visit the eration that care about immigra- and answered by a third of the the mesh fabric “spit hoods”, BDonald Trump, almost whelmingly backed remaining in tic.Equally, she felt May, who has new president in Washington. tion,” said Tammy Davies, 28, a 31,000 Met offi cers, found that which can be cloaked over a 1.9mn oppose his planned state the European Union in last year’s described Trump’s comments on Overall, May is feeling rela- bartender. 43.6% wanted more fi rearms suspect’s head. visit and the US president is not referendum, 62% of Braintree women as “unacceptable”, would tively little heat. In London, thousands have personnel. A spokesman for the Met welcome to address the lower residents voted to leave — 10 per- stand up to him. Her Conservatives are around also demonstrated against A total of 26% thought offi c- refused to say whether any house of parliament. centage points more than the na- “It’s such early days for Trump, 15 percentage points ahead of La- Trump’s attempt to suspend en- ers should be routinely armed, decision was being made to But in Braintree, people feel tional result. we have to wait and see. bour in the polls, with the oppo- try to the United States for citi- compared with the 20% who increase Taser and fi rearm ca- diff erently. Many approve of the prime He’s such a new broom and sition party split over Brexit. zens of seven Muslim majority said so in an England and pacity. Residents of the eastern Eng- minister’s decision to seek a he might sweep too quickly,” she While Britons remain far from states on the grounds of protect- Wales-wide survey last year; Commander Matt Twist, in lish town are unenthusiastic clean break from the EU after said.”But they are our best allies, convinced about Trump, there ing the country from terrorism. 12% said they never want to charge of armed policing, said about Trump but they refl ect more than 40 years of member- and May wants to make the best of are some signs of movement. But feelings aren’t quite so carry a fi rearm on duty under the force was “rightly proud” what national opinion polls are ship, including leaving the Euro- it, and she will be fi rm with him.” Another poll by YouGov found strong in Braintree. “I don’t like any circumstances. of being a “predominately un- showing — that prime minister pean single market.”I agree with Such views are common in the that only one in fi ve has a positive the policy. After Islamic State terror- armed police service”. Theresa May has the backing of May’s approach. less affl uent towns that voted to impression of Trump, but this Maybe one or two, or a dozen ists killed 130 people in gun “Every single offi cer who many voters as she tries to court If we’re leaving, we shouldn’t leave the EU and have sometimes has more than doubled from just people in a country might be and bomb attacks in Paris in carries a Taser is fully and pro- the new US leader. just go half way,” said Rowe, who struggled with rapid economic eight % since last August. dangerous, but you can’t ban November 2015, Met fi rearms fessionally trained to do so. “I’m not for Trump, I don’t voted leave in June. change. The survey also found that everyone,” said Mohon Ahmad, offi cers were upped from 2,200 This will be kept under con- like what he’s about. But he With Britain distancing itself Braintree’s shopping high Conservatives, pro-Brexit voters who is in his late thirties and to 2,800. stant review and if the risks our should visit, I don’t see why from EU allies, there is support street has been gutted in recent and people over 65 had the most works in a dry cleaners. “But as a MI5’s terror threat level has offi cers face can be mitigated not,” 73-year-old pensioner Alan in Braintree for May’s attempt years, and the town has a rela- improved views on the new pres- country’s leader you have to ac- rested on “severe”, the fourth by more offi cers carrying Taser, Rowe told Reuters. to revitalise what politicians call tively large proportion of the eld- ident. Braintree fi ts those demo- cept that he can visit. most serious of fi ve levels, then of course that will be con- A recent poll by YouGov found the “special relationship” with erly voters who largely backed graphics. He’s been democratically since August 2014. sidered.” 49% of Britons believe the state the United States. Trump has re- Brexit — around 20% are over 65, Many respondents expressed elected.” UK faces worker shortage as EU nationals decide to stay home: study

Agencies According to the latest data, accommodation and food serv- als in the UK to consider relocat- leaked EU document says. matter.” There has been almost sions they have left the country London there are currently about 2.26mn ices as well as human health and ing. Almost one in three British An assessment of the legal a 50% increase in the number of since settling in the UK. EU nationals working in Britain. social work, which employ large employers surveyed by the CIPD impact of Britain’s withdrawal, EU citizens applying for perma- Some have received letters in- “The survey data... suggest number of EU workers. say they have evidence that the obtained by the Guardian, sug- nent residency since the vote on viting them to prepare to leave ritish businesses are strug- that a fall in the supply of EU na- More than 1,000 employers EU nationals they employ have gests that the future status of 23 June. the country after failing to tick a gling to fi ll in vacancies be- tionals may heighten recruitment were polled for the survey. looked to leave their organisation the 1.2mn Britons living in the The number of applications box on a form. Bcause of a drop in the sup- diffi culties in the year ahead,” the British Prime Minister Theresa and/or Britain in 2017. EU will be a matter for each indi- rose from 36,555 in the three A cross-party group of the ply of European Union nationals CIPD wrote in its Labour Market May, who is expected to start the The issue of immigration was vidual member state after the UK months to June 2016 to 56,024 in European parliament has estab- following the Brexit vote, a new outlook report. divorce proceeding with the EU at the heart of the EU referendum leaves in 2019. the three months to September, lished a taskforce to investigate report revealed yesterday. Job vacancies in the UK econ- before the end of March, has said campaign last year in which 52% But the document adds: “The according to the latest fi gures. the complaints. The survey by the Chartered omy remain well above historical she wants to guarantee the rights voted for Britain to leave the Eu- fact that it appears to be particu- EU nationals say that to obtain The document warning of a Institute of Personnel and De- average levels and the report em- of EU citizens who are already ropean Union. larly diffi cult for foreign nation- permanent residency cards, ap- reaction from EU countries was velopment (CIPD) highlighted phasises that a fall in the supply living in Britain. British nationals living in the als, even if married to UK nation- plicants have to complete an 85- drawn up by the European parlia- that the growth of EU nation- of EU nationals would hit some But uncertainty over what that EU can expect a post-Brexit als or born in the UK, to acquire page form requiring huge fi les of ment’s committee on legal aff airs als in employment halved to just specifi c industries hard. would entail and whether visa backlash against the UK govern- permanent residence status or documentation, including P60s to aide the EU’s Brexit negotia- 30,000 in the fi nal quarter of These include low-skilled sec- restrictions would be enforced is ment’s treatment of foreign- British nationality may colour for fi ve years, historical utility tors and the leaders of parties in 2016. tors such as wholesale, retail, also prompting some EU nation- ers since the EU referendum, a member states’ approach to this bills and a diary of all the occa- the European parliament. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 EUROPE

DUMPING EARTH TRICKY TRACK ‘END PHASE’ RAPPROACHMENT RAPID RECOVERY Italian mayor blocks road Lawnmowers race on Seize chance for peace, Serbia plans to re-establish Polish PM to remain in to halt migrants on the trail frozen Finnish lake UN envoy urges Cypriots Belgrade-Pristina flights hospital for several days

An Italian mayor has dumped a pile of earth Through the half-light of a bitter winter’s day A United Nations envoy has urged the rival Serbia said yesterday it is planning to restore Poland’s Prime Minister Beata Szydlo is on a road leading to a residential building to into the dead of the Nordic night, lawnmower sides on the divided island of Cyprus to flights between Belgrade and Pristina, the recovering quickly from a car crash last week but prevent migrants and refugees coming into racers from around Europe battled for 12 hours seize an opportunity for peace, warning it capital of Kosovo, in a move that could will remain in hospital for the next few days, the his community, Ansa news agency reported in a race that tested their endurance of the cold could be years before such a chance arose ease tensions between the former foes. government spokesman said yesterday. Szydlo yesterday. The blockade in the village of as well as their driving skills on ice. Held on the again. “We are in the end phase. Either Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian insurgents fought was hurt when her car struck a tree in a crash Vitulano in the southern region of Campania frozen Lake Karhijarvi, some 250km northwest we find a solution, or it will be a very long Serbian forces in 1998-1999, when the flights in southern Poland on Friday. She was flown to was removed shortly afterwards, Ansa reported. of the capital Helsinki, on Saturday, the drivers time before the next time we get another were suspended. Ever since people have a hospital in Warsaw and very few details about Mayor Raff aele Scarinzi of the Social Democratic skidded their noisy ride-on machines around opportunity,” UN envoy Espen Barth Eide, travelled the 350km distance between the her condition have been made public. Rafal Party (PD) had staged the stunt after agreeing an 850m course. “You have to understand what who is overseeing the talks, told Reuters two cities by car or bus. “Defence Minister Bochenek, the government spokesman, read a with the authorities to accommodate only 12 it is to drive on something that is slippery, you yesterday. “It is dangerous to say a date, Zoran Djordjevic will head this working group doctors’ statement saying her injuries have not new refugees in the 3,000-strong community have to understand how snow works, how it but (it is possible) this spring,” he said in tasked with working on the normalisation required any surgery. “The nature of the injuries rather than the 34 they had been asked to take. aff ects the tyres,” race organiser Kari Nikrus said. the Norwegian capital. “It is possible to do it of air transport...including re-establishing of and the progress in treatment and rehabilitation “We are not racists,” Scarinzi said. “But we want Participants came from Switzerland, Germany, but it needs will on both sides in Cyprus and Belgrade-Pristina line,” a ministry statement promise a quick recovery,” Bochenek said. He the state to respect the rules.” the United Kingdom, Estonia and Finland. among the neighbouring countries.” released in Belgrade said yesterday. added that she did not suff er any broken bones. Macron hit by Russian ‘fake news’ reports

Reuters tacks probing the campaign’s com- Paris puter systems from locations inside Russia. Calling for government action rench presidential candidate to prevent foreign meddling in the Emmanuel Macron is a “fake election campaigning, Ferrand said: Fnews” target of Russian media “What we want is for authorities at and his campaign is facing thou- the highest level to take the matter in sands of cyber attacks, his party hand to guarantee that there is no for- chief said yesterday. eign meddling in our democracy. The Richard Ferrand, secretary- Americans saw it but it came to late.” general of Macron’s En Marche! US intelligence agencies said in (Onwards!) party, said that Rus- a report last month that Russian sian state-controlled media Russia President Vladimir Putin had di- Today and Sputnik had spread false rected a cyber campaign to help Re- reports with the aim of swinging publican Donald Trump’s electoral A Radio Val d’Isere handout picture released yesterday in Tignes, in the French Alps, shows rescuers working on an avalanche site in an off -piste area after an avalanche public opinion against Macron. chances by discrediting Democrat engulfed nine people, killing at least four. An independent centrist, Macron Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presi- has surged in campaigning for the dential campaign. French election and opinion polls French Defence Minister Jean make him favourite to win election Yves Le Drian promised last month in May. to boost military resources to fi ght Ferrand said that Macron, as a foreign cyber attacks, acknowledg- staunch pro-European, was a Rus- ing that France was no less vulner- sian target because he wanted a able than the United States. strong united Europe that had a In an election campaign which 4 die, 5 missing in huge major role to play in world aff airs, has sunk into smear and sleaze, Ma- including in the face of Moscow. cron on February 7 was also forced Sputnik earlier this month ran to kill rumours of a gay relation- an interview with a conservative ship outside his marriage to Brigitte French lawmaker accusing Macron, Trogneux. a former investment banker, of be- The media reports about Macron ing an agent of “the big American emerged from Russia as erstwhile French Alps avalanche banking system”, a report that was poll favourite Francois Fillon, a con- in turn picked up by Russia Today. servative who speaks positively of AFP A rescue offi cial from the nearby town and raised the alarm at around 10.35am Before yesterday, 13 accidents had “Two big media outlets belonging Putin, was hit by a scandal which Lyon of Albertville said a search was under- (0935 GMT) yesterday. been recorded in the Alps and Pyrenees to the Russian state Russia Today has badly aff ected his election way for the fi ve others. Rescue workers and sniff er dogs so far this winter, claiming a total of and Sputnik spread fake news on a chances. The fi ve were initially feared buried backed by two helicopters rushed to the three lives. daily basis, and then they are picked He has seen his poll lead evapo- t least four skiers were killed and under a huge mass of snow but it later scene, located at an altitude of 2,100m. One of the worst avalanches in the up, quoted and infl uence the demo- rate following French press allega- fi ve were missing in the French emerged that the group may have split They initially said they had found two past decade took place in the summer cratic (process),” Ferrand said. tions that his wife had been paid for AAlps yesterday after a massive in two before the avalanche, meaning people dead and two alive. of 2012 in the Mont-Blanc range. Nine Russian newspaper Izvestia being his parliamentary assistant avalanche swept through Tignes ski re- they may have escaped the accident. The police said the two found alive climbers from Britain, Germany, Spain has also reported comments from without doing any real work. sort, rescue workers said. The avalanche was the deadliest of its appeared to have died shortly after be- and Switzerland were killed as they tried Wikileaks founder Julian Assange Fillon’s decline has put Macron The huge cascade of snow and ice, kind in the French Alps since the start of ing rescued. to scale the north face of Mont Maudit. who said his organisation had “in- in a position to make it into a May some 400m wide, was apparently set off the winter. Yesterday’s avalanche risk in the area Avalanches can travel at speeds of up teresting information” about Ma- 7 runoff vote, where polls see him by a group of skiers higher up the moun- Last month, 29 people died in Italy was listed as three on a scale of fi ve, to 400kph. The force of the impact of cron, who opinion polls say would winning by a large margin against tain, the station said in a statement. after an avalanche buried a hotel in the meaning there was little risk of a spon- last month’s avalanche in Italy has been easily beat far-right leader Marine far right leader Marine Le Pen, who The four victims were from a group central town of Rigopiano. taneous large-scale avalanche. calculated by police as being equiva- Le Pen in a May 7 runoff . has received funds in the past from of nine people — eight holidaymakers Staff in Tignes, which is situated The ski station said it was a “slab” lent to the three-storey stone and wood In addition, Ferrand said the a Russian lender and pledged to and a guide — who were skiing off -piste near the Italian border, witnessed the avalanche, caused when dense wind- structure being hit by 4,000 fully load- Macron campaign was being hit by have good relations with Russia if when the avalanche hit. wall of snow barrel down the mountain packed snow breaks off . ed trucks. “hundreds if not thousands” of at- elected.

