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FRIDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11095 February 15, 2019 Jumada II 10, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Amir honours envoy of Peru Amir arrives in Munich to QATAR | Campaign Ministry urges public attend security conference to stop littering The Ministry of Municipality and QNA A strong strategic partnership be- Environment has called on all citizens Munich tween Qatar and the MSC emerged and residents to stop littering, during the 18th session of Doha Forum. emphasising the importance of In 2011, the fi rst meeting of Munich disposing it of at places specified is Highness the Amir Sheikh Security offi cials was held in Doha, by the State. The Ministry said the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani where the two sides agreed to work Department of Public Hygiene is Harrived yesterday in the Ger- together more regularly so that the Qa- intensifying operations in Doha, man city of Munich to take part in the tari representation at the conference Rayyan and Shihaniyah to remove 55th edition of the Munich Security becomes at the highest level with the litter adding around 2025 tonnes Conference. participation of the Amir along with were lifted in January. The Amir is accompanied by an of- other leaders. fi cial delegation. Over the course of three days, MSC AMERICA | Confl ict The conference which starts today is will be held under the chairmanship House votes to end US one of the largest and most important of Wolfgang Ischinger and with the international conferences on the global participation of German Chancel- help in Saudi’s Yemen war security and defence policies. lor Angela Merkel, US Vice President The US House voted overwhelmingly Twenty-one heads of state and 75 Mike Pence and a number of heads of on Wednesday to end American foreign and defence ministers partici- governments and international com- involvement in Saudi Arabia’s war pated in the last conference. munity organisations. To Page 2 eff ort in Yemen, dealing a rebuke to President Donald Trump and his alliance with Riyadh. The chamber voted 248 to 177 to approve historic legislation that would direct the president within 30 days to “remove United States armed forces from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the outgoing ambassador of Peru to Qatar, Carlos FM attends Warsaw hostilities in or aff ecting the Republic Velasco Mendiola, at the Al Bahr Palace yesterday. During the meeting, the Amir granted the outgoing ambassador of Yemen.” the Al Wajbah Decoration in recognition of his role in enhancing relations between Qatar and Peru, wishing him success in his future assignments. Page 2 PAKISTAN | Reaction talks on Mideast Islamabad rejects links to attack in Kashmir Agencies peace between Israel and the Palestin- Pakistan said a suicide bomber Warsaw ians. attack in Indian-administered Shaath said the Palestinians had re- Kashmir that killed at least 44 fused to go to the conference. paramilitary police yesterday was E the Deputy Prime Minister “The Warsaw conference is part of a “matter of grave concern,” but it and Foreign Minister Sheikh this context,” he wrote. rejected India blaming the attack PM inaugurates HMohamed bin Abdulrahman “A peace process cannot be turned on Pakistan. “We strongly reject any al-Thani yesterday participated in a into an attempt to obtain amnesty for insinuation by elements in the Indian meeting to support peace in the Mid- war crimes or to make one of the par- government and media circles that dle East being held in the Polish capital ties surrender its basic rights under the seek to link the attack to the State Warsaw. UN charter.” of Pakistan without investigations,” The meeting is discussing issues re- The Palestinians have refused to talk Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Aff airs lated to the war in Syria, the Yemeni to the Trump administration since the said in a statement. Page 10 Es’hailSat teleport confl ict and the peace process between US leader recognised Jerusalem as Is- Palestinians and Israelis. rael’s capital in December 2017. REGION | Mystery E the Prime Minister and In- However, a Palestinian offi cial said The Trump administration has since Khashoggi remains terior Minister Sheikh Ab- in remarks published yesterday that dealt a series of harsh blows to the Pal- ‘may have been burned’ Hdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa the conference jointly organised by estinian Authority, including cutting al-Thani yesterday inaugurated the US President Donald Trump’s admin- hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Turkish police believe the remains Teleport Control Station of Qatar istration lacks credibility as it aims to Palestinians. of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Satellite Company (Es’hailSat) in Al “normalise” the Israeli occupation of The two-day conference is offi cially Khashoggi may have been burned, Ghuwairiya area, north of Doha. Palestinian territory. devoted to security in the Middle East, Turkey’s state-run news agency The ceremony, attended by HE the “By fully siding with the Israeli gov- with a strong emphasis on Iran. Anadolu said yesterday, citing a police Minister of Transport and Communi- ernment, (the Americans) have tried to But Iran’s President Hassan Rou- report. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi cations Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, normalise the Israeli occupation and hani dismissed the talks as producing Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Es’hailSat chairperson Dr Hessa Sultan the systematic denial of the Palestin- an “empty result,” after Washington was killed in the Saudi consulate in al-Jaber and a number of other digni- ian right to self-determination,” Na- called on European allies to toughen Istanbul by a team of Saudi operatives taries began with the screening of a bil Shaath, an adviser to Palestinian their policy on Tehran. on October 2. The consulate had documentary fi lm about the company, President Mahmud Abbas, wrote in a “We see what’s happening in War- two wells and a gas and wood floor the Qatar News Agency reported. column published by Israel’s Haaretz saw, it’s an empty result, nothing,” furnace that could reach heat of Es’hailSat CEO Ali bin Ahmed al- newspaper. Rouhani said during a press conference over 1,000 degrees, destroying any Kuwari, in his speech, said the inaugu- But Trump’s son-in-law, Jared in the southern Russian city of Sochi DNA traces, Anadolu said yesterday, ration of the teleport is an important HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Kushner, is expected to off er hints of where he met with Russia and Turkey quoting a report by the Turkish police. step in the company’s plan to provide al-Thani inaugurates the Teleport Control Station of Es’hailSat as HE the Minister of the US administration’s proposals for leaders to discuss Syria. a safe and independent satellite serv- Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, Es’hailSat AMERICA | Controversy ice to meet all the requirements of its chairperson Dr Hessa Sultan al-Jaber and CEO Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari look on. Trump to declare current and future customers. The launch of the teleport will en- ment for Qatar which is steadily trol services, support communications emergency to fund wall able Es’hailSat to provide the best so- progressing in carrying out its stra- and control of satellite capacities, in The White House confirmed lutions to its customers in the region tegic projects in accordance with its addition to a wide range of services on yesterday that President Donald not only technically but also in terms National Vision 2030 and under the broadcasting and encryption which Trump will declare a national of security, especially that Es’hail-1 sound directives of His Highness the are designed specifi cally for the com- emergency in an attempt to bypass and Es’hail-2 satellites were designed Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- pany’s partners and customers. Congress and get more funding for with the latest anti-jamming tech- Thani. The teleport is designed according his Mexico border wall project. Trump nology, al-Kuwari said. He also hailed the eff orts exerted to the latest technologies to provide will also sign off on a congressional The Prime Minister toured the sta- over the past years, which have so far back-up studios for TV channels and bill that would authorise a much tion and was briefed on the advanced resulted in Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2 sat- serves as a disaster-recovery facil- smaller amount of wall money than equipment and systems that control ellites, the teleport, and the training ity for broadcasters. It also will con- the president had been demanding. the operation of the satellites to en- and qualifi cation of national cadres nect with key media outlets in Qa- “President Trump will sign the sure safe and integrated broadcasting that have proved their capability and tar through fi bre optic technology. government funding bill, and as he services in accordance with the high- effi ciency in this important vital sector. Es’hailSat will broadcast a variety of has stated before, he will also take est quality standards. An area of 50,000sqm has been al- major TV channels such as Al Jazeera other executive action - including a Sheikh Abdullah said the inaugura- located north of Doha for the new tel- and beIN as well Qatar Media Corpo- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin national emergency, ” spokeswoman tion of the teleport is a new achieve- eport which will provide satellite con- ration’s channels. Page 2 Abdulrahman al-Thani attends the Warsaw conference yesterday. Sarah Sanders said. Page 5 Iran vows revenge on ‘mercenaries’ behind suicide attack

AFP “We will certainly make this mer- Rouhani was speaking at Tehran’s The organisation was formed in 2012 “the spying agencies of some region- est attacks on Iranian security forces in Tehran cenary group pay for the blood of Mehrabad Airport before leaving for as a successor to the extremist group al and trans-regional countries.” years. our martyrs,” the official Irna news the Russian resort of Sochi for a sum- Jundallah, which waged a deadly in- The European Union condemned It came just days after Iran held more agency quoted the president as say- mit with his Russian and Turkish surgency for a decade before being the attack, saying “there can be no jus- than a week of celebrations for the 40th resident Hassan Rouhani vowed ing in response to Wednesday’s at- counterparts Vladimir Putin and Recep severely weakened by the capture and tifi cation for such an outrageous act of anniversary of the Islamic revolution, revenge yesterday against the tack. Tayyip Erdogan on the future of war- execution of its leader Abdolmalek Rigi terror,” and expressing condolences to which overthrew the US-backed shah. P“mercenary group” behind “The main root of terrorism in the battered Syria. by Tehran in 2010. the families of the victims. Lebanon’s Hezbollah also de- a suicide bombing which killed 27 region is America and Zionists, and The bombing was claimed by the In comments reported by state tel- The bombing, which targeted a bus- nounced the attack, saying it was in troops in southeastern Iran and ac- some oil-producing countries in the Jaish al-Adl, which is blacklisted as a evision, Iran’s Supreme Leader Aya- load of Revolutionary Guards in the retaliation for “the Iranian nation’s cused the US and Israel of supporting region also fi nancially support the ter- terrorist group by Iran, the SITE Intel- tollah Ali Khamenei said the attack’s volatile southeastern province of Sist- huge turnout in rallies” marking the “terrorism”. rorists,” he added. ligence Group reported. perpetrators were certainly linked to an-Baluchistan, was one of the deadli- anniversary. Gulf Times 2 Friday, February 15, 2019 QATAR

Amir arrives Amir honours envoy of Kyrgyzstan Teleport promotes Qatar’s in Munich economic position From Page 1

This year’s conference will QNA gency broadcasting centre. jamming technology. be held in exceptional circum- Doha Al-Kuwari said the company Qatar Satellite Company was stances amid many problems, is currently evaluating various established in 2010 with the aim crises and events, which will investment opportunities in or- of owning satellites and oper- give the 2019 session great im- atar Satellite Company der to support the sustainability ating rights, providing various portance. Es’hailSat’s satellite con- of its economic plan in terms of services to the public and pri- High on the agenda are themes Qtrol station, the teleport, diversifying the sources of in- vate sectors in the Mena region such as the European Union’s which was launched yesterday, come and achieving its strategic and achieving self-suffi ciency self-assertion, transatlantic co- promotes Qatar’s economic po- objectives. It is also in the proc- through the development and operation, as well as possible sition and provides independ- ess of submitting the Es’hail-3 acquisition of technologies re- consequences of a renewed era ency in communication, Inter- project proposal which will lated to satellite development, all of great power competition. net, sounds, (especially in crises guarantee coverage of the coun- whilst providing means, materi- Additionally, experts from management) television broad- try’s needs in broadband com- als and infrastructure to achieve across the globe will discuss the casting, quality of service and munications to support com- these objectives. future of arms control and co- wide geographic coverage. plete independence during the The Communications Regula- operation in defence policy. Es’hailSat CEO Ali bin Ahmed FIFA 2022 World Cup, he said. tory Authority (CRA) president The intersection between al-Kuwari said the satellite control The state-of-the-art control Mohamed Ali al-Mannai said the trade and international secu- station has been equipped with station, in the Al Ghuwairiya area, satellite control station is a ma- rity will be examined, as will the His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the outgoing ambassador of the latest technologies to become north of Doha, is designed to pro- jor step forward after the launch eff ects of climate change and Kyrgyzstan Nuran Niyazaliyev at the Al Bahr Palace yesterday. During the meeting, the Amir granted a milestone in the company’s plan vide back-up studios for televi- of the Qatari satellites Es’hail-1 technological innovations on the the outgoing ambassador the Al Wajbah Decoration in recognition of his role in enhancing relations to provide a safe and independent sion channels as well as an emer- and Es’hail-2, which will be con- international security. between Qatar and Kyrgyzstan, wishing him success in his future assignments. satellite system to meet all the re- gency broadcasting centre where trolled by the station, in addition “When looking at the current quirements of the customers, tak- it will connect with the most im- to its work on securing terrestrial state of international aff airs, it ing into account the design that portant media in Qatar through communications, the internet is diffi cult to escape the feeling the station is scalable in the future fi bre optics to the station. and other tasks. that the world is not just wit- international order,” Ischinger A survey done by Friedrich conference, attendance was lim- to provide its customers with all Es’hailSat currently broad- In a statement to the press, nessing a series of smaller and said. Ebert foundation revealed that ited and participants were less. the main requirements. casts a variety of best televi- he said Qatar currently has a bigger crises, but that there is Merkel said she intends to only 42% of the French, com- Discussions focused on West- The company currently sion channels such as Al Jazeera large capacity of communication a more fundamental problem,” work towards preserving inter- pared to 59% of the Germans ern policies within the overall owns Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2, News, beIN channels and Qatar channels through submarine ca- Ischinger said ahead of the con- national institutions which is as support neutral stances from framework of Cold War confron- as well as the ability to provide Media Corporation channels bles, which is suffi cient to meet ference. important as it was during the their countries on international tations. backup studios for television as Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2 are the current and future demand “Indeed, we seem to be ex- Cold War. issues. When the Cold War came to channels and being an emer- designed with the latest anti- beyond 2022. periencing a reshuffl ing of core German Foreign Minister As for military interventions an end, they decided to invite pieces of the international order. Heiko Maas recently called for in confl icts, 65% of Germans re- participants from countries that A new era of great power com- forming an “alliance of multilat- jected as opposed to 50% from had not been part of the Western petition is unfolding between eralists”; however, the diffi culty the French. world before. the United States, China, and of achieving this goal emerges This refl ects the political proc- They made room for partici- Russia, accompanied by a cer- from co-operation with France, ess and the diff erent strategic pants from Central and Eastern tain leadership vacuum in what Germany’s most important part- culture between Berlin and Paris. European countries, and also has become known as the liberal ner in Europe. During the fi rst decades of the from the Russian Federation.

Farewell ceremony for QU names Sheikha ambassadors HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan Dignitaries at the opening of the satellite control station yesterday. al-Hammadi, held a farewell al-Mahmoud as ceremony yesterday in honour of the outgoing ambassadors of Kyrgyzstan and Peru to Qatar – Nuran Niyazaliev and Carlos Velasco Mendiol, respectively. Personality of 2018 The ceremony, held at the Diplomatic Club, was attended by heads of diplomatic missions and QNA development of the community bureaus accredited to Qatar, and Doha culture that became aware of foreign ministry off icials. the educational dimension, add- ing that she understands the re- atar University has cho- quirements of quality education Course for national sen HE Sheikha Ahmed and family rights in securing the service recruits Qal-Mahmoud as the So- best educational opportunities. cial Responsibility Personal- Meanwhile, HE al-Mahmoud to start on Feb 18 ity of 2018, in recognition of her said that national responsibil- eff orts throughout her career Sheikha al-Mahmoud ity has always been on the school The National Service Academy to inspire generations through system to lead the modernisation yesterday activated Article 10 A facility in the satellite control station. many achievements and initia- the media partnership with Qa- process. of the National Service Law, tives in the education fi eld. tar Media Corporation (QMC) The contractor, director, edu- which provides for the academic Qatar University has been and the Qatar Post (distribution cational and management teams qualification of national service selecting personalities of the partner within Qatar,) with the are partners in the social re- recruits. year since 2014. Those selected contribution of ministers, am- sponsibility of education, which The academic course for recruits are honoured at a ceremony bassadors and leading personal- requires competition in educa- will start on 18 February and Qatar Radio celebrates World Radio Day in the presence of a high-level ities, along with other sponsor- tional fi elds such as curricula, continue until 15 August, in co- committee which monitors the ing institutions. teaching methods, use of media operation with Qatar University achievements of inspiring per- Qatar University’s President and technology, developing the and College of North Atlantic atar Radio yesterday cel- etiquette and mechanisms of The 2019 World Radio Day, sonalities that exhibit excep- Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham capacities of children and build- – Qatar, to provide academic ebrated, along with sev- success, as well as the role of the the eighth edition, is structured tional degrees of leadership on said that choosing HE Sheikha ing their personalities in the right qualification for student recruits Qeral radio stations around radio in disseminating news and around the following topics: issues that fall under the con- Ahmed al-Mahmoud, who is the manner. before entering universities. the world, the World Radio Day information that helps in con- promoting dialogue and unify- cept of social responsibility. A fi rst minister of education on Qatar University has ex- Director of Public Relations at which falls on February 13 of structive dialogue and spreads ing eff orts on issues of common number of leading institutions both Qatar and the Gulf levels, pressed its pride that selecting the National Service Academy each year. the values of tolerance and interest. in this fi eld are also honoured. as the social responsibility per- the personality of the year this Brigadier Nasser al-Abduljabbar Qatar Radio has prepared a peace. In 2011, Unesco member- The ceremony also marks the sonality for 2018 symbolises ap- time was related to volunteering, said that Qatar University and special programme under the On this occasion, the United states adopted an International launch of the annual Social Re- preciation for her important role and as a simulation of volun- Community College will teach theme “Dialogue, Tolerance and Nations Educational, Scien- Radio Day on 13 February and the sponsibility Report, which is in the qualitative development tary work of global standards in students subjects on Islamic Peace” this year, and invited UN tifi c and Cultural Organisation United Nations General Assem- issued in partnership with the of the awareness of society and preparation for the 2022 World culture, Qatar’s history and Arabic Envoy for Humanitarian Aff airs (Unesco) invited all radio sta- bly adopted a World Day in 2012. Qatar Corporate Social Respon- their view of education and the Cup, in addition to the allocation as a general requirement, while Dr Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Mu- tions, regulatory bodies and It should be noted that this sibility Network, sponsored by involvement of all society groups of a dossier titled ‘21st Century the College of North Atlantic – raikhi. other organisations to participate date was chosen in commemo- the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs in education. Initiative for Qatar 2022: Qa- Qatar will teach them the English HE al-Muraikhi emphasised in celebrating the role of radio in ration of the opening of the (distribution partner to the em- Al-Derham said that HE al- tar’s mission to promote peace language, communication and the importance of dialogue in building a more peaceful and tol- United Nations Radio in 1946. bassies of Qatar worldwide,) Mahmoud has supported the through sport’. mathematics. promoting tolerance, dialogue erant world. – QNA Indian award winner felicitated Admissions for Ideal Indian School evening he Indian ambassador P Kumaran, joined by TMaj Gen Tariq Khalid shift to start from Feb 18 al-Obaidly, former head of the International Military Co-op- eration Authority in the Qatar dmissions for evening required number of students for Armed Forces and Khamis al- shift at Ideal Indian each class is met. Ajmi, CEO Dahra Technologies, ASchool will commence “If we do not meet the mini- felicitated Qatar resident and from February 18, it was an- mum number of students in any Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (2019) nounced yesterday in a state- specifi c class, fees except for Awardee, Cdr Purnendu Tiwari at ment. prospectus and registration will an event on Wednesday. Admission Test will be con- be refunded to those students Indian embassy counsellor ducted for classes I to IX. The concerned. Rajesh Kamble and defence at- date of the test will be commu- “The admission is granted tache Capt Kapil Kaushik were nicated to the parents through to Indian students only. The present on the occasion at the phone. school will function five days a Indian Cultural Centre (ICC). Transfer from other schools week (Sunday to Thursday) for The President of India Ram Dignitaries and Indian forum off icials at the event. is not approved by the Ministry. classes I to IX from 2.30pm to Nath Kovind had conferred the Classes will begin only when the 8pm.” Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award instrumental in setting up a Others felicitated were sup- val Forces, thereby promoting dent P N Baburajan, Indian Busi- to Cdr Tiwari (Indian Navy, re- world class training infrastruc- porters of the event Harish India-Qatar co-operation. ness and Professionals Council Qatar, Ivory Coast hold consultations tired) on January 23. He is the fi rst ture for the Qatar Amiri Naval Kanjani, Palash Das and the Maj Gen al-Obaidly compli- (IBPC) president Azim Abbas, Indian Armed Forces personnel Force and conducting training group leaders of the Qatar del- mented the award recipient and and past presidents K M Vargh- A round of political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the to be awarded this highest hon- of officers. egation Rajneesh Shastri, Aji also the vast contribution from ese (IBPC), and Devis Eduku- State of Qatar and Ivory Coast was held in Abidjan yesterday. our meant for NRIs / PIOs. Also felicitated on the occa- Kuriakose, Rajesh Singh, Nisha India for the host country of Qatar. lathur (ICBF) were present. The Qatar side was headed by HE the Secretary-General of Qatar’s Cdr Tiwary served in Indian sion were Seenu Pillai, K M Var- Agrawal, Santosh Pillai, Deven The felicitation was done dur- ICBF managing committee Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, while the Navy from 1982 to 2002, hav- ghese, Kala Gopala Krishnan, Deorukhkar and SriRaja Vijayan. ing an event associated with the member Santosh Pillai wel- Ivorian side was led by the Secretary-General of Ivory Coast’s Ministry ing various tenures, including Shanun D’souza and Anoop Ambassador Kumaran spoke conclusion of Pravasi Bharatiya comed and Maharashtra Man- of Foreign Aff airs Daouda Diabate. command of Ships Kozhikode Babu for their contribution and about the active role played by Divas 2019. ICC president Man- dal past president Deven De- During the talks, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and means and Magar. He is the manag- co-ordination for the Pravasi Cdr Tiwari towards capacity ikantan A P, Indian Community orukhkar proposed a vote of to bolster them in diff erent fields. They also discussed the latest ing director in Dahra Group and Bharat Delegation from Qatar. building for the Qatar Amiri Na- Benevolent Forum (ICBF) presi- thanks. regional and international developments. – QNA Gulf Times Friday, February 15, 2019 3 QATAR

Double delight Culture Minister meets Mali envoy

HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali met the ambassador of Mali to Qatar, Cheick Ahmed Tidiany, in Doha yesterday. The Doha Port yesterday welcomed two ships, Mein Schiff 4 and MSC Splendida, carrying 8,300 visitors, Mwani Qatar tweeted. This is the fourth time that meeting discussed aspects of co-operation in the culture and sports fields and the port has received two ships at the same time during the ongoing 2018/’19 cruise season. means to develop them. Ooredoo tv brings India Pavilion set to out ‘revolutionary sparkle at Qatar Show new’ set-top box or the fi rst time ever, the Qatar Show and said that “Indian Pramod Kumar Agrawal, chair- porters in the sector. With head- Gem & Jewellery Ex- gems and jewellery sector off ers man, GJEPC said: “We are look- quarters in Mumbai, the GJEPC oredoo has announced a user interface with a brand Fport Promotion Council high quality and technical know- ing forward to present India with has regional offi ces in New Delhi, a ‘revolutionary new’ new look, with a strong recom- (GJEPC) is organising an India how to attract the attention of a complete range of products Kolkata, Chennai, Surat and Oset-top box, now avail- mendation engine that works Pavilion at the upcoming 16th Qatari buyers who appreciate ex- which would also depict India’s Jaipur, all of which are major cen- able to all Ooredoo tv custom- seamlessly between multiple edition of “Qatar Show” (previ- quisite craftsmanship and intri- unique capabilities and skills in tres for the industry. The gems ers. content platforms and is able ously known as the Doha Jewel- cate design patterns. the craftsmanship of intricate and jewellery market size is about The new Ooredoo tv – which to intuitively off er recommen- lery and Watches Exhibition) to and exquisite jewellery. India’s $75bn as of 2017 and is expected provides all digital services dations based on the user’s be held from February 20-25 at “We are looking forward gem & jewellery exports to Mid- to reach $100bn by 2025. It con- through one set-top box — in- viewing pattern. The new the Doha Exhibition and Conven- to present India with dle East accounted for $10.02bn tributes 29% to the global jewel- cludes conventional linear TV, user interface also off ers much tion Centre (DECC). a complete range of in 2018. I am hopeful that this lery consumption. on-demand service, catch-up Some features of the new faster channel switching, Kids The Indian Pavilion, with 13 products which would platform would open up new India is one of the largest ex- features, apps and games, and Ooredoo tv include: Ara- Mode, channel profi le creation, exhibitors, is to be featured as also depict India’s unique business opportunities and fur- porters of gems and jewellery is intended to be the premier bic and English User Inter- a catch-up feature of up to 48 part of the Qatar-India Year of capabilities and skills ther strengthen the existing trade and the industry is considered digital hub for customers in face; Full UHD and Dolby; hit hours, a locking mechanism to Culture 2019, the embassy ex- in the craft smanship of relationship with Middle East re- to play a vital role in the Indian Qatar. shows, movies and music vid- better provide parental control plained in a statement yesterday. intricate and exquisite gion.” economy as it contributes a ma- Home entertainment serv- eos on Google Play, StarzPlay, and much more. The exhibitors would show- jewellery. India’s gem The 13 companies that are par- jor chunk to the total foreign ices are provided by the UHD YouTube and Yupp TV; ready Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, case a complete range of prod- & jewellery exports to ticipating in the India Pavilion at reserves of the country. India 4K set-top box, which has been access to more than 3,500 apps, director PR and Corporate ucts, including studded jewellery Middle East accounted Qatar Show include: LS Enter- exports 75% of the world’s pol- specially designed with a Qa- with more being added con- Communications at Ooredoo, with precious stones like rubies, for $10.02bn in 2018. prises; Noor Jewels; Jagan Nath ished diamonds, as per statis- tari aesthetic appearance. The stantly; superior Wi-Fi con- said of the launch: “We’re in- emeralds, sapphires and pearls; Hem Chand; Sital Dass Son; Iris tics from the GJEPC. new Ooredoo tv is powered by nectivity . credibly pleased to be able handmade jewellery specifi cally “We know that Qatari families Jewels; Amore jewels Pvt Ltd.; The special Indian Pavilion is Android TV, widely considered The new set-top box is to off er this comprehensive, catering to the Arab tastes and love to visit India for their jewel- K K Jewels; Lotus Gem; Shrians expected to attract participation to be one of the best enter- Bluetooth-supported, with state-of-the-art digital enter- preferences; and a wide range lery shopping. The Qatar Show Jewels; Divya Jewels; AKM Me- by prominent Qatari business- tainment platforms currently capability to connect to multi- tainment solution to our cus- of contemporary, and modern provides a unique opportunity to hrasons Jewellers; De’viva jewels; men, experts and connoisseurs in available. ple Bluetooth devices includ- tomers at such great value.” jewellery, with detailed crafts- bring the latest trends in this sec- Champalal and Co Jewellers. this fi eld. The new set-top box is real ing gaming pads and speakers, The new Ooredoo tv is priced manship and intricate designs tor to Doha and showcase their The GJEPC, set up by the Min- The Indian Business and Pro- HDR 4K, off ering unprecedent- and support multi-player on- at QR350, but a limited time inspired by European and Middle products in one of the most im- istry of Commerce and Industry, fessionals Council, which func- ed picture quality to viewers, line games, with some 35 on- off er is available at no upfront Eastern trends over the last few portant markets in the region. We Government of India in 1966, is tions under the aegis of the In- and includes 16GB of memory, line games available for a fi xed cost to customers. Customers decades. Indian ambassador P hope to see more participation by the apex body of the gems and dian embassy, is also organising enabling users to download a monthly subscription of QR50. can get the new set-top box by Kumaran welcomed the partici- GJEPC delegation to Qatar in fu- jewellery industry in India. To- guided tours and B2B meeting for number of apps and games. The new Ooredoo tv features visiting any Ooredoo Shop. pation of GJEPC at the upcoming ture.” day, it represents over 6,000 ex- those visiting the Indian Pavilion.

More rain ahead, chances of thundershowers Sport Day celebrated

ore rain is expected chance of scattered light rain, usually accompanied by sudden today is expected to be 12C in in Qatar until Sun- the report says. The possibility strong winds, and also avoid go- Abu Samra, 13C in Wakrah, Mday, February 17, the of rain is expected to improve ing to sea from tomorrow until Mesaieed and Dukhan, 14C in weather forecast shows. tomorrow and on Sunday with February 18 in view of the ex- Al Khor, 15C in Ruwais and 16C Also, strong northwesterly conditions being favourable for pected conditions. The weather in Doha. The maximum, on the winds are likely to start aff ect- scattered rain of variable inten- offi ce has also advised people to other hand, will be 22C in Wak- ing Qatar on Sunday, leading to sity – which may become thun- follow latest updates through its rah, Mesaieed, Al Khor and Ru- high waves off shore and a drop dery at times in some areas. social media accounts. wais, 23C in Doha and Dukhan, in temperature, it adds. Then, northwesterly fresh to Meanwhile, today’s detailed and 25C in Abu Samra. In a detailed report yesterday, strong winds are expected to forecast says moderate condi- Yesterday, the minimum tem- the Qatar Met department said aff ect the country on Sunday, tions will prevail during the perature was 9C in Abu Samra “weather charts indicate that the causing high waves measuring day along with some clouds at and Turayna, 10C in Mesaieed, country’s skies may be aff ected by 8-12ft in all areas as well as a times, and there is a chance of Batna and Ghuwairiyah, 11C in a state of instability due to an ex- drop in temperature, with cold rain in some places by night. Al Khor, Sheehaniya, Dukhan, tension of a low-pressure system conditions likely at night and Off shore areas, too, will see Jumayliyah and Karana, and 15C over the region” from today until early in the morning. cloudy conditions and there is a in Doha. The maximum ranged February 17. The Met department has possibility of scattered rain to- from 19C in Dukhan, Ruwais and The cloud amount is likely to urged people to be careful dur- wards the north by night. Umm Bab to 24C in Jumayliyah, increase gradually today with a ing thundershowers, which are The minimum temperature while Doha saw a high of 21C. ENSRV Group, under Jaidah Holdings, hosted a National Sport Day event for nearly 3,000 people, comprising staff members and their families in a dedicated area at Aspire Park. The activities included football, cricket, basketball, volleyball and fun events for families and children. Friendly competitions among the group companies and the activities for children were the main attractions. Sport Day activities go on at Hyatt Plaza

yatt Plaza Mall is of- Track race, table tennis, fering a wide range foosball, mini indoor base- Hof sport activities ball, mini golf, kinetic gym and competitions until to- video game, soft archery, morrow (Saturday, Febru- mini-bowling, tennis, ary 16) at gate number two football drill (star-kick), in partnership with Kiddy billiards, small billiards, Zone and Jungle Zone as stationary bike, mini sta- part of National Sport Day tionary bike, football goal celebration. are among the activities. The event, which started The NSD is a part of on Tuesday, highlighted Hyatt Plaza’s efforts to the importance of healthy promote physical activ- living. The programme ity through exercises and offers a perfect blend of make the right behav- sports and family fun at- ioural choices to achieve mosphere that bring all the Qatar National Vision community members of all and human focus towards ages together, according to building a healthy and a statement. prosperous society. A view of the NSD activities taking place at Hyatt Plaza. Gulf Times 4 Friday, February 15, 2019 AFRICA

Travelling classroom bridges digital divide in Benin

AFP “When the teacher told us that Among these, almost everyone nology. It’s a tool that can solve mystifi es how it works, and shows Cotonou we’d start having computer class (96%) used a mobile phone for ac- real problems in everyday life,” them that they can make their again, I quickly fi nished my work cessing the web. Agbayazon said. own even without much money,” because I was so happy,” said These are the conditions which As one group of pupils prac- Letchede said. chool was out, but on an Ambroise, from eastern Benin’s spawned the idea for a mobile tises using a word processor on the One rule of the mobile class- afternoon in rural Be- Avrankou district. classroom furnished with desks as trailer’s laptops, another works in a room is that all the software used Snin, 11-year-old Ambroise In his class of 48, only four pu- well as fans to ward off the tropi- corner of the town hall, learning to must be free to the public. rushed to a tree-shaded park- pils had even touched a computer cal heat. build computers in jerrycans with “We have to promote this prac- ing lot, his day’s learning not yet before. BloLab pays to rent a cab to two recycled components from obso- tice because we don’t have the done. Ambroise had used one at a pho- the trailer, which was donated by lete machines or donated by busi- money here to buy the licences,” Parked beneath the cola trees tocopy shop, while the other three Swiss-based charity African Puzzle. nesses and charities in Cotonou. said Agbayazon. was a lorry trailer loaded with had a sibling who owned one. The classroom, which has vis- The students are already famil- “We don’t want to encourage computers – the kind of technol- In Benin, the digital divide is not ited two communities since last iar with terms like “motherboard”, children to hack.” ogy that few students in the West just a concept but a reality, said August, stays in one place for a “hard drive”, and “power supply” The approach impressed local African country had ever seen, BloLab founder Medard Agbayazon. month at a time, providing fi ve from a previous lesson. offi cial Apollinaire Oussou Lio on much less touched. “In the towns, many people two-hour computer skills classes One of two trainers, Raoul a recent visit to the class. Designed by BloLab, a non- have technology, there are cyber- per week, free of charge. Letchede, shows the kids the “This is an opportunity to no profi t group based in Benin’s larg- cafes. But in villages it is rare to It is a drop in the ocean for components they will use to as- longer be a slave to software from est city Cotonou, the 13m trailer fi nd a computer or a smartphone,” Avrankou, which has a popula- semble a makeshift computer in a the big multinationals,” Lio said, is powered by 12 solar panels and he told AFP. tion of 128,000 scattered around 25-litre yellow plastic container. adding he would himself like to be equipped with enough laptops Benin’s Internet penetration 59 villages served by 88 primary These home-fashioned ma- more computer savvy. to give rural students a chance to rate is just 42.2%, the Regulatory schools. chines must be hooked up to a “I’d also like to be trained,” he familiarise themselves with com- Authority for Electronic and Post- “The idea isn’t to make com- computer screen to work. said, citing a wish to learn to use puters, which most families can- al Communication said in a report puter scientists, but just to make “This lesson familiarises them geo-location to better preserve not aff ord. last year. children want to use digital tech- with the inside of a computer, de- the surrounding forests. ‘Oil rebels’ vow to cripple economy if Buhari re-elected

Agencies The president’s spokesmen did Abuja not immediately respond to phone calls, e-mails and text messages seeking comment. militant group in Nigeria’s Attacks on pipelines and other oil-rich southern Niger facilities in the Niger Delta in 2016 ADelta threatened yesterday cut Nigeria’s crude output from to cripple Africa’s top oil producer a peak of 2.2mn barrels per day and biggest economy if President (mbpd) to near 1mbpd – the low- Muhammadu Buhari is re-elected est level seen in in at least 30 years. in a vote due to be held tomorrow. That, combined with low oil The Niger Delta Avengers – prices, pushed the Opec member who have been demanding a state into its fi rst recession in a greater share of the oil revenue quarter of a century – crude sales produced in the impoverished make up two-thirds of govern- southern region – said in a state- ment revenue and 90% of its for- ment they hoped to end Buhari’s eign exchange. rule through elections and that Atiku, the candidate represent- opposition candidate Atiku Abu- ing the main opposition People’s bakar was their preferred choice Democratic Party, has proposed for president. to devolve more power to regions Buhari faces a tight contest in a policy dubbed “restructur- against Atiku, a business and ex- ing” that would give states greater vice president, in tomorrow’s control over their fi nances. election in Nigeria, Africa’s big- It would enable oil-rich states gest democracy. in the south to retain a greater People selling water and goods wait for customers at Ribadu Square, Jimeta, Adamawa State in Nigeria where The Niger Delta Avengers were share of the revenues generated the opposition PDP party is set to hold a rally, yesterday. behind a 2016 wave of violence for crude production. that helped push Nigeria into re- “We are adopting Alhaji Atiku months to forestall further attacks hub city of Port Harcourt. Despite the billions of dollars cession. Abubakar, as the sole candidate to in the Niger Delta. Buhari’s government held talks in earnings since oil was fi rst dis- However, no substantial at- be voted for by all the people of the “Atiku has said that restructur- with the militants to address their covered in commercial quanti- tacks have been carried out by any Niger Delta as a result of his po- ing will begin on the day he takes grievances over poverty and oil ties in the late 1950s, the majority groups in the Delta region since litical ideology which is in tandem offi ce, so he will keep his word,” pollution in the Delta for more of people in the south still live in January 2017. with our agitation for equitable Paul Ibe, a spokesman for the than a year and this led the group poverty. The group, in a statement post- and fair principles of federalism,” main opposition candidate, said in to halt attacks. That has fuelled protectionist ed on its website, warned that if the group said. a telephone interview. Any resumption of attacks sentiment from some in the south Buhari is re-elected there would The Avengers said that, if He said Atiku repeated his would renew pressure on Nigeria that the oil “belongs” to the peo- be “a perpetual recession for Ni- elected, Atiku should start a “re- commitment to the policy in the as it recovers from its worst reces- ple of the region and should not be geria”. structuring of Nigeria” within six last few days at a rally in the oil sion in a generation. shared across the rest of Nigeria. Black panther spotted in Kenya Court sentences police offi cer to death for killing detainee in Kenya

A black leopard is seen in Lorok, Laikipia County, Kenya, March 15, 2018 in this still image taken from a Reuters Authority in the Koome case. social media video obtained on Tuesday. Scientists from the San Diego Zoo used remote cameras set up Nairobi Mutua has 14 days to appeal in southern Laikipia county to confirm that black leopards – also called black panthers – are alive and well against the conviction. in Kenya. In daylight the black leopard appears not to have spots, but infrared photographs show that in The IPOA, established in 2011 fact it does have the rosette pattern of the rest of its kind. Kenyan court yesterday after police killed hundreds of sentenced a former senior Kenyans during post-election Apolice offi cer to death for unrest in 2007, can investigate killing a detainee in his custody, police on its own initiative or af- one of the harshest punishments ter receiving a public complaint. over widespread police brutality “This milestone decision (on in the East African country. Mutua) reiterates IPOA’s commit- 23 feared dead in fl ood at Activists have long accused ment to professionalise the Na- Kenyan police of using exces- tional Police Service through hold- sive force with little risk of being ing to account culpable offi cers and charged or convicted. exonerating those who are falsely disused Zimbabwe gold mine A police oversight authority accused,” IPOA said in a statement. set up in 2011 ended virtual po- Death sentences are not unu- lice impunity and fostered pros- sual in Kenya but they are gener- Agencies Harare, had entered shafts on land shafts at night to evade the own- ecutions for abuses. ally commuted to life imprison- Harare owned by RioZim and another ers,” Muzulu said. Nahashon Mutua, a former ment. No executions have been fi rm on Tuesday night in search of Police would not confi rm the senior police offi cer, was con- carried out since 1987. gold, but a dam wall nearby col- incident, saying they were yet to victed on December 13 of the Two other policemen were t least 23 illegal miners are lapsed, fl ooding the shafts and receive a full report. murder of Martin Koome, who sentenced to death by the High trapped and feared dead in tunnels. RioZim spokesman Wilson was found dead in a cell at a Nai- Court last November for mur- AZimbabwe after shafts and “The names of the people be- Gwatiringa said the company was robi police station where Mutua dering a fellow offi cer and two underground tunnels they were lieved to have been trapped has not mining on the land where the was in charge back in 2013. civilians in a Nairobi bar in 2014. working in were fl ooded by water reached 23. Chances of rescuing miners were trapped and was as- “The evidence against Na- Separately, an inquest court in from a burst dam, a state-owned any survivors are very slim,” the sisting government offi cials with hashon Mutua was overwhelm- the western city of Kisumu said daily newspaper reported yester- paper quoted Fortunate Muzulu, the rescue eff orts. ing. The deceased suff ered a lot of yesterday that 36 police offi cers day. the administrator for the area, as Small-scale gold producers, in- pain when he was assaulted by the should be held liable for the 2017 The southern African nation saying. cluding illegal miners, accounted offi cers,” High Court Judge Stella death of a six-month old baby, has been working to regulate Muzulu, who could not be for nearly 60% of the record 33 Mutuku said in her brief ruling. and called for criminal proceed- thousands of people who illegally reached for comment yester- tonnes of gold produced in Zim- “This court has no other op- ings to begin. dig for gold everywhere, including day, told the Herald that govern- babwe last year, according to of- tion but to sentence (him) to The baby’s parents said on farms and abandoned mines, ment offi cials had asked for big- fi cial data. death since he is the one who the infant was teargassed and mostly under the cover of dark- ger pumps from platinum miner Last week in neighbouring committed the crime.” clubbed by police who invaded ness. Zimplats to drain water to retrieve South Africa, at least fi ve illegal Other offi cers in the station their home in Kisumu hunting The Herald said illegal min- bodies. miners died in a mine in Mpuma- were not investigated by Kenya’s for protesters after a disputed ers in Battlefi elds, 175km west of “The illegal miners entered the langa province. Independent Police Oversight presidential election in August. Gulf Times Friday, February 15, 2019 5 AMERICAS Comey fi ring led to Trump probe, Congress advances says ex-FBI chief