Image of ‘hatred of our times’ Very old, charming — er — thing goes wins World Press Photo award on public display at museum in Athens By Karolina Tagaris, Reuters Athens AFP Agence France-Presse also scooped death was a direct consequence of the The Hague three awards. “Syrian catastrophe.” Manila-based photographer Noel “This photo marked an important bird-like statuette dating back Celis took third place in the General moment in the history of Turkey, es- 7,000 years has mystifi ed ar- randishing a gun, his face con- News category for his photo of in- pecially in its relations with Russia,” Achaeologists in Greece who torted with rage, the shocking mates trying to sleep in an over-pop- said Ozbilici, who has worked for AP still do not know exactly what it is, or Bimage of an off -duty Turkish ulated prison in the city. since 1989. where it came from. policeman assassinating the Russian Syrian snappers Abd Doumany and Jury members agreed his photo cap- The “7,000-year-old enigma,” as it envoy to Turkey yesterday won the Ameer Alhalbi won second prize in tured an important moment in time. has been dubbed by the National Ar- prestigious World Press Photo Award. the Spot News category for pictures “Right now I see the world march- chaeological Museum, has been put Judges praised the bravery of Burhan of children caught up in the bom- ing towards the edge of an abyss,” said on display until March 26 after being Ozbilici, a photographer for the Asso- bardments of Aleppo and Douma near jury member Joao Silva, referring to brought from the museum’s store- ciated Press, who stood his ground as Damascus. It is the second year in the Altintas as a man who had “clearly rooms. 22-year-old policeman Mevlut Mert row that Doumany’s work has been reached a breaking point.” It is the latest item to be presented Altintas pumped nine bullets into am- honoured by the World Press Photo “This image to me talks” of eve- under the title “The Unseen Museum” bassador Andrei Karlov at the opening foundation. rything that is happening across the — a reference to the roughly 200,000 of an Ankara exhibition. But the winning photo sparked dis- world. “It is the face of hatred.” antiquities from statues to gold jewel- Altintas shouted “Allahu Akbar” sensions on the jury, with president A total of 45 photographers won lery and every-day objects in store and (“God is greatest”) and “Don’t forget Stuart Franklin, a British photogra- awards across eight categories, touch- not on daily display. Aleppo” as he opened fi re, vowing pher, saying: “I voted against. Sorry ing on a vast array of subjects — from Carved out of granite, the 36cm those responsible for events in Syria Burhan.” racial tensions in Louisiana to walls “enigma” statuette of the late Neolith- would be held accountable. “It’s a photograph of a murder, the built around the world to thwart mi- ic era has a pointed nose and long neck “From the moment I heard the shots killer and the slain, both seen in the grants. leading to a markedly round belly, fl at I knew this was a historic moment, same picture, and morally as problem- Jury member Tanya Habjouqa said back and cylindrical stumpy legs. very serious,” Ozbilici told AFP. atic to publish as a terrorist behead- the choice of the 2017 winners was “It could depict a human-like fi gure “I knew I had to do my job. As a ing,” he wrote in the British daily The “bold”. with a bird-like face, or a bird-like en- journalist, I couldn’t just run away to Guardian. “I think the selection is defi nitely tity which has nothing to do with man The 7,000-year old Neolithic statuette being temporarily displayed at the save my skin.” He argued that “placing the photo- going to push forward a debate and I but with the ideology and symbolism National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The powerful photo went viral and graph on this high pedestal is an in- think it is a debate that is essential to of the Neolithic society,” Katya Mante- has been viewed some 18mn times. vitation to those contemplating such have,” she said. li, an archaeologist with the museum, size depiction of the human fi gure, it the statuette is polished suggests the Judges from the World Press Photo staged spectaculars.” The competition itself was told Reuters. is bigger than most Neolithic statues, fi gure is in its fi nal form, although they Foundation in Amsterdam acknowl- Ozbilici, who covered the failed directly aff ected by the travel Experts also cannot be sure of its which are rarely found over 35cm tall. maintain that if the sculptor had the edged it had been tough to choose the coup bid in Turkey and been sent on measures brought in by US President provenance, as it belongs to a personal “Regarding technique and size, it is appropriate tools it would have taken a 2017 winner from over 80,400 im- mission to Syria, Libya and Egypt, said Donald Trump, when one of the nine collection. among the rare and unique works of more specifi c form. ages by 5,034 photographers from 125 he always tried to be ready for diffi cult jury members, Palestinian Eman Mo- They assume only that it is from the the Neolithic period in Greece,” Man- “Yes, it could be a pregnant fi gure countries. tests, “to have the courage to confront hamed, cancelled her trip to Amster- northern Greek regions of Thessaly or teli said. but there are no breasts, used in Neo- “It was a very, very diffi cult deci- a world which has been made rotten by dam. Macedonia. More puzzling still is the lack of clear lithic times to depict the female body. sion, but in the end we felt that the the dishonest and corrupt, in order to Amid the chaos unleashed by the Unlike most Neolithic fi gurines indication of sex. On the other hand it lacks male or- picture of the year was an explosive try to do some good.” ban, she decided it was too risky to made of soft stone, it is carved out of Is it due to technical sculpting limi- gans so it is presented as an asexual fi g- image that really spoke to the hatred He said he was sorry for the death leave her young children in the US hard rock even though metal tools were tations? Or did the sculptor intend to ure,” Manteli said. of our times,” said jury member Mary of the envoy, whom he described as a where she lives, fearing she might not not available at the time. create an asexual fi gure. “There are enigmatic aspects to it Calvert. “natural, kind, sincere man” whose be allowed back in again. And while it is too short for a life- Archaeologists believe the fact that which make it charming.” Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 15 EUROPE

Anti-Muslim Brussels sends top offi cial to campaign backfi res in Athens in row over reforms Switzerland By Michael Shields, Reuters Reuters shown active solidarity with Greece Zurich Brussels with the goal to bring this country to a path of sustainable fi nances and economic growth,” Steff en Seibert wiss people’s growing familiar- ermany yesterday backed told a regular government news con- ity with foreigners living in their Greece to stay in the euro- ference. Sneighbourhoods and a step-by- Gzone and Brussels dispatched “It is a mission that has dragged on step path to citizenship helped doom the a senior offi cial to Athens to persuade for many years and we are holding on far right’s eff orts to exploit anti-Muslim reluctant Greeks to take on further re- to it,” he added. sentiment in a vote easing naturalisation forms to salvage its bailout accord. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mar- for third-generation immigrants. It came as the European Commis- tin Schaefer added: “We want to keep The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) used sion forecast a large jump in economic the eurozone whole, including Greece, posters showing a burqa-clad woman growth for Greece of 2.7% and 3.1%, and we will support everything that with the slogan “no unchecked natu- respectively, this year and next. helps Greece. That’s why we want the ralisation” to fi ght the move, which won In Athens, Yannis Stournaras, aid programme to continue to be suc- 60% support in a referendum on Sunday Greece’s central bank chief, said a cessful.” even amid the increasingly anti-immi- swift agreement with international The size of next year’s Greek pri- grant mood in many European coun- lenders was crucial to keeping the mary surplus, which is the budget bal- tries. Greek economy on the mend and that ance before debt-servicing costs, is a Political analysts said the SVP had down the road “it may be too late”. bone of contention between eurozone overreached in its campaign. The future of Greece’s multi-billion governments and the IMF. “Glarner stumbles over burqa,” the euro fi nancial aid programme is con- The IMF believes it will be only mass-circulation Blick tabloid headlined tingent on Athens concluding a sec- 1.5%, while the EU Commission pro- its story, noting SVP campaign activist ond review of progress in its reform jected yesterday it will be 3.7%. The Andreas Glarner failed to carry the vote obligations. higher the surplus and the longer it is even in the town where he is mayor. But months of wrangling over kept the less is the need for any further “You are welcome. You are needed changes to its labour and energy mar- debt relief to Greece. here,” Blick columnist Nico Menzato kets have been compounded by dif- The IMF insists Greek debt, which wrote to the community of young people ferences between the International the Commission forecast yesterday who remain foreigners even after their Monetary Fund and Greece’s Euro- would fall to 177.2% of GDP this year grandparents settled here. pean lenders over fi scal targets for the from 179.7% in 2016 and then decline Under the old system they faced a crisis-hit country, now on its third in- Supporters of Communist-affiliated trade union PAME hold a banner and flags during a protest outside the office of again to 170.6% in 2018, is unsustain- lengthy and often expensive naturalisa- ternational bailout. heavily-indebted Greek media group DOL in Athens yesterday. ably high and that Greece must get tion procedure. The IMF is not party to the coun- debt relief. Now they will go through the same try’s current bailout, and says it will forecasts based on facts, based on the A deal would release another zone two years ago as it was wracked Germany and several other euro- streamlined process as foreigners who not partake until it has assurances actual outcomes,” he said in Frankfurt. tranche of funds from this bailout, by its debt crisis and years of lender- zone countries say that, if Greece does marry Swiss citizens. Greece will be able to extricate itself A mission of experts from the lend- worth up to 86bn euros, and facilitate imposed austerity that killed eco- all the agreed reforms, then debt relief Around 25,000 people — mostly from from a spiral of debt. ers was expected to return to Athens Greece making a major 7.2bn euro debt nomic growth and put millions out of will not be necessary. Italy, Turkey and the Balkans — are eligi- European Commission Vice Presi- this week to give their latest state of repayment this summer. work. But the discord over Greece’s eco- ble for the new treatment. dent Valdis Dombrovskis said the IMF play report, EU offi cials said. But it is a process fraught with dif- But Germany yesterday sought to nomic trajectory appeared to narrow The new constitutional amendment was being too pessimistic. European Commissioner for Eco- fi culty, prompting fears of a re-run of say that nothing has changed in its de- on Friday, when European and IMF simplifi es — but does not make auto- “The problem is that the IMF is nomic and Financial Aff airs Pierre high drama in mid-2015 when Greece sire to keep the eurozone intact with lenders told Athens to make 1.8bn eu- matic — naturalisation for well-inte- coming with very pessimistic growth Moscovici said he would travel to Ath- teetered on the verge of falling out of Greece in it. ros — or 1% of GDP — worth of new grated people no older than 25 who were and fi scal forecasts as regards Greece. ens tomorrow to help conclude the the eurozone. “For years, eurozone member reforms by 2018 and another 1.8bn born in Switzerland, share Swiss cultural Moreover it is not correcting those review. Greece almost fell out of the euro- states, including Germany, have euros afterwards. values, speak a national language and do not live off state aid. “I think the opponents’ aggressive Alleged plot to murder reigning and ailing posters were rather counterproductive,” leader shakes Georgian Orthodox Church Ada Marra, a Social Democrat MP whose Staying put ... parents moved to Switzerland from It- Academics and Georgia’s Orthodox Church was rocked yesterday after police aly and who holds passports from both students shout announced the arrest of a priest over a suspected poisoning country, told the Tages-Anzeiger paper. slogans during a plot targeting a high-ranking Church figure. She was a driving force behind the protest against Prosecutors in the Caucasus nation said they caught arch- binding referendum in which voters had the dismissal of priest Giorgi Mamaladze with sodium cyanide on February the fi nal say under Swiss direct democ- academics from 10 as he boarded a plane to Berlin, where Patriarch Ilia II was racy. universities awaiting a gallbladder operation. Around a quarter of neutral Switzer- following a The country’s chief prosecutor said in a statement that land’s population is foreign, a relatively post-coup Mamaladze was in pre-trial detention on “suspicion of plot- high rate in comparison with other emergency decree, ting to murder a high-ranking Church off icial”. countries that make it easier for the in the Dil ve Tarih The statement did not specify the target of the plot but the children and grandchildren of immi- Cografya campus prime minister responded by ordering increased security for grants to be naturalised. of Ankara 83-year-old Ilia. Analysis of voting by the gfs.bern re- University. Banners Mamaladze, who is director general of the Georgian search and polling outfi t showed sup- read, “Do not touch Church’s medical clinic, “had systematic contacts” with the port for the plan was higher in areas with to my teacher! No! patriarch, prosecutors said. above-average shares of foreigners. We are not Ilia — who has long suff ered ill health — yesterday suc- After voters rejected similar proposals leaving!”. cessfully underwent the gallbladder operation in Germany, in 1983, 1994 and 2004, the swing fol- Georgian media reported. lowed eff orts to tone down the proposal The conservative Georgian Orthodox Church — followed to make a clear distinction between sec- by more than 80% of the 4.5mn population — is one of several ond- and third-generation immigrants distinct Eastern Orthodox Churches, which also include the and ensure naturalisation was not auto- Greek and Russian Churches. matic, it said. Ilia II — who has led the Church such since 1977 — wields Opponents’ making political hay with significant influence on Georgia’s social and political life. the burqa woman may have appealed He oversaw a major revival of the Church after Georgia above all to the SVP hard core that op- regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. poses any opening to abroad, but the The Church was severely repressed during the Soviet era tactic also mobilised the “yes” camp, and Tsarist Russia’s occupation of Georgia. where the conservative centre stayed, gfs.bern said.

Campaign trail Kosovo to form a truth Rajoy ex-minister commission as wounds from 1998-99 war fester testifi es in graft case

AFP Her husband risks prison for embez- By Fatos Bytyci, Reuters the Serbian forces loyal to Slobodan Madrid zlement of public funds and infl uence- Pristina Milosevic, while there has been less peddling but Mato herself faces no scrutiny of crimes committed by criminal charges. Kosovo’s Albanian troops. pain’s ex-health minister Ana On the stand, Mato maintained that resident Hashim Thaci yes- Thaci, who led the guerilla in- Mato took the stand yesterday she did not know how three high-end terday announced for a Truth surgency against Serbian forces Sin a major corruption scandal, cars in the couple’s garage had been PCommission to help rec- and was prime minister when Kos- the fi rst time that a former member of paid for. oncile Kosovo’s ethnic-Albanian ovo won its independence in 2008, Mariano Rajoy’s conservative govern- “Mr Sepulveda,” as she referred to majority and Serb minority, as al- said yesterday it is necessary to de- ment has appeared in court. her ex-husband, “was in charge of fam- legations of atrocities committed termine the facts surrounding the Mato is in the dock as part of the ily trips and the decoration of the chil- during the 1998-99 Kosovo war confl ict. so-called Gurtel case, which centres dren’s parties,” she said, adding once continue to scar relations. But he did not detail how the on a vast network that allegedly saw again that she had no idea how these Thaci said it pained him that even commission would work and who companies shower lawmakers and civil were fi nanced. youngsters born after the war saw would be involved. servants from the ruling Popular Party The prosecutor retorted that she had their peers across the ethnic divide Many Serbs refuse to recognise (PP) with bribes in exchange for con- responded “in quite an evasive man- as “enemies and as a danger”. Pristina as their capital and Bel- tracts. ner” to questions. “Kosovo cannot build a good grade still considers Kosovo part of Altogether, 37 defendants face justice Mato is suspected only of having future if it remains a hostage to its its territory. including two former party treasurers benefi ted from illegal funds — not of past,” the president said at a cer- Relations came under renewed and businessman Francisco Correa, the having actively participated in any- emony to unveil plans for the truth strain in early January when French alleged head of the network. thing — and as such faces no criminal and reconciliation commission. police arrested another former Ko- Mato, who was forced to resign in charges. An estimated 10,800 Kosovo sovo prime minister, Ramush Ha- November 2014 over the scandal, is ac- She could, however, be found to have Albanians and some 2,200 Serbs radinaj, a rebel commander during cused of benefi ting from presents made civil liability and be ordered to pay back were either killed or went miss- the Kosovo war, on a Serbian war- to her ex-husband Jesus Sepulveda — that money. ing during the 16-month confl ict, rant for war crimes he had alleg- also in the dock — when he was mayor The PP itself has also been called to which saw Serbian forces counter edly committed. of Pozuelo de Alarcon near Madrid in the stand via a legal representative for an Albanian insurgency waged by Normalising relations between exchange for alleged contracts. allegedly benefi ting from funds ob- the Kosovo Liberation Army. Belgrade and Pristina is a key Prosecutors said people involved in tained illegally by offi cials through the An estimated 1mn Albanians condition for both countries to the corruption network gave trips and corruption network run by Correa, a were forced from their homes by progress towards European Union luxury items to the couple between surname that means belt in Spanish, or the Serbian troops before Nato membership. 2001 and 2005, and paid for birthday or “Gurtel” in German. launched air strikes and forced A new court at The Hague estab- communion parties for their children. Like Mato, the party faces no crimi- Belgrade to withdraw its forces. lished under Kosovo’s constitution They estimate that all in all, Mato nal charges, and it refused to testify and French National Front leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen World attention has long centred will deal with alleged crimes com- benefi ted from more than 28,000 euros answer questions yesterday, as is al- visits an open-air market in Nice yesterday. on the mass killings committed by mitted by ethnic Albanians. ($30,000). lowed under Spanish law. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 INDIA

LAW AND ORDER INVESTIGATION CRIME LEGAL CLAIM Politician booked after Indian’s killer in California Woman suff ers acid 2005 Delhi blast case Paddy cultivators in Kerala woman found dead arrested, says minister attack in local train verdict on February 16 facing Rs3bn loss: Chandy

In fresh trouble for Uttar Pradesh’s ruling The man who killed an Indian youth in California A woman was allegedly attacked with acid while A court in Delhi yesterday said it will deliver on Ex-Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy Samajwadi Party, police yesterday slapped a case has been arrested, External Aff airs Minister Sushma travelling in a nearly-empty local train in West February 16 its verdict in the 2005 Delhi serial yesterday called on his successor Pinarayi Vijayan against its MLA Arun Verma after a woman who Swaraj said. “I have a report from our consulate Bengal’s South 24-Parganas district, a Railway blasts case which killed over 60 people. Additional to apprise him of the callous attitude of various had accused him of rape was found dead under in San Francisco. It says Vamshi was killed by a Police Force (RPF) off icer said. “Acid was thrown sessions judge Reetesh Singh, who was scheduled departments which has caused an estimated mysterious circumstances. Verma, contesting from drug addict on Friday evening at Milpitas,” Sishma at a middle-aged woman inside a running train to announce the order yesterday, put off the Rs3bn loss to paddy cultivators in Thrissur district. Sultanpur, has denied any role in the death of the Swaraj tweeted. “The culprit has been arrested,” around 10pm on Sunday night near Baruipur decision for Thursday. Tariq Ahmed Dar, Mohamed The 36,000-acre Thrissur Kole wetlands provides 21-year-old who was found dead on Sunday. The she stated, adding that the consulate was in touch railway station under Sealdah South section,” a Hussain Fazili and Mohamed Rafiq Shah are for 40% of Kerala’s rice requirement. Chandy said legislator himself has called for a CBI probe into the with the victim’s family and assuring all help. V Baruipur RPF off icer said. “The victim sustained facing trial in the case. The court in 2008 framed he briefed Vijayan on the loss caused due to the matter, suggesting that in the poll season it could Vamshi Reddy, 27, was killed near his apartment, severe burn injuries to the face and neck charges against Dar, the alleged mastermind, and callous attitude of various departments. “Paddy be a political conspiracy to harm his prospects. The according to information reaching his family in and was admitted to the nearby M R Bangur the other two for waging war against the state, cultivation is the mainstay of these farmers and father of the deceased blamed Verma for the death, Warangal Urban district. Reddy’s friends informed Hospital,” he added. Parents of the victim alleged conspiring, collecting arms, murder and attempt to the problem arose because off icials from the after which he was booked for murder. The woman his family about the incident. The youth, who had the attack was the fallout of some issues they murder. The Delhi Police filed charges against Dar, departments of irrigation and agriculture failed to was gang raped in October 2013 and had named gone to the US in 2015, recently completed his had with a local promoter in Baruipur over road mentioning his call details that allegedly proved he work on a normally prescribed work plan during eight persons including Verma. masters degree and was looking for a job. construction in their neighbourhood. was in touch with the Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives. the cultivation period,” said Chandy.