Reuters Washington border security bill ormer top FBI offi cial Reuters gration system more humane,” ian assistance to those countries. Andrew McCabe said he Washington House Appropriations Commit- The House Appropriations Fbegan an obstruction of tee chairwoman Nita Lowey, a Committee said the bill would justice and counter-intelli- Democrat, said in a statement. set a path for reducing immigrant gence investigation involving McCabe: fired in March 2018 he US Congress worked According to congressional detention beds to about 40,520 US President Donald Trump by then-US attorney general yesterday to end a dispute aides, the fi nal version of leg- by the end of the fi scal year, down and his ties to Russia after Jeff Sessions. Tover border security with islation would give the Trump from a current count of approxi- Trump fi red bureau director legislation that would ignore administration $1.37bn in new mately 49,060. James Comey in May 2017, CBS Amendment, which outlines President Donald Trump’s de- money to help build 55 miles Democrats sought reductions, News reported yesterday. how a sitting president can be mand for $5.7bn to help build a (88.5km) of new physical barri- arguing that that would force McCabe, who became acting removed. wall on the US-Mexico border, ers on the southwest border, far federal agents to focus on ap- Federal Bureau of Investigation McCabe also confi rmed but avoid another partial govern- less than what Trump had been prehending violent criminals and (FBI) director after Comey’s the newspaper’s account that ment shutdown. demanding. repeat off enders and discourage fi ring, said that he was dis- Deputy Attorney General Rod Late on Wednesday, negotia- It is the same level of funding arrests of undocumented im- turbed by his conversation Rosenstein considered wearing tors put the fi nishing touches on Congress appropriated for bor- migrants for minor traffi c viola- with Trump following Comey’s a wire in meetings with Trump. legislation to fund the Depart- der security measures last year, tions, for example. dismissal, and got the investi- Rosenstein denied the re- ment of Homeland Security including barriers but not con- The Senate Appropriations gations started the following port at the time and a Justice (DHS) through September 30, the crete walls. Committee, which is run by Re- day, according to excerpts from Department spokeswoman end of the fi scal year, along with Since he ran for offi ce in 2016, publicans, said there are provi- an interview with 60 Minutes said yesterday that Rosenstein a range of other federal agencies. Trump has been demanding bil- sions in the bill that could result to be broadcast on Sunday. again rejects McCabe’s account Racing against a Friday mid- lions of dollars to build a wall in an increase in detention beds “I was speaking to the man as “inaccurate and factually in- night deadline, when operating on the southwest border, saying Trump: has said that he would hold off on a decision until he from last year. who had just run for the presi- correct”. funds expire for the agencies that “crisis” conditions required a examines the final version of legislation. Lowey said the bill would im- dency and won the election for Mueller’s offi ce is examin- employ about 800,000 workers quick response to stop the fl ow of prove medical care and housing the presidency, and who might ing possible co-ordination be- at the DHS, the departments of illegal drugs and undocumented see federal agencies close again “very inclined” to declare a na- of immigrant families in deten- have done so with the aid of tween Moscow and the Trump Agriculture, Commerce, Justice immigrants, largely from Central because of fi ghting over funds for tional emergency to secure the tion and expand a program pro- the government of Russia, our campaign. and others, the Senate and House America. the wall. funds for the project. viding alternatives to detention. most formidable adversary on Moscow has denied inter- of Representatives aimed to pass He originally said Mexico Senator Richard Shelby, the Such a move likely would spark The wide-ranging bill also the world stage. And that was fering and Trump says there the legislation later in the day. would pay for a 2,000-mile Republican negotiator who is a court battle, as it is Congress contains some important do- something that troubled me was no collusion with his cam- That would give Trump time (3,200km) concrete wall – an chairman of the Senate Appro- and not the president that mainly mestic initiatives, including a greatly,” said McCabe. paign. to review the measure and sign it idea that Mexico dismissed. priations Committee, said in a decides how federal funds get $1.2bn increase in infrastructure In the fi rst public confi rma- Trump, who has frequently into law before temporary fund- Trump has not yet said Twitter post that he spoke to spent. investments for roads, bridges tion of the investigation by criticised Comey, McCabe and ing for about one-quarter of the whether he would sign the leg- Trump later on Wednesday and Several leading Republicans and other ground transport, as an offi cial who was involved, the Russia inquiry, yesterday government expires. islation into law if the Demo- he was in good spirits. have cautioned Trump against well as more for port improve- McCabe described events that attacked McCabe on Twitter as Failure to do so would shutter cratic-controlled House of Rep- Shelby told Trump that the taking the unilateral action. ments. occurred in the eight days be- a leaker and a “disgrace to the many government programmes, resentatives and Republican-led agreement was “a down payment Under the bill, the government With the 2020 decennial cen- tween Comey’s fi ring and the FBI”. from national parks maintenance Senate approve it, even as many on his border wall”. could hire 75 new immigrant sus nearing, the bill provides a appointment of Special Coun- In June 2017, Comey told a and air traffi c controller train- of his fellow Republicans in Con- Republican Senator Lindsey judge teams to help reduce a huge $1bn increase for the nationwide sel Robert Mueller to take over Senate committee that he be- ing programmes to the collection gress were urging him to do so. Graham, who is in regular con- backlog in cases and hundreds of count. the investigations of Russian lieved Trump had directed him and publication of important Instead, he said on Wednesday tact with the White House, said additional border patrol agents. Also, federal workers, battered interference in the 2016 US to drop a probe into the Repub- data for fi nancial markets, for the that he would hold off on a deci- Trump was “inclined to take the Hoping to reduce violence by the record 35-day partial gov- election, CBS said. lican president’s former na- second time this year. sion until he examines the fi nal deal and move on”. and economic distress in Cen- ernment shutdown that began “I was very concerned that I tional security adviser, Michael “This agreement denies fund- version of legislation. But Graham also told report- tral America that fuels immi- on December 22 as Trump held was able to put the Russia case Flynn, as part of the broader ing for President Trump’s bor- But Trump, widely blamed for ers that Trump would then look grant asylum cases in the United out for wall funding, would get on absolutely solid ground in Russia investigation. der wall and includes several key a fi ve-week shutdown that ended elsewhere to fi nd more money States, the bill also provides a 1.9% pay increase if the bill be- an indelible fashion, that were McCabe himself was fi red in measures to make our immi- in January, said he did not want to to build a border wall, and was $527mn to continue humanitar- comes law. I removed quickly and reas- March 2018 by then-US attor- signed or fi red, that the case ney general Jeff Sessions, who could not be closed or vanish cited an internal FBI watch- in the night without a trace,” dog report that found McCabe said McCabe, who is promot- leaked information to reporters ing a book to be released next and misled investigators about week, The Threat: How the FBI his actions. Judge says Manafort Protects America in the Age of McCabe said he was targeted Terror and Trump. over the Russia probe. McCabe confi rmed a New The Republican chairman of York Times report in Septem- the Senate Judiciary Commit- ber that there were meetings at tee, Lindsey Graham, called breached plea deal the Justice Department about on McCabe to appear before whether the vice-president the panel to “answer questions and Cabinet members could about what appears to be, now Reuters US District Judge Amy Berman cant time in prison, as Mueller’s Manafort: lied be gathered to remove Trump more than ever, bias against New York/Washington Jackson, who is overseeing the prosecutors are now released under the Constitution’s 25th President Trump”. Manafort case in a Washington from their obligation to support a with Kilimnik, including about mistakes once they were pointed court, found there was a “pre- lighter sentence. the sharing of polling data on the out to him. S President Donald ponderance” of evidence that Sentencing experts have said Trump campaign and their dis- Manafort struck the deal with US Senate confirms Barr as new A-G Trump’s former cam- Manafort lied on three diff erent that Manafort, 69, could be fac- cussions over a “Ukrainian peace Mueller in September when he Upaign manager Paul topics, including his communi- ing a decade in prison. plan”, a proposal that envisioned pleaded guilty in Jackson’s court The United States Senate has voted in favour of William Barr, Manafort breached his plea cations with his former business Michael Zeldin, a former fed- ending US sanctions on Russia to conspiracy against the United President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the new attorney-general. agreement with Special Counsel partner Konstantin Kilimnik, eral prosecutor, said that one – long an important objective of States, a charge that includes a With the confirmation process now completed, Barr will replace Jeff Robert Mueller’s offi ce by lying to whom prosecutors say has ties to possible reason Manafort chose Russian President Vladimir Pu- range of conduct from money Sessions, whom Trump fired at the end of last year. prosecutors about matters which Russian intelligence. to lie was because he was hoping tin’s government. laundering to failing to regis- Matt Whitaker has been serving as the acting chief of the Justice are material to its Russia probe, a Kilimnik has denied such ties. for a presidential pardon – echo- A court transcript released ter as a lobbyist for pro-Russian Department. judge has ruled. Jackson cleared Manafort of ing speculation raised by one of last week showed that Mueller’s politicians in Ukraine, as well as The Justice Department is under a particular political spotlight at The ruling concludes weeks of allegations that he intention- Mueller’s prosecutors at a court team believed those lies to be “at conspiracy to obstruct justice for the moment as it oversees the investigation by Special Counsel wrangling between Manafort’s ally lied on two other subjects – hearing last week. the heart” of their investigation his attempts to tamper with wit- Robert Mueller into the alleged 2016 Russian election interference lawyers and the special counsel Kilimnik’s role in an obstruction “Why he lied is a great mystery into potential collusion, which nesses in his case. and any links to the Trump campaign. over whether he had intention- of justice charge and statements unless he is covering up some- Trump and Russia have denied. Manafort also faces sentenc- The voting was largely along party lines, with most Republicans ally lied to prosecutors, imped- Manafort made about his con- thing of signifi cance,” Zeldin In a court fi ling ahead of ing in a separate case in Virginia voting in favour of the nominee and most Democrats casting their ing their investigation into Rus- tacts with members of the Trump said. “Unless he is pardoned, he Wednesday’s ruling, Manafort’s where a jury in August convicted ballot against him. sian interference in the 2016 US administration. is going to spend the rest of his lawyers repeated their argument him of fi nancial crimes includ- Barr, 68, was attorney-general once before, under president George election and possible collusion Nevertheless, the ruling will life in prison.” that their client never inten- ing failing to pay taxes on some HW Bush. between Russia and the Trump almost certainly dash Mana- The judge found that Mana- tionally lied to prosecutors and $16mn he pocketed for his politi- He is a Republican and a lawyer by training. campaign. fort’s hopes of avoiding signifi - fort lied about his interactions stressed that he corrected any cal work in Ukraine.

Nasa Opportunity Mars mission is over Canadian legislators reject probe

DPA Fittingly, it sent its last signal into govt offi cials over ethics woes Washington from Mars’s Perseverance Val- ley. The rover’s primary objective Reuters closed-door meeting next week. Libyan offi cials and escape with a rover designed to last was to seek historical evidence Ottawa Opposition legislators note fi ne instead. just 90 days on Mars has of the red planet’s climate and Lametti declared last week that Wilson-Raybould – who has Areached its demise after water at sites where conditions he saw no evidence to justify a said nothing about why she quit more than 14 years of roaming may once have been favourable Canadian parliamentary probe into potential wrongdoing, – was demoted to veteran aff airs on the Red Planet, Nasa said for life. committee has rejected an and say they need to hear from minister in a January Cabinet Wednesday. It sent back more than Aopposition bid to question offi cials, not bureaucrats. shuffl e. The US National Aeronau- 217,000 images, including 15 senior offi cials about allegations The televised meeting main- The Globe said she had resisted tics and Space Administration 360° colour panoramas. of political interference involving tained the pressure on Trudeau, pressure to help the fi rm avoid a (Nasa) declared the mission of It also exposed the surfaces of a construction company that are who faces a tough re-election trial. the six-wheeled solar-powered 52 rocks to reveal fresh mineral becoming a problem for Liberal battle this October. Speaking in the Ontario city of rover Opportunity over, saying surfaces for analysis and cleared Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Lawmakers from the offi cial Sudbury, Trudeau repeated his its fi nal communication was re- other targets with a brush to Former veterans aff airs min- opposition Conservatives de- insistence that the government ceived on June 10. This computer-generated image obtained on August 31 last year prepare them for inspection. ister Jody Wilson-Raybould quit cried what they said was a cover- had done nothing wrong. “After 800+ attempts to con- shows the Opportunity Rover. Opportunity landed in the unexpectedly on Tuesday after up. “If anyone, any minister in- tact @MarsRovers Opportunity, Meridiani Planum region of a newspaper reported that she “If the Liberals think that this cluding the former attorney gen- today we’re announcing the end months in hopes that winds that the likelihood of receiving a Mars on January 24, 2004, seven had been pressured by Trudeau’s issue is going to be smothered by eral, felt that we were not living of a successful Martian mis- that typically occur in the No- signal is “far too low to continue months after its launch from team to go easy on SNC-Lavalin what they did today, then they’re up to that standard, it was her sion,” Nasa administrator Jim vember-to-January time frame recovery eff orts”. Cape Canaveral Air Force Sta- Group Incorporated last year kidding themselves. We will be responsibility to come and speak Bridenstine tweeted. “Intended might help clean the rover’s Bridenstine called the mis- tion in Florida. when she was justice minister relentless on this matter,” deputy to me directly about that. She did to explore the Red Planet for 90 panels. sion “one of the most successful Its twin, Spirit, landed 20 and attorney general. party leader Lisa Raitt told re- not do that,” he said. days, Oppy outlived its mission Engineers in the Space Flight and enduring feats of interplan- days earlier in the Gusev Crater The House of Commons jus- porters. SNC-Lavalin is a major em- lifetime by 14+ years.” Operations Facility at Nasa’s Jet etary exploration”. on the other side of Mars. tice committee, dominated by Liberal legislator Randy Bois- ployer in the populous province The rover, which landed on Propulsion Laboratory in Pa- It leaves behind “an incred- Spirit logged almost 8km be- Liberal legislators, defeated an sonnault dismissed the idea that of Quebec, where the Liberals say Mars in 2004, fell silent in June sadena, California, made their ible legacy of perseverance”, he fore its mission wrapped up in opposition motion to question the party had something to hide, they need to pick up seats to have during a dust storm that encir- last attempt to revive Opportu- said, predicting that because of May 2011. Wilson-Raybould as well as two saying: “If we wanted a cover- any chance of winning a majority cled the planet. nity on Tuesday to no avail. its mission, astronauts would Nasa’s exploration of Mars top aides in the prime minister’s up, we would have declined the in October’s election. Engineers continued trying John Callas, manager of the walk on Mars someday. continues with its InSight offi ce. motion in 10 minutes.” The company is seeking to to make contact, believing that Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Nasa said the rover exceeded lander, which touched down on The panel later voted to call The Globe and Mail reported avoid a corruption trial because dust on the rover’s solar panels project at JPL, said that the team its life expectancy by 60 times November 26, and the Curios- three other witnesses – current last week that Trudeau offi cials it says the executives accused of might have been blocking sun- made “every reasonable engi- and travelled a total of 45km, far ity rover, which has spent more Justice Minister David Lametti urged Wilson-Raybould to allow wrongdoing have left the com- light. neering eff ort to try to recover more than the 1km that it was than six years collecting data and two senior civil servants SNC-Lavalin to avoid a corrup- pany and it has overhauled ethics They kept trying in recent Opportunity” and determined expected to travel. from the planet’s Gale Crater. – and discuss next steps at a tion trial on charges of bribing and compliance systems. Gulf Times 6 Friday, February 15, 2019 ASIA Duterte critic Ressa freed on bail

AFP Manila

hilippine journalist Maria Ressa was freed on bail Pyesterday following an ar- rest that sparked international censure and allegations she is be- ing targeted over her news site’s criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte. Ressa, 55, spent a night in detention after authorities arrested the veteran reporter at her Manila offi ce Wednesday in a sharp upping of government pressure on her and her website Rappler. The site and Ressa have been hit with tax evasion charges and now a libel case after clashing repeatedly with Duterte over his deadly crackdown on narcotics that has killed thousands. “The message that the government is sending is very clear ... be silent or you’re next,” an emotional Ressa told reporters outside a Manila court. She stumped up a bond of Philippine journalist Maria Ressa (centre) is seen inside a regional trial court in Manila as she posts bail 100,000-pesos ($1,900), the yesterday. Ressa was freed on bail yesterday following an arrest that sparked international censure and Students hold placards as they shout slogans during a protest at the state university grounds in Manila sixth time since December she allegations she is being targeted over her news site’s criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte. yesterday in support of CEO of Rappler, Maria Ressa, who was arrested a day earlier for cyber libel case. has paid bail on a government case. “I am appealing to you not arrest Wednesday. “A free press is Reynaldo Santos, Jr stems from a team has argued the legislation was updated, but notes it was preme Court.” The businessman Duterte has lashed out at other to be silent, even if —and espe- a bedrock of democracy. Canada 2012 report written about a busi- did not take eff ect until months to fi x a typo and no substantive who accused Rappler, Wilfredo critical media outfi ts, includ- cially if — you’re next,” added reiterates its call for due process nessman’s alleged ties to a then- after the story was published and changes were made. Ressa’s law- Keng, yesterday welcomed the ing the Philippine Daily Inquirer Ressa, who was named a Time to be respected and for journal- judge on the nation’s top court. is not retroactive, however the yer JJ Disini said he will formally charges, saying the website “de- newspaper and broadcaster ABS- Magazine “Person of the Year” in ists to be free from harassment While investigators initially dis- government countered that it is ask the court within the week to stroyed my reputation and en- CBN. 2018 for her journalism. Interna- and intimidation,” Freeland add- missed the businessman’s 2017 fair game because the story was dismiss the case as the publica- dangered my life”. He threatened to go after their tional condemnation from digni- ed. Former US Secretary of State complaint about the article, the updated in 2014. tion and the modifi cation were Duterte said late yesterday he owners over alleged unpaid taxes taries, press freedom and human Madeleine Albright, tweeted in case was subsequently forwarded “In essence in the contempla- made more than a year ago. did not know Keng or his motive or block the network’s franchise rights groups has poured in since support: “The arrest of journal- to prosecutors for their consid- tion of the law it is a new article He argues the maximum pe- for fi ling the case, and dismissed renewal application. Some of plainclothes agents appeared at ist @mariaressa by the Philippine eration. because of the modifi cation, riod set by law for a legal action allegations the suit was part of a the drug crackdown’s highest- Rappler to serve an arrest war- government is outrageous and The legal foundation of the republication,” Markk Perete, to be brought has already lapsed. media crackdown. “Far from it, profi le detractors have wound rant. must be condemned by all demo- case is a controversial law aim- spokesman for Department of “That’s disincentive for people to actually,” he told reporters, say- up behind bars, including Sena- Canadian Foreign Minister cratic nations.” ing to crack down on online of- Justice prosecutors, told AFP. speak out,” Disini told reporters, ing he had never prosecuted the tor Leila de Lima, who was jailed Chrystia Freeland tweeted she The libel case against Ressa fences ranging from harassment “That is deemed as a new arti- “I think there would be grounds press during his more than 20 on drug charges she insists were was “deeply troubled” by Ressa’s and former Rappler reporter to child pornography. Ressa’s cle.” Rappler concedes the story to raise these issues in the Su- years as a government offi cial. fabricated to silence her.

Key rebel stronghold left out of Philippines’ Muslim territory Thai PM oversees training exercise Dozens of communities won development projects aimed at the vote, won’t be inside the approval to join a new Muslim- breaking the cycle of poverty and boundaries of the Bangsamoro. led territory in the Philippines’ violent extremism. That is important because the south, results showed yesterday, The second round of voting on rebels are supposed to lay yet the exclusion of a key rebel February 6 focused on whether down their arms and transition stronghold raised concerns about a string of smaller communities into leading the newly formed the peace process in the restive would get approval from the territory. Experts said it is unclear region. The results are from municipality or region that what impact the Lanao del Norte the second and final round of a surrounds them to join the vote will have on long-term peace landmark referendum that was Bangsamoro. Off icial results prospects as fighters under the culmination of a decades-long released yesterday by the the MILF should still give up process seeking to halt Muslim Philippines’ electoral commission their weapons even outside the separatist violence that has showed 63 of 67 villages in the Bangsamoro. A key commander claimed some 150,000 lives since North Cotabato region would of those forces is also in line for a the 1970s. join. However, in an expected high-level job in the Bangsamoro’s Voters had already outcome, voters in the majority- new government, which was overwhelmingly approved last Christian region of Lanao del widely seen as an eff ort to keep month the so-called Bangsamoro Norte refused to allow six local him and his troops in the fold. region, which is centred on towns to become part of the Still, Zachary Abuza, a security the island of Mindanao in the Bangsamoro. The result is that expert at the National War College majority Catholic nation’s south. at least one major rebel camp in Washington, told AFP some Locals will have more control belonging to the Moro Islamic fighters would surely be unhappy over their territory and see an Liberation Front, whose peace with the vote’s result and could be influx of government cash for deal with Manila prompted a threat to peace. Thai court considers ban on party that nominated princess

Reuters stitutional. The election com- If found guilty of violating Bangkok mission disqualifi ed the princess election law, the party would be on Monday and petitioned the dissolved and its executive com- Constitutional Court to dissolve mittee members banned from Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha arrives to witness a disaster management exercise at a military base in Lopburi yesterday. hailand’s Constitutional the party, saying the nomination political offi ce. The party is one Court announced yester- of a royal was “antagonistic to- of several set up by Thaksin loy- Tday it will consider a ban ward the constitutional monar- alists to help win more support on a party that nominated prin- chy”. The court said it would take under a new electoral system, cess for prime minister, raising up the case. “The Constitutional and to act as a back-up for the the prospect of a further set- Court unanimously accepts the main pro-Thaksin party if it is back for opposition chances in a petition for consideration,” it disqualifi ed for some reason. general election. said in a statement. The election broadly pits the Bangladesh rescues ‘abducted’ The Thai Raksa Chart party, It gave the party seven days to military-backed royalist prime which is linked to ousted popu- submit a written response, and minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, list prime minister Thaksin scheduled an initial court ses- against supporters of Thaksin, Shinawatra, sparked an uproar sion on Feb 27. Dozens of pro- who was ousted in a 2006 coup last week when it nominated as democracy activists gathered in and lives in a self-imposed exile Rohingya bound for Malaysia its candidate for prime minister, front of the Constitutional Court to avoid a 2008 graft conviction if it wins a March 24 election, yesterday to protest against the he says was politically moti- Princess Ubolratana Rajakan- dissolution of the party, which vated. AFP following previous bouts of Rahman said they were treating paid some 20,000 taka ($240) ya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, the they said would risk politi- Thaksin remains immensely Dhaka violence. it as a case of abduction after each to the traffi ckers for the king’s older sister. cal confl ict. A top party offi cial, popular, especially in rural ar- Offi cials fear many may end the women claimed they were journey,” he said. He said they Even though Ubolratana relin- Chaturon Chaisang, told a news eas, and his parties have won up being exploited by an in- confi ned in a room without arrested a woman traffi cker and quished her royal titles in 1972 conference before the court’s every election since 2001. But angladesh police have ternationally organised human consent. were “searching for others”. when she married an American, announcement, the party would his supporters say a new consti- stopped 43 Rohingya ref- smuggling racket who have An analyst said the latest her bid to enter politics on the abide by any ruling. tution, drafted after the military Bugees from being smug- previously sent thousands of Officials fear many may discovery of Malaysia-bound side of the anti-establishment “If there is any opportunity or ousted a pro-Thaksin govern- gled to Malaysia by boat with Rohingya to Malaysia by boats end up being exploited Rohingya was a “dangerous” opposition was hugely contro- channels by which we can assist ment in 2014, limits its chances a dozen women claiming they until Bangladesh launched a by an internationally sign and shows the despera- versial. Just hours after the shock in confi rming the good inten- of regaining power and gives the were abducted by traffi ckers, crackdown in 2015 following organised human tion at more than 30 refugee announcement, King Maha Vaji- tions and honest action of the military overall control of poli- offi cials said yesterday. the discovery of mass graves of smuggling racket who camps where the Rohingya live ralongkorn said his sister’s bid party’s executive committee, we tics after the restoration of civil- Acting on tip-off s, police refugees in Thailand. have previously sent in bamboo and tarpaulin made was “inappropriate” and uncon- are ready to help,” Chaturon said. ian rule. found the refugees at two sepa- Rapid Action Battalion, an thousands of Rohingya to shanties in squalid conditions. rate places in the southeastern elite police unit, said they res- Malaysia by boats “It is very natural for the des- border district of Cox’s Bazar, cued 12 women — mostly in perate refugees to attempt the Thai woman with Alzheimer’s found in China raising the number of Rohingya their 20s — from a residential In another drive late Wednes- risk to search for a better fu- being rescued from the traf- room in Cox’s Bazar city early day, Cox’s Bazar police rescued ture,” Tasneem Siddiqui, who fi ckers to more than 100 in less yesterday morning and arrested another 31 Rohingya from the heads a Bangladeshi think tank A 59-year-old Thai woman said Ekkorn Butsababodin, and posted on Facebook by a than a week. two alleged traffi ckers for “ab- southern island of Maheshkha- on migration issues, told AFP. reported missing from her home immigration chief of the northern Thai consular off icer in Kunming About 740,000 of the Mus- ducting” them. li, some 110km away from the “They know the way is full of in northern Thailand since June province of Chiang Rai. The showed her kneeling in front of lim minority fl ed Myanmar for “The young women from overcrowded Kutupalong refu- obstacles, yet many think this has been found 600km away in Chinese authorities then alerted her mother, hugging her and Bangladesh after a military the refugee camps were lured gee camp. is their only way out,” she said. Kunming, China, police told DPA the Thai Consulate in Kunming, crying with joy. According to Thai clampdown in the Buddhist- by the traffi ckers. They were Local police chief Provash Authorities fear that more Ro- yesterday. Kaewmanee Arjor was who then informed her 35-year- immigration police, the reason it majority nation in August promised they would be sent Chandra said the 14 women, hingya will try to take boats to found walking down a road in the old daughter to pick her up. The took over a month for Kaewmanee 2017. They have joined another to Malaysia. They were then 11 men and six children were Malaysia while the Bay of Ben- Yunnan capital in late December. daughter, Suchada Arjor, who left to be sent home is because the 300,000 Rohingya who have brought to Cox’s Bazar and kept hiding in a coastal forest at gal remains calm before the ar- Chinese police found her Thai ID Thailand on Wednesday, finally daughter did not have a passport already been living in over- in a house,” RAB spokesman Maheskhali waiting to board a rival of monsoons at the end of and admitted her to hospital after met with her long lost mother and other required documents to crowded camps in Cox’s Bazar Mashkur Rahman told AFP. Malaysian-bound boat. “They March. seeing her Alzheimer’s symptoms, yesterday afternoon. A video taken travel and retrieve her mother. Gulf Times Friday, February 15, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA S Korean women’s activists slam wife of politician in #MeToo case

AFP her husband never raped the vic- when his term ends in 2022, is by late Wednesday Min Joo-won jung and Kim Ji-eun. Those two to “stop causing secondary vic- Kim welcomed the appeal Seoul tim. Min Joo-won is the wife of far the highest-profi le individual claimed in a Facebook post that people destroyed my family.” timisation” of Kim. court’s decision earlier this former presidential contender to be named in the country’s on- the case involving her husband Her post was endorsed by “What Min is doing is causing month, saying she can now say Ahn Hee-jung, who was jailed going #MeToo movement. was “not a #MeToo case” but more than 1,000 people as of another set of trauma to Kim,” goodbye to the “painful past coalition of more than earlier this month in an appeal On February 1 he was found one of “an extramarital aff air”. yesterday afternoon. Min made said an activist who did not wish when I lived like a witch being 150 South Korean wom- trial stemming from allegations guilty of nine charges — a move She further argued that she similar arguments when she tes- to be named. “Min is using all burnt at the stake”. A en’s and rights groups he repeatedly raped his female welcomed by women’s activ- and her children are the “biggest tifi ed at a hearing at the Seoul the tactics of victim blaming — “I also send my message of slammed the wife of a jailed aide, Kim Ji-eun. ists, who were infuriated by victims” of the situation. “I can- Western District Court last year. questioning the victim’s cred- solidarity to other victims of politician involved in the na- Ahn, who before the scandal his acquittal by a lower court not acknowledge Kim Ji-eun as a Some 158 human rights and ibility and motives, and framing sexual violence whose voices tion’s highest profi le #MeToo was seen as a strong candidate last year. He was sentenced to victim,” Min wrote. women’s groups in the country the case as an instance of ‘aff air’. were ignored in spite of speak- case yesterday, after she claimed to replace President Moon Jae-in three and a half years in jail. But “I cannot forgive Ahn Hee- released a statement asking Min This should stop,” she said. ing up.”

Singapore hotel evacuated after blasts, fire

Hundreds of people were Sweden replaces China envoy in evacuated yesterday from a hotel in downtown Singapore after explosions and a fire erupted in a room containing electrical equipment, causing blackouts in nearby buildings. furore over dissident bookseller The Carlton Hotel said the incident – rare for hyper-safe and – efficient Singapore – Reuters on a Beijing-bound train in the not authorised anyone to “en- was not terror-related and Stockholm presence of Swedish diplomats. gage” with Gui’s daughter. there were no injuries. China later confi rmed it had de- “The Chinese side handles the After the blasts and blaze, tained him again. Gui Minhai case in accordance smoke could reportedly be weden said yesterday it had In her blog, Angela Gui said with law and legal procedure,” it seen wafting from the back replaced its ambassador to Lindstedt invited her to Stock- said. of the building, which is just a SChina after her “incorrect” holm to meet two businessmen Gui’s original abduction — short walk from the colonial- handling of unauthorised meet- who could help secure her fa- along with four others in the era Raffles Hotel. “About ings intended to help free dissi- ther’s release. Hong Kong book trade — fed a thousand persons were dent bookseller Gui Minhai. “The businessman said, ‘you worries about interference from evacuated from the building. The Hong Kong-based, Swed- care about Anna (Lindstedt), Beijing despite guarantees of There were no reported inju- ish publisher of books critical of right? If you keep talking to the wide-ranging freedoms for the ries,” said the Singapore Civil China’s communist leaders was media it’ll damage her career. former British colony which re- Defence Force, the agency abducted in Thailand in 2015 You don’t want her to come to turned to Chinese rule in 1997. in charge of emergency and later appeared in custody in any harm, do you?’”, she said in The four others have since re- services. mainland China. the post on blog portal Medium. turned to Hong Kong. The blazed happened in His daughter Angela Gui said “In order for this to hap- The United States and Eu- a switch room housing this week she had met ambas- pen (negotiations), I was told I ropean Union have urged Gui’s electrical equipment and sador Anna Lindstedt and two needed to be quiet. I wasn’t to tell release. Sweden said it was con- was quickly extinguished by businessmen in Stockholm in anyone about this, or say any- tinuing to seek Gui’s freedom, as firefighters, they said. The January, where she was advised thing publicly about the case,” Lindstedt faced scathing criti- cause of the fire is under to keep quiet about her father’s she added. cism for what the leader of Swe- investigation. An Australian case while negotiations were “I’m not going to be quiet den’s Left Party called an “outra- guest, who did not want to be proceeding. in exchange for ... an arbitrary geous scandal”. identified, told AFP he heard Sweden’s Foreign Ministry said promise that my father ‘might’ be “A Swedish ambassador has two explosions about three that was not an offi cial meeting, released. Threats, verbal abuse, done the bidding of a dictatorship minutes apart while he was and Lindstedt had now returned bribes, or fl attery won’t change and tried to silence the daughter standing outside the building. to Sweden with an interim envoy In this file photo, members of the pro-democracy Civic Party carry a portrait of Gui Minhai (left) and Lee that.” of a Swedish political prisoner in The incident caused a power sent to Beijing during an inquiry. Bo during a protest outside the Chinese Liaison Off ice in Hong Kong, China. China’s Foreign Ministry de- China,” Jonas Sjostedt told local blackout at the hotel and “Neither the Foreign Ministry clined comment, with spokes- TV. “I don’t think we have seen a some nearby buildings for nor the Foreign Minister were statement. “As a consequence of ternal investigation.” Gui, 54, October 2017, but his wherea- woman Hua Chunying saying she worse scandal in Swedish foreign a short period, but electric- informed until after the event,” the incorrect manner in which became a Swedish citizen after bouts were unclear until January knew nothing about Gui’s latest administration for decades.” ity was quickly restored to ministry spokesman Rasmus the said meetings were handled, studying there in the 1980s. After last year when his daughter said situation. On its website, China’s Lindstedt could not immedi- all affected areas except the Eljanskog said in an e-mailed we are now conducting an in- the abduction, he was released in he was seized by Chinese agents embassy in Stockholm said it had ately be reached for comment. Carlton. Australia prepares for up to 300 medical Activists fi le suit to stop transfers after refugee law amendment dolphin hunting in Japan

Reuters iar with an assessment provided rison, who is facing a general tre to be reopened on Christmas AFP Sydney by the home aff airs department. election due by May, has said Island, an Australian territory Tokyo Australian media said there had the change would undermine the about 1,550km northwest of the been a surge in inquiries from country’s deterrent immigration mainland. s many as 300 asylum- doctors seeking medical care for policies and encourage a new It was not clear if the govern- nvironmental campaign- seekers held in Pacifi c asylum-seekers and about 300 wave of refugees to pay smug- ment plans to treat asylum-seek- ers have fi led an unprec- Adetention centres may people would seek transfers to glers to get them to Australia. ers on Christmas Island, thereby Eedented lawsuit in a bid be eligible to apply for medi- Australia. Opponents accuse the govern- denying them access to the to halt the so-called “drive cal transfers to Australia after Under a controversial off - ment of fear-mongering ahead of mainland, a lawyer for a refugee hunting” of dolphins in Japan, hardline immigration laws were shore detention policy, more the election, in which opinion advocacy group said. arguing the practice is cruel and eased, media reports and a gov- than 1,000 asylum-seekers have polls show the ruling coalition is Alternatively, the government illegal. In drive hunting, fi sher- ernment offi cial said yesterday. been held on the Pacifi c islands trailing badly. might relocate those who have men force dolphins into a cove The transfers would be the fi rst of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Morrison is expected to cam- been treated on the mainland to by beating on boats to disorient since the government suff ered an Nauru for six years after they paign heavily on the issue of bor- Christmas Island, which would them. The panicked animals of- embarrassing defeat in parlia- were intercepted trying to get to der security, said Peter Chen, a avoid the legal complexity of ten get tangled in nets, suff ocate ment on Tuesday when opposi- Australia by boat. It is not clear professor of political science at trying to move a person from and drown. tion and independent lawmakers whether the 300 people would the University of Sydney. Australia to an off shore deten- Activists say some dolphins voted to give doctors the right to meet the requirements in the “All it will take is one incident tion centre, the lawyer said. In smash into rocks and die of in- move asylum seekers to Australia amendment, which allows the where an asylum-seeker breaks the past when seriously ill asy- juries, while others are killed for medical treatment. government to veto a medical the law and the narrative of the lum-seekers were treated on the by fi shermen who thrust a long “Up to 300 could be sent to transfer if intelligence agencies election could be changed,” he mainland, advocates and lawyers metal rod repeatedly into the Australia if they can get two doc- consider the person a security said. Refugees seeking a medi- obtained a court injunction pre- body just behind the blowhole tors to sign off on their transfer,” risk. cal transfer will be processed at venting their return to PNG or to damage the spinal cord. In the said a government offi cial famil- Prime Minister Scott Mor- a controversial detention cen- Nauru. suit fi led last week, the plaintiff s are demanding the governor of western Wakayama prefecture A file picture shows two Risso’s dolphins being herded by fishing revoke a three-year drive hunt- boats near the village of Taiji, Wakayama prefecture. ing permit in the port town of Anti-Valentine’s Day rally Taiji. see dolphins as fi sh and mistak- and defenders of the hunt say it The practice was fi lmed enly believe the animal welfare is an important part of local cul- in the 2009 Oscar-winning act does not apply to them,” said ture and point out that dolphins documentary The Cove, which Ren Yabuki, head of an environ- are not endangered. sparked controversy when it mental NGO, who brought the Nowadays, an increasing thrust the annual hunt into the action along with a Taiji resi- number of dolphins are be- global spotlight. dent who asked for anonymity. ing trapped and sold live for Many in Japan felt it unfair- “I’ve seen many times that half- aquariums rather than killed, ly targeted the town’s fi shing killed dolphins are taken away as demand rises from China or community, but others were on small boats, thrashing about elsewhere, Yabuki said. Japan horrifi ed by the disturbing foot- in pain,” Yabuki said, adding it has strongly defended its hunt- age. can take dozens of minutes for ing of dolphins and whales, a The lawsuit is the fi rst-ever the animals to die. rare piece of provocative diplo- legal challenge to the hunt in The suit challenges the way macy for the country, which has Taiji, according to a lawyer in- the hunt is carried out, rather generally pursued an uncontro- volved in the fi ling. It argues then all kinds of dolphin hunt- versial foreign policy since its that the hunting method vio- ing. It also claims fi shermen are World War II defeat. lates Japan’s animal welfare act, catching more dolphins than It sparked outrage in Decem- which stipulates animals shall allowed by legal caps. No im- ber when it decided to withdraw not be abused or killed unnec- mediate comment was available from the International Whaling essarily and that — when they from Wakayama offi cials on the Commission, saying it would must be killed — their pain must lawsuit. Dolphins are tradition- return to commercial whaling as be minimised. “Many Japanese ally caught for meat in Japan, part of its cultural heritage.

Queensland Rail expects to repair flooded track in 6 months

Australia’s Queensland Rail said and lead concentrate from the Mt ahead of the 6-12 months being that it expects a rail track hit by Isa region, with at least one miner reported,” the rail operator said. flooding this month that has dis- eyeing more expensive trucking. “Unfortunately, it is too early for us rupted zinc shipments from major Industry sources had told Reuters to be providing more definitive ad- producers like Glencore to be that they expected the line would vice regarding repair timeframes repaired within the next 6 months. be out of action for at least a for the Mount Isa Line, given flood A group of Indonesian students take part in an anti-Valentine’s Day rally in Surabaya yesterday. Anti-Valentine’s Day rallies are not The 1,000km rail line is used by month. “There is certainly a lot of waters surrounding the site and uncommon in Indonesia with some groups denouncing the day as foreign cultural influence. miners including Glencore, MMG work to do, but at this stage we on roads connecting to the site Ltd and South 32 to carry zinc anticipate rectification of the line are yet to recede.” Gulf Times 8 Friday, February 15, 2019 BRITAIN Teen runaway who joined IS ‘wants to come home’

AFP supporters of the militants. “I just could not endure any east London. Another girl from “They were strong. I respect 300-400 have since returned ments of how to deal with those London Shamima Begum, who ran away more,” she told the newspaper. the same school had run away their decision,” Begum said of — and 40 have been prosecut- returning from abroad. from London with two school She added: “I was also fright- the year before. her friends. ed. “It is a challenge for all of friends in 2015, spoke to The Times ened that the child I am about One girl, Kadiza Sultana, has She added: “I’m not the same As of last month, around 200 us,” he told BBC radio. “Some of n unrepentant British from a refugee camp where she to give birth to would die like been reported killed. silly little 15-year-old school- were believed to still be alive and them were groomed... when they teenager who joined the had fl ed to following the collapse my other children if I stayed on. Begum said the other two, girl who ran away from Bethnal in the region. were young but are now adults AIslamic State group in of the IS in eastern Syria. “So I fl ed. Now all I want to do is Sharmeena Begum — no relation Green four years ago. And I don’t Speaking to Sky News, Secu- and some of them are hardened Syria said in an interview yes- Now 19, she expressed no re- come home to Britain.” — and Amira Abase stayed on in regret coming here.” rity Minister Ben Wallace said it fi ghters. We have successfully terday that she wants to come grets about joining the militants Begum made headlines around Baghouz, where IS fi ghters are The British authorities esti- was “worrying” that Begum had prosecuted a number of them in home, highlighting the chal- but said that two of her chil- the world when, aged just 15, she making their last stand to hold mate around 900 Britons trav- not expressed regret about going the last few years when they have lenge for Western governments dren were dead and she was now left to join the militants with on to the proto-state they de- elled to Syria and Iraq to join to Syria. He also noted the dif- come back and the others should on how to deal with returning heavily pregnant. friends from Bethnal Green in clared in 2014. the conflict, of whom around fi culties faced by many govern- expect the same if they return.” Prospects bleak William visits Pall Mall Barbers for housing market, feel estate agents

Guardian News and Media ume of transactions, worsened London to -25, the lowest since October 2017, while the sales expecta- tions balance for the next three rexit uncertainty and a lack months stands at its lowest level of aff ordability in some since the survey began in 1999, Bareas continue to stifl e falling to -32% from -28%. the UK housing market, leaving The Rics prices balance has Britain’s estate agents with their been negative or fl at since July gloomiest view of property val- 2017, while sales expectations ues in 10 years. have been in negative territory The latest monthly snap- since August 2018. shot from the Royal Institution Surveyors and estate agents of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) have, however, become more op- shows a further weakening of the timistic since December about market, with demand, prices and prices and sales over the next 12 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, speaks to Dean Hamilton (right), and Paul Richardson (left) during a visit to Pall Mall Barbers in London yesterday. The Pall Mall sales expectations all down. months. Northern Ireland and Barbers are members of the Lions Barber Collective, an international group of top barbers who have come together to raise awareness for the prevention of suicide The industry survey came Scotland, property values con- and for providing trainings to barbers. as the latest government fi g- tinue to rise, have the strongest ures showed annual house price price expectations for the coming growth across the UK had slowed year, followed by the north-west to the lowest rate since July 2013, and Wales. In London, however, with average prices up 2.5% in they expect prices to fall. the year to December, down from Mark Zorab of Elstons estate 2.7% in November. agents in Chepstow, who took The Offi ce for National Sta- part in the Rics survey, said: tistics fi gures also suggested the “Fifty percent of the general housing market slowdown could public is waiting to see what the be spreading from London and Brexit outcome is. The other Frustrated EU wary of the south-east to other regions. 50% is keen to buy but only at There was an annual price de- the right price.” Simon Bain- cline of 1% in the north-east in bridge at Savills in Darlington December, compared with an in- said there had been plenty of crease of 1.7% in November, while positive activity despite Brexit London prices fell 0.6% over uncertainty, although “there May’s Brexit brinkmanship the year. The average UK house are prospective buyers openly price was £231,000 in December, admitting they await the Brexit AFP from a leader whose original Brexit stirred up Britain’s boisterous fi cials think May’s do nothing has written to May proposing that £6,000 higher than 12 months outcome”. Brussels plan was defeated by a record mar- press a week earlier by saying lead- stance is deliberate brinksman- he might back a deal that would earlier. The Rics house prices Demand weakened to some de- gin in her own parliament, and her ers of the pro-Brexit campaign ship, an attempt to strengthen her see Britain stay in the EU customs balance, which measures the dif- gree across virtually all parts of the counterparts in Brussels see it as a deserved a “special place in hell”. hand both at home in London and union indefi nitely after Brexit on ference between the number of UK, with the exception of Scot- ith just 43 days until reckless one. And Tusk is not the only EU offi cial in EU talks. “Her strategy is to get March 29. estate agents and property sur- land, where it was fl at.The buyer Britain is due to leave And, where once offi cials and voicing frustration. as close as possible to the deadline This plan could be included in a veyors anticipating increases inquiries balance fell to its lowest Wthe European Union, EU diplomats here spoke cautiously of This week the normally meas- and to use the fear provoked by the political declaration on future ties, and those expecting decreases, level since June 2008, from -18% leaders increasingly fear Theresa their frustrations, not wanting to ured chief Brexit negotiator Michel perspective of a ‘no-deal’ to get her meaning European leaders would dropped to -22% in January, the to -35%. The fl ow of properties May is playing a dangerous game stir up Britain’s domestic drama, Barnier insisted “something has to parliament to accept a reworked not have to agree to re-open the lowest level since March 2009. coming on to the market also re- of chicken. they are now sounding the alarm. give” on the British side. accord,” one said. withdrawal agreement they signed The most downbeat responses duced, with the balance of -25% Prime Minister May has made a After a new Brexit secretary, Luxembourg’s Prime Minis- “It’s a risky strategy,” the senior in November. to the survey continued to come the lowest since July 2016, the great show of reopening talks with May’s third in two years, came to ter Xavier Bettel complains the European diplomat said, compar- Both Tusk and Barnier have from London and the south-east, month after the EU referendum. Brussels, but offi cials here say she Brussels on Monday for yet an- British Brexit camp’s response to ing May’s challenge to lawmak- dubbed Corbyn’s off er “interest- followed by East Anglia and the David Knights of David Brown is playing for time until a ‘no-deal’ other inconclusive round of talks, everything is “no, no, no” while ers to the fatal game of chicken in ing”, but May appears bent on win- south-west. These regions have & Co in Ipswich said: “There was divorce is imminent. EU Council president Donald Tusk his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte James Dean movie “Rebel Without ning back Tory support rather than experienced strong price growth the normal ‘bounce’ in the mar- Then, with the economic con- let loose. lashed out yesterday. a Cause”. reaching out to the equally divided over the past six years, which ket expected in January with a sequences of a ‘no-deal’ threaten- “No news is not always good “My impression is that the ball Rather than facing down the Labour benches. has stretched aff ordability, and good number of viewings and ing not just Britain but its trading news. EU27 still waiting for con- is heading towards the precipice anti-European, anti-deal wing “The way forward is cross- the high prices are a key factor off ers, but this did not last and partners on the continent, they ex- crete, realistic proposals from and everyone screams to stop, but of her own Conservatives, Brus- party, not kicking the can towards putting off would-be buyers, Rics coinciding with the reopening of pect May to push her anti-Europe London on how to break Brexit nobody does anything to stop it, at sels would prefer May seek sup- a disastrous deal,” pleaded the said. the Brexit negotiations, we wit- MPs to back a lightly-tweaked ac- impasse,” tweeted Tusk, who rep- least, from the British side,” he told port from the opposition Labour head of the EU parliament’s Brexit The agreed sales balance, a nessed a slowing down in the last cord. resents EU leaders. several newspapers. Party’s ranks. steering committee, Liberal group measure of the anticipated vol- 10 days of the month.” It is perhaps a desperate strategy Tusk’s outburst came after he In Brussels, diplomats and of- Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leader Guy Verhofstad. Minister misled MPs over Harry in Norway Prince Philip not to Nissan payment: Labour face car crash charges Reuters “We took into account all the London circumstances in this case, in- Guardian News and Media ment once it had formally been which employs 7,000 people. cluding the level of culpability, London agreed, in remarks seized upon by Long-Bailey also wrote a letter the age of the driver and the sur- Labour. Clark said on October 31, to Clark, accusing him of failing rince Philip, the 97-year- render of the driving licence,” the 2016, that all proposals for state “to keep your own promise to Nis- old husband of Queen Crown Prosecution Service said abour has accused the aid were “subject to rigorous san” and called on him to “demand PElizabeth, will not face in a statement yesterday. Business Secretary, Greg external scrutiny” by the inde- that the prime minister rules out a prosecution over a car crash last “We have decided that it LClark, of misleading MPs pendent Industrial Development ‘no-deal’ Brexit – a promise we month that injured two women would not be in the public inter- by failing to tell parliament that Advisory Board (IDAB) and were know you have made abundantly and left his Land Rover fl ipped est to prosecute. a £61mn package of state aid had reported on to parliament. clear in private and must now have on its side. “All those involved in the col- been granted to Nissan, despite A package worth £61mn was the guts to make in public”. Philip, the Duke of Edin- lision have been informed and assuring the Commons that he ultimately granted to Nissan in Car makers have repeatedly burgh, escaped unhurt from the provided with a full explana- would do so. June 2018, but it was kept secret warned of the dangers of a ‘no- collision on January 17 when tion in writing,” the statement Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shad- until earlier this month, when deal’ Brexit, with Ford and Toyota he pulled out onto a main road, added. ow business secretary, said that as the Japanese car maker changed and the trade body the Society of colliding with an oncoming car Philip retired from public life a result the Cabinet minister had its mind, and decided it would Motor Manufacturers and Trad- near the royals’ Sandringham in 2017, although he still oc- “dodged scrutiny” over the prom- not make the X-Trail SUV in ers among those who have gone residence in eastern England. casionally appears with his ises he had made to Nissan in Oc- Sunderland after all. public with their concerns. The other driver, a 28-year- 92-year-old wife at offi cial tober 2016 to boost manufacturing Long-Bailey said: “The gov- Last week, Rachel Reeves, the old woman, suffered cuts to her events. in Sunderland after Brexit. ernment has dodged scrutiny of chair of the business select com- knee and a 45-year-old woman There is no legal age in Britain At the time Clark had refused the assurances it gave to Nissan mittee, extracted a promise from passenger in the car, which also to stop driving, but drivers over to say exactly what assurances ever since it was fi rst brought to Clark that he would in future no- had a nine-month-old baby 70 must renew their licences he had given Nissan, even saying light. While Labour is in favour tify the committee every time a on board, sustained a broken every three years. there was “no chequebook” in- of supporting UK industry, we do company had been granted a state wrist. In 2016, Philip drove then- volved, despite intense pressure not support sweetheart deals with aid package. A total of £150m in The accident prompted a de- US president Barack Obama on him to reveal how he had per- no strategy or transparency.” state aid to car makers, including bate in Britain as to whether and his wife Michelle to lunch suaded the company to demon- Clark has said that Nissan Toyota, Ford and BMW has also Philip should still be driving at at Windsor Castle during their strate confi dence in the UK. would not have to reapply for been granted without MPs being Prince Harry, Captain General Royal Marines, shakes his age. state visit to Britain, prompt- The business secretary prom- state aid after abandoning its made aware of them, in a wide- hands with military personnel during Exercise Clockwork, He received a warning from ing Obama to remark: “I have to ised MPs from the fl oor of the commitment to make the X-Trail ranging programme to help key celebrating 50 years of cold weather training of the police for driving without a seat- say I have never been driven by Commons that any off er of tax- in Sunderland, which had it gone manufacturers retain confi dence Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Helicopter belt just two days after the crash a Duke of Edinburgh before, but payer support for Nissan would ahead would have created 740 in the UK after the country leaves Command at Bardufoss Air Station, in Norway yesterday. and earlier this month voluntar- I can report it was very smooth ultimately be reported to parlia- jobs at the Sunderland plant, the European Union. ily gave up his driving licence. riding.” Gulf Times Friday, February 15, 2019 9 EUROPE