Tribute to fallen soldier All-party meet in Kerala today as political killings jump

By Ashraf Padanna lavattom Ananthan and former Thiruvananthapuram federal minister O Rajagopal, the lone BJP legislator in Kerala, also sounded positive after the erala Chief Minister meeting. Pinarayi Vijayan, back Rajasekharan had last week Kfrom a four-day Bahrain led a delegation of his party visit, held meeting with various leaders to New Delhi and met leaders as political killings con- Home Minister Rajnath Singh tinued unabated in the state. seeking his intervention to rein Those whom the chief min- in the state government, to ister met included party mem- which Vijayan responded “this bers, his predecessor and senior is not 1959.” Congress party leader Oommen The chief minister was re- Chandy and members of Prime ferring to case where the fi rst Minister Narendra Modi’s Communist government Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). which came to power in Kerala Scores of political work- through a popular ballot in 1957 ers have lost their lives in re- was dismissed by then prime venge killings, mainly between minister Jawaharlal Nehru after his Communist Party of India massive protests by a coalition Bystanders pay floral tributes as army personnel carry a coff in with the mortal remains of Lance Naik Bhandoriya Gopal Sinh Munimsinh along a street in Ahmedabad yesterday. (Marxist) and the BJP, in the last of political parties and religious Bhandoriya was killed during an encounter with suspected militants in Kashmir on February 12. two decades. There has been a heads against “cell rule.” spurt in killings since Vijayan “Small local issues often assumed offi ce in May. lead to such incidents of vio- On Sunday, suspected CPI lence. All parties should con- (M) activists killed BJP worker, vince their members to ensure Nirmal, 20, during a temple peace,” said Balakrishnan, a festival in Thrissur, prompting former home minister who also a shutdown in the district. hails from Vijayan’s hometown A young BJP worker and his of Thalassery. brother’s wife died last week An all-party meeting will be after suspected CPI (M) work- held today in Kannur, the hot- Govt ‘support’ for Pak ers torched their house in Pal- bed of political killings where akkad. Police said a gas cylinder some 200 party workers have went off as they set refi to a ve- been died in the past two dec- hicle leading to a blast. ades. Vijayan has been under tre- The ruling party has been mendous pressure from the under fi re for its failure to pre- federal government to end the vent the killings despite being literature fest attacked violence. Governor P Sathasi- in power alternatively. Prime vam recently summoned the Minister Modi had asked the IANS ‘attack me if you want, don’t support them. The decision was tact should never be there. We Festival in a small way by spon- state police chief and home chief minister to end the blood- New Delhi ever question the integrity of our made in 2016 itself,” Khatua said. have no enmity or ill-will towards soring the visit to Karachi of four secretary and ordered them to shed during a meeting with the armed forces’. It is extremely un- Tewari said: “It is ironic that the the people of Pakistan. It is the Indian literary personalities”. crack down on the killings. chief minister to which Vijayan fortunate and highly regrettable prime minister’s statement comes deep State of Pakistan which con- Meanwhile, Congress leader “We are ready to co-operate had responded positively. he Congress yesterday that the prime minister is using or when reports have emerged that tinues to be inimical to the inter- Manish Tewari also referred to if the state government respects The CPI (M) leaders in the hit out at the government misusing armed forces as a prop the Bharatiya Janata Party-led ests of India.” Modi’s remark on the armed forc- the rule of law and permits the district led by P Jayarajan, him- Tover the Indian Council for political and electoral purpos- central government through the “Our policy regarding Pakistan es. “Nobody has ever questioned police to work without pres- self maimed after an alleged BJP for Cultural Relations’ role in co- es,” said Congress spokesperson ICCR decided to part-sponsor the needs to be coherently defi ned, the integrity of our armed forces. sure,” BJP president in Kerala, attempt on his life, last week sponsoring the Karachi Literature Manish Tewari. Karachi Literature Festival.” cogently articulated and imple- But we will request the prime Kummanam Rajasekharan, said visited the home of local BJP Festival, saying it “exposes the However, ICCR director gen- “The pendulum has swung mented in a calibrated manner, minister refrain from using the after the meeting. “We all want leader Santhosh, 52, who was Narendra Modi government’s du- eral Amarendra Khatua said they from ‘no talks till terror abates’ to something which this govern- armed forces as a political prop,” violence to end and the rule of killed allegedly by the CPI (M), plicity, hypocrisy and a complete only sponsored the travel of four ‘talking about terror’ and fi nally ment has completely failed to do.” he said law to prevail. The chief min- in Vijayan’s Dharmadam con- lack of a policy towards Pakistan”. Indian authors to the festival held to establishing contact by using Festival’s founder-director “We would like to underscore ister had invited us to an all- stituency. The Congress also slammed from February 10-12. this surreptitious cultural facade,” Ameena Saiyid is seemingly and emphasise that the govern- party meeting, and we agreed to “Whoever be the perpetra- Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “We did not sponsor the event. the Congress leader said. overwhelmed by the ICCR’s sup- ment has made a complete and support his eff orts if he is seri- tors, violence should be treated what it said was the use of armed We only sponsored the travel of “This itself exposes the duplic- port and said she regards it as a absolute hash of national security. ous about tackling the rising vi- as a crime. The government forces as a prop for political and four Indian authors to the festival. ity, hypocrisy and complete lack “friendly and progressive initia- For them, national security is not olence,” Rajasekharan claimed. should ensure everyone gets electoral purposes and using na- The total amount spent was less of a policy towards Pakistan as far tive” by India’s fl agship cultural about securing the nation, but a CPI (M) secretary Kodiyeri justice. The chief minister tional security as a ‘political foot- than Rs160,000. A lot of authors as this government is concerned.” body. mere political football, which has Balakrishnan and senior lead- pledged to bring peace to the ball’. reach out to us for travel assist- Tewari said: “No one has ever Saiyid confi rmed that the ICCR to be exploited for elections,” said ers M V Govindan and Anatha- state,” Rajasekaran said. “In an election rally, Modi said ance during such festivals and we said that people-to-people con- “supported the Karachi Literature Tewari.

Mock drill Exit poll lands paper, Punjab EVMs being moved, says Kejriwal

IANS tweet claiming that an offi cer fi rm in hot water New Delhi/Chandigarh “allowed four people to enter the room where EVMs were kept”. IANS ments of Resource Development the perpetrators of this serious AAP leader Sanjay Singh said New Delhi International and Dainik Jagran violation of the Act to uphold the elhi Chief Minister Arvind he had asked the chief election as well as the newspaper’s editor- law to ensure the smooth conduct Kejriwal yesterday ac- commissioner and other offi cials in-chief under Section 188 of the of free and fair elections. Dcused offi cials of trying to take “strict action” in the mat- racking the whip, the elec- Indian Penal Code (IPC) read with “The commission has directed to move EVMs (electronic voting ter. tion commission yester- Section 126-A and 126-B of the that the district election offi cers machines) from a room in Punjab However, Patiala deputy com- Cday ordered registration Representation of People Act. of each of the districts covered where polling was held on Febru- missioner Ramvir Singh, who of cases against the management “It has been brought to the under the fi rst phase of polls and ary 4. Offi cials have denied the visited the room, claimed that and editor-in-chief of Hindi daily commission’s notice that Dainik Lucknow immediately fi le charg- charge. the EVMs being moved related to Dainik Jagran for publishing an Jagran newspaper published the es against the managing director “This is absolutely shocking. the municipal corporation elec- exit poll on the fi rst phase of Uttar result of an exit poll conducted and/or such other authorities of Punjab offi cials trying to remove tions held in 2015 and that these Pradesh assembly elections. by a company by the name of Re- Resource Development Interna- EVM machines,” Kejriwal tweet- were being moved to make space The election commission also source Development Internation- tional and Dainik Jagran includ- ed. for counting of votes on March ordered the fi ling of charges al (I) on the fi rst phase of elections ing the managing editor/editor- The incident related to some 11. against the management of Re- in UP on their website. in-chief/editor/chief editor of the trunks, carrying EVMs inside, He said the EVMs of the as- source Development Internation- “The reported violation by newspaper under Section 188 of being moved in Punjab’s Patiala sembly elections were “intact in al (RDI) – the company that con- conducting the exit poll and dis- the IPC read with Section 126-A district and a video of the exercise the room”. In a communication to ducted the exit poll – for violating seminating its result amounts and 126-B of the Representation being shot by a local AAP leader. the election commission and the the poll panel order that bars pub- to off ence under Sections 126-A of People Act, 1951,” it said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief electoral offi cer, the deputy lication/broadcast of exit polls till and 126-B of Representation of The off ence under Section 126- leader also posted a video show- commissioner said the room was voting is over in poll-bound states People Act, 1951, as well as of- A is punishable by imprisonment ing some men opening and mov- under the protection of central of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, fence under Section 188 of the for up to two years or fi ne or both. ing boxes which appeared to con- forces round-the-clock. Manipur and Uttarakhand. IPC. The off ence also amounts The Election Commission had tain the EVMs. The AAP Punjab unit also com- The election commission has to disobedience to an order duly on January 27 directed that no exit “Offi cers entered the room on plained to the Punjab chief elec- directed election offi cers of the promulgated by the commis- polls will be conducted between the pretext of taking some papers toral offi cer, V K Singh, in Chan- state’s districts covered under the sion,” the election commission 7am on February 4 and 5.30pm on but started removing EVMs,” Ke- digarh. AAP candidates in Patiala fi rst phase of polls on February 11 said in a letter. March 8 when polling is sched- Policemen and NSG commandos participated in a mock jriwal added. district alleged that offi cials were and Lucknow to immediately reg- “The commission has decided uled in the fi ve states, lest the exit drill at India Government Mint in Kolkata yesterday. The Delhi chief minister’s reac- trying to “sabotage” the assembly ister cases against the manage- to take stringent action against polls infl uence the voters. tion came in response to another polls. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 17 INDIA

CRITICISM VERDICT LEGAL LAW AND ORDER TRAGEDY Show some decency, Student doctors Contempt hearing against 30 bombs, grenades Woman kills daughter after Thackeray tells Modi barred for cheating Kolkata judge deferred found near Ludhiana husband’s divorce threat

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray yesterday told The Supreme Court barred hundreds of students The Supreme Court yesterday deferred, for three Police yesterday recovered 30 bombs and A tribal woman in Telangana killed her newborn Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show some de- from becoming doctors after they were caught weeks, a hearing on contempt proceedings hand grenades from an open area on the girl child by feeding milk laced with pesticides as cency, days after the latter attacked former prime paying bribes and cheating in exams to gain ad- against Calcutta High Court judge C S Karnan as outskirts of Punjab’s industrial city Ludhiana. her husband had threatened to divorce her if she minister Manmohan Singh. “The PM should show mission into medical schools. Around 630 students he did not appear before the court as directed. An investigation has been launched into the delivered another daughter. Police in Nalgonda some decency like Manmohan Singh did when from Madhya Pradesh were found to have copied A seven judge constitution bench directed the recovery of the explosives from Alamgir area, arrested Nagamani and her husband Ramavath he stopped a parliamentary panel from attacking answers, had proxies sit their exams or paid to next hearing on March 10, noting that “we are about 8kms from Ludhiana, a police official Jayaram after the incident came to light. The (RBI governor) Urjit Patel on demonetisation,” gain entry to selective medical colleges between not aware of the reasons for non-appearance” said. The bombs were first noticed by some woman had delivered the girl child early this Thackeray said. Thackeray’s comment after Modi, 2008 and 2013. An investigation into the so-called of Karnan. The order came even as attorney locals who informed the police. The police im- month. The child died at the Devarakonda Area while in the Rajya Sabha, taunted Manmohan “Vyapam scandal” recommended the students general Mukul Rohatgi told the court that under mediately cordoned off the area. “The bombs Hospital on February 9, after battling for life for Singh by saying “only he knew the art of bathing be struck from the medical fraternity, but they the Supreme Court Rules, it was mandatory for and grenades look old. We are trying to find four days. Investigations revealed that the woman wearing a raincoat”. The Shiv Sena has broken appealed that ruling in court. The Supreme Court Karnan to appear. Rohatgi, who is assisting the from where these have come and how they killed the child as her husband had threatened its alliance with the BJP although it still remains a bench rejected their appeals, ruling they obtained court in the matter, urged the bench to frame a reached this place,” an officer said. The police to divorce her and marry another woman if she part of the BJP-led governments both in Mahar- their admissions illegally and were therefore ineligi- charge and asked Karnan to respond to it on the sought the help of army authorities to defuse delivered another girl child. The child was the ashtra and in New Delhi. ble to hold degrees or practice medicine. next date of hearing. the ordnance. couple’s third daughter.