Slovenia legislator steps down for stealing sandwich A Slovenian lawmaker resigned yesterday for stealing a sandwich from a supermarket because he was annoyed about being Website names Skripal, ignored by staff . Darij Krajcic, a member of parliament for the Marjan Sarec List (LMS) party – the senior partner in the ruling coalition – said that he walked off without paying because three supermarket employees Bulgaria attacks suspect had “treated (him) like air” and continued chatting. AFP existence of a possible third GRU 2016 election campaign that led However, Bulgarian offi cials scious on a Salisbury park bench His second trip ended the “I must have stood some three London suspect in Skripal’s case last to Donald Trump’s elections. re-opened it after the UK sci- on March 4. same day the arms manufacturer minutes by the counter,” he told week. They have also been blamed entists identifi ed the Soviet-era British investigators believe “collapsed during a dinner event private POP TV. It said yesterday that it had for a bungled plot to hack the nerve agent Novichok as the the other two Russians fl ew into with his trading partners from Krajcic insisted that he returned nvestigative website Belling- now fi nished a full investiga- world’s chemical weapons chemical that nearly killed Skri- London the same day. Poland at an upscale Sofi a res- shortly afterwards to pay for the cat has identifi ed a suspected tions that “conclusively” iden- watchdog in the Netherlands pal and his daughter Yulia. Bellingcat said that all three taurant”, Bellingcat said. sandwich. IRussian military intelligence tify him as Sergeev. during its investigations into British police refused to con- booked the same March 4 fl ight Bellingcat said it could not However, he apologised and offi cer who was in Britain dur- Both Bellingcat and UK offi - Syrian nerve agent attacks. fi rm whether they had a third out of London. confi rm whether the new sus- resigned from parliament. ing the Salisbury chemical at- cials believe the fi rst two entered Investigators in Bulgaria are suspect in the Salisbury case in It said Sergeev checked in but pected GRU agent was in Salis- The centre-left LMS party of tack and might also be linked to Britain on false passports issued now asking whether the GRU which Moscow has denied any missed the fl ight and returned to bury around the time of Skripal’s Prime Minister Marjan Sarec is a 2015 poisoning in Bulgaria. by the GRU under instructions was also involved in a case in involvement. Moscow via Rome that day. poisoning. the senior member of a five-party The group had earlier named from senior Russian offi cials. 2015 that nearly killed a lo- “The investigation team CCTV footage showed However, it said that “in the minority government, voted in two other Russians that Britain The GRU is the military coun- cal arms manufacturer named continues to pursue a number Mishkin and Chepiga walking last two months, Russian au- last September. blames for trying to kill former terpart to Russia’s FSB security Emiliyan Gebrev. of lines of enquiry, including towards Skripal’s home in Salis- thorities have taken the unu- Public support for the premier double agent Sergei Skripal in service. His son and another com- identifying any other suspects bury shortly before he and his sual measure of erasing any has received a boost recently March as Alexander Mishkin and Both are indirect successors to pany executives also developed who may have been involved daughter fell ill. public records of the existence from public sector wage Anatoly Chepiga. the Soviet-era KGB. symptoms of severe poisoning. in carrying out or planning the Sergeev did not feature in that of Denis Sergeev, as well as of hikes and the dismissal of two The third man is “Denis London and Washington now Gebrev fell into a coma but attack,” British police said in a footage. Anatoly Chepiga and Alexander ministers accused of abuse of Vyacheslavovich Sergeev, a identify the GRU as the main survived and all three later re- statement provided to AFP. Mishkin and Chepiga later Mishkin”. power and bullying. high-ranking GRU offi cer and Russian security threat to West- covered. Bellingcat said that Sergeev told Russian television that they “These unprecedented ac- The head of LMS’s parliamentary a graduate of Russia’s Military ern interests abroad. Suspects in the apparent used a false Russian passport went to Salisbury on vacation. tions cannot plausibly be taken faction, Brane Golubovic, Diplomatic Academy”, Belling- US investigators believe GRU poisoning attempt were never to enter Britain two days before Bellingcat said that Sergeev without direct involvement of condemned Krajcic’s actions as cat said in its report. agents hacked the Democratic found and the investigation was Skripal and his daughter were visited Bulgaria in February and the Russian state,” Bellingcat “unacceptable”. Bellingcat fi rst revealed the National Committee during the closed. found slumped over uncon- April 2015. said.

French want an end to ‘yellow vest’ protests: poll Eff orts in measles fight

Reuters day showed 56% think the move- vandalism and looting has been month launched a two-month of the points you have raised,” ‘backsliding’: WHO Paris ment should call off the weekly blamed on anarchists as well as national debate, promising pol- Macron said as he got to his feet, protests, an increase of 11 points hard-left and extreme-right mil- icy change that address voter dressed as always in a sharp suit, from a month earlier and the fi rst itants with no connection to the grievances. crisp white shirt and dark tie. “I AFP know that we’re heading in the ore than half of French time they have been a majority. protest movement. Yesterday the 41-year-old share your opinion, the country Geneva wrong direction,” she said. people want the “yel- The protests erupted in No- While a majority of people president met rural mayors in is tired. Countries have until April to Mlow vests” to end their vember over the high cost of die- support the movement, two in the remote village of Gargilesse- We must rise to the challenge.” report measles cases registered sometimes violent anti-govern- sel and high living costs, and are every three believe those still Dampierre in central France. In recent debates, Macron has he World Health Organi- in 2018 to the WHO. ment protests, with many be- named after the high-visibility protesting each weekend in Paris One after the other, the may- stood for more than six hours an- sation (WHO) warned But the agency said the data lieving that demonstrators still jackets French motorists must and other cities are not repre- ors presented their grumbles: swering questions. Tyesterday that that ef- it has received so far showed marching through cities each carry in their car. sentative of its early ambitions. the dearth of doctors, shortage Polls point to a rebound in the forts to halt the spread of mea- that around 229,000 cases had weekend no longer refl ect the The unrest quickly morphed The “yellow vests” have posed of money for technology, decline president’s battered popular- sles were “backsliding”, with already been reported, com- group’s early demands. into a broader revolt against the greatest challenge to the au- of public transport, and lack of ity since he launched the debates case numbers worldwide surg- pared to 170,000 for 2017. A survey by respected pollster President Emmanuel Macron. thority of Macron, who has made power for local offi cials. and his aides talk of a new energy ing around 50% last year. Last year, measles caused Elabe published late on Wednes- Much of the worst rioting, costly tax concessions and last “I will try and respond to each inside the Elysee Palace. The UN health agency approximately 136,000 deaths pointed to preliminary data around the world, according to Boxer who hit French police gets year-long jail sentence showing that the disturb- the WHO’s preliminary fi gures. ing trend of resurgent measles Up until 2016, the number of A Paris court gave a year-long firm jail sentence on received pledges of more than €114,000 ($128,409) cases was happening at a global measles cases had been stead- Wednesday to a former French boxing champion to help him before the platform closed the page level, including in wealthy na- ily declining, but since 2017 the who was filmed raining blows on riot off icers during after he turned himself in several days after the tions where vaccination cover- number has soared, accord- a “yellow vest” protest last month. incident. age has historically been high. ing to Katrina Kretsinger, who Christophe Dettinger, 37, was also given an 18-month Dettinger was caught on camera jumping over the “Our data are showing that heads WHO’s expanded im- suspended sentence in addition to jail time for the railings of a pedestrian bridge blocked by baton- there is a substantial increase munisation programme. assault on police blocking protesters on a bridge wielding police before swinging blows at two in measles cases. We’re seeing The resurgence of the dis- over the river Seine. off icers, forcing them to retreat. this in all regions,” Katherine ease in some countries has Some among the protesters hailed Dettinger as a One was floored briefly, where Dettinger was seen O’Brien, the WHO’s director been linked to medically base- hero for the incident that has come to symbolise kicking out at him, but the off icer managed to get up of immunisation, vaccines and less claims linking the measles the violent nature of the protests against President and retreat. biologicals, told reporters in vaccine to autism, which have Emmanuel Macron’s government. Punches also connected with an off icer’s head, Geneva. been spread in part on social The twice national light-heavyweight champion footage showed. She pointed out that less media by members of the so- said during the hearing that he was ashamed and Nicknamed the “Gypsy of Massy” after his than 10% of actual measles called “anti-vax” movement. This picture taken on January 5 shows Dettinger during clashes with had committed a “mistake” out of anger at police hometown near Paris, the 1.92m (6’ 4”) boxer was cases are reported. “We’re backsliding on the French Gendarmes as part of a demonstration by the ‘yellow vests’ “beating” protesters. taking part in an eighth Saturday of anti-government “So when we see the report- progress that has been made,” movement, on the passerelle Leopold-Sedar-Senghor bridge in Paris. A website set up to raise funds for Dettinger protests that have undermined Macron’s authority. ed cases increasing by 50%, we O’Brien said. Movies line up for festival UK actress Rampling awards as Berlinale ends gets award

DPA are also leading contenders for year’s festival programme. Fingscheidt’s fi lm focuses on Reuters Berlin prizes in Berlin, when the fes- A total of 400 fi lms had been an aggressive nine-year-old girl Berlin tival’s six-member jury, headed programmed to screen across placed in protective services af- by French actress Juliette Bino- the festival’s 12 sections, helping ter she rebelled against author- he Berlin Film Festi- che, hands out the awards at a the Berlinale to lay claim to the ity and proved too much for her ritish actress Charlotte Ram- val is drawing to a close, Hollywood-style gala tomorrow. title of the world’s biggest fi lm mother. pling said yesterday that she Twith Chinese director Stretching over three hours, festival. Turkish cinema also made its Bwas moved to be awarded the Wang Xiaoshuai’s epic journey Wang’s movie draws on a 30- Each year it attracts about mark in Berlin with Emin Al- Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear for through his nation’s recent past year sweep of Chinese history, 500,000 visitors. per’s well-received A Tale of lifetime achievement. emerging yesterday as a front- including the ideological up- Other movies judged by fes- Three Sisters, a powerful story The 73-year-old, who started her runner for the one of Berlinale’s heaval of Mao Zedong’s Cultural tivalgoers and critics to be con- of three sisters returning home career as a model, is famed for star- prestigious prizes. Revolution, the one-child poli- tenders for this year Berlinale’s to poverty-stricken Anatolia British actress Charlotte Rampling waves during a photocall ring in arthouse fi lms. The number of fi lms compet- cy, and the social impact of mar- awards include Israeli director after being sent away to become yesterday before being awarded with an Honorary Golden Bear at She is best known for playing ing for the Berlinale’s top prize, ket reforms and the emergence Nadav Lapid’s Synonyms, about housemaids. the 69th Berlinale film festival. a concentration camp survivor in the Golden Bear for best picture, of a new middle class. a young Israeli fl eeing to Paris Liliana Cavani’s The Night Porter was cut to 16 this week after Bei- “We need to take lessons from with deeply confl icting feelings (1974). jing’s censorship board abruptly the past and avoid unnecessary about his homeland. Rampling has starred in a wide withdrew leading Chinese di- mistakes,” Wang said following French director Francois range of other fi lms, including Geor- rector Zhang Yimou’s fi lm One the screening of his fi lm. “We Ozon’s hard-hitting tale of sex gy Girl (1966) with Lynn Redgrave, Second before its premiere today have a complex relationship abuse in the Catholic Church in Woody Allen’s Stardust Memories at the festival. with change in China.” By the Grace of God and Canadi- (1980), and a number of movies by Last year there were 19 fi lms in “Our parents and grandpar- an fi lmmaker Denis Cote’s Ghost French director Francois Ozon in the the main competition. ents have experienced both the Town Anthology also won criti- 2000s. Speaking at a press confer- old society and the new society,” cal praise at the 10-day festival. In 2015, she won the Berlinale fes- ence marking the screening of he said. Cote’s fi lm tells the story of tival’s Silver Bear for Best Actress in his family drama So Long, My Another Chinese director, a small snow-covered village her role as a wife in Andrew Haigh’s Son, Wang expressed his shock Wang Quan’an, is thought to badly shaken by a fatal car crash romantic drama 45 Years, about a at the censors’ move to pull One be in the running for one of the and where the local residents couple whose marriage ends up in Second, praising Zhang as hav- Berlinale’s coveted prizes, which suddenly notice a series of mys- crisis as they prepare to celebrate ing been a major infl uence on include awards for best director terious fi gures emerging from their 45th wedding anniversary. Chinese cinema. as well as best actor and actress, nowhere. “I’m really pleased to get the bear “He opened our eyes. We have with his tale of life and love in Another possible candidate because I’ve got a silver one and to be conscious of the need to Mongolia in Ondog. is North Macedonian director he was asking me the other day: respect the rules of the system,” Launched in 1951 just as the Teona Strugar Mitevska’s God ‘Where’s the gold one?’ So I said: said Wang, commenting on his Cold War was taking hold, the Exists, her Name is Petrunija, ‘Well I’m going to be back soon with own fi lm getting past the cen- Berlinale has for years seen itself a satire about a woman chal- it’,” Rampling told a news conference sors. as the most political of the major lenging the patriarchal society in Berlin. “We have followed all the pro- fi lm festivals, including Cannes around her when she retrieves a “They can box together. No, it’s cedures,” he said, noting that and Venice. cross from a river in a traditional great, especially because it’s with So Long, My Son had secured And this year is no exception. male-only ceremony. Dieter Kosslick, who I admire enor- the Chinese censors’ so-called Indeed, movies about the Germany’s Nora Fingscheidt mously and I’ve worked so much Dragon Seal, displayed at the exploitation of children, the was also one of a record seven with him and so it’s very moving,” start of the fi lm. break-up of traditional family female directors included in this she said. Movies from France, Mongo- structures, gender equality and year’s showcase competition, Berlinale director Kosslick has lia, North Macedonia, Germa- current political life were the winning critical praise for her Director, screenwriter and producer Wang Xiaoshuai, with actors Ai Liya and Zhao Yanguozhang, during called Rampling “an icon of uncon- ny, Turkey, Israel, and Canada key themes running through this movie System Crasher. a photocall to promote the movie Di jiu tian chang (So Long, My Son) at the 69th Berlinale. ventional and exciting cinema”. Gulf Times 10 Friday, February 15, 2019 INDIA

OBITUARY COMMERCE CONTROVERSY POLITICS CRIME Former Goa deputy chief US, India hold talks to Ex-Goa MLA’s death Congress ‘to tie-up with Bajrang Dal activists minister D’Souza dies calm trade tensions triggers family spat Left in West Bengal’ ‘forcibly’ marry off couple

Former Goa Deputy Chief Minister and BJP US and government officials pressed on with The death of Goa’s former deputy speaker and ex- The Congress is all set to tie-up with the Left Protesting against Valentine’s Day celebrations, MLA Francis D’Souza died at a hospital in Panaji talks yesterday to resolve their differences over BJP MLA Vishnu Wagh in South Africa has triggered against the ruling Trinamool Congress for the activists of the rightwing group Bajrang Dal yesterday after a prolonged battle with cancer. trade and investment, government sources a public spat between his wife and immediate family. Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal where it won yesterday forcibly married off a young couple at D’Souza’s death brings the legislative tally of the said, even though US Commerce Secretary After Wagh’s wife Aruna on Wednesday announced four seats with a vote share of nearly 10% in 2014. a park on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The activ- BJP to 13 MLAs in the 38-member Goa Legislative Wilbur Ross called off his visit because of bad on Watsapp to a select group about his death in Battling a surge of defections to the Trinamool and ists found a student couple in a park and forced Assembly, one short of the Congress party, which weather at home. Ross addressed a US-India South Africa on August 8, his brother Ramrao and fund crunch, the state leadership, as opposed to the boy to marry the girl. The incident occurred has 14 MLAs. The Goa government has declared CEO Forum by video after his flight was can- two other siblings said: “The family was unaware the central leaders’ wishes for a truck with the Tri- at Kandlakoya Oxygen Park in Medchal. The a three-day mourning in view of the death of celled. US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster that Vishnu was flown to South Africa despite his namool, insists on a tie-up with the Left with whom activists shared the video on social media. The 64-year-old legislator. “Extremely pained to hear is leading the delegation on the ground. India deteriorating health.” They questioned why informa- it had an electoral arrangement during the 2016 protesters could be heard saying it’s an auspi- about the demise of my childhood friend and and the US are sparring over a range of issues, tion about his death was only made public five days Assembly polls. Congress leaders privy to the de- cious day as the boy ‘tied the knot’. Later, one of colleague Francis D’Souza. His demise is a great from New Delhi’s new rules on e-ecommerce after the 53-year-old was reported to have died. In velopment said an agreement has been reached them is seen congratulating the boy. Workers of personal loss,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to data localisation and its tariffs that US her message Aruna said: “ Wagh, 53, died on Febru- on contesting the polls jointly with the Communist Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and tweeted. BJP spokesperson Damodar Naik said President Donald Trump says are exceptionally ary 8 while on a tour to Cape Town and Johannes- Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Communist other rightwing groups staged protests in various the party had lost an “iconic” leader. high. burg as per his wish”. Party of India (CPI) in at least 30 of the 42 seats. parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Kerala’s ruling party trashes poll predicting opposition win