‘Heaviest’ woman’s treatment Top court to be free: hospital to decide

IANS Mumbai

he 36-year old Egyp- tian woman, weighing Sasikala’s Taround 500kg, who ar- rived in Mumbai on Saturday for a weight reduction pro- gramme, will be treated free of cost, a senior doctor said here yesterday. Eman Ahmed Abdelaty, who reached Mumbai by an Egypt fate today Air fully-equipped cargo flight, and was lifted by a crane to IANS to prove their strength in the as- idson Devasirvatham as the in- a waiting specially modified New Delhi sembly. spector general of police in charge truck outside the Chhatrapati “We have the strength to man- of intelligence in place of K N Shivaji Maharaj International age any number of enemies,” a Sathiyamurthy. Airport, has stepped out of her ven as the political imbroglio defi ant Sasikala told AIADMK For a third day in running, home first time in over 25 years. continues in Tamil Nadu, the supporters at the former chief Sasikala went to meet the legisla- “As this is a unique case, we ESupreme Court will today minister’s Poes Garden residence. tors backing her at the beach re- have decided to treat it gratis pronounce its verdict on the Kar- If convicted, Sasikala’s hopes sort. till she becomes fully normal nataka government’s plea chal- of becoming chief minister will be Earlier, she told hundreds of again,” said renowned bariatric lenging the acquittal of late Tamil dashed. supporters here that the chief surgeon and team leader Muf- Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, While the Panneerselvam camp minister’s post was not important fazal Lakdawala of Saifee Hos- her close aide V K Sasikala and two continued to assert that most AI- for her. She reiterated that it was pital. others in a disproportionate assets ADMK MLAs were held captive she who pressed Panneerselvam Her transportation costs from case. by Sasikala at a resort, the gov- to become chief minister after Jay- Alexandria, Egypt, have cost The Karnataka government ernment counsel told the Madras alalithaa died on December 5. around Rs8mn which is being had challenged the May 11, 2015, High Court that the legislators She claimed Panneerselvam covered through donations and state high court verdict acquitting were not illegally detained. wanted her to take charge of the crowdfunding as the family is Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her two After a week’s gap, Panneersel- state but she told him that it was unable to aff ord the same, said relatives – V N Sudhakaran and vam attended offi ce yesterday. He important at that time for her to be hospital CEO Huzaifa Shehabi, Elavarasi – for allegedly amass- announced a Rs 300,000 assist- with the body of Jayalalithaa. addressing mediapersons here. ing disproportionate assets to the ance to the family of a murdered “With the party having a cadre Accompanied by her sister tune of Rs666.5mn during her fi rst girl. strength of 15mn, no ‘komban’ Shaimaa Selim, Eman is un- term as chief minister from 1991 to Attorney general Mukul Rohtagi (person with great skills) can break dergoing various tests at the 1996. has reportedly told governor C Vi- the AIADMK,” she told the cheer- hospital and the surgery is ex- The bench of justice Pinaki dyasagar Rao to call a special ses- ing crowd. pected to be done after a month Chandra Ghose and justice Amita- sion of the assembly and ask Pan- “The party cadres are with me,” or so, Lakdawala said. va Roy will pronounce the verdict, neerselvam and Sasikala to prove she added to applause. “As long as Considered the heaviest liv- that was reserved on June 7, 2016. their majority. the cadres are with me and with ing human in the world – Eman The high court’s acquittal ver- According to his supporters, Amma’s blessings, an AIADMK was received by the Egypt con- dict had come on May 11, 2015. Panneerselvam is expected to dis- government will be in place.” sul-general in Mumbai, Ahmad The high court, while acquit- cuss with offi cials the issue of al- AIADMK spokesperson Vaigail Khalil, around 4am on Satur- ting the four, had reversed the trial leged confi nement of AIADMK Selvan alleged that the Bharatiya day at the airport. court judgement convicting them legislators. Janata Party (BJP) and Dravida She was lifted by a crane onto on September 27, 2014. An AIADMK leader said on the Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) a waiting truck and transported The Bengaluru trial court had condition of anonymity that they were exerting pressure to delay to the hospital with a police es- sentenced the late leader to four had proof that some legislators the swearing in of Sasikala. cort and an emergency ambu- years in jail and imposed a Rs1bn were being forced to stay at the re- Meanwhile, Sasikala support- lance in tow. fi ne in the disproportionate assets sort, about 90km from here. ers went to the AIADMK head- Since the past over a month, case. The trial lasted for 18 years. Panneerselvam had not been quarters in large numbers prob- Saifee Hospital has been making Meanwhile, acting Tamil Nadu attending offi ce since he revolted ably to thwart any takeover by elaborate preparations for the Chief Minister O Panneeersel- against Sasikala on February 7, al- the Panneerselvam camp. celeb patient and ordered a spe- vam and All India Anna Dravida leging his resignation was forced. Jaya TV is under Sasikala’s cial massive bed to bear her load, Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) He quit on February 5, paving control and beams her speeches. a specially made room with crit- general secretary, Sasikala, re- the way for Sasikala to become the The AIADMK website and Twit- ical facilities and other ameni- AIADMK leader Sasikala addresses the media at the Kuvathur resort on the outskirts of Chennai yesterday. mained on the warpath yesterday chief minister. ter account too are under her ties, besides a team of experts. amid speculation they will be told The government posted S Dav- control.

Uber, Ola drivers strike Tribal groups’ shutdown Kerala govt ‘trying to cripples life in Nagaland stall top court order’ IANS decisions is inviting pro- Thiruvananthapuram tests,” Sudheeran warned. IANS where provisions have been “There has been no untoward Due to the top court direc- Kohima made for reservation of seats incidents during the shutdown tive, more than 170 retail out- for women. hours (from 6am to 6pm) as he Congress party in lets of the state-owned Kerala Nagaland has never elected a people refrained from ventur- Kerala is up in arms State Beverages Corporation ormal life came to a woman legislator since it gained ing into the streets,” Nagaland Tover reports that the have to be moved by March 31. standstill in Nagaland statehood in 1963. The lone police chief L L Doungel said. ruling Left Democratic Front The Kerala State Beverages Nas an indefinite shut- woman MP from the state was “Security forces were deployed (LDF) is likely to file a peti- Corporation will approach down called by tribal Naga or- Rano M Shaiza, who got elected along the National Highway-2 tion in the apex court over the apex court seeking more ganisations got underway yes- in 1977. to ensure smooth movement of the court’s order on relocat- time to relocate their outlets. terday. The strike was called to “We will continue with our vehicles to Manipur. However, ing liquor outlets. Senior Communist Party force Chief Minister T R Zeliang shutdown till the chief minister there were no movements of ve- State Congress president V of India (CPI) leader Benoy to resign. resigns,” NTAC convenor K T hicles,” the police offi cial said. M Sudheeran told reporters Viswam voiced displeas- The tribal groups, under the Vielie said. Doungel said the police were here yesterday that the gov- ure over the Congress party banner of Nagaland Tribes Ac- The state secretariat, state taking precautions to ensure ernment decision was noth- statements. tion Committee (NTAC) and and central government offices, that there is no further break- ing but moves to delay imple- “Everybody knows of the Joint Coordination Committee banks, educational institutions, down of law and order. menting the apex court order. series of controversies that (JCC), have intensified their shops, businesses remained Zeliang, who termed the de- The Supreme Court in De- broke out during their ten- agitation after Zeliang refused closed, and there was no move- mand for his resignation as cember last year banned the ure with regards to the bar, so to accede to their demand and ment of public and private “unreasonable” and “uncon- sale of liquor on highways, it’s better they do not speak step down and their three-day transport. stitutional”, on a radio show forcing retailers to relocate to much,” the former minister ultimatum in this regard ended The National Highway-2 yesterday said the government interior areas. The order has said. on February 10. connecting Dimapur, the main was open for dialogue and more forced around 300 such out- The Pinarayi Vijayan-led Nagaland has been in turmoil commercial town of Nagaland consultations. lets to look for new places by government was caught una- since last month after the Naga with poll-bound state of Ma- “The tribal organisations the beginning of the new fi scal. wares when massive protests People’s Front (NPF)-led state nipur, was also affected. should come forward for inter- “The Supreme Court or- broke out early this month government decided to hold lo- Volunteers were seen picket- actions and sharing of views A strike in New Delhi by thousands of Uber and Ola drivers der is quite clear and there is against liquor shops relo- cal body elections in 12 towns. ing the road to prevent traffic and opinions without any bias demanding better pay paralysed the ride-hailing services. no ambiguity as aired by the cating to residential areas. Three people have died and movement and the government or hesitation,” he said, while ap- Commuters faced delays for a fourth day even as the Kerala government. These School children too took part many injured following clash- employees from attending their pealing to all sections of the so- city-state’s government laid on extra buses to help them are all nothing but tactics by in the protests. es between the police and the official duties, even as security ciety to nurture and preserve the get to work, after drivers stopped taking bookings via the the state government to delay Following the protests, the public who were opposing the forces patrolled the streets to good image of the tribal organi- smartphone apps that connect them to nearby passengers. implementing the order. The vendors have not been able to conduct of the civic elections, thwart any untoward incident. sations. government through these relocate. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 LATIN AMERICA Spares shortage makes passports scarce in Venezuela

Tribune News Service ment does not have the money er to the government who helped many of those passports are sold “Send in the full names. Send Some of their stories show ter’s seizures continues,” the Caracas to import the materials and modernise the system for issuing on the black market. your complaint, and we will proc- the level of desperation. The El story said. spare parts needed for machines passports. “They are asking for up to ess,” Dugarte said this past week Nacional newspaper recently The passport shortage also is to make the passports, leaving The government also has not $500,” Daquin said – the equiva- before announcing that 120 gov- published the story of a woman, aff ecting thousands of Venezue- fter months of merci- thousands of citizens without the fulfi lled its contract with the pro- lent of 45 times the offi cial mini- ernment offi cials and 24 others identifi ed only as Judith, who lans living abroad, including the less shortages of food possibility of travelling abroad. viders of the polycarbonate sheets mum monthly salary. had been charged by prosecutors. was trying to obtain a passport large community in south Flori- Aand medicine, Venezue- “Out of the 11 machines for used by the system, Daquin said. That money – paid by people The agency’s offi ces in Cara- for her 11-year-old daughter. da, who cannot travel or use their lans now face a new problem as making passports that were Offi cials in the agency that who are either very rich or very cas have been fl ooded each day The girl needs to travel to passports for other legal require- a result of the economy’s col- bought, only two are working. manages the passport system, the desperate to unscrupulous gov- with thousands of Venezuelans the US for exams because she ments because they have expired. lapse: They can’t even get the They cannibalised the others Administrative Service for Iden- ernment offi cials – has started who travel from their homes all has suff ered from seizures for Many have tried to obtain new passports they need to leave the because there’s no money for tifi cation, Immigration and For- to worry Juan Carlos Dugarte, over the country in hope of le- the past two years. “After three passports in Venezuelan consu- country. maintenance,” said Anthony eigners, do have a limited number the passport agency’s director gally obtaining passports in the months, she has not been able to lates abroad, but faced delays of Venezuela’s bankrupt govern- Daquin, a former security advis- of the polycarbonate sheets. But general. capital. leave Venezuela, and the daugh- several months. Land reforms Macri in Chile fail to improve Nicaragua women’s plight

Thomson Reuters Foundation property, so they’d rather give Managua, Nicaragua sons the land.” Fernandez described the in- heritance process as the fi rst step hree decades after Nica- in the cycle of ‘asset violence’. ragua launched the fi rst The Sandinista-led regime Tof many reforms aimed at fi rst attempted to reform land giving women equal land rights, laws in the 1980s after it ousted experts say rural women remain the Somoza dictatorship that exploited and open to disinherit- had been in control throughout ance, violence and abuse. the 1960s and 1970s. Many women are locked out of In a bid to embrace equal gen- land – fi rst by a father then by a der rights, the leftist govern- husband – while others say they ment re-defi ned a ‘head of fam- are treated worse than the ani- ily’ concept that was key to land mals they tend. Yet all this was ownership law and replaced it supposed to end decades ago. with the ‘family unit’. The fi rst promised wave of re- Women – who had been piv- form to property law began in the otal in the Sandinista revolution Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet (second right) speaks to Argentina’s First Lady Juliana Awada as her husband Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri (left) arrives to 1980s, a new drive followed in – formed co-operatives and, attend the ceremony for the anniversary of the Battle of Chacabuco in Colina, Chile. the 1990s and the latest big at- during the 1990s, a new pro- tempt to give women fair treat- gramme was launched encour- ment came just six years ago. aging rural women to seek joint All have failed, according to ownership rights to the land they the experts, creating fresh op- worked with their husbands. portunities for men to use ‘asset Roll on 2010, and yet another violence’ and blackmail to con- eff ort was made to modernise trol both wife and land. land laws, this time by more than Rene Rodriguez, author of a 14 big women’s organisations. study by the Managua-based re- The group won approval for the search institute, Nitlapan, says a creation of what is known as Law Temer denies shielding major problem lies with inherit- 717 to help rural women apply for ance customs in rural areas. credit so as to buy their land and Either no will is written or re-pay the loans from the profi ts men fear that bequeathing any of their harvests. land to a woman will signal a loss The 717 Law has yet to be im- of their male authority. plemented, and Fernandez said “To share or will the land to the loan money never materialised. ally from corruption case your wife or daughter is consid- “The funds do not exist yet, they ered a threat,” he said in an inter- are not part of the budget. So the Reuters protected from prosecution in cluding Temer himself, as plea can only be charged before the only be dismissed if indicted. view. “Besides that, creating a will government itself is being violent Brasilia Brazil’s biggest-ever corruption bargain testimony advances. Supreme Court, where a trial If more accusations emerge, is not common in rural zones”. to rural women as well” she said. probe. “My government would nev- would drag out for months or or the minister or other aides “So women just inherit ani- The Food and Agriculture Or- Until the promotion a top ad- er interfere in the investigation years. are in fact indicted, the scandal mals from the farm or are often ganisation says the biggest ob- razilian President Michel visor charged with overseeing which is the hands of the police, Temer’s denial highlighted could further weaken Temer’s (sidelined by) other men’s deci- stacle to reform has been that Temer yesterday dis- infrastructure plans, Moreira prosecutors and judiciary,” Te- the vulnerability of Brazil’s gov- coalition in Congress. sions: it could be a family mem- most men “resisted the idea”. Bmissed criticism that he Franco was reportedly impli- mer said in the statement to re- ernment to accusations of cor- For now, he enjoys a majority ber, a partner or even a repre- “It (2010) was a moment for promoted a close aide to shield cated during plea bargain tes- porters. “The government will ruption at a time when it hopes that will back his proposals for sentative in the legal system”. the government to take into con- him from prosecution and timony by a defendant in the not shield anyone.” to rebalance government books, unpopular austerity measures Maria Teresa Fernandez, pres- sideration women’s presence in vowed to dismiss any minister sweeping bribery and political Last week, two opposition restore confi dence and revive that reduce pension benefi ts ident of the advocacy group, Co- agriculture, but women were not indicted for corruption. kickback investigation known parties obtained lower court and economy in its worst reces- and labour rights. ordinating Committee of Rural the protagonists,” says Conny Although he did not mention as “Car Wash.” injunctions ordering Moreira sion on record. Explosive plea bargain tes- Women, says in rare cases when Baez, a lawyer involved in de- the aide by name, the statement The probe, centered around Franco’s removal from the cabi- The president said one men- timony of 76 executives from property is left to women, it is fending rural women’s rights. by Temer follows a uproar in state-run oil company Petroleo net. While those were over- tion in plea bargain testimony Odebrecht, Brazil’s largest en- usually the least productive. Two government offi cials Brazil that was triggered by the Brasileiro, has already ensnared turned by federal judges on was not enough to dismiss a gineering conglomerate, is ex- “Women receive the smallest from the ministries associated president promoting Welling- dozens of top government, Friday, the Supreme Court this minister. Although criminal pected to deepen uncertainty by land, the less fertile. People be- with the reforms were contacted ton Moreira Franco on February political and corporate lead- week is expected to make a fi nal charges would lead to suspen- naming dozens of politicians in lieve that once they get married, by the Thomson Reuters Foun- 2 to a full-fl edged cabinet post, ers over the past two years and ruling. sion of the minister pending Temer’s coalition as recipients daughters are someone else’s dation but did not comment. where he would be partially could implicate many more, in- As a minister, Moreira Franco investigation, the offi cial would of graft money. Chile mine strike drags Highlighting pollution $210mn sanctions on with no end in sight on Colombia sought Reuters in Bogota adopted two decrees Geneva on its tariff and customs regime Reuters Union spokesman Carlos half of all exports and whose on November 2, 2016. Antofagasta Allendes yesterday called the income has diminished in re- “In Panama’s view, however, company’s statement a “dis- cent years as the metal’s price anama wants to impose these legislative acts, far from traction.” The union said late on has sunk. $210mn of annual trade bringing the measure into con- strike that has shut down Sunday that it had acted within A higher price will probably Psanctions on Colombia, formity with Colombia’s WTO operations at northern the law in its handling of the benefi t the overall economy, al- according to a fi ling published obligations, perpetuate the nul- AChilean copper mine Es- strike and facilities, and that a though a protracted confl ict will by the World Trade Organisation lifi cation and impairment of condida, the world’s biggest, peaceful march without inci- do little to encourage invest- yesterday, after winning a legal benefi ts accruing to Panama entered its fi fth day yesterday dent had taken place on Satur- ment. challenge against a so-called directly or indirectly under the with few signs of an imminent day. After 15 days of a strike, BHP “money laundering” tariff . GATT 1994,” Panama said, re- resolution. may be able to bring in replace- Panama won a judgement at ferring to the General Agreement Workers began a strike at “It remains to be seen ment workers. the WTO last year after com- on Tariff s and Trade, a founding the BHP Billiton-run mine on how long the workers After 30 days, individual plaining about Colombian tariff s agreement of the WTO. Thursday to put pressure on can maintain their tough workers will have the option of on textiles, clothes and shoes. Panama’s request for trade the company after contrac- position and if the market accepting the company’s off er. Colombia had imposed the sanctions is likely to face further tual wage talks failed to end in benefi ts from the price of Traders say it is diffi cult to see high tariff s because it said the obstacles from Colombia, which agreement. copper” the path ahead. goods were imported at arti- could ask the WTO to verify the The union has said its 2,500 “It remains to be seen how fi cially low prices in order to steps it has taken to comply with members are committed to ac- “The situation is the same,” long the workers can maintain launder money. the legal decision and could also tion and is threatening a two- said Allendes. “There has been their tough position and if the Panama’s tax transparency argue that the sanctions should month stoppage, leading BHP no rapprochement.” market benefi ts from the price has been under global scrutiny be set at a lower level. last week to swiftly declare force Concerns about supply con- of copper and other metals to the because of a huge leak of secre- Panama said in the fi l- majeure, an admission that it straints have led the copper price extent that the cost of the strike tive off shore accounts data from ing that slapping tariff s on will not be able to meet its con- to a 20-month high as Indone- is economically not such a bad Panama-based law fi rm Mos- Colombian goods would be tractual obligations. sia’s Grasberg, the world’s No 2 thing,” said one trader. sack Fonseca, whose found- problematic because it would In two months’ time, a new copper mine, deals with an ex- Escondida produced just over ers were arrested on charges of aff ect sensitive sectors of the Chilean labour law kicks in that port ban, and Peru’s important 1mn tonnes of copper in 2016 out money laundering on Saturday. Panamanian economy such as may strengthen the union’s hand Las Bambas faces protests that of Chile’s total 5.5mn. Environmentalists take part in a 5km-sail along the Medellin After Panama won its WTO energy, agriculture, health and even further. have blocked roads. BHP has a 57.5% control- River – which crosses the Valle of Aburra – to draw attention case against Colombia, a WTO construction, so it asked the On Sunday, BHP said instal- That creates a dilemma for ling interest in the mine, with to its pollution owing to the fact that it is used as waste adjudicator gave Colombia until WTO to let it sanction Colom- lations had been attacked by the government of Chile, where Rio Tinto and Japan’s JECO also disposal, in Medellin, Colombia. January 22, 2017, to comply with bian services and intellectual hooded protesters. copper makes up more than holding stakes. the ruling, and the government property instead. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan high Suicide bomber kills court bans Valentine’s Day

AFP tions even after the ban was 13 people in Lahore Islamabad announced. However preparations ap- Reuters peared muted in more con- Lahore Pakistani court yester- servative areas such as Pesha- day banned public cel- war, capital of northwestern Aebrations of Valentine’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa prov- n explosion near the Pun- Day in the capital Islamabad, ince, where only a handful of jab provincial assembly in the latest attempt by authori- shops were selling Valentine’s Athe Pakistani city of La- ties to outlaw a holiday seen Day-themed goods. hore killed at least 13 people and by many in the traditional The annual occasion is in- wounded dozens yesterday, a local Muslim society as vulgar and creasingly popular among emergency rescue service said. Western. young Pakistanis, many of The Rescue 1122 service in La- The Islamabad high court whom seize the chance to hore stated that 83 people were issued the order after a peti- celebrate romance by giving wounded when an explosion tioner declared love was be- cards, chocolates and gifts to rocked a protest organised by ing used as a “cover” to spread their sweethearts. Pakistan’s chemist and pharma- “immorality, nudity and inde- But the country remains ceuticals manufacturers. cency... which is against our deeply conservative, and “Apparently it was a suicide rich traditions and values”. many disapprove of the holi- blast but police are still investi- The ruling, seen by AFP and day as an indecent Western gating to know the exact nature of greeted with approval by Is- import. blast,” said Punjab police spokes- lamist parties, also called for Last year, Pakistan presi- man Nayab Haider, who con- the electronic and print media dent Mamnoon Hussain had fi rmed two high-ranking police to stop promoting Valentine’s urged the nation to refrain offi cials were killed in the blast. Day. from celebrating Valentine’s A spokesman for Jamaat-ur- Some restaurants in Is- Day, saying it had no place in Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani lamabad continued to send the Muslim-majority nation. Taliban, called Reuters and out text messages advertis- Other offi cials blasted it as claimed responsibility for the ing Valentine’s Day promo- “vulgar and indecent”. suicide attack. The militant group also warned the Lahore attack was the start of a new campaign against government departments.”You are on our target across the Pakistan boycotts country,” it added in a statement. Jamaat-ur-Ahrar had also claimed responsibility for an Easter Day bombing in Lahore Pakistani policemen move injured victims from a blast site into a vehicle after a powerful explosion in Lahore yesterday. UN meeting after last year that killed more than 70 people in a public park. ried out mass attacks. against the terrorists among us, The latest blast may jeopard- For years, Pakistan’s inter- Security in Pakistan has vastly Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and will continue to fi ght it un- ize plans by Pakistan, a cricket- national test cricket matches improved in recent years but Is- said the attacks will not weak- til we liberate our people of this obsessed nation, to host the fi nal have been played abroad and the US visa delay lamist groups such as the Paki- en Pakistan’s resolve in fi ght cancer, and avenge those who of its domestic Twenty20 tour- current Twenty20 tournament stani Taliban and Islamic State against militancy. have laid down their lives for us,” nament on home soil in Lahore is being played in United Arab still pose a threat and have car- “We have fought this fi ght he said in a statement. in March. Emirates due to security fears. Reuters by the weekend, he cancelled Islamabad his trip and the rest of del- egation decided to boycott, Chaudhry Arshad, a direc- he failure of Pakistan’s tor at the offi ce of the Senate Senate deputy chair- chairman, said. Coalition air Tman, a prominent Is- “Unless the US provides Rights group raps Islamabad for lamist politician, to get a US an explanation for this de- visa on time for a trip to the lay, no Senate delegation will strikes killed United States prompted Pa- visit the US and no member kistan to boycott a UN-spon- of Congress or US diplomat sored meeting yesterday, a will be welcomed in the Sen- 18 Afghans ‘forced’ repatriation of Afghans parliamentary offi cial said. ate,” Arshad said, referring to It was not clear whether the Pakistan’s upper house of par- failure of Senator Abdul Gha- liament. Reuters AFP “Because the UN refugee returning from Pakistan to $400, patriation last year, but does not foor Haideri to get a visa on Haideri could not be Kabul Kabul agency (UNHCR) didn’t stand it was eff ectively encouraging agree with the conclusions of its time for his trip was related to reached for comment but an up publicly to Pakistan’s bul- the exodus. new report,” the UN body said in US President Donald Trump’s offi cial at his party’s offi ce said lying and abuses, international “The UN refugee agency a statement. call for “extreme vetting” of it was awaiting an explanation t least 18 civilians were akistan is conducting the donors should step in to press should end the fi ction that the “The multiple drivers behind applicants amid a push to sus- from US authorities. He de- killed last week in air mass repatriation of Af- the government and UN to pro- mass forced return of Afghan this surge...include pressures by pend visas from seven other clined to be identifi ed. Astrikes by international Pghan refugees through co- tect the remaining Afghan refu- refugees from Pakistan is, in fact, authorities amidst broader se- countries. A spokeswoman for the US forces in Afghanistan’s Hel- ercion, threats and abuse, Human gees in Pakistan.” mass voluntary return,” Simpson curity operations, changing atti- Haideri, a leader of the Is- bembassy in Islamabad de- mand province, an initial Unit- Rights Watch said in a scathing The report said a combina- said. tudes among host communities, lamist Jamiat Ulema-e-Is- clined to comment, citing pri- ed Nations inquiry has con- report yesterday, accusing the tion of insecure legal status, “If UNHCR feels that giving uncertainty about the renewal lam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, had vacy rules. cluded. UN refugee agency of complicity the threat of deportation dur- cash to returning refugees is the of refugee ID cards, economic been scheduled to lead a del- Haideri is known for his op- American military offi cials in promoting the exodus. ing winter and police abuses — best way to help them survive hardship, stricter border con- egation to a two-day meeting position to the US”war on ter- say their aircraft have conducted Hundreds of thousands of including extortion, arbitrary in Afghanistan, it should at the trols disrupting trade and family of the Inter-Parliamentary ror”, launched after the Sept around 30 air strikes in Helmand Afghans have been forced to re- detention and nocturnal raids very least make clear it does not ties.” Union which began yesterday 11, 2001, attacks in the United in the past week. turn to their homeland, which is — had left the Afghan refugees consider their return to be vol- Some Afghan refugees have at UN States. His party is in a coali- A spokesman said they were racked by confl ict, poverty and with no choice but to leave Pa- untary.” been sheltering in Pakistan since headquarters in New York. tion government with Prime looking into the inquiry. unemployment, joining more kistan. There was no immediate reac- fl eeing the Soviet invasion of However, when he did not Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ruling “We are investigating the al- than half a million others up- “In July, 11 soldiers and po- tion to the report from the Pa- 1979. get a US visa on time to travel party. legations and working diligently rooted by war inside the country. lice came to our home at 3am. kistani government, which has Up to 2.4mn registered and to determine whether civilians The report, entitled “Pakistan They entered without asking previously cited security con- unregistered Afghan refugees were killed or injured as a result Coercion, UN Complicity: The and threw all our things on the cerns and strains on its resources were estimated to be in Pakistan Gunmen kill Pakistani TV news assistant of US air strikes,” said Brigadier Mass Forced Return of Afghan fl oor. They demanded to see our after nearly four decades for the last year, though the fi gures have General Charles Cleveland. Refugees”, called the repatria- refugee cards and said they were repatriation. not been updated since the repa- Gunmen shot dead an to North Nazimabad The Nato-led military mission tion the world’s largest forced expired,” a 26-year-old Afghan It has repeatedly extended triation began. employee of a Pakistani TV neighbourhood to report on has deployed hundreds of troops return of refugees. was quoted as saying. deadlines for refugees to leave, UNHCR listed it as the world’s news channel in Karachi the assault on police when to Helmand in a bid to help Af- “After decades of hosting “Then they stole all our mon- most recently until December third-largest refugee-hosting yesterday shortly after the van they were travelling ghan security forces in their war Afghan refugees, Pakistan in ey and told us to leave Pakistan,” 2017. UNHCR rejected the criti- nation. launching a grenade attack in came under fire. against Taliban insurgents. mid-2016 unleashed the world’s said the man, who returned to cism. Confl ict-torn Afghanistan on a police vehicle, off icials The 22-year-old was taken American aircraft and special largest recent anti-refugee Kabul with his wife and two chil- “The UN Refugee Agency is struggling to reabsorb large said. to hospital but died from forces have also provided com- crackdowns to coerce their mass dren. shares concerns of Human masses of refugees and failed Taimoor Abbas, an assistant his bullet wounds, senior bat support, with at least one US return,” said Gerry Simpson, a The report was also critical of Rights Watch regarding the asylum-seekers being sent back for privately run Samaa, police official Muqadas soldier wounded in recent fi ght- refugee researcher at Human the UNHCR, saying that by dou- pressures on Afghans in the late from Pakistan, as well as from had gone with colleagues Haider said. ing. Rights Watch. bling its cash grants to Afghans summer which aff ected the re- Europe and Iran. Extreme weather forces changes in school holidays

AFP Pakistani capital, during their me and the most of my fellow on their work now often extends orological Organisation, said nual academic vacation sched- gusts, heatwaves — which were Kabul walk to school. teachers to refuse to attend beyond the usual June and July signifi cant natural variation was ules to the shifting seasonal pat- once rare even in June and July “It looked like dense wet school,” said Naila Khan, a bi- summer break. to be expected from year to year terns,” he said. — now occur as early as May, he clouds had landed on the ground, ology teacher at a government Last year, schools were sup- in the onset of winter and sum- He suggested extending holi- added. fter a two-week winter with almost zero visibility in the girls’ school in the capital’s up- posed to reopen on August 1 mer and in terms of temperature day leave periods by about two “The 15-day annual winter break, school in Islama- morning,” she told the Thomson scale F-6 sector. after a two-month break, but extremes. weeks to allow a “cushion” for school vacation needs to be ad- Abad started as usual at Reuters Foundation recently as “Many schools like ours are the government extended the more intense temperature ex- vanced by 7-10 days,” Chaudhry the beginning of January — but she and her sister returned home without heaters to keep the holiday until mid-August, fol- “Many schools like ours tremes. suggested, while the summer Shumaila Nelofar’s two children from school with their class- classrooms warm, and even if lowing temperature highs of are without heaters to keep Summer school holidays in holidays should begin 10-15 days did not go. mates. there are heaters, they’re good between 35 and 41 degrees Cel- the classrooms warm, and Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan later and could be expanded to With morning temperatures Schools in Pakistan normally for nothing because of extended sius (95 to 106 degrees Faren- even if there are heaters, provinces already have been ex- last two weeks longer. hovering just above freez- reopen on Jan 1, but this year gas and electricity outages,” she heit) in all but the mountainous they’re good for nothing tended each year since 2010 on Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, ing, their mother kept them at many parents, particularly in said. northern areas. because of extended gas account of the seasonal changes. the education minister of Sindh home rather than have them sit central and northern Pakistan, Part of the problem, she said, Scientists at the Pakistan Me- and electricity outages” As well as the extension to Au- province, said that his depart- in unheated classrooms during have been reluctant to send their is that the two-week school teorological Department (PMD) gust 14 last year, holidays were ment was considering adjusting a bone-chilling cold snap that children as temperatures remain winter break is aimed to fall on say that each successive summer But he added that a shift in prolonged in most of the country the onset of winter and sum- gripped the capital for much of unusually low. the coldest days of the year — since 2010 has been the hottest the seasons of at least 15 days until August 11 in 2015 and Au- mer holidays to the weather a month. Some parents and teachers but this year the colder period recorded in the country, with in- had been observed over the past gust 30 in 2014. each year, a measure that found “How could I be so heartless to have urged the government to has come much later, as weather creasingly frequent and intense 20 years, meaning that summer Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaud- support from Rana Mashhood allow my children to go to school extend the normal two-week grows more unpredictable across heatwaves. was beginning earlier and winter hry, a climate change specialist Ahmed, Punjab’s education in the harsh cold?” she asked. winter holiday to protect the Pakistan as a result of climate At the same time, cold winter later than average. at the Asian Development Bank minister. Her 10-year-old daughter health of both children and change. days have begun later each year He urged school offi cials to and lead author of Pakistan’s “We are planning to keep the Amina Khan said that heavy fog teachers — a measure some Schools are experiencing sim- for about the last six years. adapt school schedules to the national climate change policy, school vacations schedule fl ex- on the fi rst of January also forced schools have already taken. ilar problems at the other end of Ghulam Rasul, head of the new reality. said the coldest days now fall in ible to adjust with the shifting her and her sister to turn back to “Teaching in classrooms the year as well. PMD and the permanent rep- “Considering the highly er- late January instead of late De- extreme winter and summer their home in Ghouri, a neigh- without heaters in such freez- Weather that is too hot for resentative of Pakistan with the ratic weather patterns, it would cember. days,” Ahmed said in a telephone bourhood on the outskirts of the ing cold weather compelled students and teachers to focus United Nations’ World Mete- be a saner approach to adapt an- In addition to very hot Au- interview. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Court upholds forfeiture of Marcos jewels The Philippine Supreme Court Ramos expresses concern about has upheld a 2014 lower court order to the family of late dicta- tor Ferdinand Marcos to forfeit jewellery, describing the family’s petition to win back the gems as “utterly baseless”. The Supreme impunity, Duterte ‘unilateralism’ Court found “no reversible error” in an anti-graft court’s ruling to Reuters That includes more than officers. The Philippine Drug hostility to ally the United forfeit the sets of jewels seized Manila 2,500 in police operations. Enforcement Agency (PDEA) States. Ramos also said on from the Marcoses, known as Ramos was asked during has since taken over the lead Sunday Duterte was not talk- the “Malacanang collections”, an interview on Sunday with role and Duterte wants the ing to his Cabinet on issues when they fled into exile in 1986. war on drugs in the online news channel Rappler military to join raids. such as ties with China and the Marcos was elected in 1965 and Philippines has given whether the bloodshed during Ramos, president from United States, and peace talks toppled by a popular uprising in A rise to a culture of im- the drugs war meant a culture 1992-1998, disagrees with with insurgents and commu- 1986. His family, which is active punity and President Rodrigo of impunity was prevailing. that because he said troops nist rebels. in politics and remains highly Duterte is making too many “It is starting to become like and police were trained differ- “The way it is, there is a lack influential, had failed to demon- policy decisions without con- that,” Ramos said. ently. of consultation,” he said. strate the jewellery collection sultation, according to former He said he felt hesitant to “Police work, which is a lit- “Not just with his active was lawfully acquired, the court leader Fidel Ramos. call it a culture of impunity tle different from military op- commanders, maybe not even said in a 21-page ruling. Ramos, who backed Du- because he believed it was not erations, does follow its basic with the Cabinet members Marcos would have earned terte’s election campaign but too late to change, but that the rule of engagement, which is concerned, but also with the about $304,000 during his en- has since become one of his onus was on Duterte. you shoot to disable, but not to rest of the citizenry,” Ramos tire 21-year tenure as president, bluntest critics, said there was “Based on the guidance kill,” he said. said. and thus would not have had “too much unilateralism” in from the very top, there could The senior statesman is Duterte’s spokesman Er- the means to acquire the jewels, the administration, especially be positive change (in) the way among the few Filipinos able nesto Abella did not respond the court found, according to its on law enforcement and secu- we do things in this country,” to criticise Duterte without immediately to a request for decision, made last month but rity issues. Ramos said. incurring his trademark wrath. comment yesterday. published yesterday. The auction More than 7,600 people Police operations were sus- He previously said Duterte’s Abella said in a radio inter- house Christie’s valued the col- have been killed during a mer- pended on Jan 31 after a South drugs obsession distracted view Duterte listens to Ramos’ lection at $153,000 in 1991. ciless drugs crackdown that Korean businessman was mur- him from pressing issues and opinions but was a different started seven months ago. Fidel Ramos: concern over culture of impunity. dered by rogue drugs squad expressed bemusement at his kind of leader.