By Ashraf Padanna LDF would win just five seats at Thiruvananthapuram the maximum, and Prime Min- ister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party may win a seat erala’s ruling coalition and open its account from the has rejected pre-poll southern part of the state. Ksurveys predicting a big The data Asianet broad- victory for the Congress party- cast was also confusing. While led United Democratic Front it gives 14-16 seats overall to (UDF) in the upcoming elec- the UDF, the regional split-up tions. shows it could touch 18, which The latest survey conducted could be more realistic if the by AZ Research Partners for massive gap of 14% between Asianet early this month predicts the two is to be believed. 16 seats for UDF, endorsing the Of the eight Malabar constitu- earlier fi ndings by CVoter for the encies, the UDF could win all the Republic TV channel. eight and the LDF just one, the The survey also ranks Chief survey states. In central Kerala, it Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with gives four to fi ve to the UDF and 18% approval rating far be- just one to the LDF. Soldiers examine the debris after the explosion in Lethpora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. low his predecessors Oommen Among the seven constitu- Chandy (24%) of the Congress encies in southern Kerala, three and V S Achuthanandan (20%) to five could go the UDF way, of his own Communist Party of one to three to LDF and one to India (Marxist) or CPM. the BJP. “These surveys have little The vote share predicted for credibility,” said Kanam Ra- the UDF is 44%, the LDF 30% jendran, the state secretary of and the National Democratic Al- the Communist Party of India liance (NDA) led by the BJP 18%. Modi vows to retaliate as 42 (CPI), the second largest rul- The survey claims that the ing coalition partner. “It all main reason for the poor rat- depends on the samples you ing of the LDF was the massive select. We know the real pulse Hindu backlash against the LDF of the people, so why should we dispensation for its Sabarimala worry about these surveys,” Ra- policy advocating entry for troopers killed in Kashmir jendran said. young women to the temple af- Kerala sends 20 MPs, and in ter the Supreme Court lifted the IANS While precise details of the while another CRPF vehicle was condemn this dastardly attack. CRPF offi cers rushed to the spot 2014, the Congress party won age barrier. Srinagar attack were still unclear, police partly damaged. “It is diffi cult to The sacrifi ces of our brave se- for a post-explosion analysis. eight seats while its partners A majority of the respondents, sources said the suicide bomb- believe how anyone in that bus curity personnel shall not go in An offi cer said the CRPF and Indian Union Muslim League drawn from 11 constituencies, er-driven SUV came along the could have survived,” said a po- vain. The entire nation stands police would carry out a detailed (IUML) cornered two and Kerala said the issue would be the most n the worst ever terror at- Central Reserve Police Force lice offi cer. shoulder to shoulder with the investigation to understand the Congress (M) and Revolutionary infl uential factor for voters fol- tack in Jammu and Kashmir (CRPF) bus when a 78-vehicle Jammu and Kashmir Police families of the brave martyrs,” circumstances in which the at- Socialist Party (RSP) one each. lowed by fuel prices, withdrawal Isince militancy erupted in convoy carrying 2,547 security chief Dilbag Singh said it could he tweeted. tack took place. The CPM, which leads the Left of high-denomination curren- 1989, a suicide bomber yester- personnel was going from the have been a suicide attack. This Home Minister Rajnath Singh, This is the worst single attack Democratic Front, had won fi ve cies and the triple talaq ban. day rammed a vehicle packed transit camp in Jammu to Sri- was confi rmed by other offi cials who was to visit Bihar today, is in Jammu and Kashmir since a seats and CPI one besides an The Republic TV-CVoter with explosives into a CRPF bus nagar and rammed it into the later. set to reach Srinagar instead. separatist campaign began in LDF-backed independent, and survey in December, which pro- on the Srinagar-Jammu highway bus around 3.15pm, triggering a In a statement to a local news Home secretary Rajiv Gauba cut 1989. It is also the worst attack both will struggle to retain na- jected a hung house, had given in Pulwama district, killing at deafening explosion. agency GNS, a caller claiming short his visit to Bhutan to rush carried out by militants after the tional party status if they fail to the UDF a 39.9% vote share and least 42 troopers and leaving the So devastating was the attack to be a spokesman of JeM said it to Srinagar for a high-level se- one on the Uri Army camp on put up a good show, after the rout 17 seats as against three seats security establishment stunned. – one report spoke of 200kg of was a ‘suicide’ attack. curity meeting today. September 18, 2016 left 19 sol- in West Bengal and Tripura. and 29.1% votes while the BJP The Jaish-e-Mohamed (JeM) explosives, including probably All the injured were shifted “The dastardly attack ... is ex- diers dead. They need at least four seats draws a blank though it corners owned responsibility for the RDX, packed into the SUV – that to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital tremely painful and disturbing. Offi cials said the reason why in the Lok Sabha, the lower 19% votes. horror and released a video clip the CRPF bus was left in a man- in the Badamibagh cantonment I bow to each and every CRPF so many CRPF personnel were house of India’s parliament, The recent Times Now survey of the suicide bomber, a ‘com- gled heap, many of its occupants of Srinagar city. Some of them jawan who has sacrifi ced his life on the move at one go was be- and 6% vote share in four states predicted 16 seats for the UDF, mander’ identifi ed as Adil Ah- losing their limbs. The bus was were in critical condition. in service to the nation,” Rajnath cause the Srinagar-Jammu or win at least 2% of the 543 three for LDF and one the NDA. mad Dar, which it claimed was transporting 39 troopers. Prime Minister Narendra Singh said. highway had been shut for the seats elected from three states The ABP-CVoter late last shot before the man carried out CRPF offi cials said the bus Modi led the nation in con- All traffi c on the Srinagar- past two days due to bad weath- to retain national party status. month also gave 16 seats to UDF the strike in Lethpora, about which was the main target of demning the horror. “The at- Jammu Highway came to an er. The convoy left Jammu be- The survey stated that the and four to others. 30km from here. the militants was destroyed fully tack ... is despicable. I strongly abrupt halt. Senior police and fore dawn.

Top court verdict against Drugs destroyed Sena seeks CM post Constitution: Kejriwal for poll tie-up with BJP IANS However, the BJP spokesperson Mumbai Madhav Bhandari quickly shot IANS ty with three seats has the power against the Constitution and down Raut’s proposal, stating New Delhi to transfer offi cers”. democracy.” Kejriwal also said that “any alliance shall only be fi - In 2015 Delhi Assembly polls, that if for every file, “we have reluctant Shiv Sena yes- nalised by the top leaders of both the AAP won 67 of the 70 seats, to protest at the lieutenant gen- terday suggested a new parties”. alling the Supreme while the BJP bagged only three. eral’s office for clearance, how Aproposal for an electoral On the reference to the Bihar Court’s verdict on the Calling himself powerless, de- will the government function?” alliance with the Bharatiya Janata NDA partner, Bhandari pointed Cpowers of the Delhi gov- spite the major victory, the chief He said the real solution lies Party (BJP). The party is demand- out that “Nitish Kumar has be- ernment to transfer offi cers “un- minister claimed the opposition with the people. ing the Maharashtra chief minis- come the CM on his own strength” fortunate” and “injustice to the party would appoint offi cers who “Statehood for Delhi will solve ter’s post for sealing the deal. – a clear reminder that in Mahar- people of Delhi”, Chief Minister “will not work and not let them all these issues. In the coming In a deviation from its seat- ashtra the situation was entirely Arvind Kejriwal yesterday said work”. Lok Sabha elections, don’t vote sharing formula of diff erent per- diff erent. the order is against the Constitu- “We are suff ering from the for electing a PM. Give all the mutations and combinations for Since the past couple of months, tion and democracy. past four years. The ACB (anti- seven seats to AAP, so that in the Lok Sabha and Assembly pollsr, the BJP has been wooing the Sena Speaking to the media after corruption bureau) was under coming fi ve years, we will force this time the Sena has lunged for a for an alliance and despite claims the judgement, Kejriwal said the the Delhi government for 40 the government to give statehood direct kill – the post of CM. of backroom negotiations, offi cially judgement says the elected gov- years, now it is not under it. to Delhi,” he said. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut nothing has materialised so far. ernment will not have the power What will I do if someone comes On former Delhi chief minis- indicated that the Sena may be At the end of 2017, the Sena uni- to transfer offi cers. “A question and tells me that there is some ter Sheila Dikshit welcoming the in a mood for negotiations as the laterally declared that it would go which arises is that if a govern- corruption? Do I have to ap- court’s verdict, Kejriwal said: “I elections loom ahead. However, it alone in all future elections while ment can’t even transfer offi cers, proach the opposition party, the respect Dikshit a lot. I want to re- the change in strategy comes amid the BJP has repeatedly expressed how will it function,” he asked. BJP, (and ask them) to take action quest her that at times, the issue speculation that the Yuva Sena confi dence that an alliance will be Talking about the judgement, (against the corrupt offi cer)? The is big, the nation is bigger and for leader Aditya Thackeray may en- fi nalised soon. Kejriwal said it is “very unfortu- opposition party is the one doing short term political gains, such ter the electoral fray. Last month, the Sena said that nate and an injustice to the peo- all the ‘mischief’,” he said. comments are not good.” He fur- “All the allies in the National since the days of its founder- ple of Delhi”. The AAP chief said, accord- ther pointed out his government Democratic Alliance are strong in patriarch, the late Bal Thackeray, “We respect the apex court, ing to the judgement, the basic doesn’t have even 10% of the their respective states. If you want the party had “always been, still but the judgement is an injustice structure of the Constitution powers she had. to have an alliance with them at is and would continue to remain to the people who elected a gov- cannot be tampered. “But de- “She had all the powers. She the Centre, then the chief minis- the ‘Big Brother’ in Maharashtra ernment by giving 67 of the 70 mocracy is the biggest struc- also got the benefi t of having Police throw blocks of confiscated marijuana onto a ter of the state must belong to that politics”. This prompted the BJP to seats (to a party),” he said. ture and if an elected govern- a Congress government at the bonfire as they destroy some 6,000 kilos of the drug in ally,” Raut said yesterday, citing ask its cadres “to remain prepared Kejriwal added the party with ment has no power, how will it Centre, but despite that we did Agartala, Tripura, yesterday. According to authorities, the the example of Bihar Chief Min- for contesting all the 48 Lok Sabha 67 seats does not have the power function? What kind of democ- more work in four years than she drugs had a street value of Rs30mn. ister Nitish Kumar to prove his seats” irrespective of what emerg- to transfer offi cers, “but the par- racy is this? The judgement is did in 15 years.” point. es later. Gulf Times Friday, February 15, 2019 11 LATIN AMERICA

VIOLENCE DEMAND JUSTICE LAW AND ORDER DISCLOSURE Another protester Argentines seek ‘food Man gets 60 years jail Brazil shifts gang leader 2,000 artefacts ‘recovered’ killed in Haiti unrest emergency’ declaration for abuse of 276 children to high-security facility from gutted museum

Violent clashes between police and Thousands took to the streets in 50 Argentine A man who sexually assaulted 276 young Marcos Willians Camacho, the main leader A “significant” number of artefacts have been demonstrators in Haiti left one person dead cities and towns demanding that the government children and teenagers in Colombia and sold of Brazil’s powerful prison gang First Capital recovered from Brazil’s National Museum which and raised the death toll in a week of unrest to declare a “food emergency” and put an end to videos of his attacks to paedophiles has been Command, has been transferred to a high- was gutted by fire five months ago, devastating seven. A young man was shot and killed in Port suff ocating price increases. “We are losing work, jailed for 60 years. Juan Carloz Sanchez picked security federal penitentiary from a Sao Paulo one of Latin America’s most important natural au Prince not far from the presidential complex, food, education, housing... it’s desperation that is up his victims at shopping centres in the state prison, Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria told history collections, according to the team of which was guarded police equipped with tear emerging among our people,” said Osvaldo Ulacio, Caribbean coastal town of Barranquilla, off ering reporters. Twenty-one other members of the Sao experts picking through the debris. While the gas, an AFP journalist observed. Also, a journalist 60, as he marched in the capital Buenos Aires. them money to accompany him to places where Paulo-based gang, known locally as PCC, were exact quantity saved “is diff icult to establish” was wounded in the latest confrontation in a “They have left us no other tool than to come out in he attacked them, sharing the footage on the transferred to federal facilities from Sao Paulo at this point, the team was encouraged by the week of protests demanding the resignation of the streets to fight for our rights,” added 29-year- Internet. Sanchez, who is in his late 30s and goes state in an operation by federal and state security finds, its leader, archaeologist Claudia Carvalho, President Jovenel Moise. “It’s a popular uprising: old Diego Quintero. Since President Mauricio Macri by the nom de guerre “Fierce Wolf,” was being forces, he said. Doria told journalists the transfer told reporters. The museum’s director, Alexander Haitians are occupying the streets so it is clear came to power in 2015, electricity bills have gone held in the maximum security La Picota jail in of Camacho, known in Brazil by the nickname Kellner, said 2,000 items had been recovered and that Jovenel (Moise) has no choice but to resign,” up 2.1% and gas 3%. The government blamed the Bogota, after admitting sexually abusing minors Marcola, had been in the works for around 50 days. registered, but explained many were fragments said demonstrator Prophete Hilaire, who was increase on the removal of significant subsidies in and making child pornography. He was arrested The governor said the administration has prepared of one item. He added that the museum soon marching across the capital. place under the previous administration. last November across the border in Venezuela. for potential reprisals related to the decision. planned to exhibit the recovered artefacts. Maduro warns as opposition moves to seize oil revenue

Reuters a White House offi cial said. Caracas The proposed Citgo board would be composed of Venezue- lans Luisa Palacios, Angel Ol- enezuela’s opposition- meta, Luis Urdaneta and Edgar controlled congress Rincon, all of whom are cur- Vnamed new temporary rently living in the US, plus one boards of directors to state-oil American director. fi rm PDVSA, in an eff ort to wrest The nominations fuel a grow- the Opec nation’s oil revenue ing duel for control between from increasingly isolated social- Guaido and Maduro, who has ist President Nicolas Maduro. promised he will not allow Citgo Maduro lashed out at the con- to be “stolen.” The mechanics of gress leader, Juan Guaido, saying how the new board would take in an interview that he would over are unclear, and there are face the courts “sooner or later” likely to be court challenges to for violating the constitution, the board’s authority, people fa- after Guaido invoked constitu- miliar with the deliberations say. tional provisions last month to Citgo and PDVSA did not im- assume an interim presidency. mediately reply to requests to A Venezuelan girl lines up to receive a free lunch at a migrant shelter on the outskirts of Cucuta, on the Colombian-Venezuelan border, in Colombia. Although many Western comment. Bulgarian security offi - countries have recognised cials said the country had blocked Guaido as legitimate head of transfers out of several bank ac- state, Maduro retains control of counts which have received mil- state institutions and Guaido lions of euros from PDVSA. needs funds if he is to assemble A member of Guaido’s US dip- an interim government. lomatic team told Reuters that Controlling PDVSA’s US re- they now had the “capacity” to US preparing to intervene fi ner Citgo Petroleum, Venezue- use bank accounts belonging to la’s most valuable foreign asset, Venezuela’s Washington embas- would go some way to helping in sy, though they did not plan to do that, though seizing the reins of so for now. PDVSA itself seems improbable In an interview released on while Maduro remains in power. Wednesday by Lebanese televi- “We have taken a step forward sion channel al-Mayadeen TV, in Venezuela, claims Cuba with the reconstruction of PD- Maduro said Guaido was seeking VSA,” Guaido said on Twitter, just to divide the country and per- Agencies Guaido invoked a constitu- American military installations Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate protect civilians and applying after congress named the direc- suade the Trump administration Havana tional provision to assume the from which units of Special Op- head of state and pledged mil- all necessary measures.” Mean- tors. “With this decision, we are to launch a foreign intervention. presidency three weeks ago, ar- erations and Marine Corps op- lions of dollars in humanitarian while, Venezuela’s military re- not only protecting our assets, we “This person, who believes guing that Maduro’s re-election erate, which are used for covert aid in support. inforced a blockade yesterday also avoid continued destruction.” that politics is a game and he can uba yesterday charged last year was a sham. actions,” it said. The aid has begun arriving morning at the border with Co- PDVSA’s crude output has violate the constitution and the that the US was secretly These events, the declaration Venezuela, a major oil pro- along the border with Colombia lombia where Guaido has vowed slumped to 70-year lows, due to law, sooner or later will have to Cmoving special forces said, had led the US to impose ducer, is in the throes of a severe and Brazil. to bring in desperately-needed crushing debts, widespread cor- answer before the courts,” Ma- closer to Venezuela as part of a drastic sanctions causing dam- economic crisis with a dramatic Maduro’s socialist government humanitarian aid despite Presi- ruption, and little maintenance duro said, adding he was “abso- plan to intervene in the South age “1,000 times greater” than drop in output and six-digit in- retains the backing of Russia, dent Maduro’s vow to keep it of its infrastructure. lutely sure” of this. American country using the pre- the aid it is trying to force on the fl ation wreaking havoc on the China and many other nations, as out. The administration of US “If the American empire dares text of a humanitarian crisis. country. livelihoods of residents and well as control of state institutions Several new freight containers President Donald Trump, which to touch even one palm leaf in A “Declaration of the Revo- “Between February 6 and sending an estimated 3mn of including the military. were blocking the road that con- backs Guaido, imposed sanc- our territory, this will turn into a lutionary Government” charged February 10, military transport them searching for sustenance in Guaido said on Tuesday the nects the town of Urena in Ven- tions on Venezuela’s oil sector new Vietnam,” he said. recent events in the country aircraft have fl own to the Ra- neighbouring countries. aid would roll across the border ezuela to Cucuta in Colombia, on January 28, aimed at curbing US Democratic lawmakers on amounted to an attempted coup fael Miranda Airport of Puerto Cuba has been a key backer on February 23 despite the Ma- where tonnes of US aid has been exports to the US and upping the Wednesday said Congress would that had so far failed. Rico, the San Isidro Air Base, in of the Venezuelan government duro government’s objections, piling up for a week. pressure on Maduro. oppose US military intervention US President Donald Trump’s the Dominican Republic and to since what is called the Boli- setting up a possible confronta- There was also a contingent Trump will give a speech on in Venezuela and challenged the administration has been trying other strategically located Car- varian Revolution began under tion. of around 20 National Guard Venezuela at Florida Interna- credibility of Trump’s special to pressure Venezuelan Presi- ibbean islands, probably without former leader Hugo Chavez in Cuba said yesterday it was troops guarding the blockade. tional University in Miami on envoy to deal with the crisis, El- dent Nicolas Maduro to step knowledge of the governments 1998. clear the US wanted to “forcibly Last week, the military initial- Monday, voicing support for liott Abrams, over his past em- down and hand over power to of those nations,” the declara- Most Western and Latin establish a humanitarian corri- ly placed two freight containers Guaido and also making remarks brace of American covert action Juan Guaido, the head of Ven- tion said. American countries, includ- dor under international protec- and a tanker across the road to about “the dangers of socialism,” in Latin America. ezuela’s National Assembly. “These fl ights originated in ing the US, quickly recognised tion, invoking the obligation to prevent vehicles from passing.

Varela visits Paraguay Guzman likely headed to 10 towns suff er from ‘Alcatraz of the Rockies’ dam disaster fallout AFP would make it as far as a hydro- Rio de Janeiro electric plant on the Sao Fran- AFP It houses some of America’s staff deliver and pick up food cisco river that the Paraopeba Los Angeles most notorious criminals in- trays or during limited recrea- feeds into. cluding “Unabomber” Ted Kac- tion time. en towns in southeast The collapse of the dam in zynski, Boston Marathon bomb- According to a report pub- Brazil are suff ering river the mine owned by Brazilian e has already managed er Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and 9/11 lished last year by the Correc- Tpollution after a dam mining giant Vale — the sec- to escape twice from conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui. tions Information Council of collapse at a mine nearly three ond in three years in the same Hhigh-security prisons in But El Chapo is unlikely to mix Washington DC, a civilian body weeks ago that killed 166 peo- region involving the company Mexico. with the other inmates. that monitors prison facilities ple and left 155 missing, pre- — released millions of tonnes But this time, crime lord Joaquin According to a 2014 Amnesty in the US capital and that inter- sumed dead, according to of- of tailings, of mining waste. “El Chapo” Guzman may fi nd it International report, inmates viewed prisoners transferred to fi cials. Most of those killed and more diffi cult to slip away from the spend a minimum of 12 months Supermax, most inmates have Mineral-laced sludge from missing were workers at the “Supermax” prison in Colorado in solitary confi nement before one to two hours of recreation the disaster near the town of iron ore mine, many having where he is likely headed. their detention conditions are each day. Brumadinho has contaminated lunch in the facility’s cafeteria, The facility, also known as reevaluated. Those considered most dan- 120kms of the Paraopeba river, in the shadow of the dam. ADX (administrative maximum), Most of the prisoners are held gerous are kept in cages placed in impacting the riverside towns, Some nearby residents were has been dubbed the “Alcatraz of in cells that measure about seven a concrete yard with high walls the Institute for Water Man- also swept away and buried in the Rockies” because of its re- by 12 feet and are equipped with and a chain metal roof, accord- agement in the aff ected state thick mud. mote location and harsh security a fi xed concrete bed, desk and ing to Amnesty. of Minas Gerais (IGAM) said in Emergency crews have been measures. stool as well as a stainless steel An indoor alternative, again in a report. working daily to locate and re- Experts say the legendary combination sink and toilet and solitary, is in a windowless room Offi cials have warned locals cover bodies from the sludge. kingpin, who was convicted on a shower. equipped with a pull-up bar. against using the river water Their latest confi rmed death Tuesday of drug traffi cking and The only natural light comes Daily recreational activities for drinking, watering animals toll of 166 given on Wednesday who faces life in prison at his from one small slit of a window include hobby crafts such as or irrigation. was an increase of one over the sentencing in June, will most that has a view of the sky or a drawing, watercolour paint and State environmental au- previous count the day before. probably spend the rest of his life brick wall, according to Am- crocheting, according to the thorities had detected levels of The number of missing, 155, at the federal prison from where nesty. Council’s report. toxic metals in the water, in- was revised down from the no one has ever escaped. In order to prevent contact Those with access to a televi- cluding lead and chromium, in previous tally of 160. Described as a hell on earth, between inmates, most cells sion can watch programming on Paraguay’s President Mario Abdo Benitez (right) welcomes the fi rst 20kms of the spill. Offi cials have said it is pos- the prison was built in 1994 have solid walls and a solid metal closed circuit television. Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela upon his arrival at IGAM director Marilia Car- sible that not all the bodies of and is located outside Florence, door. Netfl ix movies and DVDs are the presidential palace in Asuncion yesterday. Varela is on valho de Melo was quoted by the missing will be recovered, an old mining town about two The only human contact for also available, but only if PG- a three-day official visit to Paraguay. a local news website as say- making a defi nitive fi nal toll hours south of Denver. the prisoners often comes when rated. ing it was “unlikely” the waste diffi cult to establish. Gulf Times 12 Friday, February 15, 2019 PAKISTAN High Court orders Supreme Court Shehbaz’s release