Miners seek to block minister’s Wooing customers appointment after pit closures

Reuters Mining Act and related laws,” The Feb 2 decision on the Manila the Chamber of Mines of the closures followed a months- Philippines said in a letter to long audit of the mines last lawmakers. year.A government team that group of miners yes- She “does not have the ad- reviewed the audit recom- terday opposed the ministrative experience and mended only suspensions and A appointment of the competence to lead the De- fines. The Southeast Asian Philippine environment min- partment of Environment and nation is the world’s top nick- ister saying her ordered clo- Natural Resources” and has a el ore supplier. sure of more than half of the “poor track record in leading Lopez has said the mine country’s mines showed an and managing environmental closures account for about “undeniable bias” against the and eco-tourism projects,” half of the domestic nickel ore sector. the letter said. output. Regina Lopez, a former Lopez angered the mining Duterte said on Sunday he environmental activist ap- sector after ordering the clo- would not stand in the way pointed by President Rodrigo sure of 23 of the Philippines’ of Lopez’s decision to close Duterte last June, is among 41 mines for causing damage several mines in the southern a few cabinet members who to watersheds and siltation of Philippines after he saw the have yet to be confirmed by coastal waters and farmlands. damage they had done to the Congress. She also ordered the sus- environment. Duterte re-appointed her in pension of another five mines. The mining chamber has November after the commis- In response, Lopez told said that Lopez “violated due sion on appointments — made Reuters that she does have “a process” by not giving proper up of lawmakers — bypassed bias against the operations of notice to miners affected by her confirmation. companies which cause suf- the closures and refusing to Lopez’s recent moves show fering to our people.” release the results of the au- “antagonism towards large- “I do have a bias in favour dit. scale mining, rendering her of social justice and the en- Lopez, whose agency over- unfit and incapable of a re- vironment. I will not cow to sees mining, later said the au- sponsible, fair, just and bal- big business. My allegiance is dit results can be released, but anced implementation of the to the common good and the stood by her decision to close Constitution, the Philippine Filipino people,” she said. or suspend 28 mines.

British fraudster held in Pampanga

DPA on Britain’s 10 most wanted list of fraudsters, Manila Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement. The man from Bristol is wanted by the Avon British man, who was one of the 10 most and Somerset police for allegedly duping vic- wanted fraudsters in that country, was ar- tims into paying for designer watches which were Arested by immigration agents in the Phil- never delivered. Stagg allegedly set up companies ippines on Friday, the Bureau of Immigration said in the Philippines which sold watches online to yesterday. around 140 customers in Britain. Adam James Stagg, 30, was arrested at his “Like all other foreign fugitives that we have home in Mabalacat City in Pampanga province, arrested, this Briton will be expelled and sent north of Manila. Stagg, who was arrested at the back to his country to stand trial for his crimes,” A vendor sells balloons a day before Valentine’s Day in Rizal Park, in Metro Manila yesterday. request of the British embassy, was listed seventh Morente said. Drugs war slowed by death of a businessman

Reuters as “corrupt to the core”. The invested $520mn in areas like Manila president’s legal counsel, Salva- power, tourism and electronics dor Panelo, said the president, a manufacturing. former prosecutor, makes deci- About 55,000 Filipinos work hen Philippines Presi- sions strictly on the basis of the in South Korea and the Philip- dent Rodrigo Duterte letter of the law. pines attracts Koreans studying Wsummoned his secu- Activists’ allegations of sum- English, over 3,700 of them last rity chiefs to an urgent meeting mary executions had no sup- year.A South Korean diplomat one Sunday night last month, his porting evidence, he said, yet in Manila said there were no mind was already made up. to Duterte, Jee’s killing was ir- threats or pressure on the Philip- His military and law enforce- refutable, audacious and embar- pine government over the killing ment heads had no idea what rassing. “The committing of that of the businessman, but Seoul was coming: a suspension of the crime was so obvious,” he said. wanted a guarantee of safety for police force’s leading role in his Worried that the incident its citizens and a secure invest- signature campaign, a merciless South Korean nationals pay their respects during a memorial service President Rodrigo Duterte announces the disbandment of police would dent the Philippines’ im- ment climate. war on illegal drugs. for their compatriot Jee Ick-joo, who was allegedly killed by policemen operations against illegal drugs next to Defence Secretary Delfin age in South Korea, Duterte sent Hoik Lee, president of the Ko- There was only one reason for inside the Camp Crame police camp, in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Lorenzana at the Malacanang Palace in Manila. Panelo to Seoul to apologise to rean Chamber of Commerce in the U-turn, three people who acting president Hwang Kyo- the Philippines, said South Ko- attended the Jan 29 meeting told palace. Duterte decided that the mostly drug pushers and users, huge importance to the Philip- Lapena, who was also at the ahn. Seoul is Manila’s biggest reans felt increasingly unsafe in Reuters. much smaller Philippine Drug in seven months. pines for development aid, tour- meeting, hadn’t seen it coming supplier of military hardware, the country. Duterte was furious that Enforcement Agency (PDEA) The blunt-spoken president ism, overseas employment and either. donating or selling fi ghter jets, The chamber’s membership drugs-squad cops had not only would take over the drugs crack- had repeatedly defi ed calls from military hardware. He said in an interview that patrol boats, frigates and trucks. has grown from 20 fi rms in 1995 kidnapped and murdered a down, with support from the United Nations, the United But security offi cials said it the president had lambasted the About 1.4mn South Koreans to 500 companies now, including South Korean businessman, they military. States and the European Un- was the audacity of the killing police force and told them that visited the Philippines in the fi rst Samsung Electro-Mechanics, had strangled him to death in the It was a stunning turnaround ion to rein in his war on drugs, of Jee Ick-joo and the attempt to the “deactivation” and purge of 10 months of 2016 — a quarter Hanjin and LG, but Lee estimat- headquarters of the Philippines by Duterte, who had until then calling them stupid. Duterte’s use the war on drugs as a cover its anti-drugs unit was now as of all tourists arrivals — lured by ed that the Korean community National Police itself. stood unswervingly behind his aides were used to his mercurial for kidnap and ransom that trig- important as the drugs war itself. beaches, golf and the sex industry. has shrunk by about a third to “He was straight to the point police force through months of style, but they were taken aback gered his decision. Police Director General Ro- Korean tourists spend an av- 100,000 people since 2013 de- — ‘I am ordering you to dis- allegations that its offi cers were that the killing of one foreigner “It’s all about the Korean. nald dela Rosa told Reuters that erage $180-$200 daily, and their spite the bright economic out- band your anti-drug units, all guilty of extra-judicial killings would be enough to stop him in That it happened at all, it’s re- Duterte had been “really mad” overall spending is triple that of look in the Philippines. units’,” said Defence Secretary and colluding with hit men in a his tracks. ally that (which) pissed him off ,” about the incident and, after US visitors. South Korea is the “Police should protect us not Delfi n Lorenzana, who was at campaign that has claimed the One explanation is that rela- Lorenzana told Reuters. the meeting, the president pub- Philippines’ fi fth-largest source kill us,” Lee said.”That is why we the meeting in the presidential lives of more than 7,600 people, tions with South Korea are of PDEA Director General Isidro licly denounced the police force of development aid and in 2015 are very upset and very shocked.” Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Nepal-India border Aid ship to help Rohingyas sealed for 72 hours

IANS arrives in Bangladesh Kathmandu Reuters mar’s neighbours with mostly Dhaka Muslim Malaysia being par- he Nepal-India border ticularly vociferous in its points in Kanchanpur criticism. Tdistrict were sealed for Malaysian aid ship ar- It has supported Muslim 72 hours since Sunday evening rived in Bangladesh groups and aid organisations in view of the elections in the Ayesterday carrying aid to arrange a shipment of more border states of India. for hundreds of thousands of than 2,000 tonnes of aid for The western points Gaddachauki Rohingya Muslims who have Rohingyas. and Brahmadev were closed since fl ed from Myanmar, many cit- The ship’s fi rst stop was in the Sunday evening and the Dodhara ing abuses by the Myanmar Myanmar port city of Yangon, Chandani and Belauri points will be security forces. last week, where it unloaded sealed from Monday evening, the Nearly 70,000 Rohingya have 500 tonnes of supplies. Himalayan Times reported. fl ed from Buddhist-majority A representative of the mis- The elections to the legisla- Myanmar’s Rakhine State to sion on the ship said it would tive assemblies of Uttarakhand Bangladesh to escape a crack- unload about 2,000 tonnes of and Uttar Pradesh have been down launched after nine po- food and emergency supplies in scheduled for tomorrow. licemen were killed in attacks Bangladesh, though staff were Uttar Pradesh, which shares a on border posts on October not being allowed access. border with Nepal, will go for its 9 that Myanmar blamed on “We are not allowed to get off second phase of polling on Feb- Rohingya militants. the ship or to visit the camps,” ruary 15 after the fi rst phase took The UN human rights of- said the aid representative, who place on February 11. fi ce said in a report this month declined to be identifi ed. The Nepal-India checkpoints in Myanmar’s security forces had The 70,000 new arrivals Beldandi and Tribhuvan Basti will committed mass killings and joined more than 200,000 Ro- remain closed from Tuesday evening gang rapes of Rohingya Muslims hingya already in Bangladesh, and they will reopen after 5pm to- and burned their villages. many living in camps, who fl ed A Malaysian NGO’s aid ship carrying food and emergency supplies for Rohingya Muslims arrives at the port in Yangon, Myanmar on Thursday. morrow, Kanchanpur’s Deputy Su- Myanmar has denied almost earlier crackdowns in Myanmar. perintendent of Police Nainsingh all allegations of human rights A Bangladesh government istrator of the coastal district ministry offi cial and Malaysia’s Rohingya have faced discrim- About 1.1mn Rohingya live Karki said. The decision to seal the abuses, and says a lawful coun- offi cial said the ship was on its of Cox’s Bazar, which borders ambassador in attending to ination in Myanmar for genera- in apartheid-like conditions in border points was taken with a view to terinsurgency campaign has way to the Chittagong port after Myanmar, said he had not re- receive the shipment. tions. They are not classifi ed as a northwestern Myanmar. avert any untoward incident during been under way since the Oc- anchoring off the coastal town ceived clearance to let anyone off UN offi cials working with distinct group under Myanmar’s Bangladesh says the Rohingya the election period, he said. tober attacks on the security of Teknaf, near the Myanmar the ship. refugees in Bangladesh have said citizenship laws and are regard- have been living in Myanmar for The Indian police also tight- posts. border, and arrangements were A port offi cial in Chittagong the death toll in the Myanmar ed instead as illegal immigrants generations and are not Bangla- ened security in border ar- The violence has dismayed being made to unload its cargo. said a ceremony would be held security sweep could be more from Bangladesh, entitled only deshis, and it faces a huge bur- eas with Nepal and intensifi ed and outraged some of Myan- But Ali Hossain, chief admin- on Tuesday with a senior foreign than 1,000. to limited rights. den looking after the refugees. security checks. Lanka arrests BNP proposes talks over poll-time govt

550 deserters in By Mizan Rahman BNP’s Nayapaltan central offi ce, fair and credible polls,” he said. their supportive government the new CEC’s political and per- Dhaka BNP secretary general Mirza The BNP leader further said, proposal as they did earlier about sonal positions. He’s not that Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also said “We’ll defi nitely present a pro- their chairperson’s proposal on much qualifi ed to be the CEC.” they are not going to approach posal on a co-operative admin- the EC, Fakhrul said, “We’re Replying to a question, he said army clean-up ajor opposition Bang- the president to take initiatives istration and call upon the gov- not thinking about it right now. they will decide later whether ladesh Nationalist for dialogue. ernment to take initiatives for What will be the use of go- their party will join the national MParty (BNP) yesterday “Now people are talking about talks. We’ll give the prime min- ing to the president as he has election under the new EC. “But AFP ers and soldiers took advan- said it will now place a proposal supportive government as they ister our proposal urging her to completed his task.” we’ll join local polls as we did Colombo tage of the amnesty, turn- for an election-time support- strongly feel that a fair election accept it. Otherwise, she’ll have Turning to the new election in the pas since it’s an ongoing ing themselves in to avoid ive government and urge the will not be possible unless a neu- to shoulder all the responsibility commission, he said the head of process.” punishment. prime minister to take steps for tral administration is installed. for the emerging situation.” the commission is not a capable The BNP secretary general ri Lanka arrested nearly Sri Lanka’s army, navy engaging in talks over the issue. So, an election-time support- Asked whether they will go person for the post. “We’ve al- also said their party will soon re- 550 soldiers in a sin- and air force have a com- Speaking at a conference at ive government is a must for to President Abdul Hamid with ready cleared before people about constitute Dhaka city unit. Sgle day as it reins in the bined strength of just over mass desertion that’s plagued 275,000 personnel, but the armed forces since the end desertion has been a seri- Lanka to develop of the civil war, an offi cial said ous problem throughout its yesterday. history. natural gas site in The military has been Soldiers routinely walked High Court upholds ban on 34 pharmas Mannar Basin pursuing nearly 43,000 de- off the job during the 37-year serters who refused to vol- war against Tamil separatists Sri Lanka has launched a tender to untarily turn themselves in which ended in May 2009, By Mizan Rahman also asked for forming a fi ve- pharmaceutical companies to tion of 20 pharmaceutical com- develop a gas block in the Mannar under a government am- but desertion remained an Dhaka member probe committee to stop production. panies within seven days for Basin off its northwest coast, nesty designed to clean up issue even after combat had monitor the implementation of Manzil Morshed fi led the their failure to produce quality vacated when Cairn India pulled the ranks. ceased. the order. petition on behalf of Human medicines. out of an exploration project in Arrests have begun in ear- Offi cials say peace time he Bangladesh High Already the government has Rights and Peace for Bangla- The 20 pharmaceutical com- 2015 as oil prices plunged. nest since the grace period ex- desertions were due in part Court (HC) yesterday revoked the licences of at least desh, responding to a report, panies are Axim, Avert, Bikol- Sri Lanka produces no oil and is pired in December, ending any to a reduction in risk-related Tupheld its earlier order companies out of 34, he said. titled ‘Low quality medicines po, Dolphin, Drugland, Globe, dependent on imports but Cairn hope soldiers had of avoiding a allowances paid to soldiers, that had asked 20 pharmaceu- It also asked the probe com- of 34 companies still exist in Jalpa, Kafma, Medico, National India discovered gas in the area court martial. and the growth of better tical companies and 14 anti- mittee to submit a report over market’, published by vernacu- Drug, North Bangle, Remo in 2011. The government claims The mass apprehension of paying jobs in the private biotics manufacturers to stop the overall situation of the drug lar daily Dainik Samakal on chemicals, Rid Pharma, Skylab, seismic data shows the potential 546 soldiers during a sweep sector. production and supply and companies -- whether the drug June 28. Spark, Star, Sunipun, Today, for more than 1bn barrels of oil on Thursday was “the larg- Many have found work in withdraw all their medicines companies are involved in pro- The writ petition was fi led Tropical and Universal. under the sea in a 30,000sq km est ever”, Brigadier Roshan construction and transport, which have been found to be of ducing drugs without following with the HC seeking its direc- The 14 other pharmaceuti- area of the Mannar Basin. Seneviratne said. while police have reported the low quality. the policy or selling those to lo- tives to revoke the licenses of cals producing antibiotics also It invited companies to undertake “Those who surrendered involvement of deserters in The HC bench of Justice Syed cal markets -- to the Directo- 20 pharmaceutical companies banned Ad-Din, Belsen, Bristle, appraisal and development of during the one-month am- gun-related crimes. Muhammad Dastagir Husain rate General of Drug Adminis- and 14 antibiotics manufactur- Cristal, Indo-Bangla, Millat, gas discoveries and prospects in nesty period could either re- More than 25,000 security and Justice Md Ataur Rahman tration (DGDA) after every four ers for their failure to produce MST, Orbit, Rasa, Save, Alkad a 2,924sq km off shore block in join the service or be legally personnel were among at least Khan passed the order. months. quality medicines. Laboratories, Farmik Labora- the basin, Petroleum Resource discharged,” he added. 100,000 people killed during Manzil Morshed, a counsel Earlier, on August 8 last year, On June 7, the HC ordered the tories, Phoenix Chemical and Development Secretariat (PRDS) More than 9,000 offi c- Sri Lanka’s civil war. for the petitioner, said the court the High Court ordered 34 government to stop the produc- Bengal Drugs. said on its website yesterday. “The block will be off ered for licensing this year, including the Barracuda and Dorado gas-condensate discoveries. A data package will be available containing well data and some Ex-Gurkha bids to reclaim 2,600sq km of 3D seismic coverage,” it said. It also said the remaining blocks off Sri Lankan shores will be released via a bidding round in ‘oldest on Everest’ title the fourth quarter of this year. London-based WesternGeco plans 2D and 3D spec surveys ahead AFP “My aim is not to break any- 18 in an avalanche that hit the were forced off the mountain by of the bids off the east coast and Kathmandu body’s record, this is not a per- mountain’s base camp, and he the quake to use their extended in the Mannar Basin, while the sonal competition between was forced to turn back. permits. government has planned some individuals. I wish to break my “These hurdles haven’t dis- Sherchan, who joined the airborne surveying, PRDS said. n 85-year-old former own record,” Sherchan said in couraged me, I am determined British Gurkhas when he was Cairn India, which is now being Gurkha is making a bid the Nepali capital. to go,” he said. a teenager and served for fi ve taken over by Vedanta, said in 2011 Ato reclaim his title as the Nevertheless, the octogenar- Ang Tsering Sherpa, the head years, said he always had a pen- that it struck a 25m hydrocarbon world’s oldest person to summit ians have been in a tug of war for of Nepal’s mountaineering as- chant for adventure. column showing primarily gas Mount Everest. the honour of being Everest’s sociation, has little doubt that “My personal motto is that with “other liquid hydrocarbon A Guinness World Record oldest summiteer. Sherchan’s determination will I wish to do something that no potential” in the CLPL-Dorado- certifi cate hangs proudly in Min Both Sherchan and Miura carry him at least part of the one else has done before.” 91H/1z wildcat well, drilled at a Bahadur Sherchan’s Kathman- summited in 2008, but the way up Everest. With his bid to summit Ever- water depth of 1,354m (4,442ft). du home and by the end of this former soldier in the British “He is very determined and est this year, the slightly hard It exited the project in 2015 after year’s spring climbing season Gurkha army secured the record has strong willpower,” said of hearing grandfather hopes a nearly 50% drop in crude oil he hopes to have a second one by virtue of being a year older. Sherpa who worked with Sher- to prove that age is no barrier to prices. hanging next to it. When Miura snatched the chan during his previous record adventure. Since the end of a 25-year civil Sherchan made his historic title in 2013 Sherchan was also attempts. “By climbing Everest at this war with Tamil separatists over climb in 2008 when he was 76, preparing to tackle the peak in a More than 450 people sum- age I want to boost self-confi - seven years ago, Sri Lanka has but he lost the record fi ve years bid to retain his title. mited Everest last year, many dence of elderly people, inspire tried to reinvigorate oil and gas later when Japanese mountain- But delayed paperwork meant using mountaineering permits new generations and establish exploration. Importing oil cost the eer Yuichiro Miura summited he missed the narrow window that were extended by the gov- a proud identity for Nepal,” he island $2.7bn in 2015. the 8,848m (29,029ft) peak at of good weather in May when ernment following the cancella- said. From the mid-1960s to 1984 the age of 80. most people attempt to summit. tion of the 2015 spring climbing “The gods should help with American and Russian companies Sherchan has since been on In 2015, Sherchan was on his season due to the earthquake. the weather and keep me well. explored the Cauvery Basin off a quest to take back the title – way to Everest when a devas- This year is expected to be I have no diseases, I’ve always Min Bahadur Sherchan shows off his 2008 Guinness World Record the northern shore, but only though he says it is only to prove tating quake hit Nepal, killing particularly crowded as it is the been healthy. My age will not certificate for being the oldest person to summit Mount Everest – a traces of oil were found and no to himself that he can. nearly 9,000 people including last chance for climbers who stop me.” record that was later broken in 2013 – in Kathmandu. commercial oil was produced. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko This British govt is cruel

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar – and opposition useless [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Theresa May can shut the shrugged off . Refugee kids? They’re all on the issue; even the whips defi ed ranging from “you didn’t say that at Fax 44350474 scam artists. the whip. Labour proposed a series of the time” to “why assume our talks door on child refugees Dubs is surely familiar with this amendments, every last one of which with the EU will fail before they’ve and impose a hard Brexit kind of thinking. These days, we was defeated. And once they had been, even started?”. Such a stance might look back on the Kindertransport – Jeremy Corbyn – a man so loyal to his have been hard for Labour to maintain because Jeremy Corbyn which saved nearly 10,000 Jewish conscience that he rebelled against a in government, but in case you haven’t has no clue how children who, like Dubs, were fl eeing Labour government 428 times – led noticed, that is not Labour’s current the Nazis – as an act of noble British his MPs into the division lobby to vote problem. GULF TIMES to stop her compassion. Compared to today’s in lockstep with a Tory government. Instead, all Labour needed was miserly numbers, that pride is As one Twitter wit observed, Labour’s a position that would have kept By Jonathan Freedland justifi ed. But it’s worth remembering position amounted to: “Give us members and MPs on board and that London that the reason children rather than everything we want, and if you don’t, would have allowed it to present a adult Jews were rescued was not only we’ll give you everything you want.” united front. Then it could have made because fewer bureaucratic hurdles Ah, but what else could Labour do? tactical alliances with the Lib Dems No ordinary hat kind of government were placed in their way. According Surely the party was in an impossible and the SNP, forming a coherent bloc breaks a promise to historian Anthony Grenville of position, torn between MPs that might have attracted anywhere to give shelter to the Association of Jewish Refugees, representing urban, pro-remain seats between 15 and 20 Tory remainers. W3,000 of the most it was also because “small children and those whose constituents were “They were there for the taking,” Joe as England desperate people on Earth, children were easier to get past hostile public strongly for leave. If the latter group says one Labour veteran. This is fl eeing war and devastation? What opinion”. had voted against article 50, wouldn’t a government with a wafer-thin kind of government sneaks out an The government, he told me, they have been damned for ignoring majority: as one former Tory cabinet announcement that the 3,000 places “wanted to avoid Daily Mail the referendum and frustrating the minister told me: “It ought to be it had reserved for child refugees will photographers taking pictures of will of the people, turning their seats doomed to an early death.” take Root be shrunk to 350 and, after that, the adults coming down the gangway at into easy prey for Ukip? But Labour never got close to doors to this peaceful and prosperous Harwich”. (In that same spirit, the No. There was a way out. Labour making a scratch. I’m told there was country will be slammed shut? Gestapo would closely inspect each could have declared from the start not even an attempt at co-ordination Joe Root was earmarked as a future England captain The question is not rhetorical. The Kindertransport train, making sure that of course it accepted the 23 June with the pro-remain parties in the from the day he made his test debut in 2012 and after fi rst answer is: a government that only children were on board.) verdict to leave the EU. That’s what Commons: how could there be, when knows it has the press on its side. Perhaps it’s the hardening of the the people voted for. But that’s all Labour was all over the place? Corbyn scoring a bucket-load of runs he duly landed the job Theresa May reckoned she could get British heart following those Calais they voted for. They did not vote and his leftwing comrades were so just over four years later. away with reneging on her pledge to pictures that explains why May felt to leave the single market. Indeed, frightened of accusations they were His boyish looks and cheeky-chappy persona belie a Alf Dubs – himself a child refugee confi dent she could break her promise leave’s loudest voices were adamant thwarting the people’s will that they in 1939 – because the papers have to 3,000 despairing kids. But there that a vote for them did not mean ended up as Theresa’s little helpers – steely determination which, combined with a classical switched sides on the issue, taking is another reason too. For hers is a a vote to leave the market. Nigel aiding and abetting a hard Brexit that technique, have lifted him to third in the world test much of the public with them. government that knows it faces no Farage regularly extolled the virtues could bring ruin. batting rankings, behind only Australia’s Steve Smith There was a time, traceable to coherent opposition. of Norway: out of the EU, but in the In a tweet both tragic and comic, that photograph of the small, lifeless Note the attention paid to the single market. Corbyn refl ected on this disaster and India’s Virat Kohli. body of Alan Kurdi washed up on a archbishop of Canterbury – along Theresa May’s Lancaster House with a declaration that the “real fi ght Those two are already captains of their countries and Mediterranean shore, when these with a few rebel Conservatives – for speech last month gave Labour a huge starts now” – as if the parliamentary the 26-year-old Root, two years Kohli’s junior and children could expect the sympathy speaking out on the Dubs scheme, just opening. Once she had committed to decision to trigger article 50 were a of Britain’s popular press. In April as the Speaker, John Bercow, made taking Britain out of the market, they pantomime, and what really matters is one year younger than Smith, will face many battles 2016, even the Daily Mail endorsed the waves by vowing, successfully, to could have promptly said she had waving placards and all the shouting against them for individual and team bragging rights. Dubs scheme to give 3,000 a haven in block Donald Trump from addressing exceeded the referendum mandate. into a megaphone in Hyde Park that Root replaced Alastair Cook who quit last week after Britain. parliament. They are stepping into a There was a ready-made slogan: now follows. That’s his comfort zone, But then little Alan was erased in vacuum where the offi cial opposition “Nobody voted for this.” Framed like and he should be allowed to retreat to leading England in a record 59 Tests over four and a the public mind, replaced by images should be. that, Labour would have had every right it. But it leaves the rest of us in a zone half years during which he enjoyed some success, with of children who were both alive and The most obvious demonstration to block the triggering of article 50. of discomfort and distress, watching two Ashes victories and a rare triumph in India, but bigger, refugees arriving from Calais – and explanation – of how badly Sure, Brexiteers would have hit as a government cruel enough to shut who the Sun and others believed Labour is broken came with this back, saying only leaving the single out the world’s most helpless children struggled to impose a defi nitive style of leadership on looked older than 18. The “moral and week’s Commons vote on article market would allow Britain to reduce leads our country off a cliff , unchecked his side. humanitarian duty” the Mail had 50, triggering Britain’s exit from the free movement. But there would have by an opposition that isn’t worthy of Essentially attritional in nature, Cook lacked fl air and spoken of so eloquently was swiftly European Union. Labour was in pieces been plenty of available responses, the name. — Guardian News & Media an ability to adapt to changing situations, qualities that Root has already shown in his brief spells in charge. He would do well to model himself on fellow Yorkshireman Michael Vaughan whose aggressive and innovative captaincy led England to victory in the 2005 Ashes series, the fi rst time they had Root replaced beaten arch-rivals Alastair Cook Australia for 18 years. Root, a keen student who quit last of the game, will have week aft er fi rebrand all-rounder Ben Stokes as his leading England vice-captain and the in a record 59 pair must fi nd a way to get the best out of an Tests accomplished group of players who under- performed badly in 2016, losing eight Tests. They will have to nurture talented youngsters like opener Haseeb Hameed and harness the experience of leading fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Root has scored 4,594 runs in 53 tests at an average Refugees leave Calais for Britain on 13 October, 2016. ‘What kind of government sneaks out an announcement that the 3,000 places it had reserved for child refugees will be shrunk to 350?’ of 52.80 and there have been fears that the captaincy could aff ect his prolifi c batsmanship. Those who know him well, however, have no such concerns. “He’ll take it in his stride. He’s the kind of character to do that,” said Yorkshire director of cricket Martin For Arab MPs, Knesset ‘harder than ever’ Moxon. “He’ll be the type of character that will cope with the The atmosphere in Israeli 2015 is widely considered the most “When there’s a war on, the He partly lost his parliamentary pressure. It’ll not aff ect his batting. Knowing Joe it’ll right-wing in the country’s history. Knesset is on fire - it’s full of immunity and was indicted parliament is increasingly It strongly supports Jewish racism and blatant aggression,” after Zeev Elkin, a minister from probably enhance his batting.” hostile, say Arabs settlements in the occupied West Tibi said. Netanyahu’s Likud party, gathered 72 Anderson, England’s leading test wicket taker, Bank and east Jerusalem, and some His Jewish colleagues “did not want parliamentary signatures demanding believes Root is the right man for the job. members favour annexing parts of the to hear the Arab point of view, or even Ghattas be thrown out. West Bank. to hear Arabic,” he told AFP. Israeli law says such a vote can be “He is fairly quiet but he has got that fi re in his belly,” By Majeda el-Batsh/ AFP Jerusalem The 2015 election also saw Arab In December, the chairman of held if at least 70 members support he said. “Root gets into situations, one-on-ones, with Israeli parties form a common political Netanyahu’s Likud party, David it, but Ghattas is the fi rst such case in people. He speaks a lot of sense when he does speak front for the fi rst time since the Bitan, said he would prefer if Arab Israel’s history. t has never been easy being creation of Israel in 1948. Israelis did not vote, accusing them of Adalah, an Arab Israeli rights group, and he’s a really impressive young man.” a lawmaker who identifi es They founded the Joint Arab List, “representing Palestinian interests” said it was “unprecedented” and Root will start his reign with home series against as Palestinian in the Israeli a coalition that ranges from Islamists rather than those of the state of which accused the attorney general of failing South Africa and West Indies before the task of trying Iparliament, but today it is harder to communists and even a Jewish they are citizens. to give Ghattas the usual 30 days to than ever, Arab Israeli MPs say. parliamentarian. Tibi said he has been the target of prepare his defence before a hearing. to retain the Ashes in Australia, the ultimate challenge In recent months they have seen With 13 MPs out of 120, it is now the calls for violence. On Monday, Ghattas said in an for the man England hope will be their baby-faced their colleagues discuss banning the third-largest parliamentary block, but Right-wing Defence Minister open letter to MPs that he was being early morning Muslim call to prayer is beset by internal divisions. Avigdor Lieberman once said he subjected to trial by media. assassin. and vote to legalise the seizure of Five more Arab Israeli should be put before a fi ring squad, Ayman Odeh, head of the Joint Arab hundreds of acres of Palestinian land parliamentarians belong to other he said. List, told Israeli television the issue in the West Bank by Jewish settlers. parties. “Every day he tells us that we are “should be conducted within the legal To Advertise They have faced criticism and Making up around 18% of Israel’s terrorists and enemies of the state.” framework” and that Ghattas must be threats from fellow members of population, Arab Israelis are Sometimes Arab MPs score points. allowed to defend himself. [email protected] Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, some descended from Palestinians who Aida Touma, for example, broke a But despite the challenges, Display of whom refuse to even speak to them. remained on their land after Israel was glass ceiling in 2015 when she became parliamentarian Abdallah Abu Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Ahmed Tibi, a veteran lawmaker established. the fi rst Arab to chair a standing Maarouf said it is important that Arabs in his fi fth term, said the situation They have full voting and legal committee in the Knesset. continue to represent their interests in Classified in parliament is at its worst since rights but say the state systematically “It means big challenges, as I belong parliament. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 he was fi rst elected in 1999, with discriminates against them. to a parliamentary minority and a “We were living here before Israel tensions whipped up by a “right-wing Tibi said the atmosphere in national minority within the state,” was founded, but now we are 20% of Subscription extremist” government. parliament is increasingly hostile, she said. the population,” he said. [email protected] “The Knesset is an extremist place. with some members even refusing to But their colleague Basel Ghattas is “As citizens, we have the legitimate It’s not an easy place to work.” talk to others. now facing prosecution. right to work to change the policies The government led by Prime He said tensions spiked during three Ghattas was accused of illegally of discrimination against Arabs in 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that wars with Palestinians in Gaza since bringing mobile phones to prisoners in Israel,” he said. “So we won’t leave this came to power following elections in 2008. an Israeli jail. platform.” Gulf Times Tuesday, February 14, 2017 23 COMMENT The next phase of climate action