DPA/Internews commission of off ences as de- Islamabad fi ned under section 9(a) and Schedule of the National Ac- countability Bureau 1999”, a wraps up 2011 court in Pakistan has or- statement issued by the NAB dered the release of the following Shehbaz’s arrest had Acountry’s opposition stated. leader, months after he was de- The inquiry conducted says tained by the anti-graft agency that Shehbaz, as Punjab chief along with several other mem- minister, had unlawfully as- bers of his party. sumed powers of the PLDC board Shehbaz Sharif, president of of directors, misused his au- ‘Memogate’ case the Pakistan Muslim League – thority, and acted in connivance Nawaz (PML-N) party, has been with Fawad, who at the time was Internews judge questioned: “Is today’s the suspect, or do not want to, (PPP) government for “reining in the custody of the National secretary responsible for imple- Islamabad government feeling any threat then they should take meas- in the military and intelligence Accountability Bureau (NAB) Leader of the Opposition mentation to the Punjab chief from this memo?” ures,” the top judge further said. agencies”. since October. Shehbaz Sharif. minister. “This matter is ongoing for “Is the state, Constitution, In 2012, a judicial commission Sharif, the younger brother Contracts awarded to M/s Ch. he Supreme Court has the last eight years,” Chief Jus- Pakistan Army and democracy was tasked to probe the case, of former prime minister Nawaz Fawad’s bail petition in the Ashi- A Latif and sons for the develop- wrapped up a suo motu tice Khosa added. “The court so weak that they have been and it concluded that the memo Sharif, was arrested on corrup- ana Iqbal Housing Scheme case, ment and infrastructure of Ashi- Tcase pertaining to the im- had formed a commission to shaken by a memo?” Chief Jus- was authentic and authored by tion allegations. but rejected it in the case per- ana Iqbal Housing Project were plementation of the 2011 Mem- probe the memo, and following tice Khosa questioned, and add- the former envoy. He was the chief minister of taining to owing assets beyond illegally cancelled. ogate scandal, and remarked the commission’s recommen- ed: “Pakistan is a strong nation The commission said the Pakistan’s largest province of known sources of income. As the chief minister, Shehbaz that it is the state’s decision dations, a fi rst information re- and there is nothing to worry purpose of the memo was to Punjab until last summer and is On January 22, Shehbaz fi led in a meeting on October 21, 2014 whether it wants to bring back port (FIR) was registered against about.” convince American offi cials that currently leading the opposition a bail plea in the High Court, directed the PLDC to entrust the former ambassador Hussain Hussain Haqqani.” Following a brief hearing, the Pakistan’s civilian government in the national parliament. stating: “The National Account- project of Ashiana Iqbal Punjab Haqqani. “Now, it is the state’s matter top judge remarked that the top was “pro-US”. His elder brother Nawaz is ability Bureau (NAB) made a case to the Lahore Development Au- A three-judge bench headed (prerogative) whether they want court has nothing to do with the The scandal, taken to the serving a seven-year jail term af- contrary to the law and arrested thority (LDA). by Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif to go after the suspect and bring matter now and wrapped up the Supreme Court by then-oppo- ter his conviction on graft charg- me. The case was made on politi- Shehbaz’s decision was illegal Saeed Khosa and comprising him back, and take whatever case. sition leader Nawaz Sharif and es in December. cal basis.” and mala fi de as the PLDC was Justices Gulzar Ahmed and Ija- measures they can take,” the The Memogate scandal several others, led to Haqqani’s The Lahore High Court said “Whatever I did was in ac- the company was established zul Ahsan disposed of the case chief justice further said. erupted in 2011, when Paki- resignation and subsequent exit that there is not enough evidence cordance with the law and Con- for undertaking such housing after none of the petitioners ap- “How and why did the Su- stani-American businessman from the country. to keep younger Sharif in cus- stitution. Not even an inch of projects. peared before the court. preme Court come in this whole Mansoor Ijaz claimed to have On February 1 last year the tody. offi cial land was given to anyone He is accused of illegally trans- Former prime minister Na- matter?” he asked. received an “anti-army” memo Supreme Court constituted a The NAB had arrested Shehbaz and LHC (Lahore High Court) ferring this project to the LDA, waz Sharif, Qaumi Watan Party Khosa directed: “If someone from Haqqani, the then-Paki- three-member bench to resume on October 5, 2018 in connection should accept my bail plea,” the which was headed by his close leaders and several others are has committed high treason, stan envoy in Washington, for hearing of the controversial to the Ashiana Iqbal Housing petition had added. aide Ahad Khan Cheema. petitioners in the case. then the state should conduct then-US chairman of the joint Memogate case, and issued a Scheme case. Shehbaz had also mentioned Shehbaz is also accused of During the hearing, Chief Jus- an inquiry.” chiefs of staff Admiral Mike notice to Hussain Haqqani the A two-judge bench headed by medical reasons in his petition working in connivance with tice Khosa inquired: “Why have He stated that when the mat- Mullen. same day. Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmad seeking bail. other accused in the case and di- none of the petitioners appeared ter was brought to the Supreme The memo sent by Haqqani Later that month, the apex heard the bail petitions of Sheh- The NAB had accused Shehbaz rected the LDA to undertake the for the hearing? And if none of Court, there were allegations allegedly mentioned a possible court issued arrest warrants for baz and former principal secre- of misusing his powers while he Ashiana Iqbal Project under Pub- the petitioners have showed up, against the then-government army coup in Pakistan follow- the former ambassador. tary to then-prime minister Na- was chief minister of Punjab in lic Private Partnership mode. then why are we here?” and ambassador. ing the US raid in Abbottabad to In an attempt to get Haqqani waz Sharif, Fawad Hasan Fawad. an inquiry pertaining to Punjab The NAB states that this was The additional attorney gen- “Now, neither that govern- kill Al Qaeda leader Osama bin to appear in the court, the Fed- The bench fi rst reserved its Land Development Company done in order to give “unlawful eral told the court: “This case ment nor the ambassador are Laden. eral Investigation Agency was decision but later ordered the re- (PLDC). benefi t to blue-eyed fi rm namely has a lot of sensitive matters.” in power, and thus the current It also allegedly sought as- reported to have approached lease of the leader of the opposi- The inquiry conducted so far M/s Bismillah Engineering Serv- Observing that “an ambas- government should do as it sistance from the US for the Interpol to issue red warrants tion in the National Assembly. reveals suffi cient evidence to ice Company, which was a proxy sador wrote a memo”, the top deems fi t. If they cannot reach then-Pakistan Peoples Party for him. Further, the bench approved prove his involvement “in the fi rm to M/s Paragon City”.

All in a day’s work Lahore Judicial inquiry Zoo invites ordered into citizens to ‘adopt’ a Sahiwal killings

Internews “However, we want a judi- friend Lahore cial commission. Once we get the written order today and if we are not satisfi ed, we might Internews he Lahore High Court challenge the order in the Su- Lahore (LHC) has ordered a ju- preme Court,” the lawyer add- Tdicial inquiry into the ed. deaths of four people, includ- Jalil told local media that the ahore Zoo has devised a ing three members of a family, inquiry will be conducted by new policy, under which in an alleged “encounter” in the sessions judge in Sahiwal Lanimal lovers will be able Sahiwal last month. to record the statements of the to temporarily “adopt” their fa- Lahore High Court Chief eyewitnesses, which was not vourite birds and animals. Justice Sardar Shamim or- done by a joint investigation The new policy will be of- dered the formation of a judi- team (JIT) formed earlier to fi cially announced later this cial commission to probe the probe the incident. month. Sahiwal killings, as the court On January 19, four people Under the policy, citizens will heard a petition fi led by Jalil, were killed in an alleged shoot- have to pay for the medication the brother of Khalil who was out in Sahiwal, with Counter and the food of the animals they among those killed in the al- Terrorism Department (CTD) choose to adopt. leged encounter. personnel claiming that they Individuals will be able to During the proceedings, had killed a local commander adopt birds and animals for Shamim directed the sessions of militant organisation Daesh a period of three months, six judge in Sahiwal to appoint a (the local name for the Islamic months, or a year. magistrate for the inquiry. State) and three others in the Once a citizen has adopted the “The LHC chief justice operation. animal, they will be able to visit has ordered a judicial inquiry Eyewitnesses, however, dis- the creature at any time during through a magistrate at a lo- puted the claim and said the the zoo’s timings, without hav- cal level,” lawyer Ehtisham people in the car did not fi re ing to pay for a ticket. Ameer-ud-din, who is repre- at offi cials, nor were any ex- They will also be allowed to Vendors of heart-shaped balloons wait for customers yesterday by the road in Islamabad. senting the victims’ families, plosives recovered from the be present when caretakers are told local media. vehicle. feeding the animal. Lahore Zoo will provide pam- phlets and brochures related to KP okays sessions the animal’s habits and dietary needs. courts in merged Punjab’s largest and oldest Pakistani among top Plan to ban plastic bags in parliament tribal districts zoo houses more than 1,200 dif- ferent species of birds and ani- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief mals, which have been divided digital infl uencers Internews ing consumed by cattle, sea life, Major Sheikh Anser Aziz told Minister Mahmood Khan has into diff erent categories for the Islamabad and even humans,” the offi cial the meeting that there are only approved a summary to declare adoption process. told the subcommittee. 700 sanitation workers collect- newly-merged seven districts Any citizen or institution can Internews pendent identity research The senators also discussed ing garbage in Islamabad, in- of the erstwhile tribal region as adopt more than one bird or ani- Islamabad and strategy company fo- parliamentary subcom- poor waste collection meth- cluding in its outskirts. sessions divisions. mal. cused on cyber-security, mittee has announced ods in the city, the mixing of “Until the government funds He approved the establishment The Lahore Zoo administra- digital commerce, and risk Aplans to phase out the hazardous hospital waste with us suffi ciently and provides of session courts and creation tion said that the purpose of the former National Da- management. use of plastic bags in Parliament municipal waste, and raising enough resources, the issue of of seven posts of district session adoption scheme is to promote tabase and Regis- Recognising infl uenc- House, and to subsequently ban awareness among citizens to garbage collection will remain a judges of BPS-21, 14 posts of compassion for animals among Atration Authority ers and leaders from across them from government offi ces. stop littering. problem,” he told senators. additional district session judges citizens, to create awareness (NADRA) chairman has been the globe, the list comprises A subcommittee of the Sen- Committee chair Senator Climate Change Secretary of BPS-20, seven posts of Senior about their lifestyle and eating included in the list of top names of entrepreneurs, ate Standing Committee on Cli- Mushahid Hussain Syed an- Nasir Jamil also told the com- Civil Judges BPS-19, and 24 posts habits, and to earn revenue in or- 100 infl uencers in the digital business leaders, change mate Change decided to eradi- nounced that an action plan mittee that the Metropolitan of civil judges of BPS-18 in the der to give the animals at the zoo community of the world, for makers, security gurus, pri- cate the use of plastic in the would be developed in this re- Corporation Islamabad is short seven districts of the five division the proper care that they need. a third consecutive year. vacy advocates and others. capital before rolling out similar gard, and directed the Pakistan on funds. of the province that included Annually, Lahore Zoo spends Tariq Malik is currently The list of 100 was nar- plans in the rest of the country. Electronic Media Regulatory Civil society members who Peshawar, Malakand, Kohat, more than Rs40mn on food for serving in the United Nations rowed down by OWI’s staff The decision was made after Authority (Pemra) to ensure also attended the meeting com- Bannu, and DI Khan. the animals alone. Development Programme from a large number of a ministry of climate change of- that public service messages are plained about the failure of suc- These districts are Khyber, Lahore Zoo education offi cer (UNDP) as chief technical nominations submitted via fi cial told members of the com- aired on all television channels. cessive governments to build a Mohammand, Bajur, Orakzai, Kiran Saleem stated that many adviser. Twitter, LinkedIn, and its mittee that biodegradable bags “We will give the Pemra the waste disposal plant in Islama- Kurram, North Waziristan, and organisations had previously Others on the list include website. in use at most large stores in the ideas on how to educate citizens bad. South Waziristan. adopted several animals and Facebook chief executive The majority of trailblaz- capital are more harmful that on the dangers of plastic bags to “We need to have a perma- Chief Minister Khan has also subsequently named the crea- Mark Zuckerberg, Apple’s ers on the OWI 100 list are normal plastic bags. the environment, as well as ask nent solution to Islamabad’s approved auxiliary personnel tures. Tim Cook, Microsoft’s Dan- involved in the technology “Oxo-biodegradable plastic them to keep their city clean,” waste disposal problem. There for the facilitation and Individuals who wish to adopt iel Buchner, and US Senator industry, with others rep- bags, which disintegrate into Syed said. “I want to see these is so much litter everywhere operationalisation of justice the animals can do so by regis- Ron Wynden. resented in government, tiny fragments after reacting public service messages on that the capital gives the feel of dispensation system in the newly- tering themselves at the Lahore The list has been prepared banking and fi nance, includ- with elements, such as air and primetime.” a huge dump site,” Cristina Af- created districts. Zoo’s website, which will be by One World Identity (OWI) ing pioneers, innovators and sunlight, stay in the environ- While deliberating on poor ridi, a civil society representa- The whole judicial structure launched soon. – a New York-based inde- pace setters. ment for longer, and end up be- garbage collection in the city, tive, said. would cost Rs545mn annually. Gulf Times Friday, February 15, 2019 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Envy a disease of the heart

trictly speaking, envy (hasad) is hatred and disliking the good condition of the envied one. This is of two types: S 1) The blameworthy type of envy is unrestricted dislike of the blessings be- stowed upon the envied. This is the type of jealousy that incurs blame, so when one hates something he is then hurt and grieved by the existence of what he hates, and this becomes a sickness in his heart such that he takes pleasure in the removal of the blessings from the envied even if this does not result in any benefi t to him except the single benefi t of having the pain that was in his soul removed. But this pain is not removed except as a result of his continuously watching the envied so that the jealous person fi nds relief when the blessing is removed, but then it becomes more severe as is the case of the one who is sick, for it is possible that this blessing, or one similar to it, returns to the envied. This is why the second group said: ‘It is a desire to have the blessings removed,’ for indeed the one who dislikes the blessings bestowed upon other than him desires them to see removed. 2) That he dislikes the superiority of that person over him, and he desires to be like him or better, so this is jealousy and has been called ghubta, and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, called it hasad in the hadith reported by both al-Bukhari and Muslim from the hadith of ibn Mas’ood and ibn `Umar, radiallahu ‘anhumaa, that he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, “There is no envy except in two cases: a person to whom Allah has granted wisdom, and he rules by this and teaches it to the people, and a person to whom Allah has granted wealth and property along with this the power to spend it in the cause of Truth.” This being the wording of Ibn Mas’ood. The wording of Ibn ‘Umar is, “A person to whom A mosque in Amman, Jordan, Allah has given the Qur’an and he recites it night and day, and a person to whom Allah has him without consideration of people’s material So one is commanded to compete for these for burning (them)...” [An-Nisaa’ (4): 54-55] actualise your suspicions, and when you see granted wealth and property from which he conditions then this is not envy at all.’ delights and not compete for the delight of this “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the omens then ignore them.” Reported by Ibn Abi gives in charity night and day.” This is why the generality of mankind have fl eeting world. Daybreak. From the evil of what He has created. Ad-Dunya from the hadith of Abu Hurairah. ...So the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa been tried with this second type of envy that ...The souls do not envy the one who is in And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it In the Sunan from the Prophet, sallallaahu sallam, forbade hasad, with the exception of has also been called al-munaafasah (competi- severe hardship and this is why the Prophet, comes with its darkness. And from the evil of ‘alaihi wa sallam, “You have been affl icted with two cases which are referred to as al-ghubta, tion) because two people compete in a single sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, did not mention it the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots. the illness of the nations that came before you meaning that a person loves the condition of desired matter, both of them trying to attain the even though the mujaahid, fi ghting in the Way And from the evil of the envier when he envies.” – jealousy and hatred. They are the shearers, I someone else and dislikes that this person be same good. The reason for their trying to attain of Allah, is superior to the one who is spending [Al-Falaq (113):1-5] do not mean the shearers of the hair, rather they superior in this way (without his wishing that it it is that one of them dislikes that the other be wealth.... Similarly, the Prophet, sallallaahu ...So the one who is jealous, hating the are the shearers of the religion.” [At-Tirmidhi, be removed from that person). blessed with this matter over him just as any ‘alaihi wa sallam, did not mention the one favours bestowed by Allah upon someone else at-Tabaranee and al-Hakim who said it was So if it is asked: ‘Then why is this (ghubta) one of two competitors dislikes that the other who prays, fasts and performs the pilgrimage, is an oppressor, going beyond bounds due to saheeh]. called envy when he loves only that Allah beat him. because there is no tangible benefi t attained this. As for the one who dislikes that someone So he called jealousy an illness just as he bestow these blessings upon him?’ It is said, Competition is not considered blameworthy from the people for these actions by which the else be blessed and wishes to be blessed in the called miserliness an illness in his saying, “And ‘The starting point of this love is his look- in general, rather it is considered to be praise- person can be exalted or disgraced, as can be same way, then this is forbidden for him except what illness is worse than miserliness.” [Ah- ing towards the favours Allah has bestowed worthy when competing for righteousness. The attained in teaching and spending. in that which will bring him closer to Allah. So mad, Hakim and others, saheeh] upon someone else and his disliking that this Exalted said: Fundamentally, envy occurs when someone if he were to wish for something that has been ...In the first hadith jealousy was men- person be favoured over him. So if this other “Indeed the pious will be in delight. On else attains power and authority; otherwise given to someone else which would help bring tioned along with hatred. This is because person were not present then he would not have thrones, looking on. You will recognise in their the one who is performing these actions is not him closer to Allah then there is no problem in the envier, first of all dislikes the bounty desired these blessings. So because the starting faces the brightness of delight. They will be normally envied, even if this person be blessed this. However, his wishing for it in his heart, bestowed by Allah upon the one who is point of this love is this dislike that someone given to drink pure sealed wine. The last thereof with far more food, drink and wives than oth- without looking to the condition of someone envied, and then begins hating this person. else be made superior to him, then this is called (that wine) will be the smell of musk, and for ers, as opposed to these two blessings of power else is better and more excellent. This is because the hatred of the thing being envy due to the love following the dislike. As this let those compete who want to compete.” and authority, for they cause a great deal of Then if this person were to act, dictated by bestowed leads to hatred of the one upon for desiring that Allah bestows favours upon [Al-Mutaffi feen (83):22-26] envy. this jealousy, he would be an oppressor going whom it is bestowed, for when the blessings ...Allah praised the Ansaar with His saying, beyond bounds, deserving of punishment un- of Allah are bestowed upon an individual, he “And they have no jealously in their breasts for less he repents... would love that they go away, and they would that which they have been given (the muhaaji- Jealousy is one of the sicknesses of the not go away except by the one who is envied Eye of the envier roon), and give them preference over them- soul, and it is an illness that afflicts the gen- going away, therefore he hates him and loves 1. Envy is one of the major sins which is al-Falaq to seek refuge from the evil of the selves even though they were in need of that.” erality of mankind and only a few are secure that he not be there. bound to destroy good deeds as fast as the envier when he envies. [Al-Hashr (59):9] from it. This is why it is said, “The body is Jealousy necessarily leads to desire and fi re burns the wood and dry grass to ashes. 11. Envy is worse than miserliness; this is As for the jealousy that is totally blamewor- never free from jealousy, but debasement hatred just as Allah informed us of those that “Jealousy eats away at good deeds, just as fi re because the miser only stops himself from thy then Allah has said with regards to the Jews, brings it out, and nobility hides it.” It was came before us that they diff ered, “After there eats away at fi rewood.” [Sunan Ibn Majah] having good but the envier dislikes the fa- “Many of the People of the Book wish that if said to Al-Hasan Al-Basree, “Can a believer came to them knowledge out of mutual hatred 2. Envy was described as a sickness by the vours of Allah bestowed upon His servants. they could turn you away as disbelievers after be envied?” He replied, “What has made you and desire.” [Aal ‘Imraan (3):19] Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. 12. No one attains true belief until one you have believed, out of envy from their own forget Yoosuf and his brothers, have you no ... 3. Envy is hating that good happens to loves for one’s brother what one loves for selves even after the truth has become clear to father? But you should keep (this envy should “Do not envy one another, do note hate each others. oneself. them.” [Al-Baqarah (2):109] it occur) blinded in your heart, for you cannot other, do not oppose each other...” [Al-Bukhari 4. Envy is displeasure with Allah’s decree 13. It is said that the people who have ‘They wish’ meaning that they hope to be harmed by that which you did not act upon and Muslim] and His granting blessings upon others. the greatest degree of restlessness are the make you apostatise from your religion out of in speech or action.” “By the One in Whose Hands is my soul, 5. “Faith and envy do not go together in the envious. Such a person has no peace and is jealousy. So jealousy was the deciding factor So the one who fi nds that he harbours jeal- none of you believes until he loves for his heart of a servant.” [Ibn Hibban, saheeh] continuously grieved. behind their wish even after the Truth had been ousy in his soul towards someone else, then it is brother what he loves for himself.” [Al-Bukhari 6. “The people will be fi ne as long as they 14. The greatest harm from envy comes to made clear to them. This because when they upon him to treat it with patience and taqwaa and Muslim] do not envy one another.” [At-Tabarani with the envier, who with one’s displeasure with saw you attain what you attained of blessings of Allah, and dislike it being in his soul... As for ... trustworthy narrators] Allah’s decree attains a great loss to oneself. – in fact they saw you attain that which they the one who actually takes a stance against the Greed is a sickness as is miserliness, and 7. Envy is a characteristic the Jews dis- Al-Mubarrad recited the following lines: themselves had never attained – they became envied, either with words or actions then he jealousy is worse than miserliness, as occurs in played towards the Prophet, sallallaahu The eye of the envier always sees scandal, jealous of you. will be punished for this, and the one who fears the hadith, “Jealousy eats away at good deeds, ‘alaihi wa sallam, causing them to infl ict him bringing out faults and hiding the good. Similarly this is mentioned in another Allah and is patient and does not become one of just as fi re eats away at fi rewood.” [Sunan Ibn harm. He meets you cheerfully, with a smiling verse, “Or do they envy men for what Allah the oppressors – Allah will benefi t him for his Majah] 8. Envy leads to hatred. face, has given them of His bounty? Then We have taqwaa. This is because the miser only stops himself 9. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa while his heart conceals his true feelings. already given the family of Abraham the Book ...In the hadith there occurs, “There are three from having good but the envier dislikes the sallam, described envy as a shearer of the The envier’s enmity comes without provo- of Wisdom, and conferred upon them a great sins from which no one can be saved: jealousy, favours of Allah bestowed upon His servants. religion. cation, kingdom. Of them were (some) who believed in suspicion and omens. Shall I tell you of what [Excerpted and adapted from Imam Ibn 10. Muslims are commanded in Surah yet he accepts no excuses while he attacks. him (Muhammad) and of them were some who will remove you from this: When you envy do Taymiyyah’s Diseases of the Hearts and Their averted their faces from him and enough is Hell not hate, when you are suspicious then do not Cures] ‘Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me’