By Moha Ennaji Africa is paying a particularly heavy funding; design mechanisms to Fez price. support the implementation of Though the continent is responsible fl agship programmes; strengthen their for only 4% of greenhouse-gas institutions’ capacity to tackle climate ast November, while much emissions, it is suff ering more than risks; and seize opportunities in low- of the world was trying to any other continent from climate carbon development in the fi elds of unpack Donald Trump’s change, as rising temperatures, energy, technological innovation, and Lelection as US president, shifting seasons, and proliferating “green” industries. the United Nations Climate Change droughts deplete biodiversity, destroy External support will be vital to Conference (COP 22) was held in ecosystems, and undermine security enable these eff orts. Marrakesh, Morocco. and stability. Of course, the responsibility for Participants from all over the Lake Chad, once an immense mitigating climate change does not fall world, including 38 heads of state and reservoir of fresh water, has lost only on government. government, came together to create a around 90% of its surface area since NGOs, for example, are already plan for implementing the 2015 Paris 1963 and is at risk of drying out having a major impact, implementing climate agreement, which aims to permanently. educational programmes and even limit global warming to well below two Some 4mn hectares of forest staging protests to raise awareness of degrees Celsius above pre-industrial disappear every year in Africa – the environmental challenges we face. levels. double the world average. But, in many ways, government is It was an important step forward, Agriculture, predominantly critical to enabling such contributions. but the issue remains far more subsistence farming, employs over While tackling climate change complex – and politically charged – 60% of the African workforce, eff ectively will be virtually impossible than most would care to admit. implying widespread destruction of without civil-society organisations’ The global co-operation that has livelihoods, to say nothing of increased participation, their impact has often emerged lately is certainly welcome. food insecurity as crops are disrupted. been undermined by the political But, while teamwork is critical Indeed, Africa’s agricultural yields considerations of their governments, to success, so is recognition of the could be reduced by 20% from now which may, for example, favour distinct roles and responsibilities of until 2050, as the population grows incumbent energy suppliers over governments in the industrialized and twofold. green alternatives in order to preserve developing worlds. Entire sections of Africa’s coastline, existing jobs. The industrialized countries have including almost one-third of Some governments have already long produced massive amounts its coastal infrastructure, will be implemented important measures of emissions and other kinds of submerged. Policymakers often tout forests, while infecting humans with meet the agriculture challenges posed to support the shift toward more pollution, while consuming a huge Already, Africa has 10mn “climate “sustainable development,” but lack deadly diseases. by climate change. environmentally friendly practices, share of the world’s resources refugees.” If nothing is done, that clear answers for how to achieve it. Trump has explicitly declared And it calls for greater support for including fi nancial and market incentives. – including 90% of the world’s fi gure will rise to almost 60mn in just In many cases – Trump being the his intention to ignore the Paris climate projects, including through Only with more such initiatives, water – all in the name of their own three years. most notable example – they seem agreement. capacity building and technology as well as a commitment to follow development. This jeopardises not only the determined to do just the opposite. But, as the Marrakesh transfer from developed to developing through on the Marrakesh declaration As a result, these countries now tremendous economic progress that As it stands, economic power is declaration emphasises, success countries. and to support the goals of the Africa enjoy high standards of living and food the continent has made in recent being used as a political tool, wielded in mitigating climate change will Notwithstanding Trump’s Action Summit, can governments security. years, but also the basic rights of tens by leaders attempting to evade their require political commitment at reluctance, many countries seem to put their countries, and the world, The situation for developing of millions of Africans. global responsibilities. the highest level. recognise the imperative to act. on the path toward true sustainable countries is very diff erent. The industrialised countries have The world’s “great powers” do Moreover, climate action must Participants in the Africa Action development. – Project Syndicate Not only have they contributed pledged to support their developing- not adhere to UN agreements meant take into account the special needs Summit, held on the sidelines of the substantially less to climate change; country counterparts, like those to regulate industries that emit and context of developing countries, Marrakesh conference, off ered their zMoha Ennaji is President of the South they are also suff ering its worst in Africa, in their eff ort to steel greenhouse gases and dump heavy especially the least-developed own commitment to build an Africa North Centre for Intercultural Dialogue eff ects, including food shortages themselves against climate change. metals in the sea and soil. economies and those most vulnerable that is resilient to climate change and Migration Studies in Morocco. and the loss of livelihoods, brought But their promises are modest, They not only hold fast to their to the eff ects of climate change. and able to advance sustainable His most recent books include New about by increasingly extreme and relative to what is actually needed, nuclear industries; they mismanage With this in mind, the declaration development. Horizons of Muslim Diaspora in North frequent weather events like fl oods and doubts about whether they will be those industries’ waste, which can demands greater eff orts to eradicate To that end, African states must America and Europe and Muslim and droughts. fulfi lled persist. destroy ecosystems, from oceans to poverty, ensure food security, and identify ways to access the necessary Moroccan Migrants in Europe. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast Reschedule exam have to wait until the exams get over. parliamentarian E Ahamed, whose TODAY Spending a huge amount of money recent death is a great loss to the High: 22 C programme in for just 10 days makes it even more country. Low : 19 C Inshore: Expected thundery rain at diffi cult. He was an able parliamentarian, Please send us places associated with strong wind. Indian schools Schools can have normal classes a good human being who was above during this time but avoid holding caste politics, and a secularist though your letters Dear Sir, exams to ease travelling for students. he represented the Indian Union WEDNESDAY High: 22 C As this academic year comes to an end Muslim League from constituencies in By e-mail Lohri in Punjab, Pongal in Tamil and schools are busy preparing the Kerala’s north that are predominantly Low: 20 C Nadu, Sankranti in Karnataka and calendar for the next academic year, Muslim. [email protected] Showers Andhra Pradesh. All signify the I sincerely request them to consider In his political career spanning Fax 44350474 importance of harvest, the beginning avoiding exams in the month of about four decades, he held many Or Post of a new season and thanksgiving to January. Let the children experience important positions – MLA, MP THURSDAY all those who help us grow the food we our nation’s rich cultural heritage and union minister of state for Letters to the Editor High: 22 C eat. This is the time to travel to villages rather than just reading it from books. external aff airs. As union minister, he Gulf Times Low: 19 C to witness the traditional festivals contributed greatly towards further P O Box 2888 Rain and culture of our country – our CV improving India’s strong relations motherland. Many states across India Doha with Gulf countries. Doha, Qatar celebrate these events for many days He was able to forge relations with Fishermen’s forecast in a row in the month of January. But Gulf leaders on a personal basis. The E Ahamed was a All letters, which are OFFSHORE DOHA the Indian children in Qatar are too Indian expatriate community in the subject to editing, should Wind: NW-NE 10-20 KT busy studying for exams specially held gentleman politician Gulf also shared strong bonds with Waves: 4-7/9 Feet on these days. him. have the name of the INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 05-15/25 KT Winter vacation in December and Ahamed Saheb, as he was fondly writer, address and phone Waves: 1-3/4 Feet spring vacation in January give many Dear Sir, called, leaves behind a legacy which number. The writer’s parents an opportunity to travel to our present and future generations of Around the region their hometown as everybody cannot In the recent past, we have lost politicians must emulate and nurture. name and address may be Weather Weather go during the summer holidays. Those many great leaders who had devoted He will be greatly missed. withheld by request. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min returning from Christmas holidays their entire lives to the socio- Abu Dhabi M Cloudy 27/21 M Cloudy 27/22 have to sit the exams immediately and political and cultural development Ramesh G Jethwani Baghdad P Cloudy 20/09 S Showers 18/05 Dubai those travelling for spring vacation of India. Among them was veteran Bengaluru, India. M Cloudy 26/22 Cloudy 28/22 Kuwait City Sunny 21/11 M Sunny 22/12 Manama Showers 20/16 Showers 23/17 Muscat P Cloudy 28/21 P Cloudy 25/21 Riyadh P Cloudy 20/13 S T Storms 23/16 Live issues Tehran M Sunny 07/01 M Sunny 08/03 Scientists: Fish oil may fi ght asthma

QNA Washington

S scientists from University of Rochester Medical Centre have discovered new Uessential information about omega 3 fatty acids contained in fi sh oil and how they could be used for asthma patients. In a paper published in the Journal Around the world of Clinical Investigation – Insight, Weather Weather researchers using cell cultures from today Max/min tomorrow Max/min local asthma patients, found that Athens P Cloudy 09/02 Sunny 15/05 Omega-3 fatty acid products can Beirut Showers 13/10 P Cloudy 12/08 Sunny 33/23 reduce the production of IgE, the Bangkok 33/22 Sunny Berlin Sunny 05/-3 Sunny 08/-2 antibodies that cause allergic reactions Cairo P Cloudy 16/09 P Cloudy 17/10 and asthma symptoms in people with Cape Town Cloudy 25/18 Sunny 32/18 milder cases of asthma. Colombo S T Storms 33/24 S T Storms 33/24 But in patients with severe asthma Dhaka Sunny 31/17 Sunny 30/17 Hong Kong P Cloudy 20/16 Sunny 21/16 who use high doses of oral steroids, the Istanbul Cloudy 03/-2 Cloudy 04/03 omega-3 fatty acids are less eff ective Jakarta T Storms 29/24 T Storms 29/24 because the corticosteroids block the Karachi Sunny 32/19 Sunny 33/19 benefi cial eff ects. London M Cloudy 12/07 M Cloudy 12/06 Manila M Sunny M Sunny 29/21 Lead author Richard P Phipps, 28/21 Moscow S Showers 03/-3 M Cloudy -1/-11 Ph.D., the Wright Family Research imbalance between molecules that B immune cells in the laboratory to Results showed that all responded New Delhi Sunny 25/11 Sunny 26/13 Professor of Environmental Medicine, dampen infl ammation and those that explore the impact of pure omega- to the omega-3 fatty acids to some New York P Cloudy 06/02 P Cloudy 07/-2 and his lab had previously shown that increase infl ammation. Using steroids 3-derived products on IgE and other degree, as evidenced by a reduction Paris P Cloudy 14/07 Sunny 16/07 certain fatty acids contained in fi sh as treatment controls the infl ammation molecules that fuel the disease and in the levels of IgE antibodies. But Sao Paulo P Cloudy 32/19 S T Storms 31/19 Seoul Sunny 05/-6 Sunny 07/-3 oil regulate the function of immune and relieves symptoms, but does not conducted much of the laboratory unexpectedly, Phipps said, the cells Singapore T Storms 30/24 S Showers 30/24 cells (B cells). They wanted to further cure the underlying disease. and clinical work, and compared the from a small subset of patients who Sydney S Showers 22/18 P Cloudy 26/18 investigate the eff ects on asthma. Phipps and his team collected blood results of the 17 patients to donors of were taking oral steroids were less Tokyo Clear 10/01 Clear 11/01 People with asthma have an from 17 patients and isolated their healthy blood cells. sensitive to the omega-3 treatment. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 QATAR

Doha and other parts of Qatar experienced another rainy day yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Drive safely in rainy weather

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) yesterday advised motorists to exercise due caution while driving in the rain, listing a set of dos and don’ts for them through a post on Facebook. The advisory comes as the country is experiencing a spell of rain and the unstable conditions are likely to last through the week, according to the Met department. “As rain falls, it creates slick conditions perfect for skids. The best way to avoid skidding is to slow down. Driving at a slower pace allows more of the tyre’s tread to make contact with the road, which leads to better traction,” the MoI explained. It takes about three times longer to brake on wet roads than on dry ones, the ministry pointed out, reminding motorists it is important not to tailgate as more Trucks deployed to remove rainwater. Picture courtesy of Ministry of Municipality distance is required to brake. “Keep a The rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of visitors to Souq Waqif in Doha. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil and Environment little more than two car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you,” the advisory noted. Rainy weather requires motorists to “quietly and smoothly” use the controls of a car: steering wheel, brakes, gas pedal, etc. “Don’t drive at a speed that does not suit the road’s condition and make sure you reduce speed when the road is wet,” the MoI stressed. Also, motorists have been advised to be sure that the wipers are in good condition, and they should clean the windshield and rear window repeatedly. In case the car’s windscreen becomes misty, one should run the air-conditioner to clear it for better visibility, the ministry adds. The advisory also reminded motorists to avoid overtaking and unnecessary lane-changing in such conditions, while maintaining a safe distance between vehicles. Besides, people should avoid driving through water-logged roads as they will not be aware of the depth or the presence of an object that may endanger their safety. Two people enjoy a respite between rainy spells on Doha Corniche. PICTURE: Thajudheen When it rained heavily on the way to Wakrah from Doha. PICTURE: Ram Chand Qumra 2017 to nurture 34 projects from 25 countries

oha Film Institute (DFI) Asghar Farhadi; French auteur programme, three were sup- and co-production advice along has chosen 34 projects Bruno Dumont; Cambodia’s ported through the Qatari Film with one-on-one match-made Dfrom 25 countries, in- creative documentarian Rithy Fund and six through other meetings and tutorials. Projects cluding 12 Qatar-based, for Panh, Argentina’s eminent training initiatives. Of the nine in post-production are divided mentoring through Master- fi lmmaker Lucrecia Martel and short projects, six are by Qatari into two strands. classes and networking oppor- internationally acclaimed pro- fi lmmakers, and all the projects The Work-in-Progress ses- tunities at Qumra 2017. ducer Paulo Branco will mentor have been selected through the sions will present a series of Directors and producers at- fi rst- and second-time fi lm- Institute’s ongoing local en- closed rough-cut screenings of tached to 18 narrative feature makers during Qumra to support gagement and training initia- 20-minute excerpts from the fi lms, seven feature documen- the development of emerging tives. four narrative and four docu- taries and nine short fi lms will fi lmmakers from Qatar, the Arab Directors and producers at- mentary Qumra projects in participate in the six-day pro- region and around the world. tached to projects will attend the post-production followed by gramme of bespoke industry The projects represent 25 sessions in Doha where they will immediate, individual feedback sessions designed to progress countries of production, along- be linked with more than 100 from a panel of selected industry their projects and prepare them side 16 from the Middle East seasoned industry experts. The experts. for international markets. North Africa (Mena) region and programme is specifi cally tai- The Picture Lock Screenings The emphasis remains on six from the rest of the world. lored to each project’s needs and will present 20-minute excerpts supporting fi rst- and second- Of the 34 projects, 13 are fea- divided according to their stage of four feature-length Qumra time fi lmmakers with projects in tures fi lms in development, 12 of development. projects in the fi nal stages of development and post-produc- are in post-production and nine Projects in development will post-production for leading tion, DFI said in a statement. are short fi lms in development. participate in group and indi- festival programmers, broad- Qumra Masters, including Further, 23 of the projects are vidual sessions for script con- casters, market representatives, contemporary Iranian master alumni of the Institute’s grants sulting, legal, sales, marketing sales agents and distributors. Man Behind The Microphone by Claire Belhassine (Tunisia, the UK, Qatar).

Al Sahra by Saeed al-Batal and Ghiath al-Haddad (Syria, Lebanon, Qatar).