nas, radhiallah ‘anhu, report- women and will never marry.’ Another first narration reflects that he spoke not follow him; here, he was alluding mitted may become recommended, times eat in order to preserve his ed that: “Three men came to said: ‘I shall never eat meat.’ Another to them directly, whereas the second to the methods that monks have, who disliked or prohibited, according to strength, and fast at other times; he Athe houses of the wives of the said: ‘I will always off er the night one indicates that he spoke gener- innovated extreme ways of worship one’s intention. would also sleep at night sometimes Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, prayer and shall never sleep.’ Later, ally, without directing his speech for which they have been dispraised *Imaam At-Tabari said: “This nar- in order to have the strength to pray and asked how his worship was. When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sal- to them in particular. It may be that by Allah. ration refutes the claim of those who at night on other occasions; also, they were informed, they considered lam, ascended the pulpit, praised and he first spoke to everybody in the The one who worships in a way forbid eating lawful foods and wear- he would marry in order to fulfil his their own worship to be insignificant thanked Allah, and then said: ‘Why are congregation and explained that such other than that of the Prophet, sal- ing permissible clothing, claiming desires, save himself from following and said: ‘Where are we in compari- some people saying such things? I per- abstention is impermissible, and lallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, has not that it is better to use harsh clothing his lusts, maintain his chastity, and son to the Prophet when Allah has form (optional night) prayers (some- then spoke to the men concerned in left the fold of Islam if he did it in and refrain from eating good food.” increasing the number of Muslims. forgiven his past and future sins?’ times) and sleep at night (at others); I private, addressing them personally ignorance or was mistaken in his But, Imaam Ibn Hajar added to this *A warning against exaggeration One of them said: ‘As for me, I shall observe fasting (sometimes) and break so as not to expose their identity to interpretation of the Sunnah, but if saying: “The fact of the matter is that in the matters of the religion because offer prayer all night long.’ Another it (at others); and I marry. So whoever others, which may have caused them he does it due to wishing to delib- the one who gets himself accustomed this leads to one stopping the deeds said: ‘I shall observe fasting perpetu- turns away from my Sunnah (i.e., way) embarrassment. erately shun the way of the Prophet to always consuming fine things (i.e., that he is performing. Also, one who ally, never to break it.’ Another said: is not from me.’” The fact that the Prophet, sallal- and thinks that his way and method food and clothing) may become too exaggerates in acts of worship will ‘I shall abstain from women and will “A few of the companions” in the laahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, took an oath is better, then he has committed an habituated to them and therefore eventually become apathetic, which never marry.’ The Prophet, sallallaahu narration means that there were be- was in order to show these men that act of disbelief. cannot live without them, and con- may cause him to stop his obliga- ‘alaihi wa sallam, then came to them tween three to nine of them, and their despite him being forgiven by Allah, The following are some of many sequently, when he is deprived from tory acts of worship and not only the and said: ‘Are you the people who said asking: “Where are we in comparison he did not do what they planned to benefits that we can extract from this them, he may commit prohibitions in optional ones that he performs. Also, such things? I swear By Allah that I to the Prophet when Allah has forgiven do, which was to exaggerate in their narration: order to attain what he is accustomed one who only performs the obligatory fear Allah more than you do, and I his past and future sins?” means that worship, and that reward from Al- *The recommendation of imitating to. On the other hand, refraining deeds is also in great danger; if he am most obedient and dutiful among since they did not have this assurance lah could be attained without such the ways of one’s seniors and follow- from them from the perspective of loses interest, he may abandon wor- you to Him, but still, I observe fast- that He had, then it followed that exaggeration; this is because he who ing in their footsteps, and that if one prohibiting them for oneself contra- ship altogether; so the best way is to ing (sometimes) and break it (at oth- they would have to exert more eff ort is moderate in his worship is more is unable to find out about their way dicts the saying of Allah in the verse be moderate. ers); I perform (optional) prayer (at in order to try to attain it; however, he likely to continue whereas those who of doing things by means of inquir- of Surah Al-A’raaf (which means): *Finally, There is an indication in night sometimes) and sleep at night explained to them that one may do the exaggerate will eventually become ing from men, then it is permitted to “Say: ‘Who has forbidden the adorn- this narration that knowing Allah and (at others); I also marry. So whoever things that these men wished to refrain too weak to continue and give up. inquire from women, provided that ment of [i.e., from] Allah which He His rights and commandments is of a turns away from my Sunnah (i.e., my from and still be fearful of Allah and His saying: “…my Sunnah…” did nobody will be subjected to tempta- has produced for His servants and the higher rank than simply worshipping way) is not from me.’” [Al-Bukhari & obtain a great reward. not refer to the Islamic categorisation tion. good [lawful] things of provision?...” Him without it, and that the deeds of Muslim] The second narration of this story which refers to recommended acts *The virtue of marriage and an [Qur’an 7: 32] the heart are essential for practicing Anas also reported: “A few of the includes different things that the rather than obligatory ones. Rather, encouragement of it. *The good deeds that are continu- servitude to Allah. companions of the Prophet, sallal- companions stated that they will it refers to his complete manner in *One may do righteous deeds ous are the dearest to Allah, even if Article source: http:/www.is- laahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, inquired from abstain from, which proves that they life and his approach to every matter. openly and inform others about they are few. lamweb.net/emainpage/ his wives about his worship when he were more than three in number. He instructed them that the one who them, provided he feels secure from *The method of the Prophet, sal- would be alone. When they found out, Also, the speech of the Prophet, worships in any way other than his is thereby becoming arrogant. lallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, is the very one of them said: ‘I shall abstain from sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, in the not from him, meaning, that he does *Deeds that are Islamically per- best one, whereby he would some- Gulf Times 14 Friday, February 15, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES A year after school massacre, gun control remains elusive in US

On February 14 last year, a 19-year-old armed with a military- style assault rifl e walked into his old high school in Parkland, Florida and slaughtered 17 people. That spasm in America’s epidemic of gun violence gave new impetus to the debate on controlling fi rearms, prompting marches across the country and a fresh round of hand-wringing in cable news studios. Many of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors such as David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez remain national fi gures a year on — a testament to their tenacity in keeping the atrocity in the headlines — yet concrete reform has remained limited and local. Meanwhile America risks becoming inured to the carnage: four months before Parkland a gunman killed 58 people at a festival in A Brexit survival kit Las Vegas while, 16 months earlier, a massacre at a night club in Orlando left 49 dead. Nearly 1,200 children lost their lives to gun violence in the year since Parkland, according to a report from McClatchy newspapers and The Trace, a non-profi t that chronicles fi rearms issues. And with 37 mass shootings — those with at least four victims, not including the assailant — recorded already in the US this year, for City of London it is tempting to conclude that almost nothing has changed. The inertia on gun control endures despite the best eff orts By Barry Eichengreen regulators – for UK banks. But had it example, governs only over-the- dismissed London’s prospects on the of the Parkland students, who rejected the usual outpourings Berkeley looked more closely, her government counter derivatives and a limited grounds that its rise as a global fi nancial of sympathy off ered by politicians and launched a nationwide would have seen that the EU has number of other items. Where an centre “was a mere accident of history.” movement seeking tougher regulation on sales. granted a non-member passporting item isn’t covered by equivalence, This misses the point. Some accidents rights only when the country – a US bank can provide it in Europe have enduring consequences, and A month after the shooting, the student activists brought nly now, as we approach the third anniversary of Norway, for example – belonged to only by setting up a separately the consequences of this one are not together hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in Washington, the United Kingdom’s the European Economic Area. capitalized subsidiary. An expensive going away. Some big banks are indeed under the “March for Our referendum on membership EEA membership confers not only proposition, that. moving staff to Paris and Frankfurt, Lives” banner. O in the European Union, are the rights but also obligations. Members The fact that equivalence but it will be years before those centres Nearly 1,200 Florida is governed by implications of leaving the bloc finally commit to accepting EU financial arrangements are less than develop an ecosystem of support Republicans and posed a sinking in. One indication, amusing regulation. In the event of a dispute, encompassing will have negative services rivalling that of London. children lost major challenge for the to those with a taste for black humor, EEA members accept the decision of implications for the City. Economies The implication is that London will student activists. is the marketing success of Brexit the European Court of Justice (ECJ). of scope – the ability to provide a wide remain an important financial centre, their lives to But they successfully survival kits containing a water filter, Technically, they have their own range of different financial services – though how important will depend are what make a financial centre. The on where equivalence negotiations pushed for passage of state fire-starting equipment, and enough EFTA Court (called that because it gun violence in freeze-dried food for 30 days. has jurisdiction over not just Norway, fact that global financial institutions go from here. If the UK crashes out of laws opposed by the powerful Another indication is the launch, at Liechtenstein, and Iceland – the three are already shifting business and staff the EU, the negotiating environment the year since US gun lobby, the National the end of January, of a parliamentary EEA members – but also Switzerland). out of London indicates that they see will be poisonous, and agreements Rifl e Association. inquiry into London’s prospects as a In practice, however, the EFTA this as a problem. will be few. If Parliament approves Parkland Among other changes, a financial centre. This investigation Court follows the ECJ more or less To be sure, London’s strengths May’s deal, EU negotiators will have “red fl ag” law was passed is a response to prominent financial in lockstep. Such is the predictable should not be underestimated. more reason to believe that the UK is allowing judges to order the seizure of guns from people deemed firms voting with their feet. Goldman outcome when there is a disagreement The City acquired its international prepared to stick to its commitments. to be mentally unstable and the minimum age for purchasing a Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and over market access between two financial preeminence sometime in In that case, additional equivalence gun was raised to 21. Citigroup have moved nearly $300bn economic blocs, one much larger than the eighteenth century. Over time, a agreements are likely to follow. There is, of course, another scenario The sale and possession of devices known as bump stocks, of balance-sheet assets from London the other. Such an arrangement does rich ecosystem of support services – to Frankfurt, and Barclays has won not exactly warm the cockles of a accountants, barristers, consultants, with more favourable implications which allow semi-automatic weapons to fi re as fast as illegal approval to move another $215bn to dedicated Brexiteer’s heart. and others – grew up around the for the City, namely for Brexit to be machineguns, and which were used to such deadly eff ect in Las Dublin. BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, That leaves the more piecemeal banks. Building on this foundation, called off. Given that London still Vegas, were also banned. and Société Général have transferred arrangement known as equivalence: London became the centre of the has that rich ecosystem of support In December, President Donald Trump barred them at the 500 staff from London to Paris. HSBC individual regulations in the EU and a Eurodollar market. With the advent services, it is not inconceivable that national level. has shifted ownership of many of its non-member state are deemed to be, of computerised trading, it became the banks that today are decamping to After Parkland, 26 states and US capital Washington approved European subsidiaries from the UK to for lack of a better word, “equivalent” home to the matching servers of the Continent could ultimately move 67 laws related to gun control, according to the Giff ords Law France. to one another. The non-member’s Thomson Reuters and Electronic those lost jobs and assets back. – Centre to Prevent Gun Violence. Anxiety is heightened by banks can then provide the products Broking Services, and a hub for the Project Syndicate In a report last December, the centre said the movement uncertainty about the post-Brexit covered by those regulations to fiber-optic cables through which regime. Prime Minister Theresa May’s customers in the EU. electronic transactions flow. After z Barry Eichengreen is a professor for gun safety in America “experienced a tectonic shift in government entered negotiations Equivalence is requested 1999, it became the foremost centre at the University of California, 2018.” confident of obtaining passporting regulation by regulation, and applies for trading euro-denominated claims. Berkeley. His latest book is The Yet signifi cant nationwide reform to slash gun deaths has rights – authorisation to provide only to the products or services Edouard-François de Lencquesaing, Populist Temptation: Economic largely eluded the activists, who have vowed to entrench their services throughout the EU without governed by that regulation. The the president of the European Institute Grievance and Political Reaction in campaign in 2019. the further approval of host-country EU-US equivalence regime, for of Financial Regulation, recently the Modern Era. On Friday last week lawmakers from both parties presented Congress with a bill that would require universal background checks prior to gun purchases. Under current laws, licensed dealers must carry out background checks on would-be buyers, but loopholes allow people to avoid such checks if they buy from a private seller, at gun shows or over the Internet. Defenders of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which establishes the right to bear arms, will fi ght the bill. The NRA said such a law would not dissuade criminals, who will always fi nd some way to acquire a fi rearm. “These bills attack law-abiding gun owners by placing further burdens on gun ownership and use,” its website states. Meanwhile Nikolas Cruz, the defendant in the Parkland shooting, awaits his day in court. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty on 17 counts of pre-meditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.

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© 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Pro-Brexit activists hold placards reading “I love WTO” as they demonstrate outside of the Houses of Parliament in central London yesterday. Gulf Times Friday, February 15, 2019 15 QATAR

Somali president’s wife visits several health facilities

Sainab Abdi Moallim, wife of Somalia’s president, yesterday visited a number of health facilities in Qatar. She visited Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, Women’s Wellness and Research Center, Al Wajbah Health Center and Sidra Medicine, and was accompanied by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, the off icial Qatar News Agency reported. During the tour, the Somali president’s wife was briefed on the health services provided and the latest methods of treatment. The visiting dignitary and HE the Minister of Public Health also discussed strengthening co-operation between the two countries in health fields. Diplomatic missions organise sports events

QNA Doha

atar’s diplomatic, con- sular and representative Qmissions abroad organ- ised a wide range of sporting ac- tivities on the occasion of Qatar National Sport Day, which saw great participation and interest. In Washington, DC the Qa- ...Washington, DC tar embassy in the US hosted an event to mark National Sport general organised sports events Day at FedExField Stadium in that saw the participation of co-operation with the Redskins consul general Nasser Allenqawi, team and the Redskins Charitable the diplomatic staff and employ- Foundation. ees. The programme included a A large number of school football match. students from Maryland and Also, in Los Angeles, the con- Washington participated in the sulate general organised a special event, which was attended by event that was attended by con- team president of the Washing- sul general Khalid bin Yousuf al- ton Redskins Bruce Allen and a Sada and diplomats. number of current players, in- The event included football cluding Vernon Davis, Josh Nor- for Qatari citizens in Los Ange- man and Chris Thompson, as les. Hundreds of children from well as other veteran players and Snapshots from the National Sport Day celebrations organised by Qatar’s diplomatic mission. In Washington, DC Los Angeles schools were intro- members of the team’s executive duced to Qatar’s culture and the committee. committee were also impressed Sheikh Meshal said sports is participation of more than 500 importance of the Sport Day in In a speech on the occasion, by the designs. at the forefront and heart of Qa- children and students from dif- educating the community on the Allen praised Qatar’s initiative in On his part, Qatar’s ambassa- tar National Vision 2030 and the ferent schools. benefi ts of engaging in sports in ...Tokyo devoting a special day for sports dor to the US Sheikh Meshal bin National Development Strat- The students who attended daily life. and for its support for all sports Hamad al-Thani thanked all offi - egy aiming at consolidating its the activities took part in various Meanwhile, in Tbilisi, the Qa- In Tokyo, Qatar’s embassy in programme included a football activities that are concerned cials, sports leaderships and stu- national identity, investing in sports and physical exercises. tar embassy in Georgia organised Japan organised activities that match. with the formation of the new dents for taking part in Qatar’s human capital and building a At the end of the day, a number a special event to mark National were attended by acting charge In Nicosia, the Qatar embassy generation. National Sport Day celebrations fl exible society guided by val- of students with special needs Sport Day. Diplomats and em- d’aff aires at the embassy Abdul- in Cyprus organised a sporting Allen highlighted the role of and the activities organised by ues inherent in sports such as joined the activities accompa- bassy staff took part in the event, lah bin Jassim al-Zeyara, second event that was attended by am- the Redskins Charitable Foun- the Qatari embassy on the occa- commitment, work ethics, self- nied by sports specialists to help which included various sports secretary Rashid bin Mubarak bassador Sultan bin Ibrahim al- dation, noting that everybody sion. respect, honesty and the pursuit them take part in a number of activities. al-Khater and staff . The event Mahmoud and diplomatic and is engaging in this day to sup- The ambassador underlined of self-excellence. games and display skills. In Bamako, Qatar’s embassy included several sports activities, embassy staff . port sports, health and wellness. that Qatar’s decision to de- On his part, deputy chairman The event was also an op- in Mali hosted an event that was including walking. In Karachi, Pakistan, Qatar’s He expressed pride at being able vote a national day for sports in of the Qatari mission to the US portunity for students to learn attended by ambassador Ahmed In Mbabane, the embassy in consulate general organised a to help children from a large 2011 stems from its belief in the Dr Hamad Mohamed Hussein al- about Qatar’s culture. Through bin Abdulrahman al-Sunaidi, Eswatini organised a number of sporting event that was attended number of schools in the coun- strength and eff ectiveness of Muftah stressed the importance a special pavilion, the students Mali’s Minister of Sports Jean sports activities with the partici- by consul general Mishal Mo- ties around Washington to adopt sports in gathering people and its of National Sport Day as it re- discovered Souq Waqif, which Claude Sidibe, heads and repre- pation of charge d’aff aires Ahmed hamed Ali al-Ansari, diplomats, a new and healthier lifestyle. positive impact on the quality of fl ects Qatar’s attention to sports tourists visit to learn about Qa- sentatives of diplomatic missions bin Tajer Mohamed al-Sada and administrators and consular Allen also expressed admira- life of individuals. and the youth. tar’s heritage and culture. Qatar accredited to Mali and citizens. embassy staff . staff . The event included with tion for the designs of the Qatar He added that Qatar is proud He noted that the embassy in Foundation International also In Istanbul, Turkey, Qatar’s In Porto-Novo, the embas- a football match and some light 2022 World Cup stadiums after to be among the few countries Washington celebrated the Sport hosted a pavilion to introduce consulate general organised an sy in Benin organised a sports exercise along with a discussion he saw examples displayed in the around the world and the fi rst in Day in co-operation with the the audience on how to learn the event that was attended by dip- event with the participation of on the importance of sports in inner hall of FedExField. He not- the Mena region to announce a Redskins team and the Redskins Arabic language. lomats and consular offi cials. The the diplomatic and administra- daily life and its positive eff ects ed that members of the executive National Sport Day. Charitable Foundation, with the In New York, Qatar’s consulate activities included a football game. tive staff of the embassy. The on health. Ibtihaj shares experience with Aspire students

uslim-American Olym- about the time she began fencing athletes academically and sport- pic fencer Ibtihaj Mo- when she was 13. wise. It’s a joy to be here in Qatar Mhamed visited Aspire Ibtihaj had words of encour- and at Aspire and see people with Academy yesterday, spending agement for student athletes passion and sound plans for sport time with Qatar’s young athletes imploring them to embrace chal- development, l am inspired and and hearing about the academy’s lenges and turn them into suc- impressed,” she concluded. philosophy on a guided tour and cess through perseverance and a Her success as a young fencer gaining fi rst-hand insight into never-give-up attitude: “If there landed her a scholarship with Aspire’s fencing programme. is anything l can share with Aspire Duke University where she Ibtihaj is a renowned sabre student athletes and the athletes in competed for the Duke fencing fencer on the US fencing team. She Qatar in general, especially young team for four years and became joined the team in 2010 and par- females, it’s my life story and the a three-time all-American ath- ticipated in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro journey of overcoming obstacles lete and the 2005 Junior Olympic Olympics with the US, becoming and barriers to realise my dreams. champion. She also wrote a book the fi rst Muslim-American female Don’t let anyone tell you ‘No you titled Proud, where she depicts athlete to win an Olympic medal. can’t pursue your goals’. Set your- her challenges as a Muslim- She is also known as the fi rst US self out to chase your dreams with American and her successes with athlete to compete at the Olympic determination and hard work and the US fencing Olympic team. Games in a hijab. do not give up – keep on persever- Ibtihaj’s visit to Qatar has been She became a sporting icon ing and do your best always.” organised by the Government in the US and major sports ap- Ibtihaj also paid tribute to Communications Offi ce as part parel company Nike launched the the ethos of holistic approach of its activities around Qatar’s ‘Nike-Pro hijab’ for female Mus- to education that Aspire Acad- National Sport Day and aimed to lim athletes. emy pursues. “Aspire Academy amplify Qatar’s eff orts and cen- During a 30-minute Q&A is simply phenomenal. I am in tral role in empowering women session with Aspire Academy’s awe of this place and what it of- in sports and many other areas. fencing team, Ibtihaj shared fers from the unbelievably good Following her tour, she pre- many experiences with the Qa- facilities to the entire perspec- sented a signed copy of her book tari youngsters and told them tive to development of student to the academy. Ibtihaj Mohamed during her visit to Aspire Academy